San Diego’s economy could take a hit from major federal defense spending cuts announced by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Studies show San Diego is one of the biggest recipients of DOD money in the nation.

Award-winning filmmaker Natalia Almada brings to life audio recordings she inherited from her grandmother, daughter of Plutarco Elias Calles, a revolutionary general who became Mexico’s president in 1924.

Surgeons at UCSD have performed what they say is the nation's first stomach reduction surgery through the mouth. It's part of an effort to take minimally invasive surgery to another level.

The amazing Seattle Central Library, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, was the scene of a recent flash mob, who collectively wanted to "dance with somebody."

Two giant pandas born at the San Diego Zoo, now 3 and 5 years old, will be sent to China at the end of the summer, it was announced today.

A new San Diego State University wildfire staffing study says adding a single firefighter to every fire engine could save the state $41 million a year. An extra set of boots on the ground could also save lives and help crews gain control of wildfires more quickly, according to the study.

Bail was denied today for a Mexican official accused of using his post to gain access to confidential law enforcement information in the United States, then sharing it with high-ranking members of a violent Tijuana drug gang.

Controversial Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio was greeted today by dozens of protesters when he arrived to give a speech at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo.

Culture Lust contributor Randy Dotinga is an avid reader who's made the switch from hardcovers to reading entire books on his phone. Dotinga makes the case for reading on a tiny, hand-held screen.

We speak to filmmaker Laura Varela about her documentary, "As Long As I Remember: American Veteranos." The stories of three Mexican-American Vietnam veterans and their families take us through a journey of their lives: growing up in the Mexican-American community in San Antonio, Texas; their military service in Vietnam and their lives after the war. We'll also hear from Nick Aguilar, a Chula Vista resident and Vietnam veteran, about his experience during the war.

How will local farmers be affected by the light brown apple moth quarantine? We speak to a nursery owner and the county's agriculture commissioner about the risks the moth poses to local agriculture, and the challenges the quarantine will create for farmers who ship products out of the state.

Since the Los Angeles Times revealed the extremely high salaries and benefits the small, working-class Southern California charter city of Bell paid their city manager and council members, scrutiny has fallen on what other cities pay their public employees. We look at the results of a KPBS survey of cities in San Diego County as well as the trend toward charter cities.

Some are calling it the Summer that never happened. We'll discuss the unusually cool and cloudy weather we've experienced the past couple of months, and what it's done to to your Summer!

State workers in California may not be furloughed after all. A judge has granted a temporary restraining order against the governor's decision to reinstitute the three unpaid days off a month. We're joined on Morning Edition by nonpartisan Sacramento political consultant Leo McElroy.

The ACLU in San Diego has filed a lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of immigrant detainees with mental disabilities. The civil liberties group wants court-appointed attorneys for those who can't represent themselves.

Furloughs for State Workers are on hold, at least for now. The three unpaid days off a month were supposed to begin again this Friday, but a judge has called them off.

Five people were killed when a plane carrying nine people crashed in a remote part of southern Alaska, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Former Sen. Ted Stevens and former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe were believed to have been aboard the flight.

It's always nice when films and/or filmmakers I like go on to bigger and better things. So I have two updates for you.

The nation's education czar says graduating more Latino students is a key to fixing the country's economy. That’s because more college-educated Latinos will help the nation compete.

When you have a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, you're confused. You deny it. You wonder why your kid has to take Ritalin when you did absolutely fine without it.

California's power companies want ratepayers to cover all uninsured costs from wildfires. The utilities claim an insurance crisis has made the request necessary.