>> ARE BEING SOLD BEHIND HERE.

IT IS GOING TO BE SOLD ON THE SAME NIGHT -- >>> EMOTIONS ARE HEATING UP AS MEMBERS OF ONE LOCAL COMMUNITY FIGHT TO KEEP ANOTHER SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR FROM MOVING IN.

KPBS REPORTER ON THE VERBAL AND LEGAL FIGHT UNDERWAY.

>> SAN DIEGO SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE DAVID HILL HAS AN IMPORTANT DECISION TO MAKE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HOSPITALS IS RECOMMENDING MICHAEL MARTINEZ, A SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR, BE PLACED IN A HOME ON RUNNING IN THE ROAD ON BORREGO SPRINGS.

TODAY GIL ALSO HEARD FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN RESIDENTS WHO DROVE THE TWO HOURS TO SAN DIEGO TO SAY THEY DON'T WANT MARTINEZ IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

TERRY CALL MEYER IS A MOTHER OF THREE.

>> IT IS SHOCKING AND COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE THAT A SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR COULD LIVE NEXT DOOR TO CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: LINDA CAME WITH HER 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND 15- YEAR-OLD NIECE.

SHE ALSO HAS A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY AND TWO GRANDCHILDREN WHO VISIT FREQUENTLY.

SHE LIVES TWO DOORS DOWN FROM THE HOUSE WHERE MARTINEZ COULD BE PLACED.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE IN FEAR.

WHERE IS HE AT, WE DON'T KNOW.

SOMETIMES THE INTERNET GOES DOWN AND ELECTRICITY GOES DOWN AND WE ARE MORE VULNERABLE.

>> Reporter: THE COMPANY THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE STATE TO RUN SUPERVISED HOUSES IS LIBERTY HEALTHCARE CORPORATION.

ON THEIR WEBSITE THEY SAY THEY EMBRACE CHALLENGES THAT SEEM TO DEFY SOLUTIONS.

BUT RESIDENTS LIKE JOHN STILLMAN TOLD JUDGE GILL THAT LIBERTY HEALTHCARE'S DECISION THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO PUT A SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR DEFIES LOGIC.

>> NOBODY KNOCKED ON THE DOORS OF ANY IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS.

I'M NOT SURE HOW LIBERTY HEALTHCARE IS SO SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT PROPERTY THEY DIDN'T TALK TO ANY NEIGHBORS.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW TWO OF THOSE HOUSES ON MY BLOCK HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: IS MUCH AS THEY UNDOUBTEDLY WANTED RESOLUTION, THE RESIDENTS WHO DROVE OVER HERE FROM BORREGO TODAY DID NOT GET ONE.

INSTEAD JUDGE GILL WILL TAKE THE MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION.

A RULING PROBABLY WON'T COME FOR A FEW WEEKS.

FROM DOWNTOWN, JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN IS AMONG MANY TONIGHT EXPRESSING SHOCK AND SADNESS OVER THE ASSASSINATION OF FORMER JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER.

HE WAS GUNNED DOWN WHILE GIVING A CAMPAIGN SPEECH.

>> Reporter: DEVASTATING NEWS HERE IN JAPAN.

DOCTORS AT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HAVE CONFIRMED THE FORMER JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER HAS DIED AFTER BEING SHOT TWICE.

ONCE IN THE CHEST AND ONCE IN THE NECK WHILE SPEAKING AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT EARLIER TODAY.

HOW DOCTORS TREATING ABE SAID HE WAS BLEEDING PROFUSELY AND THAT THE BULLET THAT KILLED HIM WAS DEEP ENOUGH TO REACH HIS HEART.

IN THE END ABOUT 20 DOCTORS WERE FIGHTING TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

THEY SAID THEY FACED DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE BLEEDING.

AND IT WAS THAT LOSS OF BLOOD THAT HE ENDED UP DYING FROM.

NOW THE SHOOTING HAPPENED WHILE HE WAS DELIVERING A SPEECH AROUND 11:30 LOCAL TIME, THIS MORNING.

WITNESSES SAY THAT ABE WAS SHOT FROM BEHIND.

HE DIDN'T COLLAPSE AFTER THE FIRST SHOT, BUT DID COLLAPSE AFTER THE SECOND SHOT FOR RECEIVING CPR.

THE SUSPECT, A MAN IN HIS 40s, WAS ARRESTED ON THE SPOT IN POSSESSION OF WHAT NHK IS DESCRIBING AS A HANDMADE GUN.

ABE WAS IN JAPAN'S WESTERN CITY TO DELIVER A STUMP SPEECH FOR THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AHEAD OF THE UPPER HOUSE ELECTION SET FOR THIS SUNDAY.

WHILE A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE, HERE IN JAPAN AT TIMES, AND AROUND THE WORLD FOR HIS POLICIES, ABE IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FIGURE AND NEWS OF THE SHOOTING HAS ABSENTLY SHOCKED THE NATION.

>> THAT WAS BLAKE REPORTING.

IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THE GUN USED BY THE ALLEGED ASSASSIN WAS HOMEMADE.

JAPAN HAS SOME OF THE STRICTEST GUN LAWS IN THE WORLD WITH AN AVERAGE OF 10 SHOOTING DEATHS A YEAR.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED AND ASKED EXECUTIVE YOUR TO EXPAND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES.

THIS COULD HELP PROTECT WOMEN SEEKING AN ABORTION IN THE STATES WHERE THERE IS LIMITED OR NO ACCESS.

>> Reporter: IN THE WAKE OF THE DOWNFALL OF ROE V WADE, THE PRESIDENT HAS NO POWER TO RESTORE NATIONWIDE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

BUT IN A FIERY SPEECH THE PRESIDENT GOING AFTER THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY SUPREME COURT AND REPUBLICANS.

VOWING TO DO ALL IN HIS POWER TO PROTECT AND EXPAND REPRODUCTIVE CARE.

>> WE CANNOT ALLOW AN OUT OF CONTROL SUPREME COURT WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXTREMIST ELEMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO TAKE AWAY FREEDOMS AND OUR PERSONAL AUTONOMY.

>> Reporter: FOLLOWING THE CONTROVERSIAL RULING FROM THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT, NEARLY A DOZEN DATES PENDING ABORTION.

AND MORE STATES ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE ABORTION HARDER TO ACCESS OR OUTRIGHT BAN IT.

>> WHAT WE ARE WITNESSING IS A GIANT STEP BACKWARDS IN MUCH OF OUR COUNTRY.

>> THE NEW ORDER, THE WHITE HOUSE CLAIMS, WILL SAFEGUARD ACCESS TO SERVICES.

INCLUDING THE ABORTION PILL AND EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION.

PLUS PUSHING TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF PATIENTS.

SOME REPUBLICANS HEADING BACK AGAINST EXECUTIVE ORDER ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE ORDER ALSO DOESN'T GO AS FAR AS MANY ACTIVISTS AND DEMOCRATS HAD HOPED.

THE PRESIDENT URGING CONGRESS TO ASK.

>> THE FASTEST WAY TO RESTORE ROE IS TO PASS A NATIONAL LAW CODIFYING ROW.

>> Reporter: BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE NUMBERS TO MOVE FORWARD ON A VOTE.

THE PRESIDENT SAID AMERICANS SHOULD VOTE IN MORE PRO- ABORTION-RIGHTS LAWMAKERS.

B MAC FOR GOD'S SAKE, ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE.

>> Reporter: IN WASHINGTON, ISABEL, KPBS NEWS.

>> THE BIDEN DEMONSTRATION IS ASKING THE SUPREME COURT TO ALLOW IT TO PUT IN PLACE GUIDANCE THAT PRIORITIZATION DEPORTATION OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY WHO POSE A GREAT PUBLIC SAFETY RISK.

THE EMERGENCY REQUEST FALLS COMPLETING DECISIONS BY FEDERAL APPEALS COURTS OVER THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTIVE.

THE SUPREME COURT IS EXPECTED TO RESPOND NEXT WEEK.

>>> A SECTION OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK IS CLOSED AS A WILDFIRE RAGES.

A GROVE OF CALIFORNIA FAMOUS GIANT SEQUOIA TREES FORCED THE CLOSURE OF MARIPOSA GROVE.

HOME TO MORE THAN 500 MATURE GIANT SEQUOIAS.

IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHETHER ANY OF THE TREES WERE BURNED IN THE WILDFIRE.

THE REST OF THE PARK REMAINS OPEN.

THE FIRE HAS BURNED ABOUT 250 ACRES AND THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.

>>> IS THE WORST OF CALIFORNIA'S WILDFIRE SEASON APPROACHES, BAY AREA RESIDENTS ARE BRACING FOR SMOKE-FILLED AIR.

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS IT IS NOT JUST OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY THAT PRESENTS A HEALTH PROBLEM, TARA CAMPBELL EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: IT IS A BAY AREA SCENE BECOMING ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR.

FIRST THE FIRE THAN THE SMOKE- FILLED SKIES AND PLUMMETING AIR QUALITY.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ASKING PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

BUT A NEW STUDY OUT OF STANFORD SUGGESTS WE ARE NOT DOING A GREAT JOB.

>> USING INDOOR AIR SOLUTION MONITORS WE SEE THAT PEOPLE HAVE REALLY BAD INDOOR AIR QUALITY DURING WILDFIRES.

>> Reporter: SAM IS A RESEARCH SCHOLAR AT STANFORD.

PART OF A TEAM THAT STUDIES PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR DURING WILDFIRE SEASON.

>> WE FIND THAT PEOPLE DO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR WHEN WILDFIRE SMOKE IS PRESENT.

BUT THE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES TEND TO VARY WITH INCOME.

>> Reporter: USING DATA FROM IN- HOME AIR-QUALITY MONITORS, INTERNET SEARCHERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA POST THEY COULD SEE PEOPLE IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WERE LESS LIKELY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE POTENTIAL DANGER.

MULTIPLE STUDIES SHOW LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN HAVE DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS ON RESPIRATORY HEALTH AND MORE.

>> HIGHER INCOME GROUPS ARE MORE ABLE TO SELF PROTECT IN A SENSE THAT THEY SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ON AIR PURIFIERS, THEY CHANGE THEIR MOVEMENT PATTERNS.

THOSE ARE CHANGES WE DON'T SEE AS MUCH IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: AND IT'S A PROBLEM THE BAY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS TRYING TO REMEDY.

LAST YEAR, LAUNCHING ITS CLEAN AIR FILTRATION PROGRAM.

PUTTING PURIFIERS INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

>> THE NEED IS JUST SO GREAT.

>> Reporter: THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND PARTNERING NONPROFIT THEY DISTRIBUTED ROUGHLY 1200 UNIT.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT $1 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR.

SO WE ARE HOPING TO AT LEAST HIT THAT TARGET.

>> Reporter: WHILE EFFORTS ARE WELL UNDERWAY IN LOW INCOME AREAS, STANFORD'S RESEARCHERS ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT -- >> EVEN SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE BAY AREA WE SEE THAT WHEN SMOKE IS BAD A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TERRIBLE INDOOR AIR QUALITY.

>> Reporter: A FINDING, HE SAYS, THAT IS SOMEWHAT SURPRISING.

>> WE HYPOTHESIZE IT'S MOSTLY PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR CHOICES PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR WINDOWS AND DOORS OPEN.

NOT TURNING THEIR PURIFIERS ON LONG ENOUGH.

>>> HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND BUILD ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THIS PROGRESSIVELY WARMER TEMPERATURE.

AT THE COAST YOU MIGHT FIND IT A LITTLE BIT COOLER TONIGHT YOU WILL DROP DOWN TO 63 IN THE METRO AREA.

PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES.

MORE INTERIOR WHERE YOU HAVE LESS CLOUD COVERAGE BECAUSE THAT MARINE LAYER IS THINNING OUT.

TEMPERATURES ARE FALLING TO BELOW THE MID-50s.

BRICCO SPRINGS DROPPING DOWN TO 78 AND MOUNT LAGUNA 61.

CAMPBELL YOU WILL BE ABOUT 55 DEGREES.

THERE IS THE BUILDING HEAT, ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTHERN NEVADA, STRETCHING ACROSS SOME OF THIS ERA.

EVEN INTO UTAH AND ARIZONA.

YOU CAN SEE THE HIGH BUILDING BUT YOU MIGHT STILL HAVE SOME LIMITED MOISTURE THAT CONTINUES TO CROSS NEW MEXICO WITH AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND STORMS.

IT WILL BE QUITE COMFORTABLE AT THE COAST.

THAT MEANS A PLACE LIKE OCEANSIDE GETTING TO 76 IN THE AFTERNOON, ESCONDIDO MORE INTERIOR AREAS IN THE LOW 90s.

SAN DIEGO IS 75.

BRICCO SPRINGS, THERE'S THAT TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT.

A FEW CLOUDS LINGERING ACROSS FOR THOSE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

IT DOES, KIND OF, DISSIPATE MOVING OFFSHORE.

IT FADES AWAY AND THINNED OUT A LITTLE BIT THEN IT RETURNS SLIGHTLY ONCE AGAIN AS WE HEAD INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

AGAIN IT IS NOT AS THICK AND IT WON'T BE WORKING ITS WAY INLAND AS WE ARE USED TO.

THE HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN.

HERE WE GO.

THIS WILL BE BUILDING.

AND THEN YOU CAN START TO SEE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS STARTING TO STRETCH THEIR WAY FURTHER NORTH TO A PLACE LIKE CENTRAL COLORADO FOR YOUR SUNDAY.

IT'S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT THE COAST.

A LITTLE COOLING PATTERN IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT.

THAT RETURNS AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT WEEK FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

INLAND THE HEAT HAS BEEN BUILDING AND IT WILL THROUGH SUNDAY THEN WE WILL SEE A COOLING TREND ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS BY NEXT WEDNESDAY.

YOU WILL BE CLOSE TO 90 DEGREES.

THERE'S THE TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD ACROSS THE DESERT AREA.

FOR KPBS NEWS I AM METEOROLOGIST MICHELLE ROTELLA.

STRUCK SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOUR WEEKEND ROAD TRIP.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY GAS PRICES ARE STILL FALLING.

IN FACT, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF REGULAR GASOLINE DROPPED NEARLY FOUR CENTS TODAY TO $6.11.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE DAY DECREASE SINCE AT LEAST 2019.

THE LOWEST AVERAGE PRICE SINCE JUNE 1st.

THE AVERAGE PRICE HAS DECREASED 23 DAYS IN A ROW, DROPPING MORE THAN $.25.

STRACHAN NEW CONSUMER REPORTS SURVEY SHOWS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY WOULD DEFINITELY BUY AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE HAS TRIPLED FROM JUST 4% IN 2020 TO 14% NOW.

HOWEVER THE PRICE OF GAS WAS NOT CITED AS A REASON WHY.

INSTEAD KNOWING SOMEONE WITH AN EV OR WRITING IN ONE APPEARED TO BE THE BIGGEST DRIVING FACTORS.

MANUFACTURERS KNOW THIS, WHICH IS WHY MANY OF THEM ARE SELLING THEM TO RENTAL FLEETS.

83% OF AMERICANS HAVE YET TO WRITE IN OR DRIVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

THE U.S. HAS REGAINED NEARLY ALL THE JOBS IT LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE EXPLAIN WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECESSION IN THE FRIDAY BUSINESS REPORT.

>> Reporter: THE JOB REPORT THIS MONTH WAS VERY ROBUST ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

THE ECONOMY ADDED 372,000 JOBS, IN LINE WITH THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

WHICH SUGGESTS A VERY ROBUST AND GROWING ECONOMY.

UNEMPLOYMENT STAYED AT 3.6%.

EVERY SECTOR THAT IS BEING MEASURED GAINED JOBS THIS REPORT.

WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH MAKES UP 85% OF ALL JOBS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTRY, HAS NOW EXCEEDED ITS NUMBER OF EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAD PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS BACK TO NORMAL.

CERTAIN INDUSTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE, ARE STILL AT A LITTLE BIT OF A DEFICIT.

OVERALL I THINK IT SHOULD QUELL TO SOME EXTENT THE FEARS ON WALL STREET WITH RESPECT TO, YOU KNOW, A RECESSION THAT COULD BE SOMEWHAT IMMINENT.

IT DOES SUGGEST AN ECONOMY THAT IS ABOUT TO STEP OFF A CLIFF.

THERE IS ROBUST JOB DEMAND, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONTINUED WAGE GROWTH, IT WILL CERTAINLY SOFTEN THE BLOW OF ALL THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES CONSUMERS ARE FEELING.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE WORLD RESPONSE THE SHOCKING ASSASSINATION OF JAPAN'S FORMER PRIME MINISTER.

COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION OF KPBS.

>>> THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS COVID VARIANT NOW MAKES UP MORE THAN 50% OF INFECTIONS IN SAN DIEGO.

RESEARCHERS WOULDN'T KNOW THAT WITHOUT THE HELP OF WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER SAYS THE PROCESS IS GETTING SOME RECOGNITION.

>> Reporter: FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SAN DIEGO RESEARCHERS HAVE BEEN CHECKING SEWAGE FROM TREATMENT PLANTS FOR COVID-19.

IT IS PROVEN TO BE AN EARLY INDICATOR OF WHEN CASES ARE COMING.

A RECENT ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL NATURE DETAILS HOW THAT PROCESS CAN ALSO QUICKLY IDENTIFY NEW VARIANCE.

>> A PICTURE THAT WAS JUST PUBLISHED IN NATURE TODAY I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT.

IT SHOWED THAT THE WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE PROCEEDED OUR DISCOVERY OF VARIANCE IN CLINICAL CASES BY 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO HELPS CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER DR. CHRISTOPHER LONGHURST.

HE SAYS SUIT IS COLLECTED AT THREE TREATMENT PLANTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

HE SAYS THE DATA-GATHERING ISN'T JUST FASTER THAN TESTING AND CLINICS, IT'S ALSO CHEAPER.

>> EVERY ONE OF OUR WASTEWATER TEST IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.

WHEREAS TESTING A CLINICAL SAMPLE TO FIND OUT, LET'S SAY IF I'M COVID POSITIVE, WHICH GENOMIC VARIANT AND CARRYING.

IT IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.

>> Reporter: THE POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER SAYS WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE CAN BE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR AREAS WHERE CLINICAL SURVEILLANCE IS LIMITED.

>> WE CAN TAKE ONE SAMPLE FROM THE WHOLE OF SAN DIEGO IN MANY CASES AND GETTING PRETTY GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

RATHER THAN HAVING TO SAMPLE EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN UC SAN DIEGO, SCRIP RESEARCH, AND STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

RESEARCHERS HAVE PRESENTED THE WASTEWATER DETECTION MODEL DIRECTLY TO THE CDs AND IT HAS SINCE BEEN MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

>> IT IS BECOME PRETTY WIDESPREAD ACTUALLY.

IT'S USED IN STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LABS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: WHILE EFFICIENT, WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE CAN REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> FF TESTING FACILITIES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MONITOR THIS.

>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS CAN GET INFORMATION AS FAST AS THREE DAYS AFTER SAMPLING, BUT THAT PROCESS COULD BE FASTER IF TESTING WAS DONE DIRECTLY AT THE TREATMENT PLANT.

RIGHT NOW SAMPLES HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED FOR TESTING.

THE MOST RECENT DATA SHOWS COVID INFECTIONS APPEAR TO BE LEVELING OFF OR COMING DOWN.

>> THAT IS ENCOURAGING TO US IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL STILL SEE THE IMPACT OF THE CIRCULATING VIRUS FROM FOURTH OF JULY ACTIVITIES AND OTHER HOLIDAY MIXING.

>> Reporter: MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A REMINDER THAT WE ARE STAYING ON TOP OF ALL THE LATEST PANDEMIC NEWS AT KPBS.ORG.

CLICK ON THE TRACKING COVID-19 TAB TO FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AS WELL AS RESOURCES LIKE TESTING LOCATIONS.

>>> MARVELS THOR RETURNS TO THE SCREEN WITH LOVE AND THUNDER.

CINEMA JUNKIE HAS THE REVIEW, BUT OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR WEEKEND VIEWING.

>> AS THE GOD OF THUNDER, MARVELS THOR HAD A CERTAIN BUILT-IN APPEAL.

BUT THAT STORY DIDN'T JOE UNTIL KIWI DIRECTOR TYCHO ATT WAS BROUGHT ON BOARD TO TAKE OVER THE NOT SO -- HE HAS INJECTED MUCH-NEEDED FUN AND ENERGY INTO THE THOR MOVIES AND THIS WEEKEND HE DELIVERS THOR, LOVE AND THUNDER.

IN WHICH THOR MEETS UP WITH HIS EX WHO IS SPORTING A NEW LOOK AND CATCHPHRASE.

TAIKA WAITITI HAS A GIFT FOR HUMOR, GETTING APPEALING PERFORMANCES FROM HIS CAST AND INJECTING A RELATABLE HUMANITY INTO EVEN GODS AND SUPERHEROES.

WITH LOVE AND THUNDER, HE ALSO ADDS SOME DARK LAYERS WITHIN EFFECTIVELY CREEPY TURN FROM CHRISTIAN BALE IS THE GOD BUTCHER.

THE FILM GOES OFF IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS, NEVER QUITE MAKING ANY ONE OF THEM FEEL COMPLETE.

THE END RESULT IS ENJOYABLE TO WATCH BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS ARE SUCH GOOD COMPANY, BUT THE STORY IS A MESS.

WHILE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF MARVEL, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL MS. MARVEL CURRENTLY STREAMING ON DISNEY PLUS.

THE SHOW DOVETAILS PERFECTLY OFF THE NEW SPIDER-MAN EXHIBIT AT THE COMIC-CON MUSEUM AS CURATOR AND SAUNDERS POINTS OUT.

>> YOU MAY BE WATCHING THE NEW MS. MARVEL TV SHOW RIGHT NOW, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT SHOW CAPTURES THE ENERGY OF THE SPIDER-MAN IN THE 1960s FOR A CONTEMPORARY 21ST-CENTURY AUDIENCE.

WRITE DOWN TO THE ALLITERATIVE INITIALS, THAT THE CONCEPT.

A TEENAGER WHO STUMBLES INTO THE POWERS AND THEN HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THEM.

THE TEMPLATE IS THE SPIDER-MAN TEMPLATE.

>> MS. MARVEL IS GENUINELY FUN AND CAPTURES THE USEFUL AND SOMETIMES CHAOTIC ENERGY OF ITS MAIN CHARACTER.

IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED OUT THE SHOW, THEN I URGE YOU TO GIVE IT A TRY.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

NIGHT BEAST, A BONKERS FILM SELECTED BY AUTHOR MATT ROTHMAN TO SCREEN THIS SATURDAY AT DIGITAL CINEMA WHERE HE WILL BE SIGNING COPIES OF HIS NEW BOOK, BONKERS ASKED CINEMA.

A GUIDE TO THE WILDEST OF HORROR AND EXPLOITATION.

HE HOPES SCREENING NIGHT BEAST AND SPREADING HIS BONKERS ECO- SWELL INSPIRE PEOPLE TO SEEK OUT MORE OF THESE FILMS AND RELAYS THE ONLY BAD MOVIES ARE THE BLAND ONES MADE WITHOUT PASSION.

>>> AND HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORY.

COVID-19 CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE RISING AGAIN, ALONG WITH THREE INFECTIONS.

THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS CALLING FOR INCREASED VIGILANCE AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTEND SUMMER EVENTS.

THEY'RE ALSO URGING EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED NOW THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE SIX MONTHS OF AGE AND OLDER.

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY YOU CAN ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THE VARIETY OF TREATMENT OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE.

>>> THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALS IS RECOMMENDED SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR MICHAEL MARTINEZ BE PLACED INTO A SUPERVISED HOME IN BORREGO SPRINGS.

TODAY MORE THAN A DOZEN RESIDENTS DROVE THE TWO HOURS TO SAN DIEGO TO URGE THE JUDGE TO REJECT THE PROPOSED MOVE.

THEY SAY NO ONE REACHED OUT TO THEM BEFORE THE ANNOUNCED OF THE PROPOSED PLACEMENT WAS MADE .

A DECISION FROM THE JUDGE IS EXPECTED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS.

>>> AND THE TO A LIST OF VAC BLOCK PARTY MARKS THE RETURN OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT FOLLOWING A PANDEMIC PAUSE.

THE EVENT HAPPENING NOW ON THIRD AVENUE FEATURING A LOW RIDER CAR SHOW, MULTIPLE VENDORS, LIVE MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, AND A CHILDREN'S FUN ZONE AND MORE.

IT LASTS THROUGH 9:00 TONIGHT.

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

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING ADDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY, BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR, RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL ONE 800 BILL HOWE OR VISIT BILL HOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PURVIS FOUNDATION.

DARLENE MARCO SHYLY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.