>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE KPBS "EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES , PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION , DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY , AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES CANAL RECYCLE HIGHLY PURIFIED WASTEWATER AND PUT IT DIRECTLY INTO THE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

STATE REGULATORS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE NEW ROLES TODAY.

KPBS REPORTER JACOB AERE SAYS THE DECISION MAY IMPACT SAN DIEGO COUNTY WHICH HAS SEVERAL WATER PURIFICATION PRODUCTS -- PROJECTS IN VARIOUS STAGES.

>> Reporter: CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN REUSING RECYCLED WASTEWATER FOR DECADES, BUT IT HASN'T BEFORE BEEN USED DIRECTLY FOR DRINKING WATER.

THE NEW RULES APPROVED BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD WOULD ALLOW BUT DO NOT REQUIRE CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES TO TAKE WASTEWATER, TREATED, AND THEN PUT IT RIGHT BACK INTO THE DRINKING WATER SYSTEM.

>> FROM BEGINNING TO END, IT WILL BE A LOT FASTER, BUT IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE WITH DIRECT POTABLE REUSE.

>> Reporter: LINDSAY LEAHY IS THE WATER UTILITIES DIRECTOR WITH THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE.

SHE SAYS THE NEW ROLES THAT INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF PURE WATER OCEANSIDE, WHICH CURRENTLY TREATS WASTEWATER THROUGH INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE METHODS THAT INVOLVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL BUFFER.

>> WE WILL BE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A COST- EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR OCEANSIDE AND COMPARING THAT TO WHAT WE HAD PLANNED FOR PURE WATER OCEANSIDE PHASE TWO.

MAKE THE.

WATER SAN DIEGO PROJECT COULD ALSO BE IMPACTED BY THE NUMERALS.

THE PHASED MULTIYEAR POTABLE REUSE PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE NEARLY HALF OF SAN DIEGO'S WATER SUPPLY BY THE END OF 2035.

IN A STATEMENT, THE CITY SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE CITY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIRECT AND DIRECT POTABLE REUSE REGULATIONS, AND THAT THE NEW ROLES WOULD SET MAKERS STANDARDS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES.

CALIFORNIA IS A SECOND STATE TO ALLOW DIRECT POTABLE USE FOLLOWING COLORADO.

THE RULES WOULD BE INTENSIVE AND REQUIRE THE TREATMENT FOR ALL PATHOGENS AND VIRUSES, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT FOUND IN THE WASTEWATER.

THAT IS STRICTER AND THE STANDARDS FOR TREATING REGULAR DRINKING WATER.

>> WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO TREAT THIS WATER TO ENSURE THAT ITS HIGH-QUALITY, THAT IT'S PURE, THAT IT IS SAFE TO USE.

>> Reporter: KYLE SWANSON IS THE GENERAL MANAGER AND CEO OF THE PADRE D MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT IN EAST SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

HE SAYS THE NEW RULES WITH DIRECT POTABLE REUSE COULD HELP OFFSET DROUGHT IMPACTS AND REDUCE THE NEED FOR LONG- DISTANCE WATER TRANSPORT.

>> PRIMARILY THE WATER COMES INTO SAN DIEGO COUNTY FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FROM THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM, THAT IS ON MULTIPLE DECADES OF DROUGHT AND THE CHALLENGES IN THAT SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: THE STATES OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW WILL ALSO NEED TO APPROVE THE NEW WASTEWATER ROLES, WHICH WILL LIKELY HAPPEN SOMETIME IN 2024.

JACOB AERE , KPBS NEWS .

>>> WET WEATHER WILL BE ON THE INCREASE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

STILL SOME SHOWERS OVERNIGHT AND WEDNESDAY, BUT THE STEADIER AND HEAVIER RAIN?

IN WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.

THAT'S WHEN WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS.

I'LL HIGHLIGHT THOSE AND MUCH MORE, AS WELL AS ANY POTENTIAL WEEKEND CHANGES.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT TEMPERATURES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS WELL ALL COMING UP.

>>> THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS MAKING SAND BAGS AVAILABLE AHEAD OF THE EXPECTED RAIN.

NEARLY A DOZEN LOCAL REC CENTERS WILL HAVE EMPTY BAGS FOR PEOPLE TO PICK UP DURING AFTER HOURS THIS WEEK.

THOSE WITH PROOF OF RESIDENCY CAN GET UP TO 10 BAGS PER PERSON , BUT SAND IS NOT PROVIDED.

>>> SAN DIEGO VOTERS APPROVED A NEW CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD IN 2020.

IT TOOK YEARS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO FINALLY SEAT THE COMMISSION, AND NOW KPBS'S SCOTT ROD REPORTS THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> Reporter: THE CITY'S COMMISSION ON POLICE PRACTICES IS TASKED WITH REVIEWING OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, IN CUSTODY DEATHS, AND COMPLAINTS AGAINST SAN DIEGO POLICE OFFICERS.

IT ALSO SUGGESTS POLICY CHANGES TO THE DEPARTMENT.

EVENTUALLY THE VOLUNTEER BOARD WILL HAVE THE POWER TO SUBPOENA WITNESSES AND INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATE SERIOUS CASES OF ALLEGED OFFICER MISCONDUCT, BUT FIRST HE NEEDS TO FIND A NEW LEADER.

CHARMAINE MOSLEY, WHO LED THE CITY'S CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT EFFORTS FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS, LEFT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO FOR A JOB IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

THAT PUTS THE COMMISSION IN A TOUGH SPOT.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING OR AUTHORIZE ANYTHING, SO IT IS BACKLOGGED A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: GLORIA TRAN'S CHAIR ON THE COMMISSION FOR POLICE PRACTICES.

>> GETTING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN QUICKLY IS IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THEY HOPE THEY CAN FIND A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

>> I KNOW THE BUREAUCRACY PROBABLY WON'T ALLOW THAT, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO EXPEDITE IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN LEGALLY ALLOWED.

>> Reporter: IN 2020 CITY VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVE THIS MORE ROBUST POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD AMID A NATIONWIDE RECKONING OF OFFICER MISCONDUCT FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, BUT THE CITY FELL BEHIND SCHEDULE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

A KPBS INVESTIGATION EARLIER THIS YEAR FOUND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST OFFICERS EXPIRED WITHOUT INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN REVIEW.

AS THE CITY COUNCIL TOOK YEARS TO STAND UP THE NEW COMMISSION.

THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IS NEVER STARTED THEIR REVIEW OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT CASES.

SCOTT ROD, KPBS NEWS .

>>> ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE DEMANDING BETTER PAY, AND ONCE AGAIN ARE TAKING THEIR MESSAGE TO TRAVELERS AT THE AIRPORT.

IT IS THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR WORKERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN SAN DIEGO.

KPBS REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN SAYS THE UNION COULD VOTE TO STRIKE.

>> Reporter: AS ALASKA HEARING OUR VOICES, THEY PROBABLY ARE GOING TO HEAR IT NOW.

>> Reporter: TERMINAL TWO WAS FILLED WITH ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.

LOCAL UNION LEADERS SAY NEGOTIATIONS ON A NEW CONTRACT BASICALLY FALLEN APART.

>> THIS IS BEEN FALLING OUT FOR A WHILE.

WE WERE SOLD ON THE PREMISES OF TOP INDUSTRY WAGES WITH AN AGGRESSIVE RECKONING SCHEDULE.

WE CAME TO THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN THE COMPANY DID NOT PRODUCE.

>> Reporter: THE DEMONSTRATION IN SAN DIEGO AS PART OF A NATIONWIDE DAY OF ACTION.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS UNION IS ANNOUNCING THAT MEMBERS WILL VOTE NEXT MONTH ON WHETHER TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE AGAINST ALASKA AIR.

UNION LEADERS SAY THEY HAVE NOT HAD TO DO THIS SINCE 1983 DURING A CHAOS STRIKE THAT STANDS FOR CREATE HAVOC AROUND OUR SYSTEM.

>> IN 1993 WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN A CHAOS STRIKE.

WE ARE TO THAT POINT NOW.

WE ARE FED UP WITH MANAGEMENT NOT PAYING US ARE WORTH.

>> Reporter: MELANIE SAYS SHE HAS BEEN WITH ALASKA AIR FOR 34 YEARS AND IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NOGAL -- LOCAL UNION.

>> INFLATION HAS BEEN SO HIGH.

RIGHT NOW WITH THE PAY, IT WOULD BE A 1% RAISE ABOVE INFLATION, WHICH AS SOON AS IT IS APPROVED, WE ARE ALREADY BEHIND THE GUN.

NEED TO STEP UP AND PAY US MORE.

>> Reporter: ALASKA AIRLINE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE MADE AN OFFER THAT WOULD PUT ALASKA AIRLINES PAY AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE INDUSTRY WITH AN IMMEDIATE 15% INCREASE.

THE AIRLINES AS THEY ARE OPEN MORE PROPOSALS THAT ARE ACTIVELY NEGOTIATING WITH MORE MEETINGS SET FOR EARLY NEXT YEAR.

>> WE AREN'T BACKING DOWN.

WE WILL TAKE IT THIS ENTIRE WAY.

THE ONLY WAY WE WILL STOP US IF WE GET A CONTRACT.

>> Reporter: MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THERE IS ALREADY A COURT CHALLENGE TO A LAW SIGNED YESTERDAY BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.

IT WOULD GIVE LOCAL POLICE AND JUDGES MORE POWER TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS.

THE ACLU AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS ARE SUING TO BLOCK THE LAW.

IT IS SET TO TAKE EFFECT UNTIL MARCH.

IT ALLOWS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ARREST PEOPLE WHO CROSS INTO THE U.S.

ILLEGALLY AND ALLOWS LOCAL JUDGES TO ISSUE DEPORTATION ORDERS.

EVEN IN THE SMOOTHEST OF CASES THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY HARD TO NAVIGATE.

PART OF THAT IS DUE TO AN IMMENSE BACKLOG OF CASES.

WE TELL YOU MY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO WAIT YEARS TO GET THEIR CASES HEARD.

>> Reporter: OUTSIDE ANY AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COURT THESE DAYS, YOU WILL LIKELY FIND LONG LINES, PEOPLE GATHERING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FOR COURT APPEARANCES THAT WILL DETERMINE IF THEY STAY IN THE UNITED STATES OR IF THEY WILL BE DEPORTED.

>> THEY ARE LINING UP SOMETIMES AT 5:00 A.M.

I'VE SEEN THEM LINING UP THE NIGHT BEFORE AS WELL.

>> Reporter: SOME OF THE MIGRANTS WILL END UP IN THE NEW YORK CITY COURTROOM.

JUDGE SANK OFF IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF IMMIGRATION JUDGES.

SHE HAS SERVED AS A JUDGE FOR 17 YEARS AND HAS NEVER SEEN THE SYSTEM UNDER THIS INTENSE STRAIN.

>> SOME DAYS I CAN SEE UP TO 100 DIFFERENT CASES JUST IN THE MORNING.

I HAVE BEEN A JUDGE IN LOS ANGELES, COLORADO, AND IN NEW YORK CITY, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, TRACKING DATA SHOWS THE IMMIGRATION COURT BACKLOG HAS REACHED MORE THAN 3 MILLION CASES.

IN 2012, THERE WERE OVER 325,000 BACKLOGGED CASES.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE JUST 71 IMMIGRATION COURTS AND 734 IMMIGRATION JUDGES THAT HANDLE THIS CASELOAD.

THE STATES WITH THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF PENDING CASES ARE FLORIDA, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, AND NEW YORK.

LAST DECEMBER, WE MET JESUS, HIS WIFE, AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN AS THEY CROSSED THE RIO GRANDE INTO EL PASO, TEXAS.

>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK REACHING THIS POINT WAS GOING TO BE SO EMOTIONAL?

>> Reporter: WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES THEY TOLD ME THEY NEVER THOUGHT THE JOURNEY FROM VENEZUELA WOULD BE SO PAINFUL.

THE FAMILY IS NOW IN NEW YORK, NAVIGATING THE IMMIGRATION ASYLUM PROCESS.

THEIR JOURNEY CAPTURES THE DILEMMA OF THE OVERWHELM SYSTEM.

IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE MET YOU.

YOU JUST HAD YOUR FIRST HEARING IN THE COURT, CORRECT?

THEY SAY IS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND AN ATTORNEY.

AFTER A YEAR THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.

>> THE SAME TRACKING DATA SHOWS CLOSE TO 100% OF THE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE LAWYERS SHOW UP TO THE COURT HEARINGS.

THE DATA IS LESS CLEAR FOR MIGRANTS WHO DON'T HAVE LAWYERS.

THEY ATTENDED THEIR FIRST COURT HEARING LAST WEEK AND HAVE ANOTHER DATE SET FOR APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ADDED MORE THAN 300 IMMIGRATION JUDGES TO HELP HANDLE THE MASSIVE BACKLOG OF CASES, BUT SHE SAYS THERE AREN'T ENOUGH INTERPRETERS AND LAW CLERKS TO MOVE CASES ALONG.

>> THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON HIRING MORE IMMIGRATION JUDGES, WHICH MAKES SENSE, BUT YOU CANNOT HIRE YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE EVEN AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE REALLY CAN ONLY HANDLE A BE ABOUT 500 CASES A YEAR.

>> ANDROID USERS MIGHT BE GETTING SOME MONEY BACK FROM GOOGLE AS PART OF A $700 MILLION SETTLEMENT.

CALIFORNIA IS AMONG THE STATES THAT SUED OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT GOOGLE ABUSED HIS PARTNERSHIPS WITH WIRELESS CARRIERS AND PHONE COMPANIES.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS APP DOWNLOADS WERE UNFAIRLY FUNNELED THROUGH THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE, LIMITING COMPETITION .

NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS THE EXTENT OF CHULA VISTA'S PARKLAND DIVIDE.

KPBS SOUTH BERRY REPORTER COREY SUZUKI SPOKE WITH THE SOUTH BAY RESEARCHER WHO ANALYZED PARKS AND CENSUS DATA.

>> Reporter: WE ARE AT THE MARINA VIEW PARK ON J STREET IN CHULA VISTA.

>> Reporter: JACOB HOFFMAN HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIMES IN PARKS OVER THE YEARS.

THAT'S PARTLY BECAUSE HE HELPED TAKE CARE OF HIS DAD WAS DEMENTIA.

>> ONE THING RECOMMENDED BY DOCTORS IS TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN THEIR LIFE, INCLUDING TAKING LOCKS AND BEING EXPOSED TO GREEN SPACES.

IS POTENTIALLY REALLY BENEFICIAL TO THEM AS WELL.

>> Reporter: BUT THIS YEAR THERE HAS BEEN A BIG DEBATE OVER PARKS IN CHULA VISTA, PACIFICALLY IN THE UNEQUAL WAY THEY HAVE BUILT OUT PARKS ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDES.

AS A RESULT ACCESS DEPENDS LARGELY ON WHERE THEY LIVE.

HOFFMAN SPECIALIZES IN GIS WHICH COMBINES COMPUTER SCIENCE AND DIGITAL MAPPING, AND LAST MONTH HE DECIDED TO DO HIS OWN ANALYSIS OF THE CITY PARKS USING REGIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL DATA.

HELFMAN FOUND HE AND OTHER RESIDENTS ON THE WESTSIDE HAVE ACCESS TO LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE PARK SPACE AS EASTSIDE RESIDENTS.

HE ALSO FOUND THAT WESTSIDE HOUSEHOLDS WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE POOR, IDENTIFY AS LATINO, AND LIVE NEAR SOURCES OF POLLUTION.

>> I FEEL THIS IS A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE BECAUSE PARKS BRING SO MANY BENEFITS.

THEY BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY , AND THEY ADDRESS THE BIG ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

I BELIEVE EVERY RESIDENT DESERVES ACCESS TO QUALITY PARKS , AND AS PLACES TO PLAY, EXERCISE, AND CONNECT WITH NATURE.

MACKEY KNOWS IT THAT CLOSING THE DIVIDE WILL BE A LONG PROCESS.

HE HOPES HIS MAPS WILL HELP BRING CHANGE A LITTLE FASTER.

COREY SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS .

>>> AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON, PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE IN OVERALL COVERAGE, AND GRADUALLY START TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY AS WELL.

OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES DROPPING DOWN INTO THE UPPER 50s.

A BIT LOWER TOWARDS CHULA VISTA, AND IN OCEANSIDE, 56.

THE RAIN WILL BE WORKING ITS WAY DOWN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

BACK OVER THE INTERIOR, NO WET WEATHER JUST YET.

48 DEGREES IN RED SPRINGS.

MOUNT LAGUNA DROPPING DOWN INTO THE UPPER 30s.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE PROGRESSION, AND AT LEAST OVER THE SHORT TERM, THE HEAVIEST OF THE RAIN IS STAYING OFF TOWARD THE NORTH WE'VE SEEN HIGH AMOUNTS NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO TOWARD READING AND EUREKA.

A COUPLE OF INCHES OF RAIN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

NOTICE THE SHOWERS IN OUR AREA OFF AND ON THROUGHOUT THE OVERNIGHT AND RIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

WE START TO SEE THIS PLUME OF MOISTURE, HEAVY RAIN BEGINNING TO APPROACH AREAS TO THE NORTHWEST, IN AND AROUND LOS ANGELES.

WE WILL SEE WET WEATHER, SO THE RAIN WILL CONTINUE AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

NOT OVERLY HEAVY JUST YET.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES TOPPING OUT IN THE UPPER 60s, AGAIN TOWARDS OCEANSIDE.

RAMONA 67 DEGREES.

THERE ARE FLOOD WATCHES TO THE NORTH AND WE COULD SEE AN EXPANSION AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH TIME.

I WANT TO TELL YOU HERE AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, THE HEAVIEST RAIN AT THE COAST WILL BE COMING ON THURSDAY WHEN WE COULD SEE A MONTHS WORTH OF RAIN, WHEN I SAY A MONTHS WORTH OF RAIN, THE HISTORICAL AVERAGE IS RIGHT AROUND 1.6 TO 1.7 INCHES OF RAIN.

WE CAN SEE THAT HERE ON THURSDAY, OR FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY NIGHT, RATHER.

THEN WE START TO SEE SUNSHINE RETURNING AS WE WORK OUR WAY INTO THE WEEKEND.

THE INLAND LOCATIONS, THE VALLEYS COULD SEE AMOUNTS OF RAIN TOPPING AN INCH OR TWO.

SOME AREAS COULD SEE LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS, QUIETER CONDITIONS AS WE HEAD TOWARD THE WEEKEND.

A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW UP OVER 7000 FEET ON A FRIDAY INTO THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

SUNSHINE BY SUNDAY, AND AS WE TALK ABOUT THE DESERTS WE WILL SEE SOME WET WEATHER AS WE HAD HER WAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS , JUSTIN POTTER.

>>> SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VETERANS ARE SUING TO GAIN ACCESS TO HOMES ON LAND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIRS.

NOW A FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS THEIR CASE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

NICK WATT TELLS US ABOUT THE HOUSING SOLUTION THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HELP HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THIS SPRAWLING VA CAMPUS IN WEST LOS ANGELES WAS ONCE HOME TO 4000 VETERANS.

THE LAND WAS GIVEN TO VETERANS WAY BACK IN 1888, BUT NOW MY MANY BUILDINGS LIKE DILAPIDATED, UNUSED, WHILE AROUND 4000 VETERANS ARE HOMELESS IN L.A..

THERE IS A VA HOSPITAL HERE, BUT ALSO UCLA'S BEAUTIFUL BASEBALL FIELD, AND THE EXCLUSIVE BRENTWOOD SCHOOLS SPLENDID SPORTS FACILITIES.

A FEDERAL JUDGE NOW SAYS HE WANTS THOUSANDS OF VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO LIVE HERE ONCE MORE AND FAST, AND HE WANTS THE VA TO QUIT LEASING SOME OF THE LAND.

>> ALL OF US ARE LOSING PATIENCE.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOING ON AS LONG AS IT HAS.

THIS IS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR DECADES.

>> Reporter: AFTER CAMPAIGNING BY REYNOLDS AND OTHERS IN CNN SHINING A LIGHT ON DECADES OF MISMANAGEMENT MY 14 VETERANS OF FILED SUIT AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT, DEMANDING WAREHOUSING HERE FOR NEEDY VETERANS, BETTER ACCESS TO THE CARE THEY NEED, AND AN END TO THE LEASES FOR THE LIKES OF BRENTWOOD SCHOOL.

THE GOVERNMENT FILED MOTIONS TO DISMISS THIS WEEK.

JUDGE DATIVE CARTER HIMSELF A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN AND A PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT DENIED THOSE MOTIONS IN A RULING.

THE CASE GOES AHEAD.

>> IS A GREAT VICTORY.

IS THE GREATEST LEGAL VICTORY ON BEHALF OF VETERANS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF ENTERING HOMELESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

>> Reporter: AFTER A PREVIOUS LAWSUIT, CONSTRUCTION OF UNITS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS IS UNDERWAY ON THIS LAND.

MORE THAN 800 UNITS SHOULD BE OPEN BY NOW, BUT ONLY 233 ARE ACTUALLY FINISHED.

REDTAPE IS SLOWING CONSTRUCTION AND PREVENTING SOME DISABLED VETS LIKE JOSH ERICKSON FROM MOVING IN.

>> Reporter: HOW DID YOU LOSE YOUR LEGS?

>> I STEPPED ON AN IED IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNMENT SAYS HIS DISABILITY MEANS HE EARNS TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY, SO HE IS STILL HOMELESS.

>> WITH YOUR OWN BATHROOM, YOUR OWN PLACE TO LIVE ON THAT CAMPUS.

WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> THAT WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ME.

THAT'S ALL I EVER WANT.

>> Reporter: JOSH RECENTLY MANAGED TO MOVE-IN.

HE SAYS HOUSING HELPED A LOT.

>> IT CAN MEAN EVERYTHING, STABILITY.

WITH THE START OF STABILITY YOU CAN START TO FIX OTHER PROBLEMS , BUT IF YOU ARE OUT ON THE STREETS AND HER ONLY OPPORTUNITY IS TO SELF MEDICATE TO GET THROUGH YOUR PROBLEMS, THAT IS NO WAY, THAT IS NOT THE ANSWER.

>> Reporter: JUDGE CARTER WANTS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO STOP POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER OVER WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE.

HE WANTS A QUICK SETTLEMENT.

HE FLASHED UP THIS PICTURE OF THE VA'S EQUITY -- CHIEF SECRETARY, AND SAID IF HE CAN FLY OUT HERE FOR A RIBBON- CUTTING, HE CAN FLY OUT HERE TO WORK ON THE SETTLEMENT PLAN TO HOUSE MANY MORE HOMELESS VETERANS.

>> THIS CASE SHOULD NOT SEE THE INSIDE OF A COURTROOM.

THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS ON ITS OWN SHOULD HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM TO STOP FIGHTING THE VETERANS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR THIS NATION.

>>> I'M JEFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, HOW THE U.S. IS TRYING TO PROTECT COMMERCIAL SHIPS FROM THE REBELS IN THE RED SEA COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> A UNIQUE MATCHUP TONIGHT.

THE SDSU MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WILL HOST THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT CATHERINE FIREBIRDS.

THE SMALL UNIVERSITY IS LOCATED IN SAN MARCO'S, AND THE GAME STARTS AT 7:00.

THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO HOME GAMES THIS WEEK.

THE AZTECS HOST STANFORD ON THURSDAY.

AS WE WRAP UP THE YEAR, WE ARE BRINGING BACK SOME OF OUR BEST STORIES FROM 2023.

ONE PROJECT THAT RESONATED WITH OUR AUDIENCES, OUR FOCUS ON PUBLIC ART AROUND SAN DIEGO.

THEY ARE ALL AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

IN THE STORY FROM OCTOBER , BRANDON TAKES US TO A GIANT MOSAIC IN LA JOLLA THAT CELEBRATES THE UNDERWATER WORLD.

>> Reporter: IS STEPS AWAY FROM A SWINGSET, SLIDE, AND JUNGLE GYM.

YOU HEAR THE LAUGHTER OF CHILDREN AND THE SOUND OF CRASHING WAVES.

IT'S ANOTHER PLAYGROUND OF SORTS MADE OUT OF CONCRETE AND TILE.

"THE MAP," AS IT IS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED IS A MOSAIC.

IT SITS AT THE WALTER MONK EDUCATIONAL PLAZA AT LA JOLLA SHORES.

THIS MASSIVE PIECE OF PUBLIC ART DEPICTS THE GRAND CANYON'S OF LA JOLLA AS WELL AS 100 SPECIES INDIGENOUS TO CALIFORNIA'S COAST, ALL IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF HAND CUT TILE.

MAKING A MOSAIC OF THIS SIZE IS NOT EASY .

IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE TECHNIQUE, LITTLE MOSAIC WHICH WAS INVESTED -- INVENTED ALONG WITH CONCRETE SPECIALISTS.

>> I TEND TO BE A PERSON WHO THINKS BIG, AND THIS IS A TECHNIQUE THAT ONLY WORKS FOR BIG, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, FIT RIGHT IN FOR ME.

>> Reporter: THE PROCESS IS A REMIX OF THE CLASSIC MOSAIC TECHNIQUE OF SECURING TILE TO A SURFACE WITH MORTAR AND GROUT.

INSTEAD, IT USES MONOLITHIC CONCRETE PORES.

>> WITH A MOSAIC DID TWO THINGS.

IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE SUPERLARGE .

ONE JUST WENT IN THIS WEEK IN TEMPE ARIZONA.

AND IT ALSO HAS FIGURED OUT A WAY THROUGH THE CHEMICAL BALANCE OF THE CONCRETE AND WITH THE TECHNIQUES THAT WE PUT INTO IT TO ALLOW IT TO GO IN IN THE FREEZE-SAW ENVIRONMENTS.

WE HAVE AN IN ALASKA NEVADA AND NEW MEXICO, PLACES WHERE YOU NORMALLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE MOSAICS.

>> Reporter: SHE ALSO WORKS WITH MULTIPLE ARTISTS.

SHE SAYS A NEW MOSAIC BEGINS WITH RESEARCH.

>> WHEN I HAVE A PROJECT ARE IDENTIFIED A SITE THAT I WANT TO DO FOR MY OWN ART COMMISSION, I THINK, I STUDY IT REALLY HARD.

I AM THERE.

I WATCH THE SUNRISE AND THE MOON SET, WHATEVER.

I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE.

I RESEARCH A LOT IN LIBRARIES.

I READ A LOT OF BOOKS.

ALL MY PROJECTS PROPOSALS HAVE EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHIES FOR THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE.

>> Reporter: THE HOME STUDIO IS NESTLED IN THE HILLS OF EAST SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THERE, THE SHELVES OF BOOKS ARE EVIDENCE OF THE SCHOLARLY APPROACH TO PUBLIC ART.

>> WE ARE AT THE FUNNY POINT NOW WHERE THE HOUSE DOESN'T HAVE WALLS, AND ALL THE WALLS THEY CAN HAVE PAINTINGS OR BOOKSHELVES.

HOW MANY MORE BOOKS DO WE BUY IS THE CURRENT PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: ONCE THE RESEARCH IS DONE, THE NEXT STEP IS DESIGN CONCEPTION.

>> I DO ALL OF MY LITHOMOSAIC LAYOUTS.

I PAID THEM ON CLEAR PLASTIC, BECAUSE I AM BASICALLY A GLASS ARTIST.

THE MOST COMFORTABLE WORKING IN GLASS.

THAT IS WHY THINGS THAT YOU ARE SEEING THAT HER OLDER OUR GLASS.

ANYWAY, I PAINT ON BOTH SIDES OF A PIECE OF CLEAR PLASTIC LIKE THIS, AND I CAN REALLY GET THE EFFECT THAT I WANT THAT THE LITHOMOSAIC WILL BE LIKE.

>> Reporter: THEN THE EXTENSIVE WORK OF HAND CUTTING AND PLACING EACH TILE BEGINS.

IN THE LITHOMOSAIC PROCESS, TILES ARE SECURED FACEDOWN TO MESH WITH THE GLUE.

AFTER IT'S COMPLETE, IT IS TIME TO INSTALL THE MOSAIC.

IT'S DONE BY CONCRETE PROFESSIONALS.

>> THEY TAKE IT AND LAY IT UPSIDE DOWN IN THE LITHOMOSAIC CONCRETE POUR.

THEN THEY TRIAL IT, TRAVEL IT, TRIAL IT, AND THEN WHEN IT HAS BEGUN TO SET A LITTLE BIT, THEN THEY PEEL THE MESH BACK AND THE TILES ARE THERE IN PLACE, AND NO MESH, AND NO CROWDING, NO BUCKETS, BACKBREAKING WORK ON OUR PART.

>> Reporter: WE ARE ABLE TO GET A BETTER IDEA ON HOW THE SKILLED CRAFTSMEN INSTALLED THE MOSAIC.

>> IMAGINE PUTTING THIS MUCH TILE IN YOUR KITCHEN.

SO, WHAT THEY WERE DOING, ON THE ONE HAND THEY WERE PUTTING THIS ONE IN, AND OVER HERE, THEY HAD THE PUMPER TRUCK AND THEY WERE UP TO THEIR ANKLES PUMPING IN THE CONCRETE AND LEVELING IT AND THEN BRINGING OVER THE NEXT ONE AT THE SAME TIME.

IT IS A BALLET OF THE HIGHEST ORDER OF HOW THEY PUT IT TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: ALL OF THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE WALTER MONK FOUNDATION FOR THE OCEANS.

IT WORKS WITH THE CITIES AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO BRING THE MOSAIC TO LIFE.

HE IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE THE FATHER OF MODERN OCEANOGRAPHY.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SCIENTISTS TO BRING STATISTICAL METHODS TO THE ANALYSIS OF OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA.

WHILE HE DIED IN 2019 BEFORE THE MAP WAS FINISHED, THE MOSAIC CONTINUES HIS LEGACY OF TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT THE OCEANS AND ANIMALS THAT CALL IT HOME.

THE BEAUTY OF PUBLIC ART IS THAT IT IS FOR EVERYONE.

>> I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF MY COLLABORATORS KELSEY HARTLEY ON THE PHONE AND SHE WAS POINTING OUT THAT IN THIS TIME RIGHT NOW, MORTGAGES ARE EXPENSIVE.

COVID HAS LEFT PEOPLE WITHOUT JOBS.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE WORLD AND WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT PUBLIC ART AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS YOU CAN REALLY SORT OF INTERACT AND OWN IT ON YOUR OWN.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT MY THINGS DON'T BELONG TO ANYBODY, AND THEY BELONG TO EVERYBODY, AND YOU CAN BE HERE AT MIDNIGHT, 3:00 IN THE MORNING, HOMELESS, HAVE THE BIGGEST HOUSE, AND YOU ALL GET TO EXPERIENCE IT AT THE SAME, IN THE SAME WAY.

>> Reporter: FROM A 31 FOOT GRAY WHALE TO A LIFE-SIZED HUMAN DIVER, IT OFFERS VISITORS A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE OCEAN WITHOUT HAVING TO GET WET.

>> WHAT MORE COULD I ASK FOR.

>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR TOMORROW.

THE NPR MORNING EDITION IS DIVING INTO THE PATENT DISPUTE THAT HAS APPLE TAKING ITS LATEST SMART WATCHES OFF OF THE SHELVES, AS WELL AS HOW IT AFFECTS CONSUMERS WHO BOUGHT OR ARE THINKING ABOUT BUYING THE DEVICE, AND THE KPBS MID-DAY EDITION IS HIGHLIGHTING WHERE THE BEST DISCUSSIONS FROM LAST YEAR.

TOMORROW WE FOCUS ON ISSUES AROUND RACE AND EQUITY.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS "EVENING EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PURPOSE FOUNDATION, CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION , DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY , AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.