>>> SOME POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS WILL NOT LET ME OUT OF A JOB BY THE END OF THE MONTH HE MAY BE FORCED TO MOVE OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE UC SAN DIEGO WORKERS SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT.

THE NEW YEAR BRINGS A THREAT OF DEPORTATION FOR SOME INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS.

MG PEREZ HAS FOLLOWED THE CONFLICT WHICH NOW COULD LEAD TO FAMILIES BEING SEPARATED.

>> Reporter: -- OR JUST WEEKS AWAY FROM BEING FORCED OUT OF THE U.S. WITH THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF LEAVING FAMILY BEHIND.

>> IT JUST FEELS VERY CHALLENGING TO LIVE SEPARATELY FOR MY HUSBAND.

WE LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH.

>> I HAVE A 30 DAY GRACE PERIOD.

I HAVE TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY IN 30 DAYS.

I JUST HAD A NEW BABY.

HOW AM I GOING TO TAKE MY BABY BACK >> Reporter: BOTH ARE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY AS LONG AS THEY ARE EMPLOYED IN THEIR POSTDOCTORAL JOBS.

IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH AT UC SAN DIEGO.

BOTH SAID THEY HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.

AS MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMIC WORKERS UNION THEY BELIEVE THEIR CONTRACTS REQUIRE AT LEAST A TWO-YEAR ASSIGNMENT.

-- HAS BEEN A RESEARCHER YEAR.

SHE WAS TOLD THERE IS NO MORE FUNDING FOR HER POSITION.

SOMETHING SHE SAID IS NOT TRUE.

>> I WAS INFORMED THERE ARE STILL 4 TO 5 MONTHS OF FUNDING LEFT.

BUT MY SUPERVISOR REFUSED TO USE IT TO RENEW MY CONTRACT.

OR TO GIVE ME A TEMPORARY POSITION SO I CAN HAVE SOME TIME TO FIND MY NEXT POSITION.

>> Reporter: HER HUSBAND IS ALSO ON A STUDENT VISA FINISHING UP A PHD PROGRAM NEXT SUMMER.

SHE WILL HAVE TO RETURN TO CHINA SHE DOESN'T GET HER JOB BACK WHILE HE REMAINS.

THEY BOTH WILL HAVE TO LEAVE STUDENT HOUSING BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

-- HAS A TWO-MONTH-OLD BABY GIRL WITH HIS WIFE.

THE COUPLE WOULD HAVE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME IN INDIA BUT THE INFANT IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

HE WAS TOLD HE WAS OUT OF A JOB WHILE ON PATERNITY LEAVE.

>> THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY.

>> Reporter: THE UNIVERSITY'S ADMINISTRATION HAS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OVER THE FATE OF ACADEMIC WORKERS.

BUT POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THEIR PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR.

WHAT THEY SAY GOES.

THE UNIVERSITY FOLLOWS WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE OTHER SCHOLARS FACING DEPORTATION.

IN DECEMBER USING MEMBERS PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE UC SAN DIEGO CANCER CENTER WHERE -- IS A CANCER RESEARCHER AND A THREE- TIME CANCER SURVIVOR.

>> IT'S OUR VIEW THE UNIVERSITY DOES NOT WANT US TO IMPLEMENT THIS CONTRACT THAT THEY SIGNED.

SO OUR POSITION IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND MAKE SURE EVERY WORKER GETS THE RIGHTS THEY DESERVE.

>> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO U.S. SAN DIEGO.

A SPOKESPERSON SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US TODAY AND THEY DID NOT.

LEAVING THESE INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES WONDERING WHAT THE NEW YEAR WILL BRING.

>>> SAN DIEGO IS GETTING ANOTHER TASTE OF BIG OCEAN WAVES THIS WEEK.

ERIK ANDERSON SAID SEVERAL FACTORS ARE FEEDING THE HEAVY WINTER SURF.

>> Reporter: THE WAVES WERE NOT WASHING OVER THE SEA WALL IN THIS POOL BUT THEY WERE BIG ENOUGH TO DELIGHT -- -- WAS VISITING FROM ANNAPOLIS TAKING IN THE SIGHTS.

>> LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL WAVES COMING IN A NICE FORMATION.

THE WAVES ARE COMING IN AND HITTING THE SEAWALL FROM THE POOL.

>> Reporter: THE RUGGED SHORELINE ATTRACTED LOCALS AND VISITORS WHO CAME FOR THE SHOW.

A WARMER THAN USUAL OCEAN IS RAISING SEA LEVELS A BIT.

THE WAVES CRASHING INTO THE SAN DIEGO COAST ACTUALLY ORIGINATED FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

>> WE HAVE THE EL NINO STORM ACTIVITY IN THE PACIFIC THAT CREATES THESE POWERFUL WAVES ACROSS THE OCEAN AND CONDOR COAST.

ON TOM OF A SOMEWHAT ELEVATED SEA LEVEL IN COMBINATION WE ARE SINGING SOME OF THE LARGEST TILE SWINGS OF THE YEAR.

>> Reporter: A RESEARCH BOY HAS RECORDED SOME OF THE STRONGEST WAVE ACTION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE COAST WAS PUMMELED IN 1983, ANOTHER EL NINO YEAR.

>> THAT WAS A WINTER WHEN A LOT OF THE STRUCTURES ALONG THE WEST COAST WERE DAMAGED.

A LOT OF SEDIMENT AND EROSION.

>> Reporter: THE WAVES WERE SO POWERFUL THEY BROUGHT DOWN THE SANTA MONICA PIER STRUCTURE.

>> THIS WINTER IS GETTING A LITTLE SAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU GET SYSTEMS LIKE THAT.

SO FAR NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE SAW DURING THAT WINTER.

>> Reporter: ALL THE CONDITIONS THAT CAME TOGETHER IN 1983 TO MAKE THE BIG WAVES IN THE EVENTS THIS WEEK WILL BECOME MORE FREQUENT AS THE PLANET AND THE TEMPERATURE WARMS.

>>> COMING UP TONIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL BE CHILLY DOWN INTO THE 40s.

WE WILL BE BRIEFLY HOLDER BEFORE A LITTLE BIT OF A WARM- UP AND THEN SHORTLY COLDER CONDITIONS IN RAIN AND SNOW ON THE WAY.

THE DETAILS ARE COMING UP.

>>> THE MAN WHO BRIBED NAVY OFFICERS OVER TWO DECADES THEN ESCAPE FROM HOUSE ARREST IN SAN DIEGO LAST YEAR IS BACK IN COURT TODAY.

ANDREW DYER WAS AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE DOWNTOWN.

>> Reporter: FORMER NAVY CONTRACTOR IS BACK IN SAN DIEGO AFTER GOING ON THE LAMB BEFORE HE COULD BE SENTENCED FOR BRIBERY.

FRANCES WAS IN THIS COURTHOUSE TODAY.

HIS ATTORNEY TOLD THE JUDGE THEY WOULD NO LONGER REPRESENT THE FORMER BUSINESSMAN.

HE WAS ARRESTED IN A SAN DIEGO HOTEL IN 2013 AND PLEADED GUILTY TO BRIBERY IN 2015.

HIS SENTENCING WAS POSTPONED WHILE HE HELPED PROSECUTORS BUILD CASES AGAINST DOZENS OF NAVY OFFICERS.

THAT CHANGED AFTER THE CASE AGAINST SEVERAL FORMER FLEET OFFICERS FELL APART AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT LED TO THEIR CONVICTIONS BEING OVERTURNED.

FRANCIS ALLEGEDLY CUT OFF HIS ANKLE MONITOR AND WALKED OUT OF THE HOME HE WAS RENTING.

HE FLED TO MEXICO FIRST THEN ENDED UP IN VENEZUELA.

HE WAS THEN ARRESTED.

IN DECEMBER FRANCIS WAS RETURNED TO THE U.S.

IN A PRISONER SWAP.

HE IS DUE BACK IN COURT FEBRUARY 8th WERE PROSECUTORS HOPE TO SEE HIM SENTENCED MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS AFTER HIS CONVICTION.

THEY EXPECT TO FILE CHARGES RELATED TO HIS FLIGHT FROM CUSTODY AT A LATER DATE.

>>> IT WAS BUSY ALONG THE BORDER AS BORDER CROSSINGS REOPENED.

PEDWEST REOPENED.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM AT THE BORDER ARE DOWN SO THE CROSSINGS CAN REOPEN.

MANY PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER ARE RELIEVED.

>> IT ONLY TAKES FIVE MINUTES INSTEAD OF CROSSING FROM --.

IT COULD TAKE YOU OVER FOUR HOURS.

YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP FOUR HOURS EARLIER IN ORDER TO GET TO YOUR DRAMA TIME.

>> Reporter: THE NORTHBOUND ENTRANCE IS OPEN DAILY.

SOUTHBOUND ENTRANCE IS OPEN DAILY FROM 3:00 UNTIL 11:00.

>>> AGREEING ON A PROBLEM DOESN'T MEAN AGREEING ON A SOLUTION.

THE CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS MAKING THAT CLEAR AS A RECENT EFFORT TO ADDRESS IT TAKES A LOOK AT THE NEGOTIATIONS.

>> AMERICA IS AT A BREAKING POINT.

>> WE HAVE A BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

EVERYONE AGREES.

>> WHAT LAWMAKERS DON'T AGREE ON IS HOW TO FIX IT.

THE GOP VISIT TO TEXAS YESTERDAY EMPHASIZED THAT DIVISION AND RENEWED CALLS FOR COMPROMISE.

>> IT IS THE NECESSARY INGREDIENT.

>> HR TWO DOES NOT HAVE DEMOCRATIC VOTES.

>> Reporter: HR TWO WOULD CODIFY TRUMP ARAB BORDER POLICIES LIKE KEEPING MIGRANTS IN MEXICO DURING THE ASYLUM SEEKING PROCESS.

EVEN LAWMAKERS WHO SUPPORT THE PLAN SAY IT IS DOOMED.

>> WE ARE -- >> Reporter: THE WHITE HOUSE SAID IT WANTS MORE FUNDING FOR BORDER PATROL AGENTS AND IMMIGRATION JUDGES.

SENATE NEGOTIATORS ARE WORKING ON BIPARTISAN CHANGES TO ASYLUM LAWS.

THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERING MORE POWER FOR EXPULSIONS AND BORDER SHUTDOWNS.

MANY HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAY THEY WILL ONLY BACK HR TO -- EVEN THOUGH SENATORS ARE DISCUSSING IDEAS CONSERVATIVES USUALLY SUPPORT.

>> OUR GOAL HAS TO FIND A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.

>>> TONIGHT WE SPEAK TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY AS RECENT SURGES AND IMMIGRATION FOR NEW DEBATE IN CONGRESS AND ACROSS THE NATION.

THAT IS COMING UP AFTER EVENING EDITION.

>>> PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS FORCED CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS TO SHUT DOWN BUSINESSES AT THE STATE CAPITAL AREA LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITAL FOR THE FIRST DAY OF WORK YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE MET WITH CALLS TO SUPPORT A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA.

PROTESTERS HUNG BANNERS AND HANDMADE PAPER -- MARK LIVES LOST.

THE CEREMONY WENT TO RECESS IN THE SESSION WAS ADJOURNED.

>> IF THIS WILL CONTINUE WHERE PEOPLE WILL USE THIS TO SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT BUSINESS THAT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO GET YOUR VIEWPOINT ACROSS.

>> WE ARE DEMANDING THIS FROM OUR LEGISLATORS.

IT'S THEIR JOB.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS PLAN TO INTRODUCE -- TO CONDEMN HAMAS.

>>> A BARRIER DESIGNED TO PREVENT SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AT THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE IS COMPLETE.

IT IS COMPRISED OF STEEL NETS.

JUST BELOW THE SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STRUCTURE.

MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE DIED BY SUICIDE ON THE BRIDGE SINCE IT OPENED IN 1937.

THE PROJECTS COST $224 MILLION.

>>> THE LATEST COUNTY COVID-19 CIVILIANS SHOWS A BIG INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT.

THE NUMBERS ARE THE HIGHEST THEY'VE BEEN IN TWO YEARS.

MELISSA MAY TELLS US HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THEY WERE BACK THEN.

>> Reporter: SINCE EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC THE PRESENCE OF COVID- 19 AND OTHER VIRUSES IN THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN MONITORED THROUGH WASTEWATER CIVILIANS.

DR. CHRISTOPHER LONGHURST OF UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH PUTS THE RECENT INCREASE IN VIRAL LOAD INTO PERSPECTIVE.

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY IS THE GREATEST INCREASE IN THE VIRUS AND WASTEWATER SINCE THE OMICRON SEARCH.

OF COURSE THESE ARE DIFFERENT VARIANTS AND WE ARE NOT COMPLETELY SURE IF THIS IS PREDICTING A LARGER OUTBREAK WERE REFLECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT COVID-19 IS GONE UP.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH THE INFECTION NUMBERS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN JANUARY 2022 HE SAYS THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE FAR FEWER HOSPITALIZATIONS COMPARED TO THEN.

>> WE DO HAVE PATIENTS AT UCS HEALTH -- >> Reporter: SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE LESS SEVERE VARIANCE AND PEOPLE'S IMMUNITY.

HE SAYS THAT COULD CHANGE.

>> WE WILL LIKELY SEE MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS IN A FEW WEEKS.

>> Reporter: THE REASON FOR A CURRENT SPIKE IS SIMPLE.

>> WE JUST FINISHED THE HOLIDAYS.

THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE EVERY WINTER.

BEFORE COVID-19 WE TREATED RSV AND THE FLU.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO KIND OF HIGH RIGHT NOW.

SO IT IS COMMON PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE SNIFFLES OF HOLIDAY PARTIES IN EXCHANGE THOSE VIRUSES.

>> Reporter: HE ENCOURAGES THOSE WHO ARE HIGH RISK TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH VACCINES AND BOOSTERS.

>>> WINTER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO POUND BOTH COASTS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

SEVERAL PARTS OF CALIFORNIA ARE DIGGING AND DRIVING OUT A SEVERAL INCHES THAT HAVE FALLEN SINCE YESTERDAY.

PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST ARE BRACING FOR SNOW, RAIN, AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

LAURA HAS MORE ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THIS REGION.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE SNOW TO COME.

WE ARE OVERJOYED.

>> Reporter: SOME RESIDENTS ARE HAPPY FOR A SNOW DAY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATION COUNTIES NORTHEAST OF L.A.

IT IS WIDELY BLANKETED IN SNOW THAT FELL WEDNESDAY.

NEIGHBORS TO THEIR NORTH IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS SAW UP TO 15 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IN SOME AREAS.

FOR ONE SKI RESORT EMPLOYEE THE NOTABLE ACCUMULATION WAS A WELCOME SIGHT.

>> DEFINITELY GOOD WEATHER FOR SKIERS AND SNOW MOBILE OTHERS.

UTAH, COLORADO, ARIZONA, AND ARIZONA WILL GET HIT.

SOME OF THOSE AREAS COULD GET A FOOT OF SNOW.

WHILE CENTRAL PLAINS COULD SEE FIVE INCHES THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

THE WEEKEND WILL SEE SEVERE WEATHER RUNNING THROUGH THE NORTHEAST.

PARTS OF PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, AND NEW ENGLAND COULD BE IN FOR THEIR FIRST SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON.

IT MAY BE SOUTHERN NEW YORK'S FIRST BRUSH WITH SNOW THIS WINTER BUT FOLKS NEAR BUFFALO HAVE ALREADY HAD TO USE THEIR SHOVELS IN RECENT WEEKS AFTER A WINTER STORM AROUND THANKSGIVING.

THE SNOWY WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO HANG OVER PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST THROUGH SUNDAY.

>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR WEATHER HEADLINES.

WE WILL TRACK HIGH CLOUDS AND GUSTY WIND RETURNING BEFORE A SLIGHT WARM-UP AND THEN SHARPLY IT COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL COME BACK IN AN EDITION OF RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ON SUNDAY.

STILL THROUGH TONIGHT WE ARE WATCHING THE HIGH SURF WARNING FROM SANTA MONICA DOWN INTO SAN DIEGO.

LOOKING AT TEMPERATURES THROUGH TONIGHT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY DOWN INTO THE 30s.

IN OCEANSIDE , 45, BORREGO SPRINGS, 40 DEGREES.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON FRIDAY AS THE COLDER AIR TAKES OVER THROUGHOUT THE DESERT, WE WILL BE DRY AS WE WRAP UP THE WEEK.

40 DEGREES FOR MT.

LAGUNA AND BORREGO'S RINGS.

SAN DIEGO WE WILL SEE LOW TO MID 60s GOING INTO THE DAY TOMORROW.

WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR SATURDAY?

IT IS A COOLDOWN THAT WE ARE TRACKING HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

YOU WILL ALSO SEE THE RETURN OF THAT PRECIPITATION, ESPECIALLY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

LOOK AT THE BIG DIP IN THE JET STREAM THAT COULD SEND US ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN AND SNOW.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A QUICK MOVING STORM BUT IT COULD CAUSE TRAVEL DELAYS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE COASTAL FORECAST.

TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 60s AND THEN THE DROP IN TEMPERATURE ON SUNDAY WHERE WE COULD SEE A SHOWER TO IN THE MORNING.

WE GO FURTHER INLAND WHERE IT WILL STAY NICE FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND THE TEMPERATURE DROP ON SUNDAY WITH SHOWERS AROUND.

A HIGH OF 61.

FREEZING TEMPERATURES BY SUNDAY NIGHT.

SIMILAR PATTERN LOOKING INTO THE MOUNTAINS AS TEMPERATURES WILL GET MUCH COLDER BY THE TIME WE GET TO SUNDAY AND THE RETURN OF WINTER WEATHER.

A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 31 ON SUNDAY.

COLD BUT SUNNY GOING INTO MONDAY.

>>> THE DESERT LOOKS GOOD AND BREEZY WIND AND COLD CONDITIONS BY NEXT WEEK.

>>> IF YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION INCLUDES EXERCISING MORE, EATING HEALTHIER, OR IMPROVING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH YOU MAY BE ABLE TO FIND MOTIVATION FROM A FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND.

HATS CAN HELP YOU KEEP HEALTHY RESOLUTIONS.

>> Reporter: IS 2024.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A HEALTHY CHANGE IN THE NEW YEAR A FURRY FRIEND MAY BE JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

>> THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT PETS CAN PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS.

>> Reporter: STEPHANIE FLOWER SAID PETS CAN KEEP YOU MOTIVATED TO MOVE WHETHER IT'S TAKING A DOG OR CAT ON A WALK OUTSIDE OR PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD, STAYING ACTIVE CAN BENEFIT YOU BOTH.

SHE SAYS ANIMALS CAN ALSO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH AND ALLOW FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION NOT ONLY TO YOUR PET BUT OTHERS YOU MAY MEET WHEN YOU ARE OUT.

>> YOU COULD CONNECT WITH OTHER DOG OWNERS WERE NEIGHBORS MORE.

IT JUST REALLY HELPS REDUCE -- >> Reporter: IF YOUR RESOLUTION IS TO EAT HEALTHIER THERE ARE MANY FOODS GOOD FOR YOU AND YOUR PET.

RESEARCH WHICH FRUIT VEGGIES AND PROTEINS ARE SAFE.

>> IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM CARROTS AND GREEN BEANS AND APPLES AND FISH AND CHICKEN.

EVEN FOR PETS, THEY ENJOY SMALL AMOUNTS OF SALMON, EGGS, TURKEY AND CHEESE.

>> Reporter: FINALLY SAVING AN ANIMAL CAN HELP YOU FEEL GOOD IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> WHETHER IT'S ADOPTION OR FOSTERING ON A TEMPORARY BASIS BRINGING AN ANIMAL IN THAT IS IN NEED OF A GOOD HOME IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY BE A SENSE OF PRIDE AND INCREASE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

>>> AMERICANS RAMPED UP THEIR HOLIDAY SHOPPING.

SHOPPERS SPENT A RECORD $222 BILLION BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1st AND DECEMBER 31st.

THAT MARKS A 5% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

CHOPPERS WERE ENTICED BY DEEP DISCOUNTS AS WELL AS BY NOW AND PAY LATER OPTIONS.

>>> FROM CARDIFF TO ARCADIA, ENCINITAS IS CHOCK-FULL OF COLOR AND CULTURE.

IT COMES IN THE FORM OF MURALS AND OTHER PUBLIC ART PIECES.

>> Reporter: AS YOU WALK ALONG HIGHWAY 101 IN ENCINITAS IS EASY TO SPOT DOZENS OF MURALS.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

>> THERE WEREN'T MURALS HERE.

I DID SO MANY MURALS AROUND HERE EVERYWHERE.

>> Reporter: KEVIN ANDERSON HAS BEEN ON LONG-TERM RESIDENT.

ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ARTIST TO PAY MURALS IN ENCINITAS.

HE EXPLAINS HOW IT ALL STARTED.

>> 1995.

ALMOST 30 YEARS.

I STARTED ON D STREET.

IT WAS A LITTLE HAWAIIAN RESTAURANT.

THAT WAS MY FIRST MURAL.

>> Reporter: HIS WORK IS NOT SLOW DOWN.

HE IS CONSTANTLY CREATING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ART PIECES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

HE STARTS THEM FRONT OF A LARGE MURAL IN THE LEUCADIA NEIGHBORHOOD AND DESCRIBES WHY PUBLIC ART PIECES LIKE HIS MATTER TO A COMMUNITY.

>> THEY ARE LIKE DUTIFUL WINDOWS TO LOOK THROUGH THAT YOU SEE.

IT TAKES YOU OUT OF THE TYPICAL MINDSET OF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU ARE WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND YOU ARE THINKING OF ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOU LOOK UP AND SEE THIS GIANT MURAL IT JUST TAKES YOU AWAY FOR A MINUTE.

>> Reporter: THERE USED TO BE A FEW MURALS A DECADE AGO.

THEY HAVE NOW BLOSSOMED INTO AN ABUNDANCE WITH MANY PUBLIC ART PIECES FOCUSED ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DIFFERENT CULTURES.

YOU CAN SEE THEM ALONG HIGHWAY 101.

SOME ARE IN PLAIN SIGHT AND OTHERS ARE TUCKED AWAY LIKE HIDDEN TREASURES.

>> HE SAID HE WANTED TO DO A MEMORIAL WALL.

SO THAT IS WHAT THIS IS.

AND HIS DOG IS ALI.

>> Reporter: IRENE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 101 MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION.

SHE SAID SOME OF THE MURAL STARTED OUT AS A PROJECT TO PRODUCE CRIME.

OVER TIME THEY HELPED MAKE ENCINITAS INTO AN ART HUB.

>> ULTIMATELY WHAT IT HAS DONE IS, WITHOUT US KNOWING, IS THAT IT HAS REALLY INSPIRED A LOT OF ARTISTS, LOCAL ARTISTS THAT CAN DO LARGE MURALS LIKE THIS TO COME DOWN AND SEE DOWNTOWN THAT'S A LOCATION FOR ART.

>> Reporter: WHAT SPURRED THE PUSH?

NAIM A WOODWARD SAID IT WAS ONE PIECE SPECIFIC.

>> THE SURFING MADONNA HAPPENED.

>> Reporter: THE MOSAIC SHOWING THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE A SURFING WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED UNDER A PUBLIC BRIDGE ON HIGHWAY 101.

WOODWARD SAID IT CHALLENGED THE VERY NOTION OF WHAT IS ART VERSUS.

IT GAVE A VOICE TO THE ARTIST IN TOWN.

>> IT GAVE EVERYONE A -- VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES BUT I THINK IT CATAPULTED THE MURAL PROGRAMS.

I PUT ENCINITAS ON THE MAP.

THEY'RE IN THE DECADE FOLLOWING THERE HAS BEEN A WIDE RANGE OF ARTISTS COLORING ENCINITAS, WHICH IS A WELCOME CHANGE.

-- SAID WATCHING PUBLIC ARE IN HIS HOMETOWN IS BROUGHT THEM GREAT JOY.

>> IF YOU LOOK AROUND EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THERE ARE MURALS.

A LOT OF THEM ARE PAINTED.

SO THE LAST ONE, THEY HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY.

IT HAS BECOME SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN CREATIONS THAT HAVE STIRRED UP CONTROVERSY.

A FEW PUBLIC ART PIECES LIKE THE SURFING MADONNA RECEIVED A LOT OF PUSHBACK.

>> SOME WERE OFFENDED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY MOTHER MARY OR GUADALUPE WOULD BE ON A SURFBOARD.

BUT ONCE IT WAS EXPLAINED, BECAUSE SAVE THE OCEAN, SURFERS ARE USING AND TAPPING INTO THAT DIVINITY TO SAVE THE OCEAN.

THEN THEY EMBRACED IT.

>> SHE SAID SHE WANTS EVEN MORE MURALS IN THE TOWN TO FURTHER PUSH THE PUBLIC ART SCENE.

>> WE DO WANT TO ADD MORE MURALS.

WE ALSO WANT TO BE A LOT MORE MINDFUL OF IT.

THE MORE AND MORE MURALS YOU ADD WE WANT TO BE MORE PURPOSEFUL OF WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW IT KIND OF SENDS OR TELLS A STORY.

>> Reporter: WOODWARD WANTS TO EXPAND BEYOND MURALS.

>> I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SEE THE SCULPTURES.

HOPEFULLY THE ONES THAT WILL GO UP ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.

>> Reporter: AFTER DECADES OF WORK IN COUNTLESS BRUSHSTROKES ANDERSON'S VISION FOR AN ART FILLED CITY HAS ARRIVED LEAVING A LARGE INTANGIBLE TAPESTRY ACROSS HIS HOMETOWN.

HIS INFLUENCE IS UNDENIABLE.

>> I WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT HAS ART BEING IMPORTANT.

WERE ART MEAN SOMETHING.

IN A WORLD WHERE I COULD ACTUALLY SHOW PEOPLE MY ART.

>> Reporter: HIS MURALS ARE SPREADING INTO OTHER CITIES ACROSS SAN DIEGO IN CALIFORNIA.

WITH THEM COMES A LITTLE BIT OF THE ESSENCE OF ENCINITAS.

>>> HE WAS LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON TOMORROW.

A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR JOINS NPR'S MORNING EDITION TO DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS IN JEFFREY EPSTEIN SAGA.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.