San Diego News Now

San Diego news; when you want it, where you want it. Get local stories on politics, education, health, environment, the border and more. New episodes are ready weekday mornings. Hosted by Debbie Cruz and produced by KPBS, San Diego and the Imperial County's NPR and PBS station.
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A complaint filed with the federal government last week, alleges that Customs and Border Protection has separated more than 1,000 families along the San Diego border since September. Then, a delegation from UC San Diego attended the UN Climate Conference last week. Plus, we revisit a story about a San Diego drag queen who topped the iTunes Christian music charts this year.
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San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez has proposed a $500 million plan to modernize local jails over the next 10 years, but advocates say it will take more than money to create real change. In other news, some San Diego taxi drivers now have a ride hailing app. Plus, we have details on some weekend arts events happening in San Diego County this weekend.
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The San Diego City Council has approved a package of housing reforms proposed by Mayor Todd Gloria. In other news, the debate over whether schools should disclose a child's transgender identity to parents is sparking heated discussions at school boards and legal battles. Plus, we look at how small businesses are doing over the holiday season.
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After eight Air Force airmen were killed in a November crash near Japan, the Pentagon last week grounded its entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys. In other news, we look at what the money raised through parking meters is used for in light of the San Diego City Council voting to create new "community parking districts" in Kearny Mesa and San Ysidro. Plus, we check in with some local independent bookstores on their top picks to gift the reader in your life.
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Last weekend marked the beginning of the temporary closure of the pedestrian border crossing called PedWest, and businesses in San Ysidro are feeling the pinch during what is typically the busy holiday season. In other news, operations have been back to normal at Tri-City Medical Center for a few weeks, but it’s still feeling the effects of a cyberattack last month. Plus, we learn about the San Diego connection to Betty Crocker, the fictional baking expert created nearly a century ago.
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Long wait times to travel north across the Tijuana-San Diego border is an ugly fact of life we've all gotten used to, but now, traffic is jamming up for people going south. In other news, U.S. Representative Darrell Issa is introducing legislation that could make it easier to prosecute fentanyl deaths as homicides. Plus, Queen Bee's Art and Cultural Center is a lively community space and a beacon for artists in North Park, and this month it celebrates its 15th anniversary with a party Tuesday.
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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria gave a status report Thursday, on the city's efforts against fentanyl. In other news, nine months after the San Diego International Airport abruptly removed a public art piece, the work is resurfacing at a nonprofit art gallery in Logan Heights. Plus, our KPBS arts editor and producer has details on holiday events happening in San Diego County.
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San Diego County supervisors on Tuesday voted to spend another $3 million to help migrants and asylum seekers. In other news, the San Diego Housing Commission is getting a new CEO, after searching for a new leader for almost two years. Plus, a profile of a local man who calls himself an ethical hacker.
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A proposed ballot initiative could make it easier to prosecute overdose deaths as homicides. In other news, San Diego County will not be implementing a new law next month that expands who can be involuntarily treated for substance abuse disorders. Plus, we learn about Kumeyaay culture and how it’s being preserved.
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Faculty working with the California State University system are on strike this week. In other news, some of the concrete benches at Swami’s Beach in Encinitas are now back, after the city removed them more than two weeks ago, for what it says was routine maintenance. Plus, the San Diego Air and Space Museum is home to airplanes of all sorts, but now, it’s also where you’ll find a very special vehicle that never leaves the ground.
Debbie Cruz is the local anchor for All Things Considered and the host of the San Diego News Now podcast. Debbie has over 20 years of experience in the news industry. She joined KPBS in 2020.