How the search for El Chapo is playing out in Mexico, the East Coast show a lot of love for LA in 2015, celebrating New Year's Eve with your kids.
What are the consequences for violating patient privacy laws?
In 2008, California lawmakers passed a law which forces hospitals to swiftly report whenever a patient's privacy is breached. Another first of its kind law gave the state power to levy fines for such violations.
But the laws don't mean much unless they're properly and consistently enforced, and that may not be happening.
Charles Ornstein from ProPublica joins Take Two's Alex Cohen to share his investigation andwhat's been happening throughout the state .
Click here to read ProPublica's full story on the consequences of violating patience privacy
The search for 'El Chapo' displaces ranchers in the Golden Triangle
It's been more than five months now since Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, the most-wanted drug lord in Mexico, escaped from a high-security prison by slipping into a tunnel leading directly into his cell.
As the overlord of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, his escape was a major blow to the Mexican government and the search for him has been intense.
It's focused on one of the top drug-producing regions in the country known as the Golden Triangle. Daniel Hernandez, producer and correspondent with VICE News, recently visited the area to see how the search is playing out and wrote about it.
The Wheel Thing: Our motor critic's picks to watch in 2016
We're closing out a banner year for the auto industry. Car makers sold a record number of vehicles in 2015, and projections are that the next couple of years will be even better.
That's despite VW's emissions scandal, a monstermega recall of cars with potentially exploding airbags, and accusations that GM covered up knowledge of a faulty ignition system that was responsible for scores of deaths.
But with the average car in America clocking in at almost 11 years old, there's a lot of demand for new cars.
Our Wheel Thing guide, motor critic Susan Carpenter, is looking forward to driving — and seeing others drive — a number of new models in 2016, including:
- Ford GT: The most expensive production car from Ford Motor Co., the 2017 GT will cost about $400,000 when it goes into production in 2016. Built around extreme aerodynamics, exemplified by its shark nose and adjustable rear wing, the carbon-fiber GT is powered with a 600-plus-horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 lifted from Ford’s Daytona Prototype. Just a few thousand will be made, including those built for the GT’s return to LeMans this summer.
- Cadillac CT6: Positioned as a cut above its highly regarded CTS midsize sedan, Cadillac’s four-wheel-drive CT6 is 8.5 inches longer than the CTS, allowing for an additional 5 inches of rear set leg room. It will also offer more standard equipment, including a rearview mirror that doubles as the screen for the backup camera and new Super Cruise features that will allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and their foot off the pedals during highway driving.
- Lexus SC: Lexus gets sexy with a new luxury sports coupe designed to compete with the BMW 6-Series. The rear-wheel-drive SC will be powered with a version of the 467-horsepower, 5-liter V8 in the Lexus RC F. Due later in 2016,Its expected price is about $80,000.
- Jaguar F-Pace: Jaguar will bring its first SUV to market this year with a surprisingly low starting price of $40,990. Designed to fuse the British luxury brand’s sporty design and performance with the utility of a five-seat crossover, the compact F-Pace will be built with an aluminum body, all-wheel drive and three different engines, including a 380-horsepower 3-liter supercharged V-6, a 340-horsepower 2-liter turbocharged four cylinder and a 2-liter diesel.
- Maserati Levante: The first SUV from the Italian sports car maker is loosely based on its bestselling Ghibli sedan, with all-wheel drive, a V-6 gasoline engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
- Chevrolet Bolt: The first long-range all-electric vehicle for the masses, the plug-in Bolt hatchback should be able to travel at least 200 miles per charge and do so for a starting price of about $30,000.
- Honda Civic Type R: The first R version of Honda’s bestselling Civic should bring a sportier feel to the perennial commuter car. Powered with a two-liter turbocharged four cylinder that’s expected to make about 300 horsepower, the Type R will be available only as a two-door hatchback.
If two wheels is more your thing, 2016 promises lots of motorcycles aimed squarely at younger buyers. These bikes are leaner and often quite the bargain:
- Indian Scout Sixty: A smaller, more affordable version of the Scout Indian Motorcycle introduced in 2014, the new $8,999 Scout Sixty is powered with a 999cc V-twin but otherwise shares the same chassis, suspension and brakes as its more powerful, more expensive brother.
- BMW G 310 R: BMW’s smallest offering, the new G 310 R will be powered with a 313cc single-cylinder engine when it comes on the market late this year.
- Yamaha XSR900: A nod to the ’70s updated with modern technology and styling cues, the XSR900 shares the same liquid-cooled 850cc inline-three cylinder as the FZ-09 naked bike, nestling it into a lightweight frame anchored with vintage-inspired head and tail lights.
- Ducati Scrambler Sixty2: A smaller, more affordable version of the Scrambler Ducati introduced in 2014, the new $7,995 Scrambler Sixty2 is powered with a 399cc engine that sits under a new slimline steel tank. Characterized by wide handlebars and a long seat, its slightly knobby 17-inch wheels are equipped with ABS.
- Ducati XDiavel: Designed to combine the low-speed relaxed riding of a road-tripping cruiser with Ducati style and performance, the XDiavel merges the two in a single bike that uses a new twin-cylinder, 1,262cc Testastretta DVT engine to make 165 horsepower and, in a first for Ducati, a belt drive. The XDiavel imports much of the high tech that debuted on its Multistrada, including an IMU that works with the bike’s traction control, cornering ABS, cruise control and power launch.
- Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra: Calling it the “ultimate mile-eater,” Harley’s Road Glide Ultra is back in the lineup after a two-year hiatus to upgrade it with the Project Rushmore treatment. Aerodynamics are improved with a frame-mounted shark-nose fairing featuring triple split stream venting to minimize buffeting. There are also LED headlamps and a 100-watt infotainment system with color touchscreen, GPS and Bluetooth.
2015: The year LA finally got some East Coast love
As many Angelenos will tell you, Los Angeles can be a pretty great place to live. But 2015 might have been the year that everyone else got wise to it too.
There was the New York Times article that declared L.A.'s "burgeoning art, fashion and food scene" had made it "irresistible to the culturally attuned."
The Guardian proclaimed that L.A. had "thrummed with art in 2015" and "marked its resurgence as a cultural capital."And The Washington Post ranked Los Angeles number three on its list of the 10 best food cities in America.
That's a whole lot of East Coast (and UK) love for the City of Angels in 2015—a far cry from the sentiment expressed by committed New Yorker Woody Allen in his 1977 film, "Annie Hall."
So did 2015 really mark a turning point for L.A.?
Some KPCC listeners weighed in on the pros and cons of life in Los Angeles on KPCC's Facebook page. Paul Roughley said, "It's not as superficial as bad reality TV portrays it to be." And Glen Habas noted that almost everything out-of-towners have heard about L.A. is a "dated cliche."
Well, maybe not the traffic.
Kellen McGuire says, "I'd tell anyone who wants to move here: Come for the weather, stay for the traffic; because once you're in it you're not going anywhere."
Others didn't mind the gridlock as much. Jen Kanter said, "Yes, we have terrible traffic and maybe some television stereotypes actually exist, but the good far outweighs the negatives."
We also called up Los Angeles Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne to explore the idea of why perceptions of L.A. seem to be changing.
"I think in general, L.A. just accelerated this transition that's been going on for at least the decade that I've been in Los Angeles," Hawthorne says. L.A. is "becoming less suburban, more urban, getting denser, really expanding its transit network, and it's become enough of a transition that even The New York Times is beginning to notice."
What may be happening, Hawthorne says, is that the changes that Los Angeles has been undergoing for a while now are making the city more accessible and recognizable to people from places like New York, Chicago or San Francisco.
"That means that some of the cultural sophistication that's always been here is becoming easier to spot, easier to discover," Hawthorne says.
So while Los Angeles can still be a tough place to understand, outsiders may finally be realizing that putting in the time and effort to make sense of L.A. does pay off.
As KPCC listener Chez Stock puts it, "There are so many different people, neighborhoods, businesses and events happening that if you can't find somewhere that feels like home here, you're not trying hard enough."
To hear the full interview with Christopher Hawthorne, click the link above.
State of Affairs: Political stories to watch in 2016
On this week's State of Affairs, a look ahead to the politics to watch in 2016— from the presidential race to what could turn out to be a banner year for California ballot measures.
Joining Take Two to discuss:
- Cathleen Decker, Los Angeles Times politics analyst
- Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, USC Professor of the Practice of Public Policy Communication
Best children's book to read before 2016
With the new year and a long weekend just around the corner, why not cuddle up with your kids and a good book? From Christmas ninjas to digging worms, there's a book for everyone.
Before we say goodbye to 2015, we've gathered the best literary treats of the year to keep your little ones entertained.
Librarian Mara Alpert, with the Children's Literature Department at L.A.'s Central Library, has a list of great picks from 2015.
Picture Books
"Thank You and Good Night" by Patrick McDonnell
This is the story about a little girl’s sleepover, where she invites her friends, a rabbit, an elephant and a bear to spend the night. An “homage to classic children’s books and a lovely bedtime story,” says Alpert. “It’s basically celebrating ‘Good Night Moon’ and ‘Babar,’ and ‘Winnie the Pooh.’”
"Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas" by Rubin Pingk
A young boy wants a snowball fight for Christmas, Samurai style! But none of his fellow ninja friends want to join as Christmas is just around the corner and don’t want to end on Santa’s naughty list. Can he chase Santa away and get the snow fight of a lifetime?
Chapter Book Fiction
"Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones, illustrated by Katie Kath
Sophie Brown just moved from Los Angeles to a farm. New to the farm life and the only “brown people” in town, she can’t help but feel excluded. But things change when she meets a chicken with very unusual powers.
"Harriet the Invincible" by Ursula Vernon
Harriet Hamsternone is a very stunning princess in the rodent world. But, the furry princess can’t help but feel bored in her palace. One day, her parents tell her of a terrible curse placed at birth, which destines that she will price her finger when she’s twelve and fall into a deep slumber. But these aren’t bad news to Harriet, it’s great news.
Non-Fiction
"We Dig Worms!" by Kevin McCloskey
Have you ever wondered what worms do? Why they look the way the look or what they’re like? Find out about life science lessons while having fun.
"Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France" by Mara Rockcliff, illustrated by Jacopo Bruno
Look back at a true moment in history as Benjamin Franklin sets out to disprove the “mysterious” powers of the enigmatic Dr. Mesmer.
To listen to the full interview with Mara Alpert, click the link above.
6 fun and creative ways to ring in the New Year with your kids
If you've got kids, celebrating New Year's Eve is an entirely different ballgame than those times you could go to parties and drink champagne.
Amber Guetebier is an editor for Red Tricycle, a website created to help every parent feel like a rock star by inspiring them to do fun things with their kids. She offered these suggestions for ringing in the New Year with your little ones.
If you want to hit the town
"When you have little kids, especially when they're 7 or 6 and under, we all know what happens past bedtime," Guetebier said. These events will ensure fun while still getting them tucked in at a good hour:
- LA Zoo Festival of Lights
- The Zimmer Museum New Year's Eve Ballon Drop, which happens hourly
- New Year's Eve at Grand Park
If you want to stay in
DIY at-home balloon drop: Guetebier recommends blowing up small balloons and keeping them in a towel, sheet or pillowcase that you can rig up to a ceiling fan, or even release manually. When the hour is just right, let those balloons fly!
Make a family time capsule: Have each member of your family pick a small object, and write down one thing that they think was important about this year. Store the items in a jar, or an envelope if you're able to, snap a photo of time capsule, and bury it in your yard or store it away. When next New Year's Eve rolls around, dig up the time capsule so that you and your children can reflect on the year past.
Make New Year's resolutions: Aim for ideas that you and your kids can keep up together, like having a family game night once a week, letting them help with dinner more often, or even getting your family photos off your computer and turning them into a keepsake. "Whether you choose a few to print, or you just make a photobook of an entire season, it's so wonderful to just make that your resolution to have that keepsake," Guetebier said.
KPCC web extra: Netflix is also bringing back its New Year's Eve countdown for kids. Check out the video below for more information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udo6Cgu6EMQ
For more ideas about fun things to do with your kids, visit redtri.com.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.