Unlike alcohol, California doesn’t have a legal limit for drugged driving. So it’s up to drug recognition experts. But how do they evaluate someone they think may be under the influence? Hear the last story in KPBS’s five-part series: “High Hopes: California's Pot Experiment.” Plus, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and Joy to the World. Find out how these songs are helping veterans with lung disease get better. And meet Jonathan Hunt, librarian for the San Diego County Office of Education. He’s going to share his top 12 kids books of 2019. He says younger audiences have become more willing to address difficult topics.

Encinitas is the latest city in San Diego County to ban gas leaf blowers because noise and emissions. The ban goes into effect for businesses today and some aren't happy about the move. Plus, San Diego researchers are looking at the science behind marijuana. But doing studies can still be tough. Hear why marijuana science hasn't advanced as much as it could have. And, It's tough to find venues to skate in San Diego especially if you want to play roller derby. Find out what Derby United is doing to make roller derby easier to play in San Diego.

J.J. Abrams' “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” opens in theaters today and our Star Wars nerd in residence and KPBS film critic Beth Accomando has a spoiler-free reaction. Plus, legal weed has led to a bump in emergency room visits, especially among tourists who took an edible. Doctors, however, say legalization hasn't led to the public health crisis some feared. And, as winter gets its start in the eyes of skiers, water managers and farmers turn toward the southern Rocky Mountains to see just how much snow piles up. Hear what this upcoming winter might bring.

It took a decade and persistent bipartisan support in Congress, but work at the San Ysidro Port of Entry is finally done. Hear what that means for the busiest land border crossing in the western hemisphere. Plus, hundreds of students in San Diego take public transportation everyday to get to school. One high school junior is pressuring the county to make the bus pass program free for students. And, yesterday in 1903, the Wright Brothers took their first flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Every year, on that day, the San Diego Air and Space Museum brings out and powers up a replica of that aircraft's engine. Hear why San Diego is a fitting place for this piece of history.

San Diego is considering creating a "cannabis equity program" in an effort to help people of color share in the profits of legalized marijuana. Hear more as part of our weeklong series “High Hopes: California's Pot Experiment.” Plus, as meth deaths surge in the county, how are we treating meth addiction? Learn about a new treatment option coming to a local health center. And, striking for better pay and increased mental health services for patients, Kaiser workers across the state are walking the picket lines this week. Hear why caregivers are continuing their fight in San Diego.

Two years ago, California legalized the purchase and sale of recreational marijuana. Since then, the state has collected hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes from the cannabis industry. As part of a weeklong series, “High Hopes: California's Pot Experiment,” KPBS examines where the money goes and why San Diego gets less than other big cities. Plus, Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) helped secured $300 million to help combat Tijuana sewage spills in the new United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement includes. If approved by Congress, the USMCA would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. And, despite urgent calls to boost California's housing supply, the state will likely produce fewer new homes this year than last. Hear why.

San Diego researchers are working to revive the northern white rhino before it goes extinct. An answer is possible, if efforts in the lab pay off. Plus, school meals are a lifeline for thousands of students in the county. Find out how local schools and charities are making sure students stay fed during the holidays. And, the U.S. Census Bureau is hiring. It's gearing up to bring on thousands of people in San Diego. This is the latest step toward improving participation in a region declared hard to count.

Four victims came forward Wednesday with allegations of sexual assault against a now dead priest. Hear why they’re suing the Catholic Diocese of San Diego now. Plus, tens of millions of Americans care for their aging parents. A new book called "Raising an Aging Parent" explores how to handle those challenges in healthy and beneficial ways. And, San Diego is at the center of the baseball world this week with MLB's Winter Meetings in town. Each year executives, exhibitors and job seekers gathered for the four-day event. KPBS went to check in on the action.

A group of doctors from across the country are spending the week in San Diego demanding they be allowed to vaccinate detained migrants against flu. As they protested outside of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection regional headquarters in Chula Vista, several were arrested. Plus, a former sheriff’s deputy who pleaded guilty to assaulting 16 women while on duty learned his fate in court Tuesday. And, the water in Poway is again safe to drink. This after storm water contaminated the city's water supply forcing people to turn off their taps for a week. But now there's a political battle boiling.

San Diego emergency departments want to better serve the county's seniors. Monday, nine local health care providers pledged to improve geriatric care over the next year. Hear what that will look like. Plus, newly released numbers by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows the number of people apprehended crossing the southern border continues to decline. And, an inewsource investigation has found hundreds of fire incident calls this year cited homeless encampments. The situation is leaving many residents on edge.