Five out of six calls to a county hotline designed to help residents access food stamps and other benefits are dropped, according to a new report. That confirms what local leaders have been saying for a long time.

A spectrum of spectacles are coming your way: from Titanic 100-Year Anniversaries at the Natural History Museum, to pop-up dinner parties in Normal Heights -- this weekend's events hold the big and the small for your enjoyment.

San Diego's African-American community joins a nationwide effort this week to reduce the infection rate for HIV and AIDS. We'll speak to two local activists who have found their calling in taking the message of prevention and protection from HIV/AIDS to the community.

Taste the local bounty of San Diego when it's freshest.

The City of San Diego and millionaire philanthropist Irwin Jacobs want to remove cars from the center of Balboa Park. The Save Our Heritage Organisation is opposed to parts of their plan, sued the city for the way it handled the project agreement and won. People on both sides of the issue discuss whether the suit and a possible loss in historic designation will set the project back.

The causes of severe or clinical depression are as varied as the current treatments for the condition. We look at what depression is and what can be done about it.

A federal appeals court has declared California's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, paving the way for a likely U.S. Supreme Court showdown on the voter-approved law.

Scripps Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Eric Topol, outlines his theories of how technology is transforming medicine and how slowly the medical establishment is catching on.

Yul Kwon won the TV show "Survivor" and is now taking on a new adventure. He will uncover what makes America work and the people who keep it going on "America Revealed," which airs on PBS.

Roberts will deliver the State of The County Address on Wednesday, February 8. We'll hear a preview and ask Roberts, who was elected to chair the board of supervisors last month, about regional development and what role if any the County will play in building a new Chargers stadium.

We look at a hate crime that made national news and how that community responded. We also learn what's being done in San Diego to teach students about acceptance and respect of others.

The 22nd Annual San Diego Jewish Film Festival kicks off Thursday and runs through February 19 with more than 40 of the best contemporary Jewish themed films from around the world.

Panelists look at the large amounts of money swirling around local and national politics; the lack of it in East Village businesses during the Padres' off-season; and whether money caused the Pala Band of Indians to expel 154 tribal members.

The two-day shutdown at San Onofre is likely costing the power plant $600,000 to $1 million a day, according to an expert on power plant security.

From new theatrical productions to innovative new dining spots, there are many new things to try throughout the city this weekend.

Culture Clash returns to La Jolla Playhouse with a new play, "American Night: The Ballad of Juan José," which examines our collective history through the eyes of an immigrant as he studies for his U.S. citizenship test.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said a tiny amount of radiation could have escaped into the atmosphere from the San Onofre nuclear power plant after a water leak prompted operators to shut down the reactor as a precaution.

A key hearing Monday may be the last phase in deciding whether a rock quarry north of San Diego can go forward. A supporter and opponent of the Liberty Quarry projects argue their sides.

A $5-million projection system recently installed at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s planetarium will allow visitors to view the skies as if they are in space. The center's director and an astrophysics expert explain the new system and its ability to bring black holes to life.

A nuclear reactor at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station remained off-line today due to an equipment problem that sent a small, non-hazardous amount of radioactive gas into an auxiliary building and possibly into the atmosphere, authorities said.

There's a big push underway to recruit 360 more people to help San Diego County foster children by volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

Today marks the end of redevelopment as we know it in the City of San Diego. We'll talk about the legacy of the Centre City Development Corporation and the Southeastern Development Corporation and find out if and when the city's $4 billion in redevelopment earmarks will proceed.

Sara Kruzan has spent more than half her life in a Calif. prison for killing her pimp. Kruzan’s San Diego relatives and local advocates are pressing Gov. Jerry Brown to grant her clemency.

The 2012 presidential election is expected to be the most expensive election in U.S. history. Observers say it should significantly outpace the $2.4 billion spent in 2008.

Defense attorney Neal Puckett says Frank Wuterich chose a plea deal in the Haditha trial because he felt morally responsible for what occurred.

Artist in residence Monique Gaffney talks about creating "Being Henrietta" (being performed at the Arthur Wagner Theater at UC San Diego February 2 at 7 p.m., with a reception at 6 p.m. and expert panel and post performance Q&A).

The trial of Marine Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich comes to an end; Doug Manchester presents his vision for the San Diego waterfront in the pages of the U-T. The city reaches agreement with six unions on retiree health benefits, and the funding for an expanded convention center comes up for a vote.

When a parent becomes seriously ill, is it best to keep the children in the dark or let them know what's going on? The authors of "How To Help Children Through a Parent's Serious Illness" talk about how to deal with the fear and sadness.

The California Supreme Court will review how medical marijuana dispensaries are regulated in the state. Medical marijuana advocates are praising the decision to consider the conflict between state and federal laws. We'll talk about the decision and what it means for dispensaries and medical marijuana users in San Diego County.

The San Diego Black Film Festival will launch its 10th season this Thursday at Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters.

A Marine accused of killing unarmed Iraqi women and children, who pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty on Monday, will not serve time behind bars, a judge ruled today. The sentencing ends the largest and longest-running criminal case against U.S. troops to emerge from the Iraq War.

The California High Speed Rail is on the governor's agenda, but critics claim it's an impractical dream. The price tag for building a high speed train connecting Northern and Southern California keeps going up, and that's just one of the problems facing the project. We'll hear from the California High Speed Rail Authority's outgoing chairman.

From an opera-inspired cooking class and new dining destinations, to live dance music from Mexico City and “transcendental folk” from Colorado, there is no shortage of things to see, hear and do in San Diego.

The creative team behind San Diego Rep's new workshop musical "A Hammer, A Bell and A Song to Sing" had to be flexible and inventive to get their work on the stage.

The Museum of Photographic Arts prepares for one of the most significant film festivals of the year, presented by Human Rights Watch. The festival opens Friday through Monday, January 23.

Women may live longer than men, but when it comes to saving for retirement, they are behind the curve. We'll hear from a finance expert with tips on how to save now for your retirement.

Gov. Jerry Brown gave Californians a choice between higher taxes and deeper cuts to public schools and other core functions of government during his State of the State address.

It turns out CO2 emissions aren't the only kind of pollution causing climate change. We'll speak with a San Diego climatologist whose research is being used by NASA and the United Nations to determine what can be done now to slow the effects of global warming.

A pair of films with San Diego ties will screen as part of the Sundance Film Festival's Next program. Sundance kicks off this Thursday.

A 10-year-old boy is suspected of fatally stabbing a 12-year-old friend in the chest with a kitchen knife, authorities say.

A dream to bring positive change in their community led three Southeast San Diego businessmen to start a group they call 100 Strong. They listened when the community asked for help to strengthen families. We'll hear how the "All Men March" is a step in that direction.

An overwhelmed court system and inexperience attorneys with heavy caseloads can impact the outcome of a case for indigent people accused of crimes.

Today on Roundtable: Jerry Sanders tried to hit it out of the park with the State of the City speech, opening statements and first testimony in the manslaughter trial of Marine Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, and Jerry Brown's proposed budget is very lean and very mean.

Funding has been secured for San Diego's downtown central library - but who is writing the check?

Begin the weekend early with a rock and roll documentary at the Whistle Stop tonight and wrap it up with a showcase of artists at Habitat House on Sunday.

Elizabeth George, author of 17 novels featuring British detective Thomas Lynley, is in San Diego to promote her newest book. We ask how an American writer gets into the head of an upper-class British sleuth.

Journalist Jose Vargas revealed his status as an illegal immigrant a few years ago after living, attending school and working in the United States for nearly 20 years. His status is unchanged, and he talks with us about his life int he shadows.

Are you happy with the direction NPR is going? If you have questions about funding or anything else, today is your day. NPR CEO Gary Knell joins us, and he's taking your calls.

Poverty sometimes gets hidden within large neighborhoods in San Diego. We'll discuss the pockets of poverty in our town.

An exhibition in Balboa Park recognizes the centennial of San Diego's Free Speech Fight.