There may be some argument somewhere that although 50.7 percent of Americans are female, there's no reason that half of our Congress or our state legislatures or even our governors need to be women. Well that argument against a 50-50 split, whatever its rationale, apparently is powerful. On the other hand, the assertion that because women are half the people, they should be half the elected lawmakers has little traction in this nation.

The founder of the UCSD Cancer Center says being overweight makes you more vulnerable to cancer. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge reports.

A new report by the Pacific Council on International Policy says the United States must actively help Mexico fight drug cartels. The report's author spoke in San Diego today. KPBS Reporter Amy Isacskon has the story.

SAN FRANCISCO- WonderCon begins today and in case you don't know what that is it is a pop culture convention put on by the organizers of San Diego's ComicCon International -- think of it as a sister convention, a baby sister. If you are a fan of Comic-Con then what you'll appreciate about WonderCon is that it's like the San Diego convention was ten years ago. That means WonderCon is smaller, less crowded but packed with just as much fun stuff. As my son pointed out, you can cover the whole dealer's room in a day, something you can no longer do at the quarter-mile long Comic-Con dealer's room. WonderCon just has a more intimate feel so it's like traveling back in time for Comic-Con fans like myself. This year WonderCon boasts a particularly exciting array of panels about Hollywood comic book and action blockbusters along with panels about comics, gaming (big news -- from my son's point of view -- being Capcom's "Street Fighter IV"), TV and even Godzilla!

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency today after three years of below-average rain and snowfall. Recent rain and snow haven't made much of a dent in the state's parched reservoirs. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

San Diego is stepping up its efforts to comply with the American with Disabilities Act. Mayor Jerry Sanders says the city’s done a lot, but has more to do to meet federal standards. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details.

The title of Federico Fellini's 1973 film "Amarcord" (opening February 27 for one-week only at Landmark's Ken Cinema )is translated as "I Remember." And what I remember of this film -- which came out when I was thirteen -- are the two images I've posted. I can't remember if my parents, who took me to a lot of foreign films, actually took me to see "Amarcord" at that time or if these images along with my parents' love for Fellini and constant recounting of passages from his film have just led me to believe I had seen the film when it opened. Either way these two images are so iconic of the film and of Fellini's work in general. The first image of a grossly proportioned woman (yet lovingly rendered by Fellini) giving the young protagonist an early sexual encounter; and the second of the young man combining the pleasures of cinema and sex. Seeing "Amarcord" again reminded me that this is not Fellini at his best but it is Fellini at his most charming. "La Strada" and "8 1/2" are far superior films both in terms of content and artistry but "Amarcord" is Fellini's scrapbook of memories culled from his own life and it is completely engaging and delightful. The film takes us through a year in a small coastal Italian village in the 1930s mixing memories of adolescent pranks, young love, crazy relatives and Mussolini. Considering what's currently in theaters now, "Amarcord" provides an oasis of cinematic delights even if it's not the master at his best.

President Barack Obama laid out his plans for the nation in a primetime speech on Tuesday night. Plus, Mayor Jerry Sanders is hoping to close the city's projected $54 million budget deficit by making cuts to some of the benefits afforded to city workers. And, a citizens taskforce recently met to discuss a possible expansion of the San Diego Convention Center.

The city of San Diego faces an estimated $54-million budget deficit next fiscal year. In Part One of our series with Mayor Jerry Sanders, we ask how he plans to deal with the shortfall.

A coalition of environmental groups say city and county elected officials got passing grades for their votes in 2008. But the city scored higher than the county on the environmental report cards as KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce explains.

The quality of life in your neighborhood has a lot to do with the fiscal health of the city you live in. There are 18 cities in San Diego County and all of them are being hit by the economic downturn.KPBS reporter Alison St John has more on where cities get their money from, and how their revenues are dropping.