>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY, BILL HOW FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR RESTORATION.

REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-TRAN32.

AND, BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND, BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> TONIGHT, WE ARE LOOK AT THE DAMAGE ALONG SAN DIEGO'S COACH DESMET COAST OVER THE WEEKEND.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

IN AGING LANDMARK WAS HIT HARD BY THE WAVES.

MELISSA MAE SHOWS US THE IMPACT ON THE OCEAN BEACH PIER.

>> Reporter: THE OCEAN BEACH PIER HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE OCTOBER DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.

THEN, THIS WEEKENDS WAVES KNOCKOFF RAILINGS ON ONE OF THE PIER'S STRUCTURAL PILINGS.

>> AS YOU CAN SEE, PUBLIC SAFETY HAS TO BE PRIORITY.

WITH THE DAMAGE WE HAVE SEEN, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE RIGHT DECISION WAS MADE, BECAUSE THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

>> Reporter: THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO POTENTIALLY REPLACE THE PIER AND IS ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN THE PROCESS.

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN APRIL.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR CONSULTANTS TO COME BACK IN A FEW MONTHS WITH THE RESULTS FROM THOSE MEETINGS WITH THAT INPUT ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY RECOMMENDS AND WHAT THE CONSULTANTS THINK WE CAN DO TO REPLACE IT AND KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY.

>> Reporter: MATTHEW MARTINEZ IS ONE OF THE CONSULTANTS THE CITY IS WORKING WITH, BUT HE ALSO HAS A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE PIER.

HE REMEMBERS WHEN IT OPENED IN 1966.

>> I DID CATCH MY FIRST FISH.

IT WAS ABOUT A 10 INCH YELLOWFIN, AND I WAS VERY PROUD OF THAT.

IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, I TOOK IT TO BED AND SLEPT WITH IT UNDER MY PILLOW, AND MY MOTHER WAS NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

RIGHT NOW, MARTINEZ IS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER WITH MOFFATT AND NICHOL, THE FIRM BROUGHT ON TO ASSESS THE PIER.

>> WE'VE DONE A LOT OF INSPECTION, LABORATORY TESTING ON THE CONCRETE, AND HAVE MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT IT IS BETTER TO REPLACE THE PIER, AS OPPOSED TO CONTINUALLY PUTTING BAND-AIDS ON IT THAT WILL MAYBE BE GOOD FOR A YEAR OR TWO.

>> Reporter: MARTINEZ WAS IN THE PROCESS OF POSTING A NEW SIGN ABOUT THE OCEAN BEACH PIER RENEWAL PROJECT.

IT DESCRIBES THE PEER'S STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS.

>> WHEN REINFORCING STEEL IS EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE, THE CONCRETE IS NOT A SOLID MATERIAL.

IT IS ACTUALLY POROUS, AND IN THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT, YOU HAVE CHLORIDE AND SALT FROM THE SEAWATER, AND OVER TIME, IT MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CONCRETE.

IT INTERACTS WITH THE REINFORCING STEEL AND BEGINS TO REST.

>> Reporter: MARTINEZ SAYS THAT RUST CAUSES THE METAL TO SWELL AND FORCES THE CONCRETE TO BREAK OFF.

>> BOTH THE SUPERSTRUCTURE AND SUBSTRUCTURE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS REALLY NATURAL PROCESS OF DEGRADATION, IN WHAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

WIND, SALT, WATER, THINGS THAT ARE THE ENEMIES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE.

>> Reporter: FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RENEWAL, GO TO OBHERERENEWAL.COM.

THE CITY SAYS THE PIER WILL BE CLOSED THROUGH THE REST OF THE STORM SEASON AND THE EARLIEST IT COULD BE OPENED AS LATE FEBRUARY.

MELISSA MAE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE ARE STARTING AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN AS WE HEAD INTO THE MIDDLE HALF OF THE WEEK.

WE ARE TALKING SOME RAIN SINKING SOUTH ACROSS SOCAL, AND EVEN SOME SNOW FOR OUR HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THOSE CONDITIONS AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WEEK.

WE ARE ALSO TRACKING THAT RAIN, SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS.

WE WILL BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU, COMING UP.

>>> A NEW YEAR AND A NEW MINIMUM WAGE FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WE LOOK AT HOW THAT MAY IMPACT WORKERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, AND AN EVEN LARGER RACE FOR FAST FOOD WORKERS.

>> Reporter: AS OF JANUARY 1st, THE HOURLY MINIMUM WAGE ROSE TO $16.85 IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, AND TO $16 IN THE REST OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND CALIFORNIA.

IT'S A MODEST RAISE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S.

WAGES ARE UP ROUGHLY $0.50, BUT TOM TOSSES ANY RAISE AFFECTS BUSINESS.

HE IS LOOKING AT A ROBOT ARMS TO MAKE DRINKS AND FEWER EMPLOYEE HOURS.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY A BIG IMPACT, AND WE HAVE TO RESTRUCTURE, RETRAIN.

>> Reporter: ON APRIL 1st, FAR MORE IMPACTFUL WAGE HIKE WILL TAKE PLACE, RAISING PAY FOR FAST FOOD WORKERS TO $20 AN HOUR.

FOR LUCIO, IT'S GREAT NEWS.

SHE CURRENTLY WORKS MINIMUM WAGE IN THE FLOWER INDUSTRY.

[ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: DEAN OF THE UC SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF POLICY CAROLYN FREUD, SAYS THE UPCOMING RAISES COULD HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS ON OTHER INDUSTRIES AND CONSUMER PRICES.

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO DO MINIMUM WAGE FOR OUR INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY, FOR FAST FOOD, OR YOU COULD END UP PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF MORE NECESSARY INDUSTRIES, LIKE HEALTHCARE OR AGRICULTURE OR SANITARY SERVICES.

>> Reporter: HE IS PLANNING FOR THOSE RIPPLE EFFECTS ALREADY.

HE SAYS SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE HIS OWN WILL FEEL THE PINCH AS HE PLANS TO RAISE WAGES AND STAY COMPETITIVE.

>> THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY $20, BUT NOT LIKE THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

WHO AM I GOING TO PAY $16 OR $18 TO MAKE A BURGER?

>> Reporter: THE WAGE HIKE APPLIES TO ALL FAST FOOD CHAINS WITH 16 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE.

>>> AND OTHER LAWS BRING A KEY PIECE OF CULTURE BACK TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

COMING UP, A BAN ON CRUISING IS LIFTED, ALLOWING DRIVERS TO SHOW OFF THEIR LOVE OF LOW RIDER CARS.

>>> HEADS UP FUTURE AND CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS, THE NEW FREE APPLICATION FOR STUDENT AID, OR FAFSA, ARRIVED DURING THE HOLIDAY BREAK, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES.

HERE IS KARIN CAIFA ON HOW THE DELAY COULD IMPACT COLLEGES AND STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: A TRIMMED DOWN VERSION OF THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID, OR FAFSA, IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT FEDERAL AID YOU MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR.

>> Reporter: THE NEW FAFSA HAS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS FROM AS MANY AS 108 TO AS FEW AS 18.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS SOME APPLICANTS CAN COMPLETE THE FORM IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES.

THE REVAMP APPROVED BY CONGRESS IS A RESPONSE TO CRITICISM OF THE PREVIOUS PROCESS AND SIMPLIFIES APPLICATIONS IN TWO MAJOR WAYS.

FIRST, A TOOL CONNECTING WITH THE IRS WILL ALLOW ALL APPLICANTS TO PULL APPROPRIATE TAX DATA FROM THEIR PARENTS MOST RECENT INCOME TAX FILINGS WITH THE PARENTS CONSENT.

>> THE STUDENT WILL GO IN AND SAY YES, YOU CAN PULL ANY INFORMATION ON FILE AT THE IRS FOR ME, AND THEN THE PARENT WILL ALSO GO IN AND DO THE SAME.

>> Reporter: APPLICANT CAN NOW SKIP QUESTIONS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THEM.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BOOST THE NUMBER OF LOWER INCOME STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL PELL GRANTS, WHICH DO NOT NEED TO BE REPAID, BUT THE NEW CALCULATIONS ELIMINATE THE SO- CALLED SIBLING DISCOUNT, WERE STUDENTS WHO HAD A SIBLING ENROLLED IN COLLEGE FOR -- WERE ELIGIBLE FOR MORE AID.

A TIGHT CLOCK FOR INSTITUTIONS THAT TYPICALLY SEND AWARD LETTERS IN MARCH.

>> THEY WILL BE SCRAMBLING TO GET THOSE TURNED AROUND, SO THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE ADEQUATE TIME, SO THAT THEY CAN CONSIDER ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS AND MAKE THEIR ENROLLMENT DECISION.

>> Reporter: IN WASHINGTON, I'M KARIN CAIFA.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE BROUGHT HOME A TOP TROPHY FOR MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOAT AT THE ROSE PARADE IN PASADENA.

MG PEREZ TELLS US WHAT'S BEHIND MORE THAN A CENTURY OF TEACHING GENERATIONS, HOW TO PROTECT WILDLIFE.

>> Reporter: IT BEGAN WITH A ROAR, 107 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE SAN DIEGO ZOO FIRST STARTED PROTECTING AND PRESERVING WILD ANIMALS.

THE SAN DIEGO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE ENTERED THIS 55 FOOT FLOAT IN THE ROSE PARADE, FEATURING FLOWERED REPLICAS OF SOME OF ITS CURRENT SUPERSTARS, LIKE KAREN, THE 32-YEAR-OLD GREAT APE THAT SURVIVED OPEN-HEART SURGERY, AND SHOULD KNOW, THE ORPHANED POLAR BEAR.

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD VIOLET ANDERSON AND HER FAMILY MET THE REAL CHINOOK THIS MORNING AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO.

>> I LIKE HOW THERE ARE A TON OF ANIMALS, AND YOU ACTUALLY GET THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING AROUND ANIMALS, THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T SEE, EVEN IF YOU LOOKED REALLY HARD.

>> Reporter: POLAR BEARS AND LIONS, AND ORANGUTANS LIVE IN HABITATS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE VISITORS AND TO TEACH THEM HOW THEY CAN HELP SAVE THESE ANIMALS.

>> IT'S GREAT TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE CONSERVATION.

WE LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT GENETIC TECHNIQUES BEING USED HERE AT THE SAFARI PARK AND ZOO.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO ZOO AND WILD ANIMAL PARK PROVIDE A CLASSROOM TO THE WORLD, TOGETHER, WITH IN PERSON VISITS AND ONLINE PROGRAMS.

THEY CONNECT WITH 1 BILLION PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.

THAT IS IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES.

THAT MEANS MUCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE THAT TUNED IN TO THE ROSE PARADE MONDAY COULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO NEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEW YEAR.

THE FLOAT MADE WITH EVERYTHING FROM GOLDEN BAMBOO TO EUCALYPTUS LEAVES, MOSS AND SEAWEED.

IT WON THE SWEEPSTAKES TROPHY FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CREATION.

>> THE WORLD IS CHANGING THESE DAYS, SO MAYBE ME READING A BOOK IN THE PAST IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT NOW.

WE HAVE TACTILE DISPLAYS AND ALL SORTS OF WAYS FOR KIDS TO GET INTEGRATED AND INVOLVED IN CONSERVATION.

EVERY CORNER AROUND THE PARK OF THE ZOO IS AN ADVENTURE.

>> Reporter: MG PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO WAS WELL REPRESENTED AT THE ROSE PARADE.

BEHIND THE SCENES, THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM WORKED TO HELP ENTRIES THAT INCLUDED HORSES, AND THEY SAY IT LARGELY WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF HORSES NEEDING TO LEAVE THE ROUTE EARLY TO OVERSTIMULATION.

>>> IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE SET OUT TO MAKE A BETTER VERSION OF OURSELVES.

RESEARCH SHOWS PEOPLE GIVE UP ON THE RESOLUTIONS WITHIN WEEKS , SOMETIMES DAYS INTO THE NEW YEAR.

MANDY GAITHER HAS THESE TIPS TO MAKE YOUR 2024 RESOLUTIONS STICK.

>> Reporter: FROM EXERCISING MORE TO EATING BETTER, IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE NEW YEAR, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

BAD HABITS CAN BE HARD TO SHIFT.

>> CHANGES NOT LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH.

IT IS A PROCESS.

>> Reporter: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST SUSAN ALBERT SAYS THE FIRST WAY TO HELP MAKE RESOLUTIONS STICK IS TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT OUR GOALS.

>> OUR BRAINS LEFT TO KNOW THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING, SO INSTEAD OF SAYING, I WANT TO EXERCISE MORE, MAKE A SPECIFIC GOAL, SUCH AS, 20 MINUTES OF WALKING PER DAY.

THIS WILL MAKE YOU MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL IN COMPLETING THIS GOAL.

>> Reporter: ALBERT SAYS TO ALSO BE REALISTIC, SETTING GOALS THAT ARE UNSUSTAINABLE CAN MAKE RESOLUTIONS FALL FLAT.

>> THIS IS BECAUSE WE TEND TO SET BEHAVIORS THAT ARE TOO DIFFERENT FROM WHERE WE ARE AT AT THIS VERY MOMENT, AND ANTICIPATING OBSTACLES, THIS IS A HELPFUL STRATEGY FOR CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS.

>> Reporter: ALBERT SAYS STOPPING A BEHAVIOR IS HARDER THAN STARTING ONE, SO INSTEAD OF TRYING NOT TO EAT ANYMORE JUNK FOOD, SHE SAYS TO TRY SETTING A GOAL TO EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGGIES, THEN FINALLY, LINK A NEW BEHAVIOR TO AN EXISTING ONE.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU DRINK COFFEE EVERY MORNING, BUT YOU WANT TO START EXERCISING, LINK THE EXERCISE TO DRINKING THE COFFEE.

HAVE IT BE THE VERY NEXT BEHAVIOR THAT YOU DO.

>> Reporter: FOR HEALTH MINUTE, I MANDY GAITHER.

>>> A BAN ON CRUISING HAS BEEN LIFTED, ALLOWING DRIVERS TO SHOW OFF CLASSIC CUSTOM LOW RIDERS WHILE TAKING A LEISURELY RIDE IN THE STREETS.

CRITICS SAY THE BAN WAS DISCRIMINATORY AND THEY ARE GLAD THAT IT'S GONE.

>> Reporter: IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

>> CRUISING IS NO LONGER A CRIME.

>> Reporter: A CEREMONIAL NO CRUISING SIGN HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW LAW.

>> IT MEANS SUCCESS, CELEBRATION.

IT MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE FOUGHT AND WE WON.

WE SPOKE UP AND OUR VOICES WERE HEARD, TO CHANGE A DISCRIMINATORY LAW.

>> Reporter: JANUARY 1st MARKS THE DAY IN L.A. COUNTY AND ACROSS THE STATE WHERE LOW RIDERS AND CAR CLUBS CAN CRUISE WITHOUT BEING PULLED OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S OFFICIAL.

CRUISING IS NO LONGER ILLEGAL IN CALIFORNIA.

>> WE HAVE $100,000 CARS OUT HERE, AND ALL WE WANT TO DO IS DUE OUR PASSION, WHICH IS DRIVE.

SAFE.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO DO.

TODAY, FOR US, THE REMOVAL OF THE SIGN IS SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE IT ENDS IN ERA THAT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> IT WAS PROFILING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS GIVING THEM A REASON TO TARGET US, AND BECAUSE WE HAD LOW RIDERS AND CARS THAT WERE DIFFERENT -- >> Reporter: OSCAR STARTED CRUISING WHITTIER BOULEVARD IN THE LATE '50s.

IT'S WHERE HE AND SOME FRIENDS FOUNDED DUKES, THE WORLD'S OLDEST LOW RIDER CLUB.

>> FOR ME, FOR EVERYBODY, BEING CHICANOS, THIS IS OUR CULTURE.

OUR WAY OF LIFE, AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT -- I HAVE BEEN DOING IT SEVEN DECADES.

>> CAR CRUISING KEEPS EVERYBODY OUT OF TROUBLE.

IT'S SOMETHING TO DO.

INSTEAD OF GOING INTO THE STREETS IN DOING THIS, HEY, LET'S GO CRUISING.

LET'S GO WORK ON OUR CAR.

>> UPS, LEFT SIDE.

BRING IT BACK.

>> Reporter: HE TOOK US UNDER THE HOOD OF HIS CHEVY.

I CAN EAT OFF OF THAT, RIGHT?

>> YES, YOU CAN EAT OFF OF THAT.

WE CAN CRUISE, MODIFY OUR CARS, RAISE THEM, LOWER THEM, STYLE THEM, SHOW THEM OFF THE WAY WE WANT.

>> Reporter: WHILE DOZENS OF CAR CLUBS WERE GATHERING TO SHOW OFF THEIR CUSTOM WHEELS AND CHROME, ONE DRIVER WAS GIVEN A CITATION BY POLICE.

THE TICKET SAYS, A VEHICLE CODE VIOLATION, THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE CAR DRIVING WITH THE REAR HYDRAULICS ACTIVATED.

ROD MORENO'S EX-WIFE GOT THE TICKET, AND HE'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

>> THIS IS UNNECESSARY, ESPECIALLY, ON THE FIRST WHEN THIS LAW TOOK EFFECT.

FOR ME, THAT'S VERY WRONG.

THEY SHOULD HAVE SAID, OKAY, LOWER THE VEHICLE.

>> Reporter: THEY PLAN TO GO TO COURT TO FIGHT THE TICKET.

DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME, THE CALIFORNIA LOW RIDER ALLIANCE MAY EXPLORE POSSIBLE REMEDIES, AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE CURRENT LAW TO FURTHER PROTECT THE LOW RIDER COMMUNITY.

>>> CALIFORNIA'S FIRST SNOWPACK MEASUREMENT OF 2024 FINDS LEVELS THAT ARE WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER, ERIK ANDERSON, SAYS THE RESULTS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM JUST A YEAR AGO.

>> Reporter: CALIFORNIA SNOW SURVEY TEAM TOOK MEASUREMENTS OF A FAIRLY MEAGER SNOWPACK NEAR LAKE TAHOE ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE NEW YEAR.

THE STATION IS ONE OF SEVERAL LOCATIONS WHERE OFFICIALS MEASURE SNOW TO ESTIMATE HOW MUCH WATER IS STORED THERE.

>> THE SURVEY TODAY REPORTED A SNOW DEPTH OF 7 1/2 INCHES AND A SNOW WATER CONTENT OF THREE INCHES.

THAT RESULTS IN 30% AVERAGE TO DATE, AND 12% OF THE AVERAGE HERE AT THIS LOCATION.

>> Reporter: A YEAR AGO, THIS LOCATION WAS UNDER 4 1/2 FEET OF SNOW.

REGULAR STORMS DROPPED SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS.

THE CALIFORNIA SNOWPACK BEGAN THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR.

162% ABOVE AVERAGE.

THAT CLIMBED TO 232% ABOVE AVERAGE JUST TWO WEEKS LATER.

>> TODAY'S RESULT SHOWS THAT IT'S REALLY STILL TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF YEAR WE WILL HAVE, IN TERMS OF WET OR DRY.

THAT COULD BE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITH OUR STORM SYSTEMS BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL WHEN WE SHOULD SEE OUR PEAK SNOWPACK.

>> Reporter: THE FIRST OF THE BIG THREE PRECIPITATION MONTHS, DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY PASSED WITH AN UNDERWHELMING IMPACT ON THE SNOWPACK.

CALIFORNIA ALREADY HAD TWO ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS BY THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS ENOUGH TO PILEUP RECORD SNOW LEVELS.

THIS YEAR, NOT SO MUCH.

>> ALONG THE COAST, WE'VE HAD SOME WET WEATHER AND SOME EXTREMES, BUT REALLY, IN THE INTERIOR, NOT AS MUCH.

>> Reporter: A COUPLE OF COLD STORM SYSTEMS THIS WEEK COULD BE A BOOST FOR THE SIERRA SNOWPACK.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTERS SAY THERE COULD STILL BE ABOVE AVERAGE PRECIPITATION BECAUSE OF A STRONG EL NINO IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

SNOWPACK FEEDS THIRSTY FARMS AND CITIES IN SPRING AND SUMMER.

ERIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> LET'S START YOU OFF WITH YOUR WEATHER HEADLINES, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS WE HEAD OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

OUR NEXT WAVE OF RAIN AND SNOW IS GOING TO HIT THE AREA TOMORROW, AND THAT IS ALSO GOING TO START OUR COOLING TREND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WEEK.

AND, AFTER THE STORM MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH, WE AREN'T DONE YET.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER STORM ON TAP FOR THIS WEEKEND.

LOOKING AHEAD TONIGHT, WE ARE DROPPING DOWN TO A LOW OF 53 HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

OCEANSIDE, 47, MARONE, 43.

LAGUNA, 34.

TOMORROW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME ACTION.

YOU SEE RAIN ICONS ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

SAN DIEGO AT 64.

OCEANSIDE, 64 AS WELL.

62 IN MOUNT LAGUNA.

YES, WE COULD EVEN SEE A WINTRY MIX THERE.

AS FOR WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, SOME HAZARDS ALONG THE COAST.

WE DO HAVE A HIGH SURF ADVISORY THAT WILL GO FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY NIGHT RIGHT ALONG THE COAST.

WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT WIND ADVISORIES AS WE HEAD FURTHER INLAND.

THAT WILL BE IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY MORNING INTO EARLY THURSDAY, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE WINDS WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

IT'S ALSO SOME SNOW.

WE DO HAVE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH RIVERSIDE COUNTY AND THROUGH SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TOO WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE AND IMPACTFUL SNOW MOVING IN ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS, RIGHT ALONG THE L.A.

REGION.

AS FOR THE SAN DIEGO REGION WE COULD SEE A FEW SHOWERS AND A WINTRY MIX CLOSER TO OUR HIGHER ELEVATIONS AS WE HEAD INTO LATE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS WELL.

ALONG THE COAST, THE FIVE DAY OUTLOOK, RAIN AT TIMES FOR WEDNESDAY, 64 FOR THE HYBRID WE WILL COOL DOWN SLIGHTLY, NOT TOO MUCH THURSDAY.

62.

66 ON FRIDAY.

SUNSHINE PREVAILING THROUGH SATURDAY, THOUGH IT'S GOING TO START TO BE WINDY BY SUNDAY.

AS YOU LOOK FURTHER INLAND, THAT'S WHERE WE START TO SEE THE ACTION ROLL THROUGH AGAIN.

COOLER WITH RAIN ON WEDNESDAY BUT 61 ON WEDNESDAY.

STAYING IN THE LOW 60s THROUGH THURSDAY, AND THEN WE HAVE THE NEXT ROUND OF RAIN THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THOSE SHOWERS PULLING THROUGH.

WE WILL HIT A HIGH OF 58.

FOR THE MOUNTAINS, YOU WILL SEE THAT COOLING TREND AS WELL, DOWN TO THE LOW 30s.

SNOW AND RAIN WEDNESDAY, TRYING OUT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, BUT BY SUNDAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SNOW AND SLEET AGAIN.

AS FOR THE DESERTS, A COUPLE OF SHOWERS IN A STORM FOR YOU WEDNESDAY.

OVERALL, WE ARE CALM THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, THOUGH THE WINDS PICK UP BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEKEND WITH A HIGH OF 59.

>>> AS WE KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR, WE ARE SHARING MORE OF OUR FAVORITE STORIES FROM 2023.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER, ERIK ANDERSON, SHOWS US HOW RESEARCHERS AT THE SALK INSTITUTE ARE WORKING TO TURN MAJOR CROPS INTO CARBON CAPTURED SUPERHEROES.

>> HERE YOU CAN SEE A FULLY GROWN PLANT.

>> Reporter: WOLFGANG BUSCH HOLDS UP A TRANSPARENT POT FULL OF ROOTS.

HE'S LEADING THE EFFORT TO FIGURE OUT HOW PLANTS WITH DEEP ROOT SYSTEMS CAN HELP SLOW GLOBAL WARMING.

>> PLANTS ARE THE WORLD RECORD HOLDERS IN GETTING CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE AIR THAT CAUSES THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT, AND THEREBY, CLIMATE CHANGE.

THEY GROW EVERYWHERE.

>> Reporter: SOME PLANTS ARE PARTICULARLY EFFICIENT AT TRANSFORMING THE CARBON INTO STEMS, LEAVES AND ROOTS.

THE ROOT SYSTEMS HAVE THE ATTENTION OF RESEARCHERS, WHO SEE THIS AS A KEY TO GETTING CARBON OUT OF THE AIR AND STORED IN THE GROUND.

>> THE DEEPER YOU PUT THAT CARBON IN THE ROOT SYSTEM, THE SLOWER THE DECOMPOSITION GETS.

CARBON THAT IS BELOW 30 CENTIMETERS, A FOOT IN THE SOIL, IS MUCH MORE STABLE.

IT WILL HANG AROUND MUCH LONGER IN THE SOIL, SO BY PUTTING MORE AND MORE OF THE ROOT MATERIAL DEEPER, IT WILL ALLOW THIS CARBON TO STAY THERE AND THE SOIL WILL STORE THIS CARBON FOR LONGER.

>> Reporter: BUSH SAYS RESEARCHERS HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 100 GENES THAT GUIDE THE CREATION OF DEEP AND ROBUST ROOT SYSTEMS.

THEY HOPE TO EITHER BREED THOSE TRAITS INTO CROPS OR USE MODERN GENE SPLICING TECHNOLOGY TO GIVE THOSE ABILITIES TO THE MOST COMMONLY GROWN PLANTS.

>> IF YOU JUST TAKE FIVE MAJOR CROPS, THE MOST PREVALENT CROPS, IT WOULD COVER THE WHOLE SUBCONTINENT OF INDIA.

THAT IS LIKE SO MUCH SOIL BEING COVERED BY THESE PLANTS, AND EVEN THOUGH -- EVEN IF A PLANT WILL DO VERY LITTLE ON ITS OWN, THE MASSIVE SCALE OF AGRICULTURE CAN MAKE A DRAMATIC IMPACT.

>> Reporter: THE HARNESSING PLANTS INITIATIVE WAS GERMINATED BY SALK RESEARCHER, JoANN COREY.

SHE THINKS NEW AND IMPROVED PLANTS CAN IMPROVE CROP YIELDS, BOOST SOIL QUALITY, AND SCRUB CARBON OUT OF THE AIR.

>> I THINK WE COULD TAKE OUT 10 UNITS WITH THIS METHOD.

THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE AMOUNT WE NEED TO TAKE OUT EVERY YEAR, BUT WE COULD MAKE A BIG CONTRIBUTION.

>> Reporter: 10 GIGATONS IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE THAT HUMANS PUT INTO THE AIR EACH YEAR.

ONE PARTICULAR PLANT OF INTEREST ARE CATTAILS.

THE PLANT IS ROBUST AND PRODUCES A PRODIGIOUS AMOUNT OF SEEDS.

>> IS ONE OF THE THREE SPECIES THAT GROWS IN ALMOST ALL AREAS, AND WE FIND IT AS A PRIMARY SPECIES IN SOME OF THE WETLANDS HERE THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN RESTORING.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL HANDLES A MATURE CATTAIL PLANT WITH A BALL OF ROOTS.

>> THE ROOTS GROW SO FAST.

THIS IS AN AMAZING PLANT.

IT'S LIKE A MACHINE SUCKING UP NUTRIENTS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE PLANT IS ONE OF THE BEST AT MOVING CARBON INTO A CORKED MOLECULE.

MICHAEL IS TRYING TO ISOLATE THE GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS THAT ALLOW CATTAILS TO DO THAT, AND THE HOPE IS THOSE ABILITIES CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PLANTS.

>> THEY GRAB ONTO THE SURROUNDING AREA AND THEY BUILD.

THEY ARE, BASICALLY, BUILDING LAND, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY ARE TIGHT, AND THIS IS, ACTUALLY, WHAT IS CAPTURING THE CARBON.

THIS BECOMES OXYGEN FREE.

>> Reporter: SEALING OUT OXYGEN KEEPS THE ROOTS FROM DECOMPOSING.

IT ESSENTIALLY LOCKS THE CARBON INSIDE THE ROOT BALL.

TWO YEARS OF SEQUENCE SEES HAS POINTED RESEARCHERS IN GOOD DIRECTIONS, BUT AN ARMY OF PLANTS TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING REMAINS DECADES AWAY.

>> THERE ARE RECENT EVENTS THAT SUGGEST WE NEED TO BE MOVING FAST, AND SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR 10 OR 20 YEARS OUT.

BUT, WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON THEM NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS REALLY ABOUT.

WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON EVERY ANGLE, SO NOT JUST CARBON SCRUBBERS, BUT HOW DO WE USE PLANTS?

WE NEED TO CUT DOWN ON EMISSIONS.

ALL OF THESE SOLUTIONS COME TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: THE IDEAS PROMISE HAS ATTRACTED PLENTY OF SUPPORTERS.

ENERGY COMPANIES LIKE THE HESS CORPORATION ARE INVESTING MONEY, AND SO IS THE BASIS OF EARTH FUND, AND THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION.

ALL HOPE TO LEVERAGE THEIR INVESTMENTS INTO STRATEGIES THAT WILL KEEP THE PLANET FROM HEATING UP.

ERIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>> HERE, YOU CAN SEE A FULLY GROWN PLANT.

>> WOLFGANG BUSCH.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

PROVIDING SAN DIEGO BUT PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR RESTORATION.

FLOOD AND REMODEL SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

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AND, BY THE FOLLOWING.

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