Which Way, L.A.?

California Infrastructure Crisis

Since the 1960s, heated competition for state funds has moved California spending from roads, airports and aqueducts, to education, incarceration, and public welfare programs. The shift in California's urban-suburban makeup, political and environmental interests, tax revolts and term limits have all affected the equation. Is the solution increased spending efficiency, better money management and creative thinking? We check in with a public policy researcher, urban planner, and Joel Fox, formerly president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. (Managing editor Kyle McKinnon guest hosts this half hour edition of WWLA.) Newsmaker: Napster Offers One Billion to Music Industry - Napster made a billion-dollar offer to major record labels today to settle a potentially devastating lawsuit over copyright infringement. Porter Bibb, of Technology Partners, a merchant bank specializing in media and entertainment, says the pay out will come from "subscriptions" from the 58 million listeners currently downloading music for free. Reporter's Notebook: Los Angeles Times Price Hike On March 5, the Los Angeles Times will double its weekday newsstand price. While the paper expects some drop in street use, the increase brings the price of the paper up to that of most American dailies. Bryce Nelson, of USC's Annenberg School, talks about this and editorial changes since the paper's purchased by the Chicago Tribune.