KPBS Midday Edition

A new book, "Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want" explores our relationship to rest and self-care, and how we can learn to live more gently and reduce our stress from everyday life. Plus, our Midday Movies critics close out Black History Month by celebrating Black women both on the screen and behind the camera. Then, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans sits down wi...

Advancing racial justice includes fighting for economic mobility and equity. From employment discrimination to housing affordability, Black community members face many barriers to building generational wealth. Pamela Gray Payton has been fighting those barriers for several decades in San Diego, from her work at the University of San Diego to her current role at the San Diego Foundation. As part of...

In the first month of his second term, President Donald Trump has brought sweeping changes to the federal government. Many of his actions have scholars worried about a constitutional crisis. Democrats in Congress are clashing over how to respond to Trump’s actions, as he and Elon Musk test the limits of presidential power. On Midday Edition, we sit down with Congressman Mike Levin to hear his plan...

The 30th Annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea takes place this week at San Diego's Point Loma Nazarene University. Award-winning author Jesmyn Ward will be appearing at the event this year, along with writers Sandra Cisneros and Mitch Albom. Ward is one of the most celebrated writers in American fiction today. Two of her novels, “Sing, Unburied, Sing” and “Salvage the Bones,” have won the prestigi...

Flu season is in full swing and the surge in cases has raised alarms all across the country. Here in San Diego, there have been 105 flu deaths, making this season deadlier than the past two seasons combined . On Midday Edition Tuesday, we talk about what health care providers are seeing in local urgent care clinics and what to do if you get the flu. Guest: Laura Truman , clinical associate profess...

All month we’re profiling influential Black figures in our community — people dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black history. For many activists, college campuses are the gateway into community organizing. On Midday Edition, we sit down with a student activist who is part of an exhibit at the UC San Diego Geisel Library celebrating Black labor history. Guest : Christina Marie Green , underg...

VV-Publisher-DrJohnEWarren.jpg (525x600, AR: 0.875) All month, we are talking to the people in our community who are making Black history. Among those trailblazers is Dr. John E. Warren. He is the current publisher of the San Diego Voice and Viewpoint .  Founded in 1960, it is San Diego’s oldest and only African American newspaper and continues to serve communities all across the region. “Nob...

Black patients often experience discrimination and implicit bias from health care providers, leading to a variety of disparities. One San Diego doctor has been working to change that for more than 40 years. Dr. Rodney Hood was the first African American student to graduate from UC San Diego's medical school in 1973, and has dedicated his career to improving Black health outcomes and health care ac...

Each year, esteemed writers come to San Diego for the annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University. This year features Jesmyn Ward, Mitch Albom and Sandra Cisneros, who is celebrating 40 years since her first novel, "The House on Mango Street," began captivating readers across the globe. Cisneros joined Midday Edition Thursday to talk about the legacy of "The House on Man...

More people in San Diego County fell into homelessness than escaped it last month, according to new data from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness . January’s numbers show that 1,025 people were placed into housing, but 1,216 people fell into homelessness for the first time. Also in January, volunteers gathered data for the 2025 Point in Time Count — an annual measurement of unhoused folks in o...

In his first month back in office, President Donald Trump has enacted sweeping and controversial changes impacting many in the San Diego region. From toughening rules on immigration to targeting federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs, from an effort to ban transgender soldiers from serving in the military to a push for federal workers to resign, the scope of change can feel overwhelming....

All month, we are profiling Black trailblazers across our community and highlighting their contributions to San Diego life and culture. On this week's arts show, we sit down with Gaidi Finnie, executive director of the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art , to talk about his lifelong dedication to sharing Black arts and culture. Also, Mark Twain’s 1885 book, “Adventures of Huckleberry Fin...

From the books we read to the music we listen to, love is everywhere we look. We bring you 'Valentine's Day Edition,' exploring love stories in all their forms. We hear about KPBS' new Valentine's Day series: ' From San Diego, with love .' Also, the power of romance books and the best date spots in San Diego. Plus, our favorite 'slow jams' and heartbreak anthems. Guests: Marielena Castellanos , KP...

From the labor of enslaved people to propelling labor movements forward for fair wages, Black people have fought for equitable working conditions throughout history. America at large has received the benefits. This year, " African Americans and Labor " is the national theme for Black History Month. On Midday Edition, we discuss the connection between Black worker justice and labor rights. And, the...

Yvette.jpg (275x275, AR: 1.0) Making sense of the present means knowing the past. It also means honoring the legacy of Black history and celebrating culture. This Black History Month, we're profiling Black trailblazers and community leaders in San Diego. Yvette Porter Moore is a historian who studies genealogy and DNA research. For the past 20 years, she's been doing the work of piecing together S...

Last month, the Biden administration's Department of Energy announced that it would provide a loan of $1.36 billion to support the growth of the domestic lithium industry. But President Trump’s push to freeze federal funds could threaten that. On Midday Edition Monday, we break down the possible impact of the federal spending freeze and recent developments in Lithium Valley. Plus, a leading enviro...

Lunar New Year started last Wednesday. It’s a time to bring in good luck and prosperity, and celebrate a fresh start — specifically, the Year of the Wood Snake. There are many places to celebrate Lunar New Year in San Diego this season. We talk about the upcoming Chinese New Year Fair in downtown and how San Diego's Chinese community has historically commemorated the holiday. Also, KPBS arts repor...

Every year, 35,000 to 40,000 people in California begin the process of reentering society after prison, a process known as “reentry.” Successful reentry depends on many factors, from reliable housing to employment opportunities. Today on Midday Edition, we bring you an episode of " Imperfect Paradise ," the narrative podcast from LAist public radio. In this episode, we meet Cesar Quijano who is st...

As flames broke out across San Diego County in January, several neighborhoods were under evacuation orders. Evacuating your home can be a scary and life-changing situation. Experts say it's essential to stay prepared . On Midday Edition, we discuss essential rights for renters affected by the wildfires. Plus, how to care for a loved one or neighbor with dementia during an emergency. Plus, the role...

A new executive order by President Donald Trump would ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military. An estimated 15,000 to 25,000 transgender military personnel serve in the U.S. military. Trump’s executive order gives the Pentagon two months to change its current policy which allows trans troops to serve openly. Several lawsuits have been filed against the ban. On Midday Edition Mon...

Last week, the Department of Education dismissed 11 complaints against book bans . The announcement has drawn backlash from the American Library Association and free speech advocacy groups, who are denouncing the rhetoric calling book bans a hoax, as these bans grow across the country. While there are currently no book bans in San Diego County libraries, PEN America's report found that Escondido U...

This Saturday, the nonprofit Women of Color Roar Media will host a breakfast celebrating the accomplishments of Black women in leadership and their contributions to San Diego and this country. Plus, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans sits down with the city of San Diego's new poet laureate, Paola Capó-García, to talk about her hopes for the role. Then finally, the 2025 Oscar nominations are out...

January is Mental Wellness Month. On Midday Edition Wednesday, we have a conversation about mental wellness in the military and veteran community in San Diego. Two local mental health experts connected to military communities talk about recent efforts to increase access to mental health care, and what challenges military members and veterans commonly face. Guests: Nick Boyd , professor, University...

Dry January is a period for people to reexamine the role alcohol plays in their lives. This January, outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for warning labels on alcoholic beverages due their link to multiple forms of cancer. As January nears its end, we feature a conversation with a medical expert on the health risks associated with alcohol, as well as some things to keep in mind i...

In just his short time back in office, President Trump has upended policy through dozens of executive orders — among those have been several meant to reshape climate policy. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we break down some of these policy shifts and look at climate change under the new Trump era. Plus, young people are leading climate action efforts across the country. We hear from one youth climate...