>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES ON KPBS THIS WEEK, I'M JACOB AERE.

A SOLAR PROJECT IS APPROVED FOR AN EAST COUNTY COMMUNITY, HEAR FROM THOSE WHO TRIED TO STOP IT.

THEN, THE COST OF DYING, OUR PRICE OF SAN DIEGO HEARINGS, SAYING GOODBYE TO A LOVED ONE CAN BE AN EXPENSIVE PROCESS.

AND WE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE OPENING OF A NEW NIGHT MARKET THAT IS BRINGING TOGETHER ASIAN CULTURES.

WE START WITH A STATUS CHECK ON SAN DIEGO'S CLIMATE GOALS, THE ACTION PLAN PROVIDES AN ANNUAL REPORT AND THE LATEST ONE SHOWS THE CITY IS FALLING BEHIND, KPBS REPORTER, ANDREW BOWEN HAS THE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE TRENDING DOWNWARD BUT THEY ARE NOT DROPPING FAST ENOUGH TO MEET THE CITY'S GOAL OF NET ZERO BY 2035.

ELECTRICITY IS GETTING CLEANER AS MORE OF THE GRID IS POWERED BY RENEWABLES LIKE WIND AND SOLAR PRE-NATURAL GAS USAGE IS ALSO DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY BUT THE BIG BEAST OF SAN DIEGO'S CARBON FOOTPRINT WHERE THERE IS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PROGRESS IS THE AUTOMOBILE.

>> WE HAVE GOT TO DO MUCH MORE IF WE ARE GOING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS AND INTO MORE SUSTAINABLE WAYS OF TRAVELING.

>> Reporter: STEVE IS A VOLUNTEER WITH SAN DIEGO 350 AND A MEMBER OF THE CITY'S MOBILITY ADVISORY BOARD, THE CITY'S DATA SHOWED DRIVING IN SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN INCREASING SINCE 2020.

PEOPLE ARE RETURNING TO IN PERSON JOBS AND THEY ARE TAKING MORE TRIPS AND DRIVING LONGER DISTANCES.

EVEN AS MORE SAN DIEGO'S SWITCH TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THAT PROGRESS IS BEING CANCELED OUT BY MORE DRIVING.

>> WE STILL HAVE THIS BELIEF THAT ONE MUST HAVE A CAR IN ORDER TO GET AROUND.

AND THAT IS A REALLY DANGEROUS BELIEF FOR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT UP TO 30% OF PEOPLE CANNOT DRIVE TO GET AROUND.

>> Reporter: THE CLIMATE REPORT FINDS THE CITY IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF FINDING MORE HOUSING YOUR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THE CITY HAS DRAMATICALLY PULLED BACK ON BUILDING AND IMPROVING BIKE LANES.

THAT WORK PEAKED IN 2021 BUT IT HAS FALLEN BY MORE THAN 60% SINCE THEN.

THE RECENT JUMP IN GAS PRICES MAY BE PROMPTING SOME SAN DIEGANS TO CUT BACK ON DRIVING.

BUT, IT TAKES TIME TO COMPILE AND ANALYZE THE DATA ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE REPORT WITH THE MISSIONS DATA FROM 2026 WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A HUGE SOLAR ENERGY AND BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT IS A STEP CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION, SOME OF THOSE THAT LIVE NEAR THE TOWN OF BOULEVARD TRIED TO STOP IT.

ELAINE ALFARO TELLS US ABOUT THE LATEST PLAN FOR THE REGION.

>> Reporter: AFTER HOURS OF PRESENTATIONS, PUBLIC COMMENT AND DISCUSSION, THE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED STARLIGHT SOLAR, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY AND WOULD TRANSFORM SECTIONS OF NATURAL SPACE BETWEEN OLD HIGHWAY 80 AND THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS MADE THAT HOUR PLUS DRIVE TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE LOSS OF NATURAL LANDSCAPES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON THE LOCAL WATER TABLE.

MANY ARE ALSO WEARY OF THE FIRE HAZARDS THAT CAN COME WITH BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS.

>> ME AND MY WIFE HAVE WORKED ALL OUR LIVES AND I JUST RECENTLY RETIRED AND MY WIFE HAS BEEN RETIRED FOR TWO YEARS.

WE WANTED TO COME OUT TO THE RURAL AREA SO IT WOULD BE A MORE QUIET ENVIRONMENT, YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THE DUST AND THINGS THAT HAPPEN, IT IS NOT THE WAY IT WAS OR GOING TO BE, WHY WE CAME OUT THERE TO LIVE THERE.

>> Reporter: ON ROUGHLY 600 ACRES OF LAND, THEY HAVE AN EXTENSIVE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THE COMMISSIONERS GREEN LIT THE PROJECT AS LONG AS THE APPLICANT CAN ACCOMMODATE CERTAIN CHANGES.

INCLUDING PORTIONS OF THE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM FURTHER AWAY FROM RESIDENCES, IMPLEMENT DUST CONTROL MONITORING MEASURES DURING CONSTRUCTION AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE APPLICANT WOULD GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT IS KNOWN AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES HAVE REASSURED SOME RESIDENCE.

>> I THINK ACTUALLY THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE HEARD FROM US.

I'M FEELING MORE POSITIVE LEADING THIS MEETING.

>> BOULEVARD RESIDENTS DEMANDED EXCHANGES AFTER SEEING IMPACTS OF ANOTHER SOLAR PROJECT ON NEARBY COMMUNITIES.

JIM WHELAN IS THE LAND-USE CONSULTANT FOR THE HAGAN COMPANY, HE IS HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE MEETING AND INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES.

>> THE VOTE IS VERY TELLING.

AND BOTH SIDES ARE DECLARING HAPPINESS WITH THE OUTCOME, THAT IS UNUSUAL.

WE CALL THAT A WIN-WIN.

>> Reporter: BUT SOME BOULEVARD RESIDENTS LIKE FORREST SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION.

>> I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE MONEY COMING TO THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE TOTALLY STOPPED BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> Reporter: THE SPOKESPERSON SAID THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL VOTE ON THE PROJECT ON SEPTEMBER 16th.

ELAINE ALFARO , KPBS NEWS.

>>> HER WORK FOCUSES ON EAST COUNTY COMMUNITIES, YOU CAN FIND IT AT KPBS .ORG AND ALL OF OUR PLATFORMS.

>>> PETE HEGSETH HAS WAGED A PERSONAL WAR AGAINST MILITARY DIVERSITY SINCE BECOMING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S DEFENSE SECRETARY, ANDREW DYER TELLS US ABOUT ONE TARGET WHO MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST WELL- KNOWN SAN DIEGO AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.

>> A NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS, REAR ADMIRAL AMY BAUERNSCHMIDT WAS ONE THAT HAD HER PROMOTIONS CANCELED BY PETE HEGSETH.

IN 2021, AMY BAUERNSCHMIDT MADE HISTORY BECOMING THE FIRST WOMAN TO DEMAND A NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER, AFTER LEADING THE SAN DIEGO-BASED USS, SHE BECAME THE ADMIRAL.

WHEN SHE WAS SECOND IN COMMAND, IN 2018, SHE TOLD HER HOMETOWN, FOX NEWS MILWAUKEE STATION, SHE DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HER IDENTITY.

>> VERY FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE HAVE I ACTUALLY SAT THERE AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WAS A WOMAN DOING THIS BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART I WAS JUST TREATED AS A NAVAL OFFICER AND AVIATOR AND SOMEWHERE IN FIFTH PLACE, OH, SHE'S A WOMAN.

>> Reporter: PETE HEGSETH HAS INTERVENED AND FIRED TWO DOZEN MORE, AND THE TIMES SAYS MORE THAN HALF OF THEM WERE WOMEN OR BLACK PEOPLE.

PETE HEGSETH EXPLAINED HIS DECISION-MAKING IN SEPTEMBER WHEN HE SUMMONED ALL THE GENERALS AND ADMIRALS IN THE MILITARY TO HEAR HIM SPEAK IN QUANTICO, VIRGINIA.

>> IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE A CULTURE WITH THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HELPED CREATE OR BENEFIT FROM THAT CULTURE, AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF GENERALS AND ADMIRALS WERE TOLD THEY MUST PARE IT THE INSANE FALLACY THAT OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH.

>> Reporter: THE PRESS SECRETARY TELLS KPBS THE NEW YORK TIMES HALLUCINATES RACISM AND SEXISM WHERE NONE EXISTS.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> MOST OF US DON'T THINK ABOUT THE COST OF DYING UNTIL WE ARE FORCED TO, OUR HEALTH REPORTER, HEIDI DE MARCO LOOKS AT THE COST OF SAYING GOODBYE, TO THE TUNE OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE SOUND OF ONE OF LIFE'S HARDEST MOMENTS AND IN SAN DIEGO, IT CAN ALSO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE.

>> I SPENT TIME WITH THE FAMILIES, I HELPED THEM MAKE ALL THESE DECISIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE IN ONE OF THE WORST MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES.

>> Reporter: PENNY IS A FUNERAL ARRANGER.

>> WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT WE ARE SO UNEDUCATED ON MY DEATH AND DYING CAN LOOK LIKE IN THE U.S.

AND PEOPLE ARE JUST MAKING RASH, URGENT DECISIONS WITHOUT ANY SORT OF KNOWLEDGE OR FOUNDATION TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FROM.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS MANY FAMILIES WALK INTO A FUNERAL HOME WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

>> SO WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH AMERICAN BURIAL, WHERE THE BODY IS PLACED INTO A CASKET AND THAT GOES INTO A CONCRETE VAULT.

>> Reporter: A TRADITIONAL BURIAL REMAINS AN IMPORTANT CHOICE FOR MANY FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER GENERATION.

IRA IS A FAMILY SERVICES ADVISER AT SENIOR HILLS MEMORIAL PARK, IT IS A CEMETERY .

>> A TRADITIONAL INGROUND CASKET FOR A SINGLE PERSON, THAT IS CLOSER TO 12,000 TO 13,000.

>> Reporter: WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

FAMILIES ARE JUST PAYING FOR A CEMETERY SPACE, THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE LAND, THE LABOR, THE BURIAL AND ONGOING CARE.

THOSE COSTS RARELY GO DOWN.

>> THE COST OF ANY KIND OF BURIAL WILL GO UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR, REGARDLESS OF INFLATION OR NOT.

>> Reporter: GETTING THE BODY PREPARED AT A FUNERAL HOME IS ANOTHER COST.

NATIONALLY, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL IS ABOUT $800, HERE IN SAN DIEGO, IT IS WELL OVER $10,000.

>> CEMETERY SPACE CAN BE REALLY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS AND BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE AND ALL OF THOSE CARRY A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHER PRICE TAG.

>> Reporter: AND FOR FAMILIES WHO AREN'T EXPECTING THAT KIND OF BILL, THE DECISION ABOUT HOW TO SAY GOODBYE CAN QUICKLY BECOME A DECISION ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD.

>> THEY CAN BE A LITTLE STICKER SHOCKED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PREPARE FOR IT AND WHAT HAPPENS IS UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST AUTOMATICALLY OPT FOR CREMATION.

>> Reporter: CREMATION CAN START AROUND $1500.

THESE ARE MOSTLY TRADITIONAL URNS, SO TO BE BURIED IN A CEMETERY OR PLACED IN YOUR HOME.

>> Reporter: SAVANNA OWNS ORCHID CREMATIONS IN CARLSBAD, SHE SAYS CREMATION IS STILL THE MOST POPULAR OPTION BUT SHE IS SEEING A GROWING INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVES.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF A BINDER TO ACTUALLY MAKE THEM INTO THE STONE.

SO THE NEWER GENERATION WANTS ECO-FRIENDLY THINGS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY WANT MORE OPTIONS, THEY JUST WANT DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> SO THAT WOULD BE THE BASKET THAT THE LOVED ONE WOULD STAY IN.

>> Reporter: AMONG THE NEWER OPTIONS IS WATER CREMATION, IT CAN COST AROUND $3800, IT IS MORE THAN PLAIN CREMATION BUT PART OF THE COST COMES FROM HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.

>> WATER CREMATION IS ALL ELECTRIC PROCESS, THE COST OF ELECTRICITY ITSELF HAS DEFINITELY GONE UP AND IT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT FOR US.

>> Reporter: CALEB FLOREZ RUNS WHITE WATER CREMATION IN ESCONDIDO.

>> IT IS USING YOUR BODY'S NATURAL STATE, AMINO ACIDS, PEPTIDES, SUGAR AND WATER.

>> Reporter: THEN THERE IS BURIAL AT SEA.

IT CAN COST ANYWHERE FROM $500 FOR AN UNATTENDED ASH SCATTERING TO ABOUT $6000 FOR A FULL BODY BURIAL.

CHRIS ANDERSON IS WATER AND ASH BURIALS OWNER.

>> PEOPLE GET A SENSE OF PEACE WHEN THEY ARE OUT IN THE OCEAN THAT YOU MIGHT NOT GET IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE PRICE COVERS THE CREW, THE PERMIT, THE FLOWERS AND THE MEMORIAL WITH THE EXACT COORDINATES WHERE A LOVED ONE IS LAID TO REST.

>> SO, INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THE GROUND, YOU GO INTO A CHAMBER, AND NATURAL MATERIALS FROM THE LAND GO IN WITH YOU SO WITHIN ABOUT THREE MONTHS, THIS % IS WHAT YOUR BODY WILL TURN INTO.

>> Reporter: BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, CALIFORNIA WILL LEGALIZE ANOTHER OPTION, HUMAN COMPOSTING.

>> ALL OF YOUR SLUSHY MATERIAL TURNS INTO SOIL.

AND THEN YOU TAKE YOUR BONES OUT AND MECHANICALLY PROCESS YOUR BONES AND THE BONES GO BACK INTO THE SOIL.

>> Reporter: SHE HOLDS THE SOIL IN HER HANDS, FROM HUMAN REMAINS.

>> YOU CAN MIX IT WITH MIRACLE- GRO AND PLANT VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS.

>> Reporter: THE GOAL ISN'T TO CONVINCE FAMILIES HOW THEY SHOULD SAY GOODBYE, IT'S TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE CHOICES.

HEIDI DE MARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>> THAT STORY IS A PART OF OUR PRICE OF SAN DIEGO SERIES, WE HAVE MORE STORIES FROM EVERYTHING FROM RISING GAS PRICES TO LIVE SPORTS EVENTS.

CHECK IT OUT ONLINE.

AND SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES, HERE'S SOME FROM THIS WEEK, HOW TWO ON MILITARY BASES BECAME SAN DIEGO'S LARGEST UNIVERSITY, THAT IS A PART OF OUR AMERICA 250 COVERAGE, PLUS LOCAL GROUND BABY OPENS ITS FIRST BRICK-AND- MORTAR STORE AND A NEW NIGHT MARKET IN NATIONAL CITY.

HERE'S THAT STORY FROM COREY SUZUKI.

>> Reporter: THE MARKET TOOK PLACE IN A SMALL STRIP MALL ON THE EAST SIDE OF NATIONAL CITY, THERE WERE DUMPLINGS AND BARBECUE, VENDORS SOLD PERFUME AND VINTAGE CLOTHING.

JORDAN MARTIN WAS ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE, SHE STOOD IN LINE FOR LEMONADE WITH HER COUSIN, MARTIN SAID SHE RECENTLY MOVED BACK TO SAN DIEGO AFTER A STINT IN ARIZONA.

>> I MOVED IN A HURRY ONCE I GRADUATED JUST BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THERE WASN'T ANYTHING OUT HERE.

COMING BACK TO SEE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THIS, PEOPLE OUT IN PUBLIC AND FUN ACTIVITIES TO GET INTO, IT MAKES IT WORTHWHILE TO BE BACK.

>> Reporter: MARKETS ARE A STAPLE OF MANY AREAS IN ASIA AND ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN CALIFORNIA.

ORGANIZERS ARE SEEING THIS ONE IN NATIONAL CITY TAKEOFF AS WELL.

THEY HAD TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES, VILLA MANILA, AND WOODLEY SAYS THEY WERE EXCITED TO BRING THE MARKET TO A PLACE WITH STRONG ROOTS.

>> THIS AREA I WOULD SAY IS MORE OF AN OLDER CROWD SO IT IS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE ALL THE MEMBERS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN JUST SO MUCH HAPPENED TO THIS AREA.

>> Reporter: FABIAN WAS OVERSEEING THE MOSH -- MAH- JONGG TABLES.

>> IT IS GREAT FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES AROUND HERE AND I LOVE GETTING EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN MAH-JONGG, TOO.

>> Reporter: AS IT GOT DARK, A SPRINKLE OF RAIN BEGAN TO FALL BUT THE MARKET WENT ON LATE INTO THE EVENING.

COREY SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>>> YOUR FLOSS IS ENOUGH IS A NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK, THE BOOK IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF STORIES CREATED BY A PAIR OF SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS.

BETH ACCOMANDO TAKES US BEHIND THE SCENES TO SEE HOW A FICTIONAL FARMYARD ANIMAL COMES TO LIFE.

>> Reporter: TODAY WE ARE GOING TO WIGGLY FARM TO ME LENNY THE LITTLE SHEEP.

>> HE WOULD WATCH OVER THE SHEEP AND WONDER, WHY DOES THAT FACE LOOK NICER THAN MINE?

>> I WANTED LENNY TO HAVE A LOT OF SOFT SHADES, SOFT COLORS AND PALLET, SO THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE A CHARACTER THAT COULD BE REIMAGINED OR BECOME AN ACTUAL STUFFED ANIMAL THAT THE KIDS COULD TAKE HOME WITH THEM.

>> Reporter: GANDHI IS ONE THIRD OF THE MOVIE AND ALSO A DANCE INSTRUCTOR AND DRAG QUEEN AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM PLANNED TO CREATE A CHILDREN'S BOOK BUT THEY DID.

>> MY BOOK IS CALLED, YOUR FLOSS IS ENOUGH.

LENNY IS A LITTLE SHEEP AND HE PERCEIVES THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH WOOL OR FLUFF COMPARED TO THE OTHER SHEEP SO HE GOES ON AN ADVENTURE TO TRY ON OTHER COATS AND DISCOVERS THAT WHAT HE HAS IS ABSOLUTELY ENOUGH.

>> YOUR FLUFF IS ENOUGH.

>> GANDHI'S HUSBAND GAVE LENNY A THEME SONG.

>> THE EASIEST WAY TO START WAS TO DO A CLOUD, SOME SQUIGGLES, SOMETIMES THEY ARE THREES, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST LITTLE PATTERNS, I USUALLY START WITH A CIRCLE.

SO NOW THE EYES, THE EYES ARE A HUGE PART OF THE DESIGN, SO I USUALLY TAKE UP QUITE A BIT OF SPACE WITH THE EYES BECAUSE I WANT THERE TO BE NO QUESTION AT ALL ABOUT HOW THESE CHARACTERS ARE THINKING AND FEELING.

THEN I DRAW THIS CIRCLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SHINE OF THE EYES, AND NOW I'M GOING TO DRAW THE SNOUT WHICH IS ACUTE LITTLE HILL WITH A NOSE AND BECAUSE HE IS A SHEEP, I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE LINE IN THE MIDDLE AND LET'S HAVE A NICE LITTLE SMILE.

THE BODY IS A LITTLE CLOUD, AND I GAVE HIM A DARKER SKIN TONE.

>> WHAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF US WAS REPRESENTATION WITHOUT PUTTING IT IN YOUR FACE SO IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE LENNY WITH SOFTER SKIN, AND THE FARMERS ARMS, WE ONLY SHOWED HER ARMS, BUT IT IS A WOMAN FOR SURE, SHE IS WEARING NAIL POLISH AND SHE HAS SOFTER SKIN.

>> FOR ALL THESE CHARACTERS, I LIKE TO ADD LIFE AND DIMENSION WITH THE LIGHTING.

DIMENSIONS ARE MADE WITH SHADING AND A LOT OF FIGURING OUT WHERE YOU ARE IMAGINING THE LIGHT TO HIT YOU AND THE SHADOWS TO BE.

FURTHER SHADING, I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE MIDDLE OF LENNY'S FACE, AND THE OUTSIDES OF HIS LIPS.

I IMAGINE THIS IS WHERE THE LIGHT WOULD BE BOUNCING OFF OF.

AND ALREADY, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S MORE DIMENSION THAT IS BUILDING BECAUSE NOW YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE DEPTH AND THERE WE HAVE LENNY.

>> HE HAS BIG PLANS, SHE HAS BOOKS ALREADY DONE FOR EACH OF THE FARMYARD ANIMALS AND AN EXTENSIVE WEBSITE WITH TOOLS FOR PARENTS AND DOWNLOADABLE ACTIVITIES, PLUS SOMETHING THEY WERE EXCITED TO CREATE, A MAP OF WIGGLY WRIGGLY FARM.

>> AND WE WILL EXPAND THE MAP, DEPENDING ON EACH CHARACTER, SO YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT THEY LIVE IN.

>> AND ALMOST EVERY VIDEO GAME HAS SOME KIND OF MAP BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING, SO IT WAS A VERY EASY WAY FOR US TO HELP BUILD THE ENTIRE WORLD BEFORE WORKING ON THE OTHER BOOKS.

>> BUT, ALL THE BOOKS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, AGAIN, THE WHOLE WORLD IS ABOUT SHARING KINDNESS, AND I REALLY FELT LIKE THIS WORLD AT THIS TIME REALLY NEEDS MORE KINDNESS.

>> I'M BETH ACCOMANDO, KPBS NEWS.

>> BETH ACCOMANDO WILL BE A BIG PART OF THE COMIC-CON COVERAGE, THE POP-CULTURE STARTS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND FOR KPBS IT STARTS ON MONDAY.

AND DIGITAL PRODUCER, LESLIE GONZALES WILL CO-HOST A LIFESTREAM ON THE YOUTUBE PAGE, IT IS A CASUAL CHAT ABOUT THIS YEAR'S COMIC-CON AND WHAT YOU WILL SEE AND HEAR FROM KPBS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

>>> WITH ITS LARGE COLLECTION OF AIRCRAFT AND AVIATION EXHIBITS, THE SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM WAS ONE OF THE PREMIER FACILITIES OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION.

JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US, VISITORS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO SEE A PART OF THE MUSEUM THAT UP UNTIL NOW HAS BEEN OFF-LIMITS.

>> Reporter: THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM BEGAN ITS LIFE FEATURING ONLY TRANSPORTATION OF THE GROUND-BASED VARIETY.

THE ART DECO MASTERPIECE OPENED IN 1935 AS THE FORD INDUSTRIAL EXHIBIT, THE BANNER ADVERTISING THE TEMPORARY RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT AUDITORIUM EXHIBIT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS STORY.

MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT.

IF YOU VISITED BEFORE, YOU KNOW THIS STRUCTURE WITH ITS CEILINGS SOARING TO 60 FEET IS IDEAL TO SHOW OFF PLANES LANDING ABOVE, FAMOUS FLYING MACHINES LIKE THE BELL X1, THE FIRST PLANE TO BREAK THE SOUND BARRIER IN 1947.

AND THIS LITTLE RED AND WHITE MARBLE, THE GDR 1 SUPER SPORTSTER, 15 YEARS BEFORE THE X1, IT BROKE THE SPEED RECORD IN 1932, REACHING NEARLY 297 MILES PER HOUR.

WHAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW IS THAT BOTH OF THESE PLANES ARE EXACT REPRODUCTIONS OF THE ORIGINALS, BUILT BY HAND JUST A FEW FEET AWAY.

A FEW FEET DOWN.

>> THIS IS THE BASE OF THE RESTORATION DEPARTMENT OF THE MUSEUM.

>> Reporter: THAT IS TOM NOLAN, A FORMER AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, ONE OF SCORES OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WORKED OUT HERE.

FOR FOLKS WHO LIKE TO FIX OLD STUFF FOUR REPLICAS OF ENGINES AND AIRCRAFT, THIS IS A LITTLE SLICE OF SUBTERRANEAN HEAVEN.

>> WE GOT THE JET ENGINES, WE'VE GOT THIS ONE HERE, WE HAVE DONE THIS ONE, WE DID A CUTAWAY OF THIS ONE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW IT OPERATES.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A 1930S ERA RADIAL ENGINE.

AROUND THE CORNER, WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL THE CENTERPIECE PROJECT, ONE OF THOSE PLANES, THE GUYS ARE BUILDING FROM SCRATCH.

WHEN IT COMES TO FAST, THIS WAS IT IN THE 30s.

THIS IS A REPLICA OF THE HUGHES H ONE RACER FEATURED IN 2004, THE AVIATOR STARRING LEONARDO DiCAPRIO AS HOWARD HUGHES.

THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR THIS AIRPLANE, IT IS BUILT ONLY FROM PHOTOS FEATURING A TAPE MEASURE.

>> WE HAVE WELDING, WE HAVE ALL THE CAPABILITIES OF FABRICATING PARTS.

>> Reporter: WITH ALL THIS UNIQUE, INTRICATE WORK HAPPENING DOWN HERE AND ALL THE REMARKABLE THINGS THIS SHOP TURNS OUT, IT IS A SHAME THIS PART OF THE MUSEUM IS OFF- LIMITS TO VISITORS THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

THE RESTORATION SHOP IS ABOUT TO ENTER A NEW ERA, THIS GIVES A CLUE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, THEY WILL START WELCOMING SMALL TOUR GROUPS DOWN HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A BLUE TAPE TRIANGLE DOWN THERE, ONE OVER HERE.

THIS IS WHERE FUTURE EXHIBITS WILL BE PLACED.

>> WE ARE FORMERLY CREATING A VERY SPECIAL TOUR OPPORTUNITY DOWN HERE.

>> Reporter: JIM KIDRICK IS THE LONG-TIME PRESIDENT AND CEO.

>> MOST OF THOSE GROUPS WILL BE SMALLER, WE EXPECT TWO PEOPLE, EIGHT PEOPLE, 10, AND IT NOW TAKES THEM OFF THE MAIN FLOOR.

>> Reporter: HE EXPECTS THE TAURUS TO BEGIN WITHIN A FEW WEEKS WHICH MEANS VISITORS WHO COME DOWN HERE WILL SEE SOMETHING THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH AVIATION, THESE FUNKY LITTLE CARS, THEY BELONG TO RIPLEY'S, THEY ARE BEING RESTORED TO THEIR ODD FORMER GLORY.

FUN FACT, NOLAN SAID THEY WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE LATE 60s ON THE BRITISH ISLE OF MAN.

>> JUST PULLING STUFF APART, IT IS SO RUSTED, YOU NEED HYDRAULICS AND EVERYTHING TO PULL IT APART.

ONCE WE GET IT APART, THEN EVERYTHING CAN BE RESTORED.

>> Reporter: RIPLEY'S NEW THIS SHOP WAS THE PERFECT PLACE TO RESTORE THESE CARS AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE GENESIS OF THIS STORY.

THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND CONTRAPTION.

A HARD TO DESCRIBE COLLECTION OF WHAT WIZARD OF OZ FANS MIGHT LOVINGLY CALL COOLIDGE AND HIS JUNK.

THIS SIGN MADE DECADES AGO HAD STOPPED WORKING, RIPLEY'S KNEW OF THE RESTORATION SHOP AND ASKED IF THEY COULD FIX IT.

THEY NOT ONLY RESTORED IT TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY, COMPLETE WITH THE STEEL BALL.

THEY ALSO ADDED ALL NEW SWITCHES AND ELECTRONICS, THE WORD IS, RIPLEY'S WAS QUITE PLEASED.

SO MUCH SO THAT KIDRICK SAID THEY GAVE THE MUSEUM A DISCOUNT, WITH ALL THE ATTENTION TO RESTORING AND BUILDING AVIATION HISTORY, HE IS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE, THIS BUS GOES OUT EVERY WEEK TO SCHOOLS GETTING KIDS INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE OF AVIATION AND SPACE TRAVEL.

>> WE CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE GENERATION, WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT OUR JOB IS TO PERPETUATE WHAT THEY DID AND WHO THEY WERE, TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO THE FUTURE OF NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES OF COURSE, BUT THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: MISSION BEING ACCOMPLISHED HERE EVERY DAY.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> GREAT STORY.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I'M JACOB AERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.