Ina Jaffe

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Ina Jaffe is a National desk correspondent based at NPR West, NPR's production center in Culver City, Calif.

Covering California and the West, Jaffe has reported on nearly all of the major news events, elections, and natural disasters in the region. Currently, she covers issues related to aging. She also reports on regional and national politics, contributing election coverage in 2008, 2010, and 2012.

In addition to captivating and informing listeners, Jaffe's reports have garnered critical acclaim. In 2012, her series on rising violence in California State Psychiatric Hospitals was honored with a Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media as well as awards from Investigative Reporters and Editors and the American Bar Association. Her three-part series on California's Three Strikes sentencing law won the ABA's Silver Gavel Award in 2010, as well as the Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. For her coverage of California politics, Jaffe received two California Journalism Awards for reporting on minority political power in Los Angeles and the historic recall election that made Arnold Schwarzenegger governor.

Before moving to Los Angeles, Jaffe was the first editor of Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon which made its debut in 1985. As Weekend Edition Saturday editor, Jaffe shared a 1988 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for the report "A State of Emergency" which covered racial conflict in Philadelphia.

Born in Chicago, Jaffe attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and DePaul University receiving Bachelor's and Master's degrees in philosophy, respectively.

Automatic-Enrollment IRAs Get A Test Run In California

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By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Wed May 1, 2013 9:51 am

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With all of the controversy over entitlement reform, there's one thing both sides can agree on: Social Security alone does not provide enough money for a comfortable retirement. For these workers, the Obama administration is proposing automatically enrolling workers in IRAs through their employers.

California adopted a version of this last year. Democratic state Sen. Kevin de Leon sponsored the bill to automatically enroll workers in an individual retirement account. The inspiration, he says, was his Aunt Francisca, who's 74.

3:25 pm

Wed April 10, 2013

A Mother's Fight Against 3 Strikes Law 'A Way of Life'

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Sue Reams campaigned to change California's three-strikes law and help set free her son, Shane.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Wed April 10, 2013 6:19 pm

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Since the November election, 240 California prisoners facing potential life sentences have been set free. That's because voters changed California's tough three strikes sentencing law.

As NPR reported in 2009, that law sent thousands of people to prison for terms of 25 years to life for minor, nonviolent crimes. Now those prisoners can ask the court to have their sentences reduced.

One of those set free under the new law is Shane Reams. He owes his freedom in no small part to his mother Sue's 17-year campaign to change the law.

2:55 am

Thu March 14, 2013

A Retired Chicago Cop's Second Act Is At A Barbershop

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Richard Piña, 69, with customer Augustin Bustos at Rich's Den barbershop in Calumet City, Ill. Piña, who retired from the Chicago police force 12 years ago, works at his shop four or five hours a day.

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Richard Piña and his youngest daughter, Alex, both work at Rich's Den in Calumet City, Ill. Pina bought the barbershop a few years before he retired from the Chicago police force.

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A photo of Richard Piña (fourth from the left) from his days as a Chicago police officer hangs in a waiting area at Rich's Den.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Thu March 14, 2013 7:43 pm

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Increasingly, people are continuing to work past 65. Almost a third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 70 are working, and among those older than 75, about 7 percent are still on the job. In Working Late, a series for Morning Edition, NPR profiles older adults who are still in the workforce.

2:42 am

Wed March 6, 2013

For Elderly Midwife, Delivering Babies Never Gets Old

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Colorado midwife Dian Sparling, 71, meets with Lisa Eldridge and her baby, Colton James.

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Dian Sparling, 71, is a midwife in Fort Collins, Colo.

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Dian Sparling, a certified nurse midwife in Fort Collins, Colo., recently went back to being on call.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 1:30 pm

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2:02 am

Wed February 27, 2013

At 85, 'Old-School' Politician Shows No Signs Of Quitting

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Wisconsin state Sen. Fred Risser at the state Capitol.

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Wisconsin state Sen. Fred Risser, 85, at the state Capitol. He has been representing the city of Madison since 1956.

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Risser listens during a committee meeting at the state Capitol. He has seen the Legislature change over the decades from a body made up exclusively of white men to one that includes women and minorities.

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"The Legislature is more polarized than I've ever seen it," Risser says. "There are more straight party-line votes than there have ever been." Here, he meets with constituents about upcoming bills.

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Despite his age, Risser takes the stairs every day and advises freshmen legislators to do the same.

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Risser has his usual lunch of soup and beer at an Irish pub across from the state Capitol.

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Risser holds a frame with photos of four generations of legislators in his family. His father, Fred E. Risser was a state senator; his grandfather, Ernest Warner, was an assembly member; and his great-grandfather, Clement Warner, was a state senator and assembly member following the Civil War.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Wed February 27, 2013 7:16 pm

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2:08 am

Wed February 20, 2013

When A Bad Economy Means Working 'Forever'

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The recession put a dent in Sims-Wood's savings, and she expects she'll have to stay in the workforce "forever."

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Part-time librarian Janet Sims-Wood, 67, helps student Andre Williams navigate the online catalogue at the Accokeek Library at Prince George's Community College in Largo, Md.

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Sims-Wood goes over computer data with librarian Maria Bonet. Though Sims-Wood is on the job at a time when she thought she would be retired, she stays positive. "I have faith that things will work out. I don't care how bad they are. It's going to work out," she says.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Wed February 20, 2013 7:34 pm

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2:43 am

Wed February 13, 2013

For One Senior, Working Past Retirement Age Is A Workout

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John David, 73, teaches fitness classes to help older people stay healthy and fit. Here he teaches an hourlong class at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.

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"This turned out to be the real calling. This turned out to be the thing that I am good at, and you can see the people respond, so it's rewarding," David says.

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David's classes help seniors stretch and flex every part of their bodies.

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David teaches at several community centers around Manhattan and also has a few private clients.

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David says his classes can help with everything from improving endurance to fighting osteoporosis to staying mentally sharp.

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Seniors work out at John David's fitness class at the 92nd Street Y.

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David chats with one of his students after his exercise class at the 92nd Street Y.

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After his first class, David hails a taxi to head to his second class of the day at the Jewish Community Center in New York City.

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David leads his class at the JCC. He says he intends to keep teaching as long as he's strong enough.

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David says he loves being able to give older adults what they need from a fitness routine.

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John David, 73, teaches an exercise class called PACE to seniors at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The former TV producer says he has finally found his true calling.

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John David, 73, teaches an exercise class to seniors in New York City. His routine goes through every muscle, including those on the face.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Wed February 13, 2013 7:29 pm

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Increasingly, people are continuing to work past 65. Almost a third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 70 are working, and among those older than 75, about 7 percent are still on the job. In Working Late, a series for Morning Edition, NPR profiles older adults who are still in the workforce.

Retirement isn't what it used to be, or even when it used to be.

3:41 pm

Tue January 8, 2013

Workshops Help Families Grappling With Alzheimer's Home Care

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The nation's largest provider of nonmedical home care for seniors is now offering training to help family caregivers deal with the challenges of caring for an Alzheimer's patient.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Tue January 8, 2013 8:24 pm

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There are more than 5 million people with Alzheimer's in the U.S., and most are cared for at home. Now, one company has begun offering training to family caregivers to help them deal with the special challenges of caring for an Alzheimer's patient.

The company, Home Instead Senior Care, is the nation's largest provider of nonmedical home care for seniors. The workshops are free and available to anyone, whether they're clients of the company or not.

2:26 am

Fri November 16, 2012

In California, 'Republican' Is Becoming A Toxic Label

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Citizens vote in Los Angeles County on Nov. 6.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Fri November 16, 2012 9:35 pm

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2:10 pm

Thu October 18, 2012

Underdog Democrat Keeping Things Close In Nevada Senate Race

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Democatic Rep. Shelley Berkley greets Republican Sen. Dean Heller before the second of their three debates, on Oct. 11 in Las Vegas.

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Thu October 18, 2012 7:00 pm

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Early in-person voting in Nevada starts Saturday, and it's not just the presidential contest that's being closely watched in this swing state.

The race for the U.S. Senate is also seen as a tossup, a bit of a surprise for Republicans, who have counted on retaining the GOP-held seat as they try to build a majority.

Republican Sen. Dean Heller — in office for only 18 months — faces seven-term Rep. Shelley Berkley on Nov. 6.

3:56 pm

Fri September 21, 2012

Obama, Ryan Talk Medicare At AARP Convention

By Ina Jaffe

Originally published on Fri September 21, 2012 5:53 pm

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Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Robert Siegel.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

And I'm Audie Cornish.

In New Orleans today, thousands of senior citizens were treated to two different visions for their future. President Obama and GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan each addressed the AARP.

As NPR's Ina Jaffe reports, they took questions on topics ranging from Medicare to Social Security, and back to Medicare.

2:28 am

Mon September 10, 2012

Los Angeles VA Has Made Millions On Rental Deals

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The 388-acre campus of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Los Angeles was donated to the federal government more than 100 years ago for use as a home for disabled veterans, but is no longer used for that purpose. In 2007, Building 209, pictured here, was designated as a place to house disabled homeless vets. It is currently abandoned.

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An empty room is seen inside Building 209. Although the building is supposed to house disabled vets, it is currently vacant and uninhabitable.

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Building 205, pictured here, sits vacant. It was designated as future housing for disabled homeless veterans in 2007.

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The campus has more than a dozen long-term rental deals with various enterprises, most of which don't serve veterans. There's a private baseball stadium, storage for film sets and a laundry for Marriott Hotels. Meanwhile, other buildings sit abandoned.

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Building 208 (left) and Building 209 are seen on the VA campus. In 2010, the VA budgeted $20 million to renovate 209, but work hasn't started.

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The chapel on campus is abandoned and deteriorating. The 1900s-era building is a rare early-American, multidenominational site. It holds one chapel for Protestants and another for Catholics. The J. Paul Getty Museum provided a $75,000 grant in 2000 to support conservation planning, but no work has yet been done on the building.

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R.W. Williams, 63, a Vietnam veteran, has been seeking medical treatment for a host of ailments, including PTSD, at the VA health center in Los Angeles. He is seen here on the campus near a mural honoring soldiers.

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Conly Mims, 59, a Marine Corps veteran, is seen in the old trolley building. Mims participates in the Salvation Army Haven Program, which caters to veterans struggling with a variety of complex problems such as a shortage of housing and chronic medical issues.