NASA's Crash Landing
Forty years ago next month, Apollo 11 astronauts thrilled the world by becoming the first men to land on the moon. That lunar landing had all of Mission Control holding its breath as Neil Armstrong landed the Eagle with less than 30 seconds of fuel left. Next week, NASA scientists in Silicon Valley are planning a return to the moon -- and this time a crash landing is the goal.
Hard Times Hit Calexico Schools
This week marks the end of the year for most public schools in California. As any teacher will tell you, budget cuts and layoffs have made it a very tough year for education. The downturn is hitting families hard in the border town of Calexico, three hours east of San Diego.
Teaching Democracy
China's democracy movement got crushed in Tiananmen Square 20 years ago last week. Still, every now and then there are hints of democratic reform in China -- and one of them can be found in Southern California. Each year Communist officials from the port city of Dalian fly to Los Angeles for classes on ethical governance and empowering citizens.
The Art of COOP
Artist Chris Cooper, also known as COOP, moved from Oklahoma to California in the late 1980s and quickly became a fixture in L.A.'s pop art scene. He's known best for his rockabilly style featuring lots of hot rods, voluptuous vixens and wide-eyed devils. This month, a collection of his paintings is on display in Culver City.
The Harmony Sweepstakes
A cappella singing, that distinctive style usually performed without instruments, has roots going back centuries. But it seems to be making a comeback. This fall, NBC will premiere "The Sing Off," an a cappella American Idol-type competition. Two feature films about a cappella are also in the works. The only nationwide post-college a cappella championship in the U.S. is held in the Marin County city of San Rafael. We stop by The Harmony Sweepstakes' recent 2009 finals competition.