Midday Edition

California Appeals San Diego Judge’s Ruling Overturning Assault Weapon Ban

Description: State leaders announced Thursday that an appeal has been filed in response to a San Diego federal judge's ruling that overturned California's three-decade-old ban on assault weapons. Plus, the San Diego Unified School District announced on Tuesday a new principal for Lincoln High. Melissa Agudelo will serve as co-principal with the current principal, Stephanie Brown. And while parents await further guidance on vaccinating children under 12, many are wondering what social precautions must be taken as California prepares to reopen on June 15. Then, the loss of taste and smell is now widely known as a telltale sign of COVID-19. But fewer people are aware of another potential lingering side effect: when scents and flavors become distorted. Also, more than 12,000 American Legion posts closed for at least part of the pandemic. Those closures left some posts in financial trouble. Finally, in a new episode of the KPBS Explore podcast, "The Parker Edison Project," we talk with a photographer who's worked on everything from album covers to popular movies like "Friday" and "Exit Through the Gift Shop."

San Diego County is officially in the yellow tier as of today, thanks to big drops in the rate of new COVID-19 infections. Plus, a San Diego-based FBI-led operation was centered around the creation of an encrypted phone company. And Breakfast Block, a grassroots San Diego group founded early this year, works to feed, clothe and provide other essential items to San Diego's growing unsheltered population. Then, the city council approves changes to the city’s housing plan after the state asks for tweaks. Also, while most climate news is bleak, UC San Diego scientists point to niches like electric vehicles, batteries and the solar and wind industries that are seeding a decarbonization revolution. Finally, a story about a plus-size model who’s proud of her body, but has health issues that lead her to undergo weight-loss surgery in Tijuana, where it's more affordable.

While children continue to come to the U.S. unaccompanied, the Biden Administration announced it has accounted for 3,900 children separated during the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy on illegal crossings. Plus, the San Diego Police department has unveiled a new list of procedures for its interactions with transgender and non-binary individuals. And the move to close a North County group home for foster children has put a spotlight on foster care in San Diego County. KPBS looks at how the system is changing. Then, two small water districts in North County think they can get water cheaper by breaking away from San Diego County Water Authority. Also, some teenagers stuck at home during COVID-19 reflected on traumatic experiences in highschool, with hundreds sharing their stories on social media. Finally, has “cancel culture” gotten away from accountability and is it being used as a weapon? A San Diego Union Tribune columnist says it’s time to retire the phrase.

A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that thousands of people living in the U.S. for humanitarian reasons are ineligible to apply to become permanent residents. Plus, new data shows that grades went down and absenteeism was up with about 14% of San Diego Unified students skipping a significant number of online classes. And San Diego city Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe is a member of California’s newly formed Reparations Task Force. She spoke to Midday Edition about what she hopes to accomplish. Then, the county's Building Industry Association, which represents developers, is in a transition — to a new CEO. Lori Holt Pfeiler will be taking over that job on July 6. Plus, the California Senate passed a bill last week that would dramatically change the way bottle recycling works in the state. Finally, Ed Vodrazka captured some of his most exceptional experiences and stories from his fellow lifeguards as a testament to life on the beach in a new book, “Stories from Sea Level: The Heroic and Humorous Adventures of California's Ocean Lifeguards.”

California employees will soon be able to skip masks in the workplace, but only if every employee in the room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Plus, CapRadio’s PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols fact-checked Kamala Harris’ statements on small business closures. And this weekend in the arts: Cataphant at Swish Projects, Word Up in-person, cello virtuoso Zlatomir Fung livestream, a folk performance from the Philippines, Trolley Dances and Omar Pimienta at Lux.

California’s net metering regulations, which determine how residential solar users are paid, are the subject of a bill in the Assembly. Plus, San Diego County started a pilot program to increase access to free tampons and pads to address "period poverty" — a person's inability to access or pay for menstrual products. And a Honduran family flew a Biden 2020 flag at the migrant encampment, saying it gave them hope. Now they're safely in the United States. Then, inspector vacancies at the state agency in charge of protecting workers from health and safety hazards only increased during the pandemic, crippling the agency’s ability to protect millions of workers who faced new risks from COVID-19. Plus, "_____ While Black" interrogates the fraught notion of Black identity in San Diego through the firsthand testimony of several San Diegans. Finally, the San Diego Arab Film Festival kicks off in-person and online events Saturday, opening with Palestinian drama "Between Heaven and Earth.”

Scripps said it was working to notify 147,267 people so they can take steps to protect their information, though there's no indication at present that any data has been used to commit fraud. Plus, UC San Diego’s RIMAC arena vaccination superstation has delivered its last dose. The superstation closed its doors on Tuesday. And state officials are considering changing the watchdog role of nursing home inspectors. Critics argue it would weaken oversight by turning the state’s inspectors into consultants. Then, a new report from The San Diego Union-Tribune's Social Justice Reporting Project explores the role colorism has played within communities of color. Plus, San Diego is in the process of rolling out a whole extra layer of waste pickup — food waste will soon need to be combined with yard waste and placed in new green bins. Finally, discover new music from bands in the region, including 10-19 and the Number Men, Accidents, The Verigolds, Maura Rosa and Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra.

As thousands of asylum seekers await their chance to argue why they should be allowed to stay in the U.S., a unanimous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday could impact the outcome of some of their cases. Plus, out of the $200 million in rental relief San Diego received, only 2% of the money was spent as of May 2021. And California may see bigger, more destructive wildfires earlier in the summer because of the extreme drought hitting the state right now. Then, why the Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego feels their hard work has been erased by the city and county as they move to make police reforms in light of George Floyd’s murder and summer protests. Plus, some police reform advocates think Senate Bill 2 is a chance to hold police accountable. And, in continuing coverage of The San Diego Union-Tribunes Social Justice Reporting Project, we hear some of the stories from what the migrant caravan that traveled from Central America through Mexico in 2018. Finally, Arnett Moore is launching a one-man campaign: to get his aunt, the actress Juanita Moore, a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Memorial Day ceremonies at Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemeteries were again paired down this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. And, the National Parks Service has issued new guidance on how best to prioritize conservation efforts in the face of intensifying climate change. Plus, details continue to surface about the gunman who killed nine people at a Valley Transportation Authority light rail yard in San Jose on Wednesday. Then, a North County San Diego farming family of Japanese descent has overcome legal barriers, internment camps, and most recently, the pandemic. Also, a new multimedia series by The San Diego Union-Tribune spotlights social justice reporting across San Diego. Finally, a La Mesa author releases her debut novel in a post-catastrophic world where human memories are erased every four years to preserve peace.

Memorial Day ceremonies at Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemeteries were again paired down this year. The state is beginning to reopen due to a decrease in COVID-19 cases and an increase in the number of people vaccinated statewide.