PANEL:
Joe Hong, education reporter, KPBS News
Kate Morrissey, immigration reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Monica Dean, anchor/reporter, NBC 7
Tom Jones, investigative producer, NBC 7
San Diego State University began the 2020-2021 academic year this week much like it ended the last — with a hybrid of distance learning and limited in-person instruction. The continued disruption underscores the uncertainty for education at all levels and whether students can receive an equitable experience. Meanwhile, San Diego Unified begins its school year next week with distance learning. There is hope an improving local COVID-19 situation could clear the way for schools to reopen in the days ahead.
The Difficult Road To Asylum
The San Diego Union-Tribune launched an in-depth multi-part series on the U.S. asylum system. It takes a deep look at the odds stacked against asylum seekers who often arrive at the southern border, only to be returned to their home countries with minimal due process. The challenges for these individuals have come into focus under the Trump administration, but have been in place well before Trump took office.
RELATED: ‘Hatemonger’ Investigates Trump Immigration Czar Stephen Miller’s Influences And Ambitions
San Diego's Spike In Child Exploitation
Over the past 18 months, NBC 7 dove into the world of child sex trafficking, interviewing survivors, perpetrators and law enforcement. The station's work is now part of a documentary series STOLEN that also looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the online aspect of these crimes. The series examines how teenagers are preyed upon not only in our streets, but also in our schools.
RELATED: Sex Offender Registries Often Fail Those They Are Designed To Protect
