San Diego County is seeing a big jump in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and some hospitals are already canceling elective surgeries as staff call in sick. Meanwhile, hearings are underway regarding one of the deadliest Marine training accidents in decades - the July 2020 sinking of an amphibious assault vehicle. Plus, a story about how Tijuana’s maquiladora industry has flourished during the pandemic.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has issued an emergency brownout because of COVID-19. This means several units are being shut down temporarily because dozens of firefighters are in isolation. Meanwhile, for the second time in the last few months, someone has spray-painted hateful graffiti at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas. Plus, a new variety of THC takes advantage of a “legal loophole.”

New Year’s Eve was a COVID-19 test date for San Diego Unified students. Each student was sent home before the holidays with two COVID-19 self-swab tests, to be used Friday and then again Monday morning to confirm negative results before returning to in-person classes. Meanwhile, a new law goes into effect as of January 1 that requires all wholesalers, grocery stores and food businesses to donate their leftover fresh food to hunger relief organizations. The goal is to reduce landfill emissions and waste. Plus, a new energy storage project is on its way to San Diego.

A dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases continued Thursday, with a new daily record of 5,976 infections. Public health officials are urging residents to keep New Year's celebrations small. Meanwhile, the trash truck driver strike at Republic Services is two weeks old, with no sign of progress in negotiations. Now, Mayor Todd Gloria is urging residents with trash piling up to contact the company directly for pickup services. Plus, our weekend arts events preview from the KPBS arts editor and producer.

An investigation is continuing into the crash of a small airplane that took off from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana and slammed into a neighborhood near El Cajon, killing two nurses and two pilots aboard. Meanwhile, gyms in San Diego are seeing more business than ever before as the pandemic has spurred a fitness craze. Plus, the pandemic has been hard on kids, and parents as well. KPBS looks at the mental health of parents juggling work and kids and everything else.

The small airplane that crashed in a neighborhood near El Cajon was carrying four people and all were killed in the crash. Meanwhile, Tuesday night’s Holiday Bowl at Petco Park was canceled hours before the game kicked off due to covid-19 protocols. Plus, marriage and family therapist Shanette Smith speaks to KPBS about the holiday blues.

Waste management company Republic Services and Teamsters Local 542 sat at the bargaining table on Christmas Eve but they failed to reach an agreement - thus waste is piling up in a few neighborhoods. Meanwhile, The San Diego Unified School District is teaming up with two community organizations as part of a public outreach campaign on behalf ofCOVID-19 vaccines. Plus, personal income in San Diego saw the biggest annual increase in 2020 since the U.S. department of Commerce began keeping track more than 10 years ago.

Roughly 300 businesses in the border community of San Ysidro have closed during the pandemic. Those lucky enough to stay afloat are welcoming their old customers back. Also, we begin a series on new California laws taking effect in 2022. Plus, as new state wildfire hazard maps are released in the next few months, more and more homes may be shown to be at risk.

The new omicron variant is spreading rapidly and both testing and positivity rates are way up in San Diego, and long lines at local testing sites. Meanwhile, Petco Park in downtown San Diego is hosting the 43rd annual Holiday Bowl on Tuesday. The North Carolina State football team is scheduled to arrive in San Diego Thursday to begin a series of practices and activities leading up to facing UCLA in the game. Plus, some unconventional holiday tunes from KPBS’ arts editor and producer.

On Monday, a San Diego Superior Court judge ruled that the San Diego School district vaccine mandate contradicts state law. On Tuesday, the district’s board voted unanimously to appeal. And then, repairs begin on the iconic Ocean Beach pier. Plus, an update on the holiday covid-19 situation with a local public health expert.