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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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  • One reason for long border wait times at the San Ysidro border crossing is one of the pedestrian crossings hasn’t been fully operational since before the pandemic. In other news, with insurance companies dropping customers and pulling out of California, some homeowners are now going for an out-of-state solution, but that coverage comes with a risk. Plus, we have details on the University Heights Fall Festival happening Saturday.
  • The city of San Diego is asking voters whether to increase the local sales tax this November. City leaders say they need more funding to pay for infrastructure repairs, but opponents want the city to cut spending instead. In other news, the results of an audit of the state program that determines the placement of sexually violent predators. Plus, the impact of military spending on the San Diego region.
  • In Chula Vista, homeowners can build one ADU on their property. Now, the city will research whether to allow two. And, we take a look at what's at stake in this election, both nationally and in the region. Plus, thousands of sailors on the USS Roosevelt returned home after an extended deployment to the Middle East.
  • As more unaccompanied children seek asylum in the U.S., the federal government is struggling to find appropriate housing for them. We hear from an asylum seeker. In other news, Project 2025 could limit prosecutors’ power to decide which cases to pursue. Plus, Carlsbad’s New Village Arts Center is showing its first work by a Native American playwright, and it spotlights the hypocrisies of woke America.
  • It’s been seven years, but a judge late last week okayed a class action settlement in a suit over a San Diego law against people sheltering in cars and RVs on city streets. In other news, Project 2025 calls the department of education “a one-stop shop for the woke education cartel,” and it could gravely impact local campuses. Plus, a statewide effort called My Vote, My Health aims to increase turnout among low-income voters.
  • Nurses at Palomar Health in Escondido held a rally Thursday, over demands they say the hospital is failing to meet. In other news, hotel workers at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront are returning to work Friday with a new contract, after they spent more than a month on strike. Plus, a local sign painter went viral on TikTok while applying for a major artist residency, bringing attention to a timeless trade.
  • San Diego Unified District leaders are looking for solutions for repairing a backlog of malfunctioning air conditioners at their schools. In other news, in 2020 Mayor Todd Gloria campaigned on making the region less dependent on cars. But, since taking office, his attendance at transportation board meetings has been poor. Plus, organizers in Ocean Beach are gearing up for another weekend of Oktoberfest activities.
  • Oceanside police have put out a public safety advisory after a string of attacks that killed two men and left a third wounded. The men were unhoused. In other news, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently vetoed a bill that could have significantly boosted voter registration at the DMV, and local advocacy groups are disappointed, but undeterred. Plus, we have a follow-up to an ongoing story KPBS has covered over the last two years– threats against local elected officials.
  • Another round of state funding to address homelessness is heading to some California communities, including Carlsbad. In other news, after a short reopening, South County beaches are again closed due to cross-border sewage. Plus, we hear from a UCSD scientist who has learned the migratory history of the Polynesian people from genetic sampling, and from the stories his grandma told him.
  • When mothers can’t produce enough breast milk, pasteurized donor milk is the best alternative for premature babies. A new law seeks to simplify the process. In other news, learning about climate change is a new graduation requirement for UC San Diego students, and it’s the first school in the UC system to implement the policy. Plus, San Diego County's department of animal services is celebrating furry friends that have crossed the rainbow bridge with a Dia de Los Muertos altar.
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.