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.

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 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.

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.