>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "KPBS EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PUMMELING HEATING AND AIR.

PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, HELPING HOMEOWNERS SINCE 1978.

AND BY THE CONRAD CREVICE FOUNDATION.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING -- AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAIA TRIPLE C. I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

HERE AT HOME, LOCAL OFFICIALS REPORT RECORD NUMBERS OVER THE WEEKEND.

CASES PEAKED AT JUST 19,000.

NEARLY TWICE THE PREVIOUS DAILY HIGH.

IN CALIFORNIA, MORE THAN 5 MILLION.

IT'S THE LATEST MILESTONE AS THE OMICRON VARIANCE CONTINUES ITS RECORD SMASHING RACE ACROSS THE STATE.

HIS KPBS HEALTH REPORTER, MATT HOFFMAN.

>> THE HOSPITALS ARE TRYING THEIR BEST.

BUT WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS NOT RESPONDING, THAT'S REALLY TOUGH.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS AS OF TUESDAY, THE HOSPITALS HAVE 312 COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS.

NOW, COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, SCRIPPS HAD MORE THAN 500.

BUT NUMBERS ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE AND BECOME CLEAR WHEN THINGS COULD SLOWDOWN.

>> LAST TIME, THAT WAS WHEN ALL OF THE PRESCRIPTIONS WERE IN PLACE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE CLIMBING ON THE HOSPITALIZATIONS.

EVERYBODY IS STILL OUT, DOING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.

NOT WEARING THEIR MASKS.

SO IT'S SO HIGHLY INFECTIOUS.

TWICE AS INFECTIOUS AS DELTA.

SO THIS MAY JUST KEEP GOING FOR A WHILE, ONCE WE REALLY PULL BACK.

>> THERE ARE NEARLY 100 SAN DIEGANS HOSPITALIZED COMPARED TO NEARLY 1800 LAST YEAR.

>> OUR NUMBERS ARE ONLY SECOND TO THE SURGE THAT WE HAD BACK IN EARLY 2021.

BUT YOU KNOW, I HEARD SOMEONE SAY ONCE, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE GREAT, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE PRACTICAL.

>> Reporter: THIS SURGE IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE OUT WITH COVID.

TO HELP RELIEVE SOME OF THAT, THE STATE ISSUED GUIDANCE ALLOWING STAFF WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC TO RETURN TO WORK RIGHT AWAY.

SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH.

WE'RE WE DO NOT SUPPORT THAT.

>> VERY DISTURBED BY THAT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WENT OUT.

AND BRINGING PEOPLE BACK ON DAY ONE, EVEN IF THEY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC STILL MEANS THAT THEY CAN INFECT OTHERS.

>> Reporter: BOTH -- AND THE CLIENT HOPE THAT THE STATE DOES NOT OPT TO CANCEL ALL ELECTIVE SURGERIES.

>> WE ARE MANAGING ON A DAY-TO- DAY BASIS, THE CASES THAT WE CAN KEEP GOING ON THE AMBULATORY SITE, SO WE DO NOT DELAY CARE.

THE LAST SURGE, WE HAD SOMEONE WHO WAS THE SOLE DRIVER.

HE WAS DELAYED FOR HIS CATARACT SURGERY.

WE DON'T WANT TO CUT BACK MORE THAN WE HAVE TO.

>> Reporter: CHARISSE SAYS THAT 85% OF THE SCRIPTS PATIENTS ARE UNVACCINATED.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> STUDENTS IN MOST OF THE SOUTH BAY SCHOOL DISTRICT RETURNED AFTER THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

AS WE HAVE SEEN, THE NEW YEAR CONTINUES TO BRING COVID CHALLENGES TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

KPBS EDUCATOR REPORTER ANGIE PEREZ SAYS THAT IN ONE DISTRICT, TEACHERS ARE PLANNING A WALKOUT.

>> Reporter: THE PLAYGROUND IS FULL OF YOUNG STUDENTS AGAIN.

HERE AT ROSE BANK ELEMENTARY.

WHILE THE STUDENTS PLAY, THEIR TEACHERS ARE WORKING WITH AN EXPIRED CONTRACT.

THEY ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE DISTRICT'S LATEST OFFER.

>> WE LOVE OUR KIDS, BUT WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY ARE VALUABLE.

>> Reporter: THE UNION IS DISTRIBUTING THIS FLYER, ENCOURAGING MEMBERS TO WALK OUT OF SCHOOL ON TIME EVERY DAY, STARTING WEDNESDAY.

KNOW MORE AFTER SCHOOL MEETINGS, PLANNING OR VOLUNTEERING UNTIL THE DISTRICT OFFERS REASONABLE PAY RAISE AND NEW CONTRACTS.

>> WE DON'T FEEL LIKE THE DISTRICT DESERVES OUR TIME, IF THEY ARE NOT COMPENSATING US FOR IT.

WE FEEL DISRESPECTED.

>> Reporter: MANY PARENTS FEEL OVERWHELMED AS COVID CRIPPLES THEIR FAMILY ROUTINES AND THREATENS THE HEALTH.

>> MARIA GARCIA SPENT THE FIRST DAY AFTER THE HOLIDAY BREAK WITH HER CHILDREN HERE AT THE CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT TESTING CENTER.

A PLACE THAT HAS PROCESSED THOUSANDS OF RAPID ANTIGEN AND PCR TESTS SINCE LAST SUMMER.

THE COVID HOME TEST KITS PROMISED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ARE SLOWLY TRICKLING THEIR WAY DOWN TO SOUTH BAY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

BUT EVEN FAMILIES LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THEM HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>> HOW IS YOUR DAUGHTER DOING?

>> WILLIAM SMITH'S 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TESTED NEGATIVE, BUT HIS 16-YEAR-OLD SON TESTED POSITIVE TWICE.

USING THE HOME TEST OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, BUT HE TESTED POSITIVE IN THE REST OF US ARE FINE.

SO WE ARE JUST KEEPING UP ON IT.

>> Reporter: AS FOR THE TEACHERS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SAID THAT THE DISTRICT IS UNAWARE OF ANY PLANS FOR A TEACHER WALKOUT, AND HE MADE NO COMMENT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS.

MARIA GARCIA SAYS SHE AND HER FAMILY ARE STAYING HOME, WHERE THEY ARE SAFE AND SECURE.

AFTER SMITH AND HIS DAD WILL STAY HOME AND WAIT TOO.

>> I HAVE NOT REALLY HAD ANY SYMPTOMS.

OTHER THAN COVID.

SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY I BECAME POSITIVE.

I HOPE THAT I'M NEGATIVE.

>> Reporter: AFTER SCHOOL, TO ANOTHER SEMESTER.

>> IT WAS ALSO BACK TO CLASS FOR STUDENTS IN THE SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE DISTRICT SAYS IT TOOK A NUMBER OF STEPS TO ENSURE A SAFE RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING, INCLUDING DISTRIBUTING COVID SELF TESTING KITS.

STUDENTS ARE ALSO BEING REMINDED TO WEAR THEIR MASKS, WASH THEIR HANDS, AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SWEETWATER IS ALSO CONTINUING WEEKLY TESTING CLINICS THAT ROTATE AMONG CAMPUSES.

>> WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL AT VARIOUS SCHOOL SITES WHERE OUR STUDENTS WERE FAMILIES AND OUR STAFF, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE.

>> THE DISTRICT IS JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY FROM IMPLEMENTING A VACCINE MANDATE, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN DECEMBER.

EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT PROOF OF VACCINATION OR FILE FOR AN EXEMPTION BY FEBRUARY 1st.

IT IS STILL UNCLEAR WHAT THE MANDATE WILL MEAN FOR STUDENTS.

AND COVID IS CAUSING MORE TROUBLE FOR THE STS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

INFECTIONS ON THE TEAM FORCED THE POSTPONEMENTS OF THIS WEEKEND'S GAME AT NEW MEXICO CARE PLUS ON TOP OF THIS WEEK'S GAME AT MAILMAN -- WYOMING BEING SCRAPPED.

THEY LAST PLAYED SATURDAY AGAINST COLORADO STATE.

THAT GAME WAS SHUFFLING THE SCHEDULE DUE TO COVID CASES THROUGHOUT THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE.

GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM WAS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY TODAY TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH CARE PORTION OF HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL.

HE SAYS IT WILL EXPAND ACCESS AND BE MORE AFFORDABLE REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

REACTION FROM AN IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATE IN SAN DIEGO.

>> IN A $286 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL ON MONDAY, NEWSOM HIGHLIGHTED FREE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THE STATE AS A TOP PRIORITY.

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO IGNORE HEALTH PROBLEMS OUT OF FEAR OF OWING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAL BILLS OR MISSING WORK.

>> ADDING THE YOUNGER FOLKS ONTO THIS PROPOSITION AND REALLY INCLUDING ALL UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE WILL BE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR REGULAR CHECKUPS, DIAGNOSES AND TREATMENT.

>> THE STATE BEGAN DOCUMENTING IN 2019.

THOSE 55 AND OLDER LAST YEAR.

NOW, NEWSOM WANTS STATE LAWMAKERS TO COVER THE REMAINDER OF PEOPLE.

THOSE 27-54 YEARS OF AGE.

STARTING NO SOONER THAN JANUARY 1st, 2024.

RUBY FLOREZ SAYS SHE IS CELEBRATING THE HISTORIC PROPOSAL.

>> I THINK THIS WILL INCREASE TRUST.

AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION THAT NOW THEY CAN GO GET THESE PREVENTATIVE CARE KIND OF APPOINTMENTS OR EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO DOCTORS AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS SCARED.

>> Reporter: THE MOST RECENT EXPANSION WILL EVENTUALLY COST TAXPAYERS ABOUT $1.3 BILLION PER YEAR.

>> WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTATION IN 2024.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE GOING TO BE PUSHING FOR IMPLEMENTATION SOONER THAN LATER, BECAUSE IT IS HERE TODAY WITH THIS VARIANT.

THERE STILL PEOPLE AT RISK.

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE DYING.

>> Reporter: NEWSOM PLANS TO START THE PROGRAM WITH $16.4 MILLION IN FUNDING.

EVERY YEAR AFTER, THEY WILL BE MORE THAN $2 MILLION.

AT THIS POINT, IT'S UNCLEAR HOW HE PLANS TO PAY.

THIS IS THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE BUDGET.

IT WILL BE REVISED IN MAY.

>> Reporter: A CHULA VISTA MAN REACHED A LIFE-SAVING MILESTONE TODAY.

DONATING HIS 100th GALLON OF BLOOD.

HIS DONATION COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME.

>> Reporter: DAVID CAROL JUST ARRIVED FOR HIS REGULAR VISIT TO THE SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK IN CHULA VISTA.

HE DONATES PLATELETS EVERY TWO WEEKS.

BUT THIS VISIT IS NOT TYPICAL.

YOU SEE TODAY, DAVID IS DONATING HIS 100th GALLON OF BLOOD.

THAT MEANS, HE HAS DONE THIS OVER 500 TIMES.

>> THAT LET MY FIRE UP, I'M A SUPER DONOR.

>> Reporter: BUT 100 IS NOT JUST A NUMBER OR A MILESTONE.

THE WAY HE SEES IT, ONE OF THOSE LIVES HE HAS SAVED HAS SURELY GIVEN BACK TO HIM AND OTHERS.

>> DONORS GET TOGETHER AND THE RECIPIENTS GET TO RECEIVE, AND THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE DONE THAT HAVE BENEFITED ME.

WE ALL BENEFIT.

>> Reporter: GINA SORENSEN DONATES REGULARLY TOO.

>> I HAVE PROBABLY DONATED 20- 30 TIMES OVER MY LIFE.

NOT AS MANY AS DAVID OVER THERE.

SOMETHING TO STRIVE FOR.

>> Reporter: THEIR DONATIONS, AT A CRITICAL TIME.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS DECLARED A NATIONAL BLOOD CRISIS.

DR. GONZALEZ SHARIF, SCRIPPS HEALTH MEDICAL CHIEF OFFICER SAYS SHE'S WORRIED THAT IT WILL COST LIVES.

>> WE HAD TWO PATIENTS AT THE SAME TIME WHO NEED MASSIVE TRANSFUSIONS AND WE LITERALLY HAD TO SCRAMBLE.

THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

>> Reporter: CLAUDINE -- WITH THE SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK SAYS EVERY COMMUNITY IS STRUGGLING FOR DONORS BECAUSE OF COVID AND FLU SEASON.

>> TO HAVE DAVID COME OUT AND JONI HAS TRIPLE PLATELETS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS DONATING IS SAFE, BUT IF YOU HAVE HAD COVID OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, YOU MUST WAIT FOUR WEEKS TO DONATE BLOOD.

HOWEVER, THERE'S NO WAITING PERIOD IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE.

>> YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET COVID THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS.

COVID IS A RESPIRATORY VIRUS.

>> Reporter: DAVID WILL ALSO GET TO UPDATE HIS 75 GALLON SWEATSHIRT AND BECOME THE 37th MEMBER OF THE GUARDIAN CIRCLE.

BUT THE BEST GIFT IS PRICES, BECAUSE EVERY TWO SECONDS, SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE IN THE USA NEEDS BLOOD TO SURVIVE, LIKE SIX YEAR OLD QUINCY WHO JUST GOT THROUGH EATING LEUKEMIA AND NEEDED LET'S AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS WITH EVERY CANCER TREATMENT.

HIS MOM IS GRATEFUL.

>> THERE'S JUST NOT REALLY ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO, BUT GIVE YOU A VIRTUAL, HUMONGOUS HUG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CARING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

>> THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO GIVE.

IT HELPS SOMEBODY ELSE LIVE.

>> Reporter: A NEW GUN SAFETY ORDINANCE GOT FINAL APPROVAL TODAY FROM THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

IT UP STATES DEFINITIONS TO INCLUDE ON SERIALIZED GHOST GUNS IN PARTS.

THE ORDINANCE PROHIBITS THE POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF PARTS WITHOUT SERIAL NUMBERS.

AS WELL AS 3-D PRINTING OF FIREARMS OR PARTS.

IT ALSO REQUIRES A SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS.

LOCAL REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WANT MORE TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PLACEMENT OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS.

STATE SENATORS RYAN JONES AND BEN -- ARE SUPPORTING A BILL CALLED THE SAFE ACT.

IN RECENT MONTHS, COMMUNITIES THEY REPRESENT, LIKE MARIKO SPRINGS AND RANCHO BERNARDO PUSHED BACK ON SUPERVISED RELEASE OF OFFENDERS.

THE BILL WOULD INTRODUCE SEVERAL REFORMS, LIKE A CAP ON HOW MANY OFFENDERS CAN BE PLACED IN A GIVEN COMMUNITY AND MORE EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS PUSHING AHEAD WITH HIS VOTING RIGHTS AGENDA.

IT COMES AS DEMOCRATS ARE FACING PRESSURE TO PASS TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION OPPOSED BY NEARLY ALL REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL.

DARRELL FORGES EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN USING THE BULLY PULPIT TO PUSH VOTING RIGHTS.

>> PASS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT.

PASS IT NOW!

>> Reporter: SPEAKING IN THE DISTRICT OF LEET JOHN LEWIS, HE ARGUES THAT THE NATION IS AT A TURNING POINT.

>> AT THE BAR ALL OF US.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT AMERICA.

HEAR ME PLAINLY.

THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA IS NOT OVER.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT ALSO CHANGING FILIBUSTER OF THE SENATE.

SOMETHING HE NEEDS.

>> Reporter: TODAY, I AM MAKING IT CLEAR.

TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, I SUPPORT CHANGING THE SENATE RULES.

WHICHEVER WAY THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED TO PREVENT THE MINORITY OF SENATORS FROM BLOCKING ACTION OF VOTING RIGHTS.

>> Reporter: NEARLY ALL REPUBLICANS AND EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS DISAGREE.

>> THE FILIBUSTER IS WHAT MAKES THE SENATE WORK THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

>> Reporter: THERE IS MOUNTING PRESSURE ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO PASS VOTING ADMINISTRATION.

VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS BOYCOTTING THEM, SAYING NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR A SPEECH.

IT'S TIME FOR ACTION.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY AND HOW FRUSTRATED THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY, ON THE GROUND, ELECTION AFTER ELECTION, AND HERE WE ARE A YEAR LATER AND THERE'S STILL NOT VOTING RIGHTS.

>> Reporter: IN ATLANTA, DARRELL FORGES, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ONE DAY SOON, YOU MAY BE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, GO PAST A TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT THERE'S NO ONE DRIVING IT.

A SAN DIEGO COMPANY IS WORKING TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.

KPBS REPORTER THOMAS FUDD SHOWS US HOW ROBO TRUCKS COULD STRENGTHEN THE AMERICAN SUPPLY CHAIN AND MAYBE THREATEN THE LIVELIHOODS OF TRUCKERS.

>> Reporter: UCSD ROBOTICS PROFESSOR HENRY CHRISTIANSEN POINTS OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT'S BEEN DELIVERING MAIL AT UC SAN DIEGO WITHOUT A DRIVER TO GUIDE IT.

DRIVERLESS VEHICLES, LIKE THIS ONE, ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON.

CHRISTENSEN SAYS, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY, COUPLED WITH OVERLOADED SUPPLY CHAINS AND A SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS ARE APPOINTING DRIVERLESS TRUCKS FROM THE SITES OF A LOT OF COMPANIES.

>> WE HAVE THIS MASSIVE NEED FOR GETTING MORE OUT OF THE PORTS, GETTING IT ON THE RATES.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE SEEING MULTIPLE NEW COMPANIES COME UP THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THIS TECHNOLOGY, NOT ONLY TO ASSEMBLE AURORA, GM, TESLA IS PROMISING THIS.

>> Reporter: BUT LET'S STICK WITH THE SAN DIEGO STARTUP.

IT'S DRIVER WENT FROM A RAILROAD IN TUCSON TO A DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN PHOENIX.

IT WAS A FIRST FOR THE COMPANY AND THEY SAY, A FIRST FOR THE INDUSTRY.

BUT WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE UPS, THE COMPANY IS ALREADY DELIVERING GOODS WITH ITS AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS.

PROVIDED A HUMAN SAFETY DRIVER IS PRESENT.

PAT DYLAN IS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF TWO SIMPLE.

>> THE VISION OF TWO SIMPLE IS THAT FROM A MAJOR FREIGHT LOCATION, LIKE A PORT, LIKE A RAILYARD, LIKE A DISTRIBUTION CENTER, WE CAN TAKE OUR CUSTOM- BUILT TRUCKS THAT WILL HAVE NO DRIVER IN IT TO TAKE A JOURNEY THAT COULD BE 100 MILES, OR IT COULD BE 1000 MILES.

AND GO FROM ONE FREIGHT LOCATION TO ANOTHER FREIGHT LOCATION.

>> Reporter: THE IDEA THAT ROBO TRUCKS WOULD BE THE SPHERE POINT OF SALE DRIVING TECHNOLOGY MAKES SENSE TO UCSD PROFESSOR CHRISTIANSEN.

HE SAYS DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS IS THE EASIEST APPLICATION FOR SELF DRIVING VEHICLES.

AND GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN TRUSTING A HUMAN OR TRUSTING A ROBOT, AT THE WHEEL OF A TRUCK, THE PROFESSORS VIEW IS PRETTY CLEAR.

>> THE DRIVERS GET TIRED FROM THE LONG HALLS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF THIS, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AUTONOMOUS DRIVING TRUCKS, THEY ACTUALLY SAVE FUEL.

SO EVEN FROM A GREEN PERSPECTIVE, IT MAKES SENSE.

IT'S NO SURPRISE REALLY, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, COMPUTERS ARE ACTUALLY BETTER DRIVERS THAN PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: TRUCKS PARKED SIDE- BY-SIDE AT THIS TRUCK STOP IN MESA.

TRUCKERS STOP HERE FOR FUEL, A SHOWER, AND SOME REST.

SOME OF THESE DRIVERS ARE RESIGNED, BUT THEY DON'T SHARE THE VIEWS THAT COMPUTERS ARE BETTER DRIVERS THAN THEY ARE.

RON COUPLET, WHO HAILS FROM PENNSYLVANIA, SAYS THAT HE HAS BEEN DRIVING A TRUCK FOR 30 YEARS.

>> I THINK IT'S THE WAY THE INDUSTRY IS GOING TO GO.

BUT I DON'T PARTICULARLY CARE FOR IT.

I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE UNSAFE FOR A WHILE.

NOT BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES OUT HERE THAT MAY BE A COMPUTER WON'T BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO THE SAME WAY.

MAYBE IT WILL, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WON'T BE ABLE TO ADJUST LIKE WE CAN ADJUST.

>> Reporter: ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY, STUDENTS WORKING TO BECOME REGISTERED TRUCK DRIVERS LISTEN TO AN INSTRUCTOR AT THE UNITED TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL TRAINING COORDINATOR IS PHIL HARRIS, WHO SAYS HE THINKS AUTOMATION IS GREAT.

WILL IT REPLACE ALL TRUCKERS?

NO WAY.

BUT IT WILL CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE JOB, MAKING IT NECESSARY FOR TRUCK DRIVERS TO UNDERSTAND THE TECHNOLOGY.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S A TECHNICIAN, PROBABLY.

I CAN SEE US BEING MORE PILOTS, NAVIGATORS.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE ALWAYS IN THAT TRUCK.

>> Reporter: DRIVERLESS TECHNOLOGY STILL NEEDS ATTENTION.

HERE IS PAT NYLUND.

>> THINGS LIKE REDUNDANT BRAKING AND STEERING, SO THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE EVEN IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF SYSTEM DEGRADATION.

>> Reporter: ONE STUDENT AT THE UNITED TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL SAYS IF THE JOB OF BEING A TRUCK DRIVER CHANGES, THAT'S OKAY WITH THEM.

>> I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO LEARNING.

AND ADVANCEMENT.

I'M TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF IT.

SO YOU EITHER KEEP UP OR YOU GET LEFT BEHIND.

THAT'S THE WORLD CHANGING AND YOU HAVE TO CHANGE WITH IT.

>> Reporter: THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, A NEW RECORD HAS BEEN SET FOR HOT OCEAN TEMPERATURES.

AN ANNUAL STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE ADVANCES OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES REPORTS THAT THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN THE WARMEST SINCE RECORDKEEPING STARTED IN THE 1950s.

RESEARCHERS PUT THE BLAME ON HUMAN ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF OCEANS ABSORBING HEAT FROM THE WARMING ATMOSPHERE.

>>> AS WE CHECK OUT OUR WEATHER HEADLINES, OUR STRONG, GUSTY WINDS WILL GRADUALLY EASE TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW.

AND AS THAT OFFSHORE FLOW GIVES THAT UP, EVENTUALLY, WE WILL START TO SEE SOME COOLING SPREADING INLAND.

ESPECIALLY ON THURSDAY.

AND WITH AN UPPER LOW APPROACH, IT COULD BE A COUPLE OF SHOWERS AROUND FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND.

CERTAINLY NOT ETCHED IN STONE.

RATHER IF YOU.

CHECKING OUT ALL THE WINS, THEY ARE WITH US THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS.

SO THERE ARE STILL SOME WIND ADVISORIES.

RIDE ALONG THE COAST, WE DO HAVE SOME HIGH SURF ADVISORIES.

LONG-STANDING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, EARLY THROUGH FRIDAY.

CHECKING ON OUR WEATHER TONIGHT, CLOUDS BEYOND THE INCREASE WILL DIP DOWN TO ABOUT 40 DEGREES.

DRY CONDITIONS ARE WITH US.

REMOTE AT 43.

WHILE LAGUNA IS AT 46.

47, LOOKING AT OUR WEATHER WEDNESDAY, REMAINING DRY.

TEMPERATURES STAY ABOVE AVERAGE HERE.

AND WE WILL ENJOY TEMPERATURES HOVERING IN THE MID-UPPER 70s.

PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF COOLING TRYING TO SNEAK INTO THE COAST LATER IN THE DAY.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THURSDAY, WE WILL START TO SEE THE COOLING SPREADING INLAND A LITTLE BIT.

APPEAR STILL, DRIVE.

IS WE CHECK ON OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, YOU CAN SEE TEMPERATURES DROPPING UP FROM WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY.

A LOT OF COAST, A LOT OF CLOUDS FREDDY.

AND PERHAPS A SHOWER IN THE AREA.

INLAND SECTIONS, YOU SEE TEMPERATURES DROP OFF A GOOD 5 DEGREES FOR THE COOLING INTO FRIDAY.

COULD THERE BE A SHOWER IN THE AREA?

AND THEN INTO THE MOUNTAINS, TURNING A LITTLE COOLER.

AND YOU SEE TEMPERATURES DROPPING INTO THE 40s.

OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND IN THE DESERT, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT SOME DRY CONDITIONS.

TEMPERATURES DROPPING OFF JUST A SMIDGEN OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND FOR KPBS, I'M METEOROLOGIST MARK MANCUSO.

>>> THE CDC MIGHT START RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE WEAR MASKS AS OPPOSED TO OTHER TYPES.

THE WASHINGTON POST CITES AN UNNAMED OFFICIAL WHO SAYS THE AGENCY IS CONSIDERING THE CHANGE.

HE SAYS OMICRON SPREADS SO EASILY, THE CDC IS LOOKING AT MASKS WITH BETTER FILTRATION.

THE NEED TO WEAR FACIAL COVERINGS CONSISTENTLY AND CORRECTLY IS ALSO A CONSIDERATION.

>>> IF YOU NEED TO BUY AN AT- HOME COVER TEST, YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SAYS, STARTING ON SATURDAY, PRIVATE INSURERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COVER EIGHT TESTS PER MONTH PER PERSON.

THEY CAN COVER THE COST UPFRONT OR THROUGH A CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT.

REPORTER MANDY GAITHER SHOWS US HOW AT-HOME COVER TESTS WORK.

>> Reporter: MASKING, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND OF COURSE, VACCINATION AND BOOSTERS ARE THE BEST WAY TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

>> IT IS TROUBLING TO SEE THESE NUMBERS, TO SEE HOW HIGH THE CASES ARE GOING.

>> Reporter: BUT KNOWING WHETHER YOU ARE INFECTED IS ANOTHER WEAPON AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC.

THAT'S WHERE COVID TESTING COMES IN.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO AVOID LONG LINES IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A RAPID TEST AND DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS, BUT WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE INFECTED.

THE CDC RECOMMENDS YOU TAKE THE TEST AT OR CLOSE TO DAY FIVE AFTER YOU ARE EXPOSED TO THE CURRENT VARIES.

500 MILLION FREE AT-HOME COVID TESTS WILL SOON BE DISTRIBUTED.

>> WE WILL SET UP A FREE AND EASY SYSTEM, INCLUDING A NEW WEBSITE TO GET THESE TESTS OUT TO AMERICANS.

>> Reporter: SO HOW DO THE TESTS WORK?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA EXPLAINS.

>> SO MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE BY NOW.

ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH IN THE NOSTRIL.

FIVE BIG CIRCLES, PUT IN THE WHOLE YEAR.

SHOVE IT AND NOW WE WAIT.

>> Reporter: READ THE TEST RESULTS ONLY WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME SPECIFIED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS.

>> HERE ARE MY COVID TEST RESULTS NOW.

NO COVID.

SO BETWEEN THIS TEST RESULT IN ME BEING FULLY VACCINATED, I ALREADY FEEL A LOT SAFER.

>> Reporter: IF THE TEST IS POSITIVE, THE CDC ADVISES ISOLATION TO CONTINUE FOR 10 DAYS AFTER SYMPTOMS STARTED.

IF NEGATIVE, QUARANTINE CAN STOP, BUT THE AGENCY RECOMMENDS WEARING A MASK AROUND OTHERS UNTIL DAY 10.

FOR HEALTH MINUTES, I AM MANDY GAITHER.

>>> THE LEGEND OF BETTY WHITE IS ALIVE AND WELL ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY IS JUMPING ON THE CHALLENGE BY WEAVING ADOPTION FEES.

FEES WILL BE WAIVED FOR ALL ADULT ANIMALS THROUGH THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 16th.

IN HONOR OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTY WHITE'S 100th BIRTHDAY, OR THE ORGANIZATION IS HOPING TO FIND HOMES FOR 100 ANIMALS THE 17th.

THE PANDEMIC HAS LED TO MORE ANIMALS IN SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS SPACE AND NEUTER EFFORTS HAVE BEEN PAUSED.

THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS OPEN ON TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 6:00 P.M. YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "KPBS EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING & AIR.

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS.

AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

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

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION.

DARLENE MARCO CHARLENE, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND, BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.