Midday Edition

New COVID-19 shut downs reverberate through the business community, but San Diego County stands firm behind the decision to pull back Plus, a USC study shows that racial minorities bear the brunt of COVID-related discrimination. Also, with the rollbacks on reopenings, more people are expected to be out of work. And, recruiting young people to join the military has gotten difficult with coronavirus restrictions. And the Army is looking for new ways to recruit online. Finally, a new novel by Oceanside native Brit Bennet reveals what it’s like to be defined by the color of your skin.

Rising cases of COVID-19 prompted San Diego County to order restaurants to close indoor dining to stop the disease from spreading. Plus, the county contract tracing program is not keeping up with the surge of new cases. We take a look at the program’s limitations. Also, new allegations of fraud by American corporations connected to Tijuana sewage spills that have been affecting South Bay cities for decades. And, Independence Day doesn’t mean the same thing to all Americans, especially for Black Americans. Finally, documenting San Diego’s role in the fight for women’s suffrage.

San Diego has been placed on the state’s watch list, meaning indoor activities at certain businesses must be closed for at least three weeks. Plus, a new strain of the H1N1 swine flu virus that killed 285,000 worldwide in 2009 is quickly spreading and San Diego scientists are worried that it could be the next pandemic. Also, years of understaffing at nursing homes in San Diego County has created a ‘perfect storm’ for the spread of COVID-19 cases. And, the state’s stay-at-home order has nixed a lot of vacation plans, but the California Report Magazine has created a virtual road trip for your ears. Finally, it’s half way through the year and we have six songs to discover for July.

While Governor Gavin Newsom hasn’t ordered San Diego County to close certain indoor businesses, the county plans to enforce new health restrictions. Plus, the spread of COVID-19 in Imperial County has been the focus of statewide concern. Also, a KPBS analysis found Black youth are more likely to be detained by San Diego Unified Police than their white peers. In addition, San Diego officials are optimistic that a long-term fix to stop persistent cross-border sewage flows is close. Finally, Mitch Silverstein of the San Diego chapter of the Surfrider Foundation joins Midday Edition to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the group's yearly cleanup and plastic pollution in general.

California spends more on inmates’ health than any other state, but is still seeing raging COVID-19 outbreaks in its prison system. Plus, the eviction moratorium in the city of San Diego has been extended until the end of September. Also, the city has finalized the sale of the Mission Valley stadium site to San Diego State University. And, the conversation about defunding school police departments continues. Finally, the pandemic has left the asylum process at a standstill, and many asylum seekers are stuck in limbo at the border.

With COVID-19 cases spiking in San Diego, county Supervisors took the pre-emptive step of closing bars, breweries and wineries that do not serve food, before the Fourth of July weekend. Plus, with calls to defund the police happening nationwide, there’s a petition on Change.org to defund San Diego Unified School District’s police department. Critics say the presence of police in schools disproportionately exposes students of color to the criminal justice system at a young age. Also, the recent Supreme Court ruling banning discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation gives transgender people hope the military will soon lift its transgender service ban. And, a recent report shows that one-third of essential health, food and agricultural workers in the city of San Diego are immigrants. Finally, San Diego Black Panther Party Chairman Henry Wallace V gives historical context to today’s racial injustice protests.

San Diego is seeing an uptick in new COVID-19 cases with health officials reporting more than 300 cases seven times in the past eight days. Plus, an officer involved shooting in downtown San Diego brings renewed scrutiny over police use of force. Also, military reservists are warning the public to not underestimate the coronavirus threat. They’re seeing rising cases in their home states after being deployed to New York to help with the pandemic. Is it time to give people who are on parole the right to vote? California voters will have a say in the matter this November. And, meet “Panca,” one of the border region’s most well-known artists who often incorporates lyrics from her favorite songs in her paintings and murals.

School districts in San Diego are confronting internal problems ranging from race to finances. KPBS education reporter Joe Hong joins us to discuss how Poway Unified is addressing reports of racist incidents and ongoing budget woes at Sweetwater Union High School district. Plus, the San Diego VA is offering conflicting accounts over its decision to take veterans off a drug treatment that they say helped them cope with depression. Also, the Marine Corps banned the confederate flag and top Marine leaders say a conversation about race in the Corps is long overdue.

San Diego is seeking a spike in new coronavirus cases that could be traced to businesses reopening, church resuming services and mass protests. Plus, San Diego’s mayor and police chief announced two new policies that require officers to make de-escalation a priority and to intervene when fellow officers are using excessive force. Also, a San Onofre Task Force recommends creating a federal agency focusing on developing a permanent repository location for disposing of nuclear waste and ensuring its safe removal. In addition, if the military were to rename bases named after Confederate generals, whose names should they bear? And, many San Diego farmers aren’t eligible for COVID-19 relief because they grow flowers and exotic fruits. These growers are making the case they should be. Finally, baseball is returning to Petco Park sans fans, is that a signal that spectator sports are over in San Diego?

Throughout the country, the restriction-weary public is directing its frustrations at public health officials, leading some to resign or retire. In San Diego, Dr. Wilma Wooten was verbally attacked at the county Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday and her home address was given out. Plus, criminal justice reform is now entering the San Diego mayor’s race. Candidates Todd Gloria and Barbara Bry are receiving mixed reviews from advocates. Also, the pandemic could affect the mental health of Latino teens and their political views for decades to come. In addition, Black health care workers are feeling the dual toll of the pandemic and disturbing acts of police brutality. And, it is unknown when the virus first made an appearance in San Diego, which leads some to speculate that they contracted coronavirus before it became widespread, but do they have the antibodies to prove it? Finally, Stephanie Danler’s new memoir about her parents’ struggle with addiction and her own struggle to overcome that legacy.