A federal judge bolstered a lawsuit yesterday allowing 125,000 California inmates to be represented in a challenge to race-based prison treatment. Also, should pharmacies be required to translate drug labels for non-English speakers? Then, we discuss the late Philip Seymour Hoffman's decision not to leave his children trust funds. What do you expect to leave or receive from an estate?
California prisoners granted class-action lawsuit against race-based policies
A federal judge bolstered a lawsuit yesterday allowing 125,000 California inmates to be represented in a challenge to race-based prison treatment.
The case stems from an inmate at California’s High Desert State Prison in north eastern Lassen County - a maximum security facility. Following a violent incident there in the warden locked down a group of African-American inmates for 18 months.
One of them, Robert Mitchell, stayed in the double-bunked cell he shared with another inmate -24 hours a day for seven days a week.
As reported by KPCC, Prison Law Office attorney Rebekah Evenson who is representing Mitchell said the type of discriminatory deprivation the inmate suffered is common in California prisons — and illegal, she contends.
Most prison gangs fall along racial lines, as do the tensions and violence. Nevertheless, the Department of Corrections recently revised lockdown policies in an effort to be more race-neutral, but those details are not yet known.
So what is the solution for quelling violence and maintaining relative accord among inmates? How do other states deal with such problems without violating the law?
Guests:
Don Specter, Director of the Prison Law Office, which is representing the 125,000 California inmates covered in the class-action lawsuit
Scott Kernan, former Undersecretary of Operations, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Should public schools play host to private summer school courses?
Across Southern California, public school districts are coping with cuts to summer school funding.
While LAUSD has received some money for summer courses this year for the first time since 2009, many districts have lost huge sums of money usually intended for summer classes.
In LAUSD, students can only take courses if they are making up a failed credit -- in wealthier districts, which receive less money per student, even failed course funds have been cut, and the state pays only for courses for special needs students and English Language Learners.
To compensate for cuts to these programs, many districts are offering private courses run by outside groups on public campuses. District teachers use the same curriculum, textbooks, and classrooms for private courses.
Students who enroll pay hundreds of dollars per course, with the option to make up classes, enrich their course load to prepare for college, or explore a niche interest.
Proponents of these private programs, which offer public school credit, say that they are filling a void for summer education, and that both students and teachers benefit. They argue that charging a fee is not tantamount to exclusion.
Critics say the programs should be free, and that by charging money for summer school, even in wealthy districts, schools are excluding low-income students and contributing to education inequality.
How should schools deal with cuts to summer school funding? Is there a way to make supplemental programs more accessible?
Guests:
Ellen Multari, President of the La Canada School District Governing Board
Rebecca Joseph, Ph.D, Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction at CSU LA
Should pharmacies be required to translate drug labels for non-English speakers?
The California State Board of Pharmacy is set to consider that issue in a July 31 meeting. Currently, pharmacies are mandated to provide interpretation for non-English speakers at the pharmacy counter.
Next week's meeting will focus on whether to expand that requirement to include written translations in selected languages of prescription drug labels.
Proponents say translated labels would eliminate the risks posed by medication taken incorrectly by non-English speakers. But critics maintain that the current system is working the way it should, and the added requirement could mean liability issues down the line.
Guests:
Sarah de Guia, Director of Government Affairs at the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, an Oakland-based non-profit organization advocating for public policies that address the health needs of communities of color
Jon Roth, Chief Executive Officer of the California Pharmacists Association, which represents pharmacists, technicians, and student pharmacists from all practice settings in the state
CHP removes lane-splitting guidelines from its website
The California Highway Patrol made headlines back in February of 2013 for posting a set of guidelines for motorcyclists to safely split lanes in traffic. But two weeks ago, the agency quietly removed this language from their website without any explanation. The CHP has never endorsed lane-splitting, the technique motorcyclists employ by cutting between cars in the space between lanes.
"Some might have interpreted the published lane splitting guidelines as a rules, laws or regulation that could and would be enforced by the department," Kevin Tao, a California Highway Patrol officer said. "The guidelines were never intended for this purpose, they were prepared simply as common sense traffic safety tips... The department felt that a lot of people thought that this was the law."
However, the guidelines were meant to help inform riders of safer ways to go about the practice.
Nick Haris, Western States Representative for the American Motorcyclist Association, told AirTalk that going as far as to outlaw lane-splitting would not necessarily provide a safety benefit.
"Based on the studies that I’ve reviewed I don’t know if I believe there will be an overall safety benefit (in outlawing lane-splitting)," Haris said. "It’s a kind of hypothetical. I think that’s the whole point of the guideline, is to educated riders on how to do it properly and to educated drivers…. Part of the joy of lane splitting for riders is getting where you’re going faster than you would have if you were in your car. The flipside is that all the car drivers are benefiting by that vehicle, you know, instead of that person being in a car they are now on a motorcycle. Collectively we need to recognize there is a benefit for everyone."
Are you a motorcyclist? What do you think about these guidelines? Have you ever had any encounters with lane-splitting as a driver? Why did the CHP decide to take down these guidelines? Should they be re-posted?
Let us know in the comments below. You can hear the full segment at the top left.
Guests:
Kevin Tao, California Highway Patrol officer
Nick Haris, Western States Representative for the American Motorcyclist Association
Robert Gladden, Vice President of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in Irvine, CA
With Sterling fighting Clippers sale, should players play under protest?
Donald Sterling started fighting to maintain ownership of the Clippers on a third front this week with another lawsuit alleging he is still the rightful owner of the team. It’s anticipated that advertisers could begin to pull ads and Clippers CEO Dick Parsons testified in court that he fears coach Doc Rivers probably won’t want to continue coaching next season if Sterling still owns the team when the season starts.
The Clippers players are contractually obligated to keep playing, but should Doc Rivers refuse to coach the team? And are there other things the players can do to voice their opposition?
Guest:
Ramona Shelburne, Senior Writer for ESPN.com
The late Philip Seymour Hoffman didn't want 'trust fund kids'
Court documents show that deceased actor Philip Seymour Hoffman left his $35 million fortune to his long-time partner, but not their three young children. Hoffman's accountant David Friedman told a judge the actor rejected recommendations to create trust funds for his kids, adding that Mimi O'Donnell would take care of the children.
Hoffman is just one of many high-profile figures who want their children to take their own initiative. Billionaire and father of two Michael Bloomberg has said he’d give most of his worth to charity by the time he dies. "I am a big believer in giving it all away and have always said that the best financial planning ends with bouncing the check to the undertaker," the former New York mayor said.
Even if you’re not a billionaire, it can be emotional to wrestle with your will. What are your plans for your children? Or if you’re on the other end, what do you hope for from your parents?
Guest:
P. Mark Accettura, Estate & Elder Law Attorney, Accettura & Hurwitz firm based in Michigan; Author of “Blood & Money: Why Families Fight Over Inheritance and What To Do About It”