COVID-19 Scrambles Local Schools
Local schools hoped 2021 would begin with a return to normalcy and an increase in in-person learning, but this week brought a series of setbacks. The region's largest school district, San Diego Unified, announced distance learning will continue indefinitely. A prior plan called for local campuses to reopen in January. At the college level, San Diego State University announced it will cancel the traditional spring break to minimize the spread of COVID-19. KPBS education reporter Joe Hong joins us to talk about the week's headlines.
RELATED: For Teachers, Taking A Day Off During Distance Learning Comes With Big Challenges
The Local Victims of COVID-19
This week, San Diego County surpassed 1,000 deaths from COVID-19 during the course of the pandemic. We’ve seen countless data sheets, graphs and other metrics to help us understand the scope of the pandemic, but each case and death has a personal story. inewsource reporter Jill Castellano joins us to talk about their effort to learn more about these people and their families, and why some local deaths don't fall into the county's official numbers.
RELATED: What’s In California’s New Regional Stay-At-Home Order?
Balboa Park’s Financial Health
These are lean times for the cultural gems that call San Diego's Balboa Park home. Museums and performance venues are either closed entirely or operating at a smaller scale due to COVID-19 restrictions. Many of these organizations also rely on donations and other philanthropy that has slowed due to the overall downturn in the economy. KPBS reporter John Carroll has a series of reports this week that takes a deeper look at the health of some of our cultural institutions.
