Kirk Siegler

LA Mayor Candidates Try To Persuade Voters To Pay Attention

Kirk Siegler — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:02:00 +0000

The candidates have spent a record amount of money.

Reward For Christopher Dorner Will Be Split Four Ways

Kirk Siegler — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:50:00 +0000

Four people will share the reward money associated with the capture of former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner. He was the cop who went on a killing spree after being dismissed from the force.

On Southern California Cruise, A Splash Of 'Urban Ocean'

Kirk Siegler — Sun, 05 May 2013 09:24:00 +0000

A cruise run by the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., sounds like a picturesque summer outing. But the Urban Ocean boat cruise highlights the juxtaposition of a powerful port with a fragile ecosystem: You're just as likely to see trash as you are to see marine life.

In front of the aquarium, school kids are running around, eager to go inside and pet the sharks and see the penguins.

Why An Immigration Deal Won't Solve The Farmworker Shortage

Kirk Siegler — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:11:00 +0000

The Salinas Valley in Northern California grows about 80 percent of the country's lettuce, and it takes a lot of people to pick and pack it. In a field owned by Duda Farm Fresh Foods, a dozen lechugueros, or lettuce pickers, are bent at the waist, cutting heads of iceberg lettuce. They work frantically to stay in front of a line of 12 more packers, who seal them with tape and toss them onto a conveyor belt.

"There's a lot more going on here than meets the eye," says Sammy Duda, the company's vice president.

Looking To Broaden Appeal, RNC Heads To Hollywood

Kirk Siegler — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:31:00 +0000

The Republican National Committee is holding its spring meeting in the Democratic stronghold of Hollywood this week — part of an effort to broaden the party's appeal.

So far, there are sharp divisions among RNC delegates about the future direction of the GOP. But there's general agreement that the party isn't effectively communicating its message.

At a sometimes raucous afternoon meeting Wednesday, speaker after speaker walked up to the microphone and made pleas about the future of the GOP. "We need to multiply, not divide," one said.

L.A. Schools Hire Security Aides To Watch For Threats

Kirk Siegler — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:21:00 +0000

Tenth Street Elementary is in the Pico-Union district of Los Angeles, a few blocks west of the Staples Center and downtown skyscrapers.

Villaraigosa Faulted For Not Helping Latino Politicians

Kirk Siegler — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:11:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

Los Angeles is getting ready to elect a new mayor, and the field is down to two: city comptroller Wendy Greuel and city councilman Eric Garcetti. Now, while Garcetti speaks often of his Mexican ancestry on his father's side, neither candidate is seen as a product of L.A.'s Latino community or political establishment.

And this is notable because of all the attention paid to the current mayor's background when he came to office.

In Gun State, Suicide Prevention Aims For Firearm Safety

Kirk Siegler — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:33:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgPjT88ZfaE

A Turning Point For Talking About Suicide And Guns In Wyoming

Kirk Siegler — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:20:00 +0000

Guns are a big part of everyday life in Wyoming, and many residents have been directly impacted by a suicide in which a gun was used. The state has the highest suicide rate in the nation, and three-quarters of Wyoming's suicides are by firearm.

The rural state's relationship with guns has long made suicide prevention efforts challenging.

Owens Valley Salty As Los Angeles Water Battle Flows Into Court

Kirk Siegler — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:47:00 +0000

In the West, fights over water last a long time.

It's been almost 100 years since William Mulholland stood atop an aqueduct along the Owens River and said, "There it is, take it." He was referring to a diversion channel that started piping water to Los Angeles from 200 miles away. That water allowed L.A.

Sequestered Spring Means Fewer Rangers, Services At National Parks

Kirk Siegler — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:20:00 +0000

Spring has come early to the Yosemite Valley, and the melting snow makes for a spectacular rush of water off the granite face of Yosemite Falls, the tallest in North America.

Early March is when park officials would normally be gearing up for the busy tourist season. Instead, they're figuring out how to cut $1.5 million from their budget. Without a budget deal, the sequestration has forced the Park Service to cut a total of $134 million from sites around the country.

"Do we close a visitor center for the entire season, or do we just cut back hours?" says Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman.

Ex-LAPD Officer May Have Stalked Targets Before Killing Spree

Kirk Siegler — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:24:00 +0000

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.

We're learning more about the actions of Christopher Dorner, the former police officer turned fugitive in Southern California. Today, police in Los Angeles said they believe he stalked LAPD officers and their families before he began his alleged killing rampage. Authorities say Dorner killed himself last week during a violent standoff in the mountains east of L.A.

G20 Leaders Pledge To Avert Currency War

Kirk Siegler — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:42:00 +0000

A meeting of finance ministers from the 20 leading industrial and developing nations wrapped up over the weekend in Moscow. The nations agreed to not to target the exchange rates of their respective currencies amid concerns that competitive devaluation could spark a currency war.

Still A Sense Of Tension In San Bernardino Mountains After Shootout

Kirk Siegler — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:44:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

It's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Audie Cornish.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

I'm Robert Siegel. And we begin this hour in Southern California, where there are more questions than answers about yesterday's gun battle between police and a man thought to be Christopher Dorner. Dorner is the former LAPD officer who's been on the run.

Reward Offered For Ex-LAPD Officer's Arrest

Kirk Siegler — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:26:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

We're also following a story in Southern California: the ongoing hunt for a former policeman suspected of a killing spree. Christopher Dorner is sought in the shooting of three people last week. The mayor of Los Angeles announced the city is offering a $1 million reward for any information leading to his arrest.

Manhunt Underway For Former LAPD Cop Accused Of Killing Three Officers

Kirk Siegler — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:28:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

And I'm Robert Siegel.

A huge manhunt is underway in Southern California. People are looking for a former LAPD officer said to be armed and extremely dangerous.

CHIEF CHARLIE BECK: Christopher Dorner is wanted for a series of crimes, including assaults on officers and three homicides in Southern California in the past week.

SIEGEL: That's Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck briefing reporters today.

Fitness Boot Camps May Get The Boot In Santa Monica, Calif.

Kirk Siegler — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:12:00 +0000

If you haven't been to Palisades Park — the famous oceanfront park in Santa Monica, Calif. — chances are you have seen its swaying palm trees and sweeping ocean vistas in movies and commercials.

Running up the wooden stairs that plunge to the beach is the workout to do in this city where it seems like you have to be fit to fit in. In fact, most early mornings before work hours, this park seems more like an outdoor gym than anything else, with running clubs, weight training and kickboxing classes.

But it appears that even in Southern California, the fitness craze has its limits.

AmEx Travel Section Bears The Brunt Of Layoffs

Kirk Siegler — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:55:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Heading in the other direction, American Express says it plans to lay off more than 5,000 workers in the coming year.

California Law Addresses Social Media Privacy

Kirk Siegler — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:41:00 +0000

California has a new law in affect this year that bars employers from forcing employees to hand over their social media passwords. Some companies have been asking for these passwords to keep tabs on employees.

Increased Payroll Taxes Pinch Some Middle Class Families

Kirk Siegler — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:52:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

And I'm Robert Siegel.

We may have avoided the fiscal cliff for the moment, but most Americans will still feel a dip in their take home pay this year. That's because payroll taxes that fund Social Security were not on the negotiating table this week in Congress. They are resetting back up to where they were at the end of 2010.

Newtown Copes With Grief, Searches For Answers

Kirk Siegler — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And let's talk more about the Newtown shootings. The National Rifle Association holds a news conference this morning. The gun rights organization has been largely silent since the shootings but is promising a major announcement. The Motion Picture Association of America is also joining the discussion. Its chairman, Chris Dodd, says Hollywood wants to help America heal.

Smuggling In Southern California Up 30 Percent

Kirk Siegler — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Drug cartels are taking to the ocean. That's because security along the land border between the U.S. and Mexico has been beefed up. Smuggling off the coast of Southern California is up 30 percent this year, according to the government, and that has the Coast Guard and Homeland Security warning of an increasingly dangerous situation off the busy coast.

NPR's Kirk Siegler reports.

KIRK SIEGLER, BYLINE: Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne was in command of the cutter Halibut when he got a call in the predawn hours of December 2nd.

Cargo Moving Again At Calif. Ports After Strike Ends

Kirk Siegler — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:51:00 +0000

Cargo started moving again on Wednesday at the nation's largest ports. An eight-day strike by clerical workers at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is over. Melissa Block talks with Kirk Siegler from the port, where clerks, longshoremen and truckers are all glad to be back on the job.

GOP Has Edge In Colorado's Early Voting

Kirk Siegler — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:41:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Now, let's talk next about Colorado, where Republicans edged ahead in early voting, the same early voting that was key to Democratic success back in 2008.

Beyond Hot Air: Political Blimps Take To Swing-State Skies

Kirk Siegler — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:07:00 +0000

How do you reach an audience of more than 200,000 people a day in an important swing state without buying an expensive TV ad?

If you're Sid Overton, you build a blimp and fly it alongside one of Colorado's busiest freeways.

"It says, 'Romney For President.

Being 'Better Off' May Not Be Enough To Win Colo.

Kirk Siegler — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:43:00 +0000

Colorado is a good venue for a presidential debate focusing on domestic issues. The first of three highly anticipated debates between President Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, will take place Wednesday at the University of Denver.

The state is known for its independent voting streak, and much like the rest of the country, there are sharp political divides about the role of government in the economy.

Obama Backers Battle For Dominance On Denver Airwaves

Kirk Siegler — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Watching the first 20 minutes of Saturday Night Live's season premiere in Denver, I counted at least four ads by the Obama campaign and liberal groups backing the president.

New Politics Emerge In Aurora, Colo., After Shooting

Kirk Siegler — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 21:10:00 +0000

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

And I'm Audie Cornish.

The deadly movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado has become a key issue in at least two tight congressional races in that battleground state. Since the attacks, two Democratic candidates - running in districts in and around Aurora - have called for stricter gun laws.

Pro-Romney SuperPAC: 'Enormous Opportunity' In Western Swing States

Kirk Siegler — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:44:00 +0000

Some well-funded pro-Mitt Romney superPACs and other advocacy groups are pulling their TV ad dollars in Pennsylvania and Michigan and are doubling down on efforts in what they consider to be more crucial swing states — such as Florida, Ohio, Iowa and Colorado.

Those are states where President Obama has also been spending considerable time campaigning lately, but where he's facing a barrage of attack ads from his Republican rival and the conservative superPACs, such as American Crossroads, and nonprofit advocacy groups, like Americans for Prosperity.