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

I'M MAYA TRABELSI AND COMING UP.

IT'S BAD SEASON IN SAN DIEGO, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PADRES CYTOTEC REPORTER THOMAS FUDGE PEELS BACK SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THESE MYSTERIOUS CREATURES THAT PLAY A BIG ROLE IN OUR ECOSYSTEM.

AND SAN DIEGO'S WINE INDUSTRY IS HAVING A MOMENT.

ALEXANDER WIN VISITS ONE LOCAL VINEYARD TO FIND OUT WHY SALES ARE WAY UP.

AND THE NEXT STEP FOR THE CONVOY .

CULTURAL DISTRICT.

MELISSA MAY HAS THE MAJOR REVAMP IN THE WORKS THAT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED HOUSING TO THE HEART OF KEARNY MESA.

IT IS CRUNCH TIME THIS WEEKEND FOR CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

BY NOW, YOU'VE LIKELY HEARD ALL ABOUT THE DEBT LIMIT NEGOTIATIONS DOMINATING NATIONAL HEADLINES, AND JACOB AIR TELLS SOME OF WHAT HANGS IN THE BALANCE HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

PRESIDENT BIDEN.

REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS HAVE NOT MADE MUCH PROGRESS ON RAISING THE DEBT CEILING.

THAT'S THE LIMIT ON HOW MUCH MONEY THE US CAN BORROW.

AS THE S U.

ECONOMICS PROFESSOR.

HE SHAMPOO AD EXPLAINS WHY IT MATTERS IF IT'S NOT RAISED UP SHORT OF MEETING ALL OF OUR OBLIGATIONS, WHETHER IT BE INTEREST ON DEBT THAT WE OWE BUT ALSO SOMETHING YOU KNOW EVERYDAY THINGS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE PAYMENTS, PAYING THE SALARIES OF PEOPLE IN OUR MILITARY.

AH MEETING OUR OBLIGATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK RECEIVED 20 TO 30% OF THEIR SUPPLY FROM FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS, THE POLITICAL STALEMATE ON THE DEBT CEILING COULD LEAD TO CUTS IN THEIR FOOD QUANTITY AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY NEED TO SERVE, SAYS THE ORGANIZATION'S VANESSA RUIZ.

NOW IF WE HAVE BIGGER ISSUES WITH THE DEBT CEILING, AND THEY START CUTTING CAL FRESH SNAP UH, IT COULD MEAN A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM US.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT THE $31.4 TRILLION CEILING HAS ALREADY BEEN REACHED .

IF CONGRESS FAILS TO ACT, THE GOVERNMENT COULD DEFAULT AS EARLY AS JUNE.

1ST FORWARD SAYS EVEN A WEEK OF DELAY COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS.

BASICALLY WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START MAKING SOME DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO PRIORITIZE.

AND IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT'S GOING TO PRIORITIZE MEETING THEIR DEBT AND INTEREST PAYMENTS FIRST.

RUIZ SAYS THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, EVEN RECENTLY IN 2018 AND 2019 AND THE IMPACTED SAN DIEGANS BACK WHEN WE SAW THE DEBT CEILING, REACH ITS CAP GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN.

WE WERE SERVING ADDITIONAL FOLKS WHO NEVER CAME TO OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS SUCH AS THE COAST GUARD.

WE HAD OTHER MILITARY BRANCHES THAT WERE COMING TO OUR TO OUR DOORS ASKING FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE, WHETHER TEMPORARILY OR INDEFINITELY UNTIL THEY COULD GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

FORWARD SAYS IT'S STILL UNLIKELY THAT NO AGREEMENT ON THE DEBT CEILING IS REACHED IN TIME, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRACE FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO THAT INCLUDES FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS AND A SERIOUS HIT THE OVERALL ECONOMY THAT HE SAYS WOULD LEAD TO A RECESSION.

JACOB BEAR KPBS NEWS.

AND SOME OF THOSE WHO RELY ON FOOD BENEFITS ARE ALREADY HAVING TO GET BY WITH LESS DUE TO THE END OF EMERGENCY COVID BENEFITS ARE RECENT EQUITY REPORTER KATIE HYSON CHECKS IN ON ONE LOCAL FAMILY.

I JUST HOPE THIS THE STATE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO MANY WAKES UP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE PEOPLE ARE GONNA STARVE RIGHT HERE.

HERNANDEZ LIVES WITH HER 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN POWAY.

THEY SURVIVE OFF HERNANDEZ'S DISABILITY CHECK AND THEIR COMBINED CAL FRESH BENEFITS IN MARCH.

THE COVID EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS ENDED.

THEIR MONTHLY GROCERY ASSISTANCE WENT FROM ABOUT $600 DOWN TO JUST 160 $60 FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER.

JUST NOTHING.

THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T SURVIVE WITH THE EXTRA BENEFITS.

HERNANDEZ USED TO BUY FRESH VEGETABLES AND LEAN MEATS.

NOW THEY EAT WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD GROUND BEEF AND TUNA, FISH, MAC AND CHEESE AND TOP RAMEN PRODUCE FROM FOOD PANTRIES OFTEN GOES BAD WITHIN A DAY.

SHE SAYS.

THE NUTRITIONAL CHANGE REFLECTED IN HER DOCTOR'S VISITS FOR HER DIABETES BECAUSE THE PROCESSED FOOD IS CHEAPER.

WHICH IS SAD.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ME.

MY SUGARS WERE LEVELED, BUT NOW THEY'RE GOING UP AND DOWN AGAIN .

HERNANDEZ WORKS THE GROCERY SALES BUT STILL HAS TO DIP INTO SAVINGS.

WHEN SHE HAD THE EXTRA BENEFITS.

SHE SETS THEM ASIDE EACH MONTH TO PREPARE FOR THE DAY WHEN THEY WOULD ADD.

SHE HAS A STOCKPILE IN HER PANTRY.

SHE ESTIMATES IT WILL LAST TWO MORE MONTHS.

AFTER THAT, SHE'LL DO WHATEVER SHE HAS TO.

THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES WHERE, YOU KNOW I AM GONNA JUST LET HER EAT OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

THE END OF THE EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS RESULTED IN AN ESTIMATED LOSS OF MORE THAN 7.5 MILLION MEALS A MONTH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

HERNANDEZ IS ONE OF MANY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S JUST A HOUSE.

IT'S JUST PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE HOMES THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY .

IT'S NOT IT COULD BE YOUR NEIGHBOR.

IT COULD BE YOUR FRIEND.

IT COULD BE A COLLEAGUE .

FOOD BANKS ALREADY STRAINED BY RECORD FOOD, INFLATION AND RISING TRANSPORT COSTS.

ARE REPORTING INCREASED DEMAND THEY'RE UNABLE TO MEET FEEDING SAN DIEGO SPOKESPERSON CHRIS ACCESSORIES SAYS THE EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS ARE IRREPLACEABLE.

THERE'S NO SOLUTION TO THIS.

REALLY THIS WAS A HUGE LOSS FOR OUR WHOLE STATE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND FOOD BANKS CAN'T JUST SIMPLY COME UP WITH THE REPLACEMENT WHERE STRUGGLING ALREADY WITH DONATIONS THAT ARE DOWN FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S NOT SEEN AS SO MUCH OF A CRISIS ANYMORE.

HUNGER COALITION CEO ON A HEAT BROCKIE PUTS THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE THE LOSS OF THESE EMERGENCY ALLOTMENT IS WORSE THAN IF EVERY SINGLE FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRY CLOSED THEIR DOORS, SAYS CAL.

FRESH BENEFITS HAVE OTHER ADVANTAGES OVER FOOD BANKS.

THE DOLLARS ARE SPENT LOCALLY.

ACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO A FOOD BANK AND CAN BE SPENT ON FOODS APPROPRIATE TO SOMEONE'S CULTURE AND DIET.

AND BRACKEY SAYS MANY SAN DIEGANS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE ARE NOT ENROLLED.

THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THE INCOME LIMIT IS DOUBLE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, OR THEY BELIEVE INCORRECTLY THAT IT WILL ENDANGER THEIR ABILITY TO BECOME A CITIZEN.

SO OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AND MIGRANT NEIGHBORS THEY'RE AFRAID TO APPLY FOR CAL FRESH BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC CHARGE ON THE ON THE GOVERNMENT.

AND HE LOOKED UNLESS FAVORABLY FOR CITIZENSHIP.

SO THAT IS NOT TRUE .

AND MANY WHO ARE ENROLLED ARE NOT GETTING THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FOR WHICH THEY'RE ELIGIBLE.

SHE SAYS THE SYSTEM IS UNNECESSARILY COMPLICATED.

IT REQUIRES INTERNET ACCESS, TECH SAVVY AND ADVANCED LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IF EVERYONE WHO WAS ELIGIBLE FOR CAL FRESH GOT THE BENEFIT SHE SAYS FOOD BANKS COULD BE USED MORE STRATEGICALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

A IS CAL FRESH AWARENESS MONTH AND BRACKE AND HER TEAM ARE ENCOURAGING SAN DIEGANS WHO DO HAVE THAT ACCESS TO LEARN THE SYSTEM SO THEY COULD HELP OTHERS ENROLL AND NO ONE SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED.

THE NUMBERS JUST DON'T WORK OUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SALARIES AND YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF LIVING, SO IT REALLY ISN'T UH, A SIGN OF PERSONAL FAILING.

THIS IS REALLY AN EQUITY ISSUE, AND OTHER ADVOCATES ARE EYEING A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT, IF APPROVED, WOULD INCREASE THE MONTHLY MINIMUM CAL FRESH BENEFITS FROM $23 PER MONTH TO 50.

IT'S AN INCREASE ALMOST BIG ENOUGH TO COVER A GALLON OF MILK AND A DOZEN EGGS EACH WEEK.

MEANWHILE HERNANDEZ IS STOCKPILE IS RUNNING OUT.

KATIE HASTEN KPBS NEWS.

AND KATIE IS PART OF OUR TEAM OF REPORTERS LOOKING AT WHY SAN DIEGO IS ONE OF THE TOP CITIES IN THE COUNTRY FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSING.

EACH HOME AND FAMILY HAS ITS OWN MIX AND DYNAMIC.

GUSTAVO SOLIS HAS THE LATEST IN OUR SERIES.

WHENEVER YOU HAVE THREE GENERATIONS LIVING TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF.

CONFLICTS ARE UNAVOIDABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE WHO GETS TO PICK WHAT THE FAMILY WATCHES ON TV.

DO YOU LIKE?

TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM YOUR GRANDMA?

YEAH, SHE DOES KNOW, I ASKED POLICE HERE IS A 10 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO LIVES WITH HER TWO PARENTS AND HER 88 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER.

NATIONAL CITY GRANDMA LOU DIVINA VEGA MOVED IN WITH HER FAMILY.

LAST YEAR, SHE VALUED HER INDEPENDENCE, BUT HEALTH ISSUES PREVENTED HER FROM LIVING ON HER OWN FUNNY IT FEELS GOOD.

IN YOUR HEART.

TO BE CLOSE TO YOUR RELATIVE.

ALICIA'S MOM AND DAD.

BOTH HAVE FULL TIME JOBS.

THEY'RE ALSO TAKING CARE OF ABUELA, WHICH IS WHAT THEY CALL THE GRANDMOTHER, LILIANA VEGA SAYS BECOMING A CARETAKER FEELS LIKE A FULL TIME JOB, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO NAVIGATE SADIO COUNTIES.

COMPLEX HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHO TO ASK.

AND THEN SOME PEOPLE GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION, BUT THEY DON'T GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION LIKE WHY CAN'T ISN'T THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD JUST GO TO LIKE YOU HAVE ELDERLY PARENTS.

GO AND DEAL WITH THIS IF THEY'RE ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR WHATEVER, LIKE IT CAN'T BE THIS HARD AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS WITH DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SHE WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET A HOME HEALTH AIDE VISIT FOR FOUR HOURS A WEEK.

NOW SHE HELPS OTHER FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TO BECOME CARETAKERS AND OFFERS THIS PIECE OF ADVICE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE IS GONNA IT'S GONNA.

AFFECT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR HUSBAND OR YOUR PARTNER, WHOEVER THEY MAY BE, AND THAT NECESSARILY NEGATIVELY, BUT IT'S JUST IT HAS TO BE A LOT OF PATIENCE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

THE AVERAGE COST OF ASSISTED LIVING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS MORE THAN $5000 A MONTH.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY GENWORTH COST OF CARE.

GIULIANO'S HUSBAND, RICARDO IS LAST SAYS THAT PUTTING AWAY LINE A HOME WAS NEVER AN OPTION.

EVEN IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT.

HE REMEMBERS GROWING UP WITH HIS OWN GRANDMA IN THE HOUSE AND SAYS TAKING CARE OF ELDERS IS A BIG PART OF MEXICAN CULTURE.

I THINK IT'S MAYBE JUST THE WAY WE GREW UP LIKE WHETHER WHETHER IT WOULD BE MY PARENTS OR HER MOM.

YOU KNOW WHEN IT CAME TIME TO TAKE CARE OF A FAMILY MEMBER.

AH, I THINK WE'RE JUST ALL RAISED TO NOW PUT SOMEBODY IN A HOME TOO.

JUST TAKE CARE OF AS LONG AS YOU CAN, EVEN THOUGH SHE DOESN'T ALWAYS GET TO CHOOSE WHAT TO WATCH ON T V. N C. I S IS HER FAVORITE BLUE DIVINA VEGA SAYS THAT LIVING WITH HER FAMILY IS A BLESSING IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS OF THIS SERIES WILL BRING YOU STORIES HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.

GUSTAVO SOLIS KPBS NEWS.

AND IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL ABOUT YOUR MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT, YOU CAN JUST GO TO K PBS .ORG/ ROOF.

SAN DIEGO'S CONVOY STREET IN KEARNY.

MESA HAS BLOSSOMED IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY AT THE DESTINATION FOR FOODIES.

NOW IT'S GETTING A MAKEOVER THAT WILL BRING LONG OVERDUE IMPROVEMENTS AND HOMES.

MELISSA MAY TELLS US WHAT'S IN THE WORKS.

BLESSED.

THE PROJECT THAT IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE HERE.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION JOINED COMMUNITY LEADERS TO GIVE A BLESSING FOR THE PLAN TO REVITALIZATION OF THE CONVOY, ASIAN CULTURAL DISTRICT.

SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA AND SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER KENTLEY ALSO TOOK PART IN A VERY SPECIAL TEA POURING CEREMONY AS AN OFFERING TO ANCESTORS AND BLESSING OF THE LAND WHERE 531 UNIT APARTMENT AND MIXED USE BUILDING IS SET TO BE BUILT.

I THINK HOUSING IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD , I THINK WHEN WE THINK OF MANY OF OUR CORE NEIGHBORHOODS IN SAN DIEGO THAT HAVE SORT OF GROWN IN THEIR IDENTITY.

HAVING RESIDENTS LIVING THERE IS A CRITICAL PART OF IT TO TAKE THE CONVOY DISTRICT TO THE NEXT LEVEL TO PROVIDE REVITALIZATION THAT WILL BRING EVEN MORE PEOPLE SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES HERE AND FURTHER THE CULTURAL IDENTITY FOR THIS COMMUNITY, ALONG WITH MORE HOUSING.

OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT WILL BE UPGRADED TO INCLUDING THE 3.4 MILES OF ROADS .

WE WILL START CONSTRUCTION ON ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ROAD REPAIR PROJECTS YET THE FULL REPAVING OF CONVOY STREET AND WHEN I SAY FULL, I'M NOT LYING FROM STATE ROUTE 52 ALL THE WAY TO THE 1 63 IN KEARNY MESA ROAD, THE ENTIRETY OF THIS STREET WILL BE COMPLETELY REBUILT.

THE PARKING SITUATION IS BEING ADDRESSED TO THAT PARKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE WITHIN THE REGION, AND THE CITY IS WORKING ON A NEW CONVOY PARKING DISTRICT.

THAT WE ENVISIONED AS A WAY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE MOVE AROUND THE AREA.

ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE PART OF THE KEARNY MESA COMMUNITY PLAN THAT IS HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE AREA FROM A BUSINESS FOCUS INTO A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WILL LIVE WORK AND PLAY AND THAT WILL HELP TO SUPPORT MANY OF THE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES HERE, MANY OF WHICH ARE IMMIGRANT REFUGEE OWNED.

AND WE HOPE THAT THAT REALLY CONTINUES TO REALLY PROPEL THE CORRIDOR TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DESTINATIONS FOR ANYONE TO VISIT WHILE IN SAN DIEGO LATER THIS YEAR, A NEW GATEWAY SIGN IS GOING TO BE PUT UP IN THE CONVOY DISTRICT THAT WILL WELCOME THE COMMUNITY AND TOURISTS JUST LIKE OTHER ICONIC SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOODS.

MELISSA MAY KPBS NEWS.

AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEK AT KPBS DOT ORG MORE ON FOOD INSECURITY IN SAN DIEGO HAS NEARLY 300,000.

LOCALS COULD GET HELP BUT DON'T APPLY FOR THE BENEFITS, ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE PANDEMIC ERA IS WINDING DOWN IN SAN DIEGO UNIFIED ENDS ITS HIGH HIGH VIRTUAL ACADEMY FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS AND SKATEBOARDING AS A METAPHOR AND TOOL FOR RECOVERY WILL HAVE OUR STORY ON LOCAL PRO SKATER BRANDON TURNER AND HOW HE'S HELPING PEOPLE OVERCOME ADDICTION.

SAN DIEGO IS WINEMAKERS JUST SAW THEIR BIGGEST YEAR TO YEAR JUMP IN SALES EVER.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER ALEXANDER WEN VISITED ONE LOCAL VINEYARD TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR POST PANDEMIC RESURGENCE.

LAST YEAR'S SANTIAGO COUNTY WINERIES HAD MORE THAN $49 MILLION IN GROSS SALES, AND THE NUMBER OF WINERIES GREW TO 166 THAT, ACCORDING TO THE RECENT ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT, RELEASED BY THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WINNERS ASSOCIATION, THAT'S THE HIGHEST EVER 49 MILLION ALMOST $50 MILLION JUST IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

WEBER IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WITNESS ASSOCIATION AND GENERAL MANAGER OF A FILL A WINERY.

HE SAYS COVID DID A NUMBER ON THE INDUSTRY.

BUT THOSE PANDEMIC CHANGES ARE ALSO WHAT'S HELPING THE INDUSTRY GROW RIGHT NOW.

WE ALL REMEMBER THAT THAT WE HAD TO GO OUTSIDE.

WELL, IT'S REALLY BEEN RATHER EFFECTIVE.

THE WINE BUSINESS IN GENERAL ISN'T AN EVENT TYPE OF BUSINESS.

YOU COME HERE TO DRINK AND ENJOY IT AND HAVING MORE ROOM OUTSIDE AND VIEW LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, REALLY ISN'T THROWING FOR PEOPLE.

IT WAS KIND OF A SUDDEN JOLT.

OUR TO OUR BUSINESS IS THE OWNER OF HUNGARY HOG WINERY WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE WINERY HAD ONLY BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SIX YEARS.

HE SAYS.

THE OUTDOOR DINING GUIDELINES HELPED TO EXPAND HIS BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY, WE ENDED UP HIRING MORE EMPLOYEES.

AND THOSE CHANGES.

AH, MADE A BIG CHANGE IN OUR BUSINESS, AND THAT ACTUALLY IS A POSITIVE CHANGE.

AND THEN WE HAVE CARRIED OVER A LOT OF THOSE SAME PROCEDURES TO TODAY.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, NEARLY HALF OF THE WINERIES IN THE AREA HAVE REBOUNDED TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVEL AND THE INDUSTRY HAS GROWN 6% ADDING MORE THAN 700 JOBS TO THE AREA.

BUT WEBER SAYS THE INDUSTRY STILL FACES SOME CHALLENGES IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

WILDFIRE INSURANCE HAS GROWN 54% FOR EXAMPLE, AND, OF COURSE, INFLATION.

INFLATION HAS DEFINITELY HURT THE WINE BIZ AND A VERY PROMINENT WAY BUT SUPERSEDED THAT WE'VE HIRED MORE PEOPLE AS COLLECTIVELY HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

IT'S JUST UP UP UP.

AND VERY GOOD TREND.

WITH NEARLY 170 WINERIES IN THE COUNTY, ALMOST DOUBLING THAT OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY.

THE WINE INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES IN SAN DIEGO.

ALEXANDER WIN KPP S NEWS.

AND OR FEEL, UH, VINEYARD AND WINERY IS A CORPORATE PARTNER OF KPBS.

ALSO IN THE NORTH COUNTY, A SUMMER TRADITION IS TAKING SHAPE.

TANYA THORN VISITED THE DEL MAR FAIRGROUNDS TO SEE WHAT GOES INTO BRINGING THE FAIR TO LIFE.

THE SENDING OF COUNTY FAIR DOESN'T OPEN FOR A COUPLE MORE WEEKS, BUT THE FAIRGROUNDS ARE ALREADY INACTIVE SCENE.

THAT'S BECAUSE A LOT GOES INTO GETTING EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING.

WE HAVE SET UP WE HAVE TEAR DOWN.

WE HAVE OPERATION.

WE HAVE TRANSPORT.

WE HAVE MAINTENANCE.

BRUCE PEARLMAN IS A RIGHT OWNER FROM SANTA MONICA.

HE TRAVELS FROM FAIR TO FAIR BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND OCTOBER.

IT IS A FULL TIME JOB IN AN OCCUPATION.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A LITTLE MAINTENANCE ON THIS RIDE RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT AND SO THAT EVERYTHING IS SAFE, PERLMAN SAYS .

WHEN IT COMES TO FAIR RIDES, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS A ROBUST SET OF INSPECTIONS BEFORE THE FAIR OPENS.

WE HAVE INSPECTORS FROM THE FAIR.

WE HAVE INSPECTORS FROM THE STATE.

WE HAVE OUR OWN INSPECTORS.

SO SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT FOR ALL OF US.

NO ONE IS IN THIS BUSINESS TO SEE ANYBODY GET HURT, BUT THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF SEEING THE COMMUNITY HAVE FUN.

AND PART OF THE FAIR FUN IS ALSO THE FOOD.

VINCENZO JIA MANCO IS A NEW VENDOR THIS YEAR AND BRINGS ALONG S'MORES AND MORE.

WE HAD THIS CONCEPT OF DOING LIKE A S'MORES AREA SO YOU CAN COME HERE WITH YOUR FAMILY ROAST S'MORES.

WE HAVE SOME WALKING DESSERTS.

WE HAVE A CAMPFIRE CONE, WHICH IS LIKE A S'MORES CONE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO WALK AROUND WITH AND EAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE S'MORES BOARDS, WHICH IS WHERE IT'S LIKE ARRAY OF DIFFERENT CANDIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, UNCLE SAYS, WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FOOD OPTIONS ALL VENDORS LOOK FOR WAYS TO STAND OUT.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FAIR IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR ALL INVOLVED ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON THE FARE FOR THEIR REVENUES SO ALL THE VENDORS IN THE COMMERCIAL HALLS UM ALL OF THE FOOD VENDORS, YOU KNOW MANY OF THEM TRAVEL THE FAIR CIRCUIT, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY DO FOR THEIR BUSINESS ALL YEAR LONG.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, ALL OF THE RIDE AND GAME OWNERS.

KATIE MUELLER WITH DEL MAR FAIRGROUNDS SAYS GETTING THINGS READY FOR THE FAIR TAKES A GROUP EFFORT AND PART OF THAT EFFORT ARE THE HUNDREDS OF SEASONAL WORKERS.

THE FAIR HIRES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

THE FAIR OPENS ON JUNE 7TH AND RUNS UNTIL THE FOURTH OF JULY.

TANYA THORN, KPBS NEWS.

SKATEBOARDING HAS DEEP ROOTS IN SAN DIEGO AND MANY OF ITS STARS CALL OUR COMMUNITY HOME, AND ONE OF THOSE IS BRANDON TURNER.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN SHOWS US HOW HE'S USING THE SPORT AS A TOOL FOR HEALING AND RECOVERY.

BRANDON TURNER IS A PROFESSIONAL SKATEBOARDER CALLED A SKATING PRODIGY.

HE'S BEEN SPONSORED SINCE HE WAS 13, BUT HE'S ALSO STRUGGLED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE JUST STARTED FROM DRINKING AT A YOUNG AGE.

AND HANGING OUT WITH OLDER PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO GROW UP TOO FAST.

AFTER GETTING HIS ADDICTION UNDER CONTROL, HE FOUNDED WESTSIDE RECOVERY LAST YEAR.

IT'S A DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTER THAT USES SKATEBOARDING AS ONE TOOL TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME ADDICTION.

FEDERAL DATA ESTIMATES SOME 46 MILLION AMERICANS, 12 AND OLDER HAVE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER AND ONLY A FRACTION AROUND 6% RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF TREATMENT FOR IT IN 2021.

WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH MY JOURNEY AND ANYBODY WHO WOULD MENTION THE WORD REHAB AND I WAS JUST SOUNDED LIKE A CONFINEMENT TO ME.

SO I WANTED TO HELP HIM REMOVE THE STIGMA WITH NOT ONLY JUST REHAB BUT MENTAL HEALTH EXCEPTIONS TO ABUSE IS A WHOLE BACK.

GETTING HELP IS NOT WEAKNESS AND IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND YOUR BAD, TURNER SAYS SKATEBOARDING IS A HEALTHY RELEASE THAT ALSO HAS VALUABLE LESSONS.

SKATEBOARDING TEACHES YOU FAILURE ON A DAILY BASHES.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE FAILING EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU FALL BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA FALL.

IT'S WHAT YOU DO YOU PICK YOURSELF BACK UP.

BRANDON FEVER, GREW UP WITH TURNER AND USED TO SKATE NEARLY EVERY DAY.

BUT HE SAYS DRINKING PULLED HIM AWAY FROM HIS PASSION.

THE WAY I AM IS KINDA SUCKS TO ADMIT IT, BUT WHEN I STARTED, I WOULDN'T STOP.

FEVER SAYS IT WASN'T UNTIL THE CLOSE FRIEND DIED THAT HE REACHED OUT FOR HELP.

SKATING IS JUST ONE ASPECT OF WEST SIDES RECOVERY PROGRAM.

THERE'S THERAPY, GROUP SESSIONS AND OTHER SPECIALLY CURATED PROGRAMS , INCLUDING SURFING, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AND MUSIC MAKING FEVER HAS BEEN WITH THE PROGRAM FOR TWO MONTHS AND SAYS HE'S BACK TO SKATING MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK.

THE OTHER DAY.

I TOLD BRANDON IT FEELS GOOD TO FALL AGAIN.

HE WAS LIKE WHAT I WAS LIKE IT FEELS GOOD TO FALL AGAIN AND GET BACK UP INSTEAD OF FALLING AND BE LIKE, OH, MAN, BUT LIKE FALL AND GET BACK UP AND TRY IT AGAIN.

TURNER HOST SKATEBOARDING PROGRAM TWICE A WEEK AT SKATE PARKS ACROSS THE COUNTY, HE SAYS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS A KEY PART OF RECOVERY.

THE OPPOSITE OF ADDICTION IS CONNECTION, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY BECAUSE IF YOU THE BIGGER YOUR CIRCLES WITH THE RESOURCES WITH LIKE MINDED PEOPLE, THE MORE YOU SUPPORT YOU HAVE MATT HOFFMAN KPBS NEWS.

AND A QUICK REMINDER FOR YOU THAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE HERE IS AVAILABLE ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE AND GET NOTIFICATIONS FOR SOME NEW CONTENT, AND THAT'S ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT FIVE O'CLOCK.

OUR LAST STORY IS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK.

KPBS I TECH REPORTER LEARNS KPBS I TECH REPORTER THOMAS FUDGE RATHER LEARNS ALL ABOUT BAT SEASON IN SAN DIEGO AND WHY THESE FLYING MAMMALS ARE SO DRAWN TO OUR AREA.

NATALIE BORCHARD STANDS ON THE EDGE OF THE SAN DIEGO RIVER IN MISSION VALLEY, AS SHE DESCRIBES THE BATTLE WALKS.

THIS AND DIEGO RIVER PARK FOUNDATION HOSTS EVERY SPRING AND SUMMER, WARM WEATHER AND THE INSECTS THAT COME WITH IT HAVE BROUGHT BATS OUT OF THEIR HIBERNATION.

ONE COOL THING ABOUT BATS, THEY NAVIGATE AND HUNT USING ECHO LOCATION WHERE THEIR HIGH PITCHED SQUEAK BOUNCES OFF OF BUGS IN THEIR PATH.

IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU STAND IN THE CANYON, YOU SAY.

AND YOU HEAR IT BACK.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE BAT IS DOING.

THEY'RE SENDING OUT A FREQUENCY AND THEN BASED ON WHAT THEY GET BACK, THEY CAN TELL HOW FAR AWAY THAT BUG IS.

BATS LIVE ALL OVER SAN DIEGO.

THEY'RE FOND OF ROOSTING UNDER FREEWAY BRIDGES.

SAN DIEGO.

BAD WALKS ARE VERY POPULAR.

IN FACT, BORCHARD SAID, THEY'VE HAD TO CAP ATTENDANCE.

SHE CHOSE THIS PART OF THE RIVER FOR A WALK DUE TO ACCESSIBILITY, A GOOD SUPPLY OF RIVER BUGS AND CONDO BUILDINGS WITH RED TILE ROOFS ON EITHER SIDE, BAD SQUEEZED BETWEEN THE TILES FOR COVER.

IT'S PART OF THEIR URBAN HABITAT.

RICHARD SAYS HER GROUP WANTS TO HELP PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH BATS.

SO ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE OFFER IS FOR SCOUTS TO DESIGN AND BUILD THEIR OWN BAT BOXES.

ONE OF THOSE SCOUTS IS 17 YEAR OLD THAI CASTLING GUN, HE BUILT SIX BAD BOXES TO EARN HIS EAGLE SCOUT RANK AND THREE OF THEM ARE NOW INSTALLED NEAR THE SAN DIEGO RIVER'S EDGE IN JULIAN , HE SAID.

THE BAT BOX GIVES THE ANIMAL A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE IN THAT AREA.

A BAD BOX LOOKS LIKE A VERY LARGE BURN HOUSE WITH ENTRY SLATS BELOW.

ASKED WHY HE BECAME INTERESTED IN BATS, CASTLE EXPLAINS.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE BATS ARE MAMMALS THAT CAN FLY, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK, OFTENTIMES WE GET CAUGHT UP A LOT IN THAT KIND OF FANTASY OF FLYING.

AND IT SEEMS OFTENTIMES, LIKE VERY MYSTICAL, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF SUPERPOWER.

THEN THERE'S THAT CREEPY GOTHIC ALLURE OF THE BAT BEYOND THAT, MAN, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF LIKE WITCHCRAFT ELEMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, AND YOU HAVE YOU HAVE CHARACTERS LIKE DRACULA AND VAMPIRES THAT ALSO CAN TURN INTO THAT'S OR SHAPE SHIFT, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY COOL, POPULAR ELEMENTS THAT KIND OF ADAPTED FROM THAT BEFORE SHE CREATED BAD PROGRAMS, NATALIE BORCHARD SAID SHE USED TO BE TERRIFIED OF BATS STILL GET A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN THEY DIVE BOMB MY HEAD I HAVE HEARD THAT POSSIBLY IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE THE LIGHT COLORED HAIR AND THE INSECTS REFLECT WELL OFF OF THE HAIR.

AND SO THE BATS COME VERY CLOSE TO YOU.

DON ENDICOTT POINTS OUT.

THE BAT IS NOT AIMING FOR YOUR HEAD.

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF MYTHS ABOUT ABOUT THE ATTACK YOU WHILE THEY DON'T GETTING YOUR HAIR?

NOPE.

AH, THEY'LL DRINK YOUR BLOOD.

THAT THERE ARE THREE SPECIES OF VAMPIRE BATS NONE NORTH OF CENTRAL MEXICO, SO KNOWN HERE INDICATE IS A RETIRED ENGINEER AS SELF TAUGHT BAD EXPERT THAN A GUIDED MANY LOCAL BAT WALKS, HE SAID.

SAN DIEGO HAS A TERRIFIC BIODIVERSITY AMONG ITS FATS.

THERE ARE 45 BAT SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA, AND 22 OF THEM CAN BE FOUND IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY .

THE GREATEST THREAT TO BATS, HE SAYS, IS A DEADLY DISEASE CALLED WHITE NOSE SYNDROME THAT'S SPREADING EAST OF WEST IN NORTH AMERICA.

THAT AND THE HEAVY USE OF PESTICIDES THAT KILL ABOUT INSECT PREY.

THE ONLY TRUE DANGER BATS PRESENT TO US IS RABIES.

LIKE SKUNKS AND RACCOONS.

THEY CAN BE VECTORS FOR THE DISEASE.

COUNTY HEALTH REQUIREMENT IS IF THERE'S HUMAN CONTACT WITH A BAT.

THE BAD HAS TO BE TESTED FOR RABIES.

AND THAT'S A AH THAT'S THAT'S AN INVASIVE PROCEDURE THAT THAT HAS TO BE EUTHANIZED, AND IT REQUIRES SAMPLING BRAIN TISSUES .

NEVER TOUCH A BAT.

EVEN IF IT'S NOT RABID.

IT MUST BE CAPTURED AND KILLED.

AFTER THAT .

THAT'S OUR NATURE IS INSECTICIDE HELPING TO MAKE SAN DIEGO FAIRLY BUG FREE?

BAD POPULATIONS CAN EAT LITERALLY TONS OF BUGS EVERY NIGHT.

ENDICOTT SAYS THEY ARE POLLINATORS OF NATIVE PLANTS SUCH AS THE AGAVE AND THOUGH THEY ARE FAST AND ELUSIVE, INDICATE, RECALLS ONE INSTANCE WHEN HE CAMPED IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK AND WAS RIDING HIS BIKE NEAR TWILIGHT AND ON THE WAY BACK, IT'S AFTER DARK AND I HAVE MY HEADLAMP ON.

THAT'S A WEEKDAY, SO NO ONE ON THE ROAD.

I LOOKED TO MY LEFT.

AND THERE'S A BAT FLYING BASICALLY MY WINGMAN RIGHT OFF MY SHOULDER FOLLOWING ME DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE UNDOUBTEDLY I'M BRINGING UP INSECTS TO THE LIGHT.

ONE MORE THING ABOUT BATS.

THEY ARE NOT FLYING RODENTS.

THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHIROPRACTOR, A FAMILY AND THEY BEAR A CLOSER RELATION TO PRIMATES THAN THEY DO TO MICE.

THOMAS FUDGE KPBS NEWS.

WHAT A TERRIFIC STORY AND WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS.

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I'M MAYA TRABELSI.

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