AirTalk

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Kimberly Shriner of Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.

Topics today include:

CA has second-lowest rate of COVID-19 spread compared to other states

As vaccine demand spikes, is there enough?

How long will the COVID vaccine really protect you?

Experts worry as crowds return in California, nationally

COVID-19 vaccination cards soon will be an essential

New high-tech masks coming soon?

NYT: One nursing home’s quest to vaccinate its hesitant staff

GUEST:

Kimberly Shriner, M.D., infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena

Today on AirTalk, we go over the latest topics in COVID-19 news. We also discuss the ongoing trial of the former police officer charged with killing George Floyd; talk with listeners about their experience in applying for PPP loans; and more.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was designed to help small businesses stay afloat and keep paying employees during the coronavirus pandemic. Some businesses who received a PPP loan are even eligible for loan forgiveness. KPCC is now examining data to get a better look at how the loans were distributed and the equity gaps when it comes to disbursement. 

Studies are showing there are disparities. Last summer, data from the Small Business Administration showed that L.A. County's wealthy, whiter Westside received far more Paycheck Protection Program loans than lower-income areas of the county where residents are primarily people of color. Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with KPCC correspondent Sharon McNary who’s working on the project. Sharon will explain how the project will work, and she also wants to hear from you. Are you a business owner who applied for a PPP loan? Did you get it? Were you denied? What was your overall experience going through the process? Join the conversation and become part of the project by calling 866-893-5722.

With files from LAist. Read more here. 

GUEST:

Sharon McNary, KPCC/LAist correspondent who’s working with a team on an investigative project looking at distribution and equity surrounding the Paycheck Protection Program; she tweets @KPCCsharon

As a city, Los Angeles is, itself, a bit stranger than fiction, all at once it is both a major American metropolis sprawling hundreds of square miles across Southern California and a collection of smaller, multicultural neighborhoods that can change from block to block. It’s a place where there is both great wealth and abject poverty, where natural disasters are only a moment away and where you can go skiing and hit the beach all in the same day, if you’re especially intrepid.

Despite the fact that Los Angeles is strange enough to author its own fiction, novelist Denise Hamilton commissioned short stories from local writers in which, as Hamilton writes on her website, “you’ll encounter twenty-first-century changelings, giant mecha robots battling on landfills, black holes and jacaranda men lurking in deep suburbia, beachfront property in Century City, walled-off canyons and coastlines reserved for the wealthy, psychic death cults, robot nursemaids, and an alternate LA where Spanish land grants never gave way to urbanization.”

Today on AirTalk, “Speculative Los Angeles” editor Denise Hamilton joins us to talk about her new anthology and preview some of the stories you’ll find inside.

GUEST:

Denise Hamilton, editor of “Speculative Los Angeles” (February 2021, Akashic Books); she tweets @DeniseHamilton_

The former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd went on trial Monday, with a prosecutor telling the jury that the figure to remember is 9 minutes, 29 seconds — the amount of time Derek Chauvin’s knee was on Floyd’s neck as the Black man pleaded for his life and went limp.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell told jurors that Chauvin “didn’t let up, he didn’t get up” even after Floyd said 27 times that he couldn’t breathe and went motionless.

“He put his knees upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him, until the very breath -- no ladies and gentlemen -- until the very life, was squeezed out of him,” Blackwell said.

He said bystander witnesses would include a Minneapolis Fire Department first responder who wanted to administer aid. He said Chauvin pointed Mace at her.

“She wanted to check on his pulse, check on Mr. Floyd’s well-being,” Blackwell said. “She did her best to intervene. When she approached Mr. Chauvin …. Mr. Chauvin reached for his Mace and pointed it in her direction. She couldn’t help.”

Widely seen bystander video of the encounter sparked outrage across the U.S. and led to widespread protests and scattered violence.

A jury of 14 people will hear the case — eight who are white and six who are Black or multiracial, according to the court. Two of the 14 will be alternates. The judge has not said which ones will be alternates and which ones will deliberate the case.

With files from the Associated Press

GUESTS:

Philip Dube, deputy public defender with LA County

Jody Armour, professor of law at USC; he tweets @NiggaTheory

Many of us have developed rituals while coping with this time, whether it’s long baths, long walks, afternoons in the park -- or maybe yours is more unique, like woodworking, beer brewing or writing limericks. 

While we’re all antsy to get back to life as normal, many of us have developed routines or new hobbies that we’d like to keep up with after life goes back to normal. 

Tell us about yours by calling 866-893-5722.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Annabelle De St. Maurice of UCLA/Mattel Children’s Hospital.

CDC reports Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines very effective at preventing COVID in real world conditions

Eligibility opens up to Californians 50 & over this week, everyone 16 and older mid-April

Orange County continues encouraging trends, could move to orange tier this week

Vaccine appointments may be backed up for several weeks

Vaccination gap among Hispanic communities reflects barriers to access

NYT obtained WHO report pointing to animals as COVID originators

What COVID-19 testing looks like when everyone is vaccinated

Barcelona hosts large gig after testing crowd

GUEST:

Annabelle De St. Maurice M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases and the co-chief infection prevention officer at University of California Los Angeles/Mattel Children’s Hospital; she tweets @destmauricemd

Today on AirTalk, we get the latest on the Echo Park Lake protests. Also on the show, we discuss the latest COVID-19 headlines; go over the latest movie releases with our KPCC film critics; and more.

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Shruti Gohil at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine.

Topics today include:

If you're over 16, you'll be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine starting April 15; those 50+ can sign up April 1 

Brazilian coronavirus variant detected in San Diego 

LA, Orange counties may move to Orange tier — what will reopen? 

‘Variants of concern’ made up majority of L.A. County coronavirus samples tested this past week 

California's COVID-19 numbers are low. But hot spots are emerging in other parts of the country 

COVID-19 testing is on the decline 

Herd immunity is near, despite Fauci’s denial 

Pfizer is now testing a COVID-19 pill

GUEST:

Shruti Gohil, M.D., professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine

Protestors clashed with authorities Thursday night after those residing in the Echo Park Lake area and advocates had been resisting a closure and clean-up of the park. 

LAPD declared an unlawful assembly as several hundred protesters gathered in the area of Lemoyne and Park Avenue. According to reports, about a dozen people were arrested. Several journalists covering the events were detained. Some background: some unhoused people and advocates had been bracing for the city of Los Angeles to close Echo Park Lake and clear the tent community. Earlier this week, city officials indicated the closure was imminent. Then, as LAPD officers in riot gear were out in force late Wednesday while city workers installed fencing around the 30-acre park, city officials announced encampment residents had until 10:30 p.m. Thursday to leave. Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with reporters about what happened, the handling of the protests and more. Were you at the protests? Have you been sheltering near Echo Park Lake? How has the clearing of the area impacted you? What has been your experience? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722. 

With files from LAist. Read the full story here. 

We reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department to invite Chief Moore or another member of the department who could address police handling of protesters and journalists on Thursday night, but as of the airing of this segment they have not responded to our request. We will update this if we receive a timely response. You can read the full statement from LAPD on the detaining of members of the media here.  

GUEST:

James Queally, LA Times reporter who covers crime and policing in Southern California, he was covering the protests at Echo Park Lake Thursday and was detained by LAPD officers; he tweets @JamesQueallyLAT