LAist

Alejandra Santamaria has been selected as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) by the SCPR Board of Trustees. Santamaria will join SCPR and LAist in July and succeeds CEO Herb Scannell, who recently retired from the role. SCPR operates Los Angeles’ award-winning multi-platform local journalism leader LAist, which includes LAist 89.3, LAist.com and the podcast arm, LAist Studios. The organization also has found success creating community-facing experiential events. Most recently, Santamaria served as interim President, General Manager and VP, Director of Sales for Univision Los Angeles. Details: https://lnkd.in/gunVJU57

Incumbent George Gascón is running against criminal defense attorney Nathan Hochman to be L.A. County's District Attorney. It's a powerful and influential role that determines what crimes get prosecuted. 🔗 https://ow.ly/HUh850Tbo4k ✍️ Frank Stoltze

This Labor Day travel weekend is gearing up to be a very busy one. Here are some simple tips on how to travel smarter: https://ow.ly/vWe850TbnZt ✍️ Kevin Tidmarsh 📸 Chava Sanchez/LAist

A bill that would have required districts to give teachers paid pregnancy-related leave failed in the state legislature. 🔗 https://ow.ly/M2IT50Tb2Et ✍️ Elly Yu

Two major California health insurers were hit with the state’s largest-ever fines for illegally denying coverage for gender-affirming care in a case that will compel them to revise how they treat patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria. About the penalties: The $850,000 combined penalties against Blue Cross of California Partnership Plan and its Anthem Blue Cross also require the insurers to hire a dedicated case manager for people with gender dysphoria. Over 150 individuals who were denied coverage for such procedures will see their cases reviewed, and most have already seen reversals, according to the decision. Response from insurers: The insurers are complying with the decision from the Department of Managed Health Care, a state office that regulates their industry. “We take these matters seriously and have worked directly with the Department of Managed Health Care to identify and implement specific corrective actions to address and resolve the identified matters,” wrote Mike Bowman, a spokesperson for the insurance providers, in a statement to CalMatters. The context: From 2017 to 2020, two California plans by Anthem Blue Cross and its state partnership categorized over 20 surgeries such as facial implants, hair removal, voice therapy and breast augmentation as “not medically necessary.” But the procedures were covered if they corrected “abnormal” body structures to create a “normal appearance” for “the target gender.” The language the company employed “could create confusion for the reviewers regarding the medical necessity of the 22 procedures,” wrote Sonia R. Fernandes, deputy director and chief counsel office of enforcement at the Department of Managed Healthcare in an Aug. 15 ruling against the Blue Cross of California Partnership Plan. Read on... for more on the denials and how regulators are responding: https://ow.ly/jpce50Tb1ZZ ✍️ Shaanth Nanguneri | CalMatters 📸 Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Proposition 4 is a $10 billion bond to help the state pay for efforts to address the impacts of climate change, including boosting water recycling, flood control and wildfire and sea level rise protections. 🔗 https://ow.ly/FlOS50Tb0fE ✍️ Erin Stone

Today's headlines: https://ow.ly/rXl350TaYEW - A federal judge wants to know what happens to millions of dollars of homelessness funding in L.A. - Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu could soon get speed cameras to catch bad drivers. - Seafood anyone? This Food Friday, we're taking a trip to the 626.

What if a happy hour was a way to connect with your community and the people who work and play in it? We have tips. 🔗 https://ow.ly/OvKT50TaY4O ✍️ Brian De Los Santos

New express lanes opened on the 10 Freeway Thursday in San Bernardino County, allowing drivers to spend less time traffic — for a fee. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gg4bq6y6 ✍️ Makenna Sievertson

Evaluating judicial candidates is notoriously hard, but there are a few pieces of information you can look at to help with your decision. 🔗 https://ow.ly/ageM50Ta7kg ✍️ Brianna Lee and Caitlin Hernández