The traditional start of the fire season is tomorrow, and to prepare for wildfires, Cal Fire will add one firefighter to the staff at each of its 26 fire engines in San Diego County.

The Center for Disease Control does not expect that there will be a shortage of novel H1N1 vaccine, but flu vaccine availability and demand can be unpredictable and there is some possibility that initially, the vaccine will be available in limited quantities. So, the ACIP also made recommendations regarding which people within the groups listed below should be prioritized if the vaccine is initially available in extremely limited quantities.

Sam Raimi's return to horror Drag Me to Hell (opened May 29 throughout San Diego) wins over a KPBS teen critic who wasn't even born when Raimi's cult classic The Evil Dead hit theaters in 1981.

As coastal states brace for this year's hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, they must also grapple with a thorny issue: Who pays when the big one hits?

Noel Coward meets "Priscilla Queen of the Desert"… sort of. "Easy Virtue" (opened May 29 at Landmark's Hillcrest and La Jolla Village Theaters) serves up a very loose adaptation of Noel Coward's play courtesy of "Priscilla" director Stephan Elliot.

The California State Parks Foundation says a plan to close 80-percent of state parks to reduce the budget deficit is a bad idea. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the group thinks closing parks will hurt cities and towns that rely on tourism money.

After bringing Spider-Man to the big screen Sam Raimi returns to his roots with Drag Me To Hell (opened May 29 throughout San Diego). But don't pay attention to those ads proclaiming this the scariest film of the year. Yes it's horror but it's Raimi's brand of horror and that means a healthy dose of humor.

Atom Egoyan, like Jim Jarmusch, is a truly independent indie filmmaker. Both have resisted not only making films in Hollywood but also have resisted changing their singular visions to try and ingratiate themselves with viewers. Egoyan's latest film, Adoration (opening May 29 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinema) spins another complex puzzle from a fractured narrative.

Sixteen lifeguard towers that a San Diego group is trying to donate to cities in Mexico are stuck on the US side of the border. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson explains, the group is having difficulty negotiating Mexican customs.

Authorities on both sides of the US-Mexico border say the leader of the Arellano-Felix Drug Cartel and a turncoat lieutenant have agreed to a truce. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson and Tijuanapress.com tell us, authorities say this will not end drug violence in Tijuana.

The state's budget crisis has forced California lawmakers to kill a number of health-related bills for the year. One of the measures would have created a single payer healthcare system.

CAL FIRE investigators say last week’s Willow Fire near Jamul was started while Bureau of Prison employees were training at a shooting range.

Perfect pitch is learned, not genetic. That seems to be the conclusion of research by a UCSD psychologist. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge has more.

Josh Groban performs favorites from his best-selling albums in an intimate theatre setting in this SOUNDSTAGE special event. Taped at the Rose Theatre at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of "Jazz at Lincoln Center" in New York City, this exhilarating program includes favorites from his best-selling albums, including "Alla Luce del Sole," "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" and "February Song."

To the delight of fans everywhere, Clapton and his longtime friend Steve Winwood have reunited for a once-in-a-lifetime concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden, their first concert together since their days in the supergroup Blind Faith. This reunion concert features a wide range of material from the Clapton catalogue, hits from Winwood’s time as front-man for the band Traffic and their collaborations from Blind Faith.

Filmmaker Peter Docter (Monsters,Inc.) delivers a 3-D animated adventure with Disney/Pixar's Up (opening May 29 throughout San Diego). I spoke with him about his new film, anime, and working in state of the art 3-D.

The local tourism industry has been struggling lately, but experts say San Diego is not any worse off than other parts of the state. Gas prices are high, hotel occupancy rates are down, but visitors are still coming to San Diego.

The San Diego County Assessor is projecting a 2.5 percent drop in next year's property tax values. If the projections are correct, this will be the first time county property tax values have dropped in more than 30 years.

The City of San Diego proposed a $689,000 plan to get rid of the seals at the Children's Pool in La Jolla. Part of the plan is to use the recorded sounds of barking dogs to scare off the seals.

U.S. officials say there are new signs North Korea may be planning even more missile launches in a show of strength following worldwide condemnation of its underground nuclear test. The North fired a short-range missile on Friday — the sixth this week.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed closing 220 state parks, including several in San Diego County, to help reduce the state's $24 billion budget deficit.

Disney/Pixar takes flight with the new animated film "Up" (opening May 29 throughout San Diego). Even though the main character is an old man KPBS teen critic Kimi Allen fell in love with his adventure.

Spirit of Brazil is a variety television special that tells the story of Brazilian music through stellar performances by some of Brazil's most engaging singers and charismatic musicians. The program is a celebration of the magical music of Brazil told through rhythm and dance, melody and song. Juxtaposing main-stage performances by legends as well as discoveries of Brazilian popular music, the program also features vibrant images recorded in samba schools and other colorful locales.

A memorial service was held on the deck of the USS Midway in Downtown San Diego today to remember the crew of the Navy helicopter that crashed off the coast last week. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details.

A new report from an environmental group says California businesses have the tools to save enough water to meet the annual needs of San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A few dozen home care workers and patients have wrapped up a two-day vigil at the state capitol. They camped out overnight to protest Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed pay cuts for more than 300,000 home care providers.

California has more dentists than any other state, but they're unevenly distributed. A new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows many rural areas suffer from a shortage of dentists.

San Diego's index of leading economic indicators rose last month. It's the first time in two years the index has gained ground. It also ends a six month streak in which the index declined more than 2 percent each month.

California’s cities and counties are intensifying their push to get the state to leave their revenues alone while balancing the budget. Wednesday, officials faced the legislature’s joint budget committee. They asked the state not to withhold $2 billion in local property taxes. But county officials can’t agree on what the state should cut instead.

San Diego Museum of Art's Executive Director resigns to accept post at the Seattle Art Museum.

For years now, radio drama has been totally eclipsed by film and television. However, every now and then, the art form pops up to remind us of the ways in which radio can spark the imagination. The MFA playwriting students from the acclaimed theater department at UCSD have written four very contemporary radio dramas and we will hear them and talk with the scribes.

Pixar's new 3-D animated film Up opens this weekend. We'll hear from the director and producer, and talk with KPBS film critic Beth Accomando about how Up breaks different ground in 3-D animation.

U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein praised the joint effort by the U.S. and Mexico to crack down on drug cartels after meeting with officials from both sides of the border in San Diego Wednesday.

When the California Supreme Court handed down its six to one decision upholding Proposition 8 on May 26th, reaction was swift from both sides. Prop. 8 supporters cheered and immediately geared up for the next fight to protect traditional marriage between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage advocates laid plans for that next fight to extend marriage to gays and lesbians.

Should terror detainees be moved from the prison at Guantanamo Bay to sites throughout the U.S., like the brigs at Camp Pendleton and the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station? We speak to Congressman Brian Bilbray about the proposal to move the terror suspects. We also speak to Bilbray about border violence, the economy, and healthcare reform.

The University of California system is out of control because administrators are getting high salaries during the state's budget crisis, according to Democratic Senator Leland Yee.

FilmOut San Diego kicks off tonight with the U.S. premiere of the holiday comedy Make the Yuletide Gay but one of the films playing later in the festival is a much darker work called Eugene (playing May 30 at 10:00pm at the Birch North Park Theater). I had a chance to speak with the film's first-time feature director Jake Barsha.

The U.S. and South Korea put their military forces on high alert Thursday after North Korea renounced the truce keeping the peace between the two Koreas since 1953. The North also accused the U.S. of preparing to attack, and warned it would retaliate to any hostility with "merciless" and dangerous ferocity.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor is expected to begin making courtesy visits next week to Senate leaders and members of the Judiciary Committee who will conduct hearings on her nomination to the Supreme Court.

The demand for seafood is increasing at a time when overfishing, pollution and other factors are reducing wild populations. One way to meet growing demand is fish farming. A San Diego group wants to build an aquaculture project five miles west of Mission Beach. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the farm would be the first of its kind in federal waters.

FilmOut San Diego '09 (running May 28-31 at the Birch North Park Theater) kicks off its 11th season tonight with the U.S. premiere of Rob Williams' holiday coming out comedy Make the Yuletide Gay. You can listen to my preview or check out some festival highlights.

San Diego’s Fire Chief is retiring next month. Fire Chief Tracy Jarman has been with the San Diego Fire Department for 25 years. She’s served as chief for the past three.

The urban inspired dance company Culture Shock San Diego teams up with local graffiti artist Pose 2 on a theatrical dance show about life as a graffiti writer.

AS TIME GOES BY, one of the most popular and enduring British series on public television, starred Dame Judi Dench as Jean Pargetter and Geoffrey Palmer as Lionel Hardcastle, former lovers who reunited after 40 years. This two-part special picks up a few years after the original series left off.

Seniors in San Diego County tend to be healthier than older Californians living in other parts of the state. A new report reveals how local seniors are faring in 17 different health measures.

A San Diego company has begun marketing a non-invasive test for lead exposure.

A state judge has ruled the city of San Diego must remove the seals from the Children's Pool in La Jolla. But as KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains, the city says getting rid of the animals won't be cheap.

Having a child with a disability can pose many challenges for families and society. We'll talk with an advocate for children with disabilities about how to incorporate disabled kids into family life as well as after school, social and recreational programs.

What are the political ramifications of the California Supreme Court's ruling upholding the ban on same-sex marriage? And will the U.S. Supreme Court soon have its first Hispanic justice? We'll get analysis on these two important legal issues.

How will stability and peace be achieved in the Middle East? We'll talk with Israel's ambassador to the UN about her country's role in the region.

On Monday, June 1st, the chamber group Camera Lucida gives a rare San Diego performance of Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire, along with Franz Schubert's String Quintet in C major. Camera Lucida is a unique chamber ensemble and collaboration between the San Diego Symphony and the faculty of UCSD's Music Department. We'll talk to two of its founding members.

Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for new cuts instead of borrowing from Wall Street, as he'd originally proposed.

A tobacco tax hike may be on the table in Sacramento, where state lawmakers are trying to figure out how to grapple with a massive budget deficit. Supporters of the idea say it won't be an easy sell.

North Korea threatened military action Wednesday against U.S. and South Korean warships plying the waters near the Koreas' disputed maritime border, raising the specter of a naval clash just days after the regime's underground nuclear test.

Moments after President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, the expected partisan scripts kicked in. Competing ads have been launched on Web sites and television touting competing versions of Sotomayor's judicial history.

Korean-born, New York-based filmmaker So Yong Kim draws on her own childhood experiences for Treeless Mountain (opening May 29 at Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters). You can listen to the KPBS Radio feature or read the extended interview.

San Diego Unified school officials are demanding the district's board make some tough decisions to balance next year's budget. The panel needs to have a spending plan ready by next week. However, the trustees still can't agree on what sacrifices to make.

This program reunites original legends of rock’n’roll for a once-in-a-lifetime performance. Hosted by pop music legends Frankie Valli, Jerry (The Iceman) Butler and Lloyd Price, the program also boasts a surprise appearance by Little Richard. Among the many performers is Fred Parris, who comes out of retirement after a decade to join the Five Satins in a performance of “In the Still of the Night,” the number-one oldies single of all time.

Local opponents and supporters of Proposition 8 are speaking out about the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the state ban on same sex marriage. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has reaction.

A road trip to show the viability of hydrogen fuel cell cars took off from Chula Vista this morning. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce says the nine-day tour to Canada is intended to promote zero-emission vehicles.

UCSD and the Burnham Institute of Medical Research have begun a program to create a new class of cancer researchers.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's takeaway message from last week's defeat of the special election ballot measures was "cuts, cuts, cuts." This week, he's following through. The Republican governor on Tuesday will release a revised budget proposal for the coming fiscal year that details nearly $5.5 billion in cuts on top of those he previously announced.

Before there was Bernie Madoff, there was Ivar Kreuger, the man John Kenneth Galbraith called the Leonardo of scammers. When Kreuger, an extremely successful and much-admired businessman during the 1920s, killed himself in 1932, investors discovered that his financial empire, based in the manufacture of matches, was made of sand, built out of complex financial instruments that are the forerunners of today's derivatives.

Despite millions of dollars in cuts already planned for next year's budget, the San Diego Unified School District will have to slice tens of millions more, district officials said today.

To environmentalists, the $12 million in federal energy stimulus money headed to San Diego was supposed to be the dawn of their day in the sun. But they say Mayor Jerry Sanders has kept them in the dark by shutting them out of the planning on how best to spend the money.

The California Supreme Court today upheld the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the voter-approved measure that banned same- sex marriage in the state, but the court also ruled that the unions of roughly 18,000 same-sex couples who were wed last year will remain valid.

Today's markets, restaurants and bakeries offer a wide array of food choices for people with special dietary needs or personal preferences. In this month's Food Hour, we'll talk about baking and buying delicious vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free foods.

Mexico's legacy in San Diego can be seen everywhere - from street names to cuisine to the Chicano movement. We'll talk with San Diegans who can trace their family roots back to the earliest days of San Diego's European settlement.

President Obama on Tuesday nominated federal appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace David Souter on the Supreme Court, where she will become the first Hispanic and the third woman if her nomination is confirmed.

Political Consultant Leo McElroy talks about how lawmakers will fill an expected 24-billion-dollar hole in the state budget.

San Diego County is preparing for the possibility the state might take away millions of dollars in property taxes to fill the budget gap in Sacramento. And KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains a county official says that might not be the only place San Diego takes a hit.

A road trip to highlight fuel cell cars gets underway this morning in Chula Vista. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce says the nine-day trek to Canada gives people a chance to drive or ride in the zero emission vehicles.

A new study reveals nearly one-million Californians go to Mexico every year for health care. The report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research says people are going for medical, dental care, and prescription drugs.

Hundreds of people gathered at Rosecrans National Cemetery today. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge has more on the Memorial Day celebration.

The California Supreme Court will release its decision tomorrow on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the ballot measure banning same sex marriage. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

The State Supreme Court says it will issue a ruling Tuesday on three lawsuits challenging Proposition 8. That's the voter approved constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriages.

San Diegans are reminded California's fire season is year 'round. Fire Chief Tracy Jarman gives tips on fire prevention.

North County Sports Columnist Jay Paris discusses the possible trade of Padres pitcher Jake Peavy.

Crowds turned out over the weekend for the opening of the San Diego Zoo’s new elephant exhibit. KPBS reporter Katie Orr was there and spoke with some visitors.

Mothers who depend on food from WIC program, Women with Infant Children, will be shopping for a new menu as WIC instates some major changes. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge has more.

San Diego Unified School Superintendent Terry Grier is sounding the alarm to school workers and parents. He says the state's budget disaster will debilitate local schools. That's why he's calling for an emergency public meeting to talk about the situation Tuesday morning.

More Californians are opting to pitch a tent this Memorial Day. State park officials say camping reservations are up for the weekend. The news comes as lawmakers and the Governor consider park cuts to help close a budget gap.

A lot of people are doing some fishing over the Memorial Day weekend. But, they may want to hear more about a new study on mercury contamination in California lakes before they fry those filets.

The State Supreme Court says it will issue a ruling Tuesday on three lawsuits challenging Proposition 8. That’s the voter approved constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriages.

Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi ("Baran," "Children of Heaven," "The Color of Paradise") turns to another tale of ordinary life in "The Song of Sparrows" (opening May 22 at Landmark's Ken Cinema) but ends up delivering so much more. You can read my review or listen to our discussion on the May edition of Film Club.

Immigrants and civil rights activists are questioning the Border Patrol and the Transportation and Security Administration officials' arrest and removal of three undocumented teenagers in San Diego.

A homeowner in southeastern San Diego will save on energy costs thanks to a free solar panel installation Friday. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce says it's part of a statewide program that combines job training and the power of renewable energy.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he must cut California's safety net programs in order to balance the state's budget. Critics complain his proposals would cause up to two-million Californians to lose their health insurance.

A wildfire of unknown origin blackened scores of hilly acres southeast of El Cajon today, prompting evacuations in a nearby residential neighborhood as crews fought the flames from the ground and airrs are battling a wildfire in eastern San Diego County near Jamul.

San Diego's DNA Mexican-American Stories explores the region's history through the stories and personal artifacts of remarkable San Diegans. The 30-minute documentary features vignettes of seven men and women whose personal accounts create a unique narrative. Photographs, articles, recipes, archival film and audio recordings will give viewers a glimpse into the past.

The latest housing figures out this week show that the market may be stabilizing. The median home price in San Diego County increased slightly to $290,000 last month, but local prices are still down 44 percent from the market peak in November 2005. What do all these numbers mean for people who are interested in buying or selling a home right now?

California voters have spoken, and they're telling the state legislature to get back to work. Despite a last-ditch doomsday plea from Governor Schwarzenegger, voters rejected five out of six budget-related ballot propositions aimed at reducing the deficit. What options do the governor and legislature have now for reducing California's $21.3 billion shortfall?

Thousands of local young people will graduate from college this weekend. The class of 2009 will face a tough road ahead as they prepare to enter a job market with near double-digit unemployment in California, and the rest of the U.S. What opportunities are out there for this year's college graduates?

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and the San Diego Police Department is expecting a lot of people at city beaches. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details on how the police are planning to handle the holiday weekend.

All About Prints is a documentary exploring the art of printmaking from the perspective of influential curators, collectors, dealers, printmakers, and artists. The program touches on the wider history of prints in Western art with an emphasis on key landmarks of printmaking in America. Visually engaging explanations of printmaking terms and techniques are sure to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of printmaking as a distinctive art form with unique possibilities.

In a journey reminiscent of the unexpected zeitgeist success of Hair , A Chorus Line and Rent , the story behind the success of In the Heights is so organic to New York City that no one expected it to happen — until it did. Beginning at a small off-Broadway theater, a group of talented young creators, led by composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, produced an original musical that some have called a modern day West Side Story — a Latin and hip-hop-infused musical odyssey telling the story of a neighborhood and the first-generation Americans who call it home.

In Hartford, Connecticut, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW finds a sign of the times — actually a whole collection of antique inn and tavern signs — at the Connecticut Historical Society. Appraisal highlights include an heirloom early-19th-century Duncan Phyfe dressing table; a rare set of vintage jewelry by influential 20th-century designer Suzanne Belperron; and a watercolor signed by Katharine Hepburn — who gifted the owner with the piece when the actress was performing at the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut — valued at $15,000 to $20,000.

This 30-minute documentary explores San Diego's history through the stories and personal artifacts of remarkable San Diegans. Travel back in time with seven men and women whose personal photographs, news clippings, recipes, archival film and audio recordings give a glimpse of San Diego's DNA.

Device Gallery moved to a new space in Barrio Logan and to celebrate they opened a show of moving sculpture. It Moved! features kinetic work from six regional and national artists.

Americans are living longer than ever. And while growing old is never easy, some seniors manage to make it look that way. A number of local seniors seem to keep Father Time at bay.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Obama administration had no choice but to order the shutdown of the prison at Guantanamo because "the name itself is a condemnation" of U.S. anti-terrorism strategy. Gates called the facility on the island of Cuba "probably one of the finest prisons in the world today." But at the same time, he said it had become "a taint" on the reputation of America.

You can read my review of Terminator Salvation (opening May 21 throughout San Diego) and then listen to Scott Marks and I discuss some of the recent Hollywood blockbusters opening in theaters on the May edition of the KPBS Film Club of the Air. Terminator Salvation adds another origin tale to theaters and Angels and Demons builds on the success of The Da Vinci Code. But are they worth your time?

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell says severe state budget cuts will threaten the academic progress of students across California. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more says he made that statement as he released performance targets for next school year.

During Memorial Day weekend, PBS will unite the nation with an evening that has become an American tradition. The multi-award-winning NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT honors the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. The 2009 event commemorates 20 years on air as the nation’s memorial service, offering viewers a time to remember, heal and bring our country together.

NOTE: All tickets are gone. If you have not received a confirmation email than you will not be receiving passes. Thanks for the great response. Sorry we didn't have more tickets to give out....The KPBS Film Club is happy to offer free passes to this year's FilmOut San Diego, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film festival. A dozen people will receive passes for two to Eugene, Fashion Victims and Best of LGBT Shorts. Read on for more details.

Gloria Penner hosts "San Diego Week", a look at this weeks' top news stories and how they impact San Diegans like you. Count on thoughtful interviews and news analysis from the KPBS News team as well as reporters and editors from other San Diego news outlets.

The US Navy is searching for the wreckage of its downed Seahawk helicopter off the San Diego Coast. And KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains the Coast Guard has called off its search for the remaining two crew members.

State lawmakers and other elected officials are looking at a big pay cut in the future.

Terminator Salvation (opening May 21 throughout San Diego) serves up the fourth film in the Terminator franchise. Like Star Trek and Wolverine, it is something of an origin tale as it goes back to Judgment Day to see what Skynet and the human resistance are up to. Read what our teen critic has to say.

GOOD BOYS is the story of two men, one black and one white, who meet eight years after a school shooting in which both their sons died, one a victim, the other the shooter. As the fathers search for understanding and viciously cast blame, they confront difficult questions about vengeance and responsibility. We'll talk with Mo'olelo's Artistic Director, an actor from the play, and psychologist Dr. Ken Druck.

Several environmental groups say California's budget crisis has crippled efforts to solve ocean pollution at beaches near the Mexican border. In its 2009 Beach Report Card, Heal the Bay says state cutbacks in beach water monitoring endangers public health.

Is it easy being green? We'll explore how companies are adopting environmentally-friendly business practices, making green products and offering green services, and how consumers are responding to the greening trend.

Forty percent of the U.S. Pacific Fleet is home ported in San Diego Bay, and San Diego is only going to become more important to the Navy in the future. Tomorrow, three ships from Ingleside Texas will sail into the San Diego, part of what will be a major expansion of the Navy’s presence here.

The partisan divide over how to secure the nation's safety — and what was done in America's name after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 — intensified Thursday with dramatic, back-to-back televised speeches by President Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

U.C. San Diego is mourning the loss of its founding chancellor Herbert F. York. Officials say he'll be remembered for his contributions to the campus, but also for defining the country's policy on nuclear weapons.

Mexican health officials are taking measures to prevent the spread of a tick-borne disease new to the border state. As KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson tells us Baja health officials say they’ve confirmed 155 cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and five deaths from the disease.

Flight of the Conchords, like Spinal Tap, is a fictitious band that has taken on a life of its own. The Grammy Award-winning New Zealand comedy duo of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement invaded U.S. shores in 2007 with the HBO series Flight of the Conchords. Tonight they play in San Diego at the Rimac Arena.

San Diego’s Center City Development Corporation is recommending the city move forward with a plan to build a new city hall. They voted unanimously to recommend the City Council enter into exclusive negotiations with developer Gerding Edlen.

The state department of health has fined two hospitals in San Diego for mistakes that put patients' lives at risk. Scripps Mercy Hospital and UCSD Medical Center were each penalized $25,000.

Angina is a heart condition that brings chronic pain to millions of Americans. KPBS reporter Tom Fudge says UCSD Medical Center is looking at a new path to relief.

Most San Diego beaches fared well in the 2009 Heal the Bay Beach Report Card. More than 500 beaches are given A-to-F letter grades based on water quality.

When it comes to flavor, you can't beat meat that's still attached to the bone. This simple truth is appreciated by anyone who has ever barbecued a rack of ribs, grilled a long-bone veal chop, or roasted a whole leg of lamb. Grilling and, more importantly, serving meat on the bone, transports us to a time back before the invention of knives and forks when barbecue buffs ate with their hands, chewing the fire-roasted meat right off the bone. Discover your inner caveman.

Independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch returns after a four year absence (his last film was "Broken Flowers" in 2005) to deliver "The Limits of Control" (opening May 15 at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas). The film reunites him with a number of his favorite stars and friends including Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Youki Kudoh, and Isaach De Bankolé. You can also listen to our Film Club of the Air discussion of the film.

KPBS film critic Beth Accomando and Scott Marks, author of the blog emulsioncompulsion.com discuss the film Lemon Tree (currently playing at Landmark's La Jolla Village Theaters) on the May edition of the KPBS Film Club of the Air. This month Beth and Scott actually agree on the films!

This week on Film Club of the Air, we'll talk about the new films from acclaimed directors Jim Jarmusch and Atom Egoyan. We'll also discuss two new films set in the Middle East, and we'll get out critics to weigh in on the latest summer blockbusters to hit theaters in San Diego.

How did Tuesday's special election play out? We'll get post-election analysis about the propositions and what it means to the state and to San Diego.

What's up will all these celebrities giving their babies unusual names like Apple, Shiloh, or Bronx Mowgli? Well, it's not just a celebrity fad. We speak to psychology professor Jean Twenge about her research into the growing trend of uncommon baby names in America.

The US Coast Guard is confirming several deaths in the crash of a Navy Helicopter off the coast of San Diego. Coast Guard spokeswoman Jetta Disco says three bodies have been recovered from the crash scene.

California voters rejection of the ballot measures puts the budget crisis back into the hands of the governor and state lawmakers.

It's spring time. Besides the hot weather and blooming flowers, there's one other certainty: rising gas prices.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran test-fired a new advanced missile Wednesday with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe.

The standard treatment for kidney cancer is the total removal of the kidney. A San Diego oncologist says that's not the best treatment option.

Most people consider a high school prom as a rite of passage. But that experience of glitz and glamour is often denied to students whose families are living in poverty. But a group of fashion-savvy women in San Diego County are trying to change that by trying to create new memories using donated dresses.

A magnitude-4.1 earthquake centered in the Hawthorne area was recorded this afternoon, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

San Diego County’s Tax Collector is going after nearly a quarter billion dollars in unpaid property taxes.

A study released today by the Milken Institute says San Diego is still one of the nation's biotech leaders, despite economic hard times.

Join Rick as he explores the most surprising and fascinating land he's ever visited: Iran. In a one-hour, ground-breaking travel special, you'll discover the splendid monuments of Iran's rich and glorious past, learn more about the 20th-century story of this perplexing nation, and experience Iranian life today in its historic capital and in a countryside village. Most important, you'll meet the people of this nation whose government so exasperates our own.

The Port of San Diego has asked cargo and cruise ships to reduce their speed when traveling in and out of San Diego Bay. KPBS environment Reporter Ed Joyce says the goal is to reduce air pollution.

The median price of a home in San Diego County rose slightly last month to $290,000, compared to $285,000 in March, figures released today show. Despite the monthly rise, the median price of a home in the San Diego area in April was down 27.5 percent from the $400,000 median price during the same month last year, La Jolla-based MDA DataQuick reported.

Californians have a chance to weigh in on their state's financial future today. The special election ballot features six measures. As Ben Adler reports, they'll directly impact the state's budget crisis.

Despite chaparral being California's most extensive, native plant community, it is often maligned as being fuel for wildfires. We'll talk about chaparral's role in the ecosystem and managing the wildland-urban interface.

Funding for closing down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba is being removed from the 2009 supplemental appropriations bill, a senior Senate Democratic leadership aide has confirmed to NPR.

How are the state's financial problems affecting things at SDSU? We speak to SDSU President Stephen Weber about the latest enrollment figures, the school's veterans programs, and to get the details on the Plaza Linda Verde development project.

What is your U.S. congressional representative doing to help you? We speak to Democratic Congresswoman Susan Davis about the recent work she's been doing to help out local small businesses and people who are in credit debt, and to promote water conservation at local schools.

Elections officials aren't expecting a high turnout at the polls. So they've sharply reduced the number of polling places in many counties, by at least half.

A new documentary investigates California's water crisis. The director of the film joins us on Morning Edition.

Independent Sacramento Political Consultant Leo McElroy says voter turnout is likely to be low for today's special election.

Atlantis' astronauts tenderly dropped the Hubble Space Telescope overboard Tuesday, sending the restored observatory off on a new voyage of discovery and bidding it farewell on behalf of the planet.

A UCSD Med School professor says smoking cigarettes today is twice as likely to give you lung cancer as it was in the 1960s. KPBS reporter Tom Fudge has more.

The Mexican military discovered ten tons of marijuana hidden inside a tractor trailer headed to Tijuana. Mexican soldiers discovered the marijuana during a routine revision at a checkpoint on the highway from Mexicali to Tijuana.

San Diego County's legal challenge to California's medical marijuana law is over. The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the case. That means next month, county supervisors will consider a plan to issue I.D. cards to medical marijuana patients.

A national beach preservation group says Encinitas Beach is the best restored beach in the country. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us how the beach earned the award.

The New York City Ballet presents Peter Martins' interpretation of Prokofiev's beloved ballet Romeo and Juliet, from the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center, with Sterling Hyltin and Robert Fairchild int he title roles. Lesley Stahl hosts.

Are rattlesnake in San Diego County becoming more deadly? We'll explore why scientists think they are, and how to prevent becoming a victim of a snake bite.

Summer will be here before you know it. Our little ones are counting down the days until school lets out. When that happens, families will have to fill anywhere from eight to ten hours a day of child care. Summer isn't only a difficult time to plan and arrange child care, it's also the most expensive part of the year.

Why are voters not interested in Tuesday's Special Election? We'll explore the politics behind ballot-box budgeting and what the outcome of the election means for the state.

What will happen if the propositions on the statewide special election ballot fail on Tuesday? We speak to Marianne Russ in Sacramento about the mood in Sacramento, and the state's options for closing a budget shortfall of more than $21 billion.

What kind of turnout is expected for tomorrow's statewide special election? We speak to San Diego County Registrar of Voters Deborah Seiler about her preparations and expectations for the special election.

The Supreme Court won't hear another challenge to California's decade-old law permitting marijuana use for medical purposes. The high court on Monday refused to hear appeals from San Diego and San Bernardino counties, which say the justices have never directly ruled on whether California's law trumps the federal controlled substances laws.

Southland residents were relieved today that a magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck near Los Angeles International Airport was not "the big one.'' The quake struck shortly before 8:40 p.m. Sunday, a mile east of Lennox, a mile south southeast of Inglewood and 10 miles south southwest of the Los Angeles Civic Center, according to Caltech.

The new virus has caused anxiety around the world, though sufferers say it feels just like regular flu. Scientists are now asking what we've learned from this outbreak that will help if the virus comes back with a vengeance next year.

San Diego has a new riverside park. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us a family with nearly a century of history in Mission Valley made it possible.

The Marines known as "America's Battalion" are heading to Afghanistan. They are part of the 21,000 additional forces President Obama is deploying in the administration's new strategy for the war effort in Afghanistan. The mission of these Marines will take them to places American forces have rarely been in large numbers.

The San Diego Unified school board is considering how to move forward with a labor agreement that could give unions most of the jobs under a school bond measure.

The state senate has approved a measure that would ban smoking at all state parks and beaches in California. No other state has passed such a comprehensive smoking ban.

North County Times sports columnist Jay Paris gives a recap of the Padres sweep over the Reds.

California has begun sending 5,000 layoff notices out to state workers. The job cuts are part of Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal to balance a growing budget deficit. The lion’s share of the layoffs – about 3,600 – will come from the state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Secretary Matthew Cate says the impact will be felt throughout the department.

Officials across California are gearing up for Tuesday’s special election – but not quite like last fall’s presidential race.

President Obama strode head-on Sunday into the stormy abortion debate and told graduates at America's leading Roman Catholic university that both sides must stop demonizing one another.

A 3-year-old boy kidnapped by gunmen during a home invasion robbery at his San Bernardino home was found safe in Mexico, and today he was returned to his mother, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

San Diego's biggest water hogs will start getting letters from the city as early as today, telling them to schedule a free efficiency audit. The biggest residential water user, a La Jolla customer, used 5.5 million gallons during a recent 12-month period -- enough to serve about 44 typical homes, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

A San Diego Port commissioner who was blamed for the failure of a project to develop the Chula Vista waterfront resigned Friday, a week after the city's mayor called for his voluntary departure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama hold their first meeting at the White House on Monday, and though some Israeli and U.S. analysts fear the two new leaders are on a collision course, there may also be new room for agreement.

Airline passenger traffic is down, money for airlines to buy new planes is tight and aerospace giant Boeing has lost dozens of orders for its brand new 787. Still, with more than 850 orders for the jet, Boeing views the so-called "Dreamliner" as its plane of the future.

Miles O’Brien, former aviation and science correspondent for CNN, hosts this documentary about innovative infrastructure projects being discussed and created in Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; and New York City.

FRONTLINE investigates the causes of the worst economic crisis in 70 years and how the government responded. The film chronicles the inside stories of the Bear Stearns deal, the Lehman Brothers’ collapse, the propping up of insurance giant AIG and the $700 billion bailout. “Inside the Meltdown” examines what Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke didn’t see, couldn’t stop and haven’t been able to fix.

San Diego City Councilman Ben Hueso has received low marks for some of his votes as a state coastal commissioner in 2008. Several environmental groups compiled rankings based on 31 votes seen as having a major impact on the coast. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

Culture Luster Andy Trimlett heads over to Subtext Gallery to check out the work of some emerging artists and see what the cool kids are up to.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budgets would make deep cuts in state-funded health programs. Critics say many Californians would suffer as a result.

Environmentalists plan to challenge a Mexican environmental permit issued earlier this week for a private golf resort in Ensenada. Mexico's federal environmental agency has given the project the go ahead.

Are bicycles a viable public transportation option for the future? Today is "Bike to Work Day," and the editors will discuss the current state of San Diego's bicycle infrastructure, and whether improvements should be made to our roadways to create more room for bicyclists.

What can be done to solve the homeless problems in Downtown San Diego's East Village? The City Council will soon consider proposals to build an intake center and a permanent housing facility for the chronically homeless in the East Village, but both ideas are facing strong opposition from residents in that community.

California ballot Propositions 1A-1F are struggling in the polls, with Proposition 1F being the only measure that appears headed for passage on Tuesday. What will happen to the state budget if most, if not all, the ballot propositions fail on Tuesday?

Spotting a lie is a crucial part of police work. KPBS reporter Tom Fudge says a psychologist at San Diego's National University may have found a new way to do it.

Temperatures could soar to the low 100s in parts of San Diego County this weekend, forecasters said. Strong high pressure will bring hot weather through this weekend, with maximum temperatures nearing record levels, according to the National Weather Service.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego is one of only 12 in the US participating in a nationwide study on climate change.

Rudo y Cursi (opening May 15 at Landmark's La Jolla Village Cinemas) was a sellout at the San Diego Latino Film Festival earlier this year. Some people might also characterize it as a sellout in terms of its artistic merits. But stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna could probably draw a crowd reading a phone book and maybe that would have been better.

The White House announced Friday that it is reviving Bush-era military tribunals to prosecute about 13 of the roughly 240 detainees remaining at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Baja California's Attorney General says four Chula Vista residents killed in Tijuana last Saturday were not tourists looking for a good time south of the border. The Attorney General strongly suspects the group had drug ties.

Cutting across the Zambezi River, bridging the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world. This awesome force of nature divides two natural worlds — the tranquil meandering river above the cascade and the raging abyss of the gorge below. The upper river is idyllic, running shallow through sandstone hills and meandering around islands and reed-beds where elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, zebra, antelope and otters thrive. It is a place of epic proportions, with an epic story to tell.

Governor Schwarzenegger rolled out two grim scenarios for California today. He's proposing billions in cuts to schools, laying off 5,000 state workers and borrowing money from cash-strapped local governments.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County increased for the 10th consecutive day, rising 1.8 cents today to $2.47.

The White House released its quarterly report on stimulus spending. One area lawmaker says the money has made its way to San Diego. Peter Granitz reports from Capitol Hill.

SAN DIEGO -- Vice President Joe Biden appeared at Naval Air Station North Island today to speak to the sailors of the USS Ronald Reagan. The Vice President took the opportunity to voice the administration’s support for the sailors. He said he and President Barack Obama are working to improve the quality of life for service members and their families.

Researchers at UCSD are part of a team that's trained the body's immune system to attack a form of childhood cancer.

Few Californians who had their health insurance illegally cancelled have taken advantage of a state settlement designed to help them. A report in the Los Angeles Daily Journal finds only about five percent of people who wanted to take part in the settlement have done so.

Reading Cinemas will be the first mainstream local theater to serve alcohol with your movie -- provided you're over 21, hence the name of their new Saturday night program, Cinema 21. The drinks only flow on Saturdays so at least one night a week you can toast your favorite movies. I guess this arrives just in time to watch The Hangover.

Cornelia Wallace was a former beauty queen who became the second wife of segregationist governor George Wallace. The Old Globe's new play Cornelia tells the story of their marriage and was written by Mark Olsen, the creator and writer of the HBO hit series Big Love about a polygamous family in Utah.

Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint, star of North by Northwest and On the Waterfront, performs the work of Willa Cather in the play On the Divide at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Saint is joined on stage by her producer/director/husband Jeffrey Hayden who interpreted the works of the great pioneer novelist.

A city in San Diego County has temporarily banned the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries within its limits after hearing lengthy arguments both for and against the issue.

San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura counties will become the first in California to begin checking the immigration status of all inmates booked into jail as part of a national effort to identify and deport more illegal immigrants with criminal records, it was reported today.

As a book, Angels and Demons was the prequel to The Da Vinci Code. But as a film, Angels and Demons (opening May 15 throughout San Diego) turns out to be a sequel. Tom Hanks returns as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon to unravel another mystery.

The San Diego Museum of Man hosts the 26th Annual Indian Fair featuring Native American artists, musicians, dancers and performers.

What role does a community play in solving crimes? We'll look at how San Diego County Crime Stoppers has provided a place for the public to work with law enforcement on reporting crimes.

Governor Schwarzenegger is expected to roll out his plans to plug a multi-billion-dollar hole in the state budget Thursday. The governor has warned Californians to expect deep cuts to everything from schools to prisons.

Americans Vicky Long and John Papadakous are savoring their Caribbean vacation in Mexico. The swine flu outbreak virtually emptied the white-sand beaches of Cancun, along with its bars and hotels, meaning there is plenty of staff to pamper the couple from Baltimore.

The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in San Diego County rose to 61 percent in the first quarter of 2009, compared to 59 percent in the previous quarter and 43 percent for the same period a year ago.

Chrysler LLC wants to eliminate 789, or about 25 percent, of its U.S. 3,200 dealerships, saying in a bankruptcy court filing Thursday that the network is antiquated and has too many stores competing with each other.

Baja California authorities are looking into the deaths of four people who's bodies were found in a van in Tijuana last weekend. Mexican authorities say three are US citizens.

San Diego county's number of confirmed swine flu cases has increased to 98. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge has the lastest news on the flu for our region.

Actor Steve Zahn speaks with KPBS film critic Beth Accomando about his new film Management (opening in select theaters on May 15). The actor has appeared in Rescue Dawn, Happy Texas, Sunshine Cleaning and Hamlet. Listen to the radio feature.

A group of Baja California State Police are training with the United States Navy in San Diego.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife will be in San Diego tomorrow to meet with Navy sailors and their families.

One San Diego lawmaker wants Congress to boost mental health funding for soldiers and marines. This comes after the multiple killings at Camp Liberty in Iraq.

The San Diego County District Attorney today announced the break up of a fraud ring that bilked the Navy Federal Credit Union out of half a million dollars. KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains a local gang was behind the scam.

California State University students will pay 10 percent more in fees as the 23-campus system grapples with a severe budget crunch.

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control board has approved a permit for a proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad. Poseidon Resources says they expect to start construction on the plant later this year. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

A San Diego City Council committee endorsed legislation today that would repeal the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding gays in the military.

In a reversal, President Obama is fighting the release of dozens of new photos showing U.S. personnel allegedly abusing prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, a White House official said Wednesday.

A new round of winds could delay full containment of the Santa Barbara wildfire by a week, firefighters said Wednesday. Crews were able to contain about 80 percent of the fire before a forecast for dry and gusty weather forced them to move the date for estimated full containment back a week to May 20.

Local physician who survived Cambodia's Killing Fields as a child talks about her journey to become a doctor and how she now helps veterans suffering from PTSD.

Where did this concept of the "American Dream" come from, and is that idea sustainable in today's economy? We speak to reporter Sam Eaton from the Marketplace Sustainability Team, and Stephen Smith from American RadioWorks, about the history and future of the "American Dream."

Last week, one of Major League Baseball's most recognizable faces was suspended for 50 games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Union-Tribune reporter Mark Zeigler talks about about Manny Ramirez's alleged use of illegal substances.

Retail sales fell for a second straight month in April, raising doubts about whether consumers were regaining their desire to shop. A rebound in consumer demand is a necessary ingredient for ending the recession.

What can small business owners do to survive and succeed during these difficult economic time? We speak to the president of the local chapter of SCORE, a non-profit association that offers free advice to small businesses, about the challenges local small businesses are facing right now.

The deadline was extended for veteran teachers in the San Diego Unified School District to take a financial buyout plan in exchange for retiring early. The San Diego school board voted yesterday to give them two more weeks.

California's Department of Education released a new report pinpointing high school dropout rates in the state. The data is based on a new student tracking system that's giving administrators a more accurate picture of the problem in their own districts.

Department heads in San Diego County told the Board of Supervisors today how budget cuts would affect county services. Less money equals fewer programs, longer wait times for assistance and more work for fewer employees.

San Diego County will not spend $3 million on a so-called Super Scooper plane to fight wildfires this summer.

State officials hope to use federal stimulus dollars to make sweeping changes in California's foster care system. That's among recommendations a Blue Ribbon Commission released at the state capitol today.

The high school dropout problem in the San Diego Unified School District is not as bad as previously reported. New data shows the county's rate also improved slightly.

The California Assembly has approved a bill that would prevent insurers from charging women more than men for health coverage. Insurance companies warn the measure could drive up costs for everyone.

In this episode, EVERYDAY FOOD creates delicious recipes that will put more fruit in the diet. Lucinda starts off with crispy coconut shrimp, serving them with two dipping sauces - mustard-curry yogurt and sweet and sour sauce - and two perfect sides, steamed broccoli with lime dressing and fluffy white rice. Today's "Have You Tried?" ingredient is pomegranate juice. Allie uses this sweet and tart juice to glaze chicken and serves it with a Persian-inspired couscous with pistachios.

THE RAPE OF EUROPA relates how Europe’s art treasures survived the systematic theft and deliberate destruction perpetrated by Germany’s Third Reich during World War II. For 12 years, the Nazis looted and destroyed art on a scale unprecedented in history, but heroic young art historians and curators from America and Europe fought to rescue and return millions of lost, hidden and stolen treasures. The legacy of this tragic time in history continues to play out today as families recover looted works of art and nations fight over the ill-gotten spoils of war.

Social Security and Medicare are fading even faster under the weight of the recession, heading for insolvency years sooner than previously expected, the government warned Tuesday.

The San Diego Union-Tribune today named news executive Ed Moss as its president and publisher effective May 18.

The high school dropout problem in the San Diego Unified School District is not as bad as previously reported. District officials say the four year dropout rate last year was nearly cut in half compared to the year before -- going from roughly 18 percent to about nine percent.

Chula Vista Port Commissioner Michael Najera is likely to find out tonight whether he has the confidence of the city he represents. That's when the Chula Vista City Council is scheduled to talk about whether Najera should keep his job.

San Diego's Alan Bersin is now the Department of Homeland Security's Special Representative for Border Affairs. This is Bersin's second reign as border czar. He says the United States and Mexico share a historic opportunity to combat drug and human smuggling together by jointly addressing border issues at their root.

Independent Sacramento political consultant Leo McElroy talks on Morning Edition about more bad fiscal news coming out of Sacramento.

The leader of the Sweetwater Union High School District is under attack for the way he's handling contract negotiations with six of the district's employee unions. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis explains.

Are you having trouble paying down your credit debt right now? We speak to a credit counselor and a certified public accountant about avoiding credit debt, and to discuss how people can reduce their credit debt in these tough economic times.

What are the top stories coming out of the White House this week? We speak to NPR White House Correspondent Scott Horsley about a plan to reduce healthcare costs, the $1.8 trillion budget deficit for this year, and the highlights from the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.

KPBS legal analysts discusses religion in the classroom, fleeting expletives in broadcasting and what Justice Souter's retirement will mean to the Supreme Court.

Teen critic Michael Shymon wasn't even born when the original Star Trek series debuted on American television. But he comes to the new Star Trek film as a fan of its director J.J. Abrams. Find out if the movie can turn him into a Trekkie... or is that a Trekker?

Eleven Taliban suicide bombers attacked government buildings in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, sparking running gunbattles that killed at least 20 people and wounded three U.S. troops, officials said. U.S. and Afghan troops freed 20 hostages taken by the insurgents.

A San Diego-based company called Vical is bringing some groundbreaking technology to the effort to stop swine flu. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge has more.

Some California lawmakers want to set up an alert system to help find senior citizens who wander away from home. It would work much like the Amber Alert, where the public is notified about a missing child.

Hundreds of veteran teachers in two San Diego county school districts have taken a financial buyout plan in exchange for retiring early. But it's unclear whether that'll translate into big savings for their districts.

California's teen birth rate has fallen to the lowest level on record. State health officials say there's been a big decline in teen births since 1991.

Poirot is un-enthusiastic when a Mrs. Todd asks him to find her a cook. He is positively insulted when she proceeds to dismiss him from the case with a one guinea fee for his services. There's no mystery too small for Hercule Poirot, and once he agrees to take on a case he sees it through to a conclusion. Poirot has also realized that there is a great deal more to the cook's disappearance than meets the eye.

Every weekend in San Diego, photographers are making images and capturing the city's energy. Culture Lust showcases the best of the photographs tagged "San Diego" on Flickr.

An astronaut who earned her doctorate at UC San Diego was blasted into space today aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, which took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a mission to make improvements to the Hubble Space Telescope.

State lawmakers are considering legislation that would require motorcycles to pass smog checks starting in 2012. State Senator Fran Pavley says motorcycles create greenhouse gasses linked to global warming and owners make the problem worse by altering the engines of their bikes.

One of the most high-profile players in the National League West has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball. And San Diego State Pitcher Stephen Strausberg is making a name for himself in a better way.

Wildfires can strike in the West at any time, as Santa Barbara is currently demonstrating. We'll get a look at how the conditions are shaping up for wildfires in the San Diego region for summer and fall and how the county is preparing to combat them.

A wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes is 70 percent contained and firefighters are mopping up hot spots before nightfall when moderate winds are predicted.

The California state Assembly has passed legislation intended to reduce litter from plastic bottle caps. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the idea is to recycle the caps and keep them out of the ocean.

Coronado is considered a paradise by many. But as traffic clogs the streets, the city is now looking at options like a new toll on the bridge to alleviate congestion on it streets.

Oceanside may temporarily suspend medical marijuana dispensaries from opening until the city council decides how to regulate them.

The Hubble Space Telescope is about to get a long-awaited makeover, as NASA astronauts head out on a final mission to repair the aging but beloved observatory. Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off Monday just after 2 p.m. ET.

Living in Downtown San Diego’s East Village means being close to a lot of the city’s main attractions. But the urban lifestyle also brings with it several challenges. KPBS reporter Katie Orr attended an East Village community forum during the weekend to hear the concerns of residents and business owners.

Technological advances have helped many disabled people perform normal functions again. Helping blind people to see is beyond today's technology. But tomorrow's technology may be able to do it. A researcher at San Diego's Salk Institute is trying to create a prosthetic device that can restore sight. KPBS health reporter Tom Fudge explains.

California is in its third year of drought, and many farmers in the state's crop-rich Central Valley are looking at dusty fields, or worse, and are cutting down their orchards before the trees die.

J.J. Abrams has developed a cult following for his TV Series Lost. Now he tries to tap into one of the most devout cult following of all time as he attempts to reboot the Star Trek franchise with an origin film about how the crew of the Enterprise first met.

Remember the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap? Well here's a documentary about a band that you could call the real life Spinal Tap. The film has now moved to Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas so if you missed it during its one-week run at the Ken Cinema you have a second chance to catch it.

While local news organizations are shrinking, KPBS news is expanding its online presence, launching a new television program and celebrating record audience numbers on KPBS 89.5 FM.

Combining education, entertainment and a wide variety of San Diego County wildlife, the 3 coastal lagoons of Carlsbad - Agua Hedionda, Batiquitos and Buena Vista - are hosting the first Migratory Bird Festival.

Merchants in San Diego’s Sea Port Village were anticipating a busy few weeks when cruise ships were diverted here from Mexico because of swine flu. But KPBS reporter Katie Orr found out tourists are picky about where they spend their money.

Throughout his masterful career, Michelangelo glorified the church, etching Catholic ideals into the sculptures and artwork that defined religion for the masses. Now, 500 years after his death, art historian Antonio Forcellino has found evidence of Michelangelo’s involvement with a clandestine fellowship trying to reform the Catholic Church from within.

In the mid-1960s, Bernard Madoff tapped money from Jewish businessmen at exclusive country clubs with the promise of steady guaranteed returns on their investments. He then set his sights on Europe and Latin America, brokering deals with powerful hedge fund managers and feeder funds from Buenos Aires to Geneva. Billions of dollars were channeled to Madoff’s investment firm, and his feeders became fabulously wealthy. The competition wondered how the man could produce such steady returns in good times and bad. There were allegations that Madoff was “front-running” or operating a Ponzi scheme, which the SEC investigated several times over the last two decades. Madoff remained untouched until December 11, 2008, when he admitted it was all “one big lie.”

On the night of February 27, 1973, 54 cars rolled, horns blaring, into a small hamlet on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Within hours, some 200 Oglala Lakota and American Indian Movement (AIM) activists had seized the few major buildings in town and police had cordoned off the area. Demanding redress for grievances — some going back more than 100 years — the protesters captured the world’s attention for 71 gripping days.

Platinum Equity, a Beverly Hills investment firm, completed its purchase of the San Diego Union-Tribune this week. What will new ownership at the Union-Tribune mean to the community the newspaper serves?

The new Star Trek movie wins over a new fan. Read the KPBS Teen Critic's review, and share her excitement about meeting actor Faran Tahir at the preview screening. Plus see who was first in line at the screening.

The Escondido city council has adopted a plan to close a $6.7 million hole in next year’s budget

Percussionist Steve Schick and architect Mark Reddington explain the complex acoustical design in the new state-of-the-art Conrad Prebys Concert Hall at UCSD. The concert hall is the final project of world renown acoustician Cyril Harris and it's positioned to be one of the finest chamber concert halls in the world.

The Jesusita wildfire in Santa Barbara County has burned hundreds acres, destroyed dozens of homes and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Dozens of San Diego firefighters are helping battle the flames. Joining us on Morning Edition is Mike Marcotte, a media consultant and the former news director of KPBS Radio who lives in the Santa Barbara area.

A new study from UC Santa Barbara finds if steps aren't taken to protect California sheephead fish habitat, there's a chance the entire male fish population could be wiped out. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce explains.

There's been an increase in sales of guns and ammunition right now, and suppliers are having a hard time dealing with the demand. How does the increase in gun and ammo sales relate to discussions in Washington, D.C. about re-enacting a ban on assault weapons? &

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a plan that sets restrictions for which days you can water your lawn in the city. What are the specific details of the plan, and how will it be enforced?

California could have some trouble paying its bills in the near future. The state's non-partisan legislative analyst says the state may need to borrow more than $20 billion next fiscal year to keep paying its bills -- an amount the analyst says California would have a hard time getting.

Mark O'Connor is a violinist admired by lovers of classical, jazz, and country music alike. He's won two Grammy awards, one for his album New Nashville Cats and one for Appalachian Journey an album he collaborated on with Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer. O'Connor is known for his varied musical interests and his ability to integrate them in his compositions. One of his projects is a chamber group called Appalachia Waltz Trio.

The San Diego Union-Tribune says it's eliminating 192 positions, including a number of newsroom jobs, as part of a post-sale restructuring. The layoff announcement comes three days after completion of the sale of the Union-Tribune to Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity.

San Diego will use some of its federal stimulus money to make Balboa Park greener. KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains that doesn’t mean planting more trees.

Like all strains of influenza, the swine flu is expected to die down as warm weather sets in. But that doesn't mean it'll be gone for good. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge has more.

High school and university students go back to class in Baja California. Schools reopened throughout Mexico Thursday morning after being shuttered for a week due to swine flu. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.

UC San Diego is set to open their new, $53 million Conrad Prebys Music Center on May 8. We'll find out what's in store for the making of great music at the center.

Award-winning nature writer Richard Conniff tells one adventurous tale after another in his new book Swimming With Piranhas At Feeding Time: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff with Animals.

Firefighters struggled Friday to get ahead of a raging wildfire that was moving dangerously close to heavily populated areas in this idyllic coastal city and had forced the evacuation of an estimated 30,000 residents. Neighborhoods of multimillion dollar mansions stood like ghost towns, bathed in the eerie orange glow cast by the nearby blaze.

What can be done to reduce civilian deaths during armed conflicts? We speak to a representative from Human Rights Watch about the most common causes of civilian casualties, and how governments can reduce the number of civilian deaths in war.

The first two cases of swine flu were confirmed in San Diego. Five days before Mexico City shut down, the Naval Health Research Center and a little-known border health project identified two children with the virus. The border project has quietly monitored disease along the US Mexico border for the last ten years.

If you weren't lucky enough to catch this delicately crafted film at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival earlier this year, you now have a second chance to see it. Don't squander the opportunity!

If you feel like dancing then a pair of films may make you want to kick up your heels. The dancing's fine but the filmmaking leaves something to be desired.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was in San Diego today to stress the important role citizens have in preventing and fighting wildfires. KPBS reporter Katie Orr explains the Governor says one line of defense would be a vote for the May 19th ballot propositions.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told California lawmakers Wednesday that border security is improving. Tanya Snyder reports.

The City of Chula Vista is facing the hard reality of an overwhelming “no” vote to a proposed sales tax increase. KPBS reporter Alison St John spoke to Mayor Cheryl Cox after 67 percent of Chula Vistans rejected the tax hike.

J.J. Abrams is poised to reboot the Star Trek franchise with his origin film but will the new movie respect the fans and the original series or will it venture off into new frontiers? Fans of the series discuss what has made the show so enduring and influential. Listen to the radio feature.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said yesterday California should talk about legalizing marijuana. Today the controversy over those comments followed him to San Diego. KPBS reporter Tom Fudge has more.

Rattlesnake season has arrived, and California residents should take steps to avoid getting bitten as severe reactions are becoming more common, a UC San Diego doctor cautioned today.

What should people do to prepare for a possible medical emergency with their pet? We speak to a pair of local veterinarians about the most common pet-related medical emergencies, and what people can do to improve their pet's chances of survival after a snake bite, car accident, and heat stroke.

FBI agents are looking into whether a letter written on behalf of Bill Clinton's former military adviser was doctored. This week, a federal judge sentenced Wade Sanders to 37 months in prison for possession of child porn. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma has details.

Is life toxic? Award-winning paleontologist Peter Ward thinks it is and has put forth a provocative theory about the unhealthy relationship between humans and other life forms and the planet in his new book The Medea Hypothesis: Is Life on Earth Ultimately Self-Destructive?

A new survey shows most Californians are concerned about having a sufficient supply of water. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us most people are also willing to do more to conserve.

Should Congress and the White House reinstate the federal ban on assault weapons? We'll talk with KPBS Political Correspondent Gloria Penner about the politics of guns.

Calmer winds and an overnight attack by water-dropping helicopters kept a wildfire from advancing early Wednesday in the hills above Santa Barbara, authorities said. However, the blaze still threatened 2,000 homes and forecasters said the breezes could turn to gusts later in the day.

Are you prepared for the May 19 special election? We speak to representatives from the campaigns for and against propositions 1A-1F about the budget-related measures on the state ballot.

Two Marine pilots were killed when a Super Cobra military attack helicopter carrying live ordnance crashed in the East County, sparking a quickly extinguished one-acre brush fire, authorities said today.

International news may be affecting the price of oil in the US as conflicts heat up in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. We're joined on Morning Edition by Phil Flynn Senior Market Analyst at Alaron Trading in Chicago, and a Fox Business News contributor.

The Obama administration on Wednesday immersed itself in high-stakes diplomacy with the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, seeking more cooperation against Taliban militants. At the outset, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton publicly apologized for a U.S. bombing strike that the Afghans said killed dozens of civilians.

The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to declare a level two drought in the city. Council members say this is the first step in creating a more comprehensive water conservation policy for the city. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details.

Chuck Palahniuk's tenth novel is a biting cultural satire narrated by Pygmy, a 13-year-old terrorist who has infiltrated the US disguised as a foreign exchange student. Written as a series of dispatches from Pygmy, the prose doesn't follow grammatical rules or sentence structure, but includes Palahniuk's propensity to push the boundaries.

San Diego’s City Council is facing a difficult decision. Should it move forward with plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new City Hall? KPBS Metro Reporter Katie Orr spoke with several Council members to see where they stand on the issue.

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is working with local school district officials to reopen three local high schools where students were dismissed, based on new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

San Diego City Council votes on a new Salary Ordinance today. But the city’s lowest paid workers are still fighting for more flexibility in how to meet the 6 percent cut in pay and benefits. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

A UCSD professor says liberal or conservative politics might run in your family. KPBS Reporter Tom Fudge explains.

Does the glass ceiling still exist? According to one of the most powerful women in American business, it does. But Nina DiSesa, chairman of the advertising agency McCann Erickson New York, says to get to the top you have to play the game like a man.

A UCSD political science professor's discovery of 47 letters written by, to and about Benjamin Franklin shed new light on the relationship between the British crown and colonists during the French and Indian War.

Small businesses are an important part of the local economy. We'll look at how microloans are stepping up and providing credit and hope to small businesses.

San Diego State University could become a smoke-free campus or increase current restrictions. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce says the faculty senate meets Tuesday to consider clearing the air.

U.S. and Afghan officials agree that most of the 21,000 U.S. troops President Obama plans to send to Afghanistan in the coming months should be deployed in Kandahar and its surrounding areas to fight the Taliban resurgence.

Authorities investigating the abduction of a 3-year-old boy from his home received dozens of tips from the public but none of the calls had resulted in solid information, officials said Tuesday.

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order ensuring all state resources will be available to battle wildfires this summer. But, the announcement comes on the heels of reports that the governor plans to cut Cal Fire funds by ten-percent-or roughly 1,700 workers.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders wants the city council to approve his call for mandatory water restrictions.

The problem of being overweight in America is a problem of overeating. The habits that cause people to overeat are hard to break. But a researcher at UC San Diego will embark on a test that seeks to understand and overcome those bad habits. KPBS health reporter Tom Fudge says the key it to understand the psychology of eating too much.

The CDC has confirmed nine new cases of swine flu in San Diego county. Meanwhile, all of the suspected cases at a San Diego State child care center have come up negative.

U.S. Border czar Alan Bersin says the US and Mexico share an historic opportunity to confront drug and human smuggling together. Bersin kicked off a tour of the Southwest border in San Diego Monday.

When New York Times journalist Lily Koppel climbed into a dumpster outside her apartment building, she didn't know the extent of the treasures that lay inside. What came of it was a book based on a 75-year-old diary kept by a young New York woman in the 1930s.

A female loggerhead turtle sets off to lay eggs in the place where she was born. Her voyage will take her across the Pacific, on the longest journey undertaken by any animal on land or sea.

This six-hour comedy epic showcases the most hilarious men, women and moments in American entertainment and why they made us laugh.

More than 1,000 years ago, Vikings from Norway terrorized Europe; their legendary raids made their name synomous with marauding pirates. Today, this ruggedly beautiful country houses the Nobel Peace Center and stands one of the most eco-friendly countries on earth. How could such a progressive nation spring from such a violent past?

Nearly five years ago, California voters decided to provide $3 billion for human embryonic stem cell research. Despite continued debate over using human embryos, the progress and promise of stem cell research to treat disease marches forward.

Over the weekend, a team of scientists, volunteers and educators participated in a 24-hour "rapid biodiversity assessment" at Mission Trails Regional Park, called BioBlitz. How many species of plants and animals did the BioBlitzers find?

What are the key similarities and differences between the 2009 H1-N1 influenza strain and the Spanish flu that killed millions of people in 1918 and 1919? We speak to one of San Diego's leading infectious disease experts about the history and future of the influenza virus.

The San Diego City Council will vote today on whether to enter into an agreement with the County to share some legal services. The City Attorney says the deal could save millions of dollars.

UC San Diego engineering students are driving into the future with an electric racecar. They hope to fuel the trend toward "green" vehicles. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us they hope the car helps fuel the trend toward "green" vehicles.

How are efforts to slow the spread of the swine flu affecting operations at the U.S.-Mexico Border? How are businesses in Tijuana being affected by the swine flu outbreak? We speak to KPBS Border Reporter Amy Isackson about how the swine flu is impacting activities at the border, and throughout Baja California.

The problem of being overweight in America is a problem of overeating. The habits that cause people to overeat are hard to break. But a researcher at UC San Diego will embark on a test that seeks to understand and overcome those bad habits.

San Diego State University temporarily closed the school's Children's Center because several children and staff have reported flu-like symptoms, and San Diego county health officials reported four new confirmed cases of the so-called Swine Flu today.

A Canadian animated film about aliens fighting off a human invasion takes on the summer blockbuster Wolverine at the box office.

A young boy obsessed with the afterlife and an aging magician form an unlikely friendship.

San Diego County authorities say they confirmed three cases of swine flu, bringing the county's total to 11 since the outbreak began. Three public schools closed.

There's a behind-the-scenes battling brewing over who should be the next San Diego County Sheriff. Who's contending to be the next sheriff, and what kind of political backing do they have in the community?

The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States has surpassed 100, and the World Health Organization recently said a swine flu pandemic is "imminent." What is the United States doing to prevent the spread of the swine flu within its borders?

Senator Arlen Specter surprised many this week with the announcement that he is switching his political party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. What motivated Specter to make his decision?

Companies are constantly looking for ways to reduce healthcare expenses. A number of firms are choosing employee wellness programs as a means to accomplish that goal. San Diego's Scripps Health started its program in 2006, and says the initiative has helped the company avoid millions of dollars.

San Diego State University researchers say filter-tipped cigarette butts are toxic to marine and fresh-water fish. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us they want those butts classified as hazardous waste.

The below-normal snowpack in the Sierra could mean more water restrictions next summer ... and lost jobs. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce explains.

The San Diego Police Department is reporting crime is down for the first three months of 2009. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details.

People gathered at San Diego City College near Downtown San Diego today to rally and march in support of immigrant rights. KPBS reporter Katie Orr has details.

Normally, the San Diego County Sheriff is elected by county voters every four years. But this year, it will be very, very different. Sometime this spring, instead of a potential 1.5 million registered voters going to the polls to choose one of the county's most powerful officials, the decision will be made by only five people. True, those five are themselves powerful as members of the County Board of Supervisors and collectively have spent almost 100 years in office. But since all are white and Republican in an increasingly racially diverse region where Democrats now outnumber Republicans, it is reasonable to question whether their choice would reflect the voters.

A lot of people in San Diego have shown up at doctors' offices, thinking they have the swine flu. But that doesn't mean they'll be tested for it