Emilyn Mohebbi

Environmentalists gathered at a beach in Encinitas over the weekend, to push for the passage of a better plastic bag ban in California. In other news, a California bill would prohibit public libraries from banning books solely because of their topics or views. Plus, San Diego has the only zoo outside of Australia with platypuses, and now, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is partnering with an Australian zoo to study how climate change is affecting them.

More than two years of testing has researchers convinced they have a faster way to detect untreated sewage in the Tijuana River. In other news, Carlsbad is now the first city in San Diego County to ban smoking and vaping in apartment and condo buildings. Plus, as school starts back up for students across San Diego, many families are struggling to find affordable after school care.

The Democratic National Convention is now in the history books, and last night Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted her party’s nomination to be president. We hear from a member of the California delegation. In other news, a pair of pressurizers had to be returned to the San Onofre nuclear generating station because of a leak during shipment to a disposal site. Plus, dozens of new American citizens from 25 countries took the oath of allegiance before a Padres’ game at Petco Park earlier this week.

San Diego city officials say repairing the Ocean Beach Pier is no longer feasible. We hear from residents about the city’s plan to demolish and replace it. In other news, a new California grant program is boosting mental health support in San Diego schools. Plus, as part of KPBS’ ongoing series on volunteering, we learn about a program in Mission Valley that’s connecting experienced adaptive climbers with newcomers to the sport.

A new court filing in the sexual assault case against former San Diego County supervisor Nathan Fletcher includes text messages that undermine the allegations made by Fletcher’s accuser. In other news, once again, Donald Trump and other politicians are making the threat of migrant crime a key election talking point, but research shows immigrants are actually less likely to commit crimes than native born Americans. Plus, parents of students at Pablo Tac School of the Arts in Oceanside say construction is a hazard for their children.

Two people were killed in a crash after a high-speed pursuit by the San Diego Police Department Monday night. That makes three SDPD chase deaths this month, while debate continues over the policy. In other news, San Diego County has a new tool to help people find affordable housing. Plus, the Paralympic Games are now underway. We hear from a San Diegan who’s the number one ranked wheelchair tennis player on Team USA.

Local housing politics have found their way into the race for president and it reflects a shift in the Democratic Party to embrace the term YIMBY. In other news, state law limits how much landlords can raise the rent on most tenants, and in San Diego County increases cannot exceed 8.6%. We hear what happens when tenants have few resources available to fight back when landlords raise the rate higher. Plus, a local nonprofit furnishes homes for people emerging from homelessness.

The San Diego Housing Commission was given more than $7 million to assist January flood survivors, but only about one in four of those displaced qualifies for it. In other news, according to a new Center for Disease Control report, about 80% of overdose deaths in the U.S. are from opioids, primarily illegal fentanyl. Plus, we learn how the California grid is balancing supply, and how an electrical test bed at UC San Diego wants to change the way we consume energy.

Hundreds of hotel workers at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront were on strike for a third day Tuesday. In other news, California lawmakers have passed a bill requiring schools to come up with policies to limit the use of smartphones on campus, but some districts in San Diego County already have those rules. Plus, as part of our ongoing conversations with San Diego's congressional delegation about democracy, we hear a conversation with Democratic Congressman Mike Levin.

Several local members of Congress on Thursday announced a new bill to combat the impacts of raw sewage from across the border. In other news, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees in some areas, extreme heat can be hazardous for anyone, and it’s especially dangerous for people with chronic conditions. Plus, a bill on Gov. Newsom’s desk could significantly boost voter registration at the DMV, but some are worried about unintended consequences.