>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EDITION HAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ADVANCING A $25 MINIMUM WAGE FOR WORKERS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

OUR METRO REPORTER SAYS THIS FOLLOW SIMILAR MEASURES ADOPTED IN LA AND IN LONG BEACH.

>> Reporter: UNIONIZED HOTEL WORKERS RALLIED OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL AHEAD OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL'S COST-OF-LIVING COMMITTEE.

THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, A $25 MINIMUM WAGE FOR HOTEL WORKERS, EVENT CENTER STAFF, AND JANITORS IN THE CITY'S TOURISM INDUSTRY.

>> THEY SAY IN SAN DIEGO THERE'S NO NEUTRALS HERE.

YOU WILL EITHER BE A UNION MAN OR THUG FOR THE HOTEL YEAR .

WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON COUNSEL?

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

>> THE UNIONS IN SAN DIEGO HAVE BEEN TESTING THE LIMITS OF THEIR POWER WITH INCREASINGLY AMBITIOUS POLICY GOALS.

DOZENS OF HOTEL WORKERS TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT THEY COULD BARELY AFFORD TO GET BY WHILE WEALTHY CHAINS LIKE THE MARRIOTT AND HYATT HOTEL MAKE BILLIONS IN PROFITS BUT HOTEL OWNERS TELL A DIFFERENT STORY.

ONE OF STRUGGLING BUSINESSES AND RISING EXPENSES THAT HIT LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT HOTELS THE HARDEST.

>> THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC REMAIN.

HOTEL OCCUPANCY IS STILL BELOW THE PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS AND OCCUPANCY IS WHAT DRIVES NUMBERS.

WE ARE ALREADY TRYING TO COMPETE FOR PRICE-SENSITIVE CONVENTIONS LIKE, CON.

>> Reporter: COUNCILMAN RIVERA WHO BROUGHT THE PROPOSAL FORWARD SAYS BUSINESSES PREDICT DOOMSDAY SCENARIOS BEFORE BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO COME TO PASS.

>> WHAT I ASK IS THAT THEY NOT TELL ME THAT THE SKY WILL FALL.

IT'S THE SAME ARGUMENT EVERY TIME.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DECADE WE ARE HAVING THAT ARGUMENT IN, EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING WAGES FOR WORKERS AND MAKING THINGS FAIR THEY SAY THE ECONOMY WILL BREAK.

>> THE COMMUNITY VOTED TO MOVE THE PROPOSAL FORWARD.

THE STAFF WILL NOW DO AN ECONOMIC STUDY AND DRAFTED ORDINANCE THAT WILL RETURN TO THE COMMITTEE IN JUNE.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR THE SECOND DAY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH WORKERS WERE ON THE PICKET LINE TODAY , TWO UNIONS ARE INVOLVED.

BOTH CLAIM UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES.

THEY REPRESENT SEVERAL PROFESSIONS INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH WORK, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND CUSTODIAL WORK.

WORKERS SAID ONE MAJOR CONCERN IS LOW STAFFING LEVELS.

>> I'VE SEEN THE MOST JOB OPENINGS WE'VE SEEN .

WE LIKE TO KEEP GOOD PEOPLE AND KEEP HELPING OUR PATIENTS.

>> TODAY MARKED THE SECOND DAY OF ONE STRIKE AND THE FINAL DAY OF ANOTHER AND BOTH UNIONS SAY THEY ARE READY TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS WHILE THE STRIKES ARE OVER.

>>> I'M TRACKING A COOL AND RAINY FORECAST AS WE HEAD THROUGH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

THE COOL WEATHER WILL BE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, THE RAIN WILL MOVE IN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

SO YES, NOT A VERY SPRINGLIKE FORECAST AS WE HEAD TO THE WEEKEND BUT IT WILL BE MILD AND BREEZY.

WE ARE WATCHING AFTER THE COOL WEATHER.. >>> THE TRACKS ON THE BLUFFS OF DELMAR ARE PART OF THE VITAL RAIL CORRIDOR CONNECTING SAN DIEGO TO THE REST OF THE NATION BUT ERODING BLUFFS AND RISING SEA LEVELS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ARE THREATENING US.

TOMORROW THEY COULD NARROW DOWN OPTIONS TO MOVE THE TRACKS INLAND.

OUR REPORTER EXPLAINS.

FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOODS MOVES THROUGH THESE TRACKS IN DELMAR AS PART OF A 351 MILE LOS ANGELES-SAN DIEGO RAIL CORRIDOR.

IT'S THE ONLY REAL CONNECTION TO LOS ANGELES AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

SO, ANYTIME THERE IS A BLUFF COLLAPSE IT'S NOT ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE FOR COMMUTERS BUT ALSO A MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE REGION.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS A STRATEGIC RAILWAY.

>> Reporter: THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS SAYS IT'S ESSENTIAL TO MAKE THE RAIL LINES SAFE AND STABLE WHICH COULD MEAN MOVING IT INLAND.

>> WE ARE SEEING DANGERS ON THE CLIFFS UP AND DOWN THE COAST IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO A GRAND JURY REPORT BETWEEN AUGUST 2018 AND FEBRUARY 2019 THEY WERE SIX COLLAPSES ALONG THE DELMAR BLUFFS.

TUNNELING IS THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE THE TRACKS INLAND BECAUSE OF THE STEEP TOPOGRAPHY.

THEY'VE NARROWED THE OPTIONS DOWN TO FOUR FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN ALTERNATIVES AND ACCORDING TO THE VALUE ANALYSIS STUDY, THESE FOUR ARE THE CHEAPEST OPTIONS.

THE CURRENT OPTIONS ARE SLIGHTLY TWEAKED FROM THE ONES RELEASED LAST SUMMER, THIS IS AN OPTION WHICH GOES AROUND MOST OF THE FAIRGROUNDS.

THE PREVIOUS ONE CUTS THROUGH THE FAIRGROUNDS.

THE FAIRGROUNDS HAS OBJECTED TO TUNNELING UNDERNEATH THE FAIRGROUNDS SAYING CONSTRUCTION WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR FOR MANY YEARS AND THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS INVOLVED TUNNELING UNDER THE CITY OF DELMAR.

RESIDENTS OPPOSE THESE CITING ENVIRONMENTAL, NOISE, AND VIBRATION CONCERNS ALONG WITH THE EFFECT OF PROPERTY VALUES.

THE FOURTH OPTION WAS ADDED LEAVING THE TRACKS WHERE THEY ARE AND REINFORCING THE BLUFFS.

TOMORROW, THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON WHICH WILL MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT STAGE.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> CARDINAL ROBERT McELROY HAS BEEN THE HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO LEADING NEARLY 1.4 MILLION MEMBERS IN MATTERS SPIRITUAL AND SECULAR SUCH AS IMMIGRATION AND ENVIRONMENT OVER 10 YEARS.

IN A FEW WEEKS HE WILL BECOME THE HEAD OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON DC.

OUR REPORTER TONYA THORNE SAYS HE WILL BE A FEW MILES FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND FROM CAPITOL HILL.

>> Reporter: BECAME THE FIRST CARDINAL IN SAN DIEGO AND NOW ROBERT McELROY IS LEAVING TO LEAD THE ARCHDIOCESE IN WASHINGTON DC.

>> IT'S BEEN A GREAT GRACE FOR ME TO BE HERE.

PART OF MY HEART WILL ALWAYS BE HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

WHEN I'M IN WASHINGTON AND WHEREVER.

FOR HE HELD A FINAL NEWS CONFERENCE WITH THE SAN DIEGO MEDIA SPEAKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF POPE FRANCIS.

>> PEOPLE ARE RAISING THEIR VOICES IN PRAYER FOR THE POPE AND PRAYING THAT GOD WILL BE WITH HIM TO HELP HIM IN HIS SUFFERING AND TO GIVE HIM PEACE AND STRENGTH.

GIVE HIM HEALING.

FOR HE SHARED THAT FRANCIS APPEARS TO BE MAKING A RECOVERY.

>> I'M HAPPY FOR THAT, PERSONALLY.

I KNOW SO MANY MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOOKED ON HIM WHO IS BROUGHT A SENSE OF PASTORAL COMMITMENT AND DEPTH TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH.

>> THEY SAY THEY HOPE YOU WILL BE THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH FOR SOME TIME TO COME.

>> THE WORLD IS IN SO MUCH TO MOLTEN CONFLICT NOW, POPE FRANCIS'S MESSAGE OF LOVE AND COMPASSION AND CARE CONSIDERING EVERYONE EQUAL, THIS IS ESPECIALLY NEEDED WITHIN THE WORLD AT THIS TIME.

>> McELROY IS CONSIDERED ONE OF POPE FRANCIS IS MOST PROGRESSIVELY MOVE LIKE-MINDED ALLIES.

>> THE QUESTION OF COMING INTO CHURCHES AND OTHER PLACES OF WORSHIP AND COMING TO SCHOOLS IN THE SAME WAY, IT'S A DEEPLY MORAL QUESTION.

THE REASON IT HASN'T BEEN DONE IS BECAUSE WHEN THOSE PLACES BECOME TARGETS OF I.C.E RAIDS, IT MAKES EVERYONE UNEASY .

IT STRIKES FEAR IN EVERYONE'S HEART.

>> THE THREATS ACT AS A DETERMINANT DETERRENT.

HE HOPES TO CONTINUE HIS MESSAGE OF COMPASSION WITH THE COMMUNITY IN WASHINGTON AND IN THE WORLD.

HE WILL REMAIN IN THE SAN DIEGO POST UNTIL MARCH 11 WHERE HE WILL BE INSTALLED AS THE ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON.

TONYA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>> IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR NEW PRESIDENTS TO SACK THE NATION'S 93 U.S.

ATTORNEYS AND HIRE NEW ONES ALIGNED WITH THEIR OWN PRIORITIES.

SAN DIEGO U.S. ATTORNEY TARA McGRATH WAS ONE OF THEM.

>>> SHE SAID THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S SHIFT IN GOALS IS SO DRAMATIC THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK.

>> WHY DID YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO KPBS TODAY?

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THAT FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE BEING DEMONIZED AND DEMORALIZED WITHIN THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

>> I WANT TO GET TO PUBLIC SAFETY BUT BEFORE I DO, YOU LEFT ON FEBRUARY 12.

GIVE ME THE SENSE OF WHAT LIFE HAS BEEN LIKE FOR FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IN THE FEW WEEKS BEFORE YOU LEFT?

>> I'VE WORKED FOR I THINK EIGHT ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND I'VE WORKED FOR REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS AND DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS .

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THE SHIFTS IN THE CULTURE AND TEMPERATURE IN THE OFFICE AND ALL OF THE YEARS I'VE WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

THERE'S BEEN TURMOIL, STRESS, DEMORALIZATION, AND INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE IN THE LAST MONTH.

CERTAINLY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INCLUDED.

>> WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS CAUSING THE TURMOIL?

>> IT ISN'T THE CHANGE.

PEOPLE ARE USED TO CHANGE.

WE ARE USED TO WORKING FOR ONE ADMINISTRATION THEN ANOTHER.

IT'S THE SHIFT IN RHETORIC ABOUT THE LACK OF RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR WHAT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DO.

THE PROBLEM IS THE SHIFT FROM CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENTS AND THEIR EXPERTISE TO DOING WORK THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE EXPERTISE.

>> SO HOW DOES ALL OF THIS AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS IMPACTED, I THINK, PRIMARILY IN THE REGION DUE TO THE SHIFT IN THE DIRECTION OF CERTAIN AGENCIES BEING REFOCUSED ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

>> IT'S THE MOVEMENT OF AGENCIES LIKE THE FBI WHO NORMALLY ARE FOCUSED ON DOMESTIC TERRORISM, RESPONDING TO GUARDIAN COMPLAINTS.

GUARDIAN COMPLAINT IS WHEN A TEACHER IS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW A STUDENT IS BEHAVING OR A NEIGHBOR IS WORRIED THAT THAT THEIR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR IS SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME IN HIS GARAGE, MAKING WEIRD STATEMENTS.

THEY REPORT THIS INFORMATION TO THE FBI.

THE FBI GENERATES THIS INFORMATION IN A GUARDIAN COMPLAINT.

THEN THEY GO OUT TO QUESTION, DOES THIS PERSON HAVE ACCESS TO GUNS?

ARE THEY TROLLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES WHICH COULD SET OFF ALARM BELLS?

THAT'S WHAT A GUARDIAN CALL IS AND THAT IS WHAT THE FBI DOES.

>> SO THEY ARE PREVENTING MASS SHOOTINGS.

>> THEY PREVENT MASS SHOOTINGS, TERRORIST ATTACKS, HATE CRIMES.

THEY DO THAT THROUGH GENERATING INTELLIGENCE AND THEY HAVE AN EXPERTISE IN IT WITH ANALYSTS AND AGENTS WHO TRACK THE INFORMATION WITHIN OUR DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THEY DO THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO COULD BE SETTING OFF THE ALARM BELLS.

THEN THEY RESPOND.

ALSO, EQUALLY, THE ETF FOR EXAMPLE ALCOHOL TOBACCO AND FIREARMS ARE THE PREEMINENT INVESTIGATORS FOR WILDFIRE.

THAT'S WHO WE SEND OUT TO FIGURE OUT THE SOURCE OF A WILDFIRE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND UNDERSTAND WHY IT OCCURRED.

THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, THEY ARE EXPERTS IN IDENTIFYING WHERE A FENTANYL DEALER MAY HAVE OBTAINED IT AND TRACK IT BACK TO THE SMUGGLING OPERATION AND THE OVERSEAS CARTEL WHICH FUNNELED THE TOXIC POISON INTO OUR COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHAT THE DEA DOES.

SO WE HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH SPECIALIZE IN ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY SAFE FROM MASS SHOOTINGS, GHOST GUNS, FIRES, FROM FENTANYL, AND NOW THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DEVOTING SIGNIFICANT TIME TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

>> WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING, IT SOUNDS REALLY SCARY.

WHERE DO YOU FIND HELP IN ALL OF THIS?

>> UNQUESTIONABLY IT'S WITHIN THE PUBLIC SERVANTS, THEY ARE DOING THE WORK BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.

I FIND HOPE IS IN THOSE PEOPLE.

AS WELL AS AN ENGAGEMENT AND PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION.

THE TURMOIL, DEMORALIZATION, AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST MONTH IS NOT WHAT AMERICANS EXPECT OR DESERVE FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS NOT THE NORM.

WE CANNOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO EXPECT OR ACCEPT THIS AS THE NORM.

>> THAT WAS PUBLIC MATTERS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH KPBS, A NEWS SOURCE, AND VOICE OF SAN DIEGO.

YOU COULD SEE MORE OF OUR STORIES AT KPBS.ORG/PUBLIC MATTERS.

>>> AND ACTIVIST GROUP CALLING FOR A NATIONWIDE BOYCOTT AND WHAT THEY ARE DESCRIBING AS AN ECONOMIC BLACKOUT.

THE ORGANIZATION CALLED THE PEOPLE'S UNION USA IS ASKING AMERICAN CONSUMERS NOT TO SPEND MONEY FOR 24 HOURS.

LEE WALDMAN EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: NO SPENDING OVER 24 HOURS, THE MESSAGE COMING FROM THE CONSUMER ACTIVIST GROUP, THE PEOPLE'S UNION.

ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE, THE ECONOMIC BLACKOUT IS INTENDED TO SHOW THEM WHO REALLY HOLDS THE POWER.

THE EFFORT IS LED BY JOHN SCHWARTZ, THE FOUNDER OF THE PEOPLE'S UNION.

IN HIS BIO HE WRITES ONLINE, IF WE STAND TOGETHER WE DON'T JUST DEMAND CHANGE BUT CREATE IT.

THIS COMES AS SOME PROTEST RETAILERS LIKE TARGET FOR ROLLING BACK DDI PROGRAMS.

>> THEY RESPOND TO ONE THING, MONEY, DOLLARS.

SO MANY OF US THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY SAID LET'S FLEX OUR DOLLAR POWER.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT THEY LISTEN TO.

>> Reporter: A PROFESSOR OF MARKETING AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY HAS RESEARCHED THE IMPACTS OF COMPANY BOYCOTTS IN THE PAST AND SAYS THIS ONE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TARGET ONE SPECIFIC COMPANY.

>> THE CALL ISN'T A BOYCOTT A SINGLE BRAND OR OUTLET BUT RATHER, CALLING FOR CONSUMERS TO SHUTDOWN THEIR SPENDING ALTOGETHER.

FOR FRUSTRATION OVER HIGH PRICES AT RETAILERS AS A DRIVING FACTOR FOR FRIDAY'S ECONOMIC BLACKOUT BUT TUCKMAN SAYS SHE'S NOT SURE WHAT IMPACT THE SPENDING BOYCOTT WILL HAVE ON THIS ISSUE.

>> THERE'S OTHER FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE THE FACTORS THEY MAKE.

MY PREDICTION IS THAT IT'S UNLIKELY WE WILL SEE A MEASURABLE IMPACT.

>> Reporter: IN NEW YORK I'M LEE WALDMAN.

>> INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE RAISING RATES FOLLOWING DEVASTATING WILDFIRES LAST MONTH.

>>> THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER SAT DOWN WITH STATE FARM OFFICIALS WHO ARE ASKING FOR AN EMERGENCY RATE INCREASE GETTING MAY 1.

>> Reporter: THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES IN LOS ANGELES COULD BE ONE OF THE COSTLIEST DISASTERS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES.

CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR OWN INSURANCE POLICIES SAYS THE STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

>> WILL I HAVE AN OPTION?

AM I GOING TO GET DROPPED?

>> Reporter: THREE WEEKS AGO STATE FARM GENERAL ASKED FOR AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY RATE HIKE, THE CALIFORNIA SUBSIDIARY OF STATE FARM.

THEY WANT TO INCREASE HOMEOWNER POLICIES BY 22% AND CONNEAUT CONDO OWNER POLICIES BY 15% AND RENT INSURANCE POLICIES BY 30%.

>> MY IMMEDIATE QUESTION TO THEM WAS, COULD YOU PAY OFF THE CLAIMS FOR THE CURRENT FIRE VICTIMS AS WE ARE OPERATING ON A DAY BY DAY?

THEY ASSURED ME THEY DO HAVE THAT.

>> THE COMMISSIONER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT STATE FARM'S PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

>> I WANT TO KNOW IF STATE FARM CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO PAY MORE THAT WE GET GUARANTEES THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR FOOTPRINT AND THAT THEY WILL REMAIN IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: THE GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY IS THE LARGEST INSURER IN THE GOLDEN STATE AND IN MAY 2023 THEY STOP WRITING POLICIES IN CALIFORNIA AND IN MAY 2024 IT DID NOT RENEW THOUSANDS OF EXISTING POLICIES.

ADDICTS SAY STATE FARM HAS A LOT TO PROVE IN ORDER TO SECURE THE RATE INCREASE.

>> THEY HAD RATE INCREASE AFTER RATE INCREASE.

THERE IS A PROCESSING CALIFORNIA TO MAKE SURE THE RATE INCREASES ARE FAIR.

>> THE CONSUMER WATCHDOG SAYS HOMEOWNERS INSURED BY STATE FARM COULD PAY AN ADDITIONAL $600 A YEAR FOR THEIR POLICIES.

>> WE THINK YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE RIGHT NUMBER AND FAIR.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS 25% TARIFFS ON CANADA AND MEXICO ARE BACK ON AFTER DELAYING THE PLAN EARLIER THIS MONTH.

IN A POST ON TRUTH SOCIAL THE PRESIDENT SAID ILLICIT DRUGS ARE BEING SMUGGLED AT "UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS" AND THAT THE TARIFFS WOULD CUT DOWN ON TRAFFICKING.

LOCAL EXPERTS TOLD OUR MEDIA PARTNER SAID IT WILL LIKELY AFFECT LOCAL GAS PRICES.

>> CANADA PROVIDES MORE OF THE EXPORTS.

THE IMPACT ON CANADIAN OIL WOULD BE BIGGER.

IT'S PROJECTED THAT THE COST OF GASOLINE MIGHT GO UP AS MUCH AS $.09-$.20 PER GALLON.

>> THE TARIFFS ARE SET TO GO INTO EFFECT ON MARCH 4.

THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED A 10% UNIVERSAL TARIFF CHARGE ON IMPORTS FOR CHINA WILL BE DOUBLED.

>>> 2024 WAS A BIG YEAR FOR FOODBORNE ILLNESSES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

OUR HEALTH REPORTER EXPLAINS WHAT'S BEHIND A SPIKE IN CASES AND HOW TO REMAIN SAFE.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY REPORTED 50 FOODBORNE ILLNESS OUTBREAKS LAST YEAR.

TWICE AS MANY AS IN 2023.

AN OUTBREAK IS TWO OR MORE ILLNESSES FROM THE SAME FOOD SOURCE.

ONE VIRUS IS BEHIND MOST CASES.

>> NORA VIRUS ENDS UP BEING A FAIR MAJORITY OF THE CASES WITH THESE OUTBREAKS.

>> THE VIRUS CAUSES VOMITING, DIARRHEA, AND STOMACH PAIN AND WAS LINKED TO 15 OUTBREAKS OF CONTAMINATED RAW OYSTERS LAST YEAR.

>> THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHELLFISH GROWER IN MEXICO AS WELL AS SOME IN THE NORTH WASHINGTON AREA.

AS THE OYSTERS ARE THEN SHIPPED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND SOME OF THEM LAND HERE IN SAN DIEGO, THAT'S WHAT DROVE SOME OF THE ILLNESS NUMBERS.

>> Reporter: THIS TEAM INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS FROM BOTH DOCTORS AND THE PUBLIC.

>> OUR TEAM WILL DO A DIET RECALL AND TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY'VE EATEN OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.

THEN WE TRIED TO GET THE INFORMATION TO DETERMINE IF THEIR SYMPTOMS WERE CAUSED BY A FOOD THAT THEY CONSUME FROM A RESTAURANT.

>> ANOTHER CULPRITS, RAW MILK.

IN 2023 IT WAS LINKED TO SALMONELLA.

LAST YEAR, HEALTH OFFICIALS INVESTIGATED IT FOR POSSIBLE BIRD FLU.

A HANDFUL OF CASES HELPED THEM CATCH A STATEWIDE OUTBREAK EARLY.

>> WE REALIZED WE HAD FOUR PEOPLE WHO HAD SAID THEY ALL DRANK RAW MILK WHICH ISN'T THAT COMMON TO ENCOUNTER AND WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON.

WE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH HEATHER'S GROUP AND STARTED THE PROCESS TO COORDINATE THE INVESTIGATION.

WE ACTUALLY LED THE STATE IN THE EARLY NOTICE OF THAT BECAUSE OF THE TRACKING WORK WE WERE DOING.

>> SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS COULD LOWER YOUR RISK ACCORDING TO EXPERTS.

>> COLD FOOD KEEPING A COLD, HOT FOOD KEEPING IT HOT, AND WASHING YOUR HANDS WOULD BE THE BEST PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AGAINST FOODBORNE ILLNESS.

>> PREVENTING OUTBREAKS IS NOT ONLY UP TO HEALTH OFFICIALS .

>> WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN REDUCING ILLNESS AND DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH FOODBORNE ILLNESS AND CONSUMERS NEED TO BE EDUCATED AND INFORMED AS WELL.

>> IF YOU THINK YOUR FOOD MAKES YOU SICK, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPORT IT, TRACKING CASES COULD STOP AND OUTBREAK.

HEIDI DiMARCO KPBS NEWS.

>>> I'M TRACKING A COOLING TREND TOWARD THE WEEKEND WITH RAIN CHANCES MOVING IN AS WE APPROACH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

OVERALL, PRIMARILY FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES.

THE STORM SYSTEM WORKING THROUGH CALIFORNIA BRINGING IN COOLER CONDITIONS.

ALSO SOME RAINFALL WITH A LOW CHANCE OF RAIN ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THIS SECOND STORM SYSTEM BETWEEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THIS WILL PRIMARILY IMPACT THE NORTHERN COAST AND SOME INTERIOR MOUNTAIN SNOW WHICH WILL DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

TONIGHT I'M TRACKING LOW CLOUDS NEAR THE COAST WITH TEMPERATURES PRIMARILY IN THE 50s.

ACROSS THE REST OF THE REGION WE WILL SEE 40s AND 30s IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

51 DEGREES FOR OCEANSIDE.

55 IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO.

I EARLY TOMORROW MORNING WE HAVE CLOUD COVER WORKING ITS WAY TO THE FORECAST WHICH WILL STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE BY MIDDAY.

PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES.

THE DRIVE HOME TO START THE WEEKEND.

NORTHERN LOS ANGELES ALONG THE FIVE TOWARD FRESNO WE HAVE RAIN CHANCES DEVELOPING WHICH WILL STICK AROUND ON FRIDAY.

THIS IS LATE SATURDAY INTO EARLY SUNDAY.

FOR THE MEANTIME AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW LOOK AT THESE NOTICEABLY COOLER TEMPERATURES.

64 DEGREES, THE COOLDOWN WILL LAST AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

FOR THE MOST PART IT WILL REMAIN DRY ACROSS THE COASTAL AREAS.

MONDAY WILL BE WHEN WE SEE THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN.

LOOKING AT THE INLET FORECAST, THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL BE ON MONDAY.

LOOKING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS WE SEE WINDY CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 40s AND TEMPERATURES AROUND FREEZING ON MONDAY AND ACROSS THE DESERT WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70s.

>>> WHAT'S IN A NAME?

SOMETIMES, QUITE A BIT IF YOU GO INTO HISTORY.

AS KIM KRAMER SHOWS US IN THIS FUN FACT ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> HERE'S MY QUESTION FOR YOU, DO YOU THINK THIS MAN IS HANDSOME?

PUT YOURSELF IN 1870, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HIS NAME WAS DRURY BAILEY.

HE WAS A MASTER OF GOOD TIMING.

>> HE WAS RIGHT THERE WHEN THE STARS WERE ALIGNED, HE WAS THE MAN OF THE MOMENT.

>> THE MAN OF THE MOMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PLACE, A LITTLE TOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS EAST OF SAN DIEGO, MR. DRURY BAILEY CAME OUT HERE FROM GEORGIA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR .

>> THE STORY GOES HE GOT HERE AND SAID, I LIKE THIS PLACE AND I WANT TO STAY.

>> I WANT TO STAY HERE, HE SAID, HE SAID THAT TO HIS COUSIN MIKE.

HERE IS MIKE.

MIKE WAS MORE HANDSOME IT WAS SAID.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT ANYWAY AND THAT'S WHAT DRURY BAILEY THOUGHT.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE BECAUSE HE TURNED OUT TO BE AN IMPORTANT GUY HERE.

>> HE ENDED UP IN THE MOUNTAIN VALLEY.

AND HE ENDED UP FINDING THE TOWN.

DRURY FOUND THE TOWN.

HE DECIDED TO NAME IT FOR HIS COUSIN, MIKE.

>> THE ROMANTIC VERSION IS THAT MIKE WAS THE MOST HANDSOME MAN IN CAMP.

>> HE THOUGHT MIKE IS MORE HANDSOME SO WE SHOULD NAME THE TOWN FOR HIM AND SO HE DID AND THAT'S WHY TODAY THIS PLACE IN THE MOUNTAINS IS CALLED MIKE JULIAN.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS MORE HANDSOME BUT IT'S AN EASIER NAME TO SAY THAN DRURY BAILEY.

>> JULIAN KIES OF KIND OF ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE DOESN'T IT?

>> THAT CERTAINLY IS A FACT ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> CAN KRAMER HAS A HALF HOUR OF STORIES ABOUT SAN DIEGO YOU COULD SEE THEM THURSDAY NIGHT 8:00 RIGHT HERE ON KPBS.

YOU COULD FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.