AirTalk

Gunfire erupted at a railyard in San Jose, and authorities say multiple people were killed and wounded. Santa Clara County sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Russell Davis said Wednesday that he could not specify the number of dead and wounded. He also said the suspect was dead, but he could not describe how the shooter died. The shooting took place around 6:30 a.m. at a light rail facility next door to the sheriff’s department and across a freeway from the airport. The facility is a transit control center that stores trains and has a maintenance yard.

VTA trains were already out on morning runs when the shooting occurred. Light rail service was to be suspended at noon and replaced with bus bridges.

Two patients were transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, according to spokesperson Joy Alexiou. One person was pronounced dead upon arrival, and the other was in critical condition.

The attack was the county’s second shooting in less than two years. A gunman killed three people before killing himself at a popular garlic festival in Gilroy in July 2019.

Guest:

Rachael Myrow, senior editor at KQED, NPR affiliate in San Francisco; she tweets @rachaelmyrow

The Japanese government Tuesday was quick to deny a U.S. warning for Americans to avoid traveling to Japan would have an impact on Olympians wanting to compete in the postponed Tokyo Games. U.S. officials cited a surge in coronavirus cases in Japan caused by virus variants that may even be risky to vaccinated people. 

They didn’t ban Americans from visiting Japan, but the warnings could affect insurance rates and whether Olympic athletes and other participants decide to join the games that open on July 23. Most metro areas in Japan are under a state of emergency and expected to remain so through mid-June because of rising serious COVID-19 cases that are putting pressure on the country’s medical care systems. That raises concern about how the country could cope with the arrival of tens of thousands of Olympic participants if its hospitals remain stressed and little of its population is vaccinated. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the issue. Do you have questions? Call 866-893-5722.

With files from the Associated Press

Guest:

Philip Hersh, former Chicago Tribune sports writer and Olympic specialist, he covered 19 games over almost 40 years and currently writes on the topic in his blog “Globetrotting;” he tweets @olyphil

Online shopping giant Amazon is buying MGM, the movie and TV studio behind James Bond, “Legally Blonde” and “Shark Tank,” with the hopes of filling its video streaming service with more stuff to watch.

Amazon is paying $8.45 billion for MGM, making it the company’s second-largest acquisition after it bought grocer Whole Foods for nearly $14 billion in 2017.

The deal is the latest in the media industry that’s aimed at boosting streaming services to compete against Netflix and Disney+. AT&T and Discovery announced last week that they would combine media companies, creating a powerhouse that includes HGTV, CNN, Food Network and HBO. Amazon doesn’t say how many people watch its Prime Video service. But more than 200 million have access to it because they’re signed up for its Prime membership, which gives them faster shipping and other perks. Besides Prime Video, Amazon also has a free streaming service called IMDb TV, where Amazon makes money by playing ads during movies and shows. Buying MGM would give Amazon access to more films, shows and famous characters, including Rocky, RoboCop and Pink Panther. Amazon will also get a cable channel: Epix, which MGM owns. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the details and impact. Do you have questions? Call 866-893-5722. 

With files from the Associated Press 

Guest: 

John Horn, KPCC arts and entertainment host; he tweets @JGHorn

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: 

C.D.C. will not investigate mild infections in vaccinated Americans 

CDC chief tells vaccinated Americans to enjoy their Memorial Day holiday 

Current approach to preventing COVID-19 at the Olympics is "dangerous," US expert says

COVID-19 testing’s value shrinks as vaccines beat back virus  

There's a free treatment for COVID-19; why aren't more people using it? 

Just how big could India’s true COVID-19 toll be? 

How the Wuhan lab-leak theory suddenly became credible 

Vaccinations for LAUSD students— what to know 

Coronavirus rates plummet but Memorial Day will be a test for LA 

With most seniors vaccinated in L.A. County, a higher proportion of younger adults are hospitalized with COVID 

Guest:

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

Today on AirTalk, we go over the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we discuss state lawmakers' plans to lower UC admissions for nonresidents; break down the shut down of the Diablo Canyon power plant; and more.

In the Wednesday morning sky, before sunrise, there will be the coalescence of three lunar spectacles... A Super Moon - when the Moon is closest in its elliptical orbit to the Earth, and appears larger... A Flower Moon - that’s just a full moon in May… And a Blood Moon - is a full eclipse wherein the Moon lies briefly on the opposite side of the Sun from the Earth, is shadowed from the Sun’s illumination, and bathed in reddish light refracted from the planet’s atmosphere.

It’s a good excuse to go to the donut shop in the wee hours of the morning for some coffee, and stake out an unobstructed view for the 15 minute show in the sky. Perhaps you’ve got your own special hill to take it in on your own.

You could check out a livestream if a picture is just as good as the real thing. Otherwise, you could join the potential traffic jam up to the grounds at Griffith Observatory. We want to hear how you plan to take in the celestial event at 866-893-5722.

Guests:

Edwin C. Krupp, director of Griffith Observatory and an astronomer

John Dvorak, a tech writer and author of numerous books, including “Mask of the Sun: The Science, History and Forgotten Lore of Eclipses” (Pegasus Books, 2017)

The food and beverage industry has been rocked by the pandemic. We recently heard from restaurants and breweries about their outlook as Americans continue to get vaccinated and states chip away at restrictions.

Now we’re hearing from distillers. Some say temporary loosened restrictions saved their businesses, but it’s going to be a long and slow recovery as tasting rooms reopen and states consider approving permanent laws that could benefit distilleries.

Do you operate or work in a distillery? What has been your experience over the last year and what do you think the future holds for the industry? Tell us your thoughts by commenting below or call 866-893-5722. 

Guests: 

Ryan Friesen, head distiller at Blinking Owl Distillery in Santa Ana, he’s Vice President of the California Artisanal Distillers Guild; he tweets @Kehrageous

Simon Haxton, one of the owners of Portuguese Bend Distilling located in downtown Long Beach

Adam Smith, vice president of government relations for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, he’s based in Sacramento, California; he tweets @AdamDISCUS

Becky Harris, president of the American Craft Spirits Association, a national nonprofit trade group, she’s also chief distiller of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company in Virginia; she tweets @beckhar67

California state lawmakers are considering a plan that would cut the number of spaces for international and out of state students. The move comes alongside a time of high demand for a spot in the system, and some argue more room should be made for local students. 

According to the LA Times, the proposal would reduce the system’s incoming nonresident population from 19% to 10% over the next decade starting in 2022. This means more than 4,500 more local students could secure spots. Due to mounting pressure, UC regents capped out of state and international enrollment last year at 18%, but lawmakers say that isn’t good enough. UC officials don’t agree with the 10% limit because the resulting funding is significant and helps enroll more California students and assist with financial aid. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the proposal and arguments. Do you have thoughts or questions? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722. 

Guests:

Teresa Watanabe, staff writer covering higher education for the Los Angeles Times who’s been following this story; she tweets @TeresaWatanabe

Kevin McCarty (D), California Assemblymember for Assembly District 7, which includes the communities of Sacramento, West Sacramento, Rio Linda, Elverta, and Antelope; he tweets @KevinMcCartyCA

The Los Angeles Times reported that Diablo Canyon’s nuclear power plant, owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is set to no longer run following the expiration of its licensing in 2024. With the plant and its pressurized water reactor making up nearly 10% of California's energy portfolio, it leaves many wondering how all that energy will be replaced?

For California’s Public Utilities Commission, they have released two proposals to make up for this future discrepancy, with it creating a potential of 11,500 megawatts for the state. This follows a report they released which had referenced that the closing of Diablo Canyon may lead to an increase in gas-fired energy. 

Today on AirTalk, we bring on a panel of guests to speak on the future of Diablo Canyon, focusing on what are the best ways to make up its energy void as citizens begin to grow concerned of the ongoing climate crisis. Questions? Call us at 866-893-5722.

We reached out to PG&E for an interview and they unable to join, but sent us this statement:

PG&E delivers some of the nation's cleanest electric power. We remain focused on safely and reliably operating Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) until the end of its current operating licenses and planning for a successful decommissioning.  PG&E is committed to California’s bold clean energy future, and as a regulated utility, we follow the energy policies of the state.   

 The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) referred replacement procurement issues related to the loss of DCPP output to a CPUC energy planning proceeding known as the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).  PG&E is continuing to work with the Commission and other stakeholders to ensure that the Integrated Resource Planning process avoids an overall increase in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) as a result of the retirement of Diablo Canyon in 2024 and 2025, as required by SB 1090.  

 PG&E expects to procure new clean generation and energy storage capacity resulting from the Commission’s mid-term reliability and procurement ruling (CPUC order expected this summer), which is specifically targeted at replacing Diablo Canyon’s capacity, as well as other once-through cooling units expected to retire by mid-decade.

Guests:

Edward Randolph, California Public Utilities Commission director of energy and climate policy

Sammy Roth, energy reporter for the LA Times, he tweets @Sammy_Roth

Mark Specht, senior energy analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists

Andrew Christie, the director of the Santa Lucia chapter of the Sierra Club

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Annabelle De St. Maurice from University of California Los Angeles/Mattel Children’s hospital.

Topics today include:

Half of adults in LA County are fully vaccinated

Moderna says shot is strongly effective in kids as young as 12

Investigators studying small number of heart inflammation cases in teens who got vaccinated

New study finds that kids who had MIS-C can recover from most severe symptoms within 6 months

LAUSD plans to return full-time in the fall

CDC says vaccinated people can skip testing

UK variant is most dominant in LA County

Guest:

Annabelle De St. Maurice, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases and the co-chief infection prevention officer at University of California Los Angeles/Mattel Children’s hospital; she tweets @destmauricemd