Disneyland Expansion Clears Anaheim’s Planning Commission
Walking through the frosty, snow-covered hamlet of Arendelle from “Frozen,” or the bustling, critter-filled metropolis of “Zootopia” might be possible one day for visitors to Disney’s California theme parks. That’s if Disney wins approval from local officials to expand its Anaheim resort over the next four decades. The proposed expansion wouldn’t increase Disney’s 490-acre (488-hectare) footprint in Southern California or change what the company already has permission to build. But it could help the company develop new attractions. They could place rides and entertainment options on what is currently a sprawling, 50-acre (20-hectare) parking lot — and move parking for Disneyland to a multistory structure — all while keeping within the boundaries of a resort surrounded by residential neighborhoods. After a lengthy meeting late Monday, the city of Anaheim’s planning commission voted to recommend approval of the proposal for Disneyland, dubbed the “happiest place on Earth.” The project — which would require Disney to invest at least $1.9 billion in the theme park, lodging, entertainment and related uses over the next decade — still must be approved by the city council before taking effect. The council is expected to consider the project next month. Today on AirTalk, we discuss what we know about the proposal with Yusra Farzan, reporter for LAist, and Robert Niles, editor of news site ThemeParkInsider.com.
With files from the Associated Press.
New Report Outlines LAPD’s Use Of ‘Less Lethal’ Launchers
A recent report from the LAPD outlined the department’s use of “less lethal” launchers. These are 40-millimeter projectiles composed of hard foam that are intended to subdue uncooperative individuals. The LAPD fired the devices 133 times last year, resulting in 49 effective submissions–that’s over a third of instances. The report compared LAPD’s use of 40-millimeter projectiles to New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Houston, the country’s four other largest law enforcement agencies. According to the report, “The Los Angeles Police Department stands as the largest enforcement agency utilizing the 40mm LLL as an intermediate force option.” This report came at the request of the Police Commission after the fatal shooting of Jason Maccani, where a 40mm projectile along with two rounds of a bean bag shotgun were used to subdue Maccani before he was shot by an officer’s gun and later died in the hospital. Today on AirTalk, we’re joined by Travis Norton, retired police lieutenant who has conducted trainings in the use of non-lethal force, Jim McDonnell, director of the Safe Communities Institute at USC, which works to advance sustainable public safety strategies, policies, and programs; he is the former sheriff of Los Angeles County, served 29 years with LAPD including as first assistant chief, and was also chief of the Long Beach Police Department, and Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project to discuss law enforcement’s use of “less-lethal” launchers and possible alternatives.
A Glass Of Red Wine A Day May Not Keep The Doctor Away After All
For years, red wine has been associated with good heart health. According to a recent piece in the New York Times, this can be traced back to a 60 Minutes segment in 1991 that featured a French researcher who said the drink could potentially reduce blockages and heart attacks. Experts say studies at the time supported the theory, but reanalysis has more than poked holes in the idea. In fact, research today shows even moderate consumption of alcohol can increase risks of heart issues. And the risks could go beyond the heart. Joining to discuss is Dr. Gregory Marcus, cardiologist and professor of medicine at UCSF, and Jennifer Hay, a behavioral scientist and cancer psychologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Examining The State Of Civic Education During Civic Learning Week
It’s Civic Learning Week this week, a weeklong event spearheaded by a nonprofit civic education group called iCivics that brings together schools, policymakers, educators and more to examine the state of civic education in the U.S. and what better day to talk about the state of civic education in our country than on civics and democracy Tuesday at LAist. The weeklong event is headlined by a national forum going on today at George Washington University in D.C., which will include a conversation with Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney-Barrett. There will also be panels throughout the day focused on topics like how disinformation affects civic learning, or how civics can help us overcome political division.
Today on AirTalk, Austin Cross talks with two panelists from today’s Civic Learning Week National Forum who have Southern California ties -- UC Riverside Professor for Education Policy and Politics Joseph Kahne and Ronald Reagan Institute Civic Leaders Fellow Vivian Elisa Shepherd-Mayen, who is also an undergraduate at Stanford University.
All Creatures Great And Small: Will AI Help Humans Communicate With Animals One Day?
Could humans one day make first contact with Whales? Pigs? Crows? It’s a question more and more people in the Artificial Intelligence research space are asking. Organizations like Project CETI (the Cetacean Translation Initiative) and the Earth Species Project are compiling recordings of animal vocalizations into machine learning datasets, in an effort to talk to our closest non-human neighbors. If we could understand the specific sounds that comprise Sperm whales clicks and codas, what would we say to them? Their answers, and how humans choose to interpret a conversation with any intelligent animal on the planet could create a tremendous amount of pressure on our responsibility to the environment. That is even more than we already possess.
Today on AirTalk, we investigate if AI could really help humans communicate with some of Earth’s most intelligent creatures. Joining us is Lois Parshley, senior reporter at The Lever. Her article for the Scientific American is titled “Artificial Intelligence Could Finally Let Us Talk With Animals”. Also with us is Grant Van Horn, assistant professor of computer science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Have questions about AI, animal language modeling, or computer vision research? Give us a call at 866-893-5722. You can also email atcomments@laist.com.
How Has Your Relationship To Heirloom Jewelry Changed?
Jewelry has long been something that’s been passed down to kids and family members, from wedding rings to necklaces to watches. But the jewelry industry is not what it once was, e-commerce being one of the biggest disruptors. Plus, younger generations don’t necessarily have the same relationship to jewelry as their ancestors did. What’s your relationship to heirloom jewelry? Has it changed? Has your behavior around purchasing jewelry changed? Are you a jeweler who’s seen shifts in the industry? Give us a call at 866-893-5722. That’s 866-893-5722. You can email atcomments@laist.com. Joining to discuss is Tara Gannon, L.A.-based jewelry designer, founder of Tara Noelle Jewellery and an expert on trends in the industry.
