Update On Israel-Palestine War As Biden Gives Speech Offering Aid & Support To Israel

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Israel had agreed to allow humanitarian assistance to begin flowing into Gaza from Egypt, with the understanding it would be subject to inspections and that it should go to civilians and not Hamas militants. In remarks from Tel Aviv where the president had gone to show support for Israel following a brutal and deadly Oct. 7 attack that killed roughly 1,400 people, Biden cautioned the nation against all-consuming rage. Israel had cut off the flow of food, fuel and water to the Gaza Strip after the attack. Mediators have been struggling to break a deadlock over providing supplies to desperate civilians, aid groups and hospitals. An explosion at a Gaza Strip hospital compounded the suffering. Shortly after Biden's remarks, Israel confirmed food, water and medicine would begin to flow, though the timing wasn't immediately clear. There were conflicting claims of who was responsible for the hospital blast. Officials in Gaza quickly blamed an Israeli airstrike. Israel denied it was involved and released a flurry of video, audio and other information that it said showed the blast was instead due to a missile misfire by Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza. The Islamic Jihad dismissed that claim. The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence released by the parties. Biden on Wednesday said data from his Defense Department showed it was not likely a strike by the Israeli military. To offer additional details, Larry sits down with Franco Ordonez, White House correspondent for NPR’s Washington Desk.

California Plans To Produce Its Own Insulin – Is This A Game-Changer For The Pharmaceutical Industry?

Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill that would have placed a $35 dollar cap on a 30-day supply of insulin, including deductibles and copays. His reasoning? Something better is coming down the pike: insulin produced by California itself. The state has a $50 million contract with the nonprofit pharmaceutical company Civica Rx to manufacture insulin under the brand CalRx. The state would sell a 10 milliliter vial of insulin for $30. Newsom claimed that California manufacturing its own insulin will help reduce underlying costs, as opposed to co-pay caps, which, he said, are passed down to consumers through higher health premiums. The state doesn’t plan to stop at insulin. Down the line, it also plans to manufacture the overdose medication, naloxone. How would state-made insulin disrupt the marketplace? Can we expect the model to expand? Joining us to discuss is Dana Goldman, dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the co-director of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics.

With files from the Associated Press

LAist Review Of City That Was Nearly Abolished Due To Corruption Finds Progress On Government Reform, Lingering Environmental Woes

Five miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles lies a unique, bustling little city, self-described as “exclusively industrial.” It faced accusations of political and ecological corruption so serious that a dozen years ago the State Legislature came within a hair’s breadth of abolishing it. The city of Vernon survived that near-death experience, which would have seen it dissolved as an independent city and remade as an unincorporated area of L.A. County. Vernon’s survival was thanks to a huge lobbying campaign by its city government — as well as business interests anxious to preserve it as a sanctuary that offered firms substantial savings to locate there. Some labor unions joined the campaign, fearful that businesses might leave a disincorporated Vernon and take with them tens of thousands of jobs for blue collar commuters that included some union members. Ultimately, these pro-Vernon forces cut a deal with a key legislator who persuaded colleagues to let the city survive in return for its promise to reform its governance and double the size of its extremely small residential population.

Today on AirTalk, we’ll speak with LAist Reporter Ted Rohrlich, whose latest piece at LAist.com looks into how the 5-square-mile city made good on those promises, but remains dogged by environmental woes.

 
With files from Ted Rohrlich at LAist.com. You can read his full story here.

A ‘Vanlord’ Crackdown Could Be Coming To LA County Unincorporated Areas

L.A. County could be joining Los Angeles in looking at ways to crack down on so-called “vanlords” who rent out RVs for people to live in. The proposal — up for a vote Tuesday by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors — would direct county staff to report back within 90 days on ideas to “curtail the selling, leasing, or renting” of RVs and oversized vessels along public streets. Sometime after that, supervisors would have to vote separately on ordinances that would actually crack down on the practice, which has exploded in recent years as rents continue to skyrocket. The move comes amid a massive increase in people living in RVs across the county — up 31% from 2020 to 2023, according to annual homeless counts. Altogether, far more people live in RVs in L.A. County than in tents, according to the latest count. Countywide, about 11,500 people are estimated to live in about 6,800 RVs. Joining us today on AirTalk is senior reporter covering unhoused communities for LAist, Nick Gerda.

With files from LAist. Read the full story here. 

The State's Mental Health Transformation

Gov. Gavin Newsom is working to transform California's mental health system, and not everyone agrees on whether it's a good thing. Legislation involves controversial CARE courts, changes to who's eligible for involuntary treatment, and efforts to reallocate funding for services and facilities. Today on AirTalk, we wade through some of these major changes and their implications. Joining to discuss is Kristen R. Choi, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and health services researcher at UCLA. If you have thoughts or questions, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.

The Best Fall Fun And Halloween Haunts In Southern California

Looking for October activities that are sure to give you all the autumn feels? Whether you’re looking for cozy fall vibes or a Halloween fright, there are plenty of options throughout Southern California. Today on AirTalk, we discuss some of the best things to do. Plus, we want to hear your suggestions! Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com. Joining the program is Carmelle Marshall, owner and editor-in-charge of “Parks and Cons,” which covers conventions, theme parks, haunted attractions and other themed entertainment news.