A new months-long investigation by KPBS follows the money going to some county supervisors' offices.

It finds some tapped influential companies, associations and individuals for monetary gifts. Some of the entities had business before the county at the time. We discuss the details.

Plus, we explore whether the melting pot metaphor is accurate in the U.S. today ahead of its 250th anniversary.

Plus, "Local News Day," a national effort to highlight the work of local newsrooms, was this week.

We sit down with three local storytellers to discuss their community-oriented approach to journalism.

Guests:

• Scott Rodd, investigative reporter, KPBS
• Gustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBS
• Kate Morrissey, co-founder and reporter, Daylight San Diego
• Drew Sitton, community reporter, Times of San Diego
• Yamir Aguilar, reporter, Calexico Chronicle, Imperial Valley Weekly

Links:

• New SNAP rules push more San Diegans to find no-cost groceries - Daylight San Diego
• ‘No Data Center’ Chants Ring Out at Imperial County Board Meeting - Calexico Chronicle
• For trans San Diegans, lack of public restroom access is causing lasting medical harm - Times of San Diego
• San Diego woman says her credit card information was stolen while she was in ICE custody - Daylight San Diego
• Most immigrants no longer qualify for CalFresh. Agencies ‘scrounging’ for food - Times of San Diego
• Movimiento Celebracion and March Honor Farmworkers, Not Idols - Times of San Diego

San Diego's North County isn't exactly known for housing affordability.

But one North County city — San Marcos — is exceeding its state-mandated housing goals.

From new housing projects to school board meetings, we sit down with three North County reporters to talk about their reporting and what it's like to cover the beat.

Plus, a new KPBS series introduces us to some of San Diego's most interesting and underrated museums.

Guests:

• Alexander Nguyen, multimedia producer for North County, KPBS
• Tigist Layne, North County reporter, Voice of San Diego
• Katie Futterman, community reporter covering North County, inewsource
• John Carroll, reporter and anchor, KPBS

San Diego County has hired an independent auditor to review how it works with contractors.

The audit was announced in light of recent charges against a former executive at the Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego, who misappropriated large sums of money meant for behavioral health care.

We talk about how San Diego County is re-examining its oversight of contractors.

Plus, California is one of 13 states where certain terminally ill patients can request medication to end their life. New KPBS reporting shares the story of one woman's end of life journey.

Then, why concert tickets are more expensive than ever, as part of a series on the high price of living in San Diego.

And, a look into one of San Diego's home kitchen businesses.

Guests:

• Lisa Halverstadt, senior investigative reporter, Voice of San Diego
• Heidi de Marco, health reporter, KPBS
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter and host of The Finest podcast, KPBS
• Carlos Castillo, video journalist, KPBS

Stories mentioned:

• "After Contractor Scandal, County Announces Outside Contracting Audit" by Lisa Halverstadt, Voice of San Diego
• "California moves to strengthen end-of-life decisions, but gaps in access remain" by Heidi de Marco, KPBS
• "From $20 to $1,200: How San Diego concert ticket prices got out of control by Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS
• "From family recipes to a home business" by Carlos Castillo, KPBS

The New York Times this week published an investigation revealing shocking sexual abuse allegations against labor leader and civil rights activist César Chávez.

California lawmakers announced that they intend to change the name of César Chávez Day — just weeks away — to Farmworkers Day.

As the gravity of the allegations settle in, many are asking what comes next. We sit down with two journalists to talk about their coverage of the ongoing fallout from the stunning revelations.

Plus, a new Marine Corps report found that a rare fuse malfunction caused an artillery shell to explode over Interstate 5 last fall.

Plus, we bring you a Padres season preview ahead of opening day next week.

Guests:

• Gustavo Arellano, columnist, Los Angeles Times
• Farida Jhabvala Romero, labor correspondent, KQED
• Andrew Dyer, military and veteran affairs reporter, KPBS
• Jesse Agler, play-by-play radio broadcaster, San Diego Padres

Stories mentioned:

• "The grief behind the cascade of online Dolores Huerta photos" by Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times
• "And just like that, the Cesar Chavez myth is punctured. What’s next?" by Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times
• "César Chavez Was a Hero to Farmworkers. Now They Confront the Pain of Alleged Abuse" by Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED
• "'One in a million' defect led to October I-5 artillery explosion, Marines say" by Andrew Dyer, KPBS

Two men behind a charity fraud scheme pleaded guilty to federal charges this week.

The case involved a scheme to siphon money from concession stands at some of San Diego's most well-known stadiums, including Petco Park — the home of the San Diego Padres.

The scheme was originally uncovered through reporting from Voice of San Diego. We sit down with the lead reporter for more details.

Plus, farmers in Mexicali are protesting low payouts as part of an international agreement where they agreed to conserve Colorado River water.

And, we sit down with the hosts of the KPBS podcast "Port of Entry" to learn about what drives them to tell cross-border stories about the San Diego-Tijuana region.

Guests:

• Will Huntsberry, assistant editor, Voice of San Diego
• Mackenzie Elmer, energy and environment reporter, Voice of San Diego
• Vicente Calderón, founder and editor in chief of Tijuanapress.com
• Natalie Gonzalez Rodriguez, co-host, Port of Entry
• Alan Lilienthal, co-host, Port of Entry

On Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to add a measure to the June primary ballot that would tax empty second homes. Also this week, paperwork was submitted for a measure that would stop trash fees for San Diego homeowners.

We break down the upcoming ballot measures and the state of the city's budget.

Then, we sit down with two military reporters to discuss the week on their beat after the U.S. and Israel began their attacks on Iran.

Plus, we feature Peyk Magazine — a local arts and culture publication highlighting Persian culture, events and news in San Diego.

Guests:

• Andrew Bowen, metro reporter, KPBS
• David Garrick, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune
• Andrew Dyer, military and veterans affairs reporter, KPBS
• Jeff Schogol, senior Pentagon reporter, Task & Purpose
• Soheil Bigdeli, editor, Peyk Magazine

Mexico has settled from the unrest that struck parts of the country earlier this week. Vehicles were burned, blocking roads. Some buildings were set ablaze.

All of this comes in reaction to the killing of a high-ranking cartel leader — "El Mencho" — on Sunday.

We talk about the continued fallout in Mexico and what comes next with a longtime Tijuana journalist.

Also this week, immigration officials detained at least four volunteers documenting arrests at the federal building downtown. And, new reporting reveals an operation by authorities to monitor activists supporting immigrants in San Diego. We talk to a reporter who covered both those stories.

Plus, how the border fence is impacting natural habitats near the Jacumba mountains — especially the endangered bighorn sheep.

Guests:

• Vicente Calderón, founder and editor in chief of Tijuanapress.com
• Kate Morrissey, immigration reporter and co-founder, Daylight San Diego
• Tammy Murga, environment reporter, KPBS
• Matthew Bowler, photojournalist, KPBS

Federal agents arrested at least 5,000 people in San Diego last year.

That's an average of 20 people each day.

We talk about the network of volunteers organizing community patrols to watch out for immigration enforcement in their neighborhoods.

Plus, more North County transit riders are evading fares amid a "hands off" enforcement strategy from the North County Transit District. We talk about fare evasion and increased safety concerns on public transit.

And, a familiar San Diego voice breaks down what it means to be a play-by-play announcer ahead of San Diego FC's upcoming season.

Guests:

• Gustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBS
• Elaine Alfaro, reporter, KPBS
• Adrian García Márquez, broadcaster and play-by-play announcer, San Diego FC

A new investigation by WIRED magazine reveals a secret campaign by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expand their physical presence across the country.

Federal records show that more than 150 leases on office spaces for new facilities in nearly every state — including a facility in San Diego.

We discuss the findings and what this could mean for ICE's expansion moving forward.

Plus, some RV dwellers are protesting newly issued tickets from the city following the opening of the H Barracks safe parking site.

And, a romance literature convention, LoveLitCon, is celebrating love in San Diego just in time for Valentine's Day.

Guests:

• Leah Feiger, senior politics editor, WIRED
• Blake Nelson, homelessness reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune
• Leslie Gonzalez, web producer, KPBS

San Diego is known to be one of the most expensive cities. A new KPBS series looks to tackle San Diego's high cost of living, and the various of ways it impacts daily life.

Then, the journalism landscape is rapidly shifting amid mass lay-offs and the changing consumption of news.

On KPBS Roundtable this week, we hear from some of San Diego's student journalists about their outlook on the current media landscape, as they start their journalism careers during a precarious time for the industry.

Guests:

• Katie Anastas, education reporter, KPBS
• Alina Ajaz, production director, KCR, student assistant, KPBS
• Sydney Brammer, editor-in-chief, The Point
• Roman Aguilar, sports editor, The Daily Aztec

Stories mentioned:

• "Price of San Diego"— KPBS
• "Young Adults and the Future of News" — Pew Research Center
• "Letter from the Editor in Chief" by Sydney Brammer — The Point
• "San Diego’s phantom stadium costs taxpayers nearly $5 million annually" by Roman Aguilar — The Daily Aztec
• "How Lahore Became One of the World's Most Polluted Cities" by Alina Ajaz — Pulitzer Center