WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:04.160 You're listening to KFI Am six forty wake Up Call 2 00:00:04.280 --> 00:00:08.199 with me Amy King on demand on the iHeartRadio app. 3 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.240 Good morning, I'm Amy King. This is your wake up 4 00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:17.719 call for Tuesday, February twenty fifth. We're live everywhere on 5 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:21.079 the iHeartRadio app and happy to have you along. Thanks 6 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:24.000 to Michael Monks filled in for me yesterday, did a 7 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:27.120 great job and brought ice cream and brought ice cream. 8 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:29.800 Oh sure, he's just trying to earn favor with you guys. 9 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:32.920 So I went on a quick trip up to Oregon 10 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.280 a couple things. I went to visit a sick friend, 11 00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:39.479 spend some time with her, and then also do some 12 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:43.359 stuff with my mom, and we did some driving. We 13 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:47.280 went from southern Oregon to not central Oregon because that's ben, 14 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:49.920 but we went up north. And I got to tell you, 15 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:52.560 it's a different world in Oregon. Like when you're down here, 16 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.039 when you go over the overpasses, there are signs and 17 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:00.479 banners posted spray painted on their with graffiti and signs 18 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:03.560 saying no ice and defund the police and that kind 19 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:07.159 of stuff in Oregon. Literally in southern Oregon, not up 20 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:10.680 by Portland, but in southern Oregon, all of the overpasses 21 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:14.799 for about one hundred miles. Somebody had put American flags 22 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:19.319 on the overpasses. It was beautiful, nice, yeah, and no graffiti. 23 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:23.799 I was like, oh, it was so nice. Here's what 24 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:26.280 the head on wake up call. The US Office of 25 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.120 Personnel Management has put out new guidance about Elon Musk's 26 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:33.120 email to all federal workers. The new email was sent 27 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:36.640 out yesterday, right before the deadline for workers to submit 28 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:41.120 those work accomplishments. It said agencies should review responses and 29 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:45.640 evaluate non responses For those who didn't reply by the deadline. 30 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:48.519 Musk says workers will be given another chance to reply. 31 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:52.719 Ash pieces of metal and burned wood from the wildfires 32 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:55.680 has been washing ashore on beaches from Malibu to the 33 00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:59.120 South Bay. Beachgoers are being worn to stay away from 34 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:02.719 certain beaches off the Malibu area coast because of the debris. 35 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:06.680 The Fast and Furious characters will soon ride their last 36 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:11.319 ride in Universal Studios Hollywood's Backlock Studio tour. The park 37 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:15.680 has announced that the three D Fast and Furious Supercharged 38 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:18.080 attraction that has ended the tour for the past ten 39 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:23.800 years is closing March tenth. Ukraine's president Zelenski has a 40 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:26.639 message to his people as the war with Russia hits 41 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:29.360 the three year mark. ABC's and as de la Katera 42 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:31.759 is going to join us in just a couple of 43 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:34.520 minutes to tell us more about that. We've been telling 44 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:37.280 you that beehives are being stolen because there aren't enough 45 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:40.000 bees in California. So we're gonna check in with our 46 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:43.439 friend Keith Roberts at the Valley Hive in Chatsworth to 47 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:47.039 get the buzz on the bees. For now, the White 48 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:51.400 House can keep the ap out. ABC. Stephen Portnoy's gonna 49 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.599 tell us about the implications of a judge's ruling and 50 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:57.199 what happens next. That's coming up at the bottom of 51 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.479 the hour. And also with all these federal layoffs, a 52 00:03:00.520 --> 00:03:02.680 lot of people are worried that their jobs could be 53 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:05.240 next because it's not only happening at the federal level. 54 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.280 I mean, it happens all the time all over the place. 55 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:10.280 Starbucks just announced they were doing layoffs. The host of 56 00:03:10.280 --> 00:03:12.280 How To Money on KFI has some advice for you 57 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:16.000 to get ready just in case. Let's get started with 58 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:17.840 some of the stories coming out of the KFI twenty 59 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.680 four hour newsroom. La City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez says she's 60 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:25.960 encouraging former La Fire Chief Kristin Crowley to appeal the 61 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:29.400 mayor's decision to fire her. Mayor Bass said last week 62 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:32.000 her decision to fire Crowley was for the safety of 63 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:37.000 people in LA, but Rodriguez tells kfi's John Colebelt that's nonsense. 64 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:37.879 I was just. 65 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:42.599 Really disappointed that those words were even uttered to suggest 66 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:46.199 that she wasn't keeping Angelino safe, and I didn't believe 67 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:49.039 that she deserved to be treated in this manner. 68 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:51.919 If Crowley does appeal, she will need ten of the 69 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:55.120 fifteen city council members to back her. LA City Council 70 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.280 President Mark CUIs. Harris Dawson says he encouraged Mayor Bass to, 71 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.879 as he put it, separate from ousted fire chief Crowley 72 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:06.599 weeks ago. Bess fired the chief on Friday, citing failures 73 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:09.879 in leadership before the fires last month. Councilwoman Tracy Park 74 00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:13.400 says it was disappointing and that everyone in La knew 75 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:17.279 about the fire danger. Councilwoman Rodriguez, of course, as I 76 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:20.519 just mentioned, has accused Bass of misrepresenting the facts regarding 77 00:04:20.759 --> 00:04:25.439 Crowley's firing. An Orange County judge accused of fatally shooting 78 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:28.519 his wife in Anaheim has testified that it was an accident. 79 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:30.879 The defense says that their client, Jeffrey Ferguson, was in 80 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:33.240 the middle of a pretty heated argument with his wife 81 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:36.480 after dinner in August twenty three. Ferguson allegedly was attempting 82 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:38.759 to remove his gun from his ankle holster at his 83 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:42.360 wife's request when the gun accidentally went off. The prosecution 84 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:45.079 says that his wife, Cheryl Ferguson, scolded her husband to 85 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:47.160 point a real gun at her, and that's when he 86 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:50.680 pulled the trigger. Immediately following the shooting, Ferguson texted his 87 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:53.839 court clerk and bailiff saying he lost it and that 88 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:57.040 he just shot his wife. Andrew Caravella KFI News. 89 00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:01.680 An La City Council committee is considering proposal to require 90 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.920 all pets to be microchipped. The goal is to reduce 91 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.279 the number of lost animals entering the city's shelters and 92 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:13.000 to reduce overcrowding. The Department of Analtmal Services charges fifteen 93 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.839 dollars to microchip a pet and use his grant money 94 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:19.680 to help cover the fee for people who can't afford it. 95 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:22.720 Let's say good morning now to ABC's and Es de 96 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:25.360 la Kata. Good morning in as. 97 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:27.600 Good morning. 98 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:31.759 So President Zelenski and his country have been in a 99 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:35.000 vicious war with Russia for three years since the country 100 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:38.959 was invaded. How does Zelenski say he's feeling on the 101 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:40.399 three year anniversary of the war. 102 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:44.560 Yes, I mean he is paying tribute to what he 103 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:48.240 is calling the absolute heroism of Ukrainians over the last 104 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:51.600 three years defending against Russia's invasion. We saw sorts of 105 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:57.920 ceremonies being held yesterday throughout Ukraine, physically in Kiev, people 106 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.879 reflecting on the three horrific. 107 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:03.079 Last three years and all the lives that have been lost. 108 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:05.160 Is Zelenski saying that. 109 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.079 He is proud of Ukraine, that he wants to thank 110 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:09.879 everyone who defends and supports it. There were a number 111 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:12.160 of foreign leaders who traveled to Ukraine to be there 112 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:14.160 on Monday to meet with Zelenski and. 113 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:15.959 To show their support for Ukraine. 114 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:17.399 And it was a bit of a split screen moment 115 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:19.360 because at the same time you had President Trump meeting 116 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.879 with the French President's Manuel mccran. The focus of that 117 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.120 made a meeting, of course, was also. 118 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.199 Ukraine, okay, And who were some of the leaders that visited. 119 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:32.759 So interestingly, you had the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, 120 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:35.480 who's also been you know, we know Zelenski has been 121 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:38.959 kind of going at it with Trump, with Trump college 122 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.920 Vilenski and Dictator and Vilenski kind of pushing back, and 123 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:46.160 then Trudeau has also been going. 124 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:49.279 At it with Trump, recently calling Trudeau the governor of 125 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:50.480 the fifty first estate. 126 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:54.680 There were also representatives from France, so that France sent 127 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:57.759 to European Minister while Macron. 128 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:01.319 Was over in Washington to you know, still show that 129 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:02.959 France stands with Ukraine. 130 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:06.480 You had the British as well, former the British Prime 131 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.399 Minister Bors Johnson was there. So a number of kind 132 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.439 of big names from across Europe. You know, lots of 133 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:15.800 concerns in Europe about what the US's new policy towards 134 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:18.800 Ukraine is going to mean for them and for security 135 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:19.439 on the continent. 136 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:23.160 Okay, And as are are any of the other countries 137 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:27.720 that were showing strong support for Ukraine kind of backing 138 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:31.360 away from that as the US appears to be doing. 139 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.879 Not no, I think quite the opposite actually, as you're 140 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:40.040 seeing the Americans kind of you know, changing their policy. 141 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:43.800 You're seeing the Europeans really trying to step up, and 142 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:45.040 it really is talking about it. 143 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:47.360 They're talking about how Europe needs to play a bigger 144 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.360 role here. We've heard that from the French, from the British. 145 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:53.879 The Germany just held elections over the weekend and it 146 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:57.360 was the Conservatives that won. The leader of the Conservative Party, 147 00:07:57.399 --> 00:08:01.000 Frederick mess he has been critical of Trump and specifically 148 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:05.160 Trump's outreach to Russia. He is pro Ukraine pronado and 149 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.959 just after being you know, after his party one, he 150 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:12.959 told German TV that he thinks Europe essentially needs to 151 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:14.839 play more of a leading role here in that Europe 152 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:18.480 must achieve independence from the US. So it's really harsh 153 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:21.360 words there from the man who is set to lead 154 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:23.839 one of the US's oldest allies. 155 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:28.120 Okay, and then as the war continues and discussions are 156 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:32.679 going about how to end it, are are there plans 157 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:35.799 for the US to send any more aid to Ukraine 158 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:37.639 or is that kind of on hold for right now? 159 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:42.320 You know, I think the focus in the US right 160 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.039 now is going to be this deal. We've seen President 161 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:46.840 Trump just pushing for this deal. We know he loves 162 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.200 you know the art of the deal, and so I 163 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.679 think that's where the focus is. And until that gets done, 164 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:54.039 I'm not sure that a whole lot, a whole lot 165 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:55.039 of other aid is going to. 166 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:56.679 Get through, or that much more is going to be done. 167 00:08:56.919 --> 00:09:00.639 The Europeans are trying to kind of step in here, 168 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:02.840 but there's also, you know, just so much they can do. 169 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:04.840 So, yeah, the focus is going to be on this deal. 170 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.440 President Trumps trying to push a Galenski to sign this 171 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:10.519 agreement that would hand the US hundreds of billion of 172 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:14.799 dollars worth of Ukrainian resources. We saw Maccron yesterday, so 173 00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:16.519 I think Maccran is there to try and kind of 174 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:19.120 smooth things out between everyone. He said that everyone is 175 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:21.600 seeking the same outcome, which is peace. But he also 176 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:25.559 tried to warn Trump that, you know, a week deal 177 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:29.000 would be would be would be. 178 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:28.720 A bad thing. 179 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:32.120 And he tried to remind Trump of Russia's poor track 180 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.720 record in keeping its international commitments. 181 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:37.960 And we will see if he listens to Macrome. They 182 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.279 seem to have a decent relationship, seemed to be getting 183 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:45.840 along yesterday, so we'll see. Ab season is a bit 184 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:48.919 of a romance there, Yeah, a romance that's a good 185 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.600 word for ab season is de la kata. Thanks so 186 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.039 much for the information. We appreciate it as always. 187 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:55.840 Thank you. 188 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:57.519 All right, let's get back to some of the stories 189 00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:59.600 coming out of the KFI twenty four hour news room. 190 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:01.360 Did you know there was that little bit of a 191 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:04.559 leg she's impatis, she's in Paris, so I think we 192 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:09.360 had a little a little delay. The FAA and Delta 193 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.840 are investigating the source of a smoky haze that filled 194 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:16.639 a plane headed from Georgia to South Carolina. NBC News's 195 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:21.159 Emily Ikeda says the plane had to return to Atlanta's 196 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.919 Hartsfield Jackson International Airport yesterday. 197 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.679 The Boeing seven one seven was only in the air 198 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:30.039 for a few minutes, looping back arounds for an emergency 199 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:34.480 landing at the world's busiest airport around nine am. Slides 200 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:37.919 were deployed and first responders helped people deplane. 201 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:41.399 There were ninety four passengers and five crew members on board. 202 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:44.960 Two people had to be treated by medics. Delta put 203 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:48.120 out a statement apologizing to passengers, saying nothing is more 204 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:51.639 important than the safety of our customers and people. Defense 205 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:55.159 Secretary Pete Hegsas says he is replacing the top lawyers 206 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:58.720 for the military services because he doesn't think they're well 207 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:02.879 suited to provide commendations when lawful orders are given. He 208 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.120 spoke at the start of a meeting yesterday with Saudi 209 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:09.000 Arabia's Defense Minister Hagsith didn't answer a question about why 210 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:12.120 the Trump administration has chosen a retired general to be 211 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:16.360 the next Joint Chief's Chairman. President Trump recently fired Air 212 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:20.159 Force General C. Q. Brown Junior meg Seth followed that 213 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:23.320 by firing the Navy Chief of Operations, the Air Force 214 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:27.759 Vice Chief, and the Judge Advocate General for the Services. 215 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:30.200 The tariffs are going forward. 216 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.240 President Trump says his tariffs on Canada and Mexico will 217 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:36.159 start next month. He said it during a news conference 218 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:38.960 at the White House yesterday with French President and Manuel Macron. 219 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.919 We're on time with the tariffs, and it seems like 220 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:43.799 that's moving along very rapidly. 221 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:46.759 We've been mistreated very badly by many countries. 222 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:50.519 Trump also stressed that his intended reciprocal tariffs were on 223 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:54.600 schedule to begin as soon as April. Joanne Fabric has 224 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:58.080 announced it is closing all of its fabric in craft stores. 225 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:01.559 Eighty two year old company May. The announcement Monday, a 226 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:04.840 liquidator has agreed to buy all of Joanne's assets and 227 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.519 going out of business sales will be held at stores. 228 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.120 This comes after Joanne had announced plans earlier this month 229 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.519 to close around five hundred to eight hundred of its stores. 230 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:19.919 Joanne filed for Chapter eleven bankruptcy protection last month, citing 231 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:26.279 sluggish consumer demand and inventory shortages. But Francis is showing 232 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:29.159 a slight improvement in his condition and is resuming some 233 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:33.159 of his activities. The Vatican says the eighty eight year 234 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:36.720 old remains in critical condition with pneumonia in both lungs. 235 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:40.360 The update said early signs of mild kidney failure that 236 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:44.600 were reported on Sunday have shown no cause for concerns. 237 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.600 More people are falling behind on their debt, that's a 238 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:50.960 cause for concern. Recent data shows at the end of 239 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:54.600 twenty twenty four, just over three percent of people in 240 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.799 California loans rather in California where at least thirty days overdue. 241 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.399 Nationally it's four percent. That's the highest rate since early 242 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:06.120 twenty sixteen, but still way below delinquent payment rates during 243 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.720 the recession in two thousand and eight, when more than 244 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:13.879 fourteen percent of people were behind on their payments. NASA 245 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:17.000 has put out new projections as it estimates whether a 246 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:20.960 certain asteroid could hit Earth in the next decade. Rory 247 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:23.960 O'Neill reports the risk of twenty twenty four y our 248 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:27.120 four slamming into our planet is now believed to be 249 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:27.799 even lower. 250 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.919 When first discovered, it was estimated that the asteroid, which 251 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:33.960 could be three hundred feet across, had a slight chance 252 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.279 of hitting the Earth and doing significant damage, but upon 253 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.039 further review, NASA now says the odds are nearly zero. 254 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.679 But astronomers say there's an almost two percent chance the 255 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:47.919 asteroid will hit the Moon when it buzzes by the Earth. 256 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:51.240 In December of twenty thirty two, police are looking for 257 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.600 a group of teens who beat up a driver in 258 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:56.720 the mid Wilshire area. The LAPD says there's some sort 259 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:59.360 of argument between the driver and a group of about 260 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.559 twenty to thirty people. Video shows the group pummeling the 261 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.519 driver when he got out of his car to confront 262 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:07.759 the group. Times running out for business owners, nonprofits and 263 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:10.919 workers impacted by the palisades and eaten fires to apply 264 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:15.279 for financial aid Applications for relief through the LA Region 265 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:18.919 Small Business Really Fund and the Los Angeles Region Worker 266 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:23.840 Relief Fund are being accepted through March second. Wicked stars 267 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:27.679 Ariana Grande and Cynthia Arrivo will be performing at the 268 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:32.679 Academy Awards this weekend. No songs from Wicked were nominated, 269 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.080 but the Broadway musical adaptation is up for ten Oscars, 270 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:39.399 including Best Picture. The ninety seventh Academy Awards will be 271 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:42.919 held on Sunday at six oh five. It's handle on 272 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:45.799 the news. The US is refusing to blame Russia for 273 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:48.879 the invasion of Ukraine. Bill will have a thing or 274 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:51.440 two to say about that. Right now, let's say good 275 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.960 morning to the Valley Hives. Keith Roberts. Good morning, Keith 276 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:59.039 Amy King. How are you doing great? Wanted to talk 277 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.320 to you because last this week we had a story 278 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:05.320 about a couple of big problems with the bees, and 279 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:09.200 one of those problems is causing the others. So I 280 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:14.679 wanted to ask you first about the number of bees 281 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:19.159 continues to decline and that's causing the other problem that 282 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:21.279 we're going to talk about. Can we talk a little 283 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:23.519 bit about why that's happening. I know you have some 284 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:26.799 thriving hives up in Chatsworth at the Valley Hive, but 285 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.759 the bee population is declining. 286 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.159 Yes, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity 287 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:37.159 to talk about this crisis. So very unfortunately, because of 288 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:40.960 what's going on in Washington, the oxygen has been sucked 289 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:43.360 out of the room and not a whole lot of 290 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:47.200 media is talking about this. But across the nation we're 291 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:53.440 facing a record high loss of colonies. We're talking about 292 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:59.279 sixty two percent of hives across the country have collapsed, 293 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:05.120 and some operations are reporting between eighty to one hundred percent. 294 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:07.759 They've lost all of their. 295 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:10.399 Hives and they're not going to be able to recover. 296 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:17.600 This has been absolutely devastating, and what is particularly frightening 297 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:21.240 about it is that we still don't know for sure 298 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:26.559 what has occurred to push these numbers into this region. 299 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.559 So we went from an average, so a little bit 300 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:33.039 of backstory back in seven we were having about a 301 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:37.080 fifteen percent loss of hives, and then because of the 302 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:41.000 four p's, the pests, the pathogens, the pesticide, and the 303 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:44.639 poor nutrition, the numbers went up to about forty percent. 304 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:49.440 And now something has occurred in the last six months 305 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:54.279 to push that loss another twenty percent into the sixty 306 00:16:54.279 --> 00:17:00.000 percent region, which is completely unsustainable. More than one hundred 307 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:03.799 thirty fruits and vegetables. Thirty percent of everything we eat 308 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:08.599 is dependent on honey bees. And so this is a crisis, 309 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.759 and not a whole lot of people are talking. 310 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:15.920 About it, Okay, and Keith, I mean, is there any substitute? 311 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.039 I mean, you need the bees. That's what they do, 312 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.960 They pollinate. I mean, but if there are no bees, 313 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.920 the pollination just can't happen, or there's no other way 314 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.480 to do it. 315 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.480 Right, there's not going to be unlike places in China 316 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:34.079 where they have to do a pollination by hand, that's 317 00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:36.480 not going to be feasible here at scale at all. 318 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:41.720 Honey Bees are too important to our way of getting 319 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:45.960 food on the table. And bee keepers, quite frankly, are 320 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.119 the red headed stepchild of the agricultural industry. And they 321 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:52.279 don't get the attention that they deserve because it's such 322 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:57.200 a niche industry. But they need help and they need 323 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:02.079 support and this and this is crippling to not only 324 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:06.960 the beekeeper, but to our agriculture. And if people think 325 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:10.599 that the cost of eggs is high, it's about to 326 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:12.720 get real across the board. 327 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:16.839 Because if the bees aren't pollinating that like one of 328 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.279 the big ones right now that we're talking about is 329 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:23.079 that for the almond crop, which is a multi billion 330 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:28.359 dollar business in California, they need those bees because bloom 331 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:32.480 season is right around the corners. 332 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:36.279 Now, it's right now, Okay, and you're out, and you're 333 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:39.880 absolutely right. They haven't gotten enough bees. And if you're 334 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:43.200 an almond grower, you can't even get crop insurance unless 335 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:45.319 you can prove you have so many highs per a here. 336 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:51.039 And so yeah, this is devastating. And just in the 337 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:53.440 bees alone, just the beekeeping alone, just a little bit 338 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:56.680 of scale, this represents about two hundred and twenty four 339 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.799 million dollars of. 340 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:03.960 Loss, and the economic impact across agriculture is going to 341 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.839 be around six hundred and thirty four point seven million dollars. 342 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.880 Okay, And then Keith, the other thing that I mentioned 343 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:13.920 that the problem there are two problems. One is that 344 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:17.160 the bee population is god who knew was sixty two 345 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:19.440 percent of the hives of colps. That's just crazy numbers. 346 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:21.799 But that has led to another problem, and that's the 347 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:26.200 shortage of bees, which is leading to people stealing bee hives. 348 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:31.319 Yes, absolutely disgusting. I think we've all seen the westerns 349 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:37.279 of cattle wrestlers, right, yeah, and today twenty twenty five, 350 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:40.759 what is it. It's be wrestling. And what's really sick 351 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:45.440 about it is that it's where it's basically people who 352 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:50.519 are already beekeepers obviously, because you need to have infrastructure 353 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:53.079 to be able to pick up these palettes of bees 354 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:56.480 like these are these hives are palletized. There's four hives 355 00:19:56.519 --> 00:20:00.480 to a palette, and they're coming in and at night 356 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:06.759 and there, and because these palace are in the orchard 357 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:10.279 and they can be visible from the road, they kind 358 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:12.880 of mark where they're down and then they come back 359 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:16.160 at night, they load them up, and you have thirty 360 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:19.960 hives stolen here, fifty hives stolen there, two hundred hives 361 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:25.519 stolen there, and something else that unfortunately, bee keepers are 362 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.319 getting hit with. 363 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:29.319 And then keith. So then the people who are stealing 364 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:31.599 the hives are going and selling them like or renting 365 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:34.359 them to the farmers or something, because the farmers desperately 366 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:35.559 need them for their crops. 367 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:40.400 So they're going to either take them back to their operation. 368 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.440 They're going to take the bees out and put them 369 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:46.880 in their boxes. Or they're going to paint over all 370 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:50.400 of the branding and the markings of the rightful owner 371 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:54.319 and then put them back out as of they're that 372 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:57.720 they were their hives to begin with. And it's just 373 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:59.839 an absolute tragedy. 374 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.960 Yeah, so, Keith, I know, I mean, it just sounds 375 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:05.480 I didn't realize that the problem was this bad. Is 376 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:08.519 there anything that we can do aside from setting up 377 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.680 a little high in our backyard? 378 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:15.400 Really, if you want to be more effective, And this 379 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:20.799 kind of sounds corny and cliche, but it's truth. Buy 380 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:24.480 American honey. Make sure that when you go to the store, 381 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.720 you're buying honey that is made in the USA, and 382 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:31.960 that is going to directly help beekeepers. It's just going 383 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.759 to put money directly in the hands of beekeepers. Another 384 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:38.160 thing that you can do is doing what you're doing 385 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:41.480 right now. Talk about it because, like I said at 386 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:44.559 the very beginning, this is not getting the media attention 387 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:48.960 it deserves. So when colony collapse disorder first came on 388 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:52.359 in two thousand and seven, Amy, you heard it everywhere, right, 389 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:56.279 remember all the stories about the collapse, and everybody was 390 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:58.920 getting in on it. There were ads from Basket Robbins, 391 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:01.720 I mean, it was everybody knew that the honeybee was 392 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:05.599 in trouble, and now it's the problem has gotten even 393 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:08.559 worse and you're not hearing about it. So be sure 394 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:13.920 that you're that you're telling people about it. And so 395 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:17.839 spread the word and support American bee keepers by getting 396 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:22.119 American honey and keep doing what you're doing, Amy, and 397 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:25.960 just spread spread this word. Talk to your congress person 398 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:30.359 and make sure that we can get some attention from 399 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:35.400 the government to help bee keepers and and try to 400 00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.960 subsidize some of their losses. 401 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.640