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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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  • We have details on San Diego County’s budget for the next fiscal year. It will be bigger than this year’s spending plan. In other news, UC San Diego students continue their encampment in support of Palestinians caught in the Israel-Hamas War. Plus, an original play about family, food and love is making its in-person debut at the Old Globe this weekend.
  • There’s a verdict in the lawsuit brought by the family of Oral Nunis, who died in the custody of Chula Vista police four years ago. In other news, for two decades, contractor Leonard Glenn Francis wined, dined and bribed senior Navy officers who helped him make millions defrauding the U.S. government. Now, more than 11 years after his arrest in San Diego, he’s finally set to be sentenced to prison. Plus, the World Design Festival is underway in Tijuana.
  • Hundreds of San Diego State University students supporting Palestinians in the Gaza strip walked out of class and into a rally, Tuesday afternoon, and they were met by a group supporting Israel. In other news, for the past two months, we’ve been telling you about the child care crisis. As part of the special KPBS series “Where's My Village,” we learn about a program in Portland, Oregon that offers a potential solution. Plus, there’s a record number of dogs in animal shelters throughout San Diego County.
  • San Diego State University students plan to walk out of class Tuesday, in support of the people of Gaza. In other news, firefighters say it appears last week's fire on the Oceanside Pier started by accident and they say they believe they can open 75% of the pier soon, but they don't know when yet. Plus, unhoused San Diegans are flocking to canyons and riverbanks in the wake of the city’s controversial ban on camping in public, and one group is desperate for a better alternative.
  • The Oceanside Fire Department says it saved 90% of the Oceanside Pier, where a fire broke out late last week. We learn about the damage and what the city plans to do next. In other news, the Fair Plan is California's high-priced, home insurance safety net that’s supposed to be a last resort, but the plan is now the only option for many homeowners, especially in rural communities like East County. Plus, a new support program is teaching first responders how to help each other through stressful challenges.
  • Members of Congress have launched an investigation into Oceanside-based Frontwave Credit Union. In other news, San Diego is looking to add tens of thousands of new homes in Hillcrest, and with the neighborhood short on open space, some are looking to the 163 freeway for a new park. Plus, coming up at San Diego Civic Theater this weekend, is San Diego Opera’s Madama Butterfly. We get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making the grand production.
  • It has been two months since the county closed its Migrant Transit Center, and since then, Border Patrol agents have released thousands of migrants onto the streets of San Diego. In other news, a California bill would require manufacturers to add folic acid to corn masa. We have a look at how that might impact babies born in San Diego County. Plus, one of our KPBS web producers joins the podcast to talk about Children’s Day events happening in San Diego County this weekend and next week.
  • The mayors of California's largest cities, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, are asking Governor Gavin Newsom for more consistent funding for homelessness. In other news, thousands of victims of the January flooding have been approved for federal assistance through FEMA. Plus, the city of Vista is backing up its climate action goals with its first environmental commission.
  • A case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court Monday could have implications for how San Diego and every other city in the country deals with its homeless population. In other news, we hear from a former Caltrans executive on what her firing says about the state's commitment to climate action. Plus, street art often carries a negative connotation and it's rare when street artists can work with city officials and law enforcement, but that was the case for murals that now surround Oceanside’s little league fields.
  • Each year families have to prove eligibility for Medi-Cal or risk losing coverage. A San Diego assembly member wants to take that burden away from families. Then, some advocates fear Proposition 1 could divert funding from mental health support for kids. And, a group of academics and community leaders are now addressing food deserts by re-imagining the local food industry.
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.
Emilyn Mohebbi produces the San Diego News Now podcast. She started at KPBS in 2020 as the Gloria Penner Fellow. She has her bachelor’s in journalism from SDSU.