It's time for public radio to start taking itself seriously.

What it’s like to ride in a car with no one in the driver’s seat

Since October, the robotaxi company Waymo has been offering driverless rides in Los Angeles. Greater LA’s Steve Chotakis tried one out for himself.

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Concordia Late Night

Zyndemic! How SoCal is handling the nicotine tin shortage

The tobacco-free nicotine pouch Zyn has been in short supply all summer. How did flavored pouches become the hottest nic fix?

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How scientists are using facial-recognition AI to track humpback whales

After being hunted for decades, humpback whales returned to the Pacific Ocean in big numbers. Now, new technology is revealing that underwater heat waves are taking a toll on that recovery.

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Does Trader Joe's exploit small brands for its private label products?

Adam Reiner takes a closer look at the products behind the tongue-in-cheek labels on the shelves of Trader Joe's.

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KCRW Summer Nights with CAAM

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Important Things

It’s troo: Beloved chicken chain Koo Koo Roo is returning to SoCal

Fast casual chicken joint Koo Koo Roo is back. The restaurant announced its return to the LA dining scene on Instagram on Tuesday.

LAUSD chief talks cellphone ban, police, test scores

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho discusses student achievement, school safety, and cellphone bans in an exclusive interview with KCRW’s Robin Estrin.

Making It

What does it take to “make it” in LA? These intimate, first-person stories are from Southern Californians trying to answer that question for themselves.

Video game voice actors go on strike. Yes, it’s because of AI

Video game performers have gone on strike after two years of negotiations around AI and the use of performers’ digital likeness.

Will animals cross one of the nation’s busiest freeways?

Construction has begun in Agoura Hills on the world’s largest wildlife road crossing. How do you get animals to cross over the busy 101 freeway?

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Sorry, those extra fees are staying on your restaurant bill

A last-minute change will allow restaurants to keep adding surcharges despite a law that was supposed to make them illegal.

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Kids want $70 wrinkle creams. Parents and lawmakers are ‘fighting a losing battle’

Elementary and middle school kids have been flocking to makeup stores to buy serums and creams recommended to them on TikTok. But they’re harming their skin.

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Nanobubbles help Lake Elsinore cope with algae – and the climate

As climate change makes water warmer, toxic algae is killing fish and plants in lakes nationwide, including Lake Elsinore. New technology could save them.

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Music Things

Yard Act: KCRW Live from HQ

Leeds post-punk-funk outfit Yard Act play the hits from their 2024 LP “Where’s My Utopia?” and beyond: Live From KCRW HQ.

Brijean: KCRW Live from HQ

LA electro-jazz-pop duo Brijean delivers a pristinely arranged set of highlights from their new LP “Macro,” live from KCRW HQ.

Slowdive: KCRW Live from HQ

Shoegaze icons Slowdive plays cuts from ‘everything is alive’ alongside classics like “When The Sun Hits.” Plus, Neil and Nick talk life, death, and TikTok.

Faye Webster: KCRW Live from HQ

Ahead of crushing her Coachella debut, Faye Webster went Live From KCRW HQ with highlights from her 2024 LP “Underdressed at the Symphony” — here’s the video.

Dodgers gondola promises less traffic. Many aren’t on board

Conflict over a proposed aerial gondola to carry fans to and from Dodger Stadium is heating up. Is it a traffic solution or a dubious development plan?