Today on AirTalk, we talk to officials in local school districts to hear how they are phasing in in-person learning. Also on the show, we update you on the latest COVID-19 news; breakdown the implications of Amazon warehouse workers unionizing in Alabama; and more.
COVID-19 AMA: Racial Disparities In Vaccination, Double Masking, Covid Tongue And More
In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, we speak with UCLA’s Dr. Annabelle De St. Maurice.
Topics today include:
Yesterday, California officials decided that they would target 40 percent of vaccine supply to underserved areas - will this effectively address racial disparities in vaccination?
Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials are endorsing double masking
The Pasadena Unified School District yesterday joined some other Los Angeles County schools to bring elementary students back to campus by the end of the month
What the heck is Covid tongue and why are we still learning of new Covid symptoms?
With new variants in the air, LA County officials are telling people not to travel over Spring Break
With guest host Sharon McNary
Guest:
Annabelle De St. Maurice M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases and the co-chief infection prevention officer at University of California Los Angeles/Mattel Children’s hospital; she tweets
Checking In With Local Schools In The Process Of Reopening For Hybrid And In-Person Learning
Los Angeles Unified School District may still be in the process of working out its return to in-person instruction as the district and its teachers’ union attempt to work out their differences so students and teachers can return, but meanwhile other districts in the area have already started the process of bringing some younger students back with hybrid in-person learning models, and others already targeting a return for their middle and high school students if coronavirus case numbers in Southern California continue to stabilize.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll talk with representatives from a few local school districts that have set reopening dates or who are already in the process of reopening about how things are going, what kind of feedback they’ve received from parents, students and teachers.
Guests:
Robert Garcia, mayor of the City of Long Beach; he tweets
Penelope A. DeLeon, is the superintendent of Glendora Unified School District where they have begun accommodating student returns in grades Kindergarten through 5th on a limited and hybrid basis.
Steven E. Keller is the superintendent of schools for the Redondo Unified School District where students in 4th and 5th grade are now able to return using a hybrid classroom model.
Amazon Workers At An Alabama Warehouse Are Pushing To Unionize, With Far-Reaching Implications
President Joe Biden said workers in Alabama and across the country have the right to join a union without intimidation from their companies. His comments come as Amazon workers in the state are voting on whether they should unionize.
In a two-minute video posted to Twitter, Biden didn’t mention Amazon by name, or say how workers should vote, but he stressed that they should be given a choice.
At the Bessemer, Alabama, warehouse, Amazon has been holding classes, telling workers that the union will take their money for dues without any benefit.
The union push in Bessemer is the biggest in Amazon’s nearly 30-year history. About 6,000 workers started voting in February, and have about a month left to make their choice. Vote counting starts on March 30, and a majority of the workers have to vote “Yes” in order for them to unionize.
Organizers have said workers in the Amazon warehouse don’t get enough breaks during their 10-hour workdays. They also want workers to be treated with respect and to be paid more. The employees are seeking to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which also represents workers at several poultry plants in Alabama.
Workers face an uphill battle against Amazon. The company, which is the nation’s second-largest employer, has a history of crushing unionizing efforts at its warehouses and its Whole Foods grocery stores. Plus, laws in Alabama don’t favor unions.
With files from the Associated Press
With guest host Sharon McNary
Guests:
Karen Weise, technology reporter for The New York Times covering Amazon; she tweets
Benjamin Sachs, professor of labor and industry at Harvard Law School; he tweets
FilmWeek: 'Coming 2 America,' 'Raya and the Last Dragon,' 'Pixie' And More
Guest host John Horn and KPCC film critics Wade Major, Amy Nicholson and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases.
- "Coming 2 America" showing at the Vineland Drive-In (City of Industry); Amazon Prime Video
- "Raya and the Last Dragon" showing at the Mission Tiki Drive-In (Montclair), Van Buren Drive-In (Riverside); streaming on Disney+
- "Land" on VOD (including FandangoNOW, Vudu & Google Play)
- "My Salinger Year" on VOD (including Vudu and iTunes); Cinelounge Drive-In (Hollywood) on March 10
- "Tom and Jerry" showing at the Mission Tiki Drive-In (Montclair), Van Buren Drive-In (Riverside), Regency Theaters Van Nuys Plant Drive-In & the Directors Cut Cinema (Laguna Niguel); streaming on HBO Max
- "Pixie" showing at the Cinelounge Drive-In (Hollywood); VOD (including Vudu, FandangoNOW & iTunes)
- "Boss Level" on Hulu
- "The Truffle Hunters" showing at the Vineland Drive-In (City of Industry)
- "The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run" streaming on Paramount Plus; VOD (including Apple TV, Prime Video & Vudu)
- "F.T.A." on Laemmle's Virtual Cinema
- "Chaos Walking" showing at the Paramount Drive-In (Paramount), Mission Tiki Drive-In (Montclair), Vineland Drive-In (City of Industry) & Van Buren Drive-In (Riverside)
- "Keep An Eye Out" on Laemmle's Virtual Cinema
- "Boogie" showing at the Mission Tiki Drive-In (Montclair)
- "Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman" showing on Laemmle's Virtual Cinema
- "Stray" on Laemmle’s Virtual Cinema; VOD (including FandangoNOW, iTunes & Google Play)
- "Son" showing in select theaters (check local listings); VOD ( including iTunes, FandangoNOW & Vudu)
Our FilmWeek critics have been curating personal lists of their favorite TV shows and movies to binge-watch during self-quarantine. You can see recommendations from each of the critics and where you can watch them here.
With guest host John Horn
Guests:
Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com
Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC, film writer for The New York Times and host of the podcasts ‘Unspooled’ and the podcast miniseries “Zoom”; she tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Robin Wright On Grief And Recovery As She Makes Her Feature Directorial Debut With ‘Land’
Robin Wright's "Land" follows the story of a widower, who secludes herself to a remote cabin after grieving over the loss of her husband and son. KPCC's John Horn talks with director Robin Wright on the making of her feature directorial debut. The film is out now on various on-demand platforms including FandangoNOW, Vudu and Google Play.
With guest host John Horn
Guest:
Robin Wright, director and star of the new film “Land”