Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Laura's Law, U.S. Wine Drinking & Commencement Speakers
LA approaches fire season, Laura's Law passes, U.S. leads in wine consumption, commencement speaker controversies, and Russia cuts off US space support.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenHigh temps, high winds, low humidity... it’s fire season. And Orange County has passed “Laura’s Law,” which means that people suffering from mental illness can be forced into treatment by a court. The U.S. has taken over as the biggest wine consumer in the world, pushing France to #2. This seems to be the year of the commencement address dis-invite. But does anyone remember their commencement speaker? And, in space news, US-Russia tension over Ukraine could take a toll on the US space program.
Banner Image: Dalai Lama with Tulane University president Scott Cowen for Tulane's 2013 commencement ceremony; Credit: Tulane Public Relations
In this episode
5 storiesFire Season
Fire season is upon us. Santa Ana winds, high heat and low humidity mean high fire danger in Southern California. Brush fires in San Diego and Santa Barbara led to thousands of evacuations yesterday. And temperatures are even hotter today all over the Southland.
Read the story10 minLaura's Law
Orange County has become the first major county in California to adopt what’s known as "Laura’s Law." Supervisors voted unanimously for it. That means people suffering from mental illness who are a threat to the community can be forced into treatment by a court. Will Orange County lead the way for the rest of the state to adopt the law?
Read the story11 minWine Drinking
À votre santé America! Or should we say “cheers”? For the first time ever, the US became the world’s biggest wine market last year. France, home of Bordeaux and Champagne and Beaujolais, slid into second place.
Read the story6 minCommencement Speakers
This seems to be the year of the commencement speaker controversy. Student and faculty protests have caused Condoleezza Rice and the director of the International Monetary Fund to back out of commencement speeches at Rutgers and Smith College.
Read the story9 minNews from Space
Could American astronauts get to the International Space Station using a big trampoline? That’s the suggestion tweeted by Russia’s deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin.
Read the story10 min
