Sofia Coppola’s new film “Somewhere” (opening January 7 at Landmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas) is a disappointing work from the filmmaker who gave us “Lost in Translation.”

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin says controlling the border in Tuscon and beefing up security off San Diego's coast are top priorities this year.

Weary travelers arriving at the San Diego International Airport caught a break Thursday. Passengers arriving at Lindbergh Field will enjoy shorter wait times for taxicabs starting later this month.

Don't look for tax forms in your mail. State tax returns are going electronic from this year.

Today we got the news that National Public Radio’s Senior Vice President for News Ellen Weiss resigned, following a company review of the firing of Juan Williams. Weiss was the person who gave Williams the axe after he appeared on Fox News and said airline passengers in Muslim garb gave him the creeps.

A new law requires California middle-schoolers to get a whooping-cough vaccine this year.

In Iraq, radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has returned home after nearly four years in exile. He has long been one of Iraq's most vocal critics of the U.S., and his militia, the Mahdi Army, clashed repeatedly with American forces.

Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park"), “Downton Abbey” depicts the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912. Featuring an all-star cast, including Hugh Bonneville (MASTERPIECE CLASSIC “Miss Austen Regrets”), Dame Maggie Smith ("Harry Potter") and Elizabeth McGovern. Laura Linney hosts. KPBS will rebroadcast all four episodes from season one starting October 21st through November 11, 2012.

The communist plot has been delayed. Okay, I’m kidding. I just can’t resist a mention of the movie “Dr. Strangelove” when talking about fluoridation of water, which has been postponed in San Diego.

Two San Diego congressmen are urging the government to defend the Mount Soledad memorial, including the 43-foot cross.

Host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Marshall Martin head to the world-renowned San Diego Zoo to discuss the appeal of vintage Steiff animals, the plush-toy phenomenon started more than 130 years ago. Highlights include an original, handwritten draft of the 1933 popular American song "Stormy Weather," recorded by the likes of Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald; an heirloom circa 1864 Tiffany cameo complete with a collection of authentic period jewelry; and a turn-of-the-century aristocratic portrait by Robert Henri, valued at $250,000 to $350,000.

Debunk the science behind "CSI" at "Strange Bones," find your exuberance at "Exuberance Found" and "feel pretty, oh so pretty" at "West Side Story" this Culture Lust Weekend.

2011 is here and the music and arts scene in San Diego is off to a strong start. We'll talk with two writers for San Diego CityBeat about what they recommend for your weekend itinerary.

We'll talk about a new exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Man called Strange Bones. It's an opportunity to present some intriguing skeletal curiosities to the public and to find out what's true and what's not when it comes to bones in forensic science.

A plan to solve some of the problems with traffic in Balboa Park was announced last summer, with the support of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. It called for a privately funded renovation to remove parking spaces in the Plaza de Panama and make the plaza a pedestrian-only space. At the time, the idea, spearheaded by Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, received wide support. Now, the proposed method of diverting traffic from the Plaza by means of a bypass bridge is being criticized by a number of local organizations.

What are the greatest threats currently facing libraries? We speak to the president of the American Library Association about the budget cuts that libraries throughout the nation are facing, and look ahead to how libraries will continue to evolve in the future.

A key chapter from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill's final report shows the panel is pulling no punches in assigning blame for last April's oil rig explosion.

California's health care system is preparing for a major shakeup on January 17th. That's when new regulations take effect that dictate maximum time a patient has to wait to get a doctor's appointment.

About 600 people with no place to live came to Golden Hall, next to San Diego City Hall, on Wednesday to look for help. One of them was a man named Hollywood, and his story was simple.