Midday Edition

Right here at the San Diego-Tijuana border, the Biden administration will officially begin to allow thousands of asylum-seekers to re-enter the United States. Plus, residents of wealthier Zip codes are more likely to have been vaccinated than those in low-income areas. And this weekend in the arts: Hill Street Country Club, Red Brontosaurus Records, a world premiere concert, experimental percussion and a globe-trotting dance film.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have agreed on a $9.6 billion spending deal aimed at aiding some of those hit hardest by the pandemic. Plus, a USD professor and the Democracy Fund Foundation released a report detailing the physical, psychological and economic costs of political violence in the United States. And the new government entity, called San Diego Community Power, will launch March 1 with half of its electricity coming from renewable sources. Then, the first group of West Coast female Marine recruits officially started training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Feb. 10. Plus, KPBS’ “Port of Entry” wraps up its series on cross-border love stories with a tale of kids in need of love, and one woman’s work to turn her own pain into purpose. Finally, academic, author and photographer Caitlin O’ Connell is out with a new book about what we can learn about community from animals.

The San Diego Union-Tribune analyzed data that show that San Diegans of Latino, Black and Asian descent are being vaccinated at lower rates than their white counterparts. Plus, the Santee city Council calls out Nathan Fletcher, chair of the San Diego Board of Supervisors, for his remarks over the movement to recall Gov. Newsom. And the state of California has started a commission to study reparations for African Americans. Then, remembering Trunnell Price, co-founder of the San Diego Black Panther Party. Finally, author David F. Walker discusses his newest work, “The Black Panther Party,” and the film “Judas and the Black Messiah.”

San Diego County is expected to receive a vaccine shipment today that will allow the Petco Park Vaccination Super Station to reopen on Wednesday after being shuttered for three days. Plus, no clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines were done on pregnant or breastfeeding women, standard practice for any new drug or vaccine, but some doctors and medical experts now say this was a mistake. And the city of San Diego is looking for ways to mitigate the most dire effects of climate change in our future. Then, how our education in black history shapes policy. Plus, the progress that newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón was elected to make is facing obstacles, including a lawsuit filed by his own prosecutors. Finally, get to know San Diego jazz saxophonist Charles McPherson and the works that shaped him and continue to drive his music.

San Diego Unified officials announce the possibility of a partial return to campuses while the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced updated guidance for in-person schools. Plus, nearly 5,000 registered Republicans in San Diego County left the party last month. And pregnant women aren’t getting clear guidance on COVID-19 vaccines. Then, California launches a restoration effort to reshape the Salton Sea’s southern edge. Plus, the Diversionary Theatre has decided to take advantage of having to be closed for the pandemic by beginning long-overdue building improvements. Finally, a new podcast dives deep into what makes up modern culture in the San Diego community, through the Black lens.

The goal is to vaccinate 1.8 million people in San Diego County by July 1. That’s about 70% of the region’s population over age 16. Currently, about 2% of the county's population is fully vaccinated. So, what does the county need to do to reach that goal?

The Super Bowl is often a time for gathering, but this year health officials warn it could lead to the spread of COVID-19. Plus, the Navy has come out with its long-awaited report on racial bias. Task Force One Navy was created in June, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police. Then, this weekend in the arts, the experimental Vietnamese music of Vân-Ánh Võ, 1960's women's lithography, Human Rights Watch Film Festival and the Met Opera's "Ariadne Auf Naxos."

For 40 years researchers have been working to unlock the key to HIV prevention, now the success of a clinical trial is a first step in realizing that goal. Plus, to address the disparities in health care and to create better outcomes for Black families, San Diego County is launching the “Black Legacy Now” campaign. And, two parents say San Diego Unified wrongly denied their son special education services — now he’s fallen behind. And, in an excerpt from the latest episode of the “Port Of Entry” podcast: Separated by deportation, how a family’s love kept them connected despite the border wall between them. Finally, a look at a century of Black cinema that’s both problematic and inspiring.

The new administration says it wants to join efforts to reunite families that were separated under President Trump. Plus, outdoor dining is resuming in California, but some restaurant owners and workers are wary of reopening their patios and parking lots. And a UC San Diego lecturer says San Diego’s history with extremism raises the terror threat locally. Then, several BLM supporters say rallies against police brutality have become lessons in law enforcement’s indifference to aggressive behavior by Trump and MAGA followers. And the city of San Diego is calling for community input on a plan to address environmental inequalities in different neighborhoods. Finally, Redwoods Music founder and songwriter Alfred Howard made us a playlist of music that influenced him as he kicked off a new year-long songwriting challenge.

KPBS spoke to San Diego County public health officials about the availability of vaccines, the current difficulty in scheduling a vaccine appointment and the issue of equitable distribution of the vaccine. Plus, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer is running for California governor. He says that California has become a failed state under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. And women seem to have borne the brunt of the economic impact of COVID-19, something that may continue to affect their careers and lives for years to come.. Finally, "Through the Night,” a film screening this week as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, spotlights the essential workers, mostly women of color who require 24-hour childcare centers.