OC Supervisor Andrew Do speaks out. Here’s what he said and where the fraud investigation stands
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, the central figure in an unfolding corruption scandal that saw his home searched by FBI and IRS agents last week, has for months declined to comment to English-language news outlets. Last week, he spoke out on Vietnamese-language radio, according to a recording of the remarks that LAist had translated. The broadcast took place a few hours after LAist broke the news on Aug. 15 that county officials filed a fraud lawsuit against his daughter, Rhiannon Do, and others involved in a nonprofit she helped lead, according to two people who said they spoke with others who heard the broadcast live. Supervisor Do directed more than $10 million in public funds to the nonprofit, Viet America Society (VAS), that have gone unaccounted for, despite O.C. officials’ repeated demands for answers about what happened to the money since February. LAist reached out to Supervisor Do on Friday and Saturday and did not get a response. A county spokesperson declined to comment on the broadcast. Today, we get the latest on the story with LAist senior reporter Nick Gerda and also talk with Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who represents its 2nd district.
With files from LAist. Read more here
LAist reached out to Supervisor Andrew Do’s office for comment but did not hear back by the time of our broadcast.
What you need to know about the new COVID vaccine and the continuing summer surge
U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, shots designed to more closely target recent virus strains -- and hopefully whatever variants cause trouble this winter, too. With the Food and Drug Administration’s clearance, Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects its modified vaccine version to be available a little later. The FDA’s decision came a bit earlier than last year’s rollout of updated COVID-19 vaccines, as a summer wave of the virus continues in most of the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already has recommended this fall’s shot for everyone age 6 months and older. Vaccinations could be available within days. While most Americans have some degree of immunity from prior infections or vaccinations or both, that protection wanes. Last fall’s shots targeted a different part of the coronavirus family tree, a strain that’s no longer circulating -- and CDC data shows only about 22.5% of adults and 14% of children received it.
Joining us to talk about the new vaccine and who should get it is Dr. Kimberly Shriner , director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. If you have questions about the vaccine or the new COVID variant, give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from the Associated Press
A dog rescue in Downtown LA is the subject of a new book which rewrites an incomplete narrative
The wellbeing of animals, pets in particular, is inextricably tied to the wellbeing of humans. In the U.S. nearly 20 million pets live in poverty alongside their owners. There is a narrative that most stray pets and rescues come from owners who beat and neglected them. While this is certainly true in many cases, there is another story that a new book seeks to shed light on. That story is about underserved communities who may love their animals deeply, but cannot always afford to care for them. This brings up questions like who should get to own a pet? Should only the well-off among us get to own and rescue pets? Joining us today on AirTalk is journalist and writer Carol Mithers whose new book “Rethinking Rescue: Dog Lady and the Story of America’s Forgotten People and Pets” addresses these questions.
SoCal history: remembering the golden era of drive-in movie theaters
Let's take a trip down memory lane and eventually find ourselves parked in front of our favorite outdoor movie screen. That's right, we're talking about the history of drive-in movie theaters, how they were popularized within car culture and their eventual downfall. The COVID-19 pandemic resurrected interest in drive-ins and some continue to operate today, including in Southern California. But it's nothing like its heyday. Joining to discuss is April Wright, director of the documentaries Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie and Back to the Drive-in, and Chris Nichols, senior editor at L.A. Magazine. We also want to hear from you! Tell us your favorite drive-in memories. What was your favorite theater and what made it so special? What was your experience? Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
A Riverside football team gets national attention and a new book dedicated to its journey
Last November, a parade was held for Riverside's California School for the Deaf’s football team who had just won their state championship. The victory was triumphant and an unlikely turn of events for a team that had long been outcasted as the underdogs. In the new book "The Boys of Riverside,” New York Times reporter Thomas Fuller follows the team on their two year journey from hardly ever winning to having an undefeated season. The book takes a closer look at the team’s players, their dynamic head coach Keith Adams, and crucial games that brought the team national attention. Joining us today on AirTalk are Thomas Fuller, author of the book "The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory” and Keith Adams, head coach of the championship winning all-deaf High School football team, the Riverside Cubs from Riverside's California School for the Deaf.
