>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, HELPING HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN DRAIN, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND, BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY AND BY THE FOLLOWING-AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT IS MONDAY DECEMBER 20th.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

IT IS CONFIRMATION OF JUST HOW CONTAGIOUS THIS NEW VARIANT OF COVID-19 REALLY IS.

THE CDC SAYS OMICRON ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF NEW CASES IN THE U.S. WE ARE SEEING THIS AND SAN DIEGO AS WELL.

KPBS REPORTER KITTY ALVARADO UPDATES US ON THE SITUATION.

>> Reporter: PEOPLE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 SAID THE VIRUS IN THEIR SCHOOL BEFORE THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS.

SINCE TWO THIRDS OF THE COUNTY'S WASTE ENDS UP IN THE WASTE, THIS TREATMENT FACILITY IS A TREATMENT TROVE OF INFORMATION FOR RESEARCHERS AT UC SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO CHECK THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND MUTATIONS.

THE LATEST TEST SHOWED SOMETHING RESEARCHERS HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

>> WE SAW NEAR DOUBLING IN OUR WATER WITHIN A WEEK.

>> Reporter: DR. SMITH IS A RESEARCHER AT THE NIGHT LIVE AT UCSD.

SHE SAYS LOCALLY, DELTA IS THE PREDOMINANT VARIANT NOW, BUT THAT IS A GOOD MIX OF THE OMICRON STRAIN .

>> IF YOU SEE THEM IN THE WASTEWATER, THAT IS SPREADING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THIS MEANS THERE WILL BE A SURGE IN DELTA AND OMICRON WITHIN A WEEK OR SO .

>> IN A LOT OF WAYS, THIS WASTEWATER CAN GIVE US GOOD IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TESTING TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS OR WARN PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THIS INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE LIKE HER, CHIEF OF PULMONARY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE AT UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH.

HE SAYS THIS DATA CONFIRMS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPECTING.

>> WE ARE PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS WE HAVE A BEEN EXPECTING FOR SOME TIME WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT , AND THE TIMETABLE I THINK HAS SHIFTED.

THIS IS A INFECTIOUS VARIANT.

WE EXPECT TO SEE A BIG SPIKE SOON.

>> Reporter: DR. MANDEL SAYS THIS FORECASTED SEARCH COULD NOT BE HITTING AT A WORSE TIME.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE TROUBLING THINGS FOR US IS THAT THIS OCCURS ON A BACKDROP OF A HOSPITAL BEING EXTREMELY BUSY WITH NON-COVID-19 PATIENTS AS WELL.

THIS SYSTEM IS ALREADY BEING STRAINED A LITTLE BIT BY EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON AND NOW WE HAVE A BIG UPSURGE IN COVID-19 ON TOP OF THAT.

>> Reporter: DESPITE LOCAL HOSPITALS HAVING PPE AND OTHER SUPPLIES, JES MANDEL AND OTHERS ARE WORRIED OMICRON COULD BE A GAME CHANGER.

>> WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED MOST ABOUT IS HAVING ENOUGH PEOPLE WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES BECAUSE THIS VARIANT IS INFECTIOUS AND WE EXPECT DOCTORS AND NURSES AND OTHERS WILL GET INFECTED ALONG WITH OTHER FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT IMPACTS OUR READINESS AND TO FEEL THE TEAM.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE URGING THEIR STAFF TO BE VIGILANT.

KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS IS.

>>> NATIONWIDE, TOP HEALTH EXPERTS SAY WE ARE FACING A TOUGH WINTER AS THE DELTA AND OMICRON VARIANCE RAPIDLY SPREAD.

OUTBREAKS IMPACTING COMMUNITIES AND NATURE INSTITUTIONS LIGHT FROM CAPITOL HILL TO MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS TO SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

MORE NOW FROM REPORTER STACY COHEN.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY GRANTS GOES BY TWO NAMES, OMICRON AND DELTA.

THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS COVID-19 VARIANCE ARE STORMING THROUGH THE NATION AND DELTA ACCOUNTS FOR 97% OF CASES BUT OMICRON NUMBERS ARE RISING QUICKLY .

>> THIS IS DOUBLING EVERY TWO DAYS.

100,000 CASES BY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S EVE, WE COULD BE OVER 400,000 DAILY CASES OF JUST OMICRON.

>> Reporter: MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS TEAMS ARE CANCELING OR POSTPONING GAMES AND SOME SCHOOLS ARE MOVING ONLINE AND ICU BEDS ARE AT NEARLY PERCENT ANY CAPACITY WITH ONE IN FIVE BEDS USED FOR COVID-19 BEDS ACCORDING TO HHS DATA.

EXPERTS SAY BOOSTER IS THE BEST BUT MANY AMERICANS HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE EXTRA SHOT.

>> I THINK WE ARE AT ABOUT A LITTLE UNDER 20% OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN BOOSTED.. >> MODERNA SAYS THERE BOOSTER INCREASES PROTECTION AGAINST OMICRON SAYING A LARGER BOOSTER DOSE IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER.

MODERNA HOPES TO HAVE A OMICRON SHOT AVAILABLE EARLY NEXT YEAR .

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE A SPECIFIC BOOSTER IN 2022.

>> Reporter: SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN IS ONE OF THREE LAWMAKERS WHO TESTED POSITIVE RECENTLY.

SHE CREDITS HER VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTER WITH KEEPING SYMPTOMS MILD AND URGES AMERICANS TO FIND TIME THIS BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON TO GET THEIR SHOTS TOO.

STACY COHAN, KPBS NEWS .

SPEC SAN DIEGO UNIFIED WANT ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR VACCINES TODAY IN ORDER TO RETURN TO IN PERSON CLASSES NEXT MONTH.

NOW, A LOCAL JUDGE SAYS THE DISTRICT OVERSTEPPED ITS BOUNDS BY MAKING THE VACCINE MANDATORY.

>> USE OF A COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE WITHOUT A EXEMPTION AND PERSONAL BELIEF EXEMPTION MUST BE IMPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS COURT IS COMPELLED TO GRANT PETITIONS FOR GREATER MANDATE.

>> THE SAN DIEGO SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE JOHN MAYER ANNOUNCING HIS DECISION SAYING ONLY LAWMAKERS CAN IMPOSE A VACCINE MANDATE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR PERSONAL BELIEF EXEMPTIONS.

IS WILLING IS IN CONTRAST TO A SIMILAR CHALLENGE RECENTLY DISMISSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

SCHOOLS ON BREAK AND SAN DIEGO UNIFIED HAS NOT SAID HOW IT WILL RESPOND TO TODAY'S RULING.

>>> WITH COVID-19 CASES SURGING, MANY IN THE COUNTY ARE HITTING TEST SITES AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY TRAVELS.

KPBS REPORTER ALEXANDER RANHAUL HAS MORE.

>> STICK IS UP YOUR NOSE AND CIRCLE SEVEN TIMES.

>> Reporter: FREE AND WITH NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY, COVID- 19'S TESTING SITE IT THE HOLE WAS BUSY WITH MANY LOOKING TO GET TESTED AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY GATHERINGS.

>> EVERYBODY GETTING TOGETHER, I NEED TO MAKE SURE I'M GOOD.

>> HE SAID HIS TEST RESULTS WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL 2-3 DAYS, WHICH HE SAYS IS THE LONGEST HE HAS TO WAIT THIS FAR.

JOSH SANDERS, A FIRE CAPTAIN WITH A TOTAL OF A STICK FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEIR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT.

>> WE SEE IS NO UPTAKE WITH PARTICIPANTS AND PEOPLE COMING BY, BUT WE SEE ABOUT 150 PEOPLE A DAY.

>> Reporter: HERE IS A RECENT TRANSPLANT FROM THE.

SHE SAID SOME OF HER FRIENDS WERE IMPACTED BY THE SPIKE IN CASES THERE.

OVER THE WEEKEND, NEW YORK SAW MASSIVE LINES OF PEOPLE LOOKING TO GET TESTED FOR COVID-19.. >> IT IS WHILE.

I SAW SOMEBODY IN LINE FOR HOURS , LIKE FIVE OR SIX HOURS FOR A TEST.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE WENT TO CHULA VISTA'S TESTING SITE BECAUSE THEY HAD WALKEN AVAILABLE.

SHE SAID OTHER SITES WERE ALL BOOKED FOR A APPOINTMENT.

>> IT IS THERE AND WE NEED THAT.

>> VACCINATION SITES WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR THE HOLIDAY, AND WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY.

ALEXANDER RANHAUL, KPBS NEWS .

>> FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS, SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAS BEEN USING HOTELS TO SHELTER PEOPLE WHO HAS SOMEONE TO ISOLATE FROM COVID-19.

OF THE PROGRAM HAS COME UNDER FIRE HAVE NEGLECT.

AS DELANEY REPORTS, THAT WILL SOON COME TO AN END.

>> IT COST $5.2 MILLION TO RUN THE COVID-19 HOTEL PROGRAM.

THE FEDERAL MONEY USED IS EXPECTED TO RUN OUT APRIL 1st, THAT IS WHY COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE DECIDED TO END THE TROUBLED PROGRAM AND RELOCATE HOTEL GUESTS BY THE END OF MARCH.

SOME ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE THEY WILL WIND UP.

CHRIS VAUGHN CREW HAS BEEN LIVING AT ONE OF THE COUNTY HOTELS.

>> THAT IS ME, TERMINALLY ILL, AND DISABLED, WITH MY SERVICE.

SPEC COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL WORK TO AVOID THAT AND RESIDENTS WILL BE REFERRED TO OTHER HOUSING OPTIONS.

FOR KPBS, I AM I NEWS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER CODY DELANEY.

>>> INEWSOURCE IS A NONPROFIT PARTNER OF KPBS.

>>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE SCRAMBLING THIS WEEK TO GET THEIR HOLIDAY SHOPPING DONE AND MIGHT LOOK ONLINE FOR SOME DEALS, SITES LIKE OFFER UP IN FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE ARE POPULAR FOR GENTLY USED ITEMS.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TONYA THORNE TELLS US ABOUT A NEW PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN MAKE THOSE EXCHANGES.

>> Reporter: BROWSING LISTINGS ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE AND OFFER UP AND YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING FROM BABY ITEMS TO APPLIANCES.

WHO IS THE PERSON SELLING THE ITEM?

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THAT IS SAFE TO MEET THEM IN PERSON?

LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SET UP SAFE TRADING SPOTS FOR THAT REASON.

>> THEY CAME TO US AND ASKED IF WE WERE INTERESTED IN POSTING SIGNS AND PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANTED TO DO CHANGES FOR OFFER UP AND WHERE THEY COULD DO THAT.

>> OFFICER STEVE IS WITH THE ESCONDIDO POLICE DEPARTMENT.. >> WE ARE A WELL LIT PARKING LOT AS WELL AS THE SECURITY SYSTEM WE HAVE THROUGHOUT 363 PERIMETER OF PROVIDING EXTRA MOTHER AND FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO COME BY AND DO THEIR EXCHANGE IN A SAFE PLACE.

>> Reporter: ESCONDIDO RESIDENT CHRISTINE USED THE LOCATION TO SELL AN iPHONE AND iPAD.

>> BECAUSE THOSE WERE BOTH OVER $100, I DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE MEETING WHEREVER SO I MET THERE AND THERE ARE CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING SO I FELT SAFE AND SECURE.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THIS LOCATION SERVES AS A TOOL FOR HONEST TRANSACTIONS.

>> I EXPLAINED IN MY SALES POST THAT WE WILL MEET AT THE POLICE STATION.

I THINK THAT WE DID OUT ANY SCAMMERS.

ANYONE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT DID NOT RESPOND.

PEOPLE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> Reporter: OFFICER BROUGHT SAYS POLICE DO NOT MONITOR THE SPOT ALL THE TIME, THE DISPATCH IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK IF A BUYER OR SELLER NEEDS ASSISTANCE.

THE SITE HAS LIVE VIDEO RECORDING IN CASE A TRANSACTION GOES WRONG.

>> SUPER HIGH DEFINITION CAMERA THAT WE CAN USE TO ZOOM IN.

IF WE NEED TO GET A LICENSE PLATE AND SUSPECT DESCRIPTIONS WERE THEY FILE A CLAIM TO BE A VICTIM OF SOMETHING TO HELP INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION.

>> Reporter: THIS OFFICER SAID THE MEETUP SPOT HAS BEEN POPULAR AND HAS ZERO INCIDENTS REPORTED SINCE THAT WAS SET UP.

HE SAYS HE STILL OFFERS ADVICE.

>> WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO COME TO A SAFE PLACE AND WE HAVE OUR LOCATION HERE.

WE ENCOURAGE THAT SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAFE IN A LOCATION WHERE THERE IS PUBLIC AND IT IS WELL LIT.

THERE CAN BE WITNESSES, SHOULD THEY NEED THAT, AND ALSO BE AWARE ABOUT SCAMS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SCAMS ON A LOT OF THE INTERNET PURCHASE EXCHANGE LOCATIONS.

PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

>> Reporter: IS A BILL SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE- >> THAT VERY WELL MAY BE.

LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE ON THAT.

>> Reporter: TONYA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A BIG STEP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TIGHTENING STANDARDS FOR EMISSIONS.

NEW MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS START ON MONDAY FOR CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS.

THE STARTS WITH 2023 MODEL VEHICLES AND THAT INCREASES EACH YEAR BETWEEN FIVE AND 10% TO REACH A 40 MILE PER GALLON INDUSTRYWIDE GOAL BY 2026.

THAT IS A MUCH BIGGER GOAL THAN THE ONE SET BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WOULD HAVE REACHED 32 MILES PER GALLON BY THE SAME DEADLINE.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO POWERING YOUR HOME, THOSE WHO EMBRACED SOLAR ARE HOPING THE GOVERNOR WILL STOP RULES THAT MIGHT MAKE THAT MORE EXPENSIVE.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIC ANDERSON SAYS THE CLOCK IS TICKING BEFORE AN IMPORTANT DECISION IS MADE.

>> Reporter: SOLAR POWER BACKERS, OR SHOCKED LAST WEEK WHEN CALIFORNIA REGULATORS UNVEILED A PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE HOW RESIDENTS GET PAID FOR INVESTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS.

>> THIS IS A DISASTER.

>> Reporter: BERNADETTE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA SOLAR AND STORAGE ASSOCIATION.

SHE WORRIES THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL CRUSH THE STATES LARGEST IN THE NATION SOLAR POWER INDUSTRY.

>> IT IS ANTISOCIAL AND ANTI- STORAGE.

THIS IS ANTI-CLEAN ENERGY ANTI- SOLAR BUSINESS.

THIS IS THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CALIFORNIA SHOULD GO.

>> Reporter: THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION-THEY SELL BACK TO THE GRID AND VALUE OF ELECTRICITY PRODUCED WILL BE CUT BY 80% WHILE THE RETAIL SALE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY IS UNCHANGED.

THE 204 PAGE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR STATE MONTHLY GOOD CONNECTION FEES FOR RESIDENTS WITH ROOFTOP SOLAR.

A TYPICAL TYPICAL SAN DIEGO HOUSEHOLD WILL PAY ABOUT $64 PER MONTH AND PAY EXISTING RETAIL RATES FOR POWER WHEN THEY BUY AFTER THE SUN SETS.

>> THIS OUTCOME IS UNFORTUNATE AND VERY MUCH ON THE SIDE OF THE INVESTOR OF UTILITIES.

>> Reporter: MATT IS A MEMBER OF THE SAN DIEGO-BASED CLIMATE ACTION CAMPAIGN.

HE WELCOMED THE HOPE THE PROPOSAL SETS ASIDE FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AND HELPING TO PAY FOR INSTALLATION.

THOSE CUSTOMERS WILL AVOID THE STEEP GOOD CONNECTION FEES.

RULES FOR BUSINESSES REMAIN UNCHANGED.

HE SAYS CALIFORNIA'S PREVIOUS NIGHT ENERGY PLANS GOT IT RIGHT.

THEY ALLOW THE STATE SOLAR INDUSTRY TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS FOR GROWTH IN CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY OFFICE SAYS SOLAR GENERATES ABOUT 15% OF THE STATES POWER.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT HAS RESULTED IN OVER 1 MILLION ROOFTOP SOLAR INSTALLATIONS IN A COMMUNITY IS HELPING US BUILD CLIMATE RESILIENT CLEAN ENERGY SYSTEMS THAT CAN WITHSTAND EVER MORE FREQUENT, DISASTERS.

>> Reporter: UTILITY FUNDED GROUPS LIKE AFFORDABLE SOLAR FOR ALL HELD THE CPUC RULING SAYING THAT DOES NOT BURDEN ON SOLAR CUSTOMERS WITH THE COST OF THE SOLAR SUBSIDY.

SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC HAS REMAINED QUIET ON THE ISSUE.

COMPANY SPOKESMAN TOLD KPBS THEY WILL NOT COMMENT BEFORE THE CPUC MAKES A DECISION BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS TOO SENSITIVE.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR PRO SOLAR GROUPS WHO DEVELOP A HUGE STACK OF PUBLIC COMMENTS TO STATE OFFICIALS IN SACRAMENTO EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SOLAR RIGHTS ALLIANCES DAVID ROSENFELD SAYS THERE IS STILL LOBBYING TO BE DONE BECAUSE THE RULES HAVE NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED.

>> THERE IS OVER 600 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS AND SENT THAT TO THE CPUC SAYING KEEP ROOFTOP SOLAR GROWING AND DO NOT PENALIZE ANYBODY FOR PUTTING SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOFTOPS.

IN THIS CASE, THE CPUC DID NOT LISTEN.

>> Reporter: THE EFFORT IS MADE TOUGHER BECAUSE THE CPUC IS IN FLUX.

THE REGULATORY PANEL HAS A NEW PRESIDENT AFTER AN UNEXPECTED RESIGNATION LAST MONTH AND ANOTHER MEMBER IS LEAVING TO JOIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

THAT IS WHY SOLAR ADVOCATES ARE FOCUSING THEIR LOBBYING ENERGY ON CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM.

>> THIS IS A DECISION BY THE CPUC IN THIS GOVERNOR SAID HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT RATE HIKES AND BLACKOUTS AND AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS DIRECTLY WILL HAMMER ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.

>> THE CPUC VOTES IN LATE JANUARY ON THE RULES.

IF THEY PASS, THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT IN MAY.

WITH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHETHER THE PANEL WILL BE FULLY STAFFED, REGULATORS COULD VOTE TO POSTPONE A DECISION.

ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS .

>>> MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST THIS WEEK.

BY THE END OF THE WEEK, LOOKS LIKE WE COULD HAVE A REAL SOAKING.

CLOUDS ARE ON THE INCREASE AND MILD.

WHEN DOES THE RAIN COME?

THAT IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE DAY THURSDAY.

THURSDAY LOOKS LIKE A RAINY DAY AND SHOWERS COULD LINGER RIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND.

WE HAVE CLOUDS AROUND TONIGHT AND OUR LOW IS 49 DEGREES.

DOWN TO 39 IN OCEANSIDE AND EL CAJON IS AT 49 AND BORREGO SPRINGS IS 43 AND MT.

LAGUNA IS 40.

TOMORROW WITH SOME CLOUDS ON THE INCREASE AND CONTINUING TO BE MILD.

HERE IS THE NEXT ROUND OF RAIN EASING ITS WAY DOWN TO CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT IS DRY AND YOU CAN SEE TEMPERATURES ARE QUITE COMFORTABLE HERE IN THE MID 60s FOR MOST AND A FEW UPPER 60s WITH EL CAJON AND MOUNT KAHUNA IS AT 49.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE PLUME OF MOISTURE SLIDES ITS WAY DOWN THE COAST, BUT STILL TO THE NORTH OF US.

THE PLUME OF MOISTURE IS OVER US ON THURSDAY.

THAT IS WHEN WE SEE A GOOD SOAKING OF RAIN AND MORE SNOW DEVELOPING IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.

LET'S LOOK AT THE EXTENDED FORECAST FOR YOU.

HERE COMES THE RAIN ON THURSDAY.

IT STAYS COOL INTO THE WEEKEND AND MAYBE A SHOWER IN THE AREA.

INLAND SECTIONS WITH PLENTY CLOUDS AND THURSDAY IS IN THE 50s WITH THE RAIN.

AS WE GO TO THE MOUNTAIN REGION, THURSDAY IS WET AND THE SHOWERS ARE WITH US TO STAY COOL.

IN THE DESERTS, IT WILL BE CLOUDS THICKENING AND THE RAIN ARRIVES HERE AND LOOKS LIKE IT CAN BE DRIER AS WE TAKE YOU INTO THE WEEKEND.

FOR KPBS NEWS, I AM METEOROLOGIST MARK MANCUSO.

>>> ADVOCATES, CRITICAL SAN DIEGO'S HOMELESS ENFORCEMENT POLICIES, SPENT MONDAY MORNING CAROLING OUTSIDE CITY HALL.

AS KPBS'S GUSTAVO POLICE REPORTS, THESE WERE NOT THE CARRELS WE ARE USED TO HEARING.

>> THIS DEPRESSING VERSION OF A CLASSIC IS MEANT TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE HOMELESSNESS IN SAN DIEGO.

THE THREE FRENCH HENS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH THREE LOST BATHROOMS AND FIVE GOLDEN RINGS, WELL, NOW THEY ARE.

THEY DESCRIBE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE HOMELESS IN SAN DIEGO.

THEY REFERENCED COVID-19 OUTBREAKS AND SHELTERS, LONG WAIT LIST FOR HOUSING AND WRITTEN CITATIONS.

TO VALERIE, THIS SONG HITS CLOSE TO HOME.

>> I COULD NOT MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITHOUT CHOKING UP.

THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN TREATED, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE POLICE TALKED TO US AND TREATED US DIFFERENTLY.

>> SHE SAYS SHE LIVES IN A CAR PICK EVERY TICKET SHE HAS RECEIVED IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SAN DIEGO SUMMARIZES POVERTY.

>> I FEEL LIKE A PARIAH.

I FEEL LIKE A PARIAH.

I CAN GO IN PUBLIC AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT I WAS HOMELESS, BUT IF THEY SAW ME GETTING INTO MY RV, THEY WOULD TREAT ME DIFFERENTLY.

>> VALERIE GRISHCY AND THE OTHER CAROLERS, SAY THEY MUST TAKE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POOR APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS AS A CANDIDATE IN 2020, GLORIA CALLED TO END CRIMINALIZATION, BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

HOMELESS PEOPLE SAY THIS ENFORCEMENT FORCES THEM TO LIVE IN FEAR, LIKE THEY ARE ON THE RUN.

>> IT IS SCARY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT FOR THE COPS TO COME UNTIL YOU HAVE TO DRIVE OFF.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO RUN FOR THE COPS.

I'M A VIETNAM VETERAN.

>> Reporter: THE COLDER TEMPERATURES MAKE LIVING OUTSIDE DIFFICULT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> THIS HAS BEEN THE COLDEST WINTER I HAVE EVER SEEN IN SAN DIEGO.

IT IS FREEZING.

I GET UP IN MY LEFT FOOT IS FROZEN.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DID NOT RESPOND TO A INTERVIEW REQUEST.

THE STOPS THE LEASE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS , WE WILL REVISIT BEST STORIES OF 2021.

ONE STARTED A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE IDENTIFY OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

KPBS RACE INIQUITY REPORTER CHRISTINA KIM EXAMINES THE DEBATE AROUND THE TERM LATIN X.

>> Reporter: THE WAY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO IDENTIFY IS ALWAYS CHANGING, ESPECIALLY THE SIGNING LATIN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> I IDENTIFY AS CHICANO,.

>> I IDENTIFY AS A QUUER OR CHICANO X .

>> I IDENTIFY AS MEXICAN- AMERICAN, OR AS HAS BEEN THE.

>> AT KPBS, WE ARE USING THE TERM LATIN X, A NON-BINARY WAY OF SAYING LATINO OR LATINA TO BE IS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE.

WE KNOW IT IS NOT DEFINITIVE AND PROVE CONTROVERSIAL.

HOW WE IDENTIFY AND IDENTIFIED BY OTHERS CAN GET, WELL, PERSONAL.

THAT IS SOMETHING YOU SEE SAN DIEGO PROFESSOR ARIANNA, WHO TEACHES ABOUT LATINOS, NO TOO WELL.

>> LABELING AND WITH THAT, OUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND RACE AND SEXUALITY AND GENDER AND ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS COME INTO PLAY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IT IS SO PERSONAL THAT IT IS ONE THAT PEOPLE HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT, AND WILL LEAD TO VERY LIVELY CONVERSATIONS AND DEBATES.

>> THAT IS WHEN WE ASKED YOU, THE AUDIENCE, TO SHARE HOW YOU IDENTIFY AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE X AND LATIN X.

WE GOT ALMOST 200 RESPONSES.

THEY SHOWED HOW DEEPLY MANY OF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS MANY LAYERED ISSUE.

SOME, WHO IDENTIFY AS NON- BINARY, EMBRACED THE LATIN X TERM YEARS AGO.

>> I FIRST STARTED IDENTIFY AS NON-BINARY.

THEY WERE LIKE EITHER MALE OR FEMALE AND VERY GENDER-NEUTRAL.

LATIN X FEELS LIKE THAT, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT IS ITS OWN MOVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> OTHERS LIKE RODERIGO AT ALL OF US TO PRAY FOR TERMS LIKE HISPANIC OR LATINO BECAUSE THAT CONNECTION WITH HIS ROOTS AS A SPANISH SPEAKER.

HE UNDERSTANDS HOW TO BE INCLUSIVE BUT LATIN X RAISES HIS CONNECTION WITH SPANISH, WHICH HE GREW UP SPEAKING.

>> IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHITEWASHING AS FAR AS LANGUAGE IS CONCERNED.

OF TO ME, LATINO OR EVEN LATIN X MEANS YOU ARE IDENTIFYING A CULTURE THAT HOLDS SPANISH IN A SPECIAL PLACE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER CHULA VISTA, MICHAEL, DOES NOT USE X.

HE PREFERS THE TERM CHICANO, IDENTITY LABEL ASSOCIATED WITH MEXICAN-AMERICANS EMERGED IN THE 1960S DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

HE THINKS LATIN X IS A TERM IMPOSED BY WHITE PEOPLE.

>> I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE USE THAT.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE IDENTIFY WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL STICK OR NOT, BUT THAT IS NOT FROM US JUST LIKE ANYTHING FROM US.

>> Reporter: THAT IS A BIG ATTENTION AWAY.

WHERE DID LATIN X COME FROM?

THIS PROFESSOR SAYS THAT IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION.

>> THERE IS NO ONE ORIGIN STORY.

WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE USE OF THE X WITHIN LATIN X OR THE MOVE FROM LATINO OR LATINA TO LATIN X, THAT X IS DISCUSSED AS COMING FROM INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FROM LATIN AMERICA.

THIS IS ONE WE HAVE SEEN USED WITHIN LATIN AMERICAN FEMINIST CIRCLES AS WELL.

THAT IS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT LATIN X AS TIED ESPECIALLY TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE THE LACK OF CLARITY OF WHY PEOPLE STARTED USING LATIN X, PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN INTERPRETATIONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THAT.

ALEXANDRA IDENTIFIES AS QUEER AND LATIN X AND SHE DOES NOT SEEM A LABEL COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY.

SHE LIKES USING THE X BECAUSE THAT MAKES PEOPLE STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHO IS BEING LEFT OUT.

>> THE X MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE NOT OFTEN INCLUDED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, NINE BEARING THEIR PEOPLE, FOR LATINOS OR AFRO CHICANOS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> Reporter: IN THE END, THERE IS NO SINGLE DEFINITION OR UNDERSTANDING OF THESE IDENTITY LABELS.

SHE SAYS THAT'S A GOOD THING.. >> WE WENT TO THINK ABOUT EMBRACING THAT AND LEANING INTO THE MESSINESS THAT IS A TERM LIKE THAT LATIN X.

IT IS NOT ONE SINGLE THING, BUT THIS IS MORE MULTIFACETED AND HAS LOTS OF DIFFERENT HISTORIES AND EXPERIENCES TIED TO THAT.

>> Reporter: CHRISTINA KIM, KPBS NEWS.

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>>MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, HELPING HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN DRAIN, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND, BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY AND BY THE FOLLOWING-AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.