KPBS Midday Edition

On Midday Edition Wednesday, we talk to Paul Parker about his memoir, "In the Shadows of Death: Writing Life’s Final Chapter." It dives into his career in death investigation and reveals Parker’s journey through alcohol addiction and depression. Plus, we speak to psychotherapist Ben Yalom about his new book “Hour of the Heart: Connecting in the Here and Now.” It digs into vulnerability from therap...

Local author Mac Crane's latest book, "A Sharp Endless Need," is an LGBTQ+ coming-of-age story about the competitive world of high school girls' basketball. It follows Mackenzie Morris, a star high school point guard with dozens of Division I college recruitment offers, as they contend with a blossoming first love and a world turned upside down. Tuesday on Midday Edition, Crane sat down with KPBS...

We’re diving deeper into the rich history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in San Diego as the region marks AAPI Heritage Month. Many of the first Japanese immigrants coming into San Diego and Imperial Counties were railroad workers, farmers and fishermen.  But the incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II had a widespread impact on many famil...

No matter your age or ability, sports can be for everyone. Whether it's Olympic skateboarding or walking soccer, you won't have trouble finding something your speed in San Diego. On Midday Edition, we highlight several local programs building accessibility, inclusion and connection through sports. We also discuss how sports fuel social change and connect communities across a variety of socioeconom...

For the past 10 years, the GI Film Festival has highlighted movies for, by and about active duty service members and veterans. The narrative short “Doldrums" is among the films having its San Diego premiere Friday. It follows a Vietnam War veteran haunted by memories of the soldiers he led and the Viet Cong medic who saved his life. "Doldrums" will be screened at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Photogr...

Ahead of Mother’s Day, we're bringing attention to challenges faced by Black mothers in the workplace — from inadequate paid maternity leave to lactation barriers. We discuss a new report from the San Diego Black Worker Center outlining those challenges and possible solutions. Then, we sit down with a local therapist to discuss strategies for coping with grief and loss on Mother's Day. Plus, how t...

Hundreds of political scientists in the United States think the country is moving from democracy toward authoritarianism , according to the Bright Line Watch survey. Respondents looked at indicators such as interference with the press and the punishment of political opponents, among other factors. On Midday Edition, we've gathered a panel of local political experts to assess the state of our democ...

President Trump recently completed his first 100 days in office for his second term. His administration has spend that time upending many pillars of government and society and the impacts are now being felt here in San Diego. Some argue the root of Trump's actions is planted in a policy blueprint called Project 2025. A new reporting series from KPBS looks into how Project 2025 is changing policy a...

Paul Downey started working with the San Diego nonprofit Serving Seniors as a reluctant volunteer. Thirty years later, he is retiring from his position as its president and CEO. Downey sat down with KPBS Midday Edition producer Andrew Bracken to talk about his work and how he's seen the needs of vulnerable, at-risk seniors change over time. Guest: Paul Downey, retiring president and CEO, Serving S...

Words like cryptocurrency, the blockchain and bitcoin have taken hold in our collective vocabulary. But understanding the meaning and the digital mechanics behind these words can prove difficult. KPBS Midday Edition sits down with a local financial expert for basic tips on making sense of crypto, avoiding scams and getting started. Guest : Timothy O'Donovan , professor of finance, and the Universi...

For the second year in a row, San Diego’s own Tara Monsod is a finalist for Best Chef in California by the esteemed James Beard Awards for her work at local restaurants Animae and Le Coq. Chef Tara sat down with Midday Edition to talk about her recent accolades and what drives her culinary creations. Plus, our Midday Movies critics share their breakdown of the genre-defying blockbuster hit, "Sinne...

Cover - GOLD COAST DILEMMA.jpg (1399x2173, AR: 0.6438104003681546) It's easy to get lost in a good romance book. From the classic "enemies to lovers" trope, to workplace rivals — there's a little something for everyone. The clash between cultural expectations and forbidden love are at the center of San Diego-based author Nana Malone's new book, " Gold Coast Dilemma ." On Midday Edition, we discuss...

Today, April 30, marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Sàigòn when thousands of Vietnamese fled political persecution, then millions more in the following years. San Diego was one of the first points of entry for many Vietnamese refugees escaping the communist government. A new KPBS video series, Fall of Sàigòn at 50: Stories of loss, legacy & identity , takes a look back at the events hal...

April marks Jazz Appreciation Month. On Midday Edition Monday, we get to know the artists behind the jazz scene in our binational region. From an acclaimed jazz singer to a soulful saxophonist, join us as we celebrate jazz with the folks keeping it alive and well from San Diego to Tijuana. Guests : Leonard Patton , professional singer, musician, actor, composer Holly Hofmann , jazz flutist Natalia...

Black Americans’ relationship to the Pacific Ocean between the 16th and 20th centuries is the focus of a new exhibit on display at the Central Library in downtown San Diego. It's called " Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific ." On Midday Edition, we talk about the exhibit with the curator behind the project. Then, we get a preview of the Without Walls Festival , featuring interacti...

The past five years have been a period of transformation, changing how San Diego County treats San Diegans struggling with mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness. Now, a leading figure behind that transformation is stepping down. Luke Bergmann is the outgoing director of behavioral health services for San Diego County. Bergmann joins Midday Edition on Wednesday to talk about the current...

This Earth Day, we discuss what federal attacks on environmental nonprofits could mean for local efforts. As the Trump administration considers removing the nonprofit status of environmental groups nationwide, local nonprofit leaders predict far-reaching impacts for San Diego’s environmental projects and protections. We meet with three local leaders to dive into work stoppages, environmental justi...

The first annual Southern California Indigenous Culture and Art Festival is this weekend in Escondido, featuring everything from storytelling to fashion with Indigenous designs.   We discuss the importance of highlighting Indigenous art with two artists involved in the festival. Then, Pacific Arts Movement will host the 14th edition of their Spring Showcase next week. We get the details...

This Saturday is the 55th annual Chicano Park Day commemoration . Organized by the Chicano Park Steering Committee, it commemorates the activists and community members who fought for the park to be built, and the younger generations who are picking up the fight. Also, what does it mean to be Chicana? The anthology, "Somos Xicanas" edited by Luz Schweig, explores the breadth of the Chicana experien...

By many metrics, young men today are struggling — in school, in the workforce and with their mental health. The share of young men attending college is in decline , while the share of men participating in the workforce is also decreasing . Men also face greater risk of death from overdose and suicide. Meanwhile, many young men are being exposed to content online that often presents a very spe...

On Monday, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook San Diego. The epicenter was located about 2 miles south of Julian. It didn't cause major damage and no injuries were reported. But, it was the biggest earthquake in our region since the 2010 earthquake near Guadalupe Victoria, which was a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. On Midday Edition, we make sense of the earthquake with a seismologist. Plus, we hear some...

More than five years after the pandemic began, many San Diegans are still living with the long-term effects . Long COVID has left lasting impacts on individuals' health and daily lives, but for many, it's still an invisible struggle — undiagnosed, untreated and often misunderstood.  On Midday Edition, we speak with KPBS health reporter Heidi de Marco about her recent reporting on long COVID....

On Monday's Midday Edition, we're exploring solutions to San Diego County's housing crisis. We'll talk about a rental subsidy program in San Diego County that's trying to keep older residents in their homes. Seniors are especially impacted by homelessness. According to the 2024 Point-In-Time Count , around one third of people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County are 55 and older. We're al...

A new children’s book by a San Diego author uses plants to promote messages of self love and body positivity. And, a preview of the Old Globe's premiere of " Regency Girls ," a comedy about reproductive rights in the time of Jane Austen. Plus, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans sits down with the director and actor behind " The Hot Wing King " at Cygnet Theater. Then, top event picks for the wee...

The National Institutes of Health continues to cut research funding. One UC San Diego professor was one of many researchers impacted by the cuts after the NIH defunded a project focused on intimate partner violence and maternal mortality. Also, April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. We check in with local groups about how they are supporting survivors of sexual violence in San Die...