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Ina Jaffe

Ina Jaffe is a veteran NPR correspondent covering the aging of America. Her stories on Morning Edition and All Things Considered have focused on older adults' involvement in politics and elections, dating and divorce, work and retirement, fashion and sports, as well as issues affecting long term care and end of life choices. In 2015, she was named one of the nation's top "Influencers in Aging" by PBS publication Next Avenue, which wrote "Jaffe has reinvented reporting on aging."

Jaffe also reports on politics, contributing to NPR's coverage of national elections since 2008. From her base at NPR's production center in Culver City, California, Jaffe has covered most of the region's major news events, from the beating of Rodney King to the election of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She's also developed award-winning enterprise pieces. Her 2012 investigation into how the West Los Angeles VA made millions from illegally renting vacant property while ignoring plans to house homeless veterans won an award from the Society of Professional Journalists as well as a Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media. A few months after the story aired, the West Los Angeles VA broke ground on supportive housing for homeless vets.

Her year-long coverage on the rising violence in California's public psychiatric hospitals won the 2011 Investigative Reporters and Editors Award as well as a Gracie Award. Her 2010 series on California's tough three strikes law was honored by the American Bar Association with the Silver Gavel Award, as well as by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Before moving to Los Angeles, Jaffe was the first editor of Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon, which made its debut in 1985.

Born in Chicago, Jaffe attended the University of Wisconsin and DePaul University, receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in philosophy, respectively.

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  • Filmmaker Richard Glatzer, who directed a number of well regarded indie films with his husband, Wash Westmoreland, has died. Glatzer had Lou Gehrig's disease but chose to keep working.
  • Republicans recapture control of the Senate and add to their advantage in the House. Democrats increase their hold on statehouses, adding at least five governorships. Hear NPR's Mara Liasson, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and NPR's Ina Jaffe.
  • NPR's Ina Jaffe reports that there was some good news for Democrats in the outcome of Tuesday's governors' races. The Democrats increased their hold on statehouses -- in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and Oregon. They also picked up seven other seats held by Republicans or independents. But they were unable to oust Jeb Bush in Florida, elect Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in Maryland or keep Roy Barnes in Georgia. (3:00)
  • NPR's Ina Jaffe reports that there was some good news for Democrats in the outcome of Tuesday's governors' races. The Democrats increased their hold on statehouses and broke the GOP grip on the governors' office in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan. They also picked up seven other seats held by Republicans or independents. But they were unable to oust Jeb Bush in Florida, elect Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in Maryland or keep Roy Barnes in Georgia. (3:00)