KPBS Midday Edition

New congressional districts map approved by the Citizens Redistricting Commission made a big change to San Diego County — a majority Latino district, one of 16 in California. Plus, Pfizer is considering increasing the doses for its children COVID-19 vaccine to three after a two-dose trial shows disappointing results. And, a closer look at renting in the San Diego area and the growing housing rights movement in the wake of the pandemic. Finally, a preview of Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Live Time Bubble Tour coming to the Balboa Theatre.

With a predicted surge of the omicron variant over the winter break, officials at UC San Diego decided to return to distance learning for the first two weeks of January. Both the UC and CSU systems are requiring students to get COVID-19 booster shots before returning to campus. Also, researchers are struggling to figure out exactly what kind of danger omicron poses and how to fight it. And a look at what worked, who fell through the cracks and what's next for the region's renters and landlords as housing becomes increasingly more expensive and pandemic protections evaporate. Finally, Diversionary Theatre used the pandemic shutdown to do some much-needed renovation. The theater reopened in September.

Researchers at UC San Diego, based on the amount of virus detected in the county’s wastewater, say that a COVID-19 surge this winter is not just a possibility, it’s already here. Plus, San Diego’s Climate Equity Index is meant to guide city decision making so the communities on the front lines of the climate crisis get help first. But the tool is far from perfect. Also, San Diego could build a new trolley line to the airport in the next decade, according to a new feasibility study released by the Metropolitan Transit System. And still shopping for that perfect gift? San Diego is home to some great independent bookstores and they have great book recommendations for those last-minute gifts. Finally, in this excerpt from the Cinema Junkie podcast, host Beth Accomando and guest Nora Fiore look at the Long Suffering Wife archetype of film noir.

Health care workers here and around the country are now preparing for a holiday surge in cases, as one vaccine falls out of favor. Plus, in Calexico it’s a familiar story for businesses along the U.S.-Mexico Border: financial devastation due to the pandemic and border closures; but the chamber of commerce in Imperial Valley is trying to help. Also, this weekend you can break up your holiday shopping and baking with some arts and culture including holiday choral music, a chance to learn DIY art and an art exhibition made of legos.

The San Diego area has new maps that determine who gets to run for which seat in government and which neighborhoods are grouped together. We’ll fill you in on the political implications of the new maps. Plus, the Alcohol Policy Panel of San Diego County is hosting its annual meeting Friday, to discuss the impacts of alcohol outlet density in San Diego. Also, California public schools will soon offer free transitional kindergarten for all four-year-olds, which will be a big help to working parents, but it may have unintended consequences for childcare providers. And, residents of Barrio Logan are hoping that a newly minted community plan will help address long standing issues that have plagued the area for decades. Then, actor Tom Steward turns his SD Fringe one-man show of all James Bond films into a musical for Coronado Playhouse this weekend.

The two finalists to be the next San Diego Unified superintendent were announced Tuesday night. They are Susan Enfield from Washington and Lamont Jackson, the current interim superintendent. Plus, newly elected San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera lays out his vision for the council as he settles into his new role. Also, two years ago, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office introduced a de-escalation training program to reduce police shootings countywide. There’s hope that it’s beginning to create a change in police culture. Meanwhile, is the California Dream over? More people are moving out of the state than moving in. And, Banjo master Bela Fleck brings his bluegrass band to the Balboa Theatre tomorrow, following the release of a brand new album.

With surging cases and a growing concern over the omicron variant, the state has reinstated a month-long mask mandate. Also, as the pandemic enters its second winter, San Diego public health officials say the outlook is a bit different this time around, but they’re also concerned about other rising health issues. Plus, state regulators have proposed new rules that could completely change the state’s solar marketplace. Meanwhile, Amazon’s megagrowth is increasing pollution in places where they’ve built warehouses, which are mostly located in Black and Brown communities. And, it took several months, but the San Diego Youth Commission is back and the first meeting was held last month. Finally, from the archive, jazz pianist Joshua White shares the five local artists who have influenced him and made an impact in the San Diego jazz scene.

San Diego is preparing for a major storm to hit the region late Monday, bringing with it much needed rain and snow, but also high winds and possibly lightning. Plus, SANDAG recently approved a $160 billion regional transportation plan, but it still faces hurdles as voters will need to approve sales tax increases to fund some of the projects. Also, California regulators could dramatically change the state’s biggest-in-the nation solar marketplace next year. And in an excerpt of the Port of Entry podcast, meet Mexican artist Michelle Guerrero. The artist’s career is taking off, but, like a lot of artists, Guerrero had to go through a lot to get to where she is today. Finally, the Oceanside Museum of Art opens its fifth Artist Alliance Biennial this Saturday. The juried exhibit was conceived to elevate the voices of Southern California artists and celebrate the best work from the museum's Artist Alliance.

Today marks one year since San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria took office to become the city’s 37th mayor. KPBS metro reporter Andrew Bowen caught up with the mayor to take a look back at the year he’s had, along with the current issues he is working on as he begins his second year in office. Plus, this weekend in arts you can get your holiday events fix with some festive music and dance, but we also have a few options that have nothing to do with the season.

Gentrification is one of the major issues facing urban cities in the 21st century, and San Diego is no different. KPBS's Racial Justice and Social Equity Reporter Cristina Kim moderated a KPBS panel Wednesday on gentrification and how this process is unfolding in San Diego.