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

I'M JOHN CARROLL.

FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS COULD JEOPARDIZE A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT PAIRS SERVICE DOGS WITH MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS SUFFERING FROM PTSD.

>>> PLUS, UNCOVERING LONG BURIED SECRETS.

HOW AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEAM IS HELPING IDENTIFY GRAVES IN NORTH COUNTY.

>>> AND READY OR NOT, DRIVERLESS CARS WILL SOON BE TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS AROUND SAN DIEGO.

>>> WE BEGIN WITH OUR TOP STORY, THE FIRST ATMOSPHERIC STORM OF THE SEASON IS ARRIVING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

KPBS REPORTER ALEXANDER NGUYEN SHOWS US HOW THE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PREPARED.

>> Reporter: THE SHOVELS ARE OUT.

THE SANDBAGS PREPPED.

AND THE SIGNS PACKED AND READY.

>> TEAMS ARE READY, THEY'RE PREPARED.

>> Reporter: WITH THE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SHE SAYS THE CREW HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO CLEAR STORM DRAINS AND INLETS IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS STORM.

>> WE CONDUCT TREE TRIMMINGS AS WELL AS KEEPING THE ROADS CLEAR OF DEBRIS.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING 10 TO 12 HOUR DAYS PREPPING FOR THIS STORM, INCLUDING PUTTING ROLLS AND SANDBAGS ALONG STREETS PRONE TO FLOODING.

THE COUNTY IS KEEPING AN EYE ON RECENTLY BURNT AREAS.

THE CONCERN FOR RECENTLY BURNT AREAS LIKE THIS ONE IS THAT HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE DEBRIS FLOWS AND DAMAGE HOMES.

>> IT OVERFLOWED INTO MY GARAGE AREA AND DOWN MY DRIVEWAY.

IT WAS JUST MOSTLY MUD.

>> Reporter: JOE HAS LIVED IN SPRING VALLEY FOR 32 YEARS, AND THAT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE.

>> BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY RAIN.

>> Reporter: HE LIVES NEXT TO THIS WILDLIFE REFUGE, IN SEPTEMBER, A LARGE FIRE BURNED UP TO HIS FENCE LINE.

HE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE STORM.

>> WE'VE HAD FIRES BURN BACK THIS FAR NUMEROUS TIMES.

I WOULD SAY AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES WITH FLOODING AFTER THE FIRES LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: IN SOME AREAS, FLASH FLOODING IS A CONCERN.

SEVERAL FIRE STATIONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS ARE PROVIDING FREE SANDBAGS.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN U.S.

HISTORY ENDED THIS WEEK.

KPBS PUBLIC MATTERS REPORTER JAKE SPOKE WITH SAN DIEGO CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THE DEAL.

>> Reporter: MIKE ELEVEN WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE DEAL TO END THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT DID NOT EXTEND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TAX CREDITS.

>> THE REPUBLICANS TURNED DOWN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A REASONABLE, GOOD FAITH OFFER OF A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE ACA CREDITS, AND THEN EIGHT DEMOCRATIC SENATORS DECIDED TO UNDERCUT THE WEEKS AND WEEKS OF FIGHTING TO BASICALLY GIVE THE REPUBLICANS EVERYTHING THEY WANTED.

>> Reporter: EXTENDED THE TAX CREDITS WAS A TOP PRIORITY FOR CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS.

WITHOUT THEM, OBAMACARE ENROLLEES WILL SEE HUGE BILL INCREASES NEXT YEAR.

>> I'VE SPOKEN WITH SO MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE ANGRY AND CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

>> Reporter: THE DEAL THAT PASSED IN THE SENATE DID INCLUDE A YEAR OF FUNDING FOR SNAP, THE FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOUGHT TO PAUSE THE DURING THE SHUTDOWN.

SCOTT PETER IS GLAD THAT FAMILIES WON'T GO HUNGRY.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE ON FOOD ASSISTANCE POTENTIALLY GOING TO FACE SEVERE HUNGER ISSUES.

SO WE AVOIDED THAT, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

>> Reporter: BOTH SAID THE FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE IS FAR FROM OVER, AND REPUBLICANS CAN'T AVOID SCRUTINY FOR VERY LONG.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO IN JANUARY ARE GOING TO SEE NOT JUST LETTERS TELLING THEM THAT THEIR BILLS ARE GOING UP, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE BILLS WITH ASTOUNDINGLY HIGHER PRICES FOR THE HEALTHCARE BILLS.

>> THE REPUBLICAN PLAN, TO THE EXTENT I'VE SEEN ONE, IS PUT EVERYONE IN HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLANS, JUNK PLAN, AND HAVE HUGE OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS.

THAT REALLY ISN'T A SOLUTION.

IT'S A SOLUTION FOR THE HEALTHCARE COMPANIES, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON GETS A HUGE BILL.

>> Reporter: SENATE REPUBLICANS AGREED TO HOLD A VOTE ON EXTENDING THE TAX CREDITS NEXT MONTH IN EXCHANGE FOR CONCESSIONS LIKE TOUGHER ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.

JAKE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> DISRUPTIONS IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK OFFICE ARE HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT ON SAN DIEGO'S ECONOMY.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER ANDREW DYER HAS THE FINDINGS OF A REPORT OUT THIS WEEK.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR'S MILITARY ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT WAS DELAYED MORE THAN A MONTH BECAUSE RESEARCHERS AT UC SAN DIEGO HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING DATA OUT OF THE PENTAGON.

DAVID BOONE IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO MILITARY ADVISORY COUNCIL, A NONPROFIT THAT PUBLISHES THE ANNUAL REPORT.

>> PRODUCING THE REPORT THIS YEAR WAS, I'LL SAY, DIFFICULT.

DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE NORMALLY GET THE DATA FROM DEPARTMENT DEFENSE IN MARCH, APRIL.

WE DIDN'T GET IT UNTIL AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.

>> Reporter: GRADY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR MICHAEL MEYER HEADS THE STUDY.

IT'S PRODUCED BY COMPILING THE LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF DATA FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

EVERYTHING FROM WHAT THE GOVERNMENT BUYS TO THE MILITARY, CIVILIAN, AND CONTRACTORS IT PAYS.

>> WE RELY ON A LARGE COLLECTION OF DATA THROUGH LARGELY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES, AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE PAST YEAR, SPECIFICALLY THE REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, HAS MADE THAT DATA EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO COLATE.

>> Reporter: WHAT THAT DATA SHOWED WAS A RETRACTION IN SAN DIEGO'S DEFENSE ECONOMY.

MEYER POINTS TO TWO MAJOR CAUSES.

>> ONE IS THE RETIREMENTS AND SEPARATIONS OF THESE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

WE ALREADY STARTED TO SEE THAT HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

>> Reporter: THE OTHER WAS HOW THE GOVERNMENT WAS FUNDED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 VIA A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT KEPT SPENDING LOCKED AT 2024 LEVELS.

A 3% RETRACTION OF THE DEFENSE ECONOMY.

LAST YEAR IT MADE UP A QUARTER OF SAN DIEGO'S REGIONAL ECONOMY.

THIS YEAR THE $61 BILLION IMPACT REPRESENTS ABOUT 22%.

LESS SPENDING MEANS FEWER JOBS.

MORE THAN 16,000 FEWER JOBS, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.

>> OVERALL IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, WE SAW A REDUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY 4%.

AND THAT IS ACROSS A VARIETY OF SOURCES.

>> Reporter: MEYER SAYS HE THINKS THERE ARE MISSING NUMBERS RELATED TO MILITARY START-UP CONTRACTS LOCALLY, SOMETHING HE'S HOPEFUL THERE WILL BE GOOD DATA ON NEXT YEAR.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AN OCEANSIDE NONPROFIT THAT PAIRS SPECIALLY TRAINED DOGS WITH WOUNDED SERVICE MEMBERS IS SET TO LOSE ITS FEDERAL FUNDING.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI DE MARCO EXPLAINS WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR THOSE WHO DEPEND ON THE PROGRAM.

>> I GOT THREE PURPLE HEARTS.

WELL, MY NAME IS CHARLES SERVICE, AND I SERVED MOST OF MY TOUR IN VIETNAM.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS IN THERE THAT WE DID THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO OR THINGS THAT I DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT TODAY.

>> Reporter: LIKE MANY VETERANS, CHARLIE SERVICE RETURNED HOME CARRYING THE UNSEEN SCARS OF WAR.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO A PERSON DOES THAT KIND OF STUFF, YOU COME BACK WITH SEVERE PTSD.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

>> Reporter: DATA SHOW ABOUT 7% OF VETERANS WILL EXPERIENCE PTSD DURING THEIR LIFETIME.

>> I HAD A PSYCHIATRIST THAT WAS WORKING THROUGH THE VA.

WE TALKED ABOUT GETTING A SERVICE DOG.

SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

>> Reporter: THAT'S HOW HE MET CHANCE, HIS YELLOW LABRADOR RETRIEVER.

SERVICE SAYS CHANCE HAS DONE MORE THAN CALM HIM DOWN, HE BROUGHT HIM BACK TO LIFE.

>> WELL, BEFORE I HAD HIM, I WASN'T VERY GOOD PERSON.

I WAS KIND OF LIKE -- I WAS DOWN ALL THE TIME, DEPRESSED.

THE PTSD WOULD KICK IN.

BUT THEN AFTER CHANCE COMES ALONG, IT'S DIFFERENT.

HE'S KIND OF LIKE MY RIGHT/LEFT ARM OR LEG AND ALL THE ABOVE.

>> Reporter: THEY TRAIN TOGETHER AT FREEDOM DOGS, IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT PAIRS SERVICE DOGS WITH VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY LIVING WITH PTSD OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES.

>> THAT'S LUCY, STRIKER.

>> OUR CENTER IN OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA, AND THIS EVENING WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS ON A MOCK RESTAURANT.

SO I WOULD EITHER SAY HE'S AN ALERT DOG BECAUSE HE HELPS ALERT YOU TO ANXIETY -- >> Reporter: THE ORGANIZATION MAY SOON LOSE ITS LARGEST SOURCE OF FUNDING.

>> WE HAD A GRANT THIS PAST YEAR FOR ABOUT $247,000.

THAT WAS 42% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.

>> Reporter: PEGGY IS THE ORGANIZATION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

SHE SAYS THAT FUNDING COMES FROM A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GRANT.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE GRANT WAS CUT FROM THE SENATE'S VERSION OF THE DEFENSE BILL, CURRENTLY BEING NEGOTIATED BY CONGRESS.

FREEDOM DOGS CURRENTLY SERVES ABOUT 25 PARTICIPANTS.

WITHOUT THE FUNDING, IT COULD DROP BY HALF.

>> WE WILL RECEIVE OUR FINAL PAYMENT IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

AND THEN WE'RE DONE.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THAT SUPPORT CAN BE LIFE SAVING.

MORE THAN 6,000 VETERANS DIE BY SUICIDE EACH YEAR, A 2022 STUDY FOUND VETERANS PAIRED WITH SERVICE DOGS HAD FEWER PTSD SYMPTOMS, LESS SUICIDAL IDEATION, AND BETTER SOCIAL FUNCTIONING THAN THOSE WITHOUT THEM.

>> THEY ALREADY STRUGGLE WITH THEIR SENSE OF VALUE.

EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE SACRIFICED, EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE LIVED FOR COMES DOWN TO A NUMBER.

AND NOW TO PULL FUNDING FOR THE SERVICE DOGS THAT IS OFTEN THEIR LAST-DITCH EFFORT IS DEVASTATING.

>> Reporter: FREEDOM DOGS ALSO HELPS SERVICE MEMBERS STRUGGLING WITH THE TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE.

CHRIS ROJAS SAYS HE'S LEAVING THE MARINE CORPS EARLY BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

>> GETTING TOLD TO GET OUT AND YOU HAVE ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES AND ISSUES YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH, IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE HEARTBREAKING.

THEY'RE BROKEN, KIND OF HOPELESS.

>> Reporter: JOEL HAS JOINED THE PROGRAM OVER A MONTH AGO.

IT WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO BE MATCHED WITH HIS OWN SERVICE DOG.

>> I THINK THIS PLACE REALLY GIVE US, OR ME, A LOT OF HOPE IN THAT I CAN BE OKAY AFTER.

AND I'M SEEN AS A HUMAN AND NOT A ROBOT.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT JUST A NUMBER ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE DOGS OFFER SOMETHING MEDICINE CAN'T.

>> THE DOGS GIVE US A WINDOW TO FORM A RELATIONSHIP AND START TO BUILD THAT TRUST.

>> Reporter: THROUGH THE TRAINING, ROJAS SAYS HE'S LEARNING HOW TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AGAIN, GETTING PAIRED WITH A SERVICE DOG FEELS LIKE A SECOND CHANCE FOR HIM.

>> I'M NOT SCARED ANYMORE TO TRANSITION NOW.

I HAVE HOPE THAT I CAN BE BACK TO NORMAL AND INTEGRATE AND BECOMING LIKE SUCCESSFUL, GOOD MEMBER OF SOCIETY AGAIN.

>> Reporter: SINCE OUR INTERVIEW IN THE LAST MONTH, ROJAS SAYS TWO OF HIS FRIENDS AND FELLOW MARINES HAVE TAKEN THEIR OWN LIVES.

ONE HAD JUST BEGUN THE FREEDOM DOGS PROGRAM.

ROJAS SAYS THE LOSS OF HIS FRIENDS IS STARTING TO HIT HIM, BUT THE PROGRAM GIVES HIM A SPACE TO BE HEARD AND TRAINING WITH THE DOGS IS HELPING HIM COPE.

FOR HER IT'S A PAINFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S ON THE LINE.

>> FINDING JOY AGAIN, LIVING LIFE WITHOUT FEAR.

IF YOU COULD PUT A PRICE TAG ON THAT, IT'S WAY MORE THAN WHAT CONGRESS IS, YOU KNOW, BATTLING ON APPROVING FOR US.

>> Reporter: THE NONPROFIT IS NOW ASKING LOCAL DONORS TO HELP KEEP THE PROGRAM RUNNING IF FUNDING GOES AWAY.

>> COME ON, CHANCE, LET'S GO.

FREEDOM DOGS NEEDS THAT MONEY.

IT NEEDS THAT MONEY TO TRAIN DOGS, NEEDS THAT MONEY TO MAINTAIN PARTICIPANTS LIKE US.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, THE OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE PROGRAM ARE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR CHANCE.

HEIDI DE MARCO, KPBS NEWS.

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

>>> BACK IN JULY, CONGRESS CUT MORE THAN $1 BILLION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

THIS WEEK INDUSTRY LEADERS GATHERED AT KPBS FOR A CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE INFORMATIONAL HEARING.

KPBS REPORTER KATIE ANASTAS SAYS THEY WORRY ABOUT COMMUNITY ACCESS TO TRUSTWORTHY LOCAL NEWS.

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE APPRECIATE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO JOURNALISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE SPECIFICALLY.

>> Reporter: IF YOU RECOGNIZE THAT VOICE, THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ON NATIONAL AIR WAVES FOR ALMOST THREE DECADES.

FORMER NPR BROADCASTER JACK SPEAR EXPECTS FEWER PUBLIC MEDIA JOURNALISTS TO HAVE SUCH LONG CAREERS.

>> SINCE THE EARLY 2000s, THE NUMBER OF WORKING JOURNALISTS IN THE U.S.

HAS FALLEN BY MORE THAN 75%.

DURING THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME, THE COUNTRY'S LOST ROUGHLY A THIRD OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS.

>> Reporter: IN JULY, CONGRESS CUT MORE THAN $1 BILLION FOR PUBLIC MEDIA.

INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY FILLING THE GAP WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

ANDY RUSSELL IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PBS SOCAL.

HE SAYS MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE DONATED TO PUBLIC MEDIA IN THE PAST ARE DEALING WITH FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS OF THEIR OWN.

>> THEY HAVE FEWER RESOURCES.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN FINANCIAL CRISES, SO WHAT WOULD BE TRADITIONAL PARTNERS WE CAN GO TO, SAY, HOW CAN WE DO THINGS TOGETHER, THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH REALLY TOUGH CUTS.

SOME OF THOSE TRADITIONAL AVENUES AND PARTNERSHIPS ARE NOT THERE.

>> Reporter: THAT'S THE CASE FOR A NETWORK OF 16 STATIONS THAT BROADCASTS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND INDIGENOUS MEXICAN LANGUAGES.

THE NETWORK HAS LOST MORE THAN $300,000 IN ANNUAL FEDERAL FUNDING.

>> THIS IS A SERIOUS SETBACK NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR THE RURAL AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WE SERVE EVERY DAY.

FOR THEM, THIS IS USUALLY THE ONLY RELIABLE SOURCE IN THEIR LANGUAGES FOR LOCAL NEWS, EMERGENCY ALERTS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, CIVIC INFORMATION, AND OF COURSE, OUR DAILY PROGRAMS CELEBRATING LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE.

>> Reporter: ASSEMBLY MEMBER CHRIS WARD CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE.

HE SAYS PANELISTS SHARED INFORMATION HE CAN TAKE BACK TO SACRAMENTO WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY.

>> WHAT CAN CALIFORNIA DO MORE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO HELP WHAT WE SEE AS A COMMUNITY ASSET.

>> Reporter: WITHOUT MORE SUPPORT, HE SAYS COMMUNITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA COULD SEE MAJOR LOSSES IN LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FAMILIES WHO REMEMBER THE LA COLONIA COMMUNITY IN WHAT'S NOW SOLANO BEACH HAVE A REPORT SHOWING HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE BURIED IN THEIR GRAVEYARD.

THOMAS FUDGE TELLS US ABOUT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY THE DEAD.

>> Reporter: VOLUNTEERS ARE PUTTING UP TWO CROSSES ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE ARE THE GRAVES OF LUKE AND MARY GUTIERREZ GONZALEZ, WHO DIED IN INFANCY.

>> AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY PASSED AWAY IN 1929.

THEY WERE ONLY 2 DAYS OLD AND HAD RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.

>> Reporter: THEY DIED VERY YOUNG BUT WERE NOT FORGOTTEN.

MICHAEL BELTRAN SHOWED UP THIS MORNING.

SHE GREW UP IN EDEN GARDENS, WHAT SOME CALLED A LITTLE MEXICAN VILLAGE IN NORTH COUNTY.

BELTRAN SAYS THE SURVIVING BROTHER OF THE BURIED INFANTS MET HIM AT A RESTAURANT, AND HE KNEW HE WAS LEADING AN EFFORT TO DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE CEMETERY JUST BELOW SAINT TERESA OF CARMEL CHURCH IN DEL MAR.

>> AND HE TELLS ME, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO TWIN SISTERS THERE, WE JUST DON'T REMEMBER WHERE THE MARKERS ARE, AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONE AT THIS TIME.

>> Reporter: BELTRAN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LA COLONIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION EVENTUALLY MADE CONTACT WITH AN ARCHAEOLOGIST NAMED JIMMY DANIELS.

DANIELS USING GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR, GPR FOR SHORT.

HE SCANNED THE GRAVEYARD AND PRODUCED A REPORT THAT OUTLINED MULTIPLE UNDERGROUND ANOMALIES THAT HE BELIEVES ARE GRAVE SHAFTS.

MOST OF THEM UNKNOWN AND UNMARKED.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A RECORD OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE BURIED HERE, AND IT DOESN'T MATCH THE NUMBER OF MARKERS THAT WE HAVE.

>> Reporter: DANIELS BELIEVES THE TWINS, LUPE AND MARY, ARE BURIED HERE, BASED ON STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SCANS FROM GROUND RADAR.

>> CONFIRMED WITH THE GPR AND FOUND TWO ANOMALIES THAT WERE ROUGHLY THE SIZE YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR AN INFANT BURIAL AND EVENLY SPACED APART.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS IDENTIFYING GRAVESITES FOR SURE WOULD REQUIRE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

>> BUT THAT'S NOT THE GOAL HERE.

THE GOAL HERE IS TO GIVE SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, APPROXIMATION AND SOME SORT OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO KIND OF BACK UP THE LOCATIONS OF THESE BURIALS WITHOUT DISTURBING, YOU KNOW, THE INTEGRITY OF THE BURIALS.

>> Reporter: A SMALL COMMUNITY, MOST OF THEM WITH FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO LA COLONIA, HAS FORMED TO MAKE NEW MARKERS AND KEEP THE GRAVEYARD CLEAN.

LIKE LUPE TREJO, WHOSE GRANDPARENTS ARE BURIED HERE.

>> IT'S FUN TO SEE THE FAMILIES.

I ENJOY READING THE HEAD STONES, EVEN THOUGH I'VE SEEN THEM A MILLION TIMES.

I WIPE THEM DOWN, WHATEVER I CAN DO.

>> Reporter: HOW MANY MORE WILL BE IDENTIFIED IS HARD TO SAY.

BELTRAN SAYS PRACTICALLY EVERY STEP YOU TAKE IN THIS PLACE, YOU'RE WALKING ABOVE A GRAVE.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IMAGINE GETTING IN A TAXI WITH NO ONE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

ROBO TAXIS ARE COMING NEXT YEAR.

THE UPCOMING SERVICE IS GETTING MIXED REACTION FROM LOCALS.

>> Reporter: IF YOU NEED TO CATCH A RIDE FROM POINT A TO POINT B IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, YOU CAN HIRE A DRIVER THROUGH RIDESHARE APPS LIKE UBER AND LYFT OR YOU CAN CALL A CAB.

BUT SOON A NEW TYPE OF VEHICLE WILL HIT THE ROAD HERE WITHOUT A PERSON BEHIND THE WHEEL.

>> I'M THINKING FOR THEFT, LIKE, CAR ALARM, YOU DRIVE IT IN THERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TRUST.

>> Reporter: WAYMO IS IN FIVE CITIES ACROSS THE U.S., INCLUDING LOS ANGELES AND SAN FRANCISCO.

THE COMPANY POINTS TO THEIR OWN DATA THAT SHOWS WAYMO VEHICLES ARE SAFER THAN THE AVERAGE HUMAN DRIVER.

NOW THE COMPANY PLANS TO EXPAND TO THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, STARTING WITH A FLEET OF ABOUT A DOZEN DRIVERLESS ROBO TAXIS AT SOME POINT NEXT YEAR.

>> IF YOU SEE THEM, THEY DRIVE IN A CERTAIN MANNER, AND PEOPLE BEHAVE AROUND THEM IN A CERTAIN MANNER, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S A LITTLE WAYMO.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE SAME WAY A HUMAN DOES OR YOU CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH IT LIKE BY LOOKING A HUMAN IN THE EYES.

>> Reporter: CRYSTAL PHAM LIVES IN NORMAL HEIGHTS.

SHE USED TO LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH HAS OVER A THOUSAND WAYMO VEHICLES.

>> I DON'T REALLY LOVE THAT THESE THINGS ARE FOLLOWING ME HERE.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE EVERYONE WHO HAS LIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO KNOWS THAT THEY ARE AWFUL FOR TRAFFIC.

>> WAYMO IS A BIG DEAL FOR US, BECAUSE WE ALREADY STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE -- ALL RIDESHARE COMPANIES, UBER, LYFT, AND OTHER PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED TAXI WORKERS OF SAN DIEGO.

THEY REPRESENT OVER 400 MEMBERS.

HE SAYS THEY'RE ADVOCATING AGAINST WAYMO OVER CONCERNS REGARDING FAIR COMPETITION.

>> THE DRIVERLESS CARS, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEAN, YOU KNOW.

THAT MEAN THE REGULAR HUMAN BEING, THEY WILL LOSE THEIR BUSINESS.

THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> Reporter: WAYMO SAYS THEY'RE EXPANDING TO SAN DIEGO TO PROVIDE SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT COMPLEMENT THE CITY'S EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, WAYMO SPOKESPERSON JULIA SAID WE'LL INITIALLY BE DRIVING IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE AS WE GRADUALLY EXPAND ACROSS THE BROADER METROPOLITAN AREA OVER TIME.

THAT INCLUDES AREAS LIKE PACIFIC BEACH, MISSION HILLS, AND LIBERTY STATION.

REGARDING WHAT'S NEXT FOR WAYMO IN SAN DIEGO, CITY SPOKESPERSON PETER KELLY SAYS WAYMO IS CURRENTLY IN THE FINAL STAGES OF SECURING A PERMIT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DMV TO OPERATE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES IN THE REGION.

THEY'LL ALSO NEED TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR COMMERCIAL AND PASSENGER OPERATIONS THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

LOCAL CABDRIVER AND FORMER UBER DRIVER ALI SAYS WITH ROBO TAXIS ON THE HORIZON, HUMAN CONNECTION IS ONE THING THEY CAN'T EASILY REPLACE.

>> WE TALK TO THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TOURISTS.

WE NAVIGATE TO THE PLACE THEY NEED TO GO.

THEY ASK ABOUT THE CITY, WHERE TO GO, PLACE TO VISIT, ALL THIS STUFF.

>> Reporter: WAYMO HAS NOT YET ANNOUNCED A SPECIFIC TIME SERVICE WILL LAUNCH IN 2026.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FROM ELABORATE STRUCTURES TO SIMPLE BACKYARD TREE HOUSES, BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN BUILT AROUND TREES SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, BUT WHAT ABOUT A HOUSE BUILT AROUND A ROCK?

THERE IS SUCH A PLACE, BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY HOUSE, AND IT IS DEFINITELY NOT JUST AN ORDINARY ROCK.

FROM THE AIR, IT LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER CUSTOM HOME, THIS ONE ATOP A HILL, BUT FROM THE GROUND, ITS UNIQUENESS BEGINS TO REVEAL ITSELF.

>> I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE IT.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE CONCEPT.

>> Reporter: THE CONCEPT?

TO BUILD A HOUSE AROUND A BOULDER, A 14-FOOT BOULDER.

THIS HOUSE IS NOW FOR SALE AND JANINE SAVORY IS THE REAL ESTATE AGENT IN CHARGE OF FINDING ITS NEXT OWNER.

SHE'S BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR 25 YEARS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE'S SEEN THIS.

>> IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT IT, ONCE I STARTED MARKETING IT, SO MANY PEOPLE CAME FORWARD AND SAID, OH, I REMEMBER THIS.

I'VE SEEN IT IN THE PAST.

OR I HAD SOMEONE SAY THAT THEY CAME AND HELPED BUILD IT.

IT WAS LIKE A COMMUNITY BUILD WHEN IT WAS BEING DONE.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS IN 2000.

ARCHITECT DREW HUBBLE DESIGNED THE HOME, AND IF THAT NAME SOUNDS FAMILIAR, IT'S BECAUSE HUBBLE IS THE SON OF FAMED SAN DIEGO ARTIST JAMES HUBBLE.

THE YOUNGER HUBBLE SAYS THE ORIGINAL OWNERS HAD SOME VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS AND AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL, THE BOULDER.

>> THEY CAME WITH A BOOK OF ABOUT 20 PAGES OF BUILDING PROGRAM, WHICH IS UNIQUE FOR A CLIENT, AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE BOULDER BEHIND ME.

IT WAS REALLY A SPIRIT TO THE PROPERTY FOR THEM.

THERE WAS HISTORY AROUND THE AREA AND EVIDENCE OF FIRES BEING LIT UNDERNEATH THE BOULDER.

>> Reporter: THE BOULDER SITS IN A MOTE, A SMALL WATERFALL PROVIDING A SOOTHING SOUND THROUGHOUT THE GREAT ROOM ON ONE SIDE, THE PRIMARY BEDROOM ON THE OTHER, BUT THE BOULDER AND ITS MOAT PROVIDE MORE THAN A PRESENCE.

>> THE MOAT MEDIATES THE TEMPERATURE SWING ALONG WITH THE THERMAL MASS OF THE BOULDER, SO IT KEEPS IT IN THAT LOW 60s RANGE OF TEMPERATURES.

>> Reporter: THERMAL MASS IS DEFINED AS THE ABILITY OF A MATERIAL, IN THIS CASE THE BOULDER, TO STORE HEAT AND RELEASE IT NATURALLY WHEN THE INTERIOR TEMPERATURE DIPS.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, IT PROVIDES A COOLING EFFECT DURING HOT WEATHER.

THE HOUSE HAS THIS STOVE FOR EXTRA HEATING IF NEEDED, BUT THERE IS NO CENTRAL HEAT OR AIR.

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE UNIQUE ABOUT THIS HOME THAT IS OUT OF SIGHT, ALMOST.

ITS WALLS ARE MADE OF STRAW BALES, THE HOME FOLLOWS A TRADITION OF STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION WITH THIS.

IT'S CALLED A TRUTH WINDOW, AN OPENING TO SEE THE ACTUAL STRAW.

IT HELPS THE BOULDER AND MOAT IN REGULATING THE INTERIOR TEMPERATURE.

>> IT STAYS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 60 AND 65 DEGREES.

WE WORKED ON THIS HOME THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPERATURES WERE UP TO 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE, AND WHEN YOU CAME INSIDE THE HOME, IT WAS ALWAYS A REAL COMFORTABLE 78ISH.

SO THE COOLING PROPERTIES OF IT COMBINED WITH THE HEATING FROM THE EXTERIOR AND THEN THE SUPERIOR INSULATION OF THE STRAW BALE, IT REALLY DID SELF-REGULATE TO LIKE A NICE, COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE.

>> Reporter: AT NEARLY 3,500 SQUARE FEET, THE HOME IS NOT HUGE, THERE ARE TWO GUEST BEDROOMS, AND THE KITCHEN IS PART OF THE GREAT ROOM.

BUT THEN THERE ARE THE OUTSIDE SPACES.

THIS IS A HOUSE THAT PRACTICALLY BEGS YOU TO GET OUTSIDE OF IT.

IT IS SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL CONVIVIAL CONVERSATION SPACES, COURTYARDS, FOUNTAINS.

COME ON, I'LL SHOW YOU.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THERE IS A POOL AND A JACUZZI.

THIS WAS A LATER ADD-ON, BUT THERE'S STILL MORE.

THERE IS THIS LITTLE SECLUDED PATIO A GOOD PLACE TO BE IF IT'S WINDY BUT YOU STILL WANT TO BE OUTSIDE.

THIS IS RIGHT OFF OF THE LIVING ROOM AND THE KITCHEN WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL TRIO OF FOUNTAINS, BUT THERE IS ONE MORE BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR YOU TO SEE.

IT'S HERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HOUSE NEXT TO THIS ARCADE.

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE IN THE GORGEOUS VIEWS AFFORDED BY THIS PROPERTY.

THEY TELL ME THAT ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY TO POINT LOMA.

BACK INSIDE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, MORE SUBTLE, A NOD TO THE HOUSE'S CREATORS.

JAMES HUBBLE LENT HIS ARTISTRY TO THE VARIOUS COLORED ROCK INLAYS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE HOME, A VIBRANT TOUCH FROM ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S MOST REVERED ARTISTS.

>> THE COLOR WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND REALLY NATURE WAS THE INSPIRATION AND SO MANY BEAUTIFUL COLORS COME, YOU KNOW, FROM NATURE.

SO THAT WAS HIS BIGGEST INSPIRATION.

>> Reporter: SITTING ON ITS PERCH, THE HOUSE IS NOT TOO FAR FROM URBAN SAN DIEGO, BUT IT'S ALSO CERTAIN TO RETAIN ITS RURAL FLAVOR.

THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S ADJACENT TO THE SAN DIEGO WILDLIFE REFUGE AND THE RESERVE, A PLACE ROOTED IN THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF WHAT WE NOW CALL SAN DIEGO COUNTY WITH A BOULDER BRINGING BENEFITS SEEN AND UNSEEN TO WHOEVER'S LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE IN IT NEXT.

>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I'M JOHN CARROLL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.