Ken Jeffries talks with Legal Analyst Royal Oakes, who says bail for Dr. Conrad Murray has been set at 75-thousand dollars...three times more than most people charged with involuntary manslaughter face. The Houston cardiologist was with the pop star when he died last June. Murray could face up to four years in prison if convicted.

Ken Jeffries talks with Legal Analyst Royal Oakes about the involuntary manslaughter charges filed against Michael Jackson's doctor--Conrad Murray. The Houston Cardiologist was with the pop star when he died last June, and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov who says the first victim of L.A. City budget cuts is (or are) the monthly council sessions at Van Nuys City Hall.

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News sports columnist Vincent Bonsignore about what to look for in the Big Game, including some of the 'intangtibles' like heart, desire ... and the prospect of seeing The Who involved in a halftime "wardrobe malfuction" (yecch).

Ken Jeffries talks with Daily News--USC beat writer Scott Wolf about the incoming class. He says that one rating service has it as tops in the nation. However, although one key player has VERBALLY committed to the school, he hasn't yet SIGNED a LETTER OF INTENT, pending an NCAA investigation of the program.

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov, who says the Council has put off a decision on laying off the first thousand of 15-hundred workers as well as reviewing whether police and fire should be included in the cuts.

Meantime, several city officials say they want to call on voters to approve tax hikes to raise more money for the city, which is facing a 200-million dollar shortfall this year.

Ken Jeffries talks with the head of the LA Regional Food Bank...who says nearly a million LA County residents are seeking assistance from food banks, etc. That's a FORTY-SIX percent jump from four years ago.

Ken also talks with Daily News entertainment industry writer Bob Strauss, who takes a look at this year's TEN Oscar nominees for Best Picture...and voices his opinion on whether the expansion from FIVE--will be worth it in terms of increased ratings on the Oscar telecast.

In this podcast, you'll hear several aspects of the City Council's Budget Comittee meeting dealing with potential cuts that may now include police and fire services..earlier said to be off-limits. You'll hear from residents who fear their quality of life will be affected....to city officials asking for more details on any potential financial help from Washington.

Up to 15-hundred city jobs are said to be considered for elimination...as the CAO projects the deficit could grow to nearly a BILLION dollars by 2014.

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov about the cuts which could be coming to the bureau of sanitation, the department of rec and parks, the city attorney's office, public library and personnel depts. to help cover a roughly 200-million dollar deficit.

Ken Jeffries talks with several people in Woodland Hills...getting their take on the Obama Administration's first year in office..and his State of the Union address in particular.

They all indicated that he should have focused on jobs rather than health care during his first year...and even though he devoted most of this week's speech to jobs, they're adopting a wait-and-see attitude.

Ken Jeffries talks with Brian Cooley...Editor-at-Large for cnet.com...who says by-and large, the iPad is a GOOD thing (big screen, long battery life)......but that it also has its DRAWBACKS (relative bulkiness...and ties to AT&T).

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News City Hall reporter Rick Orlov about LA's medicinal marijuana ordinance...which has been given a final "okay" by the City Council (the vote was 9 to 3). It now goes to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who must sign it for it to take effect.

It caps the number of dispensaries at 70...and provides guidelines where they should be located (away from schools and into industrial areas). It also means that several hundred clincs now open (estimated to be around 800)--will be deemed illegal--and be forced to close. A court fight may be in the offing.

In this podcast, you'll hear Dennis Zine (a former LAPD Sgt...and a current member of the Council's Public Safety Committee) blast the decision to gradually release some 65-hundred inmates over the next year..as part of a plan to ease prison overcrowding. However, the STATE indicates the plan would INCREASE public safety by calling for parole agents to focus on higher-risk parolees and cut their average workplad from 70 parolees to 48.

Ken Jeffries talks with veteran Daily News LA City Hall reporter Rick Orlov who says the Mayor meets this week with department heads...in an effort to slash a thousand jobs from the city's payroll.

Meantime, Orlov adds that the city is quietly seeking a change in state law that would allow the Department of Transportation to put Denver Boots on cars that have THREE outstanding tickets instead of the FIVE now required. (It could bring in extra millions to the city). And, after weeks and weeks of debate...the City Council is expected to formally approve a medicinal marijuana clinic ordinance this week.

Ken Jeffries talks with Christopher Thornberg, a principal with West LA--based Beacon Economics, who examines the new stats that show LA County's unemployment rate rising slightly in December to 12-point-4 percent. That's the same percentage as the STATEWIDE rate. His comments may SURPRISE you.