KPBS Midday Edition

Concerns over the impact of AI are growing after a former researcher at Anthropic, a major AI company, announced his resignation with a warning: AI could kill humanity by the end of the decade. Recent news and other concerns raised by those in the AI space have led to discussions about the safety of AI and growing calls for regulation. We sit down with a local expert to discuss these predictions,...

A new report finds a steady stream of pollutants in the Tijuana River watershed, including industrial chemicals and heavy metals. E. coli levels in the watershed are often 30,000 times higher than the federal standard for freshwater bodies. And, some chemicals discovered by researchers don't have documented thresholds because they're not expected to be found in water. "The findings indicate the pr...

It has been one week since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a Haitian student near the San Diego City College campus. Elected leaders, community members and school officials have condemned ICE's actions. It comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haitian and Syrian immigrants earlier thi...

The youth-led podcast Voices del Valle is back with a new season of stories about growing up in the Imperial Valley. Produced by students at El Centro's Central Union High School, the new season features stories about what it's like to be homeschooled, youth incarceration and much more. The new season, also includes interviews with high-profile guests who grew up in the Imperial Valley, including...

Under federal guidelines, migrants should not be detained in temporary detention facilities for more than three days. But here in San Diego, some families with children have been detained at these stations for weeks at a time. Now, a federal judge is establishing an independent monitor to oversee facilities in San Diego, among other locations. We discuss the data and what it means for migrants in...

The San Diego District Attorney's office recently announced it will not file criminal charges against police officer Daniel Gold, who shot and killed 16-year-old Konoa Wilson in Jan. 2025. In a 14-page letter, the District Attorney's office said there was "not a criminal charge provable beyond a reasonable doubt" in the case against Officer Gold. But some community members are questioning that dec...

A new illustrated memoir for young readers takes us to the strawberry fields of California’s Central Coast. In the book “Mexikid Dreams,” author and illustrator Pedro Martín draws on his own experiences growing up in a sharecropping family and dreaming of a life in the arts. It is the follow up to his first book, “Mexikid,” which won the prestigious Newbery Award in 2024. Then, KPBS arts reporter...

San Diegans have been doing their best to stay cool during the region's latest heatwave, which has pushed temperatures well above normal, and at times to record highs . The heat has been exacerbated by unusually high humidity. An extreme heat warning continues Wednesday for much of San Diego County. On Midday Edition Wednesday, we talk about the latest heatwave, how it's impacting communities, and...

For years, residents in the Chollas Creek community have been living alongside two cancer-causing chemicals. A state order warns about the danger of these chemicals — which are used in aerospace manufacturing. But some residents are just now learning about the contamination. We talk about what's being done to mitigate the pollution and the harm to the Chollas Creek community. Guest: Philip Salata...

Earlier this year, a KPBS investigation revealed the owner of an ICE detention facility had received at least $6 million in tax breaks typically reserved for charities. That investigation got the attention of state leaders. California lawmakers recently passed legislation to end the Welfare Exemption , the state credit used by the owners of the Imperial Regional Detention Facility for years. Gover...

Old sections of the Tijuana-San Diego border fence at Friendship Park are being transformed into tables as part of a new art exhibit. The exhibit, "The Traveling Tables of Amistad" will be on display at the Museum of Us in Balboa Park from Sept. 9 to 16. We hear about about the exhibit ties into the history of Friendship Park and cross-border connection. Then, KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando pre...

The San Diego-based carrier docked in Thailand Wednesday, providing a moment of respite for crew members after reports of grueling conditions and supply shortages aboard the ship.

The process of egg freezing is gaining mainstream popularity, with several female politicians sharing their experiences publicly. We sit down with a fertility expert to talk about what you should know, from cost to timeline.

A new crime thriller by a former professional football player explores a different side of San Diego, away from what the public usually sees. " Tear the City Down ," the debut novel from Andre Hardy, tells the story of a fixer named Coltrane Davis as he navigates San Diego's underworld, searching for a missing football star— and redemption. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we speak with Hardy about what...

Here in California, the San Andreas Fault is a constant presence in our daily lives whether we think about it or not. But this century has been a relatively quiet one for the 800-mile fault line. New research from the University of Hawai'i suggests that the San Andreas fault has reached its highest stress level in 1,000 years. On Midday Edition, we talk about what a hypothetical earthquake scenari...

A North Carolina teenager was indicted Monday in connection to the Islamic Center of San Diego shooting back in May, which killed three people. KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindmon sits down with Imam Taha Hassane, the director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, to discuss how the community is reacting and the impact of Islamophobia, anti-Muslim bias and radicalization online. Guest: Imam Taha H...

What would happen if a weaponized pathogen was inadvertently released on the world? A new book from best-selling author and investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen asks that question in " Biological War: A Scenario." The answers she finds are concerning for not only the U.S., but for all of humanity. On Midday Edition Monday, Jacobsen shared how the book centers on science rather than science fict...

The city of San Diego is dealing with a budget deficit. Some efforts to cut costs have been met with public scrutiny — like the recent decision to close bathrooms in Mission Bay Park. A new investigation from The San Diego-Union Tribune takes us to Ocean Beach, where the Barnes Tennis Center sits along the shoreline. They find that the club is collecting millions in revenue, while paying $50 a mon...

Each day, millions of gallons of raw sewage and toxic waste flow through the Tijuana River and are then dumped into the Pacific Ocean. The pollution continues to be a major environmental and health concern on both sides of the border — and policymakers, scientists and community groups have been trying to address the issue for decades. KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindmon sits down with one of the...

For the longest time, author Sona Movsesian had her own ideas of what an ideal mom should be like — until she became pregnant with her two twin boys. In her newest book, "The World's Worst Mom," Movsesian embraces the imperfections and messiness that comes with motherhood by taking readers through her own parenting journey. KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindmon sat down with Movsesian to talk abou...

Californians have a tool to help them remove personal data collected by data brokers. The web platform, called the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP,) allows California residents to make a single request to delete their data being used by data broker companies. Those companies then have 45 days to comply with the request before facing penalties or fines. On Midday Wednesday, we learn more...

Recent policy changes at the Pentagon show that senior leadership is prioritizing grooming standards — especially when it comes to shaving. We hear about what the shaving policy entails, why it could disproportionately impact Black servicemembers and what it signals about present-day military culture. Guest: Andrew Dyer, military and veteran affairs reporter, KPBS

The Supreme Court this week sided with President Donald Trump's executive order to restrict mail-in voting — at least for now. The high court's ruling wasn't about the legality of President Trump's order; rather, the legal path that states took to try and block it. A new lawsuit filed Wednesday by Democratic states challenges a new U.S. Postal Service rule, which limits who may receive mail ballot...

Concerns over food safety are growing this summer after a massive cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce. There have been recent reports of other food safety scares, including salmonella in eggs and jalapeños , E. coli in frozen blueberries and more. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we discuss the outbreaks and what it reveals about our current food system. Then, new research from UC...

What is your relationship to the ocean? Here in San Diego, we are lucky to be in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. But you don't have to live close to the water to be impacted by it. Monday on Midday Edition, we sit down with one of the speakers at this year's TEDxSanDiego , to discuss our connection to the ocean and what we can do to protect it. Guest: Christina Connett Brophy, president and...