>>> MAJOR FUNDING BETWEEN TWO HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, HELPING HOMEOWNERS MEETING TRAIN, CALLING, AND HEATING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND BY THE CONRAD PRESENTATION.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING, IT IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4th.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THERE IS NEW FALLOUT TONIGHT, NEW CONCERN OVER A CONTROVERSIAL REPORT BLASTING THE ABUSE, EVEN DEATHS OF INMATES WHILE IN SHERIFF'S CUSTODY.

FAMILY MEMBERS, SOME DRESSED IN BLACK AND HOLDING SIGNS, SHARE THEIR GRIEF AND OUTRAGE OVER WHAT THEY SAY WAS INEXCUSABLE ACTION INSIDE THE COUNTY JAILS.

HERE IS KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL.

>> Reporter: IN FRONT OF SAN DIEGO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS TODAY, A GATHERING OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHOSE LOVED ONES DIED WHILE IN JAIL IS RUN BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AMONG THEM, SUNDAY REYNOLD AND HER DAUGHTER.

>> WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, NOT ONLY ARE YOU GRIEVING THE LOSS LIKE THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF HAVING TO BURY MY YOUNG SON, HE HAD JUST TURNED 22, SO SIMULTANEOUSLY I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED, THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING 185 DEATHS IN SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT JAILS OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, WAS WHAT THE CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE INVESTIGATED.

THAT INVESTIGATION LEADING TO A SCATHING REPORT RELEASED THURSDAY.

IT CONTAINS SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW THE DEPARTMENT CAN IMPROVE ACROSS A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING INTAKE SCREENING, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH FOLLOW-UP, SAFETY CHECKS, AND MORE.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE FINDINGS OF THE AUDIT.

A STATEMENT SAYS IN PART, "THAT THE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS MANY OF YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS.

THE LAC IS THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMITTEE, WHICH REQUESTED THE AUDIT.

THE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT TAKES THE FINDINGS OF THE AUDIT SERIOUSLY AND THAT IT IS TAKING ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE FAMILY CEREAL HAD PAINFUL STORIES TO TELL ABOUT THE DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONE IN JAIL BUT ONE COMMON THEME EMERGED WITH THE DIFFICULTY THEY SAY THEY HAVING GETTING ANY INFORMATION SURROUNDING THOSE DEATHS.

>> WE CAN'T FIND ACCOUNT ABILITY, WE CAN'T FIND TRANSPARENCY, EVEN, BECAUSE AUTOPSIES ARE LOCKED, POLICE REPORTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

FAMILY CANNOT GET THE PROPER DOCUMENTS TO SEE WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONE.

THIS IS A CONTINUING INSULT TO INJURY.

>> Reporter: NOW THAT THE SOURCE HAS RETIRED, YOUSSEF MILLER SAYS HE IS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THINGS WILL IMPROVE.

EVEN IF THEY DO, THE CHANGES WILL BE TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FOR THESE FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM ARE STILL IN THE DARK ABOUT EXACTLY HOW THEIR LOVED ONES DIED IN JAILS ONE BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SPENDING MORE THAN IT BUDGETED ON OVERTIME.

KPBS METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THAT IS ONCE AGAIN DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE POLICE ROLE IN RESPONDING TO HOMELESSNESS.

>> Reporter: STP THE ATTRIBUTES OVERSPENDING ON OVERTIME TO A RISE IN THAN ONE CAUSE AND VIOLENT CRIME AND A SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS.

BUT, THERE IS ALSO NEAR UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT THAT POLICE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME MANAGING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.

CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SEAN RIVERA SAYS RIGHT NOW POLICE HAVE TO SHOW UP TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY CALL ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, EVEN WHEN THE SITUATION IS UNLIKELY TO GET VIOLENT.

HE SAYS POLICE PRESENCE MIGHT BE NECESSARY SOMETIMES BUT, IF NOT -- >> FREEDOM UP TO DO THE WORK THEY ARE ASKED TO DO, WHICH IS, AGAIN, MORE THAN THEY SHOULD BE TASKED WITH.

TO ME, THAT WOULD BE A WAY OF EXPANDING OVERALL CAPACITY WITHOUT NECESSARILY INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE FORCE.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HAS A MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM THAT GETS SENT TO MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG, OR ALCOHOL RELATED EMERGENCIES.

BUT, THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS IT IS TOO SMALL TO GIVE ANY MEANINGFUL RELIEF TO THE DEMANDS ON OFFICERS.

MEANWHILE, POLICE OVERTIME IS EXPECTED TO BE ALMOST $7 MILLION OVER BUDGET BY THE END OF JUNE.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> COMING UP A BIT LATER, A CLOSER LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY IN SAN DIEGO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HATE CRIMES ARE BIKING WITH NEAR DAILY EXAMPLES GOING VIRAL.

KPBS RACE AND EQUITY REPORTER CHRISTINA KIM LOOKS AT THE DATA BEHIND THIS CLOSING TREND.

>>> THE OVERALL TREND IS STILL WELL BELOW THE RECENT OMICRON PEAK.

THE COUNTIES LAST REPORT SHOWS JUST OVER 3200 NEW CASES.

THAT IS UP ABOUT 300 FROM THE PRIORITIES NUMBERS .

FOR CONTEXT, WE WERE SEEING DAILY CASE NUMBERS WELL OVER 10,000 JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

KPBS EVENING EDITION NEW DEATHS ARE AMONG THE LAST REPORT.

>>> A SAN DIEGO LAWMAKER IS PROPOSING A NEW BILL TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN AND SAFE AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER MJ PEREZ TELLS US IT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN WHY THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS NEEDED.

>> Reporter: DR. RICHARD PAN DOES NOT MINCE WORDS.

HE'S A PETERSON AND STATE SENATOR FROM SACRAMENTO.

HE WAS IN SAN DIEGO THIS MORNING TO JOIN ANOTHER DOCTOR AND FOLLOW STATE LAWMAKER TO SHARE THE TRUTH ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND THE DATA SHOWING WHO HAS RECEIVED THEM.

DR. MICHAELA WEBER IS THE SAN DIEGO ASSEMBLY MEMBERS SPONSORING NEW LEGISLATION.

>> IT WOULD BE CREATING THIS REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY PROVIDER WHO GIVES OUT VACCINES WOULD HAVE TO PUT THAT INFORMATION INTO THIS REGISTRY.

AND IT WOULD BE ALLOWING THE SCHOOLS TO HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.

>> Reporter: THE PROCESS TO RECORD EACH COVID-19 VACCINATION GIVEN ACROSS THE STATE DOES NOT MEDICALLY TRANSFER THE INFORMATION TO THE CALIFORNIA IMMUNIZATION REGISTRY.

IN FACT, SAN DIEGO AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES DON'T REPORT NUMBERS TO THE STATE REGISTRY AT ALL.

THEY HAVE KEPT THEIR OWN RECORDS, WHICH ARE OFTEN DELAYED MAN FROM SCHOOLS ALREADY OVERWHELMED WITH COVID- 19 PROTOCOLS AND STAFF SHORTAGES.

DR. WEBER'S BILL SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE TODAY WOULD CHANGE THAT.

STUDENTS AT THIS MORNING'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE CAMPUS OF LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL SAY IT IS ABOUT TIME.

>> I AM READY TO GO BACK TO NORMAL.

I AM READY TO KNOW THAT I CAN BE SAFE AT SCHOOL AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAY AND THAT IS GETTING VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: RONDELL CROWDER AND BREANNA MORENO ARE BOTH LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO ARE SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE WHO STILL ARE NOT VACCINATED.

>> I GOT LOST SO MANY FAMILY MEMBERS TO IT.

IT IS REALLY LIKE FRUSTRATING THAT PEOPLE AND LISTENING.

PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR A VACCINE AND LIKE NOW THAT WE HAVE IT, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GET IT.

>> THE ADULTS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WANT THE PANDEMIC 20 BUT THEY DON'T REALIZE IF WE HAVE A SOLUTION, TAKE IT.

WE HAVE A SOLUTION NOW AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING IT SERIOUSLY OR AS EFFICIENTLY AS THEY SHOULD BE.

>> Reporter: THE UC SAN DIEGO COVID-19 EXHIBITION VAN PARKED AT SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL THAT I HAD JUST A TRICKLE OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SHOTS OR BOOSTERS.

RIGHT NOW, THIS DATA GOES TO THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRY, WHICH WOULD CLOSE DOWN AND REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE STATE UNDER THE PROPOSED NEW LEGISLATION.

AS INTERESTING AS THE LEGISLATION MIGHT BE, THE PROCESS TO TRY TO TAKE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN QUICKLY.

THE CAMPAIGN TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED CONTINUES AS THE REGISTRY LAGS BEHIND.

IF IT WERE TO PASS, THE NEW AND IMPROVED CALIFORNIA IMMUNIZATION REGISTRY WOULD NOT START ITS INFUSION OF VACCINE DATA FROM ACROSS THE STATE UNTIL NEXT JANUARY 1st, 2023.

>> WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IF WE COMMIT TO PRIORITIZING PUBLIC HEALTH.

THANK YOU.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE LAST WORD FOR NOW.

MJ PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ONE JAB INSTEAD OF TWO.

A FLUENT A COVID-19 VACCINE GUMBO COULD BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

KPBS REPORTER TONYA THORNE TELL US WHAT A RECENT STUDY SHOWED.

>> Reporter: THE START OF THE FLU SEASON BRINGS ON THE ANNUAL REMINDERS TO GET A FLU SHOT.

THIS COULD BE THE CASE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE AS TALK OF AN ANNUAL BOOSTER MAKES WAY.

A STUDY RELEASED THIS WEEK FINDS BINDING THE FLUID COVID-19 VACCINE MAY BE A GOOD IDEA.

>> DATA FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK PART OF THAT DATA, IT IS GOOD NEWS TO SEE THE SORT OF THINGS MOVING TOWARD AVAILABILITY.

>> Reporter: DR. ROBERT SCHOOLEY WITH UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH SAYS THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO COMBINING THE TWO VACCINES.

>> TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM BOTH IN ONE INJECTION TAKES CARE OF TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN THE RISK OF HAVING PEOPLE ON THE GETTING ONE AND NOT GETTING THE OTHER END ENDING UP HAVING THE PANDEMICS COME ANYWAY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO HAVE THEM PUT TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: THE STUDY FOLLOWED OVER 300 PEOPLE SPLIT INTO 3 GROUPS.

ONE GROUP RECEIVED JUST A FLU VACCINE, ONE JUST A COVID-19 BOOSTER, AND THE OTHER, A MIXTURE OF THE TWO.

IT FOUND THAT THE GROUP WHO GOT THE COMBO VACCINE HAD JUST AS MUCH PROTECTION AGAINST COVID- 19 AND THE FLU AS THE GROUP WHO GOT THE STANDALONE VACCINES.

THE STUDY SHOWS NO SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS WERE REPORTED IN ANY OF THE THREE GROUPS.

LILLIAN SERENO IS EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF A FLUENT COVID-19 COMBO VACCINE.

>> IT'S LIKE HAVING ONE SHOT WHERE IT WILL PROVIDE TWO PROTECTIONS ARE DEFINITELY KEY.

AND I WELCOME BY OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU DON'T NORMALLY GO TO THE DOCTOR, WE DON'T NORMALLY RECEIVE VACCINES, BEING ABLE TO GET ONE SHOT AND BE DONE, IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT ON WHETHER TO MAKE IT DECISION TO RECEIVE IT OR NOT.

>> Reporter: THE GROUP HAS BEEN WORKING TO GET MORE LATINOS VACCINATED AND WASTED.

WHILE NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE ON ANNUAL COVID- 19 BOOSTERS, BUT ARE NOT IS ALREADY WORKING ON A COMBINED COVID-19 AND THE FLU VACCINE.

THAT VACCINE IS EXCITED TO BE READY IN 2023.

TONYA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HATE CRIMES INCREASED SHARPLY IN SAN DIEGO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN RECENT YEARS.

KPBS RACE AND EQUITY REPORTER CHRISTINA KIM SAYS EARLY FINDINGS SHOW THAT TREND GREW EVEN WORSE IN 2021.

>> Reporter: EIGHT IS ON THE RISE IN SAN DIEGO AND THE EXAMPLES ARE EVERYWHERE.

JUST LAST WEEKEND, CITY OF CORONADO DIRECTOR OF RECREATION AND GOLF SERVICES, ROGER MILLER AND HIS WIFE SANDRA MILLER, WHERE FILMS AFTER ALLEGEDLY HURLING ANTI-ASIAN RACIST SLURS TOWARD AN ASIAN AMERICAN COUPLE WHILE SHOPPING IN ORANGE COUNTY.

ROGER MILLER IS CURRENTLY ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE ENDING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BY THE CITY OF CORONADO.

HIS WIFE WAS FIRED FROM HER JOB AT A SCHOOL IN DRACULA.

JASON PONYO IS A CORONADO RESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ASIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IN SAN DIEGO.

HE WAS DISTURBED BY MILLER'S BEHAVIOR AND THE CITY'S RESPONSE.

>> IT WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING HEARINGS AND HAD BEEN EMPLOYED THAT LONG AND, YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

IT IS NOT OUT OF A VACUUM THAT PEOPLE MUST HAVE HEARD HIS ACTIONS AND WHAT HE HAD DONE IN THE PAST.

>> Reporter: HE HAS LIVED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS ONLY.

SAYS THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE CHANGED HOW HE SEES THE REGION.

>> WE KNOW THAT IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG FOR HOW WETHERSFIELD AROUND TOWN.

IS NOT THE SAN DIEGO I KNOW AND WHAT I GREW UP IN.

IT IS REALLY DISHEARTENING.

>> Reporter: IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, THE NUMBER OF HATE CRIMES REPORTED BY THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT NEARLY DOUBLED LAST YEAR.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS HER OFFICE PROSECUTED 30 HATE CRIME CASES IN 2021 AND RECEIVED AROUND 300 REPORTS OF HATE INCIDENTS.

>> WE DEFINITELY SAW A RISE IN HATE CRIMES, EVEN AS COMPARED WITH 2020, WHICH WAS ALREADY QUITE AN INCREASE BUT WE SAW AND EVEN WIDER INCREASE IN 2021 AND A RACE-BASED HATE CRIMES TOPPED THE LIST.

>> Reporter: THIS UPTICK IN HATE AND HATE CRIMES IS NOT JUST HAPPENING LOCALLY.

BRYAN LEVIN, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF HATE AND EXTREMISM AND CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO SAYS HATE CRIMES IN MAJOR U.S. CITIES WENT UP 46% IN 2021.

>> NATIONALLY, FOR INSTANCE, NEW YORK, L.A., CHICAGO AT CENTURY HIGHS.

>> Reporter: NATIONWIDE, RACE- BASED HATE CRIMES ARE STILL PRIMARILY DIRECTED AGAINST BLACK AMERICANS.

>> IN MOST CITIES, ANTI-BLACK IS GOING TO BE THE HIGHEST.

AND, AND TY BLACH HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST NATIONALLY AS LONG AS WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING DATA.

>> Reporter: BUT, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, HATE CRIMES AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE INCREASED THE MOST.

THAT NUMBER WENT UP A WHOPPING 339% NATIONWIDE IN 2021.

11 SAYS MAJOR EVENTS AND POLITICAL RHETORIC CONFIGURED TO SPIKES IN HATE.

>> WE AND THESE CONSPIRACY THEORIES GET ANCHORED AND STEREOTYPED AND BIGOTRY THAT IS DIRECTED AGAINST VARIOUS GROUPS, PARTICULARLY RACIAL GROUPS, REALLY GET ANCHORED IN 2020.

ANTI-ASIAN WITH RESPECT TO COVID-19.

AND TY BLACH WITH RESPECT TO THE GEORGE FLOYD LYNCHING AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS.

>> Reporter: HERE IN SAN DIEGO, THE DI OFFICE FOUND 12% OF ALL HATE CRIMES REPORTED IN 2021 WERE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS.

STEFAN SAYS THIS IS LIKE THE AN ACCOUNT AND THEY ONLY CAPTURE A SNAPSHOT OF THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY.

>> HATE CRIMES HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT.

THEY DON'T JUST MAKE SOMEONE FEEL UNSAFE AND TERRORIZED WHO IS THE DIRECTOR VICTIM, THEY MAKE EVERYONE THAT SHARES THE IDENTITY AND GRACE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL ALSO FEEL UNSAFE.

>> Reporter: THAT FEELING OF NOT BEING SAFE IS SOMETHING HE HAS BEEN HEARING FROM LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND IT IS TAKING A TOLL ON HIM TOO.

>> IT IS VERY HEAVY HEARING IS MUCH AS WE HAVE IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HERE.

>> Reporter: STILL, HE APPRECIATES THE SHE WAS BEING TRACKED AND HOPES IT INSPIRES PEOPLE DIRECTION.

>> I THINK WE NEED ALLIES ACROSS THE BOARD IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

WE NEED PEOPLE STANDING UP FOR US TO BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: CHRISTINA KIM, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ANOTHER CLASS OF FEMALE MARINE RECRUITS IS SET TO ARRIVE IN SAN DIEGO THIS MONTH.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER STEVE WALSH SAYS IT IS PART OF A CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE TO END GENDER SEGREGATION AT CAMP.

>> Reporter: THE FIRST CLASS OF FEMALE RECRUITS FINISHED BOOT CAMP LAST MAY.

THEY WERE THE FIRST WOMAN TO BECOME MARINES ON THE WEST COAST AND 100 YEAR HISTORY OF THE MARINE CORPS RECRUITING DEPOT SAN DIEGO.

AT THE TIME, IT WAS STILL UP IN THE AIR ONE ANOTHER CLASS WOULD FOLLOW.

THE MARINES CONFIRM A SECOND CLASS WITH 109 FEMALE MARINES AS FINISHED THE 13 WEEKS OF BOOT CAMP AT Mc RD SAN DIEGO AND GRADUATED JANUARY 21st.

A THIRD CLASS IS SET TO ARRIVE IN TWO WEEKS.

THE MARINES ARE THE LAST SERVICE TO SEGREGATE MEN AND WOMEN DURING BOOT CAMP.

UNTIL LAST YEAR, WOMEN ONLY TRAINED AT PARRIS ISLAND ON THE EAST COAST.

THE FIRST CLASS OF RECRUITS RECEIVED INTENSE PUBLICITY BUT WAS SEEN AS A SUCCESS.

THE FEMALE PLATOON THAT LED THE COMPANY INTO REAL.

OMICRON FIVE MADE VERY FEW CHANGES TO ACCOMMODATE WOMEN BUT IT WAS STILL LABELED AS A TEST AT THE TIME THEY GRADUATED.

THE 2020 DEFENSE BILL REQUIRES THE MARINES TO END ALL GENDER SEGREGATION BY 2028.

CRITICS CONTINUE TO CHARGE THE MARINES DECISION TO KEEP WOMEN IN SEPARATE PLATOONS VIOLATES THE CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE TO FULLY INTEGRATE.

STEVE WALSH, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE U.S. MILITARY IS PROVIDING THESE PICTURES OF TROOPS ON THEIR WAY TO EUROPE.

THEY ARE PART OF A MOBILIZED GROUP TO SUPPORT NATO ALLIES IN THE GROWING CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

3000 AMERICAN TROOPS WILL BE POSITIONED IN POLAND, GERMANY, AND ROMANIA.

THE PENTAGON SAYS NONE WILL BE USED IN ANY DIRECT COMBAT ROLES IN THE UKRAINE, SHOULD RUSSIA CHOOSE TO INVADE.

>>> VALENTINE'S DAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

BUT, DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A WORLDWIDE FLOWER SHORTAGE?

SO, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU AND A LOCAL FLORIST?

KPBS REPORTER KITTY ALVARADO WANTED TO FIND OUT IF EVERYTHING IS COMING UP ROSES OR NOT.

>> Reporter: LAVENDER AND PURPLE, THIS IS THE CABBAGE.

ALSO THE KO.

ALL THE WAX FLOWERS PRETTY MUCH LOCAL RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: FLOWER SHOP OWNERS, EVENT PLANNERS, AND ANYONE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY LOOKING TO BUY FLOWERS RECTALLY FROM LOCAL FARMS AND WHOLESALERS COME HERE.

THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD TRADE CENTER IN CARLSBAD.

AS VALENTINE'S DAY LOOMS, PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS, LIKE THE PRICE, SEE A BIG PROBLEM.

>> IT IS A LITTLE CRAZY.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 36 YEARS AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

>> Reporter: X WORKS FOR MILANO AND COMEDY, A FAMILY FARM AND WHOLESALERS.

THEY GROW FLOWERS AND GREENS ON OVER 500 ACRES IN OCEANSIDE AND HAVE FOR WHOLESALE LOCATIONS.

SHE SAYS DEMAND IS HIGH, ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR GREEN FILLER FOR ARRANGEMENTS.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO CUT OUR PRODUCT.

WE USUALLY OF THOUSANDS EXTRA BUNCHES AND WE HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT THROUGH THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

WE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 12,000 TO 14,000 BUNCHES IN THE HALL.

>> Reporter: THE WORST PROBLEM IS WITH FLOWERS THAT FLOWN IN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, LIKE THE BELOVED ROSE.

MOST OF THEM SOLD IN THE U.S. COME FROM ECUADOR.

RUDY, WHO DIDN'T WANT HIS LAST NAME TO BE USED, SAYS HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR HIS BEAUTIFUL WHOLESALE ROSES.

HE PREDICTS PRICES WILL GO UP ABOUT 20% AS THE CRISIS IS MAKING IT TOUGH TO FILL ORDERS.

>> EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A BIG SUPPLY AVAILABLE AT THE SOURCE, RIGHT, THERE IS NO WAY TO GET IT TO MARKET.

THERE ARE A LOT OF LOSSES BECAUSE PRODUCT GETS TO ITS DESTINATION AND IT IS NOT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.

IT FORCED ME TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I AM NOT TAKING ANY ORDERS WERE BOOKING ANYTHING.

I AM GIVING IT DAY BY DAY.

>> Reporter: PAM THEORY WORKS FOR ALLEN'S FLOWERS AND PLANTS, ONE OF THE LARGEST FLOWER RETAILERS WITH SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN SAN DIEGO.

>> IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE.

NOT ONLY IS IT AFFECTING US, IT IS AFFECTING EVERYBODY.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS FOLKS SHOULD TAKE TIME BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR THEIR VALENTINE.

>> WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ORDER EARLY AND GET DELIVERIES EARLY.

JUST BECAUSE OF THE FLOWER SHORTAGE.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE FLOWERS, IN CASE YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW.

>> Reporter: PRICE SAYS SHE FEELS BLESSED THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO THRIVE BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS COST THE FLORAL INDUSTRY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

STILL, SHE REMAINS HOPEFUL.

>> IT HAS BEEN A VERY UNUSUAL, YOU KNOW, SINCE 2020.

WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND HOPE THAT IT COMES BACK TO NORMAL, WHATEVER THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW.

>> Reporter: KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE OMICRON SURGE WAS NO MATCH FOR THE JOB MARKET AS NEARLY HALF 1 MILLION NEW JOBS WERE ADDED TO START THE YEAR.

MIRO COPIC EXPLAINED THE BETTER THAN EXPECTED IN THE FRIDAY BUSINESS REPORT.

>> Reporter: THE JOBS REPORT THIS MONTH BEAT EXPECTATIONS BY A LOT.

OVER 467,000 AMERICANS WERE EMPLOYED IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY .

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY SHOWS THAT THE JOB MARKET HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY RESILIENT DURING THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC AND ESPECIALLY DURING OMICRON.

ONE OF THE GOOD NEWS IN THE STOCK REPORT IN PARTICULAR IS THAT ALL SECTORS SAW JOB GROWTH, WHICH IS A VERY POWERFUL SIGN THAT THE ECONOMY IS STILL MOVING FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY, AS WE SAW THE YEAR-END GDP NUMBER FOR 2021 WAS 5.7% GROWTH.

THE ECONOMY STILL ABOUT $2.9 MILLION SHY OF WHERE WE WERE THE PANDEMIC.

SINCE APRIL OF 2020, WE HAVE REBOUNDED BY ADDING BACK 19 MILLION JOBS.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, WE SPEAK TO THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF ABOUT THE LATEST JOBS REPORT AND THE PRESIDENTS ROUTED A MYSTIC AGENDA, A LOOK AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

>>> A BIT OF COOL AIR AROUND BUT OUR TREND IS GOING TO WARM- UP AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

IN FACT, THE WINDS ARE WEAKENING TONIGHT.

GOODBYE TO THEM.

BRIGHT, DRY CONDITIONS AS WE HEAD INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

OUR TEMPERATURES GO UP INTO THE WEEKEND.

TONIGHT, WE GET DOWN INTO THE MID-40s FOR THE LOW.

44 SPECIFICALLY.

OCEANSIDE COMING IN AT 34.

AS WE VENTURE TOWARD MOUNT LAGUNA, 46 FOR THE LOW.

SOME REMAINING CHILL IN THE AIR.

THAT COOL AIR DOES START TO RETREAT OFF TOWARD THE EAST.

SO, IT WILL LEAVE US WITH MILDER TIMES AS THE OFFSHORE FLOW DOES DIE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

TOMORROW, WE ARE LOOKING AT 70 FOR THE HEIGHT AGAIN IN THE CITY.

AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY TOWARD, 79.

ALTA VISTA, 71.

BORREGO SPRINGS, BACK INTO THE UPPER 60s.

WARMER TREND IS WHAT WE ARE FINDING RIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

PLENTY OF SUNSHINE OUT THERE NOT ONLY IN OUR AREA BUT FOR THE REST OF THE SOUTHWEST AS WE CLOSE OUT THE WEEKEND, WHICH MEANS, AGAIN, VERY QUIET CONDITIONS THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS HERE HEADED INTO THE 70s FOR THE COAST.

MID-70s EVEN BY MONDAY, WHICH MEANS MILD AND QUIET.

GETTING INTO THE IN THE END COMMUNITIES, MAY BE A A FEW CLOUDS OVER THE WEEKEND BUT NOT A LOT.

IT IS STILL A VERY BRIGHT TIME AS WE CLOSE OUT THE WEEKEND AND HEAD INTO THE START OF THE WORK WEEK.

IN FACT FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK WEEK, WE COULD BE PUSHING 80 DEGREES.

VERY BIG ONE TRYING TO FORK ITS WAY IN.

MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS GETTING IN ON THE MILD DIRECTION AS WE CRUISE INTO THE MID-50s BY THE TIME WE GET INTO TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

NOTICE, NO PRECIPITATION, THE SUNSHINE OUT THERE.

JUST A FEW PASSING CLOUDS.

THAT IS THE SAME CASE FOR OUR DESSERT COMMUNITIES WITH TEMPERATURES WORKING THE WAY FROM THE 60s BACK TO THE MID- 70s BY THE TIME WE STEP INTO TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

A BIG WARM UP ON OUR HANDS HERE AS WE TREND MILDER THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

FOR KPBS, I AM WITH A METEOROLOGIST.

>>> WINTER OLYMPICS ARE OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY IN BEIJING.

THOSE FIREWORKS ARE PART OF THE OPENING CEREMONIES.

CHINA IS IMPOSING STRICT COVID- 19 RULES FOR ALL EVENTS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THAT INCLUDES A BAN ON SHOUTING, CHEERING, OR SINGING.

INSTEAD, SPECTATORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLAP TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.

>>> NEXT WEEK, THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO SHOWCASE MORE THAN TWO DOZEN FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

KPBS CINEMA JUNKIE HAS A PREVIEW OF THE FESTIVAL.

>> Reporter: SOME FESTIVALS AT THE REST ARE ADVENTURES THAT TAKE YOU ONE JOURNEYS INTO UNCHARTED REGIONS.

THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL HAS BEEN PROVIDING SUCH DISCOVERIES FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.

IT SPECIALIZES IN UNEARTHING NUGGETS OF HISTORY.

TAKE THE DISCOVERY OF WAX CYLINDERS, PRESERVING YIDDISH CULTURE IN THE DOCUMENTARY "SONG SEARCHER."

>> GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO A FILM ABOUT A NEW STORY, A NEW DISCOVERY, A NEW PIECE OF HISTORY, THIS REALLY BRINGS IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL AND BRINGS IT IN AN EXCITING WAY TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN LEARN AND ENJOY INDEPENDENT CINEMA.

>> Reporter: NEXT WEEK, THE DISCOVERIES CAN TAKE PLACE IN PERSON.

>> WE HAVE STEPPED FORWARD WITH A HYBRID FESTIVAL AND EVERY FILM WILL BE SHOWN IN OUR GARFIELD, WHICH IS NOT ONLY AMAZING TECHNOLOGY BUT THEY HAVE RAMPED UP ALL THE FILTRATION FOR HEALTH AND COVID- 19 STANDARDS AND EVERY FILM IS ONLINE.

>> Reporter: YIDDISH CULTURE IS EXPLORED IN ANOTHER DOCUMENTARY, "WHO WILL REMAIN."

>> THE SUN AND THE MOUNTAINS AND THE GRASS, EVERYTHING WAS TALKING TO HIM.

HE LOOKED AT THE WORLD FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW.

>> Reporter: KRISTA WHITNEY IS ONE OF THE CODIRECTORS.

>> YIDDISH CULTURE IS SOMETHING THAT THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF DOCUMENTS ONLINE.

NOWADAYS, PEOPLE THINK EVERYTHING IS ON GOOGLE, EVERYTHING IS ONLINE AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT ONLINE ARE CONSIDERED NOT TO EXIST, BY SOME PEOPLE.

OF COURSE, THAT IS NOT TRUE.

>> Reporter: SONG SEARCHER UNCOVERS THE FASCINATING STORY THAT DESERVE TO BE PRESERVED.

TRUE STORIES ARE ALSO THE BASIS FOR TRAUMAS, RANGING FROM "PLAN A," ABOUT HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS PLOTTING TO POISON GERMANS TO "PERSIAN LESSONS," ABOUT A CONCENTRATION CAMP INMATES WHO PRETENDS TO BE PERSIAN TO AVOID EXECUTION.

THEN HE MAKES UP A FAKE LANGUAGE WHEN THE COMMANDANT DOMAINS TO BE TAUGHT FARSI.

A PASSPORT TO CINEMATIC ADVENTURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AWAITS AUDIENCES ONLINE AND IN PERSON FOR THIS YEAR'S SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL.

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.