U.S. federal officials say the tunnel runs at least 640 feet into San Diego through a drain pipe the people who dug the tunnel tapped into a few feet from the border fence in Tijuana. Officials say the diggers then veered off the pipe and dug further, though they don't yet know how far.

Woody Allen has been consistently putting out almost a movie a year since "Take the Money and Run" in 1969. So the arrival of "Whatever Works" (opened June 26 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas) this month was to be expected. But for the first time in five years Allen returns from abroad to check in with his native New Yorkers. He also returns to a script originally written three decades ago for Zero Mostel.

A high percentage of people who've had gastric bypass surgery regain weight within a few years. A new study shows an incision-free procedure is effective in helping people reverse that weight gain.

California Recovery Task Force Director Cynthia Bryant says the state is getting $31 million in federal stimulus funds for nine coastal restoration projects.

U.S. federal officials say the cross-border tunnel they discovered Monday afternoon does not have an exit on the San Diego side. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains federal officials say the tunnel tapped into the drainage system.

The San Diego County Assessor’s office says for the first time the county’s total property value has fallen. The value has decreased by more than 2 percent over last year. But some cities are seeing much larger declines.

The Environmental Protection Agency gave the go-ahead Tuesday for California to impose stringent regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, setting the stage for a national requirement expected to mirror the state's effort.

Cities and Communities throughout San Diego County can celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, festivals, entertainment and fun. Following are some of the Independence Day celebrations around San Diego County:

California officials are facing a midnight deadline Tuesday to find a way to cut into a $24.3 billion state budget deficit and avoid the need to issue IOUs for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Join now at the $60 level or above and enjoy benefits at hundreds of restaurants and attractions with the KPBS MemberCard. Join or renew today!

Woody Allen has a new film back on American soil, Johnny Depp plays legendary gangster John Dillinger, and director Kathryn Bigelow brings us the critically acclaimed film The Hurt Locker. We'll discuss all these films and more on this month's Film Club of the Air.

How do companies stay competitive during an economic recession? Business guru Ken Blanchard talks about the importance of leadership and healthy relationships with employees during times of change.

The California Senate has approved a Democratic budget-balancing plan, but it faces a certain veto from Governor Schwarzenegger. We're joined on Morning Edition by non-partisan Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy.

An environmental group says some major grocery stores in San Diego County are doing better than others when it comes to protecting fish stocks.

The founder and president of a local non-profit speaks with us about his plans to launch a humanitarian aid program in East Africa dedicated to empowering the capable.

San Diego is a popular destination for conventions. But some say the convention center here is too small. There’s talk of spending up to $1 billion to expand the facility. But critics say it’s the wrong kind of growth for San Diego.

Iraqis waved flags and honked horns as U.S. troops officially withdrew from cities and towns across the country Tuesday in what Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dubbed a "National Sovereignty Day" public holiday, more than six years after American forces invaded to oust Saddam Hussein from power.

Following a tip, U.S. and Mexican authorities are hunting for a cross-border tunnel.

About two dozen San Diegans are among the victims of the multi-billion-dollar scams that have landed Bernard Madoff in prison for life.

Dozens of San Diegans fasted and held a prayer vigil today to call attention to the hardship state budget cuts will have on the poor. Faith leaders are asking state lawmakers to come up with a kinder budget.

San Diego Sheriff’s department will do an internal investigation of an incident in which an officer used pepper spray to subdue guests at an upscale political fundraiser. The officer was responding to a noise complaint

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health has closed a section of Ocean Beach due to a sewage spill.

Two more deaths in San Diego county have been linked with the H1N1 virus. That brings the number of local swine flu deaths to three.

Many Tijuana business and tourism officials hope Mexico's federal government changes its plan to screen vehicles headed south into Mexico. As KPBS reporter Amy Isackson explains, Mexican customs officials say they'll start screening traffic at San Diego-Tijuana border crossings in late July.

The peace of the seemingly idyllic village of Badger's Drift is shattered by the inexplicable murder of an old lady, Emily Simpson, found dead in her cottage after witnessing something unsettling in the woods. Her old friend, Lucy Bellringer, is convinced that Emily's death was not from natural causes. She persuades Chief Investigator Barnaby and Detective Sergeant Troy of Causton CID to look into the matter and then hunt down the killer. Their investigation uncovers a web of sinister events, some long buried in the past.

"TIME TEAM AMERICA" goes in search of our nation’s mysterious roots at Roanoke Island. In 1586 the English sent the first group of hardy, hopeful colonists to make a go of it in the New World. But when English ships returned with supplies just three years later, they found the settlement empty and colonists gone. The colonists had left behind only one clue: the word Croatoan carved in the gatepost of their fort. It took 20 years for the stunned English to establish another settlement in America.

Through the remarkable case studies from neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks’ latest book, "Musicophilia" , "NOVA" investigates the extraordinary impact music can have on the human brain. Viewers meet people like Tony Cicoria, who was struck by lightning and was suddenly inspired to become a pianist, and Matt Giordano, who uses drumming to alleviate his severe Tourette syndrome.

The third installment in the "MAKING SENSE OF PLACE" series profiles the transformation of Portland, Oregon from an urban wasteland into a thriving metropolis. Following the rapid and uncontrolled growth of the 1950s and '60s, the civic leaders of Portland developed and implemented some of the most successful land-use policies in the United States. Today, Portlanders enjoy a flourishing downtown, as well as national recognition for their achievements in alternative transportation, emissions reductions and overall sustainability.

When Miss Marple learns of the deaths of businessman Rex Fortescue, his young wife, Adele, and their housemaid, Gladys, the circumstances vividly recall the nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence.” Since Miss Marple had trained Gladys herself, she has a personal reason to investigate. Will her reasoning and deduction make sense of the rhyme and at last reveal the culprit?

Two more San Diego-area residents -- a 49-year-old woman and 75-year-old man -- have died of complications related to the H1N1 virus, the county Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

How do we manage information and privacy in the electronic age? As part of our monthly segment on ethics in science and technology, we'll explore how our information is tracked, used and protected.

With the threat of IOUs just days away, Democratic and Republican lawmakers show no sign of compromise in their efforts to close California's $24.3 billion deficit. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday after Sunday night legislative sessions that failed to move the two sides closer.

The Sweetwater Union High School District is the largest high school district in California. This past year it became one of four San Diego county school districts to be placed on a federal watch list under the No Child Left Behind Act. KPBS Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis explains how Sweetwater Superintendent Jesus Gandara has come under fire for the way he's handling reforms.

The state is currently in the process of redesigning California's network of marine protected areas, or MPAs. We'll find out what's at stake in the process, and what's in the works for the Southern California coast.

We'll examine the most recent decisions of the Supreme Court as it wraps its term.

The San Diego Padres have won their first series in a month. We're joined on Morning Edition by North County Times Sports Columnist Jay Paris.

Convicted swindler Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison Monday for the multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme he ran for decades, taking in everyone from ordinary retirees to A-list celebrities.

The group charged with developing proposals to protect several marine areas off San Diego's coast wants your feedback. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us informal open houses are scheduled Monday night in Carlsbad and Tuesday night in San Diego.

Scientists at San Diego's Salk Institute have taken a step forward in understanding how alcohol affects the brain. KPBS reporter Tom Fudge explains how this might help fight alcohol dependence.

“Transformers Revenge of the Fallen” (opened June 24 throughout San Diego) is an amazing movie! It was non-stop action packed and overall awesome. In most cases sequels in the movie business tend to suck and basically don't even come close to the originals. I loved the story line of the first "Transformers," and the fact that the robots looked so real. Now that I’ve seen the second movie I realize that it too is just as cool.

On July 4th, there's no place like the nation's capital for America's biggest birthday party broadcast. Featuring the most spectacular fireworks display anywhere in the nation, the 29th annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The star-spangled party features special performances by some of the country's best-known and award-winning musical artists in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Erich Kunzel. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits returns to host the biggest and brightest birthday party in the country, featuring for the first time ever, Barry Manilow, who will both open and close the concert broadcast with a stirring medley of hits and patriotic classics along with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society of Washington.

The explosive new special 3, 2, 1 FIREWORKS takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Washington, D.C. July 4th celebration, featuring one of the largest and most colorful fireworks displays in the world. Shot in high-definition, the special captures every step of the renowned fireworks production.

$21 million in federal stimulus funds will go toward remodeling the Otay Mesa border crossing. Officials say this will pay for land and design costs.

Public health advocates are urging lawmakers to raise alcohol taxes to help close California's massive budget deficit. Alcohol taxes haven't been increased in the state since 1992.

French novelist Colette may have been as famous for her sometimes scandalous life as for the literary works she produced. On film, the musical adaptation of her novel "Gigi" is probably the best known. But now a pair of her works have been combined to make "Chéri" (opening June 26 at Landmark's La Jolla Village and Hillcrest Cinemas) into a star vehicle for Michelle Pfeiffer.

For more than 25 years, "NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT" has provided business news in a fast-paced format. Consistently television’s most-watched daily business news program, the award-winning series combines business and economic news, extensive financial market coverage, in-depth analysis, corporate profiles and features and commentaries by noted economists and business experts.

“Stories form Baghdad U.S.A.” is a new documentary from local filmmakers Kevin King and Alex Farnsley, and it will have its premiere this Sunday, June 28, at 1:30pm at the San Diego County Library El Cajon Branch. The screening is free and the documentary was shot in El Cajon. Although I was not able to preview this film, I have shown works by the filmmakers at "Film School Confidential: A Showcase of San Diego and Tijuana Filmmakers," and know that they are a talented pair.

At least five of the lifeguard towers a San Diego group donated to Mexico need some rescuing. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, the towers are stuck in a parking lot blocks from the beach.

The Director of Mexico's Federal Migration Institute says she's pleased President Barack Obama favors good policy over short term politics on the issue of immigration reform. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, Cecilia Romero made the comments during a talk at the Institute of the Americas in La Jolla.

Next week, the new fiscal year begins and our city and county governments will be working with new budgets. How have local government spending priorities changed in the last year?

The San Diego City Council passed a resolution to support the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. Why did the city council weigh in on a national issue like "Don't Ask Don't Tell"?

Has new life been breathed into the proposal to build a new downtown library? Earlier this week, the San Diego Unified school board agreed to put $20 million toward a proposal to build a school-library combo downtown.

The last time San Diego County could rely only on local supply for all its water needs was 1946. It will never happen again. San Diego's water future will certainly be drier than most of us are used to. KPBS reporter Alan Ray talked with Dennis Cushman, the Assistant General Manager of the San Diego County Water Authority.

New research from UC San Diego shows that corals and soft-shelled creatures may not be the only species hurt by rising levels of carbon dioxide levels in the ocean.

San Diego will end its fiscal year on Tuesday spending 2.5 percent less on payroll costs than last year.

This week, San Diego State University was one of five sites around the nation testing new emergency response technologies. The exercises demonstrated tools developed for the military that are now available for civilian first responders. A lot of money is being invested in powerful new surveillance tools, but are these making us any safer?

We watched Michael Jackson grow up: He was a baby-faced boy with a captivating smile and an amazing voice who stole the show right out from under his big brothers. We saw him morph into a modern-day song-and-dance man, so light on his feet he seemed to be moving on air.

Lake Wobegon — where the women are strong, the men are good looking and all the children are above average — has become America’s collective hometown, visited weekly for the past 40 years on a fictional radio program that creates bona fide nostalgia. With his “Prairie Home Companion,” Keillor became our national philosopher, filling the empty shoes of Will Rogers and Mark Twain, through his running commentary about the human condition and the social politic. With biting wit, a quirky perspective and an uncanny ability to home in on the pulse of America, Keillor’s themes and characters are somehow familiar to us all.

Breakthroughs in the engineering of artificial diamonds; the science that went into solving the deadly post - 9/11 anthrax attacks and the ingenious technique researchers developed to pinpoint the source; "AutoTune," the controversial computer pitch-correction software that turns sour notes into sweet ones; and a profile of computer scientist Luis von Ahn.

A contributor is certain that his father worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. His father refused to talk about his war assignment, except to say that he sold his patent to the U.S. government for a single dollar. Along with the patent, the contributor has a letter from the Atomic Energy Commission stating that his father's patent had been declassified. Was this invention used to build the atomic bomb?

Singer Michael Jackson, the man known as the King of Pop to legions of fans around the globe, who lived most of his extraordinary life in the public eye, died Thursday in Los Angeles after going into cardiac arrest, sources tell NPR. He was 50 years old.

An experiment by UC San Diego researchers shows that rising carbon dioxide levels in the ocean have the potential to affect the health of fish.

The Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health has filed suit against a number of retailers for selling purses that contain high levels of lead. The lawsuit argues lead in purses and handbags is dangerous to consumers.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders says it will be hard on the entire state if California has to start issuing IOUs instead of state checks.

No journalist or investigator had ever penetrated the wall around J.G. Boswell, the most powerful man in California's central valley, until Mark Arax got him to talk. He unearthed a story of power, wealth, theft and even murder that made it into the book The King of California.

As the cost of health care skyrockets, how are hospitals making ends meet? We'll look at the competition for patients and how hospitals market their services to get more people in the door.

What are the challenges associated with creating a large-scale water recycling facility in San Diego? We speak to Marsi Stierer, with the San Diego Public Utilities Department, about what the city is doing to explore the possibility of expanding its water reclamation program in the future. We also talk to Bruce Reznik, with San Diego Coastkeeper, about why he thinks we'll need to use more recycled water in the future. And, we talk to Mike Markus, from the Orange County Water District, about why their groundwater replenishment system is unique.

Water on Earth has been recycled since the beginning of time. Now that San Diego is facing serious long-term water issues, the region is finally coming to terms with how to recycle what we flush down the toilets and drains and turn it into safe drinking water.

The number of people filing new jobless claims jumped unexpectedly last week, and the total unemployment benefit rolls rose to more than 6.7 million. The Labor Department data released Thursday show jobs remain scarce even as the economy shows some signs of recovering from the longest recession since World War II.

The ultimate solution to California's water dilemma will draw on many sources. And one of them will be the supply of water we currently throw away. The water that goes down the drain, and down the toilet, can be reused. But finding the best way for San Diego to recycle is a technical and political question.

For more than fifty years, Guilio Andreotti was one of Italy's most powerful, feared and intriguing political figures of the post-war era. He is now the subject of a new film called "Il Divo" (opening June 26 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas). The film won the Jury Prize at Cannes last year. You can listen to my radio feature (where you can hear some of the great music used in the film) or read the extended review.

The city of Santee is vowing to continue its fight against the expansion of the Las Colinas women’s jail. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to continue with the project.

Our nation prides itself on the power of the people. Many political philosophers believe that it is public opinion that drives democracy and that ordinary citizens can actually influence the decisions that ultimately shape their lives and their destinies. However, in California, especially in semi-arid Southern California, this may not entirely hold true. Here, it is the control of water that has shaped the destiny of the land and its inhabitants.

To hear Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state finance officials tell it, July 28 is California's last stand before fiscal Armageddon. Top financial officers say that's when the state will run out of sufficient cash to pay all its daily expenses unless lawmakers pass a balanced budget.

North Korea accused Washington of seeking to "provoke a second Korean War" as the regime prepared to hold maritime military exercises off the eastern coast. U.S. and regional authorities were watching closely for signs that North Korea might fire short- or mid-range missiles during the June 25 to July 10 timeframe cited in a no-sail ban for military drills sent to Japan's Coast Guard.

A nursing home in Encinitas has become the latest facility to get a $100,000 fine for conditions that led to a patient's death. State officials concede collecting these fines can take years.

A bipartisan group of immigration activists and union officials hopes President Barack Obama and House and Senate leaders commit to reforming the country's immigration system this year. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson tells us, the President plans to meet with members of Congress Thursday.

The state Legislature on Wednesday began a sharp debate about a plan to close California's projected $24 billion deficit but showed few signs of defusing the crisis quickly.

The Bach Collegium San Diego, a vocal and period instrument ensemble, mark the 250th anniversary of George Frideric Handel's death by performing parts of his rarely heard oratorio, Theodora, live in studio.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted 4-1 to move ahead with a plan to redevelop the Las Colinas Women's Detention Facility. The plan calls for tripling the size of the women's jail adjacent to downtown Santee.

Oh dear lord. Look, I'm just going to start out my review by saying that what I say and what any other critic in the world says, I know that it really doesn't matter. You've already made up your mind about "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (opening June 24 throughout San Diego), you're either waiting with your ticket in hand or you're sitting around contemplating the deplorable state of modern film and entertainment.

Researchers at San Diego's Salk Institute have identified the cells that cause people and animals to live longer when they eat just enough to survive.

San Diego County supervisors are urging the state not to allow the shutoff of power to eastern parts of the county during dry and windy conditions to protect against wildfires.

As San Diegans face water restrictions, we'll look at how homeowners can make water-wise choices for their landscaping.

San Diego has 24 different agencies that manage the county's water supply. We'll talk about the politics, power and control of the region's precious resource.

San Diego gas prices have dropped for the fourth consecutive day, but they had gone up everyday for the past month and a half. We're joined on Morning Edition by Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst at Alaron Trading in Chicago and a Fox Business News contributor.

The San Diego County Water Authority says nearly 60 percent of our drinking water is used for lawns and other landscaping. Mandatory outdoor water restrictions means some lawns will go brown this summer. But, as KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us, some people are pulling up their grass. It's part of our week-long series: "H2NO: San Diego Going Dry."

A divided San Diego Unified School Board approved next year's budget yesterday. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis says some trustees believe this budget is proof layoffs aren't necessary. The others say its proof the district is headed in the wrong direction.

Iran's supreme leader said Wednesday that the government would not give in to pressure over the disputed presidential election, effectively closing the door to compromise with the opposition. Iran also said it was considering downgrading ties with Britain, which it has accused of spying and fomenting days of unprecedented street protests over the vote.

A divided San Diego Unified School Board voted to help the City of San Diego finance a downtown main library using school bond money.

A San Diego policeman acquitted of weapons charges stemming from the off-duty shooting of a woman and her 8-year-old son during a North County traffic dispute 15 months ago will return to duty next week, Chief William Lansdowne confirmed today.

Twenty-seven members of the U.S. Congress have asked the Secretary of Homeland Security to respect all laws along the U.S. Mexico border as they build the border fence. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, about 40 miles of fencing are still under construction in environmentally sensitive areas.

State lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the Democrats' budget proposal tomorrow. Even if it passes, Governor Schwarzenegger has promised to veto it.

Labor unions, educators and social service providers joined together today in downtown San Diego to protest state budget cuts being proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

The San Diego City Council today endorsed legislation that would repeal the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding gays in the military. The council voted unanimously for a resolution in support of HR 1283, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would allow gays to openly serve in the armed forces without fear of discrimination.

California lawmakers are scheduled to vote Wednesday on a Democratic proposal designed to close part of the state's $24.3 billion budget deficit. It appears doomed to fail even before it goes to the Assembly and Senate.

A city councilman from Chula Vista who is a lieutenant in the Navy reserves will deploy to Iraq for a year. Councilman John McCann said Monday he will leave next month to serve alongside an Army unit.

A flashmob in M.C. Hammer pants descend on an upscale store in Los Angeles.

President Obama on Tuesday offered his strongest wording yet on the post-election unrest in Iran, declaring that he "condemned" the violence that has accompanied protests.

People who depend on home care services are demanding Governor Schwarzenegger find funding to save their programs. About 100 home care workers, patients and advocates for the disabled staged a rally outside the governor's office. They're upset because Schwarzenegger has proposed to make deep cuts to home care services.

The military strand of San Diego's DNA has been evident since the region was first inhabited. We look into how the military -- the Army, Navy and Marines in particular -- has shaped San Diego history and its people.

What happens when the "water cops" come to your door? We speak to KPBS Metro Reporter Katie Orr about a recent ride-a-long she took with a field representative from the Water Department's Conservation Program. Katie will tell us how San Diego's recently implemented water-use restrictions will be enforced, and what you can do to avoid a visit from the local "water cops".

State lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a Democratic plan to fix California's 24 billion-dollar budget deficit. We're joined on Morning Edition by non-partisan Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy.

Zombies are all the rage at the moment. Borders even has a whole wall devoted to zombie literature ranging from "The Zombie Survival Guide" to "Zombie Haiku" to "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Yesterday I posted Part One of my Zombie Exposé and focused on the Norwegian zombie film "Dead Snow," now I'll be looking to "Pontypool," a film based on a book and serving up a zombie film without zombies. What's that? A zombie film without zombies? But how can that be? Well it can and it works.

People living in the city of San Diego have been subject to mandatory water conservation since the beginning of June. A major part of the restrictions involves limiting the hours when yards can watered. To make sure people are following the rules, San Diego employs five so-called water cops. KPBS Metro Reporter Katie Orr spent the day with one.

The San Diego Unified school board will consider today whether to use school bond money to help the City of San Diego build a downtown main library.

jury has acquitted an off-duty San Diego police officer of weapons charges in the shooting of an 8-year old boy and his mother during a traffic dispute. Jurors reached their verdict Monday in Superior Court in Vista.

The worst accident in the 33-year history of Washington, D.C.'s subway system is under investigation by authorities trying to determine why a train plowed into the rear of another, killing at least seven people and injuring scores of others.

Iranian Americans living in San Diego are paying close attention to the tense political situation in Tehran.

Puerto Rican-American rapper Hamza Pérez pulled himself out of drug dealing and street life 12 years ago and became a Muslim. Now he’s moved to Pittsburgh’s tough North Side to start a new religious community, rebuild his shattered family and take his message of faith to other young people through hard-hitting hip-hop music. But when the FBI raids his mosque, Hamza must confront the realities of the post-9/11 world — and himself.

Iran's rich history goes back millennia, to the days when Persepolis was home to "the king of kings." In this episode, Rick Steves explores three historic capitals of Iran: Persepolis, with its splendid monuments; Shiraz, with the tombs of Iran's most beloved poets; and Esfahan, with its extraordinary mosques and endearing people.

Scientists are getting closer to predicting when a giant earthquake may strike California. A new NASA radar project will map over 500-miles of the San Andreas fault.

San Diego County officials today are expected to announce the start of a new campaign aimed at methamphetamine users.

A coalition of border-area businesses and community groups says it cannot back the San Ysidro Port of Entry remodel plan until the US government addresses issues like the impact of screening cars headed into Mexico. As KPBS reporter Amy Isackson explains its the last day (monday) to comment on the government's environmental impact report on the remodel.

Would you pay $300 for a product that costs $3 to make? Chances are, you already have. It turns out that those stylish designer sunglasses you paid hundreds of dollars for are actually made in factories in China for a fraction of the cost. We speak to Marketing Professor Dr. Lois Bitner Olson about what makes sunglasses a unique product, and why we are willing to pay so much money for something that is so cheap to make.

The Padres have won two of nine interleague games this month. We're joined on Morning Edition by North County Times Sports Columnist Jay Paris to discuss the latest in sports.

San Diego is not alone in dealing with a water shortage. We'll find out how other Western cities have been dealing with a shrinking water supply and what San Diego might learn from them.

The mandatory water restrictions that have been implemented throughout San Diego County could be just the beginning. As the first part of our series, "H2NO: San Diego Going Dry," we speak to KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce about the three main factors that are affecting San Diego's water sources, and to discuss what could happen to our water supply in the future.

The California Department of Housing says people should be able to install small greywater systems without a permit.

Supporters of Torrey Pines State Reserve gathered this weekend to rally against possible state budget cuts that could cut off funding for the park. Torrey Pines is one of 220 state parks that could be closed as lawmakers struggle to fill California’s $24 billion deficit.

Mandatory water restrictions could be the beginning of a new way of life in California. As we start a week-long examination of our water supply, KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us how we got here, and what the future may bring as we begin our series "H2NO: San Diego Going Dry."

"When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth." That was the way George A. Romero explained the sudden rise in reanimated corpses on the planet back in 1978. Right about now hell must be bursting at the seams because the undead are invading every corner of our pop culture and even spreading out into the mainstream. When respected sources like NPR and the New York Times start using terms like "zombie banks," you know the invasion has gone full scale. So why are zombies so popular? (Here's Part One of my Zombie Exposé, check out Part Two on "Pontypool.")

Summer school programs across San Diego County have been scaled back because of the state cuts to education. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis says education advocates worry about the "summer learning loss" that will result.

"Year One" (opened June 19 throughout San Diego) is a comedy about a guy named Zed (Jack Black) and his best bud Oh (Michael Cera) having horrible lives and going from one problem to another. The girls they like reject them and other males shun and pick on them. They can’t hunt and their society rejects. Zed breaks the community's only rule by eating forbidden fruit and is then kicked out of the village. Oh then joins him on his journey.

San Diego Zoo officials say a condor chick that hatched recently in Mexico marks a new milestone in the Condor Recovery Program. San Diego Zoo officials say this is the second Condor chick hatched since the birds were reintroduced to a mountain range in central Baja California.

On the third day of this week I saw "Year One" (opening June 19 throughout San Diego) starring Jack Black and Michael Cera and it was good. In fact it was really good, just not in the way I expected. "Year One" combines the comedy titans Jack Black and Michael Cera in an effort to create a side splitting comedy.

An environmental group says investment in clean energy could create several hundred-thousand jobs in California while also reducing global warming pollution.

The San Diego City Council will consider an ordinance on Monday meant to discourage officials from meddling in the city’s financial reports.

Advocates for the poor are calling Governor's Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts the worst prescription for California's economy. Advocates argue tax increases would cause less damage to the state.

President Barack Obama introduced a plan to overhaul the country's financial regulatory system earlier this week. What are the specifics of the president's financial regulation plan, and who's already lining up in opposition?

If San Diego wants to expand its convention center, it will likely cost at least $52.5 million a year in new taxes and fees over the next 30 years. Is an expansion of the convention center worth the $780 million price tag? And, with the proposals to build a new city hall and downtown library also in the works, which project should be a priority?

People living in San Diego will be able to drop off old car tires for free Saturday at Mira Mesa High School.

There's going to be a new Sheriff in town, and not everyone is happy about it. We discuss the timing of outgoing Sheriff Bill Kolender's retirement, and the politics behind the appointment of new sheriff Bill Gore.

The effort to reform the American healthcare system could go in any one of a number of directions. A growing number of primary care doctors are choosing their own path. These doctors have abandoned traditional ways of practicing medicine, and have turned to what's called concierge care.

The La Jolla Playhouse stages the world premiere of "Restoration" next week. It's a play inspired by the true story of a woman who restored Michelangelo's David for its 500th anniversary. Award-winning actress and playwright Claudia Shear wrote and stars in "Restoration." Arts producer Angela Carone checks in on the preparations.

Analysts say the speech Friday by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could be an effort to divide the opposition and defuse any future confrontations. But they also warned that a major showdown between government forces and protesters in the streets of Tehran could be inevitable..

"The Proposal" (opening June 19 throughout San Diego) desperately wants to be a screwball comedy. But Sandra Bullock is no Rosalind Russell and Ryan Reynolds ain't Cary Grant – although he does have a better six pack.

A rush on a North County emergency room has the county health officer asking for calm, following San Diego's first death related to swine flu.

A record number of San Diego homeowners will pay less property tax this year. KPBS Reporter Dwane Brown says its a bigger loss than the County Tax Collector anticipated.

A U.S. government watchdog says this nation's efforts to combat arms trafficking to Mexico face multiple challenges. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, the new study by the Government Accountability Office says problems include a lack of coordination between federal agencies and insufficient firearms laws.

A new report reveals the cost of long-term in-home care is unaffordable for many California seniors who need it. The study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research offers a county-by-county breakdown.

Once a year, the greatest soccer clubs in the world come together to knock heads and grab glory at the FIFA Club World Championship. Nerves are pushed to the breaking point as those behind the scenes struggle to do their jobs. As the final whistle sounds, viewers find out if the unsung heroes pulled off their own personal miracles … or not.

This documentary provides a groundbreaking exploration into how and why the human organism is moved by music. New work in neuroscience is giving us clues to the mysteries of how and why music penetrates the brain and the emotions. The program follows visionary researchers and accomplished musicians to the crossroads of science and culture in search of answers to music’s deep mysteries.

As this month's digital television conversion makes tens of millions of analog TVs obsolete, and Americans continue to trash old computers and cell phones at alarming rates, "FRONTLINE/World" presents a global investigation into the dirty secret of the digital age -- the dumping of hundreds of millions of pounds of electronic waste around the world each year.

A couple in Cincinnati acquired a peculiar phonograph at an antiques auction. The machine, labeled “PsychoPhone,” included four grooved wax cylinders. The contributors think Thomas Edison invented the PsychoPhone to record messages from the afterlife. As early as the 1870s, Edison and other scientific minds explored psychic phenomena, believing every living being was made of atoms that could “remember” past lives. Did Edison make a machine to unlock the secrets of the dead?

Patricia Racette is Cio-Cio San in a stunning production of "Madama Butterfly" . The late Academy Award-winning film director Anthony Minghella directed this new classic of the Met repertory. Patrick Summers conducts Puccini’s heartbreaking tale of a Japanese geisha betrayed by her American lover.

A school spokeswoman says a group of California students and teachers have been released after being quarantined for a week in China because some of their classmates tested positive for swine flu.

As the state budget crisis deepens and deep cuts are made to the UC and CSU systems, there is increased pressure on the already-stressed community colleges. We look at how the San Diego Community College District is coping with the stress and what it means for prospective students and their families.

School foundations are fundraising machines at campuses across San Diego Unified. But as KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis explains, their financial support of teachers is posing some problems.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision put the spotlight on concerns that judges could be influenced by large campaign contributions. How large is large? In the case of Caperton vs. Massey Coal Company, the chief executive of Massey contributed $3 million to the election campaign of a West Virginia candidate to the state Supreme Court. Brent Benjamin won that election and just 3 years later overturned a $50 million claim against Massey. What a deal! Three million dollars to win $50 million. In a close decision, the high court ruled that judges have to recuse themselves from cases where substantial campaign contributions create the impression of bias. But the court didn’t establish how much money is too much money.

Should the City of San Diego build a new city hall? What are the arguments for and against expanding the convention center? How much will both of those projects cost the taxpayers? We speak to 5th District City Councilman Carl DeMaio about the city budget, and to find out what he thinks the city's priorities should be right now.

The summer may be for vacations and trips to the beach, but you'll likely want a good book to accompany you. We'll talk with two local experts who spend their working days reading. They'll give us their picks for the best reads of the summer.

If there's a bright spot to the housing bubble, it's that many San Diego County homeowners will pay less in property taxes. Joining us on Morning Edition is David Butler, Tax Assessor for the County of San Diego.

Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters poured into the streets in Tehran on Thursday, nearly a week after a disputed election returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power in what officials said was a landslide victory over his reformist rival.

"Moon" (opening June 19 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas) has been generating a lot of buzz. First, it's the feature-directing debut of David Bowie's son Duncan "Zowie Bowie" Jones. Second, NASA asked to screen the sci-fi film because the organization was interested in the idea of mining Helium 3 on the moon. And finally, it showcases actor Sam Rockwell in a dual role. You can listen to my radio feature or read the review.

The California Energy Commission voted to deny the expansion of a power plant in Chula Vista. Wednesday's decision rejected a company's application to upgrade its current peaker plant.

Use of non-potable water was one of the discussions at the annual convention of the America Water Works Association. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge went to San Diego convention center, and has this story.

Three undocumented minors who were arrested on the way to school in San Diego last month and deported to Mexico have been allowed back into the United States. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains federal officials have allowed the teenagers to come home on humanitarian parole.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders signed the city’s budget today. But he says the city council may have to reassess its finances if the state decides to take money to help cover California’s deficit.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein says food banks in the state's agricultural regions need help from the federal government to meet a massive increase in demand. She blamed three years of below-normal precipitation in California, which has led to fallowed fields, and a high unemployment in many Central Valley communities.

From Marjorie Poore Productions comes Hubert Keller: Secrets of a Chef, an exciting new cooking series featuring one of America's top celebrities in the cooking world: star chef Hubert Keller. His extraordinary on-air charisma and charm is matched only by the mouth-watering recipes that will keep viewers salivating and coming back for more, week after week. In this episode, Chef Keller will discuss the luscious, savory pies that have long been the hallmark of great French home cooking.

What's the deal with Orange County? Many San Diegans only know of the "OC" as that area between Camp Pendleton and Los Angeles were all the traffic on I-5 backs up, and little else. We speak to columnist Gustavo Arellano about his book Orange County: A Personal History.

San Diego's only chamber festival devoted to the music of our day begins this weekend and it's called Sound On. It's presented by San Diego New Music and the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library. The festival's resident ensemble known as NOISE joins us in studio.

Should elected judges recuse themselves from cases involving people who contributed to their campaigns? KPBS legal analyst Dan Eaton tells us what the Supreme Court thinks about this issue.

As the governor and legislature struggle to close the state's $24 billion budget gap, local health care providers worry about the impacts of cuts on San Diego County's poor.

President Obama on Wednesday unveiled a multi-pronged plan that aims to protect the U.S. financial system from another meltdown by giving regulators broader involvement across the financial spectrum — from bank holding firms and big companies to individual borrowers.

Today, the U.S. Government estimates that health care costs account for 16 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The high cost of medical treatment may be the number one issue in health care reform. And it's already caused some patients to go elsewhere to save money on major operations.

The San Diego Unified school board has balanced the district's budget for next school after getting some much needed help from the state and federal government.

Iranian authorities are seeking to exercise a stranglehold on press coverage of mass unrest after the disputed election results there, but they're having trouble stopping a combination of old-fashioned, shoe-leather journalism and new social media platforms.

San Diego County health officials say a 20-year-old woman has died from the swine flu. The announcement on Tuesday marks California's seventh death from the disease.

Firefighters today hoped to fully contain a brush fire that erupted yesterday and blackened more than 100 open acres in a hilly section of Camp Pendleton.

The San Diego region got all the Homeland Security money it asked for this year - a bigger increase in funding than any other region in the nation.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today appointed Undersheriff Bill Gore to serve out the remaining term of retiring Sheriff Bill Kolender.

San Diego Unified school trustees inch closer today to balancing next school year's district budget. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis says closing small schools is off the list for now:

Veteran journalist Bill Moyers returns to PBS with a weekly public affairs series entitled "BILL MOYERS JOURNAL" — the name of his first important series on public television 35 years ago. Moyers re-invents the broadcast for the 21st century, with interviews and news analysis on a wide range of subjects, including politics, arts and culture, the media, the economy and issues facing democracy.

I remember, not too long ago, seeing the trailer for "Away We Go" (opened June 12 at Landmark's La Jolla Villager Theaters), and I remember loving the music and really liking the feel of what looked like one in a long line of quirky, independent comedies which have cluttered cinemas over the past five years or so.

San Diego was awarded $16.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for emergency preparedness and anti-terrorism efforts, it was announced today.

The proposed expansion of San Diego’s convention center could cost around one billion dollars. But despite the high price tag and the down economy, the co-chair of the task force studying the project says he still thinks it should move forward.

What, exactly, does the United States Coast Guard do? We discuss the new book Rescue Warriors: The U.S. Coast Guard, America's Forgotten Heroes. Author David Helvarg talks about the role the Coast Guard plays in protecting America's waterways and coastlines. We also discuss how the mission of the Coast Guard has changed since 9/11, and learn what role the San Diego "Coasties" play in our community.

Will online news become the standard for news gathering and distribution? We'll talk with the growth in online news sources and how changes in the media landscape will impact tradition media.

A San Diego Union-Tribune reporter must testify in the court-martial of a Marine accused of disobeying orders by giving him an interview, a military judge ruled. Rick Rogers must obey a subpoena because his testimony is crucial to the defense of Pvt. Gary Maziarz, the information he could provide is not confidential and it cannot be obtained any other way, military judge Cmdr. Kevin O'Neil stated in a 12-page ruling released Monday.

What's the future of news, and where does public radio fit into that equation? We'll talk with NPR's new president and CEO Vivian Schiller about the changing media landscape.

The pressure is on California's Department of Corrections to make a deal to provide mental health care to inmates. A federal judge in Sacramento has ordered the state to present a final plan by tomorrow/Tuesday on how to get the job done. Julie Small reports the state has had more than a decade to comply.

The deadline to pass a new budget came and went on Monday. As expected, there isn't a deal. We're joined on Morning Edition by non-partisan Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy.

A local philanthropic group is donating $400,000 to the neo-natal intensive care unit at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. It's the largest gift the unit has ever received.

Iran's Islamic leadership is prepared to do a limited recount of disputed presidential elections, a spokesman said Tuesday, drawing the ruling clerics deeper into a showdown that began with street clashes and quickly moved to the highest levels of power.

The city of San Diego is scrambling to meet a tight federal deadline to apply for $12 million for energy efficiency projects.

36 ninth graders and seven adult chaperons from a Carlsbad private school are being held in quarantine in China. School officials say seven in the group have tested positive for swine flu.

Gunfire from a compound used by pro-government militia killed one demonstrator Monday after hundreds of thousands of opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad massed in central Tehran to cheer their pro-reform leader in his first public appearance since elections that he alleges were marred by fraud.

Sweetwater's school superintendent met behind closed doors with school trustees yesterday to talk about his performance in the South Bay district. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis says his critics used that review to submit their own progress report:

Have you checked out the early bird special lately? We'll talk about restaurants that are offering deals to get people in the door during the recession. And we'll find out where you can get great Mexican food in San Diego.

The state's funding crisis will affect the University of California's programs and perhaps its standing as the nation's best public university. The question is -- how much? These Days examines what the university means to the state and the nation and the threat lower funding poses to faculty recruitment and access to qualified students.

The Los Angeles Lakers are back on top...for the fifteenth time in the franchises history. Kobe Bryant and the Lake-show proved their dominance last night as they cruised to a 99 to 86 victory over the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. In other local sports news, the Padres have a new owner, and have drafted a hot high school prospect from Georgia. And former Chargers Quarterback Ryan Leaf is in the news once again, and once again not in a good way.

The Los Angeles Lakers are NBA world champions for the 15th time. We're joined on Morning Edition by North County Times sports columnist Jay Paris.

Thirty-six ninth-graders and seven adult chaperones from a private school in Carlsbad were quarantined today in China for fear they may spread the swine flu. The Chinese government ordered the group to stay in a hotel in the city of Yichang after a few of the students from Pacific Ridge School had developed sniffles, and one student had experienced food poisoning during their 13-day trip to the Asian country.

Just how good is tap water in North America? KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us about a tasting competition in San Diego Tuesday. It's part of a major water industry convention.

Alcoholism runs in families. But identifying genes for alcoholism is not an effective way of predicting the disease.

Rady Children’s Hospital hosted a get together over the weekend for kids who’ve received cochlear implants there. The Cochlear Implant team at Rady’s is working with about 250 families this year. The team identifies children with hearing problems who might be good candidates for the surgery.

Iran's supreme leader has ordered an investigation into allegations of election fraud, marking a stunning turnaround by the country's most powerful figure and offering hope to opposition forces who have waged street clashes to protest the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed a Palestinian state beside Israel for the first time on Sunday, reversing himself under U.S. pressure but attaching conditions such as having no army that the Palestinians swiftly rejected.

UC San Diego officials say they're the first public university in the nation to provide its students with information on courses, faculty and athletics on their cellphones -- if they have an iPhone.

High school students in some California public schools will throw-out their textbooks for so-called "ebooks" next school year.

Two weeks into San Diego’s mandatory water conservation plan, the city’s experiencing a large increase in customer calls.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders spoke out today against a decision by California’s Budget Conference committee to begin taking local gas tax revenue.

The U.N. Security Council on Friday punished North Korea for its second nuclear test, imposing tough new sanctions, expanding an arms embargo and authorizing ship searches on the high seas.

In a speech in Escondido, Governor Schwarzenegger asked lawmakers to send him a budget that plugs the state's $24 billion budget gap. The governor said there's no time to waste.

Before taking Broadway by storm with the jukebox hit Mamma Mia, ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus teamed with lyricist Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita) in 1986 to create an original musical, the cult favorite Chess. Set during the Cold War intrigue of international chess tournaments, the musical dramatizes the romantic checkmate between an American chess champion, his lover and a Russian opponent secretly planning to defect to the West. Idina Menzel (Wicked, Enchanted), Adam Pascal (Rent) and pop superstar Josh Groban headline a concert production from London’s Royal Albert Hall.

At a time when train travel to the National Parks was only for the wealthy, this program follows the convergence of U.S. Land being set aside for all people, the development of the "autos for the everyman" and the need to escape the drone of WWI and the 1918 flu pandemic. With this need for release, 12 intrepid motorists embark upon the 1920 inaugural tour of the National Park-to-Park Highway.

In early 1942, shortly after the United States entered World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt received an alarming intelligence report: Germany and Japan were developing biological weapons for potential offensive use. In response, the U.S. and its allies rushed to develop their own germ warfare program, enlisting some of America's most promising scientists in the effort. This program examines the international race to develop biological weapons in the 1940s and 1950s, revealing the scientific and technical challenges scientists faced and the moral dilemmas posed by their eventual success.

Director Sam Mendes is best known for his savage portraits of marriages falling apart – "American Beauty" and last year's "Revolutionary Road." So "Away We Go" (opening June 12 at Landmark's La Jolla Village Theaters) arrives as something of a surprise and an antidote to those earlier works.

California is facing a $24 billion budget deficit for next fiscal year. Although the fiscal year ends on June 30, state lawmakers have been slow to roll out their proposals for cutting the budget deficit.

San Diego government officials are concerned the state budget deficit could lead to a raid on local tax revenues. Mayor Jerry Sanders and other elected officials recently met to discuss possible cuts that could come from the state. Sanders also urged people to contact their state lawmakers to speak out against the possible cuts.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear San Diego County's lawsuit challenging California's medical-marijuana laws. San Diego City Councilwoman Donna Frye has suggested the city re-establish a medical marijuana taskforce to develop local guidelines for following the state's laws.

A San Diego City Councilwoman and longtime conservationist is getting support from environmental groups for a position on the California Coastal Commission.

See a video of Nigerian icon of jùjú music, King Sunny Adé, performing in Atlanta.

A pop superstar from Nigeria comes to San Diego. Musician King Sunny Adé and his 17-piece band have just launched a North American tour. They'll perform at The Belly Up Tavern on Tuesday night.

Iranians packed polling stations from boutique-lined streets in north Tehran to conservative bastions Friday to choose between keeping hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power or replacing him with a reformist who favors greater freedoms and improved ties with the United States.

Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed deep cuts to several health and welfare programs to help balance the state’s budget. That would be a double or triple whammy for some California families who rely on multiple services. Health care reporter Kelley Weiss visited one of those families to find out how the combination of cuts could affect them.

"Harvard Beats Yale 29-29" (opening June 12 at Landmark's Ken Cinema) is a documentary for a very specialized audience. At the end of the film there's a mention for the book version of "Harvard Beats Yale 29-29" and in all honesty that might be a better format for this particular story.

This is the extraordinary story of interspecies cooperation between killer whales and whalers in Australia as they joined in hunts for migrating baleen whales. Rooted in historical fact and told by members of the community who witnessed the hunts, it demonstrates the incredible intelligence of the killer whales and the remarkable trust of the whaling community that was the basis of a partnership that lasted nearly 100 years.

A San Diego high school teacher and her colleagues are heading to Uganda to bring education and technology to a war-torn part of that country.

San Diego Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña says taking money from cities and counties isn’t the first option for state lawmakers trying to balance California’s budget. But as KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains, Saldaña says no matter what happens local programs will be hurt.

Community clinics in North San Diego County are protesting the governor's proposed cuts to health care programs. Clinic directors say the cuts will devastate the local safety net.

The San Diego Police Officers Association has been granted a temporary restraining order that prevents the city from making any changes to the Deferred Retirement Option Program, or DROP, for the next two weeks.

MCASD mounts an exhibit featuring the work of nine innovative architects and designers living and working in San Diego. We'll talk about architecture in the museum setting, what it means to have an alternative practice, and architecture in San Diego.

What compels a person to leave their comfy job on Wall Street so they can risk their life climbing seven of the tallest mountains on earth? We speak to Bo Parfet, author of Die Trying: One Man's Quest to Conquer Seven Summits, about why he climbed the tallest mountains on seven continents, and what he's learned from the experience.

The World Health Organization has declared that a new version of an old flu strain has ignited the first global flu pandemic in 41 years. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters Thursday morning that its flu experts unanimously agreed a pandemic has begun.

What's it like to be a freshman Republican congressman nowadays? We speak to Congressman Duncan D. Hunter about his first year in office, the nation's ailing economy, and how he thinks the nation's health care system should be changed. We'll also get Hunter's thoughts on the U.S. military's strategic shift to the West Coast.

A University of California study has found that more aggressive use of clean energy would help the state emerge from its $24 billion budget deficit by creating jobs and lowering energy costs.

A new report says a California economic development effort has failed to achieve its key goal of increasing jobs for disadvantaged workers. The program is intended to boost business investment in economically depressed areas.

San Diego Bay will see significantly more and bigger ships coming in and out over the next few years. So who’s responsible for monitoring growth and traffic on the waters of the Bay?

Iran's presidential election on Friday is generating unusual excitement, with massive rallies and demonstrations for the four candidates, including incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his chief rival, pro-reform Mir Hossein Mousavi.

San Diego County Schools Superintendent Randy Ward says school districts from Poway to Sweetwater are struggling to balance their budgets to meet a state-mandated deadline. He says the current situation is making him relive some tough memories of when he was appointed the state's caretaker of two bankrupt school districts in California.

The City of San Diego scored a victory today in the battle over two controversial retirement benefits for union members.

San Diego county expects to start taking applications for medical marijuana ID Cards on July 6.

State Senate Democrats say they have a plan to balance the budget without raising taxes or eliminating welfare programs and grants to college students. But Governor Schwarzenegger says it won't work. Marianne Russ reports from Sacramento.

An elderly man walked into the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington on Wednesday and opened fire, hitting a security guard before being shot, police and emergency workers said. The guard later died.

Bridget Lancaster shows Christopher Kimball the test kitchen technique to perfectly grilled chicken breasts with tender and succulent meat and golden, crisp skin. Cherry tomatoes taste great but they exude lots of liquid when cut, quickly turning a salad into soup. Bridget Lancaster reveals the test kitchen secrets to achieving a perfect summer salad that delivers a sweet tomato flavor in every bite.

African-American women in California fare much worse than their white counterparts in a variety of different health measures. A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation highlights some of the disparities.

The legal case against an activist who tried to block construction of the westernmost section of the border fence was continued Wednesday morning. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains Dan Watman faces trespassing charges in connection with his effort to save Friendship Park.

We look into the history of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), who were trained and flew every type of aircraft the U.S. Deployed during World War II, including the massive B-29. Yet they were always regarded as volunteers and were never incorporated into the military as they were promised.

The extent of cuts which will have to be made to programs and personnel in city and county schools are coming into focus, as new information on state cuts and school enrollment comes in.

Why do American's have such a big appetite for big food? It seems like everywhere you turn nowadays, there's a fast food restaurant offering a new double-bacon-cheese-filled item that you can wash down with a large fries, and a 32-ounce soft drink. We speak to Dr. David Kessler, author of The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, about why he says we've become a nation of "conditioned hypereaters."

The mayors of some of California's largest cities on Tuesday asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to avoid undermining local governments as he and lawmakers seek to close the state's $24.3 billion budget deficit.

We're joined on Morning Edition to discuss oil prices, fuel efficiency and more with Phil Flynn Senior Market Analyst at Alaron Trading in Chicago, and a Fox Business News contributor.

In the two weeks since President Obama made Judge Sonia Sotomayor his pick for the Supreme Court, outnumbered Republicans on Capitol Hill and conservative activists have struggled mightily over how to mount a credible opposition.

A bill in the California state senate would allow people to who own solar-powered homes and businesses to sell excess power back to utilities. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us under current law utilities now get that power for free.

Half of all arsons are committed by juveniles. And San Diego's Burn Institute runs an education program for juvenile fire setters. Now, the institute has a partnership with the University of San Diego to provide counseling for some of the more difficult cases.

If you're not interested in "Transformers 2" or the next Sandra Bullock romantic comedy, then I've got some options for you beginning with "Evil Dead II" with drinks tonight under the stars at Stone Brewing Co., and vintage movie classics outdoors at Topps Presents Cinema Under the Stars. Listen to my KPBS Film Chat about alternate movie venues or read on for an extended list of films and venues.

Mexican authorities have detained a 19-year-old man they say tried to sexually assault an 8-year-old boy before killing him. Baja California authorities issued an Amber Alert after the boy went missing. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson tells us Mexican officials say a slight cultural shift is needed for the alert system to work properly.

A new study says California’s move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could negatively impact three-million jobs statewide. The report is being released as the California Air Resources Board launches a series of efforts to curb global warming linked to exhaust from vehicles and some industries.

Only a handful of people turned out for a public hearing on the San Diego County budget today, but Supervisor Diane Jacob says she expects to hear from a lot more if the state begins taking county funds to balance the budget in Sacramento.

The series stars Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Dawn French, Brendan Coyle and Mark Heap in Bill Gallagher's adaptation of Flora Thompson's charming memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood. In this episode, Laura Timmins says goodbye to her friends and family in Lark Rise to start her first job at the Post Office in the nearby town of Candleford.

Legendary songwriter, producer and maestro to the stars David Foster has generated some of the world’s best known popular music, and collaborated with a veritable “Who’s Who” of superstars in a career that spans more than three decades. In celebration of his remarkable achievements — including 15 Grammy Awards and a host of other accolades — some of the biggest names in contemporary music gather for a one-night-only concert that brings down the house.

Prostate, breast, and smoking-related cancers continue to decline in California. The American Cancer Society has released a new in-depth look at the disease.

A bill in the California State Senate would allow people who own solar-powered homes and businesses to sell excess power back to utilities.

California's $24 billion budget deficit is putting pressure on state lawmakers. We discuss this with Independent Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy.

Architectural photographer Mike Torrey talks about capturing the interconnection between the natural world and man-made structures.

Why are surfers off San Diego's coast getting sick? We'll talk about coastal water pollution and how budget cuts mean less testing and bigger public safety concerns for surfers and swimmers.

Nearly two dozen suspected illegal immigrants were taken into custody early this morning after a 25-foot ponga boat came ashore in Del Mar, authorities said. Border Patrol agents first spotted 19 suspected illegal immigrants near Dog Beach in Del Mar around 4:30 a.m., according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Patrick Dunphy.

Suicide attackers in a truck launched an assault Tuesday on a luxury hotel commonly used by foreigners in Peshawar, Pakistan, firing guns as they stormed past guards and then setting off a huge blast that killed at least five people and wounded 65 more, officials said.

There’s an unprecedented construction boom going on in San Diego. It’s on the region’s military bases: Camp Pendleton in North County and the Naval facilities around San Diego Bay.

The U.S. Navy is on a building-boom in San Diego. We'll talk about the strategic decision to beef up security along the Pacific Rim and how San Diego's economy is benefiting.

U.S. authorities have brought the first Guantanamo Bay detainee to the United States, flying him into New York to face trial in connection with the bombing of U.S. embassies, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

The San Diego Unified School Board is expected to vote today in favor of taking the first steps to overhaul the district's high school curriculum. Education advocates are praising district officials for beginning to address education inequalities at the high school level.

San Diego City Council voted to appoint attorney Lee Burdick to the seat on the Port Commission vacated by Laurie Black. The 5-to-3 vote came after a two-and-a-half hour public hearing.

From cheerleader to conceptual artist, Glenna Jennings revisits high school through a new narrative that combines her photography, a novella, and her long fascination with Dostoyevsky's Raskolnikov.

Sesame Street, now in hi-definition for the first time, premieres a new season of the critically-acclaimed preschool series will merge two crucial areas: mathematics and literacy.

A growing number of San Diegans are dying from taking too many prescription painkillers. The county medical examiner says there's been a 30 percent increase in medication-related deaths over the last few years.

California animal shelters would be required to euthanize animals sooner under cuts proposed in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's revised budget. Shelters now care for the animals for six days before they're "put down."

A severe drought out West continues to threaten farms, fish, and water supplies to nearly everyone. Tighter water restrictions went into effect this month in much of Southern California, and the federal government issued a directive last week that could cut water delivery to farmers and residents in the state by 7 percent.

Luis Alberto Urrea, one of today's most critically acclaimed writers, talks with us about his new novel "Into the Beautiful North," which is set in a Mexican village and in the Tijuana-San Diego border region.

The State of California is facing a $24 billion budget deficit, and needs to balance its books by the end of this month. We speak to political consultant Leo McElroy about the ramifications of letting the budget deficit carry over into the new fiscal year, and to find out where cuts are likely to be made.

The North County Fire Protection District will begin billing drivers for responding to automobile accidents. We'll find out why local public agencies are turning to an accident response fee to offset funding from the state.

Governor Schwarzenegger says he's not bluffing about the extent of the painful cuts needed to solve California's budget crisis.

It's World Ocean Day. The international celebration is designated by the United Nations as day to take action to protect marine ecosystems. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us UC San Diego research shows the health of the oceans has declined in recent decades.

Hundreds of people turned out this weekend to help clean up the Tijuana River Valley in San Diego’s South Bay.

The San Diego City Council is set to vote on the 2010 fiscal year budget today. Officials agree the process hasn’t been contentious, but that doesn’t mean the situation is good.

The Padres lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in the longest major league game this season.

North Korea convicted two American journalists and sentenced them Monday to 12 years of hard labor, intensifying the reclusive nation's confrontation with the United States. Washington said it would "engage in all possible channels" to win the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee.

A South Bay school superintendent is under fire for initiating a leadership shake-up in his district. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis says some educators are now questioning the direction of the district.

Seeing Edward naked might get more people into theaters than telling them to watch a drama about love, art, and betrayal with Robert Pattinson as Salvador Dali. But "Little Ashes" (opened June 5 at Landmark's Ken Cinema) takes the high road... at least in terms of its marketing campaign.

Earlier this year, "Departures" (opened June 5 at Landmark's La Jolla Village Theaters) surprised many by beating out Israel's "Waltz with Bashir" for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. But the win may be the reason that this quiet Japanese film is actually getting released here in the U.S.

Landmark Theatres launches its new summer season of midnight movies at the Ken Cinema with the original live action version of "Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles" (playing June 6 at midnight only). The timing for this couldn't be better. If "Land of the Lost" shows how to make a bad TV show worse on the big screen, "TNMT" reveals that you can maintain the same spirit of cheesy fun when adapting to a feature film.

The Obama Administration has announced a new strategy to combat drug trafficking across the U.S. Mexico border. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains the strategy pushes new technology and information sharing.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle told a convention of health insurance executives in San Diego that health care history will soon be made.

The fourth graduating class from UCSD's Skaggs School of Pharmacy will receive their doctoral degrees tomorrow. Three of the graduates spent their final clinical rotation in Vietnam.

President Obama is using his trip to Germany and the Middle East to push for help in resettling Guantanamo Bay detainees, discussing the issue with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a private meeting Friday.

"THE NEWSHOUR" provides in-depth analysis of current events with a news summary, live studio interviews, discussions, and both foreign and domestic on-site reports. "THE NEWSHOUR" is seen by approximately three million people every weeknight and remains one of the most distinguished sources of news on television.

The San Diego Police Department is advising drivers to avoid the area around Qualcomm Stadium this evening and throughout the weekend. A Jehovah’s Witness Convention at the stadium is expected to draw large crowds.

Influential singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen performs at London’s 02 Arena during his 2008 UK tour. The program, recorded live on July 17, 2008, features definitive renditions of classic songs drawn from Cohen’s 40-year repertoire.

A new study shows migrants from Mexico are willing to brave tougher border enforcement if they know there's work on the U.S. side. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has more on the study from the Center for Comparative Immigration at the University of California San Diego.

The Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival kicks off today and runs through Sunday (at the La Paloma Theater, Encinitas Library and Cottonwood Creek Park) and will feature films from around the world. I wish I had time to cover everything and since I don’t here’s a quick preview of the films.

San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said the Mayor can close the controversial Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) without the approval of pension system members. Representatives from the city's various public employee unions announced they will challenge Goldsmith's legal opinion.

Late last week, North Korea detonated a nuclear device, which led to a swift condemnation from the United States and the U.N. Security Council. Since then, the tensions between North Korea and the international community have increased.

In a long-anticipated move, General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this week. The auto manufacturer said it will close 12 more factories, and could cut more than 20,000 jobs.

Left-over hops and grain from California's Sierra Nevada brewery could end up in the gas tank of your vehicle.

A federal study says California water supply systems are hurting the survival of several endangered fish species. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us that could lead to more water supply restrictions for San Diego.

To cope with the state's $24 billion budget deficit, Governor Schwarzenegger is proposing to eliminate funding for a variety of programs. One of them provides skilled day care services to chronically ill seniors and disabled adults. Advocates say if these programs are shut down, thousands of people will suffer.

A Community coalition refuses to give up its opposition of a major development on San Diego’s Bay front downtown.

Remember the old Sid and Marty Croft TV show "Land of the Lost" with the rinky-dink special effects and bad ape make-up? Well believe it or not someone decided that there was enough of a fan base and affection for the old show that it merited a big budget Hollywood remake with Will Ferrell. So can "Land of the Lost" (opening June 5 throughout San Diego) possibly appeal to a new generation who never saw the old show. Let our KPBS Teen critic proved the answer.

On the eve of President Obama's speech in Cairo on Thursday, a recording, believed to be of Osama bin Laden, also made headlines. The message is the latest sign that the al-Qaida leader is alive, up on current events and communicating with the outside world. But a number of factors may now be combining to make bin Laden's safe haven in Pakistan less so.

The San Diego Police Officers Association and the city are filing paperwork in court today in a fight over whether the city can change the Deferred Retirement Option Program. KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains DROP allows city employees the begin receiving retirement payments before they stop working.

Kenneth Branagh stars as "the Norse Morse," Inspector Kurt Wallander, the scruffy Swedish sleuth created by best-selling author Henning Mankell. In three whodunits, Mankell pits his hero against the creeping malaise affecting contemporary Sweden, where permissiveness and the collapse of the welfare state are slowly undermining the spirit of law and order. A maelstrom of bizarre crimes, involving axe murders, scalpings, random assassinations and cyber-terrorism, taxes Wallander's wits.

More than 100 volunteers spent part of today removing non-native plants at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the effort was part of World Environment Day.

The National Marine Fisheries Service released its biological opinion on the effects of the state and federal water projects on threatened and endangered runs of several fish species in California.

The City of San Diego’s well-publicized budget struggles include pay cuts and fee hikes. But even cuts and hikes aren’t enough to quell Mayor Jerry Sanders’ worry, anger and frustration at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s intention to borrow $2 billion from local governments. So I assumed that other cities in San Diego County would also be worrying at the prospect of state legislators shoveling property taxes from small municipalities into California’s coffers. After all, fewer city dollars mean fewer city services and smaller staffs to serve local residents.

Slavery was legal in America in all of the original 13 colonies. We'll explore the history of the Underground Railroad in helping slaves find freedom, and how the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center continues to work on human slavery in the modern world.

La Jolla Playhouse stages celebrated playwright Terrence McNally's latest drama Unusual Acts of Devotion. In the play, McNally charts damaged souls and damaged cities, loves lost and recovered, and the joys of simple but enduring acts of devotion.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in San Diego County. But a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a death sentence. On the eve of National Cancer Survivor's Day, which is June 7, we'll explore the latest in cancer rates and treatments, and talk with cancer survivors.

Actor Ed Helms is probably best known for his work with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" and for his role as Andy in the American version of "The Office." But this week you can find him in the bro-comedy "The Hangover," directed by "Old School's" Todd Phillips. I spoke with the actor when he was in San Diego last month about his new film and tackling different kinds of comedy.

San Diego County will host a conference on vital aging later this morning in Balboa Park. More than 400 local seniors are expected to attend the bi-annual event.

The city of San Diego is in the early stages of creating a year round homeless shelter downtown. All of the people and organizations involved agree something needs to be done about the hundreds of homeless people living on the streets. But what to do and how are unresolved questions.

What do astronauts do when they need to pee? KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge says some students at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering are looking for a better answer.

Pledging "to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims," President Obama reached out to the world's 1.5 billion followers of Islam Thursday, addressing an appreciative crowd at Cairo University.

The San Diego County Grand Jury has issued a report recommending changes in law that would assure the continued existence and independence of the City Ethics Commission. KPBS reporter Alan Ray says the Grand Jury's concern is who controls the money that pays for the Ethics Commission.

Leaders from cities around San Diego County met today to discuss how they can keep the state government from borrowing property tax revenue and other local funds to fill the budget hole in Sacramento.

An environmental group says a rare bird that breeds in San Diego and at the Salton Sea should be listed as endangered. The group says the western gull-billed tern's breeding sites face several threats.

State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has issued some new regulations aimed at preventing health insurers from canceling policies after people get sick.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Motown Records, GREAT PERFORMANCES presents Stevie Wonder in a tour-de-force concert performance at London’s O2 Arena.

The state plans to borrow $36 million from the city of San Diego and another $70 million from the county to help close its $24 billion budget deficit, it was announced today.

The human heart is a complex organ. We'll talk with San Diego cardiologist Dr. Mimi Guarneri about how to balance all the strains on our heart, from diet to stress to the environment.

How are San Diego County cities fairing with the state's budget cuts? We'll find out with KPBS Political Correspondent Gloria Penner.

The task force charged with considering an expansion of San Diego’s convention center has seen what the project might ultimately look like. The group will now begin looking at how to pay for it.

Comedian and commentator Paula Poundstone talks about the funnier side of life these days.

Already suffering from "after innovation erosion," where biotech firms move their manufacturing and distribution arms out of California, biotech will most certainly lose what edge it has when deep budget cuts hit state colleges and universities. Predators are already circling.

The governor outlined his plans for solving the state's $24 billion budget problem in a rare address to the full legislature on Tuesday.

The risk of skin cancer increases in San Diego's sunny summer months, but not the risk of melanoma.

Water officials say we need to re-think our use of the precious commodity. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce covered a water conservation summit in El Cajon Tuesday where the focus was on conservation and psychology.

The San Diego Unified Board of Education approved millions of dollars worth in spending cuts in a pivotal, nearly 12-hour budget session yesterday. KPBS Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis explains how the board is closing a budget shortfall without closing schools or resorting to layoffs.

San Diego’s City Attorney says the ordinance that created a controversial retirement benefit program for city employees should have never been implemented in the first place.

Environmental analysts from both sides of the US Mexico border say reducing border wait times could help combat climate change in the San Diego Tijuana region.

San Diego Unified School District officials have been huddling with the school board all day, trying to find ways to balance the budget. The district is losing a huge chunk of state money and that's created a fiscal crisis of sorts. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintacolis has been following the day's events. She says high profile arts, music and sports programs are being spared the knife, but cuts are being made.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday told a joint session of the Legislature that California's budget crisis will force a transformation in state government. The state faces a $24.3 billion deficit and a looming cash crisis that jeopardizes its ability to pay its day-to-day bills.

Now that General Motors has declared bankruptcy, what will happen to stock and bond holders, union workers, and dealerships of both active and defunct brands? How will the U.S. Government's ownership of 60 percent of GM play out? And what can taxpayers expect?

You've heard his songs, but you may not have heard of him. JJ Cale is one of the most low-profile rock 'n' roll legends you will ever find. His songs "After Midnight", "Cocaine", and "Call Me the Breeze" have been made famous by artists like Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd. We speak to JJ Cale about his musical influences, his friendship with Clapton, and why he's opted to stay out of the spotlight over the years.

The swine flu outbreak has reached 64 countries, infecting more than 17,500 people worldwide and causing at least 115 deaths. We'll look at how public health officials responded to swine flu and how they're preparing for the upcoming flu season.

Another salvo has been fired in San Diego's ongoing seal saga. U.S. District Court Judge William Hayes on Monday reaffirmed his order blocking the city from removing a colony of seals living at Children's Pool Beach in La Jolla.

Unemployment in San Diego County stands at 9.1 percent, but a new report suggests there are jobs in San Diego for people willing to learn new skills.

Governor Schwarzenegger is expected to call lawmakers into a joint session on Tuesday to outline his latest cuts.

Advocates for the elderly say they're baffled and angry over Governor Schwarzenegger's plan to eliminate funding for adult day care services. Advocates say these programs are a low-cost way to enable the elderly and the disabled to live at home.

A California state agency that researches the environmental hazards of toxic chemicals could be eliminated. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to shut down the department as part of the effort to reduce the state's $24 billion budget deficit.

General Motors chief executive Fritz Henderson said Tuesday that the sale of the Hummer brand will save jobs, as another senior executive said the automaker can return to profitability within "two to three years."

The San Diego Unified school board will begin to decide on millions of dollars worth of cuts at its meeting today. Trustees have until the end of this month to balance the district's budget. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has this preview.

Governor Schwarzenegger will address a rare joint session of the state legislature Tuesday. He’s expected to outline his plans for closing a $24 billion budget gap.

A water conservation summit gets underway Tuesday in San Diego. The goal is to find ways to meet current and future water demand. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce says the summit comes as most Southern California communities are under mandatory water restrictions.

The number of GM dealerships in San Diego will shrink as a result of the automaker’s bankruptcy. But the GM dealerships that survive expect to be stronger.

Immigrants rights activists gathered at San Diego County's Administration building Monday to call for comprehensive immigration reform. AS KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson reports the gathering is part of a nationwide immigration reform campaign.

Filmed in black and white against the streamlined art deco stage of the since-demolished Cocoanut Grove in downtown Los Angeles, this triumphant performance for Roy Orbison is buoyed by a remarkable cast of “A-list” Orbison fans who signed on as his accompanists.

Join now at the $60 level or above and enjoy benefits at hundreds of restaurants and attractions with the KPBS MemberCard. Join or renew today! (pictured: St. Petersburg String Quartet)

New passport rules affecting the San Diego-Mexico border went into effect today. The new rules requires border crossers to show their passports, passport cards or other travel documents approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security upon re-entry into San Diego.

Residents in the City of San Diego will only be allowed to water their lawns three days a week. We speak to representatives from the San Diego Water Department and the County Water Authority about the reasons behind the new restrictions. We also speak to a local garden journalist about how people can make their landscaping more water-efficient.

President Obama, just days before traveling to the Middle East to deliver a key speech on U.S.-Muslim relations, on Monday reasserted U.S. support for Israel. But in an interview with NPR, the president also said he will continue to push for a Palestinian state and for a freeze on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

President Obama pushed a humbled General Motors Corp. into bankruptcy on Monday and said the federal government will act as "reluctant shareholder" when it assumes a 60 percent ownership of the smaller carmaker that emerges.

School officials around California are faced with the prospect of cutting seven days of school next year as a result of the state's money problems. But how does that loss affect student learning?

The San Diego City Council will vote on a final budget next week. The city is looking to cut expenses to make up for a multi-million dollar budget deficit. But some officials want to add employees in one city department.

The effort to legalize drugs remains on the periphery of our political landscape. A San Francisco lawmaker, for instance, has sponsored a bill to legalize marijuana. Some doctors who deal with drug addiction say a better model may be medicalization. That means allowing addicts to use drugs under a doctor's supervision.

The San Diego State men's baseball team came up a little short this weekend and Sports Columnist Jay Paris joins us to discuss what happened at the NCAA tournament.

Today is the first day of mandatory water restrictions for most of San Diego County. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce says the conservation measures are intended to reduce the water demand by 20-percent.