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San Diego News Now

San Diego news; when you want it, where you want it. Get local stories on politics, education, health, environment, the border and more. New episodes are ready weekday mornings. Hosted by Debbie Cruz and produced by KPBS, San Diego and the Imperial County's NPR and PBS station.

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  • Results on the sales tax measure to fund transportation projects show a divide between urban and suburban voters. Then, a new program by the North County LGBTQ Resource Center wants to remove barriers from accessing abortion care. Plus, officials say the illegal flow of U.S. guns into Mexico is arming the cartels.
  • As we approach the peak of cold and flu season, health officials are warning San Diego County residents about a rise in two serious respiratory illnesses: walking pneumonia and whooping cough. In other news, a lawsuit was announced Monday on behalf of South Bay residents affected by discharged raw sewage and contamination. Plus, for nearly 30 years, Carlsbad has had a moratorium on drive-thru restaurants, but now the city is rethinking that ban.
  • A new Scripps Research study links heavy alcohol use to the most common form of dementia. In other news, South Bay residents who notice a rotten egg smell have a new tool to understand its health risk. We learn more on the latest response to the cross-border sewage crisis. Plus, artificial light has disrupted the sleep and circadian rhythms of people, and it’s also affecting living things that share our urban space.
  • Local Indigenous leaders are working to increase representation and cultural awareness. That also means making higher education more inclusive. We hear from San Diego State University’s tribal liaison. In other news, the California Center for the Arts is a North County hub for culture, art and community. A foundation has managed it for 30 years, but a budget deficit for Escondido could mean a change. Plus, Seaworld San Diego doubled as a giant classroom yesterday for STEM: science, technology, engineering and math.
  • A new effort is underway to help downtown San Diego, and other civic centers across California, after being affected by the COVID pandemic. In other news, San Diego County data show, one in four adults over 65 experiences a fall each year. A local nonprofit is teaching seniors how to fall safely or not at all. Plus, roughly 8 million young people became eligible to vote for the first time this year. We hear from local young voters on their decisions.
  • Now that Donald Trump is preparing to make good on his promises of mass deportations, many are afraid. We hear from a therapist on how undocumented immigrants can find healthy ways to process fear and anxiety around the issue. In other news, San Diego is considering a reform to its building code to encourage more family-sized apartments. Plus, the co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit, Kids for Peace joins the podcast to talk about World Kindness Day.
  • Thirty-two million tourists visited San Diego last fiscal year, staying longer and spending more, leaving a record economic impact. In other news, many credit unions in California rely on overdraft fees for revenue. State lawmakers took notice and passed a new law to protect customers. Plus, the unique financial challenges facing veterans.
  • Immigrant rights advocates are preparing for what might be an unprecedented immigration crackdown. In other news, it’s Veterans’ Day and commemorations are happening all over San Diego. We look at how LGBTQ veterans are being honored locally. Plus, the San Diego Unified School Board announced the winners of its social media awareness contest.
  • As analysts parse the reasons for former President Donald Trump's win, the head of the local GOP says it was entirely predictable. Meanwhile, a local no party preference voter is terrified of Trump making good on his promised agenda. In other news, a Japanese helicopter carrier off the San Diego coast has successfully shown it can operate with F-35 fighters. Plus, this weekend in the Gaslamp Quarter, an exhibit will shed light on the Native American experience through art. We hear from the woman behind the exhibit and one of the artists.
  • Open enrollment for Covered California is now underway and for the first time it includes DACA recipients. In other news, three years ago, Amazon opened a fulfillment center in one of Tijuana's poorest neighborhoods and residents hoped the company would make big investments in the community, but those expectations remain largely unfulfilled. Plus, California law requires the state’s electricity grid to get 100% of its energy from renewable resources by 2045. We learn about new research that shows a path to that goal is paved with a lot of stored energy.
Debbie Cruz is the local anchor for All Things Considered and the host of the San Diego News Now podcast. Debbie has over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She joined KPBS in 2020.
Emilyn Mohebbi produces the San Diego News Now podcast. She started at KPBS in 2020 as the Gloria Penner Fellow. She has her bachelor’s in journalism from SDSU.