>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE, FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION, AND FLOOD SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWT OR VISIT BILLHOW.COM AND BY CONRAD AND BY THE FOLLOWING... AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> SANTA ANA WINDS ARE BRINGING A BREAK FROM THE RAIN, BUT OUR SUNNY SKIES WILL BE SHORT LIVED.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I AM JOHN, IN FOR MAYA TRABULSI.

ENVIRONMENT REPORTER SAYS SAN DIEGO WILL RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH ANOTHER WINTER STORM.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO IS KICKING OFF NEW YEAR'S WEEK WITH WARMER TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY WINDS.

THE NATION WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

THE WINDS COULD BLOW DOWN TREE LIMBS AND CAUSE POWER OUTAGES.

>> WE HAVE GOT EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS BLOWING ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT 30-50 MILES AN HOUR TODAY IN THE COUNTY, AND THAT IS STRONGEST ALONG THE FOOTHILLS OF THE MOUNTAINS.

THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TODAY INTO TOMORROW.

>> Reporter: CHANDLER PRICE IS A METEOROLOGIST WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

HE SAYS SANTA ANA WINDS ARE BRINGING WARMER THAN USUAL WEATHER FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

TUESDAY WILL BE THE WARMEST WITH HIGHS REACHING MID TO HIGH 70s.

AS THE MID WEEK APPROACHES, PRICE SAYS-- >> THOSE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO START TO DROP AS THE SANTA ANAS DROP OFF AND WE GET ANOTHER SYSTEM COMING IN.

>> Reporter: THAT IS RIGHT, ANOTHER WINTER STORM IS APPROACHING.

LAST WEEK MARKED ONE OF THE WETTEST CHRISTMASES IN YEARS.

PAL MAR MOUNTAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, GOT TWO AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN.

PRICE SAYS-- >> THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS WEEK AND LAST WEEK IS THAT THERE IS A LOT LESS MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ONE.

>> Reporter: THE FORECAST SHOWS LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

RECENT RAINS INCLUDING THOSE FROM NOVEMBER, HAVE GIVEN THE NEW WATER YEAR A STRONG START.

SINCE OCTOBER, SAN DIEGO HAS RECEIVED NEARLY FOUR AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN, THE AVERAGE IS JUST OVER TWO INCHES.

TAMMY MERGA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A POWERFUL WINTER STORM IS SWEEPING ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN U.S.

IN A FEW MINUTES WE LOOK HOW IT IS IMPACTING AIR TRAVEL DURING ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR.

>> IT WILL BE A BRAZEY NIGHT TONIGHT, WIND ADVISORIES FOR MANY ACROSS INLAND SAN DIEGO COUNTY, AND FINAL MONDAY NIGHT 2025 WILL TAKE US DOWN TO 60 DEGREES IN SAN DIEGO, 57 IN RUMOMEA, 53 IN VURAGO SPRINGS, HERE ADWIND ADVISORIES, THEY CONTINUE UNTIL 1:00 P.M.

TUESDAY.

WINDS RELAX TOMORROW AFTERNOON, FOR NOW INTERIOR PARTS OF THE REGION REMAIN UNDER A WIND ADVISORY.

WE WILL LOOK AT THE RETURN OF RAIN FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE AND NEW YEAR'S DAY, COMING UP.

>>> WITH CHRISTMAS IN THE REAR VIEW, SOME MAY BE WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE.

THIS MORNING, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO KICKED OFF ITS 52nd ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM.

RESIDENTS CAN DROP OFF TREES FOR FREE AT ANY OF THE 16 LOCATIONS YOU SEE THERE ON YOUR SCREEN.

BOTH GREEN AND FLOCKED TREES ARE ACCEPTED.

ALL ORNAMENTS, STANDS, LIGHTS, AND OTHER DECORATIONS MUST BE REMOVED.

THE PROGRAM RUNS THROUGH JANUARY 16th.

>>> EARLIER THIS YEAR SAN DIEGO RAISED ITS CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX IN AN EFFORT TO FILL A BUDGET HOLE.

WPBS METRO REPORTER SAYS THE MOVE IS NOT GOING AS WELL AS THE CITY HOPED.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO FINANCE OFFICIALS ARE PROJECTING A SHORTFALL IN REVENUE FROM THE CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX.

THE CITY SAYS THE INDUSTRY STILL STRUGGLES WITH COMPETITION FROM THE UNTAXED ILLICIT MARKET.

KIMBERLEY SIMS IS A SAN DIEGO-BASE ATTORNEY IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

SHE SAID SHE IS NOT SURPRISED THE TAX HIKE IS BACKFIRING.

>> AS THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO RISE ALL AROUND US, PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES.

IF THERE IS READILY AVAILABLE CANNABIS ON THE ILLICIT MARKET AND YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE IT MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE ON THE REGULATED MARKET, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DRIVEN BACK TO THE ILLICIT MARKET.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HAS DOUBLED CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX SINCE IT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2016.

THIS YEAR THE CITY COUNCIL RAISED IT TO 10%, FOR BOTH RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS.

MEANWHILE, ENS NEATs HAS 17% RETAIL OUTLET AND 4%.

LAMESA 4% AND MANUFACTURERS AT 2.5%.

SIMS SAYS CANNABIS TAXES ARE NOT A PANACEA FOR LOCAL BUDGET WOES AND SAN DIEGO MAY BE LOSING BUSINESS TO THE SUBURBS.

>> CITIES ARE REALIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS BETTER TO HAVE SOME PIECE OF THE PIE THAN NO PIECE OF THE PIE, AND I THINK IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE THIS TREND INCREASING TAXES, THEN IT JUST CONTINUES TO BOLSTER THE ILLICIT MARKET.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HAS ALLOWED DISPENSARIES TO STAY OPEN LATER, BUT THE CITY'S INDEPENDENT BUDGET ANALYST SAYS SOME SHOPS ARE NOT OPTING FOR EXTENDING HOURS AND THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SHORTFALL.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>> ESCONDIDO IS ASKING RESIDENTS TO COOL WITH ILLEGAL FIREWORKS CELEBRATIONS, AS ALEXANDER NGUYEN TELLS US, THE CITY IS TEAMING UP WITH THE ESTO SPREAD THE WORD.

>> Reporter: FIREWORKS MAY LOOK PRETTY AND PROFESSIONAL SHOWS ARE A COLORFUL PART OF MAJOR CELEBRATIONS, SUCH AS THE NEW YEAR, OR 4TH OF JULY.

A CONSUMER FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, AND FOR MANY DOG OWNERS, THEY ARE A NUISANCE.

>> OUR DOG IS GOING CRAZY.

>> Reporter: DORIS HAS LIVED HERE EIGHT YEARS.

SHE SAYS THE PROBLEM HAHAS GONE OUT OF HANDS.

>> JULY 4th IS REALLY JULY WEEK, AND SO IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON, AND NEW YEAR'S EVE IS EVERY HOUR UNTIL ABOUT 3:00 IN THE MORNING.

SO WE DON'T EVEN GET SLEEP ON THOSE HOLIDAYS, WE DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE HOLIDAYS ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: SHE IS PART OF THE FACEBOOK GROUP, 3,000 RESIDENTS FOUND-- >> ABOUT 75% SAID THEY WERE DISTURBED BY FIREWORKS.

>> Reporter: DENISE ROLEN, CEO OF THE NON-PROFIT ESCON DEEDO SAYS SHE HAS TESTIMONYS FROM RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> THERE IS NICHOLAS, A U.S.

ARMY VETERAN, WHO POSTS, EXPERIENCES PTSD, FLASHBACKS AND PANIC ATTACKS TRIGGERED BY THE FIREWORKS.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY THE COUNCIL IS WORKING WITH THE CITY TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON FIREWORKS THIS NEW YEAR.

>> HIGHLY DANGEROUS, AND HIGHLY ILLEGAL.

>> Reporter: THE GROUP HAS PRODUCED A MAP SHOWING WHERE THE PROBLEM IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CITY.

>> IF THE CITY WERE ABLE TO TAKE DRONES AND FLY IT OVER THESE CONCENTRATED AREAS, THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE ABLE TO CATCH THESE PEOPLE AND STOP IT.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, CITY SPOKESPERSON, MIKE THORN, SAYS MORE POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE DEPLOYED THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE, IN AN ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY VIOLATORS, AND ENFORCE THE MUNICIPAL CODE.

HE SUGGESTS RESIDENTS CALL THE POLICE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER TO REPORT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

THE FINE FOR FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS IS $100 AND UP TO $500 FOR SERIOUS OFFENDERS.

SHE SAYS THAT IS HARDLY A DETERRENT.

>> WE ARE HOPING AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, THEY ARE ARE GOING TO PUT NEW ENFORCEMENTS INTO PLACE, AND THAT THIS WON'T BE THIS ONGOING THING.

>> Reporter: THEY BOTH SAY AM INSTEAD OF CELEBRATING THEY WILL BE HOME TENDING TO AND MEDICATING THEIR DOGS BECAUSE OF THE FIREWORKS.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, FROM BOMBING OF VENEZUELA TO HIGH LEVEL MUTINGS OF UKRAINE AND ISRAEL, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP STIRS THE GLOBAL POT, COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> KPBS IS LOOKING BACK ON THE TOP STORIES OF 2025.

MUCH OF IT WAS DRIVEN BY THE UNEXPECTED, BREAKING NEWS THAT GENERATED ONGOING QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN SAN DIEGO.

THIS THURSDAY WE ARE BROADCASTING INCORE OF KPBS NEWS SPECIAL, IT AIRS 5:00 AND 6:30 IN PLACE OF "EVENING EDITION."

REPORTERS FROM KPBS NEWS OFFER INSIGHT AND COMMENTARY ON THE BIGGEST STORIES THEY COVERED THIS YEAR.

HERE IS A PREVIEW.

>> BIG BREAKING STORY, LIKE THE NEWSROOM, ALL OF US ACTIVATED.

>> WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH BREAKING NEWS AFTER A SMALL JET CRASHED IN A SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE HAVE LIVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THIS TRAGEDY TONIGHT.

>> AS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, IT IS ON US TO TRY TO DIG A LITTLE DEEP TO SEE, WHAT COULD WE FIGURE ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE CRASH?

WE ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE CAUSE WAS OF THE CRASH, THE INVESTIGATION FROM THE FAA, THAT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO COME OUT, BUT WE WANT TO TRY TO DIG AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND, YOU KNOW, IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER AN EVENT LIKE THAT, TO TRY TO GET A FULLER UNDERSTANDING.

>> NEW DETAILS ARE COMING TO LIGHT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> IT FELT LIKE A MOVIE.

IT FELT LIKE IT WAS JUST LIKE NOTHING I HAD EVER SEEN.

IT WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN WHEN WE ALL FIRST GOT THERE.

EVEN THOUGH THIS MADE NATIONAL NEWS, THIS FELT LIKE SUCH A SAN DIEGO STORY BECAUSE IT AFFECTED OUR MILITARY.

>> THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN AND OF ITSELF IN A POSITIVE WAY IS LIKE, MAKES YOU WANT TO BREAK DOWN IN TEARS BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH EVERYBODY HAS COME TOGETHER AND ALL THE HELP, IT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

>> EVERYBODY IN THE NEWSROOM BRINGS SOME SORT OF EXPERTISE, SOME FOLKS HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH BREAKING NEWS, SOME PEOPLE COVER TRANSPORTATION, SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE CITY.

IN A STORY LIKE THAT, ALL OF THAT EXPERTISE IS VALUABLE.

TOGETHER, AS A NEWSROOM, RESPONDING TO A BIG EVENT LIKE THAT, COLLECTIVELY WE WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT A LOT OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON.

>> WE SEEN DEVASTATION.

>> THREE MAJOR FIRES ARE STILL BURNING, PACIFIC PALISADES, PASADENA.

>> HOMES DESTROYED.

NEIGHBORHOODS DESTROYED.

>> WE KNEW WITH ZERO RAIN ONE BIG WIND STORM WE WERE TOAST ASK LAST NIGHT IT HAPPENED.

>> SAN DIEGANS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE THROUGH THIS.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY, WHEN THERE IS HUGE FIRES BREAK OUT, ESPECIALLY TO OUR NORTH, OUR NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE JUST COME OUT AND HELP BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND.

>> THE PASADENA HUMANE SOCIETY HAS SEEN HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS COME IN AS RESULT OF FAMILIES LOSING THEIR HOMES TO THE FIRES.

>> LATELY BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING FIRES BREAK OUT YEAR ROUND NOW, AND CAL-FIRES HAS SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, NUMEROUS TIME, IT IS NO LONGER FIRE SEASON IT IS JUST FIRE YEAR ROUND.

>> WHEN A WILDFIRE BREAKS OUT, INFORMATION IS GOLD.

IF I HAVE SEEN ANYTHING HAVE THE SINGLE GREATEST IMPACT ON ENGAGING THE PUBLIC, THIS IS THE TOOL THAT HAS DONE IT.

>> THE ADOPTION OF THE APP, FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY ALONE, THERE ARE OVER HALF A MILLION SUBSCRIBERS.

THIS KID IN HIS EARLY 20s WORKING FROM HIS APARTMENT, MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN'T REALIZE HE IS PROVIDING SUCH A CENTRAL INFORMATION, PROFILING HIM, SEEING HIM DO HIS WORK AND KIND OF STAY COOL AND COLLECTED UNDER PRESSURE, IT WAS FASCINATING.

>> I HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT IT IS JUST WANTING TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE.

I AM SPEAKING OUT TODAY, NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN FAILED BY THE SYSTEM.

>> IT HELPS WHEN SOMEONE FILES A LAWSUIT BECAUSE THAT MAKES US ABLE TO REPORT IT OUT ON THE NEWS.

IF THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T SUSTAIN THE COMPLAINT OR ACT ON IT, IT DISAPPEARS FROM PUBLIC VIEW.

SO THESE LAWSUITS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC, KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF, PLEASE JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.

>> TO SETTLE THE LEGAL CLAIM, THE COUNTY AGREED TO DEVELOP BETTER TRAINING FOR JAIL STAFF AND TO PAY THE SHUCK FAMILY $16 MILLION.

THEIR LAWYERS SAY THAT IS THE MOST THE COUNTY HAS EVER PAID TO AVOID TAKING A WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM TO COURT.

>> WHEN THERE IS A BIG PAYOUT, I AM PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE SURVIVED THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED IN SAN DIEGO JAILS, THEY BELIEVE THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE UNTIL IT COSTS MORE NOT TO CHANGE THAN IT COSTS TO CHANGE.

>> SAN DIEGO'S HIGHEST PAID CITY EMPLOYEES ARE COPS WHO WORK A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OVERTIME, AND THAT IS ACCORDING TO A RECENT INVESTIGATION FROM KPBS.

>> FIRST CAME TO US AS A TIP, ACTUALLY, SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN LOOKING THROUGH CITY RECORDS AND SAID THIS IS PRETTY INTERESTING, YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO IT.

AND WITH ANY TIP LIKE THAT, WE ALWAYS WANT TO VERIFY.

SO, WE DUG INTO CITY RECORDS AND FOUND THAT, YEP, HE WAS RIGHT.

THE HIGHEST PAID CITY EMPLOYEE WAS A CITY POLICE OFFICER, ACTUALLY THE TOP SEVERAL HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEES WERE POLICE OFFICERS.

FROM THAT TIP WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD OUT PRETTY FULL STORY AND LOOK AT, WHAT ARE THE RISKS INVOLVED WHEN OFFICERS WORK THAT MUCH OVERTIME?

AND FINANCIALLY SPEAKING, HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE CITY SPENDING ON OVERTIME?

>> RECORDS SHOW THAT THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SHARED DATA FROM AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER PROGRAM WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MORE THAN 60 TIMES LAST YEAR.

>> AFTER 9/11, THE CULTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SHARE INFORMATION, SHARE, SHARE, SHARE, COORDINATE, COORDINATE, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS THIS CULTURAL SHIFT THAT HAS DISRUPTED THAT TRUST, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD SHARE INFORMATION WITH THOSE AGENCIES, OR NOT THEY CAN BE TRUSTED.

>> OUR SPECIAL AIRS HERE ON KPD THURSDAY 5:00 BUT YOU CAN FIND IT ON STREAMING PLATFORMS, KPBS PLUS AND THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE .

>>> THE NEW YEAR MEANS NEW BEGINNINGS, FOR SOME IT MAY MEAN LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB, WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING TO SWITCH CAREERS OR LAND A NEW ROLE, THE PROCESS CAN BE OVERWHELMING.

JEN SULLIVAN TALKS WITH ONE CAREER EXPERT TO TALK ABOUT WAYS TO STANDOUT.

>> Reporter: BRINGING IN A NEW YEAR MEANS SELF REFLECTION AND SETTING NEW GOALS.

FOR SOME, THAT MAY MEAN LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB, MANY CAREER EXPERTS SAY JANUARY IS A GOOD TIME FOR JOB SEEKERS.

>> IN THE NEW YEAR, YOU OFTEN SEE HIRING OPPORTUNITIES INCREASE OUT IN THE MARKET PLACE.

>> Reporter: DAWN, WITH RECRUITING FIRM, ROBERT HAP, SAYS A NEW YEAR MEANS A NEW ANNUAL BUDGET FOR MOST COMPANIES SO THEY HAVE MORE FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY TO ADD POSITIONS, BUT THIS IS A TOUGH CLIMATE FOR JOB SEEKERS, THE LATEST JOBS REPORT SHOWS 105,000 JOBS WERE LOST IN OCTOBER, AND 64,000 JOBS WERE ADDED IN NOVEMBER.

WHILE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE TO 4.6%, FOUR-YEAR HIGH.

>> THE JOBS ARE THERE, IT IS MORE COMPETITIVE TO FIND THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> Reporter: THEY RECOMMEND BROADENING YOUR JOB SEARCH.

IF YOU WORK IN MARKETING, DON'T JUST APPLY TO OTHER MARKETING FIRMS, LOOK FOR OTHER INDUSTRIES.

>> CERTAINLY THINGS ARE PICKING UP IN THE ENERGY SECTOR BECAUSE THERE IS ALL TALK ABOUT POWER AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO POWER DATA CENTERS TO KEEP THE AI WORK RUNNING.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS TAILOR YOUR RESUME AND COVER LATER TO EACH JOB YOU APPLY FOR.

SHE SAYS AI CAN BE A USEFUL TOOL TO HELP YOU SAVE TIME.

USE THE JOB DESCRIPTION TO HELP YOU COME UP WITH A ROUGH DRAFT.

>> YOU MIGHT, AGAIN, WANT TO TWEAK IT TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR SKILLS AND THE RESULTS THAT YOU HAVE HAD FROM THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE THAT COULD BE REALLY PARTICULAR TO THAT ROLE THAT YOU APPLYING TO.

>> Reporter: DON'T JUST APPLY THROUGH THE COMPANY'S WEBSITE, TRY AND TRACK DOWN THE HIRING MANAGER AND E-MAIL THEM DIRECTLY AS WELL.

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED CONSIDER CONTRACT OR TEMPERATUREERARY WORK, TAKE A CLASS TO DEVELOP NEW SKILLS, OR EVEN VOLUNTEER.

FAY SAYS THAT HELPS EXPLAIN RESUME GAPS.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I AM JEN SULLIVAN.

>>> ROBERT HAF HAS OFFICES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND LAUNCH ADJOB SEARCH STRATEGY GUIDE WITH TIPS ON INDUSTRIES THAT ARE HIRING AND THE BALLPARK SALARIES FOR VARIOUS JOBS.

>>> IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF THE BUSIEST TRAVEL STRETCHES OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, A POWERFUL RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING WINTER STORM IS SWEEPING CROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN U.S.

LEE WALDMAN HAS THE LATEST ON THE STORM'S IMPACT.

>> VAST WIDE-RANGING STORM IS BRINGING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AND EXTREME TEMPERATURE DROPS TO MILLIONS ACROSS THE U.S.

WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE EXPECTING TO HIT THE ROAD FOR THE END OF YEAR TRIPS, THE STORM IS ADDING TO AN ALREADY CHALLENGING TRAVEL PERIOD.

>> WE TRYING TO BEAT IT.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING THROUGH THAT.

>> DRIVE SLOWER, PAY ATTENTION WHEN THERE IS A BRIDGE COMING.

SLOW DOWN.

BECAUSE THOSE MAY GET ICY.

>> TRUST IT WILL ALL BE GOOD, IF IT IS NOT, YOU PULL OVER.

>> Reporter: LONG STRETCHES OF INTERSTATE 35 IOWA TO THE MINNESOTA BORDER HAVE BEEN CLOSED OR DEEMED UNSAFE.

DOZENS OF CRASHES REPORTED IN IOWA SUNDAY, INCLUDING 14-VEHICLE CRASH I-35 ACCORDING TO IOWA STRAIGHT PATROL.

>> THINK WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE WITH YOU IF YOU WERE GOING TO UNEXPECTEDLY SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE CAR.

>> Reporter: AS OF LATE MONDAY MORNING 330,000 CUSTOMERS ARE WITHOUT POWER, MOST IN MICHIGAN, ACCORDING TO POWEROUTAGE.US.

FLIGHTS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THE WEATHER.

THOUSANDS WERE DELAYED OR CANCELED SUNDAY, INCLUDING DISRUPTIONS AT CHICAGO'S O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHERE THUNDERSTORMS PROMPTED A TEMPORARY GROUND STOP.

THE STORM'S COLD FRONT ALSO SPARKED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY, BRINGING DAMAGING WINDS AND A FEW TORNADOS REPORTED IN PARTS OF ILLINOIS.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE STILL HAVE WIND OUT THERE BUT WE ARE DRY, FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT IN A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WE WILL HAVE RAIN RETURN.

SHOWERS WILL BE ROLLING BACK IN NEW YEAR'S EVE AND NEW YEAR'S DAY.

SO, VERY SIMILAR TO CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS DAY, WE HAVE WET HOLIDAY AHEAD OF US ONE WEEK TO THE DAY AFTER THE RECENT ROUND OF SIGNIFICANT RAIN.

WE STAYING WINDY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING, RAIN COMES BACK WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY.

TONIGHT, PARTLY CLOUDY, WE WILL GET DOWN TO 60 DEGREES FOR OVERNIGHT LOW.

WITH THE OFFSHORE BREEZE, IT STILL WINDY, BUT DRIER.

THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY.

WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIE OFF AFTER 1:00 P.M.

OR SO.

WIND ADVISORY CONTINUING INLAND PORTIONS OF BOTH ORANGE AND SAN DIEGO COUNTIES, NOT INCLUDING THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, BUT CERTAINLY IS WITH US FOR THE INLAND AREAS AND WE ARE A LITTLE WARMER ACROSS THE INTERIOR.

BREEZY, BUT DRY FOR TUESDAY, TEMPERATURES RISING ALL THE WAY TO 75 IN SAN DIEGO, 72, RAMONA.

MT.

LAGUNA 49.

EL CAJON LIKELY THE WARMEST AMONG THE CITIES HERE ON HAD MAP TUESDAY AFTERNOON .

THEN THINGS TURN WETTER, WE HAVE SHOWERS RETURNING, HAVING FINAL HOURS OF 2025.

NEW YEAR'S EVE, HERE COMES SHOWERS ACROSS THE COASTAL PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

THURSDAY, A SOGGY START TO 2026, HARD TO BELIEVE IT WILL BE HERE.

STEADY RAIN FOR SEVERAL HOURS INTO THE NEW YEAR.

ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, WITH VERY WET WEATHER OUT THERE.

WE ARE LOOKING AROUND AN INCH PLUS IN SAN DIEGO.

IF YOU HEAD FURTHER EAST, HALF INCH TO AN INCH.

SAN DIEGO, ONE TO TWO INCHES LIKELY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, JUST IN TIME FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY.

YOU CAN SEE THIS PLAY OUT HERE, TUESDAY, THE OFFSHORE WIND BEGINS TO DROP OFF, AND WE WILL SEE MORE CLOUDS, MORE MOISTURE, AND WEDNESDAY WE GET WET.

WIDESPREAD SHOWERS, SOAKING RAIN FOR A TIME WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, AND MORE OF THAT FOR THURSDAY AS WELL.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM ROLLS IN FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT.

LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL BE A CONCERN, ESPECIALLY TO OUR NORTH, BUT IT WILL BE WET HERE AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

LETS TAKE A LOOK WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OUR SPECIFICS, COASTAL FORECAST, YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST ROUND ROLLS IN WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY, MORE SHOWERS FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY, PERSISTENTLY WET TIME.

TEMPERATURES CERTAINLY COOLING DOWN AFTER THAT PLEASANT WARM TUESDAY.

ENJOY TUESDAY, THE ONLY REAL NICE DAY THIS WEEK MOVING FORWARD.

INLAND, PARTLY SUNNY, WARMTUSE DACHLT RAIN, SHOWERS, OFF AND ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY, THE SECOND OF 2026, SECOND DAY OF JANUARY.

SATURDAY LOOKS DRIER.

MOUNTAINS, WE HAVE CUMULUS AND SHOWERS BUILDING IN, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

WE WILL HAVE LOW CLOUDS LINGERRING FOR FRIDAY.

IN THE DESERT THE WETTEST DAY WILL BE NEW YEAR'S DAY ON THURSDAY.

TEMPERATURES STAYING IN THE 60s MOST DAYS.

>>> PLANES LANDING ON TOP OF CARS, PANTSLESS COPS, AND SHARK THREESOMES?

JEREMY ROTH TAKES A LOOK BACK AT THE WEIRDEST, WILDEST, AND WACKIEST WHATNOT THAT MADE HEADLINES IN 2025.

>> PREPARE YE FOR THE END IS NY.

THE END OF THE YEAR.

SORRY IF THAT STARTED OMINOUS.

IT WAS THE YE, WASN'T IT?

2025 WAS SO UNFORGETTABLE, SO UNIMAGINABLE, SO UNBELIEVABLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW 2026 IS GOING TO POSSIBLY TOP IT.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME?

HOW SOON YE FORGET.

LETS TAKE A LOOK AT 2025.

WHERE BETTER TO START THAN WILD WHAT NOT ON THE WATER, SURREAL BUT TOO REAL MOMENT IN ICY CHILEAN WATER WHEN A FATHER WITNESSED HIS KAYAKING SON SWALLOWED AND THEN SPAT OUT BY A HUMP BACK WHALE.

THE MOMENT ENDED WITH 24-YEAR-OLD RESURFACING NO WORSE FOR WEAR AND LATER SAYING IT WAS HIS LIFE VEST THAT PULLED HIM BACK FROM THE DEATHS.

UNLIKELY TRAVELING DUO IN NEW ZEALAND, RESEARCHERS RELEASED VIDEO OF OCTOPUS HITCHING A RIDE ON THE BACKF A SHARK.

MARINE SCIENTISTS SAID IT ULTRARARE RIDE SHARE WAS ONE OF THE STRANGEST THINGS THEY HAD SEEN AND NAMED IT SHARK-TO-PUS.

THE SHARK THREESOME, A NEVER BEFORE SEEN MATING ENCOUNTER WITH A TRIO OF LEOPARD SHARKS, PUBLISHED STUDY SAID ONLY COURTSHIP HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED, NEVER GROUP ACTIVITIES, AND IT NOTED WHEN ALL OVER THE FEMALE LEFT AND THE TWO MALES LAID MOTIONLESS ON THE SEA FLOOR APPEAR EXHAUSTED.

THERE WERE PLENTY OF CLOSE CALLS LIKE A SPEEDING VEHICLE THAT BARELY MISSED A MAN WHEN IT LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE AT A NEBRASKA GAS STATION.

THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THE INSANE DODGE MORE INSANE WAS IF THE CAR HAD BEEN A DODGE.

BUT ALAS IT WAS A NISSAN.

SO CLOSE.

ANOTHER CRAZY TOUCHDOWN HAPPENED IN FLORIDA WHEN A SMALL PLANE MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING CRASHED DOWN ON TOP OF A CAR TRAVELING ALONG I-95.

AMAZINGLY AMONG THE AIRCRAFT'S TWO OCCUPANTS AND THE CAR'S LONE DRIVER, ONLY MINOR INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

AND IN NEW YORK, AN INEXPERIENCED TEEN DRIVER LEARNED A LESSON IN GRAVITY THE HARD WAY, WHEN THEY ACCELERATED TOO HARD AND NEARLY PLUNGED THEIR SUV INTO THE LONG ISLAND SOUND, BUT, INSTEAD, STUCK A VERY LUCKY LANDING ON A LOWER PIER, THERE WAS COOKIE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF LIKE THIS ARTSY FARTSY FAUX PAS AT AN ITALIAN MUSEUM, A PAIR OF TOURISTS IN FRONT OF CRYSTAL INCRUSTED CHAIR ACCIDENTALLY CRUSHED THE DELICATE WORK AND FLED THE SCENE.

THANKFULLY RESTOREERS WERE ABLE TO FIX THE PIECE, RETURNING IT TO ITS GLITTERING FORMER GLORY.

A GRUB HUB DRIVER ARRESTED IN ARIZONA FOR SPEEDING AND RECKLESS DRIVING LANDED IN THE HOT SEAT BUT HIS HOT FOOD ORDER STILL MADE IT TO ITS DESTINATION.

THANKS TO A PAIR OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO TOOK IT UPON THEM SELVES TO DELIVER THE PIZZA AND THE NEWS TO THE HUNGRY CUSTOMER.

AS ALWAYS, THERE WERE LOADS OF WILD ANIMAL STORIES, LIKE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS CAPTURING A COOL AS CUCUMBER CALIFORNIA CAMPER KEEPING HIS COMPOSURE AS WILD MOUNTAIN LION SPRAWLED BY, INCHES AWAY A WILD BEAR BREAKING INTO A ZOO TO MINGING THROUGH A FENCE WITH CAPTIVE BEAR BRETHREN, AND GOOFY GOAT'S BIG MUG CATAPULTING A ZOO INFAMY, THE GO-TEAM MEME FOR WHAT YOU HOPE YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE WHEN THE FLASH GOES OFF.

THERE WAS ALSO-- >> HOLY [ BLEEP ].

>> ONE LIGHTNING BOLT LEAVING DRIVERS SHOCKED IN CANADA, TWO EXPLOSIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, A BALLERINA STRIKING A COOL AS ICE VIRAL POSE UNDER ARCTIC SHIP, A SUSPECT SOUGHT FOR STEALING, GOLDEN OPTION, AND COP WITH PANTS DOWN-- >> YOU GOT PANTS ON, COP?

OFFICER?

>> ON A VIRTUAL COURTROOM CALL.

>> NO, SIR.

>> WHOOPS.

MY FAVORITE WAS TRIFECTA OF SUBSTANCE ABUSING RACCOON STORIES, ONE RACCOON GOT DRUNK ON DISTILLERY GARBAGE HAD TO BE REVIVED WITH CPR, ANOTHER FOUND BY OHIO POLICE IN A VEHICLE HOLDING A METHPIPE, AND YET ANOTHER BROKE INTO A VIRGINIA LIQUOR STORE, GOT SAUCED, AND PASSED OUT NEXT TO THE TOILET.

NO TIME LIKE THE NEW YEAR FOR THESE DUMPSTER DIVING DEGENERATES TO EXAMINE THEIR QUESTIONABLE LIFE CHOICES AND MAKE A FRESH START.

FOR TAKE A LOOK AT 2025, I AM JEREMY ROTH.

>> HMM.

EARLIER IN THE NEWSCAST, WE SAID A CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM BY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO STARTED TODAY.

PROGRAM ACTUALLY BEGAN FRIDAY, BUT A MEDIA CONFERENCE WAS HELD THIS MORNING.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE ERROR.

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

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, EVERYBODY, I AM JOHN CAROL, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... AND BY... AND BY THE FOLLOWING... AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.