A historical perspective on talking about race in America, Blue Shield's tax-exempt status revoked, why NFL fans aren't so amped for the new season.
Starbucks' 'Race Together' campaign and race discussion in America
Starting Monday, Starbucks is encouraging baristas to serve up lattes to customers with a shot of race discussion. Dr. Brenda Stevenson, professor with UCLA's Department of History, provides some perspective on talking about race in America.
A look at the big bucks behind nonprofit health insurers like Blue Shield
The California Franchise Tax Board has revoked Blue Shield's tax-exempt status as a nonprofit.
It's long been debated whether the insurer is doing enough public good to maintain its standing as a nonprofit. And according to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported the story Wednesday, this move by the state could put Blue Shield on the hook for million of dollars in taxes every year.
Los Angeles Times reporter Chad Terhune joined Take Two for more on the change in the company's status.
University of Southern California health care economist Glenn Melnick explained how common nonprofit health insurers are and how their revenues compare with for-profit insurers.
West Hollywood takes on pedestrian safety, but is it working?
The future of many streets in Southern California is all about walkability.
West Hollywood is embracing that at full speed and launched a million-dollar safety campaign last October to make streets more safe for pedestrians.
The stakes are high, too: compared to Los Angeles, pedestrians are hit at almost triple the rate in West Hollywood.
So is any of this effort working?
This man was mistakenly moved into Medi-Cal. Were you?
In January, California's health exchange reported that 85,000 people who tried to re-enroll in health insurance plans through the state exchange were deemed eligible for Medi-Cal, but as it turns out there are some people who don't really belong there.
Southern California Public Radio's Rebecca Plevin writes our Impatient blog, which helps our audience navigate the health care system. She joins Alex Cohen to talk about one man who was transferred from Covered California to Medi-Cal, even though he shouldn't have been. She describes the sort of bureaucratic purgatory he was stuck in, until he contacted KPCC.
Every week we have Rebecca on to talk about consumer focused health care. If you have any questions, shoot her an e-mail at RPlevin@scpr.org.
How some tiny birds challenged what scientists knew about evolution
On Santa Cruz Island, just off the coast of California, a surprising discovery has been made that could give some insight into Darwin's Theory of Evolution.
Researchers determined that a single species of bird has evolved into two separate types of birds on the tiny land mass.
The study was recently published in the journal "Evolution" and was written about by lead author Katie Langin who's associated with Colorado State University.
Jaywalking isn't what you think in West Hollywood
Jaywalking is when you cross a street outside of the crosswalk, right?
Wrong. At least in West Hollywood.
The city is in the middle of a million-dollar project to make the streets safer for pedestrians, from 3D chalk art to music videos to in-street paddle signs.
But a revelation came to me from Lt .David Smith of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department – West Hollywood division.
"You can cross the street in between intersections as long you're not making vehicle traffic stop for you," says Lt. Smith. "That is technically not jaywalking."
Mind. Blown.
It's because of how his department reads the California Vehicle Code.
In short, 21954(a) says that a pedestrian who crosses anywhere but a marked or unmarked crosswalk has to yield the right-of-way to vehicles, not that the crossing itself is illegal.
A BIG "however:" don't assume that's the rule in every city.
Several LAPD officers, for example, told me they will write up a ticket if you do it in Los Angeles.
"As for crossing outside the crosswalk, if it is between two controlled intersections, then that would be a violation of 21955 CVC," writes the LAPD's Sgt. Mike Flynn. (you can read the CVC for yourself HERE)
Despite the difference in how they define jaywalking, Smith says his department won't go out of their way to ticket pedestrians -- they'll only target those who act recklessly.
"We know that West Hollywood is a pedestrian-friendly city, so we're not going after pedestrians," he says. "We just want everyone to be safe."
Here's what is and isn't against the law in WeHo:
- OK: crossing with the white "walk" signal
- OK: crossing mid-block outside of a crosswalk – yes, the middle of the street – as long as your presence doesn't slow vehicle traffic
- OK: starting in the crosswalk, but veering out as you approach the curb
- NOT OK: stepping off the curb when there is a red signal to not walk. That includes when it's flashing with a countdown timer – it doesn't matter how long
New plan aims to boost transfers to historically black colleges
Community college students in California now have a new option if they choose to transfer for a four-year degree: a guaranteed spot at historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs.
Transfer students will be guaranteed the spot at one of nine HBCUs across the country, as long as they meet certain standards.
We're joined by Michelle Maitre, reporter for Ed Source Today.