Insights

<p>So, I'm already running into some challenging snags.</p> <p>A California transplant, I'm still learning about all the ramifications of Prop 13. Coming from Texas, where school district's still raise money the old fashion way, I mistakenly thought the poorest neighborhoods in the Coachella Valley would have the largest class sizes and the smallest per pupil spending.</p> <p>Boy was I wrong.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3934149502_2a3f2456a7_m.jpg&quot; width="150" style="float: left; margin: 5px;" />Medicine is one of the few professions where a person can commit a crime by failing to do something.</p><p>Dr. Charles F. Connors was convicted in 2001 of four counts of "Fai

<p>For those who have followed the healthcare reform debate from inception to legislation, it often seemed as though there was more misinformation and fear-mongering circulating in the public domain than accurate details.</p> <p>And with Tuesday's election handing control of the House to Republicans, the divide over healthcare reform — which seems, at times, straight down party lines — will only get more pronounced, leading to the inevitable question: what will become of the healthcare reform bill before it takes effect in 2014?</p>

<p>San Francisco is taking the fun out of McDonald's treats after the county's board of supervisors decided to ban toys in happy meals. It's a move that assumes the toys are the reason kids are eating Happy Meals, which I don't believe is true.</p>

<p>I have a new best friend. She's cool and smooth and adaptable. Kind of like a Dragon-Tattooed-urbanite who can deal with <em>any </em>situation, from a tweaking guest at a rave, to the post-modern gut-angst of intellectuals. She's slow to rile too - give her a nudge and all she does is gurgle at

<p>Depending on whom you ask, AOL's Patch is either an innovative and well-intentioned new venture to infuse local news back into American communities, or it's "<a href="http://www.laweekly.com/2010-09-30/news/patch-the-walmart-of-news/">the Walmart of news</a>," a $50 million behemoth set on invading communities and running local sites from corporate headquarters. But they are hiring, and <a href="http://www.patch.com/jobs">hiring en masse</a>.

<p>Here’s what we’re checking out today:</p> <p><strong>Condoms</strong>: Should condoms be given to teens instead of candy on Halloween? <a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20101105/NEWS/11050343/Handout-… Oregon family did, sparking a statewide debate</a>.</p>

<p>Let’s say you were caught doing drugs at work. Do you think your boss would give you a second chance? Would your employer even allow your boss the authority to give you a second chance?</p>

<p>In my <a href="http://www.reportingonhealth.org/blogs/clearing-air-air-pollution-issue… few blogs</a>, I've explained some of the environmental issues facing the city of Long Beach both today and in the long-term. The main point of concern is often pollution caused by operations at the Port of Long Beach. But another concern, perhaps just as dangerous to the community in terms of air pollution, are the nearby railyard facilities where cargo trains move in and out, all day and every day.</p>

<p>Here’s what we’re checking out today:</p> <p><strong>Lung Cancer:</strong> Liz Szabo of USA Today examines a new study showing that <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-11-04-ct-scan-lung-cancer_N.ht… CT scans can reduce lung cancer deaths by 20 percent</a> (x-rays, apparently, haven’t done the trick). Kudos for reporting on why the study results shouldn’t immediately spark calls for mass screenings. &nbsp;</p>