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Podcasts Take Two
How to Safely Reopen Schools, Fears About Going Maskless, More Fires in LA Homeless Encampments
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May 13, 2021
Listen • 830:50:00
How to Safely Reopen Schools, Fears About Going Maskless, More Fires in LA Homeless Encampments

How to Safely Reopen Schools, Why People are Still Hesitant to Go Maskless, More Fires in LA Homeless Encampments
A cleaning staff member disinfects a classroom prior to the reopening of a school in Madrid amid the coronavirus pandemic on September 8, 2020. - Spain, that yesterday passed the landmark figure of 500,000 coronavirus infections, had largely gained control over its outbreak by imposing one of the world's toughest lockdowns, but infections have surged since the restrictions were fully removed at the end of June. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
How can schools reopen safely? (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
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GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images
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How to Safely Reopen Schools

For many, one of the biggest points of anxiety during this pandemic has been about school and whether to send kids back to campus. Just yesterday, Governor Newsom said all school districts in the state should reopen for full-time 5 day-a- week instruction. He tied that to BILLIONS in funding proposals...although he stopped short of a mandate. And today Randi Weingarten,  president of the American Federation of Teachers - the second-largest teachers’ union in the U-S - also called for a full reopening of the nation’s schools.  Yet, resistance among many families remains. 

Guests: 

  • John Rogers, Director of UCLA Institute for Democracy, Education and Access
  • Tyrone Howard, Director of the Black Male Institute and the Pritzker Family Endowed Chair in Education to Strengthen Families

Why Are Fully Vaccinated People Still Wearing Masks?

As coronavirus cases decrease and more people get vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is loosening guidelines around masks and not-so-distanced get togethers. But there are still some people who want to continue wearing their masks anyway … and no, they’re not just doing it out of an irrational fear or to score political points.

Guest:

  • Shayla Love, Staff Writer at VICE

Fires Become More Common in Homeless Encampments

You almost can’t drive around the City of LA for too long without seeing a homeless encampment. It’s a roof over someone’s head but along with it comes some of the same things that anyone who lives in a house has...ways to cook food and keep warm. Sometimes these things that most of us take for granted get out of control for the people who are doing it on a sidewalk. The number of encampment fires have been on the rise the past free years…leading to loss of life and property for both the housed and unhoused. 

Guests:

  • Doug Smith, Senior Writer at LA Times
  • James Queally, Staff Writer at LA Times

State Audits Calbright College Program

In 2018, Governor Jerry Brown formed Calbright College, a free, innovative online school with high hopes to increase access to job training and education for underserved Californians. The program, which got off to a rocky start, has come under audit by the state... and the findings are not good. State Auditor Elaine Howle published a full report with some of their findings. These include low retention rates, lack of a detailed spending strategy, and poor student career support.

Guest:

  • Mikhail Zinshtyen, Education Reporter at CalMatters