KPBS Midday Edition

After months of vitriol, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved rule changes that they say will make meetings more civil. Critics of the rules change say it limits the public’s right to free speech. Plus, on Veterans Day we bring you the story of the first Black female prisoner of war in the country’s history. Meanwhile, the USS Midway celebrates Veterans Day with special in-person act...

The latest milestone is encouraging but there’s a growing concern in California as hospitalizations are rising in regions with low vaccination rates. Plus, the fallout against San Diego Unified’s proposal for a “mental health” day off after Veterans Day has some parents questioning whether the district is telling the truth about school staffing issues. Also, the federal government’s ban on non-ess...

The EPA is planning several different approaches to solving the decades-long cross-border sewage spills that have been plaguing the South Bay. Plus, SANDAG is working on the next transportation plan for the region just as Congress passed a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. Also, the infrastructure bill is expected to have a long-lasting effect in California and it won't just be fixing roads and...

For the first time since March 2020, Mexican citizens can cross the border for shopping, family visits or any number of reasons if they’ve been vaccinated. But proof of vaccination may be harder to obtain than expected, due to delays in official Mexican vaccine documents. Plus, the San Diego Air Pollution Control District voted unanimously last week to force local industries to drastically cut the...

Thousands of unionized Kaiser nurses and other health care workers are preparing to go on strike. Plus, after 19 months of a non-essential travel ban, the U.S.-Mexico border will finally reopen Monday, but the reopening will come with expected long waits and bureaucratic hassles. And, this weekend arts preview goes from a puppetry elephant heist, to hip hop sugar plum fairies, and some interesting...

Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued Thursday. Plus, Rep. Mike Levin on the contents of a $1.75 trillion dollar social benefits package being debated in Congress right now. Also, San Diego spent millions of dollars on contact tracing...

With the CDC’s approval, kids ages 5 through 11 are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting today, but many parents are still reluctant to get their children vaccinated. Plus, San Diego restaurant owners react to the city initiative that will make sidewalk dining permanent. Also, a North County nonprofit is working to make reintegration back into society easier for people getting out of jail or...

Last week, SANDAG announced a plan to charge drivers a per-mile tax to fight climate change. The proposal caused a strong reaction from drivers, so how likely is it to move forward? Also, as San Diego works on implementing climate action in transportation, Californians at the United Nations climate conference in Scotland are working with world leaders on tackling the global threat of climate chang...

Congressional leaders were delivered a bombshell yesterday when an open letter to lawmakers raised caution over the Border Patrol’s Critical Incident Teams. Plus, San Diego researchers are traveling to and watching Scotland online next week as scientists and world leaders gather there to talk about climate. And, this weekend, you can add some art and culture to your spooky weekend with outdoor per...

With trick-or-treating just around the corner, local doctors are warning that we are still not back to normal this Halloween. Plus, a new debt forgiveness program at San Diego community colleges is being called a lifeline for struggling students. And, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors direct staff to examine the feasibility of alternative energy sources, including wave, geothermal and offs...

Dr. Eric Topol, director of Scripps Research Translational Institute, on possible impact of vaccinating 5- to 11-year olds. Plus, tensions are rising over new district boundaries as the San Diego Redistricting Commission releases its first preliminary map. Meanwhile, finding affordable housing is difficult for many, but it is especially challenging for Black renters. Also, meet Zachary Patterson,...

Today, we bring you a special on San Diego’s housing crisis. We look at how we got here, and the role of racial discrimination in housing. We also explore where we’re going and the ways San Diego is trying to solve its housing crisis.

As COVID-19 vaccines for children inch closer to approval, we take a look at the preparations for and potential impact of the approval and what it means for the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, the case of Maya Millete, the missing Chula Vista mother, highlights the rise in domestic violence since the start of the pandemic. Also, the descendants of Lorenzo Trujillo, one of Southern California’s early p...

The low inventory of homes for sale in San Diego is driving prices up again. Plus, a Poway man wants his community to call him if they find a rattlesnake on their property, but relocating live rattlesnakes is not quite as simple, or legal, as some might think. Then, this weekend in the arts: opera singer Stephanie Blythe performs the music of Johnny Mercer, artist Katie Ruiz installs a new ofrenda...

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to replace neighborhood polling places with large-scale vote centers. Plus, the state mandated requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has county officials pushing hard to develop a legally defensible climate action plan. Then, officials with the San Diego County Water Authority are calling on the region to voluntarily cut its wa...

The Biden administration today said it is ready to quickly roll out vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 once the FDA and CDC give their approvals. Plus, Navy leaders say they're making changes and increasing oversight to correct widespread failures that led to the loss of the USS Bonhomme Richard as a result of arson more than a year ago. Meanwhile, a former police officer works to increase transpa...

We speak with a pediatric infectious disease doctor about the status of vaccine approval for children 5 to 12 and keeping kids safe during Halloween activities. Plus, a recent initiative put forth by the governor, the city of San Diego, and the state department of transportation aims to help homeless individuals camped along the area’s highways. Meanwhile, we meet a man who is getting help from a...

The Force Analysis Unit is tasked with reviewing use of force incidents with the aim of improving training and decreasing future incidents. Plus, mounting evidence suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine could help lessen “long COVID” symptoms. Meanwhile, earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have decriminalized jaywalking when no cars are present. The bill was aimed at tacklin...

The city of San Diego has taken bold measures to greatly expand the number of bike lanes on its streets, a move partly in response to a number of traffic deaths that have occured in recent months. Plus, California will now study how to set up its own zero-fee public bank accounts, the latest step in the state’s exploration of public banking. And, this weekend in the arts, check out a performance f...

The Biden administration announced a new plan to help combat the nation's supply chain shortage ahead of the holiday season. Plus, San Diego has one of the highest inflation rates in the nation, according to data recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for the month of September. Then, California’s Reparations Task Force met this week to explore the impact of...

The Biden administration announced Wednesday it's easing travel restrictions at land border crossings, after 19 months of closure to all but essential travel. The number of new COVID infections are finally going down in California and nationally, but Dr. Eric Topol is warning everyone not to drop their guard. Plus, the San Diego Housing Commission is out with a report on “lessons learned” from its...

Federal transportation investigators are on the ground Tuesday, trying to piece together what led to the deadly crash in Santee on Monday afternoon. Plus, in-person school just started up again and now parents have a chance to send their children to their preferred school. And, doctors and hospitals are looking at a new way to treat drug addictions, asking patients, “What do you need from us?”

A number of reforms being proposed to the county’s Citizen’s Law Enforcement Review Board would constitute the biggest changes to the board since its beginnings nearly 30 years ago. Plus, caught up in the chaos of the last days of the U.S. engagement in Afghanistan, one former interpreter is getting back to the difficult task of creating a new life in his adopted country. Also, being home to more...

A huge housing development planned for Otay Ranch has been struck down in court. A San Diego judge agreed with environmental groups and California’s attorney general in a lawsuit against the Adara at Otay Ranch project. Plus, the federal commission charged with replacing Confederate names on military bases is getting thousands of suggestions, but that's just one step in a process that will likely...

County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher discusses the ongoing effort to combat misinformation surrounding COVID-19. Plus, in light of increasing gunfire incidents at schools nationwide, KPBS education reporter MG Perez talks about local efforts to keep our schools safe. Also, Congressman Mike Levin talks about his goal of phasing out offshore oil production in light of the Orange County oil spill. Then,...