Michael Monks Reports

A massive fire at the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo has analysts predicting higher gas prices for Southern California; a new economic forecast from UCLA shows California's economy has weakened with unemployment much higher than the national average; the LAX People Mover project has been delayed again and pushed back to three years after its original planned opening; and primatologist Jane Goodall dies during a visit to SoCal in a week that saw a long list of strange animal-related news.

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Michael points out the "trade imbalance" and proposes tariffs on Los Angeles on behalf of down-trodden Cincinnati sports fans as the Dodgers and UCLA roll; Former USC quarterback and FOX football broadcaster Matt Sanchez is arrested in a stabbing in Indianapolis; Immigration enforcement ramps up in other cities as LA looks to keep city workers from joining the ranks of ICE; and ground is broken on LA's $2.6 billion convention center expansion where even supporters seem uncertain about being able to afford it.

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The public comments during LA city council meetings have become so frequently nasty that City Hall has formally banned racist and sexist slurs. But some regular antagonistic speakers continue to challenge the law and the expected decorum inside LA's center of government. KFI's Michael Monks has gone to City Hall to talk to these "gadflies", some of whom prefer profanity, others who turn to conspiracies, and even more who choose to engage the city council through song. Why do they behave the way they do? This special report explains.

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A new report from a 100-year old advocacy group says LA City Hall needs to take the issues facing downtown seriously, and provides a roadmap to do it; LA Comic Con and Leonardo DiCaprio are both back!

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Another round of new tariffs has been announced by the President just as the Ports of LA and Long Beach warn the White House's policies have created uncertainty among retailers and consumers; Two elephants taken from the LA Zoo in the dead of night four months ago are the focus of a new call for transparency from zoo officials.

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LA city council approves a $2.6 billion expansion of the convention center downtown despite warnings from some members and the city controller that it will put the city in a more precarious and dangerous financial position; Michael visits LA City Hall and talks with the regular gadflies whose unruly and offensive behavior has resulted in the banning of racial and sexist slurs.

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Governor Newsom signs legislation requiring federal agents to take off their masks; Popular singer's relationship with teen girl found dead in his car has derailed his tour as police investigate; LA Metro's tap-to-enter program is halted because of a fire code; Ontario's new baseball mascot is revealed.

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Charlie Kirk's widow speaks as tensions continue to mount across the country following the conservative commentator's assassination; The California Assembly has approved the polarizing Senate Bill 79, paving the way for more housing to be developed near some transit stops; Downtown LA landmarks goes and stays dark and covered in graffiti, as the rat population finds a windfall in the city's center.

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The price of the proposed expansion of the LA Convention Center has ballooned to $2.7 billion and officials aren't sure if they can afford it; The costs of coffee and other goods is on the rise, and there are some indications it could get worse; LA endorses the governor's plan to redraw congressional districts in favor of Democrats; a TV series set in Altadena after the Eaton Fire has been announced.

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Hour 1: The Powerball's estimated $1.8 billion jackpot is a lot of money, but is it too much? Michael asks, what's the right amount of wealth to feel rich, comfortable, and sane?; Chicago says it doesn't want LA's experience with immigration enforcement as the White House takes aim at the Windy City, and LA Mayor Bass has some advice for her counterparts there; And what's wrong with San Bernardino? It's at the very bottom of a pair of recent surveys calling it dirty and expensive.

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