Which Way, L.A.?

A State Supreme Court majority has refused to review the murder conviction of a 10-year-old boy who confessed to killing his father. Had his young brain developed enough to understand that, before he confessed, he'd waived his Miranda right to remain silent?

One of America's great newspapers is already a shadow of its former self. The latest buyout of about 80 LA Times veterans is focused on the reporters and editors who have the most experience. We hear what that will mean for news consumers who depend on what's still the biggest news organization on the West Coast.

Have the Orange County Sheriff and the District Attorney engaged in secret misconduct for 30 years? A group of high-powered lawyers and former prosecutors wants the federal Justice Department to investigate. We hear about the alleged misuse of jailhouse informants and violations of the right to a fair trial.

One of Santa Monica's few black residents has put the city and its police force in the national spotlight. Fay Wells is a college graduate and business professional, whose story went viral. She'll tell us how 19 cops showed up — two with guns drawn — after a white neighbor mistakenly thought she was breaking into her own apartment. Was it racism or good police work in a liberal enclave with a black police chief?

In the latest installment of KCRW's Below the Ten series, the story of two families that migrated to the Antelope Valley — where housing costs less, but commuting back to the old neighborhood means a long trip home. 

Students who've been occupying the administration building at Occidental College moved to the office of President Jonathan Vietch today. He has refused to step down like his counterpart at the University of Missouri. That action a week ago has helped spread protests over racism and the lack of diversity to campuses around the country, including USC and Claremont-McKenna as well as to Oxy. We hear from both sides.

The LA City Council finally came through today on a promise made eight weeks ago to the homeless — declaring a "shelter crisis." But property owners in Venice are among those angry because of provisions that "decriminalize" homelessness to protect federal funding, and the council still doesn't know where to find $100 million to provide shelters and build new housing.

When deadly violence shattered a happy Friday evening in Paris, the pain and sadness struck deep here in Southern California. We talk to a French actress about friends and family in her old neighborhood and to a Muslim-American leader, who feels outrage against the extremists and vulnerability because of his religion.

The multi-billion-dollar fantasy sports industry has been advertising big time to counter accusations of insider trading. New York's attorney general has ordered Fan Duel, DraftKings and others to stop what he calls illegal gambling and Nevada already requires a gaming license. What about California?

The car capital of the world is divided over the automobile versus public transit and bicycle riding. Mobility Plan 2035 would create a big, new network of bus and bicycle lanes—partly by shrinking the lanes now devoted to cars. Will lawsuits derail the project?

Of the coast of California seems serene and stable, remember tsunamis, landslides and earthquakes.  We hear what the geologic past can teach us about the future.

Starting this weekend, 20 members of California's Assembly and Senate are getting five days at a five-star resort in Hawaii — paid for by special interests with legislative business. It's an annual junket. As always, the agenda is secret, but Democrats as well as Republicans are invited, so it's called "bipartisan." public disclosure's required until March of next year. What's going on?

The Superintendent of LA Schools is a powerful figure in a goldfish bowl. Remember John Deasy and the iPad scandal? The new, computerized scheduling system that failed? Child abuse at Miramonte Elementary? The elected school board wants public input on who should be next for the job — but it won't make public who the candidates are.

Ninety-four percent of the teachers who voted have authorized a walkout at all 23 California State University campuses. Their core demand is a 5% raise; they've been offered 2%. Will the vote mean trouble ahead for educating the state's future workforce?

Democracy in California has become the province of very few people. In fact, as the state has grown larger, the number of those with political power has grown proportionally smaller. It's not the result of a conspiracy but a lack of participation. We hear about efforts to make it easier for Californians to vote -- and increase the number who want to.