Weekend Preview: Oceanside Museum of Art, The Kooks, Festa Siciliana, Eisley

The Kooks are coming to San Diego. They're playing at the House of Blues on Sunday, and it's just one of the performances David Coddon is going to tell us about on the Weekend Preview.

 Local Troubadour Steve Poltz Performs Folk Rock from New Album

Steve Poltz's fans have been waiting for a long time for a new record from the acclaimed and quirky singer-songwriter. This year, they got their wish, and more. Poltz released two albums simultaneously, one called “Traveling” and the other “Unraveling.” He performs live in studio.

 Citizen Bloggers Confront the Issues of June Primary

Citizen Bloggers sound off on some June election issues that are high on the agenda.

 AARP CEO Balances Tough Economic Times With Financial Security for Seniors

How do we fix our nation's dwindling social security fund and provide seniors with health care while assuring their financial security? The CEO of AARP explains his plan for economic stability, and explains why our health care system is hurting older Americans.

 Scientists Suggest Climate Change as Cause of Malnourished Gray Whales

The California grey whale commutes past San Diego's shore ever year, either on its way to feeding grounds near Alaska or to calving waters on the Mexican coast. There was a time when the whales were seen as a conversation success story. But numbers of whales dropped dramatically ten years ago, and now biologists are observing some troubling signs of malnutrition in some of the whales. We'll talk about how the whales are doing and how global warming seems to be affecting their food supply.

 A Postcard History of Balboa Park

Balboa Park is an urban oasis in the middle of San Diego, but did you know it was once played host to a nudist colony? Or that it was occupied by the US Navy? Historian and architect David Marshall joins us to discuss the unique evolution of Balboa Park as part of the Third Thursday Author Series hosted by SOHO, the Save Our Heritage Organization.

 Eric Bidwell Discusses his "Revolutionary" Campaign for Mayor

What makes mayoral candidate Eric Bidwell a "revolutionary"? Host Tom Fudge speaks to Bidwell about why he's running for Mayor, and about the changes he would like to make at San Diego City Hall.

 Experts Discuss Job Prospects for College Grads

What does the job market look like for 2008 college graduates? Will the nation's sagging economy drive down job prospects for this year's graduating class? Host Tom Fudge speaks to Dr. James Tarbox, from SDSU career services, about which local industries are hiring right now.

 ‘Surf Orpheus’ Puts Southern California Twist on Greek Classic

“Surf Orpheus” is a new musical from UCSD's Theater and Dance department. It is written and directed by Corey Madden and takes the classic myth of Orpheus and transplants it into contemporary Southern California surf culture. We talk to Madden and the musical's composer, Bruno Louchouarn.

 Migrants Trapped in October Wildfires Tell Their Stories

Many migrants heading north into the US from Mexico last fall were caught in the devastating wildfires that swept through San Diego County. Local journalist Laura Castaneda captured the stories of three groups of migrants in her new documentary. We talk with the filmmaker about the impact the fires had on these people.

 Legal Update: Defining a Gang

What is the legal definition of a gang? These Days legal analyst Dan Eaton explores how two San Diego cases may require the law to interpret what is, and isn't, a gang.

 Mayor Sanders Pension Reform Plan Stalled by Divided Council

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders wants to end defined pension benefits for city employees, therefore saving the city $50 million over the next 10 years. But the unions representing the workers oppose the move.

 Hacksaw Discusses Padres Slump, Aztecs' Academic Problems

Why can't the Padres score any runs? And, is the Friars' latest slump an indication of how the 2008 season is going to be for the ball club? Or, can the team still rally and compete for a playoff spot in the National League? Host Tom Fudge speaks to Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton about the Padres' struggles at the plate, and about the Aztecs' academic problems.

 City of Santee Opposes Proposal to Expand Las Colinas Detention Facility

Why is the City of Santee opposed to a proposal to expand the Las Colinas Detention Facility? Host Tom Fudge speaks to a reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune and a representative from the City of Santee about the County's plan to add on to the all-female jail.

 Scientist Propose Unique Approach to Reducing Carbon Dioxide

How do we stop global warming? Many think the answer lies in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. But some scientists think the solution is in filtering carbon dioxide from the air and returning it to the earth. We talk with a scientist who's studied 200,000 years of the earth's climates and believes carbon filtering is the best way to proceed.

 Veteran Columnist on Goals for the Next President’s Foreign Policy

Jim Goldsborough is a veteran journalist who now writes for VoiceofSanDiego.org. He joins us to talk about the American presidential race and what he calls G.W. Bush's foreign policy failures. He tell us what he thinks ought to be the foreign policy goals of the U.S. at this time, and what a future president will need to do to right the ship.

 San Diego Housing Slump Continues

Home prices in San Diego County are down 19.2 percent from February 2007, according the S&P Home Price Index. San Diego was ranked 9th in the nation for defaults and foreclosures. We talk about the state of real estate and what homeowners, sellers and buyers can expect in the coming year.

 Author Anchee Min on Her Latest Book about Tzu Hsi of the Ch’ing Dynasty

Acclaimed author Anchee Min talks about her latest historical novel, “The Last Empress.” The book follows Orchid’s transition from a strong-willed young woman to a politically savvy leader who ruled China for more than four decades.

 Weekend Preview: Corpus Cristi, Big Bang, Three Days of Rain, A Number, Lamb’s Players

We talk about some unique and controversial plays opening this month in area theaters in this week’s Weekend Preview.

 Roger Lowenstein Discusses San Diego’s Pension Crisis in New Book

According to business writer Roger Lowenstein, America is sitting on a retirement time bomb as the nation grapples with mounting pension debt and a record number of retirees. Lowenstein looks at the city of San Diego as a case study in how government gambled with its finances and its future, and offers solutions to fixing the coming pension crisis.