>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY BILL HOWE.

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> IT IS DAY 38 OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THE EFFECTS ARE BEING FELT ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

I'M JOHN CARROLL IN FOR MAYA TRABULSI.

WE BEGIN ON A POSITIVE NOTE.

MANY LOCALS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE NOW HAVE THEIR GROCERY MONEY FOR NOVEMBER.

KPBS REPORTER TAMMY HAS MORE FROM THE NEWS ROOM.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY SAYS THE PROCESS OF RELOADING BENEFIT CARDS BEGAN LATE LAST NIGHT.

THE PROGRAM IS CALLED CAL FRESH IN CALIFORNIA.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING REPORTS PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WHO NORMALLY GET THEIR BENEFITS BY THE 7th OF THE MONTH HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FULL BENEFITS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 400,000 CAL FRESH RECIPIENTS IN THE COUNTY.

GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED LATE THAT FUNDS WERE BEING REINSTATED.

THE STATE SAYS IT STARTED RELEASING FUNDS AFTER FEDERAL COURT JUDGE RULED THAT BENEFITS SHOULD BE FULLY RESTORED DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

NEWSOM'S OFFICE DID NOT SAY HOW THE STATE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS.

KPBS ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

CAL FRESH IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM, THE STATE MANAGES IT AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTERS IT.

THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK IS AMONG SEVERAL AGENCIES HOSTING EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS DURING THE SHUTDOWN.

IN A STATEMENT, THE FOOD BANK SAYS THE NEED CONTINUES.

MANY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES STILL HAVEN'T BEEN PAID AND THEY SAY DECEMBER FOOD BENEFITS ARE UNCERTAIN.

FROM THE NEWS ROOM, TAMMY MURGA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AREN'T THE ONLY AIRPORT WORKERS AFFECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

TSA WORKER HAVES BEEN WORKING WITHOUT PAY FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.

ROBERT MACK IS A LEAD OFFICER AT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND CHIEF STEWARD FOR THE UNION REPRESENTING TSA WORKERS.

SAN DIEGO'S ROUGHLY 600TSA WORKERS ARE GETTING FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM FEEDING SAN DIEGO AND HELP WITH GAS FROM THEIR UNION BUT THE LACK OF PAY IS STILL DIRE.

>> WE ARE BROKE!

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY.

THEY ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED.

IT HAS BEEN ALMOST THREE PAYCHECKS.

PEOPLE NOT PLANNING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THEY ARE REALLY HURTING.

THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND OTHER MEANS OF INCOME.

>> MAX SAYS MORE THAN 15 OFFICERS AT THE SAN DIEGO AIRPORT HAVE RESIGNED SINCE THE SHUTDOWN AND HE EXPECTS MORE RESIGNATIONS IF THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES.

>>> UNCERTAINTIES AMIDAIR TRAFFIC CUTS AT CORE U.S.

AIRPORTS.

ACCORDING TO FLIGHT AWARE, 27 FLIGHTS TO AND FROM SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WERE CANCELED TODAY.

THAT IS ABOUT 4% OF THE AIRPORT'S AVERAGE DAILY FLIGHTS AND THE FAA SAYS CANCELLATIONS ARE SET TO RAMP UP THE NEXT WEEK.

HERE IS MARIBEL GONZALEZ WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE FLYING.

>> Reporter: MAJOR HUBS LIKE NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO, AND HERE IN LOS ANGELES ARE ALREADY FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE FLIGHT CUTS BUT EVEN IF YOUR LOCAL AIRPORT ISN'T ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES AFFECTED, EXPERTS SAY THESE DELAYS COULD TRICKLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE HOPING FOR THE BEST.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT.

>> Reporter: THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS ORDERED A REDUCTION IN DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ACROSS 40 MAJOR U.S.

AIRPORTS STARTING WITH A 4% CUT FRIDAY AS THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES.

SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION SHAWN DUFFY CITING SAFETY AS THE DRIVER FOR THE AIR SPACE CLOSURES.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT THE PRESSURE THAT WE NOW SEE BUILDING IN THE SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AMONG THOSE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE SHUTDOWN, NOW WEEKS WITHOUT PAY, MANY ARE CALLING IN SICK AND SOME ARE RESIGNING ACCORDING TO THEIR UNION LEADER.

>> THEY ARE CALLING IN SAYING DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GAS TO GET TO WORK.

TO THEIR EMPLOYER.

TO THEIR SUPERVISOR AND MANAGER SAYING WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

>> Reporter: ANTICIPATING THE FAA ORDER, SEVERAL MAJOR AIRLINES CANCELED HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY.

AND INTO THE WEEKEND.

PASSENGERS AFFECTED WILL RECEIVE A REFUND FOR THEIR CANCELED FLIGHTS.

MEANWHILE, TRAVEL EXPERTS ARE URGING PATIENCE.

>> THE MORE PEOPLE ARE PREPARED AND THE MORE THEY ARE INFORMED AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON, THE BETTER.

>> Reporter: IF YOU ARE JETTING OFF THIS WEEKEND.

>> DOWN LOAD YOUR AIRLINES APP AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONSFUL THAT'S HOW YOU WILL FIND OUT IF YOUR AIRLINE HAS CANCELED OR DELAYED.

>> Reporter: HAVE A PLAN B IN PLACE ALREADY BEFORE THERE IS ANY CANCELLATION.

CHUCK SCHUMER SAID FRIDAY THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD AGROW TO END THE SHUTDOWN IN EXCHANGE FOR ONE MORE YEAR OF ENHANCED AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SUBSIDIES.

AN ATTEMPT TO FURTHER PRESSURE THE GOP TO MAKE A DEAL.

REPORTING IN LOS ANGELES, I'M MARYBEL GONZALEZ.

>>> TONIGHT, BACK INTO THE 50s FOR THE CITY AND OF COURSE, A FEW CLOUDS OUT THERE.

BUT AS WE HEAD INTO THE UPCOMING DAYS, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A WARMER TREND TO COME BEFORE WE GET INTO A BIG CHANGE NEXT WEEK.

I WILL BREAK DOWN THAT PATTERN COMING UP.

>>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, EMBATTLED PAWE COUNCIL MEMBER RESIGNED.

THE RESIGNATION IS STILL REVERBERATING IN THE CITY.

AND TODAY, THE CITY COUNCIL HELD A SPECIAL MEETING TO DECIDE WHAT'S NEXT IN FILLING HIS NOW VACANT SEAT.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN WAS THERE.

>> Reporter: HIS PHOTO NO LONGER ON THE WALL.

HIS SEAT IS EMPTY AND HIS NAME PLATE REMOVED FROM THE DAIS.

BUT TONY BLAYNE'S PRESENCE IS STILL BEING FELT.

>> DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE HERE THIS SOON.

>> Reporter: MAYOR STEVE HAD EXPECTED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IN DECEMBER.

AFTER THE REGISTERED VOTERS CERTIFIED THE ELECTION.

HOW TO BEST FILL HIS SEAT.

>> WE MADE A COMMITMENT.

BACK IN APRIL THAT IF WE HAD A VACANCY IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF A TERM, WE WOULD HOLD A SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Reporter: IN APRIL, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A POLICY TO HOLD SPECIAL ELECTIONS IF MORE THAN TWO YEARS ARE LEFT IN THE TERM BUT THAT IS NOT IN THE CITY CODE.

RESIDENT PETE URGED THE CITY COUNCIL NOT TO GO BACK ON ITS PROMISE.

>> I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT A VACANCY RIGHT NOW THAT WE URGENCY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE.

SO I ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT GO BACK ON YOUR PINKY SWEAR, HOLD THE ELECTION.

>> Reporter: THE QUESTION NOW IS WHEN WOULD THE ELECTION BE?

THE EARLIEST THE CITY CAN HOLD IT IS MID APRIL.

AND THE LATEST IS JUNE WHICH WOULD COUNT SIDE WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE COST.

>> Reporter: COST IS A CONCERN.

AND WITH SIX WEEKS SEPARATING THE WOULD BE SPECIAL ELECTION FROM THE PRIMARY, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO GET MORE COST INFORMATION FROM THE REGISTRAR.

>> WE WOULD SAVE MONEY AND HAVE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION, I'M ALL FOR WAITING FOR THE JUNE DATE.

>> SOME GOOD POINTS COMING OUT ABOUT BETTER TURNOUT FOR US IF IT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE PRIMARY.

>> Reporter: THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION WOULD COME OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY FUNDS.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FAMILIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA ARE HAVING FEWER CHILDREN.

THAT MEANS FEWER STUDENTS IN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IN SAN DIEGO, THE SOUTH BAY UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PLANNING TO ADJUST BY CLOSING SCHOOLS IN THE COMING YEARS.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER HAS NEW DETAILS ON HOW IT MIGHT WORK.

>> Reporter: THE SOUTH BAY UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SHRINKING.

THE DISTRICT EXPECTED TO LOSE MORE THAN 100 STUDENTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT MEANT LOSING NEARLY $2 MILLION.

>> THESE ARE ONGOING LOSSES.

IT IS AN ONGOING LOSS.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT'S ENROLLMENT HAS DROPPED BY NEARLY HALF SINCE 2011.

AND IT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.

ZACH DESCRIBED JUST HOW MUCH THE DISTRICT IS CHANGING.

>> A NUMBER AS HIGH AS 8,000 STUDENTS IN 2017, 2018 TO POTENTIALLY AS LITTLE AS 3790 BY 2034.

>> Reporter: IN MAY, THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO CLOSE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

WEDNESDAY THEY WILL DECIDE WHERE THE STUDENTS GO NEXT.

TWO POSSIBILITIES WERE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD LAST NIGHT.

ONE WOULD SEND CENTRAL STUDENTS TO NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS.

THE OTHER WOULD REDRAW SCHOOL BOUNDARIES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

TO BALANCE OUT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT EACH CAMPUS.

>> TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS LESS SERIOUS ENROLLMENT CHALLENGES IN OTHER SCHOOLS.

>> Reporter: ALONG WITH REDRAWING BOUNDARIES, THE SUPERINTENDENT JOSE ESPINOSA SAYS THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON KEEPING THE STUDENTS IT HAS.

>> WHAT IS WITHIN OUR CONTROL?

THE LOW BIRTHRATES.

THAT IS NOT WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

BUT THE WAY WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

>> Reporter: THE DISTRICT PLANS TO CLOSE TWO OTHER SCHOOLS BY 2031.

THOSE TWO SCHOOLS HAVEN'T BEEN CHOSEN YET.

BUT ADMINISTRATORS HAVE PROPOSED SUNNY SLOPE AND BARRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHES BACK AGAINST A COURT ORDER TO PAY OUT FULL SNAP BENEFITS DURING THE SHUTDOWN.

THAT'S COMING UP AT 7:00.

>>> SKYROCKETING RENTS IN RECENT YEARS HAVE TAKEN A HEAVY TOLLS ON LOW INCOME TENANTS.

THEY HAVE ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECTED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT SUBSIDIZE RENT.

HOUSING VOUCHERS.

METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWAN SAYS SAN DIEGO'S VOUCHER PROGRAM IS LOSING MONEY FAST.

AND DIFFICULT CHOICES LIE AHEAD.

>> Reporter: SIMONE WAS ONCE SOLIDLY IN THE MIDDLE CLASS.

SHE HAD A GOOD UNION JOB AT AT&T FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS BUT THE JOB REQUIRED A LOT OF REPETITIVE MOTIONS WITH HER HANDS.

>> MY HANDS WHEN I WAS AT WORK, THEY JUST STARTED SWELLING REALLY BAD.

NO MATTER WHAT I DID, ICE, ACUPUNCTURE.

NOTHING WORKED.

SO COME TO FINDND FIND OUT, IT WAS A CONDITION CALLED DECURVE VEINS.

>> Reporter: SHE STILL HAS SCARS FROM THE FIVE SURGERIES.

THEY ENDED UP CAUSING NERVE DAMAGE.

IN 2008, SHE COULDN'T WORK ANYMORE AND BECAME DISABLED.

SHE LOST HER HOUSE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THEN, IN 2012, HER HUSBAND DIED SUDDENLY.

SHE KNEW SHE NEEDED HELP.

>> I'M A WIDOW WITH TWO KIDS.

I HAVE A DISABILITY.

MY SON HAS A DISABILITY.

WHAT IS THE WAITING TIME FOR SECTION A?

THAT WAS IN 2013.

>> Reporter: SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS, ALSO CALLED HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS, ARE THE LARGEST HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES.

RECIPIENTS GET TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY LIVE AND PAY AROUND 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT.

THE VOUCHER COVERING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AMOUNT AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DETERMINES IS FAIR MARKET RENT.

VOUCHERS ARE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING AND ENDING HOMELESSNESS.

BUT THE PROGRAM ISN'T WELL FUNDED.

WHEN LEBLANC FIRST GOT ON A VOUCHER WAIT LIST, SHE WAS TOLD THE AVERAGE WAIT TIME WAS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

13 YEARS LATER, SHE IS STILL WAITING.

>> EVERY YEAR, I CALL SECTION 8.

I CALL THEM AND SAY HEY.

DO YOU GUYS PRIORITIZE PEOPLE ON DISABILITY?

NO INCOME?

PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIDS THAT ARE DISABLED?

OH NO.

WE DO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ON THE LIST.

OKAY, SO.

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME STUFF THEY WERE TELLING EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE MOVED UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> SO I WOULD SPEAK REALLY TO THE LAST TEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE SECTOR.

AND THIS IS THE WORST IT HAS BEEN.

>> Reporter: STEVEN RUSSELL IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION.

HE SAYS THE RAPID INFLATION IN THE HOUSING MARKETS SINCE 2020 HAS MEANT HOUSING VOUCHERS ARE REACHING FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE.

>> THE NEED HAS GROWN.

RENTS HAVE GROWN AND THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY THAT PROVIDES THE SECTION 8 VOUCHER HAS NOT GROWN.

SO WE ARE SEEING JUST A DEEPENING PROBLEM.

A DEEPENING CRISIS IN HOUSING IN GENERAL.

AND SECTION 8 IN PARTICULAR.

>> Reporter: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SOUGHT TO MAKE HOUSING VOUCHERS AN ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM SIMILAR TO MEDICARE WHERE EVERYONE WHO QUALIFIES RECEIVES THE BENEFIT.

BUT IT NEVER HAD THE VOTES IN CONGRESS TO OVERCOME REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.

NOW, FUNDING CUTS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAVE PUSHED THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING COMMISSION WHICH DISTRIBUTES VOUCHERS FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO INTO A DEEPENING DEFICIT.

TO BALANCE ITS VOUCHER BUDGET, THE AGENCY CAN EITHER KICK 1700 HOUSEHOLDS OFF THE PROGRAM OR IT CAN DIAL BACK ITS SUBSIDIES AND REQUIRE VOUCHER RECIPIENTS TO PAY MORE OF THEIR INCOME TOWARD RENT.

THE AGENT PREFERS THE LATTER WHICH RUSSELL AGREES IS THE LEAST BAD OPTION.

>> TO THROW SOME PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES SO OTHERS CAN STAY IS NOT A MORALLY ACCEPTABLE APPROACH.

THIS IS PAINFUL BUT I BELIEVE GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CARDS WE HAVE BEEN DEALT AS A REGION, THIS WILL BE THE MOST PRACTICAL AND ETHICAL WAY TO SEE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

>> I HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU CAN GO TO THE FOOD BANK.

I'M NOT AT THE POINT WHERE I NEED A FOOD BANK.

I WILL LEAVE THAT FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

>> Reporter: SIMONE LEBLANC WEARS A PINK TEE SHIRT THAT SAYS HOPE ON IT.

BUT WITH REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, SHE IS NOT FEELING VERY HOPEFUL.

SHE REMEMBERS READ AGO STORY ABOUT A WOMAN IN CHICAGO WHO WAS ON A HOUSING VOUCHER WEIGHT LIST FOR 29 YEARS.

>> SO I LOOK AT THAT AND LIKE, OKAY, 29 YEARS FROM NOW, I MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HERE.

BUT YOU JUST WAIT.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?

I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT DESTROY MY LIFE.

I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT STOP ME FROM CONTINUEING TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING COMMISSION BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON A PLAN TO BALANCE ITS VOUCHER PROGRAM BUDGET ON DECEMBER 11th.

IF THAT PLAN IS APPROVED, VOUCHER HOLDERS IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO WILL HAVE TO START PAYING MORE TOWARD THEIR RENT ROUGHLY ONE YEAR FROM NOW.

ANDREW BOWAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WHILE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY MAKE HEADLINES, THE 38 DAY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS SQUEEZING AMERICANS IN OTHER WAYS.

A NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT IS ADDING TO CONSUMER ANXIETY.

KAREN HAS THE LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.

>> Reporter: THE ECONOMIC TOLL OF THE RECORD BREAKING U.S.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN KEEPS WIDENING FROM SNAP RECIPIENTS IN A LEGAL BACK AND FORTH OVER BENEFITS.

>> I HAVE BEEN DISABLED SINCE BIRTH SO I RELY ON FOOD STAMPS AND SOCIAL SECURITY TO SURVIVE.

I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING.

IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD.

I LITERALLY HAVE BEEN EATING SPAGHETTI FOUR DAYS BECAUSE IT IS ALL I HAVE IN MY APARTMENT.

>> Reporter: TO GOVERNMENT WORKERS ON THE JOB WITHOUT PAY FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, LEANING ON FOOD BANKS AND FOOD DRIVES.

>> IT HAS BROUGHT THEM TO TEARS WITH THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE SEEN FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: AND SMALL BUSINESSES FEELING THE SQUEEZE BOTH HIGHER PRICES AND STRUGGLING CONSUMERS.

>> THEY ARE BUYING THINGS THEY CAN THROW IN THEIR FREEZER AND STRETCH TO THE LAST, TOWARD THE END OF THE MONTH AS WELL.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: IT ALL HAS AMERICANS FEELING WORSE ABOUT THE OVERALL ECONOMY ACCORDING TO THE LATEST UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CONSUMER SENTIMENT SURVEY RELEASED FRIDAY.

THE OCTOBER INDEX FELL TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE JUNE OF 2022.

TOP WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER KEVIN TOLD FOX BUSINESS THAT THE LENGTHY SHUT DOWN'S ECONOMIC IMPACT IS FAR WORSE.

>> THERE ARE POCKETS HURTING.

IF WE GO ANOTHER MONTH OR SO, WHO KNOWS HOW BAD THE ECONOMY COULD BE.

>> Reporter: FRIDAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BRING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LATEST LOOK AT THE LABOR MARKET BUT OCTOBER'S IS ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN.

>>> INFORMATION ON CURRENT LOCAL FOOD RESOURCES IS AVAILABLE BY CALLING 211 OR YOU CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE AT 211SANDIEGO.ORG.

>>> THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IS SHUTTING DOWN A FREE ONLINE TAX SERVICE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED DIRECT FILE THAT AIMED TO ALLOW LOW AND MODERATE TAXPAYERS FILE EARLY.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN HALTED BECAUSE IT WASN'T WIDELY USED.

FEWER THAN 300,000 PEOPLE USED DIRECT FILE LAST YEAR.

>>> COVID SYMPTOMS THAT DON'T GO AWAY AFFECT TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS WORLDWIDE.

KPBS TECH REPORTER THOMAS FUDGE TELLS US ABOUT A SAN DIEGO BASED CLINICAL TRIAL TO SEE IF A POPULAR WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATION CAN TREAT LONG COVID.

>> Reporter: FATIGUE, JOINT PAIN, COGNITIVE PROBLEMS.

THOSE ARE THE SYMPTOMS.

THE ILLNESS IS LONG COVID.

SO FAR THERE IS NO PROVEN TREATMENT FOR IT.

BUT A DRUG USED TO TREAT DIABETES AND OBESITY HAS SHOWN A LOT OF PROMISE.

ONE DOCTOR SURVEYED PATIENTS WITH LONG COVID WHO TRIED THE DRUG SHOW THAT 60 TO 90% OF THEM SAW IMPROVEMENT.

>> I HAD ONLY BEEN EXPECTING 30% OF THE POPULATION TO IMPROVE.

WE POWERED THE STUDY AROUND THAT.

IF IT IS REALLY 60 TO 90% THAT IS AMAZING.

>> Reporter: JULIA MOORE VOGEL IS LEADING TWO STUDIES ON LONG COVID AT SCRIPPS RESEARCH.

ONE IS A CLINICAL TRIAL OF TERZIPATIDE.

RECRUITING 1,000 PEOPLE WITH THE ILLNESS TO TEST THE DRUG.

HALF WILL BE GIVEN IT AND THE OTHER HALF WILL TAKE A PLACEBO.

THEY ARE A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH RECRUITMENT.

ANOTHER CODIRECTOR OF THE STUDY IS ERIC TOPAL.

HE SAYS THIS CLASS OF DRUGS HAS SHOWN A LOT OF PROMISE FOR LOTS OF CONDITIONS AND IT IS THE MOST POTENT OF THE BUNCH.

>> WHEN I SAY MORE POTENT WE ARE TALKING ALL THE EFFECTS.

NO JUST WEIGHT LOSS, BUT HEART, LIVER, KIDNEY, MIGRANT HEADACHES.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND THE LIST GOES ON.

ADDICTION.

>> Reporter: IT IS MADE BY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY ELI LILY PROVIDING THE DRUGS FOR THE LONG COVID TRIAL.

TERZEPATIZE IS FDA APPROVED.

THOUGH IT IS MEANT TO BE A WEIGHT LOSS DRUG, USING DRUGS OFF LABEL IS VERY COMMON AND THIS ONE IS BEING PRESCRIBED FOR LONG COVID.

BUT NOT ALL DOCTORS ARE CONFIDENT THE DRUG WORKS AND GETTING COVERAGE FOR IT IS A PROBLEM.

>> THE CHALLENGE IS INSURANCE.

WHERE THEY WILL REQUIRE.

>> Reporter: JULIA'S INTEREST IN LONG COVID IS NOT JUST ACADEMIC.

SHE HAS LIVED WITH IT FIVE YEARS.

SEEN HERE IN AN EARLIER VIDEO, SHE SAYS HER ILLNESS HAS CAUSED HER TO BECOME HOME BOUND.

NOTHING SHE HAS TRIED AS HELPED.

BUT ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE AT 60 TO 90% OF LONG COVID SUFFERINGERS HAS GIVEN HER HOPE.

>> I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

I REALLY HOPE THAT BEARS OUT IN THE DATA.

>> Reporter: SCRIPPS RESEARCH IS ALSO LOOKING AT PATIENTS WEARING BODY MONITORS.

>>> FINDING HOPE AND HEALING AFTER CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS HAVE FAILED.

AMID THE ONGOING VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, A GROWING NUMBER OF OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS ARE TURNING TO NOVEL THERAPIES IN THEIR MISSION TO FIND PEACE.

AS MICHAEL YOSHITA REPORTS, THIS INCLUDES PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED THERAPY FOR POST- TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

>> SOMETHING I DOVE HEAD FIRST INTO.

>> MULTIPLE COMBAT TOURS TO BOTH AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.

>> Reporter: SERVING UNTIL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WOUNDS OF WAR TOOK THEIR TOLL.

>> HE SAID MARCUS, YOU ARE THE 200th GUY THAT HAS COME IN HERE.

I ASSUME IT IS FROM GOING DOWN RANGE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THIS AT THE MOMENT.

>> Reporter: MARCUS TRIED DIFFERENT MEDICINES AND DOCTORS AND THERAPIES BUT THINGS GOT WORSE UNTIL HIS WIFE APPROACHED HIM WITH PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY.

MARCUS DECIDED IT WAS WORTH TRAVELING OUTSIDE THE U.S.

TO A CLINIC IN MEXICO.

WHERE THE LEGAL BUT UNREGULATED PSYCHEDELIC IS COMBINED WITH THERAPY AND MEDICAL MONITORING.

>> MY LIFE COMPLETELY CHANGED.

I FELT AGAIN.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T FELT ANYTHING IN YEARS.

I WAS ABLE TO BE HUMAN AGAIN.

>> Reporter: THIS THERAPY ISN'T FOR EVERYONE.

AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT APPROACHES.

COME USE LSD, KETAMINE OR MDMA.

AND HELP PATIENTS REPROCESS DRAWMATIC MEMORIES.

>> MOST OF OUR STANDARD PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINES ARE MEANT TO SUPPRESS SYMPTOMS.

PSYCHEDELICS USED IN THIS WAY ARE NOT MEANT TO SUPPRESS SYMPTOMS.

THEY ARE MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE GET IN TOUCH WITH AND PROCESS.

>> Reporter: DR.

BARBARA HAS BEEN PIONEERING PTSD TREATMENTS FOR DECADES INCLUDING AN ONGOING DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STUDY LOOKING AT EFFECTS OF MDMA WITH THERAPY THAT LETS PATIENTS GRADUALLY CONFRONT TRAUMA.

>> IT IS NOT MDMA LIKE KIDS WILL GET IN THE CLUBS.

PEOPLE ARE MONITORED THEIR SCREEN TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE FOR THEM TO TAKE IT.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF SAFETY CONDITIONS AND IT IS COMBINED WITH A LOT OF THERAPY.

>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW, POSSESSION OF PSYCHEDELIC IS A FEDERAL CRIME.

BUT THE TIDES MAY BE CHANGING WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL TREATMENT.

>> WE ARE OPENING UP THE POSSIBILITY OF PSYCHEDELIC TREATMENT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT IS GOOD.

>> Reporter: WHILE SEVERAL STATES HAVE PASSED BILLS SUPPORTING RESEARCH INTO PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY, IT COULD BE YEARS BEFORE A FEDERALLY APPROVED TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE.

>> WE SHOULDN'T BE FIGHTING A WAR FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THEN WHEN WE COME HOME TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY TO RECEIVE TREATMENTS.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL YOSHITA.

>>> OF COURSE AS WE GET INTO THE UPCOMING DAYS WE WILL FIND PATTERN CHANGES IN OUR WEATHER.

THE FIRST UP BEING A WARMER TREND HEADED INTO MONDAY.

MANY OF US FIND THE NUMBERS HEADED ON UP THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

THAT WILL BE DRY WEATHER WITH A LIMITED MARINE LAYER FOR US.

NOW, ONCE WE GET INTO NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE END OF IT COMING WITH SOME BIGGER CHANGES.

WE COULD EVEN SEE SOME RAIN WORKING BACK INTO OUR AREA.

DETAILS ARE HARD TO NAIL DOWN AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

57 FOR THE OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURE IN THE CITY.

WE WILL KEEP THINGS WARM AND QUIET WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OFFSHORE FLOW.

TEMPERATURE INS THE 60s .

80 IN EL CAJON.

BORREGO SPRINGS TOPPING OUT AT 78.

NEXT WEEK, TOWARD THE END OF IT, WE'LL HAVE MORE COOL WEATHER COMING IN.

HOW MUCH RAIN IF ANY RAIN DO WE GET, THERE IS STILL A CHANCE THAT WE DON'T GET MUCH MOISTURE.

BUT I DO THINK AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF PRECIPITATION GETS IN.

THIS WILL BE MORE AS WE GET INTO FRIDAY AND THE END OF THE WEEK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TIME LINE FOR THAT.

THAT IS BEYOND THE FIVE DAY FORECAST.

SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR.

BUT UNTIL THEN, WE HAVE THE MILD NUMBERS.

74 FOR HIGH SUNDAY AT THE COAST.

STILL IN THE MID 70s ON MONDAY.

NOTICE HOW THE WARMEST DAY INLAND IS ON MONDAY.

TEMPERATURE INS THE UPPER 80s .

IT IS QUITE WARM AS WE CLOSE OUT THE WEEKEND AND GO INTO THE START OF THE WORKWEEK BEFORE WE COOL DOWN.

NOT TOO MANY BIG CHANGES HERE OR IN THE DESERTS.

BACK DOWN TO MID 80s ON WEDNESDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS, I'M METEOROLOGIST MELISSA.

>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE.

KPBS.ORG.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US EVERYBODY.

I'M JOHN CARROLL.

HAVE AN EXCELLENT EVENING AND A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

>> 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.