KPBS Midday Edition

For 40 years researchers have been working to unlock the key to HIV prevention, now the success of a clinical trial is a first step in realizing that goal. Plus, to address the disparities in health care and to create better outcomes for Black families, San Diego County is launching the “Black Legacy Now” campaign. And, two parents say San Diego Unified wrongly denied their son special education services — now he’s fallen behind. And, in an excerpt from the latest episode of the “Port Of Entry” podcast: Separated by deportation, how a family’s love kept them connected despite the border wall between them. Finally, a look at a century of Black cinema that’s both problematic and inspiring.

The new administration says it wants to join efforts to reunite families that were separated under President Trump. Plus, outdoor dining is resuming in California, but some restaurant owners and workers are wary of reopening their patios and parking lots. And a UC San Diego lecturer says San Diego’s history with extremism raises the terror threat locally. Then, several BLM supporters say rallies against police brutality have become lessons in law enforcement’s indifference to aggressive behavior by Trump and MAGA followers. And the city of San Diego is calling for community input on a plan to address environmental inequalities in different neighborhoods. Finally, Redwoods Music founder and songwriter Alfred Howard made us a playlist of music that influenced him as he kicked off a new year-long songwriting challenge.

KPBS spoke to San Diego County public health officials about the availability of vaccines, the current difficulty in scheduling a vaccine appointment and the issue of equitable distribution of the vaccine. Plus, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is running for California governor. He says that California has become a failed state under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. And women seem to have borne the brunt of the economic impact of COVID-19, something that may continue to affect their careers and lives for years to come.. Finally, "Through the Night,” a film screening this week as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, spotlights the essential workers, mostly women of color who require 24-hour childcare centers.

San Diego Democratic Congresswoman Sara Jacobs has co-sponsored a censure resolution against Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Plus, San Diego County’s zero-carbon policy plan could reduce the burden on working families. Also, COVID-19 cases at Yuba County Jail have infected almost half of all inmates and ICE detainees. Next, how the coronavirus pandemic affected Port Of San Diego struggled last year, and where it plans to go from here. Additionally, new federal laws seeking to improve mental health care for veterans and their families hit some setbacks. Finally, celebrate Black History Month with the San Diego History Center.

A Coronado man is facing misdemeanor charges for his alleged participation in the Capitol riot. Plus, Gov. Gavin Newsom dreamed of a high-tech, efficient government, and Capital News Radio looks back on his performance so far. Finally, our weekend arts events include new performance work, an outdoor sculpture and a San Diego Symphony livestream.

Age before profession — that’s the change California health officials announced about the vaccine rollout this week. Plus, using public records, inewsource uncovered reporting mistakes and delays in Southern California and at the state level in tracking inmate deaths from COVID-19. And the police agencies are violating a landmark state law passed in 2018. A new bill could impose fines on departments that do not release records quickly enough. Then, while Gov. Gavin Newsom has grabbed attention for his clean car policy — so far, he’s not earned a broader reputation as an environmental champion. Finally, jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos shares the music that got him through career-threatening medical problems and the artists that shaped his own musical journey.

A UC San Diego infectious disease modeler says the question is not whether the COVID-19 variant first reported in the UK will become the dominant strain here, it’s when. Plus, according to a report, La Mesa police officers lacked training, communication, leadership and policies that would have likely deescalated the protest-turned-riot in May 2020. Then, contractors and government workers building the border wall along America’s southwest border must stop all work, after President Biden ordered a halt. And advocates for the homeless say Gavin Newsom deserves credit for his early actions as governor, but he needs to do much more to address the scale of the problem. Then, making history, the first 60 women will go through boot camp in San Diego for the first time at MCRD, part of a Congressionally-mandated change. Finally, a school in Los Angeles is making space for students to take on leadership roles and create the change they want to see.

Many San Diego businesses are scrambling to reopen services, but with so much about the rate of vaccinations and variants still unknown, much of the optimism remains cautious. Plus, the Multicultural Health Foundation will hold a virtual panel called "Don't Hesitate To Vaccinate" on Thursday. And San Diego’s economy is on the cusp of a massive shift: Tech companies are thriving while the hospitality sector remains in a deep depression. Then, two years in, California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing a host of crises and the threat of a recall vote. Plus, BlueNalu, a San Diego aquaculture technology start-up, is betting that Americans' love of seafood will extend to fish fillets grown from fish cells. And California artists sound off on “Amazing Grace’s” enduring power, and what all of us, including our leaders, can learn from its message.

California lifted regional stay-at-home orders across the state Monday, returning the state to a system of county-by-county restrictions. Plus, an update on how much rain and snow we’ve had across the county and what to expect for the rest of the week. And district and union officials in San Diego County say widespread in-person learning is unlikely even if teachers get vaccinated. Then, the local federal court’s plan for how it will select potential jurors is drawing fire for what many critics believe is an insufficient attempt to increase jury diversity. Plus, volunteer tech workers with ties to Silicon Valley think California’s vaccine rollout could be faster. The science on the impact of large wildfires on the region’s water supplies isn’t well understood. Finally, reporter Lisa Morehouse talks to California Report Magazine Host Sasha Khokha about the legacies of California food pioneers who died in 2020.

San Diego will make more than $42 million in federal emergency rental assistance available to city residents. Plus, the VA and veterans groups are aware of extremism in their ranks but there are very few resources out there to pull them back from the brink. Then, this weekend in San Diego arts: a new Digital WOW production, Amel Janae’s solo exhibition, a group show at Thumbprint, and Icelandic contemporary music paired with Ana de Alvear’s art.