KPBS Midday Edition

The CDC’s announcement on masking Thursday was met with much enthusiasm, until people realized it was not clear when and how it applied. Plus, the year of distance learning has been tough on all students. Though academic loss might be front-of-mind for parents and teachers, experts say test scores are only part of the picture. And, coming up this weekend: a new exhibition at the Athenaeum, a virtu...

The CDC issued new guidance that says fully vaccinated people can ditch masks indoors, in all but the most crowded settings. This follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that the state’s mask mandate would end on June 15 though there will still be some rules about masks indoors. Plus, a massive affordable-housing apartment complex sale is prompting concern that the properties won’t remain afforda...

Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing $12 billion in new funding to get more people experiencing homelessness into housing. Plus, San Diego County has gone from having a vaccine shortage to a vaccine glut, but that might not be good news. Also, last month, San Diego County's District Attorney’s office put an end to gang injunctions, but healing from the damage done to neighborhoods will be a long process...

The FDA has authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old — a move that is seen as getting us closer to returning to normalcy. Plus, what California Attorney General Rob Bonta hopes to accomplish in his new role. Also, COVID-19 testing is supposed to be covered by insurance, but some people are still paying hundreds of dollars for tests. And, some San Diego City Council memb...

It is unclear when San Diego's largest health care provider will gain control over its patient files, medical systems and ability to communicate with its patients. Plus, San Diego County ended a controversial program that allowed county workers to perform unannounced home inspections in an effort to prevent welfare fraud. Also, a look into Project Homekey, the state program that allows cities and...

San Diego crosses another milestone in its vaccination effort — 3 million COVID-19 vaccination doses administered, but across the state vaccination has slowed. Plus, a historic building in the heart of the Gaslamp District is on the verge of shutting down for good if it doesn’t get financial help. And, a preview of the weekend arts scene includes art made by construction equipment, a virtual baroq...

Supervisor Nora Vargas discusses the county board’s action to extend the temporary moratorium on evictions in San Diego County. Plus, local climate activists are questioning whether or not the region is doing the work necessary to achieve its climate action goals. Also, a Poway dog attack highlights the importance of leash laws. And, financial activism can be used as a means for economic and racia...

A case of the coronavirus variant that led to a major outbreak in India has been detected in San Diego. Plus, a growing group of vaccine skeptics, appear to be changing their minds and getting the shot. Also, President Biden announced his administration would raise the nation’s refugee cap to 62,500 individuals after facing a blowback for his delay in lifting Trump’s 15,000 limit. And, as the firs...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15 by next week, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year. Plus, a cyber attack that shut down Scripps Health's systems over the weekend is still causing problems. Also, the Biden administration is starting to reunite families separated at the U.S.-Mexico borde...

Authorities are investigating a suspected human-smuggling operation involving a 40-foot cabin cruiser that overturned in coastal waters near Point Loma, killing four people and injuring more than two dozen. Plus, even as San Diego County COVID-19 vaccination crosses the 50% mark, public health officials are seeing a slow down in people getting vaccinated and that has them concerned. Also, in the C...

There are still millions in rent relief available for county residents and officials are trying to figure out why some renters are not taking advantage of the offer. Plus, the political attitudes toward marijuana have been shifting for years thanks in part through spending on local elections by the cannabis industry. And, this weekend in the arts, new dance film, last chance to see works from 30 a...

President Joe Biden outlined a bold economic agenda during his first major address to Congress, earning praise from fellow Democrats but many in the party are urging the president to pursue more ambitious progressive policies in office. The Republicans, however, attacked Biden’s agenda as too expensive and too socialist. Plus, marine scientists say they have found what they believe to be more than...

To make the COVID-19 vaccine available to more people and to encourage people to get vaccinated, San Diego County is offering walk-up, no-appointment-needed vaccinations at some of its county-run sites. Plus, San Diego prosecutors want to remove about 350 people who have turned their lives from the gang injunction list that San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called “outdated” and longer serves “their all...

The CDC updated its guidelines and mask wearing and now says people who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear a mask when they're outdoors, unless they're in a crowd. Plus, organizers of the recall effort against Gov. Gavin Newsom have collected enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber announced Monday. Also, critics cast doubt on San Die...

The conviction of Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd underscores similarities in the 2019 San Diego death of Angel Hernandez. Also, a new report shows an increase in people experiencing homelessness for the first time. Plus, plans are moving forward to connect San Diego's public transit with the airport. And a new book examines how the death of Rebecca Zahau continues to puzzle people. La...

As the public continues to focus a critical eye on police departments across the nation, there are at least 10 related bills currently working their way through the California legislature to affect change in policing. Plus, local unions have lobbied lawmakers to grant eligibility to their members, secured separate supplies of vaccines and launched outreach campaigns. And after a year of pandemic l...

Some scientists are now saying the only way to achieve a limit to global temperature rise is to pair emission reduction efforts with a massive investment in carbon capture technology. Plus, with a guilty verdict handed down to Derek Chauvin on all counts in the death of George Floyd, legal experts now are now analyzing what the conviction will mean for the former Minneapolis police officer's sente...

San Diego's community leaders react to what many see as a turning point for equality following guilty verdicts for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System announced Monday that a $5.5 million settlement has been reached with the family of man who died after being restrained with knees in his back and on his neck by Transit law enforcement. Plus, two San Diego researchers hope a new peer-reviewed article helps them convince federal officials to change their opinion of how COVID-19 spreads. And with consecutiv...

Asian American mental health care providers in California are seeing an increase in demand for services in the wake of surging anti-Asian hate incidents.

Nonprofit and small business loans, building "sexy" streets, reducing police overtime, investing in the city's Climate Equity Fund and a focus on supporting the San Diego Convention Center are among the highlights of Mayor Todd Gloria's $4.6 billion proposed budget. Plus, a preview of the California Report’s series honoring Californians lost to COVID-19. This week’s remembrance is about Eric Warne...

Hundreds of thousands of San Diegans become eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines Thursday when the state expands eligibility to everyone age 16 and over. Plus, The United States will withdraw all remaining troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, President Biden announced Wednesday. Then, if you have a medical emergency in San Diego and call 911, a new ambulance co...

Mayor Todd Gloria on Monday announced an empowerment policy plan for San Diego's Black community. Plus, California Department of Public Health investigators knew that certified nursing assistant Matthew Fluckiger had been accused of sex crimes by women at multiple nursing homes in El Cajon and La Mesa. Yet, the agency waited years to revoke his license. And the cost of housing, gas and food have b...

San Diego County is pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The announcement comes as the CDC and FDA are reviewing reports of a “rare and severe type of blood clot” that occurred in six people days after receiving the vaccine. Plus, a series of reports in the San Diego Union Tribune has been exploring bias in policing in San Diego. And ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theaters say they...

San Diego Unified, San Diego County's largest school district, welcomed students back to campus Monday. About half of the district's students opted to return to the classroom, while the other half will continue learning remotely.