Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.

Researchers at an autism conference at the University of San Diego say integrating autistic kids into regular school classes is key to helping them move forward in life. The San Diego Unified School District plans to do just that. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

Americans eat an awful lot of fish. And the wild schools of fish are taking a beating. That's why a lot of cooks and environmentalists see aquaculture as the future. Fish farming has been practiced in China for hundreds of years, and salmon farming has become quite popular along the American coast. But fish hatcheries are a rarity along the coast of California. We'll hear from a San Diego researcher who's trying to detetermine what kind of fish farming could represent a profitable and environmentally safe option for California fish farming.

Autism is a psychological condition that's potentially disabling. It's mysterious in its origins, it's poorly understood and it's the source of great fear to young parents. All of those factors has lead to the creation of a blogging network called the Autism Hub. Created in Great Britain, the Autism Hub is a source of information and inspiration that's available to people all over the world. We'll hear from two of the Hub's bloggers, one of whom has Asperger's Syndrome, who are in San Diego for USD's Summer Autism Conference.

The Supreme Court says it will not stop the Bush Administration from waiving more than 30 environmental laws along the border to build hundreds of additional miles of border fencing. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has details.

Artificial turf may be dangerous for children. The non-profit Center for Environment Health says it found high levels of lead in about a third of all artificial turf samples tested. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.

A new statewide poll finds California voters are strongly behind the state's policies to reduce the release of global warming gasses. That support remains strong even if those policies drive up the cost of gas and electricity.

Why are scientist around the country exploring the potential of algae as a biofuel? What could be the advantages to using algae as a biofuel, instead of using crop-based sources like corn and sugar? Host Tom Fudge speaks to professor Stephen Mayfield, with the Scripps Research Institute, about algae's potential as a fuel source in the future.

Senior citizens make up the fastest growing age group in California. And more seniors are working into their later years compared to previous decades. We'll explore the trend of working into retirement with KPBS Health Reporter Kenny Goldberg.

Jail officials are revamping their phone system to make sure calls between prisoners and their attorneys are not recorded after defense lawyers began bringing complaints and in some cases threatened to sue.

A San Diego County Indian tribe is putting off paying cash-starved California $30 million in gambling profits.

A worm-like marine animal is providing fresh clues about human evolution. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more on the research by scientists at UC-San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

A rash of firefighter injuries has prompted California fire officials to order a safety review. That's because the drought has created some rough fire conditions. From Sacramento, Jenny O'Mara reports.