Transcripts for KCRW 89.9 FM KCRW 89.9 FM 20191003 130000

In Philadelphia I'm Noel King and I'm David Greene the Justice Department opposes letting people use illegal drugs in a medical facility but a federal judge rules to allow. Also this hour we investigate the Ukrainian energy company that Joe Biden's son worked for and a lawsuit claims hundreds of New York hospital workers unfairly lost their pensions It is Thursday October 3rd a day to do the twist rock n roll singer Chubby Checker turned 78 years old. News is next. Ly from n.p.r. News in Washington I'm Corba Coleman the former special representative to Ukraine is to testify behind closed doors this hour on Capitol Hill former envoy Kurt Volker was mentioned in a whistle blower's complaint the complaint was about President Trump's July phone call to the president of Ukraine it which he urged the Ukrainian leader to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden N.P.R.'s Mara Liasson says the complaint prompted the impeachment inquiry by Congress the president has always tried to appear to be cooperative and fearless like he has nothing to hide and then in the end he doesn't produce information and his White House pretty much has stonewalled Congress in other investigations but on this one they have been turning over documents they didn't fight to keep the whistleblower complaint secret they did something unprecedented when they released the transcript usually president and foreign leaders conversations are not released to the public and that might make it harder for them to withhold other pieces of information and documents that Congress is requesting N.P.R.'s Mara Liasson the Justice Department is weighing in on an investigation in New York involving the president's business practices from member station w. N.y.c. Andrea Bernstein explains an issue in the case is whether the Manhattan d.a. Cyrus Vance Jr can examine President Trump's tax returns in a case looking at whether Trump filed false business records and his hush money settlement with adult film actress Stormy Daniels the president's private attorneys sued the d.a. Arguing the president can't be charged with any crimes while he's president even by a local prosecutor now the Justice Department is arguing the United States of America has an interest in allowing federal courts to decide that question the practical effect of their action is to ask the judge to continue to withhold trumps tax returns from the Manhattan d.a. The d.a. Didn't comment on the latest violence but last week in court his lawyer said Trump was trying to delay the criminal investigation adding quote when they delay they win for n.p.r. News I'm Andrea Bernstein in need. York Hong Kong will invoke its emergency powers for the 1st time in half a century tomorrow that's according to local media the city will use the powers to ban face masks N.P.R.'s Emily Fang reports the masks have been used by anti-government protesters in demonstrations for more than 17 weeks hung on outlets are reporting the city's cabinet will invoke colonial era emergency regulations ordinance The law gives in battle chief executive Kerry lamb broad powers to head of protests by stifling communication networks or raiding homes that a warrant tensions between police and protesters have only intensified when an officer shot and critically wounded in 18 year old protester Tuesday after being attacked by protesters armed with umbrellas and pipes a peaceful mass March followed by violent street fights in Hong Kong Tuesday or a stark contrast to state celebrations in Beijing celebrating 70 years of Communist party governance and leafing n.p.r. News Beijing this is n.p.r. From the David Barnett foundation newsroom here at k.c.i. I'm cherry Glaser the criminal case against activist and Democratic donor Ed Buck is expanding a federal grand jury has now indicted bucking connection with the overdose death of a 2nd man inside his West Hollywood apartment had previously been charged with providing methamphetamine that caused the overdose death of 26 year old Jim Elmore in 2017 now he's also charged with the death of Hitti 5 year old Timothy Dean who died earlier this year Dean sister Joy says her family is grateful the charges have finally been filed yet. For. The federal grand jury indictment also accuses bulk of distributing meth to 3 other men and a state indictment accuses him of running a drug den in his apartment blocks attorney has not commented on the latest developments but he's previously denied the doc was response the book was responsible for anyone's death if convicted on all the charges Buck could be sentenced to life in prison he's currently being held without bail. L.a. County health officials have confirmed the county's 1st death from West Nile virus this year the patient lived in the South Bay Health officials say there have been 9 documented human cases of West Nile virus so far this year in l.a. County excluding Pasadena in Long Beach those communities have their own health departments and maintain their own records mosquitoes birds and chickens infected with the virus have been found throughout the county. The owner of l.a. Staples Center is joining forces with a rival to create a venue management company that will be the biggest in the country as Casey Daryl's has been reports the new company to be called a.s.m. Will be they strike here in Los Angeles the merger marries a.g. Facilities owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz with s m g a Pennsylvania company owned by private equity firm on x. And it creates an entertainment and convention behemoths that will be known by yet another 3 letter acronym a.s.m. A.s.m. Both support folio of more than $300.00 venues on 5 continents in Los Angeles that include Staples Center Microsoft theater the Greek Theater and dignity health Sports Park home of the l.a. Galaxy soccer team e.g. Will continue to own l.a. Live the entertainment district where Staples sits and other similar developments in the u.s. And overseas a.g. Has been in a deal making mode the company recently snapped up all the outstanding shares in ticket system a x ass giving it 100 percent ownership. Support friend p.r. Comes from a drive maker remote p.c. Providing access to computers with a display of remote computer on a local screen for use with remote assistance and work from anywhere learn more remote p.c. Dot com. While looking for plenty of sunshine today highs near 70 at the beach mid seventy's to low eighty's and one should be slightly warmer tomorrow by Saturday high could be in the mid seventy's to about 80 along the coast mid eighty's to about 90 in the valleys and some Valley hot spots could hit the mid ninety's my early next week right now in Santa Monica It's 56 degrees 56 and Santa Ana 53 in Encino. It's 6 o 7 this is Morning Edition from n.p.r. News I'm David Greene in Culver City California a former Dallas police officer Amber Geiger was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday for murdering 26 year old both from John Geiger killed John in his apartment after mistaking it for her own she faced up to 99 years in prison and the relatively modest sentence had many supporters of both from John's family feeling betrayed and furious Here's N.P.R.'s Wade Goodwyn from Dallas when the verdict was 1st announced the silence both inside the courtroom and in the hallway just outside was complete it took a few minutes but then shocked disbelief turned to anger. But inside the courtroom the trial continued with both in John's younger brother giving a victim impact statement the family is deeply religious Church of Christ and in a remarkable show of grace branch John spoke to Amber Geiger if you truly are sorry I forgive you. And. I know if you go to God and ask Him He will forgive me. I'm not going to say I don't fear rock and die and says like my brother did but. I personally want the best for you as he finished John asked the court if he could hug the woman who killed his brother and Amber Geiger rushed into his arms locked in a fierce embrace the young Saint Lucia and whispered into Geiger's ear as she sobbed into his shoulder on the bench Judge Tammy camp wiped away tears she wasn't alone this year still to this but outside the court room there were much different feelings what had been for many the murder verdict sweet taste of justice turned sour in an instant by the jury sentence 10 years she murdered somebody in the house as she went into a man's house and murdered him Dominic Alexander is an organizer with the next generation Action Network which tries to hold North Texas law enforcement accountable standing in the hallway outside the court room Alexander says his cell phone was blowing up with angry messages over the last 12 months since both I'm John was killed Alexander has been part of a large group of ministers activists and organizers who have been pressuring the city of Dallas to bring Amber Geiger to justice we had a process where we've trying to get an indictment and process trying to get a conviction every step of the way is a fight to us that justice but at the end of the day we get to moments like this where it reminds us of the history of America right you know this this guy he came to get justice in his liver 10 years for organizers like Alexander the larger issue is more than this jury's verdict it's about a Dallas Police Department that treats people of color one way and people who look like Amber Geiger another in a press conference yesterday Dallas police chief Renee Hall who's black acknowledged the problem is real what you saw in her was a disheartening. And I can only imagine the community's perception of who we are as a Dallas police department and if we're truly honest with one another who law enforcement is across this country and it doesn't reflect where I want to take this organization no justice. No justice. As the 96 degree Dallas heat slowly Abde into dusk African-American leaders and their followers gathered on the steps of the courthouse to protest Leamer attorney for their own family who on Tuesday had called the verdict of murder a huge victory for black America tweeted out we think the world of both them John and we wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than the maximum sentence but we get we are too close to this the jury has spoken and now there is much more work to be done Wade Goodwyn n.p.r. News Dallas the White House has until Friday to turn over documents related to President Trump's call with his Ukrainian counterpart that's a call in which he asked Ukraine's president to investigate Joe Biden and Hunter Biden among other things after Friday congressional leaders say they will issue subpoenas today though House lawmakers will hear from President Trump's former Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker folders going to testify on Capitol Hill in a closed door session he resigned from the State Department last week his name showed up in the whistleblower complaint that led to the impeachment inquiry on the line now is Representative Mike Quigley he's a Democrat representing part of the Chicago area and he serves on the House Intelligence Committee Good morning Congressman. Good morning thanks for having me on happy to have you what does the House Intelligence Committee want to ask Kurt Volker I think what they want to ask her Volcker is what does he know it sounds obvious what took place what were the circumstances what other conversations or discussions took place what other communications took place what does he know about other members of the administration communicating with anyone else on this issue Sure let me ask you the old tried and true if you had one question to ask him what would it be. Was he bothered during this effort did something in the back of his mind say hey we shouldn't be doing this and why didn't he come forward as a result of that the committee has also subpoenaed Secretary of State Mike Pompei Oh what 2 members of the committee want to ask Mr Pompei Oh. We don't know that we need to have the secretary classified but we have issued subpoenas and we definitely need all that information. Often in between our briefings in the time we talk constituents and press other news comes out so we've been made aware and Mr Taylor in pharmacy was on this call in my mind it's now his responsibilities that head of the State Department to be honest with the country to be honest with country tell us what he knows about the call and everything involved with it and to comply with our subpoena issues as part of the impeachment inquiry What happens if Secretary Pompei you or anyone else who's asked to testify refuses . Well therein lies the rub I guess. I have about 7 pages of notes on research I read done on this and hey I've read that Terry has practiced 10 years you know I grew up in a practice that said. You have to answer a subpoena. Not a question particular congressional subpoena so I don't know if we're entering a new storm or the answer becomes different because in the end in the end we're going to rely on the courts I would like to think the courts will respond with greater urgency now that there is a full blown impeachment investigation. Your Republican colleagues on the other hand say they have legitimate questions about Hunter Biden's work in you quit in Ukraine. Is the House Intelligence Committee considering considering looking into Hunter Biden at all I don't I don't know that anyone understands that there's a credible issue still they are that that has been investigated and that has moved forward but if someone were to come to me with something new tomorrow I will refer it to whichever Committee should investigate and say go forward but it is the repeal so I don't believe that there's a reason to go forward you know but for me if something beyond just this guy was make $50000.00 a month working for a gas company whose owner was kind of shady and he had no experience in the energy industry like you need what you're telling me is you need more than that just a feeling if you need more than that just a feeling that it's it's it's wrong. I have no problems if a committee is investigating this I'm not aware if it's out there go get it but. What I'm concerned about is that the administration has a defense posture of oh yeah what about you and in the meantime they stonewall and they have struck and they did this to the special counsel and they're doing it and dramatic fashion here in the meantime I'm going to focus on quote the most important articulation of. The fact that the president of the United States asked a foreign government. Government to investigate his political rival here here in our elections and he promised the use of United States Department of Justice to take that investigation and he tried to cover it up Congressman Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois thanks so much for joining us thank you take care I want to turn now to N.P.R.'s national political correspondent Mara Liasson Hi Mara I know so President Trump has been aggrieved and upset he has he's loudly said that he does not say he's not happy about what's what's going on is there any sign that he's shifting the debate about his actions in his favor that he's bringing people around well you know Congressman quickly just said that public opinion is moving dramatically I would say it's moving a little I don't know about dramatically what's interesting is that the polls show that as more people are in favor of the impeachment inquiry the other movement we've seen in polls is that people who strongly support President Trump In other words his core Republican base there are more people who strongly support him in other words his base might not be growing but it is getting more intensely loyal So that's one thing he's been able to do with his reactions to this is energize his base even more so the country's more polarized one area where I think it might be helping him and this is what you hear from Republicans and from supporters is it might not be making people think that what Trump did was just innocent but it's hurting Joe Biden other words you've got the story out there it's unsubstantiated it's not true but you've got the store. Ory out there that somehow Joe Biden is corrupt stone cold crooked as the president said and the Trump campaign is spending millions of dollars 10000000 dollars on an ad attacking Biden So that is something that he might be accomplishing and don't forget Biden is in the midst of a primary he's battling other Democrats so the Democratic Party hasn't circled the wagons and come up with a kind of unified response to the president's attacks on Biden n.p.r. National political correspondent Mara Liasson Maher thanks so much to thank you. This is n.p.r. News and you are listening to Morning Edition here on. Support comes from the Ford theaters where some are doesn't have to end nestled in the natural beauty of the Hollywood Hills the Ford amphitheater offers an intimate outdoor concert experience the $29000.00 season includes artists from around the world and around l.a. Summer nights under the stars at the forward now through October 20th tickets and info at Ford theaters dot org or 3231 Ford. A federal judge has ruled that he has planned to open the 1st side of the us where people can use illegal opioids under medical supervision does not violate federal drug laws other cities have been watching the case closely you'll find out what the fallout could be coming out. Case your w. Sponsors include Netflix. Presenting dolomite is my name Eddie Murphy stars as the real life comedy performer. Who fighting alter ego became a seventy's blaxploitation star in theaters Friday. Homelessness. Feelings some people get sad some want to help but some are getting mad and they're taking their anger out on the homeless we're going to. Be but again these are the poor people that need these are people that need. Greater l.a. Today. Reports of a crash in the heart of downtown Los Angeles this is on the north 110 to the south want to one parent a couple of vehicles involved there the northbound 110 already very busy coming away from Manchester Meanwhile in the east l.a. Interchange you're going to want to watch your step make that connection from the south 5 to the east 60 a wreck involving a big rig there this traffic reporter r.b.c. Wealth management. Support Fran p.r. Comes from mind body where wellness and people meet with thousands of fitness classes to find and book in one place studios can join the network at Mind Body Online dot com slash n.p.r. From Frederick and Howard Stevenson supporting Olin College and it's working collaboration with other educators around the world to revolutionize engineering education and ignite the next generation of engineering innovators learn more about . Offering premium print products for creative businesses of 121-0000 employees with dedicated 247 account management find out more and move. It $622.00. It's Morning Edition from n.p.r. News I'm David Greene and I'm Noel King good morning in upstate New York hundreds of former employees of a Catholic hospital have lost their pensions after their pension fund collapsed now their situation illustrates a problem that is pretty widespread many religious organizations are not covered by a federal program that protects most other employees pensions N.P.R.'s Chris Arnold brought us this report the people who worked at St Clair's hospital in Schenectady New York say it was like being part of a big family for some especially my dad worked there as a pharmacist when I was a young kid and I you know I remember I was always there it seems like always part of that community of people Karen Bradley followed her dad's lead and worked at the hospital for 24 years and she's a nurse she's 56 now Bradley says the pay wasn't great at St Clair's but it was a good hospital enjoyed what I did there and believed in the promises that were made about the pension but the hospital which was founded by the Catholic Church ran into financial problems and in 2008 it was folded into a larger hospital system workers were told though at that time that the pension would still be there for them but then a year ago they got letters in the mail Bradley was told essentially her 24 years at the hospital didn't matter her pension was gone she stands to get nothing why is there nothing left. Who screwed up you know who did what to who and how come this happened and who's accountable the a.a.r.p. Foundation is asking the same questions it's suing the Catholic Diocese of Albany on behalf of the workers the lawsuit says more than 600 people lost their entire pensions Bradley says her husband has some retirement savings but the couple's not sure that it's going to be enough and we have a daughter who is special needs so we have to worry about her future too now most people in the u.s. Do not have pensions but those that do the vast majority are protected by a government insurance program employers with pensions have to pay into it but religious organizations such as Catholic hospitals they can opt out and both avoid that expense and the cost of complying with other federal pension rules that's what the people managing St Clair's hospital dead so there is no guarantee and many workers really are left with nothing Gary Smith is an attorney with the a.a.r.p. Foundation it's incredibly devastating I mean these folks were relying on this money for their retirement and they were promised over and over and there are about 1000000 people with pensions from religious organizations that have no federal backstop that's an estimate from lawyers in a related case that's not to say that all those pension plans are in trouble but some are and there is a growing number of lawsuits the St Clair's case argues that even though the hospital had an exemption from the federal rules it still violated state law by failing to provide the pensions that were promised so Daire Smith's religious groups can't just abandon their workers this is really a new wave of lawsuits finding a way to make sure that they can be held accountable 69 year old Mary Hart Sharne is also affected she worked in radiology at the hospital and she's actually had to sell her house because of this pension debacle and it's still pretty hard for her to talk about it now the House was going to be the place I. Me tired it was just a little house but it sat on a little lake and it was so pretty and peaceful. And it just wasn't it was going to work out I knew it wasn't and. I'm Ok I'm couldn't you know you get through it but it does take its toll on your heart and soul and actually hard Sharon says she's better off than most she's in a smaller class of older workers who were offered 70 percent of their pensions going forward but she says she couldn't trust that the money would be there so she took a lump sum payout instead which she says wasn't very much money for its part the diocese declined an interview due to the litigation but said in a statement that it knows that people are suffering but that the diocese quote never manage the St Clair's pension fund St Clair's is a separate corporation and quote Victoria Esposito is a local legal aid attorney working with the a.a.r.p. On the case she says it's not true that the diocese has no responsibility this hospital was run by the Catholic Church more specifically the diocese of Albany and the Diocese of Albany is responsible for making these people whole and paying their pensions like many diocese in Albany is facing costs related to the church sex abuse scandal but the lawyers for the workers say the diocese is not bankrupt there's money there so as busy to hopes the lawsuit can succeed so the people who worked at St Clair's hospital can get their pensions back Chris Arnold n.p.r. News. I'd like to take a moment this morning to apologize to people in Oakland California and Milwaukee Wisconsin and if you're a baseball fan in either city you have just suffered through one of the most painful experiences in sports after 162 game season your teams were forced into a wild card game one game win and you cruise into the playoffs lose and you've just done and the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A's are just done the watching nationals and Tampa Bay Rays are moving on thanks to some heroism won Soto had a dramatic Go ahead hit in the bottom of the 8th for the Nats on Tuesday in the American League wild card game last night less drama but definitely heroism here is what the 5th pitch of the game sounded like. D.s. With a ball will hit you right field will. Have to find them was God that was young T.D.'s with a lead off homer for Tampa Bay Matt discursion called it for e.s.p.n. This moment just days ago would have seemed impossible Diaz was just off for 2 months after he found a ball of his left foot and fractured it when he returned earlier this week he didn't even manage a hit so it's actually kind of surprising he even started in last night's crucial game but the playoffs as we know are where we find impractical heroes and 2 innings after that homerun Diaz delivered again seems sure when you see it was a much much I yeah he didn't just did it again. He sure did he drove another fastball over the right field wall helping the Rays beat Oakland 5 to one after the game Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash talked about putting Diaz in the lineup I don't know if we expected that type of performance but he's made us look a lot smarter than what we really are after the game Diaz For his part said through an interpreter I am probably the happiest guy on the team right now a lot of happy people in Washington and in Tampa sorry to Oakland in Milwaukee by. You're listening to. A Thursday edition starts at 3. Live from n.p.r. News in Washington I'm Dave Mattingly a former u.s. Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker is on Capitol Hill this morning he's giving a deposition behind closed doors as part of an impeachment inquiry of President Trump by House Democrats French police say 4 people have been killed today in an attack at police headquarters in Paris N.P.R.'s Eleanor Beardsley says it's believed the person who carried out the attack with a knife was a police employee the attack took place around noon local time in a central police station not far from Notre Dame Cathedral that precinct is a main site for processing administrative permits and papers especially for foreigners on any given day there's a long line of people from across the world waiting outside the station to get in and complete some part of the residency permit process the station has tight security and anyone who goes in must pass through a metal detector the identity of the attacker and his motives are not yet known Eleanor Beardsley n.p.r. News Paris police say they shot and killed the attacker French President Emanuel McCraw is heading to the scene American astronaut Nick Hegazy back on Earth along with the Russian cosmonaut and the 1st astronaut from the United Arab Emirates they landed safely in Kazakhstan today 6 hours after leaving the International Space Station 3 NASA astronauts are among 6 crew members now aboard the I s s this is n.p.r. News from Washington you're listening to you I'm cherry Glaser opera allegedly placid Oh Domingo has announced he was resigning from his role as general director of the l.a. Opera as case here Kelly Wells reports the 78 year old superstar has been facing sexual harassment accusations by more than a dozen women in a statement to mingle says the accusations have compromised his ability to do his job and that it's in the best interest of the l.a. Opera for him to step down while he continues working to clear his name more than. A dozen women have accused him of unwanted groping throughout his long career those women say they believe their careers would be threatened if they didn't accept his sexual advances now he's resigning as general director of the l.a. Opera in canceling any future performances he was slated to star in a production next year last week Domingo cancelled his performance of Macbeth at New York's Metropolitan Opera the Met in performance halls and Dallas San Francisco and Philadelphia have all rescinded their invitations for him to perform at the l.a. Opera called Domingo's contributions to the region's cultural life quote unprecedented and profound some victims of sexual assault on college campuses in California will have more time to file lawsuits against their abusers Governor Gavin Newsome has signed a bill that would expand the statute of limitations for victims assaulted by a physician at a student health center in the last 30 years u.s.c. Physician George Sindel isn't named in the legislation but his troubling legacy defines it the law gives victims more time to file civil lawsuits if they experience sexual abuse at student health centers between $192017.00 Those are the same years that Tyndall practice at u.s.c. Tindall has pleaded not guilty to 29 felony counts tied to abuse allegations. Iranian students across California are on edge after at least 2 dozen of their peers with valid visas were barred from coming to the United States it's particularly troubling news 1st saw Sanju Sefi He's a graduate student at u.s.c. Studying construction management he's been in the country for about 3 years on a green card and says he sees this as an extension of the trumpet ministrations tough policies towards Iran I understand that our government have some problem with American government. But you know the kinds of war between do are just destroying to people's lives most of the Iranian students barred from entering the u.s. Had been enrolled in California colleges and universities. Support train p.r. Comes from Progressive Insurance committed to offering a streamlined shopping experience or home an auto can be bundled together now that's progressive or more progressive dot com or at $1800.00 progressive and from the ring foundation in support of N.P.R.'s continued mission to create a more informed public one challenged in invigorated by deeper understanding of events ideas and cultures it's $635.00. It's Morning Edition from n.p.r. News I'm Noel King in Washington d.c. And I'm David Greene at n.p.r. West in Culver City California good morning it would be a new kind of medical facility the 1st ever in the United States a place where drug users could inject illegal opioids as a nurse watches to prevent overdoses and according to a federal judge this facility called a safe injection site would not be illegal under federal law that was the ruling yesterday after the Department of Justice tried to block a proposed safe injection site from opening in Philadelphia other cities and towns across the country have been watching this case closely eager for new tools and ideas to fight the deadly and ongoing national opioid epidemic Nina Feldman reports for station w.h.y. Why in Philadelphia She's been covering this and joins me now Nina good morning hi So Nina what were the judge's conclusions here. So Judge Gerald McHugh's job was very narrow in scope it was up to him to decide whether a specific statute in the u.s. Controlled Substances Act the so-called crack house statute applied to safe house that's the name of the supervised injection facility here so the statute says it's illegal to maintain a site for the purpose of using drugs and the u.s. Attorney argued that safe house is exactly that it's a place designed to use drugs but what Safe House says is no our purpose is saving lives using drugs is sort of incidental so that purpose and we're not trying to facilitate drug use We're trying to help people stay alive and the judge bought that argument well what the studies shown about that very question I mean these these facilities are open in Canada in Europe I mean what does the research suggest about what what if anything they they accomplish Yes studies have shown that supervised injection sites can drive down fatal overdoses no one has ever died in one of these sites because there's someone there standing by if if somebody does overdose they're credited with restricting the spread of infectious diseases and advocates say Cilla he's helped move people into treatment so I know that there are differing views about this though and I'm wondering I mean let's think about the city of Philadelphia where where this whole debate over this facility is happening how are people feeling about this. It's been a heated issue in the neighborhood where this proposed site would likely go that's the neighborhood where there's a lot of open air drug use and it's the epicenter of Philadelphia's opioid epidemic and neighbors there say putting a site here would all but ensure that the drug dealing and the violence that can go along with drug dealing stays in their neighborhoods some of them are really opposed to it but others who are really excited to hear about the decision I talk to 28 year old Izzy Harper who lives here in Philadelphia and last year lost her younger sister to an opioid overdose her sister died home alone on her couch and their younger brother found her there you need someone there or just save you. And that's why a lot of. Died because she died alone on the couch there was no one there to save her well powerful voice I'm in favor of facilities like this so you know what does this mean now I mean can other cities start opening facilities like safe house now after this decision not quite yet so this isn't a final decision it was a ruling on this very narrow legal argument which the federal government has said it will appeal but it's likely that if court proceedings do drag on safe house will request special permission to open in the meantime and given the judge's ruling yesterday he seemed inclined to grant that permission and so I think what today's ruling says to cities around the country who've been watching Philadelphia is that the reach of the federal government is limited here and if local jurisdictions are supported by these sites they might be quite a bit more emboldened to start exploring that option Nina Feldman reports from his member station w.h.y. Why in Philadelphia thanks Nina Thank you Hunter Biden served for about 5 years on the board of a Ukrainian energy company for part of that time his father Joe Biden was the Obama administration's point man on Ukraine that led President Trump to call for a Ukrainian investigation into the Biden's And that is how we got to the impeachment inquiry N.P.R.'s Lucien Kim went to Kiev to look into the Ukrainian company that Hunter Biden worked for practically all of Ukraine's powerful businessmen have natural gas interests and Nicolas look cesky is no exception he founded the company Barisan it grew into one of Ukraine's largest private natural gas producers while Slick cesky served as Ukraine's environment minister in charge of handing out drilling licenses of course during his time of being a minister who had a lot of power and he was able to consolidate some small companies for each produce in nature that's all Xander partially the chief of research at the Ukrainian investment bank conquered capital after the. Bloody revolution on Kiev streets 5 years ago Nicolas let cesky like many other government officials fled the country. Was facing a money laundering investigation and questions over how it had obtained its licenses Again Alexander partially hired and some bad bit of guys sleaze. In there Walt is one of their easiest and maybe cheaper 1st ways to protect your business in Ukraine pointed Hunter Biden son of then Vice President Joe Biden to its board of directors a former president of Poland also joined the board I believe the only reason but his ma and such have ski were inviting people of his size names was to whitewash their reputation and to present themselves as the company which is didn't get them a business in Ukraine. Is the head of the n.t. Corruption Action Center an advocacy group and give I haven't seen any evidence of Hunter Biden doing something illegal in Ukraine or outside of her crate I think what he did was I think will for sure in other words the appearance of a conflict of interest arose because Hunter Biden's father Joe Biden was responsible for u.s. Policy on Ukraine as Vice President Joe Biden like many other Western leaders was criticizing Ukraine exactly because it failed to convict a single high level official for corruption including Nicolas look cesky the owner of Barisan much as for the company has continued to try burnishing its reputation in 2017 added another American to its board Cofer Black a former CIA official and a foreign policy adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign I. I in a promotional video were present presents itself as a company on the rides the response is striving to become an active marketplace a good 0. As well as world wide and to stand by but you'll be in the. Book for a company with global ambitions it's hardly transparent is registered Cyprus keeps a low profile in Key of and has ignored N.P.R.'s repeated requests for comment nobody knows where its owner Nicholas let cesky lives but behind the scenes he's continuing to buy influence supports the Atlantic Council Washington think tank and hosts an annual energy conference on the French Riviera attended by the Prince of Monaco and former European and u.s. Government officials 100 Biden for one no longer works up or as much as he left the company earlier this year as his father was launching his presidential campaign Kim n.p.r. News. This is n.p.r. News and you are listening to a new. Case your debut sponsors include farmers in Merchants Bank where President Henry Walker invites listeners to visit any one of their $25.00 branches in Southern California to find out why Ethernet is committed to being California strongest learn more at f.n.b. Dot com. The Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration has made a shortage of farm labor even worse the White House says a guest worker visa program is helping but farmers say it comes with some significant headaches we'll get the story in about 10 minutes. Case r.w. Sponsors include the u.k. Government supporting the Red Arrows North America tour more on how businesses can grow internationally and how advisors at the U.K.'s Department for International Trade can be found great dot dot u.k. Slash red arrows. On Monday October 7th Casey r.w. And Zocalo public square present how are immigrants changing the way health care is practiced in downtown l.a. Kaiser Health News columnist Emily bays. Health policy researcher use gates and Michelle executive director of the u.c.l.a. International medical graduate program visit Zocalo to discuss how immigrants are changing medicine in California this event is free and open to the public for details visit Casey dot com slash events it has just been one thing after another in the traffic department in downtown l.a. This morning the latest trouble spot coming on that southbound 5 at Mission pick up involved over to the right shoulder you are backed up already coming away from that too if you're trying to make your way on the San Fernando Valley southbound 405 already loaded up from North off as you make your way into the spot of passing eastbound want to one busy from Tampa as you make your way to Encino Meanwhile in the Glendora area north of and at the 210 Iraq involving a pick up in a car. Going to be plenty of sunshine out there today looking for highs near 70 if you're along the coast mid seventy's to low eighty's inland should be slightly warmer tomorrow ride out at l.a.x. It's $56.00 degrees 53 in Van Nuys 39 in Big Bear. Support comes from n.p.r. Stations and from Camp Tara for helping people find the right software for their business from applicant tracking to work close off where visitors can access more than 1000000 software reviews and compare products. And from t. Rowe Price offering a strategic investing approach that examines investment opportunities 1st hand institutions advisers employers and individuals choose. T. Rowe Price invest with confidence. It's $645.00 on. It's Morning Edition from n.p.r. News I'm Noel King and I'm David Greene Donald Trump is only the 3rd American president in the modern era to face the prospect of impeachment So what's a president to do just a warning here there is language in this story that some listeners may find offensive Here's N.P.R.'s David Folkenflik the presidential historian Timothy Naftali says that Richard Nixon was always uncomfortable in the public lair Richard Nixon to begin with was an introvert and the stress produced by the impeachment inquiry made him even more introverted he retreated into the residence of the White House Nixon famously started talking to portraits of long dead presidents Dan Ackroyd played a self pitying Nixon on Saturday Night Live well aim you are mocking may shock you . President Clinton surround himself with religious leaders in private and in public too I agree with those who have said that in my 1st statement after I testified I was not contrite and. I don't think there is a fancy way to say that I have sent President Trump marches to his own beat or at least his own tweet yesterday Trump tweeted out an exchange with Fox News's John Roberts I love that question thank you Joe at that press conference Trump made unfounded allegations against a whistleblower and against the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Well I think it's a scandal that he knew before I go a step further I think he probably helped write it for his tweet Trump took the feed from the conservative one American network which lavishes praise on the president so Trump makes wild claims news networks broadcast them then he picks up a clip of his remarks from a new site the never challenges him and tweets it to $65000000.00 Twitter followers he has tweeted feverish Li since the impeachment process started transmitting caustic ads his own charge rhetoric and fiery surrogates Fox News is a frequent touchstone as are loyalists from other outfits Trump re tweeted Breitbart online poll 97.3 percent of respondents said yes they stand by Trump going by his tweets the president has been seeking solace in voices that endorse his every move and try to think of people in modern life who lead go from tears to rage to self-love it's just very hard to think of someone who is as emo as he is and he is just such an open book that's Virginia Heffernan She's host of Slate's podcast series Trump cast it's like listening to a heartbroken friend go over and over again about his ex-wife Trump obsessed over an exchange on Fox and Friends this weekend in ways that revealed the depths of his contempt for anyone who would question his conduct in office the show's guest was Mark Levin a right wing commentator from the blaze after a while Fox News host Ed Henry asked about the substance of the impeachment allegations live in ran roughshod over Henry insisting the focus be directed instead at the whistleblower who fled concerns let me do it this way I'm an American citizen if this CIA operative is going to be the guy that brings down my president I want to know all about him Trump tweeted out video of the full interview and then read. Tweeted fans trashing Fox News's Henry in starkly profane terms and this president not only is he not concerned about swearing in the White House he's willing to own it in his twitter stream Tim Naftali was the 1st federal director of the Nixon Presidential Library and Nixon was very concerned that the American people would think less of him if they knew that he swore in the Oval Office and he rarely used f. Bombs but he used goddamn a lot so when Nixon had to release transcripts of private conversations he edited out the dams yesterday Trump tweeted Democrats were quote chasing bullsh Yeah I'm not going to finish that word. As Nixon expressed his contempt respect for public officials privately. Publicly. And. Just sitting there waiting I married that story plus the impeachment inquiry latest this afternoon on All Things Considered from n.p.r. News for that story. Right here on k.c. R.w. It's 651 this is the California report good morning I'm Lily Jamali Governor Gavin Newsome signed another large batch of bills into law yesterday this package of bills focuses on fires preparing for a future fires and helping residents deal with power shut off by electric utilities one of them authored by State Senator Bill Dodd of Napa requires an independent review of the work utilities claim they are doing to clear brush and trees around power lines we think it's very important that a 3rd party do the oddity to make sure that we are protected throughout the state of California from wildfires that are caused by our utilities homeowners can now also get loans for retrofitting their homes against wildfire in theory problem is lawmakers still have to find funding for that new program joining from state to national politics 5 months from today California holds its 1st early primary meaning unlike in years past we might actually matter in the 2020 presidential election Mark March 3rd on your calendar not too long after the Iowa caucuses and in fact Californians can start early voting on the same day as Iowa k.q.e.d. Political correspondent Merissa Lagos' is here and is having California on this earlier schedule making a difference from what you can tell or are we still just the a.t.m. Of presidential politics I would say there's good news and bad news I mean let's are the bad news that we are still an a.t.m. This is still a huge state with a lot of wealth and a lot of Democrats right and so people the front runners Joe Biden's of the world Harris are home state senator have definitely been coming here and still doing those. Big ticket sort of closed door fundraisers and see the difference is with the exception of Biden mostly they've also been doing more public events than we would have seen in past cycles so we have events you know not just in the sort of democratic coastal cities like the Bay Area or l.a. But you know South Bend Indiana Mayor people who to judge went out to Fresno Leon Castro was touring homeless encampments just last week in Oakland I do think that there's been a little bit more retail politics but at the end of the day this is a huge and very expensive state to play in and t.v. Is really the best way to get that bang for your buck not individual events with candidates so it sounds like you are seeing increased foot traffic here in the state but you know the kinds of candidates that we're talking about are not 1st tier candidates necessarily going to places like the Central Valley you know somebody like say a better or Wark or as you say a wholly on Castro you know are they kind of a using California from what you can tell as a media opportunity by kind of doing a trip to a place that might surprise people like us who cover these candidates for a living Oh absolutely I mean like were huge Democratic state we have 495 delegates any traction these folks can get here will be hopeful for them but you know they've also all the candidates top lower tier middle tier have come twice this summer to state party of vents and the Democratic National Committee had an event here in California we're going to have another one in the fall and I think that will see all of these top tier candidates show up and when they do that they're going to do public events as well so I think that everyone's kind of trying to like use their time wisely collect some money impress the party faithful and do some you know glad handing and selfies as we've seen with folks like Elizabeth Warren do really across the nation not just in the early states raise the law goes thank you so much always a pleasure Leigh let's head to this. Valley now where people who make their livings on farms are trying to make sense of how President Trump's immigration policy is playing out for them there is the obvious crackdown on illegal immigration which has made a shortage of farm labor even worse but the administration sees a potential solution in expanding a temporary guest worker visa for agricultural jobs Q.A.T.'s Alex Hall spoke with farm employers about how they see it in California growers typically use contractors to recruit crews of farm workers most of them unauthorized immigrants but in recent years the pool of people able and willing to tend and harvest crops has gotten smaller once upon a time being a former contractor was like a no brainer Bigler was no issue farm labor contractor in Uganda out of the suit is standing underneath a large tent next to rows of picnic tables where workers are eating chicken molé and red rice They've just returned from a day's work in the tomato fields each of them is here on an h. 2 a visa then as the years in a grade all things started going on in the border issues and all of it started becoming harder and harder and harder and harder for the workers to come and go out of the Sue is in her 3rd year using the h. 2 a program to bring workers from southern Mexico to California Central Valley for her the program has been a godsend it's a very lengthy program because you do have to go through a lot to get the petition granted but it's worth it h. 2 a use in the United States has gone up over the years over $19000.00 positions were certified in California this year but that's a small slice of the $800000.00 agricultural workers in the state part of the reason is that it's expensive employers have to provide h. 2 a workers with housing and in California that's not cheap What's more in the process is notoriously cumbersome and this year says her workers arrived a month late bureaucrats in Washington don't understand the. You know your cherries need to get off the tree by a particular time otherwise you're going to be unworkable That's Brian little with the California Farm Bureau Federation he says California needs a way to legalize its existing workforce and also to bring in new temporary farm workers that workforce is getting older. There are fewer of them than there used to be the Department of Labor has introduced changes to the h. 2 a program that it says will modernize and streamline the process for employers Among the proposed reforms online applications instead of paper and a shift in how workers' wages are determined for the California report I'm Alex hall Inmarsat. Support for the California report comes from energy upgrade California urging Californians to keep it golden by saving energy through simple acts like adjusting the thermostat a few degrees energy upgrade california dot org water hint is water infused with fruit essences including watermelon and Black Berry no sugar no sweeteners no calories available in grocery stores hint mouth watering water and Eric and Wendy Schmidt whose fund for strategic innovation supports transformative ideas that benefit humanity while protecting the natural world recognizing through science the interdependence of all living systems. And that is the California report for this Thursday October 3rd a production of k.q.e.d. Public Radio I'm really Jamali have a great day everyone. Good morning I man lead coming up on Morning Becomes Eclectic the latest from Nashville's a Dia Victoria plus Madison Cunningham and Brittany Howard is coming to you next week in our 3rd hour this morning we'll bring you a lab session from Sophie Tucker there. Dance field performance will get you grooving and stay tuned for our giveaway is Claire out she's redefining the pub landscape and you'll have a shot to see her at live at the will turn Morning Becomes Eclectic starts at 9. You're listening to members supported. Use Santa Monica. Barbara. Springs. Ventura and he's. Wiry community service of Santa Monica. It's 7 o'clock. Good morning today the House begins questioning State Department officials in its impeachment probe. Will learn more about the former special envoy the news is next. Live from n.p.r. News in Washington I'm Corba Coleman the former special representative to Ukraine is now testifying behind closed doors on Capitol Hill former u.s. Envoy Kurt Volker is answering questions in the houses impeachment inquiry Bowker was mentioned in a whistle blower's complaint about President Trump's controversy old phone call to Ukraine's new president in July the complaint led to.

Related Keywords

Radio Program ,American Roman Catholics ,American Politicians ,American Lawyers ,Npr Personalities ,Security ,Federalism ,Criminal Procedure ,Npr Programs ,Member States Of The United Nations ,Political Science ,Washington Dc Lawyers ,Presidency Of Barack Obama ,Yale Law School Alumni ,Federal Architecture In Washington Dc ,Judges ,Public Relations ,Republic Of Ireland Association Footballers ,Communication ,Injuries ,Court Systems ,Metropolitan Areas Of China ,Videotelephony ,Countries In Europe ,Legal Documents ,Legal Procedure ,Accountability ,Radio Kcrw 89 9 Fm ,Stream Only ,Radio ,Radioprograms ,