The Struggle to Balance Speed and Equity in Vaccine Rollout

When the first doses came on line back in December, Governor Newsom promised to get people vaccinated with equity in mind. But that does not seem to be happening -- the vaccine rollout remains slow and reports are that people with more resources have been getting doses, even if they’re not supposed to be eligible yet. Now, the state is switching almost entirely to what’s supposed to be a simpler age-based eligibility system, prioritizing people 65 and older. It’s a group the Centers for Disease Control says is at a higher risk of hospitalization and death from the virus, but still the state is struggling to balance speed with equity. 

Guest:

• Barbara Feder Ostrov,  contributing writer for Cal Matters covering the pandemic

Coronavirus and Kids 

COVID-19 cases — and a concerning new syndrome — are rising among children in California, with especially high rates of infections among Latino children. 

Guest:

• Elizabeth Aguilera, a reporter for CalMatters covering health and social services. 
   

Police and Social Justice Reform: What's Next for Los Angeles?

After months of calls to defund the police, the city of LA has moved to cut the LAPD's budget and rethink ways to use that money differently in communities. But there is a long way to go in making meaningful reform happen that improves the livelihoods of people in neighborhoods of color. So what should be some of the first steps in getting us there? Over the next several weeks we will have a series of conversations about this with academics, city officials, community groups and police officers in and around Los Angeles. Today we talk to Aqeela Sherills, who started The Reverence Project, a non-profit in Watts that offers a range of community services.

A Fight Over Coronavirus in Orange County Jails 

As COVID-19 surges in Orange County's jails, a judge has ordered a reduction in the population, but Sheriff Don Barnes is fighting the order in court. KPCC's Robert Garrova has the story.

More is Needed on Local Level to Combat Veteran Suicide 

Former service members continue to die from suicide at a higher rate than non-veterans. Several new federal laws will take effect this year that are intended to reduce those numbers, but some suicide prevention advocates say more help is needed at the local level. From Washington, Caitlyn Kim reports for the American Homefront Project.

Derrick Spiva, Jr. Composes 'To Be A Horizon' 

This weekend, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra premiered the newest work of composer Derrick Spiva, Jr., "Mother of Bravery." But it is another work, not yet fully released, that we want to share with you today. Last year, amid a pandemic as well political and racial strife, Spiva created the piece "To be A Horizon," which, like so much of his work combines Western classical music with influences from around the world, like Ghanaian drumming, Persian classical music, gospel, and more. Polina Cherezova has the story.