♪ >>> 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 -- SALUD -- THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

♪ >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO PAY WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST SETTLEMENT OVER A POLICE KILLING IN U.S.

HISTORY.

THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A SETTLEMENT OF $30 MILLION TO BE PAID TO THE FAMILY OF A BLACK TEENAGER WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER.

IN JANUARY, 16-YEAR-OLD KONOA WILSON WAS STANDING ON THE TROLLEY PLATFORM AT SANTA FE DEPOT WHEN A GUNMAN FIRED IN HIS DIRECTION.

WILSON THEN RAN AWAY, AND AS HE EXITED THE STATION, OFFICER DANIEL GOLD SHOT HIM IN THE BACK.

WILSON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD 35 MINUTES LATER.

>> AS THE FATHER OF A YOUNG BLACK MAN, THIS HURT.

THIS COULD BE MY SON.

IF ONLY YOU COULD BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND.

THE FEAR I OFTEN HAVE WHEN MY SON LEAVES THE HOUSE.

I MUST SAY, IT IS A REAL FEAR, AND I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS WARRANTED.

I SAID THIS BEFORE AND I WILL SAY THIS AGAIN, THIS IS THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA.

>> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS STILL INVESTIGATING THE CASE AND HAS NOT YET DECIDED WHETHER TO FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE OFFICER.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL TODAY IS VOTING ON THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY POINT KPBS METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN SAYS PRIVACY ADVOCATES ARE OBJECTING TO AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS.

>> A LPR'S ARE USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO TRACK THE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES.

SAN DIEGO POLICE SAY THE CAMERAS HAVE BEEN A FORCE MULTIPLIER, HELPING DETECTIVES RECOVER STOLEN VEHICLES AND SOLVE CRIMES.

>> OUR ALP ARE READERS CAPTURE LICENSE PLATES ON OUR STREETS, SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN ALREADY SEE.

THE SYSTEM RECORDS A PLATE, THE TIME, AND A LOCATION.

IT DOES NOT IDENTIFY WHO THE DRIVER IS OR WHO IS IN THE VEHICLE.

>> BUT PRIVACY ADVOCATES HAVE CALLED ON THE CITY TO CUT TIES WITH THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE CAMERAS, FLOCK SAFETY.

THE COMPANY SAYS THEY DO NOT FULLY TRACK VEHICLES AND DELETE IMAGES NOT USED FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

CRITICS SAY THE COMPANY OPERATES UNETHICALLY, AND THE COMPANY HAS COLLABORATED WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

CALIFORNIA LAW AND SDPD POLICY PRESIDENT DURING THE CAMERAS' DATA WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, THE PRIVACY ADVOCATES SAY THOSE PROHIBITIONS CAN BE HARD TO ENFORCE.

>> BEING SEEN IN PUBLIC IS BEING DIFFERENT THAN BEING STOPPED IN PUBLIC OVER TIME BY A NETWORK OF SURVEILLANCE CENTERS.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS AFFIRMED THAT INDIVIDUALS RETAIN A REASONABLE PRIVACY AND EVEN IN PUBLIC, THAT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT PROTECTS PEOPLE, NOT JUST PLACES.

>> SAN DIEGO LAW REQUIRES AN ANNUAL REPORT ON SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES AND AN ANNUAL BOAT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ON WHETHER TO CONTINUE THEIR USE.

SDPD HAS IDENTIFIED 54 SUCH TECHNOLOGIES, ALL OF WHICH THEY SAY ARE NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WELL, PLEASANTLY COOL NIGHT, BUT VERY WARM DAYS WILL WIN OUT HERE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.

IN FACT, SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A RUN TO NEAR RECORD HIGHS.

WE HAVE OUR EYES ON YOU IN RAMONA ON AT LEAST WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

SO, DOWN TO 43 IN RAMONA, 49 IN SAN DIEGO LATE TONIGHT, BUT DURING THE DAY, WE REALLY BEGIN TO WARM UP.

THE WARMING TREND WILL CONTINUE FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, DETAILS AHEAD.

>>> SAN DIEGO UNIFIED LEADERS ANNOUNCED PLANS TODAY TO FIX "SYSTEMIC ISSUES WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT."

KPBS REPORTER JACOB SPOKE TO LEADERS WHO SAY UNDERFUNDING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CAUSING FINANCIAL STRAIN.

>> Reporter: LEADERS WITH SAN DIEGO UNIFIED GATHERED AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT POINT >> WE ARE LOOKING TO REDESIGN OUR SYSTEM WITH ONE PURPOSE, TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY HAS ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL LEARNING, TIMELY SUPPORT, AND A SAFE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.

>> Reporter: THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS THE DISTRICT IS FACING A $47 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS UNDERFUNDING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FINANCIALLY STRAINING THE DISTRICT.

THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR MORE FUNDING.

>> ACTUALLY, WE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT UP A LONG TIME AGO.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

NOT ONE OF THE ISSUES THEY WANT TO SOLVE IS THAT "OVER IDENTIFICATION OF STUDENTS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES."

THEY'RE ALSO PLANNING TO REDESIGN THEIR APPROACH FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

THE DISTRICT SAYS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS REQUIRING SERVICES HAS SURGED IN THE LAST DECADE.

IN 2015, ABOUT 11% OF STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT HAD INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS.

THIS YEAR, IT IS 17%.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS A SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES NOW COST ROUGHLY $400 MILLION ANNUALLY, BUT THEY ONLY RECEIVE ABOUT $125 MILLION FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES.

THE REMAINING $275 MILLION COMES FROM THEIR GENERAL FUNDS POINT >> TO TRULY CONSTRUCT A SYSTEM THAT IS GOING TO HELP THE EDUCATION [ INAUDIBLE ], WE NEED THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE A PROACTIVE SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: SARAH KEEVER HAS A FIRST GRADE SON WHO RELIES ON SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

SHE IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE DISTRICT'S COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SHE SAYS UNDERFUNDING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION HAS LONG AFFECTED STUDENT SERVICES.

>> WHEN I SEE OTHER FAMILIES STRUGGLE, AND I THINK MY BIGGEST THING IS I WANT FAMILIES TO NOT HAVE TO KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THIS WHOLE SYSTEM JUST TO GET THE SERVICES THAT MY CHILD GETS.

>> Reporter: DISTRICT OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT AT TOMORROW'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> CREWS WORKING A TRAIN TRACK PROJECT OVER THE BATIQUITOS LAGOON ARE ALSO WORKING ON A PROJECT TO HELP AN ENDANGERED BIRD.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN SHOWS US WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT OYSTER SHELLS HAVE TO DO WITH IT.

>> Reporter: AS ANY EXPECTING PARENT KNOWS, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK GETTING THE NURSERY READY BEFORE THE BABY COMES.

IN A WAY, THIS IS WHAT THESE STANDOUT CREWS ARE DOING.

PREPPING THE NURSERY, BUT THEY ARE DOING IT FOR THE BIRDS, LITERALLY.

>> TO REBUILD THIS W-2 NESTING SITE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY STANDING ON POINT >> Reporter: IT IS PART OF A PROJECT TO DOUBLE TRACK THE RAIL LIGHT OVER THE BATIQUITOS LAGOON.

CREWS ARE USING THE SANDRIDGE OR THE PROJECT TO REBUILD THE SITE.

THIS NESTING SITE WAS FIRST BUILT IN THE 1990s AND THE HOPE IS TO RESTORE IT TO ITS ORIGINAL 4.2 ACRE SIZE.

>> OVER TIME, IT HAS STARTED TO ERODE A LITTLE BIT, SO WE ARE PUSHING THE SAND BACK UP AGAINST THE SITE TO RESTORE IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SIZE AND PREVENTED HIM ERODING IN THE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: TIM IS A SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER.

HE SAYS THE RESTORATION WORK BEGAN EARLIER THIS FALL AFTER THE NESTING SEASON ENDED IN AUGUST.

TODAY, CREWS ARE SPREADING CRUSHED OYSTER SHELLS ON THE SITE.

>> THEY ARE GROUND NESTING BIRDS, SO THAT MEANS THEY LAY THEIR NEST [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> Reporter: THEY'RE USING CRUSHED OYSTERS BECAUSE IT RESEMBLES THE SPECKLES ON THE EGGS FOR THEM TO CAMOUFLAGE THEIR EGGS WHEN NESTING POINT >> IF THEY'RE ABLE TO NEST IN AN AREA THAT IS LINED WITH OYSTER SHELLS, BLENDING REALLY NICELY.

>> Reporter: IS WILL SOON ADD TILES TO THE SITE, PROVIDING A PLACE FOR THEM TO ESCAPE THE HEAT AND PREDATORS.

AND INSTALLING THESE MESH FENCES AS A SORT OF BABY GATE TO STOP TICS FROM FALLING INTO THE WATER.

RESTORATION WORK IS EXPECTED TO FINISH BY YEARS END, TO GIVE THE SITE TIME TO SETTLE FOR THE NESTING SEASON BEGINS IN APRIL.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> I'M JEFF BENNETT TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS ON CAMPAIGN DONATIONS.

THAT IS AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

♪ >>> HISTORIAN HEATHER COX RICHARDSON TOLD KPBS EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT THE PEOPLE WHO INSIST AMERICANS ARE POLARIZED ARE THOSE WHO BENEFIT FROM THE DIVISION.

SHE ARGUED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS CAN FIND COMMON GROUND ON IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND THE TRICK, SHE SAID, IS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND RECLAIM THE MIDDLE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

FOR ANSWERS, WE TURNED TO JOHN, WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE STUDY OF PEACE, CONFLICT, AND CIVIL SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: JOHN, DESPITE HER HISTORY AS A DIVISIVE FIGURE HERSELF, CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE RECENTLY POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THERE EXISTS A TOXIC POLITICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN THIS COUNTRY THAT THRIVES ON DIVIDING US.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> YEAH, 100%.

I THINK THAT THE STRENGTH OF THAT INDUSTRY IS PROBABLY THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE POLITICAL MOMENT THAT WE ARE LIVING THROUGH TODAY, IN FACT.

>> Reporter: WHO IS IN THAT TOXIC POLITICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND WHAT IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND DIVIDING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

>> IT'S MONEY AND POWER OR FREEDOM FOR POLITICIANS FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF ENTERPRISES.

I WOULD SAY THAT INDUSTRY PROBABLY HAS TWO SORT OF SIDES THAT EXIST IN SYMBIOSIS.

ON ONE SIDE, YOU HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND TO SOME EXTENT, TRADITIONAL MEDIA THAT ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON BRINGING EYEBALLS ADDICTIVELY INTO PLACES WHERE ADVERTISERS CAN REACH THEM, AND THEN THE SORT OF PERSONALITIES WHO CAN BE ROCKETED TO STARDOM ON THE BACKS OF SOME VIRAL INTERACTIONS, AND THEY HAVE REALLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE AS PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE THINGS THAT MAKE US FEEL MORAL OUTRAGE.

WE LOVE TO SEE THINGS THAT MAKE US FEEL ANXIOUS OR AFRAID, AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, THERE ARE POLITICAL MOVERS, SOME OF WHOM ARE ELECTED POLITICIANS, OTHERS OF WHOM ARE POLICY INFLUENCERS, OR PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM HAVING A LARGE SLATE OF AMERICANS WHO ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON ISSUES THAT THEY GET TO DICTATE AS BEING ZERO-SUM, AND YET SOMEHOW EXISTENTIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF OUR SOCIETY.

AND AS LONG AS WE ARE CONSUMING ANXIETY, OUTRAGE, PROVOKING CONTENT ABOUT THOSE THINGS, THEY HAVE A LOT MORE FREEDOM TO OPERATE IN THE POLICY AREAS THAT REALLY MATTER TO THEM WITHOUT FACING A GREAT DEAL OF ACCOUNTABILITY FROM US AS VOTERS.

>> Reporter: IS CREATING [ INAUDIBLE ] AS AMERICANS IS A STRATEGY, THEN HOW DO PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN A PLACE LIKE SAN DIEGO BRIDGE THE GAP?

>> WE HAVE GOT TO DEVELOP THE DISCIPLINE TO TURN AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TELLING US THERE ARE NO SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN TO HAVE OUR NEIGHBOR'S LIVES.

WE HAVE TO TURN TO LEADERSHIP THAT IS GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES AND ABOUT HOW WE CAN FORGE CONSENSUS, AND THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE US TO SHUT OFF THAT INSTINCT TO SEEK THE MORAL OUTRAGE AND THE ANXIETY.

>> Reporter: GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF HOW AT THE LOCAL LEVEL HERE IN SAN DIEGO THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT SAN DIEGANS CAN COME TOGETHER ON, THAT DON'T INVOLVE THOSE ZERO-SUM ISSUES.

>> SURE.

NOBODY WANTS A DIRTY BEACH.

VERY FEW PEOPLE WANT THE LIBRARY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO CLOSE.

THEY DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHOSE SPOUSE IS SICK TO HAVE TO MISS WORK AND NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR KIDS.

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF ISSUES THAT WE ALL MORE OR LESS AGREE ON THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM ORGANIZATION AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.

>> LET'S TAKE HOMELESSNESS AS AN EXAMPLE.

IT HAS BEEN A HUGELY CHALLENGING PROBLEM TO RESOLVE.

WHAT DOES REAL COALITION BUILDING AMONG RESIDENTS LOOK LIKE, WHAT DOES ACTION, WHAT DOES POTENTIAL, WHAT DO POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS LOOK LIKE?

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR SUFFERING, AND THERE'S SOME AMOUNT OF GOOD THAT CAN BE DONE, HELPING THEM.

DO YOU VOLUNTEER AT A SOUP KITCHEN, TO TRY AND SET UP A FOOD DRIVE, ARE THERE WAYS THAT YOU CAN THINK ABOUT REACHING OUT TO THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY BY ORGANIZING YOUR NEIGHBORS IN A WAY TO PROVIDE AID FOR THESE PEOPLE?

AND THAT SORT OF SOMEONE IS SUFFERING IMMEDIATELY AND I WANT TO HELP THEM OUT CREATES THIS KIND OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, CREATES THIS ACCOUNTABILITY AMONG NEIGHBORS, BUILDS THIS KIND OF TOLERANT, CONVERSATION SEEKING ORGANIZATION THAT DOESN'T START WITH THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, IT STARTS WITH A THING WE ALL WANT, WHICH IS THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE BETTER OFF.

>> Reporter: JOHN, HOW VITAL IS THIS WORK IN SECURING THIS COUNTRY'S FUTURE?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IN SOME WAYS, IT IS HARD TO COME UP WITH ANYTHING THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES THAT HAVE RESOURCES AND POWER THAT ARE BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE AS INDIVIDUALS TO HELP THEM PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.

WHAT WE HAVE AS A RESOURCE AND WHAT WE HAVE ADVOCATED TO SOME EXTENT OVER THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS IS OUR STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.

THE WAY THAT WE PUSH BACK AGAINST FORCES THAT WANT TO PICK OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES AND EVEN FAMILIES APART, IS TO FIND SOME WAY TO CREATE A FABRIC THAT THEY CANNOT TEAR.

WHEN YOU GATHER THAT MOMENTUM, AND WE HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN USE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND OUR OWN NEIGHBORS, THAT'S WHEN WE CAN PUT UP SERIOUS RESISTANCE TO ANY SORT OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS TO COME IN FROM OUTSIDE AND MAKE OUR LIVES WORSE.

>> Reporter: JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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

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

>>> THE NEW HELP IS AVAILABLE FOR SAN DIEGANS LOOKING TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME.

SUPERVISORS APPROVED A $2.5 MILLION GRANT TO HELP LOW AND MEDIUM INCOME FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS WITH DOWNPAYMENTS, CLOSING COSTS, AND LOW INTEREST DEFERRED PAYMENT LOANS.

IT IS CALLED CAL HOME.

20 ELIGIBLE HOMEBUYERS WILL RECEIVE 30 YEAR, 3% INTEREST LOANS WITH DEFERRED PAYMENTS.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ELIGIBILITY AND HOW TO APPLY, YOU CAN VISIT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES WEBSITE.

>>> IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW CAR BUT THOUGHT PRICES WERE ALREADY TOO HIGH, EXPERTS WARNED TO PREPARE FOR STICKER SHOCK AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

IVAN RODRIGUEZ HAS THE LATEST OUTLOOK ON THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND WHAT BUYERS SHOULD KNOW.

THIS FALL, AVERAGE NEW-CAR PRICES BRIEFLY TOPPED $50,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME BEFORE SLIPPING BACK UNDER THAT MARKET, BUT NOW EXPERTS TELL ME THEY EXPECT CAR PRICES TO HEAD BACK OVER THAT LEVEL, AND THIS TIME, THEY MIGHT STAY THERE.

TARIFFS, CHANGES IN FUEL EFFICIENCY, AND FALLING INTEREST RATES ARE ALL PLAYING A ROLE IN PUSHING CAR COSTS UP, DESPITE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S VIEWS TO THE CONTRARY ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY EXPERTS.

THE PRICE TAG OF CARS IS PART OF A LARGER AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU ALMOST KIND OF HAVE TO UNLEARN EVERYTHING PRIOR TO YOUR CAR PURCHASE LAST TIME, BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.

>> Reporter: IVAN WITH EDMONDS SAYS PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T PURCHASED A CAR IN THE LAST SIX TO SEVEN YEARS WILL LIKELY BE MET WITH STICKER SHOCK.

>> THE PRE-COVID, WE WERE LOOKING AT VEHICLE PRICES CLOSE TO 38, $39,000.

RIGHT NOW, THAT 49, 50, THAT IS STICKER SHOCK, THAT IS VERY JARRING.

>> Reporter: FIRES OFTEN SHOP BASED ON THEIR ANTICIPATED MONTHLY PAYMENT, WITH [ INAUDIBLE ].

NEARLY A FIFTH OF NEW CARS NOW HAVE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $1000 OR MORE, EXPERIENCE SAYS.

A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN CAR PRICES AND SHARPLY HIGHER INTEREST RATES SINCE OCTOBER 2019 POINT TO END THE YEAR, HE EXPECTS AVERAGE PRICES TO RISE AGAIN BECAUSE OF LUXURY CAR SALES.

>> DECEMBER, EXPECT ANOTHER HIGH NUMBER, OVER 50 K, YEAH, I COULD DEFINITELY SEE THAT HAPPENING.

JANUARY, THINGS SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO SELL A LOT OF OLD INVENTORY.

WE WILL PROBABLY SEE 25%, MAYBE 20% OF NEW VEHICLES BEING SOLD IN JANUARY BEING 2025 MODEL YEAR.

>> Reporter: IS CURRENTLY HOLDING ITS FINAL MEETING OF THE YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE ANOTHER INTEREST RATE CUT TOMORROW, WHICH COULD REDUCE COSTS FOR BUYERS, BUT IT CAN ALSO GIVE DEALERS ROOM TO INCREASE THEIR PRICES, KEEPING TOTAL MONTHLY PAYMENTS THE SAME OR EVEN HIGHER.

ATLANTA, IVAN RODRIGUEZ.

>>> WITH CHRISTMAS COMING UP FAST, TRADITIONAL DEPICTIONS OF SANTA CLAUS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN INCLUSIVE, BUT A BLACK SANTA MOVEMENT IS CHANGING THAT .

AS MADISON WILBUR REPORTS, THERE IS A DEMAND FOR REPRESENTATION.

>> ♪ JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY.

[ SINGING ] >> Reporter: THIS IS THE WILLIS HOUSEHOLD, AND HERE, CHRISTMAS IS A BIG DEAL.

SO IS MAKING SURE EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY SEES THEMSELVES IN THE DECORATIONS.

>> THERE IS THIS SINGLE REPRESENTATION OF SANTA, THEN THE KIDS THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTED IN THAT, THEY WILL WONDER, OKAY, AM I BEING LEFT OUT?

OR WHETHER THIS IS RACISM.

LIKE WHY AM I NOT FEELING ASSOCIATED WITH THE SANTA CLAUS I AM C?

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SANTA WEBSITE, SANTOS OF COLOR MAKE UP LESS THAN 5% OF MARKET SANTAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SANTAS JUST LIKE ME, TO HELP BRING MORE REPRESENTATION TO THE TREE.

>> WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, YOU MIGHT SEE A BLACK CHARACTER IN THE BACKGROUND AND SOME OF THE CHRISTMAS MOVIES.

LIKE ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES IS IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, AND THE HOUSEKEEPER, THE CUP WAS A BLACK WOMAN, AND SHE HAD A LINE OR TWO, WHICH WAS GREAT, BUT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT.

SO, YOU DID NOT REALLY SEE PEOPLE OF COLOR REPRESENTED DURING CHRISTMAS.

SANTA CAN BE IN ALL COLORS, SHAPES, SIZES.

HE DOESN'T FIT THE ONE MOLD LIKE WE WERE TAUGHT GROWING UP.

>> Reporter: TERRY IS A LOCAL SANTA IN FRESNO.

YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN HIM IN SOME OFFENSE ACROSS TOWN.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO CRITICIZE IT, BUT YOU CANNOT CRITICIZE [ INAUDIBLE ].

BUT IT IS JUST SO MANY RACISTS, YOU NAME IT, WALK UP TO ME, CAN I TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU?

YES.

>> Reporter: AND AS I WAS TALKING TO HIM, THE NEXT THING WE HEARD WAS I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A DARK-SKINNED SANTA.

>> IT IS FINALLY TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY SHOWED SPIRIT TO NOT ONLY ONE PERSON OR ONE SIDE, BUT TO EVERYBODY, EVERY RACE AND EVERY COLOR, BEING A DARK- SKINNED SANTA, YOU CAN REPRESENT ANYTHING.

LACK SANTA, PUERTO RICAN SANTA, YOU CAN DO IT ALL.

SO, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER.

IT IS THAT DEEP, BECAUSE FOR A LITTLE KID, THEY WANT TO SEE SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM AND THEY WANT TO FEEL CONNECTED.

>>> WE HAVE A WARMING TREND THAT WILL WIN OUT FOR MOST OF THE INTERIOR THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND INTO THURSDAY AS WELL, BUT WITH THAT SAID, THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION THAT IS A HIGHLY POPULATED EXCEPTION RIGHT ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST AND INCLUDING MUCH OF THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, IT WILL ACTUALLY BE A LITTLE COOLER ON WEDNESDAY RIGHT ALONG THE COAST, BUT FOR INLAND AREAS, WE WILL BE NOTICEABLY WARMER ON WEDNESDAY AS SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE CHALLENGING RECORD HIGHS, IF YOU ARE TUNING IN FROM AREAS LIKE RAMONA FOR EXAMPLE, LATER THIS WEEK.

TONIGHT, THOUGH, WE GET DOWN TO 49, A MAINLY CLEAR TIME FOR US, KIND OF A CLEAR START.

BUT OVERALL, WITH A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE FLEXING ITS MUSCLE OVER THE SOUTHWEST, DIVERTING THE STORM TRACK WELL TO THE NORTH, WITH SOAKING RAIN UP IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON AND SOME VERY HIGH ELEVATION SNOW, WE ARE RUNNING WARMER HERE.

INTERIOR AREAS WILL BE 10 TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE HISTORICAL AVERAGES, SO WHILE WE MAY BE JUST A SMIDGE COOLER ACTUALLY RIGHT ALONG THE COAST ON WEDNESDAY, INLAND AREAS, EVEN JUST A DOZEN OR TWO MILES INLAND, YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE A WARMING TREND AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ONE.

HERE WE ARE IN RAMONA, WE HAVE OUR EYES ON YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF BREAKING A RECORD HIGH.

86 IS OUR FORECAST TOMORROW.

IT WILL BE AROUND 75 IN SAN DIEGO.

AND WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME RECORD CHALLENGING HIGHS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S., RAMONA IS A TOP THE LIST HERE, 86, THAT WOULD BREAK THE DAILY RECORD HIGH BY FIVE DEGREES.

PREVIOUS RECORD FOR THE DATE, 81 FROM 1975, TIED 20 YEARS AGO, WE SHOULD SMASH THAT RECORD.

ALMOST A RECORD IN NEEDLES WAY TO OUR EAST, WAY TO OUR NORTH, ALL THE STUFF IN RECORD TERRITORY [ INAUDIBLE ].

WE ARE NOT ALONE WITH THIS, BUT IT WILL BE VERY WARM ACROSS THE WEST.

NORTH WINDS ON THURSDAY FOR ALL OF US, AND THE COASTAL FORECAST, YOU CAN SEE LOW TO MID 70s OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR THE COAST.

WE DO COOL DOWN INTO THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK.

INLAND AREAS, HERE WE ARE, VERY, VERY WARM WEDNESDAY, THAT IS YOUR BEST SHOT FOR A RECORD IN RAMONA.

BACK DOWN TO 80 ON THURSDAY, AND COOLING SIGNIFICANTLY THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

MOUNTAINS HERE HANGING OUT IN THE LOW 60s, NOT THAT BAD FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR BEFORE A COOLDOWN.

IN THE DESERT, WE ARE HANGING OUT NEAR 80 DEGREES THERE, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME COOLING THAT FOLLOWS FOR SATURDAY, AND A VERY PLEASANT SUNDAY AS WELL.

I AM ACCUWEATHER METEOROLOGIST FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> AND BE SURE TO ADD KPBS TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYLIST.

WE HAVE DAILY CONTACT FROM OUR NEWSROOM AT SAN DIEGO NEWS NOW AND MID-DAY ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE A SERIES INCLUDING THE AWARD-WINNING RELAY EXIT AND OUR LATEST AREAS CALLED "ONE OF THEIR OWN."

JUST SEARCH FOR KPBS ON APPLES, SPOTIFY, AND OTHER PODCAST PLATFORMS.

>>> AN UPCOMING PERFORMANCE OF DANCERS AND MUSICIANS IS ABOUT HONORING THE LITTLE THINGS ALONGSIDE THE HEAVINESS AND CHAOS OF THE WORLD.

KPBS ARTS REPORTER JULIA DIXON EVANS TAKES US INSIDE A REVERSAL.

>> Reporter: DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER GIOVANNI FRANCISCO SAYS SHE IS MOST AWARE OF OUTSIDE PRESSURES BASED ON HOW THEY FEEL IN HER BODY.

>> I WAS NOTICING HOW TAKING ON THE WEIGHT OF THINGS WITH THINGS IN MY FAMILY OR THINGS JUST IN THE WORLD, IN THE CHAOS OF EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME, AND HOW IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL HEAVY AND IT WOULD TRANSLATE ME TO MY MOVEMENT.

AND I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL IT VARIANCE.

>> THE FRANCISCO IS THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF ALL THE BIG AND LITTLE THINGS, WHICH IS INFORMED BY THE WAY AS WE CARRY OUR BURDENS.

>> SO, I WAS WANTING TO EXPLORE HOW WE CAN BETTER TUNE INTO THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE MIGHT BE AWARE OF IT AND OTHER TIMES WHERE WE MIGHT NOT BE, AND LEARN TO ACCEPT BOTH AND EMBRACE BOTH VERSUS TRYING TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: FRANCISCO WORKED WITH OTHER MOVEMENT AND SOUND ARTISTS TO DESIGN A PRODUCTION THAT SITS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN CHOREOGRAPHED AND IMPROVISED.

>> CAN YOU DO THE RAIN STICK?

>> YEAH.

♪ >> Reporter: MUSICIAN ZANE WAS PROMPTED BY FRANCISCO TO STUDY HOW SOUND AND MUSIC ARE PERCEIVED.

>> CAN WE NOTICE OUR RELATIONSHIP TO SOUND, DO WE KNOW WHEN IT TURNS INTO MUSIC, WHEN WE FEEL LIKE IT IS MUSIC?

AND KIND OF LIKE BLURRING THAT.

>> Reporter: THESE SOUNDS INCLUDE CLARINETS, SLIDE WHISTLES, HARP, POETRY, EVEN BALLS BOUNCING ON HAND DRUMS.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> Reporter: FOR FRANCISCO, THIS SORT OF CROSS DISCIPLINARY WORK IS A STRENGTH OF THE REGION.

>> I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PLACE SAN DIEGO IS, WHERE THERE IS NOT THIS, I GUESS, CRITERIA TO DEFINE YOURSELF AS ANY ONE PARTICULAR THING.

THERE PERFORMANCES TAKE PLACE THIS WEEKEND AT SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE'S GALLERY.

JULIA DIXON EVANS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING OUT FOR TOMORROW ON THE KPBS NEWSROOM.

ON MORNING EDITION, SOME STATES ARE TRYING TO LOWER THE COST OF HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS FOR PEOPLE WHO BUY INSURANCE ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MARKETPLACE.

AND KPBS MID-DAY ADDITION IS TALKING WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ABOUT SCAMS TO WATCH OUT OR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I AM MAYA TRABULSI, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, DIVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION, AND FLOOD SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

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

AND BY THE THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION.

DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

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