>>> IT REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THOSE WERE THE WORDS OF NORA FARKAS DESCRIBING THE COUNTY'S NEW BUDGET.

WE LOOK AT WHERE THE A $.1 BILLION WILL GO.

>> Reporter: IT IS THE LARGEST BUDGET AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY HISTORY.

THEY ADDED MORE THAN $60 MILLION.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BIG ITEMS IN THE NEW SPENDING PLAN.

HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING .

>> MAKING SURE THE 25 MILLION WILL HELP US BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DO THE INNOVATIVE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

>> THERE IS MONEY FOR TWO MARSEILLE PARKING LOTS AND INCREASED ACCESS TO SO-CALLED TINY HOMES.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING TREATMENT FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION .

>> THIS IS REALLY PRO PEOPLE IN NEED BUDGET.

I AM SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE I HAVE MILLION-DOLLAR TO FIGHT OPIOIDS IN MY DISTRICT .

>> THIS BUDGET INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF $10.9 MILLION TO HELP EXPAND OUR MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE SCHEME AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT .

>> THE ENVIRONMENT.

3.5 MILLION FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE TREE PROGRAM THAT WILL PLANT 10,000 TREES.

AND THE COUNTY WILL COMPLETE THE PURCHASE OF BUTTERFIELD RANCH AND TURN IT INTO A COMMUNITY PARK.

THIS WAS A LESS BUDGET FOR THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND SHE SOUNDED A NOTE OF CAUTION .

>> WE WANT TO SAY WE ARE PREACHING UP AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR PARTNERS UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO DAMPEN OUR EXPECTATIONS NEXT YEAR .

>> AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

KPBS NEWS.

STRAIGHT GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON NEARLY $311 BILLION STATE BUDGET THE COVERS A $32 BILLION DEFICIT TO SPENDING CUTS, DELAYED SPENDING AND BORROWING.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE CLIMATE PROGRAMS, MORE THAN $5 BILLION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES AND MAJOR CHANGES TO THE BUILDING AND PERMITTING PROCESS.

>>> HATE CRIME REPORTS IN CALIFORNIA ARE RISING.

WE LOOKED AT WHAT CHANGED LAST YEAR .

>> REPORTED HEY CRIMES ROSE 20% LAST YEAR IN CALIFORNIA TO MORE THAN 2000.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN CONVICTION EVEN IF ON LESSER CHARGES.

THEY RANGE FROM PROPERTY CRIMES LIKE VANDALISM TO VIOLENT CRIMES LIKE ASSAULT AND MURDER.

BY PLAYTA LARGER SHARE OF THESE WERE RACIALLY MOTIVATED AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE.

THE REPORTED ANTI-AGENT HATE CRIMES FELL BY ALMOST HALF LAST YEAR, THEY ARE STILL AT RECORD HIGHS NOT SEEN BEFORE COVID.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THAT DATA ARE NOT SURPRISING >> THE HATE CRIME DATA REPORT SHOWS A STATISTICALLY WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW AND WHAT WE WHO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES NO TO BE TROOPER MY LIVING EXPERIENCE.

>> A SLEW OF ANTITRUST LEGISLATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THE DOUBLING EVENT TYPE TRENDS IN CALIFORNIA.

>> WE SEE ACTION AND DATA THAT FOLLOWS THE RHETORIC PICK >> A SMALL PORTION OF COMMITTED CRIMES.

SOME GROUPS MAY REPORT HIGHER RATES THAN OTHERS.

A RIDE REPORTED HE CRIMES MIGHT ALSO SHOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO REPORT.

>>> ANOTHER STEP IN ADDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

THE CITY IS USING A STATE LAW TO DO IT.

>> LANDON DELMAR IS AT A PREMIUM.

IT IS A CHALLENGE TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

THEY NEED TO BUILD MORE OF IT.

>> DELMAR HAS BEEN ASSIGNED 66 MODERATE INCOME AT 113 LOWER INCOME UNITS .

>> A COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYS THAT IS WHERE THE HOME ACT, SENATE BILL NINE COMES IN.

DELMAR AS A CITY IS COMPLETELY BUILT OUT AND WHAT IT DOES IS ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SPLIT LOTS LIKE THESE IN HALF FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING.

IT WENT INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR AND ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO SPLIT A RESIDENTIAL PLOT ZONE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME INTO DUPLEXES ARE FOR PLEXUS.

IT IS MEANT TO SPUR MORE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE .

THERE IS AN UPDATE TO ALLOW FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> THE STATE LAW DOES NOT SPECIFY SOME OF THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS BE AFFORDABLE.

>> OUR ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT ONE OF THE UNITS CREATED BY A LOT SPLIT OR SIMPLY BUILDING TWO DUPLEX UNITS ON A LOT WILL BE AFFORDABLE.

>> IT ALLOWS CITIES TO ADD CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.

RESTRICTIONS WERE CRAFTED WITH RESIDENT'S INPUT AND TO HELP ENSURE THAT DEVELOPMENTS WITH LEGAL CHALLENGES FROM NEIGHBORS.

>> THEY ARE KNOWN AS OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS AND THEY APPLY TO WINDOW PLACEMENT, RETAINING WALLS, FENCING, LIGHTING, AND SCREENING.

768 LOTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SB NINE IMPLEMENTATION OR NEARLY 40% OF THE RESIDENTIAL LOTS.

THEY ARE MOSTLY LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SIDE.

BECAUSE DELMAR IS A COASTAL CITY, THEY NEED TO CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION'S APPROVAL BEFORE IT GOES INTO EFFECT.

SICK HAVE BEEN ON HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IS HEADED TO TODAY THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED ON THE FINAL PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE.

AND PROHIBITS CAMPING ON ALL PUBLIC LAND SHELTER SPACE IS AVAILABLE.

GLORIA POLICE A STATEMENT SAYING HE LOOKS FORWARD TO SIGNING THE ORDINANCE INTO LAW.

>>> A COUNTYWIDE STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED BECAUSE OF SEWAGE ACROSS THE BORDER.

SOUTH COUNTY HAS BEEN PUMMELED BY NEARLY CONSTANT SUPERRICH BLOWS.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR A FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION TO BRING IN MORE FUNDING AND SPEED UP EFFORTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM PICKS IN SAN DIEGO STATE PROFESSOR IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SOFTEN THE BLOW OF COMPETITIVE SPORTS.

THOMAS MARGE SHOWS US A PRODUCT THAT COULD PREVENT CONCUSSIONS IN PUT BALL.

>> GEORGE IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AT SAN DIEGO STATE AND HAS AN EMPHASIS ON BIOMECHANICS.

HOW JOINTS AND LIMBS PERFORM PHYSICAL TASKS.

IN SAN DIEGO STAFF GOT INTO THE BASKETBALL FINAL, HE WAS INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF A JUMPSHOT.

HIS GOAL IS TO CREATE EQUIPMENT THAT HELPS ATHLETES BE PROTECTED .

>> OUR APPROACHES HOW TO BUILD A BETTER SCHOOL THE PLAYERS CAN WORK WITH OR HELP WE CAN MAKE BETTER MATERIALS THAT CAN BE A LINER FOR THE FOOTBALL HELMET TO REDUCE CONCUSSION.

THAT IS RATHER THAN WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE BODY >> THE INJURIES ARE OFTEN THE RESULT OF IMPACT.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF A SPORT LIKE FOOTBALL.

HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON A KIND OF FOAM HE SAYS WILL MAKE THE HELMETS MORE PROTECTIVE.

A PROTECTIVE HELMET NEED TO DO TWO THINGS PICK >> YOU WANT TO REDUCE THE IMPACT AND YOU WANT TO USE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

YOU WANT TO SPREAD IT ON TIME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

YOU WILL ALLOW THE BODY TO REACT TO THE INCOMING LOAD >> AND KEEP THAT LOAD BELOW AND SAVE THE THRESHOLD.

IN HIS EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORY HE HAS TOOLS SUCH AS THIS TO THAT SUBJECTS FOAM SAMPLES OF VARIOUS IMPACTS.

SENSORS THAT MIMIC THE HUMAN BRAIN DETERMINE HOW DANGEROUS THE IMPACT IS BEEN MITIGATED BY THE HOME.

THE MATERIAL IS NOT JUST ONE KIND OF FOAM.

EVENTUALLY HE WANTS TO PARTNER WITH A COMPANY THAT MAKES FOOTBALL HELMETS TO SEE IF CONCUSSIONS ARE REDUCED AS PLAYERS HEADS COLLIDE.

BUT DOES HE SAY TO PEOPLE WHO THINK FOOTBALL IS TOO DANGEROUS AND WE SHOULDN'T PLAY YET?

HE SAYS IT IS HARD TO STOP PEOPLE FROM DOING THE THINGS THAT THEY LIKE .

>> OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE WAY FOR THEM TO ENJOY WHATEVER SPORT OR ACTIVITY THEY ARE TRYING TO PERFORM.

>>> CYBERSECURITY HAS BECOME A MAJOR CONCERN FOR VISITORS, HOSPITALS, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE GO TO A SUMMER CAMP OFFERING LESSONS AND ONLINE SAFETY TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

>> THE LESSON BEGINS WITH SOME BASIC COMPUTER TERMS THAT THESE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS USE ALL THE TIME.

THEY COME FROM CAMPUSES ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROTECTING PASSWORDS AND PICTURES AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ONLINE DESCRIPTIONS AND HOW TO PRESERVE DOWNLOADS .

>> I DO FEEL SAFE, BUT I DO NOT FEEL PRIVATE .

>> THIS 17 YOU WILL TO BE A SENIOR THIS FALL AT THE JACOBS HIGH-TECH HIGH.

HE IS HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO LEARNING ABOUT CYBERSECURITY.

HOW TO COMBAT THE CRIMINALS ONLINE COMMITTED TO STEALING PERSONAL DATA >> I'M NOT INTERESTED IN GIVING OUT ANY MORE PERSONAL INFORMATION.

THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO WITHOUT GOING FULL PARANOID AND LOSING INTERNET FUNCTIONALITY .

>> THE FIELD IS SO WIDE OPEN.

THERE ARE JOBS THAT ARE JUST NOT BEING FILLED FAST ENOUGH.

>> Reporter: HE IS DO YOU WAS THE MANAGER OF CYBERSECURITY AND ENGAGEMENT.

A HELP COORDINATE THE EXPERTS AND CURRICULUM FOR THE CYBER PREP CAMP.

TUITION IS $525 WITH SOME STUDENTS RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND.

THIS IS A FAMILY FAIR FOR ALEXIS WHOSE OLDER BROTHER IS A CYBERSECURITY DIRECTOR WITH THE POPULAR TICTOK APP.

SHE HOPES YOU USE WHAT YOU LEARN SAY OR HELP HER FATHER STAY SAFE .

>> MY FATHER DOESN'T KNOW SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GO ON A WEBSITE AND IT OPENS UP TO ANOTHER WEBSITE ONTO ADS THEY WILL TRY TO DOWNLOAD STUFF .

>> THE SUMMER CAMP IS CERTAINLY EDUCATIONAL.

STUDENTS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO THE REALITY OF AN INDUSTRY WITH SOME REAL LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED AND ALMOST 900 OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A CYBERSECURITY BOOST TO PROTECT DATA.

ASSEMBLY BILL 1023 IS EXPECTED TO PASS THIS SUMMER AND BECOME LAW BY THE FALL SEMESTER.

AND REQUIRES A CALIFORNIA CYBERSECURITY INTEGRATION CENTER TO SHARE IMMEDIATE CYBER THREATS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO TARGETED DISTRICTS, COUNTY OFFICES OF EDUCATION, AND CHARTER SCHOOLS .

>> WHAT WOULD HELP EVEN MORE IN SMALLER DISTRICTS THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE LARGE IT STAFF AND THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WITH AS MUCH EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA .

>> THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE SOLVED AT THE STUDENTS SOME DAY FOR NOW THEY'RE WORKING ON CREATING A PROGRAM FOR THEIR HOMES TO PROTECT DATA AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SAY CALIFORNIANS CAN SUE BE PAID FAR MORE FOR JURY DUTY.

A BILL MOVING THROUGH STATE LEGISLATURE WILL GIVE CERTAIN JURORS $100 PER DAY PER SERVING ON A CRIMINAL TRIAL JURY.

THE PROPOSAL WAS INSPIRED BY A PILOT PROGRAM IN SAN FRANCISCO THAT INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE COUNTY'S JURY POOLS.

GENERATES IN LOS ANGELES, ALAMEDA KERN AND MONTEREY WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR HIRE STIPENDS.

>>> A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR CLEANUP EFFORT IS UNDERWAY AND FORESTS ACROSS THE U.S. CRUISER USING MACHINERY AND CONTROLLED BURNS TO THIN OUT FOR RESTS IN AN EFFORT TO TURN THE TIDE ON WORSENING WILDFIRES.

THE FOREST SERVICE STARTED TAKING DOWN TREES AND TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST.

DEAD TREES AND UNDERGROWTH PROVIDE EXTRA FUEL FOR WIRE FIRES .

>> I THINK THIS WORK IS INCREDIBLY URGENT.

I THINK THE FORESTS AS WE KNOW THEM IN CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE WEST ARE DYING THEY ARE BEING DESTROYED THROUGH FIRE AND THEY ARE DYING FROM DROUGHT, DISEASE AND INSECTS.

THEY ARE DYING AT A PACE WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING UP WITH YOU .

>> THE EFFORTS OF DRAWN CRITICISM FROM SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

STRAIGHT AS YOU GIVE US CONTINUES TO GRAPPLE WITH SEVERE STORMS AND KEEP, THE ECONOMY IS STARTING TO FEEL THE IMPACT.

>> Reporter: SEVERE STORMS AND EXCESSIVE HE CONTINUED TO HAMMER MUCH OF THE COUNTRY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE FOR HEAT -RELATED EMERGENCIES >> IT IS TAKING A TOLL ON THE ECONOMY IN YOUR WALLETS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NINE CONFIRMED HE WAS WEATHER AND CLIMATE DISASTER EVENTS THIS YEAR WITH LOSSES EXCEEDING $1 BILLION.

ONE INDUSTRY TAKING A HUGE IT IS AIRLINES.

MORE THAN 5000 FLIGHTS WERE DELAYED OR CANCELED ON MONDAY AS POWERFUL STORMS RIPPED TO PARTS OF THE COUNTRY .

>> THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATED THE COST OF AIRLINE BACKUPS TO BE ABOUT $33 BILLION IN 2019.

OTHER SECTORS ARE TOURISM, AGRICULTURE, AND CONSTRUCTION.

FOR CONSUMERS RISING TEMPERATURES MEANS HIGHER SUMMER UTILITY COSTS.

AVERAGE ELECTRICITY PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE 2% FROM LAST YEAR.

FLOOD AND HOME INSURANCE RATES ARE ON THE RISE.

EXPERTS FEAR THE COST OF INSURANCE WILL ONLY GET WORSE AS CLIMATE CHANGE INTENSIFIES.

I AM IVAN RODRIGUEZ REPORTING.

STRAIGHT AS THE WEATHER CONTINUES TO WARM UP, THE COUNTY WANTS A CUP SAN DIEGO IN COOL.

THERE ARE VARIOUS DESIGNATED COOL SO TO LIBRARIES, AND OTHER PLACES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THIS YEAR THEY ARE EXPANDING THE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES PRE- ELECTRIC VANS TO THOSE WHO WERE 60 YEARS OR OLDER.

VISIT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEBPAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

SAKE FROM A TEMPERATURE STANDPOINT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE NUMBERS RUNNING BELOW THE HISTORICAL AVERAGES.

THERE WILL BE A WARMING TREND LATE THIS WEEKEND AND IT REMAINS DRY.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL AVERAGE RAINFALL.

NOW THAT WE ARE INTO THE MONTH OF JUNE, TYPICALLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO SEE LOW AMOUNTS BUT NOT REALLY UNTIL WE GET TO THE LATTER HALF OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER DO WE BEGAN TO SEE THE RAINFALL START TO INCREASE ONCE AGAIN.

PARTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT EVERY DROP-DOWN TO 62.

LOW CLOUDS AND FOG ALONG THE IMMEDIATE SHORELINE.

CHULA VISTA AT OCEANSIDE 59.

I NEED FOR THE JACKET PERHAPS VENTURING OUT THE DOOR EARLY ON WEDNESDAY.

BORREGO SPRINGS IS DOWN TO 66.

UP TO 100 AS WE WORK OUR WAY INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

CHULA VISTA AND OCEANSIDE RIGHT AROUND THE 70 TO 71 DEGREES WITH RAMONA TOPPING OFF AT 80.

LOOK AT THE CLOUDS ALONG THE COAST THROUGHOUT THE OVERNIGHT AND CONTINUING INTO THE MORNING.

WE SEE IMPROVEMENT AS WE VENTURE OUR WAY INTO THE AFTERNOON.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A WARM UP EVEN TOWARD THE COAST.

OR SUNSHINE LATER ON THIS WEEK.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MID-70s.

EVEN MORE NOTICEABLE AS WE WORK INTO THE INTERIOR VALLEYS, 70s INTO THE 90s BY SUNDAY.

LOTS OF SUNSHINE ANTICIPATED.

OVER THE MOUNTAINS, COOL.

WE WILL START TO SEE AN ABUNDANCE OF SUNSHINE BOMBING US INTO THE MID-70s SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY.

IN THE DESERTS, MAJOR HEAT GOING INTO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

>>> THREE YEARS AGO THE COVID PANDEMIC WAS GATHERING STEAM.

A SAN DIEGO COMPANY STARTED PROCESSING THOUSANDS OF COVERED TESTS THE DAY AS A GENETICALLY MAP THE MUTATING FIBROUS.

WE LEARN ABOUT THE CHANGING FIBROUS AND HOW THEY PARTNERED WITH SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO TRY TO KEEP IT CONTAINED .

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT COVID TESTING.

>> Reporter: HE SHOWS ME AROUND SOME LABS THAT WAS JUST OPENED UP IN SORRENTO VALLEY.

THE MACHINERY TAKES ME BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC .

>> FOR COVID, WE RAN THESE PCR MACHINES THAT GIVE US I GUESS ARE NO ANSWER ON IF YOU HAVE COVID ARE NOT.

THAT WASN'T THE ONLY THING THAT THEY LEARNED .

>> WE WOULD TAKE THE SAMPLES THAT WERE POSITIVE AND WE WOULD TAKE THEM BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS AND DO VIRAL SEQUENCING.

THAT IS LOOKING AT THE DETAILED GENOME OF EACH VIRUS AND UNDERSTAND HOW THAT FIBROUS HAS EVOLVED AND ESSENTIALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT VERY AND IT IS .

>> THE GENOMICS COMPANY PARTNERED WITH SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND OTHERS IN 2020 TO PROVIDE COVER TESTING TO THE PUBLIC.

SINCE THEN IT HAS TRACKED COVID VIRUS MARIANNE SAYS THE VIRUS HAS TURNED TO OMICRON AND MOST RECENTLY XP BE .

>> WE WERE RUNNING ABOUT 30,000 SAMPLES A DAY.

THAT IS A MIND-BOGGLING NUMBER >> THE COMPANY HIRED MORE THAN 200 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AND USE THE ROBOTIC TESTING SYSTEM TO MEET THE DEMAND.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY SAYS EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC IT WAS CLEAR THE LABS COULDN'T PROCESS ENOUGH COVID TESTS.

HE ASKED JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HE KNEW HOW HE COULD SOLVE THAT TESTING DILEMMA .

>> I REACHED OUT TO MY FRIEND AT BIO CALM AND SAID ARE THERE ANY COMPANIES DOING THIS.

HE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THEM AND HE ALSO MENTIONED HELIX.

>> IT WAS THE FOUNDATION OF THE COUNTY'S PANDEMIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

COVID TESTING LED TO TRACING TO TRACK THE VIRUS.

ULTIMATELY, MASS VACCINATION CENTERS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE COVID SHOTS EVERY DAY.

HE LOOKS BACK ON THE TESTING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HELIX AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY AS NOVEL AND SUCCESSFUL .

>> IT WAS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD >> IT IS WORTH MORE THAN $88 MILLION IN COUNTY CONTRACTS WITH HELIX.

HE INSISTED THE PRICE IT A PAID DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS A GOOD DEAL.

IT WAS HALF OF WHAT OTHER COMPANIES WERE ASKING FOR.

TODAY HELIX IS SEQUENCING THE GENOMES OF PEOPLE AND VIRUSES IN COOPERATION WITH HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE U.S.

THE COMPANY SAID OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES SAYS THE CORONAVIRUS IS SLOW-MOVING COMPARED TO THE FLU.

AND MOVE PRETTY QUICK DURING THE PANDEMIC .

>> I THINK WHEN THE COVID PANDEMIC HAPPENED, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE GETTING INFECTED.

THERE WAS A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VIRUS TO REPLICATE.

YOU CAN ALSO GENERATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF CHANGE .

>> THE LATEST DOMINANT COVID SUBVARIANT HAS BEEN IN THE U.S.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

SO FAR IT IS NOW POSED A SERIOUS THREAT.

IT WOULD TAKE A LOT TO CAUSE A HUGE SURGE AGAIN.

WE SHOULD ALSO BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST .

>> SAMPLES ARE ALSO TESTED FOR OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES LIKE THE LOU.

THEIR LAB WILL SOON TEST FOR ANOTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASE THAT HAS SEEN A RECENT OUTBREAK.

, SPEIGHTS, KPBS NEWS.

>> THE USDA HAS APPROVED THE PRODUCTION OF LAB GROWN MEAT IN THE U.S.. AS JENN SULLIVAN EXPLAINS, NOT EVERYONE IS BEHIND THE MOVE .

>> LAB MADE ANIMAL PROTEIN FROM THE GOOD MEET AND UP SOLID FOODS IS CLEAR FOR PRODUCTION AND SALE IN THE U.S. .

>> JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS THE SAME AND TASTE THE SAME AND IS JUST A SAFE, WOULD YOU EAT CHICKEN CULTIVATED IN A LAB?

HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW NOW.

HOW IS IT MADE.

THE MEAT IS MADE FROM ANIMAL CELLS GROWN AND MASSIVE BIOREACTORS .

>> YOU CAN PRODUCE A LOT OF MUSCLE TISSUE.

>> WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

ADVOCATES SAY IT'S A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAY TO PRODUCE MEAT.

IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

IS IT SAFE?

BOTH THE FDA AND THE USDA HAVE SAID THAT SOME ARE SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

ANIMAL CELLS ARE PRONE TO CONTAMINATION AND FACES LONG- TERM PRODUCTION CHALLENGES .

>> IT WILL MAKE A COMPETITIVE WITH BEEF OR ANY OTHER FISH OR POULTRY.

BASED JUST ON WELL-KNOWN PRINCIPLES, IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD >> WHAT ABOUT THE COST?

EXACT PRICING IS UNCLEAR.

NO EXACT DATE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BUT PRODUCTION STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER USDA APPROVAL.

>>> HAVE YOU BEEN RECYCLING YOUR FOOD SCRAPS?

CALIFORNIA'S NATIONAL COMPOST LAW ISN'T CLOSE TO REACHING ITS GOALS.

THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE BY 75% BELOW 2014 LEVELS.

AND INDEPENDENT STATE OVERSIGHT AGENCY FOUND IT INCREASE IN 2020.

>>> HERE IS A LOOK OF WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON.

BIG BRANDS HAVE BECOME THE MOST VISIBLE BATTLEFIELDS FOR AMERICA'S CULTURE WORLDS.

SHOULD COMPANIES TAKE POSITIONS ON SOCIAL OR POLITICAL ISSUES.

LOOKING FOR A SANDY BEACH READ?

SUMMER READING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A ROMANCE AUTHOR.

YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KPBS.ORG .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.