Monks & Merrill

It's the weekend! Monks and Merrill talk to Christopher Lowe from Long Beach Shark Lab about funding and sharks on the beaches. We also dive into the rise of personalized pricing as retailers use consumer data to tailor prices and promotions, raising new questions about fairness and privacy. Then, USGS geologist Kate Scharer explains why a long-quiet section of the San Andreas Fault has scientists on alert.

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The Army has upgraded their cars to be stronger than ever, should you? California Post reported on frozen meat locked up in steel cages at a CA Walmart, but are they even sure that's true? A neighborhood is rising up against developers to save a historic roller rink. Big Sur is being overloaded with tourists.

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Hour 1 -  Homelessness is on the rise in Los Angeles, delivering another political challenge for Mayor Karen Bass. Plus, questions are mounting over the mayor's press team using disappearing WhatsApp messages, and why California left nearly $200 million in funding for new school air conditioners sitting on the table while districts continue to wait for relief.

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Hour 2 - The David Pearce murder trial resumes with investigators testifying that blood found in a Tesla matched Celeste Rivas Hernandez's DNA. KFI's Heather Brooker joins the show to discuss how California's expanded film and TV tax credits are helping bring production back to the state. Plus, movie theater popcorn buckets have become a $100 million business, and Amazing Brands CEO Stephen Siegel talks about reviving the iconic Hot Dog on a Stick brand under its new ownership.

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Hour 3 - California nurses say technology is getting in the way of patient care, not improving it. Cathy Kennedy, RN and President of the California Nurses Association, joins Monks & Merrill to explain why Kaiser nurses are raising concerns about the growing role of tech in hospitals. Plus, the federal government cracks down on student loans for low-paying degree programs, a new report names the Los Angeles-Orange County region as the nation's least affordable housing market, and why renting is now beating buying in many California cities.

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Hour 1 - Pasadena residents are taking their fight to new heights as activists climb trees and lawsuits mount over the school district's controversial tree removal plan. Jessica Richards, Co-founder of PUSD Trees, joins Monks & Merrill to discuss the growing standoff. Plus, why do vacant buildings in Downtown L.A. keep catching fire on the same block? And neighbors near the Boyle Heights warehouse say giant rats, swarms of bright green flies, and unbearable odors have turned daily life into a nightmare. 

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Hour 2 - As the AI revolution accelerates, even the people who helped build it are sounding the alarm. Rachel Frazin, reporter for The Hill, joins Monks & Merrill to discuss Silicon Valley workers protesting AI's growing threat to jobs and society, along with how California's "billionaire playground" is feeling the strain of a booming tech industry. Then, Heather Brooker, KFI reporter and host of KFI Live with Heather Brooker and the award-winning podcast Entertain Me, talks about the possible revival of Hollywood's iconic Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas, plus more movie talk, Comic-Con excitement, and the historic Alex Theatre.

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Hour 3 - Questions are mounting after a homeless services nonprofit reportedly paid more than $1.7 million to companies owned by its own CEO. Monks & Merrill break down the controversy as new projections suggest homelessness in Los Angeles could climb another 3.5%. Plus, Orange County launches an innovative program that will send some 911 calls to social workers instead of law enforcement, and a new UCLA report examines the economic toll immigration raids are having on Southern California communities.

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Hour 1 - Orange County officials and families demand answers after several children in Ladera Ranch are diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, raising calls for a federal investigation. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and attorney Jackie French join the show to discuss the growing concerns and what's being done. Then, USGS geologist Kate Scharer explains why a long-quiet section of the San Andreas Fault has scientists on alert. Plus, Monks & Merrill break down Goldenvoice's new Ocean Way music festival coming to Santa Monica, featuring The Killers and Olivia Dean—and why taking Metro may be your best bet.

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Hour 2 - Could water taxis become part of the transportation plan for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics? Monks & Merrill discuss the growing interest in bringing ferries to the Games and whether Burbank's legal battle over a proposed North Hollywood-to-Pasadena bus rapid transit line could derail key transit projects before LA28. Then, Dr. Jay Doucet joins the show to discuss the rapid rise of e-bikes, their benefits for commuters and recreation, and new research on e-bike injuries across California. Plus, California's DMV launches a possible criminal investigation into alleged driver's license testing irregularities.

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