Tampa Bay hasn’t been hit directly by a major hurricane since 1921. Milton may be the one
Thousands of people streamed out of the Tampa Bay region yesterday and today ahead of what could be a once-in-a-century direct hit from Hurricane Milton. The preparations marked the last chance for millions of residents of the Tampa metro area to prepare for killer storm surges, ferocious winds and possible tornadoes in a place that has narrowly avoided a head-on blow from a major storm for generations. The Tampa Bay region, home to more than 3.3 million people, hasn’t seen a direct hit from a major hurricane in more than a century. Milton fluctuated between categories 4 and 5 as it approached, but regardless of the distinction in wind speeds, the National Hurricane Center said, it would be a major and extremely dangerous storm when its center makes landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. Joining us this morning on AirTalk is Lori Rozsa, reporter based in Florida who covers the state for The Washington Post; she’s based in Palm Beach but has traveled to St. Petersburg and Tampa this week to cover the storm.
With files from the Associated Press.
CA Congressional District 47: Former State Assemblymember Scott Baugh discusses legislative priorities if elected to Congress
California representative Katie Porter's decision not to seek re-election for Congress, as her attempted bid for Senator ended in March’s primaries, has left her position up for grabs. California’s 47th congressional district, which represents cities like Seal Beach, Irvine, and Laguna Beach, is considered to be a purple district; the two candidates to make it out of the primary were former State Assemblymember Scott Baugh and sitting State Senator Dave Min. Both candidates are making different cases to voters, with Min prioritizing reproductive rights and gun violence prevention, Baugh’s focus is securing the border and modifying congressional spending. Today on AirTalk, we speak to former State Assemblymember, and candidate for Congress’s 47th District, Scott Baugh, about how he’d plan to potentially represent his constituents.
CA-47 includes: Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, and Laguna Beach
A guide through LA’s most unique and underrated museums
Los Angeles is known for its museums like The Getty and LACMA. But with a population and culture as diverse and sprawling as LA, the city has some hidden gems amongst the well-known staples. The new book Also On View: Unique and Unexpected Museums of Greater Los Angeles explores LA's 750 unique and niche museums like the Streetlight Museum, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, and the African American Miniature Museum just to name a few. These museums and collections range from unknown histories to strange art collections. The book also includes photographs of each museum by fine art photographer, Ryan Schude. Today on AirTalk, we talk to author Todd Lerew, director of special projects for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. We also want to hear from you! What is your favorite small, niche museum in LA? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Prop 4: The California ballot measure that funds climate and environmental bonds
Proposition 4 is a $10 billion bond to help the state pay for efforts to address the impacts of climate change, including boosting water recycling, flood control and wildfire and sea level rise protections. Much of the climate bond money would go to infrastructure. It’s common for governments to take out long-term debt to pay for expensive infrastructure projects that will last for decades. Its supporters say that the bond is needed to shift from a reactive to a more proactive approach to the worsening impacts of climate change. However, its opponents argue that the bond will only add to California’s worsening deficit and that the harm to taxpayers due to paying the bond back with interest outweigh the benefits. Joining us to debate the proposition is Alfredo Gonzalez, president of Californians for Safe Water and Wildfire Prevention and chair of the campaign for Proposition 4. Also joining the conversation is Republican State Senator Brian Jones (minority leader), who represents the 40th State Senatorial district.
With files from LAist’s Voter Game Plan.
New regulations look to expand water access through water recycling? We discuss its importance and dispel its myths
Water recycling — once dubbed “toilet-to-tap” by naysayers — has officially entered a new era in California. This month, statewide regulations for what’s technically called “direct potable reuse” went into effect. The rules allow wastewater — the water that goes down the drain or is flushed down the toilet — to be treated to drinkable standards and then distributed directly to homes and businesses. So, how are local water districts looking to direct potable reuse in their greater plans for water use and infrastructure? Today on AirTalk, we’ll talk to LAist climate emergency reporter Erin Stone about what she’s learned since the regulations were certified. We’ll also hear from Sunny Wang, water resources manager for the city of Santa Monica and Paul Liu, assistant director of Water Engineering & Technical Services at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
With files from LAist; you can read Erin’s piece by clicking here.
Chappell Roan’s recent criticism of fans’ behavior highlights how much fandom has changed
Singer-songwriter and rising pop sensation Chappell Roan has exploded into the mainstream. Her debut studio album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess released in 2023 and has since topped charts. The onslaught of fandom led Roan to call out toxic behavior and invasive fans who she says have "stalked" her and her family. Many have voiced support for the artist, but some believe it's what comes with the gig. Pop stars' relationships to fans have changed a lot in the age of social media. There's less privacy and an expectation to engage with fans on platforms. What are the consequences of these changes and could Roan inspire a shift toward more boundaries? What are your thoughts? Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com. Joining to discuss is Maura Johnston, freelance writer for Rolling Stone and adjunct instructor of music journalism at Boston College, and Eric Wesselmann, professor of psychology at Illinois State University, where he researches media, fandom and pop culture as well as social connection and inclusion.
