Gloria Penner
Senior Political CorrespondentKPBS remembers Gloria Penner, Senior Political Correspondent and host of "KPBS Midday Edition- Roundtable" on Fridays at noon. Gloria was the host "San Diego Week" from 2008-2011 and also hosted the first hour of KPBS Radio's "These Days" from 1995 to 1999. She served as the host of KPBS TV's "Full Focus" from 2003 to 2007. Gloria first joined KPBS Television in 1969 as director of community relations. Subsequently, she oversaw production of television programs for nine years. From 1993 to 1995, she was the host and writer for "KPBS Weekend Edition," a locally produced television program featuring highlights from the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour. National credits include reporting and producing assignments for "Nightly Business Report" and the "MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour." She played an active part in KPBS’ election coverage for 30 years. She has moderated scores of town hall meetings on candidates races and propositions for KPBS, "Envision San Diego," and the League of Women Voters. She conducted scores of interviews with congressional, state and local candidates; and reported for television documentaries on issues and candidates. Her awards include 7 Emmys, 5 Golden Mikes, 2 Gracies from the American Federation of Women in Radio and Television, The San Diego Press Club’s Harold Keen Award for excellence in journalism, the John Swett Award from the California Teachers Association, and many honors from the Society for Professional Journalists and the San Diego Bar Association. An annual Gloria Penner Award for Civic Service was established in 2003 by the League of Women Voters of San Diego County, and Gloria was the first recipient. Gloria earned her bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College. She did graduate work in English at New York University and earned her Master’s Degree in English from Syracuse University. She started her radio career in San Francisco in the 1950s as an associate producer on a program called Housewives Protective League. Her first job in television came after a move to Washington, D.C. where she was associate producer of the Washington segment of the "Today Show." After a stint in Hawaii and a return to Washington, D.C., she relocated to San Diego and took a few years off for family life. Gloria is survived by her husband Bill Snyder of La Jolla; two sons, Brad Penner of San Diego and Steve Penner of Tucson, Arizona.
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Accused mass shooter Jared Loughner has been assigned Judy Clarke, a San Diego attorney with federal death penalty experience. Larry Burns, a U.S. district judge based in San Diego was assigned to hear the case after Arizona judges recused themselves.
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Hundreds of homeless San Diegans were at Golden Hall this week looking for help. They got an outpouring, from haircuts and dental care to blankets and toiletries, from more than 60 organizations and scores of volunteers. Tom Fudge, KPBS reporter and author of the blog On-Ramp, has the details on Project Homeless Connect. -
San Diego legal leaders this week blasted a last minute decision made by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He reduced the sentence of Esteban Nunez, from 16 years to 7 years. Nunez, who pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter for his role in the stabbing death of a man near SDSU in 2008, is the son of former state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. Tony Perry, San Diego bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, explains the reaction to the decision. -
America's libraries are being forced to redefine and advocate for their continuing value in society. Here in San Diego, public library hours have been cut at a time when library use is at an all time high. Roberta Stevens, President of the American Library Association, talks about the organization's plans to address challenges and identify solutions. -
Professor M.C.Madhavan is a Fulbright scholar and semi-retired economics professor at San Diego State University. He's led United Nations development programs and was an economist for the World Bank. But he may be best known for founding the San Diego Indian American Society which established the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship. More than 400 San Diego students have received this award since 1984. Dwane Brown spoke with professor Madhavan and found out what motivates him to continue to make a difference in the lives of youth in San Diego and abroad. -
Some of the University of California's highest-paid academic leaders want to increase pension benefits for those earning more than $245,000. UC President Mark Yudof rejects the contention that UC is required to increase the benefits. Why do academic leaders believe they deserve a pension boost in difficult financial times? And, what's next in this dispute?
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