San Diego News Now

The San Diego VA is making access to mental health care harder for local veterans, outraging therapists who say the agency’s actions are dangerous and irresponsible. Meanwhile, San Diego hospitals are bracing for a surge in COVID-19 cases that could exhaust medical staff and resources. Also, Supervisors are taking action, approving more funding for an income replacement program.

San Diego County is setting records: On Monday there were 833 cases reported, following a record high of 1,087 on Sunday and 736 Saturday. Meanwhile, business owners gathered with protestors for a “re-open San Diego rally” on Monday to protest closure of indoor business operations under the state’s “purple tier.”

California’s coronavirus cases are surging. Health officials say social gatherings and people not wearing masks or keeping their distance are fueling the rise. Yet businesses say they are paying the price with revenue-sapping restrictions. Also, voters approved Measure E to do away with height restrictions in the Midway District. Plus, what will become of the U.S. Southern border wall once Preside...

California passed the grim milestone of one million total confirmed coronavirus infections. Starting Saturday morning public health orders will require restaurants, gyms and churches to stop indoor operations after an increase in COVID-19 cases. Plus, while San Diego moved into the purple covid-19 tier, Bay Area counties moved into the less restrictive yellow and orange tiers.

San Diego businesses are preparing for new restrictions after the county was moved into California's purple Covid-19 tier. Meanwhile, the new lockdown has some San Diegans asking why the county has regressed. Also, we’ll have an interview with the new Mayor-Elect Todd Gloria.

A rise in Covid-19 cases has put San Diego in the state’s purple, most restrictive reopening tier. Meanwhile, school districts are working to keep school buses virus-free -- and we’ll take a closer look. And, in honor of Veteran’s Day, a profile of former marine Luther Hendricks who fought overseas in World War II’s Pacfic Theater while also fighting racism back home.

Today the state will release it’s weekly covid-19 metrics and, once again, San Diego county is waiting to find out if it moves into the purple tier or not. Moving into that purple tier would shutter many indoor business operations in the county. Meanwhile, a newly elected Temecula City Councilwoman sponsored a rally challenging California's COVID-19 protections. Plus, City Councilwoman Barbara Bry...

Celebrations erupted across San Diego County on Saturday after the Associated Press and other news organizations declared former Vice President Joe Biden the projected winner of the 2020 Presidential election. Meanwhile, in the East County, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar conceded the race for the vacant 50th Congressional District seat and congratulated his opponent, former Rep. Darrell Issa. Also, o...

With only a month left in office, Mayor Kevin Faulconer is hoping to win City Council approval for a plan to incentivize more housing in urban areas. Also, Mission Driven Finance, a San Diego based investment company, is piloting a program that would reduce rents or mortgages for childcare providers. Plus, a conversation about a new city pilot program that replaces police with social workers to he...

San Diego’s Covid-19 infection rates are, for now, past the threshold set by the state. If San Diego continues to report metrics like this for one more week, the county will be moved into the state’s most restrictive purple tier. Plus, we'll have the latest on the local election results for San Diego.

Assemblyman Todd Gloria is leading fellow Democrat San Diego City Councilmember Barbara Bry for San Diego Mayor on Tuesday but the race was unlikely to be called, and votes will likely be tallied for weeks. Bry said she is not ready to concede. We’ll have a review of many local races and local and state propositions.

It’s Election Day. It's the last day to cast your ballot in person, or to post mark your mail in ballot. KPBS will have coverage throughout today to bring you the election latest. Also, the tensions around Election Day have hospitals on high alert, even though those institutions are always planning ahead for disasters that could send a wave of patients their way. And, in March, the pandemic spurre...

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters says if voting trends continue, we could see a turnout in San Diego of over 80 percent of registered voters. Also, a warming climate was a key talking point for national political candidates last year, but then the pandemic happened and seemed to take climate change out of political debate. Plus, we’ll have the final installment of a series on how wildfire...

In-Person voting begins this weekend in San Diego, but the number of polling locations in the county has been reduced. Our partners at inewsource have an in-depth look at how that impacts some neighborhoods over others. Also, we have part four of our series on tracking how covid-19 data points are determined.

A new lawsuit aims to end the controversial “Remain in Mexico” program, which has sent over 60,000 asylum seekers back to Mexico since its implementation in early 2019. Also, the number of registered voters in San Diego is at a historical high. Plus, Bodhi Tree Concerts production of "8 Songs for a Mad King" provides political commentary on Trump and returns for a second, revamped show.

For yet another week, San Diego County avoided dropping into the dreaded purple tier - the most restrictive level in California's coronavirus monitoring system. The county’s adjusted case rate on Tuesday was 6.5 new daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population. Plus, More school reopening details were released for San Diego Unified, meanwhile Vista School district is sending students into quarantin...

The Silverado fire in Orange county sparked on Monday morning, forced tens of thousands to evacuate. Strong, and dry winds forced power outages for a million people in the Orange county and Los Angeles region. In North County power outages affected more than 2500 residents. Also, Border Patrol agents shot and killed a Mexican citizen just feet away from the pedestrian port of entry in San Ysidro....

Some parents of special-needs students say they haven’t received the services they hoped for. District officials say they are working to increase services at all schools. Meanwhile, a new study shows education gaps caused by distance learning disproportionately affect students of color. Plus, we’ll also review the race for the 77th state assembly seat.

The Presidential campaign revved into high gear on Thursday night with the last debate between President Donald Trump and Vice President Joe Biden… Meanwhile, in San Diego election issues: We’re fact checking mailers and texts from the San Diego City Council District 7 race. We’ll also review Prop’s 24 and 25 on the ballot this year. And, an interview with a former US prosecutor who fled the US Ju...

Protesters gathered at San Ysidro Port of Entry to demand the US restore asylum proceedings for migrants who have been waiting in Mexico for months. Also, we’ll review Measure E on the ballot. Plus, a look at how the San Diego craft brew industry has been handling the changes ushered in by the pandemic.

San Diego came close but was not quite pushed into the most restrictive Covid-19 tier due to the county’s high testing rate. Also we’ll review measures B, C and D on this year’s ballot. Plus, San Diego’s Asian Film festival returns.

The registrar of voters says the number of ballots received thus far in the election cycle is up 300 to 400 percent from 2016. Plus, climate activists are meeting online to figure out how to meet California’s ambitious climate goals and social workers are being offered gun safety classes for the first time.

San Diego County officials have sounded the alarm about rising COVID-19 rates, urging everyone to be vigilant and help keep the county from dipping back into the state’s most restrictive reopening tier. Plus: who’s back in school and who isn’t, early voting is underway and more of the local news you need. Support San Diego News Matters by becoming a KPBS member online now at www.kpbs.org/donate.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may cost the region's economy more than $12.4 billion in 2020, according to a report released Thursday. We’ll review the San Diego City Council race for District Nine, and also Ballot Measure A regarding Housing Bonds. Plus, part three of KPBS’ Trigger Tracker series goes over the challenge of tracking hospital capacity during the pandemic.

The commander of a Marine battalion landing team was relieved from duty on Tuesday. He was the commander of a team involved in a training accident last July that killed nine young servicemen. Also, we’ll review the political races for the San Diego Unified School Board, and San Diego City Council District Five. Plus, are traces of COVID-19 found in sewage a public health risk?