KPBS Midday Edition

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state will have to slash its budget by $6.1 billion because of revenue shortfall from the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, day care centers can now accept children whose parents are nonessential workers. But because of miscommunications by county officials, providers are just now getting the message. And, some area casinos say they're ready to resume business but San Diego County health officials are vowing to fight the plan.

As California slowly reopens, restaurants are given guidelines to follow for when they are allowed to reopen. Plus, the cruise industry came to a screeching halt after outbreaks on several cruise ships. Will the industry bounce back? Also, some workers are making more on unemployment than when they were working. For them, reopening the economy is a mixed blessing. And, economists say “work sharing” could help save companies money and jobs, but California’s work sharing application is outdated and needs to be revamped. Finally, San Diego City is forging ahead with its update to the Climate Action Plan to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

An infectious disease specialist talks about testing for COVID-19 in San Diego and whether it’s too soon to reopen the county. Also, there has been a rise in hate speech during the pandemic, but the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said a Santee man seen wearing a KKK-style hood did not violate any laws. Plus, higher education is facing tough challenges, but a program for prison inmates and those recently released has unique problems during the pandemic. And, eventually people will return to work but office culture will likely change. Designers are thinking about how workers will use the post-pandemic office space and how it will look. Finally, a senior citizen in City Heights is embracing her musical side while quarantining.

With uncertainties of when the coronavirus pandemic might be over, California is taking steps to send mail-in ballots to every voter for the November presidential election. Also, health experts and residents are worried that the South Bay is not ready to open. The region has the most coronavirus cases in the county. Plus, the pandemic could change how Americans work. A recent survey suggests employees want to continue to work from home once the quarantine is over. And, Latin music has become as popular as American pop music. The latest episode of “Only Here” traces the story of the Latin music explosion.

An immigrant detainee died from COVID-19 while in custody at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. He is the first to die from the pandemic at an immigration detention center in the nation. Also, Doctors Without Borders are in Tijuana to help with the outbreak happening there. The city has the highest number of cases in Baja California. Plus, port officials are bracing for a lean year at the San Diego International Airport because the virus has decimated the airline industry. And, privacy concerns are complicating the need for robust contact tracing using mobile phones. In addition, a UC San Diego music professor, Anthony Davis, has won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for his 2016 opera “The Central Park Five.” Finally, Mother's Day is this weekend and we have some ideas to spend the day with mom while still under quarantine.

As California inches closer to reopening, San Diego County leaders have drawn up guidelines for how businesses can reopen. As with many businesses that are being negatively affected by the coronavirus, the legal pot industry is also seeing a drop after a slow and steady growth. Plus, contact tracing is a condition for full reopening of businesses in the state. We break down what it is and the privacy considerations. Also, because of the pandemic, many people are having trouble putting food on the table. Local food assistance groups are upping their games to help meet the need. And, with many people working from home, now is a good time to consider reducing the amount of clothes in your closet.

The Otay Mesa Detention Center has one of the highest coronavirus infection rates of immigration detention centers in the nation and ICE has been slow to release “medically vulnerable” detainees. Also, advances in digital technology has made telehealth accessible for years, but the pandemic is making health care providers see its benefits and it may become standard practice. Plus, the pandemic is putting a strain on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, some are seeking help virtually. And, the Navajo Nation in Arizona has been hit especially hard by COVID-19. Alcoholism among tribal members is partly to blame, local leaders said. Finally, theaters are struggling to mount productions during the pandemic quarantine but the annual La Jolla Playhouse’s Without Walls Festival actually lends itself to it.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer joined Midday Edition to discuss the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the partial reopening of local beaches and city budget woes. Also, this weekend a man was spotted wearing a Klan-style hood inside a Santee grocery store, raising concerns from public officials as well as residents. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident. Plus, email records show county officials knew about mental health lapses at a hotel the county is using to shelter homeless people experiencing coronavirus symptoms. And, too much time together could cause friction between couples in quarantine and there’s a nonprofit that’s trying to help.

All San Diego county residents are required to wear facial coverings when going out in public starting Friday. An expert breaks down which covering is best and how to properly wear one. Plus, two South Bay hospital groups are asking for federal help in curbing the spread of the coronavirus from the border region. Also, the rent and mortgage is due, but half of American households have someone who's lost their jobs because of the pandemic. We’ll tell you how and where to get help. And, the coronavirus not only upended life as usual, it also made the transition from prison to normal life harder. Finally, five songs you need to listen to for the month of May.

An estimated 25% of San Diegans are out of work because of the pandemic, according to a new SANDAG report. Plus, a handful of North County mayors want businesses in their towns to reopen sooner rather than later. Also, homelessness in San Diego is seeing a decline, according to the latest homeless count. Also, it’s not just young students who are having a hard time with distance learning, veteran students are also dealing with the challenges of virtual classrooms. And, SoCal singer-songwriter Mia Doi Todd shares what types of music she listens to and the healing powers of music. Finally, growing your own veggies? Some gardening tips from a master gardener.