CNN/YouTube Debate; Medicare/Medicaid Inspection Begins at King-Harbor; Prison Overcrowding; Do You Know Where Your Food Comes From?; NBA Betting Scandal
CNN/YouTube Debate
Larry Mantle discusses last night's CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential candidates debate. The debate featured homemade video questions posed to the candidates by citizens. Did this experimental debate format work? Larry talks with Grant Reeher of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, Dan Schnur, Lecturer in Political Science at UC Berkeley, and democratic consultant Chris Lehane.
Medicare/Medicaid Inspection Begins at King-Harbor
Yesterday federal authorities began an inspection of troubled Martin Luther King Junior-Harbor Hospital. The inspectors, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will explore the South LA hospital for at least a week to determine if it meets national standards. Larry talks with LA Times reporter Charles Ornstein about the inspection and what will happen to King Harbor if it fails.
Prison Overcrowding
Federal judges have ordered the creation of a special panel to examine ways to relieve overcrowding in California's prisons. Larry talks with Judy Campbell, of KQED radio, about the ramifications of this move, including whether it could lead to a cap on the inmate population or the early release of some prisoners.
Do You Know Where Your Food Comes From?
A House committee voted to enforce a 3 year-old law requiring country-of-origin labeling on meats. By September of next year, you may know whether the hamburger you buy at the grocery store comes from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, or perhaps all three. Country-of-origin labeling will also be required on fruits, vegetables and peanuts. Why have food labeling laws not been enforced? Should you have the right to know the origin of all the foods you eat? Larry discusses both sides of the debate with Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Chris Waldrop of the Consumer Federation of America, Jeff Steir of the American Council on Science and Health, and Lloyd Day of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
NBA Betting Scandal
The NBA is facing its biggest scandal ever with the revelation that Tim Donaghy allegedly bet on games he officiated during the last two seasons. The FBI is investigating Donaghy, who is expected to turn himself in at U.S. District Court in Brooklyn later this week or early next week. According to a law enforcement official, Donaghy is currently the only referee under investigation, but others outside the NBA are expected to be charged in the betting probe. Larry discusses the scandal with Mark Heisler, sports writer for the LA Times.