Which Way, L.A.?

Parents who don't want to vaccinate their children admit that can end relationships. But many still want California voters to overturn a new law requiring childhood vaccinations in the interests of public health. We hear from them and update their adventure in politics.

All you need to call Uber, Lyft or other ride-sharing companies is an app on a smartphone. But that doesn’t mean they can pick you up at LA’s International Airport. It’s been the exclusive preserve of traditional taxi-cabs, and they’re not going to give up their turf without political warfare. We’ll hear how a “disruptive technology” has pitted City Council members against Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Forty percent of the nation’s imports arrive at the Ports of LA and Los Angeles.  Goods are then trucked out to the Inland Empire, to be stored in massive warehouses the size of hundreds of football fields.  Local officials have spent public money luring still more so-called logistics centers—despite concerns about traffic congestion, air quality and other problems.

LA County Sheriff’s deputies have smartphones to take photographs that can be checked against mug shot databases using facial recognition technology. But there’s no state law protecting civil rights or privacy. Will pictures be limited only to people arrested? What about legal protesters? How long will the photos be kept in sheriff’s department files? We’ll look for some answers.

There's going to be more congestion during the evening rush hour — especially on the Westside — but that didn't stop the LA City Council from endorsing what's called "Mobility Plan 2035."  That's the year when hundreds of miles of new bike and bus lanes are scheduled to be completed — in the interests of the environment, public transit and pedestrian safety.

When the Watts Riots broke out 50 years ago, the neighborhood was a black ghetto. There was too much poverty, too little education and pervasive police brutality. The Riots are also called the Rebellion. We talk with two people who were on the scene. Now, Watts is predominantly Latino. We'll hear what else has changed…and what remains the same.

Now that Boston has dropped out, Los Angeles is in the running to host the summer Olympics in 2024. Mayor Garcetti says the city can benefit economically — just like it did in 1984. He's even willing to cover cost overruns, something former Mayor Tom Bradley refused to do. Is it a better bet for taxpayer money than it was 30 years ago?

Architect Frank Gehry's buildings are stand-alone landmarks all over the world. Mayor Garcetti says he's the right man to make 51 miles of the Los Angeles River "something special."

Local politicians are being congratulated for raising the minimum wage. Some 700,000 workers will be entitled to $10.50 an hour next year and $15 by the year 2020. But that doesn't mean they'll get it.

After decades of excessive force by jailers, abuse of mentally ill inmates and prisoner suicides, LA County has agreed to institute sweeping changes. A federal court will monitor progress to make sure that promised reforms really happen. We’ll ask Sheriff Jim McDonnell if he plans to clean house.