
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.
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The San Diego Board of Supervisors today declared homelessness a public health emergency. While the move won’t release additional funds to address homelessness, it will allow the county to focus resources on the health issues plaguing unhoused individuals. Plus, an update on the fight over a San Diego County program that gives motel vouchers to unhoused people seeking shelter in El Cajon. Then, a new investigation from inewsource found that Imperial County’s use of psychiatric holds may be more than just inadequate - in many cases it may be illegal. Also, 20 states have mandatory kindergarten, why California won’t be one of them, for now. Then, last week the city of San Diego apologized for supporting the removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans by rescinding a 1942 resolution. The daughter of two San Diegans who imprisoned in an internment camp in Arizona talks about what the apology means to her. And finally, "The Little Book of Joy" is a new children's book by two of the most significant spiritual leaders of the last century, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with illustrations by San Diego artist and muralist Rafael López.
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San Diego County is no longer planning to charge motorists a fee for every mile they drive. The so-called "road usage charge" had been a key component of the county's regional transportation plan. Then, when talking about emissions and climate change, the conversation often focuses on greenhouse gas emissions. Now there’s new information on the impacts aerosol emissions have on climate, and human health. Next, unauthorized immigration across the southwest border is at historic levels. What does that mean for San Diego? And, the Army Corps of Engineers is probably best known for its work on waterways. But those projects also unearth many historical artifacts the Corps must document and maintain. After, the 65th annual Monterey Jazz Festival was held this weekend. We bring you the story behind an unprecedented musical that featured a glittering array of jazz titans, including Louis Armstrong that premiered at the festival 60 years ago. Finally, for our Influential music series, San Diego Jazz pianist Joshua White picked 5 iconic local musicians whose work has impacted him and the jazz scene in San Diego and beyond.
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Thousands of students across San Diego marched Friday to demand climate justice. It’s all part of a global climate strike to raise awareness and demand action from elected leaders. Then, Carlsbad police used a bean bag gun and pepper balls on two suspects last year, and it led to big changes. KPBS says the police involved were suspended, while new training is being implemented. And finally in our weekend preview, live music, dance and design.
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After a sixteen day international manhunt, the Malaysian defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” has been caught. Then, California air regulators grabbed headlines last month by banning the sale of new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035. Now, the California Air Resources Board is setting its sights on gas-powered appliances in homes and buildings. Then, why the city of San Diego is reviving its Commission on the Status of Women. Next, a new building will open on the campus of UC San Diego Friday, housing all kinds of engineers, designing products that have never been seen before. And, Author knows this more than most. At the age of 9, Javier Zamora fled the violence and chaos of the civil war in El Salvador and embarked on a three thousand-mile journey to find his mother. This journey, and the perils Zamora faced along the way, is the subject of a new memoir, “Solito.” Finally, when someone we love is sick, one of the first questions many of us have is, ‘how can I help?’ A new children’s book teaches the notion of how being helpful can be healing.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a slew of new bills aimed at strengthening the state’s cannabis laws. We talk about why the legal cannabis industry has struggled in California and what has to happen before cannabis becomes fully legal in California. Then, elected leaders across the state have a homeless crisis on their hands, and some are turning to one possible solution: mental health conservatorships. But an investigation by our partners at inewsource found major gaps in the system. Next, as states across the country pass abortion bans, President Biden and some other Democrats want to ease federal restrictions on the procedure. Beginning in 2027, a new form of burial will be allowed in California. We’ll hear about the method, which transforms a human body into nutrient-rich soil over a 45-day period, is already available in Washington, Oregon, Vermont and Colorado. Finally, the Solento Surf Festival kicks off Thursday at the La Paloma Theater with Facing Monsters. The documentary profiles surfer Kerby Brown, who tackles the intimidating slab waves of West Australia.
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San Diego, along with the rest of the nation, continues to show signs of a slowing housing market. Then, the city of El Cajon says it’s standing behind its threats to fine local motels for accepting too many homeless residents. Plus, a San Diego climate scientist says airlines need to confront their significant impact on carbon emissions by embracing solutions that may upend the industry. And, the U.S. government has renamed hundreds of peaks, lakes, streams and other geographical sites on federal lands to remove a racist slur for Native American women. Later, we hear from two Ensenada surfers trying to preserve and spread the city’s surfing history. Finally, from early pandemic mask-making to a Pulitzer finalist: A new play, "Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord, opens at La Jolla Playhouse this week, exploring lockdowns, Asian American racism, Facebook groups, invisible labor and generosity.
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California grid can handle electric vehicle load with updated infrastructure and customer disciplineCalifornia is poised to add millions of electric cars to local roads in the next decade, but is there enough electricity to fuel them? Then, the San Diego County District Attorney’s office declined to file charges against county Democratic Party chair Will Rodriguez Kennedy after an investigation into sexual assault allegations made by a former boyfriend. Next, Awaken Church, which has campuses across San Diego has been known for spreading pandemic misinformation. Now it’s grassroots conservative political action group called, “The RMNNT” wants to “raise up a bold and passionate army to effectively influence politics.” Then, Banned Books Week, the annual event celebrating the freedom to read, coincides with a major increase in book banning efforts throughout the country. Finally, What a decision by SDSU to relocate its school of theater, television and film to a new campus in Chula Vista will mean for the South Bay.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the CARE court program into law this week. We speak with a mental health advocate with a personal connection to the issue about how CARE courts might help people like her son. Then, a Navy arson trial is about to get underway, more than two years after fire destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard. Also, for our weekend arts preview: contemporary art, some soul, dance, and kickball.
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September 15 marks International Day of Democracy as designated by the United Nations. It comes at a time when democratic institutions are under threat worldwide, and with a growing sentiment that democracy is in danger. First, the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of San Diego talks about why democracy is not a partisan issue. Then, as Americans prepare to vote in November, one thing members of both the Republican and Democratic parties seem to agree on is that democracy in the U.S. is in danger. We’ll share what some San Diegans believe are the greatest threats to American democracy. And, voting is one of the most fundamental ways that people can participate in democracy. We’ll hear from an organization that works to make voting more inclusive. Then, since the integrity of elections and vote counting have come under increased scrutiny, we speak to San Diego County’s Registrar of Voters about the pressure on her office to be 100% transparent and 100% accurate. Finally, we expand the conversation to talk about how the state of American democracy compares to the rest of the world.
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Tuesday, the San Diego City Council selected Midway Rising to redevelop the Sports Arena site. Then, a new COVID booster shot that targets the highly-transmissible omicron variant is now available. Next, California has a new tool to provide information on abortion access for people both in and outside of the state. And, a new study from UC San Diego and researchers in Mexico finds extortion in Tijuana is more widespread than previously thought. Then, how 3D printing has brought innovation and flexibility to the creation of goods that was never possible in traditional factories. Finally, the Broadway-bound musical ‘Come Fall in Love’ opens Wednesday night at San Diego’s Old Globe Theater.
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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.