KPBS Midday Edition

The recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom is set for Sept. 14, and mail-in ballots are already out. Though California is an overwhelmingly blue state, it's not a certainty Newsom will survive the recall. Reasons abound, including apathy and a lack of awareness that many predict could lead to a low voter turn out. So, how did we get here? And what could a Newsom recall mean for the state? Midday Edi...

Ten of the 13 service members killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport were based at Camp Pendleton. It was the largest mass casualty event for personnel based at Pendleton during the entire Afghan war. Plus, it’s the first day of class for San Diego Unified students and the district says it has implemented a host of COVID-19 policies and guidelines. Also, as kids zip up their backpacks an...

Humanitarian groups in San Diego are preparing resettlement efforts as refugees continue to pour out of war-torn Afghanistan. We speak with one of those local groups. Plus, veterans coalitions are helping to evacuate Afghans who worked for the Americans. On a lighter note, this weekend in the arts features a three-day outdoor festival of music in Carlsbad, a contemporary dance company's first perf...

Many Americans are left with questions about the vaccines, the status of their approval, and their long-term efficacy. We pose these questions to the director of Scripps Research Translational Institute, Dr. Eric Topol. Also, housing prices in San Diego are getting higher and analysts say it’s not out of the question for the median price to reach $1 million by this time next year. Plus, the last t...

One law expert weighs in on how the FDA approval will impact vaccine mandates in the workplace. Plus, images of chaos in Afghanistan have deeply resonated with veterans from another long war: Vietnam. Also, the recall campaign now aimed at Governor Gavin Newsom was fueled in part by parents who were angry with how he handled public school closures during the worst months of the pandemic. Then, Kim...

The FDA on Monday gave full approval to the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older. A physician breaks down what this means for San Diego’s vaccination effort. Plus, a look at the top four candidates looking to replace Gov. Newsom if he’s recalled. Larry Elder is the leading Republican candidate, but critics say his ideology is a threat to California. Also, as in-person learning r...

The U.S. government is extending a ban on nonessential travel along the borders with Canada and Mexico to slow the spread of COVID-19. And, a preview of arts events this weekend in San Diego, including Yo-Yo Ma coming to the Shell and TwainFest in Old Town.

A recent San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting turned ugly as some protestors became upset at members of the board over proposed masking and testing requirements for workplaces, schools and hospitals. Plus, the San Diego Unified School District will be one of the first districts in the state to roll out a transitional kindergarten program this fall. Then, how remote working has changed San...

We talk to La Jolla Institute of Immunology’s Dr. Shane Crotty about health officials recommending that vaccinated people get a COVID-19 booster shot. Plus, with the school year starting, we talk about the latest guidance on what to do when a student tests positive for COVID-19. And, the binational Friendship Park has its 50th anniversary today, but is stil not fully reopened. A group of activists...

Now that the Taliban has virtually seized full control of Afghanistan, the lingering threat of international terror is on the minds of many Americans. Plus, a new program in California is offering stipends to volunteers, in an effort to bring climate change solutions to urban and rural communities throughout the state, including here in San Diego. Also, a sewage testing program at UCSD could be ke...

The scenes from Kabul, of people clinging to U.S. military planes in a desperate effort to escape the approaching Taliban, echo the end of another failed U.S. war. The end of the Vietnam War created the same kind of chaos in Saigon. Now, many Americans, both in and out of the military are asking, “how could this have happened again?” Plus, San Diego's hospitals are struggling to keep up with a hig...

As coronavirus infections increase in San Diego, so are related hospitalizations and health officials are hoping to see some relief for tired staff soon. Plus, what to know about the Gubernatorial Recall Election on Sept. 14. And, a preview of the arts events around town, including: a pop-up version of La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls Festival, SummerFest and outdoor art fun.

The CDC is urging all pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The advice comes as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus. Plus, the family of a Vista man who died by suicide while in county jail is suing the county for wrongful death. Also, one year after Joseph DeAngelo was sentenced to life in prison for...

California will become the first state in the nation to require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Plus, a new city official is now in charge of finding solutions to the city’s chronic homelessness problem. Also, the first ever Olympic “park skateboarding” event was dominated by skaters who either live in San Diego, were born here, trained here or a...

We talk with an infectious disease specialist about vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers. Plus, is it a good idea for a fully vaccinated person to get an extra dose of vaccine to boost immunity to the Delta variant? Then, the effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom is shaping up to be more of a battle than previously thought. Later, dozens of charrerías across the country offer spectators a l...

Cutting emissions now and in the near future could still save humanity from climate catastrophe, but it won’t save us from the climate changes we’re already experiencing, according to a new United Nations report. Plus, author Amanda Ripley talks about how certain issues, such as climate change, become politicized and can lead to discussion surrounding those issues becoming toxic. And, owners of sp...

In the first California recall debate this week, four Republican contenders traded few jabs at each other, but concentrated on a litany of complaints against Newsom and the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Plus, the phenomenon of breakthrough cases is making people concerned about COVID again. And, this weekend in arts, the San Diego Symphony opens the Shell, an interactive photography exhibit o...

COVID-19 hospitalizations are steadily rising, with unvaccinated individuals making up the bulk of those affected. Also, with the Delta variant also infecting children too young to receive the vaccine, we decided to ask experts in infectious disease and public health how they’re keeping their children safe. Plus, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are moving quickly to vaccinate their vulnerable an...

The city of San Diego is suing the real estate brokerage firm and broker who advised the housing commission in acquiring two hotels to house unsheltered people during the peak of the pandemic. Plus, the economic divide is showing up in vaccination rates across California. Medi-Cal enrollees have been vaccinated at substantially lower rates than the overall population. Also, the Biden administratio...

San Diego County Looks To Increase Testing Capacity With Rise Of Delta Variant Description: As demand for COVID-19 testing rises, local health officials and health providers take action. Plus, the San Diego City Council Monday passed an ordinance intended to crack down on firearms without serial numbers, otherwise known as "ghost guns.” Then, the Dark Horse Battalion, based at Camp Pendleton, exam...

With 70 percent of eligible San Diego County residents fully vaccinated, the Delta variant continues to spread. Plus, the impending civil sex abuse lawsuit of defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick could lead to more men speaking up about their past sexual trauma. Then, child care centers are trying to figure out how to balance increasing class sizes and flexibility so they can stay in business wit...

An internal CDC report says Delta variant infections are likely more severe and vaccinated people may spread it just as easily as the unvaccinated. Scripps Research Director Eric Topol weighs in on the report. And, this weekend in the arts: “Twenty Women Artists: NOW” wraps up its exhibition, the 2021 Juried Biennial Exhibition hosts its closing reception, and SD Practice continues at two location...

The term "Latinx" has been used increasingly in recent years to describe the Latin-American community as a whole within the United States. While these efforts have been applauded by some for the term's intended inclusivity, usage of the word has also been met with strong backlash - with many still unsure exactly what it means and who falls under the identity of "Latinx."

San Diego County officials are now following the lead of the CDC in recommending that all residents, vaccinated or not, wear masks in indoor public spaces. Also, the latest in the 101 Ash Street debacle may lead to the city being evicted from Civic Center Plaza. Plus, North County has a new rehabilitation hospital. Then, a new book showcases the 120 year history of Scripps Institution of Oceanogra...

As vaccine mandates increase, it remains to be seen how successful they will be, and what level of backlash they may provoke. Also, between spiking case rates and a potential return of a mask mandate, some San Diegans are saying they’re experiencing “COVID whiplash.” Plus, a San Diego lawyer said he was discriminated against for “banking while black” when he tried to cash a large settlement check...