>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS "EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES , PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR, RESTORATION, FLOOD, AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE , OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM .

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION , DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY , AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> HELLO.

IT IS FRIDAY, JULY 22nd.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM JOHN CAROL IN FOR MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> IT IS CHRISTMAS IN JULY FOR MANY BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN EAGERLY AWAITING THE RETURN OF COMIC-CON.

BIG CROWDS LINING UP TO SPEND BIG BUCKS IS PROVIDING THE ECONOMIC BOOST SORELY MISSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

KITTY ALVARADO IS LIVE IN THE GASLAMP QUARTER WITH MORE ON THE ECONOMIC EXPECTATIONS.

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT.

FRIDAY, 5:00, EVERYONE IS GETTING OUT OF WORK, AND THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.

COMIC-CON, AND IT IS PACKED ALREADY.

YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HEAD DOWN HERE.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK BEHIND ME, IT IS ALREADY REALLY BUSY.

SO FAR THE BUSIEST OUT OF ALL THE DAYS I HAVE BEEN HERE, AND EVERY BUSINESS DOWN HERE IS GEARING UP FOR THE WEEKEND.

THE WEEKEND IS SURE TO BE THE BUSIEST DAY.

ALL WE HEAR ABOUT IS INFLATION THIS, INFLATION THAT, PEOPLE ARE CUTTING BACK, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THE BUSINESS IS DOWN HERE TELL ME.

THEY SAY PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY LOOSENING UP THEIR PURSE STRINGS AND WALLETS, AND THEY ARE READY TO SPEND, SPEND, SPEND.

AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS DISSENT ON SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON, BUSINESSES AROUND THE POP- CULTURE FEST ARE REAPING THE REWARDS.

THE PRIME LOCATION GOES TO THE PRIME STAKEOUT OF COURSE, LOU AND MICKEY'S AT THE GASLAMP.

THEY ARE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> HAVING A LINE OUT THE DOOR IS A GREAT WAY TO START THE DAY.

>> Reporter: IT'S NOT EVEN 11:00 A.M., BUT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LINING UP FOR THEIR FEE MISSED DRY AGED STEAKS.

>> IS THIS A PANEL THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO LINE UP FOR, BUT NO, IT IS FOR BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: THE GENERAL MANAGER HAPPILY OPENED THE DOORS HIMSELF AT 11:30 SHARP, AND WELCOMED HIS FIRST CUSTOMERS OF THE DAY.

HE SAYS THIS ENERGY FEELS GOOD AFTER YEARS OF NOT SEEING THESE CROWDS.

>> THIS IS BACK TO NORMAL AND THEN SOME.

WE ARE FINDING THAT PEOPLE DO WANT TO COME BACK OUT AND SOCIALIZE, AND BE WITH CROWDS AGAIN, AND JUST BE IN THE MOMENT AGAIN.

WE WERE LOCKED DOWN FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, AND TO INTERACT WITH GROUPS OF PEOPLE AGAIN IS EXCITING.

>> Reporter: ECONOMISTS SAY THAT COMIC-CON BRINGS OVER $160 MILLION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

HE SAYS HE HAS NOT SEEN THESE KINDS OF NUMBERS SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE ARE SEEING RECORD SALES FOR SURE.

THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE THOUGHT 2019 WAS BUSY FOR US.

THIS YEAR IS ALREADY HITTING THOSE NUMBERS.

>> Reporter: HE WOULDN'T GIVE ME THE EXACT FIGURES, BUT HE LET ME GUESS HOW MANY THOUSANDS HE IS DOING A NIGHT OVER HIS USUAL SALES.

>> Reporter: STOP ME WHEN I HAD THE NUMBER ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN -- >> Reporter: I MEAN, IT IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TO BE DOWN HERE, AND DO SOME REPORTING ABOUT BUSINESSES ACTUALLY DOING WELL AFTER SO MUCH REPORTING ABOUT BUSINESSES STRUGGLING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

HERE, WHAT IS YOUR FAMOUS SAYING?

>> PEOPLE HERE ARE AMAZING.

>> BUT YOU HAVE THE FAMOUS SAYING THAT GOES "LIVE LONG AND --" >> AND PROSPER, OF COURSE.

>> Reporter: AND WITH THE ECONOMY BOOMING RIGHT HERE DUE TO, DONE, THAT IS THE PERFECT SAYING.

COME ON DOWN, AND WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL COMIC- CON.

WE LOVE TO SEE ALL THE BUSINESS IS THRIVING.

LIVE FROM COMIC-CON, BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> LOOKS JUST LIKE LEONARD NIMOY CAME BACK.

WE HAVE MORE COMIC-CON COVERAGE COMING UP ON "EVENING EDITION."

WE WILL TAKE A LOOK INSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND INTRODUCE YOU TO LOCAL STORM TROOPER COSPLAYERS.

>>> COVID RELATED HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, AND NOW WE ARE IN THE CDC'S HIGH RISK STEER BECAUSE OF IT.

AS MATT HOFFMAN EXPLAINS, THESE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE FROM PREVIOUS SPIKES.

>> Reporter: THE SUMMER SURGE HAS SEEN ABOUT 460 SAN DIEGANS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19.

THAT IS FOUR TIMES THAT WE HAD BACK IN MAY, BUT STILL LESS THAN PREVIOUS SURGES.

THIS WAVE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IS DIFFERENT IN ANOTHER WAY.

>> IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD MUCH LESS ACUTE.

>> Reporter: SHARP HEALTHCARE HAS THE MOST PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID AT AROUND 160.

THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER SAYS THE GOOD NEWS IS FEWER SAN DIEGANS ARE NEEDING TO BE ADMITTED TO THE ICU, OR PUT ON VENTILATORS.

>> THE OVERALL PICTURE, ABSOLUTELY, IS A LESS ACUTE VARIANT.

THAT SAID, WE ARE SEEING A SIMILAR SURGE OF A HIGHER ACUTE NATURE WITH THOSE THAT ARE OLDER.

>> Reporter: IT IS UNCLEAR IF OFFICIALS ARE SEEING LESS SEVERE ILLNESS BECAUSE THE NEW BA.5 VARIANT IS MILDER, OR DUE TO THE WHILE THE PROTECTION BUILT UP WITH VACCINATIONS OR PREVIOUS INFECTIONS, OR EVEN A MIX OF BOTH.

>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE LESS PATIENCE WITH THIS SURGE REQUIRING VENTILATION THAN EVER BEFORE, AND THAT IS GREAT, BECAUSE OUR ANTIVIRALS ARE WORKING.

>> Reporter: THE UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER SAYS HE IS ALSO SEEING SOME PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH MILDER ILLNESS, AND THEIR DATA SHOWS RECENT INFECTIONS AREN'T AS DEADLY AS BEFORE.

>> WHAT IS CIRCULATING NOW PROBABLY HAS A MORTALITY RATE LESS THAN THE FLU.

>> Reporter: AND LAKE COUNTY OFFICIALS SAID JUST 10% OF THEIR PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH COVID ARE ACTUALLY BEING HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF IT, BUT THEY AREN'T SEEING THAT IN SAN DIEGO.

>> UP TO TWO THIRDS OF PATIENTS WE ARE ADMITTING TO THE HOSPITAL OR BEING ADMITTED FOR COVID AS OPPOSED TO WITH COVID.

THE L.A. COUNTY DATA SEEMS A LITTLE BIT OFF TO US.

>> Reporter: MANY SAN DIEGANS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID HAVE UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS AT THE VIRUS MAKES WORSE, SO IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT WHAT IS DRIVING THE SERIOUS CASES.

>> IT IS KIND OF A COMBO OF THAT.

WE JUST DON'T THINK IT IS HELPFUL OR APPROPRIATE OR EVEN VALID TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT THAT BECAUSE OF, OR DUE TO.

>> Reporter: HEALTH OFFICIALS ALSO MAINTAINED THAT A MAJORITY OF PATIENTS AND THEIR HOSPITALS WITH COVID ARE ADMITTED BECAUSE OF COVID.

THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER SAYS THEY ARE FIGHTING ABOUT 10% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE INCIDENTAL CASE FINDINGS.

>> IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING TESTED FOR PROCEDURES AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAD COVID.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS AT SHARP AND SCRIPPS ARE SEEING UNUSUALLY HIGH VOLUMES OF NON- COVID RELATED EMERGENCY ROOM AND URGENT CARE VISITS.

THERE IS ANOTHER PERSISTING ISSUE.

SHARPS ALONE HAD 700 EMPLOYEES AT WITH COVID ON THURSDAY.

>> WE HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE STAFF WITH OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENTS >> Reporter: ALONG WITH THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF COVID SURGES HAS MADE IT HARD TO RUN A HOSPITAL.

>> ARE GOING TO GET A CROSSROADS AT SOME POINT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START DELAYING SURGERIES AGAIN, AND NONE OF US WANT TO DO THAT.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A PAUSE.

WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

>> Reporter: WITH INFECTIONS RISING, OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE USE THE NOTIFY PHONE SYSTEM PIONEERED HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

A LET PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY HAVE COME IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS THE VIRUS.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>> Reporter: SUPERVISOR JIM DESMOND CALLS IT A DARK DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY OF BORREGO SPRINGS.

A SAN DIEGO JUDGE HAS DECIDED THAT IT IS SAFE TO PLAY SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR MICHAEL MARTINEZ IN A SUPERVISED HOME IN THE DESERT COMMUNITY.

WE BROUGHT YOU THE STORY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN MORE THAN A DOZEN BORREGO SPRINGS RESIDENTS MADE THE TRIP TO SAN DIEGO TO PLEAD WITH THE JUDGE NOT TO PLACE MARTINEZ IN THEIR TOWN.

THE HOUSE WHERE HE WILL BE PLACED IS NEAR TO HOMES WHERE CHILDREN LIVE.

>>> GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM HAS SIGNED A GUN-CONTROL BILL THAT TAKES A MINUTE TO PRESENT U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SUE ANYONE WHO DISTRIBUTES ILLEGAL WEAPONS OR PARTS, INCLUDING ASSAULT WEAPONS AND SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS.

IT IS MODELED AFTER A TEXAS ANTIABORTION LAW, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SUE ANYONE WHO PROVIDES OR HELPS PROVIDE AN ABORTION.

>> AND GREG ABBOTT AND THEIR REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, IF THEY ARE GOING TO USE THIS FRAMEWORK TO PUT WOMEN'S LIVES AT RISK, WE ARE GOING TO USE IT TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

>> THIS COMES A MONTH AFTER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR AN ABORTION, AND UNDERMINED GUN- CONTROL LAWS.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO SIGNED EIGHT ADDITIONAL GUN LAWS YESTERDAY.

>>> SAN DIEGO'S METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM IS BUYING MORE ELECTRIC BUSES.

ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THE AGENCY IS ON TRACK TO DOUBLE ITS FLEET THIS YEAR.

>> Reporter: CURRENTLY, MTS HAS ONLY 13 ELECTRIC BUSES, A CONTRACT APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THIS WEEK LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR GROWING THAT FLEET MORE THAN 15 FOLD OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE DEAL ALSO AUTHORIZES BUYING MORE THAN 250 BUSES THAT RUN ON COMPRESSED AND NATURAL GAS.

THE BOARD CHAIRMAN NATHAN FLETCHER SAYS THOSE WILL HELP KEEP THE SYSTEM RUNNING AS MTS WORKS TOWARD A DEADLINE OF GOING ALL ELECTRIC BY 2040.

>> WE KNOW IN THE INTERIM WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHARGING CAPACITY.

THERE IS NOT RANGE PARTICULARLY ON THE LARGER BUSES.

WE STILL NEED TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, BUT IT IS MOVING RAPIDLY.

I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL GET THERE.

>> Reporter: COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS BUSES ARE CURRENTLY CHEAPER THAN ELECTRIC BUSES, BUT THE MTS BOARD MEMBER SAYS THEY SHOULD STILL BE RETIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE NATURAL GAS LEAKS DURING PRODUCTION OR TRANSPORT ARE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> IT IS PRETTY GOOD TO HAVE CLEANER AIR, AND THESE BUSES RUN ON GAS INSTEAD OF DIESEL, BUT OVERALL WITH GAS EMISSIONS IS NOT ANY BETTER THAN BURNING COAL.

>> Reporter: RIDERSHIP HAS BEEN BETTER THAN EXPECTED, LIKELY FUELED IN PART BY HIGH GAS PRICES.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> A SOLD-OUT CROWD AT DELMAR AS THE SUMMER RACING SEASON GOT UNDERWAY TODAY.

THE 86th SEASON SAW FANS BACK IN THE STANDS AFTER HAVING TO GO WITHOUT LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID.

THIS SEASON, NO RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE.

AS FOR THE RACING, RACETRACK OFFICIALS SAY ALL EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO KEEP THE TRACK SAFE, AND PROTECTS BOTH THE JOCKEYS AND THE HORSES.

>> IF ANYTHING LOOKS OUT OF PLACE WITH A HORSE, THEY ARE GOING TO WITHDRAW THE HORSE FROM THE RACE.

>> ALSO NEW SAFETY RULES WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1st AS PART OF THE HORSE RACING INTEGRITY AND SAFETY ACT.

DELMAR HAS BEEN NAMED THE SAFEST RACETRACK IN NORTH AMERICA THREE YEARS RUNNING NOW.

>>> I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

TONIGHT ON "NEWS HOUR", REVELATIONS FROM THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE'S LATEST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CAPITAL ATTACKS.

COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE BUTTERFLIES IS NOW LISTED AS ENDANGERED.

THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE HAS ADDED THE MIGRATORY MONARCH BUTTERFLY TO ITS RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES.

THE ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES THE BUTTERFLIES WESTERN POPULATION HAS DECLINED 99.9% BETWEEN THE 1980s AND 2021.

EXPERTS SAY THE BIGGEST THREATS ARE HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

>>> MUCH OF THE COUNTRY IS DEALING WITH SCORCHING TEMPERATURES, AND SUFFOCATING HUMIDITY.

AROUND 85% OF THE U.S. POPULATION COULD SEE TEMPERATURES ABOVE 90 DEGREES.

HERE IN SAN DIEGO, IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD BE IN FOR A COOLDOWN, AND MAYBE EVEN A CHANCE OF RAIN.

GEOFF CORNISH HAS OUR FORECAST.

>>> WELL, WE ARE DEALING WITH A HOT EVENING STILL IN THE INTERIOR, BUT THERE IS RELIEF COMING.

WE HAVE RELATIVELY GOOD NEWS HERE AS IT WILL GRADUALLY COOLDOWN.

BY SUNDAY YOU WILL NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE INTERIOR.

PLEASANT WEATHER ALONG THE COAST.

WE COULD USE SOME RAIN IN THE INTERIOR WITH LONG-TERM DROUGHT, BUT THERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT WE WILL SEE SPOTTY THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED NEXT WEEK IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS.

OFF TO THE EASTERN PART OF THE REGION, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN MONSOON MOISTURE IN THE DAYS TO COME.

THE SATELLITE AND RADAR COMBOS SHOWS US ISOLATED ACTION OVER PARTS OF ARIZONA, BUT WITH THIS SPRAWLING RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE FOUR CORNERS REGION, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF TRACTION FOR THOSE SHOWERS.

THE MONSOON HAS BEEN MUTED A BIT THIS PAST WEEK.

THAT WILL CHANGE NEXT WEEK.

83, STILL WARM IN BORREGO SPRINGS.

65 IN SAN DIEGO.

AND A SIZZLING DAY TOMORROW FOR THE INTERIOR.

JUST A LITTLE LESS HOT THAN TODAY WAS, BUT WE CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN THE MONSOON MOISTURE WELL OFF TO THE EAST.

WE STAY DRY THROUGH SATURDAY, AND INTO SAN DIEGO COUNTY, 110 IN BORREGO SPRINGS.

DOES NOT AS HOT AS IT HAS BEEN.

ESCONDIDO AROUND 85.

RAMONA LOOKS TOASTY AT 92.

ALONG THE COAST, 72 IN SAN DIEGO.

YOU CAN SEE, HEAR, SOUNDS OF GREEN NUDGING WEST INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

SPOTTY STORMS BECOME A BIT MORE NUMEROUS NEXT WEEK IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS.

IT'S BENEFICIAL RAIN.

THERE WILL BE A RISK FOR LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING ALL THANKS TO THIS RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVING AWAY TO THE EAST.

THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR THE MONSOON FLOW.

ALONG THE COAST, 76 SUNDAY TO 73 WEDNESDAY, SLIGHT COOLING BARELY NOTICEABLE.

INLAND AREAS COOLING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THE MOUNTAINS, HERE IS WHERE WE GET INTO SCATTERED STORMS AS EARLY AS SUNDAY, BUT MORE LIKELY MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

IN THE DESERT YOU CAN SEE IN ISOLATED STORM HERE, NOT NEARLY AS HOT.

>>> THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO COMMISSIONERS ARE ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO DECIDING WHETHER TO APPROVE A MASSIVE RENOVATION OF THE SEAPORT VILLAGE SITE.

THE FIRST PROPOSAL FROM THE DEVELOPER TO MASSIVELY CHANGE SEAPORT VILLAGE CAME SIX YEARS AGO.

THE PROCESS SLOWED WAY DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT NOW IT IS MOVING FORWARD AGAIN.

ON THURSDAY, COMMISSIONERS HEARD ABOUT CHANGES MADE IN THE PLAN SINCE THE LAST UPDATE THEY RECEIVED IN MARCH.

THE COMMISSIONERS HEARD FROM MORE THAN TWO DOZEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND MOST OF THEM SAID THEY ARE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL FOR VARYING REASONS.

THE DEVELOPER SAYS THEY ARE STILL OPEN TO MAKING CHANGES.

>> WE KNOW THAT THIS JOURNEY HAS STILL GOT A WAY TO GO.

WE KNOW THAT THE PROJECT IS STILL GOING TO CHANGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BEFORE WE ACTUALLY REACH A GROUNDBREAKING, BUT WE ARE 100% COMMITTED TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER OBSTACLE COMES BEFORE US.

>> THE PROJECT STILL HAS SEVERAL MORE STEPS TO GO THROUGH BEFORE IT COMES TO A FINAL VOTE.

>>> MORE NOW OF OUR COMIC-CON COVERAGE AND HOW SAN DIEGO WILL BENEFIT FAR BEYOND THIS WEEKEND.

HERE IS THE FRIDAY BUSINESS REPORT.

>>> THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO BENEFITS DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE COMIC-CON OUT OF THE 65 OR SO CONVENTIONS THAT COME THROUGH SAN DIEGO IS BY FAR THE LARGEST.

THE FANS, THEY ARE THRILLED.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO VIRTUAL COMIC-CON'S, AND A TRUNCATED COMIC-CON BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2021.

THIS IS A FULL , IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE, AND PEOPLE ARE IN FULL REGALIA AND COSTUMES, AND THE PANELS ARE EXCITING.

FROM THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO'S PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT BRINGS IN MEDIA FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO TO BE SHOWCASED AS A PLACE TO BE.

NORMALLY THERE ARE ABOUT 2500 MEDIA FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT COME TO COMIC-CON.

IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE THAT.

IT IS WORTH TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TV ADVERTISING IN THE AMOUNT OF MEDIA COVERAGE THAT WE GET.

IT IS A GREAT EVENT FOR THE CITY.

>> COMIC-CON ISN'T JUST ABOUT SUPERHEROES AND FANTASY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT HARNESSING POP CULTURE TO CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE.

KITTY ALVARADO INTRODUCES US TO A PAIR OF BLACK WRITERS AND CREATORS FROM THE UK WHO ARE HOPING TO DO JUST THAT.

>> Reporter: AMONG THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE SMALL PRESS EXHIBITORS AT SAN DIEGO COMIC- CON -- >> I LOVE STEAM PUNK, BUT I DISLIKE COLONIALISM.

>> Reporter: THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE FUTURISTIC BOOK AND COMIC SERIES SET IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND CALLED "CLOCKWORK WATCH."

>> A STEAM PUNK STORY THAT HAS RE-CONTEXTUALIZED OR REVISITS THE WORLD OF COLONIALISM.

HER BACK IS SERIES MAKES A HEAVY SUBJECT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY READER.

>> IS KIND OF FUNNY WHERE THE BLACK PERSON IS REVISITING THE COLONIAL AGE, BUT IT IS TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A STORY THAT IS EVERYBODY, IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE OR COLOR OR GENDER.

>> Reporter: YOU WILL ALSO FIND COREY BROTHERSON, WORKING ON THE SERIES TOGETHER FOR OVER A DECADE, AND THEY BUILT UP A STEAM PUNK FAN BASE THAT COMIC- CON, WHERE THIS YEAR THEY WILL LAUNCH A NEW BOOK IN THE SERIES.

THEY ARE EXCITED TO INTERACT WITH FANS AGAIN AFTER BEING APART BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN.

>> NOT HAVING THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IT HAS BEEN A REAL BLOW IN THAT SENSE OF JUST BEING ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR WORK, AND KIND OF SEEING THEIR EYES LIGHTS UP, AND ENGAGE IN THE CREATIVITY PROCESS.

MACKEY SAYS CREATING A SERIES THAT HELPS PEOPLE ESCAPE INTO A FANTASY WORLD IS THE EASY PART.

THE HARD PART, GETTING FANS TO EMERGE FROM IT WANTING TO TAKE ACTION.

>> WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT HISTORY, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE SEEM THAT AREN'T THAT PALATABLE.

THE STORY ITSELF GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND QUESTIONER BACKGROUND, BUT ALSO ASK WHETHER YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

>> Reporter: THROUGH THE BOOK BUT THEY ARE FUNDRAISING FOR A SCHOOL IN KENYA THAT TAKES IN UNDERAGED GIRLS BEING FORCED INTO MARRIAGES.

>> YOU CAN THEN SAY I AM HELPING IN GIRLS, GIVING THEM A CHANCE IN LIFE.

>> Reporter: BY READING HIS WORDS ON A PAGE, HIS FANS ARE FIGHTING THEIR OWN VOICE FOR CHANGE.

KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE 50 FIRST LESION IS A WORLDWIDE COSTUMING ORGANIZATION RUN BY DEDICATED STAR WARS FANS.

WHEN KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH OKAMOTO GOT HER OWN STORM TROOPER COSTUME, SHE DECIDED TO FIND OUT ABOUT JOINING THE LEGION.

>> Reporter: I REALLY AM TOO SHORT TO BE A STORM TROOPER, BUT THEY ASSURE ME I'M NOT.

>> WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE BASED ON HEIGHT, BODY SHAPE, GENDER, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: HE'S THE GARRISON MEMBERSHIP LIAISON.

HE APPROVES ALL OF THE COSTUMES FOR THE SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTY AREAS, INCLUDING MY STORM TROOPER.

>> I CAN TELL THESE ARE BUBBLE LENSES, THAT THIS IS AN A AND EACH HERO INSTEAD OF A STUNT.

>> Reporter: HE CONSULTS SOMETHING CALLED A CHARACTER REFERENCE LIBRARY.

>> IT'S BASICALLY THE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE TO MEET FOR THE COSTUME TO BE SCREEN ACCURATE.

PART OF THE 50 FIRST LESION IS THAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT FILM ACCURACY.

WE DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE I SOME STORM TROOPER COSTUMES.

WE WANT TO LOOK LIKE WE STEPPED OFF THE FILMS THAT.

>> Reporter: ALTHOUGH THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH LUCASFILM, MEMBERS OF THE 50 FIRST RECENTLY APPEARED AS EXTRAS IN THE OBI-WAN KENOBI SHOW, AND THEY ARRIVED ON SHUT AND FULL SCREEN ACCURATE CARE.

THE 50 FIRST INCLUDES ALL OF THE STAR WARS VILLAINS IN ALL VARIATIONS OF STORM TROOPERS.

>> YES, THERE ARE DOZENS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORM TROOPERS FROM THE MOVIES FROM THE ANIMATED SHOWS, FROM COMIC BOOKS, SO THERE ARE DOZENS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF TROOPERS.

>> Reporter: THAT MEANS A CLL FOR EACH SAYS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

>> WE TRY TO GET ANGLES FROM ALL THE SIDES.

SOMETIMES WE EVEN HAVE TO USE ACTION FIGURES IF WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE SIGNS THAT WE NEED.

WE TRY TO RELY ON ACTION FIGURES A LITTLE BIT LESS.

WARMACK THEY ARE SECOND IN COMMAND FOR THE GLOBAL ORGANIZATION, 14,000 MEMBERS AND 16 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

SHE WAS AT AN ARMOR PARTY WHEN I MET HER.

>> WHAT WE DO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO GET MEMBERS TOGETHER, BUT IT IS NOT ONLY FOR MEMBERS, BUT ALSO FOR POTENTIAL MEMBERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO JOIN, SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUILD A COSTUME, AND ARE NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO BUILD IT, YOU COME HERE, AND EVERYBODY GETS TOGETHER AND WORKS ON THE COSTUME TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: THE ORGANIZATION ENCOURAGES MEMBERS TO PARTAKE IN A LOT OF CHARITY WORK.

SHANE HOLLY IS THE GARRISON COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE IMPERIAL STANDS GARRISON.

HE RECALLED DOING AN EVENT AND MEETING A LITTLE GIRL.

>> AS SOON AS I GOT DOWN ONTO MY KNEES, SHE RAN OUT FROM BEHIND HER DAD AND GAVE ME THE BIGGEST BEARHUG I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.

AT THAT POINT, I KNEW THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY, WAS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK AND DO THAT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY HE LOVES BEING A PART OF IT, PLUS IT PUSHES HIM TO EXPAND HIS SKILL SET.

>> SINCE STARTING I'VE LEARNED HOW TO SEW AND 3-D PRINTING MAY COSTUMES OUT OF SHEETS OF PLASTIC.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE DOING.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE TAKEN IT A STEP FURTHER.

>> FIRST IT WAS A HOBBY.

I STILL WORK FULL-TIME.

AND THEN MY FRIEND SAID, WHY DON'T YOU CREATE AN AT SEA SITE.

I DID.

AND THEN THE NEXT THING I KNOW, I PUT SOME STUFF ON, ROBOTS AND DROID PARTS, AND IT BLEW UP.

NOW, IT'S OFFICIAL NOW.

IT IS CALLED TD OUTPOSTS AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WORK I'VE DONE, AND ALL THE DROIDS I BUILT, AND ALL OF THAT.

>> Reporter: AS HE RETURNS TO LOOK OVER MY ARMOR, HE STOPS AT THE BELT.

>> IT LOOKS A LITTLE WIDE.

THERE IS A MAXIMUM WIDTH WERE THAT, AND I BROUGHT THIS I COULD LOOK IT UP.

LET ME SEE WHAT IT SAYS.

I WILL PULL OUT MY HANDY TAPE MEASURE.

AND MUST BE 2.752 3.75.

THIS IS A 4 INCH BELT.

THIS IS TOO WIDE.

>> Reporter: SOMETIMES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING IN AND OUT IS A STITCH IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE YOUR CUSTOMER ANY BETTER OR WORSE THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S.

IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR COSTUME.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE DARK SIDE, THEN CHECK OUT THE 50 FIRST EITHER ONLINE OR AT THEIR FAN TABLE OR PANEL AT COMIC- CON.

KPBS NEWS .

>>> AND COMIC-CON IS A GREAT PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH.

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER , AS OUR VIDEO JOURNALIST SHOWS YOU.

>>> IT'S BACK.

>> ♪ ♪ ♪ >> SOME OF US HAVE ON OUR BADGES AND IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE HOME AGAIN, BECAUSE IT DOES FEEL LIKE HOME.

>> IT'S REALLY GOOD TO BE BACK.

THE CROWD HERE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC THE ENTIRE WEEK SO FAR.

EVEN THE WEEK LEADING UP TO THE EVENT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

COAL CITY FEELS ALIVE AGAIN.

>> WE COME FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE, EUROPE, ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, MEXICO, AND WE ALL MEET UP RIGHT HERE.

>> ♪ ♪ >> WE HAVE VENOM, THEN IN PUNK, CARNAGE PUNK, WE ARE ALL PUNK.

>> ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS THAT ARE IN MY PHONE, OR I COMMUNICATE WITH AND ONLY SEE AT COMIC-CON.

NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THEM FOR THAT MANY YEARS REALLY DID TAKE A TOLL ON ALL OF US.

WE ARE EXCITED.

>> ♪ ♪ ♪ >> NICE TO SEE IT BACK.

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON HER WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JOIN ME ON KPBS RADIO BEGINNING AT 7:04 TOMORROW MORNING, AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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