KPBS Midday Edition

Words like cryptocurrency, the blockchain and bitcoin have taken hold in our collective vocabulary. But understanding the meaning and the digital mechanics behind these words can prove difficult. KPBS Midday Edition sits down with a local financial expert for basic tips on making sense of crypto, avoiding scams and getting started. Guest : Timothy O'Donovan , professor of finance, and the Universi...

For the second year in a row, San Diego’s own Tara Monsod is a finalist for Best Chef in California by the esteemed James Beard Awards for her work at local restaurants Animae and Le Coq. Chef Tara sat down with Midday Edition to talk about her recent accolades and what drives her culinary creations. Plus, our Midday Movies critics share their breakdown of the genre-defying blockbuster hit, "Sinne...

Cover - GOLD COAST DILEMMA.jpg (1399x2173, AR: 0.6438104003681546) It's easy to get lost in a good romance book. From the classic "enemies to lovers" trope, to workplace rivals — there's a little something for everyone. The clash between cultural expectations and forbidden love are at the center of San Diego-based author Nana Malone's new book, " Gold Coast Dilemma ." On Midday Edition, we discuss...

Today, April 30, marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Sàigòn when thousands of Vietnamese fled political persecution, then millions more in the following years. San Diego was one of the first points of entry for many Vietnamese refugees escaping the communist government. A new KPBS video series, Fall of Sàigòn at 50: Stories of loss, legacy & identity , takes a look back at the events hal...

April marks Jazz Appreciation Month. On Midday Edition Monday, we get to know the artists behind the jazz scene in our binational region. From an acclaimed jazz singer to a soulful saxophonist, join us as we celebrate jazz with the folks keeping it alive and well from San Diego to Tijuana. Guests : Leonard Patton , professional singer, musician, actor, composer Holly Hofmann , jazz flutist Natalia...

Black Americans’ relationship to the Pacific Ocean between the 16th and 20th centuries is the focus of a new exhibit on display at the Central Library in downtown San Diego. It's called " Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific ." On Midday Edition, we talk about the exhibit with the curator behind the project. Then, we get a preview of the Without Walls Festival , featuring interacti...

The past five years have been a period of transformation, changing how San Diego County treats San Diegans struggling with mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness. Now, a leading figure behind that transformation is stepping down. Luke Bergmann is the outgoing director of behavioral health services for San Diego County. Bergmann joins Midday Edition on Wednesday to talk about the current...

This Earth Day, we discuss what federal attacks on environmental nonprofits could mean for local efforts. As the Trump administration considers removing the nonprofit status of environmental groups nationwide, local nonprofit leaders predict far-reaching impacts for San Diego’s environmental projects and protections. We meet with three local leaders to dive into work stoppages, environmental justi...

The first annual Southern California Indigenous Culture and Art Festival is this weekend in Escondido, featuring everything from storytelling to fashion with Indigenous designs.   We discuss the importance of highlighting Indigenous art with two artists involved in the festival. Then, Pacific Arts Movement will host the 14th edition of their Spring Showcase next week. We get the details...

This Saturday is the 55th annual Chicano Park Day commemoration . Organized by the Chicano Park Steering Committee, it commemorates the activists and community members who fought for the park to be built, and the younger generations who are picking up the fight. Also, what does it mean to be Chicana? The anthology, "Somos Xicanas" edited by Luz Schweig, explores the breadth of the Chicana experien...

By many metrics, young men today are struggling — in school, in the workforce and with their mental health. The share of young men attending college is in decline , while the share of men participating in the workforce is also decreasing . Men also face greater risk of death from overdose and suicide. Meanwhile, many young men are being exposed to content online that often presents a very spe...

On Monday, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook San Diego. The epicenter was located about 2 miles south of Julian. It didn't cause major damage and no injuries were reported. But, it was the biggest earthquake in our region since the 2010 earthquake near Guadalupe Victoria, which was a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. On Midday Edition, we make sense of the earthquake with a seismologist. Plus, we hear some...

More than five years after the pandemic began, many San Diegans are still living with the long-term effects . Long COVID has left lasting impacts on individuals' health and daily lives, but for many, it's still an invisible struggle — undiagnosed, untreated and often misunderstood.  On Midday Edition, we speak with KPBS health reporter Heidi de Marco about her recent reporting on long COVID....

On Monday's Midday Edition, we're exploring solutions to San Diego County's housing crisis. We'll talk about a rental subsidy program in San Diego County that's trying to keep older residents in their homes. Seniors are especially impacted by homelessness. According to the 2024 Point-In-Time Count , around one third of people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County are 55 and older. We're al...

A new children’s book by a San Diego author uses plants to promote messages of self love and body positivity. And, a preview of the Old Globe's premiere of " Regency Girls ," a comedy about reproductive rights in the time of Jane Austen. Plus, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans sits down with the director and actor behind " The Hot Wing King " at Cygnet Theater. Then, top event picks for the wee...

The National Institutes of Health continues to cut research funding. One UC San Diego professor was one of many researchers impacted by the cuts after the NIH defunded a project focused on intimate partner violence and maternal mortality. Also, April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. We check in with local groups about how they are supporting survivors of sexual violence in San Die...

In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would cut funding for libraries and museums across the country.  California Attorney General Rob Bonta has since joined a coalition of 21 attorneys filing a lawsuit challenging the executive order. On Midday Edition Monday, we check in with local library and museum leaders about how they are bracing for the possible impact. Guest...

Last week, President Donald Trump announced a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries and higher tariffs on dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the United States. Markets continue to see big swings in response. On Midday Edition, we discuss what tariffs are, how they work and how San Diegans will feel the impact. Guest: Daniel Enemark , chief economist at the San Diego Regional...

The San Diego Writers Festival takes place this Saturday at Coronado High School and will feature a reading from some of our most esteemed poets here in San Diego. Including poet Katie Manning who joined Midday Edition Thursday to talk about her craft and what makes the art of poetry special for her. Plus, KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando previews the San Diego Arab Film Festival , which will be...

Neither parenting nor adulthood come with a manual. So our guests on Wednesday's episode of KPBS Midday Edition, are bringing you some advice. We'll hear from a journalist, child therapist and an author about work-life balance, parenting strategies and 'adulthood secrets.' Guests: Mary Louise Kelly , co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered and author of "It. Goes. So. Fast." Jennifer Kolari , child...

On April 2, the James Beard Awards will announce the finalists across 25 categories, including Best Chef in California. Two San Diego chefs are among the semi-finalists this year : Tara Monsod, the executive chef at Animae and Le Coq, and Roberto Alcocer, the executive chef at Valle in Oceanside. Valle, which specializes in contemporary Mexican cuisine, first earned a Michelin star back in 2023. A...

The legendary radio voice for the San Diego Padres, San Diego State Aztecs and more has broadcast his final game. For over 40 years, Ted Leitner has called the great triumphs and crushing heartbreak that comes with San Diego sports fandom.  As the San Diego Padres prepare for the opening of the 2025 season, Leitner shares what moments have stayed with him over the decades, and the relationshi...

Successful solo travel (1080 x 1350 px) - 1 (1250x2000, AR: 0.625) Traveling alone, regardless of the ultimate destination, can be challenging and at times lonely. It can also be transformative — teaching travelers adaptability and confidence. On Midday Edition, we speak with an Encinitas-based author about her new book, "The Smart Woman's Guide to Successful Solo Travel." Guest: Paula Silverfarb,...

Earlier this month, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria hosted a “Women of Distinction” event to recognize exceptional women in San Diego and their contributions to the community. Among the honorees was Cori Austin, CEO of Center for Community Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of intimate partner violence, or IPV. On Midday Edition Wednesday, we sit down with Austin to talk about how a...

In early March, immigration agents in New York arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and Columbia University graduate. The Trump administration argued that Khalil's prominent role in Pro-Palestinian and anti-war protests at Columbia last spring amounted to antisemitism and support for a terrorist organization. In newly filed papers , the Trump administration also argued that Khalil failed...