KPBS Midday Edition

The state is officially back open on Tuesday, with most Covid-19 restrictions gone -- for now, at least. We take a survey of the new rules and the new situation. Plus, while many have chosen to not get a COVID-19 vaccine, there are a few among us who desperately want to be vaccinated, but can’t due to medical issues. And the San Diego city Council Monday voted unanimously to pass Mayor Todd Gloria’s $4.6 billion budget for the next fiscal year. Then, some critics claim critical race theory advocates discriminating against white people. Where does that idea come from and how is the understanding of this curriculum so vastly different among people? Also, we look at the transition back to in-person arts events, new challenges as venues start welcoming audiences back, and whether or not you'll be seeing masks on the people next to you. And, we hear from some San Diegans on whether they will be going to in person concerts, plays and other arts events in the coming weeks and months.

A detailed report from The San Diego Union-Tribune has revealed a pervasive culture of sexual harassment and discrimination among some of the county's largest employers. Plus, Rady Children's Hospital officials are reporting 25% increase in mental health visits to their emergency room of children experiencing mental health issues. And over the past several decades, hundreds or maybe thousands of U.S. military veterans have been deported after being convicted of crimes, sometimes decades after they left the service. Then, for some Asian women who were on the fence about buying guns for protection, the racist violence of the past year pushed them over the edge. Finally, OnStage Playhouse reopened last week for in-person performances. And the first play at the Chula Vista-based company is timely. "Sheepdog." deals with race and policing issues.

California’s workplace regulators have withdrawn a controversial pending mask regulation while they consider a rule that more closely aligns with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s promise that the state will fully reopen from the pandemic on Tuesday. Plus, a recent study found minority students are underrepresented when members of Congress nominate people to attend the nation’s elite military academies. Advocates are calling on Congress to make the 200-year-old nomination system more equitable for students of color. And the arts world is taking advantage of this perfect weather with plenty of performances beneath the stars, and the start of a week-long Juneteenth festival celebrating Black theater, poetry and music.

California Appeals San Diego Judge’s Ruling Overturning Assault Weapon Ban

Description: State leaders announced Thursday that an appeal has been filed in response to a San Diego federal judge's ruling that overturned California's three-decade-old ban on assault weapons. Plus, the San Diego Unified School District announced on Tuesday a new principal for Lincoln High. Melissa Agudelo will serve as co-principal with the current principal, Stephanie Brown. And while parents await further guidance on vaccinating children under 12, many are wondering what social precautions must be taken as California prepares to reopen on June 15. Then, the loss of taste and smell is now widely known as a telltale sign of COVID-19. But fewer people are aware of another potential lingering side effect: when scents and flavors become distorted. Also, more than 12,000 American Legion posts closed for at least part of the pandemic. Those closures left some posts in financial trouble. Finally, in a new episode of the KPBS Explore podcast, "The Parker Edison Project," we talk with a photographer who's worked on everything from album covers to popular movies like "Friday" and "Exit Through the Gift Shop."

San Diego County is officially in the yellow tier as of today, thanks to big drops in the rate of new COVID-19 infections. Plus, a San Diego-based FBI-led operation was centered around the creation of an encrypted phone company. And Breakfast Block, a grassroots San Diego group founded early this year, works to feed, clothe and provide other essential items to San Diego's growing unsheltered population. Then, the city council approves changes to the city’s housing plan after the state asks for tweaks. Also, while most climate news is bleak, UC San Diego scientists point to niches like electric vehicles, batteries and the solar and wind industries that are seeding a decarbonization revolution. Finally, a story about a plus-size model who’s proud of her body, but has health issues that lead her to undergo weight-loss surgery in Tijuana, where it's more affordable.

While children continue to come to the U.S. unaccompanied, the Biden Administration announced it has accounted for 3,900 children separated during the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy on illegal crossings. Plus, the San Diego Police department has unveiled a new list of procedures for its interactions with transgender and non-binary individuals. And the move to close a North County group home for foster children has put a spotlight on foster care in San Diego County. KPBS looks at how the system is changing. Then, two small water districts in North County think they can get water cheaper by breaking away from San Diego County Water Authority. Also, some teenagers stuck at home during COVID-19 reflected on traumatic experiences in highschool, with hundreds sharing their stories on social media. Finally, has “cancel culture” gotten away from accountability and is it being used as a weapon? A San Diego Union Tribune columnist says it’s time to retire the phrase.

A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that thousands of people living in the U.S. for humanitarian reasons are ineligible to apply to become permanent residents. Plus, new data shows that grades went down and absenteeism was up with about 14% of San Diego Unified students skipping a significant number of online classes. And San Diego city Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe is a member of California’s newly formed Reparations Task Force. She spoke to Midday Edition about what she hopes to accomplish. Then, the county's Building Industry Association, which represents developers, is in a transition — to a new CEO. Lori Holt Pfeiler will be taking over that job on July 6. Plus, the California Senate passed a bill last week that would dramatically change the way bottle recycling works in the state. Finally, Ed Vodrazka captured some of his most exceptional experiences and stories from his fellow lifeguards as a testament to life on the beach in a new book, “Stories from Sea Level: The Heroic and Humorous Adventures of California's Ocean Lifeguards.”

California employees will soon be able to skip masks in the workplace, but only if every employee in the room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Plus, CapRadio’s PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols fact-checked Kamala Harris’ statements on small business closures. And this weekend in the arts: Cataphant at Swish Projects, Word Up in-person, cello virtuoso Zlatomir Fung livestream, a folk performance from the Philippines, Trolley Dances and Omar Pimienta at Lux.

California’s net metering regulations, which determine how residential solar users are paid, are the subject of a bill in the Assembly. Plus, San Diego County started a pilot program to increase access to free tampons and pads to address "period poverty" — a person's inability to access or pay for menstrual products. And a Honduran family flew a Biden 2020 flag at the migrant encampment, saying it gave them hope. Now they're safely in the United States. Then, inspector vacancies at the state agency in charge of protecting workers from health and safety hazards only increased during the pandemic, crippling the agency’s ability to protect millions of workers who faced new risks from COVID-19. Plus, "_____ While Black" interrogates the fraught notion of Black identity in San Diego through the firsthand testimony of several San Diegans. Finally, the San Diego Arab Film Festival kicks off in-person and online events Saturday, opening with Palestinian drama "Between Heaven and Earth.”

Scripps said it was working to notify 147,267 people so they can take steps to protect their information, though there's no indication at present that any data has been used to commit fraud. Plus, UC San Diego’s RIMAC arena vaccination superstation has delivered its last dose. The superstation closed its doors on Tuesday. And state officials are considering changing the watchdog role of nursing home inspectors. Critics argue it would weaken oversight by turning the state’s inspectors into consultants. Then, a new report from The San Diego Union-Tribune's Social Justice Reporting Project explores the role colorism has played within communities of color. Plus, San Diego is in the process of rolling out a whole extra layer of waste pickup — food waste will soon need to be combined with yard waste and placed in new green bins. Finally, discover new music from bands in the region, including 10-19 and the Number Men, Accidents, The Verigolds, Maura Rosa and Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra.