Amita Sharma
Investigative ReporterAs the public matters investigative reporter, Amita leads KPBS’ coverage on efforts to undermine democracy, including threats to public officials, bolstering the Big Lie, chipping away at voter’s rights, attempts to overturn election results, eroding institutions and weakening the government's capacity to do its job, as well as civic efforts to engage people with opposing views without rancor.
The goal of the position is to report on the stakes, from a San Diego County perspective, on the United States’ current political moment.
She has spent the last two years reporting on local threats to democracy, including regional extremism, the shrinking of local news coverage while the number of hyper partisan “news” websites grow, censorship at libraries and incivility at public meetings.
Her previous coverage includes: exposing abuses in local nursing homes at the height of the pandemic, including a serial rapist who had worked in several El Cajon facilities and was arrested following her reporting; unearthing a contract between the city of Chula Vista and Motorola that allowed the company to sell data collected by the Chula Vista Police Department; and reporting on discrimination and retaliation in the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office that led to court settlements and the retirement of the Public Defender.
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Imam at Islamic Center of San Diego says surveillance is not moral.
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The new Congressional report also identifies one of the recruits as a man who lived in San Diego.
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A local man said the food crisis is so bad that people are "dying like flies" outside refugee camps.
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Builders project that $300 million in local, state and federal revenue would also be lost during the project's life.
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Electricity users in California may be getting into the fire-insurance business soon. Private negotiations are under way for ratepayers to cover wildfire costs that insurance companies refuse to insure. -
Weapons seized during statewide sweep. It nets nearly three times as many seized during the last sweep in 2007.
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County requiring employees of grocery stores and many other retail outlets to wear masks as of midnight Friday. That’s a tall order, says the California Grocers Association.
- Defense Secretary Hegseth requires new 'pledge' for reporters at the Pentagon
- Cal State San Marcos sorority charter revoked for hazing
- Flushable wipes and Iran: Water treatment facility adds cyberattacks to worry list
- Social media is shattering America's understanding of Charlie Kirk's death
- Young surfers mentored by pros at Super Girl Surf Festival in Oceanside