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Debbie Cruz

All Things Considered News Anchor

Debbie Cruz is the local afternoon news anchor for All Things Considered. Debbie was born and raised in Southern Arizona where she began her journalism career in 1997 as the afternoon news anchor at Newsradio KNST in Tucson. Debbie moved with her family to San Diego in 2004 where she continued to enjoy her passion for newsgathering and storytelling as a regional news writer and reporter/anchor at Metro Networks. Prior to joining the KPBS team, Debbie also worked as the morning news anchor for 24/7 News and 760 KFMB.

MORE STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR
  • Fewer cuts to the police department, but those to library hours remain in San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s final budget proposal. And, speaking of budget cuts, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s also proposing some belt-tightening — this time, ending Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented people. Advocates say asylum-seekers are not being given due process at the border, including a disabled Mongolian man who’s been in custody more than two months. Voice of San Diego’s Scott Lewis is back on the podcast breaking down the latest legal fight in the La Jolla succession effort. Then, hear about what’s new at this year’s Fringe Festival. Finally, children in the foster care system and their families can visit one Balboa Park museum for free for the next three weeks.
  • City Heights residents are pushing back against budget cuts to rec centers and libraries. Then, a new report says Medi-Cal patients are hospitalized for preventable conditions twice as much as Californians with private insurance. And hear the latest on the Marine Corps’ controversial contract with an Oceanside-based credit union. Plus, Governor Gavin Newsom released $3 billion for behavioral health and housing — we’ll tell you what San Diego organizations will benefit. Finally, we look at how automated bots are scooping up the best tee times at city golf courses.
  • Local Catholics tell us what they think of the new Pope. Plus, we hear from members of local Native American tribes about plants they use to make tools and medicine. And, Carlsbad could see new drive-thrus after a longstanding ban.
  • Ahead of Mother’s Day, a report is out that brings attention to the challenges faced by Black mothers in the workplace — from inadequate paid maternity leave to lactation barriers. Then, the San Diego County Vintners Association said its wine sales declined slightly in 2024. A local winery said there’s still growth to be had — a county ordinance has made it easier for smaller wineries to open up.
  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is calling on the Pentagon to pause its contract with Oceanside-based Frontwave Credit Union. Adjunct faculty at the University of San Diego are on strike, we’ll tell you why. Then, part two of our story on the Trump Administration’s focus on birth rates. And, some San Marcos residents aren’t happy about a proposed detox facility. Also, Voice of San Diego’s Scott Lewis is back with an update on the La Jolla secessionist movement. Finally, one San Diego neighborhood is fighting to have public stairs cleaned up.
  • Options abound for paid parking systems in Balboa Park meant to help the city’s budget shortfall. And San Diego County is also looking for budget solutions, this time toward its reserve. Also, part one of a two-part story looking at the Trump Administration’s fixation on birthrates. Then, an East County school is helping kids eat healthy away from school by sending food home with them on the bus. And relief is here for tens of thousands of Anthem-Blue Cross customers unable to access Scripps Health due to a contract dispute.
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