
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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The jury concluded that former certified nursing assistant Matthew Fluckiger sexually assaulted one woman twice in one hour.
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The Marines were looking into whether 21-year-old Victor Krvaric tried to join the white supremacist group Patriot Front.
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Matthew Fluckiger is accused of sexually assaulting women in three San Diego area nursing homes.
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Some experts question the effectiveness of new policies aimed at rooting out white supremacy.
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Victor Kvaric's alleged attempt to join Patriot Front is part of a larger trend.
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At least four entities either owned or controlled by the Chinese government have invested in DJI Technology, according to a news report.
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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.
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- Immigration court observer says ICE detained her for hours