![KPBS Evening Edition](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/HRz3uzL-white-logo-41-e7Iassw.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Thursday, January 30 2025
Season 1 Episode 3480 | 27m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Volunteers set out before the sun came up for the annual homelessness census.
Volunteers set out before the sun came up for the annual homelessness census. Tonight we look at why they say it's about more than just counting the number of people living on the streets. Plus, the quest for green unlimited power and how General Atomics is getting closer to creating energy from nuclear fusion. And one person's trash is another's historical artifact in a story about San Diego.
![KPBS Evening Edition](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/HRz3uzL-white-logo-41-e7Iassw.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Thursday, January 30 2025
Season 1 Episode 3480 | 27m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Volunteers set out before the sun came up for the annual homelessness census. Tonight we look at why they say it's about more than just counting the number of people living on the streets. Plus, the quest for green unlimited power and how General Atomics is getting closer to creating energy from nuclear fusion. And one person's trash is another's historical artifact in a story about San Diego.
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>>> HELLO.
I'M JOHN CARROLL IN FOR MAYA TRABULSI.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INVESTIGATING A MIDAIR COLLISION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. 67 PEOPLE DIED WHEN AN ARMY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER AND PASSENGER JET APPROACH INTO REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT COLLIDED LAST NIGHT.
BRIAN ABEL BRINGS US MORE FROM ARLINGTON AND REACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT THIS AFTERNOON AND A WARNING, SOME OF THE IMAGES YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE MAY BE UPSETTING.
>> AMERICAN AIRLINES SAYS FLIGHT 5342 FROM WICHITA OPERATED BY PSA WAS ON APPROACH TO LAND AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT WHEN IT'S AN ARMY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER FROM THE 12th AVIATION BATTALION SIMILAR TO THIS COLLIDED IN FLIGHT.
>> IT WAS A FAIRLY EXPERIENCED CREW AND IT WAS DOING A REQUIRED ANNUAL NIGHT EVALUATION .
THEY DID HAVE NIGHT VISION GOGGLES.
>> THERE WAS NOT A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE MILITARY HELICOPTER AND AMERICAN AIRLINE FLIGHT.
THERE WAS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AIRCRAFT AND TOWER.
>> AMONG THE JET PASSENGERS SEVERAL ATHLETES, COACHES AND FAMILY MEMBERS RETURNING FROM A DEVELOPMENT CAMP WITH U.S.
FIGURE SKATING IN A STATEMENT THE GOVERNING BODY SAID IT IS DEVASTATED BY THIS UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ADDRESSES THE TRAGEDY.
>> IS ONE NATION WE GRIEVE FOR EVERY PRECIOUS SOUL THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN.
>> HE ALSO POINTED FINGERS.
>> I PUT SAFETY FIRST.
OBAMA BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS PUT POLICY FIRST.
THE FAA DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION HIRING PLAN THAT SAYS DIVERSITY IS INTEGRAL TO ACHIEVING THE MISSION OF SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRAVEL, I DON'T THINK SO.
>> WHEN ASKED FOR EVIDENCE WHY DEI IS A FACTOR.
>> I HAVE COMMON SENSE.
>> THE PRESIDENT APPOINTED A SENIOR AVIATION OFFICIAL AS THE FAA ACTING ADMINISTRATOR.
THAT ROLE AMONG OTHERS WERE LEFT EMPTY FOLLOWING RESIGNATIONS AHEAD OF TRUMP TAKING OFFICE.
IN ARLINGTON, BRIAN ABEL, KPBS NEWS.
>> THE CRASH SHARES SIMILARITIES WITH THE 1978 PACIFIC SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT CRASH IN NORTHPARK THAT KILLED 144 PEOPLE.
OUR MEDIA PARTNER SPOKE TO JIM KENDRICK, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM.
HE SAYS THE TRAGEDY PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOTS TODAY.
>> TRAFFIC ALERT AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM DEPENDS ON BOTH AIRCRAFT HAVING THEIR TRANSPONDERS ON OR THEIR IFF.
IT WILL SEND SIGNALS, IF YOU SENDING A SIGNAL TO MINE AND MINE SENDS A SIGNAL TO YEARS AND INDICATES BASICALLY DISTANCE, MOSTLY AN ALTITUDE OR HORIZONTAL DISPLACEMENT.
IT'S A GOOD SYSTEM.
IT IMPROVES OUR SAFETY.
THE MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND THIS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> HE SAYS TRAFFIC AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS ARE KNOWN TO NOT OPERATE AT LOW ALTITUDES AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR OF THE D.C.
CRASH.
>>> HAPPY THURSDAY AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.
I'M TRACKING RAINED THAT WILL CONTINUE BUT IT WILL STAY NORTH OF OUR AREA.
WE WILL SEE LOTS OF SUNSHINE HERE AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND SEE SOME COOL STARTS BUT MILD AFTERNOONS SETTING UP FOR US.
HOW MILD?
I WILL DETAIL THE FORECAST COMING UP.
>>> THE ANNUAL HOMELESSNESS CENSUS TOOK PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING ALL AROUND SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
KPBS REPORTER MELISSA MAE FOLLOWED A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THROUGH DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO AND SPOKE WITH SOME UNSHELTERED PEOPLE.
>> AT 4 A.M. A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS MEETS IN A DOWNTOWN CHURCH TO PREPARE FOR THIS YEAR'S POINT AND TIME COUNT.
>> WE WILL BE AROUND PETCO PARK.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE A SNAPSHOT.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, POPULATIONS FOR WHICH WE ARE SAVING AND THE NEEDS THEY HAVE AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO COLLECTIVELY DO THAT IN ONE POINT IN TIME.
>> SHE'S THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS WITH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.
SHE SAYS IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT COUNTING THE HOMELESS, IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING WITH THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE ON THE STREET AND THERE NEEDS TO GET INTO HOUSING.
>> I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IN ANYWHERE ANYMORE.
IT'S DOUBLE THE RENT THAT IT COST TOO MUCH TO GET INSIDE.
>> BURGUNDY CALLINGS WORTH SAYS SHE'S BEEN HOMELESS FOR THE LAST YEAR.
>> OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT FOOD, A PLACE TO GO, SAFETY AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
SOMEONE STEALS MY PHONE AND I AIN'T GOT IT.
I GIVE UP.
>> MICHAEL HAS BEEN ON THE STREETS FOR TWO YEARS.
HE SAYS SEVERE ARTHRITIS IN HIS KNEES LED HIM TO START SELF- MEDICATING.
>> I DON'T USE ALCOHOL BUT I USE STUFF FOR PAIN.
IT JUST MADE IT DIFFICULT.
I ENDED UP OUT HERE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG AND LONELY ROAD.
I'M 63 YEARS OLD.
I GET MY PENSION BUT I MAKE TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS BUT I DON'T MAKE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR AN APARTMENT ON MY OWN.
THEY PUT A MONEY THRESHOLD ON WHO THEY GIVE BENEFITS TO.
>> THE POINT AND TIME COUNT HELPS DETERMINE FUTURE FEDERAL HOMELESS FUNDING TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE THEM.
>> INFORMATION UTILIZED TO IDENTIFY THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO HELP SOMEONE, BUT ALSO THE LEVEL AND VOLUME FUNDING WE NEED IN ORDER TO DO SO, THIS IS GATHERED AND SHARED WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND HELP FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE FUNDING WE NEED TO END HOMELESSNESS AND SANDY GO.
>> THE CITY SAYS IT RECEIVED ABOUT $17 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS FOR HOMELESSNESS THIS FISCAL YEAR.
IT IS UNCLEAR HOW A POSSIBLE FREEZE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COULD IMPACT FUTURE FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS FUNDING.
A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO DECLINED TO COMMENT ON HYPOTHETICAL CUTS.
MELISSA MAE, KPBS NEWS.
>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE NORTH COUNTY HAS GROWN AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES.
THE POINT AND TIME COUNT DATA COLLECTED IS PIVOTAL FOR FUTURE FUNDING.
KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TANIA THORNE JOINED VOLUNTEERS AS THEY HIT THE STREETS BEFORE THE SUN WAS UP.
>> IT'S FOUR IN THE MORNING AND A NUTRITION CENTER IN ESCONDIDO IS FILLED WITH VOLUNTEERS.
THEY ARE GETTING TO HEAD INTO THE STREETS AND CONNECT WITH AS MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS POSSIBLE.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THE COUNT BECAUSE IT ENABLES US TO SEE HOW MANY ARE EXPRESSING HOMELESSNESS ON THIS DAY AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES AND GET MORE HELP.
>> SHE IS ONE OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS.
GETTING AN ACCURATE COUNT IS ONE EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
>> WE HAVE TRIED TO SEE IF THERE'S INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CARS WHICH THERE HAS BEEN, SOME DID NOT WANT TO BE INTERVIEWED BUT WE WERE ABLE TO COUNT THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE SLEEPING AT THIS TIME, BUT SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SLEEPING ON THE STREETS WE WERE ABLE TO INTERVIEW AND COUNT THEM AS WELL.
>> MICHELLE HERNANDEZ IS EXPRESSING HOMELESSNESS BUT WAS NOT SURVEYED.
SHE WAS ON THE BUS FROM SAN DIEGO TO ESCONDIDO TRYING TO GET A HOT MEAL.
THEY GOT THERE TOO LATE.
>> ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, RESPECTIVELY.
ONE NIGHT.
I'VE LEARNED THERE IS BREAKFAST HERE, HOT MEALS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
>> SHE SAYS IT IS EXHAUSTING TRYING TO GET HELP AND QUESTIONS WHERE FUNDING IS REALLY GOING.
>> YOU SPEND BILLIONS FOR HOMELESS, BILLIONS.
OVER TIME, A LOT OF MONEY.
YOU OFTEN WONDER WHERE THOSE RESOURCES ARE GOING.
IT SEEMS LIKE, PERSONALLY, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN AUDIT OF WHERE THE FUNDS GO.
>> AN AUDIT CONDUCTED LAST YEAR SHOWS CALIFORNIA SPENDS ALMOST $24 BILLION ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS BUT FAILED TO TRACK ITS PROGRESS.
SINCE THEN GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM CALLED FOR AN INCREASE IN ACCOUNTABILITY FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS.
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES CEO GREG ANGEL SAYS HELPING PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS COMES AT A COST.
>> HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH LICENSE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIANS, THOSE ROBUST WRAPAROUND SERVICES ARE REALLY CRITICAL TO HELPING PEOPLE OVERCOME SO MANY CHALLENGES THEY EXPERIENCE WHEN HOMELESS, BUT THEY DO COME AT A COST.
>> THE REALITY IS -- WHILE THERE IS A NEED TO CREATE MORE SHELTER SPACE ANGEL SAYS THAT JUST SOLVES A TEMPORARY PROBLEM.
>> WE NEED TO WORK ON CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT OF SHELTERS.
THAT'S THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.
>> THE RESULT OF THE POINT AND TIME COUNT WILL COME OUT LATER THIS YEAR.
TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.
>>> AS NEWS CIRCULATES OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT RAIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LOCAL SCHOOLS SAY THEY ARE ON EDGE.
OUR MEDIA PARTNER FOLLOWED UP WITH FERNANDO HERNANDEZ, THE PRINCIPAL OF PERKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I.C.E.
HAS IT BEEN TO THE SCHOOL YET BUT IF OFFICERS DO SHOW UP HERNANDEZ SAYS THEY AREN'T ALLOWED TO INTERVIEW STUDENTS WITHOUT PARENTS PERMISSION.
>> EVEN IF UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED.
WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN.
WE WILL STILL MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND REASSURE ALL OF OUR FAMILIES THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN THE SCHOOL.
>> HERNANDEZ SAYS MANY FAMILIES WHO ATTEND THE SCHOOL EITHER HAVE PROTECTED STATUS OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING PROTECTED STATUS.
>>> IN A TURNABOUT THAT BROUGHT RELIEF TO UC SAN DIEGO SCIENCE RESEARCHERS THE WHITE HOUSE LIFTED A FREEZE ON FEDERAL FUNDING.
KPBS SAYS THE REVERSAL LEFT THEM ON EDGE AND WITH NAGGING QUESTIONS.
>> IT'S BEEN A STRESSFUL AND CHAOTIC 48 HOURS FOR RESEARCHERS AT UC SAN DIEGO.
THEY INTERPRETED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PAUSE ON FEDERAL GRANTS MONDAY AS A SHOCK AND ALL EFFORT MEANT TO WARM THEM THAT THE DIRECTION OF THEIR WORK COULD BE CHANGED OR STOPPED ALTOGETHER.
THAT'S WHY UC SAN DIEGO INFECTIOUS DISEASE DR. DAVEY SMITH SAYS HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES ARE GREETING THE REVERSAL TO THAT SPENDING FREEZE CAUTIOUSLY AND CRITICALLY.
>> IT JUST FEELS VERY CHAOTIC.
WHENEVER I FEEL PEOPLE ARE MAKING CHAOTIC DECISIONS IT'S OFTEN TIMES NOT THE DECISION ITSELF BUT SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.
IS IT JUST A SHOW OF POWER I CAN DO THIS?
A SHOW OF PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE , A DISTRACTION FROM SOMETHING ELSE?
I DON'T KNOW.
AT THE MOMENT WE ARE LEFT IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF UNCERTAINTY THAT MAKES EVERYONE ANXIOUS AND MAYBE THAT'S THE POINT.
>> UC SAN DIEGO RECEIVED ABOUT $1 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING LAST YEAR AND OTHER LOCAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES ALSO DRAW IN CONSIDERABLE FEDERAL DOLLARS .
SMITH SAYS THE UNIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE TOP INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY MAKING STRIDES IN CANCER TREATMENTS, VACCINES, A.I.
AND HEALTH TECHNOLOGY.
UC SAN DIEGO PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENTIST REBECCA FIELDING MILLER SAYS THIS WEEK'S FEDERAL FUNDING SAGA HAS SOME OF HER COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS RETHINKING THEIR CAREERS.
>> I THINK SEEING THIS ONGOING PUSH AND PULL IS REALLY CONCERNING FOR FOLKS WHO ARE EARLY IN THEIR CAREER AND IT'S WORRYING ABOUT IF WE CAN KEEP OUR STAFF EMPLOYED.
>> SHE BELIEVES FEDERAL FUNDING OF RESEARCH WILL COME UP AGAIN, NEXT TIME SHE HOPES THERE IS A QUOTE BIPARTISAN CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS WITH INPUT FROM SCIENTISTS.
>> PUBLIC MATTERS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH KPBS.
A NEW SOURCE AND VOICE OF SAN DIEGO.
YOU CAN SEE MORE OF OUR STORIES AT KPBS.ORG/PUBLIC MATTERS.
>>> THE CREATION OF ENERGY FROM NUCLEAR FUSION HAS BEEN A GOAL IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD FOR DECADES AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES AT COMPANIES LIKE GENERAL ATOMICS IN SAN DIEGO ARE BRINGING US CLOSER TO IT.
KPBS CYTEC REPORTER TELLS US ABOUT THIS TO PUT A SON AND A BOTTLE PROVIDING WHAT WOULD BE UNLIMITED POWER.
>> IN AUGUST LAST YEAR THE CONTROL ROOM AT GENERAL ATOMICS HAD SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
THEY GENERATED THEIR PLASMA SHOT NUMBER 200,000, THAT'S AN EXPERIMENTAL FUSION OF HYDROGEN ATOMS YOU SMASHED TOGETHER TO GENERATE THE HEAT YOU NEED TO PRODUCE ENERGY.
DAVID PES IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FACILITY RUN BY GENERAL ATOMICS.
>> WE TAKE TWO PARTICLES AND IF YOU SMASHED THEM TOGETHER HARD ENOUGH THEY RELEASE NET ENERGY AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE WANT TO SMASH A LOT OF PARTICLES AND MAKE A LOT OF ENERGY.
>> NUCLEAR FUSION IS WHAT HAPPENS ON THE SUN.
THE PROCESS LEAVES BEHIND HELIUM AND ENERGY AND NONE OF THAT LONG-LASTING NUCLEAR WASTE THAT HAS BEEN THE SCIENTIFIC COUSIN, THE NUCLEAR FISSION POWER PLANT.
THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL ATOMICS D3 D FUSION REACTOR WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
HE SAID THE PROMISE OF EXPLOITING FUSION ON EARTH IS A VIRTUALLY LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF ENERGY.
>> THE FUEL WE HAVE FOR FUSION IS ABUNDANT AROUND THE WORLD.
THAT IS ONE TYPE OF HYDROGEN WE USE.
YOU EXPECT THAT FROM SEAWATER.
THE OTHER WE WANT TO USE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN PULL OUT THE GROUND, IT'S IN YOUR CELL PHONE BATTERIES AND THE AMOUNT YOU NEED TO DO A LOT OF ENERGY IS VERY SMALL.
>> THE QUEST FOR FUSION ENERGY HAS BEEN A LONG HAUL.
SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN PURSUING IT SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IS PRETTY OLD SCHOOL.
AT GENERAL ATOMICS THE FUSION REACTOR IS CALLED A TOKEN BACK, A TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1960S.
>> ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED BY RUSSIANS IT'S A DONUT-SHAPED OVEN THAT CONDUCTS THE INTENSITY HEATED FOR FUSING, POWERFUL MAGNETS ARE USED TO CONTROL THE ENERGY BUT WITH ALL THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN SEEN, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO CONTAIN AND RELEASE FUSION ENERGY SO IT CAN BOIL WATER, RUN A TURBINE AND GENERATE POWER.
PES SAYS THE CHALLENGE IS TURNING THE SCIENCE INTO EFFUSION POWERPOINT.
>> WE HAVE A PIECE OF SCIENCE WE UNDERSTAND REALLY WELL BUT NOW WE HAVE TO FOLD THAT INTO A PHYSICAL DEVICE THAT TAKES IT TO THE NEXT STEP THAT GETS YOU CLOSER TO PRODUCING ELECTRICITY AND IT IS THIS INTEGRATION AND PULL SYSTEM APPROACH THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING PROBLEM.
>> INDUSTRY STILL NEEDS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS LIKE STEEL THAT GOES INSIDE THE REACTOR THAT DOESN'T UNEXPECTEDLY ERODE OR EMIT PARTICLES.
A POSSIBLE ANSWER TO THIS CHALLENGING PROBLEM IS TAKING SHAPE IN FRANCE.
AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT WHICH IS LATIN FOR THE WAY.
IT IS A TOKAMAK POWERED FACILITY THAT WILL BE THE CLOSEST THING THE WORLD HAS SEEN TO EFFUSION POWERPLANT.
THE GOAL IS TO GET IT TO CONTINUE IN ITS OWN HEAT AND POWER AND NOT RELY ON THE IMPORTED HEAT NEEDED FOR A BRIEF PLASMA SHOT.
THE GOAL IS TO PRODUCE 10 TIMES THE ENERGY IT GETS FROM AN OUTSIDE HEATING SOURCE.
THIS YEAR GENERAL ATOMICS WILL SHIP A MAGNITUDE TO CONTAIN A SUPER HOT BALL OF GAS AND BUTTERY SAYS THIS WILL BE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MAGNET.
>> TO GIVE ONE STAT THIS IS A MAGNET THAT IS SO POWERFUL IT COULD LIFT AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER OUT OF THE WATER.
>> SCIENTIFIC WORK ON FUSION ENERGY HAS GONE ON FOR SO LONG YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE PEOPLE FOR CASTING DOUBT WHEN THEY HEAR SOMEBODY SAY WE ARE ALMOST THERE.
INNOVATION AND PUBLIC POLICY PROFESSOR DAVID VICTOR CODIRECTS UC SAN DIEGO'S ENERGY DECARBONIZATION INITIATIVE.
HE SAYS THE OLD JOKE ABOUT FUSION IS IT IS THE GREAT ENERGY SOURCE OF THE FUTURE AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE, BUT HE DOES BELIEVE THE RECENT PROGRESS TOWARD THE GOAL IS NO JOKE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGIES THAT MAKE SEVERAL DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR FUSION ENERGY SEEM A LOT MORE PLAUSIBLE THAN IT DID FIVE OR 10 YEARS AGO.
NEW KINDS OF LASERS, NEW KINDS OF MAGNETS, REALLY POWERFUL MAGNETS THAT CAN COMBINE FUSION PLASMA.
>> EVERY NEW ENERGY SOURCE HAS UNCERTAINTIES AND AS WE CONSIDER FUSION DON'T FORGET THE POTENTIAL OF WIND AND SOLAR.
EVEN NUCLEAR FISSION MAY HAVE A FUTURE IF INDUSTRY CAN BUILD SMALL MODULAR UNITS.
MEANWHILE, BUTTERY SAYS PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE U.S. HAS INCREASED FROM VENTURE CAPITALIST TO PHILANTHROPIC GROUPS.
>> A GOVERNMENT LEVEL UNITED STATES IS INVESTING STRONGLY IN FUSION AND SO ARE OUR COMPETITORS.
CHINA IS OUTSPENDING UNITED STATES BY A FACTOR OF TWO.
>> BUTTERY SAYS WITH INCREASED INVESTMENT PEOPLE IN THE FUSION FIELD BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE FUSION POWER PLANTS SOMETIME IN THE 2030S.
IF THAT DOES HAPPEN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU CAN DRAW POWER FROM ONE MAY DEPEND ON WHERE YOU LIVE.
THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.
>> YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT HISTORY BY LOOKING AT WHAT PEOPLE TOSSED OUT IN THE TRASH YEARS AGO.
>>> KEN KRAMER FOUND A MAN WHO MADE A STUDY OF IT AND SHOWS US IN THE STORY ABOUT SAN DIEGO.
>> IN THE BASEMENT ARCHIVES OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER ON PACIFIC HIGHWAY SURROUNDED BY RELICS OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S PAST IS WHERE THIS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE COUNTY NEW CENTER AND I FOUND JEH JOHNSON AT WORK.
RIGHT NOW JAY IS GOING THROUGH BOXES OF LITTLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE THREW AWAY A LONG TIME AGO, ALL OF THEM DUG UP FROM JUST ONE PLACE AND METICULOUSLY CATALOGUED.
>> THERE'S OVER 1400 ENTRIES HERE.
HAMMER, BREAK.
DOLL, SHOE, BOOT, DOORKNOB.
LATE, POT.
>> RADIO THEY'LL COME FROM?
AT THE CORNER OF CEDAR AND KETTNER STREET IS THIS 10 LEVEL PARKING STRUCTURE.
ON WEEKDAYS COUNTY EMPLOYEES PARQUET.
ON WEEKENDS AND AT NIGHT IT'S A LITTLE ITALY LANDMARK IN COLORED LIGHTS.
MORE THAN A CENTURY BEFORE IT WAS BUILT THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DUMPED THEIR TRASH HERE.
>> THERE WAS NO GARBAGEMAN PICKUP SERVICE UNTIL AFTER 1910 SO EVERYONE HAD TO GET RID OF THEIR OWN WASTE.
>> THESE THINGS WERE WHAT THEY THROUGHOUT ON THAT VERY SPOT.
>> IT'S AN OLD SPOON.
>> MOST WERE RECOVERED FROM WHAT WAS PROBABLY AN OUTHOUSE PIT.
>> THE SAN DIEGO LOGO ON AN OLD MILK BOTTLE.
>> IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR THEY CAN REVEAL CLUES ABOUT WHO LIVED HERE.
OLD MEAT BONES FOR EXAMPLE.
>> THEY CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE OR WHAT CLASS OF PEOPLE THEY WERE BY THE TYPES OF CUTS OF MEAT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CREATE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.
>> 30 GRAMS.
SO I DON'T THINK -- IT'S NOT HOLLOW.
I THINK I WILL TAKE A GUESS A TOY OF SOME SORT.
>> BY COMPARING WHAT WAS USED AND THROWN AWAY WITH CENSUS RECORDS AND OTHER DATA PICTURE BEGINS TO EMERGE OF AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN THAT PART OF LITTLE ITALY.
>> IT WAS ALL SORTS OF RACES AND COLORS AND CREEDS OF PEOPLE.
>> AS CONSTRUCTION CREWS BEGIN TO EXCAVATE FOR THE NEW PARKING GARAGE, ARCHAEOLOGISTS WERE ON SITE TO CAREFULLY MONITOR, REMOVE AND CATALOG ANYTHING THAT TURNED UP.
THE RESULT WAS MORE THAN 10 BOXES OF EVERYTHING FROM BOTTLE CAPS TO DOORKNOBS, BUT IT WAS THE BOTTLES THEMSELVES THAT TURNED OUT FASCINATING, SO MUCH SO THAT JAY CREATED AN EXHIBIT OF THEM ON PERMANENT DISPLAY AT THE PARKING GARAGE ON THE STREET LEVEL BY THE ELEVATORS.
WHEN YOU SEE IT, THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THERE WASN'T ROOM FOR, ALL THE THINGS IN THE 1890S AND TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY PEOPLE JUST THREW AWAY, NEVER IMAGINING THEY WOULD END UP IN BOXES AT THE COUNTY BUILDING.
LITTLE THINGS THAT ARE SO FULL OF HISTORY ABOUT SAN DIEGO.
>> KEN KRAMER HAS A HALF HOUR OF STORIES EVERY WEEK ABOUT SAN DIEGO.
YOU CAN SEE THEM THURSDAY NIGHTS RIGHT HERE ON KPBS AT 8:00.
>>> AS WE HEAD TWO TONIGHT I WILL TRACK LOW CLOUDS ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COAST.
WE WILL SEE OVERNIGHT LOWS IN A MIX OF 40s AND 50s.
CHILLY START FOR YOUR EARLY FRIDAY MORNING, AND OVERALL MILD CONDITIONS.
WE WILL SEE 30s UP TO THE NORTH.
DOWN TO 37 TONIGHT FOR OCEANSIDE.
WE WILL SEE CHILLY START'S.
OVERNIGHT IS A MIX OF 30s AND 40s MAYBE 50s HERE FOR SOME INLAND AREAS.
FUTURE TRACK SHOWING AS WE HEAD THROUGH TOMORROW 6 A.M. WE WILL SEE RAINFALL BUT THAT WILL STAY PRIMARILY UP TO THE NORTH.
THESE WILL TRY THEIR BEST TO BACK BUILD AS WE HAD THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND DEVELOP MORE TO THE SOUTH.
WE WILL SEE IMPRESSIVE SNOWFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN BUT THIS RAINFALL WILL STAY WELL NORTH OF LOS ANGELES SO NONE OF THAT IS GOING TO TRICKLE DOWN ESPECIALLY TO THE SAN DIEGO METRO.
FOR FRIDAY AFTERNOON DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS.
ALL THE RAINFALL AND SNOW WILL STAY WELL NORTH AS WE HAD THROUGHOUT FRIDAY.
WE SEE LOTS OF SUNSHINE.
HIGHS ARE A MIX.
WE SEE 40s AND HIGHER ELEVATION, POSSIBLY 70s IN THE DESERT BUT OVERALL A LOT OF SUNSHINE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SATURDAY.
HERE ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STILL WATCHING RAINFALL AND SOME SNOWFALL DEVELOPING WELL UP TO THE NORTH.
ACROSS THE COAST FOR YOUR FIVE DAY OUTLOOK WE SEE A LOT OF SUNSHINE AS WE HEAD TO THE WEEKEND.
NO REAL GOOD CHANCE OF ORGANIZED RAINFALL.
OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE 40s BUT WE REBOUND IN THE 50s BY MIDWEEK .
AFTERNOON HIGH IN THE LOW TO MID 60s AND WE SEE THE WARMEST WEATHER ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AS YOU LOOK AT THE INLET FORECAST LOWS TONIGHT IN THE 30s.
AFTER THAT, THE HIGHS WILL GO FROM THE 60s ON FRIDAY TO THE 70s STARTING ON SATURDAY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A COOL DOWN BY MIDWEEK AND THEN FOR YOUR MOUNTAIN FORECAST IT'LL BE LOTS OF SUNSHINE.
PRETTY NICE.
WE WILL SEE HIGHS BACK IN THE 80s BY SUNDAY.
>>> THOUSANDS ARE DONATING TO HELP PICK UP THE PIECES AFTER DEVASTATING LOSS FROM HISTORIC WILDFIRES EARLIER.
TONIGHT A LONG LIST OF TOP PERFORMERS ARE COMING TOGETHER FOR A BENEFIT CONCERT TO HELP.
WE ARE IN INGLEWOOD WHERE THE FUNDRAISER IS READY TO KICK OFF.
>> I PROMISE I WON'T.
>> AS THE IN FIRE EXPLODED IN ALTADENA ON JANUARY 8th RESIDENCE INCLUDING THIS 100- YEAR-OLD WOMAN GUIDED OUT OF THEIR HOMES FOR SMOKE FROM THE FIRE MOVING IN.
THE HISTORIC WILDFIRES FIELD BY HURRICANE LIKE WINS RAVAGED THROUGH ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
>> THIS WAS A PASSPORT.
NOW I DON'T EVEN HAVE A PASSPORT.
>> CONSIDERED AMONG THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE IN THE STATES HISTORY THE PALISADES FIRE CLAIMED AT LEAST 29 LIVES AND COLLECTIVELY DESTROYED MORE THAN 16,000 STRUCTURES.
IN THIS TIME OF NEED HUNDREDS COMING TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED.
>> WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL EVERYTHING RUNS OUT.
>> NOW A BENEFIT CONCERT TO HELP THOSE WHO LOST EVERYTHING.
MANY WHO LOST THEIR HOMES, CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES DURING THIS DISASTER NOW ANOTHER TRIAL AHEAD OF THEM.
>> THERE IS SO MUCH THAT COMES AFTER.
>> WHAT TOOK DAYS TO BURN WILL LIKELY TAKE YEARS TO REBUILD.
>> ONCE DEBRIS IS CLEARED THE REBUILDING PROCESS BEGINS AND THE PLANNING AND DESIGN CAN START NOW.
>> REPORTING.
>> IS A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON TOMORROW.
PRESIDENT TRUMP THREATENED TO IMPOSE TARIFFS ON SOME OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST TRADING PARTNERS AS EARLY AS THIS WEEKEND.
NPR'S MORNING EDITION REPORTS ON HOW SOME BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO PREPARE.
KPBS ROUNDTABLE IS DISCUSSING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S INCREASED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND IMPACT ON SAN DIEGO COUNTY COMMUNITIES.
YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I'M JOHN CARROLL.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES.
PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODELING 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.