KPBS Midday Edition

San Diego’s got its fair share of newsmaker this year. Who made it to the top of the list? Plus, this year’s Merriam-Webster word of the year is only four letters, but has been the cause of heated debates among grammarians.

San Diego reaches its 2020 climate goals ahead of schedule, but some goals remained elusive and some are not easily measurable. And, there are only two northern white rhinos left in the world, but the San Diego Zoo is trying to save the species from extinction through surrogacy and frozen skin cells.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom in the fight against climate change this year. Here are some people who took action in the fight against global temperature rise in 2019.

The first of two Pacific storms made for a soggy morning commute in San Diego and the next one is expected to hit on Christmas Day. Plus, nearly two years after marijuana legalization, California is still finding it a challenge to police cannabis-impaired drivers because weed affects people differently. And, Black’s Beach is a local favorite for nudists, but how did it come to be?

What happened at the sixth Democratic debate Thursday — we break it down. Plus, recreational weed is legal in California but the research into the risks and benefits of marijuana is still lagging behind, hampered partly by strict prohibition in the past. And, the Skywalker saga comes to an end. Our film critics are here with a spoiler-free review of “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker.”

Local Congressional Democrats weigh in on the impeachment vote. Plus, with legal marijuana means more pot tourism in San Diego and more emergency room visits. Also, many school children face hunger over the holidays because the free school lunch program is their most reliable source of food, how schools are fighting that. And, a San Diego-based company is leading the charge for more diversity and inclusion in the workplace via an app. Finally, Ballast Point has new owners, again. Hear what the new owners have in store for the San Diego-based brewing company.

Trump’s Remain In Mexico policy has had a chilling effect for those seeking asylum. Nearly all have had their claims denied. Plus, while most of the country is in the midst of an opioid crisis, San Diego’s meth problem persists. Also, San Diego is considering a program to help communities most affected by the war on drugs share in the profits of legalized cannabis. But can it work? And, nearly 15 years after coining the term nature-deficit disorder, San Diego author Richard Louv is out with a new book that explores how animal connections can be transformative for both humans and animals.

A new report from the California Legislative Analyst’s Office warns about the impact sea level rise could have on the state’s economy and housing supply. It says 100,000 housing units would need to be built annually to make up for housing that will be lost by a rising sea. Plus, after the legalization of cannabis in California, supporters said it would be a boom to the state’s economy, but that promise remains largely unfulfilled in San Diego. Also, a state law is designed to make it easier for people to get off the state’s CalGang database. To date, few have been removed. And, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the subject of a new book celebrating the natural history of the region.

Impeachment charges against President Dontal Trump have been sent to the full House. Also, try a little cultural and biodiversity this weekend by sampling events from Centro De La Raza, Little Italy and the San Diego Natural History Museum.

In a move to help address the region’s housing crisis, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday passed an updated affordable housing policy that requires builders to construct more low-income units or pay a penalty. A previous version was vetoed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer. At the U.S.-Mexico border, doctors are protesting in San Diego to demand they be allowed to vaccinate detained migrants against flu. Over the past year, three migrant children have died of flu while in Border Patrol custody. Plus, San Diego is getting 5G this week, but most cellular customers won’t see the increase in speed on their service. We’ll explain. As the baby boomer generation ages, the burden of caring for elderly parents fall on their children. A San Diego author examines the challenges this brings. And, the owner of San Diego’s Comickaze comic book stores died suddenly last week. KPBS arts and culture reporter Beth Accomando has a tribute to the man whose geekiness and pop-culture savant brought joy to many.