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 one 800 Bill Howe or visit Bill howe.com.

And by the Conrad Prebys Foundation.

Darlene Marcos Shiley.

And by the following.

And by viewers like you.

Thank you.

San Diego County is following through on its ultimatum to the Department of Homeland Security.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm Maya Trabulsi.

The county today sued DHS over access to the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

Kpbs reporter Alexander Nguyen says the issue is about the law.

We live in a nation that's governed by law.

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terry Lawson Remer says the suit was filed to show that no one is above the law, not even the president.

Transparency and public health oversight are not optional.

What we're seeing today reflects a broader pattern under the Trump administration, where federal agencies are increasingly blocking transparency and oversight even when public health is at stake.

California law allows counties to inspect private detention centers for public health purposes.

San Diego is the first to try to exercise that right.

Federal and county officials were turned away from the Otay Mesa detention center last month when they tried to inspect the facility.

Last Wednesday, the county gave DHS until the end of the business day to grant access.

They didn't.

So now the county is suing in federal court.

The suit names DHS, Ice Core, civic, the operator of the detention center.

Acting Ice Director Todd Lyons and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who was fired by President Trump the day after the county deadline.

Lawson Remer says the merit of the case remains regardless of who's at the top.

The complaint that we filed asserts three causes of action, each grounded in federal and state law.

County Counsel Damon Brown says DHS decision to block access is arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion because they have provided no reason, explanation and ignored essential statutory requirements and cooperative federalism principles.

The county says the authority adds an inspection.

Whatever violations they do fight would be published.

Then it would be up to Congress to act.

For Lawson Remer, the issue goes beyond the inspection.

It's a personal one.

We have family stories about people.

If you had barely escaped a Holocaust in a country that was apparently ruled by law at the time, and then individuals were just arbitrarily detained and nobody inspected and nobody cared and nobody watched, and everyone shut their eyes.

And then that's what happens.

The county is also planning to file a motion for a preliminary injunction Friday, seeking immediate access to the detention center.

DHS has yet to respond to an email seeking comment.

Alexander Nguyen, KPBS news.

And just moments ago, DHS responded to our request for comment, saying all Ice facilities comply with National Detention Center standards.

I'm Ariella Scalese.

And coming up tonight, if you don't like the heat of the day, well temperatures comfortable as we continue to dip lower into the 50s under a mainly clear sky, but more heat building through the middle and end of the week, we'll take a look at who could see some cooling by the weekend.

Lines at security checkpoints stretched for hours at airports across the country to start the week.

As the partial government shutdown of the department.

Homeland Security continues.

And with the start of spring break right around the corner, Ivan Rodriguez has more on what travelers can expect.

Whether you're flying domestic or international, one thing seems to be clear you'll want to get to the airport even earlier than you normally would to account for longer security at the airport, especially as the shutdown drags on.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed in mid-February, amid the standoff between Republicans and Democrats over federal immigration reform.

With everything going on in the last couple of weeks, I think people could be forgiven for forgetting that we are in a partial government shutdown and that many of the impacted employees happened to work at the TSA.

Eric Rosen with the points guy, says one of the reasons why we're seeing long lines at some major airports across the country is because TSA workers are set to miss their first paycheck this week, which means some of them probably have to call out.

Some of them probably have to take other jobs so they can't meet their regular shifts, which has been resulting in bottlenecks at some major airports over the last few days.

Some of the airports witnessing the longest TSA security lines include Houston's William P. Hobby Airport.

Louis Armstrong, New Orleans International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

I would say as the shutdown drags on, we're only likely to see more and more bottlenecks, not just at the airports that have been affected so far, but at further airports as well.

Rosen says one way future travelers can prepare is by staying on top of any and all updates from your airline and airport.

Stay on top of the social media handles and the websites of any airports you're flying through to see if they monitor the security wait times and how up to date they are.

And also to give yourself plenty of extra time.

I'm thinking a good 30 to 60 minutes more than you normally would.

These delays come as DHS braces for a new leader after President Trump fired Secretary Kristi Noem last week.

He tied Oklahoma Senator Mark Wayne Mullen to replace her starting March 31st in Atlanta.

Ivan Rodriguez.

Well, by now, we've all seen the price of gas rise since the start of the war with Iran.

But the costs associated with the conflict go beyond the pump.

Local grocers tell our media partner KGTV.

Fuel costs could trickle down to the food you buy at your stores.

After all, it has to get there somehow.

Adam Zack is the owner of Jensens Foods, and he says his store will order the least amount of deliveries as possible.

And that way, the store absorbs as much of the impact as possible.

When the prices spike, they'll add a fuel surcharge and then often will take it off when the prices come back down to normal.

The products that are least affected are local products, so by as much local produce as you can, because it's not coming thousands of miles to get on our shelves and to look for values and deals and add items, temporary price reductions and just be a smart shopper.

Local gas prices today, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is nearly $5.32.

That's up eight and a half cents, and it's the highest amount since May of 2024.

The average price has risen for 20 consecutive days, increasing $0.71, according to triple A, the typical San Diego gas and electric customers paying almost $200 a month to keep the lights on.

For the latest installment in our Price of San Diego series, Kpbs reporter Katie Hyson looked into why that rate has climbed so high.

If you're a typical SDG&E customer, you likely paid about $185 for last month's electric bill.

In 2009, when rates were at a low, it would have cost you under $20 to use the same amount of electricity.

That's adjusted for inflation.

To understand that rapid rise, we have to go back to the energy crisis in 2001.

That's when lawmakers put a cap on the rates utility companies could charge.

Then in 2007, officials said, SDG&E power lines were partly responsible for a deadly wildfire season.

The company began taking expensive steps to make their power grid less likely to spark fires.

Well, in 2014, California lawmakers lifted that cap on rates, allowing SDG&E to raise their prices to recover those expenses.

Company leadership told me state laws have mandated a lot of their rising costs not just for wildfire safety, but clean energy improvements and replacing aging infrastructure.

And, Katie, you also track the company's profits for this story.

So can you tell us what you found, even though ratepayers end up covering most of these costs?

Shareholders front, the money for the initial investment and SDG&E provides a return on their investment.

The company says they need to offer a high return to attract investors because it's a riskier investment than, say, a bond.

The percentage they're allowed to profit is regulated.

It's usually around 10%.

And the more the company spends on investments, the higher amount of profit that 10% translates to.

So the company's annual profit more than tripled between 2007 and 2024.

Well, thanks for breaking all that down for us.

But there is still a question that all of us want to know.

And that question is, is there an end in sight to these rising rates?

Not yet.

I'm sorry to say.

And in fact, in January, state regulators approved more wildfire mitigation spending.

And that's expected to raise monthly bills again for most SDG&E customers starting next month.

I really appreciate your reporting on this, Katie.

Thank you.

Thanks.

And you can read more about Katie's deep dive into skyrocketing electricity rates on our website.

Just go to kpbs.org/price of San Diego.

And there you'll find more stories in our series on everything from the rising cost of childcare to dining out on a budget, and the price of oil and gas is surging with no signs of letting up amid the war with Iran.

Cornell Barnard reports the rising prices have some drivers considering alternatives.

Drivers in Marin doing a double take on the price of gas.

Yikes.

Over $6 and climbing at this station.

Diesel prices now flirting with seven bucks.

I'm wishing I would have filled this car up like when it when the war first started and and my other car as well.

We saw long lines at this mill Valley Arco station, which typically sells gas almost a dollar cheaper for regular.

It's frustrating for sure.

Just, you just feel like you spend so much money on gas as it is.

You know, it's no secret California drivers already pay some of the highest gas prices in the country, and escalating Middle East tensions could push things into new territory.

National prices are rising fast, and California could be headed somewhere far worse.

Currently, the average price for regular is $5.20, premium 560.

Energy experts can't say how long this may last.

It's very hard to predict because, we don't know how the war is going to go.

And it's the war that's driving these high oil prices.

We moved from Iran to America 2012.

Saeid Shakari immigrated from Iran to San Rafael to open marin flowers.

He fears higher gas prices will hurt.

Everything goes up over like supplies, like an insurance, like a gas, like a delivery.

So really is harmful of our business.

Rising gas prices could be causing drivers to give EVs and hybrids a second look.

Keith Tyrrell at Toyota of Marin says his customers are asking prices always drive people to alternatives.

The higher gas gets, the more, affordable, and the better our choice.

Hybrid technology is.

A simple blood test could help predict dementia risk decades before symptoms appear.

That's according to new research from University of California, San Diego.

Kpbs health reporter Heidi DeMarco explains why researchers say it shows promise.

Researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 2700 women between 65 and 79 years old.

They were part of a memory study that started in the late 1990s.

They measured a protein in their blood called p tau 217.

We sought to determine whether this blood based biomarker, plasma P tau 2 17, could, whether it was associated with dementia risk in people who had no symptoms, who were cognitively healthy.

Aladdin Shadyab says.

Researchers then followed the women for up to 25 years to see who later developed dementia.

And what we found was that women who had elevated levels of this blood based biomarker, named plasma p tau 217, had three fold higher risk of incident dementia.

He says what makes a discovery promising is how easily the biomarker can be measured.

What I think is so fascinating about it is that with a simple blood test, we can detect whether someone has changes in their brain that indicate Alzheimer's disease.

Today, doctors usually rely on more complicated tests to look for these brain changes.

But as a cerebral spinal fluid test, which is invasive or what's called Pet imaging, and, you know, those are more costly approaches.

But he says the blood test isn't ready to be used in doctor's offices just yet.

We are not at the point yet where we could do, you know, routine testing, to, you know, to definitively determine whether someone has Alzheimer's by blood tests.

What, what the value of this test is, is that it could screen people to see whether they would require further follow up testing.

He says further studies are needed to confirm these findings, but this blood test shows promise for research on factors that increase dementia risk.

Heidi DeMarco, Kpbs news.

March is Women's History Month and ten exceptional women were honored by the city of San Diego today.

The Women of Distinction ceremony was held during today's City Council meeting.

Immigrant rights advocate Maria C. Chavez was here.

This year's citywide honoree.

The other nine were nominated by their respective city council members.

Mayor Todd Gloria says these women represent the best of San Diego.

Oh my gosh, I'm I'm overwhelmed.

I really am.

I mean, I think to be amongst all of these women that are serving the city is it's I feel overwhelmed because I feel so honored to be part of that.

The Woman of Distinction ceremony was initiated by Mayor Gloria five years ago, and to thank them for what they do to make the city a better place.

A love story now, but this one has an unusual twist.

It's about a couple that bonded over a mutual love of railroad trains and as Ken Kramer shows us, it's all also a story about San Diego.

To understand this story, you have to go back into the 1950s, when we had citrus packing houses and industries that depended on the Southern Pacific Railroad, which ran short trains, just an engine or two, with a couple of cars rattling behind right through the neighborhoods of Coronado, San Diego, Chula Vista, Lemon Grove and East County.

And one of those locomotives, Larry Rose remembers was engine number 51, 19.

Well, I would go right past Grossmont High School, which is the oldest high school in East County.

It would roll right past that where the trolley runs today, actually, in the same little canyon that actually went in the street a couple of places down in the South Bay, and they would run into small little industries and packing houses and pick up cars and set them off.

That was its everyday job.

Pick up produce, send the car out to the world.

That's what locomotive 5119 did in San Diego from 1955 to 1967.

And if you paid attention to those things like Larry Rose did as a kid, this little engine became a familiar sight.

Like an old friend.

But of course, that was back 50 years ago.

Must be.

You think that old locomotive from his memory would have long ago been scrapped by now?

But take a walk with Larry and Dick Panik of the San Diego Railroad Museum in Campo parts.

The classic engines.

The museum has been able to acquire and restore and take a look at this one.

You might not recognize it painted in different colors, but it's 5119.

Come back home.

You don't want to throw something like this away.

This is San Diego history.

Why?

It's the last.

The very last of all of its sisters that had been torn up for scrap, Larry Rose says.

And here's where the story turns.

How 5119 happened to be saved and brought back to San Diego has everything to do with love.

My wife was the membership director here for 35 years.

She passed away from pancreatic cancer in in April this year, and this project's dedicated to her.

Simple as that.

Tanya Rose was a well-known San Diego folk singer who shared her husband Larry's love for trains and the Railroad Museum.

Together, they contributed countless hours.

Here.

It was their shared passion.

Shortly after her death, Larry heard that 5119 had been located in Modesto, where it had been working for years, still in good shape.

He got an idea, but he'd have to act fast.

I didn't need the money anymore to take care of her, so I started selling stock and dipping into my savings and scraped up whatever I could to buy this engine out, right.

He bought it just like that.

Saved it as a tribute to her.

And so it was in her name that it was put onto a truck and brought to the museum in Campo.

In her memory, it'll be repainted to look just as it did when it was such a familiar sight back in the 50s and 60s.

Here.

And because it was well-maintained and still runs great, it'll find new life carrying the museum's excursion trains full of grown ups and kids for years to come.

In a way, she'll be a part of every one of them.

Oh, sure, we'll put a little plaque in it, and someday somebody will find that plaque and they'll wonder who Tanya Rose was.

And that's worth it to me just for that.

What a wonderful story.

And if you want to see more of Ken Kramer stories about San Diego, just be watching Kpbs every Thursday night.

His half hour show airs at 8:00 with a repeat broadcast on Sundays at four.

Starting with the weather headlines as the warmth continues to build.

Believe it or not, even stronger warming arrives as we head into Wednesday and Thursday and likely could be challenging some record temperatures as we head into the end of the week.

For some of us, there's going to be a weekend cooling.

We're going to be watching that onshore flow, and that's going to work to cool the coast in the valleys.

But across the deserts the heat continues to build in the next week.

Tonight, 47 in Borrego Springs, Mount Laguna, down to 43 degrees, 55 in San Diego, 50 in Oceanside and 54 in Chula Vista.

So comfortable nights, warm afternoons here.

And we'll continue to see that warmth building across Southern California through the day on Wednesday.

High pressure moves in behind the really stormy conditions across the central United States.

That's going to work to bring some of that cooler air a bit further south to our east.

All right.

We stay across San Diego County through tomorrow as high temperatures build back into the lower 80s for Borrego Springs.

Mount Laguna 57, San Diego, 6970, in Oceanside and Chula Vista.

We'll see you at about 71 degrees as we head into the day tomorrow.

By Thursday, the warmth continues to build, and this is where we could start to see some records being challenged, especially across the state of California.

We'll take you out along the coast for next couple of days.

Look at that.

Thursday and Friday highs into the low 80s before dropping off by the weekend.

Back to comfortable temperatures into the 70s.

All right.

Stays warm further inland, if not just downright hot.

Look at that 90 on the way for Thursday and Friday.

And then we will see temperatures drop off a bit by Saturday and Sunday, but still quite warm with highs in the 80s.

Comfortable lows overnight into the 40s.

All right.

What does it look like if you're heading towards the mountains 57 for Wednesday we get 60s Thursday Friday Saturday and then really start to see the warmth on Sunday.

And the heat keeps building across desert locations here will be at 95 degrees as we head into the end of the weekend.

For Kpbs news, I'm Ariella Scalese.

Between Santa Isabel and Julian, artist James Hubbell built a place that's hard to describe, but Kpbs reporter John Carroll gives it his best shot.

In our museum a month for March.

Getting to the Ilan-Lael foundation is not easy.

Once you leave highway 78, you're on a dirt road for a bit before you arrive here.

Even if you have an inkling of what to expect, being here at first leads to questions both simple.

What is this place and profound?

Why is this place?

Ask AI and you get an answer that's rather unsatisfying.

Ten acres of integrated natural landscape and art structures.

It is ten acres, and the 14 structures on this land are certainly designed and made with art in mind.

But why?

Ilan-Lael Foundation executive Director Marianne Gerdes has the best answers you're likely to find, and they all relate to its creator, Jim Hubbell.

When Jim was, really a child, he decided to seek beauty but never try to define it.

Those are his words, not mine.

What that means is he was going to use his ability to make art as a balance to some of the negativity that existed in the world.

And so you see that and so much here in this place, this world he wanted to live in.

It's filled with beauty because that's what nurtured his soul.

Here you can say you came to see the art and the buildings and mean exactly the same thing.

Gerdes says the property is broken into two pieces the dividing line forced in 2003 by the disastrous Cedar Fire.

But from the ashes arose a series of new structures that have propelled Ilan-Lael forward in its mission.

This is the place where the public enters Ilan-Lael and, where we, you know, host most of our workshops and public events that happen up here.

And that includes the buildings that you see behind me, the foundation where we have an office and we have meeting space.

We keep an art archive of Jim's, work.

Most of the buildings on the other side of the divide survived the fire with little or no damage.

Which, represent Jim and Ann's original home.

And that's the historically designated part of the property that is comprises the residences where they lived.

The studio is where Jim made his art.

And two galleries where he puts he displays a lot of his art and used as a place to store artistic creations.

Jim and Ann's house is off limits to visitors, but fortunately this isn't.

This is the boy's house.

Gerdes says it's a favorite, and you can see why, especially when you step inside.

This is where the four Hubbell sons grew up.

Calling it magical is an understatement.

A marvelous example of the inclusive nature of the way Jim designs architecture.

So everything from the dome shape exterior to the elaborate interior, with handmade tiles on the floor and mosaics of birds and other creatures and abalone shells in the bathroom.

Stained glass throwing light all over the rooms, you know, different places at different times of the year.

It's it's just a jewel.

All four Hubbell.

Sons are involved with the foundation.

Three of them sit on the board.

That includes the youngest, Brennan.

He was on site the day we were shooting.

We talked to him about what it was like growing up in this place.

It was fun to, like, have the mountains to to, like, walk around and explore with, to have, nature.

So much a part of our lives like, well, if you, you might notice that buildings are really kind of small, so you kind of have to walk outside in order to go to the dining room or your bedroom or even to the bathroom.

Brennan is an artist, and one of the places he creates is where his father created as well.

But this space is not just for Hubbels.

This place is about much more than just unique buildings like this one.

This is called the Big Studio and beautiful pieces of Art.

This big piece is a restored stained glass window that came out of the Triton restaurant in Carter.

It will soon be taken down to the San Diego History Center, where it would be on permanent loan.

But just as importantly is the artwork that is being created here every day.

Gerdes says keeping this place alive with newly created art was important to Jim Hubbel.

We have employ artists in our employ.

And actually, everybody here has practices, some sort of art.

It's just in the nature of wanting to be here.

Creative people are drawn here.

Jim Hubbel died in 2024, Anne Hubbel is still alive, but no longer lives at Ilan-Lael the place she and her husband created.

Ilan-Lael can be translated from Hebrew in a couple of ways.

A tree that belongs to God, or a tree that unites the physical and the spiritual.

That may come about as close as you can to describing this.

John Carroll, Kpbs news.

Look for tonight's stories on our website, kpbs.org.

Thanks for joining us.

I'm Maya Trabulsi.

Good night.

Major funding for Kpbs Evening Edition has been made possible in part by Bill Howe, family of companies providing San Diego with plumbing, heating, air restoration and flood services for over 40 years.

Call one 800 Bill Howe or visit Bill Howe.

Dot com.

And by the Conrad Prebys Foundation.

Darlene Marcos Shiley.

And by the following.

And by viewers like you.

Thank you.