State of Affairs
As COVID-19 spending, creeps into the billions here, lawmakers are calling for more oversight. Meanwhile, Governor Newsom extends a financial lifeline to the states undocumented workers and you’d better believe that’s been controversial. We delve into these stories and more.
Guests:
- Marisa Lagos, political correspondent for KQED
- Zach Courser, co-directs the Policy Lab at Claremont McKenna College
Coronavirus Homeless Update
Efforts are being made to house homeless in LA County during this pandemic ...and keep them, and the rest of community, safe. But with 45,000 people on the streets, its not moving fast enough.
Guest:
- Matt Tinoco, KPCC's Housing and Homelessness Reporter
Coronavirus Relief for Undocumented Immigrants
Undocumented immigrants will not receive stimulus checks from the federal government, but California will provide them with cash payments of up to 1000 dollars per household. The money will come from a $125 coronavirus disaster relief fund. It's part of a public and private partnership expected to benefit about 150,000 undocumented Californians, who don't qualify for unemployment insurance. Yazmin Franco is a DACA recipient living in Southern California. She is able to receive some federal assistance because she is part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, but her family isn't eligible. So she told us she was relieved to hear about the Governor's latest plan.
Guest:
- Yazmin Franco, DACA Recipient and CalMatters special contributor
To learn more about Yazmin's story, click here to read her column on CalMatters.
Burbank Leader
A couple of days ago we were talking about how despite stories about the coronavirus pandemic being written, broadcast and consumed round the clock, the news business is in tough financial shape. Papers, radio and television stations all over the US are laying off and furloughing employees because advertising revenue is drying up due to the pandemic.While larger national news outlets may have the ability to survive, one of the big concerns was how smaller, local ones would be affected. And yesterday evening, the news came down that LA Times' parent company, California Times, was shutting down three award-winning community papers. More than a dozen staff members of the Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press and La Canada Valley Sun have been laid off with severance. The last editions of the Burbank Leader and Glendale News Press will be tomorrow, while La Canada Valley Sun's final issue is Thursday, April 23rd.
Coronavirus Personal Finance
The pandemic has forced many businesses to shutter, and many people struggling to figure out where their next paycheck is coming from. We bring you some advice on where to find help, and how to save for the next disaster.
Guest:
- Delia Fernandez, Financial planner
Coronavirus Victory Gardens
Looking for a way to take your mind off the news this weekend? Well, our next guest has a suggestion: start a garden. Jeanette Marantos writes for the Saturday Garden Section in the L.A. Times. She told us about an American tradition called the victory garden, which dates back to WWI.
Guest:
- Jeanette Marantos, writer for Saturday Garden Section in The L.A. Times
Weekend Preview: Self Help
How about spending this weekend inside by trying to better yourself? KPCC's Leo Duran talks with Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer, co-authors of the new book, "How to be Fine," for advice on the best self-help books to read and live out.