Midday Edition

Starting Tuesday in California, masks will no longer be required but “strongly recommended" for unvaccinated individuals in most indoor settings. The same will apply to schools and childcare facilities on March 12. Then, a class-action lawsuit that blames California’s high gas prices on oil company collusion may be coming to a head in federal court. And, an oceanfront mansion on Coronado listed for sale for $36 Million dollars helps paint the picture of how unaffordable the island is. Right now Coronado is out of compliance with the state’s affordable housing laws. In March, California's reparations task force will debate who should be eligible for direct payments to compensate for slavery and its lingering effects. A story on the very last case of the enslavement of Black people in California. Finally, KPBS’s Maya Trabulsi introduces us to Boombox Chuck, known for his love of retro culture, especially the boombox.

As war threatens lives and livelihoods across Ukraine, what impact can sanctions have on the Russian invasion? Plus, as the nation recognizes Black History Month, a closer look at how far San Diego has (or hasn’t) come since the civil rights movement, through the eyes of local civil rights hero Harold K. Brown. And, in the arts this weekend, a touring dance performance full of horror and fairy tales, a one-night theatrical production celebrating Black joy and creativity,

As the people in the U.S. woke up to the news that Russia was invading Ukraine, many in San Diego’s Ukrainian community began worrying about their relatives and the fate of their native land. Plus, this year’s “Point In Time” homeless count began Thursday and could provide more insight on how many more people became homeless during the pandemic. Also, as the vast number of cases led by the omicron wave continues to subside, health providers continue to grapple with long COVID-19. In addition, NOAA’s prediction of eight inches of sea-level rise by mid-century will mean far more frequent “nuisance floods” along San Diego’s coastline. Meanwhile, the U.S. is one of the few developed nations that does not have universal health care, child care and affordable housing, among other things. And it boils down to racism, so says author Heather McGhee. And, movie musicals made a comeback last year with the release of “West Side Story,” “Tick Tick … Boom!, and the latest, “Cyrano,” opening this Friday in San Diego.

The school board voted unanimously to enforce the vaccine mandate, which has already been challenged in court. Next, San Diego Housing Commission CEO Rick Gentry announced his resignation amid an effort by the city council to change how the commission operates. Then, New York Times op-ed columnist and PBS contributor David Brooks joins Midday Edition ahead of his appearance at the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea. And, new data show more than 21,000 San Diego college students receive food assistance through the CalFresh program. They represent a fraction of those who are eligible for help. Finally, not far from downtown San Diego, in the heart of Barrio Logan, there’s a special culinary classroom where children as young as 10-years-old are learning the art of cooking.

After unseasonably high temperatures last week, San Diego is bracing for cold and wet weather over the next few days. Next, according to a new UC Berkeley poll, Senator Dianne Feinstein is down to an all-time-low 30% approval rating and her home-state support is collapsing. Then, Marine families are still mourning and seeking closure from the military justice system 18 months after the AAV accident that killed nine in July 2020. And, we hear from Lamont Jackson, a finalist for the San Diego Unified School District superintendent position. Finally, the theme for this year’s Writer’s Symposium by the sea at Point Loma Nazarene University is “Writing that Provokes.” Author and public-theologian Nadia Bolts-Weber joins Midday Edition to talk about religion and radical honesty.

San Diego school leaders are facing increased resistance to mask mandates from parents leaving local teachers stuck in the middle. Next, an interview with, Susan Enfield, one of the finalists for San Diego Unified School District’s superintendent position. And, how the cashless economy is creating inequities in San Diego. Then, millions of Americans with disabilities face barriers to get married, one of which can mean losing the federal benefits they rely on. Finally, the Oceanside International Film Festival returns to the Brooks Theatre on February 22 for in-person screenings. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando speaks with the festival's executive director Lou Niles.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a shift in the state’s response to the virus, moving from a pandemic to endemic. Plus, the Pentagon has deployed about a thousand active-duty service members to civilian hospitals around the country to help with the latest COVID surge. And, this weekend, art that looks at language and the border, art that plays with fossil fuels, a new play set in a Japanese internment camp and some live streamed indie music.

A panel that advises state regulators says the mountain of unused credits to burn fossil fuels amassed by oil companies and others is jeopardizing California's ability to meet its climate goals. Also, Cameroon asylum seekers who were deported in 2020 faced imprisonment, torture and other abuse at the hands of the government once back on Cameroonian soil, exactly what they told asylum officials would happen.Plus, delayed care caused by the pandemic has its consequences — more people are being diagnosed with late-stage cancer rather than cancer in its early, more treatable, stages. Meanwhile, people who are used to letting dogs off-leash during the pandemic are getting costly reminders to keep them on. And, esports is growing in popularity and Hoover High School in City Heights has a new gaming facility that’s helping students find their passion.

Masks can come off today for vaccinated Californians in many indoor spaces, however, some restrictions still apply regardless of vaccination status. Next, police are now ticketing people living at a homeless encampment on Sports Arena Boulevard as part of the city’s progressive enforcement efforts to move residents into shelters. Later, Carlsbad has become the first city in the county to pass a law making it illegal for anyone other than a licensed recycler to possess a catalytic converter without valid proof of ownership. And, more than a dozen antitrust bills targeting “big tech” are in play in the nation’s capital right now. Then, water conservation efforts combined with projects like Carlsbad’s desalination plant, leave the county in a better position to weather a drought. It also leaves us with some of the highest water rates in the state. Finally, a look inside the Oakland Fortune Factory, where a mother-daughter duo turns out thousands of handmade cookies every day.

California health officials announced on Monday there will be no changes to its statewide school masking requirement. The announcement has many parents frustrated as the state will end mask mandates on Wednesday for many public spaces. Next, a pilot program passed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors could help seniors at risk of homelessness with $300 in rental assistance. Lastly, a new Twitter account @SDCrashBot - allows the public to see how many traffic collisions involving bikes and pedestrians are reported to police.