KPBS Midday Edition

La Mesa City Councilwoman Dr. Akilah Weber was close to being elected to the 79th Assembly District seat on Wednesday, a position previously held by her mother, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber. Plus, how California’s restaurants are preparing for a June 15 reopening.. And California will soon allow indoor live performances and events in counties outside the state's most-restrictive reopening tier. Also, the City Council on Tuesday voted to go ahead with Measure C, a March 2020 ballot measure that seeks to fund an expansion through increased hotel taxes even though it didn’t quite garner approval from two-thirds of city voters. Then, a new state law, which allows tenants and nonprofits a 45-day window to match any bid made at a foreclosure auction, provides no money to fund the purchases. Finally, new music from San Diego bands and musicians.

On June 15 California will do away with the color-coded COVID-19 safety system and plans to fully reopen the state, as long as the vaccine supply holds and infection rates remain low. Plus, the March 2 tragedy in Imperial Valley where 13 people were killed in an human smuggling attempt is a tragic consequence of the humanitarian crisis at the southern border. Also, San Diego County schools are expecting close to $1 billion in stimulus money from the third COVID-19 federal relief package with the biggest chunk going to San Diego Unified. In addition, the family of a man who died after sheriff’s deputies forcibly removed him from a jail cell received a $3.5 million settlement from the county. And, some California cities are doing away with single-family home zoning to encourage high-density housing, but will it make a dent in the state’s housing and affordability shortage? Finally, as the state moves toward reopening for live, in-person events, what does that mean for organizations that have a long lead time for their events, such as the San Diego Opera?

According to the San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency, 1,022,026 San Diegans — or 38% — have received at least one dose of the two doses Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Plus, the president's $2 trillion infrastructure plan would invest heavily in public transit and intercity rail. And the San Diego Commission On Police Practices submitted 19 proposed changes involving SDPD's policy on how officers respond to and interact with protestors. Then, on Wednesday the Supreme Court heard arguments over whether or not NCAA compensation limits for student athletes violates antitrust laws. Plus, getting a COVID-19 vaccine shot can be very emotional. Some people cry with relief. For those who survived HIV the newfound freedom is something they’ve felt before. Finally, Harvey Shields used to work with professional athletes but now, during the pandemic, Shields has been helping people with lingering COVID-19 symptoms.

The first week of witness testimony in the Derek Chauvin trial and repeated showings of the video of the former police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd have been retraumatizing for many people. Plus, the public agency that manages the tidelands around San Diego Bay is considering adjusting the way it does business to include environmental justice. And, a look at the art events for this weekend in SanSan Diego County.

People 50 and older are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine in San Diego. But, the state still faces supply shortages. Also, opening day kicked off in San Diego with the Padres facing the Arizona Diamonds. In Tijuana, Haitian asylum-seekers say they face racism and descrimination on both sides of the border. San Diego Pride will once again go virtual due to the pandemic and a preview of “The Great Khan” that will close out San Diego REP's Black Voices 2021 Play Reading Series.

Nearly 30 years after César Chávez's death, a key part of his legacy is in jeopardy.The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case surrounding a 1975 California law that affords union organizers limited access to farms to organize workers. Plus, nearly three-quarters of all inmates in California have not been convicted of any crimes and are sitting in jail waiting for their day in court. Also, it's well-known that "gang life" isn't easy. Often it leads to jail time, substance abuse or even death. How one organization is helping at-risk youth overcome their involvement. And, as more people get vaccinated against COVID-19, one company is asking for stool samples to study how the vaccine interacts with our bodies. Finally, in an excerpt of “Port of Entry” podcast, why one woman left her life in the U.S. behind to help take care of orphaned kids in Tijuana.

In the past week, coronavirus cases have risen by as much as 12% nationwide. Will a rise happen in California too? Plus, the California Supreme court ruled that keeping people behind bars simply because they cannot pay a set bail amount is unconstitutional. And, thousands of people across the county get CalFresh, commonly known as food stamps, to help them buy food. But a KPBS investigative report found the program regularly pushes out people who are still eligible for the extra money. Then, there’s a push at the highest levels of state government to change how California goes about procuring and updating its technology. Plus, the city of San Diego and the county set aside $40 million in rental assistance last year to help low-income families. But some renters weren’t helped because their landlords didn’t take the money. Finally, a project created by a San Diego woman is recruiting the family stories from people of color who got left out of history.

The first 500 teenage girls arrived at the convention center Saturday night. Services for the teens, such as family reunification, education and health care, will be provided by a mix of government agencies and local nonprofit organizations. Plus, data gathered by The San Diego Union-Tribune revealed that police officers and sheriff’s deputies disproportionately target minorities for stops, searches, arrests and use of force. And though the Marine Corps has now integrated its two boot camps, that's just one of several hurdles it faces to fully embrace women. Then, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the latest attempt to stabilize the agricultural workforce, passed in the House last week. Plus, the San Diego Public Library Foundation wants the community to think about the future of its libraries. Finally, the newest episode of “The Parker Edison Project” examines sex and dating on the West Coast.

California is expanding vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 and over starting April 1, and anyone 16 and up on April 15. Plus, San Diego Unified students will return to campus either two or four days a week in April, depending on the number of families who want to participate in in-person instruction. And in San Diego weekend arts: SDMA’s Young Art exhibition, a virtual piano concert, Coronado Playhouse’s latest production, The Black Iris Project, “Contralto” and “A Shimmer of Strings.”

The Brazilian variant of COVID-19, which caused a deadly spike in cases in that country, has been found in San Diego. Plus, California assemblyman Rob Bonta has been chosen to become the state’s next attorney general. Upon his appointment, Bonta would be the first Filipino American to occupy the position. And some doctors are seeing a disturbing spike in lethal alcoholic liver disease, especially among young women. Then, the pandemic has restricted the number of clinical placements available to nursing students in hospitals, forcing them to practice their skills instead on mannequins, virtual patients, or at home with relatives and even stuffed animals. Plus, "Contralto," is a groundbreaking work of experimental documentary filmmaking and music by composer and UC San Diego music alum Sarah Hennies. Finally, a new summertime anthem about Southeast San Diego was just released called “Southeast Summers.”