[ ♪♪ ] [ ♪♪ ] >> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

COMNG UP, THE TALENT POOL SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

TECH COMPANIES FIND SUCCESS IN TIJUANA AS THEY TRY TO FILL OPEN JOBS A PREMIERE THAT TAKES ON A DEEPE MEANING.

TE SAN DIEGO OPERA LAUNCHES A NEW SHOW FROM A LONG-TIME MEMBER WHO PASSED AWAY JUST WEEKS AGO.

AND SUPERCHARGING THE MOVE TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS THE EPA ANNOUNCS AGGRESSIVE, NEW EW EW FIRST, THEY ALREADY HAVE A BIG WIN AGAINST COMPANIES UNDER úTHEIR BELT AND NOW A LOCAL LAW FIRM WANTS TO TAKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES FOR THE IMPACT THEY'RE HAVING ON KIDS.

WE HAVE THIS REPORT.

>> porter: IT ISN'T THE BEST SPRING BREAK WEATHER BUT MIGUEL SANCHEZ BROUGHT HIS GRANDCHILDREN HERE TO CORE NADEAU TIDELANDS PARK FOR SOME FUN THIS AFTERNOON.

HIS TWIN GRANDSONS AND GRANDDAUGHTER ENJOY PLAYING OUTSIDE.

THEY ALSO ENJOY THEIR CELLPHONES AND PLAYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE OST OF THEIR CLASSMATES.

>> THEY CAN HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE MORE SENSE BECAUSE USUALLY THAT'S WHERE YOU FIND MORE FRIENDS AND LIKE BUILD MORE COMMUNICATION.

>> I USE IT SOMETIMES FOR LARNING AND SOMETIMES FOR FUN.

>> Reporter: IT IS NOT THE FUN THESE ATTORNEYS ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

THE FUNDS LAW FIRM FILED A LAWSUIT REPRESENTING 21 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.- THE DISTRITS CLAIM THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR STUDENTS IS BEING HURT BY ALGORITHMS, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS USE TO GET CHILDREN HOOKED.

>> WE DON'T NEED THESE SECRET LITTLE ALGORITHMS OUT THERE TRYING TO GET YOU ADDICTED WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW YOU'RE BEING ADDICTED SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT.

THAT' THE KEY TO THIS WHOLE CASE.

>> Reporter: THE 107-PAGE LAWSUIT LISTS EVIDENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH HARMS SUFFERED BY CHILDREN USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR HOURS EVERY DAY.

IT SPECIFICALLY TARGETS THE MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND THEIR PARENT COMPANIES THAT INCLUDES META, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND ALPHABET, OWNER OF YOUTUBE.

STILL IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THERE ARE TWO DISTRICTS INVOLVED IN- THE SOCIAL MEDIA LAWSUIT.

CORNADO UNIFIED AND OCEANSIDE UNIFIED.

ACCORDING TO ATTORNEYS, IN TOTAL, THERE ARE MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS COVERED BY THE LAWSUIT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE FRANZ LAW GROUP HAS MOST RECENTLY GONE AFTER VAPING PRODUCTS.

THEY JOINED LAWSUITS FROM SEVERAL STATES AGAINST JEWEL LABS.

JUST THIS WEEK, TAKING PART OF THE $462 MILLION SETTLEMENT JEWEL AGREED TO PAY FOR MARKETING NICOTIN TO MINORS.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS NEXT.

T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. T. MEDIA USE MORE HEALTHY AND IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR CHILDREN TO NOT BE CONSUMNG THESE NEGATIVE IMAGES ALL THE TIME.

>> Reporter: THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AREN'T SAYING MUCH H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H BUT TIKTOK CEO USED HIS PLATFORM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HIS COMPANY S DOING.

>> I'LL BE TESTIFYING BEFORE CONGRESS LATER THIS WEEK TO SHARE ALL WE'RE DOING TO PROTECT AMERICANS USING THE APP AND DELIVER ON OUR MISSION TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY AND BRING JOY.

>> Reporter: MIGUEL SANCHEZ SAYS HE'LL KEEP CLOSE WATCH ON HIS GRANDCHILDREN.

ON THE PLAYGROUND AND ONLINE.

M.G.

PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>> SOME OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS TO úFILL RIGHT NOW ARE I.T.

JOBS WITH NEARLY ONE MILLION OPENINGS LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DEATH.

OUR BORDER PORTER GUSTAVO SOLIS SHOW US HOW TECH COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO TIJUANA FOR HELP.

>> Reporter: THIS OFFICE HAS úEVERYTHING YOU'D EXPECT FROM A SILICON VALLEY TECH COMPANY.

FREE FOOD, ART-COVERED WALLS, BOARD GAMES, AND STUNNING VIEWS.

EXCEPT THESE VIEWS OF OF THE TIJUANA SKYLINE AND THE MEXICAN BRDER AND THIS IS A SIGN OF TIJUANA'S BOOMING TECH SECTOR MOSTLY FUELED BY THE FACT THAT HERE AREN'T ENOUGH AMERICAN- ENGINEERS TO FILL I.T.

JOBS NORTH OF THE BORDER.

>> I DO SEE THAT THE REASON OF OUR EXISTENCE IF YOU WILL IS BECAUSE HERE IS THIS EXTREME NEED FOR ENGINEERS IN THE U.S. AND RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE NOT MEETING THAT DEMAND.

>> Reporter: THAT'S OMAR PARA, ENGINEERING DIRECTOR WITH ITIJUANA CONNECTING AMERICAN COMPANIES WITH MEXICA TALENT.

>> BASICALLY, WE BUILT A TEAM FOR YOU.

>> Reporter: TEAMS INCLUDE EVERYTHING.

ENGINERS, MANAGERS, SITE DIRECTORS, NOT TO MENTION SOFTWARE DEVELOPER WELL-VERSED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

LIK -- >> IOS DEVELOPMENT, ANDROID, FULL STAFF, WEB, CLOUD, DEVELOPS, DBAs AND SO ON.

>> Reporter: ITIJUANA CURRENTLY HAS 400 EMPLOYEES úCONTRACTED WITH AMERICAN COMPANIES.

PARA EXPECTS THAT NUMBER TO GROW O 1,000 WITHIN TWO YEARS.

ERNANDO TORRES CALLS THIS THE úPANDEMIC LAY-OFF BOOM.

HE WORKS FOR SOFTTECH, THE LARGEST I.T.

NEW SHORING COMPANY IN MEXICO.

TORRS SAYS AMERICAN COMPANIES INCREASE THEIR WORKFORCE AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC BUT TARTED LAYING OFF THOSE NEW HIRES IN JANUARY.

NOW THEY'RE REVERTING BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC STAFFING LEVELS.

TORRES SAYS THAT THE COMPANIES THAT LAID OFF WORKERS ARE NOW SEEKING MORE COST-EFFECTIVE OPTIONS IN MEXICO.

>> WE HAD SO MUCH WORK THAT WE COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH IT.

>> Rporter: DAVID FISCHMAN IS SEEING THE SAME THING.

HE'S CEO OF THE SPARROW COMPANY.

A RECRUITING FIRM THAT HELPS COMPANIES FIND WORKERS IN MEXICO.

HE SAYS THAT THE PANDEMIC DISRUPTON TO GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS FORCED COMPANIES TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND FOR A LOT OF THEM, THAT MEANT MEXICO.

>> NOT JUST THE BIG MULTINATIONALS BUT THE SMALLER, YOU KNOW, THE 50 MILLION TO% $100 MILLION COMPANIES SAYING, HEY, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD I.T.

STAFF, EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO MEXICO.

>> Reporter: THERE IS SO MUCH INTEREST IN MEXICAN I.T.

WORKERS THAT IT'S GETTING HARDER TO FIND THEM.

FISCHMAN SAYS THEY TRY TO LURE úWORKERS WITH MORE MONEY BUT NOW IT'S MORE COMMON THAT THOSE WORKERS WILL GET A COUNTEROFFER TO STAY.

>> LET'S SAY THE CANDIDATE IS MAKIN 45,000 PESOS, WE OFFER 60,000 PESOS, WHICH IS A DECENT RAISE, OKAY, AND THEN THEY OFFER THEM 70 TO STAY.

OKAY?

AND THEN THEY TURN OUR CUSTOMER DOWN.

>> IT WAS VERY INTERESTING -- >> Reporter: BACK IN TIJUANA, PARA HOPES TO AVOID THE COMPETITIO BY INVESTING IN DEVELOPING LOCAL TALENT.

ITIJUANA HAS MULTIPLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH TIJUANA UNIVERSITIES.

>> AT WE'VE DONE IS INVEST HEAVILY IN PROGRAMS LIKE THE TRAINEE PROGRAM WITH UNIVERSITIES.

>> Reporter: TIJUANA HAS MORE úTHAN 35 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES AND MORE THAN ,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS.

DOZENS OF THEM WORK AS PART-TIME TRAINEES AT ITIJUANA.

>> WE PUT THEM IN REAL JOBS, REAL TEAMS, REAL PROJECTS.

>> Reporter: A GROUP OF STUDENTS TOURED THE ITIJUANA OFFICES DURING OUR VISIT THERE.

THE COULD BE WORKING THERE ONE DAY.

GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRENDS IN TECH RIGHT NOW IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

KPBS TECH REPORTER THOMAS BUDGET CHECKED IN WITH ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S BIGGEST TECH COMPANIES.

>> Reporter: THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER AT SAN DIEGO STATE IS TRYING TO CREATE PROGRAMS THAT USE A.I.

TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN MANY DIFFERENT SETTINGS BUT ONCE THE PROGRAMS ARE CREATED ON A SUPERCOMPUTER, THEY HAVE TO START WORKING ON- DEVICES THAT AREN'T SO SUPER.

p>> WHEN IT'S TRAINED AND WE'RE PAST THIS DEVELOPMENT STAGE, IT'S GOING TO NEED TO EXIST ON DEVICES THAT CAN ACTUALLY RUN THEM THAT AREN'T SO -- THEY DON'T TAKE A LOT OF POWER, THEY CAN HANDLE THESE ALGORITHMS SO IT FITS IN MORE THE EDGE AND ACTUALLY USING A.I.

>> QUALCOMM IS PUSHING THE LIMITS OF TECHNOLOGIES LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> Reporter: A QUALCOMM PROMOTIONAL FILM FEATURING ACTRESS MICHELLE YEOH IS TRYING TO LINK QUALCOMM WITH A.I.

IN THE MIND OF THE MARKET.

DON MAGUIRE IS CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER FOR QUALCOMM.

HE SAYS THE COMING GROWTH OF A.I.

POSES A DIFFICULT QUESTION.

>> WITH THE ADVENT OF GENERATIVE A.I.

IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE MODELS, PEOPLE ACTUALLY EXPECT WHEN THEY'RE QUERYING CHATGPT FOR EXAMPLE AND ANSWERS ARE COMING BACK, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM, HOW IS THAT HAPPENING?

TODAY IT'S HAPPENING PRIMARILY IN THE CLOUD, RIGHT, AT A DEATH CENTER SOMEWHERE.

ô Reporter: THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, HE SAYS, DATA CENTERS DON'T HAVE THE POWER AND THE ECONOMIC MODEL TO ACCOMMODAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS ITS USE INCREASES.

>> SO REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR THIS ALL TO WORK AT SCALE IS A.I.

HAS% TO BECOME HYBRID MEANING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMPUTATION AND BEHAVIORAL ALGORITHMS HAVE TO BE DONE ON DEVICE AS WELL AS IN THE CLOUD.

>> Reporter: AND THAT, MAGUIRE SAYS, IS WHERE QUALCOMM COMES IN.

HE SAYS ON DEVICE A.I.

NOT ONLY APPLIES TO SMARTPHONES AND LAPTOPS BUT TO MANUFACTURING PROGRAMS AND TO CARS.

ONE QUALCOMM PRODUCT FOR CARS IS CALLED A DIGITAL CHASSIS THAT INCLUDES DRIVER-ASSIST FUNCTIONS THAT FALL JUST SHORT OF DRIVERLESS CAR TECHNOLOGY.

YET BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DRIVER ASSISTANCE GOING ON IN LEVEL 2 úAND 3 VEHICLES FROM $30,000 ALL TE WAY TO $100,000 LIKE LANE ASSIST, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE DETECTING IF YOU'RE SLEEPY, DROWSY AND GIVING YOU NOTIFICATION MAYBE YOU SHOULD LL OVER AND GET COFFEE.

>> Reporter: MARKETING COMPUTER CHIPS FOR ARTIFICIAL GEL INTENSE CAN BE A CHALLENGE SIN CHIPS ARE NOT THE KIND OF THINGS CONSUMERS RELATE TO.

BUT QUALCOMM IS TRYING TO GET CONSUMERS WHO CARE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY TO BECOME AWARE OF QUALCOMM'S DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND EVERYTHING FROM COMPUTERS TO CARS.

>> SOME DAY, IDEALLY, AS THE CEO OF QUALCOMM, I WANT A CONSUMER WALKING INTO A DEALERSHIP AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS CAR POWERED BY SNAP DRAG ON?

>> Reporter: THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>> HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST READ STORIES THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

A PLAT FEE IS PROPOSED TO UTILITY BILLS BASED ON INCOME.

LASTING BENEFITS COULD COME BEYOND BASKETBLL.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE DEADLINE IS EXTENDED THIS YEAR, OUR Q&A ON TAX ADVICE IS GETTIN A LOT OF VIES.

HERE IS THAT STORY FROM MELISSA MAE.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR, SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENTS DO NOT úHAVE TO HAVE THEIR TAXES COMPLETED BY APRIL 18th.

>> WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY OUR IRS PARTNERS IS THAT THE TAX EXTENSION TO OCTOBER 16th IS AVAILABLE FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENTS AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTIES THAT QUALIFY WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE STORMS.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO MAKE LESS THAN $60,000 A YEAR ALSO QUALIFY FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION.

>> WE STILL RECOMMEND THAT FOLKS ) THEY'RE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME, TO GET THEIR TAXES FILED BY APRIL 18th BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE BULK OF THE FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE.

>> Reporter: SINCE THE START OF THIS YEAR'S TAX SEASON, THE EITC OR EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT COALITION HAVE COMPLETED OVER °1,000 TAX RETURNS.

THAT'S ALMOST 2,000 MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

AND $20 MILLION IN REFUNDS HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

>> YOU WANT TO BE COORDINATED IN OUR APPROACH SO THAT ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THIS SERVICE ARE GIVING OUT THE SAME MESSAGE AND PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y. Y.

MADE UP OF OVER 35 DIFFERENT RGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

PROVIDING FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES.

IN NORTH COUNTY EAST, CENTRAL, SOUTH BAY AS WELL, AND ALSO ONE AS TO DO IS CALL 211 AND THEY CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANY OF THE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

>> Reporter: ALL OF THE COALITION PARTNERS ARE CERTIFIED AND ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMUNITY >> THEY CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE VERY FRIENDLY, THEY MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT VERY WARM AND WELCOMING, AND IT'S NOT >> Reporter: THESE PEOPLE HAVE USED THIS FREE TAX ASSISTANCE FOR YEARS.

>> THIS IS SUCH A GREAT SERVICE.

WE ENJOY THE TIME BEING HERE AND - IT'S SO EFFICIENT AND THE BEST PART IS WE GET ALL THIS GREAT SERVIC FOR NOTHING.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY A PENNY.

THE PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY UNDERSTANDING.

- IF YOU ARE MISSING SOMETHING, YOU WILL HAVE THE TIME TO PROBABLY GO GET WHATEVER YOU'RE MISSING AND COME BACK AND THEY WILL STILL HELP YOU.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNSURE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THE úEXTENSION OR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES, SHOULD CALL 211.

MELISSA MAE, KPBS NEWS.

>> NICOLAS RAVELOS DIED LAST MONTH FROM PANCREATIC CANCER.

THIS WEEKEND, HIS OPERA GHOSTS WILL HAVE ITS WORLD PREMIERE AT THE BALBOA THEATRE.

KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH HAS A PREVIEW.

>> Rorter: LAST SUMMER, THERE WAS ONE OPERA SHOWING AND PREPPING ANOTHER AT SAN DIEGO OPERA.

>> VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, TO - BE PRODUCED BY MY HOME COMPANY AS WELL AS -- I MEAN, IT'S BIG% PROFESSIONAL OPERA COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES SO I HOPE WE'LL GET SOME NOTICE FOR IT.

>> Reporter: THEY WERE DELIGHTED EVEN MORE WAS THE OPERA WAS A GENRE HE LOVED.

>> THE HORROR IS UP FRONT AND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ♪ Singing ♪ ] >> Reporter: BUT LAST OCTOBER, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER.

HE DIED JUST SIX WEEKS BEFORE THIS FRIDAY'S WORLD PREMIERE OF "GHOSTS" AN EVENING OF THREE ONE-CT HORROR-INSPIRED OPERAS BUT WITH A TITLE LIKE "GHOSTS" PERHAS HE KNEW HE WOULD BE HAUNTING THE REHEARSAL HALL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE JOKE ABOUT IT.

IT'SIN THE TEXT, WE CAN SAY THAT'S NICK RIGHT THERE FOR SURE, THAT MOMENT, OR IT FEELS LIKE SOMEHOW WE'RE STILL EXHANGING IDEAS AND ASKING FOR HI BLESSING ON THE CHOICES WE MAKE.

>> HE GAVE ME THIS BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL THAT I KEEP IN MY POCKET OR BY MY MUSIC STAND AND EVERY TIME I'M STUCK, I'LL JUST GRAB THE CRYSTAL AND HOLD IT AND FLIP IT AROUND IN MY HAND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE IDEAS WILL COME TO ME.

SO NICK IS DEFINITELY HERE WITH US LAUGHING, CRYING, GETTING VERY INVOLVED AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT AN úAMAZING PREMIERE TO COMMEMORATE HIM.

ô> I MEAN, NICK WAS -- >> Reporter: BACK IN DECEMBER, RAVELOS WAS IN HOSPICE BUT STILL WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR.

>> I WANT JUMP SCARES.

I WANT EVERYTHING A HORROR MOVIE WOULD HAVE.

>> Reporter: THEY BONDED OVER SOME SHARED PASSIONS.

>> NICK LOVED HORROR AND I LOVE HORROR, BUT WE ALSO LOVE OPERA AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT BOTH HORROR AND OPERA HAVE IN COMMON IS THEY ELICIT STRONG EMOTIONS, STRONG FEELINGS.

I'M A GREAT BELIEVER THAT YOU CAN APPROACH ANYTHING THROUGH OPERA.

I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IN THE GENRE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SING THINGS, THE STORY, THE DRAMA IS MORE HEIGHTENED.

IT BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT.

IT BECOMES BIGGER.

R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. AT.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS RAVELOS MAY LAST YEAR.

IN DECEMBER, THE PASSION WAS úSTILL THERE, BUT CANCER WAS TAKING A TOLL.

>> IT IS AN OPERA IN BLACK AND WHITE AND WHEN I THINK HORROR, I THINK BLACK AND WHITE.

AND WHEN I SAY THAT, I MEAN THAT HE SOUND COLORS, THE COLORS FROM THE ORCHESTRA ARE EVEN KIND OF BLACK AND WHITE.

>> Reporter: MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, HIS MOTHER INTRODUCED HIM TO JANE WHALE'S 1931 BLACK AND WHITE FILM FRANKENSTEIN.

>> FROM THEN, I WAS HOOKED ON HORROR.

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THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE DARKNESS AND BEING SCARED AND TELLING A STORY THAT MIGHT FRIGHTEN PEOPLE EVEN JUST A úLITTLE BIT THAT I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED.

>> Reporter: DELISANTOS ENJOYD COLLABORATING WITH NICK.

>> GHOSTS ARE MEMORIES, THEY ARE- REGRETS, THEY ARE UNKNOWN AND UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

THAT WE HAVE TO CONFRONT.

>> GHOSTS CAN BE TRAUMA, CAN BE EXPERIENCES, CAN BE PEOPLE WHO WE AREN'T ABLE TO SHED EMOTIONALLY FROM OUR LIVES.

>> Repoter: PEOPLE LIKE RAVELOS THAT WE WANT TO HOLD ON TO.

GHOSTS NOT ONLY LET'S SAN DIEGO úOPERA PAY TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY úBUT IT ALSO PROVIDES GENERAL DIRECTOR DAVID BENNETT WITH A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER AUDIENCES A DETOUR FROM TRADITIONAL OPERA.

>> THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY AN HONOR FOR US TO PRODUCE THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH IN THIS WORK THAT'S UNUSUAL AND UNEXPECTED BUT THERE'S ALSO SO MUCH IN IT THAT IS, IN MANY WAYS, TRADITIONAL.

>> Reporter: RAVELOS EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE OPERA WOULD HAVE A FUTURE BEYOND THIS WEEKEND AND "GHOSTS" WOULD BE THE PERFECT LEGACY FOR A MAN WHO DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR OPERA AND WHOSE HEART ALWAYS BELONGED TO HORROR.

KPBS NEWS REPORTING.

>> AND ONE WAY TO STAY ON TOP OF OUR ARTS COVERAGE IS WITH THE KPBS ARTS NEWSLETTER.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY WE OFFER AND TO SIGN UP, GO TO - KPBS.ORG AND CLICK ON NEWSLETTRS.

THIS WEEK, SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER RECEIVED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FROM HIS FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT, FLETCHER'S SCANDAL IS JUST THE LATEST TO TAKE DOWN A LOCAL POLITICIAN.

>> Reporter: NATHAN FLETCHER'S ABRUPT RESIGNATION FROM THE SAN IEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUERVISORS LAST WEEK PUTS HIM IN A NOTORIOUS PANTHEON OF LOCAL DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS, ONES PROMISING POLITICAL CAREERS SCUTTLED BY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS OR MATTERS RELATED TO SEX.

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE A VIEW THAT SAN DIEGO'S LIKE LITTLE AISLE ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

>> Reporter: THIS PERSON IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR.

>> IT'S A NICE LITTLE PLACE.

WE HAVE A RIDICULOUSLY LARGE NUMBER OF SCANDALS AND THAT'S A IGN THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

- >> Reporter THE LIST SPANS ECADES.

IN 2005, MICHAEL ZUCAT AND RALPH ENZEFZA FROM THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL WERE CONVICTED OF TAKING ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CASH FROM A úSTRIP CLUB OWNER.

ONE CONVICTION WAS OVERTURNED AND THE OTHER WENT TO PRISON MAINTAINING HIS INNOCENCE.

>> I BELIEVE I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I DID WAS ALL WITHIN THE LAW.

>> Reporter: TEN YEARS AGO, DEMOCRAT BOB FILLENER'S TENURE AS SAN DIEGO MAYOR ENDED AFTER JUST NINE MONTHS WHEN 13 WOMEN ACCUSED HIM OF MAKING UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCE >> I AM EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT THAT I FAILED TO FULLY RESPECT THE WOMEN WHO WORK FOR ME AND úWITH ME.

AND THAT AT TIMES I HAVE INTIMIDATED THEM.

>> Reporter: IN 2016, SUPERVISOR DAVE ROBERTS, THE LONE DEMOCRAT ON THE BOARD, LOST HIS RE-ELECTION BID FOLLOWING A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A INCLUDED AN INAPPROPRIAT RELATIONSIP WITH AN OFFICE AIDE.

LAST YEAR, A MAN ACCUSED WILL RODRIGUEZ KENNEDY, THEN HEAD OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THEN, LAST WEEK, A FORMER MTS SPOKESPERSON FILED A LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT FLETCHER SEXUALLY HARASSED AND ASSAULTED HER.

A DAY LATER, HE ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION.

THESE SCANDALS HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN PERSONALL RUINOUS, THEY'VE SHORT CIRCUITED ERAS WHEN - DEMOCRATS SEEMED POISED TO DOMINATE LOCAL POLITICS.

CONSIDERED PHILNER WAS THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC MAYOR ELECTED IN SAN DIEGO IN 20 YEARS, FOLLOWING HIS úRESIGNATIONS REPUBLICAN KEVIN FAULKNER WON A SPECIAL MAYORAL ELECTION AND WAS IN OFFICE UNTIL 2020.

FLETCHER'S DOWNFALL COMES LESS THAN THREE YEARS AFTER DEMOCRATS GAINED A MAJORITY ON THE BOARD- OF SUPERVISORS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.

BUT EVEN SOME ADVERSARIES OF SHOULD BE LOOKED AT INDIVIDUALLY, RATHER THAN A FATAL FLAW OF THE PARTY.

>> AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS WORKED AGAINST THAT PARTY FOR 40 YEARS OR SO, IF I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME KIND OF SWEEPING GENERALIZATION, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO SO.

IT'S NOT THERE.

IT JUST ISN'T.

>> Reporter: LONG-TIME REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST JOHN KERN SAYS THE SEX SCANDALS ARE MORE ABOUT THE LAW OF AVERAGES.

THERE ARE MORE DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE THAN REPUBLIANS AND HE SAYS IT'S ABOUT THE KIND OF EOPLE WHO ARE DRAWN TO POLITICS.

>> WIH MY CLIENTS AND MYSELF PERSONLLY, BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND WORKING AND ON STAFF, I HAD TWO RULES.

KEEP YOUR FLY ZIPPED AND YOUR HAND OUT OF THE TILL.

>> Reporter: MIX IN THE TRAPPINGS OF ELECTE OFFICE, AND YOU'VE GOT THE POTENTIAL MAKINGS OF A SEX SCANDAL, ACCORDING TO FORMER LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORTER TONY PERRY WHO COVERED MANY SAN DIEGO POLITICAL SCANDALS.

>> ESE WERE MEN WHO HAD POWER, AND THEY USED IT -- AND WITH - POWER CAME A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT.

> Reporter: BUT LUNA SAYS THE PARTY ISN'T BLAMELESS.

THE RUMOURS ABOUT FLETCHER WERE - OUT THERE.

>> IT WAS IN THE DEMOCRAIC PARTY WHILE IT IS DOING GREAT POLITICAL SUCCESS SENSE TO HAVE A CONVEYOR BELT SYSTEM OF HOW YOU MOVE UP AND YOU START AT CITY COUNCIL, YOU MOVE UP TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ASSEMBLY AND IF YOU'RE ON THAT TRAIN, THE PEOPLE BELOW YOU AND ABOVE YOU NEED YOU TO STAY THERE SO THOSE DO NOT WANT TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC POWER STRUCTURE IN THE COUNTY SHOULD LOK INWARD.

>> WITH DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE IN SCH AN ASSURED POSITION TO WIN THEY CAN START TO BE CHOOSIER WHO THEY PUT INTO OFFICE.

>> Reporter: ANITA SHARMA,% KPBS NEWS.

>> A PLAN IS IN THE WORKS TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ZERO EMISSION CARS ON AMERICA'S ROADS.

JACOB AERE HAS DETAILS ON A PLAN EEN MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN URGENT PROBLEM AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING NEW REGULATIONS ON CAR TAIL PIPE EMISSIONS TO TRY AND HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PROPOSED STANDARDS THAT COULD REQUIRE ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO ACCOUNT FOR TWO-THIRDS OF NEW CAR SALES IN THE U.S. BY 2032.

>> WELL, ELECTRIC CARS ARE HERE FOR SURE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TENDING TO ACCELERATE THAT TRANSITION.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO PROFESSOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIST MARK JACOBSEN SAYS THE LIMITS ARE THE STRICTEST EVER PROPOSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

úBUT CALIFORNIA ALREADY HAS SOME REGULATIONS IN PLACE THAT ALL NEW CARS, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUV SALES IN THE STATE HAVE TO BE ELECTRIC OR HYDROGEN BY 2035.

JACOBSEN SAYS THE TRICK WITH THE úNEW FEDERAL PROPOSAL IS GOING TO E MAKING ENOUGH AFFORDABLE EV CARS, ADDING A LOT MORE CHARGING STATIONS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, GETTING PEOPLE TO BUY IN.

>>WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES ALMOST CERTAINLY AROUND THE WORLD AT SOME POINT, POTENTIALLY VERY SOON, MAYBE NOT FOR ANOTHER 10, 15 YEARS.

IT'S NOT CLEAR.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SPEED UP THAT TRANSITION PARTICULARLY IN STATES THAT ARE NOT CALIFORNIA OR NOT THE STATES FOLLOWING CALIFORNIA'S LEAD.

>> Reporter: TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY 30% OF ALL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE U.S., ACCORDING TO THE EPA.

JACOBSEN SAYS THE EFFECTS FROM THIS PROPOSAL COULD GREATLY úREDUCE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ESPECIALLY IF THE COUNTRY'S ELECTIC GRID IS ALSO DECARBONIZED.

IT WILL ALSO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN SAN DIEGO.

THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR SURE FOR LOCAL AIR QUALIT.

ELECTRIC CARS ARE FANTASTIC AT REMOVING POLLUTION FROM CITIES.

>> Reporter: THE EPA WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITS ITS FINAL RGULATION.

THE FDERAL PLAN WOULD REPRESENT THE STRONGEST PUSH YET TOWARS A SHIFT FROM GAS AND DIESEL-POWERED CARS TO BATTERY-POWERED VEHLES.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>> THIS WEEK, KPBS TRAVELED TO ORANGE COUNTY WHERE FEDERAL RAILROAD OFFICIALS GOT AN UP úCLOSE LOOK ON THE WORK NEEDED TO RELOCATE TRAIN TRACKS AWAY FROM NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TANIA THORNE HAS THE LATEST ON THIS VITAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAN DIEGO AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: PORTIONS OF THE COASTAL RAIL LINE NEED TO BE RELOATED.

AND REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LEAVEN WANTS TO SHOW THE URGENCY TO FEDERAL OFFICIALS FIRSTHAND.- -- LEVAN.

ON THURSDAY, AN ADMINISTRATOR JOINED LEVAN ON A TRAIN RIDE FOR AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT THE DEL MAR BLUFFS.

>> IT'S A MATTER OF TIME, WE ALL KNOW, BEFORE THESE TRACKS WILL BE OVER THE CLIFF EDGE AND THIS VITAL TRANSPORTATION LINK CONTINUES TO BE AT RISK.

>> Reporter: LEVAN HIGHLIGHTED úHOW COASTAL EROSION AND CLIMATE CHANGE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THEBLUFFS AND MAKE THE RELOCATION PROJECT MORE URGENT.

>> THEIR OPERATION WILL BE AT RISK UNLESS WE TAKE THE ACTIONS NECESSARY NOT JUST FOR THE SHORT úTERM BUT AGAIN FOR THE LONG-TERM.

ô> Reporter: ONE OPERATION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN INTERRUPTED IS SAN CLEMENTE RAIL LINE UNDERGOING EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK SINCE SEPTEMBER.

>> THAT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS AND WE KNOW THAT'S TAKEN A GREAT TOLL ON THE MILLIONS OF PASSENGERS, ROUY 8 MILLION PASSENGERS, A YEAR THAT TRAVEL ON THAT CORRIDOR AS WELL AS THE ECONOMIC IMPAT OF FREIGHT NOT BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL AS IT NORMALLY WOULD.

>> Reporter: SINCE RAIL SERVICE IS STILL DOWN, LEVAN AND ADMINISTRATOR BOSE DROVE TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

THERE, LEVAN ANNOUNCED PLAN TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE RAIL RELOCATION PROJECTS.

> JUST AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON THE PLANNING AND RELOCATION IN DEL MAR, WE MUST DO THE SAME IN ORANGE COUNTY.

SO IN THE COMING DAYS, I'M GOING úTO BE FORMALLY SUBMITTING A FEDERAL COMMUNITY PROJECT REQUEST FOR $4 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE OCTA, ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATIN AUTHORITY, IN CONDUCTING A STUDY FOR THE RAIL úRELOCATION IN ORANGE COUNTY SPANNING 11 MILES.

Reporter: ADMINISTRATOR BOSE SAID THE TIME TO ASK FOR FEDERAL FUNDING IS NOW THANKS TO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

>> IT PROVIDES THE FUNDING, THE TOOLS AND FRAMEWORK TO LAY THE FOUNDTION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY RAIL SYSTEM THAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS AND THAT SO LONG OVERDUE.

>> Reporter: THE ANNOUNCEMENT úCOMES AS TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES PREPARE TO RESTORE FULL PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE BETWEEN SAN DIEGO AND ORANGE COUNTY ON MONDAY.- TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

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

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

♪♪ ]