>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES , AND THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING: AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> THE BIGGEST SELLER OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS ABOUT TO RAISE RATES BY A LOT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

IT COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP WHEN GETTING HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN EVER.

WE LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE AND FOUND THINGS ARE LIKELY TO GET BETTER ANYTIME SOON.

>> OWNING A HOME IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT, IT CAN BE A DREAM COME TRUE, BUT IT IS BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE AND THAT IS IF YOU CAN GET INSURANCE.

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE SAYS SEVEN OUT OF THE 12 LARGEST INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE PAUSED OR RESTRICTED NEW POLICIES.

SOME HAVE STOPPED DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE ALTOGETHER.>> WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT WE HAVE A VERY UNFORTUNATE TOXIC STEW OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT THAT IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED POLICYHOLDERS.

IT WAS FORMED IN THE EARLY 1990S TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN INSURERS AND THE INSURED.

IT IS HARDER THAN EVER DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS.

ONE IS TECHNOLOGY.

LIKE DRONES AND SATELLITE IMAGES TO PUT A SCORE ON PEOPLE INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THEIR SITUATION HOLISTICALLY.

SHE CALLS THAT TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

BUT THEY SEE ALL THE TREES AROUND YOUR HOUSE AND THEY SEE YOUR WOODPILE AND THEY SEE THINGS THAT SCARE THEM OUT OF WANTING TO ENSURE YOU.

>> AND COPE IT.

WITH ITS EFFECT ON SUPPLY CHAINS MADE EVERYTHING SKYROCKET.

>> WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE -- >> SHE IS THE CEO OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE BROKERS.

THE PEOPLE HER ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS CELL POLICIES.

BUT SHE SAID SHE UNDERSTANDS WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE COMING FROM THAT DO BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA.

>> WE HAVE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTS THAT HAVE NOT MODERNIZED WITH THE TIME.

IT WILL TAKE TIME TO UNDO THE SITUATION WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.

>> IT MAY BE HARD TO BELIEVE THE CALIFORNIA HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST INSURANCE RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT NEWS COMES NOT FROM AN INSURANCE COMPANY BUT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.

THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JUST APPROVED A 20% INCREASE IN RATES STATE FARM CAN CHARGE.

THAT GOES INTO EFFECT TOMORROW.

STATE FARM IS THE BIGGEST INSURER IN CALIFORNIA.>> WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IS IT IS NATIONAL, BUT WE ARE TAKING ACTION CALIFORNIA.>> THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE SAID THEY ARE WORKING ON A NEW REGULATORY STRUCTURE.>> THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER HAS INTRODUCED A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO RESTORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE GOT TO IMPROVE AVAILABILITY OF INSURANCE.

THAT WILL HELP TO DRIVE DOWN THE COST OF INSURANCE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CANNOT GET AN INSURANCE COMPANY TO CALL THEM BACK.

BUT THEY WILL INTRODUCE A CATASTROPHE MODELING REGULATION TO ADDRESS THINGS LIKE THE INCREASING RISK OF WILDFIRES, THE IDEA BEING TO MAKE THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT BETTER FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES SO THEY WILL EITHER COME BACK OR RESUME WRITING POLICIES.

THE END GOAL IS MORE COMPETITION , WHICH SHOULD LEAD TO LOWER PRICES.

EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AGREES IT WILL TAKE TIME.

IN THE MEANTIME, HOMEOWNERS HERE AND ACROSS THE STATE NEED TO BUCKLE UP FOR MORE EXPENSIVE RATES TO COME, IF THEY CAN GET A POLICY AT ALL.

>>> HAIL, RAIN, AND SNOW FELL IN PARTS OF THE COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON.

THIS IS VIDEO NEAR THE SAN DIEGO STATE CAMPUS.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE REPORTED IN SOME AREAS AND RAIN COULD BE ON THE WAY.

WE HAVE A FIRST LOOK AT THE FORECAST.

>>> COMING UP TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO THE UPPER 40s UNDER MAINLY CLEAR SKIES.

THE WIND IS STARTING TO DIMINISH, BUT WE ARE TRACKING A FEW SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

WE WILL HAVE A CLOSE LOOK COMING UP.>>> SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC AND ANOTHER COMPANY ARE SPARRING OVER THE VALUE OF THE ELECTRICAL GRID.

OUR ENVIRONMENT REPORTER SAID IT IS IMPORTANT IF THE PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS.

>> THE INVESTOR ON UTILITIES SAID THE VALUE LOTS OF POWERLINES AND TRANSFORMERS INSIDE CITY LIMITS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS ESTIMATES.

UTILITY FUNDED REVIEW PUTS IT BETWEEN 7.4 AND $9.3 BILLION.

LOST REVENUE THAT IS CURRENTLY PAID TO THE CITY COULD PUSH THE COST CLOSE TO $11 BILLION.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN ESTIMATES BY TWO CITY STUDIES LOOKING INTO MEANS THE PLAYSTATION, WHICH PUTS IT BETWEEN 2.7 AND 4.3 BILLION.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF THE ASSETS CUT THE WIRES AND THE METERS AND THE POLES, YOU HAVE THAT AS THE VALUE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE, BUT ALSO HAVE TO SEPARATE THE GRID.

>> THEY ARE SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT THERE'S A BACKLASH AGAINST RISING RATES.

PRICES WILL START TO COME DOWN WHEN ELECTRICITY USE RISES WITH INCREASED ELECTRIFICATION.

FOR NOW ELECTRICITY RATES ARE RISING WELL ABOVE THE RATE OF INFLATION, AND UTILITY FILINGS TO REGULATORS SO THAT MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THE CUSTOMERS ARE BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS.

SUCK WE ARE LASER FOCUSED ON TRYING TO CUT COSTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAY WE HAVE, SO WE CAN START TO CHIP AWAY AND GET A MORE AFFORDABLE ENERGY BILLS GOING FORWARD IT.

>> THEY HIRED A UTILITY CONSULTANT.

THEY SAY THE UTILITY CONSULTANT IS OVERESTIMATING THE VALUE OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

>> THE NUMBERS WE ARE USING ARE THE CITIES NUMBERS.

THE CITY CONSULTANT DID THIS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO EVALUATE VIABILITY.

WE ARE SIMPLY REFERENCING WHAT THE CITY HAD HAS PAID A FEW MILLION DOLLARS TO ACQUIRE.

>> IT WILL BE IMPORTANT IF VOTERS APPROVE A CREATION OF A PUBLIC UTILITY.

THAT WOULD BE CALCULATED INTO THE COST OF A CITY RUN UTILITY TAKING THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WOULD BE A HUGE BLOW TO THE FINANCES.

>> THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR SETBACK .

IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK TO DISCREDIT PUBLIC POWER AS A VIABLE OPTION FOR THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

AND THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

>> BACKERS OF THE INITIATIVE HAVE UNTIL MAY TO GATHER 80,000 SIGNATURES.

THEY COULD BRING IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL IF THE PETITION DRIVE FALL SHORT.

>>> THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HAS SET A GOAL TO HELP 900 VETERANS IN SAN DIEGO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING THIS YEAR.

SAN DIEGO HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST HOMELESS VETERAN POPULATIONS.

THE GOAL FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR IS TO PLACE AT LEAST 851 VETERANS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

THEY ALSO WANT TO ENSURE 95% OF THEM DO NOT RETURN TO HOMELESSNESS.

>> THERE ARE MYRIAD ISSUES FOR COMBAT VETERANS, ABSOLUTELY.

THINGS LIKE PTSD, MAYBE SUBSTANCE USE THAT CAME OUT OF AN ATTEMPT TO COPE.

WE TRY TO CREATE APPROACHES THAT ARE INDIVIDUALIZED AND WE REALLY LOOK AT THE PERSON AND WE FOCUS ON HELPING THAT INDIVIDUAL TO FACE THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THEM.

>> THE VA SAID THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY HOUSED 318 VETERANS.

>>> SEPSIS IS A DISEASE THAT IS DEADLY AND SOMEWHAT OF A MYSTERY.

AT UC SAN DIEGO THEY'RE TRYING TO CRACK THE CODE WITH NEW DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> HE WAS A HEALTHY MAN IN HIS EARLY 40s WHEN ONE DAY HE NOTICED SYMPTOMS THAT MADE HIM THINK HE HAD THE FLU.

THEN HE HAD TROUBLE BREATHING AND WENT TO AN URGENT CARE CLINIC.

HE WAS THEN SENT TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL INTO MACULA.

AS THINGS GOT WORSE HE WAS TAKEN TO THE UC SAN DIEGO MEDICAL CENTER.

HIS WIFE GOT TROUBLING ADVICE AT THE HOSPITAL.>> THE MEDICAL FOLKS TOLD MY WIFE, MAKE SURE YOU SAY BYE BEFORE HE GETS ON THE HELICOPTER.

THE WAY SHE INTERPRETED THAT WAS OUIJA WAS WE DO NOT KNOW IF HE WILL BE LIVE WHEN YOU GET TO SAN DIEGO.

>> HE HAD GOTTEN SEPSIS.

HE SAID HIS LUNGS COLLAPSED AND HIS KIDNEYS AND GALLBLADDER FAILED.

WHAT SAVED HIS LIFE WAS A MACHINE THAT OXYGENATES THE BLOOD WHEN YOU'RE LUNGS NO LONGER WORK.

ONE MAN THAT MADE A PART IN THIS WAS THE ER DOCTOR WHO ORDERED THE HELICOPTER FLIGHT WHERE HE IS NOW DIRECTOR OF THE HOSPITAL SEPSIS PROGRAM.

HE SAID THAT THE SPEED OF DIAGNOSIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.>> THE EARLIER WE CATCH IT IN THE EARLIER THAT WE START LIFESAVING THERAPIES, THE BETTER PEOPLE DO.

RIGHT NOW WHAT WE TRY TO DO, IS WE TRY TO CATCH THEM AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

THAT WE WE CAN START THERAPY LIKE ANTIBIOTICS, AND GIVE PATIENTS SOME FLUIDS TO PREVENT THAT INFECTION.

>> SEPSIS IS AN INFECTION AND A PHYSICAL RESPONSE THAT GETS OUT OF CONTROL.

IT IS OFTEN BACTERIAL, BUT IT CAN BE VIRAL.

EVERY YEAR IN THE U.S. 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE GET IT AND 270,000 DIE FROM IT.

THE PEOPLE MOST AT RISK ARE INFANTS, THE ELDERLY, AND PEOPLE WITH A WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM.

AT UCSD, THEY CREATED AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USED IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO SPOT PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK.

>> AS SOON AS SOMEONE CHECKS IN OUR MACHINE MODEL INGESTS DATA FROM THEM.

IT MEANS THEIR VITAL SIGNS, THEIR COMORBIDITIES, MEDICATIONS THEY TAKE, AND IT STARTS TO GENERATE A RISK SCORE.

>> IF IT IS HIGH ENOUGH, IT SENDS AN ALERT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM STAFF.

A RESEARCHER WAS ON THE TEAM THAT CREATED THE MODEL.

IF A PATIENT WALKS INTO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, IS A 5% RISK.

>> EVEN IF YOU IDENTIFY A PATIENT WHO IS LIKELY TO GET SEPSIS, YOU CANNOT BE SURE WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND WHAT THE BEST TREATMENT WOULD BE.

THAT IS WHERE ANOTHER NEW DIAGNOSTIC TOOL COMES IN.

IT MELTS DNA TO FIGURE OUT IF THE PATHOGEN IS BACTERIAL, VIRAL, OR FUNGAL.

THIS MICROSCOPE IS WHAT IS USED TO MELT DNA.

A SAMPLE IS TAKEN FROM A PERSON , PLACED INTO THIS DEVICE AND HEAT IS APPLIED.

THIS IS A BIO ENGINEER ALSO AT UCSD, WHO HAS CREATED A TECHNOLOGY THAT WHEN A DNA SAMPLE MELTS, THE DOUBLE HELIX UNRAVELS.

THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT REQUIRES AND WEIGHT UNRAVELS IDENTIFIES PATHOGENS THAT CAUSE INFECTION.

>> WE GET A SIGNATURE FROM THAT AND WE MATCH MELTING SIGNATURES FROM A SAMPLE FROM MELTING SIGNATURES WE'VE SEEN.

>> USING THIS INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A BLOOD CULTURE SAVES A LOT OF TIME.

WITH SEPSIS TIMES OF THE APPS THE ESSENCE.

SHE'S STILL WAITING FOR APPROVAL TO USE IT IN A CLINIC.

FOR ALL THE RESEARCH AND ALL THE WAYS TO DIAGNOSE A GUY HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF INFECTION CAUSED IT.

NOTHING ABOUT HIS AGE OR MEDICAL HISTORY MADE HIM A LIKELY CANDIDATE.

WHEN HE REFLECTS ON HIS EXPERIENCE, HE THINKS OF THE GOOD FORTUNE HE HAD HAVING A MEDICAL TEAM THAT KNEW ABOUT SEPSIS AND TOOK HIS CONDITION SERIOUSLY.

LIKE THE PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT WHO CALLED FOR AN AMBULANCE TO SEND HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.

BUT THAT PERSON COULD HAVE SENT ME HOME AND SAID, HERE IS MEDICATION.

GO HOME, AND IF YOU DO NOT FEEL BETTER, IF THAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED, I WOULD'VE DIED IN MY LIVING ROOM A FEW HOURS LATER.

>> NOW HE IS A SURVIVOR LIVING WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN.

>>> THE LATEST INFLATION NUMBERS SHOW PRICES TICKED UP SLIGHTLY, BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

>>> THE LATEST INFLATION NUMBERS SHOW CONSUMERS ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH HIGHER PRICES.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT, PRICES WENT UP .4%.

OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS PRICES ROSE BY 3.2%, BUT THE FULL REPORT HAS GOOD AND BAD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS.

>> YOU CANNOT LOOK AT A SINGLE DATA POINT ALONE.

HAVE TO LOOK ANY TREND.

>> HE SAID THE PANDEMIC DROVE UP INFLATION, BUT RECENT GLOBAL EVENTS ARE STILL IMPACTING PRICES LIKE THE WAR IN UKRAINE AFFECTING OIL AND TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

>> SHIPPERS ARE PAYING HIGHER PREMIUMS FOR INSURANCE AND THEY PASS THAT ALONG TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN.>> WHILE THESE LATEST NUMBERS ARE HIGHER, WE LOOK AT THE LAST FEW YEARS, INFLATION IS LOWER THAN IT WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2022.

HOUSING AND GAS IS WHERE IT IS HITTING MOST.

RENT WAS 30% ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

GAS PRICES ARE UP 3.8%.

ACCORDING TO AAA THE NATIONAL AVERAGE COST BREAK DOWN THE GAS WAS $3.40.

HERE IS GOOD NEWS.

OVERALL THE PRICE OF FOOD DID NOT RISE.

HOURLY WAGES ARE RISING.

>> WAGES ARE INCREASING ABOVE THE RATE OF INFLATION, BUT NOT BY SO MUCH THAT IT PUTS THAT UPWARD PRESSURE ON PRICING.

>>> THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT 7% OF AMERICAN ADULTS HAVE LONG COVID.

SCRIPPS RESEARCH ANNOUNCED THERE'S A STUDY AIMED AT HELPING THEM.

>> BCDC IS SCREENING TRAVELERS AT SEVERAL MAJOR AIRPORTS AS A NEW CASE OF CORONAVIRUS WAS CONFIRMED IN THE U.S. >> IT WAS JANUARY OF 2020 WHEN IT WAS FIRST REPORTED IN THE U.S. SIX MONTHS LATER THIS WOMAN OUT SYMPTOMS.

WHEN THEY DID NOT GO AWAY, THREE AND HALF YEARS LATER SHE STILL GETS HEADACHES AND FEELS FATIGUE.

>> I USED TO BE A LONG-DISTANCE RUNNER AND NOW I HAVE TO SIT DOWN TO TAKE A SHOWER.

>> WHAT SHE CAN DO IS LEAVE A STUDY THAT COULD BE A HELP TO PEOPLE LIKE HER.

THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AT SCRIPPS RESEARCH AND SHE IS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE LONG COVID WEARABLE STUDY.

500 PARTICIPANTS WILL WEAR A WRISTBAND, AND IT WILL MONITOR THEIR HEALTH EVERY DAY.

>> WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT IT IS THEY HAVE THIS FEATURE THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT YOUR SLEEP, HEART RATE AND YOUR STEP COUNT AND PUTS IT TOGETHER IN ONE METRIC.

BUT THE GOAL IS TO FIND OUT IF THIS PROCESS CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID TO PACE THEMSELVES.

THERE IS NO CURE OR MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR IT, BUT PEOPLE CAN LIVE A BETTER LIFE IF THEY UNDERSTAND HOW PACING WORKS AND HOW MUCH STRESS THEY PUT ON THEIR SYSTEM.>> YOU DO NOT FEEL THE EFFECT OF OVERDOING IT RIGHT AWAY.

>> PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID HAVE AN ENERGY BUBBLE.

BUT CAN WE USE THIS TO HELP PEOPLE STAY WITHIN THEIR ENERGY BUBBLE AND DECREASE THE SEVERITY OF THEIR SYMPTOMS BECAUSE THEY DON'T GO OFF THE CLIFF AND MAKE THINGS WORSE.

>> RESEARCHERS WILL FOLLOW THIS GROUP FOR YOUR.

THEY HOPE IT WILL SHOW THAT PEOPLE WITH COVID PROPERLY PACE THEMSELVES, THEY CAN EXPAND THE ENERGY BUBBLE AND LIVE A BETTER LIFE.

AT THIS POINT THEY ARE STILL RECRUITING PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID TO TAKE PART IN THE STUDY.

>>> WE ARE TRACKING THE WEATHER HEADLINES.

THE WIND IS BEGINNING TO DIMINISH THROUGH TONIGHT.

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT BREEZY THIS WEEKEND.

WE ARE TRACKING THE NEXT CHANCE OF SHOWERS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE VALLEYS AND THE MOUNTAINS.

LOOKING AT CONDITIONS TONIGHT, OCEANSIDE WILL BE COOL.

SAN DIEGO WILL BE AT AROUND 49 AND CHULA VISTA AROUND 49 DEGREES.

A COLD NIGHT TONIGHT IN MOUNT LAGUNA DOWN INTO THE 20s.

WE TRACK THIS LOW AS IT SLIDES INTO PARTS OF THE FOUR CORNERS.

WITH THIS WE GET COOL AIR MOVING IN TO THE END OF THE WEEK.

TEMPERATURES 66, OCEANSIDE 68.

MORE CLOUDS AND MAYBE A FEW SNOW FLURRIES NEAR MOUNT LAGUNA.

WE CONTINUE TO TRACK THIS THROUGH THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

YOU WILL NOTICE WARMER TEMPERATURES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IT WILL FEEL WARMER MOVING THROUGH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

OUT TO THE COAST, UPPER 60s ON FRIDAY.

70s THROUGH THE WEEKEND IN THE LOW 70s AND SUNSHINE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

THE FIVE DAY OUTLOOK STAYING COOLER , BUT PRETTY PLEASANT AS WE HAD INTO THE WEEKEND WITH MORE SUNSHINE AND WARMING UP NEXT WEEK WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES AND THE UPPER 70s BY TUESDAY.

FOR THE MOUNTAINS SUMS FLURRIES FRIDAY AND A SHOWER LATER IN THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

COLD ON SUNDAY AND IT WILL WARM UP AND SHOWERS RETURN BY THE TIME WE GO INTO NEXT TUESDAY.

IN THE DESERTS TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER.

THAT MIGHT BE GOOD NEWS IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT.

WE WARM UP EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 80s.

>>> THERE IS A NEW SPELLING BEE CHAMPION IN SAN DIEGO.

AND EIGHTH-GRADER CORRECTLY SPELLED THIS WORD.

EACH STUDENT COMPETED AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.

TODAY MORE THAN 80 KIDS TOOK TURNS.

>> THIS MORNING I WOKE UP AND I DID NOT EXPECT TO BE HOLDING THIS TROPHY.

I DID NOT EXPECT THIS.

>> HE SAID THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF HIS JOURNEY.

HE SETS HIS SIGHTS ON BECOMING THE NATIONAL CHAMPION.

HE WILL GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO REPRESENT SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>>> RESEARCHERS ARE USING TECHNOLOGY TO STUDY SNAKES IN WAYS NEVER BEFORE POSSIBLE.

THEY ARE AMONG THE FIRST TO USE THEM ON SNAKES.

>> ON THIS BRIGHT SUNNY DAY, THE SAN DIEGO STATE RESEARCHER IS ON A MISSION.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LOCATE ONE OF OUR SNAKES.

>> SHE IS LOOKING FOR M 43.

NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS WARMER, SNAKES ARE GETTING ACTIVE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

>> THEY LIKE TO HIDE IN ROCKS.

>> THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME CONCEALED.

>> IT MAKES THEM HARD TO OBSERVE IN THE FIELD AND DIRECT OBSERVATION INTERFERES WITH THE NATURAL BEHAVIOR.

THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SDSU AND SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE.

THIS IS A HOTSPOT FOR THESE SNAKES.

AFTER LOOKING WITH A RADIO ANTENNA, THEY SPOT IT.

>> THIS IS GREAT.

>> NOW COMES THE DATA COLLECTION.

THEY MAKE A NOTE OF WHERE THE SNAKE WAS FOUND.>> ROCKS TO THE SOUTHEAST.

>> THE RED BACK RATTLESNAKES ARE THREATENED BECAUSE THEY PREFER THIS HABITAT AND THAT IS HARD TO FIND.

MORE THAN 75% OF THEM IS GONE BECAUSE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

>> WE TAKE A HIT IF WE LOST THEM FOR SURE.

LOSING THAT ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION, WE COULD POTENTIALLY SEE IN OUR AREAS RODENT POPULATIONS GOING UP, WHICH WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE LONGEVITY OF THE VEGETATION.

>> THIS PREZERVE IS ONE OF THE FEW PRISTINE PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE HABITAT.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE HE HAS GONE DOWN IN THE VALLEY.

BUT HE HAS BEEN STUDYING THESE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

>> THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE FOOD WEB IN GENERAL.

THEY EAT THE SMALLER ANIMALS.

>> THAT IS WHY WE SORT LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT.

STUDYING THEM HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.

IT HAS BEEN HARD TO STUDY THEIR BEHAVIOR UNTIL NOW.

THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE TECHNOLOGY AND CELL PHONES.

IT MEASURES MOVEMENT, DISTANCE, AND HEIGHT.

>> THEY ARE ABLE TO MONITOR ACCELERATION OF THE SNAKES MOVEMENTS ALONG THREE AXES.

IF IT IS MOVING FORWARD OR BACK OR SIDE TO SIDE.

>> IT TRACKS THE DETAILS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.

THEY HAVE BEEN USED TO TRACK ANIMALS IN THE WILD BEFORE, BUT THEY'RE BIGGER AND BULKIER.

NOT IDEAL FOR SNAKES.

WITH IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY, IT'S EASIER TO ATTACH TO SNAKES.>> THIS IS THE VIDEO FOR MAIL NUMBER 23.

>> THE ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE AND SDSU ARE AMONG THE FIRST TO USE THEM.>> THEY LET US KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHEN WE ARE NOT THERE.

OVER TIME WE HOPE TO USE THAT TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US HOW THEY ARE REACTING TO THINGS LIKE THE ROADS.

IT CUTS HABITATS IN HALF.

AND IT KILLS SNAKES.>> BEING ISOLATED COULD AFFECT A POPULATION LEADING TO EXTINCTION.

>> IF YOU THINK OF EVERY SPECIES IN THE WORLD IS A BRICK IN THE WALL AND EVERY TIME ONE IS EXTINCT, DEEPLY BRICK OUT OF THE WALL, THE WALL WILL NOT MAKE IT.

>> THESE SNAKES ARE BEAUTIFUL AND FASCINATING ANIMALS.

>> I LOVE LOOKING AT THEM.

I JUST THINK THEY ARE SO DUTIFUL AND FASCINATING.

>>> THIS IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR 2 MAUER.

IS THE DOLLAR STORE EXPANSION COMING TO AN END?

THE MORNING EDITION HAS MORE ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ARE CLOSING 1000 STORES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.