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

ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR.

HELPING HOME OWNERS MAINTAIN SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREFERENCE FOUNDATION.

DARLING MARCO SHYLY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

>>> AT EVENING, MONDAY NOVEMBER 29th.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I AM I A.

WITH THE PANDEMIC STILL ONGOING, THE VIRUS IS CHANGING AND ONE NEW MUTATION IS CAUSING CONCERN AROUND THE WORLD TODAY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE VACCINATED.

KPBS REPORTER EXPLAINS WHY OFFICIALS ARE TAKING ACTION NOW.

>> THIS VARIANT IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, NOT A CAUSE FOR PANIC.

>> A NEW POTENTIALLY MORE INFECTIOUS STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS CALLED OMICRON HAS RESULTED IN TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND EXPERTS ARE WARNING THAT CURRENT VACCINES COULD BE LESS EFFECTIVE.

>> SOONER OR LATER WE WILL SEE CASES OF THE NEW VARIANT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT TO FACE THIS NEW THREAT UNTIL WE FACED THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE.

>> FIRST REPORTED LAST WEEK IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ARE MEANT TO BUY TIME FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING INTO POTENTIAL BOOSTERS TARGETING THE VARIANT IF THEY ARE NEEDED.

NEW PLACE YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS TO VIRUSES TRYING TO FIGHT OVER THE SAME FOOD WHICH IS HUMANS AND DELTA HAS ONE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS NEW KID ON THE BLOCK MIGHT BE AS GOOD AS DELTA.

>> DR. DAVEY SMITH IS CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND SAYS OFFICIALS ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE STRAIN.

>> WE WILL LET PEOPLE KNOW IF WE SEE OMICRON.

I DO THINK THE VARIANT IS PROBABLY ALREADY HERE SOMEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL WE PICK IT UP.

>> SMITH SAYS IS MORE WE'RE LEARNING EVERYDAY ABOUT THE VARIANT BUT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION.

>> HOWEVER, IT'S VERY NEW.

THIS IS ALL HOT OFF THE PRESSES.

>> THE MORE CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT HAD THREE OR FOUR MUTATIONS WHILE OMICRON HAS 30.

>> THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THE VACCINE DOES NOT WORK AS WELL TO THIS VARIANT AS IT DID FOR OTHERS.

BUT OF COURSE WE ARE TESTING THAT OUT AND LOOKING TO SEE IF THIS IS TRUE.

>>> A LEGAL SNAG FOR THE SAN DIEGO DISTRICT VACCINATION MANDATE COLLIDED WITH A CRITICAL DEADLINE TODAY.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAST DAY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS 16 AND UP COULD RECEIVE THEIR FIRST DOSE IN ORDER TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY THE START OF THE SPRING SEMESTER AND ATTEND CLASSES IN PERSON.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER ANGIE PEREZ HAS MORE ON THE ACTION THAT STOPPED IT.

>> THE VACCINATION BANNERS BACK FROM THE HOLIDAY GETTING MORE SHOTS AND ARMS BY THE HOUR.

TODAY, ADULTS AND CHILDREN RECEIVE VACCINATIONS WHILE NEWS SPREAD OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS GRANTING AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION TO STOP THE DISTRICT MANDATE REQUIRING ELIGIBLE STUDENTS 16 AND UP TO HAVE THEIR FIRST DOSE TODAY.

THE INJUNCTION WAS GRANTED ON BEHALF OF A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CLAIMING A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION WHICH THE DISTRICT DOES NOT ALLOW.

THE CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE INJECTION HAD TO DO WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE DISTRICT WAS ALLOWING VACCINE DEFERRALS OF FOR PREGNANT STUDENTS.

TO PARAPHRASE THE LEGAL LANGUAGE, THE COURT SAID AS LONG AS THOSE STUDENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GET COVID-19 SHOT THE PLAINTIFFS SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED EITHER.

THEY WILL TURN THE INJUNCTION IF THE OPTION IS REMOVED.

SO FAR THE DISTRICT HAS NOT RELEASED AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE RULING.

IF THE MANDATE EXPANDS STUDENTS HOW TO GET THE SECOND DOSE BY WINTER BREAK DECEMBER 20th.

A STUDENT WOULD BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE IF THEY TRIED TO ATTEND CLASSES JANUARY 3rd AND DID NOT MEET THE DEADLINES.

THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE FAMILY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SAYS SHE IS A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN ATTENDING A LOCAL CHURCH WITH A STRONG BELIEF THAT THE PFIZER VACCINE WAS DEVELOPED WITH HISTORICAL RESEARCH FROM ABORTED FETUSES.

>> WE WILL PURSUE THIS CASE ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT AND A REMINDER THE SUPREME COURT IS CONSERVATIVE RIGHT NOW AND HAVE A VERY GOOD MAJORITY.

WE KNOW HOW THEY THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

ULTIMATELY WE WILL VINDICATE THESE RIGHTS.

>> FOR NOW VACCINATIONS CONTINUE AND SO DOES THE WEIGHT ON A FINAL DECISION.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> JUST MOMENTS AGO, AN ATTORNEY FOR SAN DIEGO UNIFIED RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THE DISTRICT EXPECTS THE ORDER TO BE SHORT-LIVED AND THAT THE VACCINATION MANDATE WILL BE UPHELD.

>>> THE BINDING ADMINISTRATION ALLOWING FEDERAL AGENCIES TO DELAY FIRING AND VACCINATED EMPLOYEES FOR THE HAVE UNTIL AFTER THE EMPLOYEES TO TERMINATE THOSE WHO DID NOT FOLLOW THE MANDATE.

THERE HOPING THOSE WHO PUT IT OFF WILL FAX UP TO SAVE THEIR JOBS.

>>> SAN DIEGO CITY EMPLOYEES COULD BE FIRED IF THEY REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.

A KPBS METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THE POLICE OFFICERS UNION TRY TO FIGHT THE MANDATE.

>> Reporter: POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATE AMONG CITY EMPLOYEES AT UNDER 63%.

THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 8-1 TO BACK THE MAYORS VACCINE MANDATE OVER THE POLICE UNION'S PUSHBACK.

GLORIA SAYS COVID-19 OUTBREAKS ARE DISRUPTING CITY SERVICES.

MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE FACED DELAYED TRASH COLLECTION AND POLICE AND FIRE ACADEMIES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.

>> HAS MAYOR I CANNOT SABINA COVID-19 CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE SERVICES THAT OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT OF US.

NOR CAN I IN GOOD CONSCIOUS PUT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ARE PUBLIC AT GREATER RISK FOR TRANSMITTING OR CONTRACTING COVID-19.

>> Reporter: THE LAST SELECTED, CAST THE ONLY VOTE AGAINST THE MANDATE AND SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE VACCINE BUT FEARS AND MASS EXODUS OF EMPLOYEES.

HE SAYS POLICE IN PARTICULAR OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE INCLUDING FROM INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

>> I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL VIDEOS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH A HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY OFFICERS WHO ARE UNMASKED.

IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME THAT ONE THIRD CHANCE THAT THE OFFICER THEY WERE APPROACHED BY IS NONVACCINATED.

>> UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES CAN APPEAL THE TERMINATION AND AFTER THAT THEY CAN OFFICIALLY BE FIRED AS SOON AS JANUARY.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> JURY SELECTION UNDERWAY IN THE TRIAL OF A FORMER LA MESA POLICE OFFICER WHO FACES A CHARGE OF FALSIFYING A POLICE REPORT.

PROSECUTORS SAY MATT DEGA'S LIED ABOUT THE REST OF JOHNSON NEAR THE TROLLEY STATION.

VIDEO FROM WITNESSES AND BODY WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWS THE FORMER OFFICER PUSHING JOHNSON DOWN BEFORE ARRESTING HIM FOR RESISTING AND ASSAULTING AN OFFICER.

CHARGES AGAINST JOHNSON WERE DROPPED.

HE WAS FIRED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT HAS FILED AN APPEAL TO TRY TO GET HIS JOB BACK.

>>> A LOOK AT RECORDS WERE POLICE SHOOTINGS OCCURRED IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO REVEALS A VAST DISPARITIES.

FAR MORE SHOOTINGS HAPPEN AND WHEN IS ARE BLACK AND LATINO PEOPLE LIVE.

KPBS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER GIVES US A CLOSER LOOK.

A WARNING, THE STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES.

>>> IN FEBRUARY 2014, SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER CHRIS DEL MIRANDA WAS SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT AT HENRY LOUIS GONZALES IS HOME.

SHE SAW HIM PULL OUT WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A SHINY OBJECT IN HIS WAISTBAND SO SHE SHOT HIM THREE TIMES.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE RINGS ON HIS FINGERS.

IN MAY OF 2016, USED BY THE ORIENTAL KILLER BOYS GANG.

SAN DIEGO POLICE OFFICERS CHASED IN THE SQUAD CAR AND THEN SHOT AND KILLED HIM.

THE SAME MONTH, MEMBERS OF THE GANG UNIT WERE DOING SURVEILLANCE AND AT A KNOWN GANG HOUSE AS SKYLIGHT DRIVE AND ENDED OUT ENDED UP IN A SHOOTOUT WITH THE SUSPECTS.

THIS TIME, NO ONE WAS KILLED.

THESE WERE AMONG SEVEN POLICE SHOOTINGS OVER SIX YEARS THAT HAPPENED IN THE 92114 ZIP CODE.

THE NUMBER OF CASES FITS INTO A LARGER CITYWIDE TREND ACCORDING TO A KPBS ANALYSIS OF ALMOST 150 SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT CASES IN WHICH OFFICERS USED FORCE THAT LED TO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES OR DEATH.

ALMOST 70% OF THE USE OF FORCE INCIDENCES OCCUR SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 8 AND ALMOST A QUARTER WERE IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO.

IN ADDITION TO ENCANTO, TO ZIP CODES WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS WERE LOGAN HEIGHTS, DOWNTOWN, AND CITY HEIGHTS.

>> EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY WRACKED DIFFERENTLY IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NORTH OF THE HAVE LESS BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WEALTHIER.

>> ALEXANDER WITH PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT SURPRISED BY THE NUMBERS.

>> IF THEY WERE TO TREAT PEOPLE IN LA JOLLA OR IN CLAREMONT OR CORONADO THE SAME WAY THEY WOULD BE IMMEDIATE REPERCUSSIONS TO THEIR ACTIONS.

>> POLICE SHOOTINGS ALMOST NEVER HAPPEN AND SEEN EAGLE COUNTY'S MOSTLY WHITE AND WEALTHY ENCLAVES.

CONSIDERED IN THE 15 YEAR PERIOD , THE COMBINED TOTAL IN LA JOLLA AND RANCHO SANTA FE WAS JUST THREE.

THAT'S FEWER THAN HALF AS MANY AS THERE WERE IN ENCANTO ALONE ACCORDING TO THE KPBS ANALYSIS.

OFFICIALS FROM THE SANTA GO POLICE DEPARTMENT DECLINED AN INTERVIEW REQUEST FOR THE STORY.

IN THE PAST CHIEF DAVID SAID THERE ARE MORE ARRESTS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLORS BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT'S DISCRIMINATION.

>> EVERYTHING DOES NOT HAPPEN ALONG THE DEMOGRAPHIC LINE.

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS YOU GOING TO HAVE DISPARITIES FOR THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT DISPARITY DOES NOT EQUAL DISCRIMINATION.

>> ALEXANDER SAYS HIGHER CRIME STATISTICS IN THE ZIP CODES DON'T JUSTIFY MORE USE OF FORCE.

>> THE IDEA THAT THERE'S MORE CRIME IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO THAN THERE IS IN LA JOLLA OR OTHER COMMUNITIES IS A MYTH.

WHAT YOU HAVE IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO AND THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE LARGER POLICE PRESENCE LOOKING FOR CRIME.

>> THE FEAR FACTOR AMONG POLICE OFFICERS MUST ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

THEY SAYS AND REELS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

>> I REALLY THINK WHAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO POLICE VIEW PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES?

DO THEY PRE-LABELED THEM AS GANG MEMBERS AND VIEW THEM AS DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT?

ARE THEY SCARED?

>> FIVE OF THE SEVEN PEOPLE SHOT BY POLICE DESCRIBED AS GANG MEMBERS OR ASSOCIATED WITH GANGS BEFORE THEY WERE SHOT.

ACCORDING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDS.

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, SAN DIEGO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUMMER STAFF AND ROLLED OUT A DE-ESCALATION TRAINING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING.

SAID IT'S VITAL.

>> THAT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE NOT CHECKING, WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

ALSO COLORING THE ABILITY TO MAKE INTELLIGENT DECISIONS.

>> THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN MORE DAMAGE SOUTH OF A COMMUNITIES AND ONE DE-ESCALATION TRAINING PROGRAM CAN FIX.

>> A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE AND IN AREAS THAT I LOVE AND LIVE IN.

I THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY SCARY.

FOLKS ARE SCARED OF THE POLICE.

THEY ARE SCARED OF LIVING IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> KPBS NEWS.

>>> TO SEARCH THE POLICE RECORDS AND SEE A MAP OF WHERE THESE INCIDENCES TOOK PLACE YOU CAN GO TO KPBS.ORG /POLICE RECORDS.

OUR THREE-PART SERIES CONTINUES TOMORROW WITH A LOOK AT POLICE CHASES.

>>> SAN DIEGO RESEARCHERS ELEVATING THE COMPLETION OF A MASSIVE NEW SIMULATION MACHINE THAT WILL HELP SCIENTISTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE OCEAN.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIC ANDERSON SHOWS US HOW IT WORKS.

>>> INSIDE THIS 120 FOOT LONG DEVICE, SAN DIEGO SCIENTIST WILL BE ABLE TO RE-CREATE CONDITIONS FOUND IN THE OPEN OCEAN.

AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO STUDY THEM.

>> AFFECT THE BIOLOGY TRIES THE CHEMISTRY.

CHEMISTRY IMPACTS THIS.

IT'S THIS BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLICATED SYSTEM.

>> DEANS HAS A SIMULATOR ALLOW SCIENTISTS TO TURN THE MINIATURE OCEAN ENVIRONMENT HOT, COLD, CALM OR STORMY AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MONITOR AND EXPLAIN HOW THE OCEAN SYSTEM IMPACTS THE PLANET.

>> SO WE DON'T KNOW IS HOW OUR BEHAVIOR AND CHOICES IS CHANGING THAT BOUNDARY.

>> A $4 MILLION SIMULATOR WILL GIVE RESEARCHERS A CHANCE TO STUDY HOW THE OCEAN INTERACTS WITH THE ATMOSPHERE.

THERE WAS SEE POLLUTION IMPACTS THE OCEAN'S ABILITY TO IMPACT CLOUDS THAT CAN REFLECT HEAT OR IF IT WILL CHANGE OCEAN PROCESSES.

>> IS A HUGE FEEDBACK BETWEEN THE OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO STUDY.

>> SCIENTIST WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE AND REDUCE WAVE AND WIND ACTION AND CAN DO IT IN A CLOSED SYSTEM THAT KEEPS UNWANTED ELEMENTS OUT.

SHE SAYS THAT'S THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING CHANGE IN THE WATER.

>> OUR OCEAN IS WARMING OUT HERE.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE HEALTH EFFECTS.

WE CAN DO ALL OF THAT IN THE SYSTEM.

>> ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WINS TURN OFF SHORE HERE BRIEFLY FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

THEY MAKE A RETURN AND ALONG WITH THAT, LITTLE BIT OF A WARM- UP.

THERE IS NO RAIN IN SIGHT.

SOMETHING WE KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON.

AS WE HEAD INTO TONIGHT TEMPERATURES FALL OFF INTO THE MID-40s FOR YOU IN OCEANSIDE AND WE GET DOWN TO THE LOW 40s RAMONA, 53 TOWARDS THE SPRINGS.

TUESDAY, TEMPERATURES ABOUT 5 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AGAIN AS THE HIGH WILL BE BUILDING AND THE WINDS WILL BE TURNING AS WE HEAD INTO TUESDAY, TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

TEMPERATURES FOR YOUR TUESDAY GETTING UP TO 72 FOR YOU IN OCEANSIDE 71 IN SAN DIEGO.

61 OUT TOWARDS MT.

LAGUNA.

MID-80s FOR YOU IN THE SPRINGS.

THE WINTER THE PICKUP AND BRING AN ELEMENT OF FIRE DANGER NORTH OF LOS ANGELES TO SAN DIEGO HERE.

GUSTS WILL BE 30 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR HERE.

THE RISK OF BLOWING DUST FOR YOU TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.

HE NOTICED THE WOMAN JUST A LITTLE BIT NEAR THE COAST WITH TEMPERATURES GETTING UP INTO THE MID-70s FOR YOU FOR YOUR WEDNESDAY AND THEN PULLING OFF INTO THE LOW 60s WHICH IS SEASONABLE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

FURTHER INLAND CONTENT SCOPE INTO THE IS FOR YOU TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND THEN HAUL BACK DOWN INTO THE UPPER 70s THURSDAY.

MID-70s FRIDAY AND THEN BACK INTO THE LOW 70s AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND NEXT SATURDAY.

06 IS FOR YOU TUESDAY AND 50s TO THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK CUTTING TO THE WEEKEND.

PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ON THE WAY.

NO REAL RAIN IN SIGHT HERE ANYTIME SOON.

IN THE DESERT, TEMPERATURES REALLY DON'T CHANGE A WHOLE LOT HERE, JUST A COUPLE OF DEGREES FROM TUESDAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH NEXT SATURDAY, GENERALLY SITTING IN THE LOW TO MID 80s OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.

FOR KPBS NEWS, METEOROLOGIST JESSICA PAST.

>>> STATE HOUSING OFFICIALS LOOKING FOR IDEAS AND HOW TO REDEVELOP TWO BLOCKS OF BLIGHTED PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO KPBS METRO REPORTER ANDREW SAYS THE GOAL IS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> THEY CURRENTLY HOUSE AN AGING BUILDING AND TWO DILAPIDATED BAKING BUILDINGS AND PARKING LOTS FOR THE STATE PUT OUT A CALL TO DEVELOPERS INTERESTED IN BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER AMENITIES ON THE SITES.

STEPHEN RUSSELL OF THE NONPROFIT HOUSING FEDERATION SAYS THE LARGE SIZE OF THE LOTS MAKES FOR ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES THAT COULD INCLUDE CHILDCARE OR A NEW PARK.

>> WOULD HAVE DONE IS CREATE A NEW LABORATORY FOR EXPERIMENTATION.

THIS IS THE MOST CREATIVE SET OF DEVELOPERS THAT ARE BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES WE CONSTANTLY FACE.

>> THE STATES REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABILITY.

RUSSELL SAYS THAT CAN SPARK CUTTING-EDGE IDEAS LIKE HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS MADE OUT OF REINFORCED TIMBER WHICH CAN LOWER CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THE BUILDINGS CARBON FOOTPRINT.

>> THOSE ARE TECHNIQUES NOT BEING USED WIDELY RIGHT NOW THAT TO GET THE POINT MAY STRETCH THEMSELVES TO TRY SOME EXPERIMENTS THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE TRY.

>> THE STATE HOPES TO ELECTIVE DEVELOPMENT TEAM BY NEXT MAY.

>> THE FIRST WORKDAY FOLLOWING THANKSGIVING.

THE NAME WAS SITUATED TO THE STATE BACK IN 2005 AND PEOPLE SHOT FOR ONLINE DEALS FROM THEIR WORK COMPUTERS BUT WITH THE SUPPLY AND CHAIN ISSUES MANY CONSUMERS SHOPPING IN BRICK-AND- MORTAR STORES AND SET UP ONLINE TO AVOID SHIPPING ISSUES.

CYBER SHOPPING IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO A WHOPPING $3 BILLION IN SALES THIS YEAR.

>>> MELONS OF AMERICANS LOST THEIR JOBS ARE INDEPENDENT BUT SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED, TOO.

MILLIONS MORE LEFT VOLUNTARILY.

IT'S BEEN CALLED THE GREAT RESIGNATION.

VANESSA YOUR COVERAGE REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IS SIMPLE TASK, SHE PICKS UP HER 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL.

SOMETHING SHE'S WAITED YEARS TO DO.

>> DO YOU RECALL HOW OFTEN YOU WERE ABLE TO PICK YOUR DAUGHTER UP FROM SCHOOL?

>> NEVER.

>> Reporter: THAT ALL CHANGED IN APRIL.

SHE QUIT HER 15 YEAR CAREER IN SALES TO BE HOME FULL TIME WITH HER KIDS.

>> I WAS WORKING ENDLESS HOURS AND TRAVELING A LOT.

>> OF COVID THAT I HAPPEN TO THINK WHO WOULD HAVE QUIT YOUR JOB?

HE WAS HAVING STILL BE THERE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> IS ONE OF MILLIONS QUITTING THE WORKFORCE IN RECENT MONTHS.

A RECORD 4.4 MILLION QUITS IN SEPTEMBER BEING CALLED THE GREAT RESIGNATION.

>> WE HAD SO MUCH TIME HE HAD TO SIT IN OUR HOMES AND SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE WE LIVE WITH AND JUST SHIFTING PRIORITIES.

>> SHE IS ONE OF 4.7 MILLION BUSINESS APPLICATIONS FILED FROM JANUARY THROUGH OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

THE 34% INCREASE FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD IN 2019.

SHE FOUNDED MONMOUTH MOMS, RESOURCE GUIDE FOR PARENTS.

>> ALLOWS ME TO TAKE OFF IF I NEED TO BRING MY KIDS TO THE DOCTOR OR OFFER MORE FLEXIBILITIES WHEN I CAN SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR THEM.

>> NOT JUST MOMS LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

AMERICANS ARE RETIRING IN GREATER NUMBERS, TOO.

>> WHAT ARE MY LOOKING UP BEHIND YOU GUYS ARE NOW?

>> THAT IS OUR RV.

>> GOT MARY RETIRED EARLY THIS SEPTEMBER I 57 AND 59 RESPECTIVELY.

A ROAD TRIPPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> PACKED UP, STRAPPED DOWN AND READY TO HEAD DOWN THE ROAD.

>> HE QUIT HIS FINANCE JOB AND MARY LEFT REAL ESTATE.

>> I SAID WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF WE DID IT NOW INSTEAD OF WAITING THREE MORE YEARS.

>> Reporter: 1.5 AMERICANS ON PACE TO RETIRE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND INSTEAD THAT NUMBER MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 3.6 MILLION.

>> JUST THAT THOUGHT OF WOULDN'T IT BE A TRAGEDY IF WE SPENT ALL THIS TIME WORKING FOR RETIREMENT AND THEN RIGHT NEAR THE FINISH LINE YOU CATCH A HORRIBLE DISEASE AND DIE IN NEVER GET TO ENJOY RETIREMENT.

>> THAT CAPITALIZE ON THE HOT HARZ HOUSING MARKET, SOLD THEIR HOME AND HIT THE ROAD.

>> HOW IS LIFE ON THE ROAD COMPARED TO THE JOBS HE LEFT BEHIND?

>> I WISH I COULD SAY WAS TOUGH BUT IT'S GREAT.

I DO NOT MISS AT ALL WORKING RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT WAS VANESSA REPORTING.

INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST FROM VOLUNTARY RESIGNATIONS ARE EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION, LEISURE, AND HOSPITALITY.

THE SAME SECTORS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING PEOPLE EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, DR. ANTHONY FAUCI WEIGHS IN ON A NEW COVID VARIANT SPREADING AROUND THE WORLD COMING UP A SEVEN TALK AFTER EVENING EDITION OF KPBS.

>>> IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN URGING AMERICANS TO GET VACCINATED IF THEY HAVE NOT YET IS A NEW POTENTIALLY MORE INFECTIOUS STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS EMERGES.

OMICRON HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN SOME TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AFTER IT WAS FIRST REPORTED LAST WEEK IN SOUTH AFRICA.

LOCALLY INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT UC SAN DIEGO ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE STRAIN.

>>> SAN DIEGO CITY EMPLOYEES COULD BE FIRED IF THEY REFUSED TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.

THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 8-1 TO APPROVE THE VACCINE MANDATE THAT WAS PROPOSED BY MAYOR TODD GLORIA.

POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES AMONG CITY WORKERS AT JUST UNDER 62%.

AND THE UNION TRIED TO BLOCK THE MANDE.

UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES CAN APPEAL DETERMINATION AND AFTER THAT IS EXHAUSTED, THEY CAN BE OFFICIALLY FIRED AS SOON AS JANUARY.

>>> A LEGAL SETBACK FOR SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS VACCINATION MANDE, TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST A STUDENT 16 AND UP COULD RECEIVE THE FIRST DOSE IN ORDER TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY THE START OF THE SPRING SEMESTER.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT GRANTED AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION TO STOP THE MANDE ON BEHALF OF HIS AND CLAIMING A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WHAT WORD WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO DEFINE THE YEAR 2021?

MERRIAM-WEBSTER MADE THE PIC WITH THE WORD SEEMINGLY ON EVERYONE'S MINDS THESE DAYS, THAT WORD YOU MIGHT HAVE GUESSED, IS VACCINE.

THE PUBLISHER ANNOUNCED THE WORD OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE DISCUSSIONS BOTH FOR AND AGAINST THAT INSPIRES ONLINE SEARCHES FOR THE WORD HAVE JUMPED MORE THAN 600% SINCE LAST YEAR.

AND LAST YEAR MIRIAM WEBSTER PICKED ANOTHER RELATED WORD, THAT WORD WAS PANDEMIC.

YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORY AND HER WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, GOOD NIGHT.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR.

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR.

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

AND BY THE CONRAD CREVICE FOUNDATION.

DARLING MARCO SHYLY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.