KPBS Midday Edition

In October, San Diego State University senior and student athlete Alicia Guerrero stepped up to the podium twice at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, winning bronze in discus and shot put. For the past year, Guerrero has trained with SDSU's Adapted Athletics program. It is the first elite collegiate adaptive sports program in California. Monday on Midday Edition, Guerrero talks about he...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere — from our office buildings, to schools and government agencies. The Chula Vista Police Department is joining cities to use AI to write police reports. Several San Diego County police departments also use AI-powered drones to support their work. Civil liberties advocates are concerned about privacy, safety and surveillance. On Midday Edition, we sit down with...

On Día de Muertos, the ofrenda — or altar — honors loved ones who have passed away. In Tijuana, one group is raising awareness with a special ofrenda honoring journalists who have been killed from Mexico to Gaza. The ofrenda is on display now at CEART Tijuana. We discuss the details with a long-time Tijuana journalist. Then, we check in with our resident film critics for a special Halloween editio...

Spooky stories aren’t all about the fear factor. They often teach us something about our region’s history, too. This Halloween season, Midday Edition revisits an archive episode exploring the history behind some of the places considered to be the most haunted in San Diego County, from The Whaley House to the Hotel del Coronado. We also learn about the ghosts rumored to live there. Then, a paranorm...

Three Palestinian American alumni and students from UC San Diego will share their family stories and close connections to Gaza in a panel, "We Are Tritons: From Gaza to UCSD," Tuesday evening. On Midday Edition, we sit down with two of the panelists to hear about their roots in the region, how they stayed connected to Palestinian culture and identity, and how war has impacted their families. Guest...

The cheapest housing option in San Diego has long been dorm-style rooms. Those single-occupancy units, or SROs, can be life-changing — for the tenants lucky enough to get placed in them. But they're rapidly disappearing, and the city can't seem to turn that around. Guest: Katie Hyson , racial justice and social equity reporter, KPBS

CalFresh recipients will not be getting their November benefits on time. The delays for California's food assistance program are a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, which is now nearing the 30 day mark. The delays also come as the region has seen a rise in food insecurity. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we hear how the delays will impact the nearly 400,000 San Diegans who depend on fo...

October is Filipino American History Month. Monday on Midday Edition, we dive into Filipino American activism and how local community organizers are applying lessons from the past to meet the current political moment. Then, we sit down with a local arts leader with strong ties in San Diego to learn about the thriving Philippine performing arts scene and its rich history. Guests:Amanda Solomon Amor...

California voters have until next Tuesday, Nov. 4, to vote on Proposition 50 — which would allow the state to temporarily redraw its congressional maps. With about a week to go before voting is done, we check in on where the race stands and how fundraising is going on both sides. Guest:Jeanne Kuang, capitol reporter for CalMatters

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...