KPBS Midday Edition

The school board voted unanimously to enforce the vaccine mandate, which has already been challenged in court. Next, San Diego Housing Commission CEO Rick Gentry announced his resignation amid an effort by the city council to change how the commission operates. Then, New York Times op-ed columnist and PBS contributor David Brooks joins Midday Edition ahead of his appearance at the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea. And, new data show more than 21,000 San Diego college students receive food assistance through the CalFresh program. They represent a fraction of those who are eligible for help. Finally, not far from downtown San Diego, in the heart of Barrio Logan, there’s a special culinary classroom where children as young as 10-years-old are learning the art of cooking.

After unseasonably high temperatures last week, San Diego is bracing for cold and wet weather over the next few days. Next, according to a new UC Berkeley poll, Senator Dianne Feinstein is down to an all-time-low 30% approval rating and her home-state support is collapsing. Then, Marine families are still mourning and seeking closure from the military justice system 18 months after the AAV accident that killed nine in July 2020. And, we hear from Lamont Jackson, a finalist for the San Diego Unified School District superintendent position. Finally, the theme for this year’s Writer’s Symposium by the sea at Point Loma Nazarene University is “Writing that Provokes.” Author and public-theologian Nadia Bolts-Weber joins Midday Edition to talk about religion and radical honesty.

San Diego school leaders are facing increased resistance to mask mandates from parents leaving local teachers stuck in the middle. Next, an interview with, Susan Enfield, one of the finalists for San Diego Unified School District’s superintendent position. And, how the cashless economy is creating inequities in San Diego. Then, millions of Americans with disabilities face barriers to get married, one of which can mean losing the federal benefits they rely on. Finally, the Oceanside International Film Festival returns to the Brooks Theatre on February 22 for in-person screenings. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando speaks with the festival's executive director Lou Niles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a shift in the state’s response to the virus, moving from a pandemic to endemic. Plus, the Pentagon has deployed about a thousand active-duty service members to civilian hospitals around the country to help with the latest COVID surge. And, this weekend, art that looks at language and the border, art that plays with fossil fuels, a new play set in a Japanese internment camp and some live streamed indie music.

A panel that advises state regulators says the mountain of unused credits to burn fossil fuels amassed by oil companies and others is jeopardizing California's ability to meet its climate goals. Also, Cameroon asylum seekers who were deported in 2020 faced imprisonment, torture and other abuse at the hands of the government once back on Cameroonian soil, exactly what they told asylum officials would happen.Plus, delayed care caused by the pandemic has its consequences — more people are being diagnosed with late-stage cancer rather than cancer in its early, more treatable, stages. Meanwhile, people who are used to letting dogs off-leash during the pandemic are getting costly reminders to keep them on. And, esports is growing in popularity and Hoover High School in City Heights has a new gaming facility that’s helping students find their passion.

Masks can come off today for vaccinated Californians in many indoor spaces, however, some restrictions still apply regardless of vaccination status. Next, police are now ticketing people living at a homeless encampment on Sports Arena Boulevard as part of the city’s progressive enforcement efforts to move residents into shelters. Later, Carlsbad has become the first city in the county to pass a law making it illegal for anyone other than a licensed recycler to possess a catalytic converter without valid proof of ownership. And, more than a dozen antitrust bills targeting “big tech” are in play in the nation’s capital right now. Then, water conservation efforts combined with projects like Carlsbad’s desalination plant, leave the county in a better position to weather a drought. It also leaves us with some of the highest water rates in the state. Finally, a look inside the Oakland Fortune Factory, where a mother-daughter duo turns out thousands of handmade cookies every day.

California health officials announced on Monday there will be no changes to its statewide school masking requirement. The announcement has many parents frustrated as the state will end mask mandates on Wednesday for many public spaces. Next, a pilot program passed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors could help seniors at risk of homelessness with $300 in rental assistance. Lastly, a new Twitter account @SDCrashBot - allows the public to see how many traffic collisions involving bikes and pedestrians are reported to police.

In a rare bipartisan move on Capitol Hill, Democrat Mike Levin and Republican Darrell Issa have re-introduced legislation on removing spent nuclear waste from San Onofre. Next, families with children under 5 will have to wait a while longer for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to be available for small children. An explanation of the decision. Then, what should California do with its estimated $20 Billion budget surplus? Last year some of that surplus was returned in the form of stimulus checks for some Californians. And, a fourth grade High Tech elementary teacher was placed on administrative leave last week after reading a piece from a Harlem Renaissance poet that included an offensive word as part of a lesson. Later, California’s mask mandates will be lifted again this week in many places, but they’ll remain in congregate settings like immigrant detention centers where COVID-19 is still spreading. Finally, Black Comix Day returns this weekend at the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park after a pandemic hiatus.

The ACLU along with lawyers representing several incarcerated people are suing the Sheriff's Department and San Diego County to improve medical care and living conditions inside the county’s seven jail facilities. Plus, San Diego Opera is back to in-person productions at the Civic Theater after experimenting with drive-in performances during the pandemic. And, this weekend in the arts, free concerts from the San Diego Symphony, lots of visual art, a youth theater take on "The Wiz," and some Valentine's Day jazz.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s “Home for All of Us” plan will build on the city’s effort to make more construction possible in developed areas of the city and makes it easier for employers to develop employee housing. Plus, the Sheriff's Department promoted Theresa Adams-Hydar, a 27-year veteran of the department, to oversee county jails. Also, with the number of unsheltered people growing in San Diego, some city leaders are contemplating changing conservatorship laws to get more people off the streets and into treatment programs for various mental health issues. Meanwhile, the first years of a child’s life can set the course for a lifetime. San Diego’s “First 5 first steps” program can enroll 100 more families in the South Bay. And, San Diego is in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave. When will we see temperature returning to normal? Finally, reimagining how we eat to support food justice is the subject of a new book called “The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith And Food” by USD professor of theology and religious studies Christopher Carter.

By this time next week, vaccinated San Diegans will not have to wear masks inside most public places. County health officials say they will follow state guidelines to lift the mask requirement after February 15 with some restrictions. Next, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law another round of paid COVID sick leave for California workers. Later, California hits a milestone of more than 80,000 lives lost due to the COVID-19 virus. One of those was a farmworker who lived in Madera. We learn about him from his granddaughter. And, in Imperial County, migrants continue to drown in the All-American Canal. A look at what is being done to stop this from happening. Finally, artist Irma Sofia Poeter, who is based in Tecate, Mexico will hold a solo exhibit at Bread & Salt in San Diego this weekend.

San Diego County and city governments failed to submit any proposals for projects that would give affordable homes to people experiencing homelessness. Why they are missing out on $61 million in funding. Next, as the long transition to a new San Diego police review board continues, members of the old board are issuing a red flag warning as member count dwindles. Then, the Marine Corps has launched an investigation into the son of San Diego's former Republican Party chairman for ties to an extremist group. Later, a new California law will require schools to expand their mental health instruction, educators say it would have been a welcome mandate before the pandemic and even more now. And, technology has dramatically changed retail shopping in the U.S. and it’s changing grocery stores too. San Diego-based Accel Robotics is charging customers without them taking out their debit cards. Then, a new jobs program is aimed at helping underserved young people while improving communities across California. Finally. San Diego author and illustrator Pam Fong talks about her new children’s book “Once Upon a Forest,” which comes out today.

The Navy has identified the SEAL candidate who died Friday after going through the final phase of Navy SEAL training known as “Hell Week.” Next, the San Diego Police Department declares staffing issues, citing impending retirements and the city’s vaccine mandate as key reasons behind increasing vacancies. And, two years ago, the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was drafted for a unique mission involving more than 200 Americans and their families evacuated from Wuhan, China. Later, new research predicts as temperatures increase air conditioning use will drain energy supplies and Californians could be without power for at least 7 days each summer. Then, with Alice Childress' 1955 play "Trouble in Mind," The Old Globe brings questions and conflicts about diversity in the American theater to center stage. Finally, the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival returns this week, with in-person and virtual screenings.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has, “failed to adequately prevent and respond to the deaths of individuals in its custody,” according to an investigation by the California State Auditor. And Hate crimes increased sharply in San Diego and across the country in recent years. Early findings show the trend grew even worse in 2021. Plus, in our weekend preview, classical music on a boat, a tap dancing and piano collaboration, a new play based on an old story, and plenty of visual art.

Many health experts believe the omicron surge has peaked in San Diego. And Monday’s failure in the state Assembly to deliver on single payer healthcare highlights a lack of political will despite being a long-stated goal of state Democrats. Plus, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore retired on Thursday, we have a look at the ups and downs of his tenure. And the legendary restaurant, Pernicano’s has been closed and deteriorating since the 1980’s. Now it’s gone. What’s next for the space in Hillcrest? Next, in 2020 Black parents began homeschooling their children at a rate of 5 times higher than previous years. And it’s not all due to the pandemic. Finally, the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park is streaming its 12th annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival now through Tuesday, featuring five films about issues ranging from foster youth to immigration reform.

San Diego marks a new COVID-19 case milestone today, as the county is set to surpass 700,000 cases since the pandemic began. Then, a San Diego State University dean made comments on twitter about conservatives and was thrust into a national debate on academic free speech. And, the old English game of squash is giving students at a charter school in Southeast San Diego new opportunities academically and athletically. Next, San Diego County is home to 42 school districts. One, San Diego Unified has more than 100,000 students but several others serve fewer than 1,000 students, resulting in wide disparities in per-pupil funding. Plus, the San Diego Tourism Authority hopes a new ad which markets San Diego as a happy place will bring more visitors to the city. Finally, San Diego-based IDW Publishing is one of the top four publishers of comic books and graphic novels in the U.S. and like so many businesses it had to make adjustments during the pandemic.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria says he ordered city crews to clear a large homeless encampment in the city’s Midway district to avoid a potential health crisis. Then, a new state effort to retrofit thousands of houses in high-risk fire areas, offering up to $40,000 to cover the cost of the changes. And San Diego is the first county in the state to launch the program with 500 backcountry residences from Dulzura to Campo. And, after a long legal battle, thousands city workers will have access to guaranteed pension benefits. Later, a company with Burger King franchises in San Francisco owes nearly $2 million for wage theft. Why are the workers still waiting for recompensation? Plus, the San Diego History Center's exhibit, “Celebrate San Diego: Black History & Heritage” will showcase the rich history of Black San Diego . Finally, KPBS has a short list of five noteworthy works of visual art that are on view in San Diego County in February.

After years of preparation, San Diego’s community choice energy program will start enrolling hundreds of thousands of customers. Then, KPBS Science and Technology reporter Thomas Fudge on how San Diego is enacting the new state law that requires food scraps to be composted, instead of being sent to landfills. Later, signatures are being collected for a proposed state ballot measure that could guarantee funding for arts in public schools. Plus, today is Chinese New Year, we take a look at the traditions that shape the holiday. Lastly, KPBS Arts reporter Beth Accomando speaks with Michael Gene Sullivan about his play “The Great Khan,” which is being staged at the San Diego Rep in March.

A bill, promoted by San Diego’s California Innocence Project and now approved by the state senate, would make testimony based on disputed CSI techniques inadmissible in court. Plus, both of the journalists killed in Tijuana this month had sought help from a Baja California program aimed at protecting those who report the news — that help never came. On a lighter note, this weekend in the arts, features a lot of piano music, the intersection of poetry and art and Pulitzer-prize winning photojournalism.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has announced his retirement. Glenn Smith, a professor of law at California Western School, joins KPBS to talk about the process of replacing him. And Phoenix is experiencing an even steeper increase in real estate prices than San Diego, but a low inventory of houses for sale locally means that prospective buyers are needing to come up with higher offers to compete. Plus, the county Board of Supervisors has voted to keep an Escondido boarding school for foster youth open and expand its programs to serve a wider range of at-risk youth. Then, a new state program will help college students pay their tuition in exchange for community service. Our guest explains how the new program works.

A new lawsuit was filed Monday accusing the National Football League and its owners of violating the Chargers relocation terms with the city of San Diego. Then, after a loss in the U.S. Supreme Court, the Biden administration has officially withdrawn its vaccine mandate for large businesses. Later, KPBS military reporter Steve Walsh reports on how the Navy is trying to manage this latest phase of the pandemic. After, a recent report from Children Now shows the suicide rate for Black youth and young adults ages 10-24 has doubled since 2014, while rates among other goups have remained the same. So what’s driving this disturbing trend? Lastly, Bay Curious looks into the threats facing butterflies.

San Diego County saw a slight reduction in cases over the weekend, what can this tell us? Later, demonstrations are planned today across Mexico to protest the deaths and intimidation of journalists. The latest victim, Lordes Maldonado, was killed in Tijuana Sunday. After, the San Diego Regional Task Force has postponed the annual count of people who are homeless until late next month due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Then, KPBS investigative reporter Claire Trageser looks at potential solutions to the staffing crisis at child care centers. Later, all eyes are on California as the state comes up with a proposal on what reparations could look like for Black Californians descended from slavery and who qualifies. Then, California legislation that would help create a single-payer, government-run health plan, faces a key hurdle next week. Finally, KPBS/Arts editor and producer Julia Dixon Evans talks to the new executive director and CEO for the New Children's Museum in San Diego, Elizabeth Yang-Hellewell.

San Diego ended the year with a 4.2% unemployment rate, the lowest rate since the pandemic started – even in the face of the omicron surge. Later, KPBS investigative reporter Claire Trageser looks at what is causing a childcare staffing crisis in the San Diego region. Plus, a new investigation from CalMatters finds that the state has failed to take guns away from thousands of domestic abusers, and those failures can result in deadly consequences. Finally, KPBS Arts reporter Beth Accomando speaks with Vanessa Duron and Samantha Ginn about staging the world premiere of Diana Bubano's play “Sapience.”

In a surprising move, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore announced that he will not serve out the remainder of his term, and will instead retire effective February 3. Plus, veterans suffering from certain medical conditions became eligible for "presumptive" VA disability benefits last year, but a backlog of paperwork may complicate the issue. And, in our weekend arts preview, we'll take you to sculptures that are like otherworldly portals, a theatrical and puppetry take on the snowy streets of Ezra Jack Keats stories, plus some Monday night soul.

Though hospitalization rates have not reached the highs of last winter, the ongoing crush of patients is testing the resources of San Diego’s emergency departments. And California Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria are promoting reforming conservatorship laws in an effort to address homelessness. In other news from Sacramento, state regulators are holding off on considering a proposal that would upend the state’s solar marketplace. Plus, KPBS Arts reporter Beth Accomando checks in at Comickaze, a comic book store she has been going to for decades, to see how it has overcome multiple challenges these past two years. And this year’s California Children’s Report Card has found that, from the pandemic to systemic racism, the state’s youth are under a lot of pressure and more resources are needed to address that. Finally, Jamie Deering, the CEO of Spring Valley’s Deering Banjo Company, joins KPBS Midday Edition to break down some of 2021's best in banjo music — from bluegrass to blues to world and experimental.

The country continues to battle the surge of omicron cases as the Biden Administration is taking steps to increase the availability of test kits and N95 masks. Plus, mental fatigue is on the rise and is less avoidable as the pandemic enters its third year with the omicron variant. Next, we remember Tijuana photojournalist Margarito Martinez Esquivel who was killed Monday. Later, Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations or MEHKOs could soon become legal in San Diego County. After, KPBS Race and Equity reporter Cristina Kim reports on the community revitalization of the secret stairs near Valencia Park. Finally, KPBS revisits an interview about a book that explores the power of memory and desire.

Trash collection services resume today, following a month-long strike that saw mountains of trash piling up in Chula Vista and other parts of San Diego. Plus, a new study by Scripps Institution of Oceanography is raising the alarm about water pollution along the border coastal region. Next, why the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and local city councils hold votes on national issues that don’t always have a direct impact on local governance. After, KPBS talks to SDSU lecturer Miro Copic about grocery store shortages and the spike in food prices. Later, the unintended consequences of a state law that requires farmers with more than 26 employees to pay their workers overtime after eight hours a day, or 40 hours a week. Finally, two years later, reporter Lisa Morehouse revisits rural Tuolumne County for Tu Bishvat to see the impact of the pandemic on community gatherings like the one held for the Jewish holiday.

Local community group Alliance San Diego hosted its annual All People's Celebration honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and KPBS spoke to keynote speaker Rebecca Cokley about issues impacting the disabled community. Next, Voice of San Diego reporter Maya Srikrishnan discusses who was left out of the recent 2020 census data despite San Diego’s growing diversity. Later, UCSF physician Dr. Lindsay Ryan on assistance for those with damaged immune systems amidst the pandemic. Later, visitors can now look through Mount Wilson Observatory telescopes in Los Angeles (for a price). Plus, a new exhibition at Art Produce in North Park reflects on the aftermath of decades of war in Laos. Finally, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., Turner Classic Movies has created a program of documentary shorts and features looking at the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a vaccine mandate issued by the Biden administration that would have applied to companies with 100 employees or more. Legal analyst Dan Eaton breaks down why vaccine mandates are being blocked. Plus, the Chula Vista Police Department is using Chinese-made surveillance drones the Pentagon says might pose a national security risk. And, this weekend in the arts, there's a pairing of photography and contemporary dance, a couple of outdoor or virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, and some outdoor blues.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria chose to avoid much of what he called “happy talk” in his second State of the City address Wednesday night. Plus, with a new future in discussion for the Midway District, KPBS spoke with Voice of San Diego’s Scott Lewis about the thriving neighborhood that existed in the area in the 1940s. And KPBS’s Amita Sharma reports that Chula Vista is giving a private corporation wide control over data on people collected by police surveillance systems. Also, a county judge has dealt a legal setback to San Diego Unified School District’s effort to mandate vaccines for students 16 and up. Finally, with Joel Coen’s "The Tragedy of Macbeth'' set to stream on Apple TV+, KPBS film critic Beth Accomando spoke with two of the actors to gain insight into what kind of a director Coen is and how he brought the play to the screen.

Many healthcare workers are out with COVID, and state officials are now considering an order for hospitals across California to suspend some elective surgeries. Plus, the Senate is preparing to vote on two long-awaited voting rights bills: the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Meanwhile, San Diego company TuSimple, announced late last month, that they made the world’s first semi-truck run on public roads without a driver or human intervention. Later, KPCC's Robert Garrova explores how the pandemic has shaken the mental health of the undocumented community. Afterwards, Bryce Miller joins KPBS on how the SDSU Men’s basketball team was forced to put its season on pause after their win over Colorado State. Finally, KPBS speaks to T. Jefferson Parker about his new novel: “A Thousand Steps.”

This weekend, San Diego County hit a record of nearly 50,000 new COVID-19 cases. KPBS health reporter Matt Hoffman speaks about the surge and how hospitals are faring. Plus, the impact of the omicron variant on the local economy and how the local economy could be impacted by Gov. Newsom’s budget proposal. Finally, California Report Magazine explores the rich history of the Rainbow Sign — a groundbreaking center in Berkeley for Black culture, politics and art.

Long waits for COVID-19 testing has prompted the state to bring in help from the California National Guard and change San Diego County’s testing guidance. Plus, San Diego’s homeless shelters struggle with coronavirus outbreaks led by the highly transmissible omicron variant. Also, military medical teams have been dispatched to hospitals across the country overwhelmed by COVID-19. Meanwhile, some hospitals are buckling under the pressure of omicron as the highly contagious variant continues to sweep through the state and a growing number of hospital staffers are testing positive. Then, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is trying to better serve veterans who are serving time by housing them together. And, the most anticipated restaurants opening in San Diego in the new year. Finally, from our archives: author Beatrize Zamora and illustrator Maira Meza tell the story of Chicano Park with pictures almost as beautiful as the park's murals.

This week marked the return of the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy, as two asylum seekers were sent back to Tijuana to await the resolution of their cases. Plus, Congress ditched a controversial measure last month that would have required women to register for the Selective Service — supporters of gender-neutral registration say they'll keep working to include women. Also, our weekend arts preview has some intriguing ensemble music and lots of new visual art from border artists, including an exhibition of painted renditions of celebrity mugshots.

One year ago today, insurrectionists swarmed the U.S. Capitol, shocking the nation, and leaving many wondering how robust our democracy really is. A new book from a local author looks at the conditions that lead to civil conflict in countries, and searches for answers to avoid them. Plus, instances of restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses temporarily closing their doors are becoming more common as the highly infectious omicron variant continues to spread at an unprecedented rate among the nation’s population. Then, KPBS Race and Equity reporter Cristina Kim says some local women are reclaiming double dutch as adults, and creating a healing space in the process. Also, a new study by Measure of America aims to provide a portrait of California by focusing less on economic measures and more on people’s well-being. And, a new show coming to KPBS TV will tell the stories of women and trailblazers of color in the winery, brewery and restaurant industries — it's called ‘Fresh Glass.’ Later, KPBS film critic Beth Accomando joins KPBS Midday Edition to look back on her top films pics for 2021.

First we’ll discuss how local schools are handling the return to the classroom after the holiday COVID-19 surge and the home testing kit shortage. After, we’ll talk to Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, about some of our most pressing COVID-19 questions amidst the omicron-fueled surge. Also, while the pandemic has ravaged much of the cross-border economy, Tijuana’s maquiladora industry has flourished. Later, as the California legislature reconvenes, the California Report speaks with Scott Wilk, the leader of the Republican caucus in the state senate. Then, we speak with San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Lori Weisberg on how the minimum wage increase affects San Diegans. Finally, an excerpt from the latest “Port of Entry” podcast tells the story of a band separated by the pandemic- related border closure.

San Diego County emergency rooms are being stretched to their limits. Meanwhile, hateful slurs have been found graffitied at the campus of San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas for the second time in only a few months, which marks the third of it’s kind to occur at a San Dieguito Union campus this academic year. Then, we hear about a new kind of THC that has emerged in the past few years—it’s called Delta 8. Next, the state legislature goes back to work to confront problems like the pandemic, homelessness, housing, and growing concerns about crime and passing a new state budget. Later, KPBS discusses Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez resigning from the state assembly to take a position with California’s Labor Federation. Lastly, Digital Gym Cinema has changed locations and is set to reopen later this month with special Sundance Film Festival programming.

This morning, the FDA recommended booster shots for 12- to 15-year olds. We talk to an infectious disease doctor about the recommendation. Plus, more than a hundred San Diego Fire Department firefighters are in isolation due to potential coronavirus exposure and its having an impact on fire services. And, scientists and volunteers from San Diego to Oregon flocked to shorelines this morning to document the King Tide, which offers a look into the growing threats our state faces from climate change. Later, we revisit the story of a mother determined to make sure her son gets the education he needs. Then, California Report Magazine Host Sasha Koka revisits a piece she did about actress Juanita Moore, the third Black woman to be nominated for an Oscar. Lastly, San Diego jazz trumpet great Gilbert Castellanos tells us about the artists who shaped his musical journey.

We look ahead at new state laws that could impact your day to day life. We revisit a KPBS piece about a local organization working to empower youth through the arts. And, for our arts preview this weekend, we're shaking things up just a little, with a guide to some works of art viewable from the outdoors.

Cases of COVID-19 are once again on the rise in San Diego County. On Tuesday, the county reported more than 3,600 new cases, the highest number of new cases in a single day since last winter. Plus, a new energy storage project is rolling out across the county, with the first two sites scheduled to break ground within the next month. Then, earlier this year KPBS met a group of women living at a retirement home in Escondido, who are lightening the pain associated with mastectomy one loving stitch at a time. In July, KPBS reporter John Carroll took us to an animal sanctuary in San Diego County that is trying to bring awareness to the illegal, multi-billion dollar trade in exotic animals. And in current events, Starla Lewis, a professor of Black Studies at Mesa College and SDSU, talks about the meaning of Kwanzaa and its origin. Lastly, KPBS looks back at an interview with Charles McPherson, one of jazz's most prolific saxophonists.

It’s been a rainy week in a rainy December, and tonight another storm is expected to arrive in San Diego County, bringing even more precipitation. Plus, a new investigation by the New York Times took a closer look at the growing network of paid experts, doctors and researchers used to defend police departments when a person dies in police custody. Also, state and local water agencies are moving forward with a massive ground water rescue plan. Then, experts say more parents are reporting declining mental and physical health since the start of the pandemic. Throughout the year, we profile San Diegans making a difference. We revisit a piece about a high school student who is a member of the San Diego Unified School Board. And a piece on a Poway man who relocates rattlesnakes. Lastly, a new book of essays by local writers, "Reclaiming Our Stories in the Time of COVID and Uprising," chronicles how San Diegans' lives have changed due to the pandemic and increased calls for racial justice.

A small aircraft carrying four people crashed in flames near Gillespie Field last night. Plus, the CDC released new COVID-19 guidelines on Monday that have shortened the time people need to quarantine. Then, KPBS takes a look back at some of the stories we covered over the past year. Back in April, military reporter Steve Walsh had the story of one of Naval Aviation’s few openly gay pilots, who was on his way out. In September, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance helped hatch an Egyptian vulture. Also, in August, KPBS’s Maya Trabulsi told us about a San Diego man who has dedicated his workspace to his passion for American history. Later, marriage and family therapist Shanette Smith speaks to KPBS about the holiday blues to help us parse out some of those emotions. Lastly, a television special that first aired on HBO in 1978 called “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas,” has returned as a theatrical production in Manhattan, and one of the puppeteers is from San Diego.

COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise in San Diego County, as are hospitalizations. Plus, this past weekend was still one of the busiest for flight travel, but it was met with trip cancellations as the coronavirus spread among flight crews. And, we revisit reporting by KPBS that showed that CalFresh regularly pushes out people who are still eligible for the extra money to help them buy food. Then, the director of UCLA’s Bedari Kindness Institute speaks about kindness and the impulse to be kind. Later, former North County Times journalist Brian Gushue discusses his new book about achieving his goal of attending 500 NFL games across the country. Also, KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando spoke with Chad Patton, managing director of Material Things, which created the “NUNO: The Language of Textiles” exhibit at the Japanese Friendship Garden's Inamori Pavilion.

Good news from the pandemic is far and few in between, but the personal wealth of San Diegans grew in 2020, according to a recent report. Plus, from the archive, a $66 million performing arts center at Southwestern College will have an impact on the South Bay as well as the next generation of artists. And, some unconventional holiday music from San Diego bands — perfect music to get us through yet another unconventional holiday season.

New congressional districts map approved by the Citizens Redistricting Commission made a big change to San Diego County — a majority Latino district, one of 16 in California. Plus, Pfizer is considering increasing the doses for its children COVID-19 vaccine to three after a two-dose trial shows disappointing results. And, a closer look at renting in the San Diego area and the growing housing rights movement in the wake of the pandemic. Finally, a preview of Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Live Time Bubble Tour coming to the Balboa Theatre.

With a predicted surge of the omicron variant over the winter break, officials at UC San Diego decided to return to distance learning for the first two weeks of January. Both the UC and CSU systems are requiring students to get COVID-19 booster shots before returning to campus. Also, researchers are struggling to figure out exactly what kind of danger omicron poses and how to fight it. And a look at what worked, who fell through the cracks and what's next for the region's renters and landlords as housing becomes increasingly more expensive and pandemic protections evaporate. Finally, Diversionary Theatre used the pandemic shutdown to do some much-needed renovation. The theater reopened in September.

Researchers at UC San Diego, based on the amount of virus detected in the county’s wastewater, say that a COVID-19 surge this winter is not just a possibility, it’s already here. Plus, San Diego’s Climate Equity Index is meant to guide city decision making so the communities on the front lines of the climate crisis get help first. But the tool is far from perfect. Also, San Diego could build a new trolley line to the airport in the next decade, according to a new feasibility study released by the Metropolitan Transit System. And still shopping for that perfect gift? San Diego is home to some great independent bookstores and they have great book recommendations for those last-minute gifts. Finally, in this excerpt from the Cinema Junkie podcast, host Beth Accomando and guest Nora Fiore look at the Long Suffering Wife archetype of film noir.

Health care workers here and around the country are now preparing for a holiday surge in cases, as one vaccine falls out of favor. Plus, in Calexico it’s a familiar story for businesses along the U.S.-Mexico Border: financial devastation due to the pandemic and border closures; but the chamber of commerce in Imperial Valley is trying to help. Also, this weekend you can break up your holiday shopping and baking with some arts and culture including holiday choral music, a chance to learn DIY art and an art exhibition made of legos.

The San Diego area has new maps that determine who gets to run for which seat in government and which neighborhoods are grouped together. We’ll fill you in on the political implications of the new maps. Plus, the Alcohol Policy Panel of San Diego County is hosting its annual meeting Friday, to discuss the impacts of alcohol outlet density in San Diego. Also, California public schools will soon offer free transitional kindergarten for all four-year-olds, which will be a big help to working parents, but it may have unintended consequences for childcare providers. And, residents of Barrio Logan are hoping that a newly minted community plan will help address long standing issues that have plagued the area for decades. Then, actor Tom Steward turns his SD Fringe one-man show of all James Bond films into a musical for Coronado Playhouse this weekend.

The two finalists to be the next San Diego Unified superintendent were announced Tuesday night. They are Susan Enfield from Washington and Lamont Jackson, the current interim superintendent. Plus, newly elected San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera lays out his vision for the council as he settles into his new role. Also, two years ago, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office introduced a de-escalation training program to reduce police shootings countywide. There’s hope that it’s beginning to create a change in police culture. Meanwhile, is the California Dream over? More people are moving out of the state than moving in. And, Banjo master Bela Fleck brings his bluegrass band to the Balboa Theatre tomorrow, following the release of a brand new album.