It’s a crucial year for House and Senate races. Here’s where CA fits
California is a battleground state for U.S. House and Senate races. On the Senate side, you have Democrat Adam Schiff taking on Republican Steve Garvey. Schiff is a former state senator and a member of Congress since 2001. Garvey is a former Major League Baseball player. On the House side, both parties are focusing on critical swing districts, from the Inland Empire, through the San Joaquin Valley, and up to Northern California. Orange County alone has a couple key races, with Dave Min and Scott Baugh battling for the 47th district and Derek Tran challenging Republican incumbent Michelle Steel for the 45th district. California’s not the only state to watch when it comes to congressional races. Joining to discuss what’s at stake is Ron Elving, senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News. If you have questions, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
What patients should know about SoCal Kaiser mental health workers strike
Today marks day two of a strike by Kaiser mental health workers, with more than 2,000 workers involved in strikes in Los Angeles and San Diego. With many reporting being overworked and underfunded, workers have shared that their ratios of patient-to-psychiatrist have led to the levels of turnover they've seen in the past year. So what should patients prepare for as this strike continues for the foreseeable future? Joining us to discuss the latest, and what Kaiser mental healthcare patients should know, is LAist mental health reporter Robert Garrova.
Chocolate prices are scary high. What's causing the rise this holiday season?
With Halloween just a week away, people are stocking up on candy for trick-or-treaters. But if you've been to the store recently, you may have noticed an increase on some of your fall favorites, particularly those of the chocolate variety. Chocolate prices are up and will likely continue through the winter holidays as the supply of cocoa beans decreases. Sixty percent of the world's cocoa beans are grown in Ghana and the Ivory Coast which have been experiencing a drought, limiting the amount of cocoa available to sell to manufacturers. This coupled with government interference and social issues such as child labor, has affected the chocolate industry worldwide, leading to the increased prices we are seeing on our shelves.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss the challenges facing the chocolate industry and how it's affecting consumers here in the U.S. as they gear up for candy's biggest holiday. We're joined by Alexis Villacis, assistant professor of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at Ohio State University.
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do resigns, agrees to plead guilty to public corruption charges
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do has agreed to plead guilty and resign in a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars meant to feed needy seniors, following a months-long LAist investigation and federal probe.The criminal charges and plea deal were announced Tuesday morning by U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada at a news conference in downtown Santa Ana. Out of $19.3 million that was supposed to feed people, only 15% went to people in need, Estrada said. Supervisor Do’s funding of Viet America Society — and the lack of answers about what happened with the funds — has been the focus of nearly a year of investigative articles by LAist. Starting last November, LAist reporting uncovered millions of taxpayer dollars Supervisor Do directed to his daughter’s nonprofit without disclosing the family relationship, and that have gone unaccounted for. LAist’s investigation reported Supervisor Do directed millions to the group using a process outside of public view, which was not illegal at the time. (Those laws are now changing, under recently signed legislation introduced in response to LAist’s reporting on Do’s awarding of the funds.) LAist also revealed in December that the group failed to submit required audits showing whether the money was spent appropriately.
With files from Nick Gerda at LAist.com. Read the full story here. You can also see a timeline of LAist’s investigation that broke this story here.
