AirTalk

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, we speak with UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. 

Today’s topics include:

California workplace mask rules could ease for the vaccinated 

San Francisco is nearing coronavirus herd immunity, but L.A. still has months to go 

Pandemic shows risk of obesity, and challenge of weight loss 

US deaths from heart disease and diabetes climbed amid COVID-19 

Celebrations (and questions) greet US vaccine donation plan 

He flew to India to see his parents sick with COVID-19. Now, this Arizona man is unable to get back to his pregnant wife 

Guest:

Peter Chin-Hong, M.D., infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the UCSF Medical Center; he tweets @PCH_SF

Each year Lake Oroville helps water a quarter of the nation’s crops, sustain endangered salmon beneath its massive earthen dam and anchor the tourism economy of a Northern California county that must rebuild seemingly every year after unrelenting wildfires.

But the mighty lake — a linchpin in a system of aqueducts and reservoirs in the arid U.S. West that makes California possible — is shrinking with surprising speed amid a severe drought, with state officials predicting it will reach a record low later this summer.

While droughts are common in California, this year’s is much hotter and drier than others, evaporating water more quickly from the reservoirs and the sparse Sierra Nevada snowpack that feeds them. The state’s more than 1,500 reservoirs are 50% lower than they should be this time of year, according to Jay Lund, co-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California-Davis.

Over Memorial Day weekend, dozens of houseboats sat on cinderblocks at Lake Oroville because there wasn’t enough water to hold them. Blackened trees lined the reservoir’s steep, parched banks.

At nearby Folsom Lake, normally bustling boat docks rested on dry land, their buoys warning phantom boats to slow down. Campers occupied dusty riverbanks farther north at Shasta Lake.

Droughts are a part of life in California, where a Mediterranean-style climate means the summers are always dry and the winters are not always wet. The state’s reservoirs act as a savings account, storing water in the wet years to help the state survive during the dry ones.

Last year was the third driest on record in terms of precipitation. Temperatures hit triple digits in much of California over the Memorial Day weekend, earlier than expected. State officials were surprised earlier this year when about 500,000 acre feet (61,674 hectare meters) of water they were expecting to flow into reservoirs never showed up. One acre-foot is enough water to supply up to two households for one year.

“In the previous drought, it took (the reservoirs) three years to get this low as they are in the second year of this drought,” Lund said.

Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about drought conditions and wildfire risks ahead of the summer. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

With files from the Associated Press

Guest:

Lauren Sommer, correspondent covering climate change for NPR; she tweets @lesommer

Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we talk about how California's reopening would look like; break down how the state's good behavior regulations impact the incarcerated community; and more.

You’ve probably seen recent headlines regarding the potential early release of around 76 thousand incarcerated people in California. This comes after the state enacted regulations that would give good behavior credits and could shorten sentences for various offenders, including violent offenders.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has said the department wants to provide opportunities to incarcerated individuals. Although it’s been reported that it could take years for individuals to reach an early release, the state’s decision received backlash from many district attorneys who have called for a repeal of the temporary regulations.

Today on AirTalk, we discuss what the implications of the state’s decision are, why some are opposed to the move and how it impacts the incarcerated community, prison populations and more. Are you or one of your loved ones impacted by this decision? What are your thoughts? Share by calling 866-893-5722.

We reached out to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, but the department didn’t respond to our request for an interview.

Guests: 

Michael Romano, director and founder of the Three Strikes Project at Stanford Law School, where he teaches criminal law and policy, he chairs the California Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code, a state body that studies and proposes changes to criminal law and policy

Anne Marie Schubert, District Attorney for Sacramento County who signed onto a petition to repeal regulations that could lead to early release of thousands of people who are incarcerated; she tweets @SchubertForAG

Beatrice Bayardo, mother of an incarcerated woman at the California Institute for Women (CIW) in east LA and a member of California Coalition for Women Prisoners, a grassroots social justice organization

While most of you probably know KPCC by the voices you hear on air every day, our station requires the contributions of so many talented, unique individuals whose names aren’t said at the end of a news story or even in the production credits at the end of the week.

These are the people who truly make KPCC -- who keep our broadcast equipment running, who put on our pledge drives and help secure sponsorships and major donations, who put together the pre-recorded spots you hear between shows, who make sure that our facilities at the Mohn Broadcast Center are operating smoothly

This week on AirTalk, we’re highlighting some of these amazing people who work at KPCC who might not be as familiar with but whose tireless efforts are critical to what you hear on the air every day. Today, we’re featuring Senior Membership Manager Deanna Archetto, who coordinates and produces the on air pledge drive you’re listening to this week, and Development Officer Ruth Calichman, who works on securing major donations to KPCC.

Guests:

Deanna Archetto, KPCC senior membership manager

Ruth Calichman, KPCC development officer

On June 15, California's economy will fully reopen after more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions and closures.

Among the general population, reactions around reopening are likely to range from excitement to anxiety. Dr. Annabelle De St. Maurice, an assistant professor of pediatrics at UCLA, says different risk tolerance and comfort levels will likely affect people's behavior as society reopens. 

"People may choose to wear masks for longer than others, and may choose to wear them indoors,” she said. “We really shouldn't be shaming people for doing that and being cautious."

Today on AirTalk, we talk through where reopening stands, what you should expect. We also want to hear how you’re feeling about reopening. Excited? Wary? Anxious? Tell us how you’re feeling by calling 866-893-5722. 

With files from LAist. Read the full story here.

Guests: 

Jackie Fortiér, health reporter at KPCC and LAist; she tweets @JackieFortier

Dean Blumberg, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital; he tweets @DBlumbergPedsID

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Dean Blumberg from UC Davis. 

Topics today include:

California reopening — lots of confusion before big date 

LA restaurant rules ‘retired' after June 15 public health official says 

When vaccines and re-emergence were just as daunting 

More people hospitalized in US areas with low vaccine rates 

Masks off at work? Cal/OSHA proposes looser rules 

Fauci warns of COVID-19 Delta variant now spreading rapidly in UK

The power of natural immunity

Guest:

Dean Blumberg, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital; he tweets @DBlumbergPedsID

Today on AirTalk, we check in on local leaders' handling of homelessness in Venice. Also on the show, we discuss the latest COVID-19 headlines; break down the rules of copyright infringement and fair use on the YouTube platform; and more.

While most of you probably know KPCC by the voices you hear on air every day, our station requires the contributions of so many talented, unique individuals whose names aren’t said at the end of a news story or even in the production credits at the end of the week. These are the people who truly make KPCC -- who keep our broadcast equipment running, who put on our pledge drives and help secure sponsorships and major donations, who put together the pre-recorded spots you hear between shows, who make sure that our facilities at the Mohn Broadcast Center are operating smoothly.

This week on AirTalk, we’re highlighting some of these amazing people who work at KPCC who might not be as familiar with but whose tireless efforts are critical to what you hear on the air every day. Today, we’re featuring traffic manager Jen Baughman (and no, it’s not the kind of traffic on the freeways) and production specialist Gordon Henderson, whose voice you’ll probably recognize.

Guests:

Jen Baughman, KPCC traffic manager

Gordon Henderson, KPCC announcer and production specialist

An unhoused woman pulled a knife out during a public event for City Councilmember Joe Buscaino, who has launched his bid for mayor. The incident happened on the Venice boardwalk and it’s not the only event like this to happen in the community.

Community members say they’re fed up with how local government is handling homelessness and that the problem continues to escalate. Councilmember Mike Bonin, whose district includes Venice, has proposed temporary campsites at local parks, but the move has resulted in swift backlash. Many argue not enough is being done to shelter those living unhoused. Today on AirTalk, we check in on what’s happening in Venice and how it’s impacting community members. We also want to hear from you. Are you an unhoused Angeleno or resident living in Venice? What’s your experience? What are your thoughts? Call 866-893-5722.  

Guest:

Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times columnist who’s been writing about homelessness in Venice; he tweets @LATstevelopez