>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

COMING UP, SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S LARGEST CITY IS LACKING A FOUR- YEAR UNIVERSITY.

WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE NEW MOVES TOWARD FINALLY BRINGING A CAMPUS TO CHULA VISTA.

>>> SEEMS REMINISCENT OF JANUARY 6th, THE BRAZILIANS LIVING IN SAN DIEGO TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE PLAYING OUT IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

>>> AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PRICE FOR A CARTON OF EGGS?

THE STICKER SHOCK PLAYING OUT IN LOCAL GROCERY STORES.

WE START WITH WOMEN TAKING OVER TWO OF SAN DIEGO'S BIGGEST LEADERSHIP ROLES.

IN A MOMENT WE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE FIRST WOMAN TO RUN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT FIRST HERE IS ALEXANDER NGUYEN WITH THE FIRST LaTINA TO CHAIR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

>> Reporter: WITH THAT, HISTORY WAS MADE.

NORA VARGAS IS NOW THE FIRST LaTINA AND IMMIGRANT TO LEAD THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING SHE TAKES LIGHTLY.

>> FIRST LaTINA, FIRST ONE OF WOMAN OF COLOR TO SERVE PICKETS IMPORTANT TO BE MINDFUL.

>> Reporter: SHE REPLACES SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER WHO IS CHAIR FOR TWO TERMS.

LAST MONTH HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NOT SEEK A THIRD TERM AND WOULD NOMINATE VARGAS AS HIS SUCCESSOR PICK SOME OF HER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE, HOMELESSNESS, AND HOUSING.

>> WE ARE PLACED WITH TOUGH TIMES TRANSITIONING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

MANY FOLKS ARE REALLY SUFFERING.

WE STILL HAVE FOLKS, KIDS WHO GO TO SLEEP HUNGRY RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE SHELTER.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE WAREHOUSING.

FOR ME IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE FAMILIES COME FIRST, THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD IN THE SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDE IN THE COUNTY.

>> Reporter: THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER HISTORIC MOVEMENT TUESDAY.

THE FIRST TIME IN THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, TWO WOMEN WILL BE MEETING THE BOARD.

THE VICE CHAIR SAYS IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

>> WE HAVE REAL DIVERSITY IN OUR LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST TWO WOMEN, WE HAVE LGBTQ, WE HAVE THE FIRST LATINO CHAIR.

WE ARE REALLY CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SAN DIEGANS, AND CATCHING UP WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS LONG EMBRACED INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY AND SHARED OPPORTUNITY.

>> Reporter: IN AN INFORMAL MEETING WITH REPORTERS AFTER THE MEETING, VARGAS SAYS SHE WILL WORK TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO THE BOARD AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR NOT ONLY THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, BUT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT AGAIN PICK WE KNOW THAT IS SOMETIMES CHALLENGING FOR SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ALEXANDER NGUYEN , KPBS NEWS.

>>> ANOTHER WOMAN IS SETTLING INTO AN IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP POSITION.

KELLY MARTINEZ WAS ELECTED SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF.

OUR MID-DAY EDITION CO-HOST RECENTLY TALKED WITH THE NEW SHERIFF ABOUT THE ROAD AHEAD.

>> Reporter: THERE IS NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

KELLY MARTINEZ IS TWO WEEKS IN THE JOB.

I TALKED TO HER ABOUT HER PRIORITIES.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTOS ON THIS WALL AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SINCE THE 1850S, THEN HAVE SAT IN LEADERSHIP.

NOW THE FIRST TIME, A WOMAN HAS BEEN ELECTED, AND ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR SHERIFF KELLY MARTINEZ WILL BE ADDRESSING JAIL DEATHS.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF IN CUSTODY JAIL DEATHS IN THE STATE.

>> THE JAILS WERE BUILT A LOT OF THEM 40 OR 50 YEARS AGO WITH A DIFFERENT IDEA IN MIND ABOUT HOW WE INCARCERATE PEOPLE, AND FOR A POPULATION THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MANY MEDICAL ISSUES AS THE PEOPLE COMING INTO CUSTODY TODAY.

IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE SHERIFF TO P PEOPLE SAFE AND PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE THEY NEED WHILE IN OUR CUSTODY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SEE IF THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY.

WE ARE ENHANCING THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE WE ARE PROVIDING RIGHT NOW, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO RENOVATE AND CHANGE SOME OF OUR JAILS.

>> Reporter: WHAT YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHOSE LOVED ONES HAVE DIED WHILE INCARCERATED AND ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS?

>> FIRST OFF, I SYMPATHIZE WITH ANYONE WHO'S HAD THAT EXPERIENCE.

I THINK IT MUST BE TERRIBLE TO HAVE A LOVED ONE IN A JAIL AND YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PERSON OR KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

WE INSTITUTED LAST YEAR A MORE ROBUST FAMILY LIAISON PROTOCOL.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO FAMILIES TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONE WHILE IN A SAN DIEGO COUNTY JAIL.

MEANWHILE TUNAS WILL ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS PRIORITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND DISPARITIES.

A RECENT STUDY OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOUND 80% OF PATROL TIME IS SPENT CONDUCTING OFFICER INITIATED STOPS, WHILE JUST 18% OF ITS TIME IS SPENT RESPONDING TO CALLS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THEY ALSO FOUND BLACK PEOPLE WERE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE SUBJECTED TO AN OFFICER INITIATED STOP THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

>> I THINK ANY TIME THERE IS BIAS IT'S A PROBLEM, AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED WRONGLY BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL COME FORWARD AND TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: IF YOU VIEW IT AS A PROBLEM WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO ABOUT IT?

>> WE ARE OUT THERE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, LETTING THEM KNOW IT IS SAFE TO REPORT INCIDENTS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MECHANISMS IN PLACE IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE DAY CAN REPORT.

IT'S IMPORTANT, INCLUDING NOT ONLY OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AND OTHER EQUITIES.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF SAFE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO REPORTED.

>> Reporter: THERE IS A STUDY THAT REFLECTS NUMBERS HERE PICK A PERSON REPORTS AND THEN WHAT?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHO THEY REPORTED TO, AND THE INVESTIGATION.

WE SHOW THAT BIAS HAS OCCURRED BY ONE OF OUR DEPUTIES, UP TO TERMINATION OCCURS.

HER BACK ALL OF THAT LEADS TO THE QUESTION OF BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES DURING A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO BE AS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN BE TO MEET WITH YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF, WITH YOUR LOCAL LEADERSHIP AT THE STATION IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WHY WE DO IT.

>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS >>> YOU CAN HEAR JADE CO-HOST KPBS MID-DAY EDITION WEEKDAYS ON KPBS FM.

IT'S ONE OF SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN STREAM AS A PODCAST ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS AND AT KPBS.ORG .

>>> SAN DIEGO SOUTH BAY SOME TO ABOUT 450,000 PEOPLE, BUT IT IS NOT HOME TO A PUBLIC FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY.

AT LEAST NOT YET.

KPBS REPORTER JACOB AERE RECESS ON AND EFFORTS TO BRING UNIVERSITY PRESENTS THE SOUTH COUNTY.

>> Reporter: THIS IS WHERE SHE'S NOW STUDYING DENTAL HYGIENE.

SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN HUMAN BIOLOGY FROM UC SAN DIEGO ROUGHLY 20 MILES NORTH.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COMMUTED FROM THE SOUTH BAY TO UCSD.

IMAGINE TELLING THEM THEY COULD GO TO SOME CLASSES 10 MINUTES FROM HOME INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY UP HERE.

>> Reporter: THAT IDEA IS BECOMING A REALITY STARTING WITH SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY'S NEW TV AND FILM STUDIO COMING TO CHULA VISTA.

MORE UNIVERSITY EXPANSIONS COULD BE ON THE WAY.

UC REGENT AND NATIONAL CITY NATIVE.

>> THE SOUTH BAY IS A VERY VIBRANT DYNAMIC COMMUNITY WITH A LOT OF TALENT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UC IS AT THE TABLE.

>> Reporter: THE UC IS STARTING TO LOOK AT SITES FOR A SATELLITE CAMPUS IN SOUTH BAY.

CHULA VISTA HAS ALREADY SET ASIDE NEARLY 400 ACRES.

>> IT'S BEEN A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

MAC JOHN McCANN IS THE NEW MAYOR OF CHULA VISTA.

>> WE ARE BUILDING AROUND IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAMPUS HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HAS THE HOUSING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE CITY HAS SET ASIDE LAND FOR THE UNIVERSITY, THE EXACT LOCATION FOR A SOUTH BAY YOU SEE EXPANSION IS NOT SET IN STONE.

>> SOME CAMPUSES HAVE HUGE ROOM TO GROW.

OTHERS ARE GOING TO GROW IN WAYS OF CREATING SATELLITE CAMPUSES, USING OPPORTUNISTIC SPACES, PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES, CAMPUSES.

>> Reporter: WILL EVER AND SCHOOLS GO HE HELPS THE NEEDS OF LOCAL STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERED.

>> SEMI-NOT HAVE A CAR BE ABLE TO AFFORD GAS.

>> Reporter: HAVING A UNIVERSITY WILL NEED ME TO ECONOMIC AND GROWTH FOR CHULA VISTA.

>> YOU TALKS ALMOST ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY ARE ENCOURAGING A UNIVERSITY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS AND GRANDCHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE IN CHULA VISTA.

>> Reporter: ASSEMBLYMAN DAVID ALVAREZ REPRESENTS MOST OF THE SOUTH BAY.

HE SAYS MANY SOUTH COUNTY STUDENTS END UP STUDYING AND WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE REGION THEY GREW UP IN.

THE UNIVERSITY WOULD KEEP THEM CLOSER TO HOME.

>> WE HAVE LAND.

WHAT WE NEED NOW IS THE INVESTMENT TO BUILD.

>> Reporter: A SOUTH BAY SATELLITE CAMPUS CAN ALSO HELP YOU CEASES TO MEET ITS GOAL OF ADDING UP TO 33,000 MORE STUDENTS BY 2030.

>> WE HAVE MADE TOO MANY STUDENTS THAT ARE QUALIFIED WHO CAN'T GET IN.

>> Reporter: THE CHAIR OF THE UC BOARD OF REGENTS ALSO LIVES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THOSE AND ACCESS TO THOSE.

WHEN SOMEBODY GOES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA THEY COME OUT IN A BETTER POSITION.

>> Reporter: THE FIRST STEP IS A TOUR OF THE PROPOSED SITES WITH THE CHANCELLOR WHO WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A PROPOSAL FOR A SATELLITE CAMPUS.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPEN AREA, AN OPEN CAMPUS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE CHANCELLOR HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO US THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT HE DEFINITELY WANTS POINT >> Reporter: GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEWS STUDIO IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

ALVAREZ HELPED TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT AND HAS BIG GOALS FOR THE LONG-TERM SIT FUTURE.

>> FIVE, SEVEN, 10 YEARS, PERHAPS THIS BECOMES ITS OWN INSTITUTION BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN GROWTH, AND OF ATTRACTION, AND WE DECIDE THIS SHOULD BE A NEW STATE UNIVERSITY OF SOME START.

>> Reporter: MAY HAVE ONE REQUEST FOR UNIVERSITIES TO COME TO SOUTH COUNTY.

>> THEY SHOULD REALLY BE MODELED AFTER WHAT I WOULD SAY SOUTHWESTERN HAS OFFERED ME, WHICH WAS SMALLER CLASSES, MORE INTIMATE CONNECTION WITH THE PROFESSOR, LIKE THEY ACTUALLY KNOW YOU.

>> Reporter: UC OFFICIALS PLAN TO DO THE SOUTH BAY SITE TOUR IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS .

>>> THIS WEEK REGULAR BORDER CROSSERS WERE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T DONE IN YEARS.

BORDER REPORTER GUSTAVO SOLIS WAS THERE FOR THE REOPENING OF PET WEST.

>> Reporter: THEY CROSSED THE BORDER IN RECORD TIME MONDAY MORNING.

THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO WAY THAT THE PET WEST BORDER CROSSING IN SYNESTHESIA.

SHE JUST WAS ABLE TO WALK STRAIGHT THROUGH.

THAT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE TWO HOURS SHE HAD TO WAIT AT THE OTHER BORDER CROSSING AND PET WEST WAS STILL CLOSED.

NOW SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE TO GO, STRAIGHT TO THE ROSS DEPARTMENT STORE WILL SHE WILL HUNT FOR BARGAINS.

SHE WAS ON HAPPY STREAM MONDAY MORNING.

THEY INCLUDED YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, FAMILIES, AND EVEN CYCLISTS.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 3 YEARS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE PET WEST.

THEY CLOSED IT DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS LED TO A BIG DECREASE IN BORDER TRAFFIC.

WHEN MOST OF THE RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED, IT DIDN'T REOPEN.

EVENTUALLY A MAKE SHIFT CAMP FILLED WITH THOUSANDS OF ASYLUM- SEEKERS FORMED ON THE MEXICAN SIDE OF THE CROSSING.

THEY WANTED TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE WHEN PEDWEST REOPENED AGAIN.

THE PORT OF ENTRY REMAINED CLOSED EVEN AFTER THE TIJUANA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MEXICAN MILITARY CLEANED OUT THE CAMP.

THE BOTTLENECK ONLY GREW WORSE.

PEOPLE WERE WAITING IS ON THIS FOR HOURS IN THE MORNINGS.

MARLENE REMEMBERS THE LONG WAIT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAY.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: SHE AND HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN CROSSED THE BORDER WITH THESE ON MONDAY MORNING.

THEY WERE HEADED TO THE OUTLET MALLS.

SHE ACTUALLY EXPECTED A BIGGER CROWD AT PEDWEST.

JASON WELLS IS THE CEO OF THE SAN YSIDRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HE NOTICED THE SAME THING BUT WASN'T PARTICULARLY SURPRISED.

>> FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS NOW, THIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.

YOU ARE STILL GOING OVER TO THE OTHER CROSSING POINT >> Reporter: HE EXPECTS TRAFFIC TO INCREASE IN THE COMING DAYS.

>> IN TWO WEEKS YOU WILL HAVE A 50-50 BALANCE ABOUT CROSSINGS.

>> Reporter: THE MEXICO BOUNDARIES REMAIN CLOSED.

PEOPLE TRYING TO ENTER MEXICO WERE TURNED BACK MONDAY MORNING.

CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION DID NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS REGARDING WHEN THEY PLAN TO OPEN THE MEXICO BOUND LANES.

GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> OF ALMOST 2 YEARS TO THE DAY THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL, A MAJOR SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY IS DEALING WITH A SIMILAR UPRISING.

BRAZILIANS LIVING HERE IN SAN DIEGO SPOKE WITH KPBS REPORTER ALEXANDER NGUYEN ABOUT THE INSTABILITY IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: ON SUNDAY, THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS OF FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT STORMED CONGRESS, THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE DEMANDING THE BRAZILIAN ARMY RESTORED THE FAR RIGHT LEADER TO POWER AND ASK THE NEWLY INAUGURATED LEFTIST PRESIDENT.

TODAY THE VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS CONDEMNED THE ATTACK AFTER SWEARING IN THE NEWEST AMBASSADOR TO BRAZIL.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS AND CLEAR ATTACK ON A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND WE CONDEMN IT OF COURSE.

I WILL ALSO SAY THAT AS I HAVE SAID TO THE AMBASSADOR, THAT I AM VERY CONFIDENT AND HER ABILITY TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES AND TO EXTEND TO THE PRESIDENT ALL THAT WE MEAN IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT WE DO TOGETHER AS ALLIES ON SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: HERE IN SAN DIEGO, LOCAL BRAZILIANS SAY THEY ARE DEVASTATED BY WHAT HAPPENED.

ROBERTO IS A VISITING ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT SAN DIEGO STATE.

HE SAYS THE RISE OF THE FAR RIGHT MOVEMENT IN SOUTH AMERICA IS WORRISOME.

>> IT'S POPULISM, AND IT'S A THREAT TO US IN AMERICA.

WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT, IT COULD PAVE THE WAY TO SOME OTHER COUNTRIES FOR SURE.

>> Reporter: THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER BRAZILIAN STUDIES AT SDSU SAYS THE IMAGES SUNDAY WERE SHOCKING BUT NOT UNEXPECTED.

FAR RIGHT GROUPS HAVE BEEN PUBLICIZING THEIR PLANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE INTERNATIONAL FAR RIGHT MOVEMENT.

STEVE BANNON HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH A CORE MEETING WITH BRAZIL.

IT WAS I GUESS IT WAS SURVIVE SURPRISING THAT IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED AN EVENT LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN EITHER BEFORE THE INAUGURATION, AS AN ATTEMPT TO INTERVENE WHEN TRANSITING AND WAS COMING TO POWER.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO PHD STUDENT FROM RIO DE JANEIRO FOCUSES ON LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY, ESPECIALLY BRAZILIAN HISTORY.

HE HOPES THAT UNLIKE THE UNITED STATES, THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT WILL ACT SWIFTLY TO HOLD INSURRECTIONIST ACCOUNTABLE.

>> I HOPE THAT OUR SUPREME COURT, THE PARLIAMENT, THE PRESIDENT, AND THE MEDIA AGREE THAT WE CANNOT HAVE THESE SITUATIONS AGAIN IN BRAZIL.

I EXPECT THAT THE LAW WILL -- >> ALEXANDER NGUYEN , KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MOST READ STORIES THIS WEEK ON KPBS.ORG.

REDEVELOPMENT IS COMING TO PARTS OF SAN MARCUS.

SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS SO PLANS WILL INCLUDE AWAY TO PRESERVE THE CITY'S RESTAURANT ROW.

>>> A HIGH-PROFILE MISSING PERSONS CASE IN CHULA VISTA, A DISAPPEARANCE, AND A TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD THIS WEEK AGAINST HER HUSBAND.

>>> AND IT'S NOT PART OF THE INFLATION WE'VE SEEN LATELY, BUT IT HURTS JUST THE SAME.

THE POWER COMPANY TRIES TO HELP CUSTOMERS SEE A BIG JUMP IN THEIR GAS BILL THIS MONTH.

>>> PRICES ARE ALSO UP FOR A COMMON FOOD YOU WILL FIND MANY HOMES.

A SIMPLE CARTON OF EGGS IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT HARD TO COME BY IN SOME STORES.

WE VISITED A LOCAL MARKET FOR THIS LATEST EXAMPLE IN OUR RISING COST OF LIVING.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE PRICE OF A DOZEN JUMBO AIMS AT WINDMILL FARMS INTO LUCERO TODAY.

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS, THE PRICE OF EGGS.

>> IT IS GETTING CONCERNING.

AT >> I'VE NEVER SEEN EGGS AS MUCH.

>> Reporter: JOSH IS THE TERRY MANAGER AT WINDMILL FARMS.

>> EGGS RIGHT NOW ARE HARD TO GET.

A LOT OF THE COMPANIES THAT I WORK ON, THEY AREN'T COMING IN.

THE COMPANIES I AM GETTING IT FROM, THE PRICE HAS GONE WAY UP COMPARED TO WHAT THEY USED TO BE.

>> Reporter: I SPOKE WITH THE VETERINARIANS AT THE A GRANDSON RAMONA, AND THEY SAY THE BIRD FLU HAS REALLY IMPACTED THE EGG SUPPLY.

>> THEY SAID 30 MILLION EGG LAYING CHICKENS HAD DIED, AND THEN THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER BIRDS, BUT IT'S HARD TO CONTAIN BECAUSE MIGRATORY BIRDS ARE TRANSMITTING IT.

BACK FOR SOME TYPES OF EGGS, THE PRICE IS MORE THAN DOUBLED.

>> IT IS HARD TO BALANCE, AND HAVE EGGS ON THE SHELF.

THE OTHER THING COME UP WITH THE PRICE OF EGGS, THEY ARE SLOWING A LOT DOWN IN SALES, SO YOU CAN ORDER TOO MUCH, BECAUSE THEN THEY WILL EXPIRE ON YOU, AND THROWING AWAY EGGS BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS THAT.

>> Reporter: LOCALS HAVE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING EGGS.

>> I JUST CAN'T FIND THEM.

I WENT TO COSCO AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: WHEN HE FINALLY FOUND EGGS, THE PRICE BECAME A CONCERN.

>> IT MADE US TIGHTEN UP AND WATCH HER BUDGET, ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY TIME, EVERY NICKEL.

>> Reporter: HE'S TAKING MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS.

>> I'M GOING TO GET THEM CHICKENS.

WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE, WE USED TO HAVE CHICKENS.

WE USED TO HAVE FRESH EGGS EVERY MORNING, SO I'M LIKE I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THAT WHY NOT.

>> Reporter: SHE BROUGHT LOCALLY PRODUCED EGGS FOR LITTLE MORE THAN SEVEN DOLLARS AND HAS THIS SUGGESTION.

>> THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO THE MAD RUSH TO THE GROCERY STORE AND SOMEBODY BUYS OUT ALL THE EGGS.

>> KPBS NEWS .

>>> ONE THING YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON RIGHT NOW IS THE COST OF ADDING A NEW PET TO YOUR FAMILY.

THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR DOGS THAT ARE STARTING TO OVERWHELM THE LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US SOME MORE INCENTIVES THAT THEY HOPE WILL SPEED UP THE ADOPTIONS.

>> Reporter: NO MATTER WHAT KIND IT IS, THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY WILL NEVER TURN AWAY AN ANIMAL THAT HAS NOWHERE TO GO.

BUT THAT POLICY HAS PLACED THEM IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

>> REALLY EVER SINCE LAST SUMMER, WE'VE SEEN AN INFLUX IN DOGS, ESPECIALLY ADULT DOGS, AND IT HASN'T EVER REALLY STOPPED.

>> Reporter: THE SOCIETY REACHED A RECORD NUMBER OF DOCS IN ITS CARE LAST MONTH, 606 SPREAD ACROSS ITS FOUR CAMPUSES.

THEY ARE DOWN TO THE LOWER 500s NOW.

THEY STILL HAVE WAY TOO MANY, PUTTING UP TEMPORARY CANDLES AND CLASSROOMS, NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION.

>> FOR EVERY TWO DOGS WHO ARE COMING INTO THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY, ONE IS ADOPTED.

>> Reporter: NINA THOMPSON SAYS THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT'S ARE STAYING HERE HAS GONE UP FROM AN AVERAGE OF 24 DAYS LAST YEAR TO 34 NOW.

SO THE SOCIETY IS ONCE AGAIN PROVIDING AN INCENTIVE TO ADOPT , IN A JOINT EFFORT WITH MAYOR TODD GLORIA.

ADOPTION FEES WILL BE WAIVED FOR THE FIRST 100 ADULT DOGS SEVEN MONTHS AND OLDER.

AFTER THEY REACH THAT GOAL, ADOPTION FEES FOR ADULT DOGS WILL BE JUST $25 THROUGH SUNDAY.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ADOPT, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO HELP.

THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY DEPENDS ON DONATIONS, ANY AMOUNT WELCOME.

SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY IS ALSO IN NEED OF OTHER KINDS OF DONATIONS, LIKE DOG FOOD AND TREATS, DOG TOYS, TOWELS, BLANKETS, IT ALL HELPS.

THE SOCIETY IS ALSO PLACING MORE EMPHASIS THAN EVER ON FOSTERING DOGS AND REHOMING THEM , AND THEY ARE READY TO HELP THOSE WILLING TO HELP THEM.

>> WE HAVE ALL THESE RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY IDENTIFY AN OWNER FOR YOUR PET INSTEAD OF BRINGING THEM TO THE SHELTER.

>> Reporter: OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE TO HELP WITH FOSTERING, FOOD, VETERINARY CARE, ANYTHING A HUMAN NEEDS TO HELP ONE OF THESE PRECIOUS ANIMALS GET THE HOME AND THE HELP THEY NEED.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS .

>>> TWO SAN DIEGO-BASED COMPANIES ARE GETTING THE BACKING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AS THEY WORK TO BUILD BETTER ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON SAYS THE LOCAL MONEY AS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO BOOST THE NATION'S BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> Reporter: SOUTH BAY TECHNOLOGIES IS PIONEERING BATTERY TECH THAT COULD MAKE EV'S SAFER AND MORE POWERFUL.

THEY FILLED THE BATTERIES WITH LIQUEFIED GAS INSTEAD OF LIQUID ELECTROLYTES USED IN CURRENT EV BATTERIES, AND THE FEDERAL GRANT WILL INVEST $3.1 MILLION INTO THE VENTURE.

THE SOUTH BAY TECHNOLOGY REDUCES THE BATTERIES FIRE RISKS, ALLOWS THE BATTER BATTERY TO HOLD A CHARGE AND COLDER TEMPERATURES, AND LETS THE DEVICE STORE MORE ENERGY.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF GROUPS PUSHING FOR SO-CALLED SOLID- STATE BATTERIES.

IT'S A SOLID MATERIAL WHICH CONDUCTS LITHIUM IONS, BUT THAT HAS MANY MORE YEARS TO GO IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT.

>> Reporter: THAI FAST ENERGY ALSO LANDED A $2.8 MILLION GRANT TO DEVELOP HIGH DENSITY AND FAST CHARGING BATTERIES.

THEY AWARDED MORE THAN $42 MILLION TO 12 COMPANIES AS PART IS THE EV FOR ALL INITIATIVE.

IT IS AN EFFORT TO BUILD THE DOMESTIC BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> A FEW MONTHS AGO WE PUT OUT $2.8 BILLION JUST FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IN ONE GRANT ENHANCEMENT TO BUILD BATTERY MANUFACTURING HERE IN THE U.S. >> Reporter: THE FEDERAL INITIATIVE WILL CREATE AN ESTIMATED 85,000 MANUFACTURING JOBS, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF THE POTENTIAL JOBS ARE LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES THEY SAY.

ERIK ANDERSON , KPBS NEWS .

>>> A CHURCH IN DELMAR IS PRACTICING WHAT IT PREACHES.

OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS TRANSFORMING ONE OF ITS ON- CAMPUS BUILDINGS INTO A TEMPORARY SHELTER.

>> Reporter: THE PARISH HALL AT SAINT PETERS IS CHARLES'S NEW HOME FOR NOW AT LEAST.

CHARLES IS ONE OF UP TO 12 HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPECTED TO SLEEP AT THE CHURCH OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND WITH MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST, HAVING A DRY, WARM PLACE TO STAY COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH FOR CHARLES, WHO OFTEN RESORTS TO SLEEPING IN HIS CAR.

>> I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA, SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE IT IS SECURE.

SECURITY CAN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS.

>> Reporter: IT'S ALL PART OF THE INTERFAITH SHELTER NETWORK VOCATIONAL PROGRAM, WHICH INVOLVES DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS GROUPS FROM ACROSS SAN DIEGO TAKING TURNS TO HOST GUESTS DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

APPLICANTS ARE SCREENED BY SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THINGS LIKE DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE BEFORE BEING REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS NOT HAVING SHELTER?

GETTING THROUGH THE STORMS THAT WE HAVE ARE THOSE COMING LATER THIS WEEK?

PUTTING A ROOF OVER THE HEADS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE IN NEED, GETTING TO KNOW THEM AS PEOPLE, NOT SIMPLY STATISTICS, PROVIDING WARMTH AND A MEAL AND CONNECTION AND SOME HUMANITY.

BACK IN ADDITION TO BEING PROVIDED WITH HOME-COOKED MEALS , HOT SHOWERS, AND THEIR OWN BEDROOMS, THEY ARE ALSO HELP WITH THINGS LIKE GETTING A JOB, AND ALSO EXPECTED TO WORK ALONGSIDE A CASE MANAGER TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THEM BECOMING HOMELESS.

>> ALONG WITH THE CASE MANAGEMENT THAT THEY ALSO RECEIVED, THEY ALSO GET WORKSHOPS, SO WE PLAN OUT WORKSHOPS SUCH AS BUDGET PLANNING, SO WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN, VOLUNTEER HIM AND HE WILL GO AHEAD AND TEACH THEM ABOUT BUDGETING, AND WE ALSO HAVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AS WELL.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 35 YEARS NOW SEES AROUND 50% OF ITS GUEST GO ON TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT NONE OF THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HARD WORK AND EDUCATION OF VOLUNTEERS.

THEY TAKE TURNS STAYING OVERNIGHT TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY.

>> THEY HAVE COME FROM VERY BAD SITUATIONS, MOST OF THEM, AND SO WE SIMPLY TRY AND TENDER THEM IN , AND MAKE THEM FEEL THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT.

WE WANT TO MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE PERHAPS THEY HAVEN'T FELT BEFORE.

>> Reporter: IT IS THE FIRST TIME ST. PETER'S HAS HOSTED THE EVENT SENSE COVID.

NEXT UP IS ST. JAMES'S CHURCH IN SOLANA BEACH.

WITH MORE RAIN ON ITS WAY THIS PROGRAM COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME.

KPBS NEWS .

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I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

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