KPBS Midday Edition

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released their plan this week for Friendship Park, taking community input into account, and revising a plan that caused a public outcry. But park advocates are not satisfied, and said it furthers the border wall plan set forth by former president Donald Trump. And, Imagine: You are at the grocery store, ready to check out. You put your card in the reader. It is d...

The University of San Diego held its 39th Annual Economic Roundtable to take stock of where the national and local economies may be headed in 2023. Next, the U.S. military is struggling to meet recruitment goals. With fewer young people enlisting, now the Navy is allowing older people to join. Then, new research from the UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy suggests that salary transparency c...

A pair of San Diego-based companies were recently awarded federal grants for their efforts to improve electric vehicle batteries. Next, we talk to LA Times reporter Sammy Roth about Imperial County farmland being used to generate solar power. Then, some of the most popular New Year's resolutions are ones about getting in shape. KPBS Health Reporter Matt Hoffman takes a look at how some are getting...

The 35th Annual All Peoples Celebration on Monday was centered around Dr. King’s words, “Let’s build bridges, not walls.” We hear from keynote speaker, bestselling author and columnist, Steve Phillips. Then, court transcripts show San Diego County Public Defender Randy Mize admitted under oath last month that he signed off on an investigative report knowing it contained false statements. KPBS Inve...

While the recent rain wreaked havoc across the state, there is one small silver lining - California’s drought conditions are improving (slightly). Then, almost daily, weapons, equipment and other supplies depart the U.S. to support the Ukrainian military and civilian authorities. And finally, in our weekend preview, we have an Edgar Allan Poe musical for kids, a special visual art and classical mu...

We speak with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria about the commitments he outlined in his 2023 State of The City Address. Then, this year’s flu season has so far been a doozy. By the time November was over, it might have felt like everyone you know had the flu. But is it as bad as we think? And, the Colorado River, a central source of water for much of the Western United States, is drying up. We hear abo...

After a long series of votes and political wrangling to select the new House Speaker, the new Congress got underway this week. San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, who represents California’s 51st Congressional district, also became the youngest member in the democratic leadership in this new Republican-led House. Then, Bob McElroy, CEO of the Alpha Project, has worked with homeless residents for...

Governor Newsom’s proposed budget plan for 2023 into 2024 includes cuts to programs to close a projected $22.5 billion deficit. Among those cuts are 20,000 new child care slots intended for California’s neediest families. New reporting from The San Diego Union-Tribune looks at how California’s child care subsidies have fallen short, leaving many unable to afford child care at all. Then, the need f...

Forecasters with the National Weather Service are calling it a “relentless parade of cyclones” as more severe weather threatens Northern and Central California. An atmospheric river with high winds will dump another 1.5 inches of rain over the next two days in San Diego. Then, border officials anticipate that the PedWest pedestrian crossing reopening will help ease congestion at the San Ysidro Por...

San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez is just a few weeks into the job as the county’s top law enforcement leader. She takes over as the Department is tasked with bringing change to a jail system with some of the highest numbers of in-custody deaths in the state. Then, for our weekend arts preview, we have a special performance exhibition, shadow puppets, classical music and even some ways to kick star...

After years of being stuck in bureaucratic limbo, it appears that the old Central Library in Downtown San Diego will begin offering shelter services to the homeless later this month. Then, a volunteer group is providing medical care to unhoused people in Sacramento, where in 2021, almost 200 unsheltered people died. The practice of bringing medicine to the people is taking off around the state. Ne...

Republicans are still grappling over who will lead their party - the U.S. House of Representatives is still without a Speaker after voting over 2 days. And, the cost of natural gas has skyrocketed, and so could your household gas bills. SDG&E is warning customers to prepare for higher utility bills. Then, with storms flooding parts of California there is a bit of good news. California’s first snow...

San Diego’s most recent storm arrived late Monday night, bringing more rain and high winds to the region, with another storm forecasted to hit Thursday. Then, for decades, cases of police misconduct in San Diego have been protected by some of the strictest privacy laws in the country. But new state law could lead to greater transparency on the issue. Also, 2022 was an eventful year for immigration...

A new year brings a flurry of new laws taking effect across California. We take a closer look at a few of them. Then, California is poised to add millions of electric cars to local roads in the next decade, but is there enough electricity to fuel them? In September, KPBS Environment Reporter Erik Anderson looked into whether the grid can handle the load. Next, after a 50 year absence, Vietnam’s fi...

Southwest airlines flight cancellations in San Diego are expected to continue today, but good news may be on the horizon. The airline now says it hopes to resume its full schedule of flights tomorrow. Then, the county has appointed its first Chief Geriatric Officer to help San Diego’s growing senior population prepare for the challenges and expand the opportunities of aging. Also, the San Diego Bl...

Pandemic-era border restrictions remain in place after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to keep Title 42 active in a ruling announced Tuesday. Then, we replay a piece about San Diego researchers looking to the region’s wetlands to stave off the worst impacts of global warming. Next, earlier this year the city of San Diego apologized for supporting the removal and incarceration of Japanese-Americans du...

Migrants made their way to San Diego International after being left at bus stations across the county last Friday. Traditional shelters said they were too full to take them. So The US Border Patrol released dozens of asylum seekers, some with no phones and no nearby relatives, at the bus stations. Then, the state is spending 10 million dollars to encourage people to use e-bikes as a more climate f...

Blue skies and warm temperatures are expected to turn to rain and snow in much of California this week. Then, a local restaurant is the first eatery in the region to earn a coveted Michelin three-star designation. Next, we revisit a segment with San Diego author Madhushree Ghosh who talks about her book “Khabaar” and how food helps her stay connected to her Indian heritage and culture. And, KQED’s...

Title 42 has been used to turn away migrants at the Mexican border 2.5 million times since it started in 2020 under the Trump Administration. Republican political leaders in San Diego’s East County are asking the state and federal government for resources to help the county aid migrants when Title 42 lifts. Then, headlines suggest thousands of migrants are waiting at the border to request asylum w...

By Christmas Day the forecast in San Diego is expected to be 78 degrees and sunny. Meanwhile, just about every other part of the U.S. is preparing for a bitterly cold winter storm. We’ll talk about how this will impact holiday travel. Then, eviction cases are on the rise according to data from the San Diego County Superior Court. Advocates say the numbers show the once “looming” crisis of housing...

The legal tug-of-war with Title 42 continues. Days before the Trump-era immigration rule was set to expire, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts ordered a temporary hold on the policy. Then, many people are celebrating the holidays with gatherings and letting their guards down when it comes to COVID-19. But, cases are rising. And, water bills in San Diego are about to go up, and the incre...

The House Jan. 6 committee unveiled a criminal referral for former President Donald Trump, citing evidence that it says merits prosecution by the Justice Department. Then, voting is underway on a tentative contract agreement between the University of California and 36,000 academic workers still on strike. Finally, a look at how sea level rise could push contaminants into neighborhoods, especially...

According to a new UC San Diego survey, the partisan gap of trust in the integrity of U.S. elections grew in 2022. Then, as the year winds down, some San Diegans are packing up and heading out - not for a holiday trip, but for a change of residence. Finally, for our weekend arts preview, we have a local jazz trumpet legend, a Kate Bush cover band, contemporary dance for the Jewish holidays and…sew...

San Diego County and the rest of Southern California are under a new drought emergency announced this week. Local waters officials are encouraging conservation but say our local water supply is stable. Then, natural gas bills will see a sharp increase for the month of December, and an even sharper one in January. San Diego Gas and Electric estimates the average gas bill for customers this month wi...

We speak to Councilmember Kent Lee, who was sworn in Monday to represent the city of San Diego’s District 6. This includes Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, most of University City, Sorrento Valley and portions of Scripps Ranch. Plus, the uncertainty clouding California’s solar marketplace could be settled this week as regulators consider a proposal that changes the rules for electricity generated by roofto...