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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The Department of Homeland Security is terminating protections for thousands of Afghan refugees. Many in San Diego are now at risk of being sent back to a country still under Taliban rule. Plus, the police budget has ballooned with overtime pay. Then, San Diegans are suing over a food poisoning outbreak at a popular restaurant.
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Advocates say a proposal to limit Medi-Cal access for immigrants without legal status will have harmful consequences. Government agencies scale back testing on animals. And, a preview of the 2025 San Diego International Fringe Festival.
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Fewer cuts to the police department, but those to library hours remain in San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s final budget proposal. And, speaking of budget cuts, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s also proposing some belt-tightening — this time, ending Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented people. Advocates say asylum-seekers are not being given due process at the border, including a disabled Mongolian man who’s been in custody more than two months. Voice of San Diego’s Scott Lewis is back on the podcast breaking down the latest legal fight in the La Jolla succession effort. Then, hear about what’s new at this year’s Fringe Festival. Finally, children in the foster care system and their families can visit one Balboa Park museum for free for the next three weeks.
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City Heights residents are pushing back against budget cuts to rec centers and libraries. Then, a new report says Medi-Cal patients are hospitalized for preventable conditions twice as much as Californians with private insurance. And hear the latest on the Marine Corps’ controversial contract with an Oceanside-based credit union. Plus, Governor Gavin Newsom released $3 billion for behavioral health and housing — we’ll tell you what San Diego organizations will benefit. Finally, we look at how automated bots are scooping up the best tee times at city golf courses.
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A Logan Heights church is suing to remain a safe space for immigrant worshippers. And there is a growing campaign to fix a dangerous intersection in University Heights. We then turn to the South Bay where residents brace for sewage problems to worsen. And, in North County, tenants of an affordable RV park fight evictions leaving a nonprofit in the cold. Finally, hear from KPBS’ new Public Matters social media reporter Jake Gotta about getting good journalism in front of new audiences.
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Local Catholics tell us what they think of the new Pope. Plus, we hear from members of local Native American tribes about plants they use to make tools and medicine. And, Carlsbad could see new drive-thrus after a longstanding ban.
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Ahead of Mother’s Day, a report is out that brings attention to the challenges faced by Black mothers in the workplace — from inadequate paid maternity leave to lactation barriers. Then, the San Diego County Vintners Association said its wine sales declined slightly in 2024. A local winery said there’s still growth to be had — a county ordinance has made it easier for smaller wineries to open up.
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is calling on the Pentagon to pause its contract with Oceanside-based Frontwave Credit Union. Adjunct faculty at the University of San Diego are on strike, we’ll tell you why. Then, part two of our story on the Trump Administration’s focus on birth rates. And, some San Marcos residents aren’t happy about a proposed detox facility. Also, Voice of San Diego’s Scott Lewis is back with an update on the La Jolla secessionist movement. Finally, one San Diego neighborhood is fighting to have public stairs cleaned up.
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Options abound for paid parking systems in Balboa Park meant to help the city’s budget shortfall. And San Diego County is also looking for budget solutions, this time toward its reserve. Also, part one of a two-part story looking at the Trump Administration’s fixation on birthrates. Then, an East County school is helping kids eat healthy away from school by sending food home with them on the bus. And relief is here for tens of thousands of Anthem-Blue Cross customers unable to access Scripps Health due to a contract dispute.
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A more permanent fix is coming to the San Diego-Los Angeles rail corridor plagued by coastal erosion. Plus, how are San Diego County farmers impacted by the Trump administration’s back and forth tariff policy. And, a psychiatry professor at UC San Diego says a meditation-based therapy is shown to be effective in reducing chronic pain and lowering the use of opioid medication.
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.