CityBeat with New Times L.A. Columnist Jill Stewart; Cuts in the LAUSD Budget; DNA Shakes Up Child Support Laws; FilmWeek
CityBeat with New Times L.A. Columnist Jill Stewart
Host Larry Mantle speaks with New Times L.A. Columnist Jill Stewart.
Cuts in the LAUSD Budget
The Los Angeles School Board struggled to cut $385 million dollars from their budget and may have to find another $44 million in savings. Will these cuts impede the District's progress in improving academic achievement? Larry Mantle talks with LAUSD and UTLA officials about the cuts.
DNA Shakes Up Child Support Laws
DNA tests have helped wrongly convicted inmates to be released from prison, but they are also having a profound affect on child support cases. Men who have been ordered by the court to pay child support are challenging these orders with DNA tests that prove they are not biologically related to the child or children in question. But courts in many states are slow to release men from their obligations to pay child support. These cases have launched a new legal and ideological debate about what it means to be a father. Larry Mantle opens the phones to hear from listeners about this issue.
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle and critics Jean Oppenheimer of Screen International and Peter Rainer of New York Magazine discuss this week's new film releases, including Spider-Man, Hollywood Ending, Murderous Maids, Deuces Wild, Rain, and A Shot at Glory.
Larry and the critics also discussed Ali, the only video release for the week.