Monks & Merrill

Hour 3- Monks and Merrill talk to Ken Levine about his newest project 'Guilty Pleasures- An Unapologetic Comedy' and more on the Monrovia bear. We are taking calls and hearing from you. It's all on KFIAM-640. 

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We are covering all things, Chavez. His sexual assault accusations and what could be renamed as a result. PLUS a bear funeral in Monrovia. It's all on KFIAM-640. 

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Michael Monks and Chris Merrill are covering the housing crowd and talking to Michael Schneider, founder of Streets for All, a Los Angeles-based advocacy organization dedicated to reallocating street space from cars to people, prioritizing safety, public transit, and active transportation, such as biking and walking. PLUS we are getting into all things Metro with the K Line extension and Metro fair evasions.  It's all on KFIAM-640!

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Gas prices are rising and making EV look really good. The prices aren't just hurting the driver, Monks and Merrill explain. PLUS texting isn't the only thing distracting drivers Pimping your ride comes at a cost. All that and more on KFIAM-640. 

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New “shocking” allegations tied to César Chávez are casting a shadow over Sacramento’s annual march honoring the labor icon, even as organizers push forward amid growing concern. At the same time, labor tensions escalate in Los Angeles, where the teachers union is poised to announce a strike date following an overwhelming 97% authorization vote by SEIU Local 99 members. Adding to the turmoil, LAUSD faces mounting financial pressure, dipping into reserves as rising costs and the end of pandemic relief funds strain its latest budget.

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 Experts warn that more drivers are watching YouTube and TikTok behind the wheel—a growing and deadly trend driven by a digital economy designed to capture constant attention. As concerns mount, legal scrutiny is intensifying, with cases targeting platforms like Instagram for addictive design features that may reshape product liability laws, according to WashU’s Oliver Roberts. At the same time, troubling reports reveal teen girls are inundated with explicit content immediately after joining social media, while a former Meta employee testifies the company failed to adequately safeguard young users.

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A Section 8 tenant filing dozens of $100,000 lawsuits is spotlighting growing tensions in Southern California’s rental market. As LA County moves to strengthen tenant protections by raising eviction thresholds, experts like landlord attorney Avi Sinai weigh in on the shifting legal landscape. Meanwhile, Orange County cities are struggling to keep up with rising rents and eviction trends, even as major redevelopment plans—like twin 22-story condo towers replacing the Big Newport Theater—signal continued transformation and pressure on the region’s housing market.

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Hour 1 - A record-breaking March heat wave is set to scorch California, with experts calling it potentially one of the most extraordinary events in history. KTLA meteorologist Vera Jimenez joins Monks & Merrill to break down the alarming “Godzilla El Niño” and what it could mean for the state in the coming months. Plus, Kandace Redd from the Automobile Club of Southern California explains why gas prices in Los Angeles are climbing to their highest levels since late 2023—and what drivers can expect next. We also dig into the political battle over energy, from proposals to suspend the gas tax to renewed oil activity off the California coast and legal threats over offshore drilling.

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Hour 2 - Former Los Angeles Mayor and current gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa joins Monks & Merrill for a wide-ranging conversation—from personal stories about being picked last at recess to his vision for California’s future. Villaraigosa weighs in on the state’s regulatory challenges, environmental concerns, and infrastructure struggles in L.A. County, while also breaking down his election strategy as he campaigns for governor.

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Hour 3 - A landmark social media trial is putting platform design under the microscope, questioning whether addictive features could trigger product liability. As the legal battle unfolds, new lawsuits raise serious concerns about AI safety—teens allege that Elon Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok generated explicit images involving minors, fueling a broader debate about accountability in emerging tech. The case goes beyond individual harm, spotlighting whether companies are releasing powerful tools without adequate safeguards—and treating real-world consequences as bugs instead of foreseeable risks.

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