Midday Edition

For years, San Diego’s approach to homelessness has been built on a “Housing First” model. That means trying to get people housed with limited barriers or conditions. From there, proponents argue, it becomes easier to get them connected to other services, including addiction treatment.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited San Diego last week to announce a new federal approach to homelessness and treatment called "Treatment First."

On Midday Edition Monday, we hear more about the new federal guidelines on addiction treatment and homelessness, and discuss what it could mean for how San Diego responds.

Guests:

Drew Sitton, communities reporter, Times of San Diego

Alysa Horton, reporting fellow and Washington D.C. correspondent, Times of San Diego

Everyday San Diegans drive past cameras that capture their license plates in real-time, collect the data and send it to a third-party database.

Many of these automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are made by third-party vendor Flock. Flock cameras continue to be the subject of scrutiny nationwide, as police, privacy rights activists and lawmakers debate the use of the technology.

As community groups join in a national week of action against the technology, we hear from a local advocate about the latest news on license readers and concerns around the use of Flock cameras in San Diego.

Guest:

Seth Hall, advocate, TRUST SD Coalition

There’s nothing like a good book that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

The New York Times Book Review recently put out a list of the 50 best thrillers of the 21st century — all voted on by devotees of the genre.

Thursday on Midday Edition, we talk about the list, what makes a great thriller and why people are drawn to the genre today.

Then, FilmOut, San Diego’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival, returns next week. KPBS arts reporter and horror aficionado Beth Accomando spoke with two horror filmmakers presenting at the festival.

And finally, it's a busy weekend in the arts. KPBS Julia Dixon Evans shares her top recommendations for getting your culture fix without breaking the bank.

Guests:

• Tina Jordan, deputy editor, New York Times Book Review
• Michael Varrati, producer, "Scorch Marks"
• Brendan Haley, writer-director, "Scorch Marks"
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter, host of "The Finest" podcast, KPBS

Links:

• "Let’s Talk About the 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century" — New York Times Book Review podcast

Every eight years, the state of California requires cities and counties to set goals for new housing development.

But almost none of those jurisdictions are on track to meet those goals by 2030, according to new reporting by CalMatters.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we talk about the trend and how San Diego compares to other municipalities across the state.

Guest:

• Ben Christopher, housing reporter, CalMatters

An unlikely friendship between a Vietnam War veteran and a manta ray is the subject of an award-winning documentary called "The Last Dive."

The film will be coming to San Diego on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20.

Wednesday on Midday Edition, KPBS' Andrew Bowen sits down with the director to talk about the friendship at the heart of the documentary, and how it explores themes of redemption, ocean conservation and healing.

Guest:

• Cody Sheehy, director, "The Last Dive"

Family members of sailors and Marines aboard the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln are reporting dangerous conditions — from lack of food and hot water, to a limited supply of basic essentials.

The aircraft carrier's long deployment is raising concerns about safety, as the ship sets a record for the most continuous days at sea.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we talk about the reported conditions and what they reveal about life on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Guests:

• Priya Sridhar, Pentagon reporter, MS NOW
• Andrew Dyer, military and veteran affairs reporter, KPBS

It has been over 80 years since more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes, detained and incarcerated during World War II.

For many Japanese Americans, the hurt and trauma from that period in history is still felt today. Some have drawn parallels to the Trump administration's immigration policy, amid continuing mass detentions and deportations.

Tuesday on Midday Edition, we discuss the through lines between wartime incarceration and present-day immigration enforcement, the impact on Japanese Americans generations later, and what we can learn from the past.

Guests:

• Naomi Ostwald Kawamura, executive director, Densho
• Koji Lau-Ozawa, assistant professor of anthropology, UC Los Angeles
• James “Jim” Lin, retired professor, UC San Diego

Links:

• Learning overview for Japanese American incarceration — Densho
• Japanese American National Museum homepage
• Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego
• "Opinion: The link between wartime internment and ICE’s abuse of due process" — The San Diego Union-Tribune

The pencils are sharpened. The backpacks are packed.

It's the first day of school for students in the San Diego Unified School District.

This year, screen use is top of mind for school administrators, teachers, parents and students. San Diego Unified has placed new limits on classroom technology.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we sit down with three education reporters to hear about the stories they're following in the year ahead.

Guests:

• Katie Anastas, education reporter, KPBS
• Jakob McWhinney, education reporter, Voice of San Diego
• Jemma Stephenson, K-12 education reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Readers, listen up: the KPBS Book Festival returns to the University of San Diego on Saturday, Aug. 22.

As we gear up for the event, we're revisiting past conversations with some of the featured authors — including professors and labor activists Kelly Mayhew and Jim Miller, who co-wrote the book, "Under the Perfect Sun: The San Diego Tourists Never See."

Then, KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando previews an award-winning "Without Walls," or WOW, show called "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

And finally, there are lots of arts events to check out this weekend. KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans highlights her top picks in our weekend arts preview.

Wednesday marks the official termination of temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian migrants in the United States.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from ending TPS in February. But after a Supreme Court ruling in June gave the federal government the green light to revoke the status, the judge determined that the February order was "no longer in effect."

The decision leaves 350,000 Haitians at risk of losing their jobs and being deported.

Wednesday on Midday Edition, we hear about how that is impacting Haitian migrants in San Diego and what is at stake.

Guest:

Guerline Jozef, executive director, Haitian Bridge Alliance

Resources:

Temporary protected status updates - Haitian Bridge Alliance