Off-Ramp host John Rabe and Mayor Eric Garcetti playing backgammon in John’s car. Julian “The First Lady of Off-Ramp” Bermudez in the passenger seat with camera. ; Credit: Andrea Garcia

John Rabe’s last show coincides with Eric Garcetti’s inauguration for his second term as Mayor of Los Angeles. In John's car, the two talked about:

• The joys of exploring Los Angeles
• The time the future Mayor's mom and dad took his drivers' license away
• Where Justin Trudeau should visit when he comes to LA
• And how the drop in crime has led to more people doing the Off-Ramp thing

The Mayor also did some slam poetry, and then played a competitive game of backgammon. Listen with the audio player to see who was brown and who was white. And listen to Off-Ramp on the radio to find out who won the game! (Saturday at noon/Sunday at 6pm)

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

"This is a petty, partisan power grab that is absolutely retaliation towards my office," Arizona Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs says of the new law.; Credit: Ross D. Franklin/AP

Arizona Republicans have stripped the secretary of state's office — currently held by a Democrat — of the right to defend the state's election laws in court, or choose not to, a change enacted as part of Arizona's newly signed budget.

The spending blueprint that Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law Wednesday declares that the attorney general — currently a position occupied by Republican Mark Brnovich — has sole authority over election-related litigation.

If the secretary of state and attorney general were to disagree over a legal strategy when Arizona election laws are challenged, the new law states that "the authority of the attorney general to defend the law is paramount."

Republicans also adopted language stating it's their intent for the law to apply through Jan. 2, 2023, coinciding with the end of Democrat Katie Hobbs' term as secretary of state.

Hobbs, the top election official in Arizona who's now running for governor, says her lawyers are looking at whether this change violates the Arizona Constitution.

"This is a petty, partisan power grab that is absolutely retaliation towards my office," Hobbs said. "It's clear by the fact that it ends when my term ends. ... It is at best legally questionable, but at worst, likely unconstitutional."

Republicans have generally cast the law as a cost-saving measure, citing Hobbs and Brnovich's frequent disagreements over how to defend state election laws that have been challenged in court. In 2020, Hobbs filed complaints with the state bar against Brnovich and other lawyers in his office.

Other election provisions in the budget

The budget includes a number of other election provisions, and it comes weeks after Republicans enacted new restrictions on early voting in the state, and as a controversial review of 2020 election results in Maricopa County continues.

Here are some of the other election-related measures in the budget:

• New laws could soon require watermarks, QR codes and other security measures to be printed on ballots.
• There's a new mandate to inspect state and county voter registration databases and create a report on voters who cast federal-only ballots — an option available to Arizonans who don't show proof of citizenship to register to vote in the state, but are still allowed to register under federal law.
• And a new task force would investigate alleged social media bias as an unreported in-kind political contribution.

The ballot security measures, though not mandated by law in the budget, have the potential to be the most cumbersome and costly requirement for county election officials to implement.

The budget amendment provides a list of 10 "ballot fraud countermeasures" for counties to choose from — features like holographic foil, background designs similar to those found on banknotes and ultraviolet or infrared ink. If mandated, counties would have to implement any combination of at least three features from the list on their ballots. The budget provides $12 million to pay for those features, to be split among Arizona's 15 counties.

"By everyone's admission, there is only one company that can do any of this," said Jennifer Marson, executive director of the Arizona Association of Counties. "And so now, we can't have a competitive bid process or a traditional procurement process at the county or state level to use these countermeasures because we're locked into one company."

That company is Authentix, a Texas-based firm that provided Republican Rep. Mark Finchem with a sample ballot that included watermarks, QR codes and other security measures. Finchem had the sample ballot on display at the Capitol in March. According to the Yellow Sheet Report, it could be five times more expensive to print ballots with those security measures as it is to print paper ballots currently in use.

Marson said Finchem has acknowledged the security levels required of companies in the budget amendment could only be met by Authentix, and has vowed to mandate the ballot security measures in the "very near future."

Finchem defended the company in a brief email. He wrote that Authentix "offers these countermeasures to governments around the world for document and tax stamp security."

As the budget was being considered, Democrats like Sen. Tony Navarrete said the amendment is part of a broad effort to solidify conspiracy theories of election fraud.

"It's important for us to make sure we vote down conspiracy-laced amendments that are going to hurt the integrity of our election system in the state of Arizona and encourage other states to have these bad copycat laws spread like wildfire," he said.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Michelle Rodriguez (L) and Vin Diesel (R) in "F9: The Fast Saga"; Credit: Universal Pictures

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Amy Nicholson and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.

• "F9: The Fast Saga," in wide release

• "Summer of Soul, "at El Capitan Theatre June 25-July 6; Hulu on July 2

• "Zola," in wide release

• "Sweat," at Laemmle’s NoHo 7

• "LFG," on HBO Max  

• "Rebel Hearts," Laemmle’s Glendale; on Discovery+ on June 27

• "I Carry You with Me," AMC Sunset 5 (West Hollywood), The Landmark (West LA); Laemmle Playhouse 7 & Town Center 5 on July 2 (additional Laemmle theaters on July 9)

• "Fathom," on Apple TV+, Laemmle’s Monica Film Center

• "Wolfgang," on Disney+

Our FilmWeek critics have been curating personal lists of their favorite TV shows and movies to binge-watch during self-quarantine. You can see recommendations from each of the critics and where you can watch them here.

Guests:

Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC, film writer for The New York Times and host of the podcast ‘Unspooled’ and the podcast miniseries “Zoom”; she tweets @TheAmyNicholson

Christy Lemire, film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ podcast; she tweets @christylemire

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Amazon has made a deal to purchase MGM for $8.5 billion.; Credit: /SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Editor's note: Amazon is among NPR's financial supporters.

Amazon has made a deal to buy Hollywood studio MGM for almost $8.5 billion. It's the second-largest acquisition for the company after purchasing Whole Foods.

The tech company already runs a film studio, Prime Video streaming service, and video game streaming site Twitch. But the MGM deal is its biggest move into entertainment. Amazon will get the rights to the Golden Age studio's film and television library.

The announcement was made Wednesday morning by the two companies. In a statement, Amazon's senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, Mike Hopkins, emphasized the intellectual property value of MGM's vast holdings, which go back to the 1920s. "The real financial value behind this deal," Hopkins said, "is the treasure trove of IP in the deep catalog that we plan to reimagine and develop together with MGM's talented team."

With its mascot lion roaring logo, MGM made such movie classics as Singin' In the Rain and 2001: A Space Odyssey. MGM also owns the EPIX cable channel and runs a TV studio that produced The Handmaid's Tale and Fargo.

MGM also splits the highly lucrative James Bond movie franchise with a family that holds creative control of the 007 movies. According to Variety, as of 2020 the 24 films released so far in the series have generated $16.3 billion in global ticket sales, adjusted for inflation.

In all, MGM's catalog includes more than 4,000 films — including such pop-culture staples as Moonstruck, Legally Blonde, Rocky, The Pink Panther, The Silence of the Lambs and Poltergeist — and 17,000 television shows. Access to those movies and shows will certainly augment Amazon's Prime Video offerings, particularly at a time when other studios and networks have created their own platforms to reach consumers, such as HBO Max, Paramount+ and Disney+. As of last month, there were more than 200 million Amazon Prime account holders worldwide, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos told Variety.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the deal for $8.45 billion includes taking on MGM's current debts. The deal has not yet closed, an Amazon spokesperson noted to NPR, and is subject to regulatory approvals. The company is already facing antitrust inquiries in both the U.S. and Europe.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Chip shortages are rippling through industry after industry, preventing companies from shipping products from cars to game consoles and refrigerators.

Short-term exposure to current levels of ozone in many areas is likely to contribute to premature deaths, says a new National Research Council report, which adds that the evidence is strong enough that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should include ozone-related mortality in health-benefit analyses related to future ozone standards.

Each year, tens of millions of Americans, young and old, choose to learn about science in informal ways -- by visiting museums and aquariums, attending after-school programs, pursuing personal hobbies, and watching TV documentaries, for example.

The numerous technical and operational breakdowns that contributed to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and spill from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico suggest the lack of a suitable approach for managing the inherent risks.

The National Academy of Medicine today announced Daniel Weinberger is the recipient of the 2019 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health, for his fundamental role in elucidating the biological origins and genetic expressions of schizophrenia, and for transforming how clinicians, researchers, and the public understand mental illness.

This week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-normal 2020 hurricane season, with the possibility of three to six major hurricanes this summer looming over millions of Americans.

Most of the offshore oil and gas industry operating in the Gulf of Mexico has improved its management of systemic risk in recent years, according to a new report that also points out where uneven progress and critical gaps remain for industry and regulators to address.

The partnership between Union Bank of India and Zoho began in 2021 after the merger of Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank with Union Bank of India, which significantly expanded its operations.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, in a recent internal meeting, outlined the company's strategy to reduce management layers, aiming to eliminate bureaucracy and foster a more agile and innovative culture. Citing the rapidly evolving tech landscape, Jassy emphasized the need for faster decision-making and increased individual ownership.

AWS said researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, Berkeley, are taking part in the program. The company plans to make 40,000 of the first-generation Trainium chips available for the program.

Amazon's shares were 1.2% higher at $128.84 in early afternoon trading.

The company joined the ONDC platform about a year ago and, currently, claims to be serving 60-70 per of the total order received on the platform for the last mile delivery, besides orders received on Dunzo for delivery of groceries and some other merchants. At present, D4B has a presence in about 10 cities.

Starlink wants India to just assign a license for the service and not insist on auctioning the signal-carrying spectrum or airwaves. This stand finds Musk on the side of Tatas, Sunil Bharti Mittal's firm, and Amazon, who too prefer the same route. But Ambani's Reliance says there must be an auction of spectrum for foreign satellite service providers to offer voice and data services to provide a level playing field to traditional telecom players who offer the same services using airwaves bought in government auctions.

The Seattle-headquartered firm has reached 1.25 lakh exporters through the programme, officially called Amazon Global Selling, since inception, the statement said. Of them, over 1,200 exporters had crossed Rs 1 crore in sales in 2022, it added. Toys saw the greatest growth among all product categories, witnessing over 50% growth year on year, followed by kitchenware at over 35%, beauty at over 25%, and luggage at over 20%, the firm said in the statement.

The round was led by venture capital firm IVP and valued the company at about $520 million, according to the company. NEA, NVIDIA, Databricks, and Bessemer Venture Partners also participated in the round.

Amazon's AWS in talks with Italy to invest billions in expanding data centre business, boosting cloud offer in Europe.

Distribution expansion to Kroger and Publix more than doubles the national outlets where consumers can purchase AMC Theatres’ line of retail popcorn.

Included in the limited-time offering is Pumpkin Cheesecake made by The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, an addition to the dessert menu just in time for fall.

Eaglestone Equipment, a custom manufacturer of industrial food processing equipment, offers the 1150 Fabric Constant Turn Conveyor to help food processors speed up production lines and keep products moving efficiently through manufacturing lines. 

The upcycled tortilla chips reportedly save 20 gallons of water per bag.

Beginning in April, the company's eco-friendly tortilla chips will hit shelves in Sprouts' Innovation Centers.

Freebirds World Burrito, known as Texas’ No.1 Burrito, is adding two new plant-based options to its endless possible combinations of bowls and burritos.

ZONEFIRST’s new A2L-compliant product are engineered to ensure full compliance with this code while maintaining system performance.

Ever since the RPA was formed, members have taken advantage of the great benefits the alliance has to offer, such as codes and standards advocacy, a job center network, obtaining and creating valuable education, the annual Radiant Flooring Guide, newsletter subscription, discounts for IAPMO products and services, access to webinars and more. RPA members are professionals from all facets of the radiant profession, including manufacturers, installers, engineers, architects, students, apprentices and inspectors.

Smatrix Pulse is the industry’s first multizone wireless control system for both radiant heating as well as forced-air heating and cooling.

Xylem, in conjunction with its Goulds Water Technology brand, is engaged in regular water well initiatives to provide secure water access to rural areas, striving to increase public awareness of the challenges surrounding lack of water access.

Selected as one of 33 projects in the U.S., the funding will be matched by Kohler investment to support the Electric Boiler & Microgrid project at its manufacturing site in Casa Grande, Arizona.

The report said peak shopping times resulted in the “highest weekly injury rates” for Amazon warehouse workers.

Loading zones are high-traffic work areas with many safety hazards. Even for fully-trained employees, bad habits and lapses in best safety practices can be fostered over time — such as using overhead doors without proper caution. 

This article delves into the components of a horizontal lifeline system, their application, and why it's often best to consult with a fall protection expert before making your final choice.

The Arizona Bowl, which brings together teams from the Mountain West Conference and Mid-American Conference each year, announced a multi-year sponsorship deal, titling the event the “Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop,” to air at 2:30pm MST on Dec. 28. 

Together, Doodles and AriZona Beverages are launching a limited-edition Doodles-branded Iced Tea with Lemon drink, blending art, nostalgia, and a classic American refreshment.

7-Eleven Inc. has joined forces with ZOA Energy to bring big flavor and bigger energy to participating 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores nationwide. Consumers can head to their local 7-Eleven store to try the new flavor ― Mango Splash ― only available at 7-Eleven.

Smart lifestyle with smart light and humidifier — now available on Amazon U.S.A. Store plus all their products can be controlled with smartphones through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi easily by one touch or shake.

Nearly 56% of Americans can't cover a $1,000 emergency expense with savings. ZayZoon offers financial services to provide employees with immediate access to their hard-earned wages when they need it the most.

Launched on the global crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

Proceeds Benefit Jaws Youth Playbook & Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund

Dominican-American writer/director from Providence, RI, Vega Montañez, draws the support of undefeated UFC fighters, Hip Hop Icons, Media Personalities, and an Emmy Award winning producer to bring his next feature film to audiences around the world.

Amanda V. Louzon serves as an expert in optical management

Dazzling discounts await on Vooglam Eyewear's chic collection during Amazon Members' Day. A perfect opportunity to revamp that stylish look! Stylish eyewear at unbelievable prices in store.

Z-LOCK PLUS™ Will be Made in North America, Providing Much Quicker Manufacturing Times and Eliminate Supply Chain Uncertainty

Zorts Sports Has Changed The Game!

Albert Rizzo is clinical scientist, expert consultant and project manager

Alonzo D. Black III honored for his innovation at the intersection of music and technology

Add the products you want to your cart in advance to get at least 25% off on Amazon Prime Day

Dive into an Unforgettable Journey of Magic, Friendship, and Heroism