>>> 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.

>> Reporter: ONE OF SEVERAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THE HEALTH VACCINATION BEING.

TWO DAYS STOP WAS AT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

EL GATO ESTIMATE SHE HAS PERSONALLY GIVEN 1000 SHOTS SINCE SEPTEMBER AND IT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN EASY.

>> I GOT ACCUSED ONCE I WAS INJECTING POISON INTO SOMEBODY AND THAT DID NOT AFFECT ME AT ALL BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TOO VACCINE AND THE 19 IS KILLING EVERYDAY.

>> Reporter: A 16-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT HER PARENTS CONTINUED TO DEMAND A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO THE VACCINE.

AN APPEALS COURT DENIED THE LEGAL DEMAND TO STOP SAN DIEGO UNIFIED FROM REQUIRING ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY THE START OF THE SPRING SEMESTER IN LATE JANUARY.

THE STUDENTS ATTORNEY PAUL JOHN SAID TODAY WE WILL SEEK EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WE ARE COMPETENT THAT A MAJORITY OF JUSTICES WILL CONCLUDE THAT THE DISTRICT VACCINE MANDATE VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

EVEN WITH ALL OF THE LEGAL ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE DISTRICT MANDATE, THE UEC ST HEALTH VACCINATION BAN KEEPS ROLLING ON.

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE COMING IN THE FORM OF POP-UP CLINICS.

SHARP HEALTHCARE IS SETTING UP THOSE CLINICS ON OTHER DISTRICT CAMPUSES TOO OFFERING OLD COVID- 19 VACCINES FOR ADULT AND CHILDREN'S DOSES TO STUDENTS FIVE AND UP.

MICHELLE JENSEN AND JACOB JESSICA PITTS SUBVERT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY TOOK A BREAK TO GET THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS TODAY SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR STUDENTS .

>> SOME ARE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE.

THEY ALSO AGREE THEY NEED THAT AND THEY WANT THAT.

>> I PUT MY STUDENTS FIRST EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IF THAT REQUIRES ME BEING SAFE VACCINATED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION, I WILL DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

>> Reporter: DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 1800 PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN SHOTS ABOARD THE VACCINE BAN AS OF NEXT WEEK.

M.G.

PEREZ, KPBS NEWS .

>>> COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY SAW AN INCREASE IN COVID- 19 CASES OVER THANKSGIVING AND WITH THE EMERGENCE OF ANY VARIANCE.

THERE IS WORRY ABOUT ANOTHER WINTER SURGE.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN SAYS THERE IS A SILVER LINING.

>> Reporter: OMICRON IS OUT THERE, THE MORE CONTAGIOUS COVID-19 VARIANT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES AND OFFICIALS ARE ON THE LOOKOUT IN SAN DIEGO.. >> IT IS A MATTER OF DAYS OR WEEKS THAT WE WILL HAVE CASES, BUT THE QUESTION IN MY VIEW IS WILL THIS OMICRON TAKE HOLD OF DELTA?

>> Reporter: DR. FRANCESCA IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH PICTURES AS WELL OMICRON APPEARS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN THE DELTA, SOME DATA SHOWS INFECTION IS NOT AS SEVERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THE CURRENT VACCINES WILL WORK.

>> WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE INFORMATION TO COME BACK.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT IN THE VARIANT OF CONCERN IS HERE, ESPECIALLY AS MILLIONS OF VACCINATED STILL.

>> THIS VIRUS IS ABLE TO REPLICATE AND TRANSMIT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO HAVE IMMUNITY, SO BY VACCINATION , THERE IS NO SWEET WAY OF TALKING OURSELVES OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT VACCINATION.

>> Reporter: HOSPITALS ARE PREPARING FOR A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN CASES, WHETHER FROM OMICRON OR HOLIDAY GATHERINGS .

LAST WINTER, HOSPITALS REACHED THEIR BREAKING POINT, BUT WE HAVE VACCINES AND EARLY TREATMENTS FOR THOSE INFECTED.

>> THE SILVER LINING HERE IS THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE INFORMATION THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A YEAR AGO.

>> Reporter: WE KNOW COVID-19 SPREADS EASILY WITH POOR VENTILATION INDOORS AND DR. FRANCESCA SAID PEOPLE NEED TO TRAVEL AND CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WE JUST HAVE TO ADAPT, NOT TRAVELING IF YOU ARE SICK, THAT INCLUDES TESTING.

>> Reporter: SHE ADDS OUTBREAKS ARE HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS AND ENCOURAGING EVERYONE, INCLUDING KIDS, TOO VACCINATED IF THEY HAVE NOT.

>> LIKE EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, NOW WE ARE FINDING THAT CHILDREN ARE TRANSMITTING TO THEIR PARENTS.

>> Reporter: CDC DATA SHOWS ABOUT HALF OF AMERICANS AGES 65 AND OLDER HAVE SO FAR GOTTEN THEIR BOOSTER DOSES.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS .

>>> SAN DIEGO STATE FOOTBALL TEAM HAD HIGH HOPES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT AS KPBS'S KITTY ALVARADO REPORTS , THOSE HOPES WERE DASHED WHEN MORE THAN A DOZEN PLAYERS HAD TO SIT OUT A GAME.

>> WELCOME TO THE 2021 MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON FOX FROM CARSON, CALIFORNIA, IT IS THE 11 ONE IN 19th SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS.

>> Reporter: THE AZTECS WERE READY, HYPED UP AND HAD THE RECORD OVER UTAH STATE GOING INTO SATURDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

ALL OF THE SIGNS POINTED TO VICTORY.

>> EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED AND EXCITED TO POTENTIALLY WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> Reporter: FANS SHOWED UP BIG TIME.

MANY LIKE MARTINA EVEN MAYBE TWO OUR ROAD TRIP TO CARSON TO SUPPORT THEIR BELOVED AZTECS.. >> GOING INTO THE GAME, THAT WE HAD IT IN THE BAG.

>> Reporter: SOON, HER HOPE TURNED INTO DESPAIR.

>> THINGS KIND OF SNOWBALLING AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO COME BACK FROM THAT.

>> VERY FRUSTRATING.

WE DID NOT DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO TO WIN.

WE MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES.

>> Reporter: THE FINAL SCORE WAS 46-13.

>> WIDE OPEN, MORE COVERAGE THAN A TOUCHDOWN.

>> Reporter: THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO COULD NOT ATTEND PRACTICES OR THE GAME.

SDSU SAYS MY THAN A DOZEN PLAYERS SKIPPED MORE THAN A WEEK OF PRACTICE AND BEGAN BECAUSE OF WHAT THE SCHOOL CALLS MEDICAL CONCERNS.

DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE, COACH BRADY HOKE IMPLIED THEY WERE COVID-19 RELATED.

WE REACHED OUT TO SDSU ATHLETICS AND THE STOOL STUDENT HEALTH CENTER TO CONFIRM WHETHER COVID- 19 WAS INVOLVED AND WHETHER THE PROBLEM EXTENDS BEYOND THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

WE DID NOT HEAR BACK.

AZTECS RADIO BROADCASTERS RICH AND TED WRAPPED IT UP THIS WAY .. >> WE APPRECIATE YOU, TAKE A BOW, GET WILL SOON, AND THAT IS HOW THE SEASON UNFORTUNATELY ENDS WITH A LOST 46-13.

>> IT'S A REALITY OF THE WORLD IN 2021.

>> Reporter: ON THE PLUS SIDE, THE AZTECS A BETTER THE FOR SCOBLE AND WILL PAY THE SAN ANTONIO ROAD RUNNERS ON DECEMBER 21st.

KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS .

>>> THE SDSU STADIUM IN MISSION VALLEY WAS BESTOWED A NAME, PREVIOUSLY-CAMPBELL AFTER ONE YEAR.

THE VOTE WAS SOMETHING OF A HOST OF ISSUES INCLUDING SHORT- TERM HOME RENTALS AND POLICING.

A MOTION TO REELECT HER FIELD IN A 5:4 VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ELECTED DISTRICT 9 COUNCILMAN SEAN ILA RIVER WHO SAID HE WANTS THE CITY COUNCIL TO FULFILL ITS POTENTIAL.

.

>> THAT MEANS BEING A STRONG COUNSEL AND A RESPONSIBLE COUNSEL AND A TRANSPARENT COUNSEL AND A COLLABORATIVE COUNSEL THAT UPHOLDS A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNANCE THAT IS AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE WE AIM TO SERVE.

>> HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR ONE YEAR.

HIS DISTRICT INCLUDES CITY HEIGHTS, KENSINGTON, COLLEGE AREA AND PARTS OF SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO.

>>> PART OF THE RECENTLY ENACTED $1 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SET ASIDE MORE THAN $100 BILLION TO REPAIR AGING HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.

ACCOUNT COMMITTEE REPORT TO ALEXANDRA AND LOOKS AT A BRIDGE THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS NEW LEGISLATION.

>> Reporter: HE IS GLAD TO SEE THE CAMINO DELMAR BRIDGE IS TO BE REPLACED.

>> A A A HIM HIM AND FORCED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR FLEEING VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

>> I THINK IT WILL CREATE CONDITIONS WHERE MORE MIGRANTS CAN BE HARMED BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN PRACTICE IN THE PAST AND THIS HAS LED TO INCREASED ABUSIVE PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES BY MIGRANTS WAITING FOR THEIR ASYLUM CASES TO BE PROCESSED.. >> ADVOCACY GROUPS SAY MY THAN 70,000 MIGRANTS WERE KEPT IN MEXICO WHILE THEIR ASYLUM CLAIMS WERE PROCESSED.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS COMMITTED TO COMPLETING CASES WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

>>> MANY WHO FOUGHT AND DIED ON BEHALF OF THE U.S. DURING 20 YEARS OF WAR IN AFGHANISTAN WORK CONTRACTORS, NOT U.S.

TROOPS.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER STEVE WALSH SAYS IT IS PART OF A CHANGE IN THE WAY AMERICA FIGHTS ITS WARS WITH LASTING CONSEQUENCES.

>> YOU BECOME A LOT LESS CONCERNED WITH YOUR OWN SAFETY THEN YOU DO THE GUYS BEHIND YOU BECAUSE THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIFE IN YOUR HAND.

>> Reporter: ANDY COOTES WAS WORKING AS A DOG HANDLER FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN TEXAS.

IN 2008, HE WAS HIRED BY A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR TO WORK WITH BOMB SNIFFING DOGS IN AFGHANISTAN.

IN LESS THAN A MONTH, ANDY COOTES WAS IN THE FIELD WITH SPECIAL FORCES.

>> OUR ROTATION WAS WE WERE THERE FOR SIX MONTHS AND WE CAME HOME FOR LIKE 23 DAYS AND, AND THEN YOU GO BACK FOR SIX MORE MONTHS.

>> Reporter: AS THE NUMBER OF ROADSIDE BOMBS SKYROCKETED, HE STAYED FOR NEARLY 8 YEARS UNTIL HIS INJURIES PILED UP AND HIS WIFE CONVINCED HIM IT WAS TIME TO COME HOME.

>> WHEN YOU KNOW THERE IS NOBODY OUT THERE SEEING WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND YOU CANNOT GO ANYWHERE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND YOU FEEL VERY ISOLATED AND LONELY.

THAT IS WHY A LOT OF CONTRACTORS COMMIT SUICIDE, BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE NEWS.

>> Reporter: NOAH IS AN ANTHROPOLOGIST WITH BENNINGTON COLLEGE.

HE SPENT TIME IN AFGHANISTAN TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS HIRED BY THE U.S.. >> THE POLITICAL COST OF A CONTRACTOR BEING KILLED IS MUCH LESS.

BUT OFTEN TIMES DOES NOT GET REPORTED.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE HEADLINES AFTER TAX WHERE IT SAYS THREE TROOPS KILLED AND NOT MENTION THE FACT THEY WERE WITH 12 CONTRACTORS AT THE TIME.

>> Reporter: BROWN UNIVERSITY FOUND ABOUT 7000 MILITARY MEMBERS DIED IN ALL POST-9/11 CONFLICTS.

NEARLY 8000 CONTRACTORS DIED.

HE SAYS PRIVATE CONTRACTORS HIDE THE TRUE COST OF WAR.

>> HIRING COMPANIES TO DO THE WORK THAT THE MILITARY DID HISTORICALLY, WHETHER BUILDING THE BASES OR DELIVERING FUEL, THE EFFORT TO BRING FORMER AFGHAN CONTRACTORS TO THE U.S. IS A SMALL PART OF A LARGER ISSUE.

IT IS THE ONE THING EVERY ONE OF THE LAST FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS HAS AGREED UPON ENTIRELY.

IT IS THE ONE CONSTANT IN OUR STRATEGY IN THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.

THAT IS THE RATIO OF CONTRACTORS TO TROOPS HAVE STEADILY INCREASED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> Reporter: NO ONE HAS A COMPLETE LIST OF WHO WAS HIRED, SOMEWHERE AMERICANS AND MANY WERE AFGHANS.

LARGE NUMBER WERE FROM THIRD- PARTY COUNTRIES LIKE NEPAL AND THE PHILIPPINES.

A FEW WERE HIGHLY PAID BUT MOST EARNED A TINY FRACTION OF THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THE U.S.

SPENT IN AFGHANISTAN.

WHEN THEY GOT HURT INSTEAD OF MILITARY DOCTORS AND VA BENEFITS, COMPANIES USED A VERSION OF WORKMEN'S COMP.

KNOWN AS THE DEFENSE BASE ACT.

JEFFREY WINTERS IS AN ATTORNEY IN SAN DIEGO WHO HANDLES THESE CASES.. >> THEY START TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE FLASHBACKS AND THINGS THAT STARTLE THEM.

IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THE FAMILY SAYS YOU EITHER NEED TO SEE SOMEBODY OR WE ARE LEAVING.

IT GETS TO BE THAT BAD.

>> Reporter: THAT CAN DRAG ON FOR YEARS.

DOG HANDLER ANDY COOTES IS BACK IN TEXAS .

HE WAS IN THE NAVY YEARS BEFORE GOING TO AFGHANISTAN, BUT HE IS PAYING FOR HIS OWN PTSD TREATMENT AFTER RECEIVING A SETTLEMENT.

>> I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A CIVILIAN WITH THOSE GUYS, IT IS WHEN YOU GET OUTSIDE OF THAT LITTLE BUBBLE THAT ME OR ANYBODY ELSE IN MY POSITION BECOMES JUST A VAPOR.

THEY KIND OF DISAPPEAR AND DEAL WITH IT YOURSELF.

>> Reporter: NOT AT HOME WITH FELLOW, VETERANS BUT NOT REALLY ABLE TO MOVE ON FROM YEARS OF WAR.

'S DIVORCE, KPBS NEWS .

>>> A RECENT INVESTIGATION BY OUR MEDIA PARTNER I NEW SOURCE RECENTLY TOOK CENTER STAGE ON CAPITOL HILL.

I NEW SOURCE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JILL CASTELLANO HAS THE LATEST.

>> IN AN INVESTIGATION PUBLISHED LAST MONTH, I NEW SOURCE UNCOVERED THE VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS RESTRICTING ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR VETERANS, SO THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT CAN SAVE MONEY.

ON WEDNESDAY, SENATORS ON THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE GATHERED FOR A HEARING ON THE STATE OF THE VA AND THEY TOOK IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE HEAD OF THE VA HIMSELF ABOUT THE REPORTING.

SENATOR MIKE ROUNDS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA SAID HE WORRIED THE VA CARES MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN OFFERING THE BEST TREATMENT OPTIONS TO VETERANS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS GOES BACK TO DOLLARS AND CENTS.

I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THESE EXAMPLES ARE NOT ISOLATED.

>> IN HIS RESPONSE, THE U.S. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, DENNIS McDONOUGH, SAID HIS TEAM HAS DUG DEEP TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

>> WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, INCLUDING WITH THE TEAM IN SAN DIEGO TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

THAT IS WHAT YOU EXPECT US TO DO I WOULD THINK.

WHAT I BELIEVE IS WE ARE GIVING BEST AVAILABLE CARE TO OUR VETERANS.

THAT IS INCLUDING HISTORICALLY HIGH LEVELS OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, THE VA SAID IT HAS MADE SEVERAL CHANGES SINCE THE INVESTIGATION PUBLISHED TO ENSURE VETERANS HAVE ACCESS TO THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED, INCLUDING STARTING AN AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM AT THE SAN DIEGO HOSPITAL.

FOR KPBS, I AM I NEW SOURCE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JILL CASTELLANO .

>>> TO READ THE INVESTIGATION, GO TO INEWSOURCE.ORG.

INEWSOURCE IS AN INDEPENDENTLY FUNDED NONPROFIT PARTNER OF KPBS .

>>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A COOL TREND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS , ANOTHER COOLDOWN ALONG THE WAY LIKELY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS WORK WEEK AND ALONG WITH THAT, WE HAVE SHOWER CHANCES.

ONE COMES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING AND MAINLY FOR SOME OF THE AREAS ALONG THE COAST AND THERE IS A CHANCE FOR MY SHOWERS AS WE GO TOWARD THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK.

AS WE MOVE INTO TONIGHT, TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE LOW 50s IN OCEANSIDE AND UPPER 40s IN EL CAJON, LOW 50s TOWARD BORREGO SPRINGS AND SOME MOISTURE MOVING ONSHORE AS WE GO INTO TUESDAY ACROSS SEVEN PARTS OF CALIFORNIA.

IT WILL BE KIND OF HIT OR MISS HERE, YOU MIGHT GET IN ON WET WEATHER NEAR THE COAST.

FURTHER INLAND, THAT WILL BE VERY SAUDI IN NATURE.

ELSEWHERE, IT WILL BE WARMER ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PARTS OF CALIFORNIA BUT FOR US ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THAT WILL BRING IN COOLER AIR, LOW 60s IN ESCONDIDO AND 60s TOWARD EL CAJON, 63 IN CHULA VISTA, 40s IN MT.

LAGUNA AND BORREGO SPRINGS IN THE LOW 70s FOR THE DAYTIME HIGHS.

ON WEDNESDAY, ANOTHER PLACE OF COOLER AIR MOVING ON IN, BUT THE WARMTH WILL RETURN.

THAT IS THE FOUR CORNERS REGION AND THIS WILL KINDA FLATTEN OUT HERE, AND PERHAPS WE SEE ANOTHER PUSH OF WARMER AIR ACROSS THE INTERIOR SPOTS.

NEAR THE COAST, WE WILL GET A COOLER PUSH OF A THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK WEEK.

MORNING SPRINKLES ARE TUESDAY AND MORE SUNSHINE WEDNESDAY.

WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THURSDAY IS LOW 60s.

FURTHER INLAND, NOT MUCH RAIN ON TUESDAY AND PERHAPS SHOWERS ON THURSDAY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 50s.

GENERALLY LOOKING TO STAY IN THE 60s.

IN THE MOUNTAINS ARE WINDY AND SHOWERS THURSDAY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 40s.

WE FALL INTO THE 30s ON FRIDAY AND WARMING INTO 40s THIS WEEKEND.

IN THE DESERT, TEMPERATURES ARE 70s TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY BACK INTO 60s ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND HEADING INTO SATURDAY.

FOR KPBS , I AM METEOROLOGIST JESSICA PASH .

>>> I AM ON THE DEVICE.

AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RAPIDLY SPREADING OMICRON VERY.

THAT IS AT 7:00 RIGHT AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS .

>>> I AM JOHN DECKER.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, LOCAL NEWS IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY, AND KPBS IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING LOCAL NEWS IN SAN DIEGO IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.

EVENING EDITION, ALONG WITH OTHER SERVICES ON RADIO, DIGITAL AND PODCAST, IS HOW OUR NEWS TEAM DELIVERS THE NEWS TO YOU.

HOW CAN WE DO IT?

WE DO THAT WITH A PASSION FOR ACCURATE STORYTELLING AND A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND JOURNALISM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE DO THAT WITH YOUR SUPPORT, OUR MEMBERS, OUR VIEWERS.

IF YOU HAVE DONATED TO KPBS, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

IF YOU HAD NOT HAD A CHANCE TO DONATE, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THE NEWS WE DELIVER.

PLEASE GO ONLINE AND CHOOSE A LEVEL, PICKING A GIFT THAT KPBS.ORG ARE CALL OR TEXT DONATED 1-800-576-5727 AND THANK YOU .

>>> THE HOLIDAYS ARE WRAPPED IN A SEASON OF GIVING AND DONATIONS AS KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER M.G.

PEREZ SHOWS US , RIGHT NOW, COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE AMONG THOSE IN NEED.

>> Reporter: HUNGER IS ON THE MOVE AMONG CALIFORNIA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS.

THE STATE CONFIRMS HALF OF THEM, 50%, DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY OR RESOURCES TO BUY ENOUGH FOOD.

>> I HAVE SOME MORE MASHED POTATOES.

>> Reporter: 18-YEAR-OLD CJ IS A FRESHMAN AT SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE.

HE MOVED HERE FROM SAN JOSE WITH PLANS TO KEEP PLAYING SOCCER AND BEGIN HIS EDUCATION FOR THE CAREER IN CIVIL ENGINEERING.

JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING, HE JOINED HUNDREDS OF FELLOW STUDENTS LINED UP IN THEIR CARS, AND ONE OF MESA'S PARKING GARAGES.

THIS IS THE THIRD AND WILL PACK THE PANTRY FOOD DRIVE, A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COLLEGE, THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK AND CALIFORNIA COAST CREDIT UNION ESTABLISHED BY TEACHERS IN 1929 TO IMPROVE EDUCATION.

NEVER EXPECTING IN 2021 THAT STUDENTS WILL BE GOING HUNGRY.

>> THAT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THE STUDENTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF DROPPING A CLASS, MISSING CLASS, OR EVEN NOT ACHIEVING THEIR ACADEMIC TO THE POTENTIAL THAT THEY NORMALLY MIGHT.

>> Reporter: CJ IS GRATEFUL TO FILL UP HIS CAR WITH SO MANY CANS AND BOXES.

>> THIS HELPS ME BECAUSE THEN I DON'T HAVE TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING, AND I CAN AFFORD RENT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.

THIS IS A LOT OF FOOD AND IT WILL HELP ME IN THE LONG RUN SO I CAN EAT.

>> Reporter: MESA COLLEGE HOSTED AN EARLY THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR STUDENTS WHO COULD USE AN EXTRA MEAL.

HUNGER INSECURITY IS HAPPENING ON FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, TOO.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA REPORTS 44% OF ITS STUDENTS OFTEN GO HUNGRY,.

THAT I AM CURRENTLY HELMETS.. >> ALEX REPRESENTS ONE OF THE STATISTICS AND HE IS DETERMINED TO TURN THIS INTO HIS SUCCESS STORY.

HE IS AN IMMIGRANT FROM COLUMBIA TRYING TO FIND HOUSING THROUGH THE SAN DIEGO LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER.

AT THE MOMENT, HE USES MESA'S BASIC NEEDS RESOURCE CENTER CALLED THE STAND.

>> I USED TO COME HERE AND SEE WHAT KIND OF SNACKS THEY HAVE.

>> Reporter: JOHANNA IS THE COORDINATOR WHO COMFORTS STUDENTS WHEN THEY NEED THE MOST .. >> THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY WHO CARES OR ANYBODY WHO WILL HELP THEM.

SO, LISTENING TO THE STORIES CAN GET EMOTIONALLY OVERWHELMING , BUT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AND MOST OF THEM LEAVE FEELING AT LEAST THAT THE COLLEGE LOVES THEM.

>> ALL OF YOUR CANNED FOOD GOODS AND ANYTHING FROM CANNED VEGETABLES TO CANNED FRUITS.

>> Reporter: AT CAL STATE SENT MARCUS, THEY PACKED A NEW PANTRY , THE RIBBON WAS JUST CUT ON THE SCHOOL STUDENT COUGAR PANTRY, WHICH IS NOW 1200 SQUARE FEET FILLED WITH FOOD BOTH NONPERISHABLE AND FROZEN.

THERE ARE DIAPERS AND HEIGHTENED PRODUCTS FOR STRUGGLING STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS, ALL PROVIDED BY SEATING SAN DIEGO, THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK AND LOCAL GROCERY STORES HAS ANOTHER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

>> HAVING ACCESS TO A MEAL, OR INGREDIENTS I CAN PUT TOGETHER A MEAL SO YOU ARE NOT STRESSING OVER HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT TO EAT WHILE ON TOP OF WORRYING ABOUT DIFFERENT STRESSORS THAT COME FROM BEING A STUDENT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT AS ALEX MONTES BEGINS AN EDUCATION FOR HIS FUTURE CAREER.

>> PROBABLY HELP DEVELOP OR DEVELOP SOME OF THE NEW GENERATION OF BIONIC ARMS AND LIMBS OVERALL.

THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE.

>> Reporter: FOOD FEET STUDENTS WILL NOURISHING THEIR DREAMS.

M.G.

PEREZ, KPBS NEWS .

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> WILLMAJOR 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.