Ask an Expert: Coronavirus Update

LA County Public Health just reported a little over 2700 new cases today. Stats show, at a nationwide level, we're only testing about 38 percent of the people experts think is needed to track the virus. We answer all your coronavirus questions and give you an update on the state of the pandemic.

Guest: 

• Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Mental Health Policing

Amid calls to defund the police, there is a strong push to re-think response to mental health crisis calls. But what would taking police out of the mental health crisis equation look in in L.A.? Should we look elsewhere, like Eugene, OR and its successful CAHOOTS program? And is the training -- and funding -- required for a shift like this even possible during COVID-19? KPCC's Robert Garrova has the story. 

Parents Weigh In on Upcoming School Year

Following the news that most schools in California won’t be opening their doors at the start of the academic year, parents are scrambling to figure out how the heck we’re going to make online learning work for our kids. Some parents are scrambling to connect with teachers to figure whether they need to reduce work hours to help their kids, while others are considering hiring tutors. One thing’s for sure -- the start of this year is going to bring a host of new challenges. 

Guests: 

• Vicky Martinez, mother of four boys, who are all attending LA Unified schools in Highland Park
• Priya Bahl Sen, mother of two, a daughter and a son going to school in the Long Beach Unified School District

On the Lot

After a string of accounts detailing workplace problems at the Ellen Degeneres show, Warner Media has launched an internal investigation into the long running daytime series…Plus, AMC theaters and Universal have struck a groundbreaking deal that will see movies made available on demand just 17 days after they’re in theaters.

Guest:

• Rebecca Keegan, Senior Film Editor at the Hollywood Reporter

Servant of Pod with Nick Quah

Given how the pandemic has disrupted everything in our normal lives it’s easy to forget that we’re in a Presidential election year. Well, in today’s segment with Nick Quah we’ll get into politics by way of podcasts. Nick is the host of “Servant of Pod”-- the LAist Studios podcast about podcasts. And this week he explores the world of Political pods.