Midday Edition

Last Friday, President Trump signed into law his new tax and spending bill, which creates new eligibility requirements and drastically reduces funding for social safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

On Midday Edition Monday, we hear from County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer on what this consequential bill could mean for the region's most vulnerable residents and how the Board of Supervisors is preparing for the cuts.

Terra Lawson-Remer, District 3 county supervisor, acting chair of San Diego County Board of Supervisors

Each year, about 150,000 students from high schools across the country compete in regional competitions for musical theatre. Only 110 of those make it to the prestigious National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards.

On Midday Edition Thursday, we hear from one nominee about his Jimmy Awards experience and his musical theatre journey thus far.

Snapseed.jpg (6000x4000, AR: 1.5)Then, at the Old Globe, summer means Shakespeare. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando previews two Shakespeare comedies taking place under the stars.

And finally, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans shares her top event picks in arts and culture this weekend, from an upcoming textile art exhibition to a Fourth of July concert at Rady Shell.

• Bruno Dominguez, Jimmy Award nominee, graduate of Coronado School of the Arts
• James Vasquez, director of "The Comedy of Errors"
• Peter Francis James (PFJ), director of "All's Well That Ends Well"
• Denja Harris, textile artist
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter, KPBS

A new multimedia project from KPBS looks into the challenges that come from parenting in the digital age.

ScreenTime looks at evolving research on social media, cyberbullying and video games, to detail its impact on children and provide resources for parents.

Guest:

Andrew Bracken, producer/host, KPBS

San Diego's wildfire season is growing longer and more dangerous.

On Midday Edition Wednesday, we have a conversation with a wildfire researcher on what we can do to better protect our homes, how to be prepared to evacuate with our pets and what should go into a "go bag."

Luca Carmignani, assistant professor, San Diego State University

• https://readyforwildfire.org/
• https://ibhs.org/risk-research/wildfire/

After a period of intense campaigning, the District 1 special election is finally coming to a close — and the results are in.

Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre has come out on top, defeating Chula Vista Mayor John McCann in the special election for the county supervisor seat.

Midday Edition Wednesday, we sit down with KPBS' South Bay reporter to talk more about this consequential election and what it could mean for the future of San Diego politics.

Guest:

Kori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBS

June is Men's Health Month. Life expectancy for men lags five years behind the life expectancy for women in the United States.

Even though men face many specific health challenges, there's a lack of awareness and disease prevention early on. Researchers say there's a need for more attention to men's health.

On today's show, we discuss how men can better care for their physical and mental health — and fight stigma.

• Kevin Maxwell, clinical associate professor of nursing at the University of San Diego

The local impacts of President Donald Trump's mass deportation plan are unfolding before our eyes.

Immigration and Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents are targeting anyone who is suspected of being in the country illegally.

Over the weekend, a video went viral of a woman being arrested by ICE agents in a Mission Valley hotel parking lot.

KPBS has also documented cases of a grandmother, a soccer coach and a disabled asylum seeker caught in the enforcement.

On today's show, we sit down with award-winning journalist and former KPBS border reporter Jean Guerrero to get her analysis of recent immigration policies.

• Jean Guerrero, investigative journalist and author of "Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda”

Binational artist collective AMBOS Project has been supporting migrant communities in our border region through arts and crafts programs and mutual aid.

Thursday on Midday Edition, we sit down with AMBOS Executive Director Natalie Godinez to talk about how their art is building bridges on both sides of the border.

Also, summer blockbuster season is in in full swing! We sit down with our Midday Movies critics to talk about some of the most highly anticipated films, as the first ever summer blockbuster celebrates its 50th birthday.

• Natalie Godinez, executive director, AMBOS Project
• Beth Accomando, arts reporter and host of Cinema Junkie podcast, KPBS
• Yazdi Pithavala, host of Moviewallas podcast

Links mentioned in interview:

• AMBOS Project exhibit on June 27
• AMBOS Project store

The Supreme Court lifted a ban on sports betting in 2018. Since then, the industry has boomed, and much of that growth has come from online sports betting.

Nearly half of American men under the age of 50 have an account with at least one online sports book.

You can hardly watch a game, sports show or listen to a sports podcast today without hearing about overs, unders, props and other topics of sports betting culture.

On Midday Edition, we discuss the rise of online sports betting culture and addiction, and the health risks that come with it.

Guest:

• Robert Teel, licensed cynical psychologist in San Diego who focuses on digital addiction and online sports gambling

Under California law, police departments cannot share license plate data with federal authorities and other out-of-state agencies.

But, that law has been routinely violated.

In 2024, the San Diego Police Department shared data with federal agencies 62 times, according to the department’s annual surveillance report.

SDPD stopped sharing data after state Attorney General Rob Bonta's office told the department it was likely violating state law.

Meanwhile advocates are voicing their concerns about privacy and surveillance, especially amid President Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

Today on Midday Edition, we spoke with two reporters covering this investigation at a local and statewide level.

Guests:

• Gustavo Solis, investigative border reporter, KPBS
• Khari Johnson, technology reporter, CalMatters