For the past two days, the shoreline has been hammered by waves peaking at over 20 feet. What kind of risks did lifeguards face these past couple of days? Also, a bill has passed the State Senate that bans the use of suspensions and expulsions for dealing with students who commit defiant and disruptive acts. Then, vasectomies and IUDs: How much do they cost?
Killer waves: When lifeguards put their lives at risk
For the past two days in LA County, the shoreline has been hammered by waves peaking at over 20 feet. Despite the obvious risks and warnings, swimmers and surfers choose to take on the powerful walls of water.
Some unlucky daredevils found themselves out of control in watery depths, and lifeguards were put to the test. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, between L.A. County and Newport Beach alone, there were 373 ocean rescues. These lifeguards are guided by a philosophy of prevention. They want to get ahead of life-threatening circumstances. This is why they’re trained to do “prevents” — that is, converse with beach-goers, educating them about beach and ocean hazards.
What kind of risks did lifeguards face these past couple of days? Should they be held accountable for those who choose to plunge into treacherous ocean conditions?
Guests:
Kyle Daniels, Ocean Lifeguard Captain for L.A. County Fire Department
Zach Weisberg, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Inertia — described surfing’s definitive community; former editor at SURFER magazine
Should CA schools ban suspensions and expulsions for willful defiance?
The state Senate has recently passed a bill that bans the use of suspensions and expulsions for dealing with students who commit defiant and disruptive acts.
Current laws let school officials decide whether to suspend or expulse defiant students. AB 420, authored by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento), would strip that authority from administrators and would send violators to in-school suspensions instead.
Supporters of the measure say suspensions and expulsions don't effectively address the issue. Opponents say AB 420 leaves teachers with one less tool to discipline rowdy students.
Los Angeles Unified banned suspensions for willful defiance in 2013.
Should suspension and expulsion be banned? Should the state mandate what individual school districts should do in dealing with deviant students?
Guests:
Brad Strong, Senior Director of Education at Children Now, a research and policy development, and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting education in California. The organization is a co-sponsor of the bill
Joshua Pechthalt, President, California Federation of Teachers, which represents faculty and other school employees in public and private schools in the state
Pasadena Unified to vote on board member’s request for paid aid due to dyslexia
Pasadena Unified School (PUSD) District board member Tyron Hampton has requested the district to provide an assistant to help with him with his taking notes and drafting emails. The assistant, who is chosen by Hampton, would cost the district about $17,000.
PUSD is scheduled to vote on the request today. The item is put on the board’s consent calendar, meaning that it could be voted on without a debate. If approved, the consultant would be hired after passing a background check, according to the Pasadena Star News.
How common is it for someone suffering from a learning disability to request an aid paid for by his or her employer? Should Hampton foot the bill himself? Should he be able to handpick his assistant, or should that job be posted like any others?
Guests:
Susan Barton, an expert on dyslexia, reading instruction, and adult literacy issues based in San Jose. She is the founder of Barton Reading & Spelling System, a tutoring system for people struggling with dyslexia or a learning disability
Michael Waterstone, J. Howard Ziemann Fellow and Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, visiting professor at Northwestern Law School for the 2014-2015 school year
Tyron Hampton, board member, Pasadena Unified School District
Health insurers carve 'narrow networks' that exclude cancer, pediatric specialists
The Affordable Care Act continues to shape the country's health insurance marketplace, and, according to researchers, to sometimes create "narrow networks." Associated Press and Stanford researcher Paul Wise explains that not only are certain hospitals and doctors are left out of plans, but that specific categories of care may be as well, including comprehensive cancer centers, children's hospitals and pediatric specialists.
Guests:
Tom Murphy, Business Writer, the Associated Press
Patrick Johnston, President and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans
Jerry Flanagan, Attorney with Consumer Watchdog
Dr. Paul Wise, M.D., Richard E. Behrman Professor of Child Health and Society and Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy at Stanford University School of Medicine
Harlan Levine, Chief Executive of the City of Hope Medical Foundation
Vasectomies and IUDs: How much do they cost?
This week, KPCC reporter, Rebecca Plevin, has been investigating the cost of two forms of birth control: IUDs and vasectomies. Plevin’s research revealed about 5% of patients at Pasadena and San Gabriel valley Planned Parenthoods seek-out IUDs which just about mirrors the overall US usage. The cost sits at approximately $1000, but Planned Parenthood charges on a sliding scale based on what the patient can afford. The price seems to vary depending on region and what kind of health insurance coverage a person has. For example, since the Hobby Lobby ruling, some private companies can choose to not cover certain contraceptives if it goes against their religious beliefs. Plevin will share what she discovered about the cost and coverage of vasectomies as well.
Price Check is a collaboration with KQED and Clearhealthcosts.com, a health costs transparency company that has been gathering cost data on a variety of medical tests, procedures and services from around the country.
See more about Price Check in Rebecca Plevin's blog post, and join the conversation about health cost transparency on the Price Check page.
Guest:
Rebecca Plevin, KPCC Health Reporter