Michael Monks Reports

Michael Monks Reports

Michael Monks joined KFI in 2024 after fulfilling a longtime dream of moving to L.A. He is a native of Covington, Kentucky where in 2011 he founded a multimedia local news operation called The River City News, which was acquired in 2021 and rebranded as LINK nky. At the same time, he was also the host of the award-winning daily radio program “Cincinnati Edition” on WVXU, an NPR member station. He holds a master’s degree in communication from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor’s degree in radio/TV from Northern Kentucky University. Michael and his spouse, Osmar, live in DTLA with their cat, Milo. Follow him on Twitter @MicMonksLA.

Episodes

The Decline of DTLA & LA Comic Con Returns

September 28, 2025 • 36 mins
A new report from a 100-year old advocacy group says LA City Hall needs to take the issues facing downtown seriously, and provides a roadmap to do it; LA Comic Con and Leonardo DiCaprio are both back!
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More Tariffs & Update On The Former LA Zoo Elephants

September 28, 2025 • 31 mins
Another round of new tariffs has been announced by the President just as the Ports of LA and Long Beach warn the White House's policies have created uncertainty among retailers and consumers; Two elephants taken from the LA Zoo in the dead of night four months ago are the focus of a new call for transparency from zoo officials.
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LA City Council Approves A $2.6 Billion Expansion Of The Convention Center

September 21, 2025 • 32 mins
LA city council approves a $2.6 billion expansion of the convention center downtown despite warnings from some members and the city controller that it will put the city in a more precarious and dangerous financial position; Michael visits LA City Hall and talks with the regular gadflies whose unruly and offensive behavior has resulted in the banning of racial and sexist slurs.
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Governor Newsom Signs Legislation Requiring Federal Agents To Take Off Their Masks

September 21, 2025 • 31 mins
Governor Newsom signs legislation requiring federal agents to take off their masks; Popular singer's relationship with teen girl found dead in his car has derailed his tour as police investigate; LA Metro's tap-to-enter program is halted because of a fire code; Ontario's new baseball mascot is revealed. 
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Charlie Kirk's Widow Speaks as Tensions Continue to Mount

September 14, 2025 • 37 mins
Charlie Kirk's widow speaks as tensions continue to mount across the country following the conservative commentator's assassination; The California Assembly has approved the polarizing Senate Bill 79, paving the way for more housing to be developed near some transit stops; Downtown LA landmarks goes and stays dark and covered in graffiti, as the rat population finds a windfall in the city's center.
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The Price Of The Proposed Expansion Of The LA Convention Center Has Ballooned

September 14, 2025 • 38 mins
The price of the proposed expansion of the LA Convention Center has ballooned to $2.7 billion and officials aren't sure if they can afford it; The costs of coffee and other goods is on the rise, and there are some indications it could get worse; LA endorses the governor's plan to redraw congressional districts in favor of Democrats; a TV series set in Altadena after the Eaton Fire has been announced.
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@MicMonksReports How Much Is The Right Amount Of Money

September 7, 2025 • 36 mins
Hour 1: The Powerball's estimated $1.8 billion jackpot is a lot of money, but is it too much? Michael asks, what's the right amount of wealth to feel rich, comfortable, and sane?; Chicago says it doesn't want LA's experience with immigration enforcement as the White House takes aim at the Windy City, and LA Mayor Bass has some advice for her counterparts there; And what's wrong with San Bernardino? It's at the very bottom of a pair...
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@MicMonksReports Convention Center Expansion

September 7, 2025 • 33 mins
Hour 2: A historic loss for the Dodgers as their no-hitter is broken up in the 9th inning and it goes from bad to worse; LA's convention center expansion project just got even more expensive and is now estimated at $2.7 billion; Some health workers in Santa Barbara lose their jobs after posting a viral video on TikTok.
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@MicMonksReports on Gov. Newsom sending in more police to SoCal

August 31, 2025 • 34 mins
Hour 1: Governor Newsom is sending more police and homeless camp enforcement to Southern California; the LA city council formally opposes state legislation that would allow for more multi-family housing near transit stations, but one member has faced national criticism for the vote; and four cities in Southern California have landed in the top 10 of America’s dirtiest.
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@MicMonksReports on a DTLA survey & a reunion of old friends

August 31, 2025 • 36 mins
Hour 2: Residents of downtown LA say in a new survey that they want something done about the number of people experiencing mental health crises and committing crimes in the populous neighborhood; and director Peter Jones talks about his new documentary “Fortunate Sons” premiering next week on PBS SoCal which features his classmates from the Harvard School for Boys Class of 1974 as they face their past traumas, their privileged stat...
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@MicMonksReports on the U.S. Census and the redrawing of Congressional Districts

August 17, 2025 • 33 mins
Michael Monks reports on the U.S. Census and the redrawing of Congressional Districts, and asks if this is for the good of the country. Also, LA County's very expensive skycraper in Downtown LA. Who's in charge of it? It seems no one knows, so let's get to the bottom of it once and for all.
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@MicMonksReports shares the latest from the water outage in Porter Ranch/Granada Hills and the fires in So Cal.

August 10, 2025 • 38 mins
Michael shares the latest from the water outage in Porter Ranch/Granada Hills and the fires burning in Ventura/LA counties and Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo counties; Federal immigration agents have put out an ad mocking LA Mayor Bass - and she's responded, as immigration enforcement returns to the region's Home Depot stores.
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@MicMonksReports on the fight between the federal government and California that extends beyond immigration enforcement

August 10, 2025 • 37 mins
The fight between the federal government and LA/California extends beyond immigration: the Olympics and the redistricting of the US House of Representatives appear to be new fronts in the ongoing war; Downtown LA is getting a new (and massive) pickleball business; and a slithery surprise is found in a downtown LA parking garage.
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@MicMonksReports A "Tsunami" of ICE Rulings

August 3, 2025 • 37 mins
The tsunami we were alerted to earlier in the week never really materialized in any significant way, but an LA City councilman says there was a silver lining: The alerts and warning system worked. Also, Immigration enforcement in SoCal will be limited as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules against the Trump administration in favor of the ACLU and local governments who sued. Plus, why the City of LA wants folks to "Just Say Hello...
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@MicMonksReports is the Pacific Palisades set to leave LA behind?

August 3, 2025 • 34 mins
Pacific Palisades has a long way to go in its rebuilding process after January's devastating wildfire, and one local real estate developer says it's time for the neighborhood to leave the City of LA behind. Sen. Adam Schiff joins us to talk about his new legislation he says would offer financial help to people with mortgages in areas affected by wildfires and other natural disasters. Plus, an Orange County supervisor has decided to...
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@MicMonksReports Latest on the detention centers

July 27, 2025 • 39 mins
Burbank sees a near disaster in the air when a passenger plane is forced to drop hundreds of feet quickly, and someone in the city is accused of sniffing women's butts at local stores; LA's homeless services agency has a new leader and even as its board of directors, which includes the LA mayor, celebrate what it sees as successes, an LA city councilmember says to hold the applause; and California Attorney General Rob Bonta says th...
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@MicMonksReports Weather And Hollywood Productions

July 27, 2025 • 34 mins
One grenade killed three LA County Sheriff's deputies last week and a second grenade is still missing; LA is no longer the worst city in America when it comes to traffic, but it's still bad, and Michael says there's a solution if you're willing; There's some good news for Hollywood productions, but not enough; and LA weather has been near perfect this month, but will it last or is the heatwave hitting the rest of the country turnin...
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@MicMonksReports Latest on the Homeless Issue

July 20, 2025 • 36 mins
Michael's gives the latest on the vehicle that crashed into a crowd outside a nightclub in East Hollywood, leading to a shooting; the three LA County Sheriff's deputies killed in an explosion this week had long histories with the department and so do their families; LA Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom have scored victories this week over the Trump administration in the ongoing immigration battle, but that fight is far from over; and ...
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@MicMonksReports: The head of In n Out is moving, Plus, Michael explores how LA County made a mistake by passing Measure G, and much more!

July 20, 2025 • 40 mins
The head of In n Out is moving her family to Tennessee and she's far from the only one packing up and leaving California in the rearview mirror. Why? Plus, Michael explores how LA County made a mistake by passing Measure G, which no one seemed to know would repeal Measure J. Now the county is scrambling to fix it and find out how it happened in the first place. LA and LA County have reported a decrease in the homeless population bu...
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@MicMonksReports: Michael covers immigration enforcement and an interview with historians discussing Cole’s French Dip

July 13, 2025 • 33 mins
Michael Monks covers immigration enforcement and an interview with historians discussing Cole’s French Dip set to close permanently after more than 100 years in operation.
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