A member of the grand jury in the Michael Brown case seeks to lift a gag order to speak publicly about the case, and a California state law requires utility companies to report how often they contract with vendors run by LGBT people. And play the California Lottery and you just might win a fancy dinner in Napa.
Mexico's President meets with Obama amid protests over missing students
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is in Washington DC today meeting with President Obama. The two are expected to talk economic and trade policies and the changing stance toward Cuba.
But protestors on both sides of the border are using the visit to call for action in the case of the 43 students who disappeared in Iguala, Mexico last September. Since the students' disappearance, protests have hit cities in Mexico and the U.S., and mired Peña Nieto's two-year-old presidency in controversy.
Despite his declining reputation in his home country, Pena Nieto has attempted to maintain an upbeat tone. In these Tweets, posted earlier Tuesday morning, he points to opportunities in the new year:
Meanwhile, groups such as #USTired2 and #YaMeCanse have voiced frustration and called for broad reforms from the Mexican government.
For more, we're joined by Shannon O'Neil, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of Two Nations Indivisible: Mexico, the United States and the Road Ahead.
Grand juror in Ferguson case seeks to go public
Back in November, a grand jury declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
Many found that decision unbelievable and took to the streets in protest nationwide.
But one grand juror says the public doesn't understand everything leading up to their decision and wants to speak out.
The unnamed juror is taking the case to court and is represented by the ACLU. Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU Missouri chapter said that the circumstances in this case were unique since St. Louis County Prosecutor Mcullough released much of the evidence and testimony in the case. This motivated the grand juror to step forward, said Mittman.
"It would be better for the public and for the press and, of course, for legislators to have a more complete picture [in order] to understand what information was provided, what wasn't provided, how this grand jury proceeding differed from other cases," said Mittman. "If fixes are necessary, they can be done properly."
Kaiser Health News investigation: CA's In-home care recipients at risk
With the aging of the Baby Boomers, more elderly and disabled people than ever are receiving care in their own homes.
In California, nearly half a million low-income people are being cared for at home by relatives and others, and the state pays those caregivers through a program called In-Home Supportive Services.
An investigation by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that many recipients of in-home care through the IHSS program are at risk of abuse and neglect. The program has limited oversight, and caregivers are not required to receive any training from the state.
Anna Gorman is reporting on this for Kaiser Health News. You can read and listen to Gorman's 2-part series on California's In-Home Supportive Services here:
PART 1: Neglected to death: Little oversight for in-home caregivers can lead to abuse
PART 2: Lots of responsibility, no required training, for in-home caregivers
You can learn more about Elder Care and California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program here.
More businesses looking for LGBT-owned suppliers
Starting this year, utility companies in California will be required to report how much they work with LGBT-owned contractors.
It's part of a greater effort already underway by many federal agencies and private companies: encouraging bids from LGBT-owned businesses as a way to increase diversity among their suppliers.
Garry Gekht, president of the LA Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, explains why reaching out to the LGBT community is becoming more important to the business world.
Tuesday Reviewsday: Madonna, Kanye West and more
This week on Tuesday Reviewsday,
from Billboard Magazine joins Alex Cohen to talk about the album's that she's looking forward to in 2015.
Shirley Halperin
Artist: Madonna
Album: "Rebel Heart"
Release Date: March 10, 2015
Songs: "Devil Pray," "Ghosttown"
Notes: A bit of backstory first: On Dec. 16, six unreleased Madonna tracks made their way to the web without the singer's knowledge or approval. They were songs-in-progress from her forthcoming 13th album and suffice it to say, not ready for primetime. In fact, Madonna likened the leak to "artistic rape."
But after letting off some steam on social media, Madonna and her camp huddled up and decided to release the songs to iTunes right away. And they did, within 48 hours in what manager Guy Oseary described to Billboard as a "circus show."
But for all the talk about the album leaking, there's been less discussion of the actual music. And I hate to say this because Madonna is an icon and all respect is due, but it's been some time now when things other than her music have taken center stage- be it her personal life or the insane amount of money she makes touring the world. But at 56 and nearing four decades in the pop star business, Madonna still has something to say.
"Devil Pray" is a song about salvation and struggle, and the part we heard is preceded by a long list of mood-altering substances from whiskey to weed to acid and ecstasy. The melody has the basic foundation of folks-y electronic music, made massive by the likes of Tiesto and Avicii, but the production is scaled back - perhaps even unfinished - which is a disservice to the song.
In a way, I almost wish she'd just put the basic tracks up on SoundCloud and let the world at 'em.
The second song I chose is called "Ghosttown," and as Madonna explained to Billboard the other week, it has a bit of an apocalyptic theme. And this is the Madonna we know and love, firmly in her wheelhouse of mid-tempo pop ballads singing about how, in the end, all we really have is each other. A sweet sentiment and one that's age-appropriate, which I can't necessarily say for the four other tracks released from Rebel Heart.
Artist: Kanye West
Album: TBD
Release Date: 2015
Song: "Only One"
Notes: This album's undeniably anticipated. Kanye West's follow-up to Yeezus, which as you may recall was fairly divisive when it first came out in 2013, but has since been regarded as a sort of statement record. Well, now with the new year comes a new song, "Only One," featuring none other than Paul McCartney.
McCartney's on an electric piano but he doesn't sing on the track. And Kanye barely raps which is nice to hear - that is Kanye Kanye singing and embracing his sensitive side.
As the story goes, the two stars got together in an LA bungalow and improvised - Kanye's vocal were said to be stream-of-consciousness and channeling his late mother.
"My mom was singing to me, and through me to my daughter," he said, astonished.
I'll say this: Kanye's use of auto-tune here is almost painterly - it's weird and interesting and future forward. At the same time, Kanye could learn a lot about songwriting from someone like Paul McCartney. And give him credit, this is the hybridization of two very important artists.
Someone like Kanye needs the musicality of McCartney and McCartney, who's always collaborated with interesting people, shows that he doesn't always need to be the voice. If this was just McCartney singing over that piano, it might indeed feel gimmicky.
Instead, you get over a minute at the end of the track of just McCartney playing piano and it's a beautiful melody that you keep thinking is going to end, but in that McCartney way, it twists and turns in all these interesting ways.
Production takes a backseat and emotion comes to the front. You could say that's typical of a new dad - as we saw with jay Z soon after Blue Ivy was born, and that's valid here - but perhaps Kanye is thinking you can't be angry all the time, or you can't be angry at everything, be angry at things that matter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRNDB9VqI3Q
Sleater-Kinney
Album: "No Cities to Love"
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Songs: “Bury Our Idols,” “Surface Envy”
Notes: Sleater-Kinney was a trio born of the Portland “RiotGrrl” scene of the early 1990s that took its musical cues from punk and indie rock and its politics from a feminist stance. The band also featured a 20-year-old Carrie Brownstein when it was formed in 1994 arriving on the scene to great critical acclaim.
Sleater-Kinney steadily gained in stature, eventually opening for arena rockers Pearl Jam in the early 2000s. But then in 2005, after seven albums, they announced a semi-permanent hiatus with no reason given for the stop.
Of course, Brownstein would go on to make a name for herself in comedy, co-starring in "Portlandia," but also formed her own side project called "Wild Flag." Her bandmates, drummer Janet Weiss and singer Corin Tucker, also started or joined other bands and Sleater-Kinney seemed like a fait accompli.
Then, nine years later, rumors starting swirling that a reunion might be in the works while the PR machine started rolling out the band’s greatest hits — not on any major commercial level, but to a devoted following of fans.
I’m happy to say that, here were are nearing the 10-year anniversary of their last show as a band, and there’s a new album coming out on January 20th called "No Cities to Love" and it sounds great.
Female voices ruled pop radio in 2014, but this is worlds away from that sound — this is grit, balls, paying one’s dues — but when the pendulum swings, it can go really far so let’s see what happens.
CNET 2015: Smart homes, wearables and selfie brushes
What do a hair brush that helps you take selfies, a belt that tells you when you gain weight and an internet connected home have in common? They've all been featured at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Devindra Hardawar, Senior Editor at Engadget, joins A Martinez on the line from CES.
Kaiser Health News Reporter: CA's Baby Boomers should consider long-term care options now
In California, hundreds of thousands of low-income elderly and disabled people receive daily care in their homes from their children, spouses, relatives and others. And, through a program called In-Home Supportive Services, the state pays many of those caregivers about $10 an hour to do the job.
Yet, caregivers are not required to receive any training from the state. Plus, the IHSS program has little oversight.
An investigation by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that many recipients of in-home care through IHSS are at risk of abuse and neglect.
Kaiser Health News Reporter Anna Gorman told Take Two that the IHSS program does work for many Californians, but the state needs to pay more attention to those in the program who are vulnerable.
As well, even though this program serves low-income Californians, Gorman insisted that Baby Boomers of all income levels, and their families, should consider their options for long-term care now.
"The population is getting older; people don't want to go into institutions, so family members have to figure out an option," she said. "And unfortunately, there aren't [many] great options."
Listen to Gorman's 2-Part series on California's In-Home Supportive Services here:
PART 1: Neglected to death: Little oversight for in-home caregivers can lead to abuse
PART 2: Lots of responsibility, no required training, for in-home caregivers
You can learn more about Elder Care and California's IHSS program here.
Weaning foster kids off powerful anti-psychotic drugs is a life-long process
California's foster children are prescribed powerful psychotropic medications at three times the rate of other kids, including some drugs which have not been approved for use with minors.
It's one of the revelations in a months-long series by reporter Karen de Sa for the San Jose Mercury News.
De Sa has joined Take Two to talk about the often harmful effects such drugs have had on children, what it feels like to be under the influence of these pills, and the complex relationships that drug companies make with these doctors to get them into kids' hands.
For the fourth and final part of her series, she explores what happens to these youths once they're off these drugs and out of the foster care system.
WATCH: The San Jose Mercury News' documentary on drugged kids in California's foster care system
After long delays, California breaks ground on nation's first bullet train
Governor Jerry Brown was in a celebratory, even boastful mood as he gave his annual State of the State address Monday. Addressing the legislature after swearing in for his fourth term as California’s governor, Brown listed education and conservation among his areas of achievement.
He also mentioned one project he’s particularly proud of – the $68 billion bullet train from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
But construction of the nation’s first high-speed rail system has been hampered by delays and legal disputes. Now, one day after Brown’s fourth and final gubernatorial inauguration, California finally breaks ground on the the bullet train in Fresno.
Reporter Tim Sheehan has covers California’s high-speed rail project for the Fresno Bee. He toured some of the future rail sites Tuesday morning and he joined Take Two to discuss the long-awaited groundbreaking.
California Lottery offers fancy meal at French Laundry, instead of cash
This month, the California Lottery is tying a different kind of prize to the Emerald 10's Scratcher.
Instead of cash, one winner and a guest will be treated to an 18-course meal at The French Laundry, as part of a two-night stay in Napa.
California Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso says players have to take a picture of themselves with the scratcher and submit it online, along with 500 characters about who they would take to the dinner and why.
"We just figured it was a unique idea to appeal to a different player base, maybe people who don’t ordinarily play but who are maybe familiar with The French Laundry and everything that it offers," Traverso said.
Lottery officials are aiming to have a winner selected around Valentine’s Day. While The French Laundry is expected to be closed for some time due to renovations, the winner will get a concierge to help book a reservation.
Who owns the rights to the names of Yosemite's historic sites?
Yosemite National Park's natural wonders are world-renowned. There's Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls. And the park's man-made attractions— like Curry Village, Badger Pass and the Ahwahnee Hotel— carry just as much name recognition.
But there's a dispute going on about who actually owns the trademark rights to those names. Robert Gammon, editor of the East Bay Express, joins Take Two for more on the disagreement over the names of Yosemite's iconic sites.
Hikers attempt the world's toughest climb up El Capitan
Rising more than 3,000 feet tall, El Capitan is the largest single block of granite in the world. It's a favorite with experienced rock climbers, like Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson, who right now are attempting to make history by free climbing the "Dawn Wall" route up the rock formation.
The Dawn Wall Push: Day 1 from Rock & Ice on Vimeo.
Veteran free climber and author John Long says "free climbing" doesn't mean a climb without ropes. It means that the climbers are only using their hands and feet to make upward progress. The ropes are there to catch them if they fall.
The area of the wall that Caldwell and Jorgeson are climbing is called the Dawn Wall because it faces the East and the sun hits it in the morning.
"That particular part of the wall is steeper than almost anyplace else on it," Long explains. "It's world-class difficulty basically from the time they step off the ground to the time they get to the top."
Since starting out on their climb on December 27, Long says Caldwell and Jorgeson have been making good progress. They've even been able to give updates on their progress via social media:
http://instagram.com/p/xe-DRFpmzY/?modal=true
http://instagram.com/p/xVsmd2D5bi/?modal=true
If they complete the climb successfully, "there's no question that this is the high water mark in terms of long free climb," Long says.
"You're talking about guys that are the best in the world at a sport that's practiced by over 50 million people. And so when they're pushed to this extreme and they pull off something this rare, it's significant."
Michele Serros, Chicana novelist and poet, remembered after death
Chicana novelist and poet Michele Serros died from cancer over the weekend at the age of 48. She was known for her irreverent observations and humor.
Southern California Public Radio’s Adolfo Guzman-Lopez has this remembrance.
Read the full story: Southern California writer Michele Serros dies at age 48