Compton truancy, meteor shower, juvenile offenders and more

Compton truancy, meteor shower, juvenile offenders and more

Today on the show, we'll talk with Compton Mayor Aja Brown about fighting school truancy. Then, when and where to watch the Camelopardalids meteor shower. Plus, how Mercado La Paloma helped empower South LA, Mercey Hot Springs: A wild and hidden oasis off the I-5, and more

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Today on the show, we'll talk with Compton Mayor Aja Brown about fighting school truancy. Then, when and where to watch the Camelopardalids meteor shower. Plus, how Mercado La Paloma helped empower South LA, Mercey Hot Springs: A wild and hidden oasis off the I-5, and more

Compton Mayor Aja Brown on tackling the school truancy problem

In California, more than 1 million elementary school students were truant last year, according to a new report that's part of an effort aimed at combating truancy statewide.

There's already new state legislation on the issue, but in Compton, officials have been fighting truancy for years and may be seeing some success.

According to a recent op-ed penned by the city's mayor, Aja Brown, the Compton school district saw an 1.5 percent increase in attendance. While that may seem pretty slight, Brown wrote that it netted the district 2 million dollars in federal funding.

Mayor Brown joins Take Two with more about the problem of truancy in Compton.

Is jail for juvenile offenders effective in preventing future crime?

When it comes to first-time violent juvenile offenders, is jail effective at preventing future crimes?

A new UCLA study finds that in-house probation lowers recidivism for first time violent juvenile offenders.  

Using data from the Los Angeles County Probation Department and the county Department of Children and Family Services, researchers pulled out hundreds of thousands of records of first-time violent offenders 16 years old and younger who were arrested from 2003 to 2005.

The offenders were given one of three judicial dispositions: in-home probation, group-home placement, or probation camp.  They then followed the records of those youth through February 2009 to see if they had been arrested again. 

Key findings from the study include:

• Rates of re-offending varied significantly relative to youths’ punishment and treatment: “Compared with in-home probation, the likelihood of recidivism was 2.12 times greater for youths assigned to probation camp and 1.28 times greater for youths assigned to group homes.”
• “Within the first year only, 13% of youths assigned to in-home probation experienced a subsequent arrest. Twice as many (26%) probation camp youths and 17% of group-home youths experienced a subsequent arrest within the same time period.”
• “At five years, 39% of in-home probation cases, 47% of group-home placements, and 65% of probation camp placements were associated with a new offense.”
• “Male youths are significantly more likely to recidivate [re-offend] as compared with female youths, and African American youths are significantly more likely to recidivate as compared with both Hispanic and white youths.”
• However, “African American and Hispanic youths were more likely to receive placement in either a probation camp or group-home setting as compared with white youths adjudicated for a similar offense.”
• Certain family-related factors were correlated with negative outcomes: “The risk of recidivism was 1.36 times greater for youths with an open child welfare case.”

Laura Abrams, professor of social welfare in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, says, “there’s more common knowledge now that sentencing juveniles out of the home for isn’t good for the kids.”

Friday Flashback: Tea Party, VA issues, Washington Redskins and more

It's Friday which means its time for the Friday Flashback, our look at the week in news. This week we're joined by Robin Abcarian, who writes about politics for the Los Angeles Times and from Jamelle Bouie of Slate. 

Primary elections were held this week, not here in California but in plenty of other places around the country. What are the key races that went on this week in the South, in states like Kentucky and Georgia? 

Reacting to results, House Speaker John Boehner was asked if he was elated that mainstream Republicans beat back tea party candidates. As we heard a few moments ago, he said he didn't feel there was that much of a difference. But that does not seem to be the case in Mississippi. What happened there? 

Last month a report came out that 40 veterans had died in a Phoenix VA clinic while waiting to see doctors. And this is just the tip of the iceberg really. President Obama said an investigation into any wrongdoing would be completed by next month. What's going on here?

Yesterday, the House passed legislation which aims to end the National Security Agency's bulk phone records program, called the USA Freedom Act. Finally, bi-partisan agreement in Congress! How far does this new legislation go?

The NBA owners still haven't officially voted on the fate of the Clippers ownership, but this week Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban opened up about his own prejudice and got a lot of blowback for it.  

This week a group of senators urged the NFL's commissioner Roger Goddell to step into the conversation about the Redskins. What's the feeling about the name of the team, and will team owner Dan Snyder will budge? 

When and where to watch the Camelopardalids meteor shower

Look up in the sky tonight and you might get quite a show.

A never-before-seen meteor shower called the Camelopardalids is predicted to light up the sky late tonight across North America. It could rival the August Perseids and December Gemenids that we can see each year.

"Predicted" is a key word here, because as planetary scientist Bruce Betts explains, it could be a spectacular thousand-meteor-per-hour show, and it could be a total dud.

Betts says people should keep their expectations low, but shouldn't miss it, because it could be great, "If it comes in the way people hope, or even the middle range prediction, it'll be well worth people's time." 

When and where will the meteors be best viewed?

• 12:20 a.m. Friday night/Saturday morning.
• Find a spot where you can see plenty of clear, dark sky with minimal light pollution. 
• Shower should be visible an hour before and an hour after peak time. 
• Expected to be a sharp peak lasting over 2-3 hours. 
• Have fun and be aware that the quality of the shower is unpredictable.
• Shower will be visible just about everywhere in North America:

What exactly is a meteor shower?

What's so special about this meteor shower?

We only have one chance to view this particular shower?

Watch a LIVE stream here.

After 20 years, War's back in the studio

What better way to celebrate Memorial day than with a little War?

Of course, we're talking about the band, War, the legendary funk outfit known for hits like "Spill the Wine," "Why Can't We Be Friends" and "Low Rider."

Lowrider

This weekend, War takes to the stage at the Greek Theater where they'll be performing tracks from "Evolutionary," their first new studio album in 20 years. It's being released along with a newly re-mastered version of "War's Greatest Hits."

" class="embed-placeholder" data-cms-ai="0" >Evolutionary

Lonnie Jordan is one of the founding members of the band, and he recently sat down with host Alex Cohen to talk about the history of the band:

And Jordan details how they got their name:

Check out the attached audio to hear Jordan discuss the history songs like "Why Can't We Be Friends?", and what it's like being back in the studio after being away for 20 years.

Proposed changes to tribal recognition rules stir controversy

Yesterday, the Department of the Interior proposed new rules to determine which groups are federally recognized as American Indian tribes.

The revisions could make it easier to for groups across the country to become eligible for the federal benefits that come along with tribal status. But some lawmakers are worried that the changes could open the door to new casinos and stir up conflicts over historic tribal lands.

Michael Melia, Connecticut correspondent for the Associated Press, joins Take Two with more.

Why Landon Donovan was left off the 2014 US World Cup team roster

Squads around the world are making their final preparations for the World Cup, coming up in Brazil in three weeks.

The United States announced their roster of 23 yesterday which normally — in this country — doesn't make headlines. This time, it's caused a lot of buzz, not for who made the team, but for who did not.

All-time U.S. scoring leader Landon Donovan is out. The 32-year-old veteran was passed over by head U.S. coach, Jurgen Klinsmann.

Klinsmann held a press conference on Friday to respond to the decision according to the Associated Press:

A veteran going back to 2002, Donovan has been the face of the U.S. national team for the past decade. You might remember him for his famous game winning goal at the 2010 world cup in a match against Algeria.

Dave Denholm, soccer play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports and host of soccer podcast ThreeForAWin.com joins the show with more. 
 

Calif. counties sue pharmaceuticals over pain killer addiction, but what is doctor's role?

On Wednesday, two California counties — Orange and Santa Clara — filed a lawsuit against five of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, alleging they are responsible for an epidemic of prescription pain killer addiction that is killing thousands of Americans.

It's a problem that has hit California disproportionately, according to the complaint. The issue of prescription medication abuse was the subject of an investigative series by the Los Angeles Times that found that half of all prescription drug-related deaths in Southern California involved drugs that had been legally prescribed by a doctor.

The series looks into the role of doctors, pharmacists and the oversight organizations tasked with monitoring them in the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

Where there's oil, there's also the 'Sticker Bus'

Drillers are notorious for sweeping into places when the price of oil is right. The industry brings with it a cast of characters all looking for a piece of the action. Fronteras reporter Mónica Ortiz Uribe, recently visited an oil rich corner in New Mexico and introduces us to a traveling saleswoman.
 

Is America's love affair with Target on the decline?

Target is still reeling from last year's data breach. So far this year, they've reported a 16-percent drop and have had continued trouble expanding into Canada. All this, plus the resignation of CEO Glenn Steinhafel.

It seems as if the once-beloved retailer has hit a serious speed bump. Is America's love affair with Target on the decline? For some analysis on the state of Target, we're joined by Matt Townsend, retail reporter from Bloomberg Businessweek.
 

Mercey Hot Springs: A wild and hidden oasis off the I-5

We all know it...That boring drive on the 5 Freeway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

I’ve had anxiety attacks on some of its emptier stretches, but along one span of northern Fresno County, I've learned how to make friends with the abyss.

Thirteen miles west of an exit just south of Los Banos, there’s an explosion of greenery in the otherwise barren Panoche Valley. This oasis-like place is home to Mercey Hot Springs, where a tiny dollhouse of an office is surrounded by a pool, some old cabins, a bathhouse with eclectic tilework, and a couple of rustic outdoor soaking pools.

The owner of this oasis, Larry Ronneberg, scans across tan hills that look like they’re draped in velour. 

"This is an area that was pretty much forgotten," he says. 

During the New Deal, there was a effort called the Rural Electrification program, and since no one was living here, there were no power lines. You can still imagine what it'd be like to come out here 100 years ago, as nothing much has changed. Just a fence here and there.

This remote outpost was first purchased in the 1840s by John Nicholas Mercey, a rancher who let locals soak in his horse troughs to cure their wounds. These days, more than just the locals visit, but Mercey Hot Springs isn’t for everyone and Ronneberg likes it that way. There’s no cell reception and a limited Internet connection.

You're nowhere near a restaurant, market, or even a communal kitchen. You have to bring in your own food and a way to cook it.

"This one here contains the equipment for converting power from batteries to AC that we use for the whole facility," says Ronneberg as he opens the door to a shed. "100 percent off-grid, there is no grid connection for five miles."

From Silicon Valley to Off-The-Grid

Ronneberg is a former Silicon Valley IT manager who looks more like a rancher than the steward of clothing-optional hot springs. He’s been slowly developing this increasingly solar-powered compound for nearly 20 years. Summed up in a word, he says his guiding vision is “harmony.”

One sign of his success is the presence of an elusive bird. The long eared owl is normally unwilling to be seen by humans, but I’ve watched it swoop right over my tub at dusk. At night it roosts in a tall feathery tree by the office.

"One very well known birdwatcher, Peter Latourrette, he had logged over 500 different species of birds, and he came here, he got a long-eared owl which he had never seen before," said Ronneberg. 

Long eared owls aren’t the only rare bird you'll  find migrating through. In the few years I’ve been visiting, I never fail to meet some nomadic anti-materialist living out of a customized vehicle. Like Pia Sandstrom, a midwife I’ve found in the RV area, perched on the back of an ‘88 Honda hatchback.

She’s  been living out of it since the early '90s. I asked her why she doesn't live in a house or apartment.

"Because it doesn’t have wheels," she said. "So let's say I work 12 hour days, and then I have one day off. What do I want to do? Do I want to go home and clean my house, or do I want to go to the ocean and read a book?"

Attracted to the silence Mercey Hot Springs is shrouded in, Sandstrom likes floating in the pool at night under the stars. I'm partial to the oversized tubs out by the tent sites. That’s where I'm staying.

Wild Hot Spring Encounters

It's the middle of the week and when I arrive, I'm the only tent camper here. I'm hoping no one shows up on either side of me, but by the end of the day, I’m flanked by two sets of biker buddies.

When one of them sets up an array of booze on the picnic table and keeps asking if I’m really staying here alone, I get unnerved. My romanticization of self reliance, low budget freedom and all that relaxation I’d accumulated soaking in the tubs evaporates.

I fall asleep next to a walkie-talkie the owner’s lent me in case anything goes wrong. When I wake up the next morning, relieved I haven't had to use it, I take a walk. Nearing the edge of the property, I’m stopped in my tracks.

A large zoo-sized cat — one that looks big enough to eat me — goes loping by. Is it a bobcat? A mountain lion? With no internet signal, I can’t Google it to gauge how afraid I should be when it pauses at the edge of the road, senses my presence with a twitch of its tail, and whips its head around to stare at me. 

The cat decides to move on, I’m spared. But when I return to my tent, I learn that a whole other order of terrifying wilderness once reigned over these campsites.

"In these campsites where all the stuff collects in the bases of these trees, it was just a black widow haven," says one of the bikers, Gene Steele. "You could take a little ultraviolet light at night and see them by the dozens and dozens and dozens."

It turns out some of my biker neighbors are just IBM guys. Longtime regulars Graham Butler and Gene Steele say they were too scared to visit Mercey Hot Springs before Ronneberg took it over.

"First time I came here 30 years ago, there was a couple of old ladies running the place trying to sell mud baths," said Steele. "I saw enough to know to keep going down the road."

Something In The Water

From the remnants of an old grinding stone left behind by a native Yokut tribe, it seems community has been forming around this water for thousands of years. Before the interstate 5 was built, someone put in a landing strip.

As Ronneberg explains, people used to fly in to guzzle the water by the gallon, and not because they were thirsty.

"Back in the early days of Mercey, with John Nicholas Mercey, he came to the belief that the water was causing his sheep to abort," said Larry. "There is a belief that the water would also cause women to abort. So they put in the airstrip and let’s just say it’s a theory that people would fly in to get themselves out of reproductive hot water."

Well, whatever it is, there does seem to be something in the water here. Between the owls, bikers, nomads and that feral feline, I feel like I’ve caught a glimpse of an interspecies utopia.

"Build it and they will come, it’s kind of like the baseball movie," said Larry, referring to the film "Field of Dreams. "This is the hot springs of dreams," said Larry. 

Sliding off the face of civilization west of the 5 turns out to be nothing to have an anxiety attack over. And as my new vehicle-dwelling mentor, Pia Sandstrom, assesses my hatchback’s potential, she assures me, the trick to feeling at home anywhere is just letting go.

How Mercado La Paloma helped empower South LA

Bringing together a neighborhood is a unique recipe that blends food, culture, art, and more.

One example of that "creative placemaking" is right here in South L.A. just across the 110 from USC -- Mercado La Paloma. It's a two-story building that is a hot spot of activity that bounces with life, all from local entrepreneurs and artists.

RELATED: How the 'creative placemaking' movement is transforming neighborhoods

On the first floor, for example, there's a line of people in front of the food stand Chichen Itza, which food writer Jonathan Gold says is one of the most essential places you need to eat in L.A.

Walk around and there's an exhibit to showcase the art of boycott posters through the decades. You can also get your tattered clothes fixed at Gloria's Alterations. If you're lucky, you might catch a local band performing here, too.

Upstairs there are a range of non-profits like The Children's Collective, which helps low-income families with parenting classes, workshops, and more.

RELATED: KPCC Forum: How Do Spaces Become Places?

Behind this all is Nancy Halpern Ibrahim, executive director of Esperanza Community Housing Corporation which created Mercado La Paloma.

Alex Cohen speaks with Ibrahim and Rudy Espinoza, executive director of LURN, the Leadership for Urban Renewal Network, about the positive economic effects places like this have on the community. 

Where do you see placemaking and public art around Los Angeles? Let KPCC know: snap a pic or tweet us with #LApublicart.

National Hamburger Day: Who has the best burger in LA? You vote!

May 28 is National Hamburger Day and we here at Take Two want to hear from YOU about your favorite burger in Los Angeles.

In the comments section below, tell us which L.A. eatery has the best burger in town. The burger and the restaurant with the most votes will get featured on the show!

If you can, try and think outside the In-N-Out box. Take Two host A Martinez is partial to the Father's Office burger, so that's ONE vote for them.

Let us know what you think in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.