>>> MAJOR IF YOU HAVING FOR "KPBS EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANY, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR RESTORATION, PLUS REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM AND BY THE CONRAD PREVIS FOUNDATION, DARLENE, MARCO AND SHYLY AND BY THE FOLLOWING AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

.

>> AN ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPERATION DURING COMIC-COM LED TO MORE THAN A DOZEN ARRESTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M JOHN CAR ROLL IN FOR MAYA.

KPBS REPORTER KATIE ANASTAS SAYS THEY'RE CALLING FOR HELP.

>> Reporter: AUTHORITIES SEE LARGE EVENTS LIKE COMIC-COM AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> COMIC-COM BRINGS OVER 100,000 VISITORS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT, MOST HERE TO ENJOY THE SIGHTS OF SAN DIEGO AS WELL AS THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONVENTION, HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO SAN DIEGO WHO ARE SEEKING TO ENGAGE IN COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY.

>> Reporter: AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION LED TO THE ARREST OF 14 PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO PURCHASE SEX.

10 POTENTIAL VICTIMS WERE FOUND AND OFFERED SERVICES.

ONE IS 16 YEARS OLD.

OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATES FROM THE U.S. AND MEXICO GATHERED IN CHULA VISTA TODAY TO DISCUSS HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THEY SAY THEY NEED THE PUBLIC'S HELP TO STOP IT.

>> SINCE JANUARY OF 2024, THE TASK FORCE HAS RECEIVED 86 LEADS, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN 52 VICTIMS RECOVERED, 20 OF THOSE BEING JUVENILES AND 104 ARRESTS.

>> Reporter: OWENS SAYS THERE ARE SIGNS OF TRAFFICKING TO WATCH OUT FOR IN CHILDREN.

>> THESE INCLUDE RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME, TRUANCY, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN SCHOOL OR A SUDDEN DROP IN GRADES, A CHANGE IN THEIR FRIEND GROUPS OR ALIENATION FROM LONG-TIME FRIENDS, EVEN RUMORS AMONG PEERS, A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ATTITUDE AND ATTIRE.

>> Reporter: WITH WEIGHT LOSS, BRUISES AND THE USE OF MULTIPLE CELL PHONES ARE OTHER SIGNS.

REPORTING LIVE FOR "KPBS NEWS."

>> THE LARGEST POLICE CENTER SWAP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND RUSSIA SINCE THE COLD WAR HAS OFFICIALLY TAKEN PLACE.

AMONG THE PRISONERS ARE A NUMBER OF AMERICANS INCLUDING A "WALL STREET JOURNAL" REPORTER AND A FORMER U.S. MARINE.

LAURA AGUIRRE BRINGS US THE LATEST.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE FREE.

"WALL STREET JOURNAL" REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH AND FORMER U.S. MARINE PAUL WHELAN ARE SAFELY IN U.S. CARE RELEASED AS PART OF THE LARGEST PRISONER SWAP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND RUSSIA SINCE THE COLD WAR.

IN ALL SEVEN COUNTRIES AND 24 DETAINEES WERE INVOLVED IN THE COMPLEX EXCHANGE.

AT THAT TIME WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS JOINED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE HOSTAGES' FAMILIES.

>> MULTIPLE COUNTRIES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS AND AT MY REQUEST, SO IF ALLIES MATTER IS QUESTIONED, THEY DO.

THEY MATTER.

>> Reporter: FOR WHELAN, HIS RELEASE ENDS MORE THAN FIVE YEARS IN A RUSSIAN HARD LABOR COLONY AFTER BEING CONVICTED FOR ESPIONAGE.

GERSHKOVICH WAS RECENTLY SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN RUSSIA AND THEY SAID THE U.S.

PRISONERS WERE DEEMED WRONGLY DETAINED AND AMONG THEM A COLONEL AND THE HIGHEST DEMANDED PRISONER FROM VLADIMIR PUTIN.

>> THIS IS A GUY THAT KILLED SOMEONE IN A BERLIN MARK IN 2019.

HE'S AN PRAYER PRATER.

>> THIS WILL BE A LEGACY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> WE STAND FOR FREEDOM, LIBERTY, FOR JUSTICE, NOT ONLY FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE BUT FOR OTHERS, AS WELL, AND THAT'S WHY ALL AMERICANS CAN TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE ACHIEVED TODAY.

>> Reporter: REPORTING LIVE FOR "KPBS NEWS."

>> THERE ARE SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE HIGH GROUND WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORM CHANCES LINGER WITH THE CURRENT PATTERN EVEN TONIGHT EVEN AT TIMES A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE COAST.

THE TEMPS WILL GET DOWN TO 62, Mt.

LAGUNA, 80 IN BORREGO SPRINGS WITH AN EXCESS HEAT WATCH FOR THE INTERIOR DESERTS.

WE'LL TELL YOU HOW HIGH WE GO IN JUST A BIT.

THERE IS AN EXTREME WARNING FOR SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES THIS WEEKEND.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AMID ANOTHER YEAR OF RECORD BREAKING TEMPERATURES AND WE SPOKE TO ONE HEAT EXPERT ABOUT HOW TO STAY SAFE THIS WEEKEND.

>> Reporter: THERE'S BEEN A GROWING AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF EXTREME HEAT IN NORTH AMERICA.

IN 2001 2021, THE CLIMATE CHRIS ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON AND MORE INTENSE, SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ALL OF US, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO STAY SAFE?

>> USUALLY IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS SOMEBODY AT RISK.

STAY IN A COOL SPACE AND LIMIT YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND TO DRINK A LOT OF WATER.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY AND SAYS CERTAIN PEOPLE NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL LIKE THOSE WITH DIABETES OR HEART AND LUNG CONDITIONS AND PREGNANT PEOPLE AND YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> IF YOU DON'T SEE YOURSELF AS A SUSCEPTIBLE INDIVIDUAL, JUST BE CAREFUL A BECAUSE HEAT AFFECTS EVERYONE.

>> Reporter: SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS SO MOIST OR PALE SKIN, DIZZINESS OR CONFUSION.

IF YOU START NOTICING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, TRY TO FIND A LOCAL COOLING CENTER OR SOMEWHERE WITH COOL AIR.

EVERY HEAT DEATH IS PREVENTABLE.

>> THE SUMMER SEASON BROUGHT A SURGE OF COVID CASES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THE CDC SAYS TWO VARIANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE CASES.

WASTE WATER TESTING PUTS CALIFORNIA AS ONE OF THE EIGHT STATES IN THE VERY HIGH CATEGORY FOR VIRAL ACTIVITY.

IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, DATA SHOWS THE TEST POSITIVITY RATES SKYROCKETED IN JUNE TO THE BEGINNING OF LAST WEEK.

>> IF YOU'RE AT RISK, LIKE WITH DIABETES, HEART DISEASE THAT PUT YOU AT RISK, THINK TWICE ABOUT GOING TO LARGE GATHERINGS AND POTENTIALLY BE WITH OTHERS THAT MAY CARRY THE DISEASE, WEAR A MASK.

>> IT'S WORTH NOTING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE LOWER ITALIAN THE WINTER SURGE AND WELL BELOW THE PEAK DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT DOCTORS SAY GETTING A VACCINE BOOSTER IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY AHEAD OF NEW STRAINS THAT EMERGE.

>> SAN DIEGO'S VISITORS TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH BEGINS TODAY AND WE TELL THE STORY OF ONE PILLAR OF SAN DIEGO'S TRANS COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN THAT BEGAN TRANSITIONING IN THE 1960s, THIS IS A RARITY.

FEW LIVED PUBLICLY THEN AND FEW HAVE SURVIVED.

SHE GREW UP IN St. LOUIS.

>> MY CHILDHOOD WAS FANTASTIC.

THE ONLY THING THAT WAS LACKING IS THE AFFIRMING OF MY GENDER BECAUSE I FELT DIFFERENT FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY LIFE.

>> Reporter: TRANS WASN'T A WORD YET.

SHE JUST FELT FEMALE.

WHEN SHE WOULD ACT ON IT, ADULTS WERE REPRIMAND HER AND KIDS WOULD BULLY HER, BUT HER HIGHER POWER GAVE HER A GLIMMER OF AFFIRMATION.

>> THERE IS A WORLD AMERICAN CARNIVAL WITH THESE SIDESHOWS, AND ON THE SIDESHOWS, THEY HAD THE SHAKE DANCERS THAT WERE SCANTLY CLAD WOMEN -- AND THERE WAS THIS ONE PERSON.

NOT REALLY AN IMPERSONATOR BUT A CONNECTION.

HER NAME WAS GRETA GARLAND.

I'LL NEVER FORGET HER NAME, AND I SAW ME.

>> Reporter: AS A TEEN, SHE FOUND A LIBRARY BOOK OF ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO SUCCESSFULLY UNDERGO GENDER AFFIRMATION SURGERY.

>> I FOUND IT, AND I STOLE IT, AND I BROUGHT IT HOME AND PUT IT UNDER MY BED.

>> Reporter: AND SHE SHOT UP TO 6'3".

>> I DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE AVERAGE CHICK ON THE STREET AND PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S HAPPENED ALL MY LIFE, YOU KNOW.

>> Reporter: AT 19, SHE MOVED SOMEWHERE THAT FELT FREER.

>> IT WAS LIKE A UTOPIA, THE EARLY 70s, THE HIPPIE AREA, THE FREE LOVE AREA, AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN, SO SO MUCH FUN.

>> Reporter: FUN BUT TOUGH.

SHE LIVED UNHOUSED IN THE TENDERLOIN DISTRICT AND BECAME ADDICTED TO DRUGS.

>> I FOUND PEOPLE LIKE ME AND WHAT I FOUND WAS PROSTITUTION AND HUSTLERS, WHAT I FOUND WAS A STAGE IN A BAR.

>> Reporter: FEW BUSINESSES WOULD HIRE OPENLY TRANS WOMEN THERE AND SEX WORK WAS A COMMON WAY TO SURVIVE.

>> I CAME TO SAN DIEGO IN THE EARLY 80s BECAUSE --.

>> Reporter: SHE WAS 31, STILL UNHOUSED AND ADDICTED AND SHE SAYS HER TROUBLE IMMOBILIZED HER.

>> IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, WE WOULD GO IN THE STORES TO STEALS BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN POINT, I WOULDN'T MAKE TWO DOLLARS.

>> Reporter: AFTER A DOZEN PETTY THEFT TICKETS AND PROSTITUTION CHARGES, SHE FOUND HERSELF IN THE SAN DIEGO JAIL, SECTION 2D.

>> THAT'S THE CLEANS TANK WHERE THE TRANSGENDER GIRLS AND GAY BOYS ARE HOUSED.

>> Reporter: A WOMAN THERE TOLD HER ABOUT AN LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR LGBT -- AND INTERVIEWED FOR JOBS.

>> SO I WAS AFRAID.

>> Reporter: IT WAS STILL A DEAD END.

>> THEY SENT ME LETTERS THAT IN NO SPECIFIC TERMS WOULD THEY ENTERTAIN A THOUGHT OF HIRING PEOPLE WITH YOUR BACKGROUND.

I WAS DEVASTATED.

I WAS DEVASTATED.

>> Reporter: SO SHE FOUND A PLACE THAT WOULD EMPLOY HER, AN HIV CARE HOME.

>> THE GIRL I WAS IN JAIL WITH CAME THERE, AND I WAS WITH THEM WHEN THEY PASSED AWAY.

>> Reporter: SHE LEANED ON HER COMMUNITY AND BENT HER ARC IN A NEW DIRECTION AND ATTENDED CITY COLLEGE ASK BECAME AN ALCOHOL AND DRUM COUNSELOR AND MODELED FOR A FLYER SHE DEVELOPED WITH A AIDS FOUNDATION TO REACH SEX WORKERS.

CONSULTED TO TORNADO CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION TO IMPROVE POLICIES FOR TRANS PEOPLE AND BECAME A CASE WORKER FOR FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES.

WHAT HAS KEPT YOU GOING FOR SO LONG WITHOUT BURNING OUT?

>> I HAVE BURNED OUT, I DID.

I'M ON A MISSION -- I'M ON A MISSION.

I DON'T WANT ANY OTHER TRANS OR NON-BINARY OR ANYONE WHO IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TO EVER FEEL OR GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH.

>> Reporter: THIS MONTH, SHE'LL ATTEND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR CHILD WOULD SAY IF SHE SAW YOU NOW?

>> SHE WOULD BE ECSTATIC.

YOU DID IT GIRL.

>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE SAYS INTEREST RATES WILL HOLD STEADY FOR NOW, BUT THEY'VE ALSO SIGNALLED A CUT COULD BE COMING SOON.

MANY ECONOMISTS PREDICT A RATE CUT COULD COME AS EARLY AS SEPTEMBER.

JENN SULLIVAN LOOKS AT THE INDICATORS POLICYMAKERS LOOK AT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD LOWER RATES.

>> Reporter: YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE PRICE OF MANY THINGS THAT YOU BUY HAVE GONE UP, BUT THOSE PRICE HIKES ARE COOLING, AND WHILE IT'S GREAT NEWS FOR CONSUMERS, IT ALSO MEANS THE FEDERAL RESERVE COULD SOON BE LOWERING INTEREST RATES.

CURRENT RATES ARE RAT A 23 YEAR HIGH.

>> PEOPLE PAID INFLATION AND IN THEIR LIVING MEMORY HAVEN'T HAD TO DEAL WITH REALLY STRONG INFLATION IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> Reporter: WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL RESERVE LOOK AT IN DETERMINING TO CUT RATES?

ONE IS THE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES INDEX, AND THEY MEASURE HOW MUCH U.S.

HOUSEHOLDS ARE PAYING FOR --.

>> Reporter: THE LATEST DATA RELEASED LAST WEEK SHOWS IT SLOWED 2.5% IN JUNE FROM A YEAR EARLIER, WHICH IS CLOSER TO THE 2.INFLATION GOAL THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE WANTS TO SEE BEFORE LOWERING RATES.

ANOTHER INDICATOR THE FED LOOKS AT IS THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX THAT MEASURES THE AVERAGE PRICE CHANGES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

IN JUNE, MONTH TO MONTH, PRICES FELL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY ALSO LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

>> WE GET WEEKLY DATA FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT FILE CLAIMS TO RECEIVE ANYMORE INSURANCE SO THAT IS TIMELY.

>> Reporter: THE GOOD NEWS IS MOST ECONOMISTS PREDICT SHOW THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL LIKELY LOWER RATES IN THE FALL.

>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE TO LOOSEN POLICIES IN SEPTEMBER.

>> Reporter: FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I'M JENN SULLIVAN.

>> COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS ARE SET TO TAKE OFF FROM PALOMAR AIRPORT ONCE AGAIN.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE AIRPORT AND NORTH KATHY'S ECONOMY.

>> Reporter: SOON, THERE WILL BE MORE DEPARTURES, MORE ARRIVALS AND REUNIONS AT PALOMAR AIRPORTS.

AMERICAN AIRLINES WILL OFFER DAILY FLIGHTS FROM PHOENIX TO SUNDAE IN THE COUNTY AIRPORT.

>> IT MEANS INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR THE AIRPORT IN THE REGION.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF AIRPORTS, AND HE SAYS THE AVIATION INDUSTRY SUPPORTS ABOUT 2600 JOBS AT PALOMAR AIRPORT.

>> IT ALSO MEANS GIVING PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO FLY FROM THEIR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF TRAVELLING TO ORANGE COUNTY JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT OR DOWN TO SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL TO BE IN THEIR TRAVELS, SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH COUNTY.

>> Reporter: AMERICAN WILL OFFER TWO OUTBOUND TO PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE FLIGHTS WILL BE OPERATED UNDER THE AMERICAN EAGLE BRAND.

IN A STATEMENT AMERICAN AIRLINES SAYS THE NEW SERVICE WILL PROVIDE CONVENIENT ONE-STOP SERVICE TO DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. AND MEXICO.

>> I ESTIMATE THAT FOR EVERY TIME THAT PLANE LANDS, IT ADDS ABOUT $300,000 TO THE OVERALL REGIONAL ECONOMY.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

HE SAYS THE PHOENIX IS AN AMERICAN AIRLINE HUB, SO THESE NEW DAILY FLIGHTS WILL BE A BOOM FOR TOURNAMENT.

>> SO A DIRECT FEW FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF PALOMAR THAT SERVE KEY MARKETS FOR OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY LIKE LAS VEGAS, LIKE THE PHOENIX AREA, PERHAPS THE BAY AREA, IT'S JUST GOOD FOR DRIVING OVERALL VISITOR SPENDING IN THE NORTH COUNTY.

>> Reporter: BUT FIRST, PALOMAR WILL NEED TO UPDATE ITS INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE TO GO THROUGH SECURITY SCREENING IN PALOMAR AIRPORT, BUT WITH COMMERCIAL AIRLINES RETURNING, SO TOO WILL THE TSA AND BEEFED UP SECURITY.

THE LAST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT OUT OF PALOMAR WAS IN 2015, AND THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY AGENCY HAD REMOVED ALL OF THE SCREENING EQUIPMENT.

>> SO WE FORMALLY HAD TO REQUEST TO BRING THE EQUIPMENT BACK AND THE PERSONNEL BACK TO PALOMAR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE SCREENING FOR THE AMERICAN FLIGHTS.

>> Reporter: CURRENTLY, JSX AN ADVANCED AIRLINES OFFER PASSENGER FLIGHTS FROM PALOMAR AND OPERATE UNDER A DIFFERENT AVIATION LICENSE AND DO NOT REQUIRE TSA SCREENINGS.

FLIGHTS FROM AMERICAN ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE OFF STARTING FEBRUARY 13th.

ALEXANDER WYNN, "KPBS NEWS."

>> FIREFIGHTERS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE STILL WORKING TO CONTAIN WHAT'S NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST WILDFIRES IN STATE HISTORY, AND IT'S STILL GROWING.

THE PARK FIRE HAS BURNED MORE THAN 393,000 ACRES, AWAY FROM THE TOP FOUR SPOT BY 4,000 ACRES.

ONE FAMILY THAT LOST THEIR HOME IN THE FIRE HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

HERE'S THE STORY.

>> WHEN YOU'RE A KID AND MY HOUSE WILL BURN DOWN AND IT'S GOING TO BURN DOWN AGAIN.

LIKE, WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT.

>> Reporter: FOR CHRISTY AND MICHAEL, LOSING THEIR HOME IN THE 2018 CAMPFIRE WAS SOMETHING THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH.

LAST WEEK, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE SAME NIGHTMARE ALL OVER AGAIN.

CHRISTY RECORDING THE MOMENTS SHE REALIZED SHE MAY NEVER SEE HER HOME AGAIN.

>> [ BLEEP ] ONCE I SAW WHAT THE SKY LOOKED LIKE, WE'RE NOT COMING HOME.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY IT TOOK SEVEN HOURS TO EVACUATE MAKING A TRIP INTO TOWN THAT TYPICALLY ONLY TAKES 20 MINUTES.

THEIR HOUSE, ALONG WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS' THREE HOMES, ALL LEVELLED.

>> HOW DO WE REBUILD OUR LIVES, AGAIN, FROM THE GROUND UP?

YOU KNOW, YOU THINK YOU HAVE A HOUSE.

YOUR GRANDKIDS ARE GOING TO COME AND ENJOY THE HOUSE IN THE FUTURE AND ONCE AGAIN, IT'S JUST GONE.

>> Reporter: THE INSURANCE CRISIS SPAWNED BY THE CAMPFIRE LEAVES THEM MORE AT A DISADVANTAGE.

>> BY THE THIRD SUMMER OF GETTING INSURANCE, IT WAS SO UNATTAINABLE FOR US AND UNAFFORDABLE, IT FELT AS IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE A MORTGAGE PAYMENT JUST FOR OUR INSURANCE, IT'S JUST HARD TO FATHOM HOW MUCH MONDAY YOU SPEND TO SAVE SOMETHING AND LOSE IT ANYWAY.

>> Reporter: THE MOUNTAINOUS BEAUTY IS WHAT LED THEM HERE BUT SOMETHING THEY SAY WILL RETHINK.

>> I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE BUYING IN THE MOUNTAINS AGAIN.

I THINK IT'S JUST A LITTLE TOO SCARY.

>> Reporter: DESPITE EVERYTHING, THEY MAINTAIN A SENSE OF OPTIMISM.

THE LOSS OF THEIR HOME WASN'T THE BIGGEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO THEM THAT WEEK.

>> WE EVACUATED, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING, OUR DAUGHTER WENT INTO LABOR, THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER THAT GAVE BIRTH TO OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD.

>> MAYBE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THESE DATES, WE WILL THINK OF OUR GRANDSON BEING BORN.

>> A GoFundMe HAS BEEN SET UP TO HELP CHRISTY AND MICHAEL.

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME HEAT, AND WE STILL HAVE SOME SPOTTY THUNDERSTORMS AROUND WITH A DIMINISHING CHANCE AS WE STEP INTO FRIDAY, BUT /SHRAáED SLED AND ISOLATED AND INTO THE WEEKEND, WE'LL SEE THE TEMPERATURES RISE A BIT AND SPOTTY THUNDERSTORM, THE BEST CHANCE FOR A ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WILL BE OVER THE INTERIOR AND HIGH GROUND.

TOMORROW, THERE'S STILL A CHANCE FOR AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO HERE IN THE AREAS OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THIS PLOTTED IN Mt.

LAGUNA BUT NOT AS LIKELY ON THE COASTLINE AND OVERALL INTO SATURDAY.

THIS IS BENEFICIAL.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE LARGE FIRES, THE PARK FIRE UP TO THE NORTH.

THE ISOLATED STORMS CAN BE KIND OF A TWO-EDGE SWORD.

THEY CAN LEAD TO ERATIC WINDS THAT CAN FAN THE FLAMES AND CAUSE UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR THE FIRE CREWS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, WE HAVE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO BRING LIGHTNING STRIKES IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE STORMS THAT CAN TRIGGER NEW FIRES, SO A GOOD AND BAD OPPOSED TO ONE ANOTHER WITH COMPETING FACTORS WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CELEBRATE OR NOT WHEN THERE'S WILDFIRES OUT THERE.

ISOLATED STORMS IN THE INTERIOR TOMORROW, AND THEN WE EXPECT TO BE DRY.

I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE MUCH AROUND HERE IN THE LOCAL RADAR SCAN FOR THE WEEKEND, BUT THE EXCESS HEAT WATCH WILL BE HERE FOR THE INTERIOR DESERT, STEAMY OUT THERE.

THE HIGHS ARE WARM AND A LITTLE HUMID SO THE DEW POINTS WILL BE UP A BIT COMPARED TO WHERE WE HAVE BEEN DESPITE THE TEMPERATURES SURGING INLAND, HIGHS OF 94 ON SATURDAY AND 94 ON MONDAY AND THE VARIATION THERE.

THE ISOLATED STORMS BECOME LESS LIKELY THIS WEEKEND, AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY WARM IF NOT DOWNRIGHT HOT SURGING INTO 113 IN THE DESERTS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

THE HEAT BACKS OFF JUST A SMIDGE FOR THE WEEK.

>> IMAGINE WALKING INTO A HOUSE AND SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT BUT IT'S DISORIENTING, AND IT'S BUILT THAT WAY FOR THE UNUSUAL THING AROUND IN ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: A CUTE PLACE IN LA JOLLA, AND IN THE FRONT YARD, THERE IS MARY DOING SOME GARDENING OUTSIDE THIS CAPE COD LOOKING HOUSE AS SWEET AS CAN BE, ALL THE TOUCHES OF HOME, BUT CAN I SAY THERE'S SOMETHING VERY ODD ABOUT THIS HOUSE?

CAN YOU SEE, IT'S TILTED OR MISALIGNED.

>> YES, MY SISTER WON'T COME IN, SO SOME PEOPLE -- IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY TO SOME DEGREE.

>> Reporter: IT IS.

IT'S TILTED, THE WALLS, THE FLOOR AND THE FURNITURE, EVERYTHING IS AT AN ANKLE AND THE MINUTE YOU WALK IN, IT'S SERIOUS VERTIGO AND MARY HAD IT BUILT THIS WAYS JUST ON PURPOSE.

>> THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER FIRST SAID WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT THE IDEA, THAT'S PRETTY PREPOSTEROUS IDEA.

>> Reporter: A HOUSE THAT WOULD BE DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO BE DISORIENTING PUT TOGETHER TO PLAY TRICKS ON YOUR MIND.

>> WHEN I LOOK AT YOU OVER HERE WITH A DOOR THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, YOU LOOK VERY TALL, AND IF I STAND UP HERE, I LOOK A LOT SHORTER, I'LL BET.

>> Reporter: WELL THEY SAID, WE CAN BUILD IT.

WE'RE PIONEER ENGINEERS, AND WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT, AND THEY DID ALL FOR THE SAKE OF ART.

THEY BUILT IT AND HOISTED IT SEVEN STORIES HIGH WHERE IT HANGS OVER THE JACOB SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AT UCSD AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT ANYWHERE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF "THE WIZARD OF OZ" ARRIVING HERE BY TORNADO.

>> IT'S CALLED THE FALLEN STAR, UNCONVENTIONAL HARD IN THE ACADEMIC COURTYARD TO BRUCE ENVELOPE MAN -- >> WE HAD A STUDENT UP HERE, AND THE STUDENT SAID WHAT USDSSD DOESN'T HAVE A AND.

>> TEAM.

>> Reporter: MARY IS A DIRECTOR OF THE STEWART COLLECTION AND SAID THIS WAS INSPIRED BY A KOREAN ARTIST WHO CAME TO THE U.S. TO STUDY DESIGN AND FELT DISORIENTATION FROM HIS HOME LIKE HE WAS DROPPED FROM THE SKY, SO HE SKETCHED OUT THE IDEA FOR THIS HOUSE.

MARY TOOK IT FROM THERE.

>> WE WANTED IT TO FEEL COMFY AND COZY BUT A LITTLE OFFPUTTING.

>> Reporter: YOUNG KIDS SOMETIMES WANT TO KNOW DOES SHE LIVE HERE?

SHE TELLS THEM NO, AND HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE COULD.

THE ONLY STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN IN THE HOUSE IS THE HANGING CHANDELIER, AND THAT LOOKS PLUMB CROOKED.

SO HERE'S TO MR. DOHASA AND THE LATE STATION AND MARY BEEBE FOR A FASCINATING ARTISTIC CREATION.

MAYBE FALLEN STAR DIDN'T DROP FROM THE SKY, BUT WE'RE HAPPY IT LANDED HERE FOR IT'S SOMETHING QUITE UNIQUE ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE STORIES ABOUT SAN DIEGO, THE HALF HOUR SHOW CAN BE SEEN HERE AT 8:00 ON KPBS.

YOU CAN FIND OUR STORIES ON KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M -- JOHN CAROL.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

AND BY THE CONRAD PRESENT ADVICE PREVIS FOUNDATION, DARR DARLENE, MARCO AND SHYLY AND BY THE FOLLOWING AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.