
Midday Edition uplifts voices in San Diego with fearless conversations about intriguing issues. Host, Jade Hindmon, cuts through the noise with questions that give listeners a deeper understanding of themselves, people and the community they live in. Guests share diverse perspectives from their expertise and lived experience. In a city and world that's rapidly changing, Jade’s interviews inspire, inform and make you think. Midday Edition airs Monday - Thursday 12pm - 1pm and again from 8pm - 9pm. You can also catch the show anytime on all podcast apps.
-
Title 42 has been used to turn away migrants at the Mexican border 2.5 million times since it started in 2020 under the Trump Administration. Republican political leaders in San Diego’s East County are asking the state and federal government for resources to help the county aid migrants when Title 42 lifts. Then, headlines suggest thousands of migrants are waiting at the border to request asylum when Title 42 goes away. How many migrants are actually waiting to request asylum? And, at the age of 9, author Javier Zamora fled the violence and chaos of the 12-year civil war in El Salvador and embarked on a 3,000-mile journey to safety with his mother. This journey, and the perils Zamora faced along the way, is the subject of his memoir, “Solito.” Next, tamales are a Mexican Christmas tradition that has been filling bellies for centuries. We hear from a master tamale maker – who has been making them for almost 70 years – about the most important tamale ingredient. Next, the National Guard was about 9,000 troops short of its recruiting goal this year. That's caused Guard leaders to try new ways to persuade people to join. Finally, “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, KPBS’ Beth Accomando makes the case and shares her top 12 Christmas action films list.
-
By Christmas Day the forecast in San Diego is expected to be 78 degrees and sunny. Meanwhile, just about every other part of the U.S. is preparing for a bitterly cold winter storm. We’ll talk about how this will impact holiday travel. Then, eviction cases are on the rise according to data from the San Diego County Superior Court. Advocates say the numbers show the once “looming” crisis of housing displacement has begun to materialize in the region. And, San Diego jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos has a new album out, his first in almost a decade. Then, Mariachi bands are a big part of the Christmas season in Mexican culture, providing a musical gift to the rest of the world. We speak with Jeff Nevin who developed the mariachi curriculum at Southwestern College and is the founder and conductor of Mariachi Garibaldi. Finally, at 68, Japan's Godzilla is nowhere near ready for retirement. The iconic monster that was born out of an atomic blast is poised for a cinematic rematch with Kong in 2024. Our resident Godzilla fan, Beth Accomando speaks with author Graham Skipper about his new book, “Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters.”
-
The legal tug-of-war with Title 42 continues. Days before the Trump-era immigration rule was set to expire, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts ordered a temporary hold on the policy. Then, many people are celebrating the holidays with gatherings and letting their guards down when it comes to COVID-19. But, cases are rising. And, water bills in San Diego are about to go up, and the increases are due in part to $274 million in planned upgrades at the Carlsbad desalination plant run by Poseidon Resources. Next, policymakers met in Las Vegas last week to discuss the future of water supplies from the Colorado River. But they didn’t emerge with any new commitments to significantly cut back demand. Finally, 27 years after the death of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla Pérez, her legacy lives on through music and in a class taught at San Diego State University.
-
The House Jan. 6 committee unveiled a criminal referral for former President Donald Trump, citing evidence that it says merits prosecution by the Justice Department. Then, voting is underway on a tentative contract agreement between the University of California and 36,000 academic workers still on strike. Finally, a look at how sea level rise could push contaminants into neighborhoods, especially places that are near former military or industrial sites, and that have a history of racism, redlining, and disinvestment.
-
According to a new UC San Diego survey, the partisan gap of trust in the integrity of U.S. elections grew in 2022. Then, as the year winds down, some San Diegans are packing up and heading out - not for a holiday trip, but for a change of residence. Finally, for our weekend arts preview, we have a local jazz trumpet legend, a Kate Bush cover band, contemporary dance for the Jewish holidays and…sewing machines.
-
San Diego County and the rest of Southern California are under a new drought emergency announced this week. Local waters officials are encouraging conservation but say our local water supply is stable. Then, natural gas bills will see a sharp increase for the month of December, and an even sharper one in January. San Diego Gas and Electric estimates the average gas bill for customers this month will be roughly $80. Plus, worries about rising anti-semitism have gotten more attention recently after the bigoted comments of an artist, who now goes by the name "Ye.”. So how is San Diego's Jewish community reacting? Also, a new online service helps college students connect with potential roommates. Plus, reporter John Carroll takes us to the Cat Lounge in La Jolla, a place for felines and people to come together. Finally, the search for a good night’s sleep can be elusive to many of us. We talk about sleep and how it impacts our overall health with Dr. Derek Loewy, director of the insomnia program at the Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center.
-
We speak to Councilmember Kent Lee, who was sworn in Monday to represent the city of San Diego’s District 6. This includes Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, most of University City, Sorrento Valley and portions of Scripps Ranch. Plus, the uncertainty clouding California’s solar marketplace could be settled this week as regulators consider a proposal that changes the rules for electricity generated by rooftop solar. And, to fight climate change and meet renewable energy goals, the Biden Administration has championed the opening up of federally-owned desert lands in California to develop massive renewable energy projects, like industrial-scale solar.
-
The new law is intended to protect same-sex and interracial marriages if the U.S. Supreme Court reverses Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide. Then, California’s Reparations Task Force has reached a pivotal point in its goal to develop reparations proposals for African Americans. The next two hearings happening this week could cement recommendations for who would be eligible for reparations and what exactly reparations will be for. And, by 2025, all California four-year-olds will be guaranteed a free spot in a new grade, called transitional kindergarten ot TK. But the move has introduced unintended consequences for childcare providers. And, San Diego’s housing market will continue to cool in 2023, that’s the prediction of a new report. A continuation of the trend San Diego has seen over the past several months. Also, the auction of five leases to develop the West Coast’s first floating offshore wind turbines could someday produce enough carbon-free power to light up millions of homes. It’s a victory for renewable energy advocates, but it’s raising concerns about its potential to harm one of California’s offshore treasures: migratory whales. Finally, the new book, “Viva Hollywood:The Legacy of Latin and Hispanic Artists in American Film” is a deep dive into cinema history. It serves up not just the famous stars we see on the screen but also the often forgotten artists who worked behind the scenes on Hollywood classics.
-
On Monday, schools in the Julian Union, Spencer Valley, and Warner Unified school districts were closed by the winter storm lingering over the county. Then, while some of the striking University of California academic workers ratified a new contract over the weekend thousands remain on strike across the state. We hear from some of them who say they will not give up what they consider a fight for their lives. Next, why California indigenous tribes are getting involved with the state’s planned wind turbine projects. Then, a new report finds Balboa Park needs nearly half a billion dollars to be brought up to modern standards. And, Lincoln High School’s football players are state champions. The Hornet’s victory on Friday was clinched by a record four touchdowns by star running back, Roderick Robinson Jr. We hear about the game from his proud father. Then, writer and illustrator Trung Le Nguyen, also known as Trungles joins us to talk about his novel, “The Magic Fish,” about a second generation Vietnamese American teenager who uses fairy tales to help his mother learn English. It’s this year’s KPBS One Book, One San Diego selection for teens. Finally, we share details on some of the most popular light displays around the county.
-
It may look like there’s a lot of construction underway in San Diego, but the city is way below the estimated 13,500 new housing units a year needed to keep up with the population. Then, the Pentagon is finishing a review of its policies regarding suicide. Though the number of military suicides declined slightly last year, it remains a major problem. Military leaders are trying to address it in a number of new ways. And finally, for our weekend preview, we have music made with machines, new visual art and an indie band celebrating two great albums.
Share your Thoughts on Midday Edition
We’d love your feedback. Let us know your thoughts or questions about what you hear on Midday Edition. Also, let us know if there is something you’d like to hear more about. Leave us a voicemail at (619) 452-0228.

_
Midday Edition Team

Jade Hindmon
Host
Jade Hindmon is the host of KPBS Midday Edition. She connects San Diego through fearless conversations that inform, inspire and make you think. Prior to Midday Edition Jade was a reporter and fill-in anchor in the KPBS newsroom covering everything from politics to policing and the economy. Her award winning work spans network affiliates across the southeast and midwest. As a very proud Rattler, Jade studied broadcast journalism and political science at Florida A&M University. She takes a special interest in topics about democracy, accountability, racial justice, science and wellness.

Brooke Ruth
Senior Producer
Brooke Ruth is the senior producer for KPBS Radio News. She previously served as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and a web producer. Before joining KPBS, Brooke was a web editor for four newspapers and a local television station. She began her career in news at the Imperial Valley Press. She has also been part of the web teams at the Napa Valley Register, North County Times, and U-T San Diego. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at UCLA in psychology, she worked on the student newspaper, the Daily Bruin.

Andrew Bracken
Producer
Andrew Bracken, KPBS Midday Edition and Roundtable producer & host of podcasts "My First Day" & "San Diego Conversations," made "Facing North," a docu-web series on San Diego-Tijuana ties, released on PBS in 2017. He's a San Diego Foundation Creative Catalyst fellow & a San Diego Film Award winner. He drums in his spare time.

Ashley Rusch
Producer
Ashley Rusch is a producer for KPBS Midday Edition. Before joining KPBS, she was an associate producer at LAist 89.3, where she worked on AirTalk with Larry Mantle, Weekend Edition and All Things Considered. At UC Santa Barbara, Ashley led KCSB-FM’s news coverage through the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also a news intern at KCBX in San Luis Obispo. Ashley grew up in South Pasadena, California.

Julianna Domingo
Producer
Julianna Domingo is a producer for KPBS Midday Edition. Before joining the station, Julianna worked at CalMatters as a College Journalism Network Fellow where she reported on higher education across the state. She got her start in journalism at The Triton, an independent student newspaper at UC San Diego. Julianna graduated from UC San Diego with a major in political science and a minor in communications.

Brandon Truffa
Media Production Specialist
Prior to joining the KPBS Midday team in 2024, Brandon worked as a board operator and producer with The Mighty 1090 in San Diego, and executive producer and sound editor at FOX Sports Radio in Los Angeles. He's a San Diego native and graduate of San Diego State University. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, going to comedy shows and hanging out with his cats and dogs.

Ben Redlawsk
Media Production Specialist
Ben Redlawsk is a media production specialist for KPBS radio. He provides technical direction for KPBS “Morning Edition” and assists with “KPBS Midday Edition” and “KPBS Roundtable” through audio editing and recording. He got his start in radio as head audio engineer at KSDT, UC San Diego’s student-run radio station. Ben graduated from UC San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary computing and the arts with an emphasis in music technology.