KPBS Midday Edition

The Super Bowl is often a time for gathering, but this year health officials warn it could lead to the spread of COVID-19. Plus, the Navy has come out with its long-awaited report on racial bias. Task Force One Navy was created in June, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police. Then, this weekend in the arts, the experimental Vietnamese music of Vân-Ánh Võ, 1960's women's...

For 40 years researchers have been working to unlock the key to HIV prevention, now the success of a clinical trial is a first step in realizing that goal. Plus, to address the disparities in health care and to create better outcomes for Black families, San Diego County is launching the “Black Legacy Now” campaign. And, two parents say San Diego Unified wrongly denied their son special education s...

The new administration says it wants to join efforts to reunite families that were separated under President Trump. Plus, outdoor dining is resuming in California, but some restaurant owners and workers are wary of reopening their patios and parking lots. And a UC San Diego lecturer says San Diego’s history with extremism raises the terror threat locally. Then, several BLM supporters say rallies a...

KPBS spoke to San Diego County public health officials about the availability of vaccines, the current difficulty in scheduling a vaccine appointment and the issue of equitable distribution of the vaccine. Plus, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is running for California governor. He says that California has become a failed state under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. And women seem to have born...

San Diego Democratic Congresswoman Sara Jacobs has co-sponsored a censure resolution against Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Plus, San Diego County’s zero-carbon policy plan could reduce the burden on working families. Also, COVID-19 cases at Yuba County Jail have infected almost half of all inmates and ICE detainees. Next, how the coronavirus pandemic affected Port Of San...

A Coronado man is facing misdemeanor charges for his alleged participation in the Capitol riot. Plus, Gov. Gavin Newsom dreamed of a high-tech, efficient government, and Capital News Radio looks back on his performance so far. Finally, our weekend arts events include new performance work, an outdoor sculpture and a San Diego Symphony livestream.

Age before profession — that’s the change California health officials announced about the vaccine rollout this week. Plus, using public records, inewsource uncovered reporting mistakes and delays in Southern California and at the state level in tracking inmate deaths from COVID-19. And the police agencies are violating a landmark state law passed in 2018. A new bill could impose fines on departmen...

A UC San Diego infectious disease modeler says the question is not whether the COVID-19 variant first reported in the UK will become the dominant strain here, it’s when. Plus, according to a report, La Mesa police officers lacked training, communication, leadership and policies that would have likely deescalated the protest-turned-riot in May 2020. Then, contractors and government workers building...

Many San Diego businesses are scrambling to reopen services, but with so much about the rate of vaccinations and variants still unknown, much of the optimism remains cautious. Plus, the Multicultural Health Foundation will hold a virtual panel called "Don't Hesitate To Vaccinate" on Thursday. And San Diego’s economy is on the cusp of a massive shift: Tech companies are thriving while the hospitali...

California lifted regional stay-at-home orders across the state Monday, returning the state to a system of county-by-county restrictions. Plus, an update on how much rain and snow we’ve had across the county and what to expect for the rest of the week. And district and union officials in San Diego County say widespread in-person learning is unlikely even if teachers get vaccinated. Then, the local...

San Diego will make more than $42 million in federal emergency rental assistance available to city residents. Plus, the VA and veterans groups are aware of extremism in their ranks but there are very few resources out there to pull them back from the brink. Then, this weekend in San Diego arts: a new Digital WOW production, Amel Janae’s solo exhibition, a group show at Thumbprint, and Icelandic co...

Officials hope a new COVID-19 “Vaccination Super Station” in Chula Vista will bring much needed relief to the South Bay. Plus, KPBS Health Reporter Tarryn Mento poses listeners’ questions to Dr. Christian Ramers about the new coronavirus vaccines. And new San Diego County Board of Supervisors member Joel Anderson discusses his priorities and the enforcement of state and county rules aimed at slowi...

San Diego congressional representatives Mike Levin and Scott Peters react to President Joe Biden’s inauguration. Plus, KQED politics editor Scott Shafer examines how things might change for California under the Biden-Harris administration. And, the nation’s oldest Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, celebrated fellow sister Kamala Harris’ inauguration. Then, James Paulson, Ph. D. of Scripps Researc...

San Diego County public health officials announced those 75 years or older can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Plus, the story of one Bay Area man who's been both a victim of unemployment fraud and the effort to fight it. And health and safety precautions during the pandemic have led the Air Force to eliminate parts of basic training. Then, after 29 years in prison for murdering her three childr...

A reflection on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how the Civil Rights Movement shapes today. And, a new Union-Tribune column by Charles Clark will focus on San Diego's diverse identities and values. Plus, Scripps Health is dealing with the onslaught of COVID-19 cases. CEO Chris Van Gorder talks about the availability of ICU beds and ECMO machines. Next, what San Diego climate leaders h...

Between just before Thanksgiving and now, COVID-19 deaths in San Diego County have spiked to more than 2,000. Plus, the CDC gave the go-ahead to vaccinate people 65 and over. Scripps CEO Chris Van Gorder said, the problem is the availability of the vaccine. Then, NPR’s ‘Throughline’ is coming to KPBS-FM. In the weekly one-hour narrative series, hosts Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei tackle the...

California officials expanding COVID-19 vaccines to those 65 and up because they are at the greatest risk of being hospitalized and dying. Plus, Republican Rep. Darrell Issa was the sole member of the San Diego congressional delegation to vote "no" on impeaching President Trump. And drivers thought they were getting a raise after a hectic year, but instead were told their positions are being elimi...

UC San Diego Health, San Diego County and the Padres are teaming up to vaccinate at least 5,000 healthcare workers per day against the novel coronavirus. Plus, COVID-19 cases are rising among the essential workers San Diego depends on to stock its food and medicine. And during his first month in office, Mayor Todd Gloria has taken stances on key issues that separate him from his predecessor. Then,...

House democrats have introduced a single article of impeachment against President Trump, charging him with “incitement of insurrection.” Plus, University of San Diego History Lecturer David Miller discusses the historical differences in the policing of Black demonstrators and violent white mobs. And newly elected Chairman Nathan Fletcher says the County Board of Supervisors will vote on policies f...

Community activist and former mayoral candidate Tasha Williamson talks about her recovery experience and how doctors were able to treat her case of COVID-19. Plus, Cap Radio spoke with former executive director of the California Republican Party, Cynthia Bryant, about her reaction to the deadly protest at the Capitol. And this weekend in San Diego arts includes: new work by Jonny Alexander and mus...

After a mob of Trump loyalists attacked the U.S. Capitol building, the city of Washington D.C. is declaring a state of emergency for the next two weeks. There are now calls for investigations into police conduct during the riot and how it was allowed to go as far as it did. Plus, reactions from local Congressional representatives who were there when everything went down. And, increasingly more and...

A San Diego physician who is a member of state and county vaccine advisory groups said local public health officials will be opening regional vaccination sites to quicken the pace of vaccinations. Plus, the American Legion removed its Escondido post commander from national leadership positions because of his affiliation with the Proud Boys hate group. And a former La Mesa police officer at the cen...

We know that healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities are first in line to receive the Coronavirus vaccine. But who's next? Plus, the COVID-19 economic hit has been personal for thousands of San Diegans for months. And months of physical distancing and pandemic anxiety has been especially tough on veterans who were already dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other...

San Diego County public health officials confirmed one individual infected with a new, more contagious variant of the virus first discovered in the United Kingdom. Plus, Gov. Gavin Newsom offers plans to reopen in-person schools. And kindergarten remote learning shows the equity divide between families. Then, the Metropolitan Transit System got a new CEO, Sharon Cooney, after the sudden death of h...

Epidemiologist Dr. Rebecca Fielding-Miller joined Midday Edition Wednesday to discuss the risks of attending in-person New Year's celebrations. Plus, Dr. Shirley Weber talks about her nomination as California Secretary of State and hopes for her successor. And even when its budgets are cut, SDPD has a track record of overspending. Then, San Diego Unified School District's Police Department is more...