KPBS Midday Edition

Roughly 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and healthcare workers in California and Hawaii went on strike this week . The union alleges unfair labor practices amid prolonged contract talks. Workers on the picket lines are fighting for safe staffing levels and fair wages for caregivers. We discuss what healthcare workers are fighting for, how Kaiser Permanente is responding, and what patients need to...

Over 42 million Americans have student loan debt, with a total of more than $1.6 trillion owed. Late last year, the Trump administration announced plans to begin garnishing the wages of borrowers in default on student loans, but backtracked earlier this month. The result has created confusion for many facing student loan debt. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we breakdown some of the biggest changes in...

Mass protests against the current regime in Iran have been ongoing since late December. Iranian security forces have killed thousands. Many more have been arrested. It's been called the deadliest unrest in the country since the 1979 revolution. A near-total internet blackout continues, limiting communication and adding to uncertainty. We sit down with one Iranian American in San Diego, concerned a...

For more than a year, plans for a $10 billion data center have been quietly moving forward in Imperial County. By some estimates, it could rank among the largest data centers in the world. The center would use immense amounts of energy and water. But the developer is openly trying to avoid California's environmental review process. We sit down with KPBS reporter Kori Suzuki to discuss his three-pa...

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer ordered flags on county property to be flown at half-staff in response to recent violence involving federal immigration enforcement agencies in Minnesota. Lawson-Remer joins Midday Edition Monday to talk about her reaction to the killing of Alex Pretti by a federal officer Saturday, and what local leaders are doing to try to prevent si...

Two years ago today, historic flooding devastated neighborhoods and displaced communities across San Diego. The destruction also left many arts and culture spaces in ruin. Thursday on Midday Edition, we sit down with two local arts groups — Graffiti Gardens and PASACAT — to talk about the hardships that came from the flooding and how they have rebuilt since. Then, Oscar nominations are out! Our Mi...

San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital this week announced that it will stop offering gender-affirming care under the threat of losing federal funding. The hospital is the only in San Diego County dedicated solely to pediatric care. On Midday Edition, we speak with the leader of a prominent transgender advocacy group ahead of a planned protest this weekend. Guest:Kathie Moehlig, founder and executiv...

On Jan. 22, 2024, floods devastated San Diego neighborhoods in the Chollas Creek watershed. Thousands of residents were forced out of their homes that day. Videos show cars completely submerged in water. Some escaped on kayaks, while others gathered on their rooftops. On Midday Edition, we talk about San Diego's ongoing effort to fix its stormwater system. And, where litigation stands between the...

The U.S. government released new dietary guidelines earlier this month. The guidance adds greater emphasis on proteins and healthy fats, and limits processed and ultra-processed foods. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we get reaction from health and food experts to the new guidelines, and what families should take away from them. Guests: Cheryl Anderson , dean, professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Publ...

One year ago, Donald Trump was sworn into office for the second time. Experts agree that his first term was largely unpredictable. But his second term has been marked by an even greater sense of volatility, unprecedented action and seismic shifts in both domestic and foreign policy. We break down the major policies that defined the first year of Trump's second term. And, what we should expect head...

Each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we look back at the reverend's legacy and how his fight for racial and economic justice resounds today. But the holiday comes during a politically and socially turbulent time in the United States and amid recent efforts to undermine King's legacy — like the Trump administration's removal of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth as free entry days to nat...

25 years ago, Point Loma’s Liberty Station began its transformation from military base to arts center. It was renamed Arts District Liberty Station — and soon became a cultural hub for the city. In fact, it was recently designated as a California Cultural District for its contribution to the arts. Thursday on Midday Edition, we talk about the place Liberty Station has in San Diego's arts and cultu...

A local Indigenous-owned company is making waves in the beauty industry. N8iV Beauty is a skincare brand that draws from ancestral traditions, infusing that knowledge and plant-based ingredients — like acorn oil — into its products. Last year, the company won a 2025 “Best of Beauty” award from Allure , making them the first Indigenous-owned brand to receive that recognition. Wednesday on Midday Ed...

Many parents worry about their kids talking to strangers on the internet.  What if those strangers are not human, but bots? Concerns over kids’ exposure to artificial intelligence have led to growing efforts to regulate that exposure. We sit down with one San Diego lawmaker who authored a law to put guardrails on toys with AI chatbot capabilities.  Guest: State Sen. Steve Padilla ,...

It’s been nearly two weeks since lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill, and a possible health care compromise is still on the table to bring federal health care subsidies back. Last week, the House passed a bipartisan proposal that could extend the subsidies. In the meantime, health care premiums are soaring for many Americans — including right here in California. This Wednesday on Midday Edition, we...

Child care providers are bracing for impact amid the Trump administration's efforts to freeze roughly $10 billion in child care and family assistance funding — $5 billion of which are allocated to California. This comes amid allegations from conservative activists of fraud in the child care industry. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear from two child care experts about the domino effect this could...

Take a walk through Balboa Park, and you'll find dozens of historic cottages celebrating cultures around the world. The volunteer-driven "houses" are officially called the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages. They promote education, community and cultural understanding. Now, the House of Somalia is joining them to become the first African country represented by the Balboa Park cottag...

In recent years, San Diego County jails have seen a sharp increase in overdose deaths. One recovery program in the Vista jail is trying to change that through medication-assisted treatment . More jails are embracing the approach amid the growing fentanyl crisis. We discuss the medication-assisted treatment program and what it could mean for drug rehabilitation in San Diego jails. Guest: Kelly Davi...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidelines for childhood vaccines last week. That advice, however, runs counter to recommendations from California and San Diego County public health officials .  On Midday Edition Monday, we hear from a local infectious disease expert on the CDC's changes, and why guidance remains unchanged for families in San Diego County...

Under a new state law, a statewide board has designated 31 California colleges as Black-Serving Institutions. Two San Diego community colleges made the list — San Diego City College and San Diego Mesa College. On Midday Edition, we sit down with the presidents of the two colleges to talk about what the designation means and how they're serving Black students in San Diego. Guests: Ashanti Hands , p...

“Chaotic, dusty, loud—and perfect.” That’s how writer Mariano Velez describes life in Calexico in his short story collection, “Mostly Made-Up Stories from a Small Town Nobody,” based on his own upbringing in the region during the 1970s and 1980s. Thursday on Midday Edition, we hear from Velez about the inspiration behind the book. Then, KPBS' Beth Accomando sits down with comics curator Caitlin Mc...

The city of San Diego is suing the federal government over their construction of wire fencing on city-owned land in Marron Valley, near the U.S.-Mexico border. The lawsuit accuses federal agencies of trespassing and causing environmental damage on protected land.  "They are taking city property without telling us, without paying for it, without even communicating about it," said San Diego Cit...

Five years ago, insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol. Four died during the attack, including Ashli Babbitt from San Diego. In the days and weeks that followed, five police officers died — some by suicide.  Today House Democrats held a special hearing to observe what happened that day. They called for accountability and accused President Donald Trump and his supporters of attempting to "w...

For people who live and work near the Tijuana River, raw sewage-turned-airborne pollution is a facet of daily life. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear about a new reporting series from inewsource diving into the impact of the sewage crisis on more than 100 community members. Plus, what could Medi-Cal cuts mean for the San Diego healthcare system? We dig into the possible impacts . Guests: Philip S...

With the new year comes new resolutions, from self-care and beauty to exercise — all of which feed into this broader idea of wellness. Monday on Midday Edition, we hear from a local yoga instructor and the founder of the Block Club to talk about their respective approaches to achieving wellness and how they are starting those conversations in the community. Guests: Sally Morgan , yoga instructor,...