KPBS Midday Edition

As part of our First Person series, Nanda Mehta describes how speaking publicly about a taboo subject made her stronger and led her to encourage other South Asian women to share their own stories on stage. This episode originally aired April 30, 2019.

What were the major takeaways from the first Democratic presidential debate? Also, the Supreme Court has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to put a question about citizenship on the 2020 U.S. Census, district elections were supposed to increase diversity but in San Diego the results are mixed so far, KPBS’ “Historic Places” explores the first people of the Kumeyaay Nation and how one man stopped flying on airplanes to reduce his carbon footprint.

Federal prosecutors are alleging Rep. Duncan Hunter used campaign funds to finance extramarital affairs. Also, Mexico is deploying troops to its northern border in an effort to prevent migrants from coming to the U.S., county supervisors have taken new steps to address mental health, San Diego County has restored a program to assist frequent 911 callers and how Audrey II comes to life in “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The San Diego City Council voted to renew Campland’s lease despite opposition from environmental groups. Also, what a judge’s ruling on gun shows at Del Mar means for pending legislation, the VA is using video games as therapy for disabled veterans, Oceanside opens a new community kitchen to cut down on food waste, a film coming to KPBS tells the story of the race to put astronauts on the moon and a new book called “City of Omens” examines the dangers facing women in Tijuana.

Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing creating a wildfire insurance fund up to $21 Billion for the state’s largest utilities. Also, San Diego County school districts that don’t have policies on teacher-student boundaries are paying out millions as a result of lawsuits from students claiming abuse, what’s it like to grow up with a parent who’s in and out of jail and prison? And how Franko Guillen, who is also known as Franceska, became a drag queen.

A key witness in the Navy SEAL war crimes case stunned the court by taking the blame for the death of an Islamic State fighter. Also, workers who care for the horses at Santa Anita Park held a rally opposing shutting down the race track after 29 horses died this season, and the Not-So-Silent short film festival celebrates women pioneer filmmakers.

A Navy SEAL called by prosecutors to testify at the murder trial of a colleague has acknowledged killing a wounded prisoner in Iraq in what he described as an act of mercy. Also, local reaction to Gov. Newsom’s apology to California Native Americans for state-sponsored genocide, the pros and cons of San Diego’s gunshot detection system, scientists are trying to measure the value of outdoor service work for transitioning veterans, and Imperial Valley will celebrate hometown hero and heavyweight boxing champion Andy Ruiz Jr. with a parade.

President Trump may have a hard time making good on his threat to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally. Also, San Diego’s mayor met with Trump at the White House, how safe is it to store nuclear waste at San Onofre? SANDAG’s vice chair discusses their new vision for transportation and the tradition of Juneteenth moves forwards as talks of reparations resume.

A federal search warrant revealed that the gunman in the Poway synagogue shooting had developed a hatred of Judaism 18 months before the fatal attack. Also, a new report connects hundreds of law enforcement officers to online hate groups, a $44 million rapid transit route from San Diego State University to downtown is slower than the route it replaced, City Heights leaders have been fighting for five years to have a mural painted in Teralta Park and a new podcast from the Los Angeles Times tells the untold story of the Golden State Killer case.

The trial of a decorated Navy SEAL charged with killing an Islamic State prisoner in his care began Monday following months of turmoil in one of the Navy's most prominent war crimes cases. Rep. Susan Davis announced Saturday her plans to sign on to the “Green New Deal.” Scripps researchers are examining the changing ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica and considering the implications for Southern California.