How and why people turn to terrorism, Kendrec McDade's mother talks about the investigation report, a look at the LA Auto Show.
Kendrec McDade's mother says report doesn't provide closure
After a three-year court battle, the mother of Kendrec McDade this week received a copy of an independent report on her son's shooting death.
Anya Slaughter has been trying for years now to find out just what happened to her son. On March 24, 2012, Pasadena officers responded to a 911 call about a suspected armed robbery. That night, they fatally shot 19-year-old McDade, who was unarmed.
The officers involved in the case were cleared after an internal investigation. In 2014, an independent report on the incident and the subsequent investigation by the police department was presented to the city of Pasadena. But that report was not made public, prompting Slaughter's legal fight.
Even though she fought for three years to see it, she said the report doesn't provide any closure. The Office of Independent Review, who published the report, found 10 tactical decisions questionable, including officers not communicating with one another when trying to apprehend McDade, and the officers splitting up when they tried to detain him.
"Basically all 10 of those things I already knew," she said. "I've been expressing these things forever, and I guess no one wanted to believe me. I am glad that it's out now so I can get some belief behind it, but most of those 10 things, I already knew."
What would bring her relief, she said, is not seeing any other mothers go through what she's been through.
"That's been my goal since I really started to try to fight this, and really was able to comprehend and assess this," she said. "I grew up in Pasadena. This has been going on ever since I've been there."
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Stan Kroenke: The man who could bring the Rams back to LA
The NFL in L.A.
Those words haven't rung true since 1994. Depending on your geographical perspective, there've been a series of teases — or threats — of an NFL team coming to Los Angeles, but so far the 21-year football drought persists.
If billionaire Stan Kroenke has his way, that will finally change, and the St. Louis Rams will make their return to the city they once called home for nearly five decades.
While Kroenke the businessman is used to getting his way and winning, he's not a fan of the attention his rising profile is bringing him. That could be difficult to avoid if he indeed winds up in the camera capital of the world.
Ira Boudway wrote about Kroenke for Bloomberg Business, and he joined the show to tell more.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
The Wheel Thing: Brits, Italians dominate LA Auto Show
Among the thousands of cars on display at the LA Auto Show, what's turning the most heads? A bright red Alfa Romeo Guilia.
With an engine from Ferrari housed in the body of a sports sedan, it's undeniably sexy, even if our motor critic, Susan Carpenter, doesn't really care for the grill. The Guilia is a BMW M3 killer with a twin turbocharged V6 that blows out 505 horsepower.
While the Guilia starts at somewhere around $70k, Jaguar is showing an entry level model that goes for half that. The XE is clearly an attempt by the storied British marque to appeal to younger drivers who are looking for some class and luxury.
Meanwhile, Range Rover debuts a topless SUV. The Evoque offers the size and heft of a traditional Range Rover, and opens it up to the sky. Carpenter found it a little "boat-like" but predicts Southern Californians with disposable income will be snapping them up.
The overall feel of this year's show reflects the good times in the auto business – sales are booming. Still, automakers are looking to the future, and setting their sights on millennials, who so far at least, haven't shown the passion for cars and driving demonstrated by generations of their elders.
The LA Auto Show opens to the public on Friday and runs through Thanksgiving weekend.
Who to watch for at the Latin Grammys
The 16th annual Latin Grammys takes place Thursday night in Las Vegas. One of the biggest potential winners is Leonel García.
"Here in the States we haven't heard much from him as a solo act, but he's a big nominee," says Leila Cobo, executive director of Latin Content for Billboard.
In just the Song of the Year category, for example, he's nominated twice: once for one of his own recordings "¿Recuerdas?" and another for "Hasta La Raíz" that he co-wrote with artist Natalia Lafourcade.
Lafourcade also stands to win big on Thursday night, says Cabo, because of the strength of her album.
"I think this is one of those albums that could really open her up to a big audience," she says.
Cabo is really pulling for Bomba Estéreo, however, and the band's song, "Fiesta."
"It's such a weird nomination and it's a cool song!" she says.
The original Taco Bell makes a run for the Irvine border
Taco Bell is now doing delivery!
Well actually, Taco Bell is moving its very first building, "Numero Uno," from Downey to the company's headquarters in Irvine 45 miles away.
The building was last a Taco Bell in 1986, and it has housed a number of different restaurants since that time. But in 2014, the building closed its doors for good.
It was set to be razed, and that's when the Downey Conservancy stepped in to alert Taco Bell.
"They reached out to us and from day one, as soon as we found out, it was one of those things where we could not let it get demolished," says Taco Bell's Matthew Prince.
Starting Thursday at 10:30 p.m., the 20-by-20 building will be lifted off of its concrete foundation and hoisted onto a flatbed truck.
Reaching top speeds of only 20 mph, the building will weave its way through Cerritos, La Palma, past Knott's Berry Farm, continue through Anaheim before curving south to Orange and Santa Ana.
It's scheduled to arrive at Taco Bell HQ around 3 a.m. Friday, where it will hang out in the parking lot until the company decides its future. The company plans to ask fans and the community how they would like to see the building transform.
If you wanted to check out its move in progress, and perhaps get a few Doritos Locos Tacos while you're at it, the company has four Taco Bell locations along the route in addition to its final stop:
- 7127 Firestone Blvd., Downey
- 1075 N. Tustin Ave,, Anaheim
- 2233 N. Tustin St., Orange
- 490 N. Tustin St., Orange
- 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine (Taco Bell Headquarters)
State of Affairs: The politics of the Paris attacks and good news for CA budget
On this week's State of Affairs: The politics of the Paris attacks, potential candidates for governor, and some rosy projections for California's budget.
Joining Take Two to discuss:
- Carla Marinucci, POLITICO's California Playbook reporter
- Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, professor of the Practice of Public Policy Communication at USC