Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Historic Water Deal Ends Decades-Long Fight Between L.A. and Owens Valley
Water officials in Los Angeles and the Owens Valley announced an historic agreement today that could save L.A. 3 billion gallons of water a year.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenWe begin with a new internal report from the LAPD that says cops see the department’s disciplinary system as biased based on race, gender, and rank. Then, water officials in Los Angeles and the Owens Valley struck an historic deal today that could save L.A. 3 billion gallons of water a year. Next, an in-depth look at the problem of sexual abuse in competitive swimming. Then, in our weekly film segment, we take stock of new releases including Dumb and Dumber To and Foxcatcher. Finally, a look at the situation on the ground in Ukraine, where world leaders fear that an influx of Russian tanks could be a prelude to war.
Banner Image: The Los Angeles Aqueduct in the Owens Valley by Gann Matsuda - Own work
In this episode
5 storiesLAPD Examines its own Biases
An internal Los Angeles Police Department report out today says employees think the department’s disciplinary system is skewed based on race, gender and rank. The LAPD is looking into the issue after former officer Christopher Dorner went on a killing rampage last year, leaving behind a manifesto about prejudice in the department.
Read the story8 minLA Strikes Historic Water Deal With Owens Valley
City officials struck a deal today that could save Angelenos 3 billion gallons of water a year. For more than a decade, L.A. has poured water into the mostly dried-up Owens Lake, 200 miles northeast. The water stops huge amounts of dust from blowing out of the salty lake bed and polluting the air.
Read the story8 minSexual Abuse in Swimming
Olympic swimmer and coach Jack Nelson died last week. He was famous for coaching the U.S. women’s relay team that beat the favored East Germans at the 1976 Olympics. But he was also accused by one of his star athletes, Diana Nyad, of raping her multiple times when she was a teenager. Nyad is not alone.
Read the story12 minDumb and Dumber To, and More in Movies
It’s that time of year when we already know everything there is to know about the new releases at the box office, because they debuted at festivals months ago. With a few exceptions, that is: We discuss one, Dumb and Dumber To, plus other flicks hitting the big screen this weekend in our weekly film roundup.
Read the story14 minUkraine Exodus
World leaders always travel with an entourage, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruffled feathers at the G20 Summit in Brisbane by bringing a phalanx of warships. Meanwhile, Russian tanks have been streaming over the border into Ukraine, which NATO leaders worry is a prelude to war.
Read the story7 min
