♪ >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> COMING UP, PROBIOTICS FOR PLANTS, SEE SOME OF THE WORK FROM A NEWLY LAUNCHED SOIL HEALTH CENTER AND WHAT IT'S TEACHING LOCAL SCIENTISTS ABOUT THIS CRITICAL PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

>>> END OF LIFE DECISIONS, KPBS HAS GIVEN A RARE LOOK AT ONE PERSON'S INTIMATE CHOICE MADE POSSIBLE BY CALIFORNIA'S MEDICAL AID IN DYING LAW.

>>> AND HELPING THOSE WHO ARE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED, A LOCAL LAW SCHOOL REVIVES ITS INNOCENCE AND JUSTICE CLINIC.

>>> WE START IN SAN DIEGO'S RURAL EAST COUNTY, THE WIDE OPEN LANDSCAPE HAS BECOME THE EPICENTER FOR LARGE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS IN THE REGION AND THAT INCLUDES SOLAR, WIND, AND LITHIUM BATTERY STORAGE, BUT KPBS EAST COUNTY REPORTER ELAINE ALFARO SAYS RESIDENTS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL SITES.

>> Reporter: LIKE MUCH OF EAST COUNTY, THE COMMUNITY OF BOULEVARD IS HOME TO RUGGED LANDSCAPES, RICH CULTURAL HISTORY, AND DIVERSE WILDLIFE.

THE UNINTERRUPTED NATURE IS PART OF WHY YVONNE AND ABRAHAM MENA MOVED TO BOULEVARD IN THEIR RETIREMENT.

HERE'S YVONNE.

>> THIS IS WHAT REALLY SOLD US TO THIS PROPERTY.

WE WALKED UP AND CAME THROUGH HERE AND I'LL SHOW YOU.

COME ON AND YOU'LL SEE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> Reporter: BUT ABRAHAM MENA WORRIES THE NATURAL SPACE NEAR THEIR PROPERTY COULD SOON BE ERASED BY A PROPOSED SOLAR PROJECT.

>> IT'S GOING TO AFFECT REALLY THE LIFE OF THE HUMANS THAT LIVE HERE AND THE ANIMALS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT IS ALIVE, THE BUSHES, THE WHOLE THING, THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM.

IT'S TOTALLY GOING TO CHANGE.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT IS CALLED STARLIGHT SOLAR AND COULD SPAN NEARLY 600 ACRES.

IT WOULD BE JUST THE LATEST IN A LONG LIST OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED EAST COUNTY IN THE LAST TWO DECADES.

THESE PROJECT ARE HELPING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUILD TOWARD THEIR ZERO CARBON EMISSION GOALS IN THE COMING YEARS.

THESE TARGETS AIM TO REDUCE THE HARMFUL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, BUT THOSE EFFORTS ARE RUNNING UP AGAINST COMPLEX REALITIES ON THE GROUND AND PUSHBACK FROM RESIDENTS AND TRIBAL LEADERS.

JOHN BATHKE IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN STUDIES AT SAN DIEGO COLLEGE.

HE CHARACTERIZED THE TREND IN EAST COUNTY AS GREEN COLONIALISM.

>> GREEN COLONIZATION IN THE NAME OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND BEING FRIENDLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF, YOU KNOW, DESTROYING IN PART THE ENVIRONMENT AND DESTROYING NATIVE CULTURAL RESOURCES.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO'S REGION IS HOME TO 19 NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES AND 18 RESERVATIONS, INCLUDING THE MANZANITA BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION.

MANZANITA CHAIRWOMAN ELLIOTT SANTOS SAYS THERE'S A COMPLICATED HISTORY OF COLONIALISM IN SAN DIEGO.

OVER A CENTURY AGO EAST COUNTY BECAME A SAFE HAVEN FOR HER TRIBE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN OUR LAND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE USED IT FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS AGO IS A PLACE TO -- A FAMILIAR PLACE TO GO TO INSTEAD OF BEING MISSIONIZED, INSTEAD OF BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO AND TAKEN OVER COMPLETELY.

>> Reporter: ELLIOTT SANTOS SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY, BUT SHE WORRIES ABOUT HOW THE EAST COUNTY LANDSCAPE AROUND THE RESERVATION HAS CHANGED.

>> IT IS VERY SAD WHEN YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THESE PROJECT COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH MUCH LESS IMPACT.

>> Reporter: BUT THE LAND USE CONSULTANT WORKING ON STARLIGHT SOLAR ARGUES THIS PROJECT IS DIFFERENT FROM PAST EAST COUNTY PROJECTS.

>> BECAUSE WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH SOME PROJECTS.

>> Reporter: THAT'S JIM WHALEN.

HE EMPHASIZED THE PROPERTY OWNER ADVANCING THE PROJECT HAS OWNED THE LAND IN BOULEVARD FOR DECADES.

WHALEN SAID THE PROPOSAL WILL PRESERVE OVER 400 ACRES OF THE NATURAL LAND AND ALL OF THE INDIGENOUS CULTURAL SITES IN THE PROJECT, BUT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE WARY, IN PART BECAUSE OF A SEPARATE, SIMILARLY-SIZED SOLAR PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION NEARBY THAT ALSO FACED PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

SITA STARK WORKS IN HACUMBA AND LIVES IN BOULEVARD.

SHE REMEMBERS THE DAY THE PROJECT BROKE GROUND.

>> IT FELT LIKE GETTING RUN OVER FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE THERE'S NO -- LIKE I HAVEN'T CONSENTED TO THIS.

>> Reporter: THE HACUMBA COMMUNITY SECURED A $4 MILLION BENEFIT FUND FROM THE DEVELOPER.

LAST FALL THE BOULEVARD COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP APPROVED THE PROPOSED STARLIGHT SOLAR PROJECT WITH SOME STRINGS ATTACHED.

THE GROUP IS ASKING FOR A $7 MILLION COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND ALONG WITH OTHER COMMITMENTS.

WHALEN SAID THE BOULEVARD PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE INVESTED IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN YEARS PAST.

FOR STARLIGHT HE SAYS THEY WILL PAY TO REFURBISH THE LOCAL RESOURCE CENTER AND ARE OPEN TO INCREASE SETBACKS FOR THE PROJECT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T AGREED TO A BENEFIT FUND.

>> WE'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ASKED FOR.

>> Reporter: STILL SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT TO SEE STRONGER PROTECTIONS AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, SUCH AS WATER CONTAMINATION AND FIRE HAZARDS.

IN AN EMAIL A COUNTY SPOKESPERSON SAID, "A UTILITY SCALE ENERGY PROJECT'S IMPACTS UNDERGO A LENGTHY PUBLIC PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE.

THE COUNTY'S ROLE IS TO EVALUATE WHETHER A PROJECT IS APPROPRIATE FOR A PARTICULAR SITE AND WHETHER ITS IMPACTS CAN BE AVOIDED, REDUCED, OR MITIGATED TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL UNDER STATE LAW."

THE SPOKESPERSON SAID IT'S POSSIBLE THE PROJECT MAY GO TO THE COUNTY'S PLANNING COMMISSION IN EARLY MAY.

ELAINE ALFARO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HAVE ANOTHER FEATURE STORY FOCUSED ON OUR ENVIRONMENT, PROBIOTICS OR GOOD BACTERIA ARE OFTEN USED TO REBALANCE THE HUMAN GUT MICROBIO.

NEW RESEARCH AT THE SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY IS FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING A PROBIOTIC FOR PLANTS.

TAMMY MURGA SAYS IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECT OUT OF ITS NEWLY LAUNCHED SOIL HEALTH CENTER.

>> TAKE A MEASUREMENT.

WE'RE AT 18.2 CENTIMETERS.

>> Reporter: KRISTEN BARBER IS A RESEARCHER AT UC SAN DIEGO.

SHE'S KEEPING TRACK OF HOW TALL TWO LETTUCE GROUPS GROW AND HOW MANY LEAVES THEY SPROUT.

ONE IS THE CONTROL GROUP.

THE OTHER HAS RECEIVED A FEW DROPS OF A MIXTURE OF BACTERIA AND FUNGI.

IT'S A PROBIOTIC FOR PLANTS.

>> LEMONADE.

>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS PREDICT THE BLEND THEY'RE DEVELOPING WILL GIVE PLANTS THE MICROBES THEY NEED TO GROW HEALTHIER AND STRONGER.

IF IT WORKS, THEY HOPE TO HELP FARMERS RELY LESS ON CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PRO SERVE MICROBIOMES IN SOIL.

IT'S LIKE REPLACING HUMAN SUPPLEMENTS WITH WHOLE FOODS LIKE YOGURT OR FERMENTED VEGETABLES.

>> WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WITH THIS EXPERIMENT IS THE ORDER OF THE ADDITION OF THE BACTERIA AND FUNGI AND WHEN THE PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING EFFECT IS MOST EFFECTIVE.

>> Reporter: SARAH ALLARD DIRECTS UC SAN DIEGO'S NEW SOIL HEALTH CENTER AT DESCRIPTION INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY.

SHE SAYS ADDING MICROBES TO SOIL HASN'T BEEN STUDIED ENOUGH.

ONE OF THEIR FLAGSHIP PROJECTS IS DEVELOPING WITH A SOIL PROBIOTIC.

SHE'S TESTING IT HERE AT COASTAL ROOTS FARM IN ENCINITAS.

>> REALLY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THAT PLANT MICROBE INTERACTION AND HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY BOOST THE MICROBES OR EVEN ADD ADDITIONAL MICROBES THAT CAN POINT THE PLANTS IN A DIRECTION THAT IS BENEFICIAL FOR FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

>> Reporter: SCIENTISTS ARE STILL TRYING TO FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS AFFECTS PLANT GROWTH.

WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT MICROBES ARE THESE TEENY, TINY ORGANISMS THAT SUPPORT PLANTS IN MANY WAYS.

THEY CAN INFLUENCE WHICH NUTRIENTS PLANTS CAN TAKE FROM THE SOIL AND EVEN HELP THEM RESIST STRESS LIKE A DROUGHT, BUT IF YOU'RE A FARMER, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH AND HOW MANY OF THESE MICROSCOPIC ORGANISMS ARE BEST FOR YOUR CROPS?

>> WE FEED THE SOIL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IN A TABLESPOON -- THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT FIGURES OUT THERE -- BUT 50 BILLION MICROBES, MANY GOOD, MANY BAD, MANY NONEXISTENT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE OTHER ONE TO WORK WITH.

I CAN'T TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THAT OTHER THAN WATCHING THE FIELDS, SMELLING THE SOIL, AND TASTING THE FOOD.

>> Reporter: ADAM McCURTY IS A FARMER AT COASTAL ROOTS FARMS IN ENCINITAS AND USING REGENERATIVE PRACTICES LIKE CROPPING AND LIMITED TILLING, BUT BARBER WITH UCSD SAYS SOIL MICROBES ALSO NEED TO BE RESTORED.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO ADD ON THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF REGENERATION THAT THEY HAVEN'T NECESSARILY FOCUSED ON AND THAT THEY CAN'T FOCUS ON BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THE NUMBER OF MICROORGANISMS IN THE SOIL OR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BRING IN THAT MICROSCOPE.

>> Reporter: ALLARD SAID THIS APPROACH MAKES THE SOIL HEALTH CENTER UNIQUE.

EXPERIMENTS AT THE FARM COMPARE HOW CROPS GROW WITH PROBIOTICS.

FARMERS GIVE FEEDBACK AND SCIENTISTS FINE TUNE THEIR APPROACH.

>> THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE FARMER NEED.

THEY'RE GOING TO ADD A NEW PRODUCT TO THE FIELD, THEY NEED TO KNOW IT'S GOING TO WORK EFFECTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY AND NOT DISRUPTION OPERATIONS.

>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS ARE PERFECTING THEIR PROBIOTIC FORMULA AND LEARNING WHEN THE APPLICATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> RIGHT NOW WE CAN APPLY IT IN LIQUID FORM, BUT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE MORE STABLE MIGHT BE A DRIED POWDER.

>> Reporter: ALLARD SAYS THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO HUMAN HEALTH IN THE PLANET WHEN SOIL HEALTH IS IMPROVED.

FOR ONE, THE STRONGER THE ROOT IS, THE MORE PLANET WARMING CARBON CAN BE STORED IN THE SOIL.

>> IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR OUR FOOD SECURITY, FOR OUR RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE TO HAVE REALLY ROBUST SOILS THAT CAN BE RESILIENT ACROSS ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE.

>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS SAY THEY'RE INTERVIEWING MORE FARMERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TOGETHER THEY CAN SUPPORT HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTION.

TAMMY MURGA, KPBS NEWS.

>> TAMMY MURGA COVERS THE ENVIRONMENT FOR KPBS.

RECENTLY SHE TALKED WITH SAN DIEGO NEWS NOW HOST LAWRENCE K. JACKSON ABOUT HER SERIES ON CROSS-BORDER WILDLIFE AFFECTED BY THE BORDER WALL AVAILABLE ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE STAGE AND ALL OF TAMMY'S STORIES CAN BE FOUND AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> THE NAVY SAYS IT'S INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS SAN DIEGO NAVY RESERVE OFFICER VIOLATED RULES IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER ANDREW DYER SAID HIS WEBSITE CHANGED MONDAY AFTER KPBS STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.

>> Reporter: UNTIL MONDAY THE CAMPAIGN WEBSITE DESCRIBED HIM AS A "U.S.

NAVY OFFICER."

HIS RESERVE STATUS WAS ONLY NOTED IN A SMALL BLURB TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

EMAILS OBTAINED BY KPBS SHOW HIS OFFICIAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT ALSO DESCRIBED HIM AS A NAVY OFFICER.

THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS REQUESTED IT BE UPDATED TO SAY NAVY RESERVE OFFICER IS OF A RIVAL CAMPAIGN COMPLAINT.

PENTAGON RULES SAY RESERVISTS RUNNING FOR OFFICE MUST CLEARLY STATE THEY'RE IN THE RESERVES IN CAMPAIGN MATERIALS.

MARK WALL SPENT TEN YEARS IN THE NAVY AS AN OFFICER, TWO OF THOSE IN THE RESERVES.

>> THERE'S A REASON WHY I SAY I DID ALMOST TEN YEARS AND THE LAST TWO WAS AS A RESERVIST, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THERE IS THAT LINE OF DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE SIDE.

>> Reporter: HE'S STUDYING CIVILIAN MILITARY RELATIONS AS PART OF A MASTERS PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.

HE SAYS HE CAME ACROSS CAMPONOJARO'S CAMPAIGN WHILE RESEARCHING VETERAN CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE.

>> HIS PAGE, CAMPAIGN, EVERYTHING KIND OF MAKES IT SOUND HE WAS ACTIVE DUTY NAVY WHEN THE REALITY WAS AS FAR FROM IT AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE WEBSITE IS AN EXAMPLE WHAT NOT TO DO.

>> JUST DON'T MISREPRESENT YOUR SERVICE.

CALL IT AS IT IS.

IF YOU'RE A RESERVIST, CALL IT AS IT IS.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT CAMPOJARO SAID THE NAVY HASN'T REQUESTED CHANGES.

BRIAN VAN RIPERT IS A VETERAN AND CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT AND WORKED ON SEVERAL CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING FOR PRESIDENTS BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN.

>> IF YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I WOULD ADVISE PERSONS TO BE ULTRA CAREFUL, ULTRA CONSERVATIVE IN HOW THEY DESCRIBE THINGS.

>> Reporter: PREREPORTING IDENTIFIED PHOTOS ON THE CAMPAIGN SITE COULD ALSO RUN AFOUL OF PENTAGON RULES ABOUT USING UNIFORM PHOTOS.

PHOTOS SHOWS HIS PREVIOUS RANK AND NAVY RECORDS SHOWS HIM REPORTED TO LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

PRIOR TO 2023 HE RAN FOR CONGRESS TWICE, ONCE FOR MAYOR OF CHULA VISTA AND IS RUNNING AGAIN FOR CONGRESS.

MONDAY THE CAMPONAJARO CAMPAIGN ADDED LANGUAGE TO ITS WEBSITE MAKING HIS RESERVE STATUS MORE PROMINENT AFTER KPBS CONTACTED THEM FOR CONTACT.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>> SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES.

>>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISORS VOTE TO RENAME CESAR CHAVEZ DAY.

THIS YEAR'S I.C.E.

OPERATION ERODED TRUST AND HURT THE LOCAL ECONOMY ACCORDING TO RESEARCH FROM UC SAN DIEGO.

AND PAID I.C.E.

AGENTS ARRIVE AT AIRPORTS.

>>> LATE LAST YEAR CALIFORNIA MADE MEDICAL AID IN DYING PERMANENT.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI DE MARCO SAYS ONE LOCAL LEADER IS PROPOSING CHANGES TO PROTECT END OF LIFE DECISIONS AND A WARNING, THIS STORY DISCUSSES INTIMATE DETAILS OF DEATH.

♪ >> Reporter: HOURS BEFORE HER DEATH, THERESA MARGARET MARY KELLY IS SURROUNDED BY LOVED ONES SINGING, LAUGHING, AND CELEBRATING A CHOICE SHE SAYS MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THEY HAVE.

♪ >> I HAVE STAGE 4 CLEAR CELL CARCINOMA, BUT PRIOR TO THAT I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FRONTAL TEMPORAL DEMENTIA.

>> Reporter: KELLY IS 69.

SHE SPENT YEARS SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS.

>> WE WOULD DRAG TO AND FROM THIS HOSPITAL TO THAT HOSPITAL.

>> Reporter: BUT EVEN IN HER LAST DAYS KELLY IS IN GOOD SPIRITS.

SHE'S FUNNY, SHARP, AND QUICK TO JOKE.

>> YOU MISSED THE PARTY.

THE DRINKS ARE ALL GONE.

>> PARTY'S WHEREVER YOU ARE.

>> Reporter: CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF 13 STATES WHERE A TERMINALLY ILL PATIENT WITH LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE CAN REQUEST MEDICATION TO END THEIR LIFE.

IT'S CALLED THE END OF LIFE OPTION ACT, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS MADE IT PERMANENT IN OCTOBER.

>> SO FROM THE TIME I HAD THE DIAGNOSIS OF FRONTAL TEMPORAL DEMENTIA, I STARTED THINKING ABOUT AID IN DYING.

>> Reporter: AS HER CONDITION WORSENED, KELLY PHYSICALLY STRUGGLED AT TIMES TO EXPLAIN WHY SHE WAS READY.

>> SO WELL, FOR ONE THING, THIS, OKAY?

THIS IS A BIG PART OF WHY I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS FOR 10, 11 YEARS.

>> Reporter: YEARS OF TESTS LEFT HER EXHAUSTED AND CERTAIN ABOUT WHAT SHE DIDN'T WANT.

>> SO IT WAS A MAYBE WITH THE FTD, BUT WITH THE CANCER IT WAS I'M DONE.

>> Reporter: KELLY IS ONE OF A SMALL BUT GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE CHOOSING MEDICAL AID IN DYING IN THE STATE.

IN 2024 JUST OVER 1,000 PEOPLE MADE THE SAME DECISION SHE IS, BUT THAT'S STILL A TINY FRACTION OF TOTAL DEATHS THAT YEAR.

KELLY WORKED WITH DR.

DOUGLAS MOORE TO PLAN HER END OF LIFE CARE.

>> THE BIGGEST ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE THIS OPTION.

>> Reporter: WITHOUT KNOWING THEIR OPTIONS, SOME PATIENTS SPEND THEIR LAST MONTHS IN PAIN UNDERGOING PROLONGED CARE AND RACKING UP MEDICAL BILLS.

>> THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS COSTS.

>> Reporter: IN THE U.S.

CARE IN THE FINAL YEAR OF LIFE AVERAGES $80,000.

PATIENTS ARE OFTEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OUT OF POCKET.

MEDICAL AID IN DYING CAN BE COSTLY, TOO, RANGING FROM 3 TO $5,000 BETWEEN DOCTOR VISITS AND THE MEDICATION AND IT ISN'T COVERED BY INSURANCE.

MOORE SAYS FOR MANY THE DECISION IS ABOUT CONTROL.

>> THEY'RE REALLY CHOOSING IT OUT OF A SENSE OF WANTING AGENCY OVER THEIR LIFE AND WANTING CONTROL AND WANTING TO REALLY CHOOSE HOW THEY EXIT THIS WORLD.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS A LACK OF AWARENESS MAY BE WHY MOST PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE AID IN DYING ARE WHITE.

IN 2024 ONLY ABOUT 5 TO 6% OF PATIENTS WERE ASIAN OR HISPANIC.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, THE AWARENESS THAT THIS EXISTS AND THE COMFORT IT CAN PROVIDE.

>> Reporter: NOW A SAN DIEGO LAWMAKER INTRODUCED A NEW STATE BILL THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN HOW PATIENTS' END-OF-LIFE WISHES ARE DOCUMENTED.

IT MODERNIZES KEY FORMS LIKE ADVANCED DIRECTIVES AND DO NOT RESUSCITATE ORDERS, SO THEY'RE CLEAR AND RECOGNIZED ACROSS HEALTH SYSTEMS IN EMERGENCIES OR ACROSS STATE LINES.

♪ >> Reporter: KELLY SAYS SHE WANTS HER STORY TO HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND THEIR CHOICES.

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A TERRIFYING, SCARY THING.

>> Reporter: SHE CHOSE TO TAKE HER LIFE ON FEBRUARY 20th.

>> INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, SO I SORT OF WANT TO LIKE GIVE ME HEART TO THAT AS I LEAVE THE PLANET.

>> DID YOU CALL HIM HONEY?

>> YES, SHE DID.

>> Reporter: DR.

MOORE WALKS HER TO HER BEDROOM FILLED WITH FLOWERS AND FLICKERING CANDLES.

>> TAKE IT AWAY AND DR.

MOORE WILL HAND YOU THE DRINK.

♪ >> Reporter: FRIENDS SHARE STORIES, HOLD HER HAND, AND CELEBRATE HER LIFE AS SHE DRIFTS OFF TO SLEEP.

MOORE SAYS KELLY'S STORY SHOWS WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND PLAN AHEAD.

HEIDI DE MARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>> EXCELLENT REPORTING THERE BY HEIDI DE MARCO.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP, CONTACT THE 988 SUICIDE CRISIS LIFELINE BY CALLING OR TEXTING THE NUMBER 988.

>>> CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW IS RELAUNCHING ITS INNOCENCE AND JUSTICE CLINIC.

KATIE HYSON LOOKED INTO WHAT THEIR WORK MEANS.

>> Reporter: MIGUEL SOLORIO SPENT 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A MURDER HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

>> THE FEELING BEING IN THERE?

IT'S LIKE BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN, RIGHT?

AND YOU'RE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT A PLANE OR A BOAT, A SUBMARINE OR SOMETHING PASSES BY TO RESCUE YOU FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN AND BRING YOU TO SAFETY.

>> Reporter: FOR SOLORIO THAT BOAT WAS AN INNOCENCE PROJECT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THEY HELPED EXONERATE HIM IN 2023.

HE CAME TO THE CALIFORNIA WESTERN INNOCENCE AND JUSTICE CLINIC RELAUNCH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

AFTER A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP THERE WAS A PUBLIC MISPERCEPTION THAT THE CLINIC HAD CLOSED.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A SUPERVISING ATTORNEY FOR THE CLINIC, LINDSEY MERCER.

SHE SAYS THEY RELAUNCHED IN PART -- >> JUST SAY NO, WE DIDN'T CLOSE.

WE'RE HERE.

WE ARE CONTINUING THE WORK AND THE LEGACY OF THIS CLINIC.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE CLINIC'S NEEDED BECAUSE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS RUN BY HUMANS AND THERE'S A BIG FUNDAMENTAL FLAW.

>> YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY.

OFTEN IN A SYSTEM YOU'RE GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.

>> Reporter: CLINIC LEADERS SAY THEY RECEIVED MORE THAN 1,100 PIECES OF MAIL LAST YEAR ASKING FOR HELP.

THEIR WAIT LIST IS ABOUT 200 PEOPLE LONG.

THE VAST MAJORITY ARE BLACK OR LATINO, USUALLY FROM LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE CLINIC RELIES ON DONATIONS AND STUDENTS LIKE BATES GRAY AND WONG.

>> WE JOKE ABOUT IN THE LAW MOVIES WHERE THERE'S THAT TWO- MINUTE MONTAGE WHERE THEY'RE READING CHILD TRANSCRIPTS AND DISCOVERY AND IT'S THE BIG COURTROOM SCENE.

THAT TWO-MINUTE MONTAGE IS WHAT WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME DOING, BUT IT REALLY IS.

IT'S SO FUN AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WORK BECAUSE YOU GET SO INVESTED IN THE CASES AND YOU'RE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT THAT YOU JUST KIND OF DON'T WANT TO STOP.

>> Reporter: BOTH PLAN TO BE PUBLIC DEFENDERS AFTER THEY GRADUATE.

THAT PIPELINE IS A KEY PART OF THE CLINIC'S MISSION.

WHETHER THEIR STUDENTS END UP AS DEFENDERS OR PROSECUTORS OR JUDGES, THEY'LL BRING WITH THEM AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LIGHTNING OF INJUSTICE CAN STRIKE ANYONE.

KATIE HYSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY WEEKEND IN THE GAS LAMP.

THE SAN DIEGO PADRES ARE HOSTING THEIR OPENING SERIES.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN HAS SPENT THE WEEK COVERING THE START OF A NEW BASEBALL SEASON FROM WHAT'S NEW AT PETCO PARK TO THE RETURN OF SPECIAL EVENT PARKING PRICES.

HERE ARE THOSE STORIES.

>> Reporter: THE PADRES ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET TO SHOW OFF THE DIAMOND ROOM.

IT'S A '70s-THEMED COCKTAIL LOUNGE AND SPEAKEASY.

PADRES GREAT TREVOR HOFFMAN WAS THERE TESTING OUT ONE OF THE DRINKS.

>> THAT'S NICE, VERY SMOOTH.

>> Reporter: PADRES SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SPECIAL EVENTS JACQUELINE LASH SAYS THE LOUNGE ACTS AS AN EXTENSION TO THE PARK FOR PEOPLE TO HANG OUT BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAME.

>> IT'S APPROACHABLE, BUT IT'S UPSCALE, SO GREAT DRINKS, GREAT FOOD WHETHER YOU WANT PIZZA OR A DIAMOND DOG, A REALLY BOMB HAMBURGER.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

>> Reporter: BUT THAT'S NOT ALL FANS CAN EXPECT.

INSIDE THE PARK THE PADRES ADDED TWO NEW VIDEO BOARDS TO THE FIRST AND THIRD BASE TOWERS.

THEY WILL DISPLAY REALTIME PITCHERS' STATISTICS.

THE PADRES CEO SAYS IT'S TO ENHANCE FANS' EXPERIENCE.

>> THEY CAN LOOK UP THERE AND SEE VERTICAL BREAK, HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT, SPEED AND REALLY SEE ANOTHER LEVEL OF DATA THAT HISTORICALLY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE WITHIN THE BALLPARK ITSELF.

>> Reporter: EVERYTHING THE PADRES ARE DOING THIS SEASON IS ALL ABOUT FAN SERVICE.

LOOK AT ALL THESE GIVEAWAYS, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

LOOK AT ALL THESE FOOD OPTIONS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOCALITY.

THEY'RE BRINGING THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTO THE PARK.

>> WE'RE DOING SOME FUN SANDWICHES ON FRESH BAKED FOCACCIA BREAD.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR THE FANS AND THAT INCLUDES THE VARIOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE NIGHTS.

>> WE LEARN WHEN WE DO DIFFERENT CULTURAL HERITAGE NIGHTS HOW WELL RECEIVED THEY ARE AND WE DID VIETNAMESE HERITAGE NIGHT PREVIOUSLY AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY WELL RECEIVED AND IT'S REALLY NEAT TO SEE THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY ALL THE WAY UP INTO ORANGE COUNTY RALLY AROUND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER AND BE HONORED HERE AT THE BALLPARK.

>> Reporter: THE PADRES SEASON OPENER IS THIS THURSDAY AGAINST THE DETROIT TIGERS.

THE FIRST PITCH IS AT 1:10.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> PARKING DOWNTOWN HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED SPOTS.

>> THEY OBVIOUSLY NEED TO MAKE MORE PARKING FOR PEOPLE GOING TO THE GAMES.

>> Reporter: AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SNAG A SPOT ON THE STREETS, BE PREPARED TO PAY MORE.

>> NOT TOO HAPPY WITH THE PARKING FEES, INCREASED PARKING FEES.

>> Reporter: LASTS FALL THE CITY QUADRUPLED THE METER RATE FROM 2.50 AN HOUR TO $10 AN HOUR DURING SPECIAL EVENTS WITHIN A HALF MILE OF PETCO PARK AND THE ENFORCEMENT PERIOD WAS EXTENDED TILL 10:00 P.M.

MARK BARTLETT SAID THE HIGH COST IS MAKING HIM THINK ABOUT TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT TO CATCH THE GAME WITH HIS FAMILY.

>> WE WOULD ALWAYS PARK ON THE STREETS AND, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY DURING A CUTOFF TIME IT WAS AT 5 OR 6:00 P.M.

ON A GAME NIGHT BECAUSE YOU WOULD GET AWAY WITH FREE PARKING, BUT NOW I MEAN I KNOW THEY'RE PUSHING IT BACK SPECIFICALLY DURING PADRES GAMES.

IT'S GOING TO DETER US FROM DOING THAT NOW.

>> Reporter: THE INCREASED FEES IS ALSO AFFECTING BUSINESSES AROUND THE BALLPARK, ESPECIALLY THE RESTAURANTS AND BARS.

>> IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT ON US COMING THIS SEASON.

>> Reporter: ERIC OCHOA IS THE ASSISTANT MANAGER AT THE CANTINA.

SHE SAID PEOPLE DON'T STAY AS LONG.

>> PEOPLE ARE MORE WILLING TO STAY AFTER HAPPY HOUR INTO DINNER BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY MORE PARKING ANYWAYS, BUT NOW I FEEL PEOPLE AREN'T STAYING LATER INTO THE NIGHT FOR DINNER.

>> Reporter: BEFORE THE FEES WENT INTO EFFECT, THE CITY MADE ABOUT $2,100 PER GAME.

AFTER THE FEES IT WAS $23,000.

THE CITY SAYS ONCE IT RAISED THE RATE LAST YEAR, IT MADE ABOUT $300,000 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PADRES SEASON.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST FULL SEASON UNDER THE NEW RATE.

>> I THINK THAT'S GREAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT THE RIGHT WAY.

>> Reporter: CRISTIANO SAYS THE BEST WAY TO AVOID PAYING THE FEE IS -- >> JUST COMMUTE.

USE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FROM THE MANY TROLLEY STOPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> Reporter: BUT BARTLETT SAID IT'S NOT AS EASY FOR HIM TO TAKE HIS FAMILY ON THE TROLLEY.

>> I'M STILL GOING TO PAY THE OUTRAGEOUS PARKING FEES DOWNTOWN, WHETHER IT'S A PARKING GARAGE OR STALL.

>> Reporter: ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US!

♪