Meet the Team

Elaine Alfaro

Reporter

Elaine Alfaro is a reporter at KPBS and part of the California Local News Fellowship program. She primarily covers San Diego's East County and specializes in investigative and accountability journalism.

Elaine graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in multimedia journalism. At PLNU, she served as the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.

As someone who grew up in San Diego, Elaine cares deeply about storytelling that reflects the local community. She's covered the San Diego community through her freelance work and internships at a variety of publications including the San Diego Community News Group, the Filipino Press, NBC7 and the PB Monthly.

In her free time, you can usually find her hiking local trails, checking out bookstores or trying a new recipe!

MORE STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR

Carlsbad man detained in connection to the Wisconsin school shooting

Debbie Cruz

Elaine Alfaro

The FBI detained Alexander Paffendorf on Tuesday. He was allegedly plotting a mass shooting with the Wisconsin school shooter Natalie Rupnow. Then, a controversial provision in next year’s defense budget will strip coverage for gender-affirming care for military family members under the age of 18. Plus, Sweetwater Union High School District moves forward with new cuts to the schedule at Chula Vista High. Students, parents and teachers are worried those changes will hurt the school’s arts program.
A new city of San Diego committee wants to lower the cost of living

Debbie Cruz

Elaine Alfaro

The San Diego City Council is forming a special committee focused on lowering housing, transportation and food costs. Then, city staff are recommending removing a footnote from San Diego code, after community pushback and KPBS coverage. Plus, portable classrooms at Ramona Elementary School have needed to be replaced for decades. Voters in Ramona had the chance to fund renovations in November, but they voted not to.
Homeless encampment near Escondido Creek cleared

Debbie Cruz

Elaine Alfaro

The Escondido City Council voted last night to spend $4 million to put up a fence and restore habitat in an area near the Escondido Creek that was being used as a homeless encampment. Prior to the vote, dozens of people were cleared from the camp. Then, the leader of San Diego’s Commission on Police Practices announced his resignation, six months into the job. Plus, President-Elect Donald Trump has vowed to shut down a mobile app used by migrants seeking asylum. Reporter Gustavo Solis spoke to migrants who would be impacted by Trump’s action.
Senate passes a bill to restore tribal lands in San Diego County

Debbie Cruz

Elaine Alfaro

The bill would put 172 acres owned by the Jamul Indian Village into trust, which makes the tribe eligible for certain federal programs and services. Then, Poway and Ramona are exploring how they can share water resources. Plus, the monarch butterfly could be added to the threatened species list. Reporter Andrew Dyer visited Camp Pendleton where the Marines say they have an important role to play in saving the species.
Chula Vista’s Harborside Park is reopening after two-year closure

Debbie Cruz

Elaine Alfaro

Harborside Park in Chula Vista has been at the center of citywide debates on housing and environmental justice since 2022. The park is scheduled to reopen on Dec. 15. Then, a proposal for a 22-story apartment building in Pacific Beach is causing a stir among neighbors. Plus, reporter Tania Thorne gives us a preview of Vista’s annual Krampus procession.
How political scientists accurately predicted Trump’s win

Debbie Cruz

Elaine Alfaro

Key polls on the presidential race gave Vice President Kamala Harris a slight edge over President-elect Donald Trump in November, but modeling by political scientists predicted Trump’s win a month before the election. A local professor tells us how. Then, a recent study found social media use is affecting young men in unexpected ways. Plus, a local ride-share program helps seniors get to their medical appointments, but they are struggling to recruit volunteer drivers.