KPBS MID-DAY EDITION HAS BEEN MADE A PART - - PROVIDED BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND, BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THERE IS A NEW TOOL TO TRACK HEALTH IMPACTS ACROSS BORDER POLLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY WILL BE RELEASING WEEKLY REPORTS ON STOMACH ILLNESSES.

KPBS REPORTER SCOTT RODDICK SAYS THE MONITORING IS TIED TO CONCERNS OF OCEAN WATER CONTAMINATION WITH SEWAGE.>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT THE BEACH, AND NO ONE IS IN THE WATER.

LITTLE YELLOW SIGNS.THE SAND, WARNING OF CONTAMINATED WATER.

A SURFER SAYS HE'S WILLING TO TAKE HIS CHANCES, BUT HE WILL NOT LET HIS GRANDCHILDREN IN THE WATER.>> I'M REALLY, REALLY AWARE THAT THEY COULD GET SICK AT ANY TIME.

>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY ALREADY MONITORS AND PUBLISHES DATA ON WATER QUALITY.

NOW IT WILL TRACK AND RELEASE DATA ON SOME STOMACH ILLNESSES IN THE SOUTH BAY.

WEEKLY REPORTS WILL SHOW SYMPTOM DATA COLLECTED FROM 17 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.

THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE MONTHLY UPDATES ON TRENDS AND CASES OF AMENABLE DISEASES SUCH AS HEPATITIS AND E. COLI.

SO FAR, THE DATA SHOWS NO CLEAR TREND FOR INCREASED HOSPITAL VISITS WERE CONFIRMED ILLNESSES, BUT IMPERIAL BEACH RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE GLAD THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THE DATA.>> MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH HAVE SYMPTOMS OF STOMACH ILLNESS.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW FOR SURE IF IT IS CONNECTED, BUT TO HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE STORIES, IT MAKES ME THINK THAT IT IS A POSSIBILITY.

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY, FOR SURE.

>> YOU CAN FIND THE WEEKLY REPORTS ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE.

>>> A TEMPORARY LODGING PROGRAM FOR SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES IS ENDING TOMORROW.

800 HOUSEHOLDS WILL RECEIVE LETTERS LETTING THEM KNOW IF THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOTEL.

COUNCILS WERE SEPARATED INTO THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BASED ON SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

ONE GROUP WILL TRANSITION OUT IN SEVEN DAYS, THE SECOND GROUP WILL HAVE TWO WEEKS, THE THIRD WILL BE ABLE TO STAY UNTIL MAY 11.>> A LOT OF US ARE HAVING ISSUES FINDING PLACES TO LIVE.

THEY ARE ASKING FOR THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF RENT, I'M ON SECTION 8, I'M HAVING TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T ACCEPT SECTION 8, SOME HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD ABOUT SECTION 8.>> 2300 PEOPLE ARE ALREADY APPROVED TO RECEIVE FUNDING TO HELP WITH HOME REPAIRS AND SHELTER.

>>> LET'S LOOK FURTHER AHEAD TO TONIGHT.

WE ARE DROPPING TO A LOW OF 50, IT'S GOING TO BE MAINLY CLEAR, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE SOME ACTION ON THE WAY LATER ON THIS WEEK.

WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW TEMPERATURES PLAY OUT AS WE HEAD OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AND WENT THE NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN WILL MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH.>> 400 HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO STOP ALL DEPORTATIONS TO HAITI.

THEY SAY THAT CONDITIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN NATION ARE JUST TOO DANGEROUS RIGHT NOW.>> HAITI IS IN CHAOS RIGHT NOW AS ARMED GROUPS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE COUNTRY, AND AMERICANS ARE LEAVING.

>> IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE.

I'M RECEIVING CALLS EVERY DAY OF PEOPLE IN PANIC, NOT ABLE TO GET FOOD, WATER, ELECTRICITY, OR THE ABILITY TO EVEN MOVE TO DO THOSE THINGS, WITHOUT RISKING THEIR LIVES.>> SHE'S WORKING WITH ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ASKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DEPORTATIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ISSUED A DO NOT TRAVEL ADVISORY.

KIDNAPPING IS WIDESPREAD, VIOLENT CRIME IS COMMON, AND TRAVELERS ARE SOMETIMES FOLLOWED AND VIOLENTLY ROBBED SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE AIRPORT.

AND ADVOCACY POSITION IS LEADING THE CALL TO STOP DEPORTATIONS.

WE SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.>> IT IS INCREDIBLE, IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE FOR DEPORTATIONS TO HAITI TO BE HAPPENING.

SHE SAYS IT IS IMMORAL TO FORCE PEOPLE BACK INTO SUCH A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

SHE POINTS OUT THE MOST RECENT DEPORTATION FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE LAST DAY OF LIKE HISTORY MONTH.

SO THEY WANTED TO DEPORT BLACK FOLKS TO THE FIRST BLACK IN THE PARENT INDEPENDENT COUNTRY IN THE AMERICAS, AND THAT'S HOW WE CHOSE TO CLOSE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

>> THAT FLIGHT NEVER LANDED, BECAUSE ARMED GROUPS TOOK OVER THE AIRPORT.

AND DEPORTATIONS CONTINUE BY C, INCLUDING 65 HAITIANS ON MARCH 7.>> THAT'S WHY WE ARE CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DEPORTATION BY AIR, AND BY C. >>> MORE THAN 500,000 FAST FOOD WORKERS ARE BEING PAID MORE AS OF TODAY.

A NEW MINIMUM WAGE TOOK EFFECT TODAY, WITH EMPLOYEES BEING PAID $20 PER HOUR, UP FROM $16 PER HOUR.

QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS AND FAST CASUAL OPERATORS ARE INCLUDED.

SOME CUSTOMERS SAY THEY ALREADY SEE THE PRICE OF FOOD GOING UP.>> A DECAF COFFEE COST A DOLLAR, AND IN A DOLLAR 55 FOR SENIORS.>> BAKERIES AND RESTAURANTS INSIDE A GROCERY STORE ARE EXEMPT FROM THE STATE LAW, AND IT ALSO DOES NOT APPLY TO FOOD TRUCKS, BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED SMALL BUSINESSES.>>> FINDING AN AFFORDABLE HOME TO BUY HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT IN RECENT YEARS.

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SUPPLY TO MEET DEMAND, AND MORTGAGE RATES ARE HIGH.

IN NEARLY HALF THE COUNTRY, AMERICANS NEED TO MAKE SIX FIGURES IN ORDER TO AFFORD A HOME.>> DISMAL NEWS FOR HOMEBUYERS IN THE UNITED STATES, A RECENT ANALYSIS FOUND THAT IN 22 STATES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., PURCHASERS NEED TO MAKE A SIX-FIGURE SALARY TO AFFORD A TYPICAL HOME.

BUYERS WOULD NEED TO EARN $110,871 PER YEAR IN ORDER TO AFFORD THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE, WHICH WAS JUST OVER $400,000 IN JANUARY.

BANK RATE FOUND PEOPLE IN THE WEST AND NORTHEAST WILL NEED THE MOST INCOME, WHILE BUYERS IN THE SOUTH AND THE MIDWEST WILL NEED THE LEAST INCOME.

DEFINING AFFORDABILITY IS CHALLENGING.

OTHER FACTORS LIKE SAVINGS AND DEBT ALSO MATTER.

EXPERTS SAY WAGES HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE RISING COST OF HOME OWNERSHIP.>> WE'VE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL PRICE INCREASE, ABOUT 40% PRICE GAIN IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, OUTPACING INCOME GROWTH.

THAT IS NOT A HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.>> WHEN IT COMES TO HOMEBUYING, LAWRENCE RECOMMENDS FINDING OUT A BUDGET, AND STICKING TO IT.

WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING COSTS, HE RECOMMENDED THIS.

>> ONE WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING COSTS, HE RECOMMENDED THIS.

>> ONE THIRD OF GROSS INCOME SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO HOUSING COSTS.>> TONIGHT, I RAN ACCUSES ISRAEL OF STRIKING A CONSULATE IN SYRIA, AND ESCALATION OF RECENT CONFLICT.

THAT'S COMING UP AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.>>> FOR ANYONE WITH BIG LOANS, PAYING OFF CREDIT CARDS, OR FINANCING A CAR, QUESTIONS STILL LOOM AS FAR AS WHEN INTEREST RATES WILL COME DOWN.

NEW NUMBERS SHOW WE MAY BE WAITING A FEW MORE MONTHS.>> BOTTOM LINE, INTEREST RATES ARE STILL SO HIGH.

INFLATION HAS NOT COOLED DOWN ENOUGH TO MERIT A RATE CUT.

WHEN RATES ARE EVENTUALLY CUT AND COME DOWN, DON'T EXPECT THEM TO FALL AS QUICKLY AS THEY SHOT UP.

THE MAGIC NUMBER THE FEDERAL RESERVE WANTS FOR INFLATION IS 2%, SO PRICES STAY STABLE, AND HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS DON'T TAKE IT MEETING.

JEROME POWELL SAYS THAT LEVEL IS WHERE HE WOULD BE A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE.

NEW NUMBERS SHOW A KEY MEASURE OF INFLATION CAME IN AT 2.5%.

IN JANUARY, IT WAS 2.4%.>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS NOT GOING TO BE IN A HURRY TO CUT INTEREST RATES.>> A RATE CUT IS STILL MONTHS AWAY, POSSIBLY IN JUNE, AND DO NOT EXPECT BORROWING COSTS TO TUMBLE.

>> IF YOU HAVE YOUR MONEY IN A HIGH SAVINGS ACCOUNT, YOU ARE STILL EARNING FIVE AND HALF PERCENT OR MORE.

WHEN INTEREST RATES COME DOWN, YOU WILL STILL BE EARNING AHEAD OF INFLATION.

>> PAY DOWN DEBT AS AGGRESSIVELY AS POSSIBLE.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 0% AND BELOW RATE BALANCE TRANSFER OPTIONS.

IN THE COMPUTER - - A CONTINUED BRIGHT SPOT, SAVINGS RATES.>> INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO COME DOWN SLOWLY, EVEN WHEN THE FED STARTS TO CUT RATES, SO LOWER RATES ARE NOT GOING TO BAIL YOU OUT IF YOU HAVE LARGE CREDIT CARD DEBT OR HIGH COST CUTS.>> IN TERMS OF WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE MONTHS AHEAD, OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD US THEY EXPECT THREE INTEREST RATE CUTS THIS YEAR.

ANALYSTS WE SPOKE TO SAY THEY ARE ANTICIPATING THE FIRST OF THOSE RATE CUTS TO HAPPEN IN 12th.

THAT'S THE LATEST HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

HEALTH CARE IS A HUGE COST FOR FAMILIES, ON AVERAGE, $1600 PER MONTH FOR INFANTS.

SOME FAMILIES GET SUBSIDIES, BUT THEY HAVE TO MAKE A VERY LOW INCOME TO QUALIFY.

TONYA IS LOOKING AT THE SUBSIDY GAP.

>> IT'S VERY HARD TRYING TO GET FOOD, CLOTHING, PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK HOW IT IS WITH TWINS.

IT'S TWO BABIES AT ONCE, IT'S DOUBLE THE DIAPERS, DOUBLE EVERYTHING.

JUST LAST NIGHT, BOTH TWINS WENT TO THE BATHROOM.

I'M DONE, SO YOU'VE GOT TO WIPE ONE, WIPE THE OTHER.

SO HIS YOUNG GUESTS - - HIS YOUNGEST CHILDREN ARE EACH FIVE YEARS OLD.>> WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

HIS TWINS WERE ABLE TO GET INTO A PROGRAM WHEN THEY WERE TWO YEARS OLD.

IT HELPED HIS FAMILY EVEN MORE AFTER COVID SHUTTERED THEIR EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS.>> HEAD START HELPS THEM TO LEARN HOW TO ADAPT TO THE WORLD.>> THEY CAN GET FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE, BUT THEY HAVE TO MAKE A LOW INCOME TO NULLIFY.

THAT LEAVES MANY FAMILIES IN A CHASM.

THEY MAKE TOO MUCH TO GET HELP, NOT ENOUGH TO GET CHILD CARE.>> I WOULD SAY THE SYSTEM IS NOT IDEAL.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY LEGISLATIVE HOOPS THAT FAMILIES HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH.

WE ARE SEEING MORE STATE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE WILLING TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE HOOPS, AND AT LEAST TO TRY TO DISMANTLE SOME OF THE CUMBERSOME SYSTEMS THAT ARE BARRIERS FOR THE FAMILIES.>> JUST OVER A THIRD OF KIDS IN CALIFORNIA MET THE CRITERIA IN 2020, BUT THERE'S JUST ONE BAR FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, WHICH MEANS INEXPENSIVE PLACES LIKE SAN DIEGO - - IN EXPENSIVE PLACES LIKE SAN DIEGO, ARE MORE FAMILIES NEED HELP.>> A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION HAS NO OTHER OPTION.

THEY CANNOT PAY FOR IT, THEY CANNOT ACCESS THE SUBSIDY.

>> ADVOCATES ARE WORKING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT FAMILIES HAVE TO PAY, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE THE PROCESS OF SIGNING UP MUCH EASIER.

ONE OF THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY IS OPTICS.

SOME FAMILIES JUST DON'T KNOW THE PROGRAM EXISTS AS AN OPTION.

>> I WENT TO A CONFERENCE, I WAS OUT EATING WITH MY SPIRITUAL MOM AND DAD.

THEY SAID THEIR WAITER IS SUCH A GREAT PERSON, HE TOLD ME HE HAD A TWO-YEAR-OLD, HE SAID IT HARD OUT HERE.

I TOLD HIM ABOUT HEAD START, AND HE STARTED CRYING RIGHT THERE, HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT.

HE WAS CRYING BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THAT NOW HE CAN HAVE HELP, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WORKING SO MUCH.

IT IS JUST VERY HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE.

>> IN SAN DIEGO, FAMILIES CAN GO TO THE CHILDCARE SAN DIEGO WEBSITE TO LOOK INTO SUBSIDIES.

THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR AN EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM.>> THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES THAT THEY HELP.

MY KID GOES TO SCHOOL, HE SAID THAT'S NOT SPANISH, THAT'S GALLIC.

COME TO FIND OUT, MY KIDS HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE AFRICAN, FRIENDS THAT ARE DOMINICAN, PUERTO RICAN, ALL KINDS OF LATIN FRIENDS, THE SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, AND MY KIDS WANT TO LEARN IT.

I WAS IN WASHINGTON ADVOCATING FOR EARLY EDUCATION.

AND PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE SINGLE IN SAN DIEGO, BY THEMSELVES OR WITH THE CHILD, IT'S VERY HARD.

MY MESSAGE TO ANYONE WHO IS LISTENING, ALWAYS LOOK INTO EARLY EDUCATION.

LET'S MAKE THIS WORK THAT ARE FOR ALL OF US.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A VOICE, AND I CAN USE MY VOICE, MY PLATFORM TO BE SEEN, AND HEARD BY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE SEEN AND HEARD.>> WE WILL HAVE A NEW EPISODE NEXT MONDAY.

YOU CAN STREAM THE ENTIRE SERIES RIGHT NOW.

JUST GO TO KPBS.ORG/VILLAGE.>> THE CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM HAS HELPED MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES REBOUND FROM NEAR EXTINCTION.

OUR REPORTER VISITED THE CENTER, AND HAS THE STORY.>> THERE ARE 23 MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES THAT LIVE AT CALIFORNIA WOLF CENTERS SPREAD ACROSS 50 ACRES.

IT MAY SEEM LIKE 20 OF ROOM, BUT WHEN MALES GET TO BE ONE AND A HALF YEARS OLD, THE PLACE GETS KIND OF CROWDED.

SIERRA SAYS THAT MALES BECOME INDEPENDENT, GET THE ITCH TO LEAVE AND START THEIR OWN PACK, IN A PROCESS KNOWN AS DISPERSAL.

>> HAVE A PACK OF WOLVES, MOM, DAD, AND SEVEN BOYS.

THESE BROTHERS ARE STARTING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TENSION.

WHAT'S REALLY AWESOME IS WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE NATURAL DISPERSAL.>> THAT'S WHERE THE BROOKFIELD ZOO COMES IN.

THE WOLF CARE COORDINATOR SAYS BROOKFIELD HAS OPEN UP WHAT SHE CALLS A WONDERFUL HABITAT SPACE.

THIS WEEK THEY WILL SEND THREE WOLVES THERE TO IMITATE THE NATURAL PROCESS OF DISPERSAL.

THE CALIFORNIA WILL CENTER AS PART OF THE MEXICAN WOLF SAFE PROGRAM.

IT'S A CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM THAT HAS BROUGHT THE SPECIES BACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION.

TERESA IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

SHE SAYS IN THE 1970S, COUNTS IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST GOT DOWN TO 13 IN THE WILD, BUT RECENT COUNTS BY U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE HAVE BROUGHT MUCH BETTER NEWS.

TODAY THERE ARE 257 MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES IN THE UNITED STATES.>> ABOUT 40% OF THEM ARE COLORED.

THEY USE THAT COLOR TO TRACK THEM, AND THEN THEY CAN DO A COUNT OF HOW MANY WE HAVE IN THE WILD.

LAST YEAR'S CENSUS SHOWED THE COUNT IS UP 6%.

CONSERVATION GROUPS INCREASE WILD POPULATIONS WITH PROTECTION PROGRAMS, AND THEY CROSS PUPS BORN IN CAPTIVITY WITH PUPS BORN IN THE WILD.

>> THE MOMENT WE KNOW A FEMALE HAS HAD PUPPIES, WE WILL CONTACT FISH AND WILDLIFE MEXICAN SAFE WOLF PROGRAM, AND TELL THEM WE'VE HAD PUPPIES ON MAY 1.

THEY WILL LOOK AT WILD PACKS AND SEE IF THERE IS A MOM IN THE WILD WHO HAS HAD PUPPIES.>> THE CAPTIVE PUPS WILL BE MOVED QUICKLY AND CAREFULLY.

THEY WILL BE SENT MARKED, TO WATCH THE WILD PUPS, TO TAKE CARE OF THE WALLS WHILE THE PARENTS ARE ABSENT.

>> THERE THEY GO, THEY ARE OUT IN THE WILD.

WHAT'S REALLY AWESOME IS WOLVES ARE VERY WELL KNOWN FOR ADOPTING.

>> THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ENDANGERED WOLF BOILS DOWN TO BREEDING, INTRODUCING PUPS TO THE WILD, AND TRANSFERRING ANIMALS, LIKE THE ONES GOING TO THE FIELD ZOO IN CHICAGO.

HOPEFULLY THAT MEANS WILD POPULATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO IN PRE-INCREASE.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.>> STATE PARKS ARE CLOSED AFTER PART OF A CLIFF GAVE WAY ON HIGHWAY 1.

A CREW IS WORKING TO FIX THE ROAD THAT CRUMBLED INTO THE OCEAN YESTERDAY.

OFFICIALS SAY THE SLIP OUT WAS CAUSED BY A LANDSLIDE.

A CONVOY WILL BE LEADING ESSENTIAL TRAVELERS THROUGH THE CLOSE AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS SAYS THOSE WITH CAMPING RESERVATIONS WILL BE ISSUED A REFUND.

[ MUSIC ] >> SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IT WAS SO WET THIS PAST WEEKEND, BUT I DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS IN THE FORECAST.

NUMBER ONE IN THE WEATHER HEADLINES, IT'S GOING TO BE DRY AND WARM ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN, BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR LONG.

LOOK AT NUMBER TWO ON OUR LIST, COOLER AND WINDY LATER ON THIS WEEK.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE TURNING WET AS WELL.

BIG CHANGES ARE ON TAP IN THE NEAR TERM, AND IN THE LONG TERM.

FOR TONIGHT, WE WILL BE DROPPING DOWN TO A LOW OF 48 IN OCEANSIDE.

SAN DIEGO, YOU ARE AT 50.

AS WE GO FURTHER EAST, INLAND, RAMONA, DROPPING DOWN TO A LOW OF 50.

AS FOR TOMORROW, WHERE DO THE HIGH TEMPTRESS GO?

YOU ARE SITTING NICE AND PRETTY ALONG THE COAST, GOLDILOCKS WEATHER.

UPPER 60s, EVEN THOUGH 70s FURTHER INLAND.

BORREGO SPRINGS IS NOT SO HOT, 81, MOUNT LAGUNA, NOT TOO BAD WITH A HIGH OF 47.

THERE ARE CHANGES IN THE FORECAST.

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY LOOK GREAT ON THE COAST.

GET OUT AND ABOUT, ENJOY THIS GORGEOUS WEATHER.

BY THURSDAY IT'S GOING TO BE COOLER, BY FRIDAY, RAIN WILL PUSH ON THROUGH, TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO DROP.

WHILE THE STORY LOOKS THE SAME FURTHER INLAND AS WELL, WITH A HIGH IN THE LOW 70s ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, THEN WE DROP A PRETTY SHARP DROP ON THURSDAY, WITH A HIGH OF 63.

THEN WE GET INTO THE 50s AGAIN, WITH A COUPLE SHOWERS MAKING THEIR WAY ON THROUGH.

WE WILL STAY ON THE COOLER SIDE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

AS FOR THE MOUNTAINS, YOU CONTINUE TO WARM UP OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, HITTING A HIGH OF 51 ON WEDNESDAY, BEFORE WE DROP DOWN TO THE LOWER 40s BY THURSDAY, BECOMING VERY WINDY, AND I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO RULE OUT A FLAKE FLYING AROUND.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME SHOWERS COMING IN FOR THE LATER HALF OF THE WEEK.

FOR THE DESERT IT WILL BE INCREASINGLY WINDY, AND YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A BIG DROP OFF IN TEMPERATURES, MIDDLE 80s BY WEDNESDAY, LOW 60s BY FRIDAY.

>>> A NEW MONTH MEANS NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO HONOR THOSE LIVING ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

OUR REPORTER TELLS US IT BEGINS WITH A PUPPET SHOW CREATING COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING.>> I HAVE THE MAIN STAR OF LEO AND THE MAGIC JACKET.>> THIS DYNAMIC DUO HAS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP CENTERED ON A MAGIC JACKET.>> IT GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO FLY LIKE SUPERMAN, OR LIKE A GENIE.

I CAN MAKE WISHES.

NO, NOT REALLY.

>> THIS PRECOCIOUS PUPPET WAS BROUGHT TO LIFE BY HIS PUPPETEER, CARLOS HERRERA.

HE'S THE MOST UNIQUE PUPPET I'VE LAID SO FAR, SO THAT'S A PLUS.>> THANKS.

>> RIGHT.

>> LEO AND THE MAGIC JACKET IS NOW IN REHEARSALS HERE AT BALBOA PARK.

THE POPULAR FAMILY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE SPACE IS TAKING ON A NEW ADVENTURE IN TIME FOR AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH.

HEATHER IS THE PLAYWRIGHT.>> IT CAME FROM MY EXPENSES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE AUTISM.

I'VE WORKED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS A COUPLE TIMES IN MY LIFE, AND I HAVE WORKED WITH KIDS WHO HAVE AUTISM, AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS.

>> LEO IS LIVING WITH AUTISM, AND TURNS TO HIS CLASSMATES FOR SUPPORT, WHEN HE NEEDS IT.

ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, A LAUNDRY ACCIDENT LEAVES HIM WITHOUT HIS JACKET.>> I CALL IT MAGIC JACKET, BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL SPECIAL, AND WHEN I WEAR IT, IT MAKES ME FEEL SAFE.>> THE STORY INCLUDES SOME ORIGINAL MUSIC, DANCE, AND EXPERIENCES CHILDREN WOULD FIND IN ANY CLASSROOM, BUT THIS ONE ALSO OFFERS LESSONS IN ACCEPTANCE OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT FEEL JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.>> WHETHER IT IS GENDER, RACE, RELIGION, DISABILITY, IT IS ABOUT MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND ACCEPTING THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE.>> A CAST OF CHARACTERS MOSTLY MADE UP OF FOAM, PLASTIC, HINGES, RODS, AND HEART.>> BIG SMILE.

>> BY MAKING IT PUPPETS AND NOT LIVE ACTORS, IT RUNS ITS ABILITY TO APPEAL AND STORYTELLER.>> HE MAKES ALL MY WORDS COME OUT, HE MAKES ALL MY MOVEMENTS.

I CAN EVEN DO THIS.>> DON'T MISS THE DYNAMIC DUO THIS MONTH, BEFORE THEY DANCE OFF INTO THE SUNSET.>> LEO AND THE MAGIC JACKET, AT THE PUPPET THEATER IN BALBOA PARK.

IT RUNS APRIL 5 THROUGH THE 14th, WITH THREE SHOWS EVERY DAY.

AND HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON TOMORROW.

WILL THE HYPE SURROUNDING WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS TRANSLATE TO THE BOTTOM LINE?

AT MARCH 31 MARKS THE ANNUAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY.

WE ARE HOSTING A DISCUSSION WITH ADVOCATES AND LEADERS.

AND YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND GOOD NIGHT.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF PRODUCTS.

BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION , DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

[ MUSIC ]