Gentry Battles Gonzo in a Changing Venice

Beat poets and hippies made Venice Beach a kind of retreat from middle class conformity, a place where being "different" was looked on as an asset. It was a haven for artists who hadn't made it yet and, even after it was discovered by wealthy celebrities, Venice retained a laid-back culture of tolerance. But recent gentrification and commercialization have led to a culture clash. Is that still going on or is it a thing of the past? Also, an emergency shutdown at California's only remaining nuclear power plant.

Later on To the Point, oil pipelines are laid down every day, but the one called Keystone XL has become a test of President Obama's environmental legacy. What are the possible consequences for climate change — and the economy? Will he make a decision before the midterm elections? Could that determine who controls the Senate?

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