Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Vaccine Bill Protests, Measles Outbreak Update, and ex-NFL star Darren Sharper
State lawmakers are facing pushback on a bill that would make vaccinations mandatory in California. Health officials are still monitoring what’s been considered the worst measles outbreak statewide in years. But how bad was it?
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenState lawmakers are facing pushback on a bill that would make vaccinations mandatory in California. What’s driving the protests? Will the bill survive? State health officials are still monitoring what’s been considered the worst measles outbreak in California in years. But how bad was it? Last year, former NFL star Darren Sharper admitted to raping 9 women in 4 states. A new investigation says many of the rapes could have been prevented. Forty years ago marked the end to the Vietnam War. Viet Thanh Nguyen’s new novel, The Sympathizer, offers a fresh look at the contentious history from the Vietnamese-American perspective. P-22, the iconic Mountain Lion who usually roams Griffith Park, took up residence in Los Feliz yesterday. A shocked homeowner found the infamous cat under his house last night. What’s behind P-22’s fame and his recent adventure into residential LA?
Banner Image: A nurse wearing blue gloves administers a vaccine into a male patient's arm.
In this episode
5 storiesParents Protest Vaccine Bill
State lawmakers are trying to pass a bill that would make vaccinations mandatory in the state and they’re getting some serious pushback. Right now, parents can opt out of vaccinations for a variety of “personal beliefs.” SB 277 would allow only medical exemptions for childhood vaccinations. A crucial vote takes place tomorrow .
Read the story6 minMeasles Outbreak Update
State health officials are still monitoring what’s been considered the worst measles outbreak in California in years. It began in Disneyland in December. But parents who don’t want to vaccinate their children argue that this outbreak wasn’t as widespread and terrible as it was hyped up to be.
Read the story8 minInvestigation into former NFL star and serial rapist Darren Sharper
Last year, former NFL star Darren Sharper was partying with models and other sports stars at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. On the way to another party, Sharper convinced two women to stop by his hotel in Century City. He offered them drinks and ten minutes later, the women were unconscious.
Read the story11 min“The Sympathizer” offers fresh look at Vietnam War
Forty years ago marked the definitive end to the Vietnam War. The Americans evacuated and on April 30th , Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese communist forces. Viet Thanh Nguyen was four years old. His family escaped Saigon and came to the United States as refugees in 1975.
Read the story14 minIconic LA Mountain Lion
A new celebrity took up residence in LA’s Los Feliz neighborhood yesterday. No, not T Swift or Beyonce. It was P-22, the iconic Mountain Lion who usually roams Griffith Park. A shocked homeowner found the infamous cat under his house last night. Wildlife officials were called. Tennis balls and bean bags were thrown to coax out the mountain lion.
Read the story8 min
