KCRW's Which Way, LA?

LA County Sheriff’s deputies have smartphones to take photographs that can be checked against mug shot databases using facial recognition technology. But there’s no state law protecting civil rights or privacy. Will pictures be limited only to people arrested? What about legal protesters? How long will the photos be kept in sheriff’s department files? We’ll look for some answers.

There's going to be more congestion during the evening rush hour ? especially on the Westside ? but that didn't stop the LA City Council from endorsing what's called "Mobility Plan 2035."  That's the year when hundreds of miles of new bike and bus lanes are scheduled to be completed ? in the interests of the environment, public transit and pedestrian safety. 

When the Watts Riots broke out 50 years ago, the neighborhood was a black ghetto. There was too much poverty, too little education and pervasive police brutality. The Riots are also called the Rebellion. We talk with two people who were on the scene. Now, Watts is predominantly Latino. We'll hear what else has changed?and what remains the same. 

Now that Boston has dropped out, Los Angeles is in the running to host the summer Olympics in 2024. Mayor Garcetti says the city can benefit economically ? just like it did in 1984. He's even willing to cover cost overruns, something former Mayor Tom Bradley refused to do. Is it a better bet for taxpayer money than it was 30 years ago?

Architect Frank Gehry's buildings are stand-alone landmarks all over the world. Mayor Garcetti says he's the right man to make 51 miles of the Los Angeles River "something special."

Local politicians are being congratulated for raising the minimum wage. Some 700,000 workers will be entitled to $10.50 an hour next year and $15 by the year 2020. But that doesn't mean they'll get it. 

After decades of excessive force by jailers, abuse of mentally ill inmates and prisoner suicides, LA County has agreed to institute sweeping changes. A federal court will monitor progress to make sure that promised reforms really happen. We?ll ask Sheriff Jim McDonnell if he plans to clean house.

The move to restore the Los Angeles River is living up to the best of expectations ? with camp-outs, pop-up picnics and performances of live music. But when that kind of cultural energy appears, developers are never far behind and, sure enough, there are now fears of gentrification. Will current residents be priced out of a hip neighborhood that's downtown adjacent?

San Diego, Santa Barbara and Huntington Beach aren't waiting for El Niño. They're opting to take the salt out of ocean water, despite increased cost to ratepayers and the environment. Will the trade-offs be worth it, or should California focus on conservation and toilet-to-tap recycling of waste water?

Mass shooters often use guns equipped with high-capacity magazines, so they don't have to stop and re-load. This week, the LA City Council voted unanimously to ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. It's not really gun control, but advocates see momentum in that direction. Gun-rights groups see a threat to self-protection. Will it have any impact within -- or beyond -- city limits?

Boston was the US Olympic Committee?s first choice to host the summer games in 2024. Los Angeles was number two. Now that Boston?s dropped out, is LA ready to bid again? We hear the pros and the cons.

Threats that used to be spray-painted on the sides of buildings are now turning up on line.  They might come from anywhere ? but they're creating fears in some neighborhoods.

When it comes to the worst roads in the country, the LA Metropolitan area is second only to San Francisco, with San Diego not far behind. Altogether, the state needs $59 billion for freeway maintenance and repair. The gasoline tax might be going up, and there could be a vehicle tax in your future ? even if you drive an electric car.

The gentrification debate has taken a new turn in one historic Los Angeles neighborhood. View Park has been called the "Black Beverly Hills." It's nearly 84 percent African American now, but an effort to place View Park on the National Register of Historic Places could entice yet more white home buyers and erode its cultural integrity as a haven for affluent black families. 

LA Supervisors were inundated with public comment today ? for and against a measure that would increase the minimum wage. Over the next five years, it would go from $9 an hour to $15 in unincorporated areas. The City of LA took similar action last month, but other municipalities are undecided. Will Burbank or Glendale keep wages down and try to lure businesses into crossing the border?