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The new remake of the 1989 Patrick Swayze film comes up short, caught between an unironic '80s homage and a more wised-up contemporary sensibility.

About a quarter of the county’s population over 25 is reading at — or below — the third-grade level.

The Hong Kong-born vocalist and songwriter became the first person of Chinese descent to perform at the Oscars with a nominated song from the popular martial arts film.

The Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act, or ELVIS Act, is an updated version of the state's right of publicity law. The new legislation includes AI-specific protections.

Prolific novelist and punk rock journalist and historian Jim Ruland has a new novel coming out, "Make It Stop," a speculative look at a dysfunctional capitalist healthcare system and the underdogs, vigilantes and avengers who are (messily) trying to upturn the status quo. Ruland's writing is a compelling mix of page turner thriller, humor and cerebral, wry insight into the darker corners of the human condition. Ruland will be in conversation with author Patrick Coleman at the Book Catapult to celebrate "Make It Stop." —Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS About the book: Scores of detox and rehab centers across Southern California have adopted a controversial new conditional release policy that forces patients to stay until they pay their bills. And if they can't pay? They don't leave. Enter: Make It Stop, a group of highly skilled recovering addicts dedicated to rescuing those trapped in these prison hospitals by posing as patients and getting them out by any means necessary. But when Scary Gary, one of their top ops, gets killed on assignment, Melanie Marsh and her crew set out to avenge his death and unravel an unthinkable medical conspiracy that threatens to destroy the organization and cripple the city with a dangerous new drug. Melanie may be LA's best hope but if, and only if, she can stay sober. From decrepit rehab wards to beachside punk clubs, Make It Stop takes readers into LA's darkest corners, exploring sobriety, sanity, and a society hell-bent on profiting off those who need its help the most. About the author: Jim Ruland is the author of the award-winning novel Forest of Fortune and the short story collection Big Lonesome. He is the co-author of Do What You Want with Bad Religion, My Damage with Keith Morris, founding member of Black Flag, Circle Jerks and OFF!, and Giving the Finger with Scott Campbell, Jr. of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch. He is currently working on a collaboration with Evan Dando of the Lemonheads. Jim writes about punk and pop culture for Razorcake — America’s only non-profit independent music zine. He also writes book reviews and author profiles for the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Jim’s work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Believer, Electric Literature, Esquire, Granta, Hobart and Oxford American, and has received awards from Reader’s Digest and the National Endowment for the Arts. Jim is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and has worked for advertising agencies, entertainment enterprises, and the gaming industry. He is available for copywriting, ghostwriting, editing, and consultation. He lives in Southern California and is an avid enthusiast of punk rock music, tattoo culture, and strong coffee. For more information, or to preorder books, visit The Book Catapult here. Related links: The Book Catapult on Instagram

From the San Diego Opera: "Tosca" is Giacomo Puccini’s gripping drama filled with torture, treachery, lust, execution and suicide. Scarpia, the chief of police, wants only two things: to recapture the escaped prisoner Angelotti and to seduce Tosca, an opera singer of incredible voice and beauty. Tosca is in love with Cavaradossi, an artist and sympathizer of Angelotti. After arresting Cavaradossi for harboring Angelotti, Scarpia plays with Tosca’s emotions, promising to free Cavaradossi if Tosca will succumb to Scarpia’s desires. But Tosca has a plan of her own, all of which unfolds with tragic consequences from which no one can escape. Soaring and sensuous, filled with such beautiful arias as Tosca’s “Vissi d’arte”, Cavaradossi’s “Recondita armonia” and the powerful choral piece “Te Deum”, Tosca has some of opera’s most beloved music, and one of opera’s most gripping plots. Tosca welcomes the return of soprano Michelle Bradley in the title role, and Greer Grimsley in his signature role of Scarpia. Argentinian tenor Marcelo Puente makes his San Diego Opera debut as Cavaradossi. Directed by Alan Hicks and with the San Diego Symphony conducted by Valerio Galli. LANGUAGE – Sung in Italian with English and Spanish text projected above the stage RUN TIME – 2 hours and 45 minutes, including two 20-minute intermissions Pre-Opera Lecture: The pre-opera lecture begins at 6:40 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. evening performances. The Sunday matinee pre-opera lecture begins at 1:10 p.m. before the 2:00 p.m. curtain. Mainstage Post-Opera Talk-Back: Stay after the performance for a Talk-Back. Once the curtain falls, there will be a 10-minute break, then join us in the front of the Dress Circle section where you can ask questions of the stars and cast (subject to availability), and find out what really happened onstage and backstage during the performance! SD Opera Safety Protocols Ticket information: Special discounts are available here for students, military or last-minute rush tickets. Details here.

San Diego Unified School District continues its investment in school rebuilding and renovation projects breaking ground at Pacific Beach Elementary.

From the museum: Robert Xavier Burden: 'Relics' “In 2006 I began a series of large-scale oil paintings depicting the small action figures that I played with as a boy. Initially these figures were set against fabric, wallpaper, and rug patterns from my childhood home. Over the years the decorative motifs have become more complex and derived from historical references, often incorporating toys from various generations, but the motivation behind the work remains the same. I am inspired by the amorphous line that is drawn between imagination and reality, childhood wonder and adult practicality, and the ineffability of what can turn a piece of plastic into an almost talismanic object. There is an obvious irony in spending thousands of hours to create a single painting that glorifies a cheap, mass-produced toy. And while that irony could reflect issues of commodity fetishism, consumer addiction, Peter Pan Syndrome or even shallow idolatry, I want these paintings to represent something positive in my life. Although it was sheltered and naïve, there was a freedom in my childhood. It was free from the politics of race and sex and religion. It was free from the weight of history. It was free from rhetoric and paranoia, shame and regret, cynicism and despair. There is nothing profound about commenting on the minor tragedy of losing one's innocence, or the struggle to maintain one's idealism. I just want to renew my faded sense of awe.” -Robert Xavier Burden Exhibition information here. Exhibition celebration: March 18, 2023 Related links: Robert Xavier Burden on Instagram Oceanside Museum of Art on Instagram

To fight the skyrocketing cost of insulin, California is using multiple tactics, including making its own generic versions.

"The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci" opens at The Globe and explores the mind of one of the world's greatest thinkers.