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December 11 - 15, 2006
Monday, Dec. 11
Judge Rules on Jail Overcrowding
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U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson ruled to extend a temporary order that stops the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department from keeping inmates at the jail system's central processing hub in overcrowded group cells. KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze was at today's hearing and joins Patt with the latest.
- Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
The Ripples of Pinochet's Reign
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Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was a brutal leader whose time in power left a complex legacy which has inspired decades of analysis. We'll look at what declassified U.S. documents show America's role was in his rise to power. Late in life, those who pursued Pinochet legally created international precedents and nearly put him in jail. Still, some wealthy Chileans praised the ailing dictator until his death, and the effects of his economic policies can be seen across Latin America.
- Peter Kornbluh, Senior Analyst, National Security Archives. Also, Author, The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability (New Press)
- Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice Program for Human Rights Watch
- Arnold Harberger, professor emeritus, University of Chicago, School of Economics
We Were One
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The Battle of Fallujah has gone down in history as not only one of the fiercest ground battles of the Iraq War, but an example of some of the most intense hand-to-hand combat since World War II. Award-winning author and historian Patrick O'Donnell was there. Now he's written a book called We Were One (Da Capo Press). It tells the story of the Marines in Lima Company's First Platoon who fought at the heart of the battle. The author and one of the Marines from Lima Company join Patt to share their first-hand account.
- Patrick O'Donnell, author, We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah
- 1st Lt. Jeffrey Sommers, Marine who fought in Fallujah with Lima Company's 1st Platoon.
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Halloween Hate Crime Trial
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On October 31st, three young women were beaten by a large group of kids in Long Beach. Police arrested 10 minors - nine girls and one boy and brought them to trial on charges of a hate crime. All 10 minors are black and the three victims, who are white, say their beating was racially motivated. What has followed is a trial where witnesses have struggled to identify attackers, one woman called to testify has been intimidated by alleged gang members and a community is preparing for discord following the verdict. We'll check in on the trial and community issues behind it.
Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell
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The first full biography of Colin Powell, Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell (Random House), traces his origins as the son of Jamaican immigrants to soldier-statesmen icon serving under four administrations to tarnished American hero. Author Karen DeYoung covers his rise to fame during the Gulf War and the last minute decision not to run for President in 1995. The book captures new information on the inner workings of the Bush White House and the internal ideological struggle between Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld over various issues such as the Iraq War, and the events surrounding his infamous UN Security Council speech.
The Virgin Turns 475
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Today, Mexicans celebrate the revelation of the Virgin of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, a man walking on a hill in Mexico City in 1531. To prove he saw her, the Virgin left her image in a cloak Juan Diego wore. Angelenos know that the colorful image of the Virgin has spread far beyond the cloak and the walls of the Catholic church into popular culture and T-shirt shops.
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Mayor's School Takeover Plan Goes to Court
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In a month's time, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa hopes to take over the reins at the LA Unified School District. An Assembly bill signed back in September will let him do so when it becomes law. But...not so fast...on Friday, the school district is taking the mayor, and the new law, to court - trying to persuade a judge to throw out the Assembly bill before the school district and the mayor enter these uncharted legal waters. We get a preview of what's coming to court.
Tokofsky Withdraws Bid for Re-election
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Distinguished teacher and LAUSD board member David Tokofsky announced this past Saturday that he will not run for another term, stating that a major factor in his decision is to spend more time with his family. But there may be other issues at stake given that a report in the Los Angeles Times quoted a source in Antonio Villaraigosa's office saying that this "is a huge victory for the mayor." Tokofsky's withdrawal, despite early reports that he could win the race, raised questions among colleagues and officials about his departure from the LAUSD board. Today, Patt speaks to Tokofsky about his decision.
- David Tokofsky, LAUSD School Board Member
Architect Wins City of the Future Contest
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Mayor Villlaraigosa announced Eric Owen Moss Architects the winner of yesterday's 'City of the Future' contest sponsored by the American Institute of Architects. The winner joins Patt to talk about his design.
Thursday, Dec. 14
The Issue of the Homeless - Is there a Solution that Works?
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The homeless are not only the people pushing shopping carts filled with bags of meager possessions, living and sleeping whereever they can find an unoccupied space. They also include those living in garages, cars, and other overcrowded and dangerous places. Patt Morrison looks at the struggles of being homeless and the challenges of helping those who are in need with community leaders who are working on poverty, health-care, housing, and safety-net issues for this ever growing population. Is there any consensus around a solution to the problem of homelessness?
Friday, Dec. 15
California's Executions Declared Unconstitutional
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The same day Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida put a moratorium on all executions in his state, a U.S. district judge in San Jose ruled California's method of execution by lethal injection unconstitutional. He called the pain experienced by some prisoners "cruel and unusual" and said the system had to be revamped. What will this mean for the future of the death penalty in California and across the country?
Skid Row Scams
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It's not bad enough that the homeless live in an uncertain world where finding shelter and health services are a challenge. They are also the target of fraud schemes in which they are cheated of full-value food stamp purchases or administered bogus medical tests, with the taxpayers picking up the bill.
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Captain Andrew Smith, LAPD Central Command
Can Courts Help the Homeless?
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A series of judicial experiments across the nation are focusing on the effectiveness of smaller courts and specialized judges who can address the needs of a restricted group of defendants. Some cities have mental health courts, drug courts, family courts and community courts. How can this tool be used to address the needs of the homeless? We'll talk to the judge who started "homeless court," an experiment still searching for more support in L.A. We'll also talk with the LAPD chief who handles crime on Skid Row about the limited role cops can play in solving the homeless problem. And finally the city of Santa Monica's homeless chief lays out a plan for a new court he hopes can help that city deal with its large homeless population.
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