KPBS Midday Edition

A jury last week found Meta and Google designed their social media platforms to hook young users without a concern for their well being. The case was brought forth by a woman who had been using social media since the age of 6. She testified that she became addicted to social media as a child and that the addiction worsened her mental health struggles. On Midday Edition Wednesday, we talk about the...

Small businesses in South County, near the sewage-laced Tijuana River, are attributing years-long revenue losses to the ongoing pollution crisis. While construction projects designed to stop the flow of untreated wastewater are underway, business owners say relief cannot come sooner. This week, William Briggs, the deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), visited the co...

U.S. gas prices have passed $4 a gallon first the first time since 2022, largely due to the war in Iran. California has the highest average in the country, at nearly $5.89 for a gallon of gas. On Wednesday's Midday Edition, we talk about the high price of gas and other economic trends, from housing to population size in San Diego. Guest: Daniel Enemark , chief economist, Policy & Innovation Ce...

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park opened its latest addition, Elephant Valley, in early March. The new exhibit gives visitors a rare glimpse into the lives of Earth’s largest land animals. On Midday Edition Tuesday, we hear about the new exhibit's design, and learn about the intelligent and family-centered animals living inside. Guest: Kristi Burtis, vice president of wildlife care, San Diego Zoo Safa...

" Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences " is a new book by married writers Anne Lamott and Neal Allen. It guides writers through a series of rules about the craft of putting a sentence together and fine tune any type of writing — from a book and social media post to a professional email. Along the way, they want writers to stay curious. Allen is a former journalist and now author and coa...

March 31 is officially Farmworkers Day in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last week to rename the holiday from César Chávez Day, following allegations of rape and sexual abuse by the late labor leader. Here in San Diego, where Chicanos have fought for civil rights and representation, many are grappling with the allegations against Chávez . We hear from KPBS reporters to learn how peopl...

It's the time of year for Padres fans' favorite words: Play ball! On today's arts and culture show, we get a peak into Padres Opening Day and hear from a Carlsbad chef in the running for a major award. Plus, our Midday Movies critics highlight women directors for Women's History Month, from trailblazers to emerging new voices. Then, the weekend preview of upcoming events in the music scene. Guests...

Laughter and joy have always been central to the Black experience. The '90s especially were a golden era for Black comedy. But it didn't just start then — there were others that paved the way for shows like Living Color, Martin , and A Different World . The truth is: Black comedians have always shaped culture and civic discourse in America. We sit down with broadcaster and author Geoff Bennett to...

Across the country, hundreds of thousands of children are living in the foster care system. It's an experience that author David Ambroz knows all too well. In his memoir, " A Place Called Home ," Ambroz recounts his experiences in and out of the poverty cycle — growing up homeless and later unprotected in the foster care system. In spite of these harrowing experiences, his memoir is also a story a...

The San Diego Unified School Board voted this week to rename César Chávez Elementary School. It's one of many efforts to remove Chávez' name from schools, parks and other spaces following allegations of sexual abuse and rape that surfaced last week. We unpack the layers of issues surrounding Chávez' legacy and what this means for survivors of sexual assault. Guest: Jean Guerrero , investigative jo...

In 1992, federal agents and a white separatist family faced off in a remote part of Idaho, culminating in a violent standoff that became known as the Ruby Ridge incident. The 11-day siege is chronicled in the book, "End of Days: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America." Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear from the author about the confrontation that transpired, the family's belief i...

The latest release of files by the Justice Department have shed light on Jeffrey Epstein's relationships with prominent researchers across the country. That includes several researchers affiliated with UC San Diego — Deepak Chopra and V.S. Ramachandran. Epstein helped them fund research into whether autistic children had telepathic abilities. We break down the research and what it reveals about Ep...

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department approved Nexstar Media Group's $6.2 billion acquisition of rival Tegna. The deal puts San Diego's CBS, CW and FOX affiliates and KUSI under the same ownership. Monday on Midday Edition, we talk about what this merger could mean for San Diego's journalism landscape and information ecosystem amid declining trust in news. Guest...

A rapid effort is well underway to erase Cesar Chavez' name from schools, parks and monuments following allegations last week about the labor leader's sexual abuse of women and girls. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has signed an executive order directing city departments to remove public references to Chavez. This week, the San Diego Unified School Board will vote on whether to begin the renaming pro...

The city of San Diego is considering new rules around electric bicycles . As e-bikes grow in popularity, so have concerns over safety. On Midday Edition Monday, we get a breakdown of the different types of e-bikes available, and what people need to know. We also hear about efforts at the city and state level underway to regulate electric bicycles. Guest: Aria Grossman, policy manager, Circulate Pl...

Friday marks the beginning of Nowruz, also known as the Persian New Year. A new children's book, "Celebrate Nowruz!" by a local mother-daughter duo honors the holiday and its significance to millions of Iranian families across the world. Then, the San Diego Latino Film Festival kicks off its 33rd year with nearly 150 films showcasing the best in Latino cinema. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando bri...

There's nothing like a good friend. They're the people who make you laugh. They have your back. And, they take care of you when times get tough. But making new friends as an adult can be challenging, especially as we try to balance jobs, families and big life changes. On Midday Edition, we take a deep dive into all things friendship — how to make friends, keep friends and everything in between. Ou...

The U.S. Postal Service released a new commemorative set of stamps honoring lowrider culture on Friday. The stamps, which highlight five classic lowrider cars, are the latest recognition for lowriding as an important form of expression in Mexican-American communities across the Southwest. Lowriding also faced bans in many communities, including a ban in National City until it was repealed in 2023....

The California legislature has been on a housing blitz, passing major housing policy reforms in recent years. Now, Congress is finalizing a package of housing bills — some of the proposed changes were inspired by California. Some experts say it would be the federal government's most significant housing reform in decades. We talk about what the bill package could mean for housing affordability movi...

On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council will be voting on adopting a new working definition of antisemitism. Councilmember Stephen Whitburn is proposing adopting a definition crafted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, also known as the IHRA. The definition has been widely adopted by countries, states, cities and schools. But critics say it's imprecise and could have broader implic...

Last Tuesday, the city of San Diego recognized 10 local women for their leadership and service, as part of its “Women of Distinction” event. Mayor Todd Gloria named immigration attorney Maria Chavez as this year’s citywide honoree. Monday on Midday Edition, we sit down with Chavez to talk about the recognition, her career journey and how current policies and immigration enforcement are impacting h...

Back in January, the City of San Diego implemented paid parking in Balboa Park, incurring both anger and confusion from residents and organizations based out of the park. The city responded with a grace period followed by reductions in fees for city residents and free parking in certain lots. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando checked in with arts organizations in the park about how the parking pol...

Gov. Gavin Newsom last week announced the latest allocation of more than $1 billion for mental health treatment projects and shelter beds. The funding comes through Proposition 1. Passed in 2024, the measure created a $6.4 billion bond to remake California's behavioral health system and expand the availability of treatment beds statewide. A CalMatters report, however, found that none of the progra...

What does it mean to reconnect to one's ancestral homeland? Thursday on Midday Edition, we hear from the director of a new documentary, "Dear Alaska," which explores reconnection and interconnection through the lens of the Indigenous Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest and San Diego's Native community. Then, the Old Globe is currently staging a new adaptation of Herman Melville's 1853 short st...

The federal government is requiring the California DMV to cancel commercial drivers licenses for roughly 13,000 truck drivers without permanent legal status. That includes drivers with some work visas, refugee or asylum status, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — among other work authorizations. The DMV says it's allowing affected drivers to submit new license applications, but the...