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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San Diego police fear there may be a growing number of gun activists who want to carry their weapons openly. The trend is part of a national "open carry" movement keen on exercising gun rights. KPBS R
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Consumer groups and San Diego Gas & Electric have been at odds for years over everything from rate increases to the need for the Sunrise Power Link. But now a deal may be in the works between one of t
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San Diego city officials have failed to convince regulators to require a test ensuring gasoline is not recontaminating Qualcomm Stadium. The two sides met earlier this week. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma
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The city of San Diego says regulators aren't being careful enough in checking if petroleum from a tank farm is re-contaminating the ground under the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot. The city wants to use
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The San Diego port district has the word unified in its official title. But talk to the cities that make up the port and you'll find the agency resembles a family divided. The roots of the bad feeling
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The port of San Diego is an agency established by the state of California. It's responsible for development and protection of 33 miles of waterfront. The port has a budget of nearly $200 million. But
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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.
- Experts concerned about white nationalist imagery in ICE recruitment materials
- New Terminal 1 at San Diego Airport opens to passengers
- Ramona cemetery district board member uncovers unusual compensation records
- Trump blames Tylenol for autism. Science doesn't back him up
- Animal shelter supervisor ‘out of the office’ after revelation of profane recording