KPBS Midday Edition

A July executive order puts restrictions on how federal funding can be spent by harm reduction programs, which provide assistance to people who use drugs or struggle with addiction. Wednesday on Midday Edition, we hear how this might impact outreach in San Diego. Guest:Heidi de Marco, health reporter, KPBS

A summer COVID-19 wave is spreading across California, according to public health experts. More than 12 percent of tests statewide at the end of August came back positive — double the rate of positive tests at the end of July, according to The Los Angeles Times. A similar increase shows nearly 13 percent of tests in San Diego County coming back positive, according to the county's Health and H...

New research led by the UC San Diego Institution of Oceanography confirmed what residents in San Diego's South Bay have been saying for years: Pollution from the Tijuana River affects not just water, but also air quality. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear more about the research and what it means for the health of South Bay residents. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. International...

Last Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new state task force aimed at clearing encampments from the state's streets. Monday on Midday Edition, we hear about Newsom's latest effort to address the homelessness crisis and what those efforts could mean for San Diego. Guest:Marisa Kendall, homelessness reporter, CalMatters

Twenty-five years ago, Ópera de Tijuana was founded by a small group of opera lovers who brought the art form to Mexico's second-largest city. In October, they're celebrating a quarter century of passion, perseverance and community with a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana. On Midday Edition, we sit down with the artistic director and a tenor to hear about their passion for Ópera de Tijuana. Plus...

August is Transgender History Month in California. The Lambda Archive of San Diego works to preserve the history of the local LGBTQ+ community. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we hear about a project the organization is working on to highlight the history of minorities and the trans community in the San Diego-Tijuana border region. Guest:Gabrielle Garcia, head archivist, Lambda Archives of San Diego

California voters this November will weigh in on Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to redraw U.S. House districts. The goal of the new ballot initiative is to give Democrats a better chance at winning additional seats in next year’s midterm elections. The move would counter an earlier Trump-backed Republican effort in Texas to do the same. Live on Midday Edition, California state Sen. Akilah Weber discusse...

The White House recently published a list of artworks in Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. that it deems objectionable or “divisive,” calling out artworks or museum programs that cover themes of race, immigration and sexuality. One of the works on the list was created by local cross-border artist Hugo Crosthwaite. The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery commissioned him to create a portrai...

Aug. 26 marks Women's Equality Day. On this day in 1920, the passage of the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote — in theory. For women who weren’t white, it took several decades longer to gain access to the polls. Now in 2025, women are still fighting for equality, from reproductive rights to workplace protections — especially women of color. On Midday Edition, we discuss the complicate...

San Diego city planners recently released a draft update to the Clairemont Community Plan. The changes would rezone many of the neighborhood’s strip malls and shopping centers to allow for higher-density housing. In western Clairemont, near the Blue Line trolley stations, however, the neighborhood would remain largely unchanged. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we discuss the changes and the attitudes a...

New reporting shows a significant portion of new homes in San Diego County are being built near freeways. We discuss concerns over pollution and congestion as the county attempts to build more housing and address the affordability crisis. Plus, we discuss San Ysidro Health's social prescribing initiative, which uses a U.K.-based strategy to encourage patients to embrace arts and culture as medicin...

The Tijuana River Estuary carries both historic and cultural significance for the indigenous Kumeyaay people. But for decades, the river has suffered from environmental degradation, rampant pollution and an ongoing sewage crisis. A new Kumeyaay play called "Shuuluk Wechuwvi – Where Lightning Was Born” debuts this Saturday. It uses theater and comics to tell the story of the Tijuana River Valley, h...

Bob Marley's 1977 song "Jamming" isn't just a catchy tune — it's a celebration of togetherness, community, peace and mutual respect. MarleyZiggy ap1 c.jpg (3912x4890, AR: 0.8)The iconic song is also the inspiration behind the latest children's book by Bob Marley's eldest son, Ziggy Marley. The book is called "Pajammin': A Reggae Pajama Party for the Whole Family."Ziggy Marley is a nine-time Grammy...

California's attorney general says police agencies that share license plate reader data with out-of-state and federal law enforcement agencies may be violating a state sanctuary law. But in El Cajon, the police department continues to share data with out-of-state agencies. That's led to a disagreement between the police department and the state over how to define a "public agency."On Midday Editio...

A new youth-led podcast called "Voices del Valle" features stories about growing up in the rural border region of Imperial Valley. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear from some of the young people behind the series as they reflect on what makes "el Valle" so unique.“Voices del Valle” is part of the KPBS Explore Local Content Project. Guests:Evan Harper, co-host, "Voices del Valle"Grace Estelle Nava...

San Diego County's unemployment rate hit a four-year high, according to state labor data released last week, all while the region has the highest inflation rate in the United States. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we hear from a local economist on what that means for the regional economy heading into the fall months. Guests:Daniel Enemark, chief economist, Policy & Innovation Center

The fight for redistricting continues in California and Texas. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that he will move forward with his proposed ballot measure that, if approved by voters in November, could temporarily redraw California's congressional maps. Monday on Midday Edition, we hear from a local political scientist who breaks down what this measure means for the state and for the...

Bestselling author, political strategist and former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams will headline the inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival on Aug. 23. Abrams joined Midday Edition on Thursday to talk about her latest book, "Coded Justice," which dives into the ethical questions around the use of AI in the healthcare industry. "What I want us to think about with AI is that it's an extr...

Wildfires are becoming bigger, deadlier and even more destructive across California. Firefighting efforts are also intensifying in response. On Midday Edition Wednesday, we hear from Jordan Thomas, anthropologist and author of the book “When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World," about his experience fighting fires as a Los Padres Hotshot and his deep-dive into the cultural histories...

Writer and director Larry Charles has been an influential voice in American comedy for decades. From his groundbreaking work on TV series such as “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to films like “Borat” and “The Dictator,” you likely have laughed at his work over the years. But his lifelong dedication to laughter comes with a life-and-death seriousness, which he explores in his new memoir "Come...

Environmental groups are celebrating a ruling from the California Supreme Court related to rooftop solar panels. The California Public Utilities Commission reduced financial incentives for homeowners to install solar power in 2022.The court's ruling does not change those incentives, but will allow for the appeals court to revisit the commission's authority to make changes to credits for rooftop so...

San Diego County’s longtime treasurer Dan McAllister suddenly retired this month after more than two decades in office. While the county has praised McAllister’s service over that time, court records reveal that two sexual harassment lawsuits were filed against him during his tenure. One of those cases had gone unreported until recently, and resulted in the county paying out a six-figure settlemen...

Building better public transit is difficult and expensive in California. Even with the right funding and voter approval, some transit projects can't seem to get off the ground. A new report from Circulate San Diego, "The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can't Build Transit" looks at one factor behind these delays — permitting challenges — and what it might take for California to get better at bui...

Friday marks the beginning of the San Diego Black Pride festival, a three-day event that celebrates Black queerness and joy in San Diego. On Midday Edition, we hear about how San Diego Black Pride is continuing to build safe and affirming spaces for Black LGBTQ+ people across the region. Then, in San Diego, summer is a season of Shakespeare. In this month's edition of Midday Movies, our critics sh...

One of San Diego's most beloved attractions turned 100 this year. The Giant Dipper roller coaster at Belmont Park carried its first riders on July 4, 1925.The amusement park is still bustling a century later, holding a lot of history within it. On Midday Edition, we sit down with the park's general manager to hear how they're celebrating 100 years. Guest:Steve Thomas, Belmont Park general manager