"Death with dignity" advocate Brittany Maynard has postponed her scheduled death originally set for Nov. 1. Is California ready for an overhaul to allow terminally ill patients the right to end their lives on their terms? Also, we hear from real-life night crew cameramen who consulted on the critically acclaimed film "Nightcrawler." Then, it's TGI-Filmweek!
Terminally ill Brittany Maynard delays decision to end her life
Terminally ill Brittany Maynard has become the face of the right-to-die movement. Tomorrow is the day she tentatively set to take her own life. However, she says she's feeling well enough to hold off a while longer.
Maynard, a 29-year-old woman with stage 4 malignant brain cancer, has publicly declared that she would take her life in the manner of her choosing. She moved to Oregon from California in order to take advantage of their laws regarding the taking of one’s life and committed to her “death with dignity” for November 1, two days after her husband’s birthday.
After completing her bucket list, which included visiting the Grand Canyon, she has decided to postpone the decision to end her life. She wrote on her website, “I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn’t seem like the right time now.” She also noted that as the seizures worsen and she loses autonomy over making decisions for herself, she would again come closer to her final day.
What are considerations one must make when considering to end his/her life? Is the time right for Californians to vote on allowing doctors to prescribe lethal quantities of drugs to terminally ill patients?
Guest:
Melissa Binder, Faith and Values reporter for The Oregonian in Portland, Oregon who’s been following the story
Debating Proposition 47: Reducing penalties for some crimes
It's a ballot measure pitting prosecutors against prosecutors. Co-sponsored by heavyweight District Attorney George Gascón of San Francisco, what he calls "The Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act" would reduce the classification of most "non serious and nonviolent" property and drug crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor for convicts without violent histories. Gascón says California prisons are over-crowded with low-level offenders who become more prone to recidivism by staying locked up for too long. Prop 47 would make about 10,000 inmates eligible for resentencing, according to Lenore Anderson of Californians for Safety and Justice.
Opponents, including the California Police Chiefs Association, say “dangerous three strikes" inmates would be eligible for release, and it would allow prior felons to buy and possess guns. How has the California legislature attempted to handle prison crowding and recidivism? Would the parole system be able to handle the consequences of Prop 47?
Guest:
George Gascón, Co-Sponsor of Proposition 47; District Attorney, City & County of San Francisco
Michael Ramos, Opposed to Proposition 47; District Attorney, San Bernardino County
Filmweek: 'Nightcrawler', 'Low Down', 'Force Majeure' and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Amy Nicholson and Henry Sheehan review this week’s releases, including “Nightcrawler,” “Low Down,” “Force Majeure” and more. TGI-Filmweek!
Ranker - Top 10 Lists and More
Guests:
Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC and chief film critic for LA Weekly
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and CriticsAGoGo.com
True tales of LA’s TV news stringers
The critically acclaimed new release "Nightcrawler" goes behind the scenes of gritty local news - with the help of real life LA stringers who consulted on the film. Howard Raishbrook and his twin brother Austin have been chasing stories across LA for 15 years. They advised writer and director Dan Gilroy to give him a truer picture of the bloody car wrecks, tragic murders and dramatic fires. The Raishbrooks' work takes guts and composure, but without the sociopath tendencies of film's anti-hero. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal plays the unscrupulous freelance cameraman capable of chilling acts to get the best shot.
What are the traits of a good stringer? How much risk does the job entail? How do they respond to critics of the "if it bleeds, it leads" mentality?
Guests:
Howard Raishbrook, technical consultant and advisor on “Nightcrawler;” long-time LA TV News stringer and founder of RMG News (with his twin brother Austin)
Adrian Huerta, freelance cameraman for KTLA