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

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

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

♪ >> AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

>>> IT WAS AN ESPECIALLY DEADLY 24 HOURS IN GAZA HEADING INTO CHRISTMAS.

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M JOHN CARROLL IN FOR ATTRIBUTE SKI.

BETWEEN CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY, AT LEAST 250 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 500 OTHERS INJURED IN CENTRAL GAZA.

THE DEATH TOLL HAS REPORTEDLY SURPASSED 20,000 SINCE OCTOBER 7, AND THIS MORNING, THREE PALESTINIAN INTERNET PROVIDERS SAY SERVICE IS FULLY DOWN IN GAZA.

THIS COMES AS ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS THE COUNTRY IS BEING ATTACKED FROM SEVEN ARENAS.

>> Translator: WE'RE IN A MULTI- ARENA WAR.

WE ARE BEING ATTACKED FROM SEVEN DIFFERENT SECTORS, GAZA, LEBANON, SYRIA, JUDEA, SAMARIA, IRAQ, YEMEN, AND IRAN.

WE HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED AND ACTED IN SIX OF THESE COME AND I SAY HERE IN THE MOST EXPLICIT WAY, ANYONE WHO ACTS AGAINST US IS A POTENTIAL TARGET.

THERE IS NO IMMUNITY FOR ANYONE .

>> MEANWHILE, POPE FRANCIS USED HIS CHRISTMAS DAY MESSAGE TO CALL FOR A CEASE-FIRE AND FOR PEACE BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS.

THE ISRAEL/HAMAS WAR IS HISTORY HAPPENING IN REAL TIME, WHICH MEANS TEXTBOOKS ARE NOT CURRENT , SO WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT ABOUT THE CONFLICT HALF A WORLD AWAY?

KPBS EDUCATION ROTOR MG PEREZ SPOKE TO SOME STUDENTS DETERMINED TO LEARN THE TRUTH.

>> THIS IS AHEAD OF A RECENT UPDATE.

>> Reporter: 17-YEAR-OLD VITAE IS COEDITOR OF THEIR PROCESS SCHOOL NEWSPAPER.

SHE IS A SENIOR AT THE CHARTER ON THE UC SAN DIEGO CAMPUS .

>> IT'S REAL.

>> Reporter: THE ONLINE NEWSPAPER HAS NOT SHIED AWAY FROM COVERING THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT SINCE THE HAMAS ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL IN OCTOBER.

>> THEY LAUNCHED THOUSANDS OF ROCKETS, KIDNAPPED PEOPLE, BURNT PEOPLE ALIVE COME AND HELP PEOPLE HOSTAGE IN GAZA.

>> Reporter: THESE HAVE STUDENTS TURNING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND GET REAL-TIME INFORMATION SINCE THEY ARE NOT LEARNING ABOUT IT IN CLASS WITH TEACHERS LIMITED TO USING ONLY PREAPPROVED CURRICULUM THAT IS NOT CURRENT.

>> IT'S JUST CONFUSING FOR US TO NOT BE ABLE TO TALK MORE OPENLY ABOUT THESE CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS BECAUSE HOW ARE WE GOING TO BECOME WORLD LEADERS IF WE DON'T GO THROUGH THESE TOPICS AT THIS AGE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO CONSTANTLY ADAPT?

TRANSIT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE REACHED OUT TO NUMEROUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO FIND OUT HOW THIS IS BEING TAUGHT IN CLASSROOMS.

NONE OF THEM WOULD RESPOND TO OUR REQUESTS.

>> WE'RE SUPPOSEDLY TAUGHT HISTORY TO NOT REPEAT IT.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A JUNIOR AT THE DIMENSIONS COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL, WHICH ALSO HAS NOT INCLUDED WAR DISCUSSION IN HISTORY OR CURRENT EVENTS, THE CURRICULUM.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN, AND WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO LIVE IN IT, SO IF WE CAN TRY TO FIX OUR OWN PROBLEMS OR RESOLVE THE ISSUES WE HAVE IN OUR WORLD TODAY, THEN THE BETTER.

VY THUI>> Reporter: RETURNS TO CALL NEXT WEEK TO WORK ON THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE NEWSPAPER.

>> WE HAVE AN ETHICS CODE TO FOLLOW, SO WE JUST HAVE TO STATE THE FACTS AND STRAIGHT NEWS.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHERE THERE YOU ARE FROM PALESTINE OR ISRAEL, YOU ARE A HUMAN BEING, YOU KNOW?

WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY SUFFERING , YOU SHOULD CARE.

>> Reporter: THAT'S A LIFE LESSON ANYONE MIGHT BE OPEN TO LEARN.

MG PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE DRY WEATHER WILL STICK AROUND HERE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT WE ARE TRACKING A PATTERN CHANGE AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

IT IS NOT JUST IN TERMS OF ANY PRECIPITATION WE'RE TRACKING BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO COME INTO THE PICTURE AS WELL, BUT WE'RE ALSO TRACKING A TEMPERATURE COOL DOWN HERE AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THAT, COMING UP.

>>> THE MIGRANT CRISIS AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON OFFICIALS AND RESOURCES.

IN EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS ARE BEING TRANSPORTED TO OTHER BORDER TOWNS TO HELP WITH PROCESSING, THEN THEY ARE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITIES, AND THERE COULD BE MORE TO COME AS A CARAVAN OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS IS STILL HEADED TO THE U.S. NEW MEXICO IVAN RODRIGUEZ REPORTS.

>> Reporter: SO FAR THIS MONTH, A SEVEN DAY AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 9600 MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS WERE REPORTED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES, MAKING IT AMONG THE HIGHEST AMOUNT EVER RECORDED.

>> I'VE SPOKEN TO THESE PEOPLE WHEN I'VE BEEN ON THE RIVER, AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE , AND I THINK WE CAN HELP THEM.

WE NEED MORE WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES COMES I THINK THERE'S POSITIVE THAT CAN COME FROM IMMIGRATION.

WE JUST NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THEM.

>> Reporter: THE DEAL WITH THE OPPOSITE AND MIGRANTS ARE DRY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CLOSE PORTS OF ENTRY IN SEVERAL STATES AND REASSIGNED PERSONNEL TO TRANSPORT AND PROCESS MIGRANTS .

SHERIFF TOM SAID THAT HIS SURGE IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY.

>> I HAVE MY COMMUNITY HERE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY ARE AFRAID THE PEOPLE, STRANGERS ARE WALKING AROUND THE AREA.

IT'S A SITUATION THAT'S GETTING OUT OF PRESSURE.

>> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS IN THE EAGLE PASS AREA ARE ONLY BEING TRANSPORTED TO OTHER BORDER TOWNS TO HELP RELIEVE PRESSURE.

TWO BUSES FROM TEXAS DROPPED OFF OVER 90 MIGRANTS IN THE CHICAGO SUBURB OVER THE WEEKEND, AND THEY WERE THEN MOVED BY TRAIN INTO THE CITY , ACCORDING TO POLICE.

FOR MANY WHO MADE THE LONG JOURNEY TO THE U.S., GOING BACK IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> I'M GOING TO BE HAPPY BECAUSE I'M GOING TO LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY WHERE THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ARE RESPECTED.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WHERE I LIVED.

>> Reporter: IVAN RODRIGUEZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> MOTHER NATURE BROUGHT LOTS OF CLOSURES TO NORTH COUNTY RAIL LINES THIS YEAR TO LOCAL LEADERS SAY THAT PUSHED RIDERSHIP DOWN.

REPORTER TONYA THORNE SAYS THERE ARE PLANS TO FIX THAT IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> Reporter: THE 351 MY ALONG RAIL LINE KNOWN AS THE LOW SAND RAIL CORRIDOR RUNS FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO TO LOS ANGELES AND SOUTH TO SAN DIEGO, THAT LANDSLIDES AND CLIFF COLLAPSES BROUGHT MAJOR INTERRUPTIONS TO THE RAIL CORRIDOR ALONG SAN DIEGO'S COAST THIS YEAR.

>> THE TRACK AROUND SAN CLEMENTE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING FOR ALMOST 9 MONTHS, SO THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TAKE THAT ROUTE WERE ON A BUS BRIDGE, WHICH WENT FROM IRVINE TO OCEANSIDE.

>> Reporter: STATE SENATOR CATHERINE BLAKE STREET IS THE CHAIR THE LOW SAND RAIL CORRIDOR RESILIENCY SUBCOMMITTEE.

SHE SAYS AFTER THE RAIL INTERRUPTIONS, RIDERSHIP DROPPED BY HALF, FROM 8 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR TO 4 MILLION.

>> IF SOMEONE IS ON A TRAIN TRIP, THEY DON'T WANT TO GET ONTO A BUS, GET ON A TRAIL, GET ONLINE, GET IN A BUS, GET ON THE FREEWAY, GET BACK ON THE TRAIN.

IT REALLY CUT DRAMATICALLY THE RIDERSHIP.

TRANSIT EVEN AFTER THE RAIL LINE REOPENED, RIDERSHIP HAS NOT RECOVERED.

SHE SAYS IT'S CHALLENGING TO BRING THOSE NUMBERS UP AGAIN.

>> IT'S A REALLY COMPLICATED PICTURE, AND THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT OWNERS OF THE TRUCK, SEVEN OPERATORS, THEN THERE ARE THE FREIGHT COMPANIES, SO THERE'S UNION PACIFIC AND BNSP, AND THEY ARE SO OWNERS OF THE TRACKING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT OWNERS OF THE TRACK, AND YOU HAVE THESE DIFFERENT OPERATORS ON TOP OF IT , EVERYBODY'S INTEREST IN THIS IS DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: BLAKESPEAR SAID PART OF THE TRUCK REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND INVESTMENT TO KEEP THE RAIL LINE RUNNING UNINTERRUPTED.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE STRATEGIC PLANNING THAT'S LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR FOR THE STATE TO SAY THIS IS THE SECOND BUSIEST CORRIDOR IN THE NATION.

WE WANT IT TO FUNCTION BETTER, WE WANT IT TO CARRY MORE PASSENGERS, MORE FREQUENTLY, MORE RELIABLY, SO HOW DO WE GET THERE?

>> Reporter: FIGURING OUT HOW AND WHO OVERSEES ALL THE DIFFERENT OWNERS AND OPERATORS INVOLVED IS THE NEXT PLAN OF ACTION FOR THIS SUBCOMMITTEE.

TONYA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IN 2024, MORE THAN 2 BILLION PEOPLE WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS HELD IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S. .

ELECTIONS WILL COINCIDE WITH THE RISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, LEADING TO SOME FEAR FOR DEMOCRACY ITSELF CAN WE GET MORE FROM SIMON.

>> USA, USA.

>> Reporter: 2024 IS SHAPING UP TO BE AN ELECTION YEAR LIKE NONE OTHER .

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BIG VICTORY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL OVER THE WORLD, THEY ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING US.

FORGET THE DECISIONS MADE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME NOW WILL DETERMINE THE COURSE OF THIS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR THE NEXT SIX OR SEVEN DECADES.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MIGHT BE THE HIGHEST PROFILE, IT'S NOT THE ONLY CONSEQUENTIAL CONTEST TAKING PLACE.

>> THIS IS A HUGELY SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR DEMOCRACY, AND IT DEPENDS HOW YOU CLASSIFY AS AN ELECTION, BUT BY SOME MEASURES, THERE ARE AT LEAST 40 NATIONAL ELECTIONS HAPPENING IN 2024.

>> Reporter: IN ABSOLUTE NUMBERS, THAT IS MORE THAN 2 BILLION PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO CAST A BALLOT .

AMONG THOSE UP FOR REELECTION, INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI, SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, RISHI SUNAK IS EXPECTED TO CALL A 2024 ELECTION.

TAIWAN, INDONESIA, AND MEXICO ARE GOING TO THE POLLS TOO, THOUGH THEIR INCUMBENTS WILL BE CANDIDATES, AND IN EUROPE, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF VOTERS WILL ELECT A NEW CAPITAL EU PARLIAMENT.

>> FOR MANY COUNTRIES, THE HEALTH OF THEIR DEMOCRACY WILL BE PUT TO THE TEST.

>> Reporter: THE RESULTS HAVE POTENTIAL TO RESHAPE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ON A SCALE RARELY SEEN.

FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, TO THE WARS IN UKRAINE AND GAZA.

WHILE THE RESULT OF SOME ELECTIONS ARE ALL BUT GUARANTEED, OTHERS WILL BE A GENUINE CONTEST, MEANING A RELATIVELY SMALL SHIFT IN VOTER SUPPORT COULD AFFECT THE OUTCOME .

THAT AMPLIFIES THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DISINFORMATION.

EXPERTS WANT THAT RISK HAS BEEN MADE MORE SIGNIFICANT, BY THE FACT THAT THESE ELECTIONS ARE COINCIDING WITH A BOOM IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THAT BRINGS WITH IT THE PROSPECT OF DEEPFAKE CONTENT LIKE .

>> IS AN AI GENERATED VIDEO SHOWING JUST HOW FAR TECHNOLOGY HAS COME IN RECENT YEARS .

TRANSIT EVEN VLADIMIR PUTIN, WHOSE ALL BUT CERTAIN TO BE REELECTED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT IN MARCH, APPEARED MOMENTARILY SURPRISED WHEN CONFRONTED BY A COMPUTER-GENERATED VERSION OF HIMSELF.

>> PEOPLE SHOULD BE SCARED BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY IS ENABLING THE CREATION OF FAKE VIDEOS THAT COULD BE VERY PERSUASIVE WITH THE ORDINARY VOTERS.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH THE FAKE VIDEOS FROM REAL ONES.

>> Reporter: ARE GOVERNMENTS READY FOR WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE LINE?

>> GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT READY.

THERE ARE LITERALLY NO GUARD RAILS IN PLACE.

>> Reporter: THAT PUTS MORE OF AN ONUS ON TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES TO STEP IN.

META, WHICH OWNS FACEBOOK IT IS, IS ADAPTING ITS APPROACH TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGES POSED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

TIKTOK ANNOUNCED PARTNERSHIP WITH EXTERNAL FACT CHECKERS TO COMBAT MISINFORMATION, AND X, WHICH DASTARDLY DRASTICALLY CUT STAFF UNDERSEA ELON MUSK, INCREASINGLY RELIES ON USERS TO FLAG MISLEADING CONTENTS.

>> THE FACT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MASSIVE JOB CUTS TO CONTENT OPERATION TEAMS PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE U.S. SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, IT IS SHOWING THAT THEY DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH, AND THAT WILL HAVE CONCERNING EFFECTS IN THE 2024 ELECTIONS.

>> Reporter: A RECORD YEAR FOR ELECTIONS COULD ALSO PROVE TO BE AN UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE TO THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

>>> ON THE NEWS HOUR, ALLEGATIONS THAT FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM IGNORED WARNINGS THAT THEIR PLATFORMS WERE HARMING YOUNG USERS SHOULD THAT'S COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO ALLERGIES, MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE SEASONAL, CAUSED BY ALLERGENS LIKE POLLEN IN THE SPRING OR RAGWEED IN THE FALL.

BUT ALLERGIES CAN BE TRIGGERED YEAR ROUND, AND MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY ALLERGENS INDOORS.

MANDY GAITHER HAS MORE ON HOW TO COPE AS COLDER TEMPERATURES SEND PEOPLE INSIDE.

>> Reporter: JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD BREATHE EASIER, THOSE ALLERGIES GET TRIGGERED ONCE AGAIN.

>> WINTERTIME ALLERGIES CAN BE RELATED TO THE INDOOR ALLERGENS, WHICH INCLUDE DUST MITES, COCKROACHES, INDOOR MOLD , AND THEN ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY PETS.

>> Reporter: ALLERGIST LILY WITH THE CLEVELAND CLINIC SAID TO FIRST FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING YOUR SYMPTOMS .

IF YOU HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE, REAL OR ARTIFICIAL, THAT COULD BE A TRIGGER OF WHICH TO BE AWARE.

>> Reporter: .

IF IT'S A NEW TREE, THERE MIGHT BE SOME MOLD RELATED TO THAT, SO WHEN PEOPLE BRING THAT INTO THEIR HOMES , IT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

IF YOU HAVE AN ARTIFICIAL TREE, IF IT HAS BEEN STORED AWAY, THAT TOO CAN HAVE ACCUMULATION OF MOLD AND DUST MITE ALLERGIES.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN ALSO COPE WITH WINTER ALLERGIES BY TRYING TO DEHUMIDIFIER, CLEANING OFTEN, WASHING YOUR PETS, USING ALLERGY PROOF COVERS ON MATTRESSES AND PILLOWS, AND MAKING SURE YOU HAVE MEDICINE ON HAND .

THAT INCLUDES ORAL ANTIHISTAMINES, NASAL STEROID SPRAYS, AND NASAL ANTIHISTAMINE SPRAYS AND EYEDROPS, MANY OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE OVER-THE- COUNTER.

>> WE GET SO BUSY DURING THE WINTERTIME AND AROUND THE HOLIDAYS THAT WE >> TO TAKE OUR MEDICATIONS .

>> Reporter: IF YOU TRY TO GET THE ALLERGY MEDICATION AND YOU ARE STILL HAVING SYMPTOMS, IT IS TIME TO SEE A DOCTOR.

FOR HEALTH MINUTE, I'M MANDY GAITHER .

>>> IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ALLERGIC TO INDOOR ALLERGENS, DOCTOR PIEN SET A DOCTOR INTO SIMPLE TEST TO FIND OUT WHAT MAY BE TRIGGERING SYMPTOMS AND IDENTIFY IF IT IS AN ALLERGY.

>>> IF YOU THOUGHT PREHOLIDAY TRAVEL WAS BUSY, AAA SAID THE RETURN TRIP SHOULD BE ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS FOR THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE WILL BE COMING AND GOING DURING THE WEEK.

AAA SAYS 7.5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO FLY NATIONWIDE, BEATING OUT THE MORE THAN 7.1 MILLION LAST YEAR AND A 7.3 MILLION IN 2021, BUT SO FAR, OFFICIALS AND TRAVELERS SAY IT'S BEEN SMOOTH SAILING.

>> I JUST LIKE TO GREET THE GRANDKIDS DOWN HERE, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE KIND OF FUN TO DRESS UP FOR THEM.

THEY LOVE COMING TO THE BEACH.

THEY LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH HER NANA.

WE JUST REALLY ENJOY THE HECK OUT OF THEM.

>> THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 , IS EXPECTED TO BE THE BUSIEST DAY AT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL THIS WEEK.

>>> WITH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, LOTS OF SAN DIEGANS ARE LOOKING TO DISPOSE OF THEIR TREES.

KPBS REPORTER ANDREW DYER HAS MORE ON THE CITY'S CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM .

>> Reporter: HUNTER THE UNSELD CHRISTMAS TREES ARE ALREADY PILED HIGH AT THIS LANDFILL, WAITING TO BE GROUND TO BITS AND RECYCLED INTO COMPOST.

OVER THE NEXT MONTH, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO PLANS TO RECYCLE MORE THAN 10,000 TREES FROM THE AREA KIT FOR RESIDENTS WITH GREEN ORGANIC WASTE BINS, THE CITY WILL PICK IT UP CURBSIDE, BUT IT RECYCLING SPECIALIST WITH THE CITY SAID THERE IS ONE CONCESSION.

>> THE ONLY THING IS THE CHRISTMAS TREE DOES NEED TO BE CHOPPED AND A FASHION SO THE TREE ITSELF IT'S IN THE GREEN BAND.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE ALSO 16 DROP OFF LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE ANYONE CAN DROP OFF TREES AT NO CHARGE.

>> WE DO WANT PEOPLE TO RECYCLE THE CHRISTMAS TREES, SO WE'RE MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IN THE VICINITIES AT THE DROP OFF SITES THAT THEY CAN USE.

>> Reporter: 2023 MARK THE PROGRAM 50th YEAR .

SINCE 1973, THE CITY SAYS IT'S RECYCLE MORE THAN 50,000 TONS OF TREES .

THE WOOD CHIPS, MULCH, AND COMPOST ARE USED IN LANDSCAPING AND AGRICULTURE.

CITY RESIDENTS CAN PICK UP UP TO TWO CUBIC YARDS OF COMPOST FOR FREE AT THE MIRAMAR GREENERY AT THE LANDFILL.

ALL ORNAMENTS AND TINSEL MUST BE REMOVED FROM TREES BEFORE THEY ARE RECYCLED.

THE PROGRAM RUNS THROUGH JANUARY 23.

DROP OFF SITE OPERATIONS VARY AND CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT SANSAN DIEGO.GOV.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE'LL START YOU OFF WITH YOUR WEATHER HEADLINES, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THAT DRY WEATHER IS GOING TO STICK AROUND, EVEN THROUGH THE LATER HALF OF THE WEEK, THOUGH THAT DOESN'T COME WITHOUT SOME CONCERNS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME PATCHY, COASTAL LOW CLOUDS AND A FOG, SO YOU MAY RUN INTO LOWER VISIBILITY, FOG IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT LATE IN THE DAY AND EARLY IN THE DAY.

BILL AS WE ENTER THE WEEKEND, WE'RE GOING TO START TO COOL DOWN, AND WHILE WE'RE TURNING WET ACROSS THE REGION AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR NEXT WEATHER MAKER SET TO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH.

TONIGHT, WE'RE DROPPING DOWN TO A LOW OF 49.

A NICE, MOONLIT SKY, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO RULE OUT PATCHY FOG HERE OVER THESE NEXT FEW DAYS LATE AT NIGHT AND EARLY IN THE MORNING AND OVERALL ACROSS THE REST OF THE REGION, OCEANSIDE DROPPING DOWN TO A LOW OF 46.

MOUNT LAGUNA, 38 AS WELL.

TOMORROW, YOU'LL GET SEE SOME SUNSHINE HERE IN SAN DIEGO, AT 65, OCEANSIDE, A SIMILAR STORY, AND IN LAGUNA, IN THE UPPER 40s.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, SHOW YOU HOW TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO PLAY OUT.

WE STILL HAVE TEMPERATURES RUNNING IN THE MID TO UPPER 60s THERE.

SLIGHT WARMING TO THURSDAY.

WE'LL STILL TALK ABOUT SUN, PEAKS OF SUN AT LEAST, THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT AN INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER AS WE HEAD INTO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

TEMPERATURES, STAYING IN THE MID TO UPPER 60s, THOUGH THEY DO START TO COOL DOWN SLIGHTLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RAIN MOVING INTO THE REGION FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEKEND.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A SHOWER AND SPOTS WITH THICK CLOUD COVER IN STORE TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEKEND AS WELL.

FURTHER INLAND, WE'RE IN THE UPPER 60s, EVEN PUSHING 70 BY FRIDAY.

THOSE CLOUDS WILL GRADUALLY BUILD HERE THOUGH OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THOUGH A SHOWER IS VISIBLE AS WE HEAD INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEKEND.

THAT'S WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO TAKE A DIVE WITH A HIGH OF 61 SATURDAY, 64 ON SUNDAY.

FOR THE MOUNTAINS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME CHILLY AIR, BUT WE'LL HAVE SOME PERIODS OF SUN IN THE 40s, UPPER 40s AT LEAST THROUGH FRIDAY, BUT WE'RE DROPPING DOWN TO THE LOW 40s WITH AN AFTERNOON SHOWER POSSIBLE SATURDAY, AND THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR THE DESERT AS WELL.

MEANWHILE, TEMPERATURES WILL BE STAYING IN THE MID TO UPPER 60s TO THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEKEND, BUT WE'RE DROPPING DOWN TO A HIGH OF 63.

SUNSHINE WILL RETURN FOR SUNDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS, I'M METEOROLOGIST AGREE WITH DEBRIS BREE I.

>>> POWERBALL WAS NOT IN THE GIVING SPIRIT THIS PRESS MUST.

THERE WAS NO JACKPOT WINNER IN MONDAY'S DRAWING.

THE JACKPOT PRIZE HAS NOW GROWN TO AN ESTIMATED $685 MILLION AHEAD OF WEDNESDAY'S DRAWING .

SHOULD YOU WIN, THAT COULD HELP BUY ALL THE GIFTS YOU DID NOT RECEIVE ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST AND A WHOLE LOT MORE, I WOULD THINK.

>>> PICKLEBALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA, BUT SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR PICKLEBALL COURTS SAY IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE LOUDEST.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, KPBS REPORTER SCOTT HAD A LOOK AT THE LEGAL ACTIONS PEOPLE ARE TAKING TO RESOLVE PICKLEBALL NOISE DISPUTES.

>> Reporter: SHE MOVED INTO HER HOME.

SHE WAS DRAWN TO THE GATED COMMUNITY FOR ITS TRANQUILITY, THEN TWO YEARS AGO -- >> THEY STARTED PICKLEBALL.

OH MY GOD .

IT CHANGED MY LIFE OVERNIGHT.

>> Reporter: PICKLEBALL, IT'S A GAME SIMILAR TO TENNIS THAT IS PLAYED WITH PADDLES AND A HARD PLASTIC BALL.

THE COMMUNITY'S TENNIS/PICKLEBALL COURT IS ABOUT 60 FEET FROM HER BEDROOM WINDOW AND NO ONE IS ON THE COURT THIS AFTERNOON, BUT SHE REENACTS THE SOUND FOR ME.

>> I'M HEARING THIS POP, POP, POP FOR HOURS, AND YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE UP TO EIGHT HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE NOISE PIERCES HER DOUBLE PANE WINDOWS.

SHE WORKS FROM HOME IN THE EVENINGS AND TRIES TO SLEEP DURING THE DAY , BUT THE POP POPPING OFTEN KEEPS HER AWAKE.

IF THEY ARE STILL PLAYING BY THE TIME SHE STARTS WORK, GLEYZAL HAS TO WEAR NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES TO FOCUS.

SHE SAYS IT'S EVEN STARTED AFFECTING HER HEALTH.

>> I WOULD GET THESE SPLITTING HEADACHES, AND THAT MY BLOOD PRESSURE STARTED GOING UP, AND THIS WAS THE ONLY CONSISTENT IRRITATION IN MY LIFE.

>> Reporter: GLEYZAL RECENTLY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SEACLIFF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION .

SHE WANTS PICKLEBALL BANNED FROM THE COMMUNITY TENNIS COURTS AND IS SEEKING $300,000 IN DAMAGES.

A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION DECLINED AN INTERVIEW REQUEST.

THIS LAWSUIT ISN'T A ONE OFF SPAT, AND AS MORE AND MORE PLAYERS PICK UP PADDLES, CLASHES OVER PICKLEBALL NOISE ARE HAPPENING UP AND DOWN CALIFORNIA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

OUR FIRM HAS HANDLED UPWARDS OF 25 SEPARATE CASES.

>> Reporter: NICHOLAS KAPLAN IS A PARTNER AT THE REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM REPRESENTS GLEYZAL AND HER LAWSUIT.

>> FROM SACRAMENTO, DELTA CHULA VISTA, THEY ARE ALL OVER THE STATE .

ORANGE COUNTY, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY.

>> Reporter: KAPLAN HAS CARVED OUT SOMETHING OF A SPECIALTY, HANDLING THESE PICKLEBALL NOISE CASES.

SOME HAVE HIS CLIENTS HAVE TAKE ON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, WHILE OTHERS HAVE CHALLENGED CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT ALLOW PICKLEBALL IN PUBLIC PARKS NEAR HOMES KID KAPLAN SAYS WHILE SOME CASES GO TO COURT, MOST ARE SETTLED THROUGH MEDIATION, AND OFTEN RESULT IN AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON PICKLEBALL IN A SPECIFIC LOCATION.

>> I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE SPORT.

PEOPLE NEED EXERCISE.

THE SPORT IS PLAYABLE BY A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT WHAT I DO BELIEVE IT IS IT SHOULD NOT INFRINGE ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S RIGHTS.

>> Reporter: SINCE MANY OF THESE DISPUTES ARISE WHEN A NEARBY TENNIS COURT IS CONVERTED INTO A PICKLEBALL COURT, MANY ASK IS THE SOUND THAT MUCH DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE TWO SPORTS?

>> YEAH.

TENNIS IS QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: LANCE WILLIS IS THE PRINCIPAL ACOUSTICAL ENGINEER AT ACOUSTIC THE NOISE CONTROL.

THE TUCSON BASED THE FIRM HAS HANDLED ROUGHLY 80 PICKLEBALL NOISE CONSULTATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY SINCE 2010, INCLUDING ONES TIED TO LAWSUITS.

HE SAYS WITH TENNIS -- >> A STRONG BRACKET DOES NOT RADIATE SOUND VERY EFFICIENTLY.

THE TENNIS BALL IS FILLED WITH AIR.

IT IS SOFT.

IT HAS A RUBBER OUTSIDE.

YOU DON'T GET AS MUCH SOUND.

>> Reporter: WITH PICKLEBALL , WHERE RAPIDFIRE POINTS ARE EXCHANGED AT THE NET?

>> IT IS THE POPPING SOUND THAT THE HARDBALL AGAINST THE PADDLE MAKES, AND THE SOUND IS ACTUALLY RADIATED MOSTLY FROM THE PADDLE.

IT CAUSES A GREAT DEAL OF DISTRACTION FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE COURTS.

>> Reporter: WILLIS SAYS THAT SOUND CAN TEAR NEIGHBORHOODS APART.

>> IT IS KIND OF SAD TO WATCH IN SOME SITUATIONS BECAUSE REALLY, I HAD SEEN IT DIVIDE COMMUNITIES RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

>> Reporter: AT GERSHWIN PARK IN SAN DIEGO, REGULAR GROUP APPLICABLE PLAYERS ARE TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH NEIGHBORS TO AVOID THAT KIND OF DIVISION.

BOB SCHEIBEL, A RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER, LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PLEASE PICKLEBALL MOST MORNINGS.

>> WE TRY TO BE AS RESPECTFUL AS POSSIBLE AND KEEP TO OUR HOURS, THE HOURS WE'RE ALLOWED TO PLAY.

BEYOND THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S AN EASY SOLUTION.

>> Reporter: SO FRUSTRATED NEIGHBORS HAVE MILD NOISE COMPLAINTS WITH THE CITY'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SOUNDPROOFED A COURT AUTHORITY BEEN BUILT, SO FOR NOW, THE CITY GIVES PRIORITY TO PICKLEBALL IN THE MORNING, THEN TENNIS LATER IN THE DAY.

SCHEIBEL SAYS THE LONG-TERM ANSWER MAY BE FOUND IN EMBRACING THE SPORT'S EXPLODING POPULARITY.

>> IS THE CITY DEVELOPS MORE PUBLIC COURTS, IT WILL LESSEN THE IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS ONE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS MORE PLACES TO SERVE, SLICE, AND DINK MEANS SPREADING OUT THE NOISE, AND HOPEFULLY, KEEPING PICKLEBALL ON THE PLAYING COURTS AND NOT IN THE COURT OF LAW.

SCOTT ROHDE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WORLDBEAT CULTURAL CENTER IN BALBOA PARK HAS BEEN SHARING MUSIC, ART, DANCE, AND BLACK CULTURE SINCE 1995.

TONIGHT, IT STARTS A WEEK OF EVENTS CELEBRATING KWANZAA.

THAT'S AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY CREATED IN 1966 TO HELP AFRICAN AMERICANS RECONNECT WITH THEIR AFRICAN CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE.

>> THAT'S WHAT KWANZAA IS ABOUT, GATHERING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, FIRST HARVEST, FIRSTFRUITS, LIGHTING THE CANDLES.

>> EACH NIGHT WILL FEATURE GUEST SPEAKERS OR PERFORMERS, CEREMONIAL CANDLELIGHTING, AND FLEW.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE EVENTS.

>>> AND YOU CAN BE SURE TO GET THE LATEST FROM KPBS NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX .

BREAKING NEWS, ARTS, AND OUR TOP HEADLINES ARE ALL AVAILABLE AS NEWSLETTERS.

>>> OF COURSE, YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT..

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HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

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

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♪