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

AND, THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCO SHYLY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND, BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN SAN DIEGO, FOLLOWING A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE BEGIN OUR STORM COVERAGE IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO, ONE OF THE WORST HIT AREAS.

WE SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH.

>> THIS IS MY HOME, MY SAFE PLACE, THE PLACE I COME AND FILL THE MOST COMFORTABLE.

>> ROBERT LA PAZ HAS LIVED IN THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR SEVEN MONTHS.

HE WAS WORKING DOWNTOWN.

>> I FEEL LIKE I LOST EVERYTHING.

DEVASTATING.

>> THEY OVERWHELMED THE DRAIN SYSTEM.

THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE CREEK, WHICH QUICKLY BECAME CLOGGED WITH TRASH.

HE HAS NO FAMILY IN SAN DIEGO AND IS NOW HOMELESS DID >> I BASICALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, HAD AN ANGEL WITH ME.

MY BEST FRIEND, IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A PLACE TO STAY.

>> THE LAST STORM OF THIS SEVERITY WAS IN THE 1930S.

>> SAN DIEGO IS MAYOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO THE FLOODS AND SAID ON TUESDAY THERE WAS NO WAY THE CITY COULD HAVE BEEN FULLY PREPARED.

>> AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENT OF THIS NATURE WITH NO LOSS OF LIFE IS A MIRACLE, MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE DILIGENCE OF PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO STEPPED IN AND A LOT OF NEIGHBORS WHO CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

WE NEED THAT SPIRIT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN IMPACTED IS ABLE TO SURVIVE AND COME OUT OF THIS IN A BETTER PLACE.

>> SAN DIEGO IS WELL AWARE OF ITS UNDERFUNDED STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

A REPORT THIS MONTH FOUND THAT THE CITY NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL $1.6 BILLION IN TAXES OR FEES TO FUND ALL OF THE STORM DRAIN NEEDS, MORE THAN THE UNFUNDED NEEDS OF SAN DIEGO'S ROADS, SIDEWALKS, AND STREETLIGHTS COMBINED.

>> THE STORM CONTINUES TO IMPACT COMMUTERS RELY ON THE TROLLEY.

ALL LINES HAD REDUCED SERVICE TODAY.

PARTS OF THE ORANGE LINE WERE OUT OF SERVICE.

MT HAS BUSES SHUTTLE DRIVERS -- PASSENGERS BETWEEN THE STATIONS OR USE THE BLUE LINE.

PASSENGERS CAN CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

>>> THE STORM DID NOT JUST FLOOD SAN DIEGO, IT WREAKED HAVOC IN TIJUANA, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO HEAVY RAIN, CLOSED ROADWAYS, AND FLOODED NEIGHBORHOODS.

HERE'S THE DISPATCH.

>> Reporter: TIJUANA'S MAYOR GAVE AN UPDATE ON HOW TO WANDER WHETHER -- TIJUANA WEATHERED THE STORM, TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO GO OUTSIDE UNLESS THEY ABSOLUTELY HAD TO.

EVEN REGULAR STORMS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS FLOODING DAMAGE AND DUE TO THE CITY'S CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS STORM IS ESPECIALLY SCARY.

FIRST RESPONDERS RESCUED 70 PEOPLE FROM THE FLASH FLOODS AND THERE WERE SEVERAL ROAD CLOSURES, DOWNED POWER LINES, BEING SWEPT AWAY.

ONE OF THE RESCUES WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO AND SHOWS FIREFIGHTERS STRUGGLING TO GET OUT OF THE STRONG FLOOD.

NONE OF THE CHILDREN WERE INJURED.

THE FIRE CHIEF SAYS THAT IT'S TOO EARLY TO KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, BECAUSE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS LAST POWER.

AS OF TUESDAY AFTERNOON, THERE WERE NO REPORTED DEATHS IN TIJUANA.

KPBS NEWS.

>> WE'VE HAD THE WETTEST JANUARY ON RECORD.

WHAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE STRENGTH OF THE STORM, COMING UP.

>>> AN ABSOLUTE DELUGE OF WET WEATHER, YESTERDAY.

THERE WILL BE SOME AREAS OF LOW CLOUD TONIGHT, AND TEMPERATURES WILL SETTLE BACK DOWN TO THE LOWER 50s.

WE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A WARMING TREND ON THE WAY AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW IF ANY MORE RAIN IS IN THE EQUATION.

DETAILS, COMING UP.

>>> THE RECORD RAIN DID NOT STOP THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION FROM GOING ON STRIKE YESTERDAY, BUT ALMOST AS SOON AS I -- AS SOON AS IT BEGAN, IT'S OVER.

HERE ARE DETAILS OF THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT THAT WAS REACHED.

>> Reporter: THE SPRING SEMESTER IS FINALLY READY TO ROLL.

HERE ON SAN DIEGO STATE, UNDER PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES, STUDENTS RETURNED TO CLASSES, HAPPY TO KNOW THE FACULTY WAS BACK ON THE JOB.

>> THE BACK AND FORTH WITH CLASSES BEING CANCELED AND THEN NOT CANCELED ANYMORE, THAT WAS CONFUSING, BUT I MEAN, IF THE STRIKE SERVED ITS PURPOSE AND I'M HAPPY FOR THE TEACHERS.

>> Reporter: MONDAY WAS WET AND SOGGY AS MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION WENT ON STRIKE HERE AND AT CAL STATE SAN MARCOS, ALONG WITH THE OTHER CSU CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY WERE DETERMINED TO BE SEEN AND HEARD, LED BY THE CFA PRESIDENT AND SDSU PROFESSOR.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW COMMITTED WE ARE TO A FAIR CONTRACT.

>> THAT WAS YESTERDAY.

TODAY IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THIS IS THE COLLECT OF ACTION OF SO MANY LECTURERS, PASTORS, COUNSELORS, LIBRARIANS, AND COACHES OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS FORCED CSU MANAGEMENT TO TAKE THE DEMANDS SERIOUSLY BID THIS AGREEMENT MAKES MAJOR GAMES FOR ALL FACULTY.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT HIGHLIGHTS.

A 5% GENERAL SALARY INCREASE FOR ALL FACULTY, RETROACTIVE TO JULY 1st OF 2023, A 5% GENERAL SALARY INCREASE FOR ALL FACULTY , COMING ON JULY 1st OF 2024, IN INCREASE IN THE SALARY FOR THE LOWEST PAID FACULTY, AND AN INCREASE IN PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FROM SIX WEEKS TO 10 WEEKS.

TODAY, THE CSU CHANCELLOR ALSO COMMENTED ON THE AGREEMENT.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SHE SAYS IN PART, "I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED AND DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE HAVE REACHED COMMON GROUND WITH CFA, THAT WILL END THE STRIKE IMMEDIATELY.

THE AGREEMENT ENABLES CSU TO FAIRLY COMPENSATE IS VALUED WORLD-CLASS FACULTY PROTECTING THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM'S LONG- TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY."

THE AGREEMENT IS JUST THAT, TENTATIVE, UNTIL A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS RATIFY IT.

THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> EARLIER TODAY, JUST AS CLOUDS CLEARED, LIBERTY STATION HELD A CELEBRATION FOR THE NEW PERFORMING ARTS THEATER.

OUR CULTURE AND REPORTER -- OUR ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: WE ARE HERE FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE NEW CIGNA THEATER AT THE JOAN AND IRWIN JACOBS PERFORMING CENTER AND I AM WITH SEAN MURRAY, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW THEATER FOR YOUR COMPANY?

>> IT'S A FANTASTIC FEELING.

THIS WILL BE CALLED THE JOAN.

>> Reporter: WE TALK ABOUT THIS CASE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A THEATER FOR YOU.

>> IT'S A PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX, WITH TWO THEATERS, 289 SEAT HOUSE AND HUNDRED AND 50, HUNDRED AND 40 ROUND STUDIO THEATER.

OUR PERSONAL SPACE, COSTUME SHOPS, DRESSING ROOMS, TO ACCOMMODATE CAST FOR BOTH LEADERS.

FIVE IT'S 40,000 SQUARE FEET, TWO THEATERS, BEAUTIFUL LOBBIES, AND EXTERIOR PATIO TOGETHER BEFORE AND AFTER A SHOW.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST PROJECT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN.

THEY HEADING NEEDS AND USE ASSESSMENT TO SEE IF THERE WAS A NEED, AND WILL WOULD PEOPLE USE IT?

THEY FOUND A HUGE NEED FOR SMALL AND MIDSIZE PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS OF ALL TYPES.

>> WE STARTED BEFORE COVID, AND PART OF THE DISCUSSION WAS HAD WE MAKE SURE THIS IS HEALTHY AND SAFE, GOING ON?

WE'VE INCLUDED A NUMBER OF THINGS, CIRCULATION, A LOT OF THOUGHT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THIS RELEVANT IN THE LONG TERM.

>> Reporter: AT LIBERTY STATION, KPBS NEWS.

STOMACH THE NATION'S FIRST 2024 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IS UNDERWAY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR, NIKKI HALEY, ARE VYING FOR VOTES TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

>> Reporter: ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN , AND NEW HAMPSHIRE IS KNOWN FOR SURPRISE RESULTS.

DONALD TRUMP IS LIKELY TO CLAIM THE WIN.

>> THAT WAS TRUMPS MESSAGE AT HIS RALLY BEFORE NEW HAMPSHIRE'S POLE.

>> WE ARE DOWN TO TWO PEOPLE AND I THINK ONE PERSON WILL BE GONE TOMORROW.

>> Reporter: NIKKI HALEY REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT PART OF THE PARTY AND IS NOT GIVING UP WITHOUT A FIGHT.

>> AMERICA DOES NOT DO CORONATIONS.

WE BELIEVE IN CHOICES.

WE BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

>> Reporter: IF THERE IS A PLACE FOR NIKKI HALEY TO GAIN TRACTION, HERE, AMONG THE ELECTORATE WERE MODERATE AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS PLAY A ROLE.

>> SHE IS ONE OF THE LAST CHANCES WE HAVE AND HONESTLY, I THINK IF PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDS UP AS OUR NOMINEE, HE WILL LOSE AGAIN.

>> Reporter: A A NIKKI HALEY VICTORY OR A CLOSE RACE IS CRUCIAL TO CONTINUE, NIKKI HALEY SAYS SHE'S COMMITTED TO PUSHING FORWARD.

>> IN MANCHESTER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AS CALIFORNIA'S PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DRAWS CLOSER, THE REGISTRAR IS LOOKING FOR POLL WORKERS.

THERE IS A NEED FOR WORKERS WHO ARE BILINGUAL IN CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, AND FILIPINO LANGUAGES.

THEY ARE PAID A $95 DAILY STIPEND AND APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE.

YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OLD OR OLDER, A U.S. CITIZEN, AND A REGISTERED VOTER IN CALIFORNIA TO APPLY.

SOME OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW.

THEY MAY NOTICE THEIR CARS ARE NOT PERFORMING AS WELL, PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAXIMIZE EV BATTERY LIFE IN WINTER WEATHER AND JENN SULLIVAN WILL EXPLAIN.

>> Reporter: MUCH OF THE COUNTRY IS BATTLING BITTER COLD AND ELECTRIC CAR OWNERS ARE FACING ANOTHER PROBLEM.

THEIR CARS PERFORMANCE DROPS WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DIP.

THE DRIVING RANGE IS NOT AS LONG AND THE CHARGE IS NOT AS STRONG.

>> EV BATTERIES TEND TO PERFORM A LITTLE LESS.

>> Reporter: ANDREW WORKS AT AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY RESEARCH COMPANY AND SO THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THESE PROBLEMS.

ONE IS ELECTRIC CAR BATTERIES OPERATE ON CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND WHEN IT'S COLD, THOSE REACTIONS SLOW DOWN.

THAT REDUCES THE CARS DRIVING RANGE.

THE SECOND ISSUE IS WHEN IT'S COLD, WE CRANK UP THE HEAT.

ELECTRIC CARS, THE HEATERS RUN ON STORED ENERGY WHICH MEANS LESS ENERGY FOR DRIVING LONG DISTANCES.

>> A LOT OF THE REASON THAT AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE LOSES RANGE IS BECAUSE IT HAS TO WORK SO HARD TO KEEP THE DRIVER WARM.

>> Reporter: TEST SHOWED THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVING RANGES DROPPED 25% ON AVERAGE IN SUBFREEZING WEATHER WHEN COMPARED TO DAYS WITH WARMER TEMPERATURES.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

>> THERE'S NO LASTING IMPACT ON AN EV BATTERY FROM COLD WEATHER.

>> Reporter: WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU HAVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN FRIGID TEMPERATURES?

PREHEAT YOUR CAR WHILE IT'S PLUGGED IN AND THAT WILL SAVE ENERGY.

YOU SEAT WARMERS TO STAY WARM.

THEY ARE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND USE LESS POWER THAN YOUR HEATER.

LASTLY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WINTER TIRES TO COMBAT THE SNOW.

>>> A HIGH-SPEED ZERO EMISSION RAIL PROJECT TO CONNECT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO LAS VEGAS GOT A MAJOR BOOST TODAY.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROVED 2.5 ALIEN DOLLARS IN PRIVATE BONDS FOR THE BRIGHT LINE RAIL PROJECT IN ADDITION TO THE $3 BILLION FUNDING APPROVED LAST MONTH.

THE RAIL WILL PRIMARILY RUN ALONG INTERSTATE 15, CUTTING THE TRIP TO LAS VEGAS FROM LOS ANGELES TO JUST OVER TWO HOURS.

IT ALSO CONNECTS TO SAN DIEGO VIA THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA STATION AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER WITH A GOAL TO OPEN IN 2028.

>>> THE STRENGTH OF THE STORM THAT HIT SAN DIEGO COUNTY TOOK MANY OF US BY SURPRISE.

THAT FLOODED PARTS OF THE REGION AND CARRIED AWAY PARKED CARS.

ERIC ANDERSON SAYS IT WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN THE SOUTH CRUST NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Reporter: THE RAIN THAT DRENCHED SAN DIEGO CREATED AN OUT-OF-CONTROL TORRENT OF WATER.

GREG MONTOYA STOOD OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE.

>> THE WATER CAME UP ALL THE WAY TO THE FOUR FOOT MARK.

THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE WAS TOTALED.

>> Reporter: THE BROWN WATER RAGED ALONG THE CONCRETE CANYON, FLOWING OVER THE BANKS.

TREES WERE UPROOTED, FENCES WERE PULLED DOWN, AND CARS WERE TOSSED AROUND AND DRAGGED IN THE MUDDY FLOODWATERS.

THE DELUGE OVERWHELMED JOYCE CREEK, WHERE HOUSES SIT NEXT TO THE CONCRETE CHANNEL AND IT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING GROUNDWORK SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN WORKING TO AVOID.

>> MANY OF THEM DO HAVE CONCRETE CHANNELS AND WHEN THAT WATER HIT THE STREET, IT GOES INTO THE STORM DRAIN, INTO THE CONCRETE CHANNEL, AND WANTS TO GO OUT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THE DOWNPOUR WAS MOSTLY MONDAY MORNING WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IN JUST A FEW HOURS.

>> LOOK AT THE FENCE POST.

THERE'S GOT TO BE A LOT OF CARS CARRIED AWAY BECAUSE THE WATER IS GOING TOO FAST AND IF WE HAVE THE ROOM, THEY COULD SLOW DOWN THE WATER.

>> Reporter: STORMS LIKE THIS ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS REGION.

THE INTENSITY OF THE RAINFALL GOT PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

SAN DIEGO HAS A LONG HISTORY OF FLOODING.

>> ALL THE CLIMATE CHANGE IS DOING IS MAKING IT MORE EXTREME .

SOMETIMES IT'S DRY, SOMETIMES IT'S WET, SOMETIMES IT'S COLD, BUT IT IS EXACERBATING A CONDITION THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER NEVER CAME ASHORE, THE STORM PUSHED ENOUGH RAINFALL INTO THE COUNTY TO LIFT SEASONAL RAINFALL TOTALS OUT OF THE DEFICIT TO JUST ABOVE NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS CAN BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THEY CREATE 50% OF OUR PARTICIPATION -- PRECIPITATION AND WE NEED THAT WATER, BUT WHEN THEY LAST TOO LONG OR ARE TOO INTENSE, THEY CAN BE HAZARDOUS.

>> THE RAIN IS MOVING OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THE NEXT STORM IS EXPECTED EARLY FEBRUARY.

ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS WAS DAMAGED DURING THE STORM, THE COUNTY WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CREATED A VOLUNTARY ONLINE SURVEY AND YOU CAN FILL OUT THE FORM WITH THE LINK ON YOUR SCREEN, COMPLETING THE SURVEY DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE BUT THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IF THE STATE REQUESTS AID.

>>> AFTER TONS OF RAIN, WE ARE DRYING THINGS OUT AND WE WILL NOTICE A BIT OF A WARMING TREND.

I WOULD NOT CALL IT A HUGE CHANGE, BUT I WILL EXPLAIN THE RISING TEMPERATURES COMING UP.

COULD WE SEE CHANGES INTO THE WEEKEND?

WE WILL LET YOU KNOW MORE COMING UP.

TALK ABOUT A LOT OF RAIN AND ALL THE DANGEROUS FLASH FLOODING.

LOOK AT THE STAGGERING NUMBER.

THE WETTEST JANUARY ON RECORD.

THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD THAT WAS SET IN 1979.

WE HAD 2 3/4 INCHES OF RAIN AND MUCH OF THAT FELL IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

AS WE LOOK THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PRECIPITATION AGAIN.

THROUGH THE EVENING, YOU CAN SEE IT'S QUIET.

IT'S NOT OVERLY ACTIVE.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AGAIN AS WE SETTLE BACK DOWN INTO THE 40s AND 50s AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 30s, CHULA VISTA, OCEANSIDE, DOWN TO THE 40s.

IT DOESN'T LOOK OVERLY ACTIVE BUT THERE IS SOME MARINE INFLUENCE WITH CLOUDINESS ALONG THE COAST AND SOME INTERIOR VALLEYS.

THE NEXT WET WEATHER MAKER IS OFF TO THE NORTH AND HIGH PRESSURE IS IN CONTROL AND THAT WILL KEEP US DRY AGAIN THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

SUNSHINE WILL RETURN AFTER CLOUDINESS, 63 IN CHULA VISTA, 62 IN RAMONA.

WE DO HAVE MORE LOW CLOUDINESS, BUT THERE IS THE WARMING TREND INTO THE 70s.

A NICE DAY SATURDAY, WHICH LOOKS GREAT FOR THE WEEKEND, RIGHT?

LOOK AT THE INTERIOR VALLEYS, NEAR 80.

THE SUNSHINE WILL BE MORE CALM AND WITH AN OFFSHORE FLOW.

WE HAVE SUBTLE CHANGES FOR THE MOUNTAIN TERRAIN.

IT WILL BE COLD WEDNESDAY AND INTO THURSDAY AND WE NOTICE THOSE NUMBERS COMING BACK INTO THE 70s.

IT'S A NICE-LOOKING WEEKEND.

>>> OVER $1 MILLION IN FINANCIAL AID HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN SAN DIEGO.

THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR PASSED THAT PROPOSAL TODAY AND THE COUNTY WILL SPEND $1.25 MILLION ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO HELP COVER STARTUP COSTS.

$750,000 WILL BE USED TO CREATE A DATABASE TO TRACK THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF FACILITIES DID >>> FIELD TRIPS ARE ENRICHING FOR STUDENTS ACROSS SAN DIEGO, BUT SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION CAN COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, MONEY THE DISTRICT CAN'T COVER.

OUR EDUCATIONAL REPORTER TELLS US ABOUT ANY ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING CHILDREN WHO NEED IT MOST.

>> Reporter: THERE'S A LOT TO SEE AT THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN BALBOA PARK.

THIS GROUP OF FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS IS FROM A SCHOOL IN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED DISTRICT.

ALONG WITH TOURING THE ART GALLERIES, THIS FIELD TRIP INCLUDES HANDS-ON LEARNING.

SOPHIA JOINS HER CLASSMATES IN CUTTING, PASTING, AND CREATING, WITH PAINT, GLUE, AND A CARDBOARD TUBE.

>> PINK IS MY FAVORITE COLOR.

>> STUDENTS STARTED THE MORNING ON BOARD A SCHOOL BUS THAT TRANSPORTED THEM FROM THEIR CAMPUS TO THE MUSEUM IN BALBOA PARK, AT A COST OF $600 FOR THE ROUND-TRIP.

>> WE ARE THE ONES THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT FUNDING TO GET THE KIDS TO THE INSTITUTIONS THAT REDUCE THE COST.

>> JULIE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS BUS EXPRESS, A SMALL SAN DIEGO NONPROFIT THAT RAISES MONEY TO PAY FOR BUSES THAT TAKE CHILDREN ON FIELD TRIPS TO ARTS AND SCIENCE DESTINATIONS.

SHE SAYS THE ART BUS EXPRESS TAKES REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM ANY OF THE 42 LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE, WHO COME FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES RECOGNIZED UNDER FEDERAL TITLE I POVERTY GUIDELINES.

>> IF I WANTED TO SEND EVERY KID ON A FIELD TRIP, EVERY YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, I WOULD NEED $5 MILLION.

>> Reporter: ON AVERAGE, A FIELD TRIP COST $21 A STUDENT TO TRANSPORT AND ALLOW ENTRANCE TO MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS.

>> PEOPLE CAN MAKE THINGS AND ART.

>> Reporter: ALEX AND HIS CLASSMATES WORK TOGETHER ON THEIR PROJECT.

>> I WANT TO BE PICASSO.

>> Reporter: ALEX SAYS HE'S GLAD HE'S GETTING EXPERIENCE ON THIS FIELD TRIP TO IMPROVE HIS SKILLS.

>> I HAVE TO TRAIN WITH ART, DRAW STUFF, PAINT STUFF, MAKE TOWERS LIKE THESE, EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> JASON LIKES THE OTHER BENEFITS OF THE TRIP OFF CAMPUS.

>> THE ENTIRE CLASS CAN HAVE FUN WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE MOST OF US ARE FRIENDS, AND GOING PLACES TOGETHER IS LIKE, REAL BONDING TIME.

>> Reporter: ARTS BUS EXPRESS IS KEPT THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GOING ROUND AND ROUND, TRANSFORMING 7000 STUDENTS TO MUSEUMS THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THERE IS A WAITLIST WITH REQUEST FROM MORE THAN 200 TEACHERS AND ANOTHER 7000 STUDENTS.

THAT HAS FORCED A PAUSE ON NEW REQUESTS UNTIL HUNDRED AND $40,000 CAN BE RAISED.

SOME SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO HELPS, BUT PRIVATE DONATIONS ARE NEEDED MOST.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, MEGAN SALCIDO, IS GRATEFUL HER REQUEST WAS FUNDED FOR THIS TRIP AT NO COST TO PARENTS AND PROVIDING AN ADVENTURE FOR THE CHILDREN.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

IT NEVER CROSSED THEIR MINDS OR MAYBE THEIR FAMILIES HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BRING THEM HERE, SO IT'S SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING.

>> THE ICA IS FREE THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, MAKING THE MUSEUM A PARTNER IN THE INVESTMENT FIELD TRIPS CAN BE, SAYS THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> THERE WORLD IS FILLED WITH SCREENS.

WE ARE ON OUR PHONES ALL THE TIME.

THAT DIDN'T EXIST 100 YEARS AGO TO THE DEGREE IT DOES NOW, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE KIDS UNDERSTAND HOW TO VISUALLY INTERPRET THE WORLD.

>> AS THEIR SLOGAN GOES, ENRICHING STUDENT LEARNING, ONE FIELD TRIP AT A TIME.

KPBS NEWS.

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

NPR'S MORNING EDITION WILL FOLLOW UP ON THE RESULTS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR NIKKI HALEY.

STOMACH JANUARY IS NATIONAL TRAIN YOUR DOG MONTH.

WE ARE TALKING TO A TRAINER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM LISTENERS.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING 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 40 YEARS.

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

AND, THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION.

DARLENE MARCO SHYLY .

AND, BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND, BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

♪