♪ >>>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.

>>> THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN U.S.

HISTORY IS LIKELY THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I AM JOHN CARROLL IN FOR MAYA TRABULSI.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE SENATE BACKED FUNDING BILL.

IF APPROVED, IT WOULD HEAD TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DESK FOR A SIGNATURE.

JAKE GOTTA SPOKE WITH SAN DIEGO CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THE DEAL.

>> Reporter: CREDIT CONGRESSMAN MIKE LEVIN WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE DEAL REACHED IN SENATE TO END THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT DID NOT EXPAND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TAX CREDITS.

>> REPUBLICANS TURNED DOWN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A REASONABLE OFFER OF THE ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE ACA CREDITS.

AND THEN EIGHT DEMOCRATIC SENATORS DECIDED TO UNDERCUT THE WEEKS AND WEEKS OF FIGHTING TO BASICALLY GIVE THE REPUBLICANS EVERYTHING THEY WANTED.

>> Reporter: EXTENDING THE TAX CREDITS WAS A TOP PRIORITY FOR CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS.

WITHOUT THEM, THEY WILL SEE HUGE BILL INCREASES NEXT YEAR.

>> SO MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE ANGRY AND CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

>> Reporter: THE DEAL PASSED IN THE SENATE DID INCLUDE A YEAR OF FUNDING FOR SNAP, THE FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOUGHT DEPOSITING THE SHUTDOWN.

SCOTT PETERS SAYS WHILE HE OPPOSES THE DEAL, HE IS GLAD THAT FAMILIES WANT GO HUNGRY.

>> FOOD ASSISTANCE THAT WERE BASED POTENTIALLY GOING TO FACE SEVERE HUNGER ISSUES.

SO WE AVOIDED THAT.

I THINK THAT IS GOOD.

>> Reporter: BOTH SAID THE FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE IS FAR FROM OVER.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO IN JANUARY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE NOT JUST LETTERS TELLING THEM THEIR BILLS ARE GOING UP.

THEY ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY SEE THOSE BILLS WITH ASTOUNDINGLY HIGHER PRICES FOR HEALTHCARE BILLS.

>> THE REPUBLICAN PLAN IS TO PUT EVERYBODY IN HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS -- JUMP PLANS -- AND HAVE HUGE OUT-OF- POCKET COSTS.

AND THAT REALLY ISN'T A SOLUTION.

THE SOLUTION FOR THE HEALTHCARE COMPANIES AND INSURANCE INDUSTRY, BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON GETS A HUGE BILL.

>> Reporter: SENATE REPUBLICANS AGREED TO HOLD A VOTE ON EXTENDING TAX CREDITS NEXT MONTH IN EXCHANGE FOR CONCESSIONS LIKE TOUGHER ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.

JAKE GOTTA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE'RE DROPPING INTO THE LOW 60s.

PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES BECAUSE WE HAVE A STORM TO TRACK.

THERE'S TWO WAVES.

WE REALLY GET HIT BY THE SECOND WAVE.

WE WILL BREAK DOWN EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHEN TO EXPECT THE RAIN COMING UP.

DID YOU GET YOUR UMBRELLAS READY.

AS YOU JUST HEARD, RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER SAYS THE INCOMING STORM COULD PROVIDE SOME EARLY CLUES ABOUT THE WATER HERE.

>> Reporter: AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER THAT ORIGINATED IN ALASKA IS QUICKLY HEADING TO CALIFORNIA.

SAN DIEGO CAN EXPECT HEAVY DOWNPOURS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

ALEX IS A METEOROLOGIST WHO FOUNDED WHETHER ECHO.

HE SAYS THE EARLY-SEASON STORM COULD SUGGEST A POTENTIALLY ACTIVE START TO THE WATER YEAR THAT BEGAN OCTOBER 1st.

>> THE OVERALL WINTER WAS EXPECTED TO BE DRIER THAN NORMAL ALL THE WAY THROUGH MARCH.

SO THAT WOULD MEAN LESS STORMS, LESS OPPORTUNITIES.

SO GETTING IT NOW WILL DEFINITELY.

>> THE PREVIOUS WATER YEAR IN SAN DIEGO ENDED IN SEPTEMBER.

THE SEASON RECORDED FIVE INCHES OF RAIN, NEARLY HALF THE SEASONAL AVERAGE.

THE NEW SEASON STARTED WITH A PACIFIC STORM IN MID-OCTOBER.

IT BROUGHT MORE THAN AN INCH OF RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS.

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE TYPICALLY THE WETTEST MONTHS.

IF WE GET MORE RAIN NOW, WE WILL GET AN EARLY BOOST IN MOISTURE AND SNOWPACK.

>> IT CAN HELP THAT WATER NOT JUST GOING TO THE GROUND BUT GOING TO OUR RESERVOIRS WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE IT FOR STORAGE.

>> Reporter: WIDESPREAD STORMS LIKE THIS ONE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF WILDFIRES.

JULIE IS A CLIMATOLOGIST AT INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY.

SHE SAYS WHILE DRAKE -- WILDFIRE RISK AND DROP.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE SAN DIEGO'S COAST WILL SEE AT LEAST HALF AN INCH OF RAIN.

WITH RAIN ON THE WAY, THE COUNTY AND CAL FIRE ARE PROVIDING FREE SANDBAGS.

TAMMY MARGO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> DECEPTIONS IN OPERATION SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK OFFICE ARE HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT ON SAN DIEGO'S ECONOMY.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER ANDREW DYER SAYS A NEW REPORT FOUND FEWER DEFENSE JOBS AND LESS SPENDING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR'S MILITARY ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT WAS DELAYED MORE THAN A MONTH BECAUSE RESEARCHERS AT UC SAN DIEGO HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING DATA OUT OF THE PENTAGON.

DAVID IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO MILITARY ADVISORY COUNCIL, A NONPROFIT THAT PUBLISHES THE REPORT.

>> PRODUCING THE REPORT THIS YEAR WAS, I'LL SAY, DIFFICULT.

DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE NORMALLY GET THE DATA FROM DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN MARCH, APRIL.

WE DID NOT GET IT IN TILL AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.

REMIX SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR MICHAEL MEYER HEADS THE STUDY.

IT IS PRODUCED BY COMPILING THE LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF DATA FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

EVERYTHING FROM WHAT THE GOVERNMENT BUYS TWO MILITARY CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS IT PAYS.

>> WE RELY ON A LARGE COLLECTION OF DATA THROUGH LARGELY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES.

AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE PAST YEAR, SPECIFICALLY REDUCTIONS IN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, HAS MADE THAT DATA EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO COLLATE.

>> Reporter: AND WHAT THAT DATA SHOWED WAS A RETRACTION IN SAN DIEGO'S A DEFENSE ECONOMY.

HE POINTS TO TWO MAJOR CAUSES.

>> ONE IS THE RETIREMENTS AND SEPARATIONS OF THESE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

WE ALREADY STARTED TO SEE THAT HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

>> Reporter: THE OTHER WAS HOW THE GOVERNMENT WAS FUNDED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 VIA A CONTINUING RESOLUTION.

THE RESULT IS A 3% RETRACTION OF THE DEFENSE ECONOMY.

LAST YEAR IT MADE UP A QUARTER OF SAN DIEGO'S REGIONAL ECONOMY.

THIS YEAR, THE $61 BILLION IMPACT REPRESENTS ABOUT 22%.

LESS SPENDING MEANS FEWER JOBS.

MORE THAN 16,000 FEWER JOBS, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.

>> OVERALL IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, WE SAW A REDUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY 4%.

AND THAT IS ACROSS A VARIETY OF SOURCES.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE THINKS THERE ARE MISSING NUMBERS RELATED TO MILITARY STARTUP CONTRACTS LOCALLY, SOMETHING HE IS HOPEFUL THERE WILL BE GOOD DATA ON NEXT YEAR.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> TRI-CITY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AND SHARP HEALTHCARE ARE FINALIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR SHARP TO TAKE OVER TRI-CITY'S HOSPITAL OPERATIONS AND FINANCES.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER ALEXANDER NGUYEN TAKES A LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT.

>> Reporter: TRI-CITY POSTED THE AGREEMENT ON ITS WEBSITE.

WHILE SOME DETAILS STILL NEED TO BE FINALIZED, THE CORE ASPECTS OF THE DEAL ARE IN PLACE.

>> EVERYTHING THAT GOES OVER TO SHARP -- THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT SHARP WILL BE TAKEN, INCLUDING ALL THE LIABILITIES AND THE DEBT AND ALL OF THE ASSETS.

>> Reporter: DR.

MA IS THE CEO OF TRI-CITY.

HE SAYS CORE SERVICES LEAVES ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE.

THAT INCLUDES -- >> A $100 MILLION COMMITMENT IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS TOWARD STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS, EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, IN ADDITION TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

>> Reporter: LIKE MANY PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, TRI-CITY HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH FINANCIAL ISSUES SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

THE DEAL INCLUDES SHARP TAKING ON ALL OF TRI-CITY'S DEBT AND LIABILITIES.

SHARP WILL ALSO UNDERTAKE SEISMIC UPGRADES AT TRI-CITY MEDICAL CENTER.

>> WHICH IN AND OF ITSELF ARE IN THE HUNDRED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> Reporter: ONE THING THAT WON'T BE COMING BACK ANYTIME SOON IS LABOR AND DELIVERY.

TRI-CITY DISCONTINUED THE SERVICE BECAUSE OF LOW PACE AND VOLUME.

SHARP IS LOOKING AT ALL COMMERCIALLY VIABLE OPTIONS TO BRING THAT BACK.

>> SHARP MARY BIRCH IS SAN DIEGO'S PREEMINENT PROVIDER IN WOMEN'S AND NEWBORN SERVICES.

THE IDEA THAT COULD RETURN TO TRI-CITY WITH EVEN MORE SERVICES THAT WEREN'T EVEN HERE BEFORE, INCLUDING HIGH RISK MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE.

THOSE ARE REALLY EXCITING.

AND THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR.

>> Reporter: SINCE SHARP IS A PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, THE DEAL NEEDS PUBLIC APPROVAL.

"EVENING EDITION" SAYS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IS CRUCIAL TO THE PROCESS.

THE NEXT MEETING IS THIS EVENING AT THE CARLSBAD SENIOR CENTER.

IF ALL GOES WELL, THE PUBLIC WILL VOTE ON THE FINAL DEAL NEXT JUNE.

ALEXANDER WHEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> BACK IN JULY, CONGRESS CUT MORE THAN $1 BILLION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

TODAY INDUSTRY LEADERS GATHERED RIGHT HERE AT KPBS FOR A CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY IN INFORMATIONAL HEARING.

THEY WORRY ABOUT COMMUNITY ACCESS TO TRUSTWORTHY LOCAL NEWS.

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE APPRECIATE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO JOURNALISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE SPECIFICALLY.

>> Reporter: IF YOU RECOGNIZE THAT VOICE, THAT IS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ON NATIONAL AIRWAVES FOR ALMOST THREE DECADES.

FORMER NPR BROADCASTER JACK SPEAR EXPECTS FEWER PUBLIC MEDIA JOURNALISTS TO HAVE SUCH LONG CAREERS.

>> SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S, THE NUMBER OF WORKING JOURNALISTS IN THE U.S.

HAS FALLEN BY MORE THAN 75%.

DURING THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME, THE COUNTRY HAS LOST ROUGHLY A THIRD OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS.

>> Reporter: IN JULY, CONGRESS CUT MORE THAN $1 BILLION FOR PUBLIC MEDIA.

INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY FILLING THE GAP WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

ANDY RUSSELL IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PBS SOCAL.

HE SAYS MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE DONATED TO PUBLIC MEDIA IN THE PAST ARE DEALING WITH FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS OF THEIR OWN.

>> THEY HAVE FEWER RESOURCES.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN FINANCIAL CRISES.

SO WHAT WOULD BE TRADITIONAL PARTNERS WE WOULD GO TO TO SAY, HOW CAN WE DO THINGS TOGETHER, THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME REALLY TOUGH CUTS.

SOME OF THOSE TRADITIONAL AVENUES AND PARTNERSHIPS ARE NOT THERE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE CASE FOR A NETWORK OF 16 STATIONS THAT BROADCAST IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND INDIGENOUS SECOND LANGUAGES.

THE NETWORK HAS ALSO LOST MORE THAN $300,000 IN ANNUAL FEDERAL FUNDING.

>> THIS IS A SERIOUS SETBACK NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR THE RURAL AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES WE SERVE EVERY DAY.

FOR THEM, IT IS USUALLY THE ONLY RELIABLE SOURCE IN THEIR LANGUAGES FOR LOCAL NEWS AND PRODUCING ALERTS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, CIVIC INFORMATION, AND OF COURSE, OUR DAILY PROGRAMS CELEBRATING LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE.

>> Reporter: IS A LIMIT FOR CHRIS WARD CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE.

HE SAYS PANELISTS CHAIRED INFORMATION IT CAN TAKE BACK TO SACRAMENT.

>> WHAT CAN CALIFORNIA DO MORE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT, TO BE ABLE TO HELP WHAT WE SEE AS A COMMUNITY ASSET.

>> Reporter: WITHOUT MORE SUPPORT, HE SAYS COMMUNITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA COULD SEE MAJOR LOSSES IN LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN U.S.

HISTORY HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON FEDERAL WORKERS WHO HAVE GONE WITHOUT PAYCHECKS SINCE OCTOBER 1st.

FINANCIAL EXPERTS SAY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS TO REGROUP FROM INTERRUPTIONS IN INCOME.

KAREN KAFA HAS THOSE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: AN INTERRUPTION IN INCOME CAN HAPPEN FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS.

>> IT MIGHT NOT BE BECAUSE IT WAS ANYTHING YOU DID.

YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF THE SHUTDOWN.

OR MAYBE YOU GOT DIVORCED.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SITUATIONS THAT COULD CAUSE YOU TO GET INTO DEBT.

>> Reporter: ONCE PAYCHECKS RESUME, EXPERTS SAY TO TAKE STOCK OF THE SITUATION BEFORE MAKING ANY MONEY MOVES.

>> YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT YOUR EXPENSES ARE.

OF THOSE HAVE CHANGED OVER THE TIME YOU HAVEN'T HAD INCOME.

YOU ALSO WANT TO SEE MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT YOU CURRENTLY OWE.

IF YOU PAUSE PAYMENTS ON LOANS OR ON UTILITY BILLS, YOU WANT TO SEE HOW FAR BACK YOU ARE AND HOW MUCH YOU NEED TO DO TO CATCH UP >> Reporter: PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT BEVERLY ADVISES REACHING OUT TO LENDERS ABOUT OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR CREDIT CARD DEBT, WHICH TENDS TO CARRY HIGHER INTEREST.

THOSE WITH GOOD CREDIT MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE A BALANCE TRANSFER TO PAIR DOWN PAYMENTS.

>> WITH A BALANCE TRANSFER CREDIT CARD, YOU COULD GET 0% APR ANYWHERE FROM 12 -- I HAVE SEEN ABOUT 21 MONTHS LATELY.

YOU CAN TRANSFER YOUR DEBT TO THAT CARD AND THEN PAY IT DOWN MONTHLY.

INTEREST-FREE DURING THAT TRIAL PERIOD.

>> Reporter: ELIZABETH, COHOST OF NERD WALLET SMART MONEY PODCAST, SAYS ONCE HOUSEHOLDS REGROUP FROM ONE CRISIS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO FINANCIALLY REPOSITION IN CASE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> AS WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE CURRENT SHUTDOWN, EMERGENCY FUNDS ARE SO IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: HOUSEHOLDS THAT WANT TO GET A JUMP ON REBUILDING EMERGENCY SAVINGS AND PAYING DOWN DEBT MIGHT EVEN CONSIDER A TEMPORARY SITE HUSTLE TO BOOST INCOMING FUNDS.

IN WASHINGTON, I AM KAREN KAFA.

>> OPEN ENROLLMENT IS UNDERWAY, BUT THINGS ARE NOT QUITE AS CLEAR THIS YEAR.

THAT IS BECAUSE KEY FEDERAL HEALTHCARE SUBSIDIES ARE SET TO EXPIRE.

COVERED CALIFORNIA IS TOURING THE STATE, ADDRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR CALIFORNIA'S COVERAGE.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JESSICA ALTMAN SAYS WITHOUT ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS, COVERAGE COULD BECOME TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MANY TO AFFORD NEXT YEAR.

BUT THE STATE HAS A BACKUP PLAN.

>> WE HAVE $190 MILLION FROM THE STATE BUDGET THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING TOWARD AFFORDABILITY TO MITIGATE THIS IMPACT FOR SOME OF OUR ENROLLEES.

NOW, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE 2 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> ALTMAN SAYS COVERED CALIFORNIA WILL MAKE SURE CONSUMERS HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SELECT OR EVEN SWITCH THEIR HEALTH PLAN IF THE CREDITS CHANGE.

>>> FROM HOUSEKEEPING TO WORKING AS A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, JUST A FEW MONTHS , KPBS REPORTER JACOB EYRE SAYS A NEW PROGRAM AT SAN DIEGO HEALTH IS FROM LOW-WAGE JOBS INTO CLINICAL HEALTH ROLES.

>> THOSE ARE USUALLY FILLED WITH TRAYS AND CONTAINERS THAT HAS ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS.

KNIVES, SCISSORS, RETRACTORS, FORCEPS -- EVERYTHING.

COME ON IN.

>> Reporter: SHE EXPLAINS HOW SHE MADE SURE THOUSANDS OF MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS ARE METICULOUSLY CLEANED AND DECONTAMINATED, ASSEMBLED, SANITIZED, THEN ORGANIZED AND STORED.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SURGERIES, YOU WILL THINK, LIKE, DOCTORS, NURSES, SCRUB TAX , BUT BEFORE THEY CAN ACTUALLY START THEIR SURGERIES, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.

SO IF WE ASSEMBLE, WE ARE GOING TO SCAN IT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS HER JOB AS A STERILE PROCESSING TECHNICIAN INSIDE UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH'S JACOBS MEDICAL CENTER.

IT IS A ROLE THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW TO HER THANKS TO A SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAM.

PREVIOUSLY, SHE WORKED IN HOUSEKEEPING AT THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AND WAS LOOKING FOR A CHANGE.

>> I WANTED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT THERE IS NO REALLY TIME FOR IT BECAUSE FIRST, I'M A MOM.

I'VE GOT TO KEEP FOOD AND A ROOF OVER THE HEAD OF THE KIDS.

AND I WAS THE BREADWINNER FOR A LONG TIME.

SO, LIKE, I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GOING TO SCHOOL OR WORKING.

>> Reporter: SHE FOUND SOMETHING THAT LET HER DO BOTH.

PART OF THE FIRST COHORT OF UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH'S STERILE PROCESSING TECHNICIAN PROGRAM, WHICH GRADUATED 10 PEOPLE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THEY HAD DOZENS OF APPLICATIONS.

>> SO IT IS 18 WEEKS.

SEVEN WEEKS AT SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE.

SO CLASSROOM TRAINING.

AND THEN 11 WEEKS OF CYNICAL TRAINING HERE AT UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH.

AND THAT WAS PAID TRAININGS.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH'S MONICA REDMOND SAYS THE PROGRAM TRAINS JANITORS, HOUSEKEEPERS, AND FOOD SERVICE WORKERS FOR NEW JOBS IN THE CLINICAL FIELD.

>> WE SAW WE HAD A HIGH NUMBER OF VACANCIES AT OUR STERILE PROCESSING TECH DEPARTMENT, AND FRANKLY, A LACK OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM GIVES UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH A WIDE RANGE OF WORKERS TO FILL THOSE JOB OPENINGS.

EMPLOYEES GET PAID TO LEARNING NEW CAREER.

>> SO YOU CAN SKIP WORK AND THEY WILL PAY YOU TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

SO I WAS LIKE, OH, IT IS A WIN- WIN.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM HAS OPENED DOORS FOR FURTHER JOB ADVANCEMENT.

>> WHEN HE GOT HERE, IT OPENED UP A WHOLE LOT OF POSSIBILITIES FOR US , SO THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES THAT I WOULD SAY.

BUT WE ALSO MOVE UP A LITTLE BIT IN PAY AND INCOME.

SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH AND JBS BAY AREA, A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT.

IT IS FUNDED THROUGH A MIXTURE OF STATE AND PRIVATE DOLLARS.

>> WE ARE TARGETING INCUMBENT WORKERS.

FOLKS WHO WERE ALREADY THERE BUT WERE IN THESE JOBS THAT DON'T REALLY HAVE PATHWAYS FOR GROWTH.

>> Reporter: LISA IS THE ORGANIZATION'S CEO.

SHE SAYS PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE ARE MET FOR THE MANY CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE IN LOW- WAGE JOBS AND MAY HAVE TROUBLE PAYING FOR BASIC EXPENSES.

>> OUR FOCUS IS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE FOUR-YEAR DEGREES OR OTHER KIND OF CERTIFICATES.

>> Reporter: JESUS DOUG OTTO IS ANOTHER GRADUATE FROM THE FIRST COHORT.

HE ALSO WORKED IN HOUSEKEEPING AND SAID THERE WERE SIMILARITIES IN HIS PREVIOUS ROLE TO BEING A STERILE PROCESSING TECHNICIAN.

>> I WAS WORKING IN THE O.R.

TURNING OVER EACH -- TURNING OVER THE ROOM BEFORE EACH SURGERY AND GETTING READY FOR THE NECK SURGERY TO FOLLOW.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE TRAINING TOOK LACE AT THE LA JOLLA CAMPUS, HE NOW WORKS AT MEDICAL CENTER IN HILLCREST.

HE SAYS THE NEW ROLE HAS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF HOURS HE WORKS EACH WEEK FROM 60 OR 70 TO 40.

>> MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM ABLE TO ATTEND ALL OF MY KIDS' SPORTING EVENTS, AND THEY SEE THE CHANGE AS WELL.

THEY ARE EVEN MORE HAPPIER BECAUSE I'M ABLE TO ATTEND PRACTICES OR THEIR GAMES MORE OFTEN INSTEAD OF HAVING SOMEBODY FACETIME ME THEIR GAME OR SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY SELECTED ITS NEXT 10 APPLICANTS FOR ITS SECOND COHORT, WHICH IS SET TO KICKOFF IN JANUARY 2026.

UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH'S REDMOND SAYS AS LONG AS THE FUNDING IS THERE FOR THE PROGRAM, IT WILL CONTINUE WITH POTENTIAL TO EXPAND TO OTHER CLINICAL ROLES.

>> THIS IS READY.

>> Reporter: JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WELL, TEMPERATURE -WISE, ARE LOOKING AT A COOLING TREND FOR THE BIG STORY IS CERTAINLY THE STORM.

IT COMES IN TWO WAVES.

WE ARE REALLY GOING TO GET HIT BY THE SECOND WAVE.

THAT IS LATER FRIDAY INTO THE EARLY PARTS OF THE WEEKEND.

IT'S GOING TO BRING HEAVY RAIN OVERALL.

THERE IS EVEN ANOTHER STORM AFTER THAT AS WE LOOK INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

SO GET READY FOR THE RAIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE HERE WITH US FOR A WHILE.

FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR TEMPERATURES FOR TONIGHT.

57 IN OCEANSIDE.

51 IN SAN DIEGO.

PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

49 HOUR LOW IN MOUNT LAGUNA.

WE LOOK AHEAD TO TOMORROW.

A LOT OF CLOUDS.

THE RAIN IS GOING TO START TO FALL FOR SOME OF US.

MORE SUNNY SKIES IN MOUNT LAGUNA.

57 IS OUR HIGH.

86.

WE ARE IN THE 70s ACROSS THE BOARD AS WE GET FURTHER INLAND AND CLOSER TO THE COAST.

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT AS FAR AS THE RAIN.

WHILE WE COULD SEE A FEW SHOWERS, THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL REALLY IS NOT GOING TO REACH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SAN DIEGO AREA FOR THURSDAY.

IT'S REALLY FRIDAY THAT WE SEE IT MOVE IN MORE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT FUTURE RADAR AND HOW THIS PLAYS OUT EXACTLY.

YOU CAN SEE THE CORE OF OUR STORM SYSTEM.

THAT'S GOING TO REMAIN OFF COAST FOR A FEW DAYS, REALLY, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE ROUND AFTER ROUND OF THE RAIN.

WE DO GET SNOW UP INTO THE SIERRA.

DOESN'T REALLY COME TO OUR HIGHER ELEVATIONS FURTHER TO THE SOUTH, BUT YOU CAN SEE THURSDAY LATE INTO THE NIGHT A FEW SHOWERS PEEK THEIR WAY IN.

WE CONTINUE TO PLAY THINGS OUT, AND THERE IS THE REAL RAIN STARTING TO MOVE IN BY THE TIME WE GET TO FRIDAY MORNING.

WE SEE THAT MOVE INLAND.

THEN ANOTHER ROUND OF EVEN HEAVIER RAINFALL AS WE GO LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

THE BIG CONCERNS HERE IS GOING TO BE FLASH FLOODING, MUDSLIDES, DEBRIS FLOW, ESPECIALLY SCAR AREAS IN THE MORE RECENT BURN SCAR AREAS.

AS WE GO INTO THE WEEKEND, CANNOT RULE OUT A COUPLE OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT COULD BE ON THE STRONG TO SEVERE SIDE.

COULD SEE A TORNADO WARNING OR TWO.

THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE BIGGEST IMPACT, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO BE PREPARED FOR.

CANNOT RULE IT OUT.

AS FAR AS RAINFALL TOTALS, THROUGH FRIDAY, SAN DIEGO LOOKING AT HALF AN INCH TO AN INCH.

WE DO GET SNOWFALL UP INTO THE SIERRA.

WE ARE TALKING A COUPLE INCHES.

IT IS ACTUALLY TRENDING WARMER.

FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WE MIGHT EVEN BE INCHING THOSE SNOW TOTALS DOWN A BIT.

HERE IS OUR FOOTPRINT FRIDAY NIGHT TO SATURDAY.

MUCH MORE SOUTHERLY FLOW.

SECOND WAVE OF THE STORM.

RAINFALL TOTALS IN SAN DIEGO, 1 TO 2 INCHES.

THAT IS ON TOP OF WHAT WE ALREADY WILL HAVE ACCUMULATED LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY.

SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL.

THAT IS WHY I'M TALKING ABOUT FLASH FLOODING AS THE BIGGEST CONCERN HERE.

OUR FIVE-DAY OUTLOOK ALONG THE COAST.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS HERE.

TEMPERATURES IN THE 70s.

WE DIP DOWN INTO THE 60s AS WE GET TOWARD THE WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK.

THE RAIN CONTINUES FURTHER INLAND AS WELL.

EVERYBODY REALLY IS GOING TO BE SEEING THE RAIN FOR A WHILE HERE.

TEMPERATURES IN THE 60s HERE AS WELL.

INDOOR MOUNTAIN REGIONS ARE A BIT COOLER.

WE DROPPED ONTO THE 40s BY FRIDAY.

WE STAY THERE THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY.

TAKING A LOOK AT OUR DESERT FIVE-DAY OUTLOOK, WE CLEAR THE RAIN BY MONDAY.

TEMPERATURES, 80s, 70s, AND THEN DOWN TO THE 60s WHERE WE STAY SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> FAMILIES WHO REMEMBER THE COMMUNITY IN SOLANA BEACH HAVE A REPORT SHOWING HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE BURIED IN THEIR GRAVEYARD.

KPBS TECH REPORTER THOMAS FUDGE TELLS US ABOUT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AS WELL AS THE GOAL TO IDENTIFY AND HONOR THE DEAD.

>> Reporter: IT IS SATURDAY MORNING, AND VOLUNTEERS ARE PUTTING UP TWO CROSSES IN WHAT THEY BELIEVE ARE THE GRAVES OF LUPE AND MARY GUTIERREZ GONZALES, WHO DIED IN INFANCY.

>> AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PASSED AWAY IN 1929.

THEY WERE ONLY TWO DAYS OLD, AND THEY HAD RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.

>> THEY DIED VERY YOUNG BUT WERE NOT FORGOTTEN.

MICHAEL BELTRAN WAS ONE OF SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP AT THE CEMETERY THIS MORNING.

HE GREW UP IN LACONIA EDEN GARDENS, WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL LITTLE MEXICAN VILLAGE IN NORTH COUNTY.

HE SAYS THE SURVIVING BROTHER AT THE BURIED INFANTS MET HIM AT A RESTAURANT AND HE KNEW HE WAS LEADING AN EFFORT TO DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE CEMETERY JUST BELOW SAINT TERESA OF CARMEL CHURCH IN DELMAR.

>> AND HE TELLS ME, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO TWIN SISTERS THERE.

WE JUST DON'T REMEMBER WHERE THE MARKERS ARE.

AND THEY ARE GONE AT THIS TIME.

>> Reporter: BELL TRON AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION EVENTUALLY MADE CONTACT WITH AN ARCHAEOLOGIST NAMED JIMMY DANIELS.

DANIELS USES GROUND PENETRATING RADAR -- G PR FOR SHORT.

HE SCANS AND PRODUCED A REPORT THAT OUTLINED MULTIPLE UNDERGROUND ALONG ANOMALIES THAT HE BELIEVES ARE GRAVE SHAFTS, MOST OF THEM UNKNOWN AND UNMARKED.

>> THEY HAVE A RECORD OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE BURIED HERE AND IT DOESN'T MATCH THE NUMBER OF MARKERS THAT WE HAVE.

>> Reporter: DANIELS BELIEVES THE TWINS, LUPE AND MARY, ARE BURIED HERE BASED ON STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SCANS BY GROUND RADAR.

>> AND KIND OF VERIFIED THOSE LOCATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL PASSES WITH THE G PR AND FOUND TWO ANOMALIES THAT WERE ROUGHLY THE SIZE YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR INFANT BURIAL AND KIND OF EVENLY SPACED APART.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS IDENTIFYING GRAVE SITES FOR SURE WOULD REQUIRE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

>> BUT THAT IS NOT THE GOAL HERE.

THE GOAL IS TO GIVE SOME KIND OF SEMBLANCE OF A PROCLAMATION AND SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO KIND OF BACKUP THE LOCATIONS OF THESE BURIALS WITHOUT DISTURBING, YOU KNOW, THE INTEGRITY OF THE BURIALS.

>> Reporter: A SMALL COMMUNITY, MOST OF THEM WITH FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO LA COLONIA, HAS FORMED TO ERECT NEW GRAVE MARKERS AND KEEP THE GRAVEYARD CLEAN, LIKE LUPE TREJO, HIS GRANDPARENTS ARE BURIED HERE.

>> I LIKE COMING OUT HERE.

IT IS FUN TO SEE THE FAMILIES.

I ENJOY READING THE HEADSTONES EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SEEN THEM 1 MILLION TIMES.

I WIPE THEM DOWN WHENEVER I CAN DO.

>> Reporter: HOW MANY MORE WILL BE IDENTIFIED IS HARD TO SAY.

THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM.

PRACTICALLY EVERY STEP YOU TAKE IN THIS PLACE, YOU ARE WALKING ABOVE A GRAVE.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

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