>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING THIS WEEKEND.

COMING UP, A STORY ABOUT CALIFORNIA FARMWORKERS THAT ARE FEATURED IN THIS MURAL.

>>> THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

SHOWING US THE WORK THAT CONTINUES TO UNDERSTAND THE CHANGING VIRUS.

AND SOMETHING NEW.

THIS STAR BREWERY LETS US IN ON SOME OF THE WORK HAPPENING AFTER THE RECENT TAKEOVER.

WE START WITH A STORY OF A LOCAL MAYOR FEARING FOR HER SAFETY.

SAYING SHE WILL NOT BACK DOWN IN SERVING THE RESIDENCE.

SHE TALKED WITH OUR REPORTER ABOUT THE THREATS TO HER AND HER FAMILY.

TO THIS TRANSLATES TO MENISCAL MALICE.

THIS CEMENT STRUCTURE IS THE SEAT OF THE POLITICAL POWER.

IT BELONGS TO THE MAYOR.

SHE SAYS IT IS NOT JUST FOR FANCY PHOTO OPS.

IT COMES WITH A HEAVY COST.

SAYING THAT IN A CITY LIKE TIJUANA, ELECTED OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND THE RISK OF HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.

SHE SHOULD KNOW.

THEY ARE MOVING INTO A MILITARY BASE NEXT WEEK.

IT CAME AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE MEXICAN NATIONAL GUARD AFTER RECEIVING MULTIPLE DEATH THREATS.

SAYING SHE GOT VOICEMAILS FROM MEN THREATENING TO KILL HER FAMILY UNLESS YOU RESIGNED.

>> BRACES MORE INTERESTING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF DEMOCRACY IN MEXICO.

WHO WILL RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> HEAD OF RESEARCH AT THE CENTER OF U.S. AND MEXICAN STUDIES.

MAYBE WHEN YOU HAVE THIS TYPE OF SITUATION HAPPEN, IT IS A QUESTION OF IF I WAS GOING TO RUN AS MAYOR, THESE ARE THE SECURITY CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW, AM I INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THAT?

>> SHE IS CERTAINLY TRYING TO PORTRAY HER CERTAIN SITUATION LIKE THAT.

THE MAYOR SAYS THAT HER ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN 1700 GUNS OFF THE STREET AND ARRESTED MORE THAN 60 MURDER SUSPECTS.

SHE CLAIMS THAT MAYORS IN OTHER CITIES ARE NOT BEING THREATENED.

IF SHE WERE IN LEAGUE WITH CARTELS, SHE WOULD NOT BE IN THE SITUATION.

DESPITE THE THREATS AGAINST HER, SHE WANTS THE PEOPLE OF TIJUANA TO KNOW THAT THE CITY IS STILL SAFE.

THOSE WHO DO NOT GO LOOKING FOR TROUBLE WILL NOT FIND ANY.

80% OF HOMICIDES ARE TIED TO DRUG SALES.

IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, 769 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

THERE IS A WAY TO MINIMIZE VIOLENT CRIME, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENS TO BAD PEOPLE.

>> WHEN IT IS JUST CRIMINALS KILLING EACH OTHER, THERE IS NO INCENTIVES TO ADDRESS IT.

>> AS LONG AS CRIME STAYS IN WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS, IT IS UNDER CONTROL.

THEY HAVE POURED INTO THE MANUFACTURING, AND CULINARY SECTORS.

THEY COULD SCARE OFF POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND TOURISTS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE PART OF THE BORDER THAT IS ALWAYS CAST IN THIS PERPETUAL ZONE OF CRISIS.

>> THEY ARE HAVING NO INTERACTION WITH CRIME.

SHE SAYS THAT SHE IS NOT AFRAID, SHE IS ATTENDING PUBLIC EVENTS AND HAS NO PLAN TO STEP DOWN.

>>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS MORE OF A FACTOR.

THE DAY-TO-DAY CHANGE DONE BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

HOW OUR ELECTED LEADERS DOING ON THIS ISSUE.

THE REGION'S SECOND ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARD.

>> A's AND B'S DOMINATED THE REPORT CARD.

MEASURED VOTES ON KEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LAST YEAR.

GOD A A FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

>> WE MUST KEEP SUSTAINABILITY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL WE DO IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

WE MUST KEEP FIGHTING FOR THESE PRIORITIES ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS.

>> THEY CONSIDERED VOTES ON FOSSIL FUELS AND BIODIVERSITY'S.

THEY SAY THAT THE POSITIVE REVIEWS ARE GOOD.

>> WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

WE ARE ACTUALLY BEHIND.

WE NEED TO SPEED UP IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENDING CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> HE WAS EVALUATED ON 15 KEY ISSUES AND GOT A C. A MIDDLE-OF- THE-ROAD GRADE MEANS THAT HE DID WELL SOME OF THE TIME BUT NOT SO WELL AT OTHER TIMES.

>> THE MAYOR MADE SOME PROGRESS ON CLIMATE ACTION IN 2022, THERE ARE SOME KEY AREAS THAT WE FELT LIKE DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION.

AND DID NOT GET US CLOSE TO MEETING THE CLIMATE ACTION GOALS.

>> IT IGNORES SOME OF THE CLIMATE RELATED ACTIONS AND USES QUESTIONABLE METHODOLOGY.

GLORIA IS THE LEADING CLIMATE CHAMPION WHEN IT COMES TO LEADING POLICIES.

ORGANIZERS SAY THAT TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT.

>> THE STORY BEHIND THE NEW MAYOR IS ABOUT SACRIFICES MADE BY FARMWORKERS.

TELLING US HOW THE PHYSICAL PAIN LED TO POLITICAL CHANGE.

>> CARS WHIZZED BY ON THE FREEWAY ABOVE.

ARTIST OF THE MURAL GIVES A SNEAK PEEK TO A CURIOUS FAMILY.

>> THE PAST, THE STRUGGLE, AND AT THE BOTTOM.

>> DIVIDING THE MURAL IS AN ARTIST SPIRAL COLUMN THAT MIRRORS THE FARMWORKERS TOILING IN THE FIELDS ABOVE.

MAURICE LED THE FIGHT USED BY FARMWORKERS IN CALIFORNIA.

THEY CALL IT THE DEVIL'S ARM.

THE EIGHT INCH HANDLE FORCE THEM TO STOOP OVER ALL DAY.

HE SHOULD FIGHT, IT WAS A CHANCE MEETING AND IT WAS A POOL CALL IN 1970 THAT CONVINCED HIM.

>> HE TOLD ME -- >> HE CAME BACK AND BROUGHT IT BACK.

THE WORKER CHALLENGED HIM.

WE KNOW HOW BAD IT IS, WE HAVE TO LOSE IT.

I REMEMBER DRIVING DOWN THE VALLEY AT DAWN, SPENDING THE DAY BENT OVER AND I REMEMBER THAT DAY WAS TORTURE.

>> HE WENT TO THE LAW LIBRARY AND FOUND NO LAWS.

>> I LEARNED THAT FROM DOCTORS IT WAS WORSE THAN JUST THE PAIN.

>> HE FILED A LAWSUIT.

FARMWORKERS ARE RETIRING YOUNG WITH DESTROYED BACKS.

PERMANENTLY DISABLED IN WHEELCHAIRS.

THE DISCS IN THEIR SPINES WERE RUPTURED.

>> I LEARNED THAT THE FARMWORKERS WERE JUST A TOOL.

THEY BECAME DISABLED BECAUSE OF BACK INJURY AND THEY JUST WENT TO MEXICO.

>> GROWERS CLAIMED IT WAS NEEDED FOR EFFICIENCY.

WHEN HE SURVEYED GROWERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HE FOUND THAT THE SAME WORK WAS BEING DONE WITH A LEVELING HANDLE FOLLOW EVERYWHERE EXCEPT FOR ARIZONA.

IT WAS ABOUT CONTROL.

>> SLAVEOWNERS HAD WHIPS AND GUNS THAT THEY USED TO KEEP WORKERS WORKING.

>> KEPT WORKERS BENT LOW WHEN OTHERS WERE TRYING TO UNIONIZE THEM TO STAND UP.

IT MADE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO SUPERVISE.

>> ONE SUPERVISOR SUPERVISING 50 OR 60 WORKERS.

>> FARMWORKERS ORGANIZED ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY RISK THEIR LIVELIHOODS TO TESTIFY DURING THE LEGAL BATTLE.

THEY BANNED THE SHORT HANDLED HOE IN 1975.

WE HAVE THAT BUT IT IS ONE OTHER THING.

>> RETIRED, HE STILL SPEAKS OF ALL THE WORK LEFT TO DO.

THEY ARE STILL DYING IN THE FIELD OF HEAT EXHAUSTION.

A PREVENTABLE ILLNESS.

WE HAVE TO GET BEYOND THE BELIEF THAT FARMERS ARE JUST TOOLS.

IT IS HARMFUL.

YES, IT CAN BE DONE.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> NOTABLE BLACK AMERICAN PAINTER PHONE AND KISSED AT THE MUSEUM.

AFTER PAINTING OFFICIAL PORTRAITS OF THE OBAMA'S.

SHOWING US MORE OF HIS WORK.

>> RISING TO SUPER BOWL STAYMAN AFTER IT WAS IN VEILED IN 2018.

HE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN FINE ART.

>> IT IS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE CURRENT OUR WORLD.

LIKE A ROCKSTAR ARTIST.

>> THIS PAINTING IS HUGE.

WITH AN ORNATE GOLDEN FRAME AND VIVID BACKGROUND, IT IS EYE- CATCHING FROM FAR AWAY.

A BLACK MAN DRESSED IN MODERN CLOTHING RIDES A HORSE.

THIS IS A THROUGH LINE IN HIS ART.

HE TAKES TRADITIONAL PAINTINGS AND REPLACES THE CHARACTERS WITH BLACK MODELS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

RECLAIMING CONCEPTS OF HEROISM AND GLORY.

>> THINKING ABOUT HOW THOSE FIGURES HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE FOCUS OF ART.

HE IS MAKING IT AS VIBRANT AS POSSIBLE.

>> IT IS A GALLERY FULL OF DUTCH AND FLEMISH PAINTINGS.

SIDE-BY-SIDE OUT SIZING THE WORLD FAMOUS REMBRANDT.

HE IS THE ARTIST.

THIS PART OF THE MUSEUM IS OUR HISTORY LESSON.

>> THIS IS A WAY TO CELEBRATE THE 17th CENTURY.

INTRODUCING HIM INTO THE CONVERSATION MAKES IT MUCH MORE INTERESTING.

>> IT IS ALWAYS FREE TO THE PUBLIC WHICH IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE MISSION OF THE AFRICAN- AMERICAN MUSEUM OF FINE ART.

IT DOES NOT HAVE A PHYSICAL SPACE.

THEY RELY ON COLLABORATION.

THEIR AIM IS TO GET IMPORTANT BLACK ART IN FRONT OF AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> TO BRING THE BEST ART IN THE WORLD TO SAN DIEGO.

THIS IS AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> WILL BE ON DISPLAY NEXT MAY.

>>> A NEW PLACE TO GO FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THIS IS HAPPENING IN GOLDEN HILL.

BE PREPARED, EXPERTS GIVE US ADVICE ON HOW TO STAY SAFE WHILE HIKING.

THERE IS INTEREST AND PUSHBACK TO EASE TRAFFIC IN PACIFIC BEACH.

ANOTHER THING THAT IS POPULAR IN SAN DIEGO IS COMMUNITY CHOICE ENERGY.

ERIC ANDERSON HAS THE NUMBERS BEHIND A BIG SHIFT IN HOW CUSTOMERS ARE CHOOSING TO SPEND THEIR MONEY.

>> MORE THAN 80% OF CUSTOMERS NOW BY ELECTRICITY FROM SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER OR THE CLEAN ENERGY ALLIANCE.

THE NUMBERS JUMP TO 90% NEXT YEAR WHEN OCEANSIDE AND VISTA MAKE THE TRANSITION.

PROMISING TO BUY CHEAPER POWER FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES.

>> THIS WILL CONTINUE OUR PRIMARY MISSION OF BEING AN INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANY AND PROVIDING BEST IN CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE.

>> THEY WILL MAINTAIN THE GRADE AND STILL HANDLE BILLING.

THE ONLINE ACCOUNTS ARE GETTING AN OVERHAUL WHICH BREAKS UP THE BILL INTO THREE PARTS.

>> ONE WOULD BE A DELIVERY CHARGE.

THAT IS THE PIPES AND WIRES THAT GET THE ELECTRICITY TO YOUR HOME.

>> THE ACTUAL COST OF ELECTRICITY AND FINALLY, PRIVATE PURPOSE FEES.

POWERING THE LARGER OF THE TWO POWER BUYING AGENCIES WITH 900,000 CUSTOMERS.

>> I BELIEVE IT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE CUSTOMER BASE.

MOST OF THE PROFITS WILL GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> CLEARING THE WAY FOR NONPROFITS TO TAKE ON THE NON- POWER BUYING ROLE.

AN INTERESTING IDEA SURGED IN RECENT YEARS AS ELECTRICITY PRICES SPIRALED UPWARD.

25 AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE TWO IN SAN DIEGO THAT BY POWER FOR SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS IN 200 CITIES, TOWNS, AND COMMUNITIES.

>>> THREE YEARS AGO THE COVID PANDEMIC WAS GATHERING STEAM.

THEY STARTED PROCESSING THOUSANDS OF COVID TESTS PER DAY.

THOMAS MITCHELL SAYS HOW HELIX PARTNERED WITH SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO KEEP IT CONTAINED.

>> YOU MIGHT'VE HEARD OF PCR COVID TEXTING.

>> THE MACHINERY WE SEE TAKES IT BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THIS ALLOWS US TO HAVE A YES OR NO ANSWER, DO YOU HAVE COVID OR DO YOU NOT HAVE COVID.

>> THE UP OR DOWN ON THE TEST IS NOT THE ONLY THING HE LEARNED FROM THOSE SAMPLES.

>> THE SAMPLES THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD COVID AND WE WOULD GO BACK TO THE PROCESS AND DO VIRAL SEQUENCING.

WE LOOK AT THE GENOME OF THIS VIRUS AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE VIRUS HAS EVOLVED.

>> MARK LAURENT IS THE VP OF OPERATIONS.

THE COMPANY PARTNERED WITH SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND OTHERS TO PROVIDE COVID TESTING TO THE PUBLIC.

DURING THE PANDEMIC AND SINCE THEN, HE HAS ALSO TRACKED VIRUS VARIANCE AS IT HAS GONE FROM ALPHA, DELTA AND OMICRON.

>> THAT IS A MIND-BOGGLING NUMBER.

>> THEY HAD TO HIRE 200 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AND USE A ROBOTIC TESTING SYSTEM TO MEET THE DEMAND.

A LOT OF THE TESTING WAS FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY.

EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC IT WAS HERE THAT THEY COULD NOT PROCESS ENOUGH COVID TESTS.

HE ASKED EVERYONE HE KNEW HOW HE COULD SOLVE THE TESTING DILEMMA.

>> I REACHED OUT TO MY FRIEND AND SAID ARE THERE ANY COMPANIES DOING THIS?

HE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THEM AND HE ALSO MENTIONED HELIX.

>> THE ARRANGEMENT SET UP WITH HELIX WAS THE FOUNDATION OF THE PANDEMIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

COVID TESTING LED TO COVID TRACING.

MASS VACCINATION CENTERS LIKE THOSE OUTSIDE OF PETCO PARK THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE COVID SHOTS EVERY DAY.

LOOKING BACK ON THE TESTING PARTNERSHIP AS NOVEL AND SUCCESSFUL.

>> WAS A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, RIGHT?

FOR THE PUBLIC.

>> IT IS WORTH MORE THAN $88 MILLION IN COUNTY CONTRACTS WITH HELIX.

INSISTING THAT THE PRICE THEY PAID DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS A GOOD DEAL.

IT WAS HALF OF WHAT OTHER COMPANIES WERE ASKING FOR.

TODAY HELIX IS SEQUENCING THE GENOMES OF PEOPLE AND VIRUSES IN COLLABORATION WITH HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE U.S. HEAD OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES SAYS THAT THE CORONAVIRUS IS SMALL MOVING COMPARED TO THE FLU.

IT MOVED QUICK DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHEN THE COVID PANDEMIC HAPPENED, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED THAT EVEN IF THE BASE RATE WAS LOWER, THERE WAS MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VIRUS TO REPLICATE.

YOU CAN GENERATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF CHANGE.

>> THE LATEST DOMINATE SUB VARIANT HAS BEEN IN THE U.S.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

AND HAS NOT POSED A SERIOUS THREAT.

>> IT DOES NOT SHOW IMMUNITY THROUGH INFECTION, IT WILL TAKE A LOT TO CAUSE A HUGE SURGE AGAIN.

WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST.

>> SAMPLES ARE TESTED FOR OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES LIKE THE FLU.

THEY WILL ALSO TEST FOR OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES THAT I'VE SEEN A RECENT OUTBREAK.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THE STONE BREWERY A YEAR AFTER BEING ACQUIRED.

THE BREWERY IS READY TO RELEASE BEERS TO THE U.S. MARKET.

ALEXANDER WIN SHOWS THAT IT INVOLVES MAKING SOME BIG CHANGES.

>> ENTER IN THE GARGOYLE HERE.

>> THAT IS THE PROTECTOR OF OUR BEER.

WHEN THE JAPANESE BEER GIANT WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW U.S.-BASED BREWERY IT WAS LOOKING FOR ONE THAT HAD THE CAPACITY TO GET THE PRODUCT ONTO THE MARKET.

THEY MET FIREMEN.

>> WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A PARTNER, THEY LOOK AT SOMEONE WHO CAN EXPAND AND A BRAND THAT THEY CAN FURTHER DEVELOP.

THEY FULLY DEVELOP AND WE CONTINUE TO INNOVATE INTO THE FUTURE.

>> THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SAYING THAT WHILE STILL HAVING THE CAPACITY TO BREW THIS BEER RIGHT AWAY, THERE WAS STILL A LEARNING CURVE TO GET THE RECIPE JUST RIGHT.

>> I DID THE FIRST BIG BREW, IT FAILED.

THERE WERE NUMEROUS LESSONS LEARNED.

IT DID NOT SCALE THE WAY WE WANTED TO.

>> THE CORE PROCESS OF BREWING BEER WAS ALREADY SIMILAR TO HOW IT WAS BREWING IT'S BEER.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE YEAST.

>> IT IS UNDERVALUED HOW IMPORTANT THE YEAST IS.

AFTER 10 MONTHS AND SEVERAL TRIES LATER, THE FIRST BATCHES OF LOCALLY BREWED BEER.

>> THIS IS IMPORTED AND THEY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME THEY'LL TASTE EXACTLY THE SAME.

>> IT TASTES CRISPIER BECAUSE IT IS LOCALLY BREWED.

IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE LOCALLY BREWED SAPPORO WILL BE AVAILABLE.

IT IS UNDER THE EXPERIMENTAL LOGGER LABELS.

THEY NEED TO UPGRADE THE FACILITY TO HANDLE BREWING SAPPORO AND ITS OWN BEERS.

>> WHILE YES, SOME MIGHT BE COMING FROM OVERSEAS, A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND LABOR WILL BE RIGHT HERE AT SAN DIEGO MARKET.

>> MORE JOBS FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

>>> AND ALL-STAR BASEBALL TEAM IS FIGHTING FOR A SPOT IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.

VISITING THE TEAM AS PLAYERS PREPARED FOR THE FINAL QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT.

>> A LOCAL INSTITUTION.

THIS LITTLE LEAGUE HAS 144 TEAMS.

1800 PLAYERS, A NINE ACRE COMPLEX AND EVEN CROSSTRAINING AND SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST.

THEY HAVE A PROUD HISTORY OF PRODUCING MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS.

THAT IS RIGHT, PADRES LEGEND ADRIAN GONZALEZ PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE HERE.

HE IS THE LEAGUE PRESIDENT.

HE SAYS IT IS COMMON FOR KIDS IN SAN DIEGO TO PLAY BASEBALL SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

>> YOU KNOW WHY, THEY COME PLAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE LEVEL THAT WE PLAY ON THE LEAGUE HERE IS AWESOME.

>> THIS ALL-STAR TEAM FEATURES KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYING TOGETHER SINCE THEY WERE THREE YEARS OLD.

THEY DOMINATED THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCORING 37 ON THE WAY TO THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> THEY ARE VERY GOOD TEAM.

THEY ARE SUPER SMART AND HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

>> IF THEY WIN ME LOCAL TOURNAMENT THEY WILL REPRESENT MEXICO IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.

THE COACH ALSO COACHED THE 2013 LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM THAT MADE ALL THE WAY TO THE SEMIFINAL GAME AGAINST JAPAN.

HE SAYS THAT RETURNING TO WILLIAMSPORT WOULD GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES.

WHY DO THEY PRODUCE SO MANY GOOD BASEBALL PLAYERS?

IT IS THE LOCAL COMPETITION.

THERE ARE 2000 PLAYERS IN THIS LEAGUE AND THEY COMPETE AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.

HE ALSO SAYS THAT THERE ARE NOT ANY STAR PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM.

NO BIG EGOS.

THEY GREW UP TOGETHER.

THEY ARE MORE LIKE BROTHERS THAN TEAMMATES.

THAT IS ONE MESSAGE THAT THE PLAYERS HAVE REALLY BOUGHT INTO.

HERE IS THE RESPONSE WHEN ASKED TO THE BEST PLAYER ON THE TEAM IS?

ALL OF US.

WE ARE ALL ONE UNIT.

ANOTHER PLAYER WATCHES THE WILLIAMSPORT TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR ON TV.

ACTUALLY GETTING TO PLAY AND IT WOULD BE PRETTY AWESOME.

AS IN SAN DIEGO, IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.

PARENTS TRAVEL WITH THE TEAM.

THEY BRING DRUMS AND THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CHANTS READY TO GO.

THIS IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITES.

ONE OF THE TEAM MOMS WHO HAS SEEN HOW HARD THE KIDS TRAIN AND THAT INSPIRES THE PARENTS TO PUT IN JUST AS MUCH EFFORT, IF NOT MORE.

IT IS A SACRIFICE.

PARENTS SPEND THEIR ENTIRE WEEKENDS GOING TO BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS.

IT IS NOT CHEAP.

THEY SET UP A GOFUNDME PAGE TWO TRAVEL EXPENSES.

IF THEY WIN THAT, THEY WILL REPRESENT MEXICO IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES IN AUGUST.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.