An assessment of the problems facing American journalism and proposals for addressing them are the subjects of "The Reconstruction of American Journalism," a report out of Columbia University by Professor Michael Schudson and Leonard Downie, Jr., former executive editor of the Washington Post.

For several years, Toyota dismissed charges that many of its models are subject to sudden, unexplained acceleration. With the fatal accident last August of the Lexus driven by veteran California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, Toyota's attitude changed. We look at whether Toyota's proposed fixes are enough and what the corporation can do to regain its reputation for quality.

Jeff Parker's new book is Iron River, a crime novel where the action is on the California/Mexican border, where the vicious drug cartels hook up with gun runners and the mayhem becomes increasingly scary.

The blandly named Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility is huge, squatting over some 700 acres of Otay Mesa about twenty minutes south and east of KPBS and a stone’s throw from the colonias and maquilidoras of Tijuana. After visiting the prison, producer Pat Finn wrote this essay about her impressions.

KPBS goes inside R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa for a two-hour broadcast to talk with the prisoners and staff about what life in prison is like. The broadcast marks the first time any radio program has been allowed to tape a program inside prison walls in California. KPBS also sent a photographer to capture images of life inside Donovan.

Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego County District Attorney, is arguably the area's most powerful politician. Former U-T reporter Kelly Thornton talks about her five-part series on Dumanis that appeared this month on VoiceofSanDiego.org.

New Yorker writer and surgeon Atul Gawande devotes himself to learning how to improve the practice of medicine, from decreasing cost to decreasing errors. In his latest book, The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, he examines how people in a wide variety of disciplines have used the deceptively simple checklist to master extraordinary levels of complexity.

California cities were mandated by the state to have new water landscaping regulations in place by January 1. 2010. We discuss what these new regulations entail, what effect they will have on the state's water usage and which San Diego communities are in compliance.

Donna Frye, elected to represent the 6th District on the San Diego City Council in 2001, is termed out at the end of this year. We talk with her about her advocacy of open government, the budget crisis of 2009 and what's next in 2010, both for the city and for Frye herself.

Kevin Faulconer represents the 2nd District (downtown, Old Town, Point Loma) on the San Diego City Council. We ask him about budget issues, outsourcing, accomplishments for 2009 and challenges for 2010 and 2011.