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

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY AND BY THE FOLLOWING AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

♪ >>> RAINING, WINDY WEATHER CAUSED MORE THAN 150 FLIGHT DELAYS AT THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TODAY, BUT THE STORM ISN'T THE ONLY CAUSE FOR CONCERN AT THE AIRPORT.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> HUNDREDS OF FEDERAL WORKERS IN SAN DIEGO ARE AGAIN WORKING WITHOUT PAY, INCLUDING TSA AGENTS.

A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BEGAN SATURDAY AFTER LAWMAKERS FAILED TO AGREE ON A FUNDING DEAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

KPBS REPORTER ANDREW DYER SAYS THIS IS OVER ONE ISSUE, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

>> Reporter: WHILE TSA AGENTS WORKED NORMALLY, THE CONFLICT BEHIND THE SHUTDOWN IS UNRELATED TO THEIR DAY-TO-DAY WORK.

AFTER TWO FATAL SHOOTINGS BY IMMIGRATION AGENTS LAST MONTH, DEMOCRATS ARE DEMANDING STRICTER OVERSIGHT OVER THE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE OPERATIONS.

THEY'RE REFUSING TO FUND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY UNTIL CHANGES ARE MADE WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.

THEY WANT BODY CAMERAS MADE MANDATORY AND FOR AGENTS TO STOP WEARING MASKS.

REPUBLICANS SAY THE MASKS PROTECT AGENTS, SOME OF WHOM THEY SAY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO DOXXING AND HARASSMENT.

SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR'S SHUTDOWN, MOST TSA AGENTS ARE DEEMED ESSENTIAL AND WILL BE EXPECTED TO SHOW UP TO WORK REGARDLESS OF PAYROLL.

ROBERT MACK REPRESENTS UNION WORKERS WITH THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN SAN DIEGO.

HE SPOKE WITH KPBS MEDIA PARTNER 10 NEWS.

>> WE'RE HERE WORKING OUR HARDEST TO GET OUR JOB DONE TO IN OUR CASE MAKE SURE THE TRAVELING PUBLIC IS SAFE FOR FLIGHTS AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET PAID UNTIL THEY FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> Reporter: ALSO AFFECTED ARE THE SECRET SERVICE, THE COAST GUARD, AND FEMA.

FUNDING FROM THIS SUMMER'S BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS KEEPING IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS GOING BUT NOT DEPARTMENT PAYROLLS.

AT THE AIRPORT THINGS ARE STILL RUNNING AS NORMAL, BUT WITH CONGRESS ON RECESS THE NEXT WEEK AND NEGOTIATIONS AT AN IMPASSE, IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW LONG THIS WILL REMAIN.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE FROZEN DHS FUNDING ISN'T EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AT THE CENTER OF THIS BATTLE IN CONGRESS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT, THE STALLED NEGOTIATIONS, COMING UP.

>>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE HIGH IMPACT WEATHER, NO TWO WAYS ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF STORMS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR QUITE A WHILE, SOAKING, DRENCHING RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW, MOUNT LAGUNA 28 YOUR LOW TONIGHT, SNOW THERE, SOAKING RAIN, NOT A GOOD TIME TO BE OUT AND ABOUT.

OUR RAINFALL FORECAST, THIS WEEK THROUGH THURSDAY 1 TO 2 INCHES IN PROGRESS HERE AT SAN DIEGO, UP INTO L.A.

2 TO 4 INCHES AND THERE ARE AREAS UP INTO THE HIGHER GROUND WITH 4 PLUS INCHES.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS IN A BIT.

>>> AS THOSE STRONG WINTER STORM MOVES THROUGH THE COUNTRY, SOME LOW LYING AREAS COULD SEE SOME FLOODING.

AS KPBS REPORTER ALEXANDER NGUYEN SHOWS US, ONE COMMUNITY SAYS IT'S READY.

>> Reporter: IN THIS ALLEY BY LUCADIA ROADSIDE PARK SANDBAGS ARE READY FOR THE STORM.

THIS FLOODED TWO YEARS AGO CAUSING DAMAGE TO NEARBY HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

THIS TIME ENCINITAS MAYOR BRUCE ELLER SAYS THE CITY IS PREPARED.

>> WE HAVE OUR ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON CALL READY.

>> Reporter: AT VARIOUS SPOTS WHERE WATER COLLECTS HERE, THE CITY HAS SEVERAL OF THESE PUMPS READY TO DIVERT WATER INTO THE DRAINS AND AWAY FROM HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

IN ADDITION, THE CITY ALSO HAS SEVERAL VACUUM TRUCKS ON STANDBY.

>> THEY CAN GO SUCK UP PUDDLES AND NUISANCE WATER OR WATER WHERE IT'S GETTING INTO -- FLOWING INTO PLACES WE DON'T WANT IT TO GO TO ADD TO MORE FLOODING.

>> Reporter: THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR MATTHEW LAWRENCE, THE MANAGER OF THIS RESTAURANT.

>> I KNOW IT FLOODED LAST SUMMER AFTER THE BIG RAINS WE HAD.

OUR UNDERGROUND PARKING HAS NOT FLOODED SINCE THEY'VE BEEN OUT HERE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE CITY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

>> ENCINITAS IS GOING TO PULL IT OFF THIS TIME.

WE'LL FOCUS.

>> Reporter: FLOODING IS OF PARTICULAR URGENCY.

>> WE'RE WORKING ON LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS WHERE WE'VE ALLOCATED $800,000 TO DESIGN A NEW STORM DRAIN ALONG SOUTH VULCAN THAT WILL OFFLOAD A LOT OF THE DOWNSTREAM FLOODING THAT OCCURS HERE ALONG THE ALLEYS NEXT TO THE PARK.

>> Reporter: THE RAIN IS EXPECTED TO LAST OFF AND ON THROUGH THURSDAY, CREATING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE REGION.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AND HERE IS A LOOK AT THE RAIN IN THE COLLEGE AREA EARLIER TODAY.

A FLOOD ADVISORY WAS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 8:00 P.M.

THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO CREWS WORKED OVER THE WEEKEND TO LIMIT THE FLOODING RISK IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

>> WE'VE HAD CREWS OUT THERE IN THOSE AREAS CLEANING THE DRAINS SO THERE'S NOT ACCUMULATION, THAT THE WATER CAN KEEP FLOWING ONCE IT DOES START RAINING.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN THAT SOUTH SAN DIEGO AREA ALONG THE CHO LLAS CREEK.

>> THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.

>>> ONE OF THE THREE ENERGY COMPANIES WITH PLANS TO EXTRACT LITHIUM FROM DEEP BENEATH THE SULTAN SEA IS SHIFTING ITS FOCUS TO GENERATING POWER FOR A.I.

DATA CENTERS.

KPBS REPORTER KORI SUZUKI SAYS IT'S A SIGN OF THE CHALLENGES THAT IMPERIAL COUNTY'S EMERGING LITHIUM INDUSTRY IS FACING.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE ENERGY COMPANIES THAT'S BEEN RACING TO EXTRACT LITHIUM IN IMPERIAL VALLEY IS CHANGING COURSE TO FOCUS ON GENERATING POWER FOR A.I.

DATA CENTERS.

I'VE BEEN COVERING THIS PART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

AFTER READING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, I WAS LEFT WITH SOME QUESTIONS.

WHERE DID IT DECISION COME FROM AND WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE STATE OF THE BIG ENERGY RUSH AROUND THE SULTAN SEA.

FOR YEARS NOW CTR HAS BEEN ONE OF THE THREE MAJOR ENERGY FIRMS TRYING TO SET UP AN OPERATION TO EXTRACT LITHIUM FROM DEEP UNDERNEATH THE SULTAN SEA.

LITHIUM IS A KEY COMPONENT OF ELECTRIC CARS AND OTHER BATTERY TECHNOLOGY.

MANY HAVE HOPES THIS EMERGING INDUSTRY COULD BRING A RUSH OF GOOD JOBS AND PROSPERITY TO THE REGION, ESPECIALLY FOR A COUNTY WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN CALIFORNIA.

NOW CPR SAYS THEY'RE SHIFTING FOCUS TO PRODUCING ENERGY FOR LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTERS WHICH POWER A.I.

PROGRAMS LIKE CHATGPT BY RAMPING UP THEIR PLANS FOR GEOTHERMAL POWER WHICH USES NATURALLY OCCURRING UNDERGROUND HEAT TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY.

THEY SAID THEY EVENTUALLY WANT TO OFFER 600 MEGAWATTS, ENOUGH TO POWER AROUND 500,000 HOMES IN THE U.S.

>> IT'S JUST A MASSIVE DEMAND FOR POWER.

SO WE'D BE CRAZY NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO TIME AND TIMING.

>> Reporter: THIS IS ACTUALLY A SMALLER CHANGE THAN IT SOUNDS LIKE.

ENERGY PRODUCTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE PLAN FOR CTR BECAUSE THEY NEED GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY TO GET TO THOSE UNDERGROUND LITHIUM RESERVES, BUT THIS NEW FOCUS ON POWERING DATA CENTERS IS ONE OF THE CLEAREST INDICATORS YET OF THE CHALLENGES THAT IMPERIAL COUNTY'S EMERGING LITHIUM INDUSTRY IS FACING AS IT STRUGGLES TO GET OFF THE GROUND.

>> THE LITHIUM MARKET IS NOT AS PROMISING AS IT WAS THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> Reporter: CHRIS BENNER IS A PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SOCIOLOGY AT UC SANTA CRUZ.

HE SAYS ONE BIG REASON FOR THIS IS THAT REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ENDED A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES LAST YEAR WHICH HAD BEEN BOOSTING SALES AND DEMAND FOR BATTERIES.

BENNER SAYS OTHER STATES LIKE NEVADA AND ARKANSAS HAVE MOVED MORE QUICKLY THAN CALIFORNIA TO RAMP UP THEIR OWN LITHIUM PRODUCTION EFFORTS.

CTR IS ALSO FACING AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUIT OVER ITS LITHIUM OPERATION.

>> I THINK CTR IN REALIZING THE CHANGES IN THE LITHIUM MARKET AND SEEING THIS GROWING MARKET IN ELECTRICITY DEMAND IS REALIZING MAYBE WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE A BIT MORE WHAT'S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH IS ENERGY PRODUCTION.

>> Reporter: NOW CTR'S PLAN TO FOCUS ON ENERGY FOR DATA CENTERS IS RAISING CONCERNS FOR SOME ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.

THE IMPERIAL VALLEY EQUITY AND JUSTICE COALITION, SHE SAYS DATA CENTERS WON'T BRING THE SAME KINDS OF JOBS AND PROSPERITY.

>> THIS ENERGY COMPLEX OPENS THE DOOR TO MORE DATA CENTERS IN LITHIUM VALLEY.

THESE ARE NOT THE LONG TERM HIGH ROAD JOBS PROMISED.

>> Reporter: CTR SAYS THEY STILL PLAN TO CONTINUE BUILDING THEIR LITHIUM OPERATIONS, TOO.

>> NOTHING IS CHANGING.

ALL WE'VE DONE IS SEPARATE POWER FROM CRITICAL MINERALS.

>> Reporter: BENNER THINKS THE LITHIUM INDUSTRY COULD STILL BRING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPERIAL COUNTY, BUT HE SAYS THAT WILL TAKE A SUSTAINED FOCUS OF BUILDING OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN LIKE MANUFACTURING.

>> AND THAT'S POSSIBLE, BUT IT REQUIRES PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE REGION WITH A LONG-TERM TIME FRAME, NOT SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK.

>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW IT'S HARD TO SAY WHERE POWERING DATA CENTERS FALLS ON THAT LIST.

>>> TONIGHT ON "THE NEWS HOUR," EUROPEAN LEADERS RESPOND TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S LATEST MESSAGING ON THE STRAINED ALLIANCE.

THAT'S COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> CONGRESS IS OUT OF TOWN AND A DEADLOCK OVER FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CONTINUES WITH LITTLE PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS.

FUNDING LAPSED OVER THE WEEKEND AS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DEBATE IMMIGRATION REFORMS.

KARIN CAIFA HAS THE LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.

>> Reporter: BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN SAID FROZEN FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WON'T IMPACT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS.

>> THE IMMIGRATION MISSION, THE REASON WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED TO BE PRESIDENT, CONTINUES.

>> Reporter: SENATE DEMOCRATS WITHHELD SUPPORT OF A FUNDING PACKAGE IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF ALEX PRETTI AND RENEE GOOD BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS LAST MONTH.

>> WE HAVE A ROGUE AGENCY.

WHY DON'T WE REIN THEM IN?

THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ASKING REPUBLICANS.

>> Reporter: DEMOCRATS WANT REFORMS, INCLUDING TIGHTER PARAMETERS AROUND SEARCH AND ARREST WARRANTS AND REQUIRING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTS TO WEAR BODY CAMERAS AND REMOVE MASKS.

>> THEY ARE SMASHING IN WINDOWS, DRAGGING PEOPLE OUT OF CARS, BREAKING INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES WITHOUT WARRANTS.

WE NEED PROTECTION AGAINST THAT.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICANS NOTE I.C.E.

IS ALREADY FUNDED VIA LAST SUMMER'S SO-CALLED BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL AND OTHER DHS AGENCIES WILL FEEL THE SHUTDOWN'S BRUNT.

>> THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN DHS TO PROVE A POINT, I THINK IT'S POLITICAL THEATER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE HOMAN SAID HE'S BOOSTED INTERNAL AFFAIRS PERSONNEL IN MINNESOTA TO INVESTIGATE MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AMONG IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

>> I SAID I WAS BRINGING AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICE TO REVIEW THE ALLEGATIONS AND THOSE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED.

>> Reporter: MOST DHS PERSONNEL ARE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL, MEANING THEY'RE ON THE JOB BUT WITHOUT PAY UNTIL A FUNDING AGREEMENT IS REACHED.

IN WASHINGTON, KARIN CAIFA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ENROLLMENT IS GOING DOWN AT SCHOOLS ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY AS WE'VE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, BUT FOR THIS WEEK'S WHY IT MATTERS SEGMENT VOICE OF SAN DIEGO SCOTT LEWIS EXPLAINS HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN TO FIND OUT HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN SAN DIEGO'S LARGEST DISTRICT.

♪ >> WE REQUESTED DEMOGRAPHIC REPORTS FROM SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT MAY SHED LIGHT ON HOW MANY KIDS EACH SCHOOL HAD VERSUS HOW MANY IT COULD FIT.

DISTRICT OFFICIALS DENIED THEY HAD ANY ANALYSIS LIKE THAT AND EVEN THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT WAS GETTING NOWHERE WHEN SHE ASKED HER OWN STAFF FOR THAT DATA.

FINALLY OUR REPORTER OBTAINED A REPORT FROM THE 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR AND IT'S A BIT ALARMING.

THE DISTRICT MAY BE "UNDERUTILIZING" 47% OF ITS SCHOOLS.

ABOUT 16% OF SCHOOLS, A TOTAL OF 27 SCHOOLS, ARE LESS THAN HALF FULL.

SOME HAVE ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THE STUDENTS THEY HAVE CAPACITY TO SERVE.

HERE ARE THE FIVE SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST CAPACITY THAT ISN'T BEING USED, MONTGOMERY ELEMENTARY, KIMBER ELEMENTARY, LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY, ENCANTO ELEMENTARY, RODRIGUEZ ELEMENTARY.

THE AVERAGE ENROLLMENT DECLINE OF THOSE SCHOOLS OF 28% OVER TEN YEARS.

THESE ARE SCARY NUMBERS BECAUSE THEY POINT TO VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN COMING YEARS.

FEW DISCUSSIONS ARE MORE CONTROVERSIAL FOR A COMMUNITY THAN THE ONES ABOUT CLOSING SCHOOLS, BUT AT THIS RATE THEY MAY BECOME UNAVOIDABLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS MAY BE THE LAST REPORT OF ITS KIND THAT WE GET.

THE DISTRICT NO LONGER HAS A FULL-TIME DEMOGRAPHER ON STAFF WHO CAN MAP AND PROJECT CHANGES TO POPULATIONS.

OTHER LAYOFFS HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND THIS KIND OF DATA EVEN FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO TOLD US SHE'S BEEN ASKING FOR IT WITH NO RESPONSE.

THOSE CUTS CAME FROM MAJOR BUDGET DEFICITS THE DISTRICT HAS HAD TO CLOSE AND THOSE DEFICITS ARE FUELED IN PART BY DECLINES IN ENROLLMENT.

FOR VOICE OF SAN DIEGO, I'M SCOTT LEWIS AND THAT'S WHY IT MATTERS.

>> VOICES OF SAN DIEGO'S ONE OF OUR PARTNERS FOR THE PUBLIC MATTERS INITIATIVE.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT KPBS.ORG/PUBLICMATTERS.

>>> THERE'S A GROWING TREND IN SAN DIEGO WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

MORE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO CONVERT HOTELS INTO APARTMENTS.

THE CONCEPT ISN'T NEW.

IT'S SOMETHING STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN DOING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING, BUT THEIR EFFORTS ARE SUBSIDIZED THROUGH GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

MEANWHILE COMPANIES LIKE AMBIENT COMMUNITIES ARE OFFERING AFFORDABLE HOMES BY FIXING UP OLD HOTELS AND ADDING UNIQUE AMENITIES.

>> YOUR FIRST JOB, THIS IS JUST A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO LIVE IN AND FOR ME, THE ONLY WAY WE COULD AFFORD IT WAS WE PUT A BUNCH OF KIDS IN A SINGLE- FAMILY HOME AND DID IT THAT WAY.

THIS IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE TO THAT.

THE REALITY OF THESE UNITS IS THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS RELATIVELY SMALL.

WE WANTED TO CREATE LARGER SPACES FOR PEOPLE THAT SPEND TIME TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ROOM IN THE ACTUAL CELLS FOR PEOPLE TO HOST LARGER GATHERINGS.

>> ACCORDING TO RENTCAFE.COM RENTALS IN POINT LOMA FALL BETWEEN 2,500 TO $3,000 A MONTH, BUT UNITS IN THE AMBIENT COMPLEX START IN THE LOW 2,000s RANGE.

>>> 2026 IS OFF TO A STRONG START FOR JOB CREATION, BUT MANY EMPLOYERS SAY IT'S TAKING LONGER TO FILL POSITIONS.

JEN SULLIVAN EXPLAINS WHY MANY ONLINE TOOLS SOME USE TO SPEED UP THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN HIRING FOR EMPLOYERS.

>> Reporter: FINDING A NEW JOB CAN OFTEN FEEL LIKE A FULL-TIME JOB BECAUSE OF HOW LONG IT CAN TAKE TO GET HIRED.

>> THE JOB PROCESS IS ALWAYS A FRUSTRATING ONE.

>> Reporter: DAWN FAY WITH RECRUITING FROM ROBERT HALF SAY THE GOOD NEWS IS MANY COMPANIES SAY THEY'RE HIRING.

THEY RECENTLY CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MORE THAN 2,000 U.S.

HIRING MANAGERS.

60% SAID THEY PLAN TO ADD PERMANENT STAFF.

IN THE LATEST JOBS REPORT RELEASED LAST WEEK IT BEAT EXPECTATIONS WITH 130,000 JOBS ADDED IN JANUARY AND UNEMPLOYMENT TICKING DOWN TO 4.3%, BUT FAY SAYS IT'S TAKING COMPANIES LONGER TO FILL OPENINGS AND ONE OF THE REASONS, APPLICANTS ARE INCREASINGLY DEPENDING ON A.I.

TO CRAFT RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY RESUMES THAT ARE COMING IN NOW, MANY OF THEM LOOKING VERY SIMILAR, THAT IT'S TAKING COMPANIES LONGER TO GO THROUGH THEM AND LONGER TO VET THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY HAVE THE SKILLS THAT ARE ON THEIR RESUME.

>> Reporter: IN THAT SAME SURVEY ABOUT HIRING, 65% OF HIRING MANAGERS SAID A.I.- GENERATED RESUMES ARE MAKING IT HARDER TO ASSESS REAL SKILLS.

>> THEY CAN CERTAINLY HELP PEOPLE MAKE SENTENCES AND THINGS A LOT CRISPER, BUT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT RESUME REALLY REFLECTS YOU.

>> Reporter: DID YOU DELIVER A PROJECT ON TIME, MANAGE A BUDGET, LAUNCH A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN?

FAY SAYS THOSE ARE ALL EXAMPLES THAT SHOULD BE FLUSHED OUT QUANTITATIVELY IN A COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO HELP YOU STAND OUT.

SHE ALSO RECOMMENDS APPLICANTS REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO HIRING MANAGERS IN ADDITION TO FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION.

IF YOU DO LAND AN INTERVIEW, SHE RECOMMENDS ASKING WHAT THE COMPANY'S TIMELINE IS TO FILL THE POSITION SO YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR TIMING.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I'M JEN SULLIVAN.

>>> THE WINE WORLD IS GOING THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH.

SALES ARE DOWN AND THAT'S HAVING A RIPPLE EFFECT FOR CALIFORNIA FARMERS.

>> IT WAS A DEVASTATING YEAR.

>> Reporter: BILL STOKES IS A THIRD-GENERATION FARMER IN LODI WORKING OVER 100 ACRES OF GRAPEVINES AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR HE DIDN'T PICK.

>> THIS VINEYARD WAS PLANTED IN '91, '92 AND THIS IS THE FIRST -- YEAR YEAR IT WAS NEVER HARVESTED IT.

>> Reporter: HE WASN'T THE ONLY GRAPE GROWER THAT HAD TO MAKE THE SAME SACRIFICES THIS YEAR.

>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 30 YEARS THAT WAS VINEYARD, SO YEAH, IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT.

>> Reporter: THE WINE GRAPE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HARD ACROSS THE STATE.

ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU, BETWEEN OCTOBER 2024 AND AUGUST 2025, GROWERS REMOVED MORE THAN 38,000 ACRES OF VINES, 7% OF THE STATE'S ACREAGE, AND IN LODI THE SITUATION HAS BEEN EVEN TOUGHER.

THE LODI ONE GRAPE COMMISSION CHAIR SAYS LAST YEAR ROUGHLY 50% OF WHAT WAS PLANTED WASN'T EVEN PICKED.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 50% OF OUR TOTAL PLANTED ACREAGE THAT WAS NOT PICKED.

SO IF YOU'RE AN AVERAGE CONSUMER OR A LODI LOCAL RESIDENT AND YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND, YOU CAN SEE THE WILTED RAISIN FRUIT THAT WAS UNPICKED AND NORMALLY SOMETIMES YOU SEE IT ON THE END ROWS, BUT YOU COULD WALK DOWN THE ROW AND SEE IT.

SO IT WAS PRETTY DEVASTATING FOR US GROWERS.

>> Reporter: THE REASON FOR THE REMOVAL IS OVERSUPPLY.

THERE'S TOO MUCH WINE BEING PRODUCED AND NOT ENOUGH CUSTOMER DEMAND.

AS A RESULT, MANY GRAPE GROWERS HAVE TURNED TO OTHER CROPS.

>> KIND OF THE BIG JOKE IS WHEN THEY PLANT ALL OF LODI INTO ALMONDS, WHAT'S THE REST OF THE STATE GOING TO DO?

WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO STILL HAVE WATER TO SOME DEGREE, BUT ALL THESE TREES ARE GOING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE WATER SITUATION.

>> Reporter: BUT FARMERS STILL HAVE HOPE FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.

>> SUPPLY AND DEMAND ALWAYS LEVELS OUT, RIGHT?

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN AND VICE VERSA.

SO IT WILL CORRECT ITSELF.

YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF VINEYARDS BEING TAKEN OUT.

DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MORE WE'RE FORCED TO TEAR OUT, THAT WILL -- WE'LL SEE.

>> WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.

WE'LL DO SOMETHING ELSE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO QUIT.

WE'RE NOT QUITTERS.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

>>> OUR HEADLINES, WE GOT A MESS ON OUR HANDS HERE WITH SOAKING RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW.

WE'RE LOOKING AT 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN FOR MOST OF US THIS WEEK, OVER A FOOT OF SNOW IN THE HIGHEST ELEVATION.

THE WET PATTERN WILL CONTINUE MOST OF THIS WEEK, VERY, VERY WET OUT THERE.

TONIGHT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT HERE WITH SOAKING RAIN, 55 DEGREES YOUR LOW.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WIND ADVISORIES.

IT'S NOT JUST WET, IT'S ALSO VERY WINDY, ALL OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY UP INTO ORANGE COUNTY WIND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING AND NO SURPRISE, HIGH SURF ADVISORIES ALL WEEK LONG.

WE'RE DRENCHED THIS TUESDAY, SOAKING RAIN, DRENCHING RAIN OUT THERE AND THE RAIN AND SNOW ARE GOING TO BE WITH US OFF AND ON THROUGH MOST OF THE WEEK.

IT MAY NOT BE RAINING AT ALL MOMENTS, BUT MUCH OF THE DAY TUESDAY IT WILL BE WET.

WE GOT A RAIN/SNOW MIX IN LAGUNA, TEMPERATURES RISING TO AROUND 38, SOAKING RAIN FOR COASTAL AREAS, MID-60s, VERY WET WEDNESDAY WITH JUST THAT DRENCHING SHOWER ACTIVITY OFF AND ON AND IT'S GOING TO BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW IN THE HIGH GROUND.

THIS WEEK 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN FOR SAN DIEGO ALREADY IN PROGRESS WORKS , 2 TO 4 INCHES IN LOS ANGELES AND IN THE BURN SCAR AREAS IN LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY, SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR BURN SCARS THERE.

UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS WE'RE LOOKING AT A BIG HIT INTO SOME PARTS OF EVEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW ABOVE 6,000 FEET IN ELEVATION.

SNOW LEVELS WILL BE DROPPING DOWN TO AROUND 3,000 FEET NEAR LOS ANGELES, MAYBE 3,500 FEET FOR US HERE INTO SAN DIEGO COUNTY TUESDAY AND IF YOU'RE TRAVELING, BY THE WAY, I-15, I- 5, WE'RE LOOKING AT CLOSURES POSSIBLY THERE FOR THE PASSES TO OUR NORTH.

THE HITS KEEP COMING THURSDAY, VERY, VERY WET OUT THERE.

LET'S LOOK AT OUR FORECAST.

SOAKING RAIN FOR THE COAST HERE THROUGH WEDNESDAY, SHOWERS THURSDAY, A BREAK FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY WET UNTIL WE GET THERE.

INLAND AREAS, HERE WE GOT SOAKING RAIN THROUGH THURSDAY AND THEN SHOWERS BECOME MORE INTERMITTENT THURSDAY AND THEN TEMPERATURES REBOUND, TURNS A LITTLE BRIGHTER FOR THE WEEKEND.

INTO THE MOUNTAINS WE GO, RAIN AND SNOW THEN BECOMING MORE OF A STRAIGHT-UP SNOW SITUATION, COULD BE SOME MIXED PRECIPITATION, MAYBE EVEN INVOLVING A LITTLE SLEET COME FRIDAY, BUT SNOW LEVELS WILL BE COMING DOWN.

IN THE DESERTS WE'VE GOT SOME RAIN AS WELL THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH THAT TAPERING OFF MAYBE A LITTLE EARLIER THURSDAY.

I'M ACCUWEATHER METEOROLOGIST GEOFF CORNISH FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DECISION LAST WEEK TO END REGULATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IS PERSONAL TO SCIENTISTS IN SAN DIEGO AND THAT IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF THAT POLICY IS ROOTED IN LOCAL RESEARCH DATING BACK TO 1958.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER TAMMY MURGA HAS MORE ON THE KEELING CURVE.

>> Reporter: YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT BY NAME, BUT THE KEELING CURVE IS ICONIC IN SCIENTIFIC CIRCLES.

>> FOR DECADES HERE STARTING WITH MY FATHER WE'VE BEEN TRACKING THE BUILD-UP OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE THROUGH MEASUREMENTS AROUND THE WORLD, BUT MOST NOTABLY IN HAWAII.

>> Reporter: THAT'S RALPH KEELING, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CO2 PROGRAM AT SCRIPPS OCEANOGRAPHY.

HE RECOGNIZED AT A YOUNG AGE THE WORK HIS FATHER BEGAN WAS IMPORTANT.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST CLEAR EVIDENCE OF HUMAN IMPACTS AT THAT SCALE OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE.

SO IT WAS THE ALARM BELL THAT WENT OFF, BUT IT'S ALSO THE PULSE OF THE PLANET.

WE'RE SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT IS OUR BOTTOM LINE.

SO BENDING THE CURVE MEANS BENDING THE KEELING CURVE.

>> Reporter: THAT CURVE LINKS CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS INCREASING AT A MUCH FASTER RATE TO FOSSIL FUEL BURNING, A PRIMARY DRIVER OF GLOBAL WARMING.

THE KEELING CURVE HAS BEEN FOUNDATIONAL TO THE POLICY THAT ENABLED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE THOSE EMISSIONS UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT.

>> AND NOW THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING IS HEREBY ELIMINATED AS WELL AS ALL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION STANDARDS THAT FOLLOWED.

>> Reporter: LEE ZELDIN HEADS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY OR EPA.

LAST WEEK HE SAID THE POLICY KNOWN AS THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING LED TO TOO MUCH RED TAPE FOR AUTOMAKERS.

>> MANUFACTURERS WILL NO LONGER BE BURDENED BY MEASURING, COMPILING, AND REPORTING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FOR VEHICLES AND ENGINES.

>> Reporter: HE ARGUES THAT THE CLEAN AIR ACT IS MEANT FOR REGULATING POLLUTANTS THAT LINGER IN THE AIR PEOPLE BREATHE LIKE SMOG AND IT DOESN'T GIVE THE EPA THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE GREENHOUSE GASES LIKE CARBON DIOXIDE THAT STICK AROUND IN THE ATMOSPHERE, BUT KEELING SAYS THOSE GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTANTS CREATE HEALTH HARMS, TOO.

>> TO ME A POLLUTION IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT THERE WE DIDN'T NEED TO THAT'S CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT IN A WAY THAT'S HARMFUL.

CO2 CHECKS THAT BOX PRETTY EASY.

>> Reporter: KEELING WORRIES ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT ENDING ITS OBLIGATION TO REGULATE THESE EMISSIONS WILL MEAN FOR OUR FUTURE.

>> CO2 IS GOING UP.

IT'S GOING UP FASTER THAN EVER.

WE'RE BURNING FOSSIL FUELS AND IT'S SIMPLY BURNING UP.

WE'RE TAKING CARBON IN THE GROUND IN THE FORM OF FOSSIL FUELS, BURNING IT AND FLOODING THE ZONE.

>> Reporter: AND THAT HE SAYS HAS ALREADY LED TO WILDFIRES, SEA LEVEL RISE, FLOODING, AND HEATWAVES AND THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON ENERGY BILLS, EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

KEELING SAYS HE WORRIES ABOUT THE COUNTRY LOSING MOMENTUM IN CURBING PLANET WARMING EMISSIONS.

>> IF WE CARE ABOUT OUR OWN WELL-BEING, WE HAVE TO LEAD THE WORLD.

SO THE SIGNALS WE GIVE TO OTHER COUNTRIES HOW TO BEHAVE ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING WE DO DOMESTICALLY.

>> Reporter: IF HIS FATHER WERE HERE TODAY, KEELING SAYS HE WOULD SAY THE SAME THING.

>> WE HAVE TO GET FOSSIL FUEL BURNING UNDER CONTROL AND THESE ACTIONS DON'T HELP AND WE HAVE TO LEAD THE WORLD IN THE CRUSADE TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUEL.

OUR COUNTRY NEEDS TO DO THAT BADLY.

>> Reporter: THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LIKE THE SIERRA CLUB ARE VOWING TO CHALLENGE THE EPA IN COURT.

TAMMY MURGA, KPBS NEWS.

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