Page 7 - Cal Update News Today

On the May 6 episode of “SoCal Update,” since taking office in December, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has embarked on a radically different approach to criminal justice. KPCC’s Frank Stoltze breaks down one of his policies that requires his prosecutors to support parole for most prison inmates. Read more

On the May 5 episode of “SoCal Update, Gov. Gavin Newsom has been pushing educators to extend the school year to help students recover learning lost during the pandemic. But this week, Los Angeles school leaders decided against a longer calendar. KPCC Education Reporter Kyle Stokes breaks down how this decision was reached. Read more

On the May 5 episode of “SoCal Update,” India is trapped in a second wave of the pandemic, with people pleading for hospital beds and oxygen for their loved ones. KPCC Asian American Communities Correspondent Josie Huang shares how Indian Americans are finding different ways to respond to the crisis. Read more

On the May 3 episode of “SoCal Update,” as activists mobilize against anti-Asian hate and violence, they are tapping into the knowledge of ethnic studies and Asian American studies researchers to help their cause. KPCC Higher Education Reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez reports on the interaction between scholars and activists in Southern California. Read more

On the April 26 episode of “SoCal Update,” KPCC Science Reporter Jacob Margolis talks about a community science experiment he launched to make climate change’s impact on air pollution more tangible. It involves handing out special beans that, when grown, show when they’re being damaged by ozone. Read more

On the April 30 episode of “SoCal Update," the COVID-19 pandemic upended much of normal life in L.A., except for one local norm: the city’s high rate of serious and fatal traffic collisions. LAist’s Ryan Fonseca shares who is impacted most by these accidents. Read more

On the April 30 episode of “SoCal Update,” we learn about the original borders of Los Angeles and the history within them. Digital producer Carla Pineda talks about a series of walks that retrace the four corners of the city back when it was a young pueblo. Read more

On the April 23 episode of “SoCal Update,” an art collective holds annual billboard exhibitions to highlight the work of both established and emerging artists. Assistant Digital Producer Victoria Gonzalez discusses some of the socio-political issues being addressed in the 30 new billboards scattered throughout Los Angeles this year. Read more

Today, a San Fernando Valley city has some of the worst quality in the state.

On the April 21 episode of “SoCal Update,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti briefly discussed new efforts (and nearly $19 million in funding) to remove law enforcement from mental health crisis calls. KPCC Reporter Robert Garrova looks at where the funding would come from and the five new programs it would cover. Featured: