>>> THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF WHAT THE DISTRICT HAS REPRESENTED AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE WE [INDISCERNIBLE] BUT REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S MAKING SURE WE SERVE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ALL DEMOCRATS.

THAT WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN ON THE COUNCIL.

>> I FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT SOWS OF OPINIONS.

ALSO TAKING THE OFFICE OF [INDISCERNIBLE] ALL ELECTED TO SECOND TERMS.

>> HOMELESSNESS IS GOING TO BE A BIGGER CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN TERMS OF HOUSING WE DELIVER FOR SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP ON CHANGE THIS YEAR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY RE-ELECT [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

>> THE STRIKE INVOLVING UNIVERSITY CAPS CALIFORNIA SUPPORT STAFF, MANY OF THEM GRAD STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS IS NOW IN ITS SECOND MONTH.

WHILE THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROGRESS WITH ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE STRIKING WORKERS APPROVING A CONTRACT IN RECENT STAYS, THE STRIKE DIRECTLY AFFECTS 36,000 WORKERS.

PICKET LINES ARE NOW ON HOLD FOR THE WINTER BREAK AND THAT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SEE THE LENGTH SOME WORKERS GO TO TO DO THEIR JOBS.

ANGIE PEREZ MET WITH SOME WHO CONSIDER THE STRIKE A FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES.

>> Reporter: 25-YEAR-OLD ANUK PETURA WRIST ON HIS GUITAR IN HIS APARTMENT HE SHARES WITH A ROOMMATE.

HE IS ONE OF THOUSANDS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS STILL ON STRIKE AT UC SAN DIEGO.

>> WE ARE DOING RESEARCH IN OUR LAB, WE ARE PROVIDING SOME OF THE BEST TEACHING YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

ALL OF THAT IS GIVEN BY GRADUATE STUDENTS.

I WISH I UNDERSTOOD THE DISCONNECT OF WHY I WAS FORCED TO LIVE IN MY CAR OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE UC WILL DO ANYTHING IT CAN TO NOT PAY US THE WAGES THAT WE DESERVE.

I USED TO HAVE A MATTRESS SITTING UP HERE, THEN DOWN IN HERE IS A WATER TANK.

>> Reporter: THE TORAH WAS HOMELESS AND LIVED IN HIS TOYOTA TACOMA FOR THREE MONTHS THIS PAST SUMMER BECAUSE THE CAMPUS HE SHARED WITH THREE ROOMMATES WAS DESTROYED IN A FLOOD CAUSED BY A SEWER LINE BREAK, WHICH LEFT HIM WITH NOWHERE TO GO EXCEPT HIS CAR.

>> IT WAS KIND OF A WEEK BY WEEK THING I KEPT THINKING THAT BY NEXT WEEK I'LL FIND A PLACE I CAN AFFORD AND MOVE OUT OF HERE AND WITH HOW LITTLE MONEY I WAS MAKING I COULD NOT EVEN QUALIFY TO APPLY TO MOST PLACES.

>> Reporter: WHILE HE WAS HOMELESS, TRYING TO SURVIVE, HE ALSO GOT COVID.

UC ACADEMIC WORKERS ONLY MAKE BETWEEN 24 AND $30,000 PER YEAR.

THAT IS AT THE HEART OF THE LABOR DISPUTE, STILL UNRESOLVED FOR MOST OF THEM.

>> IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUY A CAR AND KEEP IT UP AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I COULD DO THAT FINANCIALLY.

AHMED AKTAR MOVED TO SAN DIEGO THREE YEARS AGO.

HE IS A GRADUATE RESEARCHER WORKING ON A PHD IN PHYSICS AND HIS HOUSING SCHOLARSHIP WILL SOON RUN OUT.

DESPERATE FOR SECURITY, AHMED AKTAR AND HIS COLLEAGUES FORMED A UNION LAST YEAR CALLED STUDENT RESEARCHERS UNITED.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND POST DOCTRINE WORKERS WERE ALREADY UNIONIZED.

THE NEW UNION IS ALSO UNDER THE UAW WHICH ADOPTED THE ACADEMIC MEMBERS.

>> FOR THE LONGEST TIME RESEARCHERS DID NOT HAVE A UNION.

WE DID NOT HAVE THIS TOOL FOR GETTING RIGHTS, FOR ENFORCING OUR RIGHTS, FOR PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS, AND NOW WE DO.

>> Reporter: THE STRIKERS ARE ALSO FIGHTING FOR BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS.

THEY WANT LEARNING AND RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTS FREE OF HARASSMENT AND BULLYING, KNOWN TO BE COMMON .

THEY WANT PROTECTION FROM UNJUSTIFIED THREATS OF HAVING THEIR VISAS REVOKED WITHOUT CAUSE.

THE STUDENT IS HERE FROM INDIA, WILLING TO ACCEPT THE RISK OF JOINING THE UNION AND BEING VISIBLE ON THE PICKET LINES.

>> I THINK IT WILL BE WORTH IT.

I THINK WE HAVE ALREADY MADE HUGE GAINS, BUT THE UC IS TRYING TO NOT NEGOTIATE, NOT TRYING TO GIVE US WHAT WE DESERVE BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR IT.

>> Reporter: ANUK PETURA IS GRATEFUL TO BE HOUSTON HEALTHY AGAIN.

HE IS NOT SURE THE DREAM OF GETTING HIS DOCTORATE IS STILL MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

IT COULD BE ON HOLD FOR A BIGGER PURPOSE, TO HELP PREVENT OTHERS FROM SUFFERING HIS PAIN AND PASSED.

>> I WANT TO FIGHT TO BUILD A SYSTEM, A COALITION, A UNION WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

>> THAT IS ANOTHER KIND EVERYTHING HE IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE.

>> IF IT WAS NOT FOR MY COMMUNITY, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HAVE MADE IT AND THAT IS WHY SOMETHING LIKE A UNION IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF COMMUNITY AND HOW COMMUNITY CAN BE THERE FOR YOU.

>>> PROSECUTORS SAY THEY WILL NOT PURSUE A CASE AGAINST FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYERS ACCUSED OF .

SOME IN THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY SAY THE DECISION FOLLOWS A PATTERN OF SURVIVOR VOICES BEING ATOMIZED.

>> LET IT BE KNOWN, LET IT BE HEARD, WE ARE UPSET AND WE ARE DISAPPOINTED.

>> I WANT THIS MARCH TO BE SEEN AND I WANT IT TO BE HEARD.

>> Reporter: THIS IS JEAN SMITH , A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT AND ORGANIZER OF THE MARCH ON CAMPUS.

>> IT IS ONLY ME DOING THIS AND WHETHER IT IS FIVE PEOPLE OR 20+ PEOPLE, OUR MESSAGE IS STILL THE SAME.

WE WANT SOMETHING TO CHANGE.

WE WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.

WE WANT CONSEQUENCES TO BE GIVEN BECAUSE IF THEY ARE NOT, AND ENABLES THIS BEHAVIOR.

>> Reporter: FIRST YEAR STUDENT GRANT BACK OR ALSO TOOK PART IN THE MARCH.

>> IT WAS A ROUGH START HERE GETTING THAT EMAIL ABOUT A HUGE SEXUAL ASSAULT SCANDAL.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT NO CHARGES WOULD BE FILED FOR THE ALLEGED ASSAULT THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE COLLEGE AREA OVER A YEAR AGO.

>> THIS ISSUE HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SO MANY TIMES AND I KNOW HOW SURVIVORS FEEL WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THIS.

>> Reporter: THEY HOPE FOR CHANGE AND WANT SDSU TO ACKNOWLEDGE STUDENTS CONCERNS.

>> IT'S HARD HAVING TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING TRAUMATIZING TO THE POINT WHERE YOU DO NOT FEEL HEARD OR YOU FEEL -- NOT EVEN MENTIONING IT OR TALKING ABOUT IT REALLY IS HARD.

I DON'T FEEL SAFE ON THIS CAMPUS.

I KNOW OTHER SURVIVORS DON'T FEEL SAFE ON THIS CAMPUS AND THAT IS WHY I AM HERE.

>> Reporter: BECKER SAYS HE FEELS SAFER THAN HIS FEMALE FRIENDS ON CAMPUS.

>> IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY.

THERE SHOULD BE EQUAL LEVELS OF SAFETY REGARDLESS.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE THIS MESSAGE FOR OTHER SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS.

>> DO NOT BE AFRAID, EVEN WHEN IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD IS CRUMBLING DOWN THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WHO BELIEVE YOU AND WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT YOU, AND IF IT IS NOT HIGHER- UPS THAN I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I AM HERE FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ACTIVE REGARDLESS OF THE D.A.S DECISION.

THE UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO URGE EVERYONE WITH INFORMATION TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE IT WITH THE TITLE IX OFFICE.

>>> ONE OF OUR MOST WATCHED VIDEOS THIS WEEK INVOLVES THE SCIENTIFIC WORK HAPPENING IN SAN DIEGO ON HIV.

REPORTER THOMAS FUDGE TELLS US HOW IT IS LEADING TO THE FIRST CLINICAL TRIAL OF A POSSIBLE VACCINE.

>> Reporter: THE DECADES LONG SEARCH FOR AN HIV VACCINE HAS NOT YET SUCCEEDED BECAUSE HIV HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT STRAINS THAT MADE IT A VERY HARD TARGET FOR A VACCINE.

SCRIPPS RESEARCHERS NOW SAY AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE NEEDS TO MOBILIZE A VERY SPECIFIC KIND OF ANTIBODY TO ACTUALLY STOP THE VIRUS.

>> WE THINK A VACCINE NEEDS TO ELICIT BROADLY NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES AGAINST HIV TO PROTECT AGAINST THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF HIV VARIANCE IN HUMANS AROUND THE PLANET RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: THIS IS CO-AUTHOR OF THE PAPER PUBLISHED IN NATURE ABOUT THE CLINICAL TRIAL IN THE RESEARCH AROUND IT.

HE SAYS IT HAS PROVEN THAT THE STRATEGY FOR CREATING A VACCINE IS ON THE RIGHT PATH.

THE ANTIGEN, A PRECURSOR TO A VACCINE, ELICITED THE CORRECT IMMUNE RESPONSE AND 97% OF THE HUMAN TEST SUBJECTS.

>> THIS IS NOW DONE IN THE CLINIC, SO WE ARE ON OUR WAY BUT WE HAVE FARTHER TO GO YET.

>> Reporter: WAS BROADLY NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES REMAIN ELUSIVE, EVEN AFTER A CLINICAL TRIAL AND ANALYSIS HE CALLS UNDENIABLY SUCCESSFUL.

>> THEY ARE NOT ENOUGH TO BE BROADLY NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES YET BUT THEY'RE SORT OF BABY BROADLY NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES.

WE STILL NEED TO LEARN MORE.

WE NEED TO GAIN MUTATIONS.

>> Reporter: TODAY, MANY PEOPLE WITH HIV ARE ABLE TO LIVE WELL BY TAKING ANTIVIRAL DRUGS EVERYDAY BUT IN PLACES LIKE SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA WHERE HIV CASES ARE VERY HIGH, THOSE DRUGS ARE EXPENSIVE AND OFTEN INACCESSIBLE.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED A VACCINE.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP A VACCINE THAT WILL PREVENT INFECTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT IF WE CAN PREVENT INFECTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY INFECTED AND MAKE IT MUCH MORE TRACTABLE FOR INTEGRATED VIRAL THERAPY TO CURE PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED.

>> Reporter: HE COMPARES IT TO A BASEBALL GAME IN WHICH CREATING A VACCINE IS LIKE HITTING A HOME RUN.

HE SAYS THE WORK HAS GOTTEN US TO FIRST BASE.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>> Reporter: THAT STORY IS A SMALL PART OF THE CONTENT YOU CAN STREAM ON THE KPBS NEWS PAGE AND THAT IS ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAM EPISODES OF EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00 AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST READ STORIES THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

THE STATE IS PLANNING TO CHANGE THE KIND OF SUBSIDY IT'S HOMEOWNERS GET WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTING IN THE SOLAR POWER.

SENIORS SHOW OFF THE HIDDEN HISTORY THEY HAVE UNCOVERED IN SOME OF SAN DIEGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IT IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN ADOPT A CAT OR JUST HANG OUT WITH ONE.

WE WILL HAVE THE STORY ON THE CAT LOUNGE A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>>> CALIFORNIA IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF A MAJOR EXPANSION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT IS A BIG PROJECT THAT BRINGS BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOL READINESS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE DAY CARE INDUSTRY.

HERE IS OUR TWO PART INVESTOR VACATION.

>> Reporter: LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM TRUMPETED A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO TRANSFORM EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING.

IT WOULD BRING FOUR-YEAR-OLDS INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN OR TK, BUT JUST A YEAR INTO THE ROLLOUT, NEWSOM'S PLAN IS CAUSING BIG PROBLEMS IN THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY.

HERE'S WHY.

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS COST THE LEAST BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE THE FEWEST CHILDCARE STAFF.

HISTORICALLY, PROVIDERS MADE MONEY AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS BUT LOST MONEY ON INFANTS BUT CK HAS UPENDED THAT BALANCE AND PUT SOME CHILDCARE IS OUT OF BUSINESS.

EXPERTS SAY THESE IMPACTS COULD HAVE BEEN ALLEVIATED IF STATE LEADERS HAD TALKED TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS FIRST.

INSTEAD -- >> THERE'S A REALLY DEEP POSITIVE END.

>> Reporter: A NONPROFIT ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5 SHOWS IMPACTS ON CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

THESE DAYS, HER PHONE IS CONSTANTLY RINGING, BUT ALL THE CALLS ARE FROM PARENTS ASKING FOR INFANT CARE.

>> I WANT TO SAY 90 TO 95% ARE FOR INFANT CARE.

>> Reporter: BUT, SHE DOES NOT TAKE INFANTS.

IF SHE DID, SHE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO TAKE FOUR TO TIME BECAUSE OF STATE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

>> MY RATIO FOR INSTANCES FOUR AND ARE GETTING PHONE CALLS FOR CHILDREN 2 AND UP, IT MEANS THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DECREASE TO CARING FOR ONLY FOUR CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: SHE WOULD HAVE TO LET GO OF HER ASSISTANT AND CHARGE FAR MORE PER INFANT TO STAY PROFITABLE.

A SAN DIEGO COUNTY YMCA SURVEY FOUND THAT MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF CHILDCARE BUSINESSES HAVE LOST CHILDREN TO A TK PROGRAM.

MANY RESPONDENTS SAID THEIR BUSINESS WAS SUFFERING AS A RESULT.

PROVIDERS ARE NOT JUST LOSING KIDS.

THEY ARE LOSING STAFF.

THAT IS BECAUSE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, SAN DIEGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL NEED FOUR TIMES AS MANY TK TEACHERS.

MANY OF THOSE TEACHERS WILL BE RECRUITED FROM CHILDCARE CENTERS.

>> THERE ALREADY HAVING A CHALLENGE IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING QUALIFIED STAFF AND NOW WHEN WE SEE POTENTIALLY MORE SEASONED, TRAINED STAFF SAYING THIS MIGHT BE A VIABLE CAREER PATH FOR ME TO GO INTO THIS YOU KNOW, THE T K-12 SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: TK TEACHERS WORKING AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET BETTER PAY, BETTER HOURS AND MORE VACATION TIME THAN CHILDCARE WORKERS.

THAT IS APPEALING TO PEOPLE LIKE KIMBERLY WATKINSON.

>> FROM TK TEACHERS AND KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT THE PAY OF A DOCTOR OR AN ENGINEER, RIGHT, BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN A PRESCHOOL TEACHER.

>> Reporter: SHE WILL GRADUATE FROM SDSU WITH AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DEGREE NEXT YEAR.

IN THE PAST, MANY LIKE HER WENT ON TO WORK AT PRESCHOOLS OR CHILDCARE CENTERS, BUT THAT IS RARELY THE CASE NOW.

THE CHAIR OF SDSU'S CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SAY -- >> THEY CANFOCUS ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, FOCUS ON DEVELOPING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND ONCE CHILDREN GET INTO KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE WHERE IT IS PRIMARILY MATH AND LITERACY IN THESE OTHER ACTIVITIES TAKE A BACK SEAT.

>> Reporter: IN PART TWO OF THE SERIES WE WILL LOOK AT WHETHER TK CLASSES AND OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE BEING DESIGNED FOR THE INTENTION SPANS AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF FOUR-YEAR-OLDS.

>>> THE MORNING DROP OFF IS NOT EASY FOR MANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS AND THEIR PARENTS, BUT IT WAS DOWNRIGHT BRUTAL IN SEPTEMBER FOR SARAH AND HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON, EDDIE.

>> HE WOULD LIKELY DOWN ON THE GROUND THE SECOND HE GOT INSIDE THE GATE.

>> Reporter: EDDIE ATTENDS McCAMLEY ELEMENTARY NEAR BALBOA PARK.

>> SHE SAYS SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO STOP AT THE GATE AND TELL HER SON TO WALK BY HIMSELF TO CLASS.

IT DIDN'T GO WELL.

>> I FELT LIKE I COULD NOT GO IN AND DO ANYTHING BUT HE WAS NOT GOING TO CLASS SO I WOULD JUST BE WATCHING HIM LAY ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF STAFF SO I JUST FELT -- IT WAS AWFUL.

>> Reporter: NOW THE SCHOOL HAS CHANGED THE RULES SO PARENTS CAN WALK THEIR KIDS TO CLASS, BUT THAT HE IS STILL STRUGGLING TO ADJUST TO MANY OTHER PARTS OF BEING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> HE HAS JUST BEEN HAVING BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT WE NEVER SAW WHEN HE WAS IN PRESCHOOL LIKE HITTING, KIDS AND TEACHERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF THE CLASSROOM THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS A BIG SAFETY RISK AND IT IS CONCERNING FOR US AND FOR THE TEACHERS.

>> Reporter: EDDIE IS ONE OF MANY YOUNGER FOUR-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE NOW ATTENDING TK.

GOVERNOR NEWSOM ANOTHER STATE LEADERS SAY IT WILL BETTER PREPARE STUDENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN, BUT MANY PARENTS AND EXPERTS SAY THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT READY FOR THEM.

>> YOU MIGHT WALK INTO A TK CLASSROOM AND SEE 75% OF THE TIME IS DEVOTED TO INSTRUCTION ON MATH AND LITERACY AND THAT'S A RED FLAG.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE CHAIR IS STAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY'S CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

>> MAYBE THEY'RE A LITTLE TOO HEAVY ON THE ELEMENTARY SIDE AND THEY NEED TO INTRODUCE MORE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICE FROM PRESCHOOL.

>> Reporter: STATE GUIDELINES ON HOW TK WILL BE TAUGHT HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

THAT MEANS SOME CLASSROOMS OF NOT BEEN STRUCTURED WITH THE RIGHT BALANCE OF INSTRUCTIONAL AND PLAYTIME.

THIS IS A RECIPE FOR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

>> THIS AGE CHILDREN DO NEED TO HAVE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.

THEY NEED TO HAVE A LOT OF MOVEMENT.

>> Reporter: A SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SPOKESPERSON SAID THE NEEDS OF FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ARE BEING MET.

IN A STATEMENT, HE SAID STUDENT SCHEDULES INCLUDE PURPOSEFUL PLAY, RECESS, AND PHYSICAL MOVEMENT.

>> Reporter: DISTRICT SCHOOLS GENERALLY HAVE 15 MINUTES OF OUTDOOR RECESS AND ANOTHER 20 MINUTES AFTER LAUNCH.

PARENTS SAY THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

AND THEY SAY THE PROBLEMS WITH TK DO NOT END WITH THE SCHOOL DAY.

EDDIE IS HAVING EVEN MORE ISSUES AT HIS SCHOOL'S AFTERCARE PROGRAM.

>> THERE ARE VERY QUICK TO BE LIKE YOU CAN'T LEAVE HIM THERE.

WE CAN'T HANDLE THIS.

EVEN LIKE IT WAS RAINING AND THEY WERE LIKE YOU NEED TO COME GET HIM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO KEEP HIM ENTERTAINED.

>> Reporter: IT IS SITUATIONS LIKE THIS THAT GIVE SOME PARENTS PAUSE.

VALENTINA WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR TK IN 2024 BUT SHE'S NOT GOING.

>> I DON'T THINK THESE FACILITIES ARE BUILT FOR FOUR- YEAR-OLDS.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE SITTING IN A CLASSROOM ALL DAY.

THEY ARE NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY READY FOR THAT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE BATHROOMS OR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT RIGHT FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO NAP.

>>> CLEARS SERIES OF REPORTS WAS ALSO FEATURED ON KPBS MIDDAY ADDITION.

IT IS AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS.

>>> BIG DONATION TO THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY WILL MAKE IT CHEAPER TO ADOPT A PET.

NOW THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, THE AGENCY IS WAIVING ADOPTION FEES FOR ADULT DOGS.

THEY ARE OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

ADULT DOGS ARE THOSE SEVEN MONTHS AND OLDER.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT SD HUMANE/OR/ADOPT.

EVERYDAY A NUMBER OF ANIMALS ARE EUTHANIZED IN SHELTERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND THAT INCLUDES CATS AND THAT AFFRONTED A LOCAL ANIMAL LOVER SO A FEW YEARS AGO, SHE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US WHAT SHE CREATED THAT IS LIFE-GIVING FOR THOUSANDS OF CATS.

>> Reporter: ON TORREY PINES ROAD IN LA JOLLA CLOSE TO THE END WHERE IT MEETS GERARD, YOU SEE THIS, A LOUNGE FOR CATS AND PEOPLE.

A PLACE FOR FELINES, MOST DESTINED FOR EUTHANASIA, ARE RESCUED.

A LOUNGE WHERE LOVE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND CATS BLOSSOM.

>> I WORKED AT OTHER SHELTERS, RESCUES, VETERINARY HOSPITALS, AND WANTED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THE BEAUTY IS PEOPLE CAN COME -- >> Reporter: RENEE IS THE PRACTICING ATTORNEY.

THAT IS HER 9:00 TO 5:00 JOB BUT IS MUCH IS SHE LOVES HER JOB, HER PASSION FOR CATS COMPELS HER TO RESCUE THEM AND MATCH THEM UP WITH PEOPLE.

SHE STARTED IN HER APARTMENT.

>> I KNEW I NEEDED SOMETHING SO THAT IS WHERE THE CAT LOUNGE CAME FROM.

>> Reporter: SHE FOUND THIS SPACE THAT HAD MAKE VACANT FOR SOME TIME SO IT WAS AFFORDABLE.

SHE OBTAINED THE SPACE NEXT DOOR.

THE WALL WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND A NURSERY WAS BORN.

IT IS LIGHT AND AIRY.

KITTENS ARE KEPT WITH HER SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN SEPARATE COMPARTMENTS.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO INTERMINGLE LETTERS BECAUSE ONE MAY HAVE DISEASES THAT OTHERS DO NOT.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE COMPARTMENTS WITH CLEAR WALLS.

THEY'RE NOT FANS OF CAGES EXCEPT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

THESE TWO KITTIES ARE PARTICULARLY ADEPT AT JUMPING.

THEY LANDED IN THIS CAGE AFTER REPEATEDLY JUMPING OVER THE WALL OUT OF THEIR COMPARTMENT.

ANYONE THAT WORKS FOR A SHELTER WILL TELL YOU THAT KITTENS GET ADOPTED OUT MUCH FASTER THAN THEIR OLDER COUNTERPARTS.

WHILE WE WERE SHOOTING THE STORY, REBECCA POWELL AND HER HUSBAND, KANE, CAME IN TO BROWSE BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES, LOVE WAS IN THE AIR AND A NEW CHAPTER OF HUMAN FELINE RELATIONS WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

>> I WAS LIKE OH MY GOSH, THIS IS GREAT AND THEY LIKE ME, I THINK, AND SO I GUESS THEY'RE GOING TO COME HOME WITH ME.

>> Reporter: OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE ADULT CATS SPEND THEIR DAYS WELCOMING VISITORS, NO DOUBT HOPING FOR THAT RIGHT ONE, BUT IT IS NOT A BAD PLACE TO WAIT.

THERE IS PLENTY TO DO.

HERE IN THE CAT LOUNGE AMONGST THE TOYS IN THE CAT TREES, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE.

THEY HAVE A CATWALK.

NOT THIS KIND OF CATWALK.

HERE, THE HAVE A REAL CATWALK.

THE CAT LOUNGE RESCUE AND ADOPTION CENTER IS NONPROFIT.

THEY SURVIVE ON DONATION AND ADMISSIONS.

THERE IS A FEE OF $20 FOR ADULTS, 10 FOR KIDS AND SENIORS.

MOST VISITORS DO NOT END UP ADOPTING.

SHE SAYS A LOT OF PEOPLE END UP JUST SPENDING TIME HERE.

>> WE HAVE WI-FI SO IF YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR LAPTOP AND DO WORK -- >> Reporter: FOR THOSE WHO ADOPT, THE COST OF ADMISSION IS SUBTRACTED FROM THE ADOPTION FEE BUT ONCE YOU ARE A CAT PARENT, THE CAT LOUNGE DOES NOT ABANDON YOU.

>> ONCE THEY DO GO HOME, WE CALL AFTER A FEW DAYS TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

WE ARE ALWAYS A RESOURCE FOR OUR ADOPTERS AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT ADOPTING FROM RESCUES THAT YOU HAVE OUR KNOWLEDGE AND CARE BEHIND IT.

>> Reporter: THAT KNOWLEDGE AND CARE HAS HAD A PRETTY REMARKABLE OUTCOME.

THE CHALKBOARD IN THE CORNER OF THE LOUNGE SPELLS IT OUT.

ONCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE SHOT FROM 223 ADOPTIONS IN 2019 TO NEARLY 1700 THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THE TOTAL TO DATE IS 4573 CATS.

CONNECTIONS MADE, HOMES FOUND.

LIVES SAVED.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.