Podcasts about san diego county

An investigation is underway to find out why a fighter jet from MCAS Miramar crashed in Washington state this weekend, sparking a wildfire. In less than a week, thousands of NASCAR fans will descend on Naval Base Coronado for the first-ever NASCAR street race in San Diego. The San Diego County Fair is back this month, gates open at 11 from Wednesday to Sunday each week.     What You Need To Know To Start Your Monday.

On this week's episode of TheFallenState TV, host Jesse Lee Peterson is joined by Amy Reichert—She is an activist, founder of Restore San Diego, and elected member of the Republican Central Committee of San Diego County. Amy joins Jesse for a passionate conversation about politics, faith, and grassroots activism. Amy shares what inspired her to step into the political arena, the challenges facing California communities, and why she believes everyday citizens must get involved to create real change. She and Jesse discuss education, public safety, family values, and the cultural battles shaping the future of the state and the country. It’s a lively and thought-provoking discussion filled with conviction, strong opinions, and practical insight into today’s political climate.

Dr. Christina Connett Brophy, President and CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, discusses the blue economy, data‑driven ocean sustainability, and the new Gateway Project.  Brophy chats about maritime innovation, AI, workforce development, and how public‑private partnerships are shaping our regional future and how San Diego County residents can get involved. Listen Where You Live!About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

Terry McKearney, President of the SDMAC Foundation, discusses military transition, veteran talent, and how scholarships and aviation repair certifications strengthen the regional workforce and local economy. San Diego County business leaders and executives will hear why retaining highly trained retired military is a strategic advantage for their companies and the region. Listen Where You Live!About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

This week on the Livin' in San Diego Podcast, we recap a weekend that included youth soccer in Temecula, a stay at South Coast Winery, Bare Knuckle Brewing, and a Snoop Dogg concert at the brand-new Long Beach Amphitheater.We also discuss California's first Dick's House of Sport coming to Mission Valley, the return of Gaslamp Urban Pickleball, and the decision to eliminate paid parking in Balboa Park.For our San Diego Story of the Week, we dive into the history of Bernardo Winery, the oldest continuously operating winery in Southern California, and how it survived Prohibition and more than a century of change in San Diego County.Plus, we talk Padres baseball, the upcoming World Cup, and whether San Diego still delivers the lifestyle people move here for.Brought to you by the Livin' in San Diego real estate crew. Thinking about making a move in San Diego County? Reach out through the link below.Buying - https://www.livininsandiego.com/buySelling - https://www.livininsandiego.com/sell

After months of contentious debate, San Diego city leaders unanimously approved the budget for fiscal year 2027. And, San Diego's largest school district is moving fully online for enrollment next school year. Plus, the county fair officially opens today! NBC7's Marianne Kushi has those stories alongside meteorologist Sheena Parveen with your forecast on June 10, 2026.

California election counting has confused — and frankly ticked off — a lot of people, and I get it. I'm W. Curtis Preston, I've worked every California election since the 2016 presidential primary, and I've managed the polls at multiple elections here in San Diego County. This episode, I'm going solo to explain exactly what's going on, why it takes so long, what the "red mirage" actually is, and why none of it is fraud. Sorry to disappoint some of you.If you've ever had a family member call you asking "what the hell is going on over there?" — this one's for you. I walk through the specific changes California made to election law, how our system compares to Florida's, why human nature is a big part of the problem, and what the chain of custody for every single ballot actually looks like from the inside. This isn't punditry. This is someone who has stood at those poll books, sealed those ballot cartons, and escorted those ballots to the DART team.Chapters:0:00 – Introduction: What the hell is going on in California?1:23 – Who I am and why I can speak to this2:12 – How California election law changed six years ago4:43 – The mail ballot window: postmark by 8 PM, received within 7 days5:09 – Vote centers vs. the old precinct model7:39 – California vs. Florida: why the laws produce such different results9:09 – Why California voters wait until the last minute14:12 – The red mirage explained: it's not fraud, it's math15:31 – Signature verification: 80,000–100,000 per day in San Diego alone16:35 – How computers count ballots — and the 1% manual audit that checks them19:11 – Chain of custody: two people, sealed cartons, tracked numbers20:17 – Debunking the "law enforcement can't observe" myth21:24 – Dead people voting? Let's talk about what's actually happening22:47 – Wrap-up

Dana Toppel is CEO of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, one of the region's most established human services organizations. Founded more than 100 years ago, JFS continues to be rooted in Jewish values while serving people across San Diego County, including older adults, immigrants, families, Holocaust survivors, and neighbors facing housing, food, and other basic needs. Dana has held multiple leadership roles at JFS since 2009 and brings more than two decades of direct service, clinical, and nonprofit leadership experience.This Episode: What does it take to meet urgent needs today while building a stronger safety net for tomorrow? In this episode, Dana and Grant explore how Jewish Family Service is responding to this moment in San Diego. Dana shares how JFS serves more than 60,000 people each year, with a focus on helping people access safe and stable housing, culturally competent food, and the wraparound support they need to move toward greater stability and dignity. The conversation also explores what it means to lead with both compassion and discipline. She and Grant discuss why nonprofits need to focus on what they do best, partner more deeply, reduce duplication, and look further upstream so the region can address challenges before they become emergencies. Dana reminds us that hope is active. It comes from staying close to people's stories, building relationships across differences, and continuing to show up for the work, even when outside forces push back. Key Moments: [2:52] How Jewish Family Service serves the broader San Diego community [8:32] What courage looks like for a humanitarian service organization [17:21] Dana's path from social worker to COO to CEO [26:29] How the nonprofit sector can reduce duplication and work further upstream [44:18] Why hope matters when working toward a different future  Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Jewish Family Service of San Diego – Providing housing, food, immigration support, older adult services, and other human services across San Diego County Safe Parking Program – JFS's program supporting people and families living in their vehicles as they work toward stable housing Nonprofits Create Bold, Replicable Solution to Housing Crisis – An op-ed from Dana Toppel, Prebys CFIO Gil Gil Alvarado, and partners on a new collaborative model for affordable housing in San Diego Take Action: Learn About JFS – Explore how Jewish Family Service supports people across San Diego County through housing, food, immigration services, older adult support, and more. Support Basic Needs – Look for ways to help neighbors access stable housing, nutritious food, and trusted services. Think Upstream – Support approaches that prevent crises before they deepen, including stronger partnerships, reduced duplication, and early intervention. Stay Connected to People's Stories – Volunteer, listen, and spend time with organizations serving the community directly. Seeing the work up close can change how we understand what is possible.  Credits:This is a production of the Prebys FoundationHosted by Grant OliphantCo-Hosted by Crystal PageProduced by Adam Greenfield, Tess Karesky, Edgar Ontiveros Medina, and Crystal PageEngineered by Adam GreenfieldProduction Coordination by Tess KareskyVideo Production by Edgar Ontiveros MedinaThe Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego's own Mr. Lyrical Groove.Download episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPod​cast​.comSpecial thanks to the Prebys Foundation TeamIf you like this show, and we hope you do, the best way to support this show is to share, subscribe

AgNet News Hour continued its spotlight on California agriculture with part two of a conversation featuring fifth-generation farmer and former San Diego County Farm Bureau President Dana Groot, who discussed the unique opportunities and growing challenges facing farmers in San Diego County. While San Diego is often known for its beaches, tourism, and year-round weather, Groot said many people are unaware of the region's significant agricultural footprint. The county remains a major producer of avocados, citrus, nursery crops, floriculture products, and specialty crops, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to the local economy. “The public has this image of farming that's often large industrial-scale farms,” Groot said. “San Diego County, we're family-owned farms, specialty crops, and sell a lot of what we grow here locally.” One of the biggest concerns discussed during the interview was the increasing cost of doing business in California. Groot noted that farmers must compete against imported products that are often grown under very different labor, environmental, and pesticide regulations. “The consequence will certainly be imported foods,” Groot explained, warning that California growers continue to face higher production costs than many foreign competitors. Labor remains another significant challenge. According to Groot, San Diego County growers struggle to attract workers due to high housing costs and long commute distances between urban residential areas and rural farming communities. “The issue in our county is really the available housing tends to be in the more urban locations, and the farms tend to be in the more rural locations,” Groot said. The discussion also highlighted the importance of San Diego County's nursery and floriculture sector. California leads the nation in nursery production, and San Diego County remains the top county in the country for nursery and floriculture products. However, industry consolidation has changed the landscape over the past several decades, leaving fewer independent retailers and more reliance on large chain stores. Pest and disease management continues to be another concern for growers. Groot discussed ongoing efforts to protect citrus production from the Asian citrus psyllid and Huanglongbing disease, while also noting increasing challenges from invasive pests and plant diseases impacting ornamental crops and strawberries. Despite these challenges, San Diego agriculture continues to benefit from one of the most favorable growing climates in the country. The region's mild weather allows growers to produce crops year-round, providing a unique advantage compared to many other agricultural regions. Groot also emphasized the importance of public education and outreach, encouraging consumers and policymakers to learn more about farming and understand the role agriculture plays in food security, economic development, and environmental stewardship. “We all stand a better chance of thriving,” Groot said, “if we all work together.” The interview underscored a common theme heard throughout California agriculture: farmers continue adapting to rising costs, labor shortages, water concerns, and increasing regulations while working to maintain local food production and support rural communities.

The AgNet News Hour continued its coverage of federal agricultural initiatives with conversations featuring USDA Rural Development State Director Bryan Anguiano and former San Diego County Farm Bureau President Dana Groot. The discussions focused on water infrastructure, rural economic development, specialty crop agriculture, and the challenges facing farmers throughout California. Fresh off a visit to California by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, USDA officials emphasized the importance of supporting agriculture and rural communities across the state. Bryan Anguiano, who serves as California State Director for USDA Rural Development, said his agency plays a key role in funding infrastructure projects, economic development, and water systems that support farming communities. “We help provide the resources needed for infrastructure, for job creation, and really for the next generation of rural communities,” Anguiano said. Water remained a central topic throughout the broadcast. Anguiano noted that USDA programs assist municipalities, counties, and water districts with financing projects such as pipelines, water tanks, and system improvements. He stressed that reliable water infrastructure is essential for both agricultural production and rural quality of life. “Water means jobs,” Anguiano explained, noting that rural communities depend on stable water supplies to support both agriculture and economic development. The show also featured an extended conversation with former San Diego County Farm Bureau President Dana Groot, who highlighted the unique agricultural landscape of Southern California. While many consumers associate San Diego County with avocados and citrus, Groot explained that the region is also home to the nation's largest concentration of nursery and floriculture production. “San Diego is the largest county in the country for nursery and floriculture products,” Groot said, noting that greenhouse, ornamental plant, and nursery production accounts for roughly $1 billion of the county's agricultural value. Groot discussed the challenges facing growers in one of California's most expensive regions. Land costs, labor expenses, housing shortages, and increasing regulations continue to place pressure on family farming operations. He noted that many farms in San Diego County average only about 10 acres in size and rely heavily on specialty crops that require significant labor and management. One of the most pressing concerns for growers in the region is water. According to Groot, agricultural water costs in San Diego County are among the highest in the nation, reaching approximately $3,000 per acre-foot in some cases. Much of the region's supply comes from imported sources, making long-term affordability a major concern. The interview also addressed concerns about declining acreage, regulatory burdens, and the future of family farming in California. Groot warned that increasing production costs continue to challenge the next generation of farmers and make succession planning more difficult. “We grow what we call specialty crops,” Groot said. “The specialty crop nature of our production is really considered high-value inventory.” Throughout the discussion, hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill emphasized the importance of maintaining California's agricultural production capacity while improving water management and reducing barriers that impact growers. Water infrastructure, labor availability, housing affordability, and regulatory reform were recurring themes throughout the broadcast. The program also highlighted concerns over the future of avocado production in Southern California. Groot noted that some growers are considering shutting off water to large acreage blocks due to rising costs, creating both economic and environmental concerns for the region. The broadcast concluded with optimism that increased attention from federal agricultural officials could help address some of the long-standing challenges facing California agriculture, particularly in rural communities dependent on water infrastructure and specialty crop production.

Tuesday marks the last day of voting in California's primary election, and San Diegans are casting their ballots in key state and local races.As part of KPBS' continuing election coverage, Midday Edition checks in on how voting is going in San Diego County.Then, two political scientists break down some of the competitive local races and the issues at the forefront of voters' minds.Guests:Tammy Murga, environment reporter, KPBSBrian Adams, political science professor, San Diego State UniversityRic Epps, political science professor, Imperial Valley CollegeResources:KPBS Voter Hub

Up to 96,000 people across San Diego County could lose their CalFresh benefits throughout the year as federal changes to the program take effect.One of those changes that began on Monday requires people without exemptions to work 80 hours per month to receive CalFresh benefits — also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the federal level. At least one nonprofit organization in San Diego County said it is rationing food to meet the growing need.On KPBS Midday Edition, we talk about what the new CalFresh rules mean for families in San Diego County who rely on the benefits.Guests:Alondra Alvarado, president & CEO, San Diego Hunger CoalitionAngeles Nelson, senior advocate, Nourish CaliforniaResources:San Diego Hunger Coalition Nourish CaliforniaSD Food Bank - Emergency Food Assistance ProgramFeeding San DiegoSUN Bucks - Summer Food ProgramFather Joe's Villages

GAPTIVISTS LIVE HERE"The Gap Minders" podcast, hosted by Jose Cruz, features Richard Lederer, a linguist and author. Richard discusses his passion for language, his column in the Union-Tribune, and his 14-year tenure on "Away with Words". He highlights his unique approach to language, including etymology, word games, and humor. Richard shares his journey from Haverford College to Harvard Law School, his teaching career, and his current projects, such as emceeing the Healthy Aging event and his upcoming "A Feast of Words" show. He emphasizes the importance of showing up and seizing opportunities, as exemplified by his meeting with Jeff Light, which led to his current role at the Union-Tribune.Thank you so much for listening to this episode of The Gap Minders. If you enjoyed this podcast, please feel free to learn more about our GAPtivist movement at www.TheGapMinders.org where we believe that regardless of age, anyone can be a GAPtivist for their community.About The San Diego Council On LiteracySince 1986, The San Diego Council On Literacy has been dedicated to the mission of "Literacy For All." Central to the literacy effort in San Diego County is the work of the 35 programs that are affiliated with the San Diego Council on Literacy. Annually, they serve over 100,000 residents of all ages, at no cost. We are honored to work in partnership with dedicated organizations that provide tutoring, literacy resources, and support to the community.To learn more about The San Diego Council On Literacy, please visit www.literacysandiego.orgAbout LIFE: San DiegoLiteracy Is For Everyone (LIFE): San Diego is a privately funded program to venture test small scale new ideas for increasing literacy for young adults ranging from reading and math to science and media.  About Cloudcast Media  "The Gap Minders" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.  For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.  Listen Where You Live.  This episode was produced by Shreyasi Mekund, Associate Producer and Brandon Joe, Senior Producer.  

Sher DeWeese, Executive Director of Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of San Diego County, and Grant Affleck, a TIP volunteer, discuss supporting survivors of trauma and making long-term recovery less painful through 24/7 crisis response. They share how community volunteers partner with first responders to provide emotional and practical support after deaths, accidents and other traumatic events, and how leaders can champion this life-changing work. Listen Where You Live!About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

As the Muslim community continues reeling from Monday's deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, people across San Diego County gathered to honor the three men who lost their lives. A Chula Vista police officer accused of causing a deadly crash has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter. Much larger signs are now posted at La Jolla Cove to educate visitors and enforce the laws protecting the sea mammals.     What You Need To Know To Start Your Sunday. 

Yesterday, three men were killed outside the largest of 13 mosques in California's San Diego County. Such violence is unconscionable and must be condemned.  Even though little is known so far about the teenage shooters, the Islamic Center's imam, Taha Hassane, nonetheless decried “intolerance.” And New York's Muslim Mayor Zohran Mamdani denounced “Islamophobia.”  Before sympathy for the victims and efforts to parlay this crime into a pretext for silencing those of us who legitimately oppose utterly intolerant and intentionally terrifying sharia-supremacism, a little level-setting is in order. This mosque has long been associated with the jihadist Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Two congregants aided the 9/11 hijackers. And Imam Hassane routinely misrepresents sharia and intolerantly inveighs against Israel and its supporters.  Such facts do not justify violence. But they do underscore the need for legally and peacefully opposing metastasizing sharia in America.   This is Frank Gaffney.

Rachel Orose, President and CEO of the United Way of San Diego County, shares data-driven insights on affordability, economic mobility and the "real cost" of living for working families. Orose notes how United Way mobilizes corporate partners, STEAM-to-Careers pathways and the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition to help San Diego's workforce move from survival to stability. Listen Where You Live!About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

Trevor Ault has the latest on the deadly shooting at the largest mosque in San Diego County that left three people dead, including a security guard; Ginger Zee tracks the system that's forecast to bring powerful tornadoes from Texas to the Great Lakes after a dangerous and violent 24 hours of storms in the Heartland; amid an Ebola outbreak in central and eastern Africa, Steve Osunsami has details on the American physician in the Democratic Republic of Congo who contracted the disease, according to the Serge International Missionary Organization, and his wife who was exposed but is showing no symptoms; and more on tonight's broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yesterday, three men were killed outside the largest of 13 mosques in California's San Diego County. Such violence is unconscionable and must be condemned.  Even though little is known so far about the teenage shooters, the Islamic Center's imam, Taha Hassane, nonetheless decried “intolerance.” And New York's Muslim Mayor Zohran Mamdani denounced “Islamophobia.”  Before sympathy for the victims and efforts to parlay this crime into a pretext for silencing those of us who legitimately oppose utterly intolerant and intentionally terrifying sharia-supremacism, a little level-setting is in order. This mosque has long been associated with the jihadist Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Two congregants aided the 9/11 hijackers. And Imam Hassane routinely misrepresents sharia and intolerantly inveighs against Israel and its supporters.  Such facts do not justify violence. But they do underscore the need for legally and peacefully opposing metastasizing sharia in America.   This is Frank Gaffney.

In episode 248 of the Transition Drill Podcast, explore identity loss, PTSD, addiction, and rebuilding purpose for firefighters, veterans, and first responders navigating the hidden emotional cost of service. You'll hear Frank Park on what happens when the career you fought to earn becomes the thing quietly destroying you, and what it takes to rebuild your life after hitting rock bottom.Frank Park's story starts long before the fire service. Growing up in Torrance, California, he struggled with grief, anger, isolation, and rebellion after losing his grandmother at a young age. By high school, he was drinking, smoking, fighting, ditching school, and convinced he was the burden holding his family together. Then came an unexpected turning point through faith, community, and a decision to completely change the trajectory of his life.After turning things around academically, Frank attended University of Southern California with plans to become an attorney. But after realizing corporate office life wasn't for him, he found himself drawn toward the fire service. What followed was years of grinding through EMT work, reserve firefighter shifts, volunteer time, brutal fire academy training, and countless applications across California before finally earning a full-time spot as a firefighter in San Diego County.The episode dives deep into the realities of firefighting culture, old-school mentorship, proving yourself inside tight-knit departments, strike team deployments during major California wildfires, and the mental toll that accumulates from traumatic calls involving children, death, and violence. Frank opens up about the call that changed him, the PTSD symptoms he didn't recognize, and the hidden alcoholism and isolation that nearly consumed him while everyone around him thought he was thriving.What makes this conversation powerful is the second half of Frank's life. He talks openly about surrender, faith, rebuilding his identity outside the badge, and transitioning into entrepreneurship as the CEO of El Horno Chimi. This is a conversation about purpose, masculinity, trauma, accountability, and learning how to live after the uniform comes off.CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/WEBSITE: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpantani/SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:https://transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#aboutQUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:paul@transitiondrillpodcast.comSPONSORS:GRND Collective: Premium, veteran-owned sportswear built for those who show up, outwork the excuses, and give 100%. Score 15% off your order at thegrndcollective.com using promo code TRANSITION15 at checkoutBlue Line Roasting: Premium, law-enforcement-owned coffee roasted to fuel the shift. A portion of every order directly supports law enforcement families facing line-of-duty injury or loss. Save 10% at bluelineroasting.com with promo code Transition10Frontline Optics: Premium eyewear founded by a firefighter and built to withstand the job. Every single purchase helps support the First Responders Children's Foundation, serving families who've paid the ultimate price. Save 10% off your pair at frontlineoptics.com using promo code Transition10

Those changes could include adding longer term limits, a new ethics commission, and more. If passed, the charter rewrite would go to public vote in November.Monday on Midday Edition, we look at the dueling proposals between Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Joel Anderson and what the proposed changes could mean for how county government is run.Guest:Lucas Robinson, San Diego County government and politics reporter, San Diego Union-TribuneStories:Dueling term limits: Amid criticism of Lawson-Remer's proposed charter rewrite, Anderson pitches a rival plan — San Diego Union-Tribune

First, the fate of a residential campus for foster youth will come down to a vote by San Diego County leaders. Then, one North County city added a new ordinance regarding illegal fireworks with less than two months until the July 4th holiday. Also, we discuss changes in leadership and other key issues at San Diego County's Department of Animal Services over the last year. And, a Barrio Logan icon is once again opening their doors for business.

As we learn more about how cell phones are impacting kids' health and wellbeing, schools across the country are trying to adapt.More than two-thirds of U.S. states now have some restrictions over cell phone use in public schools. We hear about how efforts are going in San Diego County.Plus, we sit down with an author of a first-of-its-kind study that looked at the effectiveness of cell phone bans in schools.Guests:Katie Anastas, education reporter, KPBSHunt Allcott, professor of environmental social sciences, Stanford University

This conversation explores why modern fundraising still struggles with outdated systems despite living in a technology-driven world. It raises important questions about how fundraisers are expected to manage hundreds of donor relationships while spending hours on administrative tasks rather than building meaningful connections. The discussion challenges traditional fundraising methods and reveals how technology, automation, and better workflows can completely transform donor engagement and fundraising success. Meet Meredith Johnston, who serves as the Vice President of Development at Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD). Since 1970, FHCSD has been dedicated to delivering compassionate, affordable, and high-quality health care and supportive services to all individuals, with a strong focus on uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved communities. Today, FHCSD is recognized as one of the 10 largest federally qualified health centers in the United States, operating more than 90 locations throughout San Diego County. Each year, the organization serves over 227,000 patients, including 91% who are low-income and 29% who are uninsured. Throughout the conversation, Meredith shares practical insights from her career journey, explaining how fundraising has evolved and why organizations must adapt to changing expectations. Her experience gives credibility to the discussion around leadership, donor management, and operational efficiency. Meredith discusses the importance of using technology to support fundraisers rather than overwhelm them with manual tasks. She explains the value of tracking donor behavior, improving data quality, and focusing on active relationship-building. The conversation also addresses perfectionism, anxiety, and the fear of making mistakes, encouraging fundraisers to take action, embrace imperfection, and prioritize meaningful donor interactions over passive busywork. In this episode, you will be able to:  Recognize the importance of technology in modern fundraising. Understand how outdated systems limit fundraiser effectiveness. Identify tasks that should be automated to save time. Learn how data quality improves donor engagement and workflows. Recognize the value of focusing on relationship-building activities. Understand the difference between active and passive fundraising actions. Recognize how perfectionism can prevent meaningful action. Learn why major gift officers should focus on tasks only they can do. Understand how leadership support improves fundraiser productivity. Get all the resources from today's episode here.  Support for this show is brought to you by Donor Perfect. Our friends at Donor Perfect really understand fundraising on so many levels. Stay aligned while working online with a seamless and secure payments experience for your donors and your team. Empower donors to give where they are, whenever they like, automate data entry, and process online, monthly, and mobile payments, and accept payments over the phone. Connect with me:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_malloryerickson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthefundraising YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malloryerickson7946 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mallory-erickson-bressler/ Website: malloryerickson.com/podcast Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-fundraising/id1575421652 If you haven't already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link. If you're looking to raise more from the right funders, then you'll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization. This free masterclass offers a great starting point.

What if volunteering, raising kids, learning on the job, and real life experience counted just as much as a college degree? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President overseeing Job for the Future's strategic presence in California, about what it really means to create a workforce that works for everyone. Parikh shares how community colleges, competency-based learning, and credit for real-world experience can help close opportunity gaps. She also redefines what makes a "quality job," stressing equity, mobility, and belonging, and how small businesses can help lead the charge. Join us to discover how you can be a part of building a new and better workforce standard for the future. You'll learn:  How inclusive workforce programs start with inclusive design, and what that means in practice. Why regional strategies are essential to solving California's workforce and housing challenges. How community colleges are at the forefront of credentialing outside traditional classrooms. What Jobs for the Future is doing to help small and mid-size employers offer quality jobs. Why "everything counts" and how your non-traditional experiences are more valuable than you think. About the Guest: Parina Parikh is an Associate Vice President overseeing Jobs for the Future's strategic presence in California. She has responsibility for business development and fundraising, cultivating relationships and partnerships, and building workforce and inclusive economic development initiatives. As a leader who is committed to equity, inclusion, and a holistic approach to workforce development and inclusive regional economies, her focus is on leading and advancing JFF's work in California, supported by a team of 20+ California-based colleagues. Before joining JFF, Parina was Vice President of Programs at San Diego Workforce Partnership. She created and executed innovative workforce solutions across San Diego County overseeing programming in information and communications technology, energy construction and utilities, healthcare and behavioral health, public administration and advanced manufacturing. Engage with us: LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.com Visit: PCC EWD website More from Parina Parikh & Jobs for the Future: Websites: https://www.jff.org/ LinkedIn: @parina-parikh Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: scummo@pasadena.edu Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking  Find the transcript of this episode here Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we'd love to hear from you!

On this really quick episode of Quick Charge, we got the chance to sit down with The Mobility House North America's director of marketing communications, Dylan Gasperik, who talks ACT, V2G integration with Kia, utility programs, and how EVs strengthen – not weaken – the nation's straining energy grid. Earlier this week, The Mobility House and Wallbox successfully installed and interconnected a Kia EV9 and Quasar 2 bidirectional charger in a San Diego County home, representing the first residential bidirectional charger interconnected in the County and an important step toward the broader adoption of bidirectional charging in residential settings in the US. "This is an important milestone in the commercialization of vehicle-to-everything services for electric vehicle drivers," explains Russell Vare, VP of Vehicle-Grid Integration (VGI), The Mobility House North America. "Many people don't realize you need an interconnection approval with the utility, even if you only manage your home energy and never export power beyond the meter. We have accomplished this, and have gone one step further to enable the system to export power and realize the value of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)." Also, there's this candidate for best show swag ever. Chocowatt Mobility House Chocowatt bar. The news was announced at ACT Expo '26 as part of a broader effort to promote the work The Mobility House has been doing with utility and pilot programs across the country, and Dylan and I got a chance to talk about that, fleets, and more. Source Links The Mobility House North America website Wallbox expands its bidirectional EV charger program in the US Wallbox chargers enable Kia EV9s to power homes for the first time Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are (allegedly) recorded several times per week, most weeks. We'll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss a minute of Electrek's high-voltage podcast series. Got news? Let us know!Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

Adrianna O'Donnell, Chief Growth Officer for the Chicano Federation of San Diego County, chats about cultivating opportunities and essential wraparound services for the 53,000 people the Federation serves annually through affordable housing, early childhood education and workforce development. O'Donnell shares how locals can align time, talent and treasure with the annual Unity Luncheon, strategic partnerships and community advocacy. Listen Where You Live!About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

We are joined by Lan Nguyen and Jennifer Vermillion, two restorative justice leaders who take us beyond surface-level change to discover what it truly takes to sustain restorative practices in schools and communities across complex educational systems.  Together, they unpack a critical tension facing educators and administrators today: why restorative practices are widely embraced, yet so difficult to sustain. Lan challenges the urgency-driven culture that dominates schools, calling for a strategic shift that asks school leadership to do less, go deeper, and prioritize meaningful transformation over constant initiative overload.   Jennifer builds on this foundation, emphasizing embodiment over checkbox implementation. She highlights that educators are often expected to practice restoration without ever experiencing it. The result? Burnout, skepticism, and initiatives that fade fast. She argues that real change begins when individuals and systems align and when restorative practices are lived, not just learned.  Jennifer is a project specialist with the San Diego County Office of Education, providing professional learning and coaching on restorative practices and implementation. Before working with the County Office, Jennifer spent 5 years with a non-profit, supporting schools in San Diego with their restorative practices implementation, training, and student leadership initiatives. She provided direct services in addressing conflict issues between students, families, and school staff through a restorative justice model that kept youth out of the justice system. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's degree in peace and justice studies.  Lan is a futurist, educator, and leader who is passionate about designing and implementing more liberatory ways of engaging, teaching, and leading in schools. In her work, she critiques and examines systems of power, applies participatory and humanizing approaches to systems change, and uses a decolonial lens to understand issues of educational and social inequity. Lan has held diverse roles in K-12 education, supporting local, statewide, and national projects on community engagement and school climate. She currently supports restorative justice practice implementation across San Diego County at the San Diego County Office of Education.   Tune in to walk away with actionable insights on implementing restorative justice with fidelity, building educator buy-in, and creating conditions for sustainable change.

The 2026 Point-in-Time Count found a slight decline in homelessness in San Diego County, including an 11% drop in street homelessness. But the number of homeless seniors is growing.On Midday Edition Wednesday, we talk with two leaders of local nonprofits addressing homelessness about what's working and the challenges that lie ahead.Then, we sit down with representatives from a local group spreading awareness about mental health needs within San Diego's Vietnamese community.Plus, a new book from TED Radio Hour's Manoush Zomorodi looks into how our modern tech-filled lives is changing our bodies — and what we can do about it.Guests:Melinda Forstey, CEO, Serving SeniorsGreg Anglea, CEO, Interfaith ServicesTri Nguyen, licensed marriage and family therapist, counseling faculty at San Diego State University Tri Luu, board director and chair of partnerships, Vietnamese American Youth AllianceManoush Zomorodi, host, author, "Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Wellbeing"Resources:Vietnamese American Youth Alliance Mental Health ResourcesInternational Vietnamese Mental Health AssociationSan Diego Access & Crisis Line - Call or text 9-8-8 OR (888) 724-7240Yellow Chair Collective

The annual point in time count has revealed that homelessness across San Diego County has dropped 11%. This week, SDG&E customers can take advantage of expanded super off-peak pricing. One month after thousands of people lost access to their snap benefits, also known as Cal-Fresh, Feeding San Diego says they have hit a record number of food distributions.     What You Need To Know To Start Your Saturday. 

As momentum continues to grow around the Land Back movement and Indigenous stewardship worldwide, the value of hearing from Elders who have long studied Indigenous traditions and lifeways, whether adopted or of their heritage, is a growing imperative. Their lived wisdom is essential, a gift and treasure for future generations, and continues the cycle of dynamic, intergenerational learning in the traditional way — the way of direct, felt experience and deep listening. This is an encore presentation of our 2022 conversation with Payoomkawish (Juaneño/Luiseño) Elder Richard Bugbee [https://www.indigenousregeneration.org/]. Richard passed away in 2023 and this interview is a great way to honor his work and incredible personality. Hear him share insights from his decades of studying the way of plants and their uses, re-learning of language, and the practice of material culture. He emphasized the importance of reclaiming our ways of seeing, being, and understanding the world by reclaiming Native languages and observing the world more closely. Richard Bugbee was Payoomkawish (also known as Payómkawichum Juaneño/Luiseño) from northern San Diego County. Richard had ties with multiple Indigenous nations including the Kumeyaay. He was an Instructor of Kumeyaay Ethnobotany and Ethnoecology at Cuyamaca College through Kumeyaay Community College [http://kumeyaaycommunitycollege.com/]. He was the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival (AICLS) [https://aicls.org/]. Richard was on the boards of Indigenous Regeneration (Mata'Yuum), Climate Science Alliance, and Inter-Tribal Fire Stewardship. Richard was the Curator of the Kumeyaay Culture Exhibit at the Southern Indian Health Council, the Associate Director/Curator of the San Diego American Indian Culture Center & Museum, and the Indigenous Education Specialist for the San Diego Museum of Man. He was a member of the Native American Council for California State Parks, California Indian Basketweavers Association ((CIBA), the Land ConVersation, and the Elders' Circle for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Richard has been learning traditional plant uses of southern California and the Kumeyaay language from Jane Dumas, a Kumeyaay Elder from Jamul Indian Village from 1980 to 2014. He was the ethnobotanist for the Traditional Indian Health Program through Riverside-San Bernardino Indian Health providing information on the interactions between traditional plant and pharmaceutical medicines. He teaches indigenous material cultures and traditional plant uses of southern California at many museums, botanical gardens, and reservations, and is an instructor for summer cultural programs for several Kumeyaay tribes. His goal is to use knowledge to serve as a bridge that connects the wisdom of the Elders with today's youth. Listen to our related show on Indigenous Regeneration from 2022: https://wilderutopia.com/ecojustice-radio/indigenous-regeneration-remembering-the-past-to-inspire-the-future/ Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/ Podcast Blog: https://wilderutopia.com/ecojustice-radio/ethnobotany-cultural-fire-and-indigenous-stewardship-with-payoomkawish-elder-richard-bugbee/ Support the Podcast: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LBGXTRM292TFC&source=url Hosted by Carry Kim Intro by Jessica Aldridge Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats Executive Producer: Jack Eidt Show Created by Mark and JP Morris Episode 140 Photo credit: Richard Bugbee

First, Congressman Juan Vargas said “AIPAC has never given me a penny,” but a look into campaign finance records says otherwise. Also, Poway is being sued by both the state and a local tribe over a housing development project. Including, a new report by the American Lung Association says that San Diego County is among the most polluted counties in America. Then, another installation of the Pod Behind the Package centered around Giants, an art exhibit that recently landed at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

On-Location Interview with Michael Schwartz of San Diego County Gun Owners, from the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Voices of the Second Amendment Media Row in Houston, TX. Michael Schwartz is the founder and executive director of San Diego County Gun Owners, one of the most effective grassroots Second Amendment advocacy organizations in California. A strategic leader and communicator, Michael has been instrumental in expanding concealed carry access and mobilizing voters to support pro-Second Amendment candidates at the local level. Michael is also a co-host of Gun Owners Radio. Recorded live from the 2026 National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in Houston, TX. This special Voices of the Second Amendment series captures the energy, insight, and passion of one of the most influential gatherings in the firearms community. From Media Row, GunFreedomRadio brings you exclusive, on-location interviews with industry leaders, advocates, educators, and everyday Americans who are shaping the conversation around our constitutional rights. These candid discussions highlight innovation, responsibility, and the shared commitment to protecting and preserving the Second Amendment, and each episode offers a unique perspective—amplifying the voices that inform, inspire, and impact the future of freedom in America. The 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits took place at the George R. Brown Convention Center on April 16-19, 2026 in Houston, Texas. The Exhibit Hall showcased over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear from the most popular companies in the Industry.  Originally Aired 4.23.26

San Diego County supervisors vote on city charter Changes, New study of cannabis on teen health, Revitalization  of Escondido Creek Trail with art

This month on Homeless in San Diego, we welcomed Senior Coordinated Entry System Specialist Phylicia Applewhite from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH). Phylicia provides a detailed breakdown of the homelessness service systems that are in San Diego and shares her own lived experience.  Listen to our brand-new episode to learn more about the systems and resources in San Diego County.    Show links: https://www.rtfhsd.org/  https://www.rtfhsd.org/reports-data/ https://www.rtfhsd.org/about-coc/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/phylicia-applewhite-2a2290160/

Residential findings prompt additional restrictions tied to fruit fly activity and citrus greening.

Norma Chávez-Peterson is a longtime organizer and civil rights leader who serves as Executive Director of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, one of the region's leading voices on civil liberties and immigrant rights. Born in Michoacán, Mexico, and raised in San Diego, she brings lived experience and deep community roots to her work in the border region, where local realities often reflect broader national debates about democracy, belonging, and power. This Episode: What does courageous community leadership look like when civil liberties, immigrant rights, and democracy itself are under strain? In this episode, Norma and Grant examine how immigration enforcement is unfolding in this moment. Norma argues that today's tensions did not come out of nowhere, but grew from decades of failure to build a fair and humane immigration system. Together, they explore how federal overreach shows up locally, from high-profile enforcement actions to the quieter fear shaping daily life for families across the region. Just as importantly, Norma points to how communities are responding: neighbors looking out for one another, churches and schools finding ways to keep families safe, and everyday people stepping up to protect their communities. She reminds us that attacks on immigrants do not stop with immigrants alone, and that fear cannot be what guides us. Instead, she calls on all of us to focus on where we can make a difference, stay connected to one another, and act with courage and solidarity. Key Moments: [1:30] How the ACLU's local affiliate model stays rooted in community needs [7:27] Why today's immigration enforcement crisis has decades-deep roots [17:06] What increased ICE activity looks like in San Diego County [33:19] Why people and organizations need to focus where they can make a real difference [43:14] What courageous leadership looks like in this moment Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties – Defending and advancing civil rights and civil liberties in the border region Know Your Rights Red Cards – Practical tools to help immigrants assert their rights during encounters with immigration enforcement San Diego Organizing Project – Faith- and community-based organizing around justice and civic participation Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) – Organizing and training people, including white allies, to take action for racial justice CHIRLA – Immigrant rights organization providing advocacy, organizing, and legal services Take Action: Know Your Rights – Learn what protections people have during encounters with immigration enforcement. Support Neighbors – Check in on people in your community and help connect them to trusted resources. Focus Where You Can Help – Choose one issue or action you can stay committed to rather than trying to do everything. Document and Bear Witness – Support efforts to observe, record, and report abuses when safe and appropriate. Lead with Courage, Not Fear – Whether you are an individual or an institution, act from your values and use the tools you have. 

Maya Millete's family didn't wait for the system to work. They built their own search operation, organized volunteer parties across Southern California, took the case to national media, and pushed for answers every single week for nine months before Larry Millete was finally arrested.And Larry — the man whose wife was missing — never joined a single search.This is Episode 4 of the Larry Millete series. We cover the investigation, the arrest, and the custody battle that followed. Sixty-seven search warrants. Eighty-seven interviews. A gun violence restraining order. A firearms seizure after the children said they felt unsafe. And then the DA charged murder without a body — one of the most aggressive prosecutorial decisions in recent San Diego County history.But the arrest didn't resolve the other crisis: who would raise Maya and Larry's three children. What followed was a three-year guardianship fight between Maricris Drouaillet and Larry's parents — marked by blocked therapy, undermined visitation, and paternal grandparents who were coaching the children to resist their own aunt. A judge ended it in August 2024 by granting custody to Maricris. The oldest daughter hugged Maricris's husband for the first time in nearly four years. Larry Millete has pleaded not guilty.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MayaMillete #LarryMillete #TrueCrimeToday #TrueCrime #NoBodyCase #JusticeForMaya #MissingMom #ChulaVista #CustodyBattle #TrueCrimePodcast

The Cannibal - Colin CzechIn the early morning hours of April 28th, 2024, a 911 dispatcher at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department upgraded an incoming call to the highest possible priority. The call was coming from the vicinity of a public bus stop on East Charleston Boulevard — one of those stretches of urban infrastructure that nobody thinks twice about. An employee inside an adjacent AMPM could see something through the window. A man on the ground. Blood. He kept his distance. Something in the back of his mind was already telling him that was the right call.The man at the center of it was 31 years old. A prep school graduate from La Jolla. A 4.19 GPA. An economics degree. An MBA in progress. And a criminal record in San Diego County stretching across six years of escalating violence, running parallel to all of it, invisible to anyone who only looked at the LinkedIn profile. The warning signs were in multiple systems for years. No one connected them. And on a Sunday morning in Las Vegas, a man named Kenneth Brown was waiting for a bus.Hugs ❤️----------------------------------------FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/groups/911callsX https://x.com/911CallsPodcastINSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/911callspodcastYOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@911CallsPodcastTIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@911callspodcastPATREON https://patreon.com/1159media

First, we'll tell you some of the contributing factors around why 2025 was the deadliest year ever recorded for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Centers. Then, we'll tell you why more and more flights coming from San Diego's military airports are deportation flights. And, we'll tell you about a new legislature that looks to build more affordable housing in our cities' urban centers. Also, uncomfortable conversations around death are moving to more social settings like a bar. And, International Dark Sky Week is here! We'll tell you about some of the stargazing events happening across San Diego County this week.

Food costs are continuing to squeeze San Diegans' pocketbooks, and that means accessing healthy food is getting harder for families.The San Diego Hunger Coalition found that as of December 2025, more than 1 in 4 San Diegans are nutrition insecure.Local community gardens have helped fill in that gap, giving people the space to grow their own fresh produce while also giving it back to the community.Monday on Midday Edition, we talk about how one local community garden has shaped fresh food access in southeast San Diego — and what you might need to know to start growing your own produce in your backyard.Guest:Diane Moss, founder and managing director, Project New VillageResources:Mt. Hope Community GardenCommunity Garden resource page — Master Gardener Association of San Diego County

First, new data has confirmed what many were already skeptical of: most San Diego college students are using AI. Then, a San Diego lawmaker wants chain restaurants to be more transparent about drinks that are packed with sugar. Also, we'll tell you why San Diego County is selling water to Riverside County.

With Tax Day just a few days away, we have some important dates to keep in mind. Plus, local advocates are speaking out saying more needs to be done to tackle homelessness in San Diego County. And, Grammy-winning artist Jason Mraz is partnering up with a local non-profit. Here's NBC 7's Dana Williams with the top stories of the day and NBC 7 Meteorologist Brooke Martell with your weather forecast.

After years of water rate hikes, the San Diego County water authority board will vote on a second deal to sell water to other Southern California communities. The San Diego County Taxpayers Association just released a new report suggesting the city of San Diego is spending too much on non-essential new hires. Today, the Padres are unveiling their new city connect jerseys.     What You Need To Know To Start Your Thursday. 

First, we break down the county's rising unemployment rate. Then, a preview of an important vote on a proposed data center in Imperial County. And, how a proposed state law could help the Midway Rising project move forward. Also, we talk to a woman who tracks her family's spending on food. Plus, Birch Aquarium is studying baby red octopuses.

A couple is charged with forcing migrants to work at senior care facilities in San Diego County. Plus, a new housing development in Poway is moving forward despite pleas from a tribal community. And, we have the reason gas prices won't likely return to pre-war prices anytime soon. NBC 7's Marianne Kushi has these stories and more, including meteorologist Sheena Parveen's forecast for Friday, April 3, 2026.

You'll learn why fleet leadership is evolving, how to translate technical KPIs into meaningful business impact, and why telling your fleet story is one of the most important skills you can develop. The conversation also explores how modern fleet managers can eliminate blind spots, improve asset availability, and build trust with leadership using clear, defensible data. They also preview NAFA sessions designed to help new and emerging leaders build confidence through hands-on learning, including an interactive “fleet escape room” experience. If you're struggling to explain your value, improve fleet performance, or move from reactive to proactive operations, this episode gives you the roadmap. Key Takeaways: Fleet Success Starts with Eliminating Blind Spots You can't improve what you can't see. Metrics like availability, PM compliance, and downtime trends are critical, but only if you understand and contextualize them. Visibility → Confidence → Better Decisions. 2. KPIs Don't Matter Without Context Leadership doesn't care about “98% availability,” they care about: Your job is to translate data into meaningful outcomes. 3. Fleet Managers Must Become Storytellers The most impactful skill: explaining the “why” behind fleet decisions Tailor messaging based on audience: 4. Fleet Leadership Paths Are Changing There are now 3 primary paths into fleet leadership: Technician → Supervisor → Manager (traditional) Industry + education hybrid (operations + admin) Non-technical leaders (finance, analysts, engineers) 5. Purpose Drives Culture and Performance Technicians aren't just fixing vehicles, they're enabling: Repeating this purpose builds engagement and retention. 6. Think Small to Drive Big Change Large initiatives fail without incremental execution Focus on: 7. Continuous Learning Is Non-Negotiable Fleet managers must actively seek knowledge: The biggest risk:  not knowing what you don't know Speaker Bios Facundo Tassara Fleet Success Ambassador, RTA Facundo Tassara brings over 26 years of experience across public and private fleet operations. As Fleet Success Ambassador at RTA, he helps fleet leaders eliminate blind spots, improve performance, and confidently communicate their value to leadership. With a background spanning shop operations, government fleet, and technology, Facundo is passionate about helping fleets transition from reactive chaos to structured, data-driven success.Bradley Northrup Public Works Fleet Superintendent, City of Carlsbad Bradley Northrup leads fleet operations for the City of Carlsbad, where he has driven significant performance improvements and helped the organization earn recognition as the #1 small fleet in the nation. Starting his career as a technician, Bradley advanced through leadership roles in San Diego County, specializing in acquisitions, policy, and electrification initiatives. He is an active NAFA contributor and advocate for fleet education, leadership development, and industry collaboration. Looking to take the next step to fleet success? Start by requesting your free copy of The Fleet Success Playbook. Written by fleet professionals for fleet professionals, the Playbook breaks down the four key pillars of fleet success, and gives you the tools you need to build a truly great fleet. Request your free (yes, really, free!) copy here: https://rtafleet.com/resources/fleet-success-playbook?utm_source=simplecast&utm_medium=footer_notes&utm_campaign=episode_213 Control fleet chaos with RTA Fleet360, proven software designed by fleet managers for fleet managers: https://rtafleet.com/book-a-demo?utm_source=simplecast&utm_medium=footer_notes&utm_campaign=episode_213

Legendary pro surfer Rob Machado is widely regarded as one of the most influential and stylish surfers of all time. But Rob's relationship with and impact on surfing and the ocean run much deeper than his professional career.  In this episode, Rob shares about his deep family roots in Southern California and traces his personal journey as an ocean advocate —  from taking water samples for Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force as a high school student in Cardiff to founding the Rob Machado Foundation, which has installed water refill stations across San Diego County schools and eliminated millions of single-use plastic bottles. In this wide-ranging conversation, he opens up about the competitive mindset that took him to the pinnacle of the world tour, why that famous high-five with Kelly Slater at Pipeline actually deepened his connection to what surfing should be, and how becoming a father shifted his priorities from tour life to environmental stewardship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary pro surfer Rob Machado is widely regarded as one of the most influential and stylish surfers of all time. But Rob's relationship with and impact on surfing and the ocean run much deeper than his professional career.  In this episode, Rob shares about his deep family roots in Southern California and traces his personal journey as an ocean advocate —  from taking water samples for Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force as a high school student in Cardiff to founding the Rob Machado Foundation, which has installed water refill stations across San Diego County schools and eliminated millions of single-use plastic bottles. In this wide-ranging conversation, he opens up about the competitive mindset that took him to the pinnacle of the world tour, why that famous high-five with Kelly Slater at Pipeline actually deepened his connection to what surfing should be, and how becoming a father shifted his priorities from tour life to environmental stewardship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, peaceful protests were held across San Diego County in solidarity with nationwide protests. Then, the median rent in San Diego has gone down, we explore why. Also, state leaders respond to federal cuts to public broadcasting. And, we'll tell you the impact that Helix Water District's new high-speed charging depot could have.