KPBS Midday Edition

This Saturday, Latino authors from all over the world will converge in San Diego for the 27th annual International Latino Book Awards . Thursday on Midday Edition, we sit down with its co-founder and a renowned author to talk about the significance of the awards and what they see for the future of Latino literature. Plus, the La Jolla Playhouse is debuting a musical adaptation of the 1988 hit film...

The popular podcast "Hidden Brain" is celebrating its 10th anniversary of telling stories about how our minds influence our actions and decisions. Host Shankar Vedantam joined Midday Edition Wednesday to talk about how the show has evolved over the years, and what makes the human mind such a fascinating subject. Guest:Shankar Vedantam, host/ executive editor, "Hidden Brain"

What if you could go back and relive past regrets? That's the premise behind Mitch Albom's latest book "Twice."Albom is a bestselling author known for the celebrated bestselling memoir "Tuesdays with Morrie," "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," and "The Little Liar."He joined Midday Edition Wednesday to talk about his work and the life lessons he's picked up during his career as an author, sport...

The city and county of San Diego are ramping up their efforts to limit local cooperation with immigration enforcement in the region. Wednesday on Midday Edition, we dive into the San Diego City Council's latest vote to restrict cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Guest:Andrew Bowen, KPBS, metro reporter 

Solitary confinement is the focus of a new court filing in a class-action lawsuit against San Diego County and the Sheriff's Office. A request for a preliminary injunction was filed in federal court last week asking a federal judge to limit how long people can be held in solitary confinement. More than a dozen people have described inhumane conditions inside separation cells in San Diego jails. We...

Reports of anti-Jewish bias statewide have doubled between 2021 and 2024, according to the California Department of Justice. Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill aiming to tackle antisemitism in schools — igniting questions over whether the government should be involved in defining antisemitism in educational settings. And, how legislators should balance the needs of Jewish communities alongside co...

Dozens of American medical workers have volunteered in the Gaza Strip since 2023. That includes local emergency room nurse Amanda Nasser. She traveled to Gaza in August and treated patients at Nasser Hospital, one of the few functioning hospitals in the region. Monday on Midday Edition, we hear about Nasser's experiences on the ground and how she is reflecting on her journey since returning from G...

More than one billion people across India and around the world celebrate Diwali, according to survey data from Pew Research. The five-day festival symbolizes victory of light over darkness. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill recognizing Diwali as an official state holiday. We discuss its significance with one of the bill's authors. Guests:Darshana Patel, California State Assem...

Shrapnel from a Marine artillery round struck a California Highway Patrol vehicle on Saturday. The mishap took place along the Interstate 5 during celebrations to mark the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th birthday. We get the latest on the event, and the live-fire exercise behind the incident. Plus, a recap of Saturday's "No Kings" protests in San Diego, and what issues were on the minds of protesters. Gu...

A new middle grade book takes us to the San Diego neighborhood of Palm City, where a young girl is growing up against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. The book, “Yoli’s Favorite Things,” follows 12-year old Yolanda or "Yoli" as she makes a pact with God to keep her brother Chuy from getting drafted. Thursday on Midday Edition, we hear about how the author folded much of her own upbringing and life...

Parents of toddlers are familiar with the problem of kids putting things in their mouths that they shouldn't. A new picture book called "That's Not Food!" captures that experience in a creative and hilarious fashion. On Midday Edition Wednesday, San Diego author Mara Altman talks about how raising twin toddlers inspired her to make a children's book featuring dishes like "slime pie" and "cactus pa...

In late September, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling antifa a "domestic terrorist organization."Experts say the order is on shaky legal grounds, antifa — short for anti-fascist — is more of an ideology than an organization. Still, the Trump administration appears eager to prosecute those it labels antifa. A 2021 case involving alleged antifa supporters in Pacific Beach could...

We are wrapping up Hispanic Heritage Month with a book that celebrates the vast contributions and vibrant histories of Latinos across San Diego.“We Made San Diego” compiles the diverse stories of important figures and organizations who shaped the region as we know it today. It has earned various awards over the years, including an International Latino Book Award in 2021.Wednesday on Midday Edition...

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we are sit with Latinx leaders who are giving back to the community. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we sit down with the executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation to talk about health care access for underserved communities, and how her family's history of advocacy launched her into a life of community service. Guest:Elsa Morales-Roth, executive dir...

TikTok continues to take the world by storm — and the geopolitical conflict around it is ballooning. The Trump administration says a group of American investors is expected to take over TikTok’s U.S. data operations from ByteDance, its Chinese parent company. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear about a new book that chronicles the rise of TikTok, and its profound impact on our political and social...

Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed several bills that were part of the statewide reparations effort. The vetoed bills are related to university admissions, home buying and unjust property seizures. This comes days after Newsom signed Senate Bill 518 to establish a state bureau for descendants of American slavery. We discuss what the governor's decisions mean for the first-in-the-nation reparations effor...

Indigenous Peoples' Day is a celebration of Indigenous resilience, culture, history, art, protest and storytelling. In San Diego County, there are 18 federally recognized tribal reservations — more than any other county in the United States. On Midday Edition, we sit down with Indigenous leaders to discuss the value of tradition, oral history and imaginative storytelling in preserving culture. Gue...

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Friday that allows for greater housing density near public transit stations across the state. Senate Bill 79 supersedes local zoning rules in the hopes of increasing housing production in the state. On Midday Edition Monday, we hear from one California housing advocate on why he thinks its passage is "the most significant housing bill that...

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we are profiling trailblazers in the community about their commitment to their craft and contributions to the San Diego region. Thursday on Midday Edition, the executive director and CEO of the San Diego Museum of Art talks about her journey into the arts and what she sees for the future of San Diego's thriving, binational arts and culture scene. Then, a unique...

Many can thank youth sports for wonderful memories out in the sun — tossing a ball, scoring goals and even spraining an ankle or two. KPBS video journalist Mikey Damron explores his youth sports journey — and that of his son's — in his new video series, "Game-Time Decision." We hear the details. Plus, the culture and politics of surfing and skateboarding are the focus of a conference coming to SDS...

California's special redistricting election is underway, as ballots for Proposition 50 hit voters' mailboxes. We hear analysis from a local political scientist. Then, San Diego once had a large, thriving and tight-knit Black community in the region. But over the years, policies like redlining and other forces of displacement drove many Black San Diegans from their neighborhoods — that story is exp...

The San Diego Filipino Film Festival (SDFFF) kicks off Thursday with a four-day celebration of Filipino cinema. The festival includes films exploring themes of family, climate change, LGBTQ+ identity and more. Monday on Midday Edition, KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando looks at how the festival is continuing to celebrate film and community. Guests:Benito Bautista, founder, SDFFFSami Andico, progra...

The California Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the city of El Cajon on Friday over its controversial license plate surveillance program. The lawsuit comes after KPBS reported that the El Cajon Police Department is openly defying a 2023 legal bulletin, which prohibits sharing data from license plate reader systems with outside agencies. We discuss the latest and how the lawsuit fits into t...

Hispanic Heritage Month is well underway and we are highlighting leaders in our region who have dedicated their lives to serving the community. We sit down with the CEO of MAAC San Diego, a nonprofit that runs education, health and housing programs and much more, all with a focus on economic mobility. Guest: Arnulfo Manriquez, president and CEO, MAAC

Thursday marks the 2nd annual San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival, which brings jazz luminaries from both sides of the border together in a celebration of San Diego and Tijuana's rich jazz history. Thursday on Midday Edition, we hear about some of that history and tradition from two local jazz figures behind the festival. Plus, the play “All the Men Who’ve Frightened Me,” which is curren...