>>> 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-BILL-HOWE, OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

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

AND, BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

♪ >>> PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL IS ABOUT TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED THE IN AN INTENSE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> Reporter: A DEEPLY DIVIDED HOUSE PASSING THE SENATE'S VERSION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MEGA BILL.

>> NOBODY SAID IT WOULD BE EASY, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE DIDN'T COME HERE TO DO EASY THINGS.

WE CAME HERE TO DO BIG THINGS.

>> Reporter: A GROUP OF HARD- LINE GOP MEMBERS WHO HAD THREATENED TO BLOCK THE SWEEPING TAX AND SPENDING CUT LEGISLATION EVENTUALLY FALLING IN LINE, FOLLOWING AN INTENSE CAMPAIGN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICAN PARTY LEADERS.

THE PRESIDENT REPORTED THE PROMISING FISCAL HARDLINERS CONCERNED ABOUT TRILLIONS BEING ADDED TO THE NATIONAL DEFICIT, THAT CERTAIN PRESIDENTS FOR GREEN ENERGY TAX CREDITS WOULD BE PHASED OUT.

>> WHAT THOSE HOLDOUTS WERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE ALL DOING, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR OUR DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: DEMOCRATS DENOUNCING THE BILL.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES SPEAKING FOR HOURS, DELAYING A FINAL VOTE.

>> I AM GOING TO TAKE MY TIME AND ENSURE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW DAMAGING THIS BILL WILL BE TO THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> Reporter: THE MULTI TRILLION DOLLAR LEGISLATION WOULD UNLOCK TAX CUTS AND FUNDING BOOSTS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, PARTLY PAID FOR BY THE LARGEST CUT TO THE LARGEST FEDERAL SAFETY NET IN DECADES.

TAX CUTS AND CHANGES TO THE TAX CODES COULD BENEFIT CORPORATE AMERICA, AND HIGH INCOME AMERICANS, WHILE LOW INCOME AMERICANS COULD BE WORSE OFF, DUE TO THE BILL'S HISTORIC CUTS TO MEDICAID AND FOOD STAMPS.

A RIPPLE EFFECT COULD ALSO HIT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY RURAL HOSPITALS.

ROUGHLY $1.34 TRILLION IS EXPECTED TO BE ADDED TO THE DEFICIT OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

IN WASHINGTON, MICHAEL YOSHIDA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISSA'S VOTE HELPED SECURE THE SLIM MAJORITY FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT SUPPORTED THE BILL.

IN A STATEMENT AFTER THE VOTE HE CALLED THE SPENDING PLAN A "MASSIVE WIN FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE."

THOSE WHO SHOWED UP IN ISSA'S OFFICE TODAY DISAGREED.

BEFORE THE VOTE, THEY RAISED THEIR VOICES TO URGE ISSA TO VOTE "NO."

THEY ALSO LEFT MESSAGES WITH STAFF SAYING, "ISSA IS HELPING PRESIDENT TRUMP DECIMATE PUBLIC SAFETY NET PROGRAMS."

>> I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT DARRELL ISSA STUDY WHAT EMPATHY MEANS.

AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES, YOU ARE HERE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

YOU ARE NOT HERE TO MAKE YOURSELF RICH, YOU ARE NOT HERE TO MAKE YOUR MILLIONAIRE OR BILLIONAIRE BUDDIES RICH.

YOU ARE HERE TO HELP THE HARD- WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF YOUR COUNTRY, OF YOUR DISTRICT, IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> TODAY'S EVENT WAS ORGANIZED BY SEVERAL LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUPS.

ISSA WON HIS SEAT IN THE 40th DISTRICT BY NEARLY 20 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN LAST YEAR'S ELECTION.

ALL FOUR OF SAN DIEGO'S DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVES VOTED AGAINST THE BILL.

>>> TONIGHT, PRETTY GREAT WEATHER TO BE OUT AND ABOUT.

63, FAIRLY TYPICAL FOR US WITH SOME OF THOSE LOW CLOUDS MOVING IN.

I KNOW SOME FESTIVITIES GOING ON TONIGHT, SO WE ARE LOOKING GOOD FOR THAT.

EVEN INTO TOMORROW NIGHT, REALLY NO PROBLEM AS WE KEEP THINGS SMOOTH SAILING HERE, BUT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A CHANGE IN THAT MARINE LAYER FOR THE WEEK TO COME, COMING UP.

>>> NURSES AT UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH RALLIED AGAINST THE ABRUPT DECISION TO LAY OFF MORE THAN 200 EMPLOYEES.

WORKERS TELL KPBS REPORTER, ALEXANDER WINN, THAT THE DECISION NOT ONLY AFFECTS LIVES, BUT WILL AFFECT PATIENT CARE.

>> [ CROWD CHANTING ] TEACHERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SERVE.

>> Reporter: ROUGHLY THREE DOZEN PEOPLE RALLIED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER TO PROTEST THE CUTS.

UCSD HEALTH LAST WEEK, LAID OFF WORKERS ABOUT 1.5% OF ITS WORKFORCE.

THE CUTS INCLUDE MANY FRONT- LINE WORKERS.

>> WE ARE EXPERIENCING A STAFFING CRISIS ALREADY.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL KENNEDY SAYS IT IS THE WORKERS THAT MAKE UCSD ONE OF THE BEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN THE NATION.

>> UCSD DESERVED THE NUMBER ONE STATUS, THEY REALLY DO, BUT THEY DESERVE IT BECAUSE OF THESE DEDICATED NURSES OUT HERE.

>> Reporter: WORKERS SAY THE LAYOFFS WERE ABRUPT.

CANDACE GOT A TEXT MESSAGE WHILE AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

>> REQUESTING THAT I GO INTO A ZOOM MEETING.

>> Reporter: BY THE TIME THE VISIT WAS OVER -- >> I HAD ALREADY -- >> Reporter: PRESIDENT TRUMP FORCES THE LAYOFFS WERE NECESSARY DUE TO RISING COSTS, REGULATORY UNCERTAINTY, AND FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.

IN A STATEMENT, THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM SAYS THE RECENT DECISION TO LAY OFF MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM WAS VERY DIFFICULT, AND WE DID NOT ARRIVE AT THAT DECISION LIGHTLY OR QUICKLY.

THE DECISION FOLLOWED A RIGOROUS AND COMPREHENSIVE STAFF BENCHMARKING PROCESS THAT FOCUSED ON SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY.

WHILE FUNDING CUTS TO THE UCR REAL, BUT MOST OF THE CUTS FROM THE TOP, NOT FROM THE FRONT- LINE WORKERS BECAUSE THAT AFFECTS PATIENT CARE.

>> I HAVE BEEN GETTING REPORTS THAT NOW PATIENTS HAVE URINATED IN THEIR BED WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME AND HELP THEM, AS A RESULT, OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH STAFF.

>> WE NEED -- THEY NEED MADE NO CUTS AT THE TOP, THEY IMMEDIATELY WENT FOR THE BOTTOM.

THEY GIVE THEMSELVES A PAY RAISE A WEEK AFTER FIRING STAFF.

THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE.

THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Reporter: THE UNION IS ASKING THAT UCSD REINSTATE LAID- OFF WORKERS IMMEDIATELY.

UCSD SAYS IT IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO "ENSURE PEACE AND SAFETY WELL MANAGING THIS DIFFICULT PROCESS."

ALEXANDER WINN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> TOMORROW, THE UNITED STATES IS CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF THE COUNTRY, 249 YEARS AGO.

KPBS VIDEO JOURNALIST, MATTHEW BULLER, JOINED THE MARINES, SAILORS, AND SOLDIERS WHO CAN WATCH THE FIREWORKS AS AMERICAN CITIZENS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

>> Reporter: TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR THESE 30 SERVICEMEMBERS.

>> PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, RUSSIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA.

>> Reporter: FROM 16 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES -- >> I HEREBY DECLARE ON OATH -- >> Reporter: -- ON THE EVE OF THE FOURTH OF JULY, THESE SERVICEMEMBERS -- >> -- SO HELP ME GOD.

>> SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE NOW UNITED STATES CITIZENS.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> Reporter: ARE NOW NATURALIZED AMERICAN CITIZENS.

THEY TOOK THEIR CITIZENSHIP OATH AT A CEREMONY ON BOARD THE USS MIDWAY MUSEUM.

>> I AM FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN NOW.

>> Reporter: GLANCED IS FROM BRAZIL, HE CAME HERE AS A CHILD AND JOINED THE MARINES, TO GIVE HIM A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.

>> IT WAS A PROCESS THAT TOOK ME APPROXIMATELY, LIKE, SEVEN MONTHS, SINCE I STARTED.

AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE MILITARY SINCE LAST YEAR.

>> Reporter: CYNTHIA BASHING IS THE CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE IN SAN DIEGO.

SHE SAYS SHE GETS CHOKED UP GIVING THE OATH OF CITIZENSHIP.

>> I HAVE TRIED AT PAST IMMIGRATION CEREMONIES.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS EVERY CEREMONY IS SPECIAL.

>> I THINK IT IS REALLY REWARDING TO SEE A GROUP OF PEOPLE SAYING, "I WANT TO BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN."

YOU KNOW, WE ARE A COUNTRY MADE UP OF IMMIGRANTS.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON.

>> I FEEL LIKE IMMIGRATION CEREMONIES ARE A JOYOUS OCCASION, WHEN WE CAN EMBRACE THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL UNITED STATES CITIZENS, DESPITE OUR VERY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND VERY DIVERSE FEELINGS ABOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: WHAT DOES "TODAY" MEAN TO LANCE CORPORAL REYNOLDS?

>> I WAS SERVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY'S MILITARY, BUT NOW I CAN SAY I AM SERVING IN MY COUNTRY'S MILITARY.

>> Reporter: MATTHEW BULLER, KPBS NEWS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THEM.

>>> NOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THEM AS YOU PAST NOBEL DRIVE ON THE 805 -- SCORES OF AMERICAN FLAGS FLYING PROUDLY OVER THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN HEROES AT MIRAMAR NATIONAL CEMETERY.

BUT, THE FUTURE OF THE FLAGS IS IN JEOPARDY.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL EXPLAINS HOW YOU CAN HELP TO KEEP THEM FLYING.

>> Reporter: DRIVING INTO THE MIRAMAR NATIONAL CEMETERY IS A SOLEMN EXPERIENCE, MADE MAJESTIC BY THIS -- THE AVENUE OF FLAGS.

>> THERE IS 50 FLAGS.

IT IS THE ONLY CEMETERY OUT OF 155 NATIONAL CEMETERIES THAT HAVE AN AVENUE OF FLAGS.

>> Reporter: THIS CEMETERY, OPENED IN LATE 2010 AS FORT ROSECRANS, WAS NEARING CAPACITY.

THE AVENUE OF FLAGS CAME A COUPLE YEARS LATER.

>> IT IS KIND OF THE POSTCARD FOR THIS CEMETERY.

EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES IT, AND IT IS A GOOD TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY WHO ARE BURIED HERE.

>> Reporter: THESE FLAGS ONLY COME DOWN TO BE CHANGED OUT.

OTHER THAN THAT, THEY ARE FLYING 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

APART FROM THE WEAR AND TEAR THESE FLAGS SUSTAIN YEAR-ROUND, THERE IS ANOTHER COSTLY ISSUE.

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE MECHANICS USED TO RAISE AND LOWER THE FLAGS.

MECHANICS FOUND INSIDE THE FLAGPOLE.

>> THEY HAVE COME TO THE POINT WHERE THE MECHANISMS AND THE CABLING ARE WORN TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS DIFFICULT TO RAISE AND LOWER THE FLAGS.

>> Reporter: IF THE MECHANISM GETS SO BAD THAT IT WON'T WORK ANYMORE, WELL, THEN, CHANGING OUT THE FLAGS -- WHICH COSTS $100 APIECE -- GETS REALLY EXPENSIVE.

>> IF THE MECHANISM IS NOT WORKING, THEN SOMEBODY HAS TO BRING A CHERRY PICKER OUT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO, THE MECHANISMS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THIS BEAUTIFUL AVENUE OF FLAGS.

>> Reporter: HERE IS THE FINANCIAL PICTURE.

EVERY FLAGPOLE COSTS $2000 TO FIX.

SOME QUICK MATH TELLS YOU THAT IS $100,000.

EACH FLAG GETS REPLACED 2 TO 3 TIMES A YEAR, THAT IS A $5000 YEARLY BILL.

SO, THE FOUNDATION IS HOLDING AN ONLINE GALA TO RAISE THE NEEDED FUNDS.

YOU CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE, MIRAMARCEMETARY.ORG, OR MAIL A CHECK TO THEIR STREET ADDRESS, WE WILL PUT THAT IN OUR ONLINE VERSION OF THIS STORY.

THIS CEMETERY, AND IT'S SPECTACULAR FLAG LINED AVENUE, ARE ESPECIALLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY CAR DENNIS' HEART.

HIS LATE FATHER, BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT CAR DENNIS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THIS BUILD, AND THE AVENUE OF FLAGS INSTALLED.

AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO DONATE, YOU WILL RECEIVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL, A STAR CUT FROM ONE OF THE DECOMMISSIONED FLAGS.

>> "I CAN FLY NO LONGER, THE SUN AND WIND HAS CAUSED ME TO BECOME TATTERED AND TORN.

PLEASE CARRY ME AS A REMINDER THAT YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN."

>> Reporter: A BEAUTIFUL KEEPSAKE SIGNIFYING A COMMITMENT WITH NEW FLAGS FLYING OVER THIS HOLLOW GROUND, FOREVER.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> A VERY NICE STORY BY JOHN.

NOW, THE ONLINE FUNDRAISER GOES THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH.

>>> I AM WILLIAM BRING THEM.

TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, REPUBLICANS CLAIM VICTORY AFTER PASSING THE LEGISLATION AT THE CORE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA.

COMING UP AT 7:00, AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS COMING TO DOWNTOWN CHULA VISTA.

THE DEVELOPMENT WILL OFFER NEARLY 80 NEW UNITS, BUT DON'T BRING YOUR CAR.

OUR REPORTER, CHRISTOPHER EDWARDS, HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: CHULA VISTA IS BEHIND ON AT SCHOOL TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ONE PROJECT ON THIRD AVENUE COULD HELP.

THE CITY RECENTLY APPROVED UP TO $4 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 79 NEW UNITS AT THIRD STREET.

MOST OF THEM WILL BE STUDIOS.

COUNCILMEMBER JOSE SAYS THAT THE PRODUCT IS MUCH NEEDED.

>> IT IS RARE THAT YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF PRICING AVAILABLE, AND I CAN SEE SOMEONE WHO IS A SERVICE WORKER IN A WAITING CAPACITY, OR SOMEBODY POTENTIALLY WHO WORKS IN THE BACK KITCHEN AS A DISHWASHER, MIGHT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS SPACE.

>> Reporter: BUT, THE PROJECT OFFERS NO PARKING FOR THE DOZENS OF RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIVE THERE.

THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR MAYOR JOHN McCANN TO VOTE AGAINST THE PLAN.

>> MY MAJOR CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY, IS I HAVE SEEN THIS PROPERTY GOING TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITERATIONS, AND WE HAVE GONE FROM 23 UNITS, TO THE THREE UNITS, TO 79, AND ALTHOUGH UNITS HAVE GONE UP, THE PARKING HAS GONE DOWN.

AND THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: COMMUNITY PROJECT WORKS IS A PROJECT DEVELOPER.

IT WILL SEEK PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEARBY PARKING LOTS AND MARKET TO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OWN A CAR OR WHO WORK IN THE AREA.

FOR KPBS, I AM REPORTING INTERN CHRISTOPHER EDWARDS.

>> AND OUR NEWS SOURCES AN INDEPENDENTLY FUNDED PARTNER OF KPBS.

THIS IS PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.

TO GO TO MORE, YOU CAN GO TO KPBS.ORG/PUBLICMATTERS.

>>> ALTHOUGH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS ABLE TO FIND MONEY IN ITS BUDGET TO KEEP BONFIRE PITS MAINTAINED ANOTHER YEAR, OTHER CITIES ARE TURNING TO PRIVATE COMPANIES TO FOOT THE BILL AND IT IS NOT CHEAP.

THE CITY OF CORONADO PARTNERED WITH BLUE LIGHT BONFIRES, SPEECH PILLARS WHO WANT TO USE ONE OF CORONADO'S FIRE PITS CAN GET A PERMIT ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR $500, THEN YOU WILL NEED TO REACH OUT TO BLUE LIGHT TO SET UP A DATE AND TIME FOR A BONFIRE FOR UP TO 100 PEOPLE.

THE CITY OF CORONADO MAKES REVENUE ON THE PERMITS, AND THE COMPANY GETS PAID TO SET UP AND CLEAN UP THE FIRE PITS.

>> WHEN RELATIVES COME INTO TOWN AND WE GO TO THE BEACH AND HAVE A FIRE, WE USUALLY HAVE 30, 40 PEOPLE, YOU KNOW?

SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE FEASIBLE.

IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN PLAN, TOO.

IF YOU HAVE TO GET A PERMIT, IT IS SOMETHING WHERE YOU ARE GUARANTEED A SPOT, TOO.

>> PACKAGES START AT $300.

SERVICES INCLUDE A PROPANE FIRE PIT, CLEANUP, SEEDING, AND PROJECTOR SCREENS.

>>> INDEPENDENCE DAY IS ALMOST HERE AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL BE TRAVELING, FEASTING ON BARBECUE, AND WATCHING FIREWORK DISPLAYS.

OF COURSE, IT ALL COMES WITH A COST.

IVAN RODRIGUEZ BREAKS DOWN JUST HOW MUCH YOU CAN EXPECT TO PAY FOR THINGS, FROM GAS TO FOOD.

>> Reporter: THE FOURTH OF JULY, A TIME TO GATHER AROUND THE GRILL, ENJOY THE SUMMER SUN, AND WATCH FIREWORK DISPLAYS LIGHT UP THE SKY.

IT CAN ALSO MEAN GETTING STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON YOUR WAY TO YOUR DESTINATION, WITH AN EXPECTED 61 MILLION PEOPLE SET TO HIT THE ROAD.

>> MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DRIVING TO THEIR DESTINATIONS, AND THAT IS USUALLY THE CASE.

TYPICALLY, WHENEVER WE LOOK AT HOLIDAY TRAVEL, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY DRIVE BECAUSE IT IS EASIER, IT IS CHEAPER FOR PEOPLE, IT AFFORDS MORE FLUX ABILITY.

>> Reporter: WITH JULY 4th GAS PRICES AT THEIR LOWEST SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, DRIVERS WILL FEEL A LITTLE LESS PAIN AT THE PUMP.

>> WE ARE PAYING ABOUT $.30 LESS THAN WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

WE HAVEN'T PAID GAS PRICES THIS LOW SINCE 2021.

>> Reporter: AIR TRAVEL, TOO, IS TAKING OFF.

>> WE ARE PROJECTING A RECORD IN THE AIR TRAVEL CATEGORY, 5.84 MILLION PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: BUT, SO WILL THE PRICES.

AAA SAYS ROUND-TRIP DOMESTIC FOR THIS PERIOD IS UP 4% OVER THE LAST YEAR, DUE TO DEMAND.

AND IF YOU ARE HOSTING THAT BACKYARD BARBECUE, THE PUBLIC PRICE OF FOOD HAS MOSTLY LEVELED OFF.

A MEAL FOR 10 PEOPLE WITH ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL JULY 4th OFFERINGS WILL COST $130, UP 2.2% FROM LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO WELLS FARGO.

THE HIGHER OVERALL PRICES ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO BEEF AND EGG INFLATION.

YOUR BEST BET FOR GRILLING ON A BUDGET -- CHICKEN, UP ONLY 1% OVER THE LAST YEAR.

IN ATLANTA, I AM IVAN RODRIGUEZ.

>>> AND HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT FOOD SAFETY REMINDERS FOR THOSE COOKING THIS WEEKEND.

FIRST, KEEP YOUR HANDS, UTENSILS, AND SURFACES CLEAN BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER YOU PREPARE FOOD.

NEXT, KEEP RAW MEATS AWAY FROM OTHER READY TO EAT FOODS TO AVOID CROSS CONTAMINATION.

AND THIRDLY, USE A FOOD THERMOMETER TO ENSURE THE MEAT YOU ARE GRILLING REACHES THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE.

FINALLY, BE SURE NOT TO LEAVE FOOD THAT CAN SPOIL, OUT FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE.

>>> AND HERE IS A QUICK CHECK AT LOCAL GAS PRICES.

THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A GALLON OF REGULAR GAS DROPPED FOR THE 10th CONSECUTIVE DATA $4.62.

DROPPED MORE THAN $.62 OVER THAT PERIOD, AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGES MORE THAN $3.16.

>>> IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, YOU WOULD FIND THAT FOURTH OF JULY IN SAN DIEGO HAD A VERY SPECIFIC SOUND, AND THAT SOUND HAS NOW BEEN RE-CREATED, BUT IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK.

KEN KRAMER SHOWS US IN THIS STORY ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: HERE IS THE WHALEY HOUSE IN OLD TOWN, WELL, KNOWN FOR BEING HAUNTED, AS YOU KNOW., WE FOUND SOMETHING THAT COULD EASILY BE OVERLOOKED.

HERE IT IS.

YOU KNOW KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

IT IS A CANON, A CEREMONIAL CANNON, AND IT IS MORE THAN 140 YEARS OLD.

I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A STORY WE DID ABOUT HOW SAN DIEGO USED TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY.

WE MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAN DIEGO USED TO DO WAS FIRE OFF A CANON.

BUT, PEOPLE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR WINDOWS -- SO, THAT WAS STOPPED.

AND THAT OLD 1876 CANON, EVENTUALLY IT WENT MISSING.

WELL, JIM RICHMOND SAW THAT AND HE WROTE US TO SAY THE CANON WAS FOUND BY THE SAVE OUR HERITAGE ORGANIZATION, AND WITH A DONATION FROM DESCENDENTS OF THE MAN WHO GAVE IT TO THE CITY IN 1876, THE BANDY BLACKSMITH IN ESCONDIDO RESTORED THAT CANNON, WHICH WAS NOT EASY.

I MEAN, IT WAS FILLED WITH CONCRETE.

BUT, THESE BLACKSMITHS MADE IT ONCE AGAIN WHAT IT WAS BACK ON THOSE FOURTH OF JULY'S PRIOR TO 1900.

FINALLY, THEY HAD IT TESTED, OF COURSE.

SOUNDING OFF, AGAIN, IS OUR CITY'S CENTENNIAL CANON.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO RESTORED IT, AND THE WAILING HOUSE FOR KEEPING IT SAFE.

SHOULD YOU SEE IT THERE, YOU MIGHT GET A BANG OUT OF KNOWING THIS STORY ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> KEN KRAMER HAS A HALF HOUR OF STORIES EVERY WEEK ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

YOU CAN SEE THEM THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 8:00, RIGHT HERE ON KPBS.

>>> WELL, OF COURSE, WE ARE HEADED INTO THE FOURTH OF JULY, AND THAT MEANS YOU PROBABLY ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING THE DAY OUTSIDE, AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER.

MAYBE EVEN JUST THE EVENING HOURS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT OUR WEATHER IS LOOKING OKAY FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY, REALLY NO PROBLEMS OUT THERE FOR US.

WE DO, THOUGH, HAVE A LESSENING MARINE LAYER AS WE GO INTO THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK, WHICH MEANS MOST OF US WILL START TO NOTICE A BIT OF A WARMING TREND, OR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF SPOTS, ESPECIALLY AS YOU GET AWAY FROM THE COASTLINE, LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS HEADED UP INTO NEXT WEEK.

FIRST OFF, THOUGH, TONIGHT, PRETTY TYPICAL.

LIKE I SAID, SOME FESTIVITIES GOING ON, 53, THE LOW IN THE CITY.

AS YOU WORK TOWARD OCEANSIDE, 62, AND TOWARD MOUNT LAGUNA, 67.

THERE IS ALSO QUITE A FEW AREAS TOMORROW THAT WILL BE DEALING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUN THINGS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, INCLUDING IN THE CITY, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT A PRETTY TYPICAL, WARM, DRY DAY.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THAT MONSOONAL MOISTURE, BY THE WAY, THAT MADE ITS WAY INTO ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, THAT SHOVED ITS WAY OFF TO THE EAST AND WE ARE PUTTING A LOW ON THAT AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, THE FOURTH OF JULY.

LOOKING QUIET ACROSS OUR REGION, 74 FOR THE CITY, 75 AS YOU HEAD TOWARD OCEANSIDE.

AND BREAKER SPRINGS, HAPPY NOW AT 105.

SO, THE FOURTH, PRETTY QUIET, HERE.

TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-70s.

WE START TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS GO UP FOR THE WEEKEND FOR THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND LIKE I SAID, THAT MARINE LAYER WILL BE SENDING OUT A BIT FOR THE WEEKEND.

NOT MUCH, BUT AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT.

AS WE HEAD INLAND, NOTICE HOW IT DOES GET BRIGHTER HERE OVER THE WEEKEND.

TEMPERATURES BACK TOWARD 90 DEGREES.

A LOT OF SPOTS STILL KEEPING ON THE TRADITION OF SOME MORE FESTIVITIES OVER THE WEEKEND.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD JUST BE OUT AND ABOUT WITH BACKYARD PICNICS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

IT DOES LOOK FUN.

WE ARE GOING TO BE DRY IN THE MOUNTAINS, AS WELL.

TEMPERATURES, LOWER 70s TO START OFF YOUR SATURDAY, SUNDAY TIMEFRAME.

BUT, THE HOLIDAY, IN THE MID- 70s, STILL PRETTY PLEASANT.

WE DO WARM-UP, THOUGH, BY TUESDAY.

NOTICE THOSE NUMBERS ROCKETED UP TO THE 80s.

AND IN THE DESERTS, THAT WILL PUSH US OVER THE 105 RANGE AS IT GETS TO SUNDAY, AND TUESDAY, EVEN HIGHER FOR WEDNESDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS, I AM METEOROLOGIST MELISSA.

>>> HAVE YOU LISTENED TO "THE FINEST?"

A NEW EPISODE OF THE KPBS PODCAST IS OUT TODAY FEATURING A COMIC BOOK THAT REWRITES CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY AND INSPIRES A HOPEFUL FUTURE.

YOU CAN LISTEN NOW AT KPBS.ORG/THEFINESTS, OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCAST.

>>> TOMORROW MARKS A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY FOR US, SAN DIEGO ICON, GIANT DIPPER ROLLER COASTER AT BELMONT PARK WILTSHIRE 100.

THE COASTER AND THE PARK HAS BEEN THROUGH SOME GOOD AND BAD TIMES.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL LOOKS BACK TO SHOW US HOW THE AMUSEMENT PARK AND THE COASTER GOT TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.

>> Reporter: BELMONT PARK, ON A SUNNY, SUMMER DAY.

BETWEEN THE RIDES, THE ARCADE, THE VARIOUS FOOD OFFERINGS, THE PLACE IS BUSTLING.

AND THERE, TOWERING ABOVE IT ALL -- THE GIANT DIPPER, WHICH CARRIED ITS FIRST RIDERS A CENTURY TO GO, TOMORROW.

BUT, THE STORY OF THIS BELOVED RIDE AND THE PARK IN WHICH IT SITS GOES BACK EVEN FURTHER.

THE YEAR WAS 1914.

JOHN DUE EAST SPRECKELS HAD LIVED IN SAN DIEGO HAVING MOVED HIS FAMILY FROM SAN FRANCISCO FOLLOWING THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF 1906.

SPRECKELS SAW OPPORTUNITY EVERYWHERE HE LOOKED, INCLUDING MISSION BEACH.

THAT YEAR, HE AND ANOTHER MAN PROPOSED A NEW RESORT FOR THE AREA THAT IS NOW BELMONT PARK.

SOMETIME LATER, THE RESORT PLANS TURNED INTO AN AMUSEMENT PARK CALLED THE MISSION BEACH AMUSEMENT CENTER.

CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF 1924.

THE FIRST THING TO BE COMPLETED WAS A ROLLERSKATING RINK THAT OPENED A YEAR LATER, FOLLOWED BY THE PLUNGE POOL, AND A DANCE CLUB.

IN EARLY JUNE, A PERMIT WAS ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROLLER COASTER.

CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IMMEDIATELY, AND ON JULY 4th, 1925, THE ROLLER COASTER STARTED ROLLING.

OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SETBACKS -- FIRES THAT SERIOUSLY DAMAGED THE RIDE.

AT LEAST ONE PERSON HAS DIED ON THE DIPPER.

AND, IT HAS ALMOST BEEN TORN DOWN MORE THAN ONCE.

>> HOLD ON!

>> Reporter: FOOT, 100 YEARS LATER AND IT IS STILL ROLLING STRONG.

>> BELMONT HAS A BIT OF A CHECKERED PAST.

>> Reporter: STEVE THOMAS IS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF BELMONT PARK.

SINCE 2011, IT HAS BEEN OWNED BY PACIFICA ENTERPRISES MANAGEMENT, A LOCAL, FAMILY- OWNED COMPANY.

THOMAS SAYS THEY KNEW MAKING THIS PLACE A SUCCESS, ONCE AGAIN, WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.

>> AND IT WAS A -- YOU KNOW, A BIT OF A FRAGMENTED PARK AT THE TIME WHERE YOU HAD KIND OF THE STRIPMALL MENTALITY WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPERATORS.

WHEN PACIFICA CAME IN, ONE OF THE GOALS WAS FOR US TO START TO BUY UP THOSE INDEPENDENT OPERATORS AND UNIFY A PARK AND MAKE A REAL SOLID AND UNIFIED BEACH BOARDWALK.

>> Reporter: THE COST OF MAKING A REAL, SOLID BOARDWALK AMUSEMENT PARK HAS MEANT SOME MAJOR FINANCIAL OUTLAYS OVER THE YEARS.

WHEN PACIFICA BEGAN A RESTORATION PROJECT FOR THE PLUNGE POOL IN 2017, IT WAS ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $4 MILLION.

BY THE TIME IT REOPENED IN 2019, THOMAS SAID THE COST HAD BALLOONED TO $20 MILLION.

AND THEN, THERE IS THE CONSTANT UPKEEP OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

LIKE ALL OF CALIFORNIA'S COASTAL THEME PARKS, PAST AND PRESENT, BELMONT PARK FACE IS SOMETHING OF A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD AS TO THEIR LOCATION.

THE GREAT SIDE OF THE SWORD?

YOU ARE RIGHT HERE, ON THE SHORE OF THE BEAUTIFUL PACIFIC OCEAN.

THE NOT SO GREAT SIDE OF THE SWORD COMPLEX -- ALL OF THAT SALTY OCEAN AIR IS MURDER ON THE RIDES.

>> WE HAVE A TEAM OF ABOUT 32 MAINTENANCE FACILITIES.

SOME FOCUS ON THE RIDES SOLELY AND WE HAVE DEDICATED COASTER MECHANICS AND DEDICATED RIDE MECHANICS, SO WE HAVE THREE FULL-TIME MECHANICS.

IT IS LIKE THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.

THEY START AT ONE END, AND THEY GO AROUND TO THE OTHER.

>> YEAH!

>> EVERY THREE YEARS, WE REPAINT GIANT DIPPER, JUST THE WHOLE THING.

BUT, IT IS A CONSTANT CHALLENGE AND IT TAKES YEAR-ROUND WORK.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLACING LUMBER, FIXING, YOU KNOW, REPAIRING PARTS.

IT IS NEVER ENDING.

>> Reporter: JUST FOR A ROUGH NUMBER, IT IS ABOUT 700 MILLION PEOPLE HAS BEEN TO BELMONT PARK IN 100 YEARS, AND OVER 70 MILLION GIANT DIPPER RIDES.

IT IS PRETTY FANTASTIC.

THIS PAST TUESDAY, A SPECIAL CELEBRATION MARKING THE OCCASION, COMPLETE WITH A BRIEF HISTORY LESSON FROM MAYOR TODD GLORIA.

>> IT ARRIVED AFTER THE BELMONT PARK WAS OPEN.

THE SAN DIEGO PUBLIC ART CAME AFTER BELMONT.

THE EL CORTEZ HOTEL, THE SAN DIEGO PADRES WEREN'T EVEN A MINOR LEAGUE TEAM AT THE TIME OF THE CREATION OF BELMONT PARK.

AND SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY DID EXIST BUT AT THE TIME, IT WAS THE SAN DIEGO TEACHERS COLLEGE.

>> Reporter: FINALLY, BACK TO THE START OF THIS COASTAL SHOW AND A BIT OF FACT CHECKING, BY WAY OF REPORTER INVOLVEMENT.

FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM A BIG ROLLER COASTER FAN, SO HOW DOES THE GIANT DIPPER STAND UP AT ITS CENTURY MARK?

GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS REPORTER LAUGH WITH CHILDLIKE GLEE JUST LIKE THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE RIDDEN THESE RAILS OVER THE PAST 100 YEARS.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> OH, JOHN HAS ALL THE FUN.

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

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT KPBS, HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH.

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CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE, OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

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