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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Nearly half of students in the San Diego Unified School District are not meeting the state standard for reading and writing. We visit the school that has seen the most improvement in the district. Then, renters in Imperial Beach are raising alarms after the owners of an apartment complex issued mass eviction notices. Plus, a review of the documentary ‘Never Look Away.’
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Five of the 11 seats on an advisory board for water and sewer services are vacant, even as residents pay rising rates. Then, immigrant advocates say San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s decision to defund the Office of Immigrant Affairs sends the wrong message to the city’s immigrant community. Plus, the busy holiday travel season comes at the same time San Diego County data show an uptick in the flu virus.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.