KPBS Midday Edition

The San Diego City Council approved new parking fees for Balboa Park on Monday. The plan for Balboa Park is the latest effort by city leaders to increase parking revenue across San Diego. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear how much drivers will pay, what resident discounts look like, and what the changes mean for the city's budget challenges. Guest:Andrew Bowen, metro reporter, KPBS

The killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at a college in Utah last week has shocked the nation. While authorities are still trying to determine motive, leaders across the political spectrum are taking hard stances on how to respond. On Midday Edition, we discuss the implications for our democracy moving forward. Plus, we look into how journalism can play a role in amplifying extremism — loc...

A new exhibit, "Clothes Story" highlights the stories of African American women over a period of nearly 80 years, with a focus on the interconnection between fashion, identity and history. Plus, FilAm Creator Con returns for its second year, showcasing artists, workshops and performances that highlight Filipino American voices in the arts. Lastly, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans tells us abou...

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to expand the authority of the Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board, also known as CLERB.The now-approved measure allows CLERB to investigate jail health care workers and contractors in cases of in-custody deaths. Live on KPBS Midday Edition, we breakdown what that means for law enforcement accountability. Then on Midday Edition, fewer and...

New research from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is raising questions about the response to toxic air and water from the Salton Sea, and for the communities who live near it. The research highlights gaps in how pollution is measured and addressed, and how it is impacting the health of residents around the Salton Sea. Guest:Isabella B. Arzeno-Soltero, assistant professor, Department...

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that federal immigration agents could resume aggressive street sweeps or "roving patrols" in Los Angeles. That means, for now, immigration officials are no longer restricted from stopping and detaining people based on factors like race, accent, employment and location. Tuesday on Midday Edition, we dig deeper into what this ruling could mean for immigration enforc...

We sit down with the authors of the children, teen and adult selections for 2025 One Book, One San Diego.

What would it take for one to venture into hell? Author Rebecca F. Kuang's latest novel, "Katabasis" explores that question and more. In the novel, two graduate students journey into the underworld to rescue their professor's soul. Thursday on Midday Edition, Kuang joins producer Julianna Domingo to talk about the hellish inspirations for "Katabasis" and writing about the absurdities of academia....

For over 50 years, KSDS Jazz 88 has brought jazz music to music fans across the San Diego region and beyond. But that mission is facing new challenges as federal funding cuts hit public radio stations across the country, including at Jazz 88.On Midday Edition Wednesday, we spoke with KSDS' station manager Ken Poston on what makes the San Diego's jazz scene unique, and why preserving jazz music is...

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