COVID-19 cases are surging in San Diego County jails, prisons and detention centers, according to community outbreak records obtained by KPBS. Plus: President Donald Trump pardons former Repubican Rep. Duncan Hunter, Gov. Gavin Newsom picks for Secretary of State and U.S. Senate seat and more local and state news.

Community outbreak records obtained by KPBS show a total of more than 630 cases in which people diagnosed with the disease had been at casinos within 14 days of their diagnosis. Plus: support is on the way for renters and landlords struggling from the pandemic, the first female Marine recruits will be in San Diego early next year and more local news you need. Support this podcast by becoming a KPBS member today. www.kpbs.org/support

KPBS obtained County Health Department records on the virus that have been withheld from the public, finally revealing where COVID-19 outbreaks have happened in San Diego County. Plus: Top county health officials detail vaccine rollout progress and future plans plus the ongoing legal battle impacting local restaurants and more local news you need.

Hospitals across California have all but run out of intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients, ambulances are backing up outside emergency rooms, and tents for triaging the sick have been erected in hospital parking lots.. Meanwhile, a judge’s ruling that strip clubs and restaurants can stay open during the pandemic and despite the surge prompts a reaction from San Diego’s newly inaugurated Mayor Todd Gloria. Also, only one company has bid for the franchise agreement to provide San Diego gas and electricity for the next two decades.

As San Diego emergency rooms are overwhelmed, the county launches a plan to divert ambulances to less impacted hospitals. Meanwhile, we know Latino communities have been hit hard by the pandemic, KPBS Midday Edition explored the impacts on mental health. And 2020 is shaping up to become one of the hottest years on record.

The pandemic has worsened burnout and stress on caregivers for disabled veterans. Meanwhile, San Diego’s Rady Children’s hospital received their first round of COVID-19 vaccines for their frontline emergency nurses. Also, the population of California’s Monarch Butterfly is crashing.

As people begin to get vaccinated in San Diego County and across the country, the US marks a grim milestone: 300,000 deaths from the coronavirus. Also, new data show students learning English have suffered the most academically during the pandemic. Plus, in the waning weeks of the Trump Administration, Friendship Park along the US-Mexico border could be drastically changed under new plans to replace the border wall in that area.

The FDA has approved emergency use of a Covid-19 Vaccine. As ICU capacity continues to dwindle in San Diego, how do hospitals best direct resources to meet the challenges of COVID 19? Also, lawmakers revisit budget cuts in California after h news of a 26-billion dollar windfall in tax revenues. And, local researchers are looking at plants to help ease the pressures of climate change.

New numbers obtained by KPBS show that evictions are continuing in San Diego County, despite a state bill meant to stop many of them during the pandemic. Also, Todd Gloria was Inaugurated on Thursday - he’s San Diego’s first openly gay mayor. Plus, unless SD Unified gets more federal aid, the school district faces a massive budget deficit.

As hospitalizations from COVID-19 continue to increase across San Diego, there are growing concerns about the possibility of ICU nurse staffing shortages. Meanwhile, Governor Newsom has reversed a decision to close playgrounds under the state stay-at-home orders. Also, a new report finds veterans are struggling to file claims for VA benefits during the pandemic.