Shirley Jahad: Hundreds of dancers young and old are tapping out the rhythms of their lives at a festival underway in Culver City. KPCC's Shirley Jahad takes us there.
Julie Small: After a week of wrangling over the budget in Sacramento, state lawmakers have gone home empty-handed. Governor Schwarzenegger tried to light a fire under them by refusing to sign any bills until they send him a budget. But Democrats and Republicans are so far from a compromise they've stopped meeting to discuss it. KPCC's Julie Small reports that some lawmakers predict the gridlock could last until next month.
Brian Watt: There's a reason Chinese officials chose to begin the Olympic Games on the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the century. For billions of people, including Asian-Americans in the Southland, eight is a very lucky number. KPCC's Brian Watt checked in yesterday on last-minute preparations for a lot of celebrations.
Brooke Binkowski: If you're wondering how many calories are in that burger-to-go, KPCC's Brooke Binkowski reports that some Southland fast food restaurants may have to report that information on their menus soon.
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez: This week in Los Angeles, college and university administrators from around the country tackled a vexing issue in higher education: how to open the doors to more students and keep them enrolled. KPCC's Adolfo Guzman-Lopez has the story.
Brooke Binkowski: California's unemployment rate is way up. A sick economy and corporate woes have hit Los Angeles County particularly hard. Seven percent of its labor force is unemployed. KPCC's Brooke Binkowski says that's the highest figure in half a decade.
Kitty Felde: Thirty years ago, musician Danny Elfman led his quirky rock band Oingo Boingo on stage before a small but loyal crowd of fans at U.C. Irvine. This week, Elfman is back in Orange County with a different sort of theatrical troupe. American Ballet Theatre will perform the West Coast premiere of a new ballet by Twyla Tharp, a co-production with the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Danny Elfman composed the music. KPCC's Special Correspondent Kitty Felde found the underground bunker that serves as Elfman's studio for a conversation about making music.
Shirley Jahad: On Friday, the eyes of the world will focus on Beijing, China as the Opening Cermonies of the 2008 Olympics are held. KPCC's Shirley Jahad spoke with Channel 4's Ted Chen, who's in Beijing as preparations enter their final stage.
Brian Watt: Local and federal prosecutors want to take down what they say is a network of hospitals, doctors, ambulance companies, and others that have used homeless people to bilk Medi-Cal and Medicare out of millions of dollars. KPCC's Brian Watt has more on the story.
Steven Cuevas: San Bernardino County is reporting its first human case of West Nile Virus. The news arrives as Southland health officials warn that this could be the most deadly year on record for the mosquito-borne virus. We usually hear that the greatest West Nile risk is to older people, or to anyone who's already in poor health. KPCC's Steven Cuevas says that's not always the case.
