>>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

RIGHT NOW THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL IS HOURS INTO A MEETING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

KPBS REPORTER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE MEETING SINCE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> Reporter: THE COUNCIL JUST FINISHED UP PUBLIC COMMENT A FEW MOMENTS AGO.

THEY ARE NOW INTO COUNCIL COMMENT AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA ALONG WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND PERHAPS OTHERS.

THE CITY IS FACING A BUDGET WITH A $118 MILLION SHORT FALL.

THE MEETING ON THE BUDGET BEGAN AT 1:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

DOZENS OF SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN WEIGHING IN ON ALL SORTS OF ISSUES.

OF COURSE, THE ARTS WAS A MAJOR ONE.

YOU'LL RECALL MAYOR TODD GLORIA CUT NEARLY $12 MILLION FROM THE ARTS BEFORE THE $10 MILLION HAS SINCE BEEN RESTORED THROUGH A MIX OF HOTEL TAX REVENUE MEANT ORIGINALLY FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER AND $3 MILLION FROM PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE THIS AFTERNOON IS A DISAGREEMENT OVER CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE CITY'S AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS, ALPRs.

SOME SPEAKERS CALLED FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT WHILE OTHERS DEMANDED THE PROGRAM BE DEFUNDED AND THE $2 MILLION THE CITY SPENDS ON THEM BE SPENT ELSEWHERE.

HERE IS ONE SUPPORTER OF THE CAMERAS AND A WOMAN FROM THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY WHO SAYS THE CAMERAS ARE A DETRIMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> THIS COUNCIL HAS A CHOICE.

ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE FACE AND SAY, YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP A TRULY EFFECTIVE ACCURATE TOOL THAT HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO ACCELERATE THE CAPTURE OF MURDERERS, HUMAN TRAFFICKERS, ROBBERS, BURGLARS, HIT AND RUN DRIVERS, FUGITIVES, KID ANIMALERS, PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PERPETRATORS OF OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES?

>> WHERE ARE THE TEARS FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE AFRAID TO GO OUTSIDE, WHO ARE BED WETTING.

SOME OF THEM WHO HAVE GONE MUTE.

WHERE IS THE TEARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY?

WE DON'T FEEL IT.

YOU CAN SAY ALL YOU ALL WANT.

ALL COUNCILMEMBERS WHO ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING THE FACT THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS USED AS A TOOL THAT ACTUALLY PULLED RESOURCES AWAY FROM SAVING OUR THREE HEROES THAT DAY.

>> Reporter: NOW AGAIN, PUBLIC COMMENT ENDED ABOUT 20 MINUTES AGO.

THE COUNCIL IS NOW DISCUSSING THE ISSUE AMONGST THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO VOTE THE BUDGET THIS EVENING.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW WHAT IS GOING ON AT CITY HALL.

AND WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON KPBS RADIO AND OF COURSE, ON KPBS.ORG.

LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT.

AND BALANCING THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO'S BUDGET ISN'T EASY.

FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TO HOUSING, PARKS TO POTHOLES.

EVERY DOLLAR MATTERS.

AND OUR INTERACTIVE GAME, YOU MAKE THE TOUGH CALLS PLAYING OUT OR YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN.

>>> TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT COULD COST A BIT MORE STARTING THIS FALL.

TODAY THERE WAS A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING TO GET INPUT ON A PROPOSAL TO RAISE FARES.

ALEXANDER TALKED TO SOME TRANSIT RIDERS ABOUT THE PLAN.

>> Reporter: RIGHT NOW, TO RIDE THE BUS OR TROLLEY YOU ONLY NEED THE PAY $2.50 FOR A ONE-WAY TICKET.

COME THIS FALL IT COULD INCREASE TO $3.

>> THIS ISN'T EVEN A CUP OF STARBUCKS.

>> Reporter: HE IS HE IS A MONTHLY USER.

>> IT IS A GOOD PRICE FOR GETTING A MUCH BETTER DEAL THAN SOME AREAS.

>> Reporter: MONTHLY PASSES ARE $72.

THAT'S MUCH LESS THAN IN SIMILAR SIZED METRO AREAS LIKE PORTLAND, DALLAS, AND SALT LAKE CITY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO MARK OLSON.

THE MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR THE SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM.

>> EVERYWHERE BETWEEN $85 TO $126.

>> Reporter: OLSEN SAID FARE PRICES HAVEN'T INCREASED SINCE 2009.

UNDER THE PROPOSAL, ADULT MONTHLY PASSES COULD INCREASE TO $85 THIS FALL AND $95 IN 2027.

THEY SAID IT IS NEEDED TO OFFSET COSTS.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO FILL THE GAP OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> Reporter: TODAY IS THE LAST OPEN HOUSE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THE PROPOSED FARE CHANGES AHEAD OF THE TRANSPORTATION MEETING FRIDAY.

THOSE CHANGES WILL BE INTRODUCED.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE RIDERS ARE WELL INFORMED THIS WILL HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: THE 16-YEAR-OLD IS ONE.

THOSE RIDERS.

HE STOPPED DOWNTOWN TO VOICE HIS OPINION.

>> I'M A HUGE FAN OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

A LOT OF MY FRIENDS ARE BUT MANY PEOPLE I DON'T THINK WOULD COME OUT HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR IT THEMSELVES.

>> Reporter: THERE'S ANOTHER MEETING TONIGHT AT SAN MARCOS COMMUNITY CENTER AND TRANSIT RILEDERS CAN VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON THE INCREASES.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN.

>>> SO THE MARINE LAYER IS STILL AROUND AT TIMES LATE AT NIGHT INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS FOR THE COASTAL AREAS.

WE'LL BE WARMING UP AND HEATING UP PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE INLAND DESERTS.

IT IS STILL A BIT BREEZY.

ESPECIALLY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THE FIRE DANGER IS STILL PRESENT.

IT'S NOT TERRIBLY HIGH NEAR THE COAST BUT INLAND, IT IS STILL MODERATELY HIGH FOR SOME.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT A STEAMY WEEKEND COMING UP FOR SOME.

>>> FIREFIGHTERS ARE AMONG UP IN A HOT SPOT AFTER A FAIR BURNED 90 ACRES IN SORRENTO VALLEY.

IT PROMPTED EVACUATIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES WHEN IT BROKE OUT YESTERDAY MORNING.

THEY WERE ALL LIFTED LAST NIGHT.

THE SAN DIEGO FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT SAID MORE THAN 200 FIREFIGHTERS WERE ON THE SCENE LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING.

AT LAST CHECK, THE FIRE WAS 60% CONTAINED.

>>> AN ENDANGERED BIG HORN SHEEP WAS FOUND DEAD AT THE CORNER IN THE WILDERNESS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SAYS THE RAM DIED AFTER BECOMING ENTANGLED IN WIRE.

KPBS REPORTER SAID CONSERVATIONISTS WARNED OFFICIALS, IF THE FENCING REMAINS, MORE PROTECTED SPECIES WILL DIE.

>> Reporter: THE BIG HORN SHEEP'S CURVED HORNS AND FRONT LEGS WERE TRAPPED IN THE BLADED COILS.

CHRISTINA FOUND THE RAM LAST WEEK IN THE WILDERNESS DECOMPOSING.

>> IT WAS PRETTY GRUESOME TO SEE HOW WRAPPED UP IN THE WIRE HE WAS.

>> Reporter: SHE IS A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST.

SHE'S BEEN WARNING FEDERAL OFFICIALS FOR MONTHS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF WIRE FENCING IN NATURAL AREAS.

>> IF THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE RAZOR WIRE FENCE, IF THEY'RE DOING CONSTRUCTION ON THE BORDER, YOU THEN HAVE RISKS OF THAT ENTANGLEMENT PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE RISK OF DEATHS OR INTERACTIONS WITH CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES.

>> Reporter: THIS WAS THE FIRST DEATH BY WIRE SHE HAS SEEN.

>> IF SOMETHING SO MUNDANE AS WALKING NEXT TO THE FENCE CAN LEAD TO ENTRAPMENT, I THINK THE LONGER THAT FENCE IS UP, YOU KNOW, THE GREATER THE RISK.

>> Reporter: STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY IT POETSS SERIOUS RISK FORCES POTENTIAL WILDLIFE INCLUDING BIG HORN SHEEP.

CBP DECLINED TO COMMENT.

THEY HAVE GREED INSTALL SMALL WILDLIFE PASSAGES BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO SMALL FOR BIG HORN SHEEP.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> ABOUT TWICE A DAY, SAN DIEGO LAW ENFORCEMENT CHARGED SOMEONE WITH RESISTING AN OFFICER AND NOTHING ELSE.

IT'S MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO A BLACK PERSON.

IN PART ONE OF THIS SERIES, HOW THIS UNFOLDED AND THE DAMAGE IT LEFT BEHIND.

>> Reporter: ON A SUNNY DAY LAST SEPTEMBER, AYISHA WAS OUTSIDE HER FATHER'S HOME IN EMERALD HILLS.

SHE AND HER DAUGHTER USED THE SHADE TO GET HOMEWORK DONE.

HER SON WAS SLEEPING IN HER CAR.

SUDDENLY, POLICE ARRIVED.

A PEACEFUL DAY DEVOLVED INTO CHAOS.

SOMEONE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CANOPY.

WILLIAMS PUT IT AWAY.

BYSTANDERS GATHERED AND BEGAN TO FILM.

VIDEO SHOWS AN OFFICER WITH HIS HANDS ON WILLIAMS.

>> I DIDN'T DO NOTHING.

>> Reporter: SHE TOLD THE POLICE HER SHOULDER WAS MESSED UP.

ANOTHER OFFICER PUT HANDS ON HER 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

WILLIAMS SAYS SHE WARNED THEM, HER DAUGHTER HAS A HEART PROBLEM.

THIS NEXT CLIP MAY BE DIFFICULT TO HEAR.

ANOTHER VIDEO SHOWS AN OFFICER PINNING WILLIAMS, HANDCUFFED, TO THE GROUND.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL NOW.

>> NO!

[ YELLING ] >> I DIDN'T DO THIS.

YOU WANTED TO DO THIS.

>> Reporter: THREE OFFICERS HELD HER DOWN.

SHE REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM SHE COULDN'T BREATHE.

OFFICERS HANDCUFFED WILLIAMS' DAUGHTER AND WOKE UP HER 19-YEAR-OLD SON.

THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS MARIJUANA IN THE CAR AND CITED HIM FOR POSSESSION.

WILLIAMS SAYS THE CHARGE WAS FALSE AND LATER DISMISSED.

>> I WANT TO SEE MY SON!

>> Reporter: SHE SAID HER SON HAS DISABILITIES AND THE OFFICERS WERE ROUGH.

HER SON NEEDED A FINGER SPLINT.

PEOPLE WATCHING COULDN'T MAKE SENSE OF THE POLICE RESPONSE.

THEY EVENTUALLY RELEASED EVERYONE AND LEFT.

WILLIAMS WAS GIVEN A CITATION FOR ONLY ONE CHARGE.

RESISTING AN OFFICER.

THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT DECLINED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CASE.

THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE POLICE REPORT OR BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.

KPBS DOES HAVE BYSTANDER VIDEOS, A COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND COMPANIES OF THE CITATIONS.

SDPD SPOKESPERSON ANSWER BID EMAIL.

HE GAVE THREE REASONS THEY MIGHT CHARGE SOMEONE WITH RESISTING AND NOTHING ELSE.

IF A BYSTABBER INTERFERES WITH AN OFFICER DOING THEIR JOB.

IF SOMEONE IS DETAINED UNDER REASONABLE SUSPICION.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY.

IN A SCRIPPS OF A SUSPECT AND THEY RESISTED.

OR IF SOMEONE RESISTS DURING A TRAFFIC STOP AND THE OFFICER DECIDES TONIGHT CHARGE THE VIOLATION.

WILLIAMS HAS HER OWN THEORY.

>> HE'S TRYING TO SHOW ME -- >> Reporter: SHE THINKS IT IS LESS ABOUT HOW A CITIZEN ACTS AND MORE ABOUT HOW THE OFFICER ACTS.

>> JUST GOT TO BEWARE OF THE POLICE.

HOW THEY ACT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU COMPLY OR IF YOU DON'T COMPLY.

>> Reporter: THE CHARGE NEVER WENT TO COURT BUT STILL CAUSED LASTING HARM.

>> IT HURTS, YOU KNOW?

WE'RE NOT CRIMINALS.

NONE OF US EVER GOT IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.

AND FOR ME, I'M THEIR SOUL PARENT PROVIDER, YOU KNOW?

TO HEAR MY BABY SCREAMING, THERE IS NOTHING NO ONE CAN DO.

THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO.

IT HURTS.

IT MAKES YOU HATE THE POLICE, YOU KNOW?

MAKES YOU HATE THEM EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TAUGHT NOT TO HATE.

>> Reporter: SHE STARTED THERAPY FOR PTSD.

>> I DON'T WANT ANY INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE IN THE FUTURE.

I TOLD MY KIDS, IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IT OURSELVES.

>> Reporter: THEY ASKED FOR DATA FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.

IN NOVEMBER, THEY RECEIVED IT.

THE DATA SHOW WILLIAMS' CHARGE WAS PART OF A MUCH LARGER PATTERN.

TRAUMA LIKE WHAT SHE EXPERIENCED IS DISPROPORTIONATELY FALLING ON THE BACKS OF BLACK SAN DIEGANS.

THEY'RE ABOUT NINE TIMES LIKELIER THAN WHITE PEOPLE TO BE CHARGED BY SAN DIEGO LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY WITH RESISTING AN OFFICER.

TOMORROW IN PART TWO, WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> AN UPDATE ON SOME CLOSELY WATCHED CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS.

THE ASSOCIATION PRESS HAS CALLED THE RACE FOR REPUBLICAN STEVE HILTON WHO WILL FACE JAVIER BECERRA IN NOVEMBER AND IN THE LOS ANGELES MAYORAL RACE, TWO DEMOCRATS WILL BALANCE IT OUT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AS MICHAEL REPORTS, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHERS IN THE GOP HAS CRITICIZED HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: THE MATCH-UP SET UP FOR THE NEXT MAYOR.

THE SECOND PRIMARY WHERE THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS ADVANCED TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, CNN NOW PROJECTING KAREN BASS WILL FACE OFF AGAINST TLT LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILLOR NITHYA RAMAN WHO OVERTOOK SPENCER PRATT WHO WAS IN SECOND PLACE ON ELECTION NIGHT.

VOTE COUNTING CONTINUES.

>> THE WAY IT WORKS IN CALIFORNIA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF STATES.

THE WAY YOU CAN MAIL IN BALLOTS.

ONE THING WE SEE IN CALIFORNIA IS THE BALLOTS THAT COME IN LATER TEND TO BE DEMOCRATIC.

>> Reporter: CALIFORNIA'S LARGELY MAIL-IN ELECTION ALLOWS BALLOTS TO BE RECEIVED AND COUNTED UP TO SEVEN DAYS AFTER ELECTION DAY.

A PROCESS CRITICIZE BID PRATT'S SUPPORTERS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP GOES FURTHER SAYING WITHOUT EVIDENCE, THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED.

>> IT'S FOUR DAYS AND THEY AREN'T EVEN CLOSE.

>> THAT'S HOW THEY COUNT THE VOTES IN CALIFORNIA.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW THEY'RE DOING IT?

THEY'RE CHEATING.

>> Reporter: THE REPUBLICAN RUNNING SECOND IN CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNOR RACE SAYING HE HAS SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WRONG THE SYSTEM.

I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG, AND I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, WE HAVE TEAMS STANDING BY, LAWYERS STANDING BY, AND IT IS THE SAME ANSWER I'VE BEEN GIVING FOR DAYS.

WE SEE NOTHING THAT WOULD GIVE US CAUSE TO INTERVENE.

>>> TEAM USA HAS ARRIVED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THE U.S.

MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM IS TRAINING IN IR52 INTO PREPARE FOR THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP.

THE REPORTER WAS THERE FOR THE TEAM'S PUBLIC PRACTICE.

>> Reporter: 5,000 PEOPLE LINED UP CHANTING FOR TEAM USA.

BUT THIS ISN'T FOR A GAME.

IT'S JUST FOR PRACTICE.

>> WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.

WE'RE LUCKY TO BE HERE.

>> Reporter: THE U.S.

MEN'S SOCCER TEAM HOSTED THEIR FIRST AND ONLY PUBLIC PRACTICE ON MONDAY.

MORE THAN 33,000 PEOPLE APPLIED TO WATCH THEIR 30-MINUTE PRACTICE SESSION.

ONLY 5,000 WERE CHOSEN.

LOCAL SOCCER PLAYER SAID HIS DAD WENT THE EXTRA MILE TO MAKE SURE HE AND HIS BROTHER WITNESSED HISTORY.

>> HE POSTED IN OUR FAMILY GROUP CHAT.

HE TOLD EVERYBODY TO SIGN UP FOR IT AND SINCE NOT A LOT OF OUR FAMILY LIVES IN CALIFORNIA, THEY WOULD GIVE US THE TICKETS IF THEY WON.

>> Reporter: LUCKILY AN UNCLE AND AUNT FROM OUT OF STATE WON THE LOTTERY AND GAVE THEM THE TICKETS.

THE TEAM BEGAN WITH A SIMPLE WARM-UP.

THEN MOVED TO SOMETHING SAN JAY SAID HE DOES WITH HIS OWN CLUB.

>> IT IS WHERE THERE ARE DEFENDERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SQUARE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO PASS AROUND THEM.

>> Reporter: THE CITY OF IRVINE STAFF SPENT WEEKS PREPARING THIS PITCH, A SPECIAL BLEND OF BERMUDA GRASS MOWED DAILY IN A CROSS-CROSS FORMATION.

THEY SEEM TO ENJOY THE FIELD WHICH WILL SERVE AS THEIR HOME THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.

AND THE FANS WEREN'T DISAPPOINTED.

EACH TAKING EXTRA TIME TO RUN UP TO THEIR STANDS.

TAKING PHOTOS, SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS -- >> IS THIS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL CONNECTION IN.

>> ENJOYING TIME WITH FRIENDS.

>> I'M A FAN.

I'M A BIG U.S.

FAN.

>> Reporter: THE PEOPLE THEY WERE SIGNING THESE AUTOGRAPHS FOR USED TO BE THEM.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

I WAS IN THEIR POSITION, TOO.

>> TO BE HERE AND GIVE BACK TO THEM, YES.

>> Reporter: BY THE END, SANJAY WENT HOME WITH A POSTER FILLED WITH AUTOGRAPHS BY HIS IDOLS.

>> I HAVE MATT TURNER.

>> Reporter: SOMETHING HE SAYS HE'LL CHERISH FOREVER.

>>> THERE ARE SOME BIG CHANGES COMING TO HOW YOU CAN PAY BACK STUDENT LOANS AND THEY COME NEXT MONTH.

YOU CAN SAVE AS MUCH OF YOUR CASH AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: ON JULY 1st, CHANGES ARE COMING TO THE FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM.

>> OH THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CHANGE WE'VE SEEN ALMOST EVER.

DEFINITELY SINCE 19 NOEFRLT.

>> Reporter: JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WILL BE IMPACTED.

FOR NEW BORROWERS, IT MEANS FEWER TYPES OF PAYMENT OPTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

ONLY.

TWO ALL CURRENT OPTIONS WILL BE GONE REPLACED WITH A SINGLE OPTION.

THE REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PLAN, OR RAP.

IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN, THIS IS WHERE YOU MAY NEED TO ACT SOONER THAN LATER.

SOME TYPES WILL BE PHASED OUT.

SO VISIT STUDENTAID.GOV TO START.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR STUDENT LOANS.

IF YOU'RE IN REPAYMENT, TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR REPAYMENT PLAN.

LOOK AT YOUR OVERALL STRATEGY.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 7 MILLION BORROWERS WERE PART OF THE SAVE PLAN.

THE ILL-FATED REPAYMENT PLAN CREATED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

IF YOU ARE ONE OF THEM, THE CLOCK WILL SOON BE TICKING OR BE AUTOMATICALLY PLACE IN THE A MORE EXPENSIVE PLAN.

>> IF THEY CLUES TONIGHT TAKE ACTION, TO THEIR LOANS WILL BE PUT INTO A STANDARD REPAYMENT WHICH FOR MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE 120 EQUAL PAYMENTS.

YOUR PAYMENT AMOUNT COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER AND FOR MOST PEOPLE, PERHAPS NOT ATTAINABLE.

>>> TODAY NASA INTRODUCED THE FOUR ASTRONAUTS WHO WILL EMBARK ON THE ARTEMIS FLIGHT.

NASA SAYS THE MISSION IS THE NEXT STEP TOWARD RETURNING ASTRONAUTS TO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON AS SOON AS 2028.

>>> LOTS TO TALK ABOUT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THE HEAT IS BUILDING.

TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY RISING.

EVEN A LITTLE WARMER EACH NIGHT BUT NOTICEABLY WARMER IN THE INTERIOR AS WE START INTO THE MIDDLE AND LATTER PART OF WEEK.

IT WILL STILL BE BREEZY.

AND ALONG WITH THIS LITTLE BIT OF WIND, THERE SOME ROUGH SURF AND SWIMMING DANGERS ARE PRESENT SO BEWARE OF THAT.

TONIGHT, 64 DEGREES.

NOT QUITE AS COOL AS ENTER MITTENT NIGHTS.

IT WILL BE ESPECIALLY STEAMY ON WEDNESDAY.

NOTHING TOO UNUSUAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

BUT IT IS A HOT TIME.

104 IN BORREGO SPRINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

THE MORNING CLOUDS WILL GIVE WAY ALONG THE COAST.

73 IN SAN DIEGO.

LOOKING GOOD.

90 IN RAMONA.

STILL SOME WILDFIRE DANGER IN THE MOUNTAINS AND OFF TO THE EAST IN THE DESERT AREA WITH VEGETATION.

THE VEG STATION REAL DRY AND THERE'S A BIT OF A BREEZE SO MILD TO MODERATE ARE CONDITIONS.

WE HAVE A BEACH HAZARD STATEMENT INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

ROUGH SURF AND RIM CURRENTS SO BE WEAR OUT THERE.

IF YOU'RE SWIMMING OR IF YOU'RE A SURFER, THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL DANGERS THROUGH THURSDAY.

WE'RE HEATING UP LAIND.

GETTING REAL HOT IN THE DESERTS.

THE HOST DAY WILL PROBABLY END UP BEING ON SATURDAY.

BUT VERY, VERY WARM.

HOT IN THE INTERIOR DESERTS.

STORMS STAY WAY EAST IN NEW MEXICO.

STILL WATCHING SOME ACTION INTO CENTRAL AMERICA AS CHRISTINA, A TROPICAL STORM, WILL BE BRINGING SOME FLOODING RAIN TO SOUTHERN PARTS OF MEXICO.

THE COASTAL FORECAST, MID TO UPPER 70s OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

INTERMITTENT CLOUDS.

INLAND AREAS, YOU'RE WARMING TO ABOUT 86 BY SATURDAY.

THAT SHOULD BE THE PEAK OF THE HEAT.

MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.

IT WILL BE BREEZY FOR A FEW DAYS.

PEEKING AT 106 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

>>> IT'S A FAMILIAR SIGHT TO DRIVERS IN THE NORTH COUNTY.

IF YOU DRIVE TO OR FROM TEMECULA, YOU PROBABLY KNOW IT WELL.

BUT WASN'T BUILT TO EASE TRAFFIC.

THERE WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT REASON.

>> Reporter: LET'S START OUT ON A DRIVE.

HERE WE'RE A TWO-LANE COUNTRY ROAD BETWEEN VALLEY CENTER AND BONSALL.

CAN I TELL THAT YOU THIS ROAD, WEST LILAC ROAD, IS KNOWN FOR SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.

AND IT'S ODD BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON IT.

IT CAN BE A WHILE BETWEEN CARS.

NOT WHAT YOU DESCRIBE AS A HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD WHICH MAKES WHAT'S RIGHT DOWN HERE ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE.

COMING UP ON IT RIGHT NOW, SEE IT?

A BRIDGE.

THE LILAC ROAD BRIDGE.

CONSIDERING HOW LITTLE TRAFFIC THERE IS, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY THEY EVEN BUILT IT.

BUT IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN 15 NORTH OF ESCONDIDO, YOU KNOW IT, YOU'VE SEEN IT.

IT IS A DRAMATIC, ICONIC SOMETHING FROM A PICTURE BOOK BRIDGE.

745 FEET ACROSS THAT IS PRETTY BREATH TAKING.

AND 160 FEET UP THERE IS LITTLE OLD WEST LILAC ROAD.

WE GOT CURIOUS, RIGHT?

AND AT HIS HOME IN SAN MARCOS, WE FOUND JOHN METLAND WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT BRIDGE.

>> I BASICALLY OVERSAW ALL THE CONSTRUCTION.

BRIDGE FROM DAY ONE.

>> Reporter: AND HE'S KEPT THE PLANS AND DRAWINGS, DIMENSIONS AND EVERYTHING FROM WHEN IT WAS BUILT MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO.

>> THE SUPER STRUCTURE HERE.

THAT WOULD BE THIS.

THIS IS THE ARCH.

THAT WOULD BE THIS.

>> Reporter: FIRST OF ALL, LOOK AT THE BRIDGE.

IMAGINE THAT WHOLE VALLEY UNDER IT THERE WHERE THE ROAD IS BEING PUT IN.

THAT WAS COMPLETELY DUG OUT OF SOLID GRANITE.

THE LAND USED TO BE ALL THE WAY TO WHERE THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE IS.

HERE'S A DRAWING OF THE BRIDGE.

YOU CAN SEE THE ARCH.

AND HE'S TRACING WITH HIS THUMB WHERE THE GROUND USED TO BE.

>> IN ORDER TO GET DOWN TO THE GRADE NECESSARY FOR THE 15 CONSTRUCTION, THEY HAD TO GO DOWN 160 FEET.

>> Reporter: THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SOLID GRANITE DUG AND BLASTED AWAY TO GET DOWN TO WHERE THE FREEWAY WOULD BE BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN START TO BUILD THE BRIDGE.

THEN THE BRIDGE ITSELF.

THAT BIG SWEEPING ARCH LOOKS LIKE SOLID CONCRETE, RIGHT?

BUT THAT ARCH IS HOLLOW.

IT HAS UTILITY LINES.

YOU COULD WALK IN THERE IF YOU COULD WALK IN THERE.

IT'S A MARVEL OF BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

IT REALLY IS.

ALL TOLD, IT TOOK THREE YEARS, $1.5 MILLION, AND THE TRAFFIC UP HERE ON WEST LILAC ROAD?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 500 CARS PER DAY.

WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO WHY?

WHY TO GO ALL THE TROUBLE TO BUILD THIS EXCEPTIONAL AND STRIKING BRIDGE WHEN A DETOUR OR SOMETHING SIMPLER AND CHEAPER WOULD HAVE DONE THE TRICK?

BUT THE CALTRANS OF 40 YEARS AGO THOUGHT WE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE FOR LILAC ROAD BUT WE CAN ALSO DO SOMETHING DRIVERS WILL REALLY NOTICE FOR DECADES TO COME.

>> THE SETTING WAS RIGHT.

THE APPROACH AND THE DEPARTURE FROM THE STRUCTURE, THE WAY IT OPENS UP.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO BUILD SOMETHING AESTHETICALLY PLEASING PURELY FOR ITS OWN SAKE JUST SO DRIVERS MOVING ALONG I-15 MIGHT LOOK AT IT AND FOR A MOMENT OR TWO BE IMPRESSED OR INSPIRED OR PLEASED.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE THINKING WAS.

>> Reporter: THAT'S HOW IT CAME TO BE.

HOW INTERSTATE 15 BETWEEN ESCONDIDO AND RAINBOW GOT A LANDMARK EVERYONE SEES AND REMEMBERS.

HOW WEST LILAC ROAD ENDED ONE A MAJOR BRIDGE AND HOW 40 YEARS AGO JOHN METLAND CAME TO BE SUCH A BIG PART OF IT ALL.

>> I THINK ABOUT IT ALMOST EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: AND WHY NOT?

IT'S SOMETHING SO VISIBLE AND SO VERY FAMILIAR ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

>>> KEN KRAMER HAS A HALF-HOUR OF STORIES EVERY WEEK ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

YOU CAN SEE THEM THURSDAY NIGHTS RIGHT HERE ON KPBS.

AND YOU CAN FIND THEM ON OUR WEBSITE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.