UCLA Falls. USC Moves On. And LSU’s Beef With The LA Times. The Latest On The Women’s NCAA Tournament
The Los Angeles Times has edited a column it published last week about the LSU women’s basketball team ahead of its game against UCLA following criticism from Tigers coach Kim Mulkey, who blasted it as sexist and hurtful. Mulkey defended her players after they were referred to as “villains” and “dirty debutantes” in a piece first published Friday that likened the Sweet 16 game between LSU and UCLA as a battle of good versus evil. “How dare people attack kids like that?” she said Saturday. “You don’t have to like the way we play. You don’t have to like the way we trash talk. You don’t have to like any of that. We’re good with that. But I can’t sit up here as a mother and a grandmother and a leader of young people and allow somebody to say that.” The Times removed those references late Saturday as well as one comparing UCLA’s team to “milk and cookies” and republished the column with a note that said: “A previous version of this commentary did not meet Times editorial standards. It has been updated.” Joining us this morning on AirTalk to discuss this spectacle and more updates with the women’s tournament is Mirjam Swanson, sports columnist for the Southern California News Group.
With files from the Associated Press
Explainer: Why California Jail Deaths Are Increasing Despite Less People Being Held
A new piece from CalMatters looks into a statewide issue that persisted since 2019–despite the Newsom Administration's pledge to curb deaths in state jails, the number has only increased across the state. County jails like in San Diego, Kern, Riverside, and San Bernardino, all saw record-high jail deaths in 2022. So what’s behind this? Well, the two biggest reasons have been overdoses, with fentanyl being the most notable of substances, and suicide.
Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss his reporting is Nigel Duara, justice reporter for Calmatters.
SoCal History: Terminal Island And An Unknown Japanese American Fishing Hub
A man-made island off the coast of San Pedro, Terminal Island was created as a part of the Ports of Los Angeles. Originally, the land served as a resort for California's wealthy landowners and as a safe haven for artists, writers, and scientists. But, most of Terminal Island's history is tied to California's fishing industry and the Japanese Americans who turned Terminal Island into a thriving fishing town, unique with its own culture and ties to the residents' Japanese heritage. Then on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 that led to the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans. The residents of Terminal Island were the first Japanese Americans on the West Coast to be removed from their homes under the order and sent to Manzanar. The book Terminal Island: Lost Communities on America’s Edge tells the story of the island's forgotten residents and how the start of World War II marked the end of the once flourishing coastal town. Joining us to discuss Terminal Island's legacy as an important chapter in California history are authors of the book Naomi Hirahara and Geraldine Knatz.
Checking In On The State Of The Latin American Immigrant Small Business Boom
Latin American immigrants are turning to entrepreneurship at twice the rate of Americans. Driving up the overall amount of businesses owned by immigrants in the country, up from 25% in 2019 to 36% just last year. Left with few other opportunities, many started businesses in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. Operations in services, food, and delivery have only expanded since then, propelling their momentum. But they’re also expanding into healthcare and tech, and finding niche opportunities only they can fulfill. Yet, they still face issues with access to capital investment. According to the 2022 Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey 42% of Hispanic-owned startups were denied credit compared to 25% of startups with white owners.
Today on AirTalk, we discuss Latinos, Latin American Immigrants, their growing pursuit of entrepreneurship in this country, and the obstacles they have to face. Joining us is Ruth Simon, senior special writer for the Wall Street Journal where she covers small business and entrepreneurship. Also with us is Arturo Cazares, CEO of the Latino Business Action Network a non-profit that supports Latino businesses across the country and collaborates with Stanford to create the yearly Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative report. Have experiences starting your own small business that you’d like to share? Or are you looking into starting one? We want to hear. Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Happy 39th Anniversary AirTalk! Listeners Share What The Program Has Meant To Them
Surprise! Producers, friends of the program and longtime listeners help celebrate AirTalk’s 39th anniversary by calling in and expressing their appreciation to host Larry Mantle. Patt Morrison, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and longtime friend of the program, helps kick things off. And we hear from other surprise special guests. Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
