A tumultuous week for law enforcement officials around Paris, France culminated today in two separate hostage situations. Also, Gov. Jerry Brown has released his proposed operating budget for 2015. Then, President Obama is in Tennessee today, announcing a plan to make community college free for many students.
Attack in Paris: Three suspects killed after police end two hostage situations
A tumultuous week for law enforcement officials around Paris, France culminated today in two separate hostage situations. French authorities say the suspects in Wednesday’s mass shooting at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo have been killed in a police standoff in a small town outside the French capital.
Meanwhile, police in Paris surrounded a kosher market after an alleged accomplice of the Charlie Hebdo suspects took several hostages there. Reports are that four hostages are dead and that the suspect, 32-year-old Amedy Coulibaly,was killed when police stormed the market at almost the exact same time police outside the city were rushing the warehouse where the Charlie Hebdo suspects had holed up. His girlfriend, 26-year-old Hayat Boumeddiene, was reportedly helping him, though it is unclear if she was inside the market or assisting him from outside. French television has been quoted as saying she is still on the loose.
Coulibaly was said to have “close ties” to the Charlie Hebdo suspects, French brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, and had allegedly demanded that French police let them leave the warehouse where they holed up or he would kill the hostages at the market. He is also suspected in the killing of a French police officer Thursday in the Montrouge area of Paris. How do police handle delicate hostage situations like these, especially when you have two connected incidents? What are the safety concerns that hostage negotiators have to take into account?
Guests:
Dana Lewis, correspondent for Al Jazeera America currently on the ground in France; Al Jazeera America can be seen in Los Angeles and southern California on Time Warner Channel 445, AT&T U-Verse 1219, DirecTV 347 and Dish Channel 215.
Chris Voss, founder of The Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that coaches the application of hostage negotiation strategies to the boardroom and personal life. He is also a retired special agent with the FBI, where he served as the agency’s lead international hostage negotiator.
California’s 2015 budget: what you need to know
Gov. Jerry Brown has released his proposed operating budget for 2015. Included in the governor’s plan is $532 million in funding to combat climate change. In addition, the budget attempts to reduce the $72 billion-dollar deficit for state retiree health benefits and provides the state with a $2.8 billion rainy day fund.
Today, AirTalk examines the finer points of Gov. Brown’s budget to find out where your money is going.
Guests:
H.D. Palmer, deputy director of external affairs, California Department of Finance
Jeff Stone, Republican State Senator for California’s 28th State Senate district, including Indio, Murrieta, Palm Springs, and other parts of Riverside County, and a member of the Senate Budget Committee
Jeff Brewer, communications manager, California Partnership, a statewide coalition of community-based groups advocating to reduce and end poverty; California Partnership is also a leading member of Health Care for America Now, a national movement uniting consumers, labor and community organizations for health care reform
Should community college be free?
President Obama is in Tennessee today, announcing a plan to make community college free for many students. The federal government would cover 75% of tuition costs for students who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and enroll at least half time. Students would also need to steadily track toward a degree within 3 years. Colleges would commit to offering credits that can transfer to 4 year schools or vocational programs that students are likely to finish. In short, there would be some strings attached.
For students in California, community college is already cheap by national standards. That has boosted enrollment compared to other state systems. But while low cost draws more students, many do not complete a program, have trouble accessing classes that provide transferrable credit, and do not quickly complete associates degrees or certificate programs.
And yet, as tuition -- and associated student debt -- have dramatically risen at public and private institutions, community college and vocational programs hold additional appeal for students who have trouble accessing higher cost education.
How likely is the proposal to pass in this Congressional environment? And what impact does free tuition have on student engagement and completion?
Guests:
Libby Nelson, Vox reporter
Brice Harris, Chancellor of California Community Colleges
Andrew P. Kelly, Director of the Center on Higher Education reform at the American Enterprise Institute
Remembering Gospel singer Andrae Crouch
He was a giant of gospel music, and LA’s own – Andrae Crouch. Within the past hour, flowers were laid on his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Crouch passed away yesterday at the age of 72, after a heart attack.
Along with his high profile music career, Crouch co-pastored New Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando. His father started the church.
On Andrae Crouch’s popular albums, and in TV appearances, he created a next-generation sound that didn’t endear him to traditionalists. It’s funny how times change, as many of his songs are now centerpieces of church hymnals. His sound was so powerful, pop artists like Michael Jackson used his arranging talent on their recordings. His songs have been covered by a Who’s Who of American performers, not just gospel artists.
Filmweek Marquee: 'Taken 3,' 'Predestination,' 'Song of the Sea,' and 'Two Days, One Night'
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig and Charles Solomon review this week’s releases, including “Taken 3," "Predestination," "Song of the Sea," and "Two Days, One Night". TGI-Filmweek!
Note: FilmWeek's normal programming was preempted by a special edition of BBC Newshour.
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA today
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC and Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine