A record 142,000 people are hoping to attend a University of California campus as a freshman or transfer student this fall. Applications are up significantly for several groups.

California’s Assembly Speaker says he’s found a way to prevent major cuts to state-funded child care.

Reporter Amita Sharma tells us about the local attorney, Judy Clarke, who will defend the alleged Tucson shooter, Jared Loughner. Plus, learn more about the San Diego-based U.S. District Court Judge who has been assigned to preside over the case.

Fresh Start is a local nonprofit that offers free reconstructive surgeries to children with facial deformities. Dwane Brown talks about the program with plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Cohen.

North County 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe was murdered 13 years ago, but the Crowe family's civil lawsuit against Escondido and Oceanside police detectives could finally be moving forward in federal court. KPBS Senior News Editor Mark Sauer, who's covered the case since the girl's slaying in 1998, joins us to explain the latest legal ruling.

San Diego leaders urge unions to consider a contract concession that would freeze base salaries upon which pensions are calculated.

A U.S. Marine died today when the amphibious-assault vessel he was training aboard capsized and sank off the coast of Camp Pendleton, authorities reported.

Blue Shield of California has announced a new policy where customers will get refunds if their rates are found to be too high. The health insurance group announced the refund policy after being heavily criticized for filing a large rate increase request with the state.

A tentative agreement between Chula Vista officials and the city's Police Officers' Association could prevent the layoff of 20 officers from what officials say is an already depleted force.

They say democracy is a terrible system of government until you consider the alternative. But there’s got to be something that works better than democracy in California.

A San Diego-based environmental group is using a grant from a federal agency to reduce cross-border trash and pollution. The WiLDCOAST project will benefit beaches on either side of the border.

San Diego City Council President Tony Young joins us to talk about Mayor Jerry Sanders' State of the City Address, and to discuss his council agenda for 2011.

Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Dana Priest investigates the terrorism-industrial complex that grew up in the wake of 9/11. Against a backdrop of recent mail bomb threats from Al Qaeda in Yemen and growing concerns about homegrown terrorists, Priest explores the growing reach of homeland security, fusion centers, battlefield technologies, and data collecting into the lives of ordinary Americans.

Highlights of this episode from Miami Beach include a rare, Qing Dynasty (early 18th century) vase; a 1956 Gretsch Chet Atkins Model 6120 guitar; and a charming oil painting by popular Victorian artist John George Brown, valued at $40,000 to $50,000. Host Mark L. Walberg meets appraiser Eric Silver at Miami's Wolfsonian Museum to examine its large collection of World's Fair objects.

The Green Hornet" began as a popular radio show in the 30s and was a short-lived TV show in the 60s. Now a big screen version of "The Green Hornet" (opening January 14 throughout San Diego and in 3D in select theaters) arrives and it pisses me off.

Mayor Jerry Sanders' priorities for his final two years in office include changing the pension system, allowing more managed competition for city projects and expansion of the downtown convention center.

In his first budget plan, California Governor Jerry Brown called for more than $12 billion in spending cuts and a restructuring of state government.

Accused mass shooter Jared Loughner has been assigned Judy Clarke, a San Diego attorney with federal death penalty experience. Larry Burns, a U.S. district judge based in San Diego was assigned to hear the case after Arizona judges recused themselves.

The country’s economic outlook may be improving, but the average time Americans are spending without jobs is now nearly 9 months. Some San Diegans are using their longer-than-expected joblessness to make some big changes.

The new Autism Discovery Institute in San Diego is one of only three facilities like it in the country and the first in California.

One of the most controversial suggestions Gov. Jerry Brown made this week to balance the state budget would take money from redevelopment and redistribute it to schools and other local government services.

The crossborder trade relationship between the U.S. and Mexico has been a difficult one over the last few years. This week, both countries met to try to improve it.