A look at mudslide risk in the aftermath of the wildfires, welfare reform in Los Angeles County, the MLB playoffs take shape, debate over the health care individual mandate, and a talk with Peter Maas, author of “Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil”.
Station fire aftermath and mudslide risk
The fires are out, but the danger is not over. The U.S. Geological Survey says that winter
rains could release huge flows of mud and debris in the Angeles National Forest, threatening many of the Gabriel Mountain foothill communities. Larry gets the disheartening details.
Guest:
Lucy Jones, Director of Multi-Hazards Project for the USGS
Recession slams welfare rolls
Los Angeles County welfare officials presented a plan yesterday for restructuring the general relief program, which has grown to include 84,000 adults and is expected to cost more than $200 million this year. In the past two years, the County added 25,000 new recipients to its general relief rolls, according to the Philip Browning, the director of the Department of Public Social Services. Will the County be able to save money while protecting L.A.'s neediest?
Guests:
Philip Browning, director of the Department of Public Social Services
Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Supervisor
Baseball playoffs
It has been a great week for Southern California baseball as the LA Dodgers (finally) captured the National League West division title and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim handily took its American League counterpart. Next up, the Dodgers face the St. Louis Cardinals and the Angels take on the Boston Red Sox. How will they fare? Larry Mantle gets the scoop from LA Times reporters Mike DiGiovanna and Dylan Hernandez.
Guest:
Mike DiGiovanna, baseball writer for the Los Angeles Times
Dylan Hernandez, baseball writer for the Los Angeles Times
Health care: the individual mandate
One feature of President Obama's proposed health plan is a mandate requiring all individuals to have health insurance. But as health care legislation makes its way through the Senate this week, support for an individual mandate isn't evenly split along party lines. Some critics argue that a mandate would be a financial burden for those with low incomes, while others say that it would be ineffective at lowering health care costs. What are the pros and cons of requiring everyone to have insurance?
Guest:
Shana Alex Lavarreda, Director of Health Insurance Studies and Research Scientist at UCLA's Center for Health Policy Research
Crude world: the violent twilight of oil
Driven by deep concerns over the many ways oil makes the fate of nations, Peter Maass launched an investigation that took him to China, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela, Afghanistan and beyond. He spoke to warlords and politicians, lobbyists and princes, seeking to uncover why the countries richest in oil are often among the world’s poorest nations. Larry Mantle talks with Maass about his book, “Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil.”
Guest:
Peter Maass, author of “Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil”(Knopf). He is a New York Times Magazine contributor.