AirTalk

After three years of hikes and research, author David Harris has released an updated version of John W. Robinson’s beloved hiking book “Trails of the Angeles: 100 Hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains,” a touchstone for SoCal hikers.

Robinson, who passed away in 2018, initially penned the trail guide in 1971. The book became a bible for hikers in the area, going on to sell 100,000 copies in 50 years of uninterrupted publication. Hikes in the book range from easy, one-mile outings to multi-day backpacking trips, all in a region that spans from Placerita Canyon near Santa Clarita to Cucamonga Peak in Rancho Cucamonga. Harris updated the book and substituted out old trails (some damaged or no longer maintained) for fresher options. A new iOS app even allows hikers to find the trails using digital maps. The book comes as many people in the Los Angeles area have been turning to hiking during the pandemic, which has remained one of the few weekend diversion options fully available to visitors throughout the pandemic.

Today on AirTalk, we’re discussing the new edition of John W. Robinson’s classic guide with co-author David Harris. Are you a hiker that has used “Trails of the Angeles” to explore the local environment? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

Guest:

David Harris, author and co-author of several hiking books including “Trails of the Angeles: 100 Hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains,” 10th edition (Wilderness Press, 2021), an updated edition of the classic by John W. Robinson

Today on AirTalk, we discuss Derek Chauvin being found guilty for the murder of George Floyd and the investigation being done by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Also on the show, we discuss the recent court decision that may help unhoused folks in Los Angeles, update you on the latest COVID-19 news, and more.

The city of Los Angeles has found itself growing in population and modernizing its development for all of its existence, just like many other iconic cities. Yet according to Ken Bernstein’s new book “Preserving Los Angeles: How Historic Places Can Transform America's Cities,” one thing the city has managed to do is maintain areas longtime Angelenos consider historic.

Bernstein, a Principal City Planner for the City of Los Angeles, uses the book as a blueprint for many other cities to learn what steps they can make to build community around their local landmarks.

Today on AirTalk, we talk to Bernstein about his book and how L.A. has preserved culturally-significant sites throughout its neighborhoods.

Ken will be talking about his book at multiple upcoming events throughout Southern California:

Monday, April 26th virtual event at 6:00 p.m. with Vroman's Bookstore

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. virtual event with Chevalier's Bookstore 

Thursday, April 29 at 5:30 pm virtual event -- Los Angeles Central Library: Ken Bernstein in conversation with John Szabo

Wednesday, May 5 virtual event at 12 noon -- Los Angeles Conservancy Presents Ken Bernstein in conversation with Linda Dishman: People + Places: The Making of Preserving Los Angeles

Saturday, May 8 virtual event at 1:00 p.m. with the Society of Architectural Historians - Southern California Chapter​

Guest:

Ken Bernstein, author of the new book “Preserving Los Angeles: How Historic Places Can Transform America's Cities” (Angel City Press, April 2021); he is a principal city planner for the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, oversees the city’s Office of Historic Resources, which is responsible for Los Angeles’s historic preservation policies and programs, and he leads the department’s Urban Design Studio, which works to elevate the quality of design for private development projects and major civic investments

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

Topics today include:

Johnson & Johnson to resume rollout in Europe 

Pfizer identifies some fake Covid shots administered outside the U.S.

State Department warns against most travel abroad

Will U.S. vaccine demand soon outstrip supply?

One study is reinfecting young people with Covid

Returning to normal life post-Covid is anxiety-inducing for some 

Guest:

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

Yesterday Judge David O. Carter, who oversees a lawsuit about homelessness in Los Angeles, ordered the city and county to offer housing or shelter to the entire population of Skid Row by fall.

Judge Carter also specified that the city and the county must offer women and unaccompanied children a place to stay within 90 days, help families within 120 days, and by October 18 offer everyone living on Skid Row housing. “Los Angeles has lost its parks, beaches, schools, sidewalks, and highway systems due to the inaction of city and county officials who have left our homeless citizens with no other place to turn,” Carter wrote in a 110-page brief. “All of the rhetoric, promises, plans, and budgeting cannot obscure the shameful reality of this crisis — that year after year, there are more homeless Angelenos, and year after year, more homeless Angelenos die on the streets.” Last year alone, more than 1,300 homeless people died in LA County. The population of Skid Row only accounts for 10% of the city’s overall homeless population— it’s unclear what the judge’s order will mean for other parts of the city.

Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about Judge Carter’s order and what the impact could be on Skid Row’s population. Are you experiencing homelessness? What are your thoughts on the judge’s order? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

If you are currently experiencing homelessness, or know someone who is, and you’d like to get help, you can call 211 or click here to be taken to LAHSA’s resource page. 

If you are on Skid Row and need shelter, please contact Rev. Andy Bales at 626-260-4761. 

Guests:

Va Lecia Adams Kellum, president and CEO of St. Joseph Center, which works with working poor families, and homeless men, women and children; they are based in Venice and service L.A. County; she tweets @VaLeciaAdams

Rev. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission; he tweets @abales

The Justice Department is opening a sweeping investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis after a former officer was convicted in the killing of George Floyd there, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday.

The announcement comes a day after former officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death last May, setting off a wave of relief but also sadness across the country. The death prompted months of mass protests against policing and the treatment of Black people in the U.S.

The Justice Department was already investigating whether Chauvin and the other officers involved in Floyd’s death violated his civil rights.

We check in on the latest from Minneapolis, recap the verdict and its legal implications and look ahead to what this means for the future of police reform. And we want to hear from you about how you’re processing the verdict, what you’re feeling and what you want to see next. Call us at 866-893-5722.

With files from the Associated Press. 

Guests: 

Nina Moini, reporter at Minnesota Public Radio News; she co-hosted the MPR podcast “In Front of Our Eyes,” which followed the Chauvin trial; she tweets @ninamoini

Brian Dunn, civil rights and criminal defense attorney and managing partner at The Cochran Firm California, based in Los Angeles, where he specializes in police misconduct cases; he tweets @DunnLawyer

Cheryl Dorsey, retired sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department who served for 20 years from 1980-2000; she tweets @sgtcheryldorsey

Thaddeus Johnson, associate professor of criminal justice and criminology at Georgia State University and a former ranking law enforcement official in Memphis, Tennessee; he tweets @docthadjohnson

Anita Chabria, staff writer covering California state politics and policy for the Los Angeles Times, she’s been covering police reform efforts; she tweets @anitachabria

Today on AirTalk, we break down the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we talk with a mental health expert on how people of color can cope after traumatic events; go over the latest movie releases with our KPCC critics; and more.

Disturbing bodycam video released Thursday after public outcry over the Chicago police shooting of a 13-year-old boy shows the youth appearing to drop a handgun and begin raising his hands less than a second before an officer fires his gun and kills him.

The footage of Adam Toledo’s killing comes during the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer charged in the murder of George Floyd.

This week also saw the killing of Daunte Wright, shot by another Minnesota officer during a traffic stop.

Many of these deaths were caught on camera... in videos that are traumatizing to watch, particularly for people of color.

We’ll get the latest on the ground in Chicago, plus we’ll talk to a mental health expert about how people of color can take care of themselves.

With files from the Associated Press

With guest host Austin Cross

Guests:

Chip Mitchell, one of the criminal justice reporters at WBEZ in Chicago who has been covering this story; he tweets @ChipMitchell1

Ayana Jordan M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine; she tweets @DrAyanaJordan

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Shruti Gohil, professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine.

Topics today include:

Spring Wave Of Coronavirus Crashes Across 38 States As Hospitalizations Increase

CDC Identifies Small Group of Covid-19 Infections Among Fully Vaccinated Patients

You’re Vaccinated. Your Kids Aren’t. Now What?

Third Dangerous, More Contagious Coronavirus Variant Identified In Yolo County

Pfizer CEO Says Third COVID Vaccine Dose Likely Needed Within 12 Months

Stanford Begins Testing Pfizer Vaccine In Kids As Young As Two

UCLA Study On How Air Quality Is Fueling Vulnerability To COVID In Some Communities

With guest host Austin Cross

Guest:

Shruti Gohil, M.D., professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine

Today on AirTalk, we break down the latest COVID-19 news. Also on the show, we discuss Biden's move to withdraw troops in Afghanistan by Sept. 11; talk about Facebook's move to create a kid-friendly Instagram app; and more.