>>> THE ONLY DISPLAYS YOU WILL FIND IS FIREFIGHTERS URGE YOU TO LEAVE THE SHOW TO THE PROFESSIONALS.

WE START WITH THE NATION REELING FROM THE SUPREME COURT DECISION TO LET INDIVIDUALS STATES ALLOW OR BAN ABORTION.

ALEXANDER WHEN WENT TO DEMONSTRATION AS EMOTIONS RAN HIGH.

>> PROTESTERS GATHERED AT THE STATION TO PROTEST THE SUPREME COURT DECISION OVER TURNING ROE V WADE.

THE PROTEST WAS ORGANIZED BY RIGHTS FOR ABORTION, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

>> I'M VERY UPSET THAT WE HAVE TO BE DOING THIS.

IT'S UPSETTING.

THE SUPREME COURT ARE TWO MEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL-HARASSMENT AND SECTIONAL ASSAULT AND WE ARE HERE TO TELL THEM NO MORE.

>> SHE SAYS SHE IS HAPPY TO SEE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE PROTESTING AND IT SHOWS THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS SPEAKING UP.

THE TWO ARE 16-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOLERS AND THEY SAY THEY ARE OUT HERE BECAUSE IT'S A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.

EXPERT WE HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS AND WE ARE HUMAN AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH .

>> LOCAL LAWMAKERS GATHER AT THE BUILDING TO URGE FOR THE PASSAGE OF SENATE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT 10 WHICH WILL CODIFY ABORTION RIGHT INTO THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM.

>> WE WILL NOT BE SHOVED BACK INTO THE DARK DAYS OF DESPERATE DECISIONS.

ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE AND THE DECISION TO HAVE ONE LIE SOLELY WITH THE PATIENT.

CALIFORNIA WILL NOT LEAVE PEOPLE VULNERABLE .

>> IT WAS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY AND WILL GO IN FRONT OF VOTERS THIS NOVEMBER.

>>> THERE IS ANY FACE AT THE SPRINT COURT.

JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON WAS SWORN IN ON THURSDAY AS SHE REPLACES THE RETIRING JUSTICE, STEPHEN BREYER, WHO SERVED FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.

>>> BEYOND ABORTION THE SUPREME COURT WRAPPED UP ITS TERM WITH RULINGS ON THE ASYLUM SYSTEM AND THAT IS THAT DISCUSSION FOR THE KPBS ROUNDTABLE.

LISTEN IS A PODCASTER STREAM THE SHOW AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> SURPRISE AND DISAPPOINTMENT FOR TEENAGERS COME OF THE FIRING OF A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IS LEAVING A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE TALK ABOUT RACE.

OUR KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER, MJ PEREZ HAS MORE.

>> THE SHOCK STILL STINGS.

>> THE ARGUMENT WAS MADE ABOUT RACE BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO LABEL HER AS A RACIST.

>> IT IS SO GRIDLOCKED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ANYTHING THAT SUPPORTS OUR VOICES IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH .

>> THEY ARE 17 YEARS OLD, FRIENDS, INCOMING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN THE SAN DIEGUITO UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STRONG SUPPORTERS ON THEIR NAME FIRED SUPERINTENDENT.

>> I THINK THERE IS A DISCONNECT WITH THE DISTRICT AND STUDENTS AND THEY ARE JUST UPHOLDING THE POWER.

THEY SAY THEY CARE ABOUT STUDENT VOICES WHEN IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THAT .

>> THEY ARE THE SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES THAT HELD A SPECIAL MEETING SUNDAY TO HEAR MORE PUBLIC COMMENT ON WHETHER TO FIRE DR. CHERYL JAMES WARD FOR REMARKS SHE MADE THAT CHARACTERIZED ASIAN STUDENTS IN A WAY THAT MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALLED RACIST REMARKS.

THE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO TERMINATE HER WITHOUT CAUSE.

SHE HAD APOLOGIZED SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING A PERSONAL APOLOGY TO RUPERT AND SOME OF HER CLASSMATES .

>> WE KIND OF HELD OUR HANDS IN SOLIDARITY AND ACCEPTED HER APOLOGY AND REALIZED THAT COMMENTS LIKE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DISCUSSED AND REALLY ANALYZED IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT .

>> THE ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AT SYNDICATE ACADEMY AND JOHNSON IS PRESIDENT AT THE BLACK STUDENT UNION AT TORREY PINES HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE COMMENTS MADE ABOUT RACE AND UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS THAT IN ORDER TO GET PAST THOSE YOU NEED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS .

>> THESE YOUNG LEADERS ARE VERY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR EQUALITY IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND ARE ALSO AWARE OF THE WHITE MAJORITY ABOARD TRUSTEES.

>> IS CRAZY AND DISHEARTENING FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR TO SEE HOW A BLACK WOMAN AND A WOMAN OF COLOR IS IN POWER AND THEN JUST GETS COMPLETELY STRIPPED AND TORN DOWN .

>> THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER COMMENT FROM SAN DIEGUITO UNION SCHOOL MEMBERS IN THEIR SUNDAY NIGHT PRESS RELEASE.

THEY SIMPLY WISHED HER THE BEST IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

MEANWHILE WARD'S ATTORNEY SAYS SHE WILL SUE THE DISTRICT FOR THE WRONGFUL TERMINATION.

>> HER YOUNG SUPPORTERS STILL HAVE HOPE .

>> IT'S A STRUGGLE BUT I THINK THE STRONGEST PEOPLE GET THROUGH IT AND THEY SEE THE MOST GROWTH.

>>> THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, KPBS HAS REPORTED ON THE CHILDCARE SHORTAGE SOME PARTS OF SAN DIEGO ARE STRUGGLING MORE THAN OTHERS.

OUR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER TELLS US HOW IT HAS CREATED MORE CHILDCARE DESERTS IN OUR AREA.

>> THE 14-MONTH-OLD HAS A LOT TO SAY.

NORMAL FOR A TODDLER BUT NOT FOR HIS MOM'S WORK MEETING.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE SCRAMBLING TO FIND BACK UP FOR TAKING CARE OF MY SON WHILE I FINISH UP THE WORK DAY.

IF HE WAS IN DAYCARE IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT .

>> BUT HE'S NOT IN DAYCARE BECAUSE ALL THE SLOTS IN THIS RURAL NORTH CAROLINA FOR NEAR TOWN ARE TAKEN .

>> WE ARE ON FIVE WAITLIST AND IT STRETCHES FROM HERE IN FALLBROOK TO OCEANSIDE.

EVERYBODY IS LOOKING .

>> THEY ARE LIVING IN THE BIGGEST CHILDCARE DESERT IN THE COUNTY.

THERE IS JUST ONE LICENSED CHILDCARE SLOT FOR EVERY FOUR KIDS UNDER AGE 5 IN THE REGION ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE SAN DIEGO YMCA.

>> YOU MIGHT GET LUCKY TO GET SOMETHING BUT IT'S A 30 MINUTE DRIVE .

>> THE NEED FOR CHILDCARE IS DIRE EVERYWHERE.

STAFFING SHORTAGES, RISING COSTS AND COVID FORCED MANY BUSINESSES TO CLOSE WITH THE ADDED CHALLENGES MAKING THE SITUATION EVEN WORSE IN THE FALLBROOK REGION >> A LOT OF BUILDINGS ARE OLDER AND THEY DON'T MEET THE REGULATIONS FOR LICENSING .

>> SHE OWNS ONE OF THE FEW PRESCHOOLS IN AREA AND AT LEAST SEVEN OTHER CHILDCARE CENTERS CLOSED DURING COVID ACCORDING TO STATE LICENSING DATA.

>> THE PROVIDERS WERE OLDER AND DID NOT WANT TO RISK OR HAVE CAUGHT COVID AND DID NOT WANT TO RISK EXPOSING OTHER PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THEY WERE OLDER, THEY DECIDED TO RETIRE .

>> THE FALLBROOK REGION PROXIMITY TO CAMP PENDLETON AND LOTS OF FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS LIVE THEIR AND THE YOUNG KIDS MIGHT NOT GET INTO MILITARY CHILDCARE.

THE POPULATION OF KIDS UNDER FIVE HAS GROWN 16% IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, FAR OUTPACING OVERALL POPULATION GROWTH AND SUPPLY HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH DEMAND.

THEY WILL AT FOUR MORE SLOTS SPECIFICALLY FOR INFANTS.

>> I HAVE NOT ADVERTISED OR DID ANYTHING AND I HAVE PEOPLE COMING BY AND STOPPING AND ASKING WHEN IT WILL OPEN.

I HAVE 20 FAMILIES ON A WAITING LIST .

>> I JUST BECAME AWARE OF THE NEED OF ALL THE CHILDCARE IN THE AREA .

>> ANOTHER FALLBROOK RESIDENT RECENTLY RETIRED AND DURING COVID DECIDED TO OPEN UP AT HOME CHILDCARE WITH HIS WIFE.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN UNDER TWO AND THREE CHILDREN OVER TO AND THE PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK WITH MOMS LOOKING FOR DAYCARE .

>> THE STATE CURRENTLY HAS FUNDING TO HELP PROVIDERS GET THERE CHILDCARE LICENSE SAYS LORI HAHN WITH THE YMCA CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAM.

>> HELPING THEM GET THEIR LICENSE OR EXPAND THEIR LICENSE TO A LARGE LICENSE ALSO TO CHANGE THE CHILDREN THEY CARE FOR TO INCLUDE INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

>> ASHWORTH JUST EXPANDED HIS LICENSE TO TAKE MORE KIDS AND HE SAYS HE'S GLAD HE USES ENERGY AND HIS FALLBROOK HOME TO HELP FAMILIES IN HIS VILLAGE.

>> WHAT WOULD I BE DOING, JUST SITTING AROUND GETTING OLDER.

SO I THINK IT DOES KEEP YOU YOUNG AND IT'S KIND OF EXCITING, EVERY MORNING WHEN THE PARENTS PULL UP WITH THE KIDS.

I CHAT WITH THEM AND THE KIDS ARE ALWAYS EXCITED.

>> HE KNOWS ADDING A FEW MORE SPACES AT HIS HOME DOES LITTLE TO CHANGE FALLBROOK'S STATUS AS A CHILDCARE DESERT.

>>> HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST READ STORIES THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

LATER START TIMES FOR TEENAGERS.

NEW CALIFORNIA LAW TAKES EFFECT MAKING SURE HIGH SCHOOLS DO NOT START BEFORE 8:30 AM.

>>> RUSSIAN SUPER YACHT IS DOCKED CEASED UNDER SANCTIONS BROUGHT ON BY THE WAR IN UKRAINE .

>>> ASYNC IS BACK NEARLY DECADE, FOUR A FIVE MAYBE OFFICERS CHARGE IN A CORRUPTION CASE FOUND GUILTY BY JURORS.

>>> A SMALL ART EXHIBIT THAT IS DRAWING A BIG RESPONSE.

SO MUCH THAT CRITICS WANT TO DEPICTION POLICE OFFICERS AS PIGS REMOVED.

AND WE LEARN WHY IT IS STAYING PUT .

>> THE EXHIBITION OPENED OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

THE EXHIBITION SHOWCASES ARTWORK FROM NEARLY 100 ARTISTS THAT REPRESENT THE DIVERSE CULTURAL LAND SPAKE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ONE PIECE HAS MADE HEADLINES AND IT IS THE FIRST INSTALLATION THAT VISITORS SEE WHEN THEY WALK INTO THE ART CENTER.

THE PIECE IS CALLED THREE SLICK PIGS BY A LOS ANGELES-BASED ARTIST WHO GOES BY OJ SLICK.

THE PORTRAYAL OF THE THREE PIGS IN POLICE UNIFORMS DREW CRITICISM FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE OUTGOING CHIEF OF POLICE.

>> THIS IS A SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL EXHIBITION BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT STREET ART AND WE WANTED IT TO BE AS AUTHENTIC AS WE COULD MAKE IT .

>> THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE ART CENTER AND WAS PART OF THE SPECIAL MEETING THAT WAS HELD TODAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PIECE WOULD BE REMOVED OR CHANGED.

>> WE DID DECIDE WE ARE REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO THE WONDERFUL EXHIBITION AND SEEING IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE AND IT IS THE DELIGHT OF SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS .

>> PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE CONSIDERED IN THE DECISION TO NOT NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES AND THE DECISION ALIGNED WITH THE ART CENTER SUPPORT OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT .

>> WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY OUR ROLE AS AN ARTS ORGANIZATION AND THERE ARE STANDARDS FOR HOW WE SHOULD OPERATE AND ONE BASIC ONE OBVIOUSLY IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

WE LIVE BY THAT .

>> ISAAC WAS AT THE CENTER WAITING THE DECISION AND HIS DAD IS ONE OF THE TWO CURATORS.

THEY WERE EXPECTING THE PIECE TO BE TAKEN DOWN BUT IS GLAD THE DECISION WENT THE OTHER WAY .

>> I THINK PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING IT TO BE PULLED AND I HAVE THIS PRIVILEGE AND POWER AND OF COURSE I THINK THEY ARE WRONG AND IF YOU ARE HERE SATURDAY ON THE OPENING, IT WAS ALL LOVE AND IS STILL ALL LOVE .

>> THE EXHIBITION WILL RUN UNTIL AUGUST 28.

>>> AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF HOME PRICES THAT KEPT GOING UP, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN A WHILE.

WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LOCAL HOUSING MARKET AND WHITE PRICES MIGHT HAVE PEAKED .

>> IN MARCH, HOME PRICES IN THE SAN DIEGO METRO REGION WERE UP 29.6% OVER MARCH 2021, AN 18 YEAR HIGH BUT THE INDEX THAT TRACKS HOUSING SAID THEY WERE ONLY UP 28.5% IN APRIL, STILL SKYHIGH TO MOVE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION IS NOTABLE AND THE MAIN DRIVER BEHIND IT SAYS SCOTT EVANS OF CROSS-COUNTRY MORTGAGES MORTGAGES .

>> THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST IMPACT WITH THE SLOW DOWN, PRETTY MUCH 90% .

>> WHAT DO MORTGAGE RATES DUE TO THE MONTHLY PAYMENT ON A $500,000 HOME IN SAN DIEGO.

A RARITY BUT JUST FOR COMPARISON SAKE .

>> 20% DOWN, ON A $400,000 LOAN THE PAYMENT IS 3000 AND THAT IS PROBABLY $700 LESS.

IT'S GOING BACK TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC .

>> JEREMY IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR REAL ESTATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAYS THE EFFECT OF RISING MORTGAGE RATES IS KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND THAT IN TURN LOWERS IN THE INDUSTRY .

>> MOST PEOPLE HAVE MORTGAGES THAT ARE FIXED AND ARE LOWER THAN THE PREVAILING INTEREST RATE AND IT MAKES IT LESS LIKELY TO MOVE UP THE HOUSING LADDER .

>> O'HARE INTEREST RATE WON'T HAVE MUCH EFFECT IN PEOPLE ON MID TO UPPER INCOME LEVELS AND IT WILL BE THOSE ON THE LOWER END THAT WILL BE PRICED OUT.

>> YOU MIGHT SEE THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE CAUSED BY LESSER DEMAND IN THE MARKET.

BEING DRIVEN BY INTEREST RATE RISES TO OFFSET THE LACK OF INVENTORY AND IN THE REST OF THE MARKET WHERE INTEREST RATES WILL NOT BE IS BECAUSE IN EFFECT THEY WILL TRACK INFLATION .

>> IT'S NOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR LOWER INCOME FOLKS TO GET INTO THE HOUSING MARKET, HALF- FULL WE ARE REALLY JUST BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND NOWHERE NEAR WHERE WE WERE IN THE 1980s WHEN INTEREST RATES WERE IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS.

>>> THERE IS ALSO A MONEY CRUNCH FOR LOCAL HOSPITALS THAT HAD THEIR FINANCES RATTLED BY THE PANDEMIC.

OUR HEALTH REPORTER TALKS TO ONE MAJOR PROVIDER THAT EXPECTS MORE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

>> MORE THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S HOSPITALS ARE OPERATING AT A LOSS OR UNSUSTAINABLE MARGINS BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT COMMISSIONED BY THE CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION .

>> THEY ARE LOSING MONEY EVERY DAY CARING FOR PATIENTS .

>> VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR THE CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AND SAYS MORE HOSPITALS ARE LOSING MONEY NOW COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC .

>> IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE YEARS FOR THE SITUATION TO FULLY WRITE ITSELF AND THERE MAY BE HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATES THAT JUST ARE ABLE TO COME OUT.

>> INFLATION IS ONLY WORSENING THE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON HOSPITALS AND THE REPORT FOUND HOSPITALS ARE GENERALLY CARING FOR FEWER PATIENTS WHILE COSTS ARE RISING AND LABOR SHORTAGES ARE GROWING.

HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN TURNING TO CONTRACT WORKERS, AN EXPENSE THAT IS HURTING THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND SOME TRAVEL NURSES ARE PAID UPWARDS OF $300 AN HOUR .

>> CALIFORNIA IS NOT ALONE IN THIS AND WE ARE IN THE NATIONAL BIDDING WAR FOR THESE TEMPORARY WORKERS .

>> ONE OF THE LARGEST HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN SAN DIEGO AND THE CEO SAYS SCRIPPS HAS PAID AS MUCH AS $211 PER HOUR FOR CONTRACT NURSES AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND 1000 OPEN POSITIONS .

>> WE ARE TALKING EVERYTHING FROM NURSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE WORKERS AND FOOD WORKERS .

>> THE WORKER SHORTAGE AND RISING EXPENSES TAKING A MAJOR BITE OUT OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM'S PROFIT .

>> WE SEE SUPPLY COSTS GOING UP 5% TO 6% BUT THE REVENUE GROWTH AT BEST IS UP 3%.

THESE VERY SMALL MARGINS ARE GOING TO GET EVEN TIGHTER .

>> THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER FINANCIAL CLOUD THANK YOU NEVER HOSPITALS, THE SEISMIC SAFETY ACT WAS AMENDED 20 YEARS AGO AND REQUIRES HOSPITALS TO BE RETROFITTED TO OPERATE AFTER EARTHQUAKES AND HAS A FAST APPROACHING DEADLINE OF 2030.

>> 100+ BILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND WE ARE RUNNING INTO A TRAIN WRECK.

IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE .

>> I HOPE HOSPITALS GET A DEADLINE EXTENSION .

>> THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE STATE TO PAY FOR IT BUT WE MAY NEED AT SOME POINT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME DOLLARS BEING ALLOCATED BUT RIGHT NOW, TIME DOES NOT COST ANYTHING AND IT COULD BE AN ENORMOUS HELP .

>> THEIR BUDGETING FOR THE SEISMIC METRO FITTING MANDATE, SOMETHING THAT COULD INCREASE THE COST OF RAW MATERIALS.

>> WE ARE HOPING TO GET A DELAY IN THE LEGISLATURE STRUGGLING AND THAT IS $2.4 MILLION AND THEY WILL LOOK AT THE BALANCE SHEET IN LOOK AT ALL THAT MONEY YOU HAVE IN THE BANK.

IF WE SPENT ALL THE MONEY WE HAVE IN THE BANK RIGHT NOW, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH SB 1953 .

>> THEY GOT A FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY FROM THE CARES ACT AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT SAYS THAT MONEY IS GONE.

HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE HELP FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> IN SAN DIEGO WE'VE GOT GOOD HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND STRONG HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT SCRIPPS IS NOT IN DANGER OF GROWTH CLOSING, WE HAVE A BALANCE SHEET BUT WHEN YOU LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE CHALLENGES AND IN PARTICULARLY THE MANDATES, $2.4 BILLION IN BUILDING COSTS THAT I HAVE TO DO BECAUSE THE STATE SAYS I HAVE TO DO IT AND OTHER STATES DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM .

>> WELL OTHERS MAY NOT BE AT RISK OF CLOSING HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS IT'S A VERY REAL THREAT FOR OTHERS AND WERE LOBBING FOR INCREASES IN MEDI- CAL REIMBURSEMENT TO TRY TO HELP STRUGGLING HOSPITALS BUT ULTIMATELY THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET IT IN THE STATE BUDGET.

CALIFORNIA IS ALLOCATING MONEY FOR HEALTH WORKER EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THERE IS ALSO $1 BILLION IN STIPENDS TO HELP RETAIN STAFF.

>> WE NEED ALL HOSPITALS IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE ROUGHLY 400 HOSPITALS IN CALIFORNIA TO TREAT 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THESE VERY IMPORTANT CENTERS OF CARE.

>>> WE HOPE THAT YOU'RE ENJOYING YOUR FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY, INCLUDING THE RISK TURN OF THE FIREWORK SHOW.

WHAT'S BACK AND WHAT'S NEW FOR 2022.

>> THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF FIREWORKS THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY ACROSS SAN DIEGO.

THE BIG BEMBOOM IS BACK AND SO ARE MANY OTHER FIREWORK EVENTS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE FIREWORKS, PLEASE GO TO ONE OF THE SHOWS.

IT'S A SAFE WAY TO GO VISIT AND SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY .

>> THE HOLIDAY DOES NOT COME WITHOUT ITS FIRE RISKS .

>> THIS TIME OF YEAR WE LIKE TO SAY IT USUALLY IN A YEAR-ROUND FIRE SEASON, WE JUST HAVE A HOT WEEK LAST WEEK AND WE DID HAVE SOME FIRES ON THE BORDER BUT THE DANGER IS ALWAYS THERE .

>> FIREWORKS OF ANY KIND INCLUDING SMALL FIRECRACKERS ARE COMMONPLACE BUT ILLEGAL IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO .

>> ALL FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL SO THE ONES YOU SEE ARE ACTUALLY NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING UNLESS IT'S AT A SHOW .

>> CHANGE IN THE TRADITIONAL FIREWORKS CELEBRATION AND TEAMING UP WITH THE CITY OF IMPERIAL BEEF BEACH.

IT WILL BE STAGE FROM THE PIER AND SYNCHRONIZED TO MUSIC .

>> THERE IS EVEN ANY DRONE SHOW THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY FIREWORKS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE NOISE IF THAT'S A CONCERN .

>> THE CELEBRATION WILL NOT HAPPEN FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.

NOR WILL THE FIREWORKS AT CAMP PENDLETON OR AT MIRA MESA HIGH SCHOOL.

>>> ALSO AT IMPERIAL BEACH, SOME PROGRESS FOR PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES, THE BIG FIX FOR THE CROSS- BORDER SEWAGE PROBLEM IS STILL YEARS AWAY.

OUR ENVIRONMENT REPORTER SET OF SMALLER PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING .

>> WHEN MORGAN ROGERS SURVEYS THE CONCRETE LINE TIJUANA RIVER CHANNEL AS A CROSSES THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER, HE SEES PROJECT -- PROGRESS .

>> THIS IS A GOOD B POINT M YOU CAN SEE ALL THE SEDIMENTS THAT HAS ACCUMULATED AND THIS IS FROM THE WET SEASON .

>> HE IS A CIVIL ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF POLLUTION CONTROL ON THE U.S. SIDE OF THE BORDER AND THIS CONCRETE CHANNEL IS A CONDUIT FOR POLLUTION .

>> WHEN IT RAINS WE GET RAIN WATER AND IT CARRIES A LOT OF SEDIMENT AND TRASH.

>> WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING, MOST SEWAGE TAINTED FLOWS CAN BE STOPPED BY RELATIVELY LOW-TECH SOLUTION.

>> WE HAVE A SEDIMENT BURN AND THIS IS CONSTRUCTED WITH THE SEDIMENT DEPOSITED ON THE CONCRETE CHANNEL AND THIS IS CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED BY MEXICO AND WE PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT AND IN PARTICULAR A LOADER AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEED TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTING THE BERM .

>> TO LOOK OVER THE SEDIMENT WALL AND THERE IS STANDING WATER , A FEW HUNDRED MILES NORTH MEXICAN PUMP STATION HOLDS MOST OF THAT WATER OUT OF THE RIVER CHANNEL .

>> DURING THE DRY SEASON IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE FOR PREVENTING FLOWS COMING DOWN THE RIVER .

>> AND THERE ARE OTHER SMALL SUCCESS STORIES.

HE TAKES US TO A CULVERT NORTH OF THE BORDER WALL.

YOU LOOK THROUGH THE FENCE AND YOU CAN SEE CARS ZIPPING BY.

>> THIS IS TO RESTRAIN ONE OF FIVE CANYON COLLECTORS .

>> CREWS RECENTLY FIXED AND UNDERGROUND GAIT THAT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE READING PRESSURE WHEN SEWAGE FLOWS UNDER THE BORDER WALL AND WITH THE GATE NOW FULLY OPEN THE FLOWS ARE EASIER TO MANAGE.

THERE IS A TRICKLE OF WATER COMING THROUGH ON THIS DAY BUT IT'S HARDLY AN ISSUE .

>> THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD WORRY ABOUT.

>>> THE PROGRESS BY THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY OF WATER COMMISSION HAS BEEN NOTICED AND IS WELCOMED.

>> I'M VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT I CALL THE MICRO FIXES.

MICRO FIXES THAT CAN STOP FLOWS THAT RESULT IN CLOSURES .

>> THE MAYOR OF IMPERIAL BEACH SAYS STOPPING THE FLOW OF SEWAGE THROUGH THE TIJUANA ESTUARY HELPS BUT THOSE MICRO FIXES DO NOT SOLVE THE BORDER POLLUTION PROBLEM.

HIS CITY'S BEACHES HAVE BEEN POLLUTED FOR MUCH OF THE SUMMER BECAUSE OF A BROKEN MEXICAN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT .

>> 30 TO 50 MILLION GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE ON THE BEACH EVERY DAY FOR A HALF TO SIX MILES SOUTH OF THE BORDER AND IT COMES UP TO IMPERIAL BEACH AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS .

>> THAT'S ONE REASON THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS PUSHING FOR CONFERENCE OF SOLUTION WHICH INCLUDES PROJECTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER AND OFFICIALS HOPE TO CAPTURE AND TREAT THE FLOWS THAT CROSS THE BORDER ON LAND AND BUILD A TREATMENT PLAN THAT WORKS SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

BUT IT WILL STILL BE A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE ANY MAJOR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS START TO BE BUILT .

>> IT'S NOT FAST ENOUGH THAT IT IS A PRIORITY.

>> THE VICE CHAIR OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE FIX IS COMING FOR COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LONG ENDURED THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND SHE SAYS FOCUSING ON POLLUTION POSTINGS DURING THE DRY SUMMER MONTHS SHOULD NOT BECOME A DISTRACTION.

>> LET'S NOT MAKE IT ABOUT BUSINESSES OR COMMUNITY.

LET'S MAKE IT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, SAFE AND HEALTHY SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF OUR BEACHES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IN THE SOUTH BAY.

>> THE HELP IS WITH ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT THEY WILL KEEP SEWAGE TAINTED FLOWS OUT OF THE RIVER VALLEY WHICH WILL IN TURN KEEP THE SEWAGE TAINTED FLOWS OUT OF THE OCEAN.

>>> A REMINDER, ALL OF OUR CONTENT CAN BE FOUND AT THE KPBS UT PAGE IN ADDITION TO REPORTER STORIES YOU CAN LIVE STREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00 .

>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.