KCET's SoCal Connected Investigates the Hold-Up on Irvine's Great Park, the Alarming Bath Salts Trend and the State of California's Community Colleges
Los Angeles, CA - January 28, 2013 - This week, SoCal Connected examines why Irvine's Great Park isn't a top-notch facility despite $200 million and ten years of work; looks into the highly dangerous and popular drug known as 'bath salts;' and updates a report on the status of local community colleges post Proposition 30.
MONDAY, January 28
Funding for Orange County's Great Park has run into trouble. The bad economy hurt and critics say the money has been misused. SoCal Connected's Jennifer London speaks with Irvine City Council members about how the money was spent, whether it was misappropriated and what the prospects are moving forward.
Also, Madeleine Brand looks at the latest immigration measures emerging on Capitol Hill.
TUESDAY, January 29
Correspondent Vince Gonzales takes a look at the passage of Prop 30 and what it will mean for community colleges in an update to his original story, which aired in October 2012. He reports on what has changed in the past few months and whether things are moving in the right direction.
After Gonzales' segment, Val Zavala follows up with a conversation with former Community College Chancellor Jack Scott. And Liz Dwyer, Good Magazine's education reporter, also stops by to weigh in on the state of education in California.
Then, Madeleine Brand speaks with Kirby Dick, director of "The Invisible War," the Oscar nominated documentary on sexual assault in the military.
WEDNESDAY, January 30
The synthetic drug commonly known as "Bath Salt" is becoming a huge problem because it is so easily accessible. Correspondent Laura Ling speaks with Bath Salt users about why they turned to the highly dangerous compound and how it negatively impacted their lives. She also speaks with medical professionals and attorneys about why the drug is rapidly gaining such momentum.
Then, Madeleine Brand speaks with U.S. Representative Henry Waxman about Obamacare.
THURSDAY, January 31
SoCal Connected has an interview with Justice Sonia Sotomayor and actress Eva Longoria which will be seen in its entirety next week on KCET.
In the studio, Madeleine Brand speaks with the Sklar Brothers about the upcoming Super Bowl next weekend.
ABOUT SOCAL CONNECTED
SoCal Connected, winner of a Peabody and two duPont Awards, 17 Emmy® Awards, 19 Golden Mikes, 41 LA Press Club Awards, two Gracie Awards, and three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Best News Documentary and Los Angeles Magazine's "Best New Local TV Program" of 2009, airs nightly at 5:30 p.m. with encores at 10:00 p.m. exclusively on KCET. For more information, to view episodes online or to leave comments, please visit www.socalconnected.org.
SoCal Connected is made possible through the generous support of The Ahmanson Foundation serving the Los Angeles community since 1952; Jim and Anne Rothenberg; the Maddocks Brown Foundation; The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation; and The California Endowment.
ABOUT KCET
On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. KCET currently produces the Emmy®, duPont-Columbia and Peabody Award-winning SoCal Connected, a hard-hitting prime-time nightly television news program that examines the issues and people of Southern California. Throughout its 48-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org.
CONTACT:
Ariel Carpenter or Ayn Allen
KCET Communications Department
747-201-5243; acarpenter@kcet.org
747-201-5886; aallen@kcet.org
or
Michelle Marron or Liza Nedelman
MPRM Communications
323-933-3399
mmarron@mprm.com
lnedelman@mprm.com
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