Hundreds of sanitation workers are on strike in San Diego county, leaving garbage piling up in Chula Vista and Clairemont Mesa. Contract negotiations between sanitation company Republic Services and the local union broke down on December 17. It is Christmas week and–no surprise–traffic is up at the airport. But the threat of the omicron variant looms over California and the entire country. Plus, a report on how veterans are using poetry and prose to work through the stress of war.

A closer look at that feasibility study that found MTS could link the trolley to the airport within 10 years. Plus: the Omicron variant is expected to spread fast in San Diego and everywhere else, a judge ruled against the San Diego Unified School District Monday in a lawsuit challenging its vaccine mandate for students, local booksellers give you some holiday gift ideas and more of the local and state news you need.

The battle over the cost of solar is still going on, even though regulators have weighed in. Plus: a protest to push for housing instead of handcuffs when it comes to the treatment of people experiencing homelessness, how a new homeless shelter is helping those struggling most, a safe meetup place for online buying and selling, what San Diegans think of the term “Latinx” and more of the local and state news you need.

The independent redistricting commission finalized its map of new city council districts this week. The new map unites some neighborhoods into a single council district but also splits up other communities. Critics claim the new map dilutes the voting power of minorities. Meanwhile, what’s next in the USS Bonhomme Richard arson hearing. And, James Bond: The Musical returns to the Coronado Playhouse tonight.

California public schools will soon offer free transitional kindergarten for all 4 year olds. It will be a big help to working parents, but it may have unintended consequences for childcare providers. Meanwhile, a former Pier 1 Imports building in the Midway community has become the city’s latest homeless shelter. The city owned facility has 44 beds and will have 24-hour staffing through a contract with the San Diego Housing Commission. Plus, since the start of the pandemic, the number of people moving to California from other states has dropped by nearly 40%, according to a new study released by the California Policy Lab.

New police training, COVID-19 in county jails, the California indoor mask mandate and more. In 2019, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan introduced a new training program aimed at reducing police shootings. While some officers have yet to be trained, there is hope it has sparked the beginning of a culture change in police departments. Meanwhile, the sheriff’s department said former inmate Mark Armendo did not contract COVID-19 in the county jail. A new medical examiner’s death report suggests otherwise. Plus, teaching veterans to fly fish as a means of healing.

With 75 percent of residents vaccinated, San Diego has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country. But county public health officials here still anticipate a surge in coronavirus cases over the holidays. Meanwhile, Navy prosecutors weigh their evidence against a sailor charged with arson in the fire that burned the USS Bonhomme Richard. Plus, for businesses along the U.S. Mexico Border, it's a familiar story–financial hardship as a result of the pandemic and border closures.

The California Public Utilities Commission is close to unveiling changes that could make installing rooftop solar more expensive for consumers. Meanwhile, a local environmental group says people are harassing the sea lions in La Jolla. And, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria talks about his first year in office and what’s ahead in year two.

A combination of federal, municipal and private tracking systems has turned the border city of Chula Vista into one of the most surveilled cities in the country, according to privacy advocates. Now a new high tech operations center for the local police department will work to integrate all the data coming in from police activities. Meanwhile, a group of mostly low-income tenants and their advocates staged a protest Thursday in Mission Valley to call attention to what they say are predatory practices by the New York-based real estate behemoth Blackstone, which this year paid more than $1 billion for nearly 6,000 San Diego area rental units. Plus, the state's utility regulators are considering adjusting the rules that govern the California solar energy marketplace and major changes could be coming.

San Diego’s regional planning agency has drafted a regional transportation plan for the future that seeks to shift San Diego County away from cars by building massive improvements to public transit infrastructure. But critics say the plan is unrealistic and too expensive. Meanwhile, advocates say Chula Vista is now one of the most surveilled cities in the country. Plus, the U.S. surgeon general warns about a looming mental health crisis among children.