>>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK.

I'M LAWRENCE K JACKSON.

COMING UP, FUSION HAS A POTENTIAL TO BE A MAINSTREAM ENERGY SOURCE.

HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THE KIDS FROM TEOWANA ARE ON THEIR WAY TO WILLIAMSPORT.

WE CHECK IN BEFORE THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES BEGINS.

AND SEE THE NEW MURALS THAT PAY TRIBUTE TO SOME OF THE HISTORIC MUSICIANS AND ACTIVISTS.

FRUSTRATION IS BOILING OUT OVER THE RISING COST OF ENERGY BILLS.

THIS WEEK, ACTIVISTS FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON SDG AND E'S PARENT COMPANY, KEVIN TELLS US WHY SEMPRA'S LATEST CORPORATE EARNINGS.

>> HOW DO YOU SPELL CORPORATE GREED?

>> SPEAKERS DENOUNCE THE STEADY RISE IN LOCAL UTILITY COSTS, WHICH HAVE FAR OUT PACED INFLATION.

ANTHONY SAID THE SYSTEM IS QUOTE, RIGGED TO PRODUCE PROFITS FOR SDG AND E.

>> OUR INCOMING GOVERNOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US HAVE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHILE A MONOPOLY ROBS SAN DIEGO BLIND.

>> SDG AND E'S AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL RATES ROSE 97% OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THE PARENT COMPANY, SEMPRA, REPORTED $762 MILLION IN ADJUSTED EARNINGS.

THAT'S UP 30% OVER THE SAME TIME SPAN LAST YEAR.

>> OUR SUFFERING IS THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.

>> LOGAN HEIGHTS RESIDENT IS AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD TROUBLE MAKING ENDS MEET RECENTLY.

THE SAN DIEGO NATIVE SAID SHE HAD TO UNRETIRE TO DEAL WITH RISING COSTS FOR FOOD, MEDICINE, INSURANCE, GAS, AND UTILITY BILLS.

>> BY DECADE, I'VE SEEN AN INCREASE, THROUGH MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, COLLEGE YEARS, THROUGH MY MARITAL YEARS, CONTINUALLY GO UP.

NOW THAT I'M A SENIOR ON A FIXED INCOME, IT IS STILL GOING UP.

AND OUR INCOMES AREN'T.

>> SEVERAL RALLY ANTENDEES RALLIED.

CRAIG ROSE WITH PUBLIC POWER SAN DIEGO SITED TWO RECENT CITY COMMISSION STUDIES SUGGESTING RESIDENTS COULD SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG-TERM.

>> FOR EACH AND EVERY CUSTOMER, THAT WILL MEAN SAVINGS OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR.

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN YEARS TO COME.

SO, FOR LOWER RATES, LOCAL CONTROL, AND A BETTER UTILITY FOR THE PLANET, LET'S DEMAND SOMETHING BETTER.

>> IN RESPONSE, AN SDG AND E SPOKESPERSON SAID THE UTILITY TAKES AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AND SITED ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND ENERGY SAVING TOOLS TO HELP LOWER MONTHLY BILLS.

KEVIN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SOME DAY, FUSION ENERGY WILL BE AN OPTION TO POWER OUR LIVES.

IT'S NOT QUITE HERE YET, BUT AN INVESTMENT IN THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BRING MILLIONS TO AN INDUSTRY LEADER BASED IN POWWAY.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN TAKES US TO GENERAL ATONICS.

>> HERE AT THE GENERAL ATONICS TECHNOLOGY CENTER, THE NEW MACHINERY IS WRAPPED IN PLASTIC.

AND SOON, THESE MACHINES WILL BE PART OF THE STATE OF THE ART NUCLEAR FUSION TESTING CENTER.

>> SO THEY ARE DESIGNING A BLANKET COMPONENT TESTING FACILITY.

>> CALIFORNIA AWARDED GENERAL ATONICS A $20 MILLION TAX CREDIT TO BUILD THE FACILITY: IT WILL BRING ENERGY ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY.

IT IS CLEAN ENERGY THAT PRODUCES NO NUCLEAR WASTE.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BRING MORE THAN 40,000 JOBS TO SAN DIEGO AND PUMP MORE THAN $125 BILLION INTO CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY IN THE NEXT DECADE.

BRIAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF FUSION ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AT G.A.

IT'S CALL ADD BLANKET BECAUSE IT SURROUNDS THE FUSION CORPS.

>> IT ABSORBS THE ENERGY AND CONVERTS THAT ENERGY INTO STEAM TURBINES, HEAT AND ELECTRICITY.

>> IT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN FUSION NUCLEAR REACTORS.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO OTHER FUSION NUCLEAR PLANTS IN THE WORLD.

>> THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A MAGNET THAT IS PARTIALLY WOUND.

>> CURRENT NUCLEAR PLANTS, LIKE THE ONE, USES FISHING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS DIFFERENT.

IT TAKES A LARGE ATOM AND SPLITS IT INTO SMALLER ONES, RELEASING ENERGY.

FUSION IS TAKING TWO LIGHT ATOMS, AND COMBINING THEM INTO A HEAVIER ONE.

IT'S THE SAME PROCESS THAT POWERS THE SUN.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THAT PROCESS DOWN HERE ON EARTH.

WE BRING IT THROUGH STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD.

>> ONCE BUILT, A TESTING FACILITY WILL BE THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.

IT WILL BE CAPABLE OF TESTING LARGE SCALE COMPONENTS NEEDED FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

SMALL, UNNOTICEABLE FLAWS IN THE LAB COULD BECOME MAJOR ISSUES ONCE THEY ARE SCALED UP.

>> THAT WAY, THE OPERATION OF THE EQUIPMENT IS PROPERLY REPRESENTED.

>> THE JOKE IN THE INDUSTRY IS THAT FUSION TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS 30 YEARS AWAY, THAT'S A MATTER OF RESOURCES, RATHER THAN TIME.

>> WITH THE NEW RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING INVESTED INTO FUSION DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS THE GLOBAL COMPETITION TO BRING FUSION TO THE GRID, I THINK THOSE INVESTMENTS AND THOSE RESOURCES ARE REALLY ACCELERATING THE TIME LINE FOR FUSION TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL REALITY.

>> AND THE REALITY IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN VIRGINIA.

THAT'S WHERE COMMONWEALTH FUSION SYSTEM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING ITS FUSION POWER PLANT ONLINE BY THE EARLY 2030s.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> STAYING ON THE THEME OF ENERGY, IS THE ON GOING BLOW BACK TO DATA CENTERS.

HE HAS AN UPDATE ON PAUSES AND POTENTIAL BANS TAKING SHAPE IN THE REGION.

>> Reporter: ACROSS THE IMPERIAL VALLEY, MORE LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO SLOW THINGS DOWN WHEN IT COMES TODAY TA CENTERS.

ONE OF THOSE PLACES IS A SMALL TOWN AT THE RURAL NORTH END OF THE VALLEY.

HERE'S THE MAYOR, MICHAEL SPEAKING AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST MONTH.

>> LET'S REWRITE OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION RULES.

LET'S SEE WHAT CONTRACTS WE HAVE WITH GOLDEN STATE WATER, AND THAT'S RESPECTFULLY, IN MY OPINION, VERY SUPERFICIAL.

IT SEEMS LIKE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION IN AIR QUOTES.

I BELIEVE A BAN IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD.

>> THE CONCERN IN THE VALLEY STARTED BACK IN NOVEMBER.

WHEN THE CITY OF IMPERIAL WARNED A MASSIVE DATA CENTER COMPLEX WAS BEING MANNED NEXT TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

SINCE THEN, OTHER PROJECTS BEING PLANNED, TOO.

DATA CENTERS ARE THE GIANT COMPUTING WAREHOUSES THAT POWER PROGRAMS LIKE CHATGPT.

NEW TAX REVENUE AND CONSTRUCTION WORK, AND SOME LONG-TERM JOBS.

MANY RESIDENTS WORRY ABOUT THE ENERGY DATA CENTERS NEED.

ABOUT WATER USE AND AIR POLLUTION.

ABOUT RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT THESE FACILITIES CAN HEAT UP THEIR SURROUNDINGS BY UP TO 16 DEGREES.

NOW, A GROWING NUMBER OF LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY ARE RESPONDING.

>> COUNTY COUNCIL, NO DATA CENTER PROJECT, PAST OR PRESENT, WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD UNDER THIS TEN MONTH MORATORIUM.

CORRECT?

>> NO FINAL PERMITS.

OR APPROVALS WILL BE ISSUED UNDER THIS MORATORIUM.

>> LAST MONTH, COUNTY SUPERVISORS VOTED TO PASS AN EMERGENCY PAUSE ON DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

ALSO THE VALLEY'S REGIONAL ENERGY AND WATER UTILITY IS CONSIDERING A SPECIAL ENERGY CONTRACT FOR DATA CENTERS AND OTHER LARGE POWER USES.

THAT CONTRACT WOULD PUT DATA CENTERS FIRST IN LINE FOR THEIR POWER CUT.

AT LEAST THREE OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION HAVE TALKED ABOUT PAUSING DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT.

THE CITY OF CALEXICO, IS GOING FARTHER AND CONSIDERING A PERMANENT BAN.

>> I WANT A MOTION TO BAN DATA CENTERS IN CALEXICO.

>> DEVELOPERS AND LABOR UNIONS PUSHED BACK.

ONE COMPANY SUED THE COUNTY OVER ITS MORATORIUM.

>> THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD -- >> UNION ORGANIZERS ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHAT PROJECTS COULD MEAN FOR WORKERS.

HERE IS SEAN ELLIS WITH THE IMPERIAL BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADE COUNCIL.

>> IT'S LIKE $38,000 A YEAR.

WHEN A DATA CENTER BRINGS CONSTRUCTION JOBS, YOU BRING MAINTENANCE JOBS, YOU BRING A LOT.

SO IT TAKES YOU OUT OF THE GAME.

>> SOME RESIDENTS PUSHED BACK.

JESUS GARCIA WORRIES ABOUT BALANCING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AGAINST THE COST THAT DATA CENTERS COULD HAVE FOR THEIR WATER QUALITY AND ENERGY PRICES.

>> FAMILIES ARE RETURNING TO OUR HOMETOWN, AND I FIND -- >> THE COUNCIL'S DECISION WASN'T UNANIMOUS.

ONE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID THEY SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF TECHNOLOGY.

ANOTHER WORRIES THE CITY COULD BE SUED LIKE THE COUNTY.

IN THE END, THEY VOTED TO START PUTTING TOGETHER A DATA CENTER BAN.

IT'S TRUE THAT IT IS A POOR TOWN.

MAYOR SAYS MANY RESIDENTS HAVE HEALTH ISSUES LIKE ASTHMA, INCLUDING HIM AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF CONVERSATIONS FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT HE THINKS DATA CENTERS COULD BE THE END OF HIS COMMUNITY.

>> IT PAINS ME TO SEE MY FAMILY MEMBERS WAKING UP GASPING FOR AIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THINK THAT TEMPERATURES CAN INCREASE 17 DEGREES WHILE OUR POLLUTION GETS WORSE.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND.

>> THIS TIME, CALAPETRIA ISN'T GETTING LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.

THIS TIME, THEY ARE LEADING THE FIGHT.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THAT WAS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEK AND HERE ARE SOME OTHERS.

A VEGAN DIET CAN CHANGE INFLAMMATION AND IMPROVE HOW THE BODY AGES.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY.

NEW OWNERS TAKE OVER THE PLAZA MALL IN NATIONAL CITY, AND USD RESEARCHERS DISCOVER A FLAW IN THE CAR ANTITHEFT SYSTEM, AFFECTING MILLIONS OF DRIVERS.

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET OUR MOST POPULAR LIST EVERY FRIDAY.

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN JUST THREE YEARS, THE LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM WILL REPRESENT MEXICO IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.

GUSTAVO VISITED THE TEAM AS THEY PREPARED FOR WILLIAMSPORT.

THESE PARENTS AREN'T CHEERING FOR JUST ANY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM.

THEY ARE CHEERING FOR MEXICO.

FOR JUST THE THIRD TIME IN HISTORY, AT THE LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM IS REPRESENTING MEXICO LATER THIS MONTH IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.

AND FOR 12-YEAR-OLD, IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

>> >> GETTING HERE WAS NO EASY FEET.

TIJUANA HAD TO WIN MULTIPLE REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS, BEATING TEAMS FROM SANORA, BEFORE MAKING IT TO THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT.

THERE, THEY DEFEATED IN AN 8-2 BLOWOUT.

THEIR COACH, FRANCISCO, SAYS THIS TEAM IS READY.

PLAYERS TRAIN FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

MEET WITH A SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST, AND STARTING NEXT WEEK, WILL WAKE UP AT 4:00 A.M.

EVERY DAY.

COACH SAYS THAT PEOPLE CALLED HIM CRAZY WHEN HE SUGGESTED THE 4:00 A.M.

WAKEUP CALLS.

BUT THE WORLD SERIES IS IN WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH IS THREE HOURS AHEAD.

AND THE TEAMS WILL HAVE A 7:00 A.M.

WAKEUP CALL, SO HIS PLAYERS NEED TO GET USED TO THOSE EARLY MORNINGS.

THEY HOPE THE HARD WORK LEADS TO A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MEXICO, WHICH HASN'T WON SINCE 1997.

THE LAST TIME TIJUANA MADE IT TO WILLIAMSPORT WAS 2023.

THAT TEAM MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE SEMIFINALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT.

BEATING TEAMS LIKE JAPAN AND VENEZUELA ALONG THE WAY.

THE PITCHING COACH SAYS IT'S TOUGH TO COMPARE THE 2023 TEAM TO THE CURRENT GROUP.

BUT HE SAYS WHILE THE 2023 TEAM WAS FASTER ON THE BASES, THIS ONE HITS FOR MORE POWER.

AND FOR SOME PARENTS, SEEING THEIR KIDS PLAY IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES IS TOO MUCH TO PUT INTO WORDS.

HE PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE IN TIJUANA.

HE'S PROUD TO GO AS A FATHER.

AND THE LEAGUE HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE GARCIA PLAYED ON THE DIRT FIELDS WHEN HE WAS A KID.

NOW, THEY PRACTICE ON A BRAND- NEW FIELD NAMED AFTER THE PADRES ALL-STAR, WHO HELPED PAY FOR IT, FERNANDO, JR.

BUT SOME TRADITIONS REMAIN.

LIKE THE POST PRACTICE TACOS.

TODAY'S MENU, CARNE ASADA.

THE TEAM FLIES TO WILLIAMSPORT NEXT WEEK, AND MEXICO'S FIRST GAME WILL BE AGAINST AUSTRALIA ON AUGUST 20th AT 9:00 A.M.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE RECENT DEATH OF FORMER SAN DIEGO CHARGERS LEGEND, BILLY RAYE SMITH, IS A REMINDER OF THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF HEAD TRAUMA.

HIS FAMILY SAYS HE HAD DEMENTIA, WHICH WAS, THEY BELIEVE, CAUSED BY CTE.

HEALTH REPORTER, HEIDI DEMARRE KEY TALKED WITH DOCTORS ABOUT THE LATEST SCIENCE BEHIND THE DISEASE.

>> FOR YEARS, DOCTORS HAVE KNOWN REPEATED BLOWS TO THE HEAD CAN HAVE CONSEQUENCES LONG AFTER ATHLETES LEAVE THE FIELD.

>> I THINK OUR MAIN CONCERN IS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OVER TIME, AND HOW MUCH ACCUMULATIVE EFFECT.

>> SHARP HEALTHCARE, HE SAYS CTE IS A PROGRESSIVE DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH REPEATED HEAD TRAUMA AND IT CAN AFFECT MORE THAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

>> COMBAT SPORTS LIKE MMA OR BOXING, PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL, EVEN SOCCER WITH HEAD STRIKES.

AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, SERVICE MEMBER WHO'S HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SHOCKS OR BLASTS REPEATEDLY.

>> SARAH BANKS HAS STUDIED CTE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

SHE USES BRAIN AUTOPSIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE.

>> WE REALLY DO RELY ON THE FAMILIES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO SADLY DIE WITH REPETITIVE HEAD INJURY AND DIMENSION, TO DONATE THEIR BRAIN SO WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS.

>> THAT MEANS DIAGNOSING CTE IN A LIVING PERSON IS A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION.

>> A LOT OF TIMES IT IS A WAIT AND SEE.

IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF A YEAR TO EVEN ESTABLISH THE FACT THAT WE RULED OUT EVERY OTHER CONDITION BEFORE WE REALLY SETTLE ON THIS TYPE OF A DIAGNOSIS.

>> RESEARCHERS ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO DETECT CTE, INCLUDING THROUGH BLOOD AND SPINAL FLUID.

BUT THERE IS NO RELIABLE TEST YET.

AND, THERE'S ANOTHER BIG QUESTION, SCIENTISTS STILL CAN'T ANSWER.

>> WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, FOR EXAMPLE, WHY SOME PLAYERS GET CTE AND SOME DON'T.

>> BANKS SAYS A LONG HISTORY OF PLAYING CONTACT SPORTS IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

>> IT'S A RISK FACTOR, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL GET IT.

>> THE UNCERTAINTY IS RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW EARLY IN LIFE REPEATED HEAD IMPACTS MAY MATTER.

>> IT'S A BIG QUESTION THAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY, ESPECIALLY IN KIDS SPORTS IS, DO WE LET OUR KIDS CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN CONTACT SPORTS?

SHOULD WE DELAY THE AGE OF CONTACT?

>> FOR NOW, RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING TOWARD A WAY TO IDENTIFY THE DISEASE DURING LIFE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE.

HEIDI DEMARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>> WE'RE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WELCOMES BACK STUDENTS.

THE FIRST SCHOOL YEAR WITH A DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND SECURITY.

WHY THE DISTRICT BELIEVES THIS NEW POSITION IS NEEDED.

>> SAFE AND SOUND SCHOOLS WAS FOUNDED BY TWO MOTHERS WHOSE CHILDREN DIED AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN 2012.

IN JANUARY, THE SANTEE SCHOOL DISTRICT INVITED THEM TO ASSESS SCHOOLS.

IT HAS NINE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

SUPERINTENDENT, KRISTEN BARANSKI SAID IT LED TO ONE RECOMMENDATION.

>> HAVING ONE CENTRAL PERSON BEING IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY NEEDS.

>> THE DISTRICT NAMED MICHAEL CASTILLO.

HE PREVIOUSLY MANAGED AND TRAINED CAMPUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO.

BARANSKI WILL OVERSEE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND PARTNER WITH FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN NEEDED.

>> HE WOULD BE THE DIRECT CONTACT WITH OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WORKING THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS IN AN INVESTIGATION.

>> THE DISTRICT HELD WORKSHOPS WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS PART OF THE ASSESSMENT.

SHORTLY BEFORE THOSE WORKSHOPS, A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE GRANTED ANDY WILLIAMS SENTENCE TO BE RESENTENCED.

HE WAS 15 WHEN HE KILLED AND WOUNDED OTHERS.

IT PUT THE TRAGEDY PACK IN HEADLINES AND BACK ON THE MINDS OF SANTEE RESIDENTS.

>> I WAS A PRINCIPAL BACK THEN IN SANTEE.

THAT WAS VERY HARD.

IT CONTINUES TO BE A VERY CHALLENGING SITUATION IN SANTEE.

>> THE DISTRICT ADDED SECURITY CAMERAS TO SCHOOL LOBBIES.

STAFF AND VISITOR BADGES TRACK THEIR LOCATION.

SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HAVE WEARABLE PANIC BUTTONS.

THE NEW DIRECTOR ROLE WILL BUILD ON THOSE MEASURES TO HELP STUDENTS AND STAFF STAY SAFE.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR MORE THAN A GENERATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM HAS HELD ON TO THE REMAINS OF NATIVE ANCESTORS AND SACRED BELONGINGS OF TRIBES.

KATIE SAYS UC OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO RETURN THEM, BUT STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS SAY IT'S NOT FAST ENOUGH.

>> 36 YEARS AFTER THE FEDERAL LAW REQUIRED IT, AND ONE YEAR AFTER A SCATHING STATE AUDIT, TRIBES ARE STILL CALLING FOR THE RETURN OF WHAT WAS STOLEN FROM THEM.

JAMES RAMOS IS THE FIRST CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN ELECTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> THE HUMAN REMAINS ARE NOT ARCHAEOLOGICAL OR ACADEMIC TROPHIES.

THEY DON'T DESERVE TO BE HELD IN BOXES ON SHELVES.

LACK OF FUNDING, INSUFFICIENT STAFFING, OR CHANGES IN PERSONNEL, CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE AN EXCUSE FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE UC SYSTEMS.

>> THE AUDIT FOUND AT THE RATE THEY WERE GOING, THE UC WOULDN'T COMPLETE THE RETURNS UNTIL AFTER 2089.

TUESDAY, THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY HELD AN OVERSIGHT HEARING ABOUT IT.

AND UC VICE PRESIDENT, TERESA, ACKNOWLEDGED IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> WE STAND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEEP AND ON GOING HARM THAT OUR ARROGANCE, QUITE FRANKLY, HAS CAUSED TRIABLE COMMUNITIES.

>> THEY ARE PICKING UP THE PACE.

AS OF JUNE, THE UC HAS MORE THAN HALF OF THE 17,000 ANCESTORS IT HELD.

AND MORE THAN 300,000 CULTURAL BELONGINGS.

SOME SAY, STILL NOT FAST ENOUGH.

>> IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST TALKING TO THE WALL.

>> TRIABLE LEADERS SAY THE PROCESS ISN'T STANDARDIZED BETWEEN CAMPUSES.

THE PROGRAM IS UNDER STAFFED.

POSITIONS SIT UNFILLED.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER, CHRIS ROGERS SAID, UNIVERSITIES ARE SPENDING HALF THE FUNDS THE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED FOR THIS.

>> I AM THINKING IT IN CONTEXT OF MY KID RUNNING AROUND ON OUR FLOOR, YESTERDAY.

SOME OF THESE TIME LINES, HE WILL BE APPLYING TO GO TO YOUR INSTITUTIONS BY THE TIME YOU MEET THAT.

AS A UC ALUM, THAT'S SO EMBARRASSING.

>> TRIABLE LEADERS WON'T KEEP QUITE, UNTIL THEIR ANCESTORS ARE HOME.

KPBS NEWS.

>> MURALS HONORING SAN DIEGO'S AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MUSIC LEGENDS AND SAN DIEGO'S BLACK PANTHER PARTY ARE NOW UNVEILED ON A BUILDING WITH A SPECIAL PLACE IN LOCAL HISTORY.

REPORTER, JACOB SAYS THE TEAM BEHIND THE MURALS HOPE THEY OFFER LESSONS FROM PAST GENERATIONS.

>> JUST EAST OF SAN DIEGO'S DOWNTOWN CORE, THE TROLLEY AND IMPERIAL AVENUE AND COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDORS CREATE THE RHYTHM OF AN URBAN COMMUNITY.

IT'S HERE IN LOGAN HEIGHTS WHERE MURALISTS ARE HONORING THE MUSICAL LEGACY OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WE ARE AT COMMERCIAL IN HENSLEY.

THE CROOKS OF THE WHOLE SOUL ROOTS OF THIS AREA.

>> THE BUILDING NOW FEATURES MURALS OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE JAZZ, SOUL, AND GARAGE BAND MUSICIANS.

ONE OF THE MURAL IS HELPING MAKE IT HAPPEN IS MARIO OF ARTIST PARTNERSHIP.

HE IS ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDING MURALISTS.

HE WAS RAISED AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND REMEMBERS SEGREGATION AS A TEENAGER.

>> WE MOVED IN AN AREA WHICH EVENTUALLY WAS PART OF THE BLACK SECTION OF SAN DIEGO AND I WAS FORCED TO GO TO MEMORIAL JUNIOR HIGH.

BLACK SCHOOL AT THAT TIME IN 1960.

>> THIS ELKS LODGE WAS A STOP ON THE CIRCUIT.

PART OF THE NETWORK OF VENUES WHERE BLACK MUSICIANS PERFORMED DURING SEGREGATION.

MANY OF THE ARTISTS ARE LOCALS, OR THOSE WHO PLAYED THERE IN PERSON.

>> I PLAYED IN THIS GUY HERE, IN 1964, '65.

I WAS PLAYING, THE NUMBER ONE BLACK BAND, DANCE BAND IN SAN DIEGO.

AND, WE PLAY HERE.

I OPENED UP FOR ELLA JAMES WITH THE GROUP.

>> IN ADDITION TO JAMES, OTHER BIG NAMES INCLUDED SAN DIEGO MUSIC ENTREPRENEUR, PRODUCER AND MUSICIAN, GEORGE SEMPER, AND GLOBAL STARS LIKE BILLY HOLLIDAY.

>> NOW THAT IT IS NO LONGER THE BLACK SECTION OF TOWN, LET'S SAY, WE STILL HAVE TO KNOW THE HISTORY.

>> THE BUILDING ALSO SERVES AS A HUB FOR THE SAN DIEGO BLACK PANTHER PARTY.

A TRIBUTE TO THE LA BASED CREW, AND CAN BE SEEN ON THE SIDE FACING COMMERCIAL STREET.

BOTH AN ELKS LODGE AND LOCAL BLACK PANTHER MEMBER.

>> WE HAD A CONNECTION WITH THE BLACK PANTHERS FIRST, THERE'S THE ORIGINAL BLACK PANTHERS, WHICH WORKED WITH THE ELKS DOING FOOD DISTRIBUTION.

THE SAN DIEGO BLACK PANTHER PARTY JOINED THE ELKS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

AND THEY STARTED RENTING A SPACE UPSTAIRS.

>> HILLIARD HAS BEEN WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS FOR LESS THAN FIVE YEARS, BUT GREW UP IN THE AREA.

THIS ELKS LODGE HAS BEEN IN THE SAME LOCATION SINCE 1955.

>> THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE ELKS LODGE.

>> FOR THE MOST PART, BLACK ENTERTAINERS WERE LIMITED ON WHERE THEY COULD GO.

SO THIS WAS THE ONE SPACE THAT CATERED TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTERTAINERS TO COME.

>> THE MURAL ISN'T FINISHED YET.

THERE WERE LAST MINUTE CHANGES MADE ON THE COMMERCIAL STREET SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

HAWK SAYS THE RECENT DEATH OF THEIR ELKS LODGE LEADER, DANIEL DAVIS, GIVES THE WORK EXTRA MEANING.

THEY PLAN TO DISPLAY HIM AND OTHER MEMBERS ON THE EXTERIOR WALLS.

>> THERE WAS QUITE A SURPRISE THAT HE PASSED.

I HAD JUST SPOKEN WITH HIM TWO DAYS BEFORE AND WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAD FOR THE MURALS ON THE BUILDING AND TO ALSO DO SOMETHING TO REPRESENT THE ELKS ON THE BUILDINGS.

>> HILLIARD HOPES BY DOCUMENTING AND PAINTING THE HISTORY OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, HE WILL INSPIRE THE ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS OF TODAY.

>> WE WANT TO BRING MUSIC BACK.

WE JUST WANT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND JUST EMPHASIZE ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE DO IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> THE MURALS ARE PART OF THE IMPERIAL AVENUE LEGACY PROJECT.

WHICH IS FUNDED BY GRANTS FROM THE PREBYS FOUNDATION AND THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL.

JACOB AIR, K P, BS NEWS.

>> FIRST TERRORIZED SAN DIEGO BACK IN 1978.

KBPS SAYS THE FRUIT IS ABOUT TO INVADE THEATERS ONCE AGAIN.

>> ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES.

>> THE ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES WAS ONE OF THE WORST MOVIES OF ALL TIME.

THE FILM SPAWNED THREE SEQUELS.

INCLUDING ONE WITH GEORGE KHRAOáPBNY.

CLOONEY.

THEY WERE SEEN AT COMIC CON, WHERE THEY REVEALED SOME STARTLING INFORMATION.

>> PEOPLE SAY I'M THE CREATOR OF THE ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES.

THAT'S NOT ACCURATE, I'M MORE OF THE REVEALER OF THE KILLER TOMATOES.

I FOUND OUT THAT TOMATOES WERE DANGEROUS.

PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE ME.

THE FIRST FILM CAME OUT, PEOPLE LAUGHED AT IT, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT MADE PEOPLE THINK IT WAS A COMEDY.

>> WE KNOW ALL THIS, WE'RE THE ONES WHO DID IT.

>> THIS PLAN APPEARED TO HAVE WORKED.

HARDLY ANYONE SAW THE MOVIE.

THE PUBLIC HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE TRAUMATIC EVENTS OF 1978.

AND THE UPRISING WAS STOMPED OUT.

>> JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE, THE KILLER TOMATOES ARE RETURNING TO THEATERS IN AN ALL NEW FILM.

I MEAN DOCUMENTARY.

>> I CAN, ONCE AGAIN, SOUND THE ALARM AT ORGANIC INTELLIGENCE IS HOW KILLER TOMATOES WILL RULE THE WORLD IF WE DON'T STOP THEM.

AND YES, I DO EXPECT A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR IT.

>> ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATO, ORGANIC INTELLIGENCE, WILL BEGIN THIS FRIDAY.

KPBS NEWS.

>> IF BOOKS ARE MORE YOUR THING, WE HAVE YOU COVERED AS WELL LATER THIS MONTH.

JOIN US SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, FOR THE SAN DIEGO BOOK FESTIVAL HAPPENING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO.

THE QR CODE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN LEADS TO ALL DETAILS AND AN RSVP FORM.

WE'LL HAVE SPECIAL PANELS, VENDORS, AND OUR PICKS FOR THE NEXT CYCLE OF ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO.

BEFORE WE GO, A PLUG FOR THE SAN DIEGO NEWS NOW PODCAST HOSTED AND PRODUCED BY ME, IT FEATURES DAILY HEADLINES AND STORIES FROM OUR REPORTERS AND OUR ENTIRE NEWSROOM.

NEW EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE WEEKDAY MORNINGS ON ALL PODCAST PLATFORMS AND AT KPBS.ORG.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S LOOK.

I'M LAWRENCE K. JACKSON.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.