What happens after an officer-involved shooting occurs? The latest trends in off-roading vehicles, comedian Kristina Wong's new show in LA.
Officer Involved: how to have unbiased reviews of shootings
When there is an officer-involved shooting, who investigates it?
In Los Angeles county, the district attorney's office looks at every shooting and the LAPD Police Commission has a civilian-staffed Inspector General's office to probe officer actions.
But in many places, the review of officer-involved shootings is handled internally by the police department that employs the officer.
Last year, Wisconsin became the very first state where use of deadly force – by law – must be reviewed by an independent investigation.
Michael Bell spearheaded the law's passage after his son was killed by police in 2004.
"To my surprise, within 48 hours, before eye witness statements were taken by everybody and before crime lab reports were in, the police investigated themselves," he told Take Two. "They ruled the shooting justified and went and told the community within 48 hours that the shooting was a justified shooting."
Can an independent commission prevent this kind of rush to judgment?
Stan Stojkovic, dean of the school of social welfare and expert in criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, joins Take Two to look at whether Wisconsin's law bolsters the police review process or is simply about looking good politically.
Mizzou Jewish, black students bond amid racial tension
A 19-year-old white college student was set to appear before a judge Thursday after making threats against African Americans online.
The threats come amid continuing turmoil at the University of Missouri campus, turmoil not only over race, but also religion. To date, one of the most harrowing instances of discrimination happened in a residence hall bathroom, where a swastika made with scrawled feces was discovered last month.
Marlee Ribnick, a senior at Mizzou, is the social and outreach chair of the Jewish Student Organization. She joined the show to tell more about what things have been like for Jewish students in the wake of the racial turbulence.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
State of Affairs: GOP debate, immigration, and a look ahead to 2018
On this week's State of Affairs, an analysis of the Republican debate, CA politicos react to the ruling against the Obama Administration on immigration, and why the 2018 race for governor is the one to watch.
Joining Take Two to discuss:
- Los Angeles Times political analyst Cathleen Decker
- Carla Marinucci, POLITICO's California Playbook reporter
The Wheel Thing: New and gnarly off-road speedsters
It's hard to get a handle on how many people engage in off-road motoring, but the industry sells about a half-million vehicles each year that are designed to keep going when the pavement stopped.
For years, the market was dominated by ATVs, three and four-wheeled vehicles that could climb racks of boulders and dig through sand dunes.
The latest craze is a category known as UTVs, or more commonly, side-by-sides. These have two seats, a steering wheel, and room for quite a bit of gear. There sort of like cars, if your car could negotiate a bog full of mud and climb over a small mountain.
The latest UTV's are emphasizing performance, and raw speed. Earlier models, adapted from farm vehicles, topped out at school zone speeds. But the new side-bys can scream across the dirt at up to 80 mph.
Our Wheel Thing guru Susan Carpenter is a fan of going off road, and she tells us all about why so many people agree with her, and the latest ways to go really fast without any pavement.
Lab Notes: Pluto's ice volcanoes and Victoria's Secret perfume
On this edition of Lab Notes, KPCC science reporter
fills you in on the wackiest news science has to offer:
- Why are Pluto's ice volcanoes a big deal? (Aside from the cool factor)
- If you want to repel mosquitos, a new study shows Victoria's Secret Bombshell perfume works better than some actual spray repellents.
- YouTube videos can go viral — and so can emotions. How positive tweets can spread cheer, according to a USC study.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Mark Bittman tells why he left the New York Times for Purple Carrot
has quit his dream job as a food writer for the New York Times to join the vegan meal delivery service
.
Bittman told host Alex Cohen why he made the decision, and what's next in his food journey.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Comedian Kristina Wong tackles race and global poverty with new LA show
"The Wong Street Journal" is a new one-woman show from performance artist and comedian Kristina Wong.
It's billed as "part psychedelic TED lecture, part amateur hip-hop extravaganza, and part nonsense."
The show was inspired by a trip Wong took a few years ago to Africa and it tackles a wide range of subjects— social media, economic theory, poverty and race.
The show opens tonight at the REDCAT theater in downtown L.A.
Take Two host Alex Cohen recently caught up with Kristina Wong as she was rehearing for the show, and talked with her about her approach to performance art— infusing tough issues with humor.
To hear the full interview with Kristina Wong, click the link above.
"The Wong Street Journal" is playing at the REDCAT November 12-15. Call 213-237-2800 or click here for tickets.