KPBS Midday Edition

OpenAI announced Monday it will delay the release of its latest model, called GPT-6.1 Astra, due to concerns over safety. But after repeated reports of AI models behaving erratically , what does this mean for recent calls to regulate the AI industry? On Midday Tuesday, we hear about what the history of nuclear power can tell us about the possibility of effective AI regulation. Guest: David Victor...

For five years now, Libélula Books & Co . has welcomed book-loving customers into a bustling community space, rooted in a deep love for literature. The LGBTQ+, BIPOC-owned book shop is run by co-owners Jesi Gutierrez and Celi Hernandez. Their mission is to uplift representation and accessibility in literature, while bringing neighbors together through community events from art shows to DJ sets...

The Trump administration announced Monday that it is rolling back fuel economy standards for new cars made in the next five years. Officials point to affordability as a major reason for the rollback, in that more fuel efficient cars may cost more. But some experts are skeptical of that logic. This also comes amid soaring fuel prices across the country and right here in California. So what does thi...

A bipartisan Congressional delegation visited the USS Abraham Lincoln to learn more about reported problems during the ship's extended deployment to the Middle East. The delegation, which included Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, reported speaking with service members and leadership aboard the ship about concerns over supply issues, low morale and mental health impacts . Guest: Andrew Dyer , militar...

Adrian García Márquez is a familiar voice for sports fans in San Diego. These days, his resume includes play-by-play radio announcer for San Diego FC, and Spanish language play by-play voice for the Chargers in Los Angeles. But it's not just soccer. His Emmy-winning career has spanned across five sports, taking him to the NBA, the NFL, several World Series, and the Olympics. On KPBS Midday Edition...

What would it take to transform America's criminal justice system? In her book, "The Price of Mercy," attorney and former public defender Emily Galvin-Almanza explores that question, revealing what goes on behind the scenes of America's criminal courts. This week, Galvin-Almanza will head to San Diego to discuss the book and honor public defenders at an event hosted by local nonprofit Pillars of t...

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the diversity and lived experiences of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States. But which groups were left out of the conversation? On KPBS Midday Edition, we bring you a conversation from our archives about identity. Plus, an episode of "The Finest" featuring singer-songwriter Nicole Hernandez. And, we preview the San Diego Italian Film Festival.

A recent study from UC San Diego finds that fewer than half of Americans (49%) expect "free and fair" 2026 midterm elections. Respondents cited concerns around redistricting, mail voting, and immigration enforcement fears as some of the reasons for election skepticism. Researchers behind the study join Midday Edition Wednesday to dig more into the survey's findings, the reasons behind growing elec...

For more than three years, AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude have become widely used as tools for finding information online, in a style that mimics human conversation. More and more, though, people are also turning to artificial intelligence to meet their emotional needs. A recent study from the scientific journal Nature found that about 27% of AI users are looking to chatbots for mental hea...

A new documentary from PBS Independent Lens explores how human values and power structures drive the artificial intelligence movement that surrounds our lives today. The film, " Ghost in the Machine ," traces AI's roots in the eugenics movement. It also explores the human toll it takes to power the technology. On KPBS Midday Edition, we sit down with the director to talk about the documentary and...

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we are profiling trailblazers in the community about their commitment to their craft and contributions to the San Diego-Tijuana region. Vicente Calderón is a veteran journalist with more than 40 years of experience on both sides of the border. He's the founder and editor-in-chief of Tijuanapress.com, Tijuana's first digital news site. Midday Edition's Jade Hindm...

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a state of emergency Monday ahead of what state officials are saying could be a historic El Niño season. The climate pattern could potentially bring severe weather to the region, from heavy rain and strong winds to coastal flooding and erosion. We talk about what is on the horizon this fall and winter — and what San Diegans need to know to prepare. Plus, are you covered...

Two weeks ago, Renatho Casseus was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on his way to San Diego City College.  Casseus faced his first bond hearing last week at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, where he was denied bail. The City College community has rallied in support of Casseus. But many students, faculty and staff are left feeling anxious about immigration enfor...

On Friday, President Trump announced he was barring three news organizations from access to the White House. CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO filed a federal lawsuit Monday arguing that the move by the president violated their First Amendment rights. Major TV networks have suspended White House pool coverage in response to the ban. On Midday Edition Monday, we speak with a free speech expert about the la...

In March 2021, hundreds of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum were sheltered in the San Diego Convention Center, where they waited to be reunited with their sponsors and family members. A new play, "Our Lady of the San Diego Convention Center," tells the story of two migrant girls and the staff hired to take care of them. Produced by local company TuYo Theatre, it is based on the playwright's own...

Nine months ago, the San Diego City Council paid a historic $30 million settlement to the family of Konoa Wilson. Police officer Daniel Gold shot and killed the 16-year-old in Jan. 2025, as he was running for his life. Earlier this month, the District Attorney's office announced that no criminal charges will be filed against Gold. We sit down with a former police officer and oversight board member...

On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council adopted a new working definition of Islamophobia in an effort to further combat anti-Muslim hate and bias. The city action comes four months after two gunmen attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three people. It is believed to be the first resolution of its kind in California and the third nationally, according to the Council of American-Islamic...

Concerns over the impact of AI are growing after a former researcher at Anthropic, a major AI company, announced his resignation with a warning: AI could kill humanity by the end of the decade. Recent news and other concerns raised by those in the AI space have led to discussions about the safety of AI and growing calls for regulation. We sit down with a local expert to discuss these predictions,...

A new report finds a steady stream of pollutants in the Tijuana River watershed, including industrial chemicals and heavy metals. E. coli levels in the watershed are often 30,000 times higher than the federal standard for freshwater bodies. And, some chemicals discovered by researchers don't have documented thresholds because they're not expected to be found in water. "The findings indicate the pr...

It has been one week since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a Haitian student near the San Diego City College campus. Elected leaders, community members and school officials have condemned ICE's actions. It comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haitian and Syrian immigrants earlier thi...

The youth-led podcast Voices del Valle is back with a new season of stories about growing up in the Imperial Valley. Produced by students at El Centro's Central Union High School, the new season features stories about what it's like to be homeschooled, youth incarceration and much more. The new season, also includes interviews with high-profile guests who grew up in the Imperial Valley, including...

Under federal guidelines, migrants should not be detained in temporary detention facilities for more than three days. But here in San Diego, some families with children have been detained at these stations for weeks at a time. Now, a federal judge is establishing an independent monitor to oversee facilities in San Diego, among other locations. We discuss the data and what it means for migrants in...

The San Diego District Attorney's office recently announced it will not file criminal charges against police officer Daniel Gold, who shot and killed 16-year-old Konoa Wilson in Jan. 2025. In a 14-page letter, the District Attorney's office said there was "not a criminal charge provable beyond a reasonable doubt" in the case against Officer Gold. But some community members are questioning that dec...

A new illustrated memoir for young readers takes us to the strawberry fields of California’s Central Coast. In the book “Mexikid Dreams,” author and illustrator Pedro Martín draws on his own experiences growing up in a sharecropping family and dreaming of a life in the arts. It is the follow up to his first book, “Mexikid,” which won the prestigious Newbery Award in 2024. Then, KPBS arts reporter...

San Diegans have been doing their best to stay cool during the region's latest heatwave, which has pushed temperatures well above normal, and at times to record highs . The heat has been exacerbated by unusually high humidity. An extreme heat warning continues Wednesday for much of San Diego County. On Midday Edition Wednesday, we talk about the latest heatwave, how it's impacting communities, and...