SAG & AFTRA Update; California's New Fiscal Year Starts Without a New Budget; Reforming California's Death Penalty System; The Rise of Preschool Entertainment
SAG & AFTRA Update
The labor contract between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Hollywood studios has expired and no agreement has yet been reached. At the same time, SAG leadership has angered the leaders of the smaller AFTRA by asking dual members to vote July 8 against an agreement AFTRA has already reached with producers. Larry Mantle talks with negotiators Anne Marie Johnson of SAG and Jason George of AFTRA, and with spokesman Jesse Hiestand of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
California's New Fiscal Year Starts Without a New Budget
California's lawmakers continue to talk, but once again the yearly budget deadline has come and gone. Larry talks with policymakers and watchers about what's standing in the way and about the repercussions of running the state of Califonia without a budget. Guests include Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Senator George Runner, and H.D. Palmer of the state's Department of Finance.
Reforming California's Death Penalty System
California's death penalty system is on the verge of collapse - this according to a report released Monday by a state-sponsored commission. The wait time in California between conviction and execution is nearly twice the national average, and some inmates have been on death row for over 25 years. Voter initiatives have increased the number of crimes subject to the death penalty, and a shortage of lawyers continues. Larry Mantle talks with a panel of experts about how to fix the problem.
The Rise of Preschool Entertainment
Parents across the country are familiar with Barney, the Teletubbies, and Dora the Explorer. But when he realized his young daughter was "hooked" on TV, writer and father Dade Hayes began to explore the pros and cons of the industry and how entertainment is marketed to kids and their parents. Larry talks with Hayes about his new book, "Anytime Playdate."