♪ >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS "EVENING EDITION" 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 MAINTAIN DRAIN, HEATING, AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND BY THE CONRAD PRACTICE FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHYLY , AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 21st.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI .

>>> NEW COVID VACCINE REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING INTO EFFECT FOR NOT U.S. CITIZENS AT THE NATION'S BORDER CROSSINGS.

KPBS REPORTER ALEXANDER ROD HILL HAS MORE .

>> Reporter: MANUEL WAS STANDING IN LINE FOR 30 MINUTES AT THE PORT OF ENTRY FRIDAY MORNING.

SHE WAS COMING BACK FROM VISITING FAMILY IN TIJUANA.

ALTHOUGH SHE IS A U.S. NATIONAL AND DOESN'T NEED TO SHOW VACCINATION PROOF UPON CROSSING INTO THE U.S., SHE SHOWS US HER VACCINE CARD AND SAYS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED IT .

STARTING SATURDAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WILL BE REQUIRING ALL NON-US CITIZENS ENTERING THE COUNTRY TO BE FULLY BACK DONATED FOR COVID-19.

THIS INCLUDES ALL LAND PORTS AND FERRY TERMINALS ALONG BOTH THE CANADIAN AND MEXICAN BORDERS.

WILSON WITH CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION SAYS, BEFORE THERE WERE SOME NON-US CITIZENS THAT WERE EXCLUDED FROM HAVING TO SHOW VACCINE PROOF.

MOST OF THESE CASES INVOLVE PEOPLE TRAVELING FOR ESSENTIAL REASONS.

>> BEFORE, YOU HAD TRUCK DRIVERS, OR INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO THE COUNTRY WITH VISAS FOR ESSENTIAL REASONS, VISAS, BUT WERE ALLOWED TO COME IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THIS WILL NOW INCLUDE EVERYONE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF U.S. CITIZENS, U.S. NATIONALS, AND LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

DHS SAYS, TRAVELERS MUST VERBALLY ATTEST TO THEIR COVID- 19 STATUS AND PROVIDE PROOF OF THE CDC OF PROOF VACCINATION.

>> BE PREPARED TO PRESENT PROOF.

>> Reporter: HE RECOMMENDS ALL TRAVELERS HAVE THEIR DOCUMENTS ON HAND TO HELP DECREASE BORDER WAIT TIMES.

HERNANDEZ SAYS, ASKING FOR VACCINE PROOF IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY.

ALEXANDER ROD HILL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> NEW CDC STUDIES ARE PROVIDING A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS DURING THE OMICRON DESSERTS.

ISABEL BREAKS DOWN THE GROWING PUSH TO GET AMERICANS TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AGAIN.

>> Reporter: THE BEST CASE YET, GETTING BOOSTED.

THREE NEW CDC STUDIES MARKED THE FIRST REAL LIVE DATA ON THE EFFECTS OF BOOSTERS AGAINST OMICRON.

STATEMENT THESE NEW STUDIES SHOULD ERASE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ULCERS.

>> Reporter: THE RESEARCH HAS ENORMOUS SCOPE, LOOKING INTO MILLIONS OF CASES ACROSS THE U.S.

HERE IS WHAT THEY REVEAL, IF YOU ARE BOOSTED, YOU HAVE A 90% CHANCE OF AVOIDING HOSPITALIZATION DURING THE RECENT SURGE.

IN COMPARISON, GETTING ONLY TWO SHOTS WAS 57% EFFECTIVE, WHEN IT HAD BEEN AT LEAST SIX MONTHS PAST THE SECOND SHOT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE SICKEST OF THE SICK, IF YOU HAD TWO DOSES OF AN MRNA VACCINE, BUT NO BOOSTER, GOT A 38% CHANCE OF AVOIDING A VISIT TO THE ER OR URGENT CARE.

WITH A BOOSTER, THAT JUMPED TO 82%.

ULCERS OFFERED BETTER PROTECTION AGAINST CATCHING OMICRON IN THE FIRST PLACE, OR DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS IF INFECTED.

TOP MEDICAL EXPERTS LIKE DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, BELIEVE THE CDC'S DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FULLY VACCINATED NEEDS A BOOSTER UPDATE APPEARS >> IT WILL BE A MATTER OF WHEN, NOT IF.

>> Reporter: SO FAR, FEWER THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE U.S.

ELIGIBLE TO GET A BOOSTER HAVE GOTTEN ONE.

>> I KNOW PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT COVID, BUT IF GETTING THE BOOSTER ALLOWS EVERYONE TO MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES, I THINK THOSE WERE VACCINATED ALREADY TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE.

>> ALL THREE STUDIES FOUND THE UNVACCINATED, ABOUT 20% OF ALL ELIGIBLE AMERICANS, FACE THE HIGHEST RISK OF GETTING SICK.

IN WASHINGTON, ISABEL ROSALES, KPBS NEWS .

>>> KIDS 12 AND OVER COULD SOON BE MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT VACCINATIONS IN CALIFORNIA.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN HAS MORE ON THE BILL AIMING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: THE BILL WOULD ALLOW TEENAGERS TO CONSENT TO VACCINATIONS JUST LIKE THE ADULTS ARE DOING HERE AT THE ELKO KNOWN VACCINATION SIDE.

RIGHT NOW, MINERS IN CALIFORNIA THE PARENTAL PERMISSION FOR CORONAVIRUS AND OTHER FACT, BUT SENATE BILL 866 WOULD CHANGE THAT, ALLOWING TEENAGERS 12 AND OLDER TO CONSENT TO VACCINES APPROVED BY THE FDA WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS OKAY.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS BEING BROUGHT ON BY STATE SENATOR SCOTT WEINER.

IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, HE SAYS VACCINATED TEAMS ARE AT RISK, PUT OTHERS AT RISK AND MAKE SCHOOLS UNSAFE HERE THEY OFTEN CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS WILL GO TO FRIENDS' HOMES.

SB 866 IS CO-AUTHORED BY LOCAL ASSEMBLY MEMBER, DR. AQUILA WEBER.

SHE'S A FORMER HOSPITAL DOCTOR REPRESENTS PARTS OF LA MESA, LEMON GROVE, AND SAN DIEGO.

THE AUTHOR SAYS THOSE 12 AND OLDER ARE ALREADY ALLOWED TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE IN SOME CASES, INCLUDING THE TREATMENT OF SEXUAL DISEASES.

THIS NEWLY PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD NOT ONLY ALLOW FOR VACCINE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE OTHER MEDICATION FOR THE SCOPE OF VACCINATIONS.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF FAITH, THIS WEEKEND WILL BE THE FIRST SERVICES HELD FOLLOWING THE HOSTAGE STANDOFF AT A TEXAS SYNAGOGUE.

KPBS REPORTER KATIE ALVARADO VISITED A LOCAL RABBI, WHO HAS A CONNECTION TO THE RABBI IN TEXAS AND SAYS, YOU WILL USE THIS TIME TO REMIND HIS CONGREGATION OF ITS RESILIENCE.

>> RABBI JASON NEVAREZ LEAVES CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL, THE LARGEST JEWISH CONGREGATION IN SAN DIEGO.

>> LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

THAT FOR ME IS CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL.

IT IS IN OUR HOLINESS CODE.

>> BUT LAST FRIDAY, AN ACT OF KINDNESS BY A STRANGER HIS DEAR FRIEND CHARLIE WALKER, INSIDE A TEXAS SYNAGOGUE BY THE SAME NAME , TURNED INTO AN 11 HOUR STANDOFF.

RABBI NEVAREZ GOT A MESSAGE FROM A MUTUAL FRIEND.

>> FOR ME, IT WAS HARD TO HEAR IT I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CHARLIE AND THINKING ABOUT HIS FAMILY.

>> HE SAYS, THE TRAINING THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND PRACTICED REGULARLY, NOT ONLY HELPED HIS FRIEND SURVIVE, BUT HELPED HIM GET EVERYONE TO SAFETY.

>> I CAN'T USE ANY OTHER WORDS TO DESCRIBE THEM OTHER THAN AS A HERO.

>> HE SAYS, HIS CONGREGATION AND ALMOST ALL JEWISH LEADERS WORK WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ENSURE THEIR PLACES OF WORSHIP ARE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> LOCKDOWNS, ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT HELPS US AND IT HELPED RABBI CHARLIE IN THIS MOMENT.

>> THEY TAKE SECURITY VERY SERIOUSLY AT BETH ISRAEL.

>> IT IS A SAD REALITY, IT IS A NECESSARY REALITY.

>> IT IS NOT AN OPEN CAMPUS.

ENTERING THEIR PLACE OF WORSHIP IS SOMETHING MANY OF US HAVE NEVER HAD TO EXPERIENCE JUST TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH.

RABBI NEVAREZ SAYS, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T WELCOME THE STRANGER.

>> FOR US, WE WILL ALWAYS WELCOME PEOPLE.

FIRST, WE MAY HAVE TO BET THEM A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND SAYS, IT IS NOT WHAT THEY DO INSIDE THE WALLS, BUT OUTSIDE OF THEM THAT BUILDS COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE THEY HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH AND THAT MESSAGE IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE AND IT BEGINS WITH OUR WORDS.

>> CHARLIE WAS ABLE TO USE GOODNESS AND KINDNESS IN ORDER TO BRING AN END, A SUCCESSFUL AND TO THIS PAINFUL TRAGEDY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE MORE WE PROMOTE KINDNESS, IT BECOMES INFECTIOUS.

THAT IS THE LANGUAGE I'D RATHER SPEW INTO THE WORLD, THEN THE LANGUAGE OF HATE.

>> AS THE SUN GOES DOWN AND THEY OBSERVE THE SABBATH, HE SAYS, THEY WILL HONOR HIS FRIEND RABBI CHARLIE AND USE THIS MOMENT TO REMEMBER THEIR STRENGTH.

>> THESE MOMENTS DO NOT ANCHOR US IN OUR PAIN AND SORROW.

THEY HELP US TRANSCEND TO MOMENTS WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A LIGHT UNTO OTHERS AND DO GOODNESS AND JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD.

>> KATIE ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER 75% OF VOTERS APPROVED THE CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OR POLICE PRACTICES, THE CITY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE COMMISSION.

AFTER A FIRST DRAFT FAILED TO PASS LAST YEAR, A NEW DRAFT ORDINANCE WAS RELEASED LAST WEEK.

MORE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES WERE PUSHED AHEAD OF TODAY'S SAFETY AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES MEETING APPEARS >> WE GET THIS AMENDMENT LAST NIGHT AND IT WAS GOOD THAT THERE WERE AMENDMENTS MADE, BUT 15 HOURS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY ANALYZE IT.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY REALLY DESERVES THAT.

THE PUBLIC SAFETY LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT IS HEARING THIS ORDINANCE CERTAINLY CAN SET ANOTHER MEETING IN ANOTHER WEEK OR 10 DAYS, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TIME TO REALLY DIGEST IT.

>> WE JUST LEARNED THAT THE COMMITTEE VOTED FOR THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO GO ON TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.

THE NEXT STEP WILL BE A TOWN HALL MEETING.

>>> THE NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT BOARD VOTED TO INSTALL FENCING ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN DELMAR SAYING, IT IS ABOUT SAFETY.

ALEXANDER EXPLAINS WHY SOME RESIDENTS ARE AGAINST THE PLAN.

>> THIS IS A FAMILIAR SCENE IN DELMAR, A SURFER CROSSING THE TRACKS TO ACCESS THE BEACH.

IT IS ILLEGAL, BUT RESIDENTS HAVE DONE IT FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THE NORTH TRANSIT DISTRICT WANTS TO PUT A STOP TO THAT.

THEY SAY IT IS A SAFETY RISK.

THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF NEAR MISSES TO FIVE DEATHS IN DELMAR IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

THE NCT IS PROPOSING TO PUT 700 FEET OF FENCING ALONG THE TRACKS RIGHT HERE IN DELMAR, NEAR HOMES.

>> THEY SAY THE BIDS WILL MAKE THESE TRACKS STAY FOR SAFER.

>> PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ON GUARD, KNOWING THEY ARE BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND HALF TO LOOK AROUND.

THERE IS HAZARDS EVERYWHERE.

>> THIS RESIDENT LIKES TO WALK HIS DOG ON A PATH ALONG THE TRACKS.

HE SAYS, FENCING ALONG THE TRACK WOULD RUIN THE VIEW OF THE BLUFFS.

FOR RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG THE TRACK, THE VIEW IS NOT THE ISSUE, IT IS THE ACCESS.

>> WE HAVE LIVED ON THE STREET SINCE 1970.

WE HAVE SEEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CROSS WITHOUT ANY KIND OF INJURY AT ALL.

WE REALLY FEEL THAT AXIS HERE IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

>> THE BOARD VOTED 7-0 TO INSTALL THE FENCE, DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM DELMAR AND THE COASTAL CONDITION.

THE FENCE WILL BE INSTALLED IN TWO PHASES.

PHASE 1 WILL GO FROM COAST HIGHWAY TO SIXTH STREET.

THE SECOND WOULD GO FROM SIX TO THE BLUFFS.

COUNCILMEMBER TERRY GASTON IS ON THE BOARD, BUT ABSTAINED FROM LAST NIGHT'S VOTE.

SHE SAYS THEY ARE FORCING THE PLAN ON THE CITY.

>> IN CTD HAS SAID, THEY WILL PUT UP SIX FOOT WIRE NET FENCING UNLESS DELMAR TAKES ON OWNERSHIP OF THE FENCING AND MAINTAINED IT FOREVER GOING FORWARD.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT DELMAR CAN DO.

>> THE CITY HAS UNTIL THEY WERE 28 TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, OTHERWISE, THE NCTD WILL PROCEED WITH ITS PLAN.

ALEXANDER WENT, KPBS NEWS .

>>> VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS VISITED SAN BERNARDINO TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT FUNDS FOR WILDFIRE PREVENTION, INCLUDING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

SHE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTING $600 MILLION IN DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING FOR CALIFORNIA.

>> THIS EPIDEMIC OF WILDFIRES IS RELATIVELY NEW IN THAT THERE ALWAYS BEEN WILDFIRES IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, BUT THE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY, AND UBIQUITY OF WILDFIRES, JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT, IS EXTRAORDINARY AND REQUIRES OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ACT IN REAL TIME.

>> THE VICE PRESIDENT ATTENDED A BRIEFING ON EFFORTS TO PREVENT AND MITIGATE WILDFIRES.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE USE OF CONTROLLED FIRES AND LOGGING TO REDUCE VEGETATION THAT FUELS FIRES.

>>> AGAIN, AN UPPER LOW DEVELOPING ACROSS PARTS OF THE SOUTHWEST HERE.

THAT MEANS SOME CHANGES FOR US.

IT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO MEAN STRONG WINDS HEADING INTO TOMORROW.

THESE WILL BE THE SANTA ANA WINDS THAT WILL BE COOLER AND TRY, KEEPING THINGS BRIGHT, NO MARINE LAYER TOWARD THE COAST.

HERE IS THAT WHEN DIRECTION AGAIN.

FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW, IT IS WHY THEY HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CONCERNS FOR EITHER WIND ADVISORIES OR HIGH WIND WARNINGS THROUGH SOME OF OUR NORTHERN TIER HERE.

WE HAVE THAT CONCERN FOR VERY GUSTY WINDS GETTING THROUGH TONIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY INTO TOMORROW.

IT WILL START OFF AS A BIT OF A DIFFERENT SET UP FOR US FOR SATURDAY AND INTO THE WEEKEND.

THINGS WILL QUIET DOWN INTO SUNDAY.

OVERALL TONIGHT, 51 FOR THE LOW.

OCEANSIDE COMING IN AT 21 DEGREES.

MT.

LAGUNA BACK INTO THE LOWER 30s.

AGAIN, KIND OF A COOLER PATTERN AS THIS UPPER-LEVEL LOW DEVELOPS, IT WILL NEED SOME ROOM ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS.

IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, KEEP THAT IN MIND.

AGAIN, JUST THOSE GUSTY WINDS WE WILL BE DEALING WITH.

TOMORROW, LOOK AT ALL THE SUNSHINE.

BRIGHT, 70 FOR THE HIGH.

CHULA VISTA COMING IN AT 68.

BORREGO SPRINGS, TEMPERATURES THERE IN THE UPPER 60s.

GETTING INTO SUNDAY.

THIS LOW STARTS TO MOVE OUT, THAT IS WHY IT WILL GET LESS WINDY AS WE CLOSE OUT THE WEEKEND.

THINGS STAYED QUITE INTO MONDAY, WHERE WE START TO HAVE MAYBE A FEW MORE RAIN CLOUDS BACK.

TEMPERATURES FOR THE UPPER 60s ALONG THE COAST AND MID 60s FOR TUESDAY.

INLAND LOCATIONS HANGING OUT IN THE 70s THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, KEEPING THINGS BRIGHT AND DRY.

NO REAL SIGNS OF RAIN FOR US, BUT WE COULD START TO WARM UP IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

UNTIL THEN, MOUNTING LOCATIONS SOMEWHERE IN THE 40s.

IN FACT, CLOSE TO 50 DEGREES FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE DESERT LOCATIONS HERE, HANGING OUT IN THE 70s ONCE WE GET PAST SATURDAY, STILL A BIT COOL, BUT DRY.

FOR KPBS NEWS, ACCUWEATHER METEOROLOGIST MELISSA CONSTANZER.

>>> MORE TURNOVER IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S EDUCATION LEADERSHIP.

THE SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCED SHE IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

TERESA KEMPER HAS BEEN WITH GROSSMONT UNION 33 YEARS AND WAS NAMED DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IN THE SUMMER OF 2020.

ALONG WITH THE PANDEMIC, KIMBER HAS ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM INVOLVING A CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICER AT VALHALLA HIGH SCHOOL.

THE GROSSMONT UNION BOARD WILL CONDUCT A UNION WIDE SEARCH WITH HOPES OF NAMING A NEW SUPERINTENDENT BY MAY.

>>> DOZENS OF COUNTIES IN SOUTH BAY ARE GRADUATING CELEBRATED GRADUATION TONIGHT FOR STUDENTS WHO OVERCOME TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES.

THE PROGRAM OFFERS ONE ON ONE TEACHERS TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WERE HOMELESS, HAVE DISABILITIES, OR FACE OTHER OBSTACLES THAT LEFT THEM WITHOUT AN EDUCATION.

>> SOME OF THEM HAVE KIDS.

SOME OF THEM ARE ENGLISH LEARNERS AND HAVE TO HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES EVEN THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEIR SHORT-TERM GOAL IS COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

>> LEARNED FROM LIFE HELPS MORE THAN 40,000 SCHOOLS IN NEED ACROSS CALIFORNIA EVERY YEAR.

THEY GET THEIR DIPLOMAS AND OFTEN HAVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES ALREADY LINED UP AFTER GRADUATION.

>>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES THOUGHT COVID-19 WOULD BOOST THEIR ENROLLMENT, INSTEAD, THEY LAW STUDENTS.

NEW INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JENNIFER BOWMAN HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: FEWER IN-PERSON CLASSES AND LOWER ENROLLMENT MEANS, THESE DAYS, SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE PRETTY QUIET.

THE GREAT RECESSION BROUGHT A SURGE OF STUDENTS TO LOCAL CAMPUSES OVER A DECADE AGO.

WHEN COVID-19 HIT THE ECONOMY, THE COLLEGE SAW A 12% DROP IN THEIR HEADCOUNT, ALMOST 30,000 FEWER STUDENTS.

>> WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THE STATUS QUO.

WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THINKING THAT THE WAY WE ARE DOING BUSINESS IS OKAY AND WE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE, AND WE ARE NOT.

>> LIKE STATEWIDE TRENDS, THE LOCAL COLLEGES SAW THE SHARPEST DECLINES AMONG OLDER ATTENDEES.

STUDENTS 50 AND OLDER DROPPED BY OVER 40%.

STUDENTS OF COLOR HAD BIGGER DROPS THEN THERE WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

SCHOOL LEADERS SAY THEY ARE STRUGGLING, PLUS FUNDING FOUR YEARS INSTITUTIONS AND INCREASED COMPETITIONS FROM FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES.

NOW, THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO BRING STUDENTS BACK TO CAMPUS.

>> ALL OF THE PROGRAMS WE PUT IN PLACE HAVE BEEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE SECTORS, EVEN WITH THE PANDEMIC.

SO, WE ARE MARKETING THAT.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS ARE STILL HOPING TO BOOST ENROLLMENT WILL COME.

FOR KPBS, INVESTIGATIVE FOR ORDER JENNIFER BOWMAN.

>>> OUR NEW SOURCE IS AN INDEPENDENTLY FUNDED PARTNER OF KPBS.

>>> TO UNDERSTAND HOW A LOCAL COMIC BOOK STORE SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC, USUALLY YOU NEED TO LOOK AT ITS ORIGIN STORY.

WE ARE AT, CAUSING TO SEE HOW IT HAS OVERCOME MULTIPLE CHALLENGES THESE PAST TWO YEARS.

>> Reporter: COMIC BOOKS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE SUPERHEROES, BUT IF WE LOOK TO THE ORIGIN STORY OF KAMIKAZE, WE WILL FIND AN UNLIKELY HERO IN ROBERT SCOTT.

HE STARTED THE STORE 30 YEARS AGO, STARTED WITH DIVERSE BOOKS AND MADE IT A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR DIVERSE CUSTOMERS.

HE WAS A CHAMPION OF COMICS AND THE ABILITY TO CREATE A COMMUNITY.

IN DECEMBER 2019, SCOTT DIED UNEXPECTEDLY OF HEALTH RELATED ISSUES, LEAVING THE STORE IN THE HANDS OF ITS TWO EMPLOYEES, JUST AS THE PANDEMIC WAS ABOUT TO SHUT THE WORLD DOWN.

>> WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY AND WE ARE A BIG COMMUNITY.

>> LUCKY BRONSON WAS ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES.

>> BUT WHEN FACED WITH POSSIBLY CLOSING, OUR CUSTOMERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS STEPPED UP, STARTED BUYING STUFF AND KEPT US OPEN.

THAT IS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY WHEN YOU ARE AT YOUR LOWEST AND PEOPLE SHOW UP.

>> BRONSON NOW MANAGES KAMIKAZE.

HE SAYS IT IS THANKS TO WHAT STOCK SCOTT ACQUIRED.

>> WE HAD ALL OF THAT SITTING AROUND IN OUR CUSTOMERS' WILLINGNESS TO TRY SOMETHING NEW THERE BE PANDEMIC, IT DEFINITELY KEPT US UP FAULT AFLOAT.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE READ MORE, TRY TO PICK UP MORE.

IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP AND THAT IS WHAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK AND SUPPORTING THEM.

>> NOW, THINGS ARE SORT OF BACK TO NORMAL.

REGULARS WEARING MASKS AT THEIR FAVORITE POP-CULTURE ICONS ARE BACK IN THE STORE EACH WEEK TO PICK UP THEIR COMIC BOOK SUBSCRIPTIONS.

GARY WEBSTER DEDICATES ONE NIGHT A WEEK TO WHAT HE CALLS, HIS ADULT DAY CARE.

>> I COME HERE AND GIVE IT A LOOK, SOMETIMES AROUND 5:00 AND THEY TOLD CLOSING TIME AND WE JUST REVIEWED THE EVENTS FOR THE WEEK.

>> Reporter: BRONSON PROVIDES THE KIND OF CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU WILL NOT FIND ONLINE OR A BIG CHAIN, SAYS DEXTER.

>> WHEN I HAVE MY WEEKLY WATER, THEY LOOK AFTER ME EVERY WEEK, ALTHOUGH BOOKS THAT I READ.

NOT ONLY IS HE LOOKING AFTER YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS, HE KNOWS WHAT YOU LIKE.

YOU CAN RECOMMEND YOU STUFF, EXPOSURE TO STUFF YOU WOULD OTHERWISE MISS.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> I DON'T FEEL OVERLOOKED OR LOOK DOWN UPON AS A FEMALE IDENTIFYING CUSTOMER AND COMIC FAN, I FEEL WELCOMED, RESPECTED.

>> ALONZO NUNEZ IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LITTLE FISH STUDIO, WHERE HE IS HOPING TO FOSTER THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMICS FANS AND CREATORS.

>> COMIC STORE FUNCTIONS IS NOT JUST A PLACE TO BUY COMICS AND GET REST RECOMMENDATIONS, REALLY ALMOST A COMMUNITY CENTER , WITHOUT OVERSTATING IT FOR NERDS, GEEKS, JUST FANS OF THE COMIC MEDIUM.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, AS I LIKE TO SAY, TO FIND SOMETHING COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE, TO LITERALLY ALMOST TRIPPED OVER IT ON THE GROUND.

>> SO SORRY, I GOT DISTRACTED.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE JOYS.

NOT OUR ONLY ARE THE SHELVES STOCKED WITH BOOKS, BUT BOXES ALONG THE WALLS WITH TREASURES WAITING TO BE UNEARTHED.

>> I WAS NOT GOING TO BUY SOMETHING TONIGHT, BUT I MIGHT GRAB THIS.

>> IDW Reporter:PUBLISHING IS A SAN DIEGO-BASED, ANY.

IF NEW PUBLISHER SAYS, IT WAS A SMALL COMIC SHOP, NOT UNLIKE KAMIKAZE THAT HOOKED THEM ON COMICS AS A KID.

NOW, HE APPRECIATES THESE SPACES IS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE FOR NERDS TO MEET AND DISCUSS WHAT THEY LOVE.

>> FROM A COLDHEARTED ASPECT OF THINGS, DO IT FOR THE INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS IN GENERAL.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND BE THE ONES WHO ARE SAYING, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE NEVER READ THIS, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS RIGHT NOW!

PLEASE DO.

WE LOVE IT A LOT.

IT IS THE LIFELINE OF WHAT WORKS FOR US.

>> MOVING FORWARD,, CAUSE HE STILL FACES CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND THE EVER-CHANGING NATURE OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT HAS A COMMUNITY IT CAN COUNT ON.

>>> FOR THE MILLIONS OF HOMES WITH AN XBOX, A MEGA MERGER ANNOUNCED SOME INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES.

THE MAYOR TELLS US WHEN MICROSOFT IS BUYING UP ONE OF THE MARQUEE BRANDS IN GAMING IN THE FRIDAY BUSINESS REPORTS.

♪ ♪ >> MICROSOFT, THE HUGE BUYS ARE UPWARDS OF $68.6 BILLION, A SIGN OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WHOLE VIDEO GAME SPACE, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT, THE META-VERSE.

WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR MASSIVE ONLINE PLAYER GAMES, VIRTUAL REALITY, AND A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, THEY HAVE SOME AMAZING FRANCHISES CALL OF DUTY, WORLD OF WARCRAFT, ONE OF THE ISSUES IN THE INDUSTRY AND WHY MICROSOFT BECOMES A VERY INTERESTING COMPANY, THERE IS A LITTLE DIRTY SECRET THAT HE GAMING COMPANIES DON'T TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES WELL.

MANY OF THEM ARE NOT EMPLOYEES.

THEY ARE TO 99 EMPLOYEES THAT DON'T GET INSURANCE BENEFITS, DON'T GET HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.

THIS COULD CHANGE.

MICROSOFT IS KNOWN AS A COMPANY THAT REALLY IS MUCH MORE PRO- WORKER.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING ON THAT FRONT AND THE CEO OF MICROSOFT SAID, IT IS TIME TO RESET THE CULTURE AT ACTIVATION BLIZZARD, WHICH WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE ONCE THEY INNOVATE THE COMPANY INTO MICROSOFT.

>>> I AM JUDY WOODRUFF TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, WHY U.S. AND RUSSIA REMAIN AT ODDS OVER UKRAINE, DESPITE REPEATED DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

THAT IS COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> AND THE FIRST CITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO BAN LIGHTER THAN AIR BALLOONS.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN HAS MORE ON WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

>> Reporter: WITH THAT, ENCINITAS BECOMES THE FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTY TO BAN THE SALE OF LIGHTER THAN AIR BALLOONS LIKE HELIUM BALLOONS.

IT WAS THE CAMPAIGN THAT THE SAN DIEGO RIGHT OF FOUNDATION WORKS HARD FOR, SINCE LAST MAY.

IS A LETTER AIR BALLOONS CAUSE POLLUTION WITH A FLOAT AWAY AT IT THAT WHEN THE OCEAN.

>> WE ARE STUCK AND INTEND TO USE IT TO PURSUE MORE ALONE BANDS OF THIS TYPE.

ONE CITY NOW, 17 TO.

>> WHICH IS THE CHAPTER MANAGER FOR THE SAN DIEGO RIGHT OF THE NATION.

HE SAID THE OTHER CHAPTERS HAVE REACHED OUT TO HIM FOR CAMPAIGN MATERIALS TO PUSH FOR A SIMILAR BAN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THIS BROUGHT OUT A LIFELONG DEBATE.

BEFORE LAST NIGHT'S MEETINGS, THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED MORE THAN 300 PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE BAN.

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM PARTY CITY SPOKE AGAINST THE BAN THE ONLY NATIONAL RETAILER IN ENCINITAS THAT SELLS HELIUM BALLOONS.

>> MIGHT WE GIVE HELIUM BALLOONS TO CHILDREN FOR BIRTHDAYS?

BECAUSE THEY BRING JOY, EVEN MORE SO DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY ARE AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO MAKE A CELEBRATION SPECIAL.

>> SHE SAYS TO ME PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TEMPORARY JOY BALLOONS.

>> WE WILL FIND WAYS TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS,?

OCCASIONS .

WE ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL .

WE DO NOT NEED THESE TYPE OF BALLOONS TO MAKE THAT AN IMPORTANT EVENT.

>> THE BAN WILL GO INTO EFFECT 30 DAYS AFTER THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SLATED FOR FEBRUARY 9th.

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

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI .

GOOD NIGHT.

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♪ ♪