CapRadio investigates COVID no-bid contracts | SCUSD Afghan family begins return home | The pandemic’s impact on child care providers | Critical shortage of blood supply
Summary: <p>CapRadio investigates a no-bid contract in the state’s COVID-19 response connected to former President Trump’s border wall construction. After being stranded in Afghanistan, a Sac City Unified Afghan family begins their return home following the U.S. withdrawal. The pandemic’s impact on child care providers. Critical shortage of blood supply plummeting to levels not seen since pandemic’s start.</p> <p><strong>Today's Guests</strong></p> <ul> <li>CapRadio State Government Reporter <strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/about/bios/scott-rodd/" target="_blank">Scott Rodd</a></strong> shares his <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/articles/2021/10/19/california-hired-a-border-wall-company-for-covid-19-response-including-vaccinating-migrants/" target="_blank">investigation into a no-bid contract in the state’s COVID-19 response </a>that is connected to former President Trump’s border wall construction in California and Texas. <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Read Scott’s previous investigations on no-bid contracts</span> <ul> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/articles/2021/02/16/investigation-big-newsom-donors-including-blue-shield-received-no-bid-contracts-during-covid-19-response/" target="_blank">Big Newsom Donors — Including Blue Shield — Received No-Bid Contracts During COVID-19 Response</a></li> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/articles/2021/03/03/as-newsom-pushes-to-extend-emergency-spending-authority-during-pandemic-lobbyist-influence-remains-opaque/" target="_blank">As Newsom Pushes To Extend Emergency Spending Authority During Pandemic, Lobbyist Influence Remains Opaque</a></li> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/articles/2021/03/25/another-282m-in-no-bid-pandemic-contracts-to-major-newsom-contributor-unitedhealth/" target="_blank">Another $282M In No-Bid Pandemic Contracts To Major Newsom Contributor UnitedHealth</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Ethel I Baker Principal <strong>Nate McGill</strong> updates the return of a Sacramento City Unified family stranded in Afghanistan since the U.S. withdrawal. </li> </ul> <div> <div> <div class="imagewrap"><img src="https://www.capradio.org/media/12261044/101921_scusd-family.jpg?width=1200&height=913.0841121495328" width="100%" height="913.0841121495328" data-udi="umb://media/a978dc8aefad4035b1bc866db02cf79f"></div> <span class="caption">A photo of a SCUSD family that will return home after being stuck in Afghanistan following the U.S.'s withdraw.</span><span class="credit">Courtesy of Ethel I Baker Principal Nate McGill</span> </div> <ul> <li> <strong>Heidi Keiser</strong>, Public Policy Officer for the non-profit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://wp.childaction.org/" target="_blank">Child Action, Inc.</a>, on the pandemic's impact on child care providers in Sacramento County. </li> <li> <strong>Dr. Chris Gresens</strong>, Medical Director Mountain and West Divisions with the blood services provider <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.vitalant.org/" target="_blank">Vitalant</a>, on the critical shortage of blood supply, plummeting to levels not seen since pandemic’s start.</li> </ul> </div>
