>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "KPBS EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES -- PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION, AND FLOOD 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!

>>> FEDERAL AGENTS ARE CRACKING DOWN ON IMMIGRATION COURT OBSERVERS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

FOUR VOLUNTEERS WERE BRIEFLY DETAINED AT THE DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO FEDERAL BUILDING YESTERDAY.

THE VOLUNTEERS TOLD KPBS REPORTER GUSTAVO SOLIS THIS IS JUST THE LATEST IN A LONG SERIES OF INCREASED INTIMIDATION TACTICS.

>> Reporter: PATRICK CORRIGAN WAS STANDING IN THE HALLWAY NEAR AN OFFICE WHERE IMMIGRANTS CHECK IN FOR THEIR APPOINTMENT WITH I.C.E.

FEDERAL AGENTS HAVE ARRESTED SEVERAL PEOPLE DURING THEIR CHECK INS.

AS KPBS HAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED.

SO, CORRIGAN LIKES TO GO AND OFFER SUPPORT TO ANYONE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THIS TIME, A FEDERAL AGENT APPROACHED.

>> AND HE SAID, "YOU CAN'T BE HERE, THERE IS NO LOITERING."

AND, "YOU NEED TO LEAVE."

"IF YOU DON'T HAVE BUSINESS HERE."

>> Reporter: CORRIGAN AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS SAY THAT FEDERAL AGENTS HAVE SLOWLY RESTRICTED THEIR ACCESS TO CERTAIN PARTS OF THE BUILDING OVER THE LAST YEAR.

FATHER ROSA IS THE PASTOR OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH.

HE ALSO RUNS FAITH, THE PROGRAM CORRIGAN VOLUNTEERS FOR.

>> WE HARDLY ARE ALLOWED INTO THE COURTROOMS ANYMORE.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WAIT WITH PEOPLE IN THE I.C.E.

WAITING ROOM.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WAIT WITH PEOPLE IN THE I.C.E.

WAITING ROOM, SO LITTLE BY LITTLE, OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPANY PEOPLE IS REALLY BEING RESTRICTED AND THIS IS THE MOST FORMALLY IT HAS BEEN RESTRICTED WHEN THEY THREATEN A CITATION.

>> Reporter: AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING, THE AGENT THREATENS CORRIGAN WITH A LOITERING CITATION, BUT HE STOOD HIS GROUND, EXPECTING TO GET DETAINED.

>> I THINK OUR PRESENCE ANNOYS THEM.

BUT, ALSO, I SAID, "HEY, I'M JUST PRAYING, IS THAT OKAY?

THAT'S NOT OKAY, TO PRAY A ROSARY IN THE FEDERAL BUILDING?"

>> Reporter: AGENTS FROM FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES, A SUB AGENCY OF DHS, ISSUED CITATIONS TO CORRIGAN AND THREE OTHER VOLUNTEERS.

FAITH PLANS TO FIGHT THE CITATION.

ROSA WANTS A FEDERAL JUDGE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR WORK.

>> WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE ARE LOITERING, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A DEFINITE PURPOSE THERE, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE POSITIVE PRESENTS FOR PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IGNORED QUESTIONS FROM KPBS ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS.

INSTEAD, THE FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICES SAID IN A STATEMENT , OBSTRUCTING ACCESS TO A FEDERAL BUILDING IS A CRIME.

>>> CIVIL LIBERTIES ENFORCEMENT RULES AND A CLEAR ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT TODAY THAT REQUIRES FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS TO PRESENT A JUDICIAL WARRANT OR COURT ORDER BEFORE ENTERING NONPUBLIC AREAS OF COUNTY PROPERTIES.

THE COUNTY EMPHASIZED THAT THE ORDINANCE APPLIES SPECIFICALLY TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, OR LAWFUL COOPERATION ON CRIMINAL MATTERS.

>>> WE ARE STILL FAIRLY WARM OUT THERE -- AGAIN, TONIGHT A WARMER NIGHT THEN WE WOULD TYPICALLY EXPERIENCE IN LATE FEBRUARY, BUT THE END OF THE SIGNIFICANT WARMTH IS IN VIEW, SO IN THE 50s FOR LOW'S TONIGHT, OCEANSIDE, DROPPED TO THE UPPER 40s, CLOSER TO US IN THE 50s AND THE WARMTH STILL WINS OUT ON SATURDAY BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE STEPPING AWAY FROM THIS RECENT ROUND OF RECORD CHALLENGING HEAT AND STEP BACK INTO MORE TYPICAL WEATHER FOR EARLY MARCH, WE WILL TAKE YOU THERE, COMING UP.

>>> RELIEF COULD BE ON THE HORIZON FOR WATER RATEPAYERS.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL HAS MORE ON WHEN WE MIGHT SEE LOWER BILLS, AND WHY.

>> Reporter: OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES, WATER AGENCIES LED BY THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY HAVE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY INTO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE, RESILIENT, RELIABLE SUPPLY.

A NEW AGREEMENT APPROVED BY THE WATER AUTHORITY BOARD ON THURSDAY COULD LEAD TO LOCAL RATEPAYERS GETTING SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENT DOLLARS BACK.

WATER AUTHORITY GENERAL MANAGER, DAN DENHAM DESCRIPTION OF THE AGREEMENT TELLS YOU HOW IMPORTANT HE THINKS IT IS.

>> I THINK OUR BOARD AND, YOU KNOW, OUR REGION, IN GENERAL, TOOK A MONUMENTAL STEP TOWARD SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE SOUTHWEST AND HOW WE MANAGE WATER.

>> Reporter: THE AGREEMENT CLEARS THE WAY FOR EXPLORATION OF AN INTERSTATE WATER TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT COULD SEE THE WATER AUTHORITY SELLING A LOT OF OUR EXTRA WATER TO OTHER AREAS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST, THAT ARE FACING CHALLENGING SITUATIONS WITH THE COLORADO RIVER.

40 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHWEST DEPEND ON THE COLORADO FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THEIR WATER.

THE U.S.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SAYS THE RIVERS FLOW HAS DROPPED BY ABOUT 20% SINCE 2000 DUE TO A CLIMATE DRIVEN MEGA DROUGHT, AND INCREASED EVAPORATION.

SAN DIEGO HAS DONE AN IMPRESSIVE JOB CONSERVING WATER OVER THOSE YEARS, BUT THE NEED HAS GROWN IN OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST.

GROWING CITIES, LIKE LAS VEGAS AND PHOENIX.

>> A CONGENIALITY AGAINST THE AGENCIES ON THE COLORADO RIVER BOARD IS OUTSTANDING.

THEY ALL WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER.

WE REALIZE WE ARE END AT THE PROVERBIAL PIPELINE.

>> Reporter: WATER BOARD MEMBER JIM DEAF OR IS SAN DIEGO'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COLORADO RIVER BOARD.

HE SAYS THE NEW AGREEMENT SHOULD BE AN EASY SELL TO OTHER WATER AGENCIES, AND OUTSIDE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ALLOWING THEM TO BUY OUR EXTRA WATER, A WIN-WIN MADE POSSIBLE BY HUGE INVESTMENTS LIKE THE CARLSBAD DESALINATION PLANT.

>> WATER THAT IS PRODUCED AT THE DESAL PLANT, MAYBE COULD GO TO USE IN ARIZONA OR NEVADA, SO IT IS CONCEPTUALLY BEING EXPLORED.

>> Reporter: ALL OF THOSE AGENCIES, ALONG WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS, BUT DAN DENHAM SAYS IF THEY DO, WATER SALES COULD BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR, AND HE SAYS LOCAL RATEPAYERS COULD SEE RELIEF AS EARLY AS 2027.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> NEW DATA RELEASED TODAY ON MEASLES CASES SHOWS AN ALREADY CONCERNING TREND IS GETTING WORSE.

MANDY GAITHER HAS A LOOK AT THE LATEST NUMBERS.

>> Reporter: AS OF THURSDAY IN THE U.S., MORE THAN 1100 CONFIRMED MEASLES CASES HAVE NOW BEEN REPORTED, IN 27 STATES, IN JUST THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2026.

THAT IS ALREADY SIX TIMES MORE THAN IS TYPICALLY EXPECTED FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.

>> DOCTORS ARE AFRAID OF MEASLES.

MEASLES IS INCREDIBLY SCARY IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS SO CONTAGIOUS.

>> Reporter: WITH SPRING BREAK TRAVEL ON THE HORIZON, EXPERTS FEAR FURTHER SPREAD OF THIS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS, AS CONFIRMED CASES THIS YEAR, MOST OF WHICH, ARE IN CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 19, WITH CHILDREN UNDER 5 BEING THE NEXT NUMBER OF CASES.

CDC SAYS 92% OF THOSE MEASLES INFECTIONS WERE IN THOSE WHO WERE UNVACCINATED OR THEIR VACCINATED STATUS WAS UNKNOWN.

>> AT FIRST, IT CAN LOOK LIKE A COLD, YOU CAN GET A FEVER, COUGH, RED EYES, RUNNY NOSE, BUT AS YOU GET MORE SICK, 1 IN 4 INDIVIDUALS, CHILDREN, WHO GET MEASLES, WILL END UP HOSPITALIZED.

>> Reporter: DR.

SARAH KNOWS ALL WITH THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS SAYS PEOPLE EXPOSED TO MEASLES CAN STILL CATCH THE EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS, EVEN IF THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST THE DISEASE.

HOWEVER, SHE SAYS, GETTING BOTH DOSES OF THE VACCINE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS RISK OF BEING INFECTED, AND IF YOU DO GET SICK, SHE SAYS, THE ILLNESS IS NOT AS LIKELY TO BE AS SEVERE AS IT COULD BE IN AN UNVACCINATED PERSON.

>> IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT YOU GET IT, BECAUSE MEASLES IS ACTUALLY SO MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN FLU OR COVID.

>> Reporter: FOR HEALTH MINUTE, I'M MANDY GAITHER.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THIS MONTH TO PROTECT THE NATIONAL SUPPLY OF A CONTROVERSIAL WEEDKILLER.

HEALTH SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.

HAS SUGGESTED THAT EXPOSURE TO THE CHEMICALS CAN LEAD TO HEALTH ISSUES.

BUT, WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY?

MARIBEL GONZALES BREAKS IT DOWN.

>> Reporter: MOST OF THE POPULATION HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO GLYPHOSATE, THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS IN SO MANY OF THE FOODS WE CONSUME, LIKE FROM PRODUCTS OF WHOLE- WHEAT BREAD, POPCORN, EVEN DRINKING WATER.

GLYPHOSATE IS AT THE CENTER OF DEBATE AFTER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROTECT THE NATIONAL SUPPLY OF THE HERBICIDE, WHILE MEDICAL EXPERTS URGED CAUTION OVER ITS USE.

>> IT IS APPLIED TO CORN, TO SOYBEANS, TO A WHOLE RANGE OF CROPS THAT MAKE THEIR WAY INTO FOODS THAT AMERICANS EAT.

>> Reporter: DR.

PHILIP LANDRIGAN IS A PEDIATRICIAN AND PROFESSOR AT BOSTON COLLEGE.

HE SAYS CHILDREN CAN BE THE MOST VULNERABLE.

>> GLYPHOSATE IS A KNOWN HAZARD TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND AS A PEDIATRICIAN, IT REALLY CONCERNS ME, TO SEE THIS CHEMICAL COMING THROUGH IN FOODS LIKE CORN, THAT MAKE THEIR WAY INTO BREAKFAST CEREALS.

>> Reporter: IN 2015, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CLASSIFIED GLYPHOSATE AS A PROBABLE CARCINOGEN.

THE U.S.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION'S FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY HAVE NOT FOUND A LINK TO CANCER.

STILL, SOME, LIKE MOMS ACROSS AMERICA, A NONPROFIT THAT LARGELY SUPPORTS THE ADMINISTRATION'S HEALTH AGENDA, ARE ADVOCATING FOR GLYPHOSATE BANS.

>> SEEING THE SCIENCE BEHIND GLYPHOSATE POINTING TO THE DIRECTION THAT IT SHOULD BE BANNED, OR AT LEAST RESTRICTED.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS SAY YOU CAN LIMIT EXPOSURE WITHIN THE FOODS YOU EAT.

>> PEOPLE WHO EAT A MAINLY ORGANIC DIET HAVE 90% LOWER LEVELS OF PESTICIDE CHEMICALS IN THEIR BODIES.

>> Reporter: AND, AT HOME.

>> I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE A FEW DANDELIONS OR OTHER WEEDS IN MY YARD AND EXPOSE MY CHILD TO A CHEMICAL THAT HAS THE ABILITY OF CAUSING CANCER.

>> Reporter: TO LIMIT EXPOSURE, EXPERTS RECOMMEND BUYING PRODUCE LOCALLY AND WASHING IT THOROUGHLY BEFORE USING.

REPORTING IN LOS ANGELES, I AM MARIBEL GONZALES.

>>> DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUMMER STEFAN IS DISPUTING A STORY KPBS REPORTED THIS MONTH ON RACIAL DISPARITIES AND SPECIAL CHARGES THAT CAN LEAD TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

KPBS' STORY RELIED ON A DATA ANALYSIS FROM A RESEARCHER WHO ATTRIBUTED CASES TO D.A.S BASED ON DISPOSITION DATA.

THE D.A.S OFFICE PROVIDED AN ANALYSIS THAT ATTRIBUTED CASES TO D.A.S, BASED ON CHARGING DATE.

IT SHOWED NO RACIAL DISPARITY IN MAKING THESE SPECIAL CHARGES AGAINST BLACK AND WHITE DEFENDANTS, WHEN LOOKING ONLY AT MULTIPLE MURDER CASES DURING D.A.

STEFAN'S TENURE.

KPBS HAS CLARIFIED THE STORY, TO INCLUDE MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE ANALYSIS AND THE DATA IT USED.

GO TO KPBS.ORG TO LEARN MORE.

>>> I AND GEOFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT, ON "THE NEWS HOUR," IRAN AND THE U.S.

SIT ON THE BRINK OF WAR AFTER ANOTHER ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS.

THAT IS AFTER 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO SAYS IS IT IS CUTTING TIES WITH WELLNESS GURU.

THIS COMES AFTER THE EPSTEIN FILES REVEALED CHOPRA AND EPSTEIN REVEALED HUNDREDS OF MESSAGES.

IN A STATEMENT, THE UNIVERSITY CALLED CHOPRA'S ASSOCIATION WITH EPSTEIN "REGRETTABLE."

HIS AFFILIATION WITH UC SAN DIEGO WILL END IN JUNE.

CHOPRA IS CURRENTLY A VOLUNTARY CLINICAL PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, CHOPRA STATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY CRIMINAL CONDUCT RELATED TO EPSTEIN.

>>> SAN MARCO'S COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CELEBRATING AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD CHANGED COURSE ON A PLAN TO LAYOFF LIBRARIANS.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER, KATIE HYSON, SAYS THAT DISTRICT LEADERS WORN BUDGET CUTS ARE STILL COMING.

>> [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ CROWD CHANTING ] >> Reporter: STUDENT'S PARENTS AND SCHOOL STAFF PACKED THURSDAY NIGHTS MEETING AT THE SAN MARCO'S UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD.

THEY SPOKE AGAINST PROPOSED CUTS TO ELEMENTARY LIBRARIAN POSITIONS.

>> SHE DOESN'T JUST CHECK OUT BOOKS, SHE HELPS US FIND THE RIGHT BOOK WHEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

SHE MAKES READING FUN.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT FACES A $10 -- $10 MILLION-$11 MILLION BUT DEFICIT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS HAVE PROPOSED A SERIES OF LAYOFFS TO SAVE ABOUT $2 MILLION.

THE DISTRICT IS 10 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARIANS WOULD HAVE HAD THEIR HOURS CUT IN HALF, AND LOST THEIR BENEFITS.

>> I CAN'T SUPPORT MY FAMILY ON 3.75 HOURS PER DAY AND NO HEALTH INSURANCE, SO UNFORTUNATELY, I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK IMPLEMENT ELSEWHERE, WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING, THE PROSPECT OF THAT.

>> Reporter: THE BOARD REMOVED THE LIBRARY AND POSITION FROM A LIST OF STAFF REDUCTIONS, THAT MEANS THEY WILL KEEP THEIR FULL- TIME JOBS FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR.

>> TO BE CLEAR, I FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT BUDGET REDUCTIONS ARE NECESSARY, AND THAT ADDITIONAL DIFFICULT DECISIONS WILL LIE AHEAD.

THEY WILL.

WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT CUTTING STAFF, AND WE HAVE HEARD -- I WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE GET THE EMAILS, WE SEE THE SIGNS, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT POSITION, BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO CUT OUR LIBRARIANS, AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR DISTRICT IN BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY ARE SEEING THEIR STUDENT ENROLLMENT SHRINK AS PEOPLE HAVE FEWER KIDS.

FEWER STUDENTS, MEANS LESS FUNDING.

THAT IS BECAUSE STATE FUNDING IS LARGELY BASED ON ATTENDANCE.

AND AS REVENUE DROPS, EXPENSES ARE RISING.

UTILITIES, INSURANCE, AND HEALTH BENEFITS ARE ALL COSTING DISTRICTS MORE MONEY AT A TIME WHEN THEY ARE BRINGING LESS IN.

DISTRICT LEADERS SAY STATE FUNDING ISN'T KEEPING UP WITH THOSE RISING COSTS.

>> THE ROOM THAT YOU SEE FULL HERE TONIGHT, WHAT IS PLAYING OUT HERE, IS PLAYING OUT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL UP AND DOWN THIS STATE AND THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, AND I HOPE THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE LEGISLATING AND MAKING SOME OF THESE DECISIONS, OR TAKING NOTE OF THIS.

>> Reporter: THE BOARD DID APPROVE LAYOFF NOTICES FOR ABOUT 17 TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND COUNSELORS.

STILL, DISTRICT LEADERS EXPECT TO DIP INTO SAVINGS TO COVER THIS YEAR'S BUDGET GAP.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET TO BUY A HOME, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS PREDICTS WE WILL SEE MORE HOMES LISTED FOR SALE THIS SPRING THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

JENN SULLIVAN EXPLAINS WHAT BUYERS CAN EXPECT.

>> Reporter: IT HAS BEEN A SLOW START OF THE YEAR FOR THE HOUSING MARKET.

EXISTING HOME SALES DIPPED IN JANUARY, BUT AS THE SPRING MARKET BEGINS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS EXPECTS SALES TO PICK UP.

>> MORE BUYERS COMING INTO THE MARKET, MORE SELLERS TRYING TO GET INTO THE MARKET.

SO, MUCH MORE ROBUST ACTIVITY DURING THE SPRING BUYING SEASON.

>> Reporter: LAWRENCE YOU AND WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, SAYS THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR BUYERS, BECAUSE FEWER HOMES WERE COMING ON THE MARKET AND THERE WERE A LOT OF INTERESTED BUYERS.

THAT DROVE UP PRICES AND CREATED BIDDING WARS.

BUT, HE PREDICTS THAT WILL START TO SHIFT.

>> WE WILL SEE MORE SUPPLY ON THE MARKET.

>> Reporter: PRICES HAVE YET, THOUGH, TO COME DOWN.

LAST MONTH, THE EXISTING MEDIAN HOME SALE PRICE WAS JUST UNDER $367,000 ACCORDING TO THE NAR, AND YUN DOESN'T EXPECT THOSE NUMBERS TO COME DOWN ANYTIME SOON.

BUT, MORTGAGE RATES HAVE COME DOWN, AND HE SAYS THAT WILL HELP MAKE HOMES MORE AFFORDABLE.

AS OF LAST WEEK, THE AVERAGE 30 YEAR FIXED RATE MORTGAGE WAS 6.01%, ACCORDING TO FOOT -- FREDDIE MAC.

A YEAR AGO, IT WAS 6.85%.

AND THERE IS OTHER GOOD NEWS.

>> IN MANY MARKETS, PEOPLE'S INCOME IS BEGINNING TO OUTPACE HOME PRICE GROWTH, SO THAT IS ALSO HELPING ON AFFORDABILITY.

>> Reporter: THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT THE DROP IN MORTGAGE RATES COULD CAUSE A SURGE OF POTENTIAL BUYERS FLOODING THE MARKET.

THAT IS WHY YUN SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN A GOOD POSITION TO MAKE A COMPETITIVE OFFER WHEN YOU DO FIND THE RIGHT HOME.

>> IT IS A LONG PROCESS TO BE PREPARED, GET YOUR MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS CORRECTED, TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT HOME.

SO, IT IS A MULTI-MONTH PROCESS.

>> Reporter: YUN RECOMMEND HAVING ENOUGH CASH TO MAKE A 3% TO 20% DOWN PAYMENT, GET PREAPPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE, AND MAKE SURE YOUR CREDIT SCORE IS GOOD.

THE BETTER THE SCORE, THE LOWER YOUR MORTGAGE RATE WILL BE.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I AM JENN SULLIVAN.

>>> HAS BEEN A CURATOR OF BIRDS AND SMALL MAMMALS AT THE SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES.

TODAY, HE RETIRES.

KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH OKAMOTO LOOKS BACK ON HIS CAREER AND LEGACY.

>> Reporter: PHIL UNIT'S PASSION FOR BIRDS BEGAN WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER.

>> I TOOK UP AN INTEREST IN BIRDS BECAUSE THEY WERE ACCESSIBLE.

YOU COULD SEE THEM, AND HEAR THEM, WITHOUT HAVING TO USE EXPENSIVE INSTRUMENTATION.

>> Reporter: AS CURATOR OF BIRDS AND SMALL MAMMALS AT THE NET, HE WORKS PRIMARILY WITH SPECIMENS.

>> YOU SEE THE LABEL, HERE.

10 MILES EAST OF HOLTSVILLE, DECEMBER 22, 1923.

SO, THIS IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD, NOW.

>> Reporter: BUT, HE IS IN HIS ELEMENT OUT IN THE FIELD, STUDYING AND EVEN COMMUNICATING WITH HIS BELOVED BIRDS.

AND, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

>> UNDERSTANDING HOW OUR ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED MAKES YOU VERY INTIMATE WITH ALL THE FORCES THAT DEGRADE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THAT CALL FOR CONSERVATION.

EACH TIME A SPECIES GOES INSTINCT OR, SAY, IS EXTIRPATED FROM CALIFORNIA OR SAN DIEGO COUNTY, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, OR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, TO GO BACK.

HOW FAR WE CAN PUSH, WHO CAN ANSWER THAT, THAT IS AN EXPERIMENT THAT WE RUN.

AND IF WE FAIL, THEN THERE IS NO GOING BACK.

>> Reporter: UNITT BEGAN WORKING AT THE NAT IN 1988 AS A PART-TIME ASSISTANT, BEFORE BECOMING A FULL-TIME MANAGER OF A COLLECTION SPENDING 150 YEARS, AND BOASTING 52,000 BIRDS AND 26,000 SMALL ANIMALS.

>> INSOFAR AS IT IS PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE, EVERY BONE GETS A CATALOG NUMBER ON IT.

THESE ARE BIRD BONES THAT CAME OUT OF PVC PIPES THAT HAD BEEN USED TO MARK MINE CLAIMS IN THE MOJAVE DESERT.

THE BIRDS WENT INTO THOSE PIPES AND GOT STUCK.

SO, WHAT BIRDS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS TYPE OF MORTALITY?

AND HOW CAN IT BE AVERTED?

>> Reporter: UNITT WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT BIRDS WERE DYING IN THE PIPES, BY COMPARING THE BONES TO THOSE ALREADY IN THE COLLECTION.

>> AND SO, THINKING OF MY LEGACY HERE, THE BUILDING UP, THE SKELETON COLLECTION, AND THEN TO HAVE IT USE LIKE THIS, FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD BENEFIT FOR BIRD CONSERVATION IS VERY SATISFYING.

>> Reporter: UNLIKE MANY IN HIS FIELD, UNITT IS NOT ATTRACTED TO THE MORE FLAMBOYANT BIRDS.

>> I CONFESS, I GET MOST EXCITED OVER LITTLE BIRDS.

SO, YOU YOU HAVE A LITTLE, GRAY BIRD?

>> Reporter: LIKE THE GRAVE URIEL, WHOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN DWINDLING IN THE U.S.

>> OF COURSE, THE QUESTION IS, OH, IT'S JUST ANOTHER LITTLE GRAY BIRD.

BUT, IT'S NOT THE BIRD'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM TO MAKE IT EASY FOR US TO IDENTIFY, AND EXCITING FOR US TO LOOK AT.

>> Reporter: UNITT IS PROUD OF THE COLLECTION AND HOW IT CAN PROVE USEFUL, BEYOND THE MUSEUM.

>> THE ANIMAL, EVEN IF IT GOES EXTINCT, THE SKELETON IS NOT ONLY PRESERVED HERE, BUT PRESERVED DIGITALLY SO THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD CAN USE AND UNDERSTAND IT.

>> Reporter: PREPARING THOSE SPECIMENS HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF HIS JOB.

>> ONE THING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, IS THAT WE MAINTAIN THE SKILLS TO PREPARE THESE SPECIMENS, BECAUSE IT IS AN ART FORM THAT IS NOT EASY TO MASTER.

ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN VERY GRATIFYING THROUGH MY CAREER, IS THAT ALL OF OUR SCIENCE STAFF HAS MAINTAINED A COMMITMENT TO THE VALUE OF THE COLLECTION AND THE USE OF THE COLLECTION, AND THE USE OF THE COLLECTIONS IN UNDERSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.

>> Reporter: THAT HAS BEEN A UNIFYING THEME OF HIS CAREER, WHICH WILL CLOSE A CHAPTER ON SATURDAY, WHEN UNITT RETIRES FROM THE NAT.

BUT, HE SAYS HE WON'T BE MISSING ANYTHING.

>> BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

AND MY COMMITMENT TO THE MUSEUM AND THE COLLECTION CONTINUES THROUGH MY LIFE AND BEYOND MY LIFETIME, REALLY.

>> Reporter: INDEED, BECAUSE THE SPECIMENS UNITT HAS PRESERVED IN HIS TENURE AS CURATOR WILL BE USED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME IN WAYS NO ONE CAN YET IMAGINE AND THAT IS AN AMAZING LEVEL LEGACY.

BETH ACCOMANDO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WELL, WE HAD A VERY WARM STRETCH, HERE.

RECORD HIGHS IN THE SOME PARTS OF THE AREA OVER THE PAST TWO AFTERNOONS.

THE RECORD WARMTH WILL BACK OFF, WE WILL STILL BE WARM THIS WEEKEND, BUT COOLER AIR IS MARCHING BACK IN.

SUNDAY, YOU WILL FEEL MORE RELIEF FROM THE WARMTH AND THEN NEXT WEEK, MARCH REALLY TAKES OVER.

IT WILL FEEL MORE LIKE EARLY MARCH OUT THERE.

57 DEGREES TONIGHT FOR YOUR LOW, PARTLY CLOUDY, STILL PRETTY WARM OUT THERE AND THE WARMTH WINDS LOCALLY SATURDAY, THE RAIN WAY UP TO THE NORTH AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN PARTS OF NEVADA AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80, SO WE ARE DEALING WITH SPRINGLIKE WARMTH HERE LOCALLY AND WE WILL DEAL WITH HIGHS BACK INTO THE UPPER 70s AND 80s FOR A LOT OF US, BUT SOME, LIKE EL CAJON AND TO NO SURPRISE, BORREGO SPRINGS, WILL BE IN THE 90s, IN SOME OF THE WARMEST AREAS, THE HOTSPOT.

RAMONA, 88, ESCONDIDO, 86, SAN DIEGO WILL BE AROUND 78 DEGREES, SO VERY WARM OUT THERE, STILL, ON SATURDAY.

AND THIS RIDGE IS STILL PRESENT, THERE IS A WILDFIRE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRYNESS AND THE BREEZE THAT IS BREAKING OUT EACH AFTERNOON IN SOME AREAS, SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT.

NOT A SIGNIFICANT WILDFIRE RISK, BUT IT IS A WILDFIRE RISK, NONETHELESS.

SUNDAY, YOU BEGIN TO NOTICE A LITTLE BIT MORE FRAGMENTED MOISTURE IN AREAS AND SHOWERS UP TO THE NORTH AND THAT IS KIND OF A SIGN THAT THE TROUGH IS BEGINNING TO GET A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

IT'S NEVER REALLY SETTLING IN, BUT THE RIDGE IS FLATTENING AND THAT WILL TAKE THE WORST OF THE HEAT AWAY FROM US WITH, AGAIN, A DOWNWARD TREND.

WE WILL BE A LITTLE MORE SEASONABLE ON MONDAY.

STILL WARM IN THE DESERTS IN THE INTERIOR, BUT MORE LIKE TYPICAL EARLY MARCH WEATHER.

SO, LET'S GET INTO THE FIVE-DAY FORECAST, HERE.

FOR THE COAST, WE GO FROM 77 SATURDAY, BEAUTIFUL WEATHER SUNDAY, TO 66 MONDAY AND AGAIN, MID-TO-UPPER 60s ON WEDNESDAY WITH INTERMITTENT CLOUDS.

INLAND AREAS, WE WILL GO FROM 88 ON A VERY WARM SATURDAY, BACK TO 70 ON MONDAY, AND WE WILL HOVER IN THE LOW 70s TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

STAYING DRY.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, GOING FROM THE MID-60s, WARM FOR THE MOUNTAINS IN LATE FEBRUARY, TO THE MID-40s ON TUESDAY, AND MAYBE EVEN A FEW DEGREES OF RECOVERY INTO WEDNESDAY.

AND IN THE DESERTS, HERE, WE ARE IN THE 90s, MID-90s IN VIRAGO SPRINGS, 95 ON SATURDAY, BACK TO 85 ON MONDAY AND WE WILL HOVER AROUND 80 PLUS A DEGREE OR SO ON WEDNESDAY WITH A GOOD DEAL OF SUNSHINE, SO AGAIN, VERY GOOD TO START, TEMPERATURES FLATTENING, STABILIZING INTO NEXT WEEK.

I AM ACCUWEATHER METEOROLOGIST GEOFF CORNISH FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> IF YOU HAVE DRIVEN ON-THE- FLY FREEWAY IN CARLSBAD LATELY, YOU HAVE PROBABLY NOTICED THAT THE FLOWER FIELDS ARE IN BLOOM.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER ALEXANDER WHEN GOT A SNEAK PEAK BEFORE THE OFFICIAL OPENING THIS SUNDAY.

>> Reporter: IT MIGHT BE WINTER ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, BUT IN SAN DIEGO, SIGNS OF SPRING ARE ALREADY HERE.

>> THAT IS A GREAT SHOWING ON OPENING DAY.

>> Reporter: THE FLOWERS COME IN 13 SHADES, FROM WHITE, PINK, TO RED, AND ORANGE.

80 MILLION FLOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO BLOOM ACROSS THE 55 ACRE FARM OVER THE 10 WEEKS IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

>> I WOULD SAY, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR FIELD IN BLOOM.

>> Reporter: TAYLOR MOSS IS THE MARKETING AND OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR THE FIELDS.

SHE SAYS THAT IS MORE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS' OPENING DAY.

AND MORE FLOWERS ARE IN BLOOM THIS OPENING DAY BECAUSE OF THE WARM, SUNNY WINTER WE HAVE BEEN HAVING.

>> THAT SUN AND EXTRA WARMTH ALLOWED OUR FIELDS TO GERMINATE FASTER WHICH RESULTED IN THE BIG BLOOMS YOU SEE BEHIND ME, SO THE SUN IS OUR FRIEND ON THAT CASE.

>> Reporter: AND THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST FLOWERS AT THE CARLSBAD RANCH.

NEW THIS YEAR IS THE EXPANDED PROTOFLIGHT ENCOUNTER, THE 1000 SQUARE FOOT ENCLOSURE WAS BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP.

>> SO, BIGGER, BOLDER, BETTER.

>> Reporter: PLUS, A 5K WHERE PARTICIPANTS GET TO RUN AROUND THE ENTIRE FLOWER FIELDS BEFORE THE OPENING ON MARCH 15th.

>> IT IS ST.

PATRICK'S THEMED AND WE HAVE WELLNESS CLASSES WE HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE, YOGA, SOUND BATH, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED.

>> Reporter: AND WHAT DO THE FLOWER FIELDS DEAL WITH THOSE 80 MILLION FLOWERS?

MOSS SAYS THEY ARE REALLY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY.

>> WE LET THE FLOWERS FULLY MATCH RATE AND DIE, WE MOW THEM DOWN AND GET THE BOLTS UNDERNEATH AND WE SELL THOSE ALL AROUND THE UNITED STATES SO YOU CAN GROW FLOWER FIELDS AT HOME.

>> Reporter: THE FLOWER FIELDS ARE OPEN FROM MARCH 1st THROUGH MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND.

IN CARLSBAD, ALEXANDER NGYUEN, KPBS NEWS.

>> THOSE FLOWERS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

ENJOY YOUR EVENING.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "KPBS EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES -- PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION, AND FLOOD 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!

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