San Diego News Now

Visitors are left frustrated by California’s rules to allow asymptomatic COVID-positive nurses to return to work at the state’s nursing homes. Meanwhile, a migrant camp on the Tijuana side of the border was cleared out on Sunday. And, technology has changed how we shop, from retail to grocery shopping.

A look back at the very first quarantine efforts in San Diego at MCAS Miramar, two years later. Meanwhile, a San Diego lawmaker is proposing a new bill to keep schools open and safe as the pandemic continues. The proposal would infuse the California Immunization Registry with COVID-19 data from across the state. Also, neighbors attempted to block construction of an apartment building next to St. P...

Early findings show hate crimes are on the rise in recent years both in the San Diego region and across the country. In 2021, the trend only worsened. Also, the San Diego Police Department is spending more than it budgeted on overtime. Plus, a preview of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival happening at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park.

Thursday marks the last day in office for San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore. The department made strides in fighting sex crimes and human trafficking during Gore’s 13 years at the helm. But his tenure was also marked by racial profiling, deputy misconduct and jail deaths. Meanwhile, some San Diego County residents will soon have a choice on what kind of power they use. But many are confused about...

According to Scripps Health, daily COVID volumes at their five hospital campuses peaked two weeks ago. Scripps predicts the omicron surge is winding down. Meanwhile, the San Diego History Center's exhibit, ‘Celebrate San Diego: Black History & Heritage’ showcases the rich history of Black San Diego. It’s timed for Black History Month which began on Tuesday. Plus, a City Heights rehab center provid...

California Democrats on Monday failed to gather enough support to advance a first-in-the-nation universal health care bill, succumbing to intense pressure from business groups and the insurance industry in an election year. Meanwhile, San Diegans are seeing their electricity bills skyrocket. Plus, the widespread impacts of wage theft in California, and why legal action against it has been delayed.

The California Education Code mandates art, music, theatre and dance be offered to every student, yet less than one-in-five public schools today have a full-time arts and music teacher. That could change with a proposed state ballot measure that would guarantee funding for arts in public schools. Meanwhile, a new state law requires that all food waste be composted rather than sent to landfills. A...

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber authored legislation creating the first-in-the-nation task force to study and recommend reparations. She’s now made it clear who should be eligible. Meanwhile, the two Tijuana journalists murdered this month had sought help from Baja California’s journalist protection program. The help never came. Plus, Digital Gym Cinema makes its comeback as a satellit...

A one-and-a-half acre parcel of land in downtown San Diego’s Waterfront Park will be transformed into a sports park. The County Board of Supervisors just approved a proposal to move forward with construction bids for the park. Meanwhile, a local development firm has purchased property across the street from the recently opened Clairemont Drive trolley station and hopes to build twice as many apart...

The Navy has been embarrassed by COVID outbreaks on the USS Roosevelt. Now it’s relying on vaccines and new guidance to keep crews healthy at sea. Meanwhile, the two latest murders of journalists in Tijuana have prompted the Baja California Attorney General's Office appoint a a special prosecutor to investigate. Plus, legislation that would help create a single-payer, government run health plan in...

State Lawmakers in California announced on Monday legislation to require California students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for in-person school attendance. The bill removes a mandatory personal belief exemption. Meanwhile, a Mexican journalist was gunned down in front of her home in Tijuana on Sunday. This is the second reporter murdered there in less than a week and the third this month in Me...

Even before the pandemic, it was difficult to hire childcare staff. The positions are undervalued and poorly paid. Now, during the Great Resignation, the situation is more dire than ever. Meanwhile, more than a year after San Diego voters overwhelmingly approved the creation of an independent police oversight board, a City Council committee has finally ok’d a draft plan for the board. And, this ye...

The pandemic has created enormous challenges for 9-1-1 operators. Hundreds of these first responders are in San Diego this week to learn about new technology, and to find solutions to the issues the industry is facing during the pandemic. Meanwhile, veterans became eligible for a new kind of benefit last year - called “presumptive” benefits , these are post-service medical conditions that arose be...

California utility regulators have quietly tabled a controversial plan that would drastically reduce the benefits provided to homeowners with rooftop solar panels. Plus, the Otay Mesa Detention Center saw a spike in covid-19 cases last week among federal immigration detainees. Plus, the federal program to order covid-19 at-home testing rolled out this week.

On Tuesday telecom giants AT&T and Verizon agreed to limit their rollout of 5G cellular service in response to concerns it could be a danger to air travel. Meanwhile, micro enterprise home kitchens may come soon, after the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to take the first step toward allowing them. Plus, a secret staircase in southeast San Diego is getting a makeover.

Reproductive freedom, gun control and offshore oil drilling – In the past year, these national issues have become local flashpoints in votes before the San Diego County Board. Meanwhile, a controversial plan to reduce the benefits of owning solar has been quietly removed from the California Utility regulators late January agenda. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. Plus, the latest update on...

San Diego Unified School officials are invoking emergency procedures to deal with an extreme shortage of teachers in classrooms. Meanwhile, some immunocompromised people will be eligible for additional Covid-19 shots, but is that enough protection? Plus, Turner Classic Movies has created a program of documentary shorts and features in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

There is no end in sight to the Republic Services labor strike and a public health emergency has been declared in Chula Vista as trash cans overflow. And – a few weeks ago we had a story about the use of surveillance tools in border cities like Chula Vista. Now, in part 2 of this KPBS investigation, we report that privacy and technology experts are concerned about the use of Chinese made surveilla...

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria gave his 2022 State of the City address on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the San Diego Unified school district has been forced to put its covid-19 vaccine mandate on hold until further notice. Plus, the city of Chula Vista has become known for its aggressive use of drones and other police surveillance technology. But a KPBS investigation finds that Chula Vista is giving a...

Teachers in San Diego’s south bay say they’re planning a walkout over contract negotiations. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom was in the Central Valley on Tuesday promoting his plans for health care. Plus, KPBS speaks with an economist about how San Diego is fairing, and what’s behind the “great resignation.”

Rady Children’s Hospital is seeing a record number of children testing positive for COVID-19. But most went to the hospital for a different reason. Meanwhile, some people are reporting waiting up to 13 days for COVID-19 test results. The transit testing site operator is apologizing and promising to fix turnaround times. Plus, how robotrucks could strengthen the American supply chain… and maybe thr...

As hospitals fill up in the county because of COVID, emergency room delays are causing back-ups with ambulances having to wait longer to drop off patients. Meanwhile, we have more information on San Diego city employees seeking medical or religious exemptions from the covid-19 vaccine mandate. Plus, the United States has officially resumed its policy of sending asylum seekers back to Mexico as the...

A hearing regarding a July 2020 sinking of an amphibious assault vehicle continued on Thursday. We have the latest. Meanwhile, our partners at inewsource found that several San Diego County police agencies have been sharing license plate data across the U.S., in violation of state law. Plus, instances of restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses temporarily closing their doors are becoming...

San Diego region’s largest employers - like everywhere else - are finding it hard to keep staffing levels up in the midst of the current surge of COVID-19 infections. Meanwhile, There is a new way to get around Encinitas with colorful electric bikes and docks along Coast Highway. And, last month congress threw out plans to require women to register for the draft. More on how supporters of gender-n...

San Diego County is seeing a big jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and some hospitals are already canceling elective surgeries as staff call in sick. Meanwhile, hearings are underway regarding one of the deadliest Marine training accidents in decades - the July 2020 sinking of an amphibious assault vehicle. Plus, a story about how Tijuana’s maquiladora industry has flourished during the...