Norco 80 Podcast
1) Chapter 1: The Robbery
May 9th, 1980 began as a regular Friday in sleepy Norco, a small town about 48 miles east of Los Angeles, known mostly for its horse trails and old-western look. But around 3:30pm, five masked men wit...Show More
2) Imperfect Paradise: Rotten food, disease, isolation – what we know about conditions at the Adelanto ICE detention center
At least four people have died in custody at an ICE detention facility in Adelanto, California. A recent lawsuit alleges that living conditions there are inhumane, and some are comparing the facility ...Show More
3) Imperfect Paradise: Route 66 has a 100-year legacy of American road trips and expansion, but the Main Street of America had its problems too
As Route 66 celebrates its centennial anniversary, we look back at its enduring impact as an iconic road that stretched from Illinois to California — and some of its darker past. It wasn’t...Show More
4) Imperfect Paradise: California is not tracking whether its multi-billion dollar public preschool program is working. So how do we know if it’s helping or hurting students?
California has spent billions of dollars on a free universal preschool program available to all eligible 4-year-olds in the state. However, there are no official plans in place from the state to evalu...Show More
5) Imperfect Paradise: Meet the filmmakers who love AI (Redux)
This episode originally aired on March 19, 2025. It’s hard to find people in Hollywood who are willing to speak publicly about their enthusiasm for AI, for fear of being seen as “siding wi...Show More
6) Imperfect Paradise: Shuttle Endeavour’s final mission for a new home and space exploration
Los Angeles is an integral part of space shuttle Endeavour’s journey. The California Science Center is building a new, larger home for the shuttle, which will make it the only place in the world...Show More
7) Imperfect Paradise: The historic and financial stakes behind the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
In less than a thousand days, Los Angeles will be hosting the summer Olympics. Many cities worldwide have been put into debt by the games, so what could they mean for Los Angeles? LAist reporter Libby...Show More
8) Imperfect Paradise: How becoming a US citizen just got harder under the Trump administration and what it means for Angelenos
The Trump administration’s immigration policies have resulted in raids and protests in Southern California and across the country, and the administration has also moved to tighten who gets citiz...Show More
9) Imperfect Paradise: Officers severely beat a man struggling with mental health issues. Where are the records?
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies severely beat Joseph Perez in 2020, then arrested him. His mom Vanessa alleges that she had previously told law enforcement that Perez has a serious men...Show More
10) Imperfect Paradise: Did the cell phone ban in high schools work?
On February 18th, 2024, the LA Unified School District, the second largest public school district in the country, implemented an all-day cell phone ban for its students. Now that it’s the end of...Show More