THIS WEEK, I'M JOHN CARROLL.

COMING UP, THE CROSS-BORDER POLLUTION CRISIS, WE HAVE EXTENSIVE REPORTING THIS WEEK ON THE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM.

MAKING SOLAR ENERGY MORE ACCESSIBLE, THE STATEWIDE PUSH TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR HOMES.

AND LESSONS FROM THE PIT.

LOCAL E.R.

STAFF TELL US WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THE EMMY-WINNING DRAMA AND HOW IT PORTRAYS THEIR WORK.

>>> WE START WITH A CONTROVERSIAL BATTERY AND STORAGE PROJECT IN SAN DIEGO'S EAST COUNTY.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MOVED IT FORWARD WEDNESDAY WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

JACOB AERE REPORTS ON THE DEBATE ABOUT BALANCING ENERGY GOALS WITH LOCAL SAFETY CONCERNS.

FIRST YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS TO PULLER ANY COMMENTS?

>> NOT AT THIS TIME, THANK YOU POINT >> MANY RESIDENTS MADE THE DRIVE TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER TO VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION TO STARLIGHT SOLAR.

IT IS A 588 ACRE PROJECT THAT INCLUDES SOLAR PANELS AND AN 868 MEGAWATT BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM.

NEXT WE ARE FULLY OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT AND WE DO NOT GIVE OUR CONSENT POINT >> THOMAS WALL IS A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO HELPED ORGANIZE PEOPLE FROM A SMALL TOWN.

HE SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THEY APPROVED, EVEN IF A FEW AMENDMENTS WERE MADE.

HE AND OTHER BOULEVARD RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROXIMITY OF THE BATTERY STORAGE CONTAINERS AND IMPACTS LITHIUM BATTERY FIRES COULD HAVE ON THEIR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE TOXIC GAS THEY PRODUCE.

>> IT IS NOT WHEN A FIRE -- IF A FIRE HAPPENS, IT IS WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S SUPER DANGEROUS.

>> Reporter: FIRES HAD BROKEN OUT AT OTAY MESA IN RECENT YEARS.

THE RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT KEEPING THEIR WATER SUPPLY CLEAN ON THE WAY THE PROJECT WALTER THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT.

THEY SAY MEETING GREEN ENERGY GOALS SHOULDN'T, AT THE EXPENSE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.

>> I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST WIN OUT OF THIS IS THAT OUR TOWN HAS COME TOGETHER, AND THIS IS SENDING A MESSAGE TO ANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME OUT AND DO PROJECTS, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH AN EASY PROCESS, WE ARE PUSHING BACK.

WE WILL ALWAYS PUSH BACK AND YOU ARE NOT WELCOME.

>> Reporter: SOME ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND LABOR UNION REPRESENTATIVES SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT POINT JIM WHELAN IS A PROJECTS LAND-USE CONSULTANT, HE REPRESENTS THE LANDOWNERS.

HE SAID THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WITH $1 MILLION UP-FRONT PAYMENT AT APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION MORE AS THE PROJECT BEGINS PHASE 2 POINT >> PHASE 1 IS ONLY PHASE THAT HAS [ INAUDIBLE ] WITH SDG&E, IT'S ONLY PHASE AS A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT, ALSO WITH SDG&E, AND PHASE 2 DOES NOT HAVE AN INTERCONNECTION, SO THAT IS WHY WE HAD TO LEAVE IT OPEN AS TO WHEN THOSE PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SOLD THE POWER.

>> Reporter: NOTABLY, THE COUNTY IS IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, WHICH COULD IMPACT PROJECTS LIKE THIS ONE.

>> AND THE FACT THAT WE GOT UNANIMOUS NOTES FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TELLS US -- TELLS THE WORLD THAT THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT POINT >> Reporter: WHELAN SAYS PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT TO BREAK GROUND IN ABOUT A YEAR.

BACKCOUNTRY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT, AN ORGANIZATION COFOUNDED BY BOULEVARD RESIDENTS SAY THEY PLAN TO FILE A LAWSUIT TO STOP THE PROJECT POINT JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A BILL ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK WOULD EASE THE WAY FOR PLUG-IN SOLAR PANELS THAT FIT ON A BALCONY OR IN THE YARD.

KPBS REPORTER KEVIN TELLS US HOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS WORKING FOR ONE LOCAL HOMEOWNER.

>> IT IS HOUSEHOLD WAS THE FIRST ON THIS HILLY MESA STREET TO INSTALL ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS IN 2000, THAT'S WHAT A MASSIVE ELECTRICITY SHORTAGE CRATER BLACKOUTS AND PRICE SPIKES ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

>> OUR UTILITY RATES VIRTUALLY DOUBLED VERY, VERY QUICKLY, AND I JUST GOT THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE POINT >> HE WAS HAPPY WITH HIS ROOFTOP SET UP UNTIL IT FINALLY DIED LAST YEAR.

CONTRACTOR SAID IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $5000 TO REPLACE.

>> IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE.

WATCH YOUR STEP, BUT YEAH.

>> Reporter: HE LATER LEARNED ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED PLUG-IN SOLAR AT A COMMUNITY FORUM.

FOR $2000, HE BOUGHT A KIT THAT IS CHEAPER, SMALLER, AND MUCH EASIER TO SET UP, NO ELECTRICIAN REQUIRED.

>> I GOT IT DELIVERED ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AND BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON, IT WAS UP ON THE ROOF, PLUGGED IN, MAKING POWERPOINT >> Reporter: FOUR 250 WATT PANELS SIT ON TOP OF HIS GARAGE BUT HE DIDN'T NEED TO DRILL THEM DOWN, PLUGGED DIRECTLY INTO A WALL OUTLET AND GENERATED MORE ENERGY THAN 16 OF HIS OLD ROOFTOP PANELS.

>> I LOVE SOLAR, I THINK IT IS A WIN-WIN ENVIRONMENTALLY, FINANCIALLY, UM, TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF POWER AWAY FROM LOCAL UTILITIES, SO I VERY MUCH WANTED TO DO THAT.

>> Reporter: SYSTEMS LIKE A KOESTNER IS OFTEN CALLED BALCONY SOLAR ARE POISED TO GET MUCH MORE POPULAR ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

LAST MONTH, STATE LAWMAKERS PASSED LEGISLATION ALLOWING HOUSEHOLDS TO INSTALL PLUG-IN SETUPS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A POTENTIALLY TIME-CONSUMING AND PRICEY APPLICATION PROCESS.

THE BALCONY SYSTEM CAN BE UP TO 1200 WATTS, ENOUGH TO POWER A FRIDGE OR A WINDOW AC UNIT, AND IT IS TREATED LESS LIKE A SOLAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND WERE LIKE AN APPLIANCE.

DURING HEARINGS AT THE STATEHOUSE, CALIFORNIANS FROM A RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS CAME TO SUPPORT THE BILL.

>> I REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO NEED AIR CONDITIONING.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> Reporter: PLUG-IN PANELS ARE GAINING MOMENTUM AS INCENTIVES FOR ROOFTOP SETUPS FADE.

A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR SOLAR LAST YEAR.

CALIFORNIA'S CURRENT NET METERING RULES PROVIDE HOUSEHOLDS MUCH LESS CREDIT FOR ACCESS UTILITY SO BACK TO THE GRID.

MIKE BERRY IS WITH UC SAN DIEGO'S CENTER FOR ENERGY RESEARCH.

HE SAYS PLUG-IN PANELS CAN POWER HOUSEHOLDS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE CAPITAL OR LONG-TERM STABILITY TO GET ROOFTOP PANELS, LIKE RENTERS POINT >> THERE IS A WHOLE SEGMENT OF CONSUMERS, PROBABLY MAJORITY, WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS SAN DIEGO IS WELL-SUITED FOR PLUG-IN SOLAR.

ELECTRICITY BILLS ARE TYPICALLY MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> IF YOU CAN UTILIZE THAT INVESTMENT IN A SMALL BALCONY SOLAR SYSTEM TO OFFSET SOME OF YOUR HIGHEST COST ELECTRICITY, AND SAVE SOME MONEY ON UTILITY BILL, THEN IT'S A REALLY GOOD FIT.

>> Reporter: CALIFORNIA'S BALCONY SOLAR POLICY DOES INCLUDE SOME COMPROMISES.

SEVERAL UTILITIES OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION OVER CONCERNS ELECTRICITY COULD BACK FEET ONTO THE GRID FOR EQUIPMENT THAT IS DAMAGED OR INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

CHARISSE BLACKWOOD WITH SDG&E SAID DURING THE HEARING THAT GOING THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS ENSURES EVERYTHING IS SAFE.

>> THE CURRENT PROCESS IS ALREADY STREAMLINED.

ELIMINATING IT DOES NOT INCREASE ACCESS, IT REMOVES CRITICAL SAFEGUARDS FOR WORKERS AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

>> Reporter: CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS DECIDED BALCONY SETUPS NEED TO BE CERTIFIED UNDER NEW NATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS, THAT MEANS ABOVE A CERTAIN WATTAGE, A USER MAY NEED TO HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN TO CONNECT PANELS TO A CERTAIN WALL OUTLET.

>> NOT VERY CONDUCIVE TO AN OPTION.

AS SOON AS YOU HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN, YOU MIGHT SPEND MORE ON THE ELECTRICIAN WORK DOWN THE SOLAR PANEL.

>> Reporter: BRIGHT SABER, BAY AREA NONPROFIT SELLING PLUG-IN SOLAR KITS AT WHOLESALE PRICES.

HE SAYS CALIFORNIA ISN'T QUITE AS CONSUMER FRIENDLY AS OTHER STATES.

A HANDFUL OF FORMALLY LEGALIZED [ INAUDIBLE ] INSPIRED BY A MOVEMENT THAT BEGAN IN GERMANY.

>> YOU SEE SOLAR ON EVERY SHED, ON EVERY BARN, ON EVERY HOUSE, NEXT TO THE FREEWAY, NEXT TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

IT IS AMAZING.

>> Reporter: HE COMPARED THE CURRENT SOLAR BALCONY LANDSCAPE TO THE FIRST ERA OF ROOFTOP PANELS ON HOMEOWNER INSURANCE OUTPACED [ INAUDIBLE ].

BACK THEN, SOME REFERRED TO AS GUERRILLA SOLAR POINT >> SO, IN MY MIND, WE ARE ALMOST IN A SOLAR GUERRILLA MOVEMENT 2.0 NOW, 30 YEARS LATER, WHERE AGAIN, EARLY ADOPTION WILL DRIVE THE LEGISLATION AND THE CODE MAKING AND ESTABLISH THIS AS A USEFUL THING THAT EVERYONE CAN BENEFIT FROM.

>> Reporter: THAT IS AS LONG AS BALCONY SOLAR IS ACCESSIBLE IN CALIFORNIA.

THE NEW STATE POLICY SUNSETS IN 2030 AS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR THE POWER GRID.

THE MAYOR THINKS THERE WILL BE ENOUGH DEMAND TO EXTEND IT, THOUGH.

THERE IS CURRENTLY A WAITLIST FOR KIDS WITH THREE SHIPPING CONTAINERS SCHEDULED TO REACH CALIFORNIA IN THE COMING WEEKS.

KEVIN TRAVEL AND, KPBS NEWS.

>> PART OF THE PUBLIC MATTERS TEAM THAT FOCUSES ON HOW OUR COMMUNITY IS ENGAGING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN KPBS, I NEWS SOURCE, AND VOICE OF SAN DIEGO.

YOU CAN SEE MORE OF OUR STORIES AT KPBS.ORG/ PUBLICMATTERS.

>>> KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER TAMMY MURRAY THAT HAS DONE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE THIS WEEK ON THE CROSS-BORDER SEWAGE CRISIS.

AND INCLUDES A REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF TOURISM AND SMALL BUSINESS.

WE WILL HAVE THAT STORY IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, HERE IS TAMMY MURRAY THAT ON EXACTLY WHAT IS IN THE WATER.

>> AND REPORT SHOWED WHAT MANY ALREADY KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF SEWAGE FROM MEXICO IN THE TIJUANA RIVER WATERSHED.

>> THERE HAS BEEN AND STILL IS RAW SEWAGE ENTERING THIS WATERSHED.

>> Reporter: LAURA FULLER IS A RESEARCHER AT SAN DIEGO [ INAUDIBLE ] POINT IT IS AS THE DATA SHOWS JUST HOW SEVERE CONTAMINATION IS IN THE RIVER.

E. COLI LEVELS ARE OFTEN 30 TIMES HIGHER THAN ACCEPTABLE LEVELS FOR FRESHWATER BODIES.

THAT COULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO HIGH LEVELS OF NOROVIRUS FOUND IN THE RIVER.

FULLER ALSO FOUND CHEMICALS CONNECTED TO URBAN RUNOFF AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE.

>> SOME OF THE CHEMICALS WE ARE DETECTING, IT'S NOT JUST A FLUKE, A ONE-OFF SITUATION OF, WOW, WHAT HAPPENED?

WE ARE SEEING CONTINUOUS CHEMICAL INPUT.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLING THE WATER IN THE WATERSHED EVERY MONTH SINCE NOVEMBER 2024.

THE FINDINGS ALSO SHOW THAT POLLUTION IS CHOKING THE RIVER.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] IT SUPPORTS THE HEALTHY AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM IN THE BALANCE.

WHEN YOU ARE SEEING THESE CHRONICALLY LOW NUMBERS AND THERE IS NOT MUCH OXYGEN IN THE WATER, THAT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT COMMUNITY.

>> THE TIJUANA RIVER TRAVELS NORTH INTO THE TIJUANA ESTUARY BEFORE ENTERING THE OCEAN.

FULLER SAYS A CLEAN RIVER MEANS A HEALTHY ESTUARY.

>> JUST THIS AMAZING ECOLOGICAL , YOU KNOW, EPICENTER FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANISMS.

WE HAVE AMPHIBIANS, FISH, MAMMALS, REPTILES, IT'S JUST GORGEOUS.

AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AROUND AT ALL THE PLANT LIFE AS WELL, AND SO, I THINK COMING HERE, IT REALLY HELPS HER DRIVE HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THIS AREA AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE HERE.

>> Reporter: THE REPORT CALLS FOR FASTER CONSTRUCTION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE BORDER, AND ALSO GOVERNMENTS AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING MEXICO, TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST INDUSTRIAL POLLUTERS.

TAMMY MURGA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, JUST RAN A CERAMICS STUDIO FROM HIS HOME IN IMPERIAL BEACH.

BUT AS SEWAGE POLLUTION HAS WORSENED -- >> TOURISM PLUMMETED IN IMPERIAL BEACH IN THE MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS AFTER I HAVE HAD A BUSINESS THAT HAD BEEN GROWING FOR 14 YEARS NONSTOP.

>> HE SAYS HE HAD TO SHUT DOWN IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING HARDER TO KEEP CUSTOMERS.

A NEW REPORT BY THE COUNTY CONFIRMS WHAT BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE HIM HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS, SEWAGE POLLUTION HAS WORSENED AND THAT HAS LED TO MAJOR ECONOMIC LOSSES IN THE REGION.

CHRIS BLACKLEY CONDUCTED THE STUDY.

HE TOLD SUPERVISORS THE MONEY NOT BEING SPENT IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN $125 MILLION AND $500 MILLION EACH YEAR POINT >> ACROSS A 20 YEAR HORIZON, IF UNMITIGATED, THIS -- THIS CRISIS WILL COST TO THE COUNTY BETWEEN 1.9 AND $7.9 BILLION.

>> Reporter: IT IS THE COUNTY'S FIRST ESTIMATE OF THE ECONOMIC COST OF THE POLLUTION.

BETWEEN 2017 AND 2024, TOURISM TAX REVENUES IN IMPERIAL BEACH STRUCK NEARLY 30%.

THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR PALOMA AGUIRRE SAYS QUANTIFYING THE LOSSES CAN HELP BRING SOLUTIONS.

>> THIS IS WHAT WE BRING TO THE STATE TO ASK FOR MORE AID, THIS IS WHAT WE BRING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ASK FOR MORE AID, AND THIS IS WHY WE DOUBLE DOWN INTO OUR EFFORTS THAT WE ARE SPEARHEADING HERE AT THE COUNTY.

>> Reporter: HOPEFUL THE RIVER AND OCEAN WILL ONE DAY BE SEWAGE FREE.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, HE FOUND HIS BUSINESS A NEW HOME BY THE IMPERIAL BEACH PEER.

>> IT IS HARD TO FIND A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS.

AND I WOULD SAY IF IT IS CLEAN AGAIN, IT'S GREAT, YOU KNOW?

BUT WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE MAKE POLLUTION.

I MEAN, WE ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM, SO, UM, WE HAVE TO BE THE SOLUTION, TOO.

>> Reporter: HE THINKS OFFERING HIS COMMUNITY A PLACE TO CREATE ART AND RIDE BIKES IS STILL WORTH IT.

THE FULL ECONOMIC REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED NEXT MONTH.

TAMMY MURGA, KPBS NEWS.

>> THAT STORY WAS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

HERE ARE SOME OTHERS.

THE U.S.

NAVY COOLS ON ITS POINT LOMA BARRACKS AT THEIR BARRACKS AC BAND.

LA MESA IS TURNING TO A 20-YEAR- OLD TO FILL ITS INTERIM ROLE OF CITY TREASURER, AND THE EMMY- WINNING SHOW, THE PIT, IT'S CLOSE TO HOME FOR SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

HERE IS THAT STORY FROM KPBS HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI DE MARCO.

>> Reporter: IF YOU WORK IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU HAVE WATCHED THE PIT.

EMERGENCY ROOM DR.

JAMES SAYS HE WAS HELPED WHEN HE HEARD THE SHOW USES REAL CASES.

>> I KIND OF TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PATIENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF ANXIETY BECAUSE IT KIND OF BRINGS YOU BACK TO [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> HE HAS WORKED AT ROSEMONT FOR 17 YEARS.

>> SOME DAYS WE ARE LIKE THE PIT.

IT'S NOT EVERY SINGLE DAY, IT'S NOT EVERY SINGLE HOUR, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE DAYS WHERE IT IS THAT BUSY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS TELEVISION CAN CREATE VERY DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN AN E.R.

>> THERE IS OF COURSE SOME HOLLYWOOD HYPE IN THIS SHOW, SOME THINGS ARE EXAGGERATED.

>> Reporter: AND THOSE TV VERSIONS OF MEDICINE CAN STICK WITH PATIENTS.

>> PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WOULD ASK ME, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE YOU GOING TO PUMP THE STOMACH, WHICH WE DON'T REALLY DO.

BUT YOU SEE THAT ON SOME OF THESE SHOWS, YOU SEE SOME THINGS THAT ARE EXAGGERATED AND NOT REALLY DONE AN EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

>> Reporter: THEN THERE ARE THESE MOMENTS THAT MAY SHOW VIEWERS A SIDE OF THE E.R.

THEY RARELY SEE.

>> I'M JUST CHECKING THE VITAL SIGN.

OH.

>> THERE IS A FIGHT SCENE WITH THIS NURSE AND SHE GETS IN A FIGHT WITH THE PATIENT BECAUSE THE PATIENT IS GETTING AGGRESSIVE.

>> Reporter: THAT SCENE HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR AMBER, AN E.R.

NURSE POINT >> BECAUSE I WAS RECENTLY IN A FIGHT WITH A PATIENT, A PATIENT ON A HOLD, SHE WAS IN A PSYCHIATRIC MOMENT, AND SHE STARTED -- SHE RAN OUT OF THE ROOM AND STARTED SWINGING FISTS AT PEOPLE, AND I THINK IT IS FINALLY OPENING THE PUBLIC SIDE TO, OH MY GOSH, PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO THIS EVERY DAY AND HELP PEOPLE IN THESE CONDITIONS.

>> Reporter: BUT SHE SAYS THE SHOW ISN'T JUST CAPTURING THE DRAMATIC MOMENTS, IT ALSO SHOWS THE CONSTANT JUGGLING THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.

THINGS MOST PATIENTS DON'T SEE WHEN THEY ARE WAITING FOR CARE.

>> Reporter: YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IS DYING IN ROOM FIVE AND SOMEONE IS ASKING FOR A HOT BLANKET IN ROOM TWO, MEANWHILE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO SEND SOMEONE TO THE LAB IN ROOM THREE.

EVERYTHING IS GOING ON AT ONCE WHETHER IT IS MINOR OR LITTLE, AND IT'S NICE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE, OH, THERE'S SOMETHING BIGGER GOING ON THEN JUST WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH.

>> Reporter: AND IT TURNS OUT THE SHOW MAYBE TEACHING PEOPLE MORE THAN SHE REALIZES.

>> I MAY HAVE TO HONOR HIS ADVANCE.

>> Reporter: A STUDY FROM USC'S NORTHERN CENTER SURVEYED MORE THAN 1400 VIEWERS OF "THE PIT".

VIEWERS WHO WATCHED AN END OF LIFE STORY LINE SAID THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO PLAN AHEAD, INCLUDING MAKING A LIVING WILL OR DESIGNATING A POWER OF ATTORNEY.

THAT IS AN AREA WHERE PALLIATIVE CARE DR.

NIKKI SAYS THE SHOW IS HELPING START IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

SO, IT IS SADLY VERY COMMON THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT IRONED OUT THEIR WISHES FOR END OF LIFE, SO I PROBABLY SEE THIS SCENARIO ON A WEEKLY BASIS, IF NOT MORE OFTEN.

>> Reporter: AND NOW, WHEN SHE TALKS WITH PATIENTS ABOUT THOSE DIFFICULT DECISIONS -- BUT I'M GLAD THAT I CAN FINALLY TELL THEM THAT, HEY, THERE ARE SHOWS ON TV, DID YOU WATCH THIS?

SOMETIMES A REPLY.

OR SOMETIMES THEY TELL ME, KIND OF LIKE "THE PIT".

SO, I'M GLAD THERE'S FINALLY LIKE A THIRD-PARTY SPACE THAT I CAN REFER TO.

>> AND SHE SAYS "THE PIT" IS SHOWING A VERSION OF MEDICINE THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM THE MEDICAL DRAMAS MANY VIEWERS GREW UP WITH.

>> BEFORE, YOU WATCH MEDICAL TV SHOWS FOR THE DRAMA, THE AFFAIRS, THE CRAZY SCENARIOS THAT YOU COULDN'T FIGURE OUT, AND NOW THEY ARE SHOWING REAL MEDICINE, SO THINGS LIKE HEART FAILURE OR BAD COPD OR CANCER.

THOSE ARE VERY REALISTIC THINGS THAT COME INTO OUR E.R.

>> SHE SAYS THE SHOW IS ALSO BRINGING ATTENTION TO FIELDS MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> HER WHAT?

>> I HELP ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ROXIE TO HELP WITH THE TRANSITION.

[ INAUDIBLE ] X ESPECIALLY FOR THE FIELDS LIKE WE MENTIONED THAT ARE NOT AS POPULAR THAT YOU DON'T THINK OF, SELECT PALLIATIVE CARE, LIKE CAPLAN'S, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY SUPPORTING OUR PATIENTS.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS MAYBE PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON THE PEOPLE WHO RUN EMERGENCY ROOMS IS THE REAL IMPACT OF "THE PIT".

BUT SOMETIMES IT WILL BE LIKE, I HAVE SEEN "THE PIT", IS YOUR JOB LIKE AGUIRRE SIX?

THEY ARE CURIOUS AND IT'S KIND OF NICE.

>> Reporter: HEIDI DE MARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> NEW POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH STROH'S TRUST IN U.S.

ELECTIONS IS DECLINING.

A RECENT SURVEY FOUND SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT COUNTING VOTES IN NOVEMBER'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

PUBLIC MATTERS REPORTER JAKE LOOKED INTO WHY IT IS HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: WITH MIDTERM ELECTIONS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY, AMERICANS AREN'T CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE FREE AND FAIR.

A SURVEY FOUND FEWER THAN HALF OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVED THE MIDTERM RESULTS WILL BE COUNTED ACCURATELY.

AND DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND INDEPENDENTS HAVE LESS TRUST IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION THAN THEY DID AFTER THE ELECTION IN 2024.

HERE IS UCSD'S COWS ARE, CODIRECTOR OF THE CENTER.

>> WE ARE IN A UNIQUE MOMENT IN AMERICAN POLITICS, WHEN YOU EVEN HAVE TO SURVEY PEOPLE ABOUT WHETHER THEY THINK THERE WILL BE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

>> Reporter: THE SOURCE OF THAT SKEPTICISM VARIED WIDELY BETWEEN PARTISAN GROUPS.

DEMOCRATS ARE WORRIED THAT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WILL BE AT THE POLLS, AND THINK REDISTRICTING COULD IMPACT THE REPRESENTATION.

WHILE MOST ARE PROPER PINS [ INAUDIBLE ].

FOR PROFESSOR BRANDON FROM DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, HE SAID THIS DISTRUST COULD ACTUALLY MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO TURN OUT TO VOTE, TO OVERCOME THOSE PERCEIVED THREATS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE U.S.

HAS BENEFITED FROM IN A KIND OF PERVERSE WAY IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE IS A LOT OF DISTRUST OUT THERE, WITH THAT SAID, BOTH SIDES STILL SEE ELECTIONS AS WINNABLE, SO THERE IS OFTEN A KIND OF REFRAIN OF WE HAVE TO WIN BY SO MUCH THAT THEY CAN'T STEAL THE ELECTION FROM US.

>> THE NONPARTISAN AFFILIATION, THE SURVEY FOUND EDUCATION LEVELS ARE THE STRONGEST PREDICTOR OF TRUST.

RESPONDENTS WHO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE TRUST OUR ELECTIONS FAR MORE THAN THOSE WHO DON'T.

JAKE GOT A, KPBS NEWS.

>>> OVER THE PAST WEEK, THE UNITED STATES MARKED 25 YEARS SINCE THE ATTACKS THAT KILLED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001.

WE WANT TO SHARE SOME OF OUR LOCAL COVERAGE ON THE ANNIVERSARY POINT FIRST, HERE IS KPBS MILITARY REPORTER ANDREW DYER ON HOW THAT DAY CHANGED LIVES OF THOSE WHO SERVED.

>> Reporter: BEFORE THERE WAS A WAR ON TERROR, THERE WAS 25 YEARS OF PEACE.

YOU COULD GO YOUR WHOLE MILITARY CAREER WITHOUT EXPERIENCING COMBAT OPERATIONS.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS WERE DIFFERENT.

I AM ANDREW DYER AND THE MILITARY AND VETERANS REPORTER AT KPBS, I AM ALSO A VETERAN OF THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EPISODE OF THE BORDER BRIEF.

ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001, EVERYTHING CHANGED.

ON THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THOSE ATTACKS, WE ARE ASKING HOW THEY CHANGED THE MILITARY.

THE POST-VIETNAM MILITARY EXPERIENCE DIDN'T INCLUDE MUCH ACTUAL COMBAT.

ALMOST 60,000 TROOPS WERE KILLED IN A DECADE OF FIGHTING FROM THE EARLY '60s TO MID '70s.

THEN FOR 25 YEARS, THINGS WERE RELATIVELY QUIET.

THEN 9/11.

IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYONE KNEW SOMETHING WAS COMING, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT.

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ATTACKS, I WAS IN MY RECRUITER'S OFFICE AND IN BOOT CAMP BY CHRISTMAS.

HECTOR RIVERA IS A BATTALION SERGEANT MAJOR AT CAMP PENDLETON.

HE JOINED THE MARINES IN 2000 AND JUST FINISHED HIS LAST TRAINING ASSIGNMENT ON 9/11.

>> I WAS LIKE, OKAY, BRING IT.

WE ARE READY.

>> Reporter: IN MARCH 2003, HE WAS PART OF THE INITIAL PUSH INTO IRAQ.

IT WAS THE FIRST OF SIX COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS HE WOULD DO OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

WENT TO IRAQ TWICE AND AFGHANISTAN THREE TIMES.

>> YOU JOIN THE MILITARY FOR AN EXPERIENCE.

MOST OF THEIR MARINES DO IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY TO BE THERE.

WHY?

AND HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I ENJOY IT AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU WERE DOING SOMETHING FOR YOUR COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: THE WARS GOT MESSY FAST.

THE NUMBERS TELL THE STORY OF THE CONFLICTS.

BY THE MID-2000'S, MORE THAN 700 GROUPS PER YEAR WERE DYING IN THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

NEAR THE OLD HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF THE MARINE DIVISION.

A MEMORIAL WITH THOSE KILLED FROM ONE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DURING THE WAR ON TERROR.

THEY ARE MARINES HE LED POINT >> Reporter: THOSE NAMES THAT YOU SEE IN THE WAR, THEY'RE NOT STATISTICS ONLY.

>> THEY WERE SONS AND DAUGHTERS , FATHERS.

THEY WERE SOMEBODY SPECIAL TO THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: RIVERA'S CAREER SHOWS HOW 9/11 CHANGED MILITARY SERVICE.

A CAREER IN THE INFANTRY MEANT A CAREER OF COMBAT.

>> WHAT YOU DO SIX DEPLOYMENTS TO A COMBAT ZONE, IN MY CASE, YOU SEE THE FULL SPECTRUM OF SERVICE.

>> Reporter: RIVERA IS AMONG THOSE WHO SERVED THROUGH THE ENTIRE WAR ON TERROR.

IN 2021, HE WAS PART OF THE MILITARY'S FINAL WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN.

HIS BATTALION WAS SENT IN TO HELP PEOPLE GET OUT.

HE IS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE MISSION TO EVACUATE AFGHANS.

>> BEING THERE, I FELT I WAS DOING SOMETHING FOR HUMANITY.

>> Reporter: ONE THING THAT DOESN'T CHANGE OVER THE YEARS IS THE KIND OF PERSON HE SAYS IS DRAWN INTO THE SERVICE.

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- I SEE IT, BUT I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

BECAUSE IT COMES FROM THE HEART.

>> Reporter: BROWN UNIVERSITY ESTIMATES UP TO 3 MILLION PEOPLE SERVED IN COMBAT ZONES AFTER 9/11.

1.5 MILLION OF THEM HAVE A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY.

THE WAR ON TERROR KILLED MORE THAN 8000 CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS OVER 178,000 ALLIED SOLDIERS FROM AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, PAKISTAN, AND SYRIA LOST THEIR LIVES.

JUST OVER 7000 U.S.

TROOPS WERE KILLED.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF THE BORDER BRIEF.

♪ >>> THOSE WHO WEREN'T YET BORN ON 9/11 ARE NOW IN EARLY ADULTHOOD, THAT IS EVIDENT FOR SAN DIEGO'S TRAINING CORPS.

THE NEW JOURNALIST MATTHEW BOWLER SHOWS US HOW A YOUNGER GENERATION HONORED THE MEMORY OF THAT DAY.

>> [ SINGING ] OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT?

WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HELD AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING.

>> MOST PEOPLE SERVING TODAY WERE NOT ALIVE AT SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001, AND HAVE GROWN UP IN THE SHADOW OF THAT TRAGIC DAY.

FOR THOSE WHO DO REMEMBER THE EVENTS OF THAT MORNING, THE PLANES CRASHING INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, THE PENTAGON, IN A FIELD IN STONY CREEK TOWNSHIP REMAIN UNFORGETTABLE.

>> [ SINGING ] AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.

>> ALL OF THE HEROES OF THAT DAY , THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND THAT FOURTH AIRPLANE, CAN YOU IMAGINE FIGURING OUT THAT YOUR PLANE IS A WEAPON?

AND GETTING TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW AND TAKING IT OVER AND MAKING SURE THAT IT DOESN'T HIT THE TARGET?

IN A PENNSYLVANIA FIELD.

♪ >> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THE NEARLY 3000 PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, AND THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES RESPONDING TO THE TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 11th.

>> REMEMBER THIS WITH HUMILITY.

NEVER BE ARROGANT, AND KNOW THAT THIS JOURNEY CONTINUES FOR YOU.

♪ >> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS A LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I AM JOHN CARROLL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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