KPBS Investigates

KPBS Requests Law Enforcement Records; Police Unions Sue To Prevent Disclosure

Feb. 11: By Claire Trageser, Tarryn Mento

KPBS is asking for details about officers who committed sexual assault, killed someone in the line of duty, or were investigated for use of force. Reactions from law enforcement agencies in San Diego County have varied, depending on the department.

Roundtable: Decriminalizing Homelessness

Feb. 8: By Andrew Bowen, Bennett Lacy

San Diego repeals an ordinance that banned living in vehicles, Congress will hold a hearing on human research done at San Diego's VA Medical Center, and local police unions fight a new transparency law.

KPBS Suing For Public Access To San Diego Sheriff's Department Response Times To Citizen Complaints

Jan. 22: By Claire Trageser

Lawyers working for KPBS petitioned Tuesday in San Diego County Superior Court to ask a judge to decide whether the San Diego County Sheriff's Department has to provide the records.

Parents Question Vista Unified Proposal To Change Magnet Lottery Process

Dec. 13, 2018: By Megan Burks

Earlier this year, KPBS detailed how magnet schools — once used to desegregate schools — were contributing to new racial divides in Vista Unified. The board will vote Thursday night on a possible solution, but some parents say it goes too far.

San Diego Businesses In Low Income Or High-Minority Areas Far Less Likely To Get Bank Loans

Nov. 8, 2018: By Claire Trageser

Where a business is located in San Diego County can have a big impact on whether it receives a bank loan, according to federal data. The data shows that businesses in low-income or high-minority census tracts were far less likely to receive funds from banks.

Outside Spending Surges In San Diego City Council Races

Oct. 12, 2018: By Claire Trageser

Political action committees and other outside organizations are spending heavily in the San Diego City Council races that will be decided Nov. 6, especially in Republican incumbent Lorie Zapf’s District 2. That race could potentially change the balance of power on the council.

Election 2018 San Diego Votes: Which Elections Have Local Candidates Missed?

Oct. 5, 2018: By Claire Trageser

KPBS pulled records from the San Diego and Orange County registrars of voters to show when candidates registered to vote, which party (or parties) they registered with and whether they neglected to vote in past elections.

What We Know About Whether Earl McNeil Was An Informant For The DA

Sept. 5, 2018: By Claire Trageser

Activists maintain the San Diego District Attorney's office had an ongoing relationship with Earl McNeil. So what exactly do we know about McNeil's history as an informant?

Latest Fundraising Numbers For San Diego City Council Races

Aug. 10, 2018: By Claire Trageser

The November general election is three months away, but fundraising and campaign spending are picking up in San Diego's City Council races.

San Diego Water Department Sent 2,750 Incorrect Bills In 2017, Audit Found

July 26, 2018: By Claire Trageser

An audit released Thursday of San Diego's Public Utilities Department prompted by reports of sky-high water bills found that last year 2,750 water bills had to be corrected after customers received them. That's out of 1.3 million customers billed.

San Diego Police Issues New Policy On Handling People Living In The US Illegally

June 11, 2018: By Claire Trageser

The San Diego Police Department recently released an updated policy on how officers should handle people living in the U.S. illegally that reflects California's new "sanctuary state law," SB 54, that went into effect this year.

Fallbrook High Loses Millions Of Dollars As Districts Jockey For Students

May 25, 2018: By Megan Burks

Faced with declining birth rates and competition from charter schools, some districts are turning to magnet schools to attract new students. What happens to the districts losing students?

What Elections Have Local Candidates Missed?

May 14, 2018: By Claire Trageser

A long line of candidates will be asking for your vote this June, but many of them haven't always made it to the polls themselves in past elections.

A Rarity Among California School Districts, Vista Unified Funds New Bus Routes

April 13, 2018: By Megan Burks

Changes to enrollment boundaries that have allowed the Vista Unified School District to grow its magnet program have also stretched student commutes.

In Vista Unified, More School Choice Means More Traffic

April 12, 2018: By Megan Burks

As more Vista families choose schools farther from home, they’re spending more time on the road. Some are worried about the social and environmental consequences.