Living

Changing demographics in California predict a 67% increase in seniors, from 6 million to 10 million, in the next 20 years. 2010 will bring a the most significant increase in people over 60 that we've seen so far. What kind of support is most needed for seniors in San Diego? And how do you think San Diego needs to prepare for a significant increase in an older population?

The state's Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell says school breakfasts make a big difference in student achievement. That's why he launched a statewide school breakfast initiative on Monday in San Diego.

While mine disasters like last week's deadly explosion in West Virginia are certainly tragic, black lung disease claims roughly 700 miners' lives each year and gets far less attention. The disease has been on the rise in recent years, possibly because miners are working longer hours, with more exposure to coal dust and other toxic materials.

First Lady Michelle Obama is in San Diego today. She's here to promote her anti-obesity campaign - but more specifically to help launch an effort to transform more than a dozen California neighborhoods into healthy communities - including City Heights.

Spring is here, and that means many plants are blooming. We'll find out how to take advantage of the wet winter rains and how to control weeds in your garden.

For this month's pet segment, we are focusing on exotic animals: birds, reptiles, small mammals, amphibians, etc. We talk to Dr. Jeff Jenkins about how to properly care for exotic pets, from nutrition to cage cleaning.

California will receive $2.25 billion, the largest amount for any state, in federal economic stimulus funds to develop a high-speed rail line. The trip time of the route between Anaheim and San Francisco, which is predicted to cost about $42 billion, is 2 hours, 40 minutes. Trains are expected to travel 220 MPH. We discuss what it will take to bring a high-speed rail to California.

A forum targeted to Asian and Pacific Islander community leaders is designed to make sure everyone is accounted for in the 2010 census.

Theater and food have our attention this weekend. We'll get recommendations from North County Times' Pam Kragen and Riviera Magazine's Troy Johnson.

Ted Kornweibel is the author of "Railroads in the African American Experience: A Photographic Journey," the first book to detail the entire sweep of the African-American experience with America's railroads. Using many dozens of photos, many of which he purchased himself, the book begins with slavery and the birth of Southern Railroading and continues through Jim Crow and 20th century racism.