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A new survey finds most hospitals in California won't meet the state's 2013 deadline for seismic retrofitting. The state could force those hospitals to close their doors.

The air around San Diego’s port terminals should become a little cleaner next year. But first, trucks traveling in and out of the terminals have to clean up their engines.

The Department of Veterans Affairs in San Diego will host a “Welcome Home” event tomorrow, designed to help vets from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The number of military veterans attending college in California and across the country is expected to go up this fall.

Pete Seeger, legendary folk artist and pioneer of protest music, turned 90 in May 2009. Joining him for a concert event at Madison Square Garden to celebrate this milestone birthday are Joan Baez, Ani DiFranco, Arlo Guthrie, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Richie Havens, Kris Kristofferson, Taj Mahal, Dave Matthews, Roger McGuinn, John Mellencamp, Peggy Seeger, Bruce Springsteen and many others who perform songs inspired by his music and activism.

Following up on his two blockbuster successes, "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life" and "Magnificent Mind At Any Age," award winning psychiatrist, brain imaging researcher, and multiple bestselling author Dr. Daniel Amen brings to public television an exciting new special with a fresh and compelling twist on brain health: How to use your brain to bring and keep more love in your life. Research clearly tells us that being in a healthy, loving, affectionate relationship helps you be happier, live longer and even have a better memory.

San Diego's biotech industry has been built on venture capital. But one local industry executive says that won't be the way of the future.

With the government's "cash for clunkers" program overwhelmed by demand and out of money, the House passed legislation Friday pouring an addtional $2 billion into the program.

On the 10th anniversary of his first public television pledge special, Dr. Wayne Dyer presents a program based on his newest book, Excuses Begone! After identifying the 18 most commonly used, self-defeating excuses, Dr. Dyer teaches viewers a method they can immediately use to change damaging habits and move into new realms of possibility.

Should San Diego resident continue to get free trash pickup? The County Grand Jury says the city should charge for trash collection, but the City Council hasn't voted on idea.

What's going on with the local housing market? The decline in housing prices is slowing down, and home sales are on the rise. Yet, the number of foreclosures is increasing, and unemployment remains high.

A large gathering of family and law enforcement are expected this morning in El Centro to pay tribute to a Border Patrol agent. Joining us on Morning Edition is Brad Jennings, Editor of the Imperial Valley Press.

Is shutting off power to San Diego's back country a good idea when the fire danger is high? SDG&E and the San Diego City Council think so, but many back country residents are opposed to the plan.

The U.S. military is seeking to develop unmanned robots to take over dangerous tasks in the air, on land and underwater. This weekend, SPAWAR - the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center - on Point Loma, hosts a competition at its testing pool for the best new unmanned submersible. The designers in this competition are not highly paid researchers, they are students.

Loretta LaRoche, the irreverent humorist, speaker, author and health expert, tackles the question uppermost in the minds of many viewers: How can a person age with energy and vitality? Using the most recent scientific findings about linguistics, positive psychology and diet, she covers the full spectrum of “juicy content” — language, energy, diet, emotions and behavior.

Several roads, bridges and sidewalks in San Diego are getting makeovers thanks to federal stimulus money.

The sputtering economy is having a big impact on parents who owe child support. San Diego County officials say there's been a large increase in the number of people requesting reductions in child support payments.

A non-union construction contractors group is suing the San Diego Unified School District over how money is spent on Proposition S school bond projects.

The "V" panel did exactly what a first-season genre show should do at Con. They showed us the pilot episode months early. It was missing a few visual effects, the titles weren’t final and there may be a few more edits. But that makes it even better.

UC San Diego is getting $11 million in incentives from California's Self-Generation Incentive Program for the installation of an innovative fuel cell energy generation and storage system on the La Jolla campus.

A small business owner is suing the Controller and the Treasurer in an effort to stop California from continuing to issue IOU’s.

The number of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits rose last week, the government said, though the increase was mostly due to seasonal distortions.

I've been attending the Con for several years now (since 2003, to be exact). Here's are some highlights of what I got a glimpse of, as well as some thoughts on a few special advance screenings I managed to sneak myself into. So, here it goes, Comic-Con 2009!

Mexico's plan to screen all cars headed south into Tijuana has not yet begun, but traffic is already backing up on San Diego freeways.

How will the City of San Diego be affected by the state budget cuts? Why did the City Council vote in favor of SDG&E's Emergency Power Shut-Off Plan? We speak to City Council President Ben Hueso about the budget cuts, SDG&E's controversial plan, and reducing local water consumption.

Recently, a Coronado plastic surgeon allowed physician assistants to perform liposuction, prompting this question: Is cosmetic surgery safe? We'll chat with a local doctor.

Environmentally-friendly jobs are taking center-stage as California reacts to global warming and continued growth. We speak with an expert about the green job industry and its outlook for San Diego.

San Diego’s Mayor says the city may need to change the way appointments are made to its ethics commission. The city council has recently deadlocked on the latest nominations.

The FBI is offering $10,000 for help finding the gun of a Border Patrol agent who was slain last week in a rugged area outside San Diego.

DC Universe Online is an MMO set in the world of DC Comics. Anyone can play alongside iconic heroes like Batman and Superman or fiendish villains like Joker and Lex Luthor.

We may think of San Diego County's beaches as five-star attractions. But an environmental group says the water quality at many of our beaches get lower ratings. Part of the problem is the lack of testing.

Advocates for HIV treatment and prevention say Governor Schwarzenegger has effectively dismantled California's efforts to battle the disease. When he signed the new budget, the governor used his line-item veto power to cut an additional $52 million from HIV/AIDS programs.

The San Diego Zoo's 17-year-old giant panda Bai Yun is pregnant, it was announced today. The mother of four was subjected to an ultrasound examination on Monday that clearly showed a panda fetus, which was seen moving its paws and tucking in its head, according to the San Diego Zoo.

The low crime rate is good news for people living in San Diego. But it’s bad news when the San Diego Police Department tries to get money from the federal government.

Congress reported progress on legislation to overhaul the nation's health care Wednesday as President Barack Obama introduced a retooled message asserting his plan would protect Americans and limit insurers' power.

A new analysis of military spending in San Diego suggests defense dollars account for a growing share of the local economy.

Trash collection in San Diego has a messy history. The City Council waded into the issue Tuesday when it was forced to respond to the County Grand Jury’s report calling for San Diego to start charging for garbage pick up. It’s an issue that’s vexed local lawmakers for years.

If California is ungovernable, what can we do about it? Overhaul the constitution or tweak it here and there through the initiative process? Common Cause and the League of Women Voters are examining the alternatives, and we talk with Thad Kousser about possibilities.

Nearly 20 percent of the human genome is patented by private companies, amounting to thousands of genes. But should what exists in nature be patenting, and what impact will that have on cures for disease?

A group of activists from Oakland have filed a ballot initiative that could legalize marijuana in California.

U.S Federal officials say are arresting more U.S. Teenagers trying to smuggle drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border.

The San Diego Unified school board is leaning toward approving a proposed policy that would allow all students in the district access to full-spectrum biliteracy programs.

The "Lost" panel has always delivered. It hasn’t always delivered answers to burning questions, but it’s always entertaining. This year was no exception.

The steampunks have the best costumes at Comic-Con, so I made sure to attend their very popular (standing room only!) meetup to get a look at all the invention and finery.

Consumer advocates say state lawmakers made all the wrong choices in California's new budget. Advocates are especially upset over some health care cuts Governor Schwarzenegger made at the last minute.

U.S. federal officials say they're seeing a disturbing trend with U.S. teenagers strapping drugs to their bodies and trying to smuggle them through U.S. Mexico pedestrian border crossings.

Although he was at the Con to present "District 9," he took a moment to set the record straight on exactly where things were on "The Hobbit," the two-part prequel to "Lord of the Rings" that he is producing and Guillermo Del Toro is directing.

This November, AMC will present a reinvention of the 1967 British television series, The Prisoner, a show that should be familiar to long-time PBS viewers. Watch video from the Comic-Con panel and an exclusive trailer.

Why do we care about the lives of celebrities that we will never meet? Why do we spend so much time watching TV, playing video games, and reading People magazine? We speak to the author of "Caught in Play: How Entertainment Works on You."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a revised $85 billion budget Tuesday that he said contained "the good, the bad and the ugly," including additional cuts to child welfare programs, health care for the poor and AIDS prevention efforts.

Chargers training camp is officially underway, and the team is hoping to be a Super Bowl contender again this year. On the other hand, the Padres have one of the worst records in baseball, and are looking for silver-linings to an already gloomy season. We speak to Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton about the top sports stories in San Diego.

Influential modernist choreographer Merce Cunningham died over the weekend at the age of 90.

San Diego City Council has taken a stand in support of SDG&E’s plan to turn off power in backcountry areas when there’s a high risk of wildfire. Downed power lines have caused several blazes that burned hundreds of homes.

Two local news organizations, VoiceofSanDiego and the Union-Tribune, have had recent run-ins with San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders' office over freedom of information act requests. We talk about delays in getting information, what the law says and what recourse news organizations have when public information is not turned over.

Using marijuana for medical reasons has been allowed in California for a dozen years. But court challenges to medical marijuana and federal prosecutions, have put a limit on groups that want to provide and sell it until now. KPBS Health Reporter Tom Fudge tells of this year's dramatic increase in activity around medical marijuana.

The release of "Coraline" on DVD warranted a panel at this year's Comic-Con and brought author Neil Gaiman and director Henry Selick along with many of the voice actors for the film. I interviewed the two in the press line after the panel for the Comic-Con YouTube Channel. Check out what they had to say about the dark world of "Coraline" and the state of American animation.

Mexican federal authorities will hold a man they arrested last Friday, who may be tied to the death of Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas, for forty days. San Diego law enforcement authorities appear to be analyzing whether a man arrested in San Jose is tied to the killing.

San Diego law enforcement officials appear to be assessing whether a man who was arraigned in federal court in San Jose, California on immigrantion charges Monday morning is tied to the killing of Border Patrol agent Robert Rosas.

Roughly 70,000 students in San Diego's South Bay started the school year today, about two months earlier than districts across San Diego County. The early start is a result of the region's two largest school districts coming together in the name of reform.

Community clinics in San Diego and other parts of California will be taking some major hits in the new state budget.

The City of San Diego is near the top of a federal agency list for using green power to generate electricity.

More cuts to health and welfare programs are expected this week when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issues line-item vetoes before signing California's revised budget.

"Orphan" (opened July 24 throughout San Diego) is a seriously creepy movie! The child of the title is extremely demented. The movie is about this family that has two children and had a still birth for the third. They decided it would be good to adopt a child to give their love to this new child that was meant for their stillborn Jessica. The mother Kate has just recovered from being a serious alcoholic and feels that adopting a child will help her even more. So Kate and her husband John go to the orphanage to choose their new family member.

The "Twilight Moms" were back complete with camping gear, more than one Hollywood director made their first Comic-Con visit, and the lines were longer than ever! These are just some of the highs and lows we'll explore as we recap Comic-Con's four day celebration of the popular arts.

One decade ago, Brandi Chastain was showing her sports bra to 40 million TV viewers in the Women's World Cup Final. Today, women's professional soccer players are kicking off on Wednesday afternoons for crowds of 4,000. Why has the following for women's soccer decreased? We speak to Union-Tribune Sports Reporter Mark Zeigler about the rise and fall of women's soccer in the United States, and Cal Poly Pomona Sociology Professor Faye Wachs about what it means for female athletics in general.

The official school year in San Diego County typically starts in early-September. But that's not the case for roughly 70,000 students in the Chula Vista Elementary and Sweetwater Union High School districts.

How will state budget cuts affect schools in San Diego, and throughout California? We speak to the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction about the cuts that schools will face, and about the overall health of the state's education system. We also talk to O'Connell about the free summer lunch program that's being offered at local schools.

Another San Diego Padre has been inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. We're joined on Morning Edition by North County Times Sports Columnist Jay Paris.

Nearly one million people are suffering from Parkinson's Disease in the United States. The president of a local neurology group says there are many ways for those with Parkinson's to cope with the disease. He's speaking at a local event aimed at educating patients and their families about the disease and he joins us today to discuss the latest research and treatment.

Politicians in South County want to know what they're getting into before they approve medical marijuana dispensaries.

San Diego area firefighters are trying to make sure homeowners are prepared for this year’s wildfire season. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says firefighters fanned out around the county over the weekend to distribute safety information.

The Academy that trains all San Diego’s police officers and sheriff's deputies has added more role playing to the schedule. Role play sessions let trainees explore levels of force that might be appropriate in real life situations. This is important, especially since many recruits come from a military background.

Sarah Palin stepped down Sunday as Alaska governor to write a book and build a right-of-center coalition, but she left her long-term political plans unclear and refused to address speculation she would seek a 2012 presidential bid.

Alexander Skarsgard, the actor who plays the powerful vampire Eric, was the crowd favorite at Comic-Con's True Blood panel.

Mexican authorities say a man they have in custody has been identified as the gunman who killed a Border Patrol agent east of San Diego last Thursday night. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.

One of the hottest freebies on the floor at Comic-Con can be found at the CAPCOM booth. It's a Resident Evil T-shirt. Check out the video to see what makes it special.

Saturday at the Con. This used to be the BIG day but I can't see how it could top what's already happened. We've already had a trio of first timers with the appearances of Terry Gillima, Hayao Miyazaki, and Peter Jackson. How much better can it get? Here are a bunch of options for Saturday.

U.S. officials say the stretch of the U.S. Mexico border in Campo where a Border Patrol agent was shot to death Thursday night has not seen a lot of smuggling activity recently. The agent was shot while on patrol. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has details.

The cast of Showtime's "Dexter" was at Comic-Con talking about Season 4. There are two new members joining the cast, John Lithgow and a baby!

Mexican federal authorities say they have a man in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of a Border Patrol agent in Campo Thursday night. Mexican authorities say they arrested the man early Friday morning in Tecate and are testing the gun he was carrying to see if the bullets match the spent casings at the scene of the shooting. Meanwhile, as KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, authorities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border continue to search for more suspects.

I was completely charmed by the characters in producer Tim Burton's new animated film "9", directed by Shane Acker. They both attended the panel for "9" in Comic-Con's Hall H, where they were joined by voice talent Jennifer Connelly and Elijah Wood.

A former pension watchdog says changes that would lower the city of San Diego’s pension payment next year are misguided. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says April Boling wants to the city to pay what it owes, no matter the cost.

About 50 volunteers will be working Saturday to maintain a stretch of coastal dunes at the mouth of the San Diego River. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the area along the river at Dog Beach is one of the last remaining habitats of its kind in California.

Lawmakers on Friday approved a complex package of spending cuts, local government raids and accounting maneuvers to fill California's gigantic budget deficit, providing hope that the state might begin a slow climb out of a deep financial hole.

At the center of the world famous Rio Carnival is the Samba Parade — a fierce competition of vast scale among 13 neighborhood samba schools. Watching them are a panel of expert judges, more than 60,000 spectators and a TV audience of nearly half a billion. The unexpected is always expected during one of the largest parties on earth, and INSIDE is right there to find out how Rio survives and Carnival continues to thrive.

By the beginning of the 21st century, the systems of credit, insurance, bond trading and stock markets had transcended all national boundaries to create a truly global economic system, opening the door to unprecedented growth, but also worldwide instability in the event of one nation’s downturn. In an effort to establish more stability following the Great Depression, the U.S. government’s New Deal created a “property owning Democracy,” a system of federally backed savings and loans that allowed more people than ever before to buy homes by offering low interest rates and long-term mortgages. Rampant inflation in the 1970s, however, led the government to remove regulations on interest rates and opened the door to a massive scandal in the 1980s and one of the country’s worst economic crises. The vulnerabilities of America’s property-based economy would be felt again 20 years later, in the current economic crisis that has shaken the world.

According to the latest estimates, Comic-Con annually brings more than $40 million to the local economy. What's the greatest benefit Comic-Con brings to our city? And, should the Convention Center be expanded to insure that Comic-Con stays in San Diego for years to come?

Long, mind-boggling lines are one of the downsides of life at Comic-Con and, so far, the lines this year have been record-setting. And I'm not even talking about the Twilight Moms; they are in a line stratosphere all their own. I waited in line for the "Dexter" panel and survived, leaving casualties behind.

The long saga of the seals at the Children's Pool in La Jolla will last for at least three more months. That's following a Superior Court judge's decision to delay a ruling on the fate of the seals until October. What factors played into the judge's decision to delay his ruling? And, why has this story captivated San Diego over the last decade?

California legislative leaders reached an agreement to close the state's $26.3 billion budget gap earlier this week. How will the budget deal impact city and county governments in the state? And, will the new budget deal create any long-term changes in California government?

Okay I completely forgot to highlight the films that played yesterday at the Comic-Con International Film Festival. And I was even a judge. The bad news is you missed three great films: "Alice is Dead" (with Adrienne Barbeau in a zombie tale), "Al's Beef" (a cleverly written revenge saga), and the brilliant doc "Died Young, Stayed Pretty" (about punk rock posters in 70s Seattle). The good news is that there are three more days of great films.

The Twilight Moms got their wish. They said Johnny Depp would make a surprise appearance in Hall H for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" panel just like Hugh Jackman had made a surprise appearance last year.

Terry Gilliam – ex-Pythonite and visionary filmmaker – made his first Comic-Con appearance Thursday in Hall H and presented clips from his latest film, “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.” The film has gained attention for being the last one to feature Heath Ledger, who died during the shoot. In order to finish the film, Gilliam got Colin Farrell, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp to play variations on Ledger’s character. But Gilliam gently but firmly pointed out that this is not a Heath Ledger film but a film about Dr. Parnassus, a man who strikes a deal with the devil for immortality.

Taking the trolley to Comic-Con was the best decision I made today. It was cheap, relaxing, and full of colorful company.

WIDE ANGLE travels to East Africa to tell the dramatic story of an Ethiopian economist on a mission: Seeking a market-based solution to end hunger in her famine-plagued country, she creates Ethiopia’s first commodities exchange. What she didn’t count on was a world financial crisis getting in the way.

In this episode, Noah returns once again to Ocean Beach for an exciting new adventure. Noah covers the 50 year Anniversary of the OB Kite Festival and visits the Secret Garden in OB and the Farmer's Market. He discovers a hidden cave and tunnel at Sunset Cliffs that was used during prohibition to smuggle alcohol. Then he takes a nice swim in the ocean with a five foot Iguana! Only in OB.

The California Assembly and state Senate are expected to debate and possibly vote on a complex budget plan Thursday in Sacramento.

The seals at the La Jolla Children’s pool can stay where they are for at least a few more months. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says a state judge has delayed his earlier ruling that the seals be removed by Thursday.

Everyone knew Walter Cronkite from the CBS Evening News, where he earned distinction as "The Most Trusted Man in America" during his 19 years at the anchor desk. Throughout his award-winning career --which began as a field reporter in World War II -- Cronkite covered such historic events as the first trip to the moon; the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy; the Watergate scandal; the Vietnam War; the Iran hostage crisis; and John Glenn's return to space. Through it all, he steadfastly adhered to a credo of fast, accurate and unbiased news reporting.

A UC San Diego study shows evidence that changes in the Earth's cloud patterns could increase global warming.

A San Diego State professor wants to change the way we talk about being fat.

Lawmakers braced for a long debate Thursday as they vote on a complex budget plan struck by Gov. Schwarzenegger and lawmakers designed to reverse the state's slide toward insolvency.

Does the city of San Diego pay its workers too much, given the current fiscal crisis? Are city workers and their unions responsible for the financial trouble the city finds itself in? Vlad Kogan of VoiceofSanDiego.org discusses his study of the pay (including salaries, fees, wages, commissions and bonuses) of San Diego's public sector workers.

Illustrator and fine artist James Jean returns to Comic-Con after a sold-out solo show at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York. The seven-time Eisner winner will sign copies of his new print book "Kindling" and host a "Spotlight" panel.

Live from Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center, Beth Accomando gives us an update on the events, people, stars, crowds at this annual festival of popular culture.

Who cares about science these days? We'll talk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, the hip host of NOVA scienceNOW, about how to make science fun, cool and interesting to the masses.

Composer Shawn Clement has had a long and acclaimed career scoring films and television shows, including "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He's in San Diego for Comic-Con, where he'll talk about composing the score for the new 3-D IMAX animated film "Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey." He recorded the score with members of the San Francisco Symphony at Skywalker Sound.

OMG! It's only Thursday and the panels already boast the incredible line up of Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, Park Chan-Wook, and Bruce Campbell. Plus Comic-Con begins its series of panels looking back at the convention with The Secret Origins of Comic-Con at 11:00am in Room 2.

For the second year in a row the first in line for Hall H are the Twilight Moms. But unlike last year, no one is surprised to find them there. In fact multiple news crews were out in full force interviewing them. "Twilight," the teen vampire saga based on Stephenie Meyer's books, scored big at the box office last year and surprised a lot of people. But not the Twilight Moms who were ahead of the curve in gauging the film's popularity.

Many California kids are getting ready to go back to school. Before being allowed to return, their vaccinations must be up to date. But thanks to the state’s budget crisis, this will be a difficult and expensive task for a growing number of low-income families.

Sometimes the biggest changes begin with little fanfare. For example, on the San Diego Unified School Board's 5 p.m. agenda on Tuesday evening was the rather obscure item ‘I’ on a list that began with ‘A’ and ended with ‘M’. Item ‘I’ was called the “Superintendent's Consent Agenda …Agreement with The Primacy Group, Inc. for a Parcel Tax Feasibility Study.”

In this episode, Abby meets Chris to show off her new shoes that she got from the Shoe Fairy. When Telly walks in without any shoes, Abby tells him that he should make a shoe wish so the Shoe Fairy will come and give him his first pair of shoes. Telly can't decide on which pair of shoes he wants so he tells the Shoe Fairy to surprise him.

A new report says California could save a lot more water by investing in farm conservation measures instead of dams.

A downtown warehouse space close to Comic-Con holds the premiere of a new art documentary and an exhibit featuring Con favorite Jeff Soto, the Clayton Brothers, Martha Rich and more!

The San Diego Unified School District is using federal stimulus funds to reduce harmful emissions from its school buses. The district is close to having one of the cleanest bus fleets in the country.

Politicians from around San Diego gathered Wednesday to complain about California’s proposed budget deal. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says area leaders aren’t going to give up local money without a fight.

Move over Dr. Phil – Dr. Adrianne Ahern teaches you how to rewire your brain to confront life’s challenges for greater success and wellbeing. Feeling depressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, stressed out? Clinical psychologist Adrianne Ahern has a solution – Snap Out of It NOW!® Dr. Ahern, renowned for her pioneering work in developing human potential, has developed a breakthrough methodology to help train the brain to support optimal health, success, and wellbeing. Ahern can teach you how to rewire your brain to meet and conquer life’s challenges.

President Obama argued during a prime-time news conference Wednesday that the American economy cannot be rebuilt without overhauling the nation's health care system. "Even as we rescue this economy from full-blown crisis," Obama said, "we must rebuild it stronger than before.

More than $70 million in claims are unresolved over last year's crash of a Marine Corps jet in a San Diego County neighborhood. The military says a series of bad decisions allowed the F-18 to crash in University City after an engine failure on Dec. 8. The crash killed four people, destroyed two homes and damaged others.

AIDS is the number one killer in sub-Saharan Africa, and it's the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Researchers have been trying to develop a vaccine to protect people against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. So far, the results have been disappointing. From the International Aids Conference in Capetown, South Africa, KPBS Health Reporter Kenny Goldberg tells us the search continues.

Another day of scorching temperatures was in store for San Diego County today, forecasters said. According to the National Weather Service, hot weather will continue into at least early next week because of strong upper-level high pressure over the West.

Another death associated with the swine flu occurred in the San Diego area, bringing the total to 10, county health officials said today.

Power lines will be shut down in rural parts of San Diego County during windy, dry spells when the wildfire danger is greatest. San Diego Gas & Electric transmission lines have been blamed for several past wildfires, including the devastating Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice Canyon fires in October 2007.

San Diego is the top solar city in California, according to a recent report by Environment California. What has San Diego done to earn the No. 1 ranking? And, what more can our region do to reduce its carbon footprint? We speak to representatives from Environment California, and the California Center for Sustainable Energy about San Diego's solar credentials, and the city's environmental goals for the future.

It's been 40 years since humans first stepped onto the surface of moon. What's next in space exploration? Some scientists have their sights set on Mars.

The San Diego Unified school district is exploring a parcel tax for local school funding and has voted to begin a feasibility study.

The brand-new deal to balance the state budget could be in jeopardy over details about prison cuts. Schwarzenegger Administration officials say the plan would shave more than a billion dollars from prison spending by reducing the population by about 27,000 inmates.

Supporters of the seals living at the Children’s Pool in La Jolla held a rally Tuesday. They carried signs saying things like “Taxpayers for seals” and “Help Seal the Deal” referring to legislation recently signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that gives control of the beach to the San Diego City Council.

San Diego State has increased its health science research capacity by adding five immunologists to its Bioscience Center. KPBS reporter Tom Fudge says that two of them are focused on fighting the flu.

The top Navy commander in San Diego says the region benefits from growing Defense Department spending.

Just two months after approving a 10 percent tuition hike, the California State University Board of Trustees authorized another 20 percent increase in student fees today as it tries to compensate for a sharp reduction in state funding.

It’s not yet clear what impact California’s budget deal would have on the city of San Diego. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says a lot could depend on how much money redevelopment agencies are willing to give up.

The city of San Diego plans to ask a judge to vacate an order giving the city 72 hours to scare harbor seals away from the Children's Pool in La Jolla. It's the latest move in a decade-long battle over the use of the pool.

A tentative deal reached by state legislators to close California's $26 billion deficit could cost the city of San Diego $100 million and the county another $150 million, officials said today.

Tijuana merchants who cater to tourists are worried Mexico's plan to screen all cars headed south into Tijuana will be another blow to their business. They estimate sales have dropped 80 percent since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has more.

Dozens of sailors and Marines who tested positive for swine flu have been quarantined aboard four Navy ships at or near Pearl Harbor. Health officials say at least 69 people had been confirmed with the virus.

Dozens of California State University students are outside the chancellor's office to protest an emergency budget plan that would sharply increase student fees, shrink enrollment and furlough most employees.

This year, Comic-Con celebrates its 40th anniversary with a number of milestones, including record attendance and the first-ever appearance of fan idol Peter Jackson. North America's largest pop culture convention begins Wednesday.

In California, the governor and legislative leaders finally have a tentative budget deal. If lawmakers approve it, the plan will use massive spending cuts to erase the state's $26 billion deficit. But many Californians have grown weary of these regular budget stalemates. And they're saying that now is the time to fundamentally change the way the state does business.

How will the U.S. recover from the current recession? We'll talk with economist Peter Navarro about the role of manufacturing in the future of a sound economy.

It looks like California legislative leaders and the Governor have agreed on a new budget. But as a wise man once said, "it ain't over 'til it's over." We're joined on Morning Edition by non-partisan Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy.

California's legislative leaders have agreed on a plan to eliminate the state budget deficit. Now, the proposal goes to the full legislature for a vote. Could this be the week that California lawmakers approve a plan to close the state's $26.3 billion budget deficit? We talk to Sacramento Bee reporter Kevin Yamamura, and Political Consultant Leo McElroy about the latest news on the budget talks.

Walt Disney Filmmaker Don Hahn has produced classics such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. He just published a new 2-volume book covering the animation lectures of Walt Stanchfield. He joins us to discuss his new book and his upcoming panel at Comic-Con.

Early on in "(500) Days of Summer" (opened July 17 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas), the narrator announces that this is not a love story. But of course that's precisely what it is – it's a story about the possibilities and impossibilities of love. It's less conventional than most love stories and does try to position itself as something of an anti-love story, but deep down it is exactly what it denies it is and that's kind of the point. (Check out the behind the scenes video.)

If you're intrigued by graphic novels but have no idea where to start, Comic-Con offers plenty of shopping opportunities and Palomar professor of English Rocco Versace has created the perfect shopping list for you, complete with suggested author events.

San Diego is still paying for the mistakes it made seven years ago when the city failed to disclose its billion-dollar pension deficit to investors. But a monitor, who reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, says the city is cleaning up its act.

California State University's governing board is set to vote on an emergency budget plan that would significantly raise student fees, shrink enrollment and furlough most employees at its 23 campuses.

The San Diego-based company Orexigen reports its anti-obesity drug has met FDA standards in late-stage trials. Company executives expect to apply for FDA approval next year.

The company that plans to build a desalination plant in Carlsbad has hired three people to oversee the project's construction. Poseidon Resources hopes to break ground this fall.

The economic recession didn't stop volunteers from extending a helping hand to San Diego's homeless veterans at this year's annual Stand Down event.

The city of San Diego’s whistleblower hotline to report fraud, waste or abuse received more than 100 calls over the last 9 months. However, none of them came from employees.

By mid-week downtown will transform into ground zero for all things pop culture as Comic-Con begins it's 40th convention of popular arts.

In his latest ADVENTURES WITH PURPOSE special, renowned adventurer Richard Bangs treks through the remote state of Assam in India — a region of rushing rivers, strapping monsoons, vast expanses of unspoiled land and a staggering array of wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros. What kept these rare rhinos from falling into extinction?

Earlier today it seemed as if the seals were sure to be evicted. A judge gave the city of San Diego 72 hours to comply with a court order to remove the colony of harbor seals. But then late today Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger complicated the debate by signing into law a measure giving control of Children's Pool back to the city of San Diego

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and California's legislative leaders agreed Monday on a plan to close the state's $26 billion budget shortfall, potentially getting the state back on firm financial ground so it can stop issuing IOUs.

It was a weekend of old guys and young guys in the sports world. There were disappointments for both, but no surprises. We're joined on Morning Edition by North County Times Sports Columnist Jay Paris.

Golden Dreams: California in an age of abundance 1950-1963 is the 8th volume in Kevin Starr's monumental history of California, Americans and the California Dream. This volume covers the time when the California we know today first rose into prominence. Starr talks about how San Diego reluctantly grew into one of the largest cities in the nation and the people who influenced its growth

Next month, the 23-rd annual Burning Man event takes place in the Nevada desert. People attend to celebrate self-expression in one of the harshest environment's imaginable. What brings them back year after year?

In this tight economy, it's all about finding bargains. We'll take a look at how you can find freebies and steals in San Diego.

It's never been done before — vaccinating Americans against two different flu threats in one season. But that's what public health officials all over the country are beginning to plan for. They need to deploy two different flu vaccines that will be available on different schedules — and targeted at different people.

An earthquake has rattled the San Diego County desert but there are no reports of damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey says a quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.7 struck at 5:10 a.m. Monday.

The UCSD Medical Center’s Infant Special Care Unit hosted a picnic over the weekend to reunite nurses and doctors with the small patients they’ve helped save. The hospital handles a high proportion of premature births. KPBS Reporter Katie Orr says research about why some babies are born early is on going.

The high cost of health care reform, and the high cost of doing nothing, were subjects of conversation last Friday. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge attended a forum hosted by San Diegans for Healthcare Coverage.

Administration officials defended President Obama's broad health care proposals on Sunday and urged a skeptical public not to judge the Democrats' overhaul until Congress writes a final version.

As you may have gathered, I am a fan of Japanese anime. So I was thrilled to find out that this year's Comic-Con boasts the first ever appearance of Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli and creator of such classic animated films as "My Neighbor Totoro," "Princess Mononoke," and "Spirited Away." In the U.S. his films have been distributed in recent years by Disney. Disney will be releasing Miyazaki's latest film, "Ponyo" (the Japanese title was the more poetic, "Ponyo on a Cliiff by the Sea") on August 14 in select cities.

“…war is a drug.” These words, as quoted from journalist Chris Hedges, open “The Hurt Locker” (currently playing at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas), an adrenaline-infused war film from director Kathryn Bigelow that is sure to give you more bang for your buck than almost any other film this year. The film opens with a bomb squad in Baghdad sometime in the year 2004.

Federal officials say narcotics seizures along the U.S. Mexico border have hit an all time high and apprehensions of undocumented immigrants have dropped. As KPBS reporter Amy Isackson explains, officials claim both show success, but border analysts question that.

TIME TEAM AMERICA digs for the remains of the first American town founded by former slaves. In 1836 “Free Frank” McWorter purchased his freedom from a Kentucky plantation owner and headed North. When he reached Illinois, he planted roots, started a town, and sold enough property to purchase the rest of his family out of slavery. Now farmers’ fields cover this dramatic testament to victory over enslavement. The local landowners, descendants of the town’s residents, and the McWorter family want to uncover what remains of New Philadelphia to commemorate its place in history.

The science behind our sense of taste; a product that may fulfill the dream of creating an artificial tree that can absorb carbon dioxide directly from the air; shedding light on the evolutionary roots of human language through studies of walrus and sea lion vocal and intellectual abilities; and a profile of medical engineer Sangeeta Bhatia.

A federal agency has brought its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program to San Diego County. A preview of the mustangs started Friday afternoon in Lakeside.

"The Stoning of Soraya M." (opening July 17 at Landmark's La Jolla Village Theaters) is not great filmmaking but it's a great example of how films can help draw attention to issues in a forceful and compelling way. Sometimes film serves not as art or entertainment but as a means of delivering a message. That may turn some viewers off or rile those who want the medium to be viewed as art but the reality is that film can be used in many different ways for multiple purposes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

A man in Lexington, North Carolina, has a poignant diary written by a World War II pilot. He inherited the diary 20 years ago from his father, who said it once belonged to a close friend whom he fought alongside in WWII, until the war took his friend’s life in 1944. Keeping the last thoughts of this fallen solider is now too great a burden for the contributor. Can HISTORY DETECTIVES return it to a living relative?

The San Diego County Supervisors have held their offices for more than a decade, and now a county employees union is circulating a petition to impose term limits on the elected officials. What are the arguments for and against imposing term limits on the board of supervisors?

Both houses of Congress are working on legislation that would make health care a right afforded to all Americans. What are the details of the House and Senate proposals? And, what are the major roadblocks Democrats will face in their health care reform efforts?

Lawmakers in Sacramento are still in a deadlock over how to close the state's $26.3 billion budget deficit. What are the main areas of disagreement between the Republicans and Democrats? And, will lawmakers reach a budget agreement before their planned vacation begins this weekend?

Suicide bombers who checked in as guests smuggled explosives into American luxury hotels in Indonesia's capital and set off a pair of heavy blasts that killed eight people and wounded more than 50 others on Friday.

San Diego scientists have identified the gene that leads to the creation of antibodies. They say that will make it easier to create effective vaccines.

Through the centuries, violence has often been the subject of art. Now a photographer has found inspiration in a very popular and violent sport. KPBS arts producer Angela Carone looks at an exhibit called Octagon which has just opened at The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

Homelessness and alcoholism often go together. And that's a big problem for California hospitals. Homeless alcoholics tend to be frequent users of emergency rooms, at considerable expense. San Diego is one city that's trying to do something about it.

San Diego County and Chula Vista will receive nearly $8 million from the U.S. Government to fight violence that stems from Mexican drug cartels. Chula Vista's police chief says federal officials think drug violence could spill over the U.S. Mexico border. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson tells us, Chula Vista's Chief says that's not true, but he can still use the money.

More than 120 countries have united to form the International Criminal Court (ICC) — the first permanent court created to prosecute the perpetrators, no matter how powerful, of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. “The Reckoning” follows dynamic ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and his team for three years across four continents as he issues arrest warrants for Lord’s Resistance Army leaders in Uganda, puts Congolese warlords on trial, shakes up the Colombian justice system and charges Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir with genocide in Darfur.

Thousands of jumbo flying squid - aggressive 5-foot-long sea monsters with razor-sharp beaks and toothy tentacles - have invaded the shallow waters off San Diego, spooking scuba divers and washing up dead on tourist-packed beaches.

California universities are announcing major spending cuts caused by the state’s financial crisis. California State University Chancellor Charles Reed says his system is facing a $584 million revenue shortfall. Reed says that means belt-tightening measures are required immediately.

The board that administers San Diego’s pension system is considering ways to lower the city’s pension payment next year.

A popular vacation area in the City of San Diego opted out of curbside recycling in 2000 because of narrow alleys. But that will change next summer in Mission Beach.

Two more deaths associated with the swine flu pandemic have occurred in the San Diego area, bringing the total number of local fatal cases to nine, according to the county Health and Human Services Agency.

Foreclosures are continuing to rise in California. That’s despite the moratorium on home foreclosures that the state and some banks started earlier this year.

If you think there are no strong roles for older women, look again. This month "Downloading Nancy," The Stoning of Soraya M." and "Julia" all showcase actresses over 40. In "Julia" (opening July 17 at Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters), Scottish actress Tilda Swinton grabs center stage and makes the most of it. But then for Swinton that's nothing new. You can listen to my radio feature or read the review.

A 17-year-old in Southern California has become the youngest person to sail around the world alone. Zac Sunderland docked Thursday in Marina del Ray, completing a 28,000-mile trip that began last year.

Foiled by a dispute over education funding, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders remain at odds over how to close California's $26.3 billion budget shortfall.

A cruise ship passenger was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly killing his wife days earlier during a trip to Mexico, authorities said. The man was arrested by FBI agents after the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation docked at its homeport in San Diego, FBI spokesman Darrell Foxworth said.

As California wrestles with its worst economy since the Great Depression, illegal immigrants are becoming part of the debate. It's not unlike what happened the last time the state was having money problems.

A local playwright has taken on one of the most enigmatic figures in American literature, poet Emily Dickinson. Lynx Performance Theatre will stage the drama Dickinson: The Secret Story of Emily Dickinson, portraying the reclusive poet as a brilliant, bold and sexual woman frustrated with Victorian society and suffering from bouts of mental illness.

America is the number one producer and consumer of child pornography in the world. We speak to people who are working to protect children from internet crimes.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which was the catalyst for the modern gay rights movement. We'll mark the anniversary by talking about the progress made on rights for the LGBT community and the upcoming San Diego Pride festival.

The City of Poway is revising its current practice of draining substandard drinking water from its Sagewood Drive reservoir. The changes are designed to conserve water.

Some San Diego County people will soon be getting promised rebate money for installing water conservation devices.

Grammy-award winning jazz guitarist Earl Klugh has been performing for over 30 years. His distinct musical style blends classical guitar, Latin music, soul and jazz. He has recorded more than 30 albums and worked alongside Chet Atkins, Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder. Earl Klugh joins us to discuss his musical inspiration and his upcoming show at Anthology.

As a fan of Asian Extreme Cinema I was thrilled to discover that South Korea's Park Chan-Wook will be making his first Comic-Con appearance on Thursday July 23 at 6:30pm. He will be part of the Focus Features panel on Park's new vampire tale, "Thirst." See clips from the film.

Let me set the scene. Dozens upon dozens of fans, some of whom have been waiting since eleven o’clock the morning before, have finally been led into the theatre where their hours of vigilant persistence against the elements will finally be rewarded in a mere matter of minutes when the rousing score of John Williams, set against the Warner Bros. opening logo, unveils the first Harry Potter film in two years. As the fans take their seats, one eager Potter-phile brings himself to the front of the auditorium, dressed in a full black cape, a black witch hat, a yellow foam finger sporting the words, “Harry and the Potters," and his very own wooden wand, as he announces that he wants to lead the entire audience in singing the Harry Potter theme.

Two weeks after a Navy seaman was found shot to death in a guard shack on Camp Pendleton, the Navy still has not decided if the case is serious enough to go before the military equivalent of a grand jury.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced today the disbursement of more than $8.7 million in federal funds -- primarily to San Diego County and Chula Vista -- to fight crime and drug trafficking along the Southwest border.

San Diego city officials are worried that Kinder Morgan Energy isn't going to meet deadlines to cleanup the groundwater underneath Qualcomm Stadium.

Chef Keller serves up two very unique, mouth-watering ways to prepare salmon, starting with an exquisitely slow-roasted recipe that is all the rage at his San Francisco restaurant Fleur de Lys. He finishes with a one-of-a-kind salmon burger injected with a silky smooth sauce. Slow-Roasted Alaskan Salmon; Double Salmon Tartare Burger.

Unless Judge Sonia Sotomayor commits a monstrous gaffe during her final hours of grilling as President Barack Obama’s first Supreme Court nominee, she will replace retiring Justice David Souter when the next court session begins.

A Mexican law enforcement official says the renegade drug trafficker who declared war on Tijuana's Arellano Felix Cartel last fall is behind the recent series of attacks on Tijuana and Rosarito police.

The San Diego City Council has until mid-August to respond to a Grand Jury report that says the city should charge residents for trash pickup. But if a council committee meeting held Wednesday is any indication, formulating a response might not be so easy.

A key committee of the University of California on Wednesday approved a budget plan that would force most of the system's 180,000 employees to take unpaid leave and pay cuts to offset a steep drop in state funding.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he and top lawmakers have the will to close California's $26.3 billion shortfall by the end of the day. The governor cautioned reporters during a Wednesday news conference that several difficult issues still must be resolved. Negotiations are scheduled to resume later in the afternoon.

Home sales in San Diego County jumped by 20 percent in June, compared to the same month a year ago, but prices dropped by 15.1 percent, a real estate information service reported today.

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk's new book is The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights. It is being promoted as a "kinder, gentler" approach to helping animals in trouble. We ask her about the history of PETA, the controversy that continues to surround the organization, and what this new approach involves.

Sotomayor confirmed that neither President Obama nor any other White House staff asked her position on abortion before nominating her to the high court. "I was asked no question by anyone, including the president, about my views on any specific legal issue," she said.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (opening July 15 throughout San Diego) is the newest installment to the "Harry Potter" series. Unlike the previous movies based on the J.K. Rowling books, this movie was somewhat of a disappointment.

Authorities say dozens of immigrants being held at San Diego's Otay Mesa detention center are being quarantined because of fears over the swine flu. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say two cases of the H1N1 virus have been confirmed at the facility since last month. The individuals were treated and recovered.

What can you do to prevent rats and mice from invading your cupboard? How can you make your yard mosquito-proof? We speak to Chris Conlan, a vector ecologist for the County of San Diego, about the most common vector-borne diseases in our area and which animals carry them.

Despite the state's current economic problems, the fundamentals of California's economy are strong, according to a new report by the PPIC. We speak to PPIC Researcher Jed Kolko about the strengths and weaknesses in the state economy. We also talk to Kolko about a report he did on who's moving out of California, and why.

Critics of US Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor say they have concerns about her ability to render impartial legal decisions. Are those concerns valid or are they just playing politics?

California is a mess financially, and one of its huge burdens is its prisons. The state spends $10 billion a year on its prison system, which once was a model for states to follow but now is a model of what to avoid, NPR's Laura Sullivan tells Renee Montagne.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor returned to the hearing room of the Hart Senate Office Building on Wednesday morning for her third day of Supreme Court confirmation hearings. She will try to reveal little more than she did in her first day of questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The San Diego Fire Department is losing more personnel than usual this year. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says changes to the city’s retirement plan prompted a lot of firefighters to take an early retirement.

The Port of San Diego controls more than 5,000 acres of tidelands and 10,000 acres of the bay. The port is governed by seven unelected commissioners. They decide what to build on the waterfront, how to promote trade and how to keep the bay clean. Critics say that’s too much power with too little oversight.

Governor Schwarzenegger has replaced most members of a state board that monitors 350,000 registered nurses in California. He did so a day after an investigation by the Los Angeles Times and non-profit news organization ProPublica.

A local union wants term limits imposed on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says a union member filed paperwork today that begins the process of putting term limits on the ballot.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders planned to meet again to try to agree on a plan to address California's $26.3 billion budget deficit. The Republican governor and the Legislature's top four leaders scheduled a meeting Tuesday afternoon in the governor's office - their first session since meeting for about six hours on Sunday.

Federal officials predict an El Niño year, which could mean a wet winter for California. What isn't clear is just how much rain the weather pattern will bring.

A new study finds a large percentage of men who have sex with Tijuana sex workers do not use condoms. As KPBS reporter Amy Isackson explains, the study by University of California San Diego researchers suggests these men's risky behavior can spread HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in Tijuana and San Diego.

Authorities are temporarily suspending visits to inmates in the San Diego County jail system because more than one-fifth of them have been exposed to swine flu.

Congressman Bob Filner joins us today to discuss the top issues in the House of Representatives, and the 51st Congressional District. We speak to Filner about health care reform, the national economy, preventing border violence, and veteran's issues.

What are the chances that national health care reform will happen this year? What were the highlights from President Barack Obama's recent trip overseas? Why is national confidence in the president's economic plan starting to decrease? We speak to NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley about the top stories in the nation's capitol.

The confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is well underway. Few people are keeping track of this hearing with as much expertise and enthusiasm as These Days Legal Analyst Dan Eaton.

There's optimism California's $26 billion dollar budget mess could be resolved this week and with good reason. We're joined on Morning Edition by non-partisan Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy.

The Port of San Diego’s cargo business has lost tens of millions dollars since 1993. And the marine division has sustained larger losses than the port has admitted to the public. Critics say the port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal is partly to blame for the shortfalls.

San Diego based General Atomics Corporation has landed a contract with the Navy to apply fuel saving technology to warships.

Tijuana's mayor says police are under fire because they aren't protecting drug traffickers like many used to.

Health officials say two more people with underlying health problems have died of swine flu in San Diego County. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency said Monday the victims included a 57-year-old man who died on July 2 and a 64-year-old man who died a week later.

A company that creates a buying club to make solar more affordable for homeowners is now offering its services in San Diego. "One Block Off the Grid" is the largest residential solar community purchasing group in the country.

Thousands of California business owners are starting the week without the safety net of having major banks accept the state's IOUs.

A nature reserve in Del Mar has become so popular they've added park rangers.

Appointed India's Ambassador to the U.S. just four months ago, career diplomat Meera Shankar has a lot on her plate. We discuss somewhat prickly U.S. - India relations; the Indian view of President Obama's administration and policies; the global economy and India's concern over U.S. protectionism; Indian relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan; the U.S. - India Nuclear Deal; and India's response to terrorism.

Community colleges are preparing for a possible spike in applications next spring. That’s when California State University campuses won’t be accepting new freshmen. Marianne Russ reports.

Jazz saxophonist Charles McPherson has been performing throughout the world for fifty years. He made two dozen albums with Charlie Mingus, played Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood's film Bird, and has more than 20 solo albums. The San Diego resident joins us to talk about his career and his new post as artist-in-residence at Anthology.

The family of missing Escondido teenager Amber Dubois will hold a candlelight vigil for the 14-year-old tonight at a bookstore she frequented. Amber was last seen Feb. 13 walking to Escondido High School. Since then, Escondido police said they have chased down more than 900 leads, and numerous volunteer searches have taken place.

The Port of San Diego has been keeping two different books for their expenses. One of them has not shown million-dollar losses for years.

The San Diego Padres blew out the San Francisco Giants yesterday, but it was what happened Friday that made the headlines. We're joined on Morning Edition by North County Times Sports Columnist Jay Paris.

Severely wounded soldiers continue to return from Iraq and other war zones in need of a variety of support. We speak with an Iraqi war veteran about his experience in combat, as well as his involvement in a local non-profit that helps wounded military veterans and their families.

The continuing drought and court-imposed restrictions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta have significantly reduced San Diego's water supply, and there's no indication the situation will improve. A growing number of elected officials and water managers say the restrictions underscore the need for a new, comprehensive plan to keep the water flowing.

San Diego’s auditor says the operation of Qualcomm Stadium presents a number of challenges for the city. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says the auditor will present them at today’s city council meeting.

The Port of San Diego is a public agency charged with managing the bayfront. It claims its top goals are strengthening its finances and building public trust. But over the past 15 years, the port has lost tens of millions of dollars in maritime operations. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma found the port has not clearly documented those losses for the public.

Well it seems that studios have tired (i.e. are discovering the diminishing returns) of badly remaking Asian horror films and are now turning to Japanese anime for sources of inspiration. We recently had the horrendous live action "Dragonball Z" and Keanu Reeves is set for a "Cowboy Bebop" remake while Leonardo DiCaprio wants to produce a live action version of the seminal anime "Akira." In the meantime we have to suffer through "Blood: The Last Vampire" (opening July 10 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas). See the trailers for both the anime and the live action film.

California has resumed funding of beach water monitoring in San Diego County this year despite the state budget crisis. But it's uncertain whether the program will get state money next summer.

A report from San Diego’s Auditor says the Center City Development Corporation has been successful in redeveloping downtown. However, KPBS reporter Katie Orr says the report finds there’s room for improvement.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created a life-like robot that can be taught to make facial expressions. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says the researchers believe their creation might one day help children with autism.

Violence escalated in Baja California this week as three police officers from Tijuana and Rosarito were killed in less than 24 hours. The killers have threatened to murder five police officers a week until Tijuana's police chief resigns.

The plan to build a new downtown library has been revived. Earlier this week, the San Diego City Council approved a plan to build a new library-school combination facility. The San Diego Unified School District has agreed to provide $20 million for the project in exchange for using two floors of the building for a new charter high school.

The state budget stalemate continues, with no resolution in sight. Earlier this week, Democratic lawmakers walked away from talks aimed closing the state's $26.3 billion deficit. Now, the governor is proposing a 20 percent wage cut for state employees.

There are probably more than 100,000 reasons for going to the San Diego Comic-Con International -- one for each person who attends because that's how different and precise everyone's motive is for going to this gathering of pop culture fanatics. And yes, we are fanatics because we care passionately about our obsessions and we appreciate that Comic-Con is put on by people who feel exactly like we do. Here are some fan responses to the question of why do they attend Comic-Con. These interviews were from a couple years back but I thought it would put you in the mood for this year's upcoming convention.

A lasting worldwide economic recovery "is still a ways off," President Obama declared Friday, but he also said at the conclusion of a global summit that a disastrous economic collapse apparently has been averted.

A vigil is planned outside Camp Pendleton this evening. It’s to honor the memory of a Navy sailor found shot dead in a guard shack on base ten days ago. August Provost was gay, but the Navy is downplaying suggestions that the killing was a hate crime.

Okay. I understand that studios and distribution companies are motivated by the need to turn a profit, and that often prompts them to try and cash in on trends. But the new DVD re-release of Kathryn Bigelow's 1987 vampire tale "Near Dark" goes too far. In an attempt to capitalize on the frenzy stirred by the "Twilight" books and movies, Lionsgate has given the box art for "Near Dark" a pasty makeover so that Adrian Passer's reluctant bloodsucker looks like the pale shimmering Edward of "Twilight." Give me a break!

Three years ago, Sacha Baron Cohen cemented his status as one of the most inventive and incendiary comedians on the face of the planet when his outrageous Kazakistani news reporter traveled the U.S. Now Cohen is bringing yet another staple character of his Ali G days to the big screen in "Brüno" (opening July 10 throughout San Diego). And all I have to say is thank god for Sacha Baron Cohen. There is no other person in Hollywood today who's willing to push so many boundaries and look past the line of decency again and again just to give us some laughs, along with some good-natured culture shock.

Police in Tijuana and Rosarito said goodbye to three of their own today. Gunmen ambushed the agents in separate attacks within 24-hours earlier this week. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson was in Tijuana and brings us this story.

Most California state government offices will be closed Friday, the first of three monthly furlough days intended to save the state money.

San Diego's Institute for Palliative Medicine has launched an informational hotline for doctors and other health care providers. As KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg tells us, it's the first service of its kind in California.

A bill giving the San Diego City Council control over the Children’s Pool in La Jolla has passed overwhelmingly in both the State Senate and Assembly. But nothing will change in San Diego until the Governor decides to act.

The San Diego County Water Authority celebrated the final phase of a project to double the capacity of the San Vicente Dam Thursday in Lakeside.

A 36-year-old man has become the fifth person in San Diego County whose death is associated with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu, the county Health and Human Services Agency reported today.

Scientists have detected a spike in underground rumblings on a section of California's San Andreas Fault that produced a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in 1857. What these mysterious vibrations say about future earthquakes is far from certain.

We know it is definitely hot out there right now...but how is Imperial County being affected by the state budget crisis? Why aren't residents in Brawley and Calexico facing mandatory water restrictions this summer? What's the latest news on the construction of the Sunrise Powerlink? We speak to Brad Jennings, editor of the Imperial Valley Press, about the top stories in the Imperial Valley.

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in the U.S., affecting four million Americans. We'll explore the cost of the disease to society, and how clean needle exchange programs can prevent its spread.

We didn’t need the Governor to tell us that California is in a financial disaster. After all, the state is paying for goods and services with IOUs. There is growing alarm that the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and the sick children are on the verge of losing their safety net. What more needs to be said about a state legislature that can’t agree on a budget that was due July 1st?

Targeting global warming, President Barack Obama and other leaders of the world's richest industrial countries pledged Wednesday to seek dramatic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to slow dangerous climate change. Setting a marker for success, they agreed for the first time that worldwide temperatures must not rise more than a few degrees.

New York City has more IV drug users than any other city in the U.S. To prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases like hepatitis C, it has a wide network of clean syringe exchange programs.

A new study estimates obesity and a lack of exercise costs San Diego County more than $3 billion a year. The report comes from the non-profit California Center for Public Health Advocacy.

"The Hurt Locker" opens with this quote from journalist Chris Hedges: "The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug." Then for the next 130 minutes the film mainlines adrenaline as it follows a three-man bomb squad on its daily missions in Iraq. You can read my extended review, listen to my radio feature on the film, or listen to our discussion about the film on last month's Film Club of the Air.

I just caught up with the Lyme disease documentary "Under Our Skin" (currently still playing at Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters) and had a number of people posting comments about the disease's impact right here in San Diego. I'd like to thank local San Diego Lyme disease activist Anne Corazza for letting me know about a special screening of "Under Our Skin" July 9 at the Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters. Following the 4:30pm screening and preceding the 6:55pm one, there will be a Q&A with Dr. Therese Yang, who is being promoted as the only Lyme Literate Medical Doctor here in San Diego County. Check out the trailer for the film.

All five defendants in the alleged bribery case involving San Diego SPAWAR defense contracts pleaded not guilty in court today.

The coordinated attacks that swamped Web sites in the U.S. and South Korea in the past several days may be a harbinger of things to come, cybersecurity experts say.

California's Attorney General and more than 200 community groups and leaders are asking the Department of Homeland Security to reopen Friendship Park along the U.S.-Mexico border. Federal officials closed the park to build more border fencing.

A group of 20 students studying in Japan through the University of California Davis have been quarantined after two of their Japanese tutors were diagnosed with swine flu.

Environmental groups are supporting a lawsuit by the Chaparral Institute that challenges part of San Diego County's fire protection plan.

Ground was broken at Lindbergh Field on an expansion of Terminal 2 Wednesday. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says the airport’s being expanded now that it’s definitely staying near downtown San Diego.

Negotiations over closing California's $26.3 billion deficit are on hold as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders have no formal plans to meet.

I know it's hard to imagine, but KPBS can get funky, especially with the help of San Diego's Greyboy Allstars.

The Greyboy Allstars have been bringing funk and jazz to San Diego's music scene since the early 1990's. The band is playing two nights at the Belly Up Tavern this weekend and have been in the recording studio working on a new album. We'll talk to two founding members of the band, Karl Denson and Chris Stillwell.

Are you having trouble finding a job right now? You're not alone. The California unemployment rate rose to 11.5 percent last month, and there are no signs the trend will reverse in the near future. So, where can you go to find the jobs that are available? And, what can you do to set yourself apart from the other applicants? We speak to Scott Silverman, with Second Chance, and Mark Cafferty, with the Workforce Partnership, about what you can do to improve your chances of getting a job during this down economy.

If the California legislature can't fix the state's budget shortfall, some people say we must resort to drastic measures. We'll discuss calls for a constitutional convention and a federal bailout.

Three months ago, at the G-20 summit in London, President Obama and other world leaders promised a collective effort to promote a global economic recovery. Everyone pledged to keep markets open and avoid protectionist measures.

The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to keep moving forward with a new downtown library. But as KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains some council members have a lot of doubts about the project.

People who inject illegal drugs are at highest risk of spreading hepatitis C, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. To reduce that threat, communities all across the country have launched clean syringe exchange programs. The City of San Diego allows a needle exchange to operate twice a week. In part three of a four part series, KPBS Health Reporter Kenny Goldberg explores why the County Board of Supervisors refuses to consider that option.

NOTE: Since I knew someone who actually won the lottery for tickets to the Michael Jackson Memorial, I thought you might enjoy hearing what she had to say about the experience. Michael Jackson's Memorial Service at the Staples Center this morning was rife with amazing, heart-felt star performances, tributes, and sermons, but, in my book, the showstopping turn of the day belonged to--no surprise--Michael Jackson. A two or three minute clip of 10-year-old Jackson singing Smokey Robinson's "Who's Loving You?" on the Ed Sullivan show was as spectacular and mesmerizing a performance as I've ever seen.

The San Diego Port District has cobbled together financing for the first phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan -- a new waterfront esplanade on San Diego Bay.

A San Diego pedicab driver has been charged with a felony in the death of a woman who fell from his cab this past weekend. KPBS reporter Katie Orr says the woman’s death could prompt the city to tighten its regulations on the pedicab industry.

The San Diego City Council voted to continue a 12-million-dollar recycled water project. The pilot project was reconsidered Tuesday because one councilmember raised concerns about the plan.

A new statewide poll shows overwhelming support for the idea of raising the tobacco tax by $1.50 a pack. The survey reveals seven out of ten California voters favor the tax to help balance the state budget.

Health officials in San Diego say a 50-year-old woman who died last month was suffering from swine flu. County Health and Human Services Agency spokesman Jose Alvarez says the woman had an underlying medical condition and the flu created extra medical stress on her body.

A 25-count federal indictment unsealed today charges a half-dozen people with corruption and fraud related to defense contracting at San Diego-based Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

These Days honors Michael Jackson with music from his "Off the Wall Special Edition" album featuring "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough."

Working to turn Russia from antagonist to ally, President Obama asked the Russian people Tuesday to "forge a lasting partnership" with the U.S. But he acknowledged after talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that on divisive issues there won't be "a meeting of the minds anytime soon."

Gunmen shot up the Red Cross in Tijuana Tuesday morning. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains a Tijuana policewoman died in the hail of bullets.

California State University officials are preparing a plan to furlough 47,000 employees for two days a month to help offset sharp cuts in state funding. The CSU Board of Trustees is holding a special meeting in Long Beach Tuesday to discuss ways to close a projected $584 million budget shortfall for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

What's going on with the local real estate market? Local home sales are increasing, and housing prices are starting stabilize. But unemployment is still high, and another wave of foreclosures could be coming soon. We speak to local real estate broker Matt Battiata and reporter Kelly Bennett to get their take on what's happening in the local housing market.

Summer is a great time for cooking outdoors. In our monthly food segment, we'll explore all aspects of barbequing, from charcoal and gas, to peaches and pork.

California lawmakers met again Monday to discuss how to solve the state's $26 billion budget crisis. And again, we don't have a deal. We're joined on Morning Edition by non-partisan Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy.

Barricades were up, streets were closed and police were out in force, as Los Angeles braced for tens of thousands of Michael Jackson fans to crowd a downtown area for Tuesday's star-studded memorial service for the King of Pop.

In the heat of the summer I have to confess that I sometimes get delirious and get distracted by the big, noisy summer blockbusters, and end up missing some of the smaller, more substantial films. So in an attempt to make up for that oversight, here is a pair of worthy documentaries that you can still catch in theaters: "Food, Inc." (still playing at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas) and "Under Our Skin" (currently playing at Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters).

IV drug users are at high risk of spreading blood-borne diseases like hepatitis C and HIV. To combat this threat, the City of San Diego has a mobile clean syringe exchange program that operates twice a week.

Medical staff and other employees that work in health sciences at UCSD say proposed system-wide budget cuts don't make sense. Health science officials are asking the UC president for some flexibility.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (opened June 24 throughout San Diego) hasn't quite been dethroned by "Ice Age 3," but the Autobots and Decepticons are being given a run for their money by those 3-D prehistoric beasts and dinosaurs. One of the KPBS Teen Critics explains why "Transformers" is still holding on to the top slot."

At least two policemen were killed and one wounded in a series of attacks on law enforcement officials Monday evening in Tijuana and Rosarito. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson tells us Mexican authorities say they’re hearing threats there will be more.

Money and war have long had a close relationship. In early 19th-century London, the powerful Rothschild family helped the British government finance its war against Napoleon and, despite a nearly catastrophic miscalculation of the war’s duration that could have led to financial ruin, found an opportunity to create enormous wealth through the purchase of British bonds. Fifty years later, the relationship between war and money would again be felt in America’s Civil War, when the Confederacy attempted, with disastrous results, to finance itself by boosting the value of its cotton — its only tangible asset — by placing an embargo on exports to Britain.

There’s more fallout from California’s budget impasse. Fitch Ratings today cut the state’s bond rating by two notches. In a statement, Fitch blames the state’s budget impasse and cash flow problems for the downgrade.

Two drugs that may help kids with muscular dystrophy or the frail elderly, who don’t have the option of hopping on a treadmill to build strength and endurance; renowned paleontologist George Poinar, who has announced his discovery of multiple clues to parasitic pandemics that could have been just as instrumental in wiping out the dinosaurs as the hypothesized asteroid impact; a profile of rocket scientist and astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz; and the beauty — and dangers — of the northern lights.

A contributor from Branford, Florida, inherited two bulging photo albums, dated 1914 to 1916, that contain hundreds of photos of old silent film stars and a behind-the-scenes look into an enormous film studio empire — not in Hollywood, but Philadelphia.

Polar bears are living on borrowed time. They are the descendents of grizzlies, long-ago evolved to live and hunt on the frozen ice of the Arctic, eating a specialized diet of seal meat. But the winters have become increasingly warmer, the ice is disappearing and raising a family becomes a much more difficult proposition when hunting time is short and food is scarce.

Border Patrol officials are celebrating the completion of a controversial border fencing project in a canyon called Smuggler's Gulch. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson tells us, Border Patrol agents say the new infrastructure makes their jobs easier.

Back before there were supermarkets (or barbecue grills), grill masters hunted, fished, gathered, and grilled in the wild. This show celebrates the primal pleasures of cooking wild foods with live fire. It starts with-what else? Wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest grilled on cedar planks with a juniper and wild berry glaze.

Riots and street battles killed at least 156 people in China's western Xinjiang province, state media said Tuesday, and injured 828 others in the deadliest ethnic unrest to hit the region in decades. Officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

The San Diego Port District will vote this week on whether to earmark millions of dollars to start the first phase of a plan to turn the Embarcadero into a world class waterfront. But critics say the plan has been modified to benefit the cruise ship industry.

Joan Baez's new album was produced by Steve Earle and nominated for a Grammy. It's her 24th studio album and last year marked Baez's 50th year as a performer. She performs at Humphreys By the Bay on Friday, July 10th.

There’s at least one silver lining to the recession this summer: Reduced energy demand. Vacant homes and empty office spaces mean less electricity is being used.

State fire officials are warning the relative calm of this fire season could easily come to end. Daniel Berlant is with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. He says the rain and lower temperatures from a couple months ago are long gone.

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are damaging to the body and in some cases, are life threatening. We'll talk about the causes of eating disorders and the latest treatments to help people who suffer from them.

As California struggles with closing a $26 billion budget shortfall, the state began issuing IOUs on July 2, for only the second time since the Great Depression. We'll get the latest news from Sacramento on the budget crisis.

The San Diego Padres lost a weekend series against a division rival. We're joined on Morning Edition by North County Times Sports Columnist Jay Paris.

President Obama said he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are countering "a sense of drift" in ties between their nations with a preliminary agreement Monday to reduce the world's two largest nuclear stockpiles to as few as 1,500 warheads each.

UC San Diego is taking part in a clinical trial that pits herpes against melanoma cancer.

The full San Diego city council will consider whether to move forward with a new downtown library Tuesday.

The Port of San Diego is a public agency charged with managing the bayfront. It claims its top goals are strengthening its finances and building public trust. But over the past 15 years, the port has lost tens of millions of dollars in maritime operations. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma found the port has not clearly documented those losses for the public.

San Diego traffic studies and traffic jams in one Texas border town both predict back-ups at the San Ysidro border crossing starting late this month. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, that's when Mexican officials say they'll begin screening all cars headed into Mexico.

There's a chronic liver disease that's ten times more infectious than HIV, and more widespread. Hepatitis C is a virus that's spread through IV drug use, like HIV. Left untreated, hepatitis C can cause life-threatening complications, including liver cancer. In this first of a four-part series, KPBS Health Reporter Kenny Goldberg takes a look at the epidemic of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV infection sometimes results in an acute illness, but most often becomes a chronic condition that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. The form of transmission is contact with the blood of an infected person, primarily through sharing contaminated needles to inject drugs. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

Around the globe: Health experts estimate 180 million people have chronic hepatitis C worldwide... In the United States: Hepatitis C infection is the most common chronic blood borne infection in the U.S.... Approximately 4.1 million persons, or 1.6% of the total U.S. population, are infected with hepatitis C.

"Downloading Nancy" (opened July 3 at Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters) was an official selection at last year's Sundance Film Festival. The film marks the feature directing debut of John Renck, a Swedish director of commercials and music videos.

During a morning newscast on Friday, July 3, KPBS indicated that parking meters in San Diego, and most cities around the county, would not be enforced that day. In fact, while there was no enforcement at some meters on Friday, parking laws were enforced at many other meters, including in downtown San Diego. There was no enforcement of parking meters on Saturday, Independence Day.

A month into mandatory conservation, San Diego’s water department is receiving hundreds of calls to its water waste hotline. But KPBS reporter Katie Orr says no one has been fined yet.

An 11-year-old boy will be featured at Tijuana's Sunday afternoon bullfight. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson reached Michelito Lagravere and his father at their home in southern Mexico's Yucatan and spoke with them about how Michelito got his start.

For the second time this year a European weather girl is the fulcrum of an odd romantic triangle. First we had Claude Chabrol's "A Girl Cut in Two" and now we have Anne Fontaine's "The Girl From Monaco" (opening July 3 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas). Both films have a vivacious blond weather girl placed between an older and a younger man, and both comment on class and involve a murder.

U.S. federal agents say the cross border tunnel they unearthed earlier this week was on its way to being a sophisticated passageway. Though, they say it would have been a tight squeeze.

The city of San Diego doesn’t have to worry about IOU’s. But Mayor Jerry Sanders says the state’s budget mess threatens to undo a lot of the financial improvements San Diego’s made. He says the situation in Sacramento is especially frustrating because San Diego has spent the past three years working hard to fix its financial problems.

Law enforcement agencies will be doing a full-court press in San Diego County this weekend to arrest drunk drivers. The Fourth of July typically has more drunk driving crashes than any other holiday.

"Easy Rider" (opening July 3 at Landmark's Ken Cinema) is a time capsule -- it brilliantly captures a very specific moment in time and yet it still resonates powerfully today. Released in 1969 amidst headlines about war protests, love-ins, communes, drug use, hippies, the silent majority, and Nixon. It arrived just before the Kent State shootings and just after the Manson murders. It was a film that changed the landscape of American film, both in terms of the story it told and the way it was made. So I just want to highlight the fact that Landmark will be presenting a newly restored 35mm print this week at the Ken. So make an effort to see it on the big screen.

Residents in eastern Escondido are urged to boil all tap water before drinking or cooking with it until further notice. The city of Escondido Municipal Water Department issued a boil tap water advisory on Wednesday, stating that several recent test samples have revealed the presence of coliform bacteria.

The San Diego Symphony Summer Pops starts a new season of concerts. We speak with Pops conductor Matt Garbutt about the upcoming shows and this weekend's Star Spangled opener.

Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Wednesday because of California's massive budget mess. He's also adding a third furlough day for state workers. Meantime, the State Controller is expected to start issuing IOUs today.

San Diego County's chief financial officer says IOUs from the state of California won't hurt immediately. CFO Don Steuer says health and human service programs are facing immediate cuts, but he says the county was ready. He says local officials set aside extra money as they realized the state's money problems were getting worse.

How have San Diegans reacted to the political unrest in Iran, which has led to public killings and violence? We speak to Iranian-Americans living in San Diego to get their perspective on the situation.

Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent, suggesting that the economy's road to recovery will be bumpy. A separate report showed that new jobless claims dropped to 614,000 last week, while continuing claims fell unexpectedly.

Common Ground Theatre is staging a world premiere musical about the lives of jazz vocalists Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. The oldest African American theater company in San Diego is also under new leadership. Arts producer Angela Carone has this story.

Grilling meat can give you cancer. But if the July 4th ritual is something you can't resist, a San Diego researcher says there are ways to make it safer.

More than a million people are expected to converge on San Diego’s beaches and bays this holiday weekend. It’s the most popular beach weekend for the city and both the police department and environmental groups are getting ready.

Thousands of helicopter-borne Marines launched a massive assault early Thursday morning in southern Afghanistan's Helmand River valley, a Taliban stronghold and the main source of its cash crop, the poppies that produce heroin.

Thousands of farmers, farmworkers and their supporters rallied at City Hall on Wednesday, calling on federal officials to ease regulations that have cut water supplies to the nation's most prolific growing region.

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama appealed to the LGBT community with visions of what an Obama administration would accomplish on behalf of fair treatment and equality. But that’s not happening fast enough – if at all – for gay and lesbian Democrats who opened their wallets to Obama with high hopes.

A consumer group is suing California regulators for allowing health insurers to deny treatment for autism. Consumer Watchdog says thousands of children statewide are affected by the denials.

Dillinger has been a popular subject for movies. The best film to date has been the 1970s John Milius one called "Dillinger" that starred Warren Oates as public enemy number one and Ben Johnson as FBI agent Melvin Purvis who led the investigation to capture him. Now Johnny Depp stars as the Depression-era criminal in Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" (opening July 1 throughout San Diego).

California is on the brink of issuing IOUs instead of payments to vendors and state workers after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers failed to strike a budget compromise Tuesday. Wednesday is the beginning of the fiscal year for most states.

The California Senate shut down at midnight Tuesday after failing to approve a stopgap plan to stave off the need for IOUs and ease the state's $24.3 billion budget deficit. Voting along party lines, the Senate rejected three bills designed to save $5 billion, including $3.3 billion in education funding cuts that had to be enacted by Tuesday. The new fiscal year started Wednesday.

I just wanted to share my national feature that ran on NPR this morning about zombies and pop culture. It was great to bring the undead to NPR but a bummer that it had to be such a short piece because there actually is a lot to discuss about the current popularity of zombies.

What's the best new dish being served up in San Diego's restaurants? We'll talk about great restaurants and the chefs behind them with culinary senior editor Troy Johnson, of RIVIERA Magazine.

What can the U.S. military learn from the co-author of "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace, One School at a Time"? We speak to Greg Mortenson about the work he is doing with the military to build stronger relationships with community leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Gays and lesbians across the country are pressuring the Obama administration to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We'll find out why the Libertarian party is coming to the aid of gays and lesbians on this issue.

Mandatory water-use restrictions start Wednesday in Escondido. Similar water-use restrictions went into effect last month in the city of San Diego.

The Port of San Diego manages the bay and is responsible for development and environmental protection of 33 miles of waterfront excluding tidelands administered by the United States Military. The port is made up of five cities: San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Coronado and Imperial Beach. One of the port’s core missions is maritime trade.

Soda pop is now banned from California school campuses. It's the latest move to keep unhealthy foods away from school kids.

The Port of San Diego’s budget is $151 million. About $86 million of its operating revenue comes from real estate waterfront leases each year. Most of the port’s remaining revenue – about $40 million – comes from Marine Operations. This division manages the Tenth Avenue, National City and Cruise Ship terminals.

Government experts are calling for the elimination of prescription drugs such as Vicodin and Percocet as part of sweeping safety restrictions on the most widely used painkiller. Overdoses of acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. and sends 56,000 people to the emergency room annually.

More than 300 San Diego County students were in Petco Park yesterday -- but not for baseball. The youngsters were there to help kick-off one of the country's largest childhood literacy campaigns called Read Across America. KPBS Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis says the focus is on what's called the summer reading loss.