>> AND BY THE CONRAD FOUNDATION.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

>> AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> SOME OF CALIFORNIA'S ZERO EMISSION FUTURE IS ON DISPLAY HERE IN SAN DIEGO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND NEW YEAR BRINGS US CLOSER TO A ZERO EMISSION FUTURE IN CALIFORNIA JACOB VISITED THE CONVENTION CENTER TODAY WERE SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL TAKE US THERE IS ON DISPLAY.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO'S ANNUAL CAR SHOW LOOKS MUCH LIKE IT HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

PACKED WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, NEW-CAR RELEASES AND A LOT OF VIBRANT COLORS BUT THE ONE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE WAS THE UNAVOIDABLE PRESENCE OF HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THAT IS A WELCOME CHANGE FOR AUTOSHOW ATTENDEE AND ELECTRIC CAR OWNERS LIKE STEVE BYERS.

>> WE HAVE SOLAR AT OUR HOUSE SO IT'S KIND OF UNNATURAL, EVERY NIGHT WE PLUG THE THING IN AND WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND HAVE A FULL TANK ESSENTIALLY.

>> GUILLERMO IS LOOKING FOR A NEW ELECTRIC CAR ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE AND SAYS THE VOLATILE AND HIGH PRICE OF GAS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IS FACTORING INTO THEIR DECISION TO MAKE THE SWITCH.

>> WE KNOW THAT IT IS THE WAY TO GO.

WITH THE GAS PRICES AS THEY ARE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO JUST UPGRADE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS GOING TO LAST US FOR A FEW YEARS.

>> OTHERS LIKE JOE TEND TO STICK WITH THE TRADITIONAL GAS VEHICLE.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS ALL ELECTRIC SO IT'S KIND OF PROBABLY SOMEWHAT TO STAY AWAY FROM.

>> HE DIDN'T SEEM BOTHERED BY THE UPCOMING POLICY THAT ALL NEW CARS PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS IN CALIFORNIA WILL HAVE TO BE ELECTRIC OR HYDROGEN BY 2035.

>> IT SOUNDS GOOD.

BUT THEN WHEN YOU START TO DO RESEARCH INTO IT IT'S ALMOST DOESN'T SOUND AS COST-EFFECTIVE AS THEY MAKE IT OUT TO BE.

SO I DON'T KNOW I THINK IT'S KIND OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT I'M NOT REALLY, I AM OLD SCHOOL I THINK.

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE IN THE MIDDLE LOOKING FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID LIKE JOHN.

HE SAYS THAT'S THE BEST OPTION FOR HIS FAMILY AT THE MOMENT WHILE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO BE BUILT OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THE 40 MILE RANGES ARE MAXIMUM RANGE THAT CAN GO ALL ELECTRIC AND BRING IT HOME CHARGE IT UP THAT NIGHT BUT WHEN WE DO TAKE A LONG TRIP THERE IS NO I HAVE TO DRIVE AND WAIT AT A CHARGING STATION FOR THAT DRIVING BECAUSE IT HAS A REGULAR GASOLINE ENGINE IN IT AND WILL TAKE YOU THE REST OF THE DISTANCE.

>> HE SAYS HE WON'T GO BACK TO GASPAR VEHICLES DUE TO THE EASE OF CHARGING AT HOME AND LOWER COST OF MAINTENANCE FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

BUT HE DOES CAUTION THAT SOME ELECTRIC VEHICLES WON'T DRIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF MILES THEY CLAIM THEY WILL RUN ON A FULL CHARGE.

JACOB, KPBS NEWS.

>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT GAS PRICE SITUATION AFTER A PERIOD OF DECLINE PRICES ARE SLOWLY RISING AGAIN AAA SAYS THE CURRENT AVERAGE FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS $4.53 PER GALLON THAT IS UP NEARLY $.10 FROM A WEEK AGO, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 321.

AND MORE ELECTRIC CARS MEANS MORE DEMAND ON OUR ELECTRICITY GRID.

LATER IN THE SHOW WE WILL GO INTO THE ARCHIVES FOR SOME CONTEXT WE WILL SHOW YOU OUR STORY FROM ENVIRONMENT REPORTER GARY ERIC ANDERSON WHO LOOKS AT THE DEMAND NOW AND HOW THE SYSTEM WILL NEED TO GROW IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

SAN DIEGO INNS WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR PAYCHECK IN 2023, KPBS REPORTER MELISSA MAE TELLS US ABOUT THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO'S NEWEST MINIMUM WAGE LAW.

>> Reporter: SINCE JULY 2016 THE MINIMUM WAGE IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO HAS INCREASED $5.80.

>> ASPIRATION WITH THESE MINIMUM WAGE LAWS IS TO PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE.

FOR PEOPLE AND WE ALL KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE HOUSING AND OTHER THINGS ARE IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

>> AS OF JANUARY 1, 2023 EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $16.30 AN HOUR.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERT DAN EATON SAYS IT IS STILL NOT LIVING WAGE IN SAN DIEGO.

>> IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT WHEN YOU DO THE MATH, IT WILL FALL SHORT OF THAT BUT IT IS MOVING IT CLOSER TO THAT IDEAL.

>> THE WAGE INCREASE IS HIGHER THAN THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE TO $15.50 AN HOUR.

ALAN IS AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAYS THE NEWEST WAGE INCREASE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT A FEW FACTORS.

LIKE INFLATION AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

>> WHEN PRICES RISE THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL RISE TO HELP COMPENSATE WORKERS IN FOR THE INCREASE IN LIVING COST AND THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING IN 2023.

INFLATION WAS HIGH IN SAN DIEGO SO THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL GO UP ABOUT 8%.

>> DUE TO THE LOCAL ORDINANCE MINIMUM WAGE WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

>> THE WAY IT IS STRUCTURED, THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL INCREASE EVERY YEAR BY THE AMOUNT OF INFLATION SO THIS CAN GO ON INDEFINITELY.

>> EXPERTS HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT INCREASING MINIMUM WAGE, SOME PEOPLE SAY THE HIGHER COST OF LABOR IT MAY LEAD TO FEWER WORKERS GETTING JOBS.

BUT JEN IS ON THE SIDE THAT THINKS THIS IS POSITIVE FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> GIVES MORE MONEY THAN TO WORKERS AND CAN TAKE THAT MONEY OUT AND SPEND IT AND THAT WILL GIVE A BOOST TO BUSINESSES WHO HAVE TO PAY THE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> MELISSA MAE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE MINIMUM WAGE IS ONE OF SEVERAL PROMINENT NEW LAWS FOR CALIFORNIA IN 2023 FROM JAYWALKING TO OIL DRILLING AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.

WE HAVE A LIST FOR YOU AT KPBS.ORG.

IT IS A DAMP AND WINDY AND COLD START TO 2023 NOT JUST SAN DIEGO BUT ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

WE ARE SHOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS THE STORM ALSO BROUGHT A LOT OF SNOW BUT WILL THIS BE ENOUGH TO PUT A DENT IN THE DROUGHT?

>> Reporter: SNOW DEEP ENOUGH TO SWALLOW YOUR ENTIRE BOOT.

AND IT KEEPS FALLING AND FALLING.

THIS IS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.

IN THE SIERRA NEVADA'S.

IN SODA SPRINGS TO BE EXACT.

NEAR THE DONNER PASS.

YOU WILL FIND SOME OF THE HARSHEST WINTER CONDITIONS.

THIS VIDEO WAS SHOT BY ANDREW'S SHORTS.

LEAD SCIENTIST OF THE UC BERKELEY CENTRAL SIERRA SNOW LAB HE SAYS WHILE IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE SNOWSTORMS THIS SIZE.

>> THE THING THAT WAS NOT SO COMMON IS THAT WE SAW 7 1/2 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IN ONE HOUR.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL RATES AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL THAT HAS EVER BEEN RECORDED IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDED THAT ARE LOOKING INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> THE WEATHER SYSTEM THAT CAUSED THAT MUCH SNOW TO FALL THAT FAST IS KNOWN AS AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER, IT CAUSED MASSIVE FLOODING THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

PEOPLE WERE QUICKLY TRAPPED IN THEIR CARS ON FREEWAYS AND STREETS LOOKED LIKE RIVERS.

>> THE RAIN CAUSED A LOT OF LANDSLIDES.

WHEN THE STORM WAS FIRST MAKING ITS LANDFALL APPEAR A LOT OF THE ROADS HAD DEBRIS ON THEM FROM ROCKSLIDES THAT WERE OCCURRING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE SNOW HAS CAUSED SOME ISSUES AND MAJOR POWER OUTAGES APPEAR WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER FOR TWO DAYS.

>> NOWHERE NEAR AS BAD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

BUT SOME AREAS OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY GOT DOUSED WITH CLOSE TO THREE INCHES OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND ALEX, A METEOROLOGIST WITH NOAH SAYS MORE RAIN IS ON THE WAY.

>> REMEMBER HOW WARM IT WAS ON CHRISTMAS DAY?

THAT IS A DISTANT MEMORY.

SO NOW WE HAVE SEEN TWO BIG STORMS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE CHRISTMAS DAY.

AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER ONE ON THURSDAY.

AND WE POTENTIALLY WILL REMAIN ON AND OFF WITH WET WEATHER UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

>> THURSDAY'S STORM WILL PACK A PUNCH.

>> THURSDAY IS AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER LIKE WE SAW ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, THAT'S WHY THERE WILL BE A LOT OF RAIN ON THURSDAY EVEN IN SAN DIEGO.

OVER AN INCH OF RAIN.

>> ALL THE RAIN AND SNOW IS WELCOME TO WHAT HAS BECOME A HISTORIC DROUGHT IN CALIFORNIA.

AND THROUGHOUT THE WEST.

BUT SCHWARTZ SAYS WE ARE STILL A LONG WAY FROM GETTING OUT OF IT.

>> THERE IS NO SINGLE STORM THAT IS GOING TO GET US OUT OF THIS DROUGHT, IF THERE WAS IT WOULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC AND UNTOLD DAMAGE BECAUSE EFFECTIVELY AT THIS POINT MANY REGIONS AROUND CALIFORNIA AND THE WEST COAST NEED TO SEE AN EXTRA YEAR OF PRECIPITATION.

>> KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO HAD SOME ISSUES WITH WIND AND FLOODING IN SOME OF OUR REGULAR TROUBLE SPOTS BUT AS WAS MENTIONED THE BRUNT OF THE STORM PASSED TO OUR NORTH, CAMILLA SHOWS US SOME OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THIS WEEKEND IN THE BAY AREA.

>> Reporter: RECORD-BREAKING RAIN ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

LEAVING AT LEAST TWO DEAD AND MANY STRANDED.

>> THE WATER KEPT GETTING DEEPER.

>> AND SACRAMENTO COUNTY AN ESTIMATED 40 PEOPLE RESCUED FROM THEIR CARS ACCORDING TO A LOCAL FIRE OFFICIAL.

HERE IS THE VIEW FROM ABOVE.

>> IS AMAZING HOW STRONG IT IS.

>> OTHERS WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE.

>> I HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT SIX YEARS AND THAT IS THE DEEPEST AND WORST IT HAS EVER BEEN.

>> THE STORM SYSTEM CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS.

AND LEAVING CREEKS AND RIVERS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OVERFLOWING.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THE WATER MOVING THIS QUICK AND RISING LIKE THIS, IT IS A LITTLE UNSETTLING.

>> ON SATURDAY, 4.75 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD IN OAKLAND.

THE WETTEST DAY ON RECORD.

ROADS WERE SO IMPACTED THAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAID THE CLOSURES WERE TOO MANY TO COUNT.

>> WHEN I OPENED ONE OF MY GATES THERE WAS SO MUCH WATER IT WAS GUSHING IN AND IT KNOCKED ME OVER.

>> THOUSANDS WERE ALSO LEFT WITHOUT POWER SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

AND WHILE CREWS WORKED TO RESTORE POWER, THE OVERALL CLEANUP COULD TAKE DAYS.

>> IT'S JUST CRAZY I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT SO DEEP HERE.

>> TOMORROW MORNING A BRAND-NEW CONGRESS WILL BE SWORN IN AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL THE CURRENT CONGRESS MIGHT BE REMEMBERED FOR ITS INVESTIGATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

PART OF THAT INCLUDES A YEARS LONG EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND HIS TAX HISTORY.

NOW THAT THOSE RETURNS ARE PUBLIC KRISTIN HOLMES HAS DETAILS ON WHAT WE ARE LEARNING.

>> LITTLE OR NO INCOME TAX OR IN BANK ACCOUNTS AND EYEBROW RAISING DETAILS ABOUT LOANS TO HIS ADULT CHILDREN.

JUST SOME OF THE FINDINGS AFTER THE DEMOCRATIC LED HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE RELEASED SIX YEARS WORTH OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMPS FEDERAL TAX RETURNS.

THE RETURNS SPANNING FROM THE YEAR FROM AND ASKED TO FIRST RUN FOR PRESIDENT 2015 THROUGH ITS LAST YEAR IN OFFICE.

2020.

>> THE RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE AS IT RELATES TO THE MANDATORY AUDIT PROGRAM WAS NONEXISTENT.

THE TAX FORMS WERE REALLY NEVER AUDITED.

>> PREVIOUS REPORTING FROM THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION REVEALED SHOCKINGLY LOW TAX AMOUNTS PAID BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

INCLUDING PAYING ONLY $750 IN 2017.

AND IN 2018 AND 19, PAYING A COMBINED $1.1 MILLION.

AND PAYING NO INCOME TAX IN 2020, HIS FINAL YEAR IN OFFICE.

TRUMP OFFSETTING HIS INCOME BY CLEANING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOSSES.

RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENTS BUSINESS FAILURES.

AND WHILE TRUMP PAID LESS THAN $1000 IN U.S. INCOME TAX IN 2017, THE FORMER PRESIDENT TAX BILL TOTALED NEARLY $1 MILLION IN FOREIGN TAXES THE SAME YEAR.

INDICATING NOTABLE BUSINESS DEALINGS IN MORE THAN A DOZEN COUNTRIES.

INCLUDING AS TURKEY, ISRAEL AND BRAZIL.

SHEDDING LIGHT ON WHERE TRUMPS BUSINESS INTERESTS WERE WHILE HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE RETURNS ALSO SHOW TRUMP MAINTAINED FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNTS WHILE SERVING IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

INCLUDING IN CHINA.

SOME OF TRUMPS BUSINESS SPENDING RAISING EYEBROWS AMONG EXPERTS.

INCLUDING A 2017 CLAIM THAT ONE OF HIS BUSINESSES AEROSPACE MADE EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT SPENT.

ZERO NET ENSURING THERE WAS NOTHING TO TAX.

SOMETHING ONE TAX EXPERT REFERRED TO AS A QUOTE STATISTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY.

>> MY PERSONAL TAX RETURNS WHICH SHOW ONLY THAT I HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

>> TRUMP BLASTING THE RELEASE AS AN OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE OF POWER.

CALLING FOR REPUBLICANS TAKING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE TO IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATE BIDEN AND HIS FAMILY'S FINANCES.

>> IT IS SO SAD FOR OUR COUNTRY.

IT IS NOTHING BUT ANOTHER DERANGED POLITICAL WITCHHUNT WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FROM THE DAY I CAME DOWN THE ESCALATOR IN TRUMP TOWER.

>> THAT WAS KRISTIN HOLMES REPORTING THIS WEEKEND BROUGHT ANOTHER REMINDER TO THOSE OF US IN CALIFORNIA THAT AN EARTHQUAKE CAN STRIKE AT ANY TIME.

>>> SECURITY CAMERAS SHOW US SOME OF THE SHAKING IN THE TOWN OF RIO DELL ON SUNDAY, THAT IS A SMALL TOWN ALONG THE 101 FREEWAY IN FAR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OR EUREKA, THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SAID IT WAS A MAGNITUDE 5.4.

THE STRONGER EARTHQUAKE HIT THE SAME REGION JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

>>> GEARING UP FOR A VERY ACTIVE WEATHER WE CURE LOTS TO TALK ABOUT HERE, YOUR HEADLINES WE HAVE A BREEZY START TO THE WEEK.

THOSE RAIN CHANCES START TO INCREASE HERE LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY.

WITH SOME HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW.

BUT IT WILL BE A RAINY AND EVEN SNOWY WEEK HERE ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK THAT'S WHEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER STORM PUSHED THROUGH, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FIRST ONE MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT.

THAT'S WHEN THIS AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WITH THE COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH AND THE ENERGY HERE WITH SOME RAIN SHOWERS ALONG THE COAST FROM SAN FRANCISCO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SAN DIEGO WE ALSO HAVE THIS HIGH SURF ADVISORY WITH THE SYSTEM THAT WILL BE IN EFFECT HERE THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

AS WE MAKE OUR WAY THE WINDS WILL PICK UP, THERE WILL BE THIS WIND ADVISORY HERE MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY.

TONIGHT WE ARE DROPPING DOWN TO LOWS IN THE MID 50s HERE WITH PERIODS OF RAIN IT IS GOING TO BE THE SAME STORY HERE HEADING INTO YOUR TUESDAY SO TRACKING AND FUTURE CAST AGAIN WE DO HAVE INTERMITTENT SHOWERS HERE PASSING THROUGH.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH LA AND SAN DIEGO AS WE MAKE OUR WAY CLOSER TO THE MOUNTAINS AGAIN MIXING IN WITH SOME SNOW TOO.

AS WELL.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO START TO DRY OUT HERE UNTIL LATER ON ON TUESDAY, DURING THE AFTERNOON BUT AGAIN WE DO HAVE ANOTHER ROUND ON THE WAY SO DON'T PUT THE UMBRELLA AWAY JUST YET.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY FORECAST HERE FOR TOMORROW ESPECIALLY ON THE COAST WE ARE EXPECTING AGAIN RAIN SHOWERS HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

COOLER OF COURSE AS WE MAKE OUR WAY IN LENGTH, AREAS LIKE MOUNT LAGUNA HITTING HIGHS IN THE LOW 40s.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ROUND WITH THE ATMOSPHERE RIVER SO LATE WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY THAT WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE HERE TO THE GULF AND THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA.

IT WILL BE A SOAKER HERE ALONG THE COAST THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

WARMING UP WEDNESDAY, COOLING DOWN THURSDAY, STAYING COOLER THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH SOME SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS, SIMILAR STORY HERE INLAND AND AS WE MAKE OUR WAY TO THE MOUNTAINS IT WILL BE AGAIN A PASSING SHOWER OR TWO TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY DRYING OUT HERE FOR THE WEEKEND THE DESERT AGAIN ON AND OFF AGAIN SHOWERS.

FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> BEGINNING IN THE 1940S IT BROUGHT FOREIGN AND INDEPENDENT FILMS TO SAN DIEGO BUT THE SINGLESCREEN LANDMARK HAS BEEN VACANT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

NOW ARTS REPORTER SAYS THE BUILDING HAS BEEN SOLD.

>> THE CINEMA STATE HAS BEEN IN LIMBO SINCE LANDMARK THEATERS VACATED THE BUILDING IN MARCH 2020.

JUST AS THE PANDEMIC HIT.

THEN JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS I RECEIVED NEWS THAT WAS CERTAINLY A LUMP OF COAL IN MY STOCKING, THE KEN WHICH FIRST OPENED IN 1946 HAD BEEN SOLD AND WOULD NO LONGER BE A THEATER.

HERE'S WHAT RANDY A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY THAT SOLD IT SAID TODAY IN A FACEBOOK MESSAGE.

THIS IS A DECISION AMONGST THE FAMILY.

THE NEW OWNER IS WORKING TO MAINTAIN THE VISUAL APPEAL TO BLEND IN WITH THE INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE WILL ALL MISS THE KEN AND WHAT MY GRANDFATHER CREATED OUT OF LOVE FOR FILM.

HER GRANDFATHER WAS ROBERT BIRKIN, HE HAD A BUSINESS CARD BOASTING THAT THE KEN WAS SAN DIEGO'S ONLY EXCLUSIVE FOREIGN AND ART CINEMA.

HE WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME AND GIFTED SAN DIEGO WITH A PLACE TO WATCH FILMS AS A COMMUNITY.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MEDIA ARTS CENTER, HE TOURED THE CINEMA LAST AUGUST IN ORDER TO MAKE A BID ON THE BUILDING.

>> AGAIN I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I WAS LIKE MY GOSH THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SEATS ARE STILL THERE, THE SCREEN IS STILL THERE, I GOT EXCITED AND SAID WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND PRETTY QUICKLY.

BUT THE COST WAS TOO HIGH AND THE SINGLESCREEN MOVIE THEATER LIKE THE KEN JUST DID NOT SEEM VIABLE.

EVEN WITH PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS LIFTING.

RECALLING WHAT IT MEANT TO HIM WHEN HE CAME TO SAN DIEGO 30 YEARS AGO.

>> IT WAS THAT SPACE WHERE YOU COULD GET THERE CALENDAR AND CHECK OUT ALL THE INDEPENDENT FILMS AND FOREIGN FILMS.

LOSING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE GREAT CINEMA IN PUBLIC SPACE AND COMMUNITY SPACE WHERE YOU CAN WATCH THE MOVIE AND THEN AFTERWARDS YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT THE MOVIE.

AGAIN VERY SAD DAY FOR SAN DIEGO TO LOSE SUCH AN ICONIC CINEMA.

>> STEPHEN RUSSELL WAS HOUSE MANAGER IN THE 1980S.

>> YOU COULD JUST ON A WHIM SAY LET'S GO TO THE KEN AND SEE WHAT IS PLAYING.

HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT YOU COULD TRUST THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PROGRAMMING IT AND YOU CAN HAVE WONDERFUL SURPRISES.

SO THE THING ABOUT THE KEN WAS THERE WAS SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS THAT YOU JUST KNEW SOMETHING SPECIAL COULD BE HAPPENING THERE.

SO THAT IS LOST.

>> BACK IN THE 80s, THE KEN COULD BE A PLACE TO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER JUST BY SHOWING A FILM.

>> THERE WAS MAYBE AN ETHIOPIAN FILM, THE PEACE COMMUNITY MAYBE IT WAS A FRENCH FILMS.

AND WHEN WE WOULD PLAY A FILM LIKE THAT WE WOULD REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND FOR THAT NIGHT FOR ONE NIGHT IN THAT PLACE, THAT WAS THEIR VILLAGE, BUT THE POWER OF BEING IN A ROOM WITH 100 OR 200 OR 300 PEOPLE WHO WERE OF A MIND A HEART, COMMUNITY.

THAT IS LOST.

THAT'S WHAT'S HEARTBREAKING WHEN WE LOSE THAT.

>> THE LOSS OF SUCH A CINEMATIC TREASURE DURING THE STREAMING AGE IS ALSO A SAD SIGN OF CHANGING TIMES.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> COMIC BOOKS HAVE INSPIRED A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR CINEMATIC UNIVERSE AND DOZENS OF HIT VIDEO GAMES AND ANOTHER ONE IS ONE THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED GAMES OF THE YEAR, RICK TELLS US WHY 2023 IS EXPECTED TO BE A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR FOR THE INDUSTRY.

>> Reporter: >> WILL ONE OF YOU FINALLY GIVE ME WHAT I DESIRE?

>> A NEW ADVENTURE STARRING MORE THAN ONE FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDERMAN IS AMONG THE MOST ANTICIPATED NEW VIDEO GAMES SLATED TO RELEASE IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> 2023 HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE IF NOT THE BEST YEAR FOR VIDEO GAMES EVER.

IN THE TOP THREE OR FIVE IT IS GOING TO BE SUCH A PHENOMENAL YEAR.

BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF THINGS COMING THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD ABOUT.

BUT OUT OF THE STUFF THAT I KNOW THAT IS COMING UP NEXT YEAR THE THING THAT I MOST EXCITED FOR IS THE SPIDERMAN TWO WHICH IS GOING TO BRING MYLES AND PETER PARKER BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

>> WE HAVE COME TO THE BEGINNING OF HUMANITY AND THE FINAL JOURNEY.

>> I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE HOW THEY DELIVER STARFIELD THIS IS A GAME THAT IS COMING FROM AN ACCLAIM STUDIO THAT HAS WON LOTS AND LOTS OF ACCOLADES FOR ITS WORK IN THE PAST.

>> EVERY NINTENDO SWITCH FAN IN THE WORLD IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE LEGEND OF ZELDA THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO BREATH OF THE WILD WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY FAVORITE VIDEOGAME OF ALL TIME.

>> AFTER ALL WE'VE DONE.

THE EMPIRE IS ONLY GROWING STRONGER.

>> ANOTHER ONE I CAN'T WAIT FOR IS STAR WARS JEDI SURVIVOR THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO JEDI FALL IN THE ORDER WHICH WAS A VERY COOL SURPRISE WHEN IT CAME OUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO A LOT OF ACROBATICS AND JEDI POWERS AND OF COURSE THOSE SWEET LIGHT SABER DUELS.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR JEDI SURVIVOR.

>> LEVELING UP IN HOLLYWOOD.

I AM BRICK.

>>> AND A LOT OF THE ACTION YOU SEE IN THE VIDEO GAMES ARE THE WORK OF TALENTED STUNNED PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN THIS KIND OF WORK.

ARTS REPORTER BETH RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL STUNTMAN'S WHO SHOWED HIS ROLE AND MAJOR GAMES LIKE THE GOD OF WAR FRANCHISE.

THAT STORY CAN BE STREAMED ANY TIME ON THE YOUTUBE PAGE.

>>> NOW THE TOP OF THE SHOW WE CHECKED OUT THE LATEST AND GREATEST THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW CALIFORNIA'S EDV FUTURE WILL BRING MORE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY IN A STATE WHERE WE ALREADY HAVE ISSUES MEETING OUR CURRENT NEEDS.

IN SEPTEMBER ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIC ANDERSON BROUGHT US THIS STORY ON HOW THE GRID WILL NEED TO GROW IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

>> THE GENTLE HUM OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES COULD SOON OVERTAKE THE RUMBLE OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES IN CALIFORNIA.

CLEANER REGULATORS SAY ALL NEW CARS SOLD IN THE STATE WILL BE ELECTRIC OR ZERO EMISSIONS 2035.

BUT CALIFORNIA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POWER GRID IS WITH UNCERTAINTY.

HIGHLIGHTED BY LATE SUMMER HEAT WAVE.

>> BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEDNESDAY WE WILL BE EXPERIENCING A PROLONGED HEAT.

MOMENT.

>> GAVIN NEWSOM CALLS FOR CONSERVATION WERE ANSWERED AND THROWING BLACKOUTS WERE AVOIDED BUT POWER GRID OFFICIALS ASKED RESIDENTS NOT TO CHARGE THEIR TVS DURING THE EVENING.

THAT CAME JUST A WEEK AFTER THE STATE ANNOUNCED THAT 2035 BAN ON THE SALE OF NEW CARS WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

STILL, CALIFORNIA REMAINS COMMITTED TO SHRINKING ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT.

AS A WAY TO AVOID MORE INTENSE WILDFIRES AND DROUGHT, HALLMARKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WE NEED TO ELIMINATE ADMISSIONS FROM THE CALIFORNIA ECONOMY.

>> DAVID VICTOR IS AN ENERGY POLICY RESEARCHER AT UC SAN DIEGO.

>> BIGGEST SOURCE OF OMISSIONS COME FROM TRANSPORTATION.

SO YOU HAVE TO TACKLE THAT AND THE LEADING SOLUTION NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS ELECTRIC CARS.

>> NO ONE WANTS THE ELECTRIC GRID TO BECOME LESS RELIABLE AND HE SAYS THERE IS TIME FOR THE STATE TO ABSORB THE COMING DEMAND.

HE SAYS EV'S ARE ARRIVING IN THE MIDST OF AN ENERGY TRANSITION.

SOLAR AND WIND ARE RISING IN PROMINENCE BUT THAT ALSO CALLS FOR MORE ENERGY STORAGE TO PASS CAPACITY AND THE GRID WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT UP TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXTRA DRAW FROM EV'S.

>> PRETTY MUCH EVERY STUDY SHOWS THAT THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY AND CALIFORNIA'S RESULT OF THIS.

MANY STUDIES SUGGEST THAT CARS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAYBE A ONE QUARTER INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY BETWEEN NOW AND 2045.

>> WHILE MILLIONS OF NEW EV'S WILL BE FEEDING OFF THE ELECTRIC GRID IN COMING YEARS THE CHANGE ISN'T IMMEDIATE.

SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC REPRESENTATIVES SAY THEY CAN HANDLE THE DEMAND FOR MORE POWER AS MORE EV'S HIT THE ROAD.

>> THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS YES.

>> JENNY REYNOLD'S SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC'S DIRECTOR OF CLEAN TRANSPORTATION.

>> THE LONG ANSWER IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED SO WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF WHEN THAT WILL HIT, HOW IT WILL HIT, WHAT NEW TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT TYPE OF BATTERY STORAGE WE HAVE TO HELP IS MUCH MORE COMPLEX ANSWER.

>> THE UTILITY CAN BUILD THE REQUIRED POWER LINES AND TRANSFORMERS THAT'S WHAT UTILITIES DO.

THE COMPANY ALSO NEEDS TO BUILD UNDERSTANDING AMONG ITS EV CUSTOMERS.

RIGHT NOW ENERGY USAGE PEAKS BETWEEN 4 PM AND 9 PM.

THE UTILITY WANTS EV CHARGING TO HAPPEN DURING THE DAY.

OR OVERNIGHT.

>> IF WE CAN GET A LOT OF THAT CHARGING IN THOSE TIMES THAN THE BUILDOUT IS NOT GOING TO BE AS MUCH SO WE HAVE CAPACITY THAT IS THERE HOW TO INCENTIVIZE CUSTOMERS TO USE THAT CAPACITY IS ALSO THE NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE HOW WE AS CONSUMERS WILL BE ABLE TO OWN OUR ENERGY TRANSITION.

>> VEHICLE TO GRID IS AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY INC.

TESTED IN THE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ELECTRIC BUSES CAN FEED POWER IN THEIR BATTERIES BACK TO THE GRID FOR A PREMIUM PRICE WHEN ELECTRICITY IS IN SHORT SUPPLY.

EV'S INNOCENCE COULD BECOME A HUGE RESERVOIR OF STORED ENERGY.

AT UC SAN DIEGO'S SAYS THAT TECH IS NOT QUITE READY YET.

>> THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS WITH TECHNOLOGY NOT BECOMING TOO EXPENSIVE TO THEN MAKE IT NOT WORTH THE CUSTOMERS WHILE IN THE BATTERY MANUFACTURER AGREEING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BECOME UNDER WARRANTY.

>> DEVELOPING WAYS TO MANAGE THE POWER DEMAND FROM MILLIONS OF HOUSEHOLD DEVICES AND EV'S WILL KEEP THE GRID RELIABLE.

>> COMPUTING SYSTEMS CAN HELP US MANAGE THINGS BETTER IN TIME.

BUT STILL, YOU DON'T MAKE IT GO AWAY, YOU JUST SHIFTED.

>> SHIFTING PEOPLE'S HABITS AND SHIFTING THE POWER SUPPLY TO RENEWABLES WHILE ADDING CAPACITY TO THE GRID ARE KEYS TO MAKING SURE THE FLOOD OF EV'S DON'T SWAMP THE POWER GRID THAT IS ALREADY FEELING ITS LIMITATIONS.

>> ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

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