>>> >>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS REMAINED POSSIBLE BY BILL HOWELL FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR, RESTORATION, FLOODING REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL ONE 800 BILL HOW, OR VISIT BILLY HOWLE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PURPOSE FOUNDATION.

DARLING MARCO SHYLY AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

, GOOD EVENING, IS FRIDAY APRIL 22nd.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

WE BEGIN WITH SOMETHING THAT MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED.

THE EARTH.

IT IS BIRTHDAY ACROSS THE GLOBE.

A TIME TO RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND AS KPBS REPORTER SHOWS US, MANY SAN DIEGANS ARE ALL IN.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A VIEW VERY FEW HUMAN BEINGS HAVE SEEN IN PERSON.

A SMALL, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, BLUE BALLS FLOATING IN SPACE.

EARTH DAY IS A DAY SET ASIDE FOR MOTHER EARTH.

OUR ISLAND HOME.

A DAY WHEN WE ARE MEANT TO THINK WHAT WE ARE DOING TO HER.

WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING FOR HER.

ON THAT NOTE, EVENTS LIKE THIS CAN HELP THIS IS THE COUNTY'S ANNUAL EARTH DAY FEAR.

BUT WE GOT RAIN EVERY DAY EARTH DAY.

>> Reporter: OF THE COUNTY OPERATIONS CENTER AT THE COUNTY, STUDENTS HAVE SHOWN WHAT THEY DO FOR GOOD.

BUT WE HAVE INFORMATION RECYCLING.

THERE'S A SNAKE AND A TAXIDERMY POD THAT BRINGS ATTENTION TO OUR WILDLIFE PRESERVATION EFFORTS AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

YOU CAN EVEN PLAN SOME PLANTS IN OUR COMMITTEE GARDEN >> Reporter: A CHANCE TO PLANT SOME IN?

TIME FOR SOME REPORTER INVOLVEMENT.

MASTER GARDENER NANCY HELTON IS SHOWING ME HOW TO PLANT A KIND OF ICE PLANT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR SUCCULENTS AND ALSO OUR NATIVES TO BE WATERED FAIRLY HEAVILY WHEN WE FIRST LET THEM.

>> Reporter: BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT SUCCULENTS IS AFTER YOU GET THEM GOING, YOU DON'T NEED MUCH WATER.

GOOD FOR DROUGHT STRICKEN CALIFORNIA.

AND GARDENING ITSELF, THAT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS WONDERFUL THERAPY.

PEOPLE LOVE GARDENING AND ALL AGE GROUPS LOVE GARDENING.

IT SEEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO IT AND IT MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD.

>> Reporter: AT A TIME IN WORLD HISTORY WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH BAD, SAD NEWS EVERY DAY, HANGING OUT HERE FOR A WHILE WAS A REAL SHOT IN THE ARM.

LEARNING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE PROGRAM RUN BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHERE INMATES GROW AND ATTEND TREES THAT ARE THEN TRANSPLANTED INTO COUNTY PARKS.

OR SOMETHING AS MUNDANE, BUT IMPORTANT, AS PLACES TO RECYCLE STUFF LIKE BATTERIES.

BEING AT THIS EARTH DAY FAIR WAS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND SOME TIME ON THIS FRIDAY.

TO BE REMINDED THAT THIS IS IT.

THERE IS NO PLANET BE.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

STOMACH THE STABBING OF A 16- YEAR-OLD GIRL IN LAKESIDE HAS LEFT MANY OUTRAGED BY THE WAY THE CASE WAS HANDLED.

KATIE HAS NEW DETAILS.

>> Reporter: TOSHA SAYS THE 16- YEAR-OLD BLACK GIRL WHO WAS STABBED LAST WEEKEND BY A WHITE TEENAGER IN LAKESIDE IS SLOWLY HEALING PHYSICALLY.

BUT WHAT WORRIES HER ARE THE SCARS YOU CAN'T SEE.

>> SHE'S TRAUMATIZED.

SHE'S NOT IN SCHOOL.

SHE IS IN PAIN.

SHE IS HEALING.

THIS IS A TRAUMA.

SHE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH RACIALIZED TRAUMA BEING CALLED THE LETTER AND WORK.

>> Reporter: THE FAMILY IS IN HIDING BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THOSE INVOLVED HAVE TIES TO A WHITE SUPREMACIST GANG.

>> LAKESIDE GANGSTERS IS A WELL- KNOWN HEINOUS GANG THAT HAS COMMITTED ATROCITIES IN LAKESIDE AND AROUND LAKESIDE.

THEY FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES.

>> Reporter: SHE AND OTHERS ARE STILL IN DISBELIEF THAT IN 2022, A BLACK GIRL COULD BE VERBALLY ASSAULTED WITH RACIAL SLURS AND STABBED BY A WHITE TEENAGER WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ADULTS, INCLUDING HIS FATHER.

BUT ONLY THE CHILD IS FACING CHARGES THAT INCLUDE A HATE CRIME.

>> WE THINK THIS IS APPALLING.

THAT THIS DISTRICT ATTORNEY WOULD CALL HIM A BYSTANDER.

THEY ARE NOT BYSTANDERS.

THEY ARE COMPLICIT.

>> Reporter: AT A TOWN HALL MEETING THIS WEEK, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAID THEY COULD NOT PROSECUTE A PARENT FOR STANDING BY.

WILLIAMSON SAID THAT SENT THE WRONG MESSAGE.

>> IF SHE'S NOT GOING TO ARREST THIS FATHER, THEN SHE NEEDS TO FREE EVERY BYSTANDER THAT SHE LOCKED UP IN PRISON AND THREW AWAY THE KEY.

>> Reporter: DAYS LATER, THE D.A., STEFAN NELSON MOVE FORWARD WITH AN INVESTIGATION AND WILL HOLD ANYONE RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE.

SLOPPY TURNAROUND IS BECAUSE OF OUTCRY.

>> Reporter: WILLIAMSON ALWAYS BLAMES THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE THE LAKESIDE SUBSTATION.

>> THE TRUST IS BROKEN.

THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS NOT TRUSTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF AN UNEQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW.

AND IF RACES WERE REVERSED, WE WITH YOU COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OUTCOME.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

>> Reporter: COMMUNITY ADVOCATE GENEVIEVE JONES RIGHT IS A FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER AND A ONE-TIME DISTRICT ATTORNEY CANDIDATE.

SHE SAYS THE STATEMENTS AND LACK OF ACTION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE D.A.

'S OFFICE IN THIS CASE CREATE MORE ISSUES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> YOU WILL HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNWILLING TO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUPPORT OF THEM.

THEY DON'T GET VICTIM ASSISTANCE.

THEY DON'T GET RELOCATED.

THEY DON'T GET PROTECTION.

THEY GET MORE RETALIATION.

PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR.

>> Reporter: THE LAKESIDE SHERIFF DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECLINED AND INTERVIEW.

KATIE ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

THIS AFTERNOON, THE SAN DIEGUITO HIGH SCHOOL BOARD NAMED AN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT TO REPLACE CHERYL JAMES WARD COUSTEAU ON ADMINISTERED LEAVE FOR MAKING RACIALLY BIASED COMMENTS.

THE BOARD APPOINTED TINA M DOUGLAS.

THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES.

DOUGLAS TAKES OVER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WILL LEAD THE DISTRICT WHILE AN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO DR. WARD'S COMMENTS MADE DURING A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING LAST WEEK.

WARD CREDITED THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT CHINESE STUDENTS TO WEALTHY PARENTS AND EXTENDED ASIAN FAMILIES ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM.

MANY PARENTS HAVE CALLED FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO RESIGN, WHILE OTHERS WANT HER TO STAY AND USE THE INCIDENT AS A TEACHING MOMENT.

WARD HAS APOLOGIZED FOR HER COMMENTS.

>>> PARENTS OF CURRENT OR FUTURE PATRICK HENRY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PACKED AN ONLINE MEETING TO EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATION OVER PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

KPBS REPORTER JACOB HAS THE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: PATRICK HENRY HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS SADIE SCHOOL MADE DECISIONS TO REDUCE SCHOOL OFFERINGS WITHOUT CONSENT OR CONVERSATION.

IN AN EMAIL TO PARENTS, PRINCIPAL MICHELLE IRWIN SAID THE CHANGES WERE FOR EQUITY REASONS.

FOR NOW, THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD SO PARENTS COULD GIVE FEEDBACK.

PARENT GAVIN MARTINEZ WAS ONE OF MANY WHO RAISED THEIR CONCERNS IN AN ONLINE FORUM FRIDAY MORNING.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S EQUITY WHEN YOU DUMB DOWN CLASSES AND LOSE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE PEOPLE, OR THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THEMSELVES ON WHATEVER THEY ARE INTO HAVE A BETTER LIFE LATER.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER PARENT, LORI BURKE ELLIS SAYS CUTTING HONORS COURSES WOULD PUT ALL OF THE STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL AT A DISADVANTAGE.

>> THE IDEA THAT MY SON WHO EXCELS IN MATH, EXCELS IN SCIENCE, EXCELS IN ALL THAT HE DOES, EVEN FROM PERFORMANCE, WOULD HAVE TO SOMEHOW HAVE HIS THE QUALITY STOLEN FROM HIM IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE AND CALL THAT THE QUALITY IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED AND CERTAIN SUPPORT OFFICER JANET ROBERSON SAYS TODAY'S MEETING WAS A TIME FOR HER AND OTHER STAFF TO LISTEN TO THE PARENTS.

>> MANY OF YOU ON THIS CALL FEEL THAT YOUR VOICES HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD.

AND SO FOR THAT, WE APOLOGIZE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT.

SO THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER THE INPUT WITH THE HENRY CLUSTER.

TO SIT AND ACTIVELY LISTEN TO YOU.

>> Reporter: DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY THIS FORM WILL HELP THEM SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR THE STUDENTS SO THEY CAN FIND A WAY FORWARD.

JACOB, KPBS NEWS.

>>> UKRAINIAN REFUGEES WILL HAVE A STREAMLINED PATH INTO THE U.S. WITH THE START OF A PROGRAM I'M ASKED TODAY BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

SINCE THE START OF RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE, THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE MEXICAN BORDER SEEKING ASYLUM TO AN INFORMAL ROUTE.

STARTING ON MONDAY, THE ROUTE THROUGH MEXICO WILL KNOW THEM TO BE AN OPTION.

THE PROGRAM KNOWN AS UNITING FOR UKRAINE WILL EXPEDITE APPLICATIONS FOR REFUGEES WHO ARE IN UKRAINE AS OF FEBRUARY 11th.

THEY MUST HAVE A SPONSOR, COMPLETE VACCINATIONS AND PASS BACKGROUND CHECKS TO ENTER.

MOST WILL RECEIVE TWO YEARS OF RESIDENCE AND AUTHORIZATION TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES.

>>> COVID CASE NUMBERS ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS HIGH AS THEY WERE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT COUNTY DATA SHOWS AN UPTICK.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN THIS GRAPH OF CASE COUNTS OVER THE PAST SEVEN DAYS.

TODAY, THE COUNTY REPORTED 389 CASES, AND THAT'S DOWN FROM 518 FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY.

KPBS REPORTER TANYA THORNE TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: UNMASKED FACES, SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND VACATIONS.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO LOWER THEIR GUARD WHEN IT COMES TO COVID.

DR. WILLIAM IS SAYING KAISER SAN DIEGO'S CHIEF OF STAFF.

HE SAYS A LOOSENING OF INTERVENTION METHODS WILL BRING AN UPTICK IN COVID-19 CASES.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE TRANSMISSION.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE CASES.

>> Reporter: COVID-19 COUNTY DATA ARE SHOWING NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.

OVER 500 NEW CASES REPORTED THIS WEEK.

DR. SAYING THINGS THEY WILL SEE MORE CASES BUT THANKS TO THE VACCINES, NOT AS MANY HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE CASES AND I'M HOPING THAT THE VACCINES WILL BE THE FIREWALL THAT PREVENTS IT FROM GETTING WORSE.

PEOPLE FROM GETTING WORSE OR PEOPLE FROM DYING.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY HE SAYS GETTING VACCINATED AND BOOSTED IS IMPORTANT.

>> IF YOU GET THE THIRD TRUCK, YOUR CHANCES COMPARED TO SOMEONE WHO'S NOT VACCINATED, YOUR CHANCES OF EVER ENDING UP ON A VENTILATOR IN THE HOSPITAL AND DYING IS DECREASED BY 94%.

SO REALLY, THE THIRD SHOT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS SAN DIEGO IS A LEADER IN THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATION RATES, BUT IS FALLING BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO BOOSTERS.

WHILE MASKS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED IN MANY PLACES, DR. SINGH SAYS THEY ARE A SIGN OF RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER.

>> WHEN YOU WEAR A MASK, YOU REALLY ARE PROTECTING OTHERS.

MOST OR THAN YOU ARE PROTECTING YOURSELF.

>> Reporter: DR. SINGH'S ADVICE IS FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THEIR OWN BODIES.

IF YOU ARE SICK, GET TESTED TO PREVENT TRANSMISSIONS.

AND THOSE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED SHOULD CONTINUE MASKING.

>> LASTLY, THE BEST PROTECTION BY FAR, NO QUESTION, MORE SO THAN ANY MASK.

NO, MORE SO THAN SANITIZERS TO GET VACCINATED.

>>> DO MASKS STILL WORK IF YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WEARING ONE ON YOUR FLIGHT?

COMING UP ON EVENING ADDITION, THE ANSWER FROM HEALTH EXPERTS MAY SURPRISE YOU.

, RESEARCHERS IN SWEDEN SAY POLLUTED AIR RAISES THE CHANCES OF ADULTS CATCHING COVID-19.

A LINK HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED BEFORE NOW, BUT A NEW STUDY SHOWS AN INDIVIDUAL'S EXPOSURE EVEN SHORT-TERM INCREASES THE RISK.

SCIENTISTS STUDIED POLLUTION LEVELS AROUND THE HOMES OF HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AT THE TIME THAT THEY GOT SICK AND THEY FOUND DUST ON ROADS, FARMS AND CONSTRUCTION SITES INCREASED RISK BY 6.9%.

POLLUTION FROM CARS AND TRUCKS INCREASES IT 6.8%.

AND THEN POLLUTION FROM PAPER, PULP AND SAWMILLS INCREASES IT 5.9%.

>>> SAN DIEGO RESEARCHERS WORKING TO STAVE OFF THE WORST IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS IN THE REGION'S WETLANDS.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIKA ANDERSON SAYS CATTAILS COULD BE THE PART OF THE ANSWER.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO'S LAGOON SITS BESIDES ONE OF THE REGION'S BUSIEST HIGHWAYS, STRUCK FIVE.

BUT IT'S THE GENTLY SWAYING STOCKS OF CATTAILS THAT HAVE CAPTURED THE INTEREST OF TWO RESEARCHERS AT THE SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES.

RESPONDENT YOU CAN SEE HOW HARD IT IS.

THAT'S WHY IT REALLY HOLDS THE SEDIMENT REALLY WELL.

>> Reporter: JOSEPH NOEL WATCHES HIS COLLEAGUE USE A SMALL HAND SHOVEL TO CUT INTO THE DIRT AROUND THE BASE OF THE CATTAIL STEM.

MICHAEL LIFTS UP A NEWLY LIBERATED PLANT.

>> IT'S AN EXAMPLE THAT IT'S STILL ALIVE SO YOU SEE A NEW SHOOT IS FORMING.

>> Reporter: THE PLANT ROOTS ARE CODED IN A STICKY BLACK MUD.

THE RICH WHAT DIRT IS CREATED BY THE CONSTANT PUSH AND PULL OF THIS COASTAL WETLAND ENVIRONMENT.

MICHAEL SAYS SALTWATER REGULARLY FLOWS INTO THE ESTUARY, PUSHING BACK AND EVEN KILLING THE FRESHWATER CATTAILS.

THE ONES THAT REPLACE THEM GROW OVER THE DEAD AND THAT CREATES THE SEDIMENT.

>> THIS IS THE RIGHT ZONE AND IT'S HARD TO SEE BECAUSE IT'S ALL MUDDY.

>> Reporter: THE RIGHT ZONE IS AN INTEREST IN THE GROSS SIDEWAYS.

MUCH LIKE THE ROOTS OF GRASS FOUND IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YARDS.

BUT IT'S NOT WHAT NOEL IS INTERESTED IN.

>> TURNS OUT THAT WETLAND PLANTS, PLEASANT HAVE WET FEET EITHER LIKE THIS OR EVEN FULLY SUBMERGED, THEY MAKE A LOT OF SUPER AND PARTICULARLY IN THEIR ROOTS.

>> SUPER AND HAS THE TEAM'S ATTENTION.

IT COVERS SMALL ROOT STRUCTURES AND HELPS CATTAILS REGULATE WATER.

THEY CAN BLOCK THE SALT WATER AND ALLOW FRESHWATER IN.

MICHAEL SAYS THE SUPER IN COVERED APPENDAGES ARE FULL OF CARBON MOLECULES.

>> PLANS ARE NATURALLY CARBON ACCUMULATING MACHINES, RIGHT?

THEY SUCK CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE AIR.

ALL OF THIS RIGHT HERE, ALL THIS BIOMASS IS BASICALLY JUST CARBON.

>> Reporter: THE CARBON MOLECULES IN SUBERIN DAHLBERG DOWN WHEN THE PLANT DIES.

THE CARBON LINGERS IN THE MUCKY SEDIMENT.

>> YOU CAN ALMOST SEE IT.

IT'S VERY DARK AND BLACK, SO IT'S FULL OF CARBON.

IN FACT, I BET IF YOU DUG DOWN, UP TO 10 FEET BELOW THIS, IT WOULD BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF CARBON THAT'S STORED.

>> Reporter: NOEL AND MICHAEL HAVE SEQUENCED THE CATTAIL GENOME AND HOPE TO TRANSFER THAT PLANT ABILITY TO MAKE SUBERIN INTO CROP PLANTS LIKE CORN AND THINGS.

>> WE THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO TWEAK THESE PLANTS SO THE RACE WILL HAVE MORE OF THE SUBSTANCE.

>> Reporter: THE IMPACT COULD BE HUGE.

CROPLANDS WITH THE MODIFIED ROOTS COULD PULL AS MUCH AS A QUARTER OF THE PLANET'S EXCESS CARBON OUT OF THE AIR.

THAT'S ENOUGH TO HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS IS A KEY PART OF THE SALK INSTITUTE'S HARVESTING PLANT INITIATIVE AND MICHAEL SAYS CATTAILS OF OTHER TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE PLANS MORE RESILIENT.

>> EACH CATTAIL MAKES 300,000 PLUS SEEDS.

IF YOU EVER SEEN THE SEAS, IT'S LIKE SNOW.

ALL OF THOSE SEEDS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE A NEW STAND.

>> Reporter: BUT THE HABITAT THAT IS SO EFFICIENT AT STORING CARBON HAS BEEN UNDER ASSAULT FOR DECADES.

TERRANCE SMITH IS A SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS.

HE SAYS URBANIZATION HAS ELIMINATED 90% OF THE STATE'S COASTAL WETLANDS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A BIG CHANGE WITH PEOPLE.

I THINK WETLANDS WERE SOMETHING ALMOST LIKE AN OASIS EARLY ON IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE YOU DIDN'T RUN INTO FRESHWATER VERY OFTEN.

>> Reporter: THOSE SAME WETLANDS THAT ARE GIVING RESEARCHERS HOPE ABOUT SLOWING CLIMATE CHANGE ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS.

SMITH SAYS PEOPLE ARE MAKING IT HARD FOR THE HABITAT TO ADAPT.

>> WE BUILT RIGHT UP TO IT.

WE BUILT THE WATERSHEDS AND BUILT RIGHT UP TO THE EDGES OF THEM.

SO FOR THEM TO DO WHAT THEY DO TO RETREAT FROM THE WATER TO BACK UP AND FORM FURTHER VEGETATION UPSTREAM, THERE IS HAS TO BE THE SPACE TO DO IT.

>> Reporter: GIVING THE HABITAT SPACE ALLOWS SCIENTISTS TO FIND EXTRA TIME TO FIND OTHER PLANT TRAITS THAT MIGHT REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE.

ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, SOMETHING IS GETTING THE TAHOE AREA VERY EXCITED.

THEY NOW HAVE EXTRA TIME TO HIT THE SLOPES.

THIS SEASON SAW BELOW AVERAGE SNOWFALL.

SOME SKIERS WERE SO ELATED BY THE SURPRISE POWDER AND EXTRA SKIING, THAT THEY TRACKED ALL THE WAY FROM SAN DIEGO.

>> NOW HAVE A NEW, FRESH SNOW, I'M FROM SAN DIEGO, SO FLEW ALL THE WAY UP TO RENO.

GOT IN THE CAR AND DROVE HERE JUST FOR THE WEEKEND.

FOR THE WEEK AND THE WEEKEND TO HIT THE SLOPES.

>> PALISADES TAHOE IS EXTENDING THEIR SKI SEASON AND A FEW FEET OF SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BLANKET THE MOUNTAIN.

>>> WE FINALLY HAD SOME RAIN SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA, SOME GOOD NEWS THERE.

WE WILL TAKE THE MUCH-NEEDED RAIN, BUT WE WILL START TO CLEAR OUT AND AS WE DO, WE WILL TURN BREEZY ANKLE AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT OUR OVERNIGHT HOURS.

MUCH WARMER AND DRIER CONDITIONS RETURN FOR YOUR SATURDAY, SO IF YOU HAVE OTHER PLANS, EVERYTHING LOOKING A-OK. WINS SHOULD CONDUCT AS WELL.

THEN AS WE HAD TO SUNDAY AND ALSO MONDAY, ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES RETURN FOR THE FORECAST AREA.

SO SOME GOOD NEWS THERE.

LET'S TALK SOME WEATHER ALERTS.

WE DO HAVE A FEW WIND ADVISORIES FOR TODAY.

WITH SOME GUSTING WINDS THAT WORK WELL TO THE EAST.

THEY WILL SUBSIDE AS WE HEAD INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT BREEZY AT TIMES, ALSO ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS, WE HAVE SOME.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND YOU WANT TO CAUTION OF THERE.

DROPPING DOWN TO 46 OVERNIGHT.

ESCONDIDO 46 AND EL CAJON, 47.

MOUNT LAGUNA DROPPING DOWN TO 35 DEGREES.

AND TOMORROW, THESE TEMPERATURES TOOK LOOK A BIT BETTER AND YOU GET SUNSHINE.

PLACES LIKE OCEANSIDE, SAN DIEGO , YOU GET TO SOME LOWER 70s.

RAMONA, 75.

85 DEGREES AND MOUNT LAGUNA WILL BE INTO THE LOW TO MID 50s.

WE ARE DRYING OUT WITHOUT DRIER AIR THAT'S WORKING ITS WAY IN FROM THE NORTH AND WEST.

WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A FEW BELLY SHOWERS.

MAYBE SOME MOUNDS SNOW SHOWERS THOUGH.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FORECAST, THERE'S NOTHING OPPRESSIVE THAT REALLY STANDS OUT.

A LOT OF THE CLOUDS CLEAR OUT AND WE SHOULD HAVE SOME PRETTY DECENT SUNSHINE AS WE START TO WARM THINGS UP.

AND REBOUND FROM THE COOLER AND WETTER WEATHER THAT WE HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SUNDAY.

IT'S SUNNY AND COMFORTABLE THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE DAY.

I MENTIONED WE WOULD SEE THAT WARMING TREND.

YOU SEE THAT AROUND THE COASTAL AREAS.

YOU ALSO SEE IT MORE SO IN LAND GETTING TO THE LOWER 90s BY MONDAY OR EVEN ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS YOU WILL SEE SOME UPPER 60s BY TUESDAY.

LOOK AT THE DESERT, GETTING 293 BY MONDAY AFTERNOON.

>>> KPBS HAS A NEW GENERAL MANAGER.

DEANNA MACKEY WILL TAKE THE HELM ON JUNE 30th, BECOMING THE FIRST LaTINA TO LEAD THE PLATFORM MEDIA ORGANIZATION.

MACKEY SAYS SHE HOPES TO WORK WITH THE TEAMS TO REACH OUT AND CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION.

SHE SAYS KPBS HAS A STRONG HISTORY OF INNOVATION.

>> THE STATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE COMPARED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND PUBLIC MEDIA THAT'S VERY FORWARD THINKING.

AND IT'S VERY RISK POSITIVE.

I EXPERIENCED THAT IN MY TIME THERE, BEING ABLE TO EXPERIMENT.

BEING ABLE TO TRY NEW THINGS.

KPBS IS ONE OF THE FIRST STATIONS TO HAVE A WEBSITE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STATIONS TO BUILD A DIGITAL TEAM.

>> MACKEY WORKED AT KPBS FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS BUT SHE LEFT THE STATION IN 2015 TO FORM THE PUBLIC TELEVISION MAJOR MARKET GROUP , STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION.

SDSU PRESIDENT SAYS MACKEY'S REPUTATION FOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP WILL CIRCLE THE STATION AND THE PUBLIC.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, RUSSIAN INVASION.

ADMITS FOR TOTAL CONTROL OF EASTERN UKRAINE AS THOUSANDS REMAIN TRAPPED AT MARIUPOL.

THIS IS AFTER EVENING DID IT ON KPBS.

>>> WITH THE MASS REQUIREMENT FOR MAJOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NO LONGER IN EFFECT, SOME MIGHT BE WONDERING, WILL I STILL BE PROTECTED IF I'M THE ONLY ONE WEARING A MASK?

JEN SULLIVAN GETS SOME ANSWERS.

>> Reporter: MASK TRAVELER, PARTY OF ONE?

IS AIRLINES, TRAINS OF VARIOUS BUS COMPANIES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE PASSENGERS OR CREW MEMBERS TO WEAR MASKS.

SOME PEOPLE WERE SPOTTED WITH RELIEF.

SUCK NO MORE MASKS.

>> Reporter: FOR OTHERS, IT'S PANIC.

WHILE MANY COMPANIES LIKE DELTA SAY THOSE WHO WANT TO STATE MASTIFF ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO.

THE QUESTION ARISES, IF YOU ARE WEARING A MASK BUT NO ONE ELSE IS, ARE YOU STILL PROTECTED?

ACCORDING TO CNN'S CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT, ONE-WAY MASKING STILL HAS BENEFITS.

>> IT DOES DEPEND ON SOME EXTENT TO WHAT KIND OF MASK YOU ARE WEARING.

>> Reporter: PLOT AND SURGICAL MASKS DO NOT OFFER AS MUCH PROTECTION FOR THE WEARER AS OTHERS.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THESE HIGH FILTRATION MASKS AND LETTER N95 MASKS, THESE ARE VERY GOOD MASKS.

THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT FILTRATION.

THEY HAVE ELECTROSTATIC FIBERS THAT REALLY HELP SORT OF SCREEN OF THE VIRUS.

BUT THEY ARE NOT PERFECT.

>> Reporter: GROUP JUST AS IT DEPENDS ON THE VENTILATION WHERE YOU ARE.

>> AIRPLANES ARE ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES BECAUSE OF THE HIGH AIR EXCHANGE RATES.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN SIGNIFICANT ON AIRPLANES.

>> Reporter: OF COURSE, THE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THE VIRUS, THE GREATER THE CHANCES ARE YOU GETTING INFECTED.

SO WHILE ONE-WAY MASKING ISN'T AS EFFECTIVE FROM ATTACKING YOU AGAINST COVID-19, WEARING CAN STILL BE A GOOD MITIGATION MEASURE.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ALSO VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

FOR TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M JEN SULLIVAN.

>>> WHAT A DIFFERENCE TWO YEARS CAN MAKE.

THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS EXPECTING RECORD DEMAND AND RECORD REVENUE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

SDSU'S MIRA CASTS THE FRIDAY BUSINESS REPORT.

>> Reporter: AIRLINES ARE REALLY EXPECTED TO POST RECORD PROFITS NEXT QUARTER AND THEY EXPECT THIS RETURN TO PROFITABILITY, DESPITE BOTH A SURGEON CORONAVIRUS CASES AND FUEL PRICES.

FUEL PRICES FOR AIRLINES ARE UP OVER 60% OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THIS IS DURING A PERIOD IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022 WHERE AIRLINES DON'T TRADITIONALLY DO WELL.

THE FIRST QUARTER, PEOPLE ARE DONE WITH THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL.

IT'S BEFORE SPRING AND SUMMER TRAVEL.

AMERICAN AIRLINES AND THEIR EARNINGS REPORT THIS WEEK ESTIMATED THAT BUSINESS TRAVELERS ARE STILL 50% FEWER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO ALL THIS IS BEING MADE BY CONSUMER DEMAND.

TICKET PRICES IN MARCH WERE 20% HIGHER THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR AT THAT TIME.

SO AS BULLISH AS THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS, THERE COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD IMPACT THE SUMMER TRAVEL.

BUT AS IT STANDS NOW, FULL SPEED AHEAD AND THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS FINALLY READING A SIGH OF RELIEF.

>>> WHILE AIRLINES ARE REPORTING A RETURN TO NEAR CAPACITY, THE SAME IS NOT TRUE FOR THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

A NEW REPORT PROJECTS BUSINESS TRAVEL TO BE 23% BELOW ITS PRE- PANDEMIC LEVELS IN 2022.

THE AMERICAN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION SAYS IS INDUSTRY HAS LOST $108 BILLION OVER 2020 AND 2021.

THERE IS OPTIMISM THAT LEISURE TRAVEL COULD RECOVER TO PRE- PANDEMIC LEVELS THIS YEAR.

BUT BUSINESS TRAVEL, THE HOTEL INDUSTRY'S LARGEST SOURCE OF INCOME WILL TAKE SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER TO RECOVER.

>>> IT'S A PLACE OF ACTION, CELEBRATION AND HERITAGE.

MEMBERS OF THE BARRIO LOGAN COMMUNITY ARE CELEBRATING 52 YEARS OF CHICANO PARK.

THIS IS VIDEO FROM 2019.

THE LAST TIME THE EVENT WAS HELD IN PERSON.

THERE'S USUALLY A HUGE EVENT THAT CLOSES OFF LOGAN AVENUE AS THE AREA FILLS UP WITH VENDORS, LOW RIDERS AND MUCH MORE.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE TODAY DUE TO COVID.

STILL, THE MILESTONE WILL BE CELEBRATED ON LINE.

'S BUT WE ARE HAVING A VIRTUAL COMMEMORATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY TAKEOVER THAT HAPPENED IN LOGAN HEIGHTS.

SO WE WILL BE HAVING A LOT OF HISTORY, HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL LEADERS.

ALSO HISTORY PERTAINING TO THE PARK.

>> IN 2017, CHICANO PARK WAS NAMED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.

IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED TO BECOME A NATIONAL PARK AND YOU CAN FIND THE VIRTUAL CELEBRATION AT CHICANO Ã PARK.COM.

YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE.

KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.