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

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

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

IT IS OFFICIALLY PRIDE MONTH IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

KPBS REPORTER ANDY DYER WAS AT THE KICK-OFF TODAY.

>> THE MONTH OF JULY 2025 IS SAN DIEGO LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCILMEMBER STEPHEN WHITBURN AND OTHER CITY LEADERS WELCOMED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY TO KICK OFF PRIDE MONTH.

LOCAL LEADERS SAY THIS YEAR'S ONGOING SUPPRESSION OF LGBTQ IDENTITY AND RIGHTS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS GIVEN THE LOCAL CELEBRATORY NATURE OF PRIDE A MORE COMBATIVE SENSE OF URGENCY.

>> SO THIS YEAR, IN ADDITION TO CELEBRATING, WE ARE ALSO TAKING A STAND.

WE'RE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE HERE, WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, AND THAT OUR LOVE, OUR TRUTH, AND OUR DIGNITY WILL NEVER BE ERASED.

>> Reporter: LOCAL ACTIVIST NICOLE MARIE RAMIREZ HELPED ORGANIZE THE FIRST SAN DIEGO PRIDE PARADE IN 1974.

HE SAYS THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN.

>> WE OF THE STONEWALL GENERATION OF THE 1960st AND IS '70s HAVE BEEN INDEED BEEN BLESSED TO SEE THE CHANGES AND PROGRESS THAT HAS HAPPENED IN SAN DIEGO AND OUR NATION, BUT NOW WE SEE THAT OUR NATION IS MOVING BACKWARDS AND NOT FORWARD AS HATE AGAIN IS ON THE RISE.

>> Reporter: THE CITY ALSO ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR'S PRIDE HONOREES, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

MAYOR TODD GLORIA SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS PEOPLE FEEL DISCOURAGED GIVEN THE ANTI-LGBTQ+ POLICIES COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT TO REMEMBER THE COMMUNITY KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT AND WIN.

>> PRIDE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RESPONSE TO ADVERSITY.

IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE ABOUT THOSE WHO SOUGHT TO BRING US DOWN BUT RATHER COMING TOGETHER TO LIFT ONE ANOTHER UP.

WE NEED THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER.

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT CHOOSING VIS BT OVER FEAR, TO CHOOSE JOY OVER FAME, AND TO CHOOSE HOPE OVER DESPAIR.

>> Reporter: THE 51st ANNUAL SAN DIEGO PRIDE FESTIVAL STARTS WITH A PRIDE PARADE SATURDAY AT 10:00 A.M. ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>> TOMORROW'S EVENING EDITION IS ALL ABOUT SAN DIEGO PRIDE, TUNE IN OR STREAM AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> WEATHER HEADLINES HERE AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS INTO THE WEEKEND.

I'LL BE TRACKING SUNNY SKIES AND OVERALL TEMPERATURES NICE.

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT I HAVE IN STORE FOR SATURDAY AND IS UNDERSTOOD.

BUT I'M ALSO TRACKING YOUR NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN.

IT'LL BE A LOW CHANCE, BUT IT'LL BE THERE ON YOUR EXTENDED FORECAST.

>>> EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A MULTI-AGENCY RESPONSE TO ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT ARE UNDERWAY, AND TODAY SAN DIEGO'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY TESTIFIED IN WASHINGTON ABOUT WHY IT IS NEEDED.

KPBS REPORTER TANYA THORN EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: RETAIL GROUPS SAY ORGANIZED THEFTS ARE ON THE RISE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND A RECENT REPORT BY CALIFORNIA'S LEGISLATIVE ANALYST IS BACKING THAT UP CLAIM.

THE RETAILERS SAY THIEVES ARE TARGETING LARGER QUANTITIES OF MERCHANDISE THAT END UP COSTING COMPANIES THOUSANDS AND SOMETIMES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

ON TUESDAY, SUMMER STEFAN TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE IMPACT OF RETAIL THEFTS HERE.

>> WE WERE ANGRY IN SAN DIEGO TO SEE THE FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I BROUGHT AN ORGANIZED TEAM WORKING WITH ORCA, THE ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME THEFT ALLIANCE, WHICH HAS BUSINESSES AND LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS.

WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THE CASE AND SOLVE IT AND BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TO JUSTICE AND SEND THEM TO THE CONSEQUENCES THAT THEY DESERVE.

>> Reporter: STEFAN SAID SAN DIEGO HAS PROSECUTED OVER 200 DEFENDANTS INVOLVED IN ORGANIZED THEFT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

BUT SHE SAYS A LINE GETS DRAWN AND GETTING TO THE SHOCK COLLARS OF THE THEFT RING GOES UNSOLVED.

>> A RECENT $800 MILLION JEWELRY HEIST WHERE TWO OTHER STATES SUFFERED FROM THE SAME CREW BUT IT WAS UNSOLVED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ALERT SYSTEM IN THE NATIONAL SCOPE THAT ALERTED US THAT THEY'RE COMING TO US POTENTIALLY.

>> Reporter: AN ACT COULD ESTABLISH A COORDINATED MULTI-AGENCY RESPONSE TO ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.

LEGISLATION STEFAN SUPPORTS.

BOTH AS SAN DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION.

>> THIS CANNOT BE SOLVED LOCALLY, IT MUST BE SOLVED BY LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL.

AND THIS IS WHY NDAA AND SAN DIEGO D.A.s OFFICE SUPPORTS THE BILL, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BRING BIGGER SOLUTIONS TO A REALLY BIG PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: THE BILL WOULD CREATE AN ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME COORDINATION CENTER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

THAT CENTER WOULD ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND WITH RETAIL COMPANIES TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME.

BUT SENATOR DICK DURBIN OF ILLINOIS NOTED THAT DHS IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON MASS DEPORTATIONS.

>> IN FEBRUARY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN WASHINGTON ORDERED ITS ENTIRE INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION COMPOSED OF 6,000 AGENTS TO DIVERT FOCUS ON DRUG DEALERS, TERRORISTS, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AND SHIFT PRIORITY TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S -- DEPORTING PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY.

>> Reporter: THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE A CRIME CENTER WITHIN DHS CAME UP IN 2023, BUT THAT BILL DID NOT MOVE FORWARD.

TANYA THORN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> U.S. INFLATION REBOUNDED IN JUNE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN FOUR MONTHS.

TODAY'S DATA WAS IN LINE WITH WHAT ECONOMISTS WERE EXPECTING.

>> Reporter: CONSUMER PRICES HEATING UP AGAIN IN JUNE, PUSHING THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE HIGHER TO 2.7%.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO NEW DAY TO FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATIST INS.

>> THE BEST YOU CAN SAY ABOUT TODAY WAS THERE WAS NO BAD NEWS.

>> Reporter: TUESDAY'S DATA WAS EXPECTED BY MOST MISTS WHO HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING THE PRICE EFFECTS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ON AGAIN OFF AGAIN TARIFF POLICIES TO BEGIN SHOWING SOME REAL WORLD EFFECTS.

>> THE FIRST SERIOUS SET OF TARIFFS WENT INTO EFFECT IN APRIL.

BUT THEY DIDN'T AFFECT GOODS THAT WERE ALREADY ON A BOAT.

SO IT TAKES A BOAT ABOUT A MONTH TO GET FROM EUROPE OR CHINA TO THE U.S. THEN IT MIGHT TAKE ANOTHER MONTH TO GET THROUGH CUSTOMS.

THAT TAKES US THROUGH TO JUNE.

>> Reporter: REFLECTED IN THE DATA PRICE HIKES IN A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES WITH GOODS FROM CHINA, WHICH ARE ALREADY EXPOSED TO HIGHER TARIFFS, INCLUDING COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS, TEXTILES, APPLIANCE, AND TOYS TEMPERATURE COST OF GAS AND FOOD ALSO ON THE RISE.

DUE TO THEIR VOLATILITY, THEY AREN'T PREDICTORS OF THE LARGER ECONOMIC PICTURE.

STILL, TUESDAY'S REPORT COMES AS THE FEDERAL RESERVE FACES INCREASING PRESSURE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO LOWER INTEREST RATES.

AN INCREASE IN PRICES DUE TO TARIFFS WOULD MAKE THE MOVE UNLIKELY.

>> WHEN THE FED GETS WORRIED THAT THE COST OF LIVING IS RISING, IT TENDS TO RAISE INTEREST RATES.

>> Reporter: IN WASHINGTON, MICHAEL YOSHIDA REPORTING.

>>> SOME IMMIGRANT PARENTS ARE TAKING EXTRA STEPS TO MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR IF THEY ARE DETAINED.

LUZ PENA HAS MORE FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

>> Reporter: IMMIGRATION AGENTS PERFORMING RAIDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND DETENTIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO IMMIGRATION COURT HEARINGS ARE SENDING SHOCK WAVES THROUGHOUT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM I.C.E.

AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS AN ESCALATION AND COORDINATED CAMPAIGNS OF FEAR.

>> Reporter: THAT FEAR HAS PROMPTED MANY UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS TO NOW CREATE PLANS FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN CASE THEY'RE DETAINED AND SEPARATED.

AND SOME IN SAN FRANCISCO ARE TURNING TO THEIR KID'S SUMMER CAMP COUNSELORS FOR HELP.

>> THEY'VE ASKED OUR COUNSELORS WHO THEY TRUST TO BE THE -- ALMOST LIKE A LEGAL GUARDIAN.

>> Reporter: WE WENT TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN SAN FRANCISCO WHERE A NONPROFIT RUNS A SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 10 YEARS OLD.

THE MAJORITY FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.

HERE WE SPOKE TO THE TWO SUMMER SCHOOL COUNSELORS WHO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TAKE ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

>> ABOUT FIVE PARENTS HAVE ASKED ME, AND THEY ALL HAVE ABOUT TWO TO THREE KIDS.

SO IF I SIGN ONE FAMILY, DON'T SIGN, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE.

AND I DON'T WANT -- I DO NOT WANT TO NOT SIGN.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW MY -- MY RESPONSIBILITY.

>> Reporter: 27-YEAR-OLDS MARY AND SUZIE HAVE WORKED WITH CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR YEARS YET NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ENTRUSTED WITH THIS ASK.

>> A LOT OF THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE ONES.

THEY JUST KNOW THEIR PARENTS ARE WORRIED.

AND THEY HEAR LIKE IMMIGRATION.

THAT'S THE BIG WORD THAT THEY HEAR.

>> Reporter: THE SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT KEEP TRACK OF STUDENTS' LEGAL STATUS, YET IN THEIR PUBLIC DATA DASHBOARD OF THE 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WERE OVER 12,000 SFUSD STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ENGLISH LEARNER CLASSES BASED ON THAT TOTAL NUMBER OF ENROLLED STUDENTS, THE ENGLISH LEARNER GROUP MAKES UP 25% OF SFUSD STUDENTS, THE MAJORITY LATINOS AND CHINESE.

>> THE FAMILIES DO TELL ME, LIKE, A PLAN, LIKE, OKAY, IF IT DOES HAPPEN, IF I DO GET STOPPED, IF I DO GET SPLIT UP FROM MY KIDS, I WANT YOU TO HAVE MY KIDS FOR A WEEK, AND I WILL GIVE YOU MONEY TO FLY THEM OUT, YOU AND MY KIDS, TO MEET ME IN, LIKE, LET'S SAY, COLOMBIA.

>> Reporter: A STORY WE AIRED YESTERDAY ANSWERING AUDIENCE QUESTIONS ABOUT I.C.E.

DETENTIONS DESCRIBED THE QUARTERLY EARNINGS FOR THE PRIVATE DETENTION COMPANY CORE CIVIC.

THE STORY DESCRIBED A FINANCIAL QUARTER AS FOUR MONTHS, IT'S ACTUALLY THREE.

WE REGRET THE ERROR.

>>> ON THE DAY OF THE NO KINGS MARCH LAST MONTH, AMERICANS AWOKE TO NEWS THAT TWO DEMOCRATIC STATE LAW MAKERS AND THEIR TWO SPOUSES IN MINNESOTA HAD BEEN SHOT.

TWO FATALLY.

NOW A CALIFORNIA LEGISLATOR WANTS MORE MONEY FOR LAWMAKER'S SECURITY.

KPBS' AMITA SHARMA SPOKE ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL AND THE THREAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> Reporter: RACHEL, YOU HAVE SOUNDED THE ALARM FOR SOME TIME NOW ABOUT RISING THREATS AGAINST SAN DIEGO POLITICIANS.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATOR AND HER HUSBAND WHO WERE ASSASSINATED LAST MONTH AND THE SHOOTING OF ANOTHER LAW MAKER AND HIS WIFE.

>> SO MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS SADNESS AND SHOCK.

AND I SAY SHOCK BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD EVER GET USED TO THESE KIND OF INCIDENTS.

SO EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THERE WAS A STRONG LIKELIHOOD THAT AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN, IT STILL SHOULD BE SURPRISING, RIGHT, EVERY TIME YOU SEE THIS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.

WE SHOULD BE SHOCKED.

WE SHOULD BE SURPRISED.

WE SHOULD BE APPALLED.

THIS ISN'T NORMAL.

>> Reporter: AS YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYWOMAN MAYA BONTA IS PUSHING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW LAWMAKERS TO USE MORE CAMPAIGN MONEY ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL SECURITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA?

>> THE DATA IS PRETTY CLEAR ON THIS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING IN POSITIONS OF ELECTED LEADERSHIP ARE MORE AT RISK FOR VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THOSE POSITIONS.

AND THAT EXTENDS, UNFORTUNATELY, TO THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD.

SO NOT ONLY ARE YOU AT HIGHER RISK WHEN YOU'RE IN OFFICE, BUT YOU'RE AT HIGHER RISENING WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

SO WITH THOSE HIGHER RISKS SHOULD ALSO COME THE ABILITY TO MITIGATE THOSE RISKS, INCLUDING THROUGH THE SPENDING OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE SHOULD BE OVERSIGHT OF THAT.

THERE SHOULD BE CONDITIONS ON THAT.

>> Reporter: WHAT DOES THE FACT THAT THIS BILL IS EVEN BEING FLOATED SAY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW AS A SOCIETY?

>> WHAT IT SAYS IS IF YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY IN ELECTED OFFICE THEN WITH THAT COMES RISK, AGAIN, TO YOURSELF AND TO YOUR FAMILY AND THOSE WHO YOU LOVE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GREAT REFLECTION ON OUR SOCIETY.

AND ONCE YOU MOVE INTO A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT FREE FROM FEAR, IT REALLY LIMITS THE FIELD OF WHO IS GOING TO BE WILLING TO RUN.

AND IF YOU DON'T ALLOW FOR PUBLIC FUNDS TO BE USED FOR SECURITY, THEN THAT MEANS YOU'RE POTENTIALLY LIMITING THE FIELD OF THOSE WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO RUN, FRANKLY, TO THOSE WHO ARE WEALTHY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR OWN SECURITY OR THOSE WHO ARE LESS CONCERNED ABOUT SECURITY RISK.

AND THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HIGHEST RISK ARE WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR.

SO IF YOU DON'T ALLOW FOR PUBLIC FUNDS, AND YET PEOPLE ARE AT HIGHER RISK, YOU'RE LIKELY TO LIMIT REPRESENTATION.

>> Reporter: BASED ON YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT HAVE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES TOLD YOU ABOUT THE NEED TO BEEF UP THEIR OWN SECURITY?

>> WE HEARD A LOT OF STORIES OF PEOPLE INCREASING HOME SECURITY.

SO THINGS LIKE CAMERAS, HIGHER FENCES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE -- HAVE CHANGED THEIR BEHAVIOR.

THEY DON'T TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTE EVERY DAY.

THEY DON'T GO TO THE SAME GROCERY STORE THAT THEY USED TO, THE ONE THAT'S IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING APPROACHED IN A VIOLENT WAY.

>> Reporter: IN THE PAST, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD YOU THAT SOME OF THEM SIMPLY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AROUND THEIR COLLEAGUES.

>> MM-HMM.

>> Reporter: ANY UPDATES ON THAT FRONT, GIVEN THAT WE'VE NOW SEEN FEDERAL AGENTS ACTUALLY THROW DOWN U.S.

SENATOR ALEX PADILLA TO THE GROUND AND HANDCUFF HIM.

>> MM-HMM.

I THINK THE REALLY IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY THAT WE HAD FROM THE RESEARCH IS THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS -- AND PRETTY CONSISTENTLY WE HEARD THIS, PEOPLE REALLY WANTED US TO HEAR THIS PIECE OF INFORMATION -- DON'T JUST FEEL AFRAID OR ANXIOUS WITH REGARD TO THEIR ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE PUBLIC, THEY ALSO FEAR THEIR COLLEAGUES, WHETHER THAT'S COLLEAGUES ON A SCHOOL BOARD OR A CITY COUNCIL OR IN A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OR WITHIN THE PARTY THAT THEY ARE MAYBE SEEKING SUPPORT FROM, SO INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THOSE WHO SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THEM.

PEOPLE WANTED US TO KNOW THAT.

THEY WANTED US TO KNOW THAT THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT OF INTIMIDATION AND INTIMIDATION BACKED UP BY VERY REAL INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE PERMEATES ALMOST ALL ASPECTS OF PUBLIC SERVICE NOW, INCLUDING SPACES WHERE YOU WOULD THINK PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF FEAR.

>> Reporter: RACHEL, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH ME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT WAS KPBS' AMITA SHARMA.

PUBLIC MATTERS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH KPBS, OUR NEWS SOURCE AND VOICE OF SAN DIEGO.

>>> THE SUPREME COURT CLEARED THE WAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO CARRY OUT MASS LAYOFFS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

JULIA BENBROOK HAS MORE ON THE RULING AND HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS REACTING.

>> Reporter: WITHIN HOURS OF THE RULING, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SENT NOTICES TO EMPLOYEES INDICATING THAT IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESUME ITS PLANS TO SHRINK THE DEPARTMENT.

THE NOTICE READ, QUOTE, THE DEPARTMENT APPRECIATES YOUR SERVICE AND RECOGNIZES THE DIFFICULTY OF THE MOMENT, ADDING THAT THE ACTION IS NOT A REFLECTION OF PERFORMANCE OR CONDUCT BUT BASED SOLELY ON AGENCY RESTRUCTURING.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CREATED DURING THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION IS TASKED WITH MANAGING FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS, MONITORING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SUPPORTING PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND ENFORCING CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS IN SCHOOLS AMONG OTHER DUTIES.

IN A TRUTH SOCIAL POST, TRUMP CELEBRATED MONDAY'S RULING, SAYING THAT THE SUPREME COURT HANDED A MAJOR VICTORY TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ECHOED POINTS THAT HE MADE WHEN HE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO DISMANTLE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> MY ADMINISTRATION WILL TAKE ALL LAWFUL STEPS TO SHUT DOWN THE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO SHUT IT DOWN AND SHUT IT DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: IN THE UNSIGNED COURT ORDER, THE JUSTICES LIFTED FOR NOW A LOWER COURT RULING THAT HAD INDEFINITELY PAUSED TRUMP'S PLAN.

THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION PUTS THAT RULING ON HOLD WHILE THE LEGAL CHALLENGE PLAYS OUT.

IN A SCATHING DISSENT THAT WAS JOINED IN FULL BY THE COURT'S OTHER TWO LIBERAL JUSTICES, JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR WARNED OF, QUOTE, UNTOLD HARM.

SHE SAID IT COULD LEAVE STUDENTS TO SUFFER.

AT THE WHITE HOUSE, I'M JULIA BENBROOK.

>>> SAN DIEGO FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SAY THEY ARE SEEING A SPIKE IN NEED THIS SUMMER.

THIS AT THE SAME TIME AS FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS TO NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK'S SUMMER FOOD DRIVE IS STILL UNDERWAY THROUGH AUGUST 5th.

THE ORGANIZATION IS COLLECTING FOOD AND RAISING MONEY AT GROCERY STORES, ONLINE, AND WITH VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVES.

>> IT'S OUR 15th ANNUAL SUMMER FOOD DRIVE.

WEED A AT THAT TIME FOOD BANK RUN TWO MAJOR FOOD DRIVES PER YEAR, SUMMER AND HOLIDAY.

>> Reporter: JULIE MOORE SAYS LOCAL FAMILIES ARE TURNING TO THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK IN GREATER NUMBERS.

SHE SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF LIVING AND SUMMER BREAK LIMITING ACCESS TO FREE AND REDUCED-COST SCHOOL MEALS.

SHE SAYS THEY GAVE OUT A NEAR RECORD AMOUNT OF FOOD LAST YEAR.

>> WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 350 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

THAT'S THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE HISTORY.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 46 YEARS.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE ONLY YEAR THEY GAVE OUT MORE FOOD WAS 2020 TO 2021.

>> THE DEMAND HAS BEEN SUSTAINED SINCE COVID, AND IT IS EVEN GOING UPWARDS A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: NUMBER OF SENIORS REQUESTING FOOD ASSISTANCE HAS DOUBLED SINCE 2023.

MORE WORKING FAMILIES ARE IN NEED TOO.

>> BECAUSE THE COST OF FOOD HAS BEEN ON THE RISE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT JUST PUTS MORE PRESSURE ON THE FAMILIES AND THEIR PAYCHECK JUST DOESN'T EXTEND AS FAR AS IT USED TO.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED ALSO HAS A SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE FOOD TO ANY SAN DIEGO CHILD AGES 18 AND UNDER REGARDLESS OF SCHOOL ENROLLMENT.

THERE ARE 70 LOCATIONS WHERE CHILDREN CAN PICK UP BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

THEY ARE ALSO SEEING AN INCREASE IN DEMAND.

LAST YEAR THEY SERVED NEARLY 250,000 MEALS ACROSS THE REGION.

THIS YEAR?

>> WE'RE AVERAGING 11,000 A DAY.

11,000 MEALS A DAY.

WE STARTED THE PROGRAM ON JUNE 4th.

AND SO FAR WE'VE SERVED 340,000 MEALS.

AND WE HAVE THREE WEEKS LEFT.

>> Reporter: FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM COMES FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES SPOKESPERSON LESLIE LUNA SAYS FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

JAKE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> I'M TRACKING SOME REALLY NICE WEATHER HERE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

HEADING INTO TONIGHT, OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE MID 60s.

LOW CLOUDS NEAR THE COAST, BUT THOSE DISSIPATE.

OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE 600s.

63 FOR OCEANSIDE AND CAMP PENDLETON.

SOME CLOUD COVER HERE ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS HERE TO START YOUR EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

AROUND MIDAFTERNOON WE'LL START TO SEE THAT CLOUD COVERAGE REALLY PUSHING ITS WAY OFF.

WATCHING OUT FOR WIDESPREAD SHOWERS, EVEN RUMBLES OF THUNDER THERE, POSSIBLY FLOODING ACROSS THE ROCKIES AND HIGH PLAINS.

FOR THE MOST PART, MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES, BUT IF WE DO SEE ANY ORGANIZED RAIN CHANCES, IT'LL BE EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

WE'LL SEE SOME SHOWERS TRYING TO WORK THEIR WAY OFF TO THE WEST.

WE'LL SEE HOW FAR THESE SHOWERS STICK TOGETHER HERE.

OVERALL HERE FOR WEDNESDAY, IT'S GOING TO STAY DRY TO THE WEST.

WE'LL BE WATCHING OUT FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS REGION AND THE HIGH PLAINS.

SO HEADS UP FOR THAT.

BUT FOR TOMORROW, MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, HIGHS WILL PRIMARILY BE A MIX OF 70s AND 80s.

SO IT'LL BE A COMFORTABLE AFTERNOON HERE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST.

IT STAYS DRY HERE AS WE HEAD INTO THURSDAY.

ONCE AGAIN THAT RAIN IS SLOWLY TRYING TO WORK ITS WAY, INCH ITS WAY A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE COASTAL AREAS AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

A LITTLE BIT CLOUDIER HERE FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 70s.

OVERNIGHT LOWS DIP INTO THE MID-60s.

LOTS OF SUNSHINE IN THE FORECAST HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

INLAND FORECAST HIGHS PRETTY CONSISTENTLY IN THE LOW TO MID-80s.

OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE CONSISTENTLY IN THE LOW 60s WITH LOTS OF SUNSHINE HERE FOR US.

ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS, 60s, 70s FOR HIGHS.

50s AND 60s FOR LOWS.

ACROSS THE DESERT BACK INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

>>> THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TIKTOK KNOWS HOW TO HOLD OUR ATTENTION WITH SHORT VIDEOS TAILORED TO OUR INTERESTS, BUT CAN IT AFFECT HOW WE READ THE NEWS?

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER KATIE ANASTAS SPOKE TO A RESEARCHER AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> SOMETIMES I CAN'T HELP IT, I'LL TAKE A BREAK ON TIKTOK.

>> Reporter: BRIDGETTE COLE WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AT SAN DIEGO STATE WHEN SHE FIRST DOWNLOADED TIKTOK.

SHE USED IT TO RELAX DURING STUDY BREAKS.

WHEN SHE SWITCHED BACK TO READING TEXTBOOKS AND ARTICLES, SHE NOTICED SOMETHING.

>> I FOUND IT WAS AFFECTING MY OWN ATTENTION AND BEING ABLE TO REALLY IMMERSE MYSELF AND GET BACK INTO THE FLOW OF IT.

I FELT I WAS TAKING LONGER TRYING TO GET INTO IT OR I ALSO FELT LIKE MAYBE I WAS JUST SKIMMING THROUGH IT TOO FAST AND HAVING TO COME BACK AND REREAD IT ESSENTIALLY.

>> Reporter: COLE WANTED TO SEE IF THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE TOO.

SO SHE AND OTHER SDSU RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED A STUDY OF MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE.

USING EYE TRACKING SOFTWARE, THEY MEASURED HOW QUICKLY PARTICIPANTS READ NEWS ARTICLES.

THE SOFTWARE TRACKED EYE MOVEMENT BETWEEN AREAS OF INTEREST OR WHAT RESEARCHERS CALL AOIs ON THE PAGE.

SOME BROWSED FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE READING, THE OTHERS DIDN'T.

>> THOSE WHO WATCHED TIKTOK RIGHT BEFORE GOING INTO THAT NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO GO BETWEEN EACH PARAGRAPH, EACH IMAGE, MORE QUICKLY.

THEY WERE SCANNING AND SHIFTING TO THE NEXT PARAGRAPH MORE QUICKLY THAN THOSE WHO DID NOT WATCH TIKTOK RIGHT BEFORE.

>> Reporter: COLE SAYS FUTURE STUDIES COULD LOOK AT COMPREHENSION AS WELL AS SPEED.

A THIRD OF U.S.

ADULTS USE TIKTOK IN 2023.

IT'S ESPECIALLY POPULAR WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN 60% OF 18 TO 29-YEAR-OLDS USING IT.

>> THERE'S A REAL DEARTH OF SCHOLARSHIP ON THIS, SO I'M APPRECIATIVE SEEING THIS WORK COME OUT.

>> Reporter: NICK USHER STUDIES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BIG TECH, JOURNALISM, AND DEMOCRACY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO.

THEY SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT TIKTOK AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA USE ALGORITHMS THAT KEEP YOUR ATTENTION.

>> MY DATA IS BEING USED TO TARGET MY BRAIN FOR CONTENT THAT I WANT TO CONSUME.

AND WHILE THAT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE HARMLESS, IT IS NOT, RIGHT?

IT'S GIVING A LOT OF CORPORATE CONTROL TO MY ATTENTION.

>> Reporter: THE BIG TAKEAWAY, USHER SAYS, IS THAT APPS LIKE TIKTOK ARE SUCCEEDING AT AND PROFITING OFF OF HOW OUR BRAINS WANT US TO SPEND OUR TIME.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WELL, GEORGE LUCAS, THE CREATOR OF STAR WARS, IS ATTENDING SAN DIEGO COMIC CON FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

LUCAS WILL BE PART OF A HALL H PANEL ON SUNDAY, JULY 27th, OFFERING A SNEAK PEEK OF HIS NEW MUSEUM.

AND ANOTHER EVENT STAR WARS FANS WILL NOT WANT TO MISS.

THE COMIC CON MUSEUM IS HOSTING AN EXHIBITION OF MOVIE PROPS, CONCEPT ART, CREW ITEMS, RARE PROTOTYPES, VINTAGE TOY, AND INTERNATIONAL MEMORABILIA FROM THE FRANCHISE.

IT IS OPEN THROUGH JULY 27th WHEN THE ITEMS WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF.

A MUSEUM TICKET IS NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE AUCTION.

CHECK OUT KPBS.ORG, WE'VE GOT A TAB ON OUR HOME PAGE DIRECTING YOU TO OUR RECENT STORIES, AND WE WILL BE UPDATING THROUGHOUT THE CONVENTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.

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

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

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.