KPBS Midday Edition

Today is Election Day in San Diego County and the last chance for voters to choose whether they want Gov. Gavin Newsom recalled from office. Plus, an employment expert weighs in on what protections are in place for workers experiencing mental illness and what workplaces can do to help those experiencing mental health challenges. Also, the redistricting process is happening right now and some UC Sa...

Despite a federal and state mandate that health care workers get vaccinated against COVID-19, an estimated 3% of San Diego hospital staff still aren’t persuaded to get vaccinated and are requesting exemptions. Plus, whether Gov. Gavin Newsom wins or loses on Tuesday, the recall election's outcome is likely to have big impacts on public health policies and the balance of power in Sacramento and Was...

President Joe Biden announced a new COVID-19 vaccine and testing mandate yesterday, for private businesses with 100 or more employees. We talk to legal analyst Dan Eaton about the legal ramifications. Then, KPBS’s Amita Sharma explores the collective trauma of 9/11 and how it might inform this moment in our history. And, San Diego Design Week continues with a region-wide celebration of all things...

While cases of the mu variant continue to be documented across California, health officials say that the delta variant is still the primary cause for concern as the pandemic continues. Plus, the threat of wildfire is increasingly leading insurers to drop the policies of San Diego homeowners, a trend most prominent in the county’s rural areas but also affecting some city neighborhoods. Then, on Sat...

Scripps Health recorded its highest daily COVID-19 death count over the weekend, while new cases seem to be slowing. Are we nearing the end of the delta wave? Plus, San Diego’s eviction ban ended in mid-August and despite the statewide moratorium still in place, some San Diegans are still getting pushed out as investors look to capitalize on the area’s rising rents. Also, Chula Vista officials say...

With one week left for voters to weigh in on whether or not Gov. Gavin Newsom will complete his term, we talk to UCSD Political Science Professor Thad Kousser about the current outlook. Plus, in Imperial Valley, the mostly Latino electorate swung for Donald Trump in the last election, what does that mean for Newsom’s recall election? Plus, land-use planners from Southern California and Tijuana are...

Debate over what is called "critical race theory" continues to be a charged topic at school board meetings across the country. There are even bans that limit what can be taught in some classrooms across the country about the history of racism in America. The term has been hijacked, rebranded and weaponized as a political boogeyman. So today we will cut through myths with facts about what critical...

#AfghanEvac, a private group of veterans who served in Afghanistan, continues to help get former interpreters and allies out of the country, despite the U.S. withdrawal. We speak to the founder of the group, San Diegan Shawn VanDiver. Plus, the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park reopens to the public this weekend after a significant remodel. And, Nicolas Valdez's play "Conjunto Blues" will...

As the more transmissible delta variant continues to spread, San Diego County’s death toll from COVID nearly doubled in one week. We bring you an update on the impact the virus is having in San Diego County. Plus, one of the most contentious housing measures to come out of the California legislature is now on it’s way to the Governor’s desk — Senate Bill 9, which allows up to four units to be buil...

The recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom is set for Sept. 14, and mail-in ballots are already out. Though California is an overwhelmingly blue state, it's not a certainty Newsom will survive the recall. Reasons abound, including apathy and a lack of awareness that many predict could lead to a low voter turn out. So, how did we get here? And what could a Newsom recall mean for the state? Midday Edi...

Ten of the 13 service members killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport were based at Camp Pendleton. It was the largest mass casualty event for personnel based at Pendleton during the entire Afghan war. Plus, it’s the first day of class for San Diego Unified students and the district says it has implemented a host of COVID-19 policies and guidelines. Also, as kids zip up their backpacks an...

Humanitarian groups in San Diego are preparing resettlement efforts as refugees continue to pour out of war-torn Afghanistan. We speak with one of those local groups. Plus, veterans coalitions are helping to evacuate Afghans who worked for the Americans. On a lighter note, this weekend in the arts features a three-day outdoor festival of music in Carlsbad, a contemporary dance company's first perf...

Many Americans are left with questions about the vaccines, the status of their approval, and their long-term efficacy. We pose these questions to the director of Scripps Research Translational Institute, Dr. Eric Topol. Also, housing prices in San Diego are getting higher and analysts say it’s not out of the question for the median price to reach $1 million by this time next year. Plus, the last t...

One law expert weighs in on how the FDA approval will impact vaccine mandates in the workplace. Plus, images of chaos in Afghanistan have deeply resonated with veterans from another long war: Vietnam. Also, the recall campaign now aimed at Governor Gavin Newsom was fueled in part by parents who were angry with how he handled public school closures during the worst months of the pandemic. Then, Kim...

The FDA on Monday gave full approval to the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older. A physician breaks down what this means for San Diego’s vaccination effort. Plus, a look at the top four candidates looking to replace Gov. Newsom if he’s recalled. Larry Elder is the leading Republican candidate, but critics say his ideology is a threat to California. Also, as in-person learning r...

The U.S. government is extending a ban on nonessential travel along the borders with Canada and Mexico to slow the spread of COVID-19. And, a preview of arts events this weekend in San Diego, including Yo-Yo Ma coming to the Shell and TwainFest in Old Town.

A recent San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting turned ugly as some protestors became upset at members of the board over proposed masking and testing requirements for workplaces, schools and hospitals. Plus, the San Diego Unified School District will be one of the first districts in the state to roll out a transitional kindergarten program this fall. Then, how remote working has changed San...

We talk to La Jolla Institute of Immunology’s Dr. Shane Crotty about health officials recommending that vaccinated people get a COVID-19 booster shot. Plus, with the school year starting, we talk about the latest guidance on what to do when a student tests positive for COVID-19. And, the binational Friendship Park has its 50th anniversary today, but is stil not fully reopened. A group of activists...

Now that the Taliban has virtually seized full control of Afghanistan, the lingering threat of international terror is on the minds of many Americans. Plus, a new program in California is offering stipends to volunteers, in an effort to bring climate change solutions to urban and rural communities throughout the state, including here in San Diego. Also, a sewage testing program at UCSD could be ke...

The scenes from Kabul, of people clinging to U.S. military planes in a desperate effort to escape the approaching Taliban, echo the end of another failed U.S. war. The end of the Vietnam War created the same kind of chaos in Saigon. Now, many Americans, both in and out of the military are asking, “how could this have happened again?” Plus, San Diego's hospitals are struggling to keep up with a hig...

As coronavirus infections increase in San Diego, so are related hospitalizations and health officials are hoping to see some relief for tired staff soon. Plus, what to know about the Gubernatorial Recall Election on Sept. 14. And, a preview of the arts events around town, including: a pop-up version of La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls Festival, SummerFest and outdoor art fun.

The CDC is urging all pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The advice comes as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus. Plus, the family of a Vista man who died by suicide while in county jail is suing the county for wrongful death. Also, one year after Joseph DeAngelo was sentenced to life in prison for...

California will become the first state in the nation to require all teachers and school staff to get vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Plus, a new city official is now in charge of finding solutions to the city’s chronic homelessness problem. Also, the first ever Olympic “park skateboarding” event was dominated by skaters who either live in San Diego, were born here, trained here or a...

We talk with an infectious disease specialist about vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers. Plus, is it a good idea for a fully vaccinated person to get an extra dose of vaccine to boost immunity to the Delta variant? Then, the effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom is shaping up to be more of a battle than previously thought. Later, dozens of charrerías across the country offer spectators a l...

Cutting emissions now and in the near future could still save humanity from climate catastrophe, but it won’t save us from the climate changes we’re already experiencing, according to a new United Nations report. Plus, author Amanda Ripley talks about how certain issues, such as climate change, become politicized and can lead to discussion surrounding those issues becoming toxic. And, owners of sp...