On today's show, building relationships between the police and the public, a couple held in Qatar in connection with the death of their daughter are cleared of all wrongdoing, and an update on the investigation into the use of psychotropic medications for foster children. Plus we'll talk to actor John Leguizamo about his latest film, why we spend money for the holidays and we'll look at the latest in entertainment with our regular segment, On The Lot.
Obama meets with civil rights leaders, law enforcement about reforms after Ferguson
Today, President Obama is scheduled to meet with cabinet officials, civil rights and religious leaders and law enforcement officers at the White House.
On the agenda: Ferguson and neighborhood policing.
That's been top on the agenda after last week's grand jury in St. Louis decided not to indict the white police officer, Darren Wilson, who shot and killed unarmed teen Michael Brown.
And the city of Ferguson has also responded. Over the weekend, Mayor James Knowles outlined a series of changes to the city's police department, including a civilian review board and more recruitment of black officers.
Some have welcomed the reforms, while others say they don't go far enough.
"There needs to be honest dialogue about what really is wrong with the [Ferguson police] department," said Cheryl Dorsey, a retired LAPD sergeant, community advocate and expert on police culture. She's also author of the novel, "Black & Blue."
One place to start, said Dorsey, would be to diversify the staff to better reflect the people of the area.
"Ferguson should reach out to people with law enforcement experience who look like the people they serve in that community," said Dorsey.
American couple in Qatar, while cleared of all charges, are prevented from leaving
Grace and Matthew Huang, both from Los Angeles, have had been held in Qatar for more than a year after the death of their adopted daughter.
The couple was charged with starving the child, although the Huangs argue she had refused to eat and suffered from a parasitic condition. A judge overturned the ruling this weekend but, as they prepared to leave the country Sunday, their passports were seized and they were barred from leaving.
Peter Kovessy is a reporter with Doha News and has been following the case closely. He says
"We were unarmed": who are the missing students in Mexico?
On the program, we've been covering the case of 43 missing students in Mexico who disappeared in the state of Guerrero in September. Since then, criticism of how the government has handled the case has prompted widespread protests throughout the country.
"Because they were taken alive, we want them back alive," parents and supporters have chanted at rallies, demanding action from authorities.
Last week, President Enrique Peña Nieto proposed what he calls a ten-point plan to focus on corruption and state control of local police, calling what happened in Iguala "a tragedy."
A 3-part video series from VICE takes a close look at the students and the families at the center of the case.
Journalist Daniel Hernández reported the story. He told Take Two that the case has brought to the front long-simmering tension throughout the country about a breakdown in law and order.
"Right now in Mexico if someone wants you dead or disappeared, it will happen and no one will come get you and no one will find you," said Hernández. "That is really a horrifying thought to live with in the day to day."
Watch the first part in the video series from VICE News: The Missing 43: Mexico's Disappeared Students (Part 1)
On The Lot: Sony gets hacked and Star Wars comes back
Sony Pictures was the victim of a massive hack, Angelina Jolie goes for Oscar gold with her new movie, "Unbroken," and we get a taste of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Rebecca Keegan, who covers the film business for the LA Times, joins us every week to talk about the latest in Hollywood in our segment, "On The Lot."
1) The new Star Wars trailer is out and there are an infinite number of opinions about it, but you can check down a shot by shot breakdown, here.
2) Sony Pictures has been the victim of a massive hack, and some are speculating that it could be related to Seth Rogen's upcoming movie, "The Interview."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP8O-MOqmcw
3) Angelina Jolie directed a movie about WWII hero Louis Zamperini, called "Unbroken," and it's getting some Oscar buzz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk1M_HwmFMM
4) And Rebecca's got a new show that's premiering on the EPIX network! It's called "Hollywood Sessions" and it's out next week.
Mexican 'corridos' tell the story of the 43 missing students
The corrido is a folk ballad which serves as a chronicle of life in Mexico.
Recently, artists in Mexico and the U.S. have been composing corridos about the 43 students who went missing from the city of Iguala in September.
Julie Schwietert Collazo, a freelance writer specializing in Latin America, wrote about this new batch of folk ballads for the Latin music and culture site Remezcla.
The songs, according to Schweitert Collazo, traditionally recount true stories and serve an oral history function as well, passing a story along throughout the community.
In the case of the missing students, the songs work so well "because the situation is really confusing, there's so many chapters within the story, and so many different protagonists and antagonists," Schweitert Collazo says.
"The corrido is a form that is so compact and so direct that it helps inform people in a really succinct way about what happened."
John Leguizamo based his film 'Fugly' on some real-life experiences
In the new film, "Fugly," actor John Leguizamo stars as an actor named Jesse.
His career has stalled, but eventually finds success by being himself up on stage.
It's not too far off from the path that Leguizamo took himself trying to make it as an entertainer.
He joined Alex Cohen to explore the semi-autobiographical film, including how difficult it was finding roles as a Latino actor that weren't "drug dealer #2."
How drug companies and doctors team up, leading to over-drugged foster children
Children in California's foster care system are prescribed powerful psychotropic meds more than 3 times the rate of other kids.
It's the subject of a series of articles by investigative reporter Karen de Sa at the San Jose Mercury News.
Sometimes, these foster kids are on a cocktail of several drugs at one time, with some of those pills unapproved for use on minors.
In her latest installment, Karen traces the intricate network that brings together pharmaceutical drug companies with the doctors who are prescribing this medication.
Curbing the urge to splurge on bargains
Are you one of those intrepid shoppers who stood in line to pick up a door buster deal on Black Friday?
Or perhaps you're reading this with your finger hovering over the mouse waiting to scoop up those Cyber Monday bargains.
While the holidays can leave us full of cheer, they can also leave our wallets a little light.
A Martinez talks with Kit Yarrow, professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, to explain WHY we buy and HOW to avoid spending too much on the wrong things this festive season.
Clothing for a cause throughout Dressember
December is all about excess and celebration, but for one Los Angeles based fashionista, the last month of the year is dedicated to clothing for a cause.
Blythe Hill is the founder of Dressember - a month long campaign designed to help in the fight against human trafficking. It started out as a 31 day style challenge for Hill in 2009. Last year, more than 1200 women worldwide joined in.
A Martinez speaks with Blythe Hill about Dressember and her hopes for the campaign this year.
The future of Bob Baker Marionettes
Los Angeles lost an icon over the weekend when puppeteer Bob Baker died at age 90. His marionette theater opened near downtown in 1962 and is the oldest puppet theater in the US.
The Bob Baker Marionettes delighted children of all ages for for many years. But Baker struggled with paying the mortgage on the theater building and it was recently sold.
His friend Greg Williams, who is also a puppeteer and co-trustee of the theater, says the current lease goes through March and he plans to pay month-to-month after that. Williams says he and the team at Bob Baker Marionettes are in no rush to leave and plan to keep it going as long as he can.
Williams says that Los Angeles deserves to keep the puppet show going and adds, "People really enjoy bringing their family to see the theater."
Fairy tales head 'Into the Woods'
Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and others from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales come to life in the theater adaptation of James Lapine's classic, "Into the Woods".
It's 30 years since the production first hit the stage, and now the Wallis Annenberg Performing Arts Center puts a modern twist on the holiday favorite.
A Martinez speaks with Patti Wolff, interim Artistic Director at the Wallis Annenberg Performing Arts Center and Amanda Dehnert, musical director for "Into the Woods".