THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

COMING UP, REFLECTING ON JANUARY 6.

HEAR FROM SAN DIEGO'S CONGRESS MEMBERS AS THEY REMEMBER THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL.

>>> A BUSINESS BOOM SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

WHY COMPANIES ARE BRINGING MANUFACTURING JOBS BACK TO TIJUANA.

>>> AND SEE HOW THE CHILDHOOD GAME OF DOUBLE DUTCH IS HELPING A GROUP OF LOCAL WOMEN BUILD THEIR SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

>>> KIDS RETURNED TO CLASSROOMS ACROSS SAN DIEGO THIS WEEK IS COVID CASES CONTINUE TO SPIKE.

TESTING IS A KEY TO MAKING SURE COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE.

WE HAVE TWO STORIES FROM K BPS REPORTERS ON THIS CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOLS AND PARENTS.

>> Reporter: THIS TRUCK IS HEADED TO THE CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT LOADED WITH COVID-19 AT HOME ANTIGEN RAPID TEST KITS.

THE POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DRESS, AS KAVITA SCORED BIG BETWEEN.

THEY WERE SOME OF THE LUCKY ONES.

>> THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING.

WE'VE GOT 42 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 130 OR SO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPETING FOR A LIMITED NUMBER.

>> Reporter: BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S DECEMBER PROMISE TO PROVIDE 6 MILLION RAPID TESTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE, THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION REQUESTED 500,000 KITS TO COVER STUDENTS HERE.

THEY GOT 193,000 AND THESE BOXES DELIVERED LATE TUESDAY.

THE WORD WENT OUT, AND WITHIN MINUTES THEY WERE ALL RESERVED AND THEN DISTRIBUTED ANY FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS TODAY.

HECTOR CORONA IS THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES FOR THE DARNELL CHARTER SCHOOL IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO WHICH HAS 512 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.

>> ANXIETY LEVEL IS UP ESPECIALLY WITH THE SEARCH GOING ON, BUT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN.

WE ARE MAINTAINING THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: DISTRICTS THAT DID NOT GET SUPPLIES TODAY ARE ON A WAITING LIST FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY, WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS.

NANCY HENSLEY SHOWED UP, MISTAKINGLY THINKING SHE CAN GET A RAPID TEST FOR HER EIGHT- YEAR-OLD SON.

>> SOME PEOPLE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD CAME UP POSITIVE.

WE NEED TO SEND IT BACK TO SCHOOL, SO I WANT TO TEST THEM AGAIN TO MAKE SURE HE IS OKAY.

>> Reporter: THE SURGEON COVID CASES AND CONFUSION HAS FORCED EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO CHANGE DIRECTION CONSTANTLY.

PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR IS NOW AS IMPORTANT AS LEARNING.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED HAS PUT A PAUSE ON OFF-SEASON EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID.

A WRITTEN STATEMENT SAID, IN PART, AFTER CONSULTING WITH OUR MEDICAL EXPERTS AND TO LESSEN THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS OMICRON VARIANT, THE DISTRICT HAS INSTITUTED A PAUSE TO OFF- SEASON ATHLETIC PRACTICES FOR THE REMAINDER OF JANUARY.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED CONTINUES TO MONITOR AND ASSESS THE THREAT.

THE DISTRICT RECEIVED ITS RAPID TEST SHIPMENT BEFORE WINTER BREAK.

THESE VALUABLE BOXES ARE ON THEIR WAY TO OTHER STUDENTS AROUND THE COUNTY, WAITING TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE COVID OR NOT.>>> THEY DON'T HAVE IT NO MORE.

>> WHO DID YOU NEED THE TEST FOR?

>> MY DAUGHTER.

>> Reporter: A MOTHER IN NEED OF A COVID TEST FOR HER SICK DAUGHTER CRIED IN DESPERATION AS SHE FEARED SHE WAS TOO LATE.

BUT AS TEARS ROLLED DOWN HER FACE, NATIONAL CITY MAYOR HANDED HER ONE OF THE LAST KITS THEY HAD.

AND TOLD HER DON'T CRY, WE'VE GOT YOU.

>> THIS IS LIFE OR DEATH.

FOR A PERSON TO BE WAITING HERE AT 530 IN THE MORNING TO GET TWO TESTS PER BOX.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS IT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON HER HEART.

NATIONAL CITY HAD 1000 AT HOME COVID TESTING KITS TO GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY ON TUESDAY, AND THE LIES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIBRARY MIRRORED THE MASSIVE LINES WE HAVE SEEN IN PREVIOUS DAYS ACROSS THE COUNTY FOR COVID TESTING.

ESTHER HAD ALREADY BEEN TO SEVERAL LIBRARIES IN SEARCH OF A COVID TEST, BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE LUCK UNTIL TODAY.

>> I HEARD ABOUT THIS AT 5:00.

FIRST THING I DID WAS CALL A COUPLE PEOPLE, COME ON, JUMP IN.

MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS SHE NEEDS A TEST TO KEEP HER FAMILY SAFE.

TESTS WERE ONLY GIVEN TO PEOPLE PRESENT ON TUESDAY, ONE TEST KIT PER PERSON ONLY.

EACH KIT CAME WITH TWO TESTS.

MARIE WAS GIVEN ONE OF THE LAST TESTS BEFORE THEY RAN OUT.

SHE SAYS IT WAS A BLESSING THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH FOR HER.

NATIONAL CITY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY COVID.

THE MAYOR SAYS THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GET MORE TESTS AS THEY NEED IS CLEARLY HIGH.

THE NATIONAL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY ARE ALSO WORKING ON GETTING TESTING KITS FOR STUDENTS BEFORE THEY RETURN FROM BREAK ON MONDAY.

>> KPBS.ORG HAS MORE INFORMATION ON LOCAL NUMBERS, TESTING AND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

DOES GO TO OUR HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON CLICK ON TRACKING COVID-19 UNDER THE NEW SECTION.

>>> IF NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC ISN'T ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH, A SCHOOL IN NORTH COUNTY IS CONFRONTING HATEFUL GRAFFITI.

MELISSA MADE TELLS US THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN TARGETED.

>> Reporter: AT 3:55 AM ON JANUARY 1 A SINGLE YOUTH SPRAY PAINTED THE FRONT OF THE ACADEMY WITH RACIST AND HOMOPHOBIC SLURS.

TODAY STUDENTS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS CAME TOGETHER FOR A RALLY.

>> I WASN'T SURPRISED.

I WAS IN SHOCK.

I HONESTLY SAID TO MYSELF, REALLY AGAIN?

>> I WAS NOT SURPRISED IN THE SLIGHTEST.

IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO KNOW I HONESTLY FELT NO REACTION.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DISHEARTENING, BUT IT IS LIKE, THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES THAT IT HAS BECOME NOTHING NEW.

>> Reporter: SHE IS A JUNIOR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T FEEL SAFE IN THE DISTRICT.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE CONSTANTLY, I NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEIR CONSTANT THREATS.

ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR.

IT HAS FELT ROCKIER THAN EVER TO BE A MARGINALIZED STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT.

IT FEELS SCARY AND UNSAFE.

>> Reporter: THE NORTH COUNTY EQUITY AND JUSTICE COALITION.

>> WE ARE HERE TO DENOUNCE THE HATEFUL SPEECH THAT WAS SPRAY- PAINTED ON THE WALLS OF THIS BUILDING, WHICH HAS BEEN REMOVED.

THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE AS ONE OF, THIS IS AN ISSUE OF A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.

>> Reporter: LEADERS FROM THE NORTH COUNTY LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTER AND THE NAACP WERE ALSO PRESENT AT THE RALLY AND ARE CALLING UPON THE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TAKE ACTION.

THE SUPERINTENDENT COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE RALLY TODAY, BUT SAYS SHE IS OPEN TO MEETING WITH ALL COMMUNITY LEADERS.

>> WE'RE BECOMING A NO PLACE FOR HATE DISTRICT.

EVERY SCHOOL IS A NO PLACE FOR HATE SCHOOL NOW.

WE ARE STARTING OUR TRADING WITH THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE.

>> Reporter: JAMES WARD HAS BEEN A RESIDENT FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND SAYS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES HAVE ISSUES AND APPRECIATES THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS.

>> I APPRECIATE THE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS, BUT I DID NOT WANT TODAY TO BE POLITICAL.

IT IS NOT POLITICAL FOR ME.

IT IS ABOUT KIDS, AND IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THE KIDS GET WHAT THEY NEED.

THERE IS A LOT OF TRAUMA.

I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE POLITICAL.

>> Reporter: THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS WORKING TO IDENTIFY THE YOUTH.

ALTHOUGH JAMES WARD CANNOT GUARANTEE VANDALISM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, SHE TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE DISTRICT IS WORKING ON.

>> I CAN OFFER FOR SURE THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO CHANGE.

RIGHT?

WE HAVE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING FROM THE COUNTY OFFICE OF ED HAPPENING ON ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.

>> Reporter: STAFF AND STUDENT LEADERS ARE ALSO GOING TO TAKE PART IN TRAINING FROM THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE.

A MUSLIM ARAB-AMERICAN HAS A MESSAGE FOR ANYONE WHO WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECENT EVENT.

>> YOU'RE NEVER ALONE IN THIS FIGHT.

I AM HERE.

WE ARE ALL HERE.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR FEELINGS.

IT'S OKAY TO FEEL HURT.

YOU SHOULD FEEL HURT AND ANGRY.

ISSUES GOOD MEAL MAD AND YOU SHOULD WANT CHANGE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED THAT MOMENT.

>> THE SAN DIEGO REGION IS A MAJOR HUB FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS.

KPBS BORDER REPORTER RECENTLY TRAVELED SOUTH AND FOUND ONE SECTOR IN PARTICULAR IS THRIVING DESPITE THE PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE SOUND OF THE TIJUANA BOOMING INDUSTRY.

THE DAILY THUNDER FROM THOUSANDS OF CARGO TRUCKS SHIPPING GOODS AND TO THE U.S.

THROUGH THE BORDER CROSSING.

THESE TRUCKS CARRY EVERYTHING FROM TOYOTA TACOMA IS ASSEMBLED JUST OUTSIDE.

EACH ONE IS A SIGN OF WHAT IS SHAPING UP TO BE A NEW ROARING 20s FOR TIJUANA BUT WHICH ARE MANUFACTURING AND WAREHOUSE FACILITIES ALONG THE BORDER.

>> THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST EXCITING AND MOST DYNAMIC TIME PERIOD WE HAVE HAD IN THE INDUSTRY FOR DECADES.

>> Reporter: HE WORKS FOR A COMPANY THAT HELPS BUSINESSES MOVE TO MEXICO.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE 1980S.

THAT MAKES HIM A RESIDENT HISTORIAN FOR THE BUSTLING BORDER TOWN.

>> THE INDUSTRY WAS BORN REALLY IN THE 70s.

IT GREW SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE 80s.

IN THE 90s AND THE 2000S.

IT WAS A BIT OF A CHALLENGING PERIOD WITH CHINA COMING INTO THE WTO, THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, AND ENJOYING CERTAIN BENEFITS IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE WITH CUSTOMS AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.

A LOT OF MANUFACTURERS ACTUALLY MIGRATED TO CHINA.

>> Reporter: BUT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THOSE COMPANIES THAT LEFT ARE COMING BACK.

>> WE HAVE SEEN REVERSE MIGRATION, IF YOU WANT TO SAY, FROM ASIA TO MEXICO AS COMPANIES REALIZE THEY NEED TO BE CLOSER TO THEIR CLIENTS AND WITH THE U.S.

BEING THE NUMBER ONE MARKET IN THE WORLD FOR EVERYTHING VIRTUALLY, YOU WANT TO BE THE CLOSEST PLACE YOU CAN BE AND STILL ENJOY SOMEWHAT OF A LOW COST OF LABOR RELATIVE TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

MEXICO IS DEFINITELY THE CLOSEST CHOICE TO GET INTO THE U.S. MARKET.

>> Reporter: THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT SAVING MONEY BY SHIFTING MANUFACTURING AWAY FROM NORTH AMERICA IS A BAD BET.

THE REAL ESTATE DIVISION AT THE LEGAL LAW FIRM IN TIJUANA WITNESSED FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENED TO BUSINESSES THAT EXPANDED SUPPLY CHAINS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

ONE OF THE CLIENTS THOUGHT THEY COULD SAVE MONEY BY OPENING A MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN SOUTH AMERICA, BUT >> WITH THE COVID SITUATION STARTED, THAT PRODUCT WASN'T ABLE TO ARRIVE HERE IN MEXICO OR IN THE U.S.

IN TIME.

ALL THEIR OPERATIONS GOT DELAYED.

WAS A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE COMPANY.

SO NOW THAT THEY SAW THAT, WE CAN'T GO TO SOUTH AMERICA, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY HAVE THESE BENEFITS, WE NEED TO SET UP CLOSER.

>> Reporter: THE FASTEST GROWING SECTOR HAS BEEN FULFILLMENT CENTERS.

THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY REPACKAGING AND SHIPPING WAREHOUSES THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A LITTLE-KNOWN SECTION OF THE U.S.

TARIFF CODE TO AVOID PAYING FEES.

COMPANIES DON'T HAVE TO PAY FEES AS LONG AS THEY SHIP ITEMS WORTH $800 OR LESS DIRECTLY TO U.S. CUSTOMERS.

SO AS TO SHIPPING ITEMS THE BULK INTO THE COUNTRY, COMPANIES ARE SETTING UP FULFILLMENT CENTERS JUST SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

THE RESULT IS THAT THESE CENTERS ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER TIJUANA.

COMPARED TO JUST A YEAR AGO, THE GROWTH HAS BEEN >> 10 TIMES AT LEAST.

WE KNOW THAT WILL PROBABLY GROW MORE.

>> Reporter: SHE WORKS FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL INVESTORS IN THE REGION.

SHOES OF THE POPULARITY OF FULFILLMENT CENTERS ARE DRIVEN BY CHANGES IN HOW WE SHOP AS MUCH AS BY DISRUPTIONS IN THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> WE USED TO GO TO SHOPPING CENTERS PHYSICALLY, BUT NOW SINCE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW IN LOCKDOWN NEED TO BE AT HOME, AND THERE IS MONEY ALSO STILL COMING TO THE HOMES, PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT.

THEY ARE BUYING THINGS FROM HOME .

YOU NEED A STRUCTURE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

THAT IS WHY TIJUANA CHANGED A LOT IN TERMS OF HAVING FULFILLMENT CENTERS BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND.

>> Reporter: EXPERT TO FOLLOW THE INDUSTRY ARE BULLISH ON THE MARKET.

DEMAND IS HIGH AND THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS BEHIND THIS BOOM DON'T SEEM TO BE GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

>> UNLESS THERE IS A CHANGE OR LESS THERE IS A SPECIFIC, SOMETHINGHAPPENS, I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH IN THIS SECTOR.

>> Reporter: BUT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE BIG POTENTIAL ROADBLOCK.

THE TIJUANA INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUSINESSES NEED STABLE SOURCES OF WATER AND POWER TO RUN WAREHOUSES.

THEY NEED ROADS TO TRANSPORT GOODS ACROSS THE BORDER, IN THE NEEDED RELIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES TO GET WORK ON TIME.

HISTORICALLY, TIJUANA IS NOT INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT CAN COME BACK TO HAUNT THE CITY.

>> WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS A LOT OF WILL FROM GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE TO PUT INVESTMENT INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF WE KEEP ON GROWING AND THERE IS NO MORE ROADS AND SECURITY AND EVERYTHING THE CITY NEEDS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE GROWTH, IT WILL COLLAPSE.

>> Reporter: BUT FOR NOW COME EXPECT THE TRUCKS TO KEEP HIM ROWLEY ROLLING.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEK ON KPBS.ORG AND ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.

PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS STORY.

WE MET A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO FOUND BEING A KID AGAIN HELPS THEM RECHARGE AND RECONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: ANY GIVEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER CHANCES ARE YOU WILL HEAR THE SOUND OF MUSIC ECHOING OFF THE BASKETBALL COURTS.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU WILL ALSO HEAR THE SOUND OF WOMEN ALL OVER THE AGE OF 40 LAUGHING AND PLAYING DOUBLE DUTCH.

>> I AM EXCITED WHEN I COME TO DOUBLE DUTCH.

WHEN I KNOW IT'S WEDNESDAYS, YOU CAN ASKED MY HUSBAND AND SON, I AM LOOK LIKE IT IS DOUBLE DUTCH WEDNESDAYS.

>> Reporter: THAT IS THE CAPTAIN OF FOUNDER OF THE 40 PLUS DOUBLE DUTCH CHAPTER.

SHE FIRST OUT OF THE CLUB LAST SUMMER AFTER SEEING A VIRAL VIDEO ON FACEBOOK ABOUT THE ORIGINAL 40 PLUS DOUBLE DUTCH GROUP IN CHICAGO.

I SAID, WHERE THESE WOMEN?

I NEED FRIENDS LIKE THIS.

>> Reporter: TO ORGANIZE THE CLUB AND STARTED SPREADING THE WORD LOCALLY.

>> I PUT THESE VIDEOS TOGETHER AND PUT IT ON BLACK SAN DIEGO AND ASKED, HEY, I AM LOOKING FOR WOMEN OVER 40.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, DM ME.

I HAD ABOUT 50 PLUS WOMEN.

>> Reporter: 15 OF THE 50 BECAME THE CORE SAN DIEGO CHAPTER.

THEY ARE ALL OLDER THAN 40 AND PROUD OF IT.

IN FACT, THEIR AGES ARE EMBLAZONED ON THE BACK OF THEIR CLUB T-SHIRTS.

THAT IS THE ONLY RULE.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE A WOMAN, AND YOU HAVE TO BE OVER 40.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH MEN, WITH BOYFRIENDS, WITH HUSBAND.

WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH KIDS.

WE WANT THIS TO BE A TIME FOR US.

>> Reporter: PAMELA ROBINSON IS THE FOUNDER THE FIRST GROUP IN CHICAGO.

SHE OVERSEES OVER 100 CLUBS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> WE WANT THIS TO BE A TIME FOR US BECAUSE AT THE AGE OF 40 YOU DO SO MUCH FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

WE ARE ALWAYS DOING FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

AND HOLDING EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO WE NEED SOME TIME TO JUST HOLD OURSELVES TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: BACK IN SAN DIEGO, ROSA WILLIAMS HAS BEEN PART OF THE GROUP SINCE THE BEGINNING.

>> I THINK IT IS JUST BRING OUT THE YOUTH AND ALL OF US.

THAT IS WHY I THINK IT IS THE 40 PLUS.

ALTHOUGH YOU WERE 40, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU CAN STILL COME HERE AND HAVE FUN.

BRING YOUR CHILDHOOD GAMES WITH YOU.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE CHILDHOOD.

>> Reporter: THE FORMULA IS SIMPLE.

EACH TIME THE CLUB MEETS, THEY TAKE TURNS PLAYING DOUBLE DUTCH, THE HULA HOOP, AND THEY DANCE.

>> YOU GOT IT.

>> Reporter: IT'S REALLY GOOD EXERCISE, BUT IT IS ALSO MORE THAN THAT.

>> I HAVE HAD SEVERAL HORRIBLE DAYS, AND IF IT WASN'T ON A WEDNESDAY WE DO ME, IT WAS ONE OF MY SISTER HOODS BEHIND ME.

ALL OF MY SISTERS HELPING ME OUT.

BEING ABLE TO REACH OUT OUTSIDE OF THE JOB.

WEDNESDAY IS JUST THE DAY WE COME TOGETHER, BUT WE ARE THERE FOR EACH OTHER EACH AND EVERY WEEK.

>> Reporter: AND THAT SISTERHOOD IS EXACTLY WHAT REGINA DIXON WAS LOOKING FOR WHEN SHE JOINED THE GROUP AFTER MOVING TO SAN DIEGO IN JULY.

>> WE HAVE SUCH A SMALL BLACK POPULATION IN SAN DIEGO, ABOUT 5%, AND SO I WAS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO KIND OF LOOKED LIKE ME AND HAD SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES I DID.

>> Reporter: SHORTLY AFTER MOVING, SHE HAD TO GET EMERGENCY DENTAL SURGERY.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE.

IT WAS ROSER, HER FELLOW JUMPER, WHO TOOK CARE OF HER AND TOLD HER.

>> GIRL, ALL DRIVE YOU.

I WILL SEE ABOUT YOU.

I WILL MAKE SURE YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

IF I HADN'T HAD THIS GROUP, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THAT CONNECTION.

>> Reporter: IN THE END, IT IS A PLACE ALL THEIR OWN WHERE THEY CAN RECONNECT WITH WHO THEY USED TO BE.

>> FOR AN HOUR YOU GET TO LAUGH AND JOKE AND BE A KID AGAIN.

BE A BLACK GIRL.

THAT IS WONDERFUL.

ONE THING ABOUT IT, MANY OF US BLACK GIRLS, WE GROW UP TOO FAST.

THIS GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO REVISIT.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO BE AN ADULT IN THIS WORLD, IT HELPS TO REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A KID AGAIN, WHICH IS WHY EVERYONE ARE MAKING OF THE TIME TO LACE UP THEIR SNEAKERS A PLANE TILL THE LIGHTS GO OUT.

PLAY UNTIL THE LIGHTS GO OUT.

>>> SAN DIEGO HOPES A NEW EVITE PROGRAM WILL BE A SOLUTION FOR COMMUTERS AND THOSE WHO JUST WANT TO GET OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE THE BEACH COMMUNITY.

ARE NORTH COUNTY REPORTER SHOWS US HOW IT WORKS.

>> Reporter: VISITORS WILL BEGIN TO SEE COLORFUL ELECTRIC BIKES ON DUCKS AND COAST HIGHWAY.

THE ELECTRIC BIKE IS UNLOCKED THROUGH A GAP.

BUT THIS PROGRAM HAS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE.

>> ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT PROVIDES FOR A MUCH NICER EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH THE RIDER AND JUST THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: TO COMPLETE A RIDE, THE CYCLISTS MUST RETURN THE BIKE TO A DIET DOCKING STATION.

>> YOU NEVER WILL HAVE BIKES ABANDONED IN FRONT OF BUSINESSES, ON SIDEWALKS, IN INTERSECTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE BIKES ARE FOR ADULTS 18 OR OLDER.

BUT IT OTHERS THE DAYS KIDS HAVE FOUND WAYS TO RIDE, BUT B CYCLE SET SAFETY LIMITATIONS.

>> THERE LIMITED TO 15 MILES PER HOUR SO THERE WILL NOT BE EXCESSIVE SPEEDING THROUGH TOWN .

AND RELAY, JUST ENCOURAGING SMART, SAFE CYCLING.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR HOPES THIS TRIAL WILL EXPAND TO OTHER CITIES.

>> MY HOPE IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A LOT MORE THAN 65 BICYCLES.

THAT WE CAN DOUBLE THAT.

AND WE WILL HAVE AND NOT JUST AT THE TRAIN STATION, BUT ALL ALONG THE CORRIDOR AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE MONTHLY PASSES WERE THE CAN GET ON THEIR BICYCLE AND RIDE IT TO WORK AND THEN RIDE BACK TO THE TRAIN STATION OR TO THE BUS OR HOWEVER THEY ARE GETTING THEMSELVES BACK HOME AND THAT THIS WILL BE PART OF THEIR COMMUTE.

>> Reporter: 30 MINUTE RIDES ARE SEVEN DOLLARS IN MONTHLY AND ANNUAL PASSES ARE AVAILABLE.

>>> A BIT OF HISTORY THIS WEEK IN SAN DIEGO.

MILITARY REPORTER STEVE WASH TELLS US ABOUT THE FIRST U.S. CARRIER COMMANDED BY A WOMAN.

>> Reporter: AFTER NINE MONTHS IN SAN DIEGO, THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN LEFT NORTH ISLAND.

THE COMMANDER, JOINED AN ELITE GROUP, BECOMING THE FIRST WOMAN TO CAPTAIN A NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

SHE SAID SHE HASN'T FELT THE EXTRA SCRUTINY.

>> FROM THE TEAM ON BOARD?

NOT OUT.

THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS.

WE JUST NEED TO GET A JOB DONE.

THEY HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE.

INCREDIBLY SMOOTH TRANSITION.

THEY HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB GETTING READY FOR DEPLOYMENT.

THE TEAM ON BOARD CANNOT BE MORE AMAZING.

>> Reporter: THE NAVAL AVIATOR SAID SHE DID NOT EXPECT TO REACH THIS GOAL WHEN SHE GRADUATED THE NAVAL ACADEMY IN 1994.

>> ONE STEP AT A TIME PARTNER STAYED AROUND AS LONG AS I STILL HAVE FUN AND HAVE A GREAT TEAM TO WORK WITH.

I AM STILL HAVING A BLAST AND STILL HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM.

>> Reporter: SHE TOOK OVER JUST WEEKS BEFORE A HELICOPTER ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE CARRIER KILLED FIVE OF THE CREW.

THE ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>> IT IS ALWAYS A TOUGH EXPERIENCE.

NO ONE IS EVERY PREPARED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

EVERYONE DEALS WITH IN THEIR OWN WAY AND PROCESSES IT IN THEIR OWN WAY.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF HELP ENSURING THE SAILORS WERE PREPARED AND READY TO GO FOR THE REST OF THE TRAINING CYCLE.

IT WAS A TOUGH DAY THAT NONE OF US WILL EVER FORGET.

>> Reporter: THE CARRIER STRIKE GROUP IS HEADED TOWARDS THE WESTERN PACIFIC.

A NUMBER OF SAILORS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

AS THE NAVY CONTINUES TO UPDATE ITS PROTOCOLS, THEY WILL REMAIN ON BOARD IN ISOLATION.

>>> ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S MOST PROLIFIC LAWMAKERS STEPPED ASIDE THIS WEEK.

DEMOCRAT LLERENA GONZALES RESIGNED FROM THE STATE ASSEMBLY TO LEAD THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION.

SHE'S AS PART OF HER DECISION IS BASED ON REDISTRICTING SPLITTING UP HER CURRENT DISTRO.

FORMER DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RUN FOR THE VACATED SEAT.

>>> POLITICS AND DEMOCRACY WERE MAJOR THEMES THIS WEEK AS THE NATION MARKED ONE YEAR SINCE THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL.

WE GOT REACTION FROM SAN DIEGANS SERVING IN CONGRESS.

>> Reporter: CONGRESSMAN SCOTT PETERS WAS IN THE GALLERY WATCHING THE PROCEEDINGS WHEN THE MOB ATTACKED.

HE SAID IT WAS A GREAT SHOCK TO HIM AND HIS COLLEAGUES.

ONE YEAR LATER, THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE INSURRECTIONIST KILLED THAT DAY WAS ASHLEY BABBITT, A FORMER AIR FORCE VETERAN WHO LIVED IN HIS DISTRICT.

HE REMEMBERS THE CHAOS THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

>> I REMEMBER BEING PART OF THAT AND THINKING, BEING AMAZED AND UPSET THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN TO IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE TOP TERRORIST TARGETS IN THE WORLD, THE UNITED STATES CAPITAL.

THE SECURITY WAS CERTAINLY A FAILURE.

>> Reporter: FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE SHERRY JACKIE -- SARAH JACOBS, IT WAS ONLY HER FOURTH DAY IN CONGRESS.

SHE SAID IT MADE HER REALIZE HER JOB IS PROTECTING AND DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.

>> WE CAN NO LONGER REST ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE THE ONES BEING CO-OPTED.

BUT AS DARK AND SCARY AND DIFFICULT AS THAT ALL SOUNDS, AND IT IS, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PATH FORWARD.

>> Reporter: AS OPTIMISTIC AS SOME LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE, ONE POLITICAL EXPERT EXPRESSED DOUBT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES.

BARBARA WALTER IS THE AUTHOR OF HOW CIVIL WAR STARTS AND HOW TO STOP THEM.

SHE SAID THE SEEDS OF CIVIL WAR WERE SOWN LAST JANUARY 6 AND THAT THE U.S. IS NOW CONSIDERED A SEMI-DEMOCRACY.

>> THE UNITED STATES WAS DOWNGRADED TO FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER JANUARY 6 OF LAST YEAR.

IT HAD NOT BEEN SINCE 1800.

AND IT IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED THE WORLDS LONGEST STANDING DEMOCRACY.

SO WE ARE, AND THAT HASN'T IMPROVED SINCE JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.

>> Reporter: THE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR SAYS RACISM AND THE FEAR OF CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE BEEN FEEDING DISSENT.

CONGRESSMAN JUAN VARGAS SAID HE AND HIS STAFF ARE READY TO FIGHT BACK LAST JANUARY.

HE SAYS HE RECOGNIZED HOW CLOSE OUR DEMOCRACY CAME TO FAILING THAT DAY.

>> I MEAN, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF DONALD TRUMP AS PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE TURNED THE MILITARY AGAINST THE PEOPLE?

IN OTHER WORDS, IF HE WOULD HAVE DECIDED I AM GOING TO STAY IN OFFICE BY USING FORCE?

HE AT THAT POINT WAS STILL THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE IS DISAPPOINTED IN SOME OF HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO TO THIS DATE WON'T STAND UP AGAINST TRUMP FOR FEAR OF LOSING AN ELECTION.

>> IT IS SAD.

IT IS COWARDLY, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IT IS ALSO SAD.

>> Reporter: HE PRAISES REPRESENTATIVES LIZ CHENEY AND ADAM KINSINGER FOR STANDING UP FOR THE TRUTH.

DARRELL ISSA, THE LOAD REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE FROM SAN DIEGO, RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THE WEEKS AND MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK WERE "DEVASTATING FOR THE NATION."

BUT HE SPENT MUCH OF THE STATEMENT ATTACKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.>>> WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

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