>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE, FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION, AND FLOOD SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILLHOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS.

A CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN IS RESIGNING HIS SEAT AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS.

IN A STATEMENT, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE, ERIC SWALWELL, SAID HE IS DEEPLY SORRY TO HIS FAMILY, STAFF, AND CONSTITUENTS FOR MISTAKES IN JUDGMENT HE'S MADE IN THE PAST.

HE SAID HE WOULD FIGHT FOR WHAT HE CALLS THE SERIOUS FALSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM.

LAST NIGHT SWALWELL ANNOUNCED HE'S SUSPENDING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

TONIGHT, THE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS OPENING AN INVESTIGATION AGAINST HIM.

A FORMER STAFFER CLAIMS SWALWELL SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER IN 2024.

SINCE THEN SEVERAL OTHER WOMEN HAVE ALSO COME FORWARD.

50 FORMER STAFFERS HAD CALLED ON SWALWELL TO RESIGN HIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

>>> CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADERS FAIL TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR AT THEIR CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO THIS WEEKEND.

KPBS PUBLIC MATTERS REPORTER, JAKE GOTTA, SAYS THE GOP IS WORKING TO TAKE DOWN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WITH COMPETING MESSAGING ON AFFORDABILITY AND COST OF LIVING.

>> Reporter: AT THE SHERATON HOTEL ON THE SAN DIEGO WATERFRONT, REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADERS, ORGANIZERS, AND CANDIDATES SHARED THEIR VISION FOR TAKING POWER FROM DEMOCRATS STATEWIDE.

ON SATURDAY CHAIRWOMAN OPENED A CANDIDATE FORUM WITH A VIDEO MESSAGE THAT PROMISED TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S HIGH COST OF LIVING.

>> THAT MEANS BUILDING MORE HOMES, REDUCING COSTLY REGULATIONS, STABILIZING INSURANCE, AND LOWERING ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

>> Reporter: AFFORDABILITY IS TOP OF MIND FOR MANY CALIFORNIANS AS THE WAR ON IRAN SPIKES INFLATION AND THE PRICE OF GAS.

BUT SPEAKERS AT THE CONVENTION AREN'T BLAMING PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IN FACT, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, STEVE HILTON, WHO WAS RECENTLY ENDORSED BY THE PRESIDENT, SAID THE WAY TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WAS THROUGH TRUMP'S AGENDA.

>> WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT AND HIS TEAM, WE WILL MAKE SURE THE WAR IS FLOWING TO OUR FARMERS, THE OIL IS FLOWING TO OUR REFINERIES, THE FORESTS ARE MANAGED, AND THE TIMBER IS HEADING TO OUR BUILDERS TO BUILD SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES TO RESTORE THE CALIFORNIA DREAM.

>> Reporter: UNLIKE IN 2024 WHEN MASS DEPORTATIONS WERE CENTRAL TO TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN, THERE WERE LITTLE MENTION OF IMMIGRATION AT THE CONVENTION.

BUT SHERIFF CHAD BIANCO WHO IS ALSO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, DID TOUT HIS RECORD AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADER.

>> FOR THE PAST 33 YEARS, I HAVE STRAPPED ON A GUN AND A BADGE, AND SPENT EVERY DAY SERVING CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, MAKING OUR LIVES BETTER AND SAFER.

>> Reporter: NEITHER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR WAS ENDORSED BY THE STATE'S PARTY THIS WEEKEND.

BUT THAT ELECTION STILL HAS NO CLEAR FRONT RUNNER, AND ERIC SWALWELL, A LEADING CANDIDATE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN THIS WEEK AFTER NUMEROUS ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WERE MADE PUBLIC.

CALIFORNIA HASN'T HAD A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

THE OVERALL MESSAGE FROM THE CONVENTION WAS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE TO BLAME FOR THE STATE'S PROBLEMS, AND IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

JAKE GOTTA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS GATHER IN FRONT OF THE SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATER TODAY TO ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO REVIVE CALIFORNIA'S DYING DOWNTOWN WITH HOUSING.

KPBS REPORTER, ALEXANDER WEN SAYS IT FOCUSES ON BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE, DENSER URBAN CENTERS.

>> Reporter: WALKING THROUGH SOME PARTS OF DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, AND YOU'LL SEE BOARDED UP WINDOWS AND GRAFFITI ON BUILDINGS, WHERE THERE WERE ONCE VIBRANT SHOPS.

>> OFFICE VACANCIES IS STILL UP, FOOT TRAFFIC IS DOWN.

>> Reporter: SAN FRANCISCO'S ASSEMBLY MEMBER, MATT HAINEY SAYS THE SHIFT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF WORK.

THE VACANCY RATE NOW EXCEEDS 30%.

IN SAN DIEGO, IT'S ABOUT 33% ACCORDING TO BROKAGE FIRMS.

INTRODUCING A BILL, AD724 IN MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING IN SAN DIEGO, BY BUILDING MORE HOUSING.

>> DOWNTOWNS ARE ACTUALLY SOME OF THE BEST PLACES TO BUILD HOUSING.

THERE'S TRANSIT, THERE'S JOBS, THERE'S RESTAURANTS, THERE'S ARTS AND CULTURE, THERE'S PUBLIC SPACES.

EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE NEED IS ALREADY HERE.

>> Reporter: THE BUILD WOULD STREAMLINE THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PROJECTS FOR BUILDING HIGH- RISE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS NEAR DOWNTOWN TRANSIT HUBS.

HE CHOSE SAN DIEGO TO ANNOUNCE THE BILL BECAUSE THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING MANY OF THE THINGS THE BILL SEEKS TO DO.

>> AS YOU LOOK AROUND, LITERALLY EVERY DIRECTION, YOU CAN SEE BRAND NEW HOUSING THAT IS POPPING UP.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO MAYOR, TODD GLORIA SAYS MORE BUSINESSES WILL POP UP, AND ALONG WITH THEM, MORE JOBS.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ACCIDENT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING, WE HAVE THREE TOWERS GOING IN, NEARLY A THOUSAND UNITS.

WITH THEM IS A GROCERY STORE FOR THIS CORNER OF DOWNTOWN THAT HAS NEVER HAD ONE BEFORE.

THESE ARE CONNECTED MATTERS.

>> THE MAYOR SAYS THERE IS PLENTY OF HOUSING ON THE WEST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.

THE HOPE IS TO BE DEVELOPED ON THE EAST END AND ALSO HERE ON C STREETS.

>> DOWNTOWN IS RIGHT TO BE HELD UP AS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

WE DO HAVE PLACES WHERE WE NEED MORE FOCUS AND ATTENTION, AND I THINK SPECIFICALLY, THE C STREET CORNER WOULD BE ONE.

>> Reporter: THE BILL WOULD ALSO CREATE A $5 MILLION REVOLVING FUND, OFFERING LOW INTEREST LOANS THAT DEVELOPERS CAN TAP TO GET THEIR PROJECTS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

IT IS SUPPORTED BY THE STATE BUILDING AND THE COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA, AND THE SAN DIEGO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRAITS COUNCIL.

HAROLD KIM IS THE BUSINESS MANAGER.

>> THERE IS NO SINGLE SILVER BULLET TO OUR HOUSING CHALLENGES, BUT ATTACKING THE PROBLEM FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES, THIS WILL BE A CRITICAL STEP TO PUTTING HOUSING IN REACH FOR ALL CALIFORNIA WORKERS.

>> Reporter: THE BILL IS PASSED OUT AT THE HOUSING COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.

THE HOPE IS IT WILL REACH THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE BY THE END OF MAY AND THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> COMING UP TONIGHT, TEMPERATURES DROPPING TO THE 50s UNDER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE WINDS STILL A LITTLE GUSTY AS WE HEAD INTO THE DAY TOMORROW, AND A SLIGHT DECREASE IN TEMPERATURES BY THE END OF THE WEEK BEFORE A WEEKEND WARM UP.

ALL THE DETAILS ARE RIGHT AHEAD.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THE U.S.

MILITARY HAS BEGUN A BLOCKADE OF IRANIAN PORTS.

IT COMES AFTER PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND IRAN ENDED YESTERDAY WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT.

LEE WALTMAN HAS MORE INCLUDING THE WAR'S TOLL ON THE ECONOMY.

>> Reporter: AFTER FAILING TO REACH A DEAL FOR PEACE, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS ORDERED THE U.S.

NAVY TO BEGIN BLOCKADING IRANIAN PORT TRAFFIC.

>> IT WOULD BE A CONSIDERABLE OPERATION REQUIRING A LOT OF SURVEILLANCE, AS WELL AS PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF SEVERAL DESTROYERS AND PUBLICLY AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER OR TWO.

>> Reporter: IN A POST ON TRUTH SOCIAL, PRESIDENT TRUMP TOUTED THE DEFEAT OF THE IRANIAN NAVY, BUT WARNED ANY FAST ATTACK SHIPS THAT COME CLOSE TO THE BLOCKADE WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ELIMINATED.

>> THE LEADERSHIP IN IRAN IS HARDENING.

>> Reporter: IRAN'S ACTING DEFENSE MINISTER SAID THE COUNTRY IS PREPARING FOR ANY SCENARIO AND ANY AGGRESSION WOULD RESULT IN A HARSH RESPONSE, BROADCAST ON IRAN'S STATE RUN TELEVISION.

>> IRAN HAD SAID THIS BLOCKADE VIOLATES THE CEASE-FIRE.

IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT.

IT'S ANOTHER THING TO START SHOOTING.

>> Reporter: IRAN HAS BEEN ALLOWING SOME TANKERS THROUGH IN RECENT DAYS, WHILE REPORTEDLY CHARGING A HEFTY TOLL OF UP TO $2 MILLION.

IN THE U.S., STOCK MARKETS FELL, AND OIL PRICES TOPPED $100 A BARREL ON SUNDAY AS THE BLOCKADE AND FAILED PEACE TALKS ARE SAID TO FURTHER DISRUPT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

A GALLON OF GAS IN THE U.S.

COSTS $4.12 ON AVERAGE SUNDAY, UP 38% FROM THE START OF THE WAR, DESPITE DECLINING SLIGHTLY OVER THE WEEKEND.

LEIGH WALDMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR THE FIFTH DAY IN A ROW, GAS PRICES HAVE DROPPED IN SAN DIEGO.

THE AVERAGE PRICE DROPPED 5.8 CENTS.

THAT'S THE LONGEST STREAK SINCE A 12-DAY RUN IN DECEMBER.

TODAY, IT COSTS $5.91 ON AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR GAS.

IT'S ABOUT FIVE CENTS LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, BUT 46.5 CENTS MORE THAN ONE MONTH AGO.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE U.S.

BLOCKADE, THE STRAIGHT OF HORMUZ.

THE GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

>>> THE SMELL AND AIR POLLUTION STEMMING FROM SEWAGE IN THE TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY IS BECOMING UNBEARABLE TO SOUTH BAY RESIDENTS.

HYDROGEN SULPHIDE LEVELS ARE REACHING NEW HIGHS.

ACCORDING TO UC SAN DIEGO, MEASUREMENTS ARE AT LEVELS WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN TWO YEARS.

ONE IMPERIAL BEACH RESIDENT TOLD OUR MEDIA PARTNER THE SYMPTOMS SHE'S EXPERIENCING ARE PUSHING HER OUT OF HER HOME COMPLETELY.

>> WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOME WITH MY FAMILY OVER THERE.

WE CAN'T GO BACK BECAUSE IT IS SO TOXIC.

I LITERALLY WANT TO CRY.

LIKE I WANT TO GO BACK AND I CAN'T.

>> I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ESSENTIALLY BEGGING FOR HELP.

IT IS REALLY, REALLY -- IT'S A SAD AND TROUBLING SITUATION THAT HAS TO END.

>> UC SAN DIEGO DOCTOR, KIMBERLY, SAYS HYDROGEN SULPHIDE IS JUST ONE OF THOUSANDS OF GASES THEY DETECTED THAT'S HARMFUL.

COUNTY SUPERVISOR SHARED THE OVERNIGHT READINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THESE LEVELS WERE HIGHER THAN STATE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR AN ENTIRE NIGHT.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY RECENTLY SIGNED A NEW AGREEMENT TO SELL WATER TO RIVERSIDE COUNTY, AS VOICE OF SAN DIEGO SCOTT LEWIS EXPLAINS FOR OUR LATEST WHY IT MATTERS SEGMENT.

IT'S THE LATEST BALANCING ACT OF HIGH RATES AND SECURING A VITAL RESOURCE.

>> Reporter: TWO WATER DISTRICTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY LEFT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.

THEIR LEADERS SAY THOSE WATER RATES WERE JUST TOO HIGH.

THE TWO AGENCIES SERVE LARGELY FARMING COMMUNITIES, AND THEY DECIDED TO SWITCH TO THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY BASED EASTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT.

NOW IRONICALLY ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER, THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAS AGREED TO BUY WATER FROM THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.

IT'S THE SECOND SALE OF ITS KIND IN THE LAST MONTH.

SAN DIEGANS PAY SOME OF THE HIGHEST WATER RATES IN THE COUNTRY, AS WE'VE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, AND THAT INVESTMENT HAS ACTUALLY BOUGHT ACCESS TO WATER.

SAN DIEGO WILL BE GIVEN 10,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER TO RIVERSIDE COUNTY EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT 21 YEARS.

THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH WATER AS 25,000 HOUSEHOLDS WOULD USE EACH YEAR.

IN EXCHANGE, THE WATER AUTHORITY WOULD GET ABOUT $14 MILLION PER YEAR.

WITH OTHER UPFRONT PAYMENTS, THE WATER AUTHORITY WILL COLLECT ABOUT $74 MILLION IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE DEAL.

WATER AUTHORITY IS ALSO LOOKING TO SELL TO AGENCIES, EVEN FARTHER AWAY, PERHAPS ARIZONA.

BUT GOING OUT OF STATE WILL REQUIRE A LOT MORE WORK.

WATER SALES ARE SUPPOSE TO EASE THE BURDEN OF FUTURE RATE INCREASES ON SAN DIEGANS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE BOUGHT, THE PLANT IN CARLSBAD AND THE WATER WE BOUGHT FROM THE IMPERIAL COUNTY ARE STILL NOT PAID FOR, AND BILLS WILL HAVE TO GO UP TO DO THAT.

BUT THIS SHOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW MUCH, IF AT ALL, THOSE BILLS RISE IN THE FUTURE.

FOR VOICE OF SAN DIEGO, I'M SCOTT LEWIS, AND THAT'S WHY IT MATTERS.

>> THE VOICE OF SAN DIEGO IS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS FOR THE PUBLIC MATTERS INITIATIVE.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT KPBS.ORG/PUBLICMATTERS.

IT'S AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A HEALTHY DIET, BUT FIBER HASN'T ALWAYS GOTTEN THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES.

BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT'S BEGINNING TO CHANGE.

MANDY GAITHER EXPLAINS WHY ONE DIETITIAN IS CALLING FIBER THE IT NUTRIENT OF THE YEAR.

>> Reporter: IT'S PRIMARILY FOUND IN PLANT-BASED FOODS LIKE FRUIT, VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS, AND LEGUMES.

FIBER IS KNOWN TO AID DIGESTION, BUT ALSO HAS A HOST OF OTHER BENEFITS.

>> FIBER PROVIDES PREBIOTICS, AND PREBIOTICS SPEED THE GOOD GUT BACTERIA IN OUR STOMACH TO HELP THEM GROW AND FLOURISH.

>> JULIA ZAMPANO SAYS GUT HEALTH IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER, AND FIBER IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THAT, WHICH IS WHY SHE CALLS IT THE IT NUTRIENT OF THE YEAR.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE YOUR FIBER INTAKE, TAKE IT SLOW TO AVOID STOMACH DISTRESS.

BEGIN BY BEING MINDFUL ABOUT HOW MANY PLANT-BASED FOODS YOU'RE EATING IN A DAY.

>> WE USUALLY SAY TRY TO INCLUDE ONE TO TWO FIBER RICH FOODS WITH EACH MEAL.

>> Reporter: FOR BREAKFAST, THAT COULD INCLUDE GREEK YOGURT WITH BERRIES TOPPED WITH NUTS AND FLAXSEED OR SOME EGGS WITH VEGGIES SCRAMBLED IN.

A FIBER RICH LUNCH COULD INCLUDE A SALAD OR VEGGIE SOUP.

AND DINNER IS SOME SORT OF PROTEIN WITH A WHOLE GRAIN AND WHATEVER VEGGIE SIDE YOU ENJOY.

THERE ARE FIBER SUPPLEMENTS THAT CAN PROVIDE SOME BENEFITS AS WELL, BUT IT IS BEST TO GET THE NUTRIENTS THROUGH YOUR DIET, IF POSSIBLE, BECAUSE FIBER RICH FOODS CAN HELP KEEP YOU FULL, SLOW DOWN THE RATE OF GLUCOSE ABSORPTION IN THE BLOODSTREAM, AND HELP TO MANAGE WEIGHT AND CHOLESTEROL.

>> THERE'S SO MANY OTHER BENEFITS OF FIBER.

SO IF YOU'RE CONSISTENTLY AIMING TO MEET YOUR FIBER NEEDS THROUGH YOUR DIET, YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO MAXIMIZE THOSE BENEFITS.

>> Reporter: FOR HEALTH MINUTE, I'M MANDY GAITHER.

>>> CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEATH ARE MOVING INTO MORE SOCIAL SETTINGS.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER, HEIDI DE MARCO, SAYS ONE LOCAL GROUP IS MAKING THEM LESS INTIMIDATING BY HOSTING THEM AT A BAR.

>> Reporter: IT LOOKS LIKE A TYPICAL NIGHT OUT AT POSEIDON PROJECT.

DRINKS ARE POURED AT THE PUB, CONVERSATIONS FLOW, BUT THE TOPIC HERE IS ANYTHING, BUT TYPICAL.

>> RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU KNOW WHAT MEDICAL ANXIETY IS?

>> Reporter: ABOUT 50 PEOPLE PACK IN FOR AN EVENT CALLED DEATH OVER DRAFTS.

IT'S A MODERN TWIST ON TRADITIONAL DEATH CAFES.

>> THE FIRST QUESTION WE GET WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE IS WHAT?

THAT'S LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA?

>> Reporter: CHRIS IS WITH AUTONOMY HEALTH.

IT'S A MEDICAL PRACTICE THAT HELPS PATIENTS NAVIGATE END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS.

THEY'RE HOSTING THE EVENT.

SHE SAYS THE GOAL IS TO NORMALIZE TALKING ABOUT DEATH AND DYING, BY DISCUSSING AN UNCOMFORTABLE TOPIC IN A MORE COMFORTABLE SETTING WITH DRINKS.

>> PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE A LITTLE INTIMIDATED ABOUT GOING TO SOMETHING THAT IS AT A COMMUNITY CENTER AND ARE MORE COMFORTABLE IN A CASUAL BAR ATMOSPHERE.

>> Reporter: INCLUDING A YOUNGER CROWD.

>> AND WE KNEW BY OFFERING AN EVENT THAT WAS AT A BAR WITH ALCOHOL MIGHT BUILD TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION, WHO REALLY SEEMS MORE CURIOUS THAN THEY EVER HAVE.

>> Reporter: THAT CURIOSITY IS WHAT DREW IN PAUL AMMONS.

>> SO I BELIEVE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION THAT ARE FINDING INTERESTS IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT COMING TO PLACES LIKE A BREWERY, WHERE WE MIGHT HANG OUT, IT JUST MAKES THE CONVERSATION EASIER.

>> Reporter: HE IS ONLY 26, BUT HE SAYS HIS INTEREST COMES FROM HOW RARELY THESE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN IN HIS EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> IT IS OFTEN TRAPPED IN PLACES LIKE MORTUARIES.

>> Reporter: HE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE CONVERSATIONS OUT OF THE PUB AND INTO HIS LIFE.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE PART IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE MY AGE, PEOPLE LIKE MY PARENTS WHO ARE NOT HAVING IT HAD CONVERSATION, AND SEE WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR DEATH AND SO MUCH THAT WE CAN.

>> Reporter: HEIDI DE MARCO, KPBS NEWS.

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

>>> THE EXCITEMENT AROUND SPACE EXPLORATION DOESN'T HAVE TO END WITH THE RETURN OF THE ARTEMIS II CREW.

ITS INTERNATIONAL SKY DARK WEEK.

KPBS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER, SAYS THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF STAR GAZING EVENTS PLANNED THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> Reporter: ABOUT TEN MILES NORTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, YOU CAN FIND A SURPRISINGLY DARK URBAN PLACE TO STAR GAZE IN MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK.

THE PARK IS SHIELDED FROM CITY LIGHTS BY ITS VAST MOUNTAIN RANGE.

>> SO WE DO LOVE HERE AT THE PARK TO GO THROUGH THE STAR PARTIES WE HAVE TWICE A MONTH, THAT PEOPLE CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, WITHIN TEN MINUTES, BE IN AN AREA THAT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DARK, WHERE THEY COULD DO STAR GAZING WITH EXPERTS IN THAT AREA.

>> Reporter: THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, HOSTING A STAR PARTY.

IT IS A PART OF INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK.

THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST STAR GAZING EVENTS.

ELAINE IS WITH THE GROUP.

THE WEEK LONG CELEBRATION IS A TIME TO SPEND OUTDOORS UNDER THE STARS.

>> WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT AND ENGAGE AND SEE THE SKY AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WITH THAT AMOUNT OF STARS AND/OR WITH A TELESCOPE, THE AWE AND RECOGNIZING HOW PRECIOUS OF A RESOURCE WE HAVE OUT THERE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL VIEW, AND WE NEED TO PRESERVE IT.

>> Reporter: REDUCING LIGHT POLLUTION HAS MANY BENEFITS.

>> IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE ESTHETICS OF LIGHTING, ALTHOUGH IT IS NICE FOR US HUMANS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK UP AND ENJOY THE VIEW OF THE STARS.

THERE IS A LOT OF ANIMALS THAT USE IT FOR MIGRATION, FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, HUMANS HAVE USED IT FOR NAVIGATION, AND THEN TODAY, MOST OF THE TIME FOR APPRECIATION AND ADMIRATION.

>> Reporter: FOR A ROUNDUP OF STAR GAZING EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEK, VISIT KPBS.ORG.

TAMMY MURGA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> BREAKING DOWN HEADLINES FOR YOU HERE AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING AND HEAD INTO THE DAY TOMORROW.

THOSE SHOWERS BEGIN TO TAPER, BUT THE WINDS WILL BE RATHER GUSTY AT TIMES, 20, 25 MILES PER HOUR WITH SOME GUSTS STRONGER.

AND THEN AS WE LOOK AHEAD THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK, WE WILL DRY OUT, BUT TEMPERATURES START TO COME DOWN, ESPECIALLY LATER ON INTO THE WEEK BEFORE THEY JUMP BACK UP INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND.

TONIGHT IS COMFORTABLY COOL FOR MANY OF US.

I MEAN, WE'RE 50 AT OCEANSIDE.

CHILLIER NIGHT THERE, 58 IN SAN DIEGO, DOWN TO 54 TONIGHT IN CHULA VISTA.

HOW ABOUT BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN MOUNT LAGOON AT 29 DEGREES AND EVEN THE SPRINGS DOWN TO 46.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE STORM HAS BEEN A COLDER ONE HERE.

SOME RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS TAKE OVER UTAH AND COLORADO THROUGH THE DAY, TOMORROW, AND THEN OUR WEATHER REALLY STARTS TO SHAPE UP AND BE QUITE NICE FOR THE DAY TOMORROW.

SO OUTDOOR PLANS WILL TRAVEL.

ALL SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

WE LOOK AHEAD TO TEMPERATURES.

WE ARE SUNNY, AND WE'RE IN THE 70s FOR MANY OF OUR LOCATIONS HERE ALONG THE COAST, INLAND, AND THEN AS WE LOOK TOWARDS MOUNT LAGOON.

ALL RIGHT, BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, OUR WEATHER WILL STILL STAY DRY.

BUT FURTHER NORTH HERE, NORTHERN PARTS OF CALIFORNIA, AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THAT'S WHERE THE NEXT STORM WILL START TO BRING RAIN, EVEN WITH THE MOUNTAIN SNOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

ALL RIGHT, FIVE-DAY OUTLOOK FOR THE COAST.

TEMPERATURES INTO THE LOWER 70s FOR MOST OF THE WEEK.

SUNNY AND 75 ON SATURDAY, HOW ABOUT THAT?

YOU CAN SEE HOW TEMPERATURES KIND OF BOTTOM OUT ON THURSDAY, FURTHER INLAND WITH CLOUDS INCREASING AT 70 DEGREES.

BUT THEN WE'RE RIGHT BACK TO THE 80s BY SATURDAY.

HEADING TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN FORECAST HERE, IT'S A COLD START TO THE WEEK.

TEMPERATURES COME UP A LITTLE BIT ON WEDNESDAY BEFORE DIPPING AND THE WIND PICKING UP ON THURSDAY AT A HIGH OF ONLY 45 WITH SUNSHINE.

ON FRIDAY, A BIG REBOUND BY SATURDAY.

AND TO THE DESERT WE GO, WHERE TEMPERATURES WILL TURN A BIT COOLER ON FRIDAY TO THE 70s, BUT UPPER 80s BY SATURDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> THERE'S A COMMUNITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WHERE AN ARTIST IS HONORED FOR HIS IMAGINATIVE SPIRIT.

TO UNDERSTAND WHY, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN NAMED QUERY.

IN THE LATE 1950s, EARLY 60s, JERRY LIVES IN BENITA.

>> JERRY IS STILL LOVED AND HONORED BY THIS COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: WANT TO KNOW WHY?

I'LL SHOW YOU SOME VIDEO OF WHAT WAS A ROADSIDE ATTRACTION IN ALPINE.

DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG.

IT WAS AN AMUSEMENT PARK.

IF YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IT WAS CALLED DINOSAUR LAND.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ CRAWL AROUND ON REPLICAS OF PREHISTORIC ANIMALS, AND WORKING AT DINOSAUR LAND, THERE WAS JERRY.

JERRY GLOSS, A TEENAGER WHO HAD A TALENT FOR CURATING THESE DINOSAURS, EVEN MADE A COUPLE OF THEM MOVE.

THEY KNEW HOW TO DO THAT.

>> WELL, WE KNOW HE HAD A LOVE OF ART AND A LOVE OF SCULPTURE.

>> Reporter: AND IT IS FOR THAT, THAT HE IS REVERED IN BENITA TO THIS DAY.

VANESSA CHICKA SAYS THE STORY CAPTURED HER, SHE STUDIED HIM, WRITTEN ABOUT HIM, LEARNED HOW IN THE 1950s, THIS THEN 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT HILLTOP HIGH STARTED CREATING SOME THINGS OUT OF REBARB, CHICKEN WIRE, AND CEMENT IN HIS HOME.

>> HIS IMAGINATION, HE STARTED SCULPTURING THEM.

>> Reporter: G-L-A-R-F, GLARFS, AS HE BUILT A COUPLE OF THEM AND THEN MORE.

EVERYBODY NOTICED.

>> HE DIDN'T JUST CREATE THESE GLARFS AND PUT THEM IN THE GARAGE.

HE HAD THEM RIGHT OUT THERE ON WHAT WOULD BE KNOWN AS DINOSAUR HILL.

>> Reporter: HIS GLARFS WERE A LANDMARK IN BENITA, SOMETHING THE TOWN KNEW ABOUT AND CELEBRATED.

HE WAS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS CREATIVITY AND THEN.

>> THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.

THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, AND A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.

>> Reporter: JERRY DIED.

HIS DEVASTATED FAMILY, MOM, REMAINED AT THE HOUSE WITH THE GLARFS OUTSIDE FOR A WHILE, THEN WITH TIME, SHE MOVED JERRY'S CREATIONS WERE TAKEN AWAY AND LOST FOR 28 YEARS.

THAT MIGHT BE WHERE THE STORY ENDS, BUT LOOK.

IS THAT?

YES, IT IS, A COUPLE OF GLARFS.

BUT THEY WERE LOST.

WHAT HAPPENED?

A CHULA VISTA POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM BONITA SPOTTED THEM WHILE ON PATROL.

IT TURNS OUT A FAMILY MEMBER HAD THEM, AGREED TO A RELOCATION TO HERE IN FRONT OF BONITA ROAD.

A LOCAL ARTIST BECAME INVOLVED.

IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING.

>> AND THEN THEY WERE RESTORED, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IS WHAT THE RESTORATION OF THE GLARFS THAT JERRY CREATED.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE OF A LATER GENERATION DRIVING BY, MAYBE NOTICING, OR TO THE PASSER-BY CURIOUS ENOUGH TO STOP AND WONDER, THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY CAME TO BE WHERE THEY ARE.

AND AS FOR VANESSA?

>> WELL, I DECIDED TO WRITE A STORY ABOUT THE GLARFS AND ABOUT JERRY.

JUST TELL HIS STORY.

>> Reporter: AND A COLORING BOOK TOO IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, HER BOOK IS ABOUT THE GLARFS WHO LOST THEIR FRIEND, JERRY, BUT STILL HAVE A CONNECTION EVEN THOUGH HE'S PASSED.

>> THE LOVE IS STILL THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM THEIR SALE GOES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY'S ANNUAL BONITA FEST.

THERE ARE GLARF T-SHIRTS THAT BENEFIT THE MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER.

SEEMS LIKE THE GLARFS HAVE BECOME AN UNOFFICIAL LOGO OF BONITA.

EVEN AT GLEN ABBEY MEMORIAL PARK.

IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, THERE IS A GRAVE AND A MARKER HONORING JERRY LEE AND HIS GLARFS.

>> Reporter: I WONDER WHAT HE WOULD THINK OF THE LEGACY HE LEFT BEHIND.

THE AFFECTION THE BONITA COMMUNITY FEEL FOR HIM YET.

>> I LOVE THIS ONE, IT'S GOT POLKA DOTS.

>> Reporter: I THINK HE ESPECIALLY WOULD ENJOY THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE SEEING THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HOW CURIOUS AND STRANGE AND THE QUESTIONS, WHAT ARE THEY?

WHO DID THAT?

IN HIS MEMORY AND BY ALL MEANS, DO TELL THEM THIS STORY ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF KEN KRAMER'S STORIES, HIS HALF HOUR EPISODES ABOUT SAN DIEGO CAN BE SEEN EVERY THURSDAY EVENING AT 8:00 RIGHT HERE ON KPBS.

>>> HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON TOMORROW IN THE KPBS NEWSROOM ON NPR'S MORNING EDITION.

AMERICANS WITH TIES TO IRAN OPEN UP ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND TENSIONS AROUND THE FRAGILE CEASE-FIRE.

AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO FILE YOUR TAXES BY THE APRIL 15 DEADLINE.

KPBS MIDDAY EDITION IS TALKING TO AN EXPERT FOR ADVICE ON GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR REFUND.

YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE, FAMILIES OF COMPANIES.

PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION, AND FLOOD SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILLHOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.