Midday Edition

In a rare bipartisan move on Capitol Hill, Democrat Mike Levin and Republican Darrell Issa have re-introduced legislation on removing spent nuclear waste from San Onofre. Next, families with children under 5 will have to wait a while longer for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to be available for small children. An explanation of the decision. Then, what should California do with its estimated $20 Billion budget surplus? Last year some of that surplus was returned in the form of stimulus checks for some Californians. And, a fourth grade High Tech elementary teacher was placed on administrative leave last week after reading a piece from a Harlem Renaissance poet that included an offensive word as part of a lesson. Later, California’s mask mandates will be lifted again this week in many places, but they’ll remain in congregate settings like immigrant detention centers where COVID-19 is still spreading. Finally, Black Comix Day returns this weekend at the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park after a pandemic hiatus.

The ACLU along with lawyers representing several incarcerated people are suing the Sheriff's Department and San Diego County to improve medical care and living conditions inside the county’s seven jail facilities. Plus, San Diego Opera is back to in-person productions at the Civic Theater after experimenting with drive-in performances during the pandemic. And, this weekend in the arts, free concerts from the San Diego Symphony, lots of visual art, a youth theater take on "The Wiz," and some Valentine's Day jazz.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s “Home for All of Us” plan will build on the city’s effort to make more construction possible in developed areas of the city and makes it easier for employers to develop employee housing. Plus, the Sheriff's Department promoted Theresa Adams-Hydar, a 27-year veteran of the department, to oversee county jails. Also, with the number of unsheltered people growing in San Diego, some city leaders are contemplating changing conservatorship laws to get more people off the streets and into treatment programs for various mental health issues. Meanwhile, the first years of a child’s life can set the course for a lifetime. San Diego’s “First 5 first steps” program can enroll 100 more families in the South Bay. And, San Diego is in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave. When will we see temperature returning to normal? Finally, reimagining how we eat to support food justice is the subject of a new book called “The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith And Food” by USD professor of theology and religious studies Christopher Carter.

By this time next week, vaccinated San Diegans will not have to wear masks inside most public places. County health officials say they will follow state guidelines to lift the mask requirement after February 15 with some restrictions. Next, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law another round of paid COVID sick leave for California workers. Later, California hits a milestone of more than 80,000 lives lost due to the COVID-19 virus. One of those was a farmworker who lived in Madera. We learn about him from his granddaughter. And, in Imperial County, migrants continue to drown in the All-American Canal. A look at what is being done to stop this from happening. Finally, artist Irma Sofia Poeter, who is based in Tecate, Mexico will hold a solo exhibit at Bread & Salt in San Diego this weekend.

San Diego County and city governments failed to submit any proposals for projects that would give affordable homes to people experiencing homelessness. Why they are missing out on $61 million in funding. Next, as the long transition to a new San Diego police review board continues, members of the old board are issuing a red flag warning as member count dwindles. Then, the Marine Corps has launched an investigation into the son of San Diego's former Republican Party chairman for ties to an extremist group. Later, a new California law will require schools to expand their mental health instruction, educators say it would have been a welcome mandate before the pandemic and even more now. And, technology has dramatically changed retail shopping in the U.S. and it’s changing grocery stores too. San Diego-based Accel Robotics is charging customers without them taking out their debit cards. Then, a new jobs program is aimed at helping underserved young people while improving communities across California. Finally. San Diego author and illustrator Pam Fong talks about her new children’s book “Once Upon a Forest,” which comes out today.

The Navy has identified the SEAL candidate who died Friday after going through the final phase of Navy SEAL training known as “Hell Week.” Next, the San Diego Police Department declares staffing issues, citing impending retirements and the city’s vaccine mandate as key reasons behind increasing vacancies. And, two years ago, the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was drafted for a unique mission involving more than 200 Americans and their families evacuated from Wuhan, China. Later, new research predicts as temperatures increase air conditioning use will drain energy supplies and Californians could be without power for at least 7 days each summer. Then, with Alice Childress' 1955 play "Trouble in Mind," The Old Globe brings questions and conflicts about diversity in the American theater to center stage. Finally, the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival returns this week, with in-person and virtual screenings.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has, “failed to adequately prevent and respond to the deaths of individuals in its custody,” according to an investigation by the California State Auditor. And Hate crimes increased sharply in San Diego and across the country in recent years. Early findings show the trend grew even worse in 2021. Plus, in our weekend preview, classical music on a boat, a tap dancing and piano collaboration, a new play based on an old story, and plenty of visual art.

Many health experts believe the omicron surge has peaked in San Diego. And Monday’s failure in the state Assembly to deliver on single payer healthcare highlights a lack of political will despite being a long-stated goal of state Democrats. Plus, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore retired on Thursday, we have a look at the ups and downs of his tenure. And the legendary restaurant, Pernicano’s has been closed and deteriorating since the 1980’s. Now it’s gone. What’s next for the space in Hillcrest? Next, in 2020 Black parents began homeschooling their children at a rate of 5 times higher than previous years. And it’s not all due to the pandemic. Finally, the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park is streaming its 12th annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival now through Tuesday, featuring five films about issues ranging from foster youth to immigration reform.

San Diego marks a new COVID-19 case milestone today, as the county is set to surpass 700,000 cases since the pandemic began. Then, a San Diego State University dean made comments on twitter about conservatives and was thrust into a national debate on academic free speech. And, the old English game of squash is giving students at a charter school in Southeast San Diego new opportunities academically and athletically. Next, San Diego County is home to 42 school districts. One, San Diego Unified has more than 100,000 students but several others serve fewer than 1,000 students, resulting in wide disparities in per-pupil funding. Plus, the San Diego Tourism Authority hopes a new ad which markets San Diego as a happy place will bring more visitors to the city. Finally, San Diego-based IDW Publishing is one of the top four publishers of comic books and graphic novels in the U.S. and like so many businesses it had to make adjustments during the pandemic.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria says he ordered city crews to clear a large homeless encampment in the city’s Midway district to avoid a potential health crisis. Then, a new state effort to retrofit thousands of houses in high-risk fire areas, offering up to $40,000 to cover the cost of the changes. And San Diego is the first county in the state to launch the program with 500 backcountry residences from Dulzura to Campo. And, after a long legal battle, thousands city workers will have access to guaranteed pension benefits. Later, a company with Burger King franchises in San Francisco owes nearly $2 million for wage theft. Why are the workers still waiting for recompensation? Plus, the San Diego History Center's exhibit, “Celebrate San Diego: Black History & Heritage” will showcase the rich history of Black San Diego . Finally, KPBS has a short list of five noteworthy works of visual art that are on view in San Diego County in February.