Checking in on Medi-Cal as state approves $3 billion loan and concerns of federal cuts loom

Last week, California’s Department of Finance approved the borrowing of more than $3 billion to cover Medi-Cal costs, using the state’s general fund. The loan underscores long-term concerns— particularly with recent talks of cutting Medicaid at the federal level— that state lawmakers have with funding the state’s program as its population continues to age and expand. So what are the options that lawmakers need to consider, as they seek to continue funding the program and maintain its quality? Today on AirTalk, we delve into the latest news surrounding Medicaid and Medi-Cal with Christine Mai-Duc, California correspondent for KFF Health News. We’ll also talk to Lanhee Chen, David and Diane Steffy Fellow in American Public Policy Studies at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution; he is also co-chair of the institution's Health Care Policy Working Group.

A new local initiative seeks to recruit and train people to attend and record public meetings

A new program from The LA Local News Initiative will train and pay hundreds of people to attend public meetings and take notes. The notes from the meetings will then be published and shared with participating newsrooms to create more transparency. Once launched, L.A. will join a host of other cities that already have a “documenters” network up and running, like Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Dallas. Joining us this morning on AirTalk to discuss this new program and how it works is Kevin Martinez, Community Engagement Director for the LA Local News Initiative.

Learn more about becoming a documenter at the Documenters website

Coachella Valley celebrates the legacy of land art with biannual Desert X exhibition

The intersection of art and nature can be an incredibly moving experience. For some artists, land art — that is the public display of art in a landscape, such as a desert environment — is a chance to connect with a viewer beyond the traditional narrative of the gallery. Now, Desert X, the biannual site-specific exhibition held in the Coachella Valley, highlights the dynamic relationship between art and nature in its latest edition while also honoring the deep legacy of land art. Joining us today to talk about that legacy and the current exhibition is Neville Wakefield, an art curator and founding artistic director of Desert X.

Mall staple Forever 21 files for bankruptcy protection, again

Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy protection for a second time as traffic in U.S. shopping malls fades and competition from online retailers like Amazon, Temu and Shein intensifies. F21 OpCo, which runs Forever 21 stores, said late Sunday that it will wind down the business in the U.S. under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while determining if it can continue as a business with a partner, or if it will sell some or all of its assets.

“While we have evaluated all options to best position the company for the future, we have been unable to find a sustainable path forward, given competition from foreign fast fashion companies, which have been able to take advantage of the de minimis exemption to undercut our brand on pricing and margin,” Chief Financial Officer Brad Sell said in a statement.

The de minimis tax exemption lets shipments headed to U.S. businesses and consumers valued at less than $800 enter the country tax-free and duty-free. Forever 21 stores in the U.S. will hold liquidation sales and the website will continue to run while operations wind down. The retailer’s locations outside of the U.S. are run by other licensees and are not included in the bankruptcy filing. International store locations and websites will continue operating as normal. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the factors that have led to Forever 21 closing its doors and what the state of the mall retailer looks like in our age of online shopping and fast fashion. We’re joined by Nicole Craig, professor at Arizona State University’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising at the Los Angeles campus.

With files from the Associated Press

SoCal History: Los Angeles’ Spanish-language newspapers and magazines

For Mexican immigrants and the greater Latin American diaspora, Spanish-language newspapers and magazines were a way to stay connected and informed about the Latino community. Spanish-language publications covered issues that mainstream news often overlooked including the politics of home as well as local initiatives and events. Unsurprisingly, Los Angeles and Orange County were home to many of these daily and weekly prints such as La Opinión, Excélsior, and Miniondas. But like all print media, the peak of Spanish-language newspapers soon dwindled as media was ushered into the digital age. Now only a handful of magazines remain, mostly solely online. Today on AirTalk, we delve into the history of Southern California's Spanish-language magazines. We're joined by Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the L.A. Times and former editor at OC Weekly. We also want to hear from you! What was your Spanish-language weekly of choice? Do you still read them? Share with us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.

You can read more about the decline of SoCal’s Spanish-language magazines in Gustavo’s piece “The death of California’s Spanish-language newspapers leaves a void. ‘It gets filled with trash’”