>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT'S TUESDAY MARCH 8th.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

A WARNING FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN.

GET SET TO FEEL MORE ECONOMIC PAIN AS THE U.S. IS NOW STOPPING OIL IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA.

WE'LL LAY OUT DETAILS IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST HERE AT HOME, WE'VE BEEN SHOWING YOU EXAMPLES OF HOW PAINFUL GAS PRICES ARE.

JOHN CARROLL NOW ON CONCERNS INVOLVING SAN DIEGO'S ECONOMIC LIFE BLOOD, TOURISM, AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO ALL OF US.

>> REPORTER: TOURISM IS BIG BUSINESS IN SAN DIEGO.

FIGURES FROM THE TOURISM AUTHORITY SHOW THAT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IN 2019, MORE THAN 35 MILLION PEOPLE WERE VISITING THIS REGION EVERY YEAR, GENERATING NEARLY $18 BILLION, SUPPORTING MORE THAN 190,000 JOBS.

IN 2020, THOSE NUMBERS FELL BY MORE THAN HALF.

SO RECORD BREAKING GAS PRICES ARE THE LAST THING THAT BUSINESSES RELYING ON TOURISM IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY NEED, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE'RE FINALLY BOUNCING BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THANKS TO EVENTS UNFOLDING A WORLD AWAY, THE COST OF GETTING HERE IS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER.

IT WASN'T ALL THAT LONG AGO WHEN WE SHOT FOOTAGE OF GAS PRICE SIGNS IT WOULD HOLD FOR A FEW DAYS.

NOT ANYMORE.

THIS IS A DAILY ROUTINE NOW.

THE AVERAGE ON MONDAY, YESTERDAY, WAS $5.38 A GALLON.

TODAY $5.48.

AND AT SOME STATIONS IT'S A LOT HIGHER.

AVIATION FUEL PRICES HAVE ALSO RISEN SHARPLY, SO A WORRISOME QUESTION.

AT WHAT POINT DO PEOPLE START CUTTING BACK ON TRAVEL?

THE AUTO CLUB SAYS EXPERIENCE FROM PAST PRICE SPIKES SHOW WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

>> RIGHT NOW IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL IF THE RISES PRICES WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON DRIVING HABITS AND TRAVEL PLANS.

>> REPORTER: BUT WE MIGHT NOT SEE MUCH, IF ANY IMPACT.

>> HISTORICALLY HIGH GAS PRICES HAVEN'T STOPPED PEOPLE FROM TRAVELING, BUT THEY HAD MODIFY THEIR PLANS, MAYBE GO SOMEWHERE CLOSER TO HOME.

>> REPORTER: FORTUNATELY THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO IN THE GREATER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA, SO EVEN IF SOME PEOPLE DECIDE AGAINST A TRIP HERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS THAT COULD MAKE UP FOR IT BY TAKING A STAYCATION.

>> THEY MIGHT GO SOMEWHERE CLOSER TO HOME.

>> REPORTER: SO IT'S WAIT AND SEE FOR NOW AS WE BRACE OURSELVES FOR HOW MUCH HIGHER THE PRICES WILL GO.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO BAN RUSSIAN OIL, NATURAL GAS, AND COIL IMPORTS EXPECTED TO IMPACT CONSUMERS DESPITE THE FACT IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT.

ISABEL ROSALES WITH MORE ON THE CRACKDOWN AND ECONOMIC FALLOUT.

>> REPORTER: THE U.S. IS STEPPING UP SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA.

THIS TIME AN ALL OUT FULL BAN ON RUSSIAN OIL, NATURAL GAS, AND COAL IMPORTS.

>> THIS IS A STEP WE'RE TAKING TO INFLICT FURTHER PAIN ON PUTIN.

BUT THERE WILL BE COST AS WELL HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> REPORTER: ON TUESDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCING THE LATEST CRACKDOWN ON MOSCOW, HOPING TO FORCE PRESIDENT PUTIN TO PULL BACK ITS ESCALATING ATTACK ON UKIAH.

>> I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MINIMIZE THE PRICE HIKE AT HOME.

>> REPORTER: THIS COMES AFTER GROWING CALLS FROM UKRAINE FOR ALLIES TO BAN RUSSIAN ENERGY IMPORTS.

THE BAN DOESN'T INCLUDE EUROPEAN ALLIES.

EXPERTS SAY THE MOVE COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE IF EU ALLIES TOOK PART, BUT UNLIKE THE U.S., EUROPE RELIES HEAVILY ON IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA.

>> THE U.S. IS RELATIVELY SAFE WITHOUT RUSSIAN IMPORTS.

>> REPORTER: THE U.S. COULD REPLACE THE RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL IT GETS FROM RUSSIA WITH OTHER IMPORTS INCLUDING FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.

BUT THERE COULD BE CONSEQUENCES.

THE BAN COULD SEND ALREADY SKYROCKETING OIL AND GAS PRICES EVEN HIGHER, IMPACTING CONSUMERS AT THE PUMP.

>> IT WILL HAVE A SHORT TERM EFFECT, AND GAS PRICES WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP AS A RESULT OF THAT.

WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT $4.19 A GALLON.

>> REPORTER: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS FACING GROWING PRESSURE FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO IMPOSE FURTHER SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA.

>> ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO LIMIT RUSSIA'S ABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS, WE NEED TO BE DOING.

>>> AND AS EACH HOUR PASSES, UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS ARE FLEEING FOR THEIR LIVES AS THEIR COMMUNITIES COME UNDER SIEGE.

THE UN ESTIMATES 2 MILLION HAVE LEFT.

WE HAVE A LOCAL AND WORLD WIDE LOOK AT THE STEPPED UP HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS.

>> REPORTER: AS RUSSIAN ATTACKS INTENSIFY IN UKRAINE, THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS DEEPENING BY THE MINUTE.

>> THIS HORROR CAN'T BE ENDURED.

I CANNOT EXPRESS IT.

THE FEAR, THE CRYING CHILDREN.

>> REPORTER: UKRAINIAN AUTHORITIES SAY SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO EVACUATE CIVILIANS FAILED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

WESTERN LEADERS ACCUSING RUSSIAN FORCES OF TARGETING PREAPPROVED SAFE ROUTES.

>> TARGETING CIVILIANS IS A WAR CRIME, AND IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

>> REPORTER: ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS, NEARLY 500 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THE WAR BEGAN, BUT OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS EVEN HIGHER.

MORE THAN 2 MILLION REFUGEES HAVE ALREADY FLED THE COUNTRY.

>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN EUROPE A CRISIS ESCALATING SO FAST SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

>> REPORTER: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY ATTEMPTING TO SHAME THE WEST TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE.

>> THE FAULT IS WITH THE OCCUPANTS, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS WITH THOSE WHO STILL HAVEN'T SECURED UKRAINIAN SKIES FROM THE RUSSIAN KILLERS.

>> REPORTER: BUT U.S. AND EUROPE MUST WALK A FINE LINE FACING AN ARMED RUSSIA.

PRESIDENT BIDEN BANNED RUSSIAN ENERGY IMPORTS WHILE NATO IS STILL RULING OUT A NO FLY ZONE.

>> WE HAVE TO ENSURE THE CONFLICT DOES NOT ESCALATE AND SPREAD BEYOND UKRAINE.

>>> AND WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE BRING DONATIONS TO THE HOUSE OF UKRAINE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF THAT NATION.

BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY LOCATION WHERE DONATIONS ARE BEING COLLECTED.

THERE'S ANOTHER COLLECTION CENTER IN CITY HEIGHTS.

>> I'M HERE TO VOLUNTEER.

>> REPORTER: SAN DIEGO'S HOUSE OF UKRAINE IS WORKING WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HELP UKRAINE NOW TO TRY AND HELP THOSE CAUGHT IN THE ONGOING CHAOS WITH THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

VICTORIA IS A UKRAINIAN IMMIGRANT AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF UKRAINE IN BALBOA PARK.

SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT HER FAMILY THAT LIVES IN KYIV.

>> I HAVE FAITH THAT GOD IS ON OUR SIDE.

THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS ON OUR SIDE.

SO I CANNOT JUST SIT AND CRY.

I'M TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT MY COUNTRY FROM THIS SIDE.

EVEN IF I'M NOT THERE, I'M STILL FIGHTING.

>> REPORTER: THE COORDINATOR AT THE UKRAINIAN SCHOOL OF SAN DIEGO SAYS THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO HELP, INCLUDING FINANCIAL DONATIONS.

SHE SAYS THE BIGGEST NEED RIGHT NOW IS FOR MEDICAL AND MILITARY SUPPLIES, WHICH CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THEIR UNIT THAT OPERATES FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. DAILY.

>> WE'RE ASKING FOR THINGS LIKE THERMAL BLANKETS, THERMAL UNDERGARMENTS, SOCKS.

SO IT IS, UM, KIND OF COLD AT THIS TIME.

I TALKED TO MY PARENTS TODAY.

IT'S SNOWING.

AND, UM, SO WE NEED SOME THINGS TO KEEP PEOPLE WARM.

>> REPORTER: THEY'RE ALSO PREPARING FOR AN INFLUX OF UKRAINIAN ASYLUM SEEKERS THAT COULD BE COMING TO THE REGION.

>> THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE MANY REFUGEES.

I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY YET HERE IN SAN DIEGO, BUT WE EXPECT THEM.

PEOPLE ARE REACHING, THEY'RE COMING THIS WAY.

BUT AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT, WE ASK YOU NOT TO BRING THE FOOD ITEMS.

>> REPORTER: SHE SAYS THE SUPPLIES ARE SENT OUT EVERY FEW DAYS WITH THE GOODS EVENTUALLY ARRIVING BY PLANE IN THE SURROUNDING EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND WAYS TO HELP, GO TO HOUSEOFUKRAINE.OR G. >>> NEW COVID CASES ARE TRENDING LOWER WITH 317 NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY.

IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, REPORTING NUMBERS UNDER 500 AND 400.

ALSO NEARLY 82% OF COUNTY RESIDENTS AGES 5 AND OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED, AND 93% HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

JUST OVER HALF HAVE GOTTEN THEIR BOOSTER SHOT.

>>> GETTING TREATED FOR COVID IS GOING TO GET EASIER THANKS TO A NATIONWIDE TEST TO TREAT INITIATIVE THAT KICKS OFF TODAY.

THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF PHARMACIES AND HEALTH CENTERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO GET CHECKED FOR COVID AND GET ANTIVIRAL PILLS ON THE SPOT IF THEY NEED THEM.

THE INITIATIVE WILL ALSO INCLUDE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW NEW TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET TREATED AFTER SYMPTOMS START.

>>> AN ICONIC PART OF THE DOWNTOWN WATER FRONT SURROUNDING SEA PORT VILLAGE COULD DRASTICALLY CHANGE UNDER A DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL PRESENTED TO THE PORT TODAY.

ALEXANDER SHOWS US WHAT DEVELOPERS HAVE IN MIND.

>> REPORTER: ON A PERFECT SAN DIEGO DAY, TOURISTS CAN BE SEEN MILLING AROUND CATCHING SOME SUN.

BUT SOMETHING NEW OVER THE HORIZON COULD DRASTICALLY CHANGE THIS PART OF THE WATER FRONT.

THE PORT IS REVIEWING A $3 MILLION PLAN TO REDEVELOP THE DOWNTOWN WATER FRONT INCLUDING SEA PORT VILLAGE AND TWO NEARBY PARKS.

THAT'S NOT SITTING WELL WITH MIKE ISHMAEL, THE OWNER OF ALAMO FLAGS THAT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS HERE SINCE 1990.

>> IT'S THE WRONG MOVE BECAUSE SEA PORT VILLAGE IS LIKE A LANDMARK.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA FOR FAMILIES, AND THEY SEE THE BAY AND WALK AROUND AND ENJOY THEMSELVES.

IT'S A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE.

CHANGING IT, I DON'T REALLY AGREE UPON THAT.

>> REPORTER: HE SAYS REDEVELOPMENT WOULD CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE SEASIDE SHOPPING CENTER, BUT OTHERS, LIKE THIS OWNER OF A FUDGE FACTORY, SAYS IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY GET AN UPGRADE.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

IT'S TIME.

THE GROUND NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK, ALL THESE TREE ROOTS IS RUINING THE GROUND STRUCTURE.

>> REPORTER: UNDER THE PROPOSED PLAN, ALL OF THIS WOULD BE GONE EXCEPT FOR THE CAROUSEL AND REPLACED WITH HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AN ART EXHIBITION SPACE, AND A YACHT CLUB.

THERE ARE ALSO PLANS FOR A 500-FOOT TOWER WITH OBSERVATION DECKS, AN AQUARIUM, AND PUBLIC SPACE.

THIS IS THE CEO OF THE WATER FRONT DEVELOPMENT AND SAYS THE PROJECT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.

HE SAY IT'S A PRIORITY THAT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAKE UP THE CHARACTER OF THE VILLAGE BE ABLE TO STAY AND BE A PART OF NEW WATER FRONT.

>> WE'VE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO THEM THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO STAY WILL BE ABLE TO STAY.

WE WILL PHASE OUR PROJECT TO GIVE THEM CONTINUITY OF BUSINESS.

WE REALIZE A SMALL BUSINESS CAN'T SHUT DOWN AND OPEN A FEW YEARS LATER.

>> REPORTER: THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IT WOULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE THE PORT MAKES A FINAL DECISION.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY IS HEARING A REPORT THAT FOUND THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS MORE UNDERFUNDED THAN EVER.

SAN DIEGO WOULD NEED AN EXTRA $4.3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO FULLY FUND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT THE ISSUE ON KPBS MIDDAY EDITION SAYING SOME OF THE COSTS ARE DRIVEN BY INFLATION AND THE GREAT RESIGNATION MAKING WORKERS HARDER TO FIND.

THERE ARE ALSO LONG TERM CHALLENGES.

>> A LOT OF OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAST CENTURY, AND A LOT OF IT IS COMING TO THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE, SO IT'S NOT THE MATTER OF A POTHOLE HERE AND A STREET RESURFACING THERE, BUT IT'S A PUMP STATION BUILD DECADES AND DECADES AGO THAT REALLY CAN'T CONTINUE TO FUNCTION.

WE NEED TO REPLACE IT.

IT'S A BIG TICKET COST AND THEY'RE BASICALLY COMING DUE NOW THAT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO FUND.

>> REPORTER: MAYOR GLORIA SAYS THE CITY IS MAKING INTERNAL CHANGES TO USE EXISTING MONEY MORE EFFICIENTLY WHILE ALSO COMPETING FOR FUNDS FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

>>> RIGHT NOW DR. LAMONT JACKSON IS JOINING A BOARD MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT.

THIS COMES AFTER A YEARLONG SEARCH AND SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY IMPACT.

HERE'S KPBS REPORTER ANGIE PEREZ.

>> REPORTER: DR. JACKSON WAS ALL SMILES AS THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCED HIS APPOINT: HE'S THE NOW PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT AND MODEL FOR STUDENTS EVERYWHERE.

>> IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS, WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU COME FROM.

YOU CAN RISE TO THE TOP BECAUSE HE IS A LIVING EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> WE DO NEED TO INCREASE THE WAGES, AND I'M SAYING ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> REPORTER: DR. JACKSON EARNED THE THE POSITION OVER THE ONLY OTHER FINALIST FOR THE JOB.

HE GREW UP IN THE DISTRICT AS A STUDENT AND HAS WORKED AS A TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, ADMINISTRATOR, AND AREA SUPERINTENDENT.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND LEAD THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC WITH A FOCUS ON LEARNING AND TEACHING.

THAT IS OUR FOUNDATION.

>> REPORTER: THE DISTRICT'S FOUNDATION NEEDS SOME REINFORCEMENT AS THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED STUDENTS HAS DIPPED UNDER 100,000 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS.

THERE'S ALSO THE COVID VACCINATION MANDATE FOR ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS 16 AND UP, WHICH THE DISTRICT WILL BEGIN ENFORCING DURING SUMMER SCHOOL IN JUNE DESPITE PENDING LEGAL COMPLICATIONS.

JACKSON SAYS THE VACCINATION REQUIREMENT WILL EXTEND TO YOUNGER STUDENTS ONCE THERE IS FULL FDA APPROVAL.

THE SAN DIEGO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS MORE THAN 7,000 TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT.

IN A STATEMENT TO KPBS NEWS, THE UNION PRESIDENT SAID NOW THAT HE IS PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT, WE HOPE HE'LL MAKE CHANGES IN HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT ARE IN LINE WITH THE APPROACH AND PHILOSOPHY WE'VE COME TO KNOW FROM HIM DURING HIS TIME AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND IN HIS PREVIOUS DISTRICT POSITIONS.

RICARDO SOTO WAS ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT HELPED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT SELECTION PROCESS.

HE ALSO REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT'S CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT EDUCATE 20,000 STUDENTS ON 40 CAMPUSES.

HE SUPPORTS DR. JACKSON LINING UP A DIVERSE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

>> SO THEY UNDERSTAND OUR GOALS ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING AND ARE BEING SERVED AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL LIKE THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS ARE.

>> REPORTER: ULTIMATELY IT'S THE STUDENTS' REACTIONS THAT MATTER THE MOST.

MANY WERE STANDING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AS HE ACCEPTED THE JOB.

>> HE'S THE GUY THAT GOES UP TO A STUDENT AND SAYS ARE YOU OKAY?

AND IF THEY SAY NO, HE'LL MAKE SURE THEY'RE OKAY.

HE'S THE FRIEND.

>> REPORTER: DR. JACKSON HAS HIS ASSIGNMENTS ALONG WITH THE CONGRATULATIONS.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, HOW PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BAN ON RUSSIAN OIL COULD IMPACT GAS PRICES IN THE U.S. AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

>>> AMID RISING FOOD AND GAS PRICES, A LITTLE RELIEF FOR SOME IN THE NORTH COUNTY TODAY IN THE FORM OF A MOBILE LAUNDRY TRAILER.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TAKES US THERE.

>> EXCUSE US.

WE HAVE FOUR WASHERS HERE, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE DRIERS AND ONE DRIER THERE.

>> REPORTER: THE LIVED EXPERIENCES MOBILE LAUNDRY TRAILER ROLLED INTO MARCOSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUESDAY.

LIVED EXPERIENCES' FOUNDER SAYS LAUNDRY IS A BASIC NEED THAT MANY STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN'T AFFORD RIGHT NOW DUE TO THE RISE IN GAS AND FOOD PRICES.

>> HAVING A FREE LOAD OF LAUNDRY COULD SAVE 20 TO $40 AND TAKES A BURDEN OFF THEM.

JUST SAVING THAT EXTRA BUCKS IN THEIR LIFE, IT'S HELPING THEM OUT BIG TIME.

>> REPORTER: THIS FAMILY DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE THEIR IDENTITY, BUT SAID THIS EVENT BROUGHT MUCH NEEDED SAVINGS TO THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> REPORTER: THIS WOMAN IS STUDYING ENGLISH AT THE LEARNING CENTER AND HEARD ABOUT THE EVENT THROUGH AN E-MAIL.

SHE SAYS THIS CAME AT A PERFECT TIME FOR HER.

SHE WAS LIVING AT A WOMAN'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND GOT AN APARTMENT TWO WEEKS AGO.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> REPORTER: SHE SAID THE FREE LAUNDRY HELPED HER OUT TREMENDOUSLY, AND SHE WASN'T EXPECTING ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OFFERED AT THE EVENT.

CLOTHES, SHOWERS, GROCERIES, AND RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE ATTENDING THE EVENT.

ORTEGA SAYS IT WAS NO EASY FEAT TO ORGANIZE AND FUND.

>> IT'S A BIG JOB.

JUST TAKING THIS TRAILER FROM ONE SITE TO ANOTHER IS ABOUT 20 TO $30.

NOT ONLY IS IT A LOT OF MAINTENANCE WITH THE EQUIPMENT ON THE TRAILER, BUT THE TRAILER ITSELF, SO JUST THE OVERHEAD COST ON THIS IS PRETTY PRICY JUST TO GET ANYWHERE.

>> REPORTER: TO HELP WITH THE COSTS, DR. BRAUNER'S SOAP COMPANY HAS A TEAM HELPING WITH TRANSPORTATION, GENERATORS, AND SOAP.

>> ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS I DO IS SHOW UP AND HELP BRING SHOWERS TO PEOPLE, HELP BRING FOOD, HELP STEP INTO THESE COMMUNITY GROWING SPACES AND SHOW UP AND BE A PART OF IT.

>> REPORTER: HE SAYS WHILE GAS IS MORE EXPENSIVE, THEY'RE DEDICATED TO HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK.

THE FREE LAUNDRY AND RESOURCE EVENT WILL CONTINUE ON THE LAST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AND IS OPEN TO ALL.

TANYA THORN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE CANCELLATION OF SPRING TRAINING GAMES IS HAVING A FINANCIAL IMPACT ON BALL PARK EMPLOYEES.

TODAY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ANNOUNCED IT WILL HELP BALL PARK WORKERS BY CREATING A FUND STARTING WITH $1 MILLION.

EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES IN ARIZONA AND FLORIDA WILL BENEFIT FROM THE MONEY INCLUDING CONCESSION STAND WORKERS, JANITORS, AND ELECTRICIANS.

THE MONEY IS ADMINISTERED BY AFLCIO FEDERATION OF UNIONS AND PLAYER'S ASSOCIATION AND WILL FOCUS ON THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES.

>>> WE'LL BE WATCHING AS A BIG TROUGH DIGS IN BRINGING AN ON SHORE FLOW AGAIN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

SLIGHT DROP IN TEMPERATURES.

LITTLE MORE SIGNIFICANT FURTHER INLAND INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS, BUT WE ALSO BRING THE CHANCE FOR SOME SHOWERS.

SMALL CHANCE, BUT IT IS ON THE TABLE HERE MOVING FORWARD.

TEMPERATURES TONIGHT GETTING BACK DOWN INTO THE 30s IN OCEAN SIDE, 32 IN RAMONA, AROUND 50 IN SAN DIEGO.

AND AROUND THURSDAY YOU NOTICE THE BEGINNING OF THE STORM IS HERE ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS REGION INTO UTAH AND THE COLORADO ROCKIES.

WINDS PICKING UP HERE IN NEVADA AND ARIZONA, BUT IT'S STILL A PLEASANT DAY ACROSS MUCH OF CALIFORNIA.

TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 60s FOR YOU IN SAN DIEGO AND CHULA VISTA.

AND THURSDAY WE REALLY BEGIN TO FEEL THAT DROP OFF.

TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE WELL BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE INTERIOR SOUTHWEST, AND IN SOME SPOTS DROPPING FROM 20 TO 30 DEGREES IN JUST 24 HOURS.

BUT NEAR THE COAST WE WON'T SEE A LOT IN THE WAY OF CHANGES HERE.

THERE'S A SMALL CHANCE OF A MORNING SHOWER EARLY ON THURSDAY.

TEMPERATURES LOOKING TO BOTTOM OUT IN THE MID-60s WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

THEN AFTER THAT WE CLIMB BACK UP INTO THE UPPER 60s TO LOW 70s.

FURTHER INLAND, TEMPERATURES GO FROM CLOSER TO 70 DEGREES DOWN INTO THE MID-60s ON THURSDAY WITH A COUPLE OF SHOWERS HANGING AROUND.

THEN WE REBOUND NICELY, GETTING BACK UP TO AROUND 70 ON FRIDAY.

UPPER 70s AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND ON SATURDAY.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, TEMPERATURES GOING FROM THE UPPER 40s TO THE 30s ON THURSDAY, REBOUNDING INTO THE 40s ON FRIDAY.

MORNING SHOWER CHANCE FOR YOU THURSDAY.

BREEZY WINDS PICKING UP ON FRIDAY, BUT TEMPERATURES REALLY RECOVER NICELY HERE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

AND IN THE DESERTS, TEMPERATURES DROP FROM THE UPPER 70s INTO THE UPPER 60s AND THEN REBOUND HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

UPPER 70s SATURDAY.

MID-80s BY THE TIME WE GET INTO SUNDAY.

FOR KPBS NEWS, I'M METEOROLOGIST JESSICA PASH.

>>> IT'S A DAY THAT'S BEEN CELEBRATED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

IT'S A DAY TO REFLECT ON HOW FAR WOMEN HAVE COME.

IT'S ALSO A CALL TO ACTION TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUALITY FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

>>> OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE, GENDER, AND EQUITY HAVE BECOME MORE MAIN STREAM, AND IN SOME CASES MORE CONTENTIOUS.

THAT'S WHY OUR KPBS RACE AND EQUITY REPORTER HAS BEEN COLLECTING YOUR QUESTIONS FOR PART OF A SERIES CALLED LET'S TALK ABOUT.

>> REPORTER: WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE WE'RE MORE DIVIDED THAN EVER AND NEED A COMMON VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES.

BUT THAT CAN BE HARD WHEN WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE.

THAT'S WHY KPBS IS LAUNCHING A NEW SERIES CALLED LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, WHERE WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

WE START TODAY WITH MIKE MILTON.

HE'S A RETIRED NAVY MAN WHO IDENTIFIES AS WHITE AND A LEFTY.

>> CENTER LEFT.

>> REPORTER: POLITICAL SPEAKING THAT THAT IS.

HE SAYS HE PAYS ATTENTION TO THE NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS, BUT LATELY THERE'S ONE WORD THAT HAS HIM SCRATCHING HIS HEAD.

WOKE.

IT'S A WORD HE HEARS USED MOSTLY BY CONSERVATIVE MEDIA, AND HE'S NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS.

>> ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS WHAT IS WOKENESS?

>> REPORTER: THE TRUTH IS THE WORD WOKE HAS LIVED MANY LIVES AND ITERATIONS.

>> AROUND THE EARLY 1960S AND 70s WHEN YOU HAD A LOT OF BLACK POWER MOVEMENTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES GOING ON AT THAT TIME, IT WASN'T CALLED WOKE, IT WAS CALLED CONSCIOUSNESS.

>> REPORTER: DR. SMITH IS A PROFESSOR OF RHETORIC AND MEDIA STUDIES AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE SAYS THE WORD STEMS FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA.

>> AT THAT TIME, BLACK PEOPLE PARTICULARLY STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY PROTECTING US AS CITIZENS.

>> REPORTER: FOR HIM, THE REAL MEANING OF BEING WOKE IS ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS.

>> TO ME IT'S BASICALLY HAVING A CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT SYSTEMIC ISSUES TAKING PLACE THAT HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT KIND OF SEEM LIKE IT MAY BE A GOOD THING, BUT THERE'S THINGS WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY THINKING ABOUT.

>> REPORTER: IN OTHER WORDS, IT REALLY JUST MEANS TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT ISSUES THAT IMPACT US ALL LIKE EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND POLICING.

THE WORD WOKE, THOUGH, BECAME MORE MAIN STREAM IN 2015, WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE USING IT THAT DIDN'T KNOW THE WORD'S ORIGIN SAYS SMITH.

>> THE EVERY DAY WHITE FOLKS, AS I WOULD SAY, THEY STARTED USING THE TERMINOLOGY ABOUT OH, YOU KNOW, I'M WOKE, I'M WHITE, I'M WHITE BUT I'M WOKE.

>> REPORTER: THAT'S WHEN THE WORD BEGAN TO CHANGE AND BECAME A BADGE TO SYMBOL TO PEOPLE YOU'RE NOT RACIST.

EVEN SATURDAY NOT LIVE GOT IN ON THE JOKE WITH ITS PARITY ON A LEVI'S AD FOR WOKE JEANS.

TODAY IT'S BEING USED BY CONSERVATIVE MEDIA OUTLETS TO DESCRIBE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

>> WOKISM WILL DESTROY THE NUCLEAR FAMILY.

>> REPORTER: SMITH SAYS HE'S NOT SURPRISED TO SEE IT TAKE ON YET ANOTHER MEANING.

>> LIKE ALL WORDS, THEY CAN BE WEAPONIZED.

>> REPORTER: IT'S BECOME A CATCH ALL FOR EVERYTHING DEEMED PROGRESSIVE OR INCLUSIVE.

>> THE PROBLEM WHEN YOU HEAR WOKE IS I WOULD SAY THEY SEE IT MORE LIKE FOLKS WHO HAVE THIS KIND OF SOCIALIST AGENDA, AT LEAST THAT'S THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

SO ANYTHING THAT THEY DON'T SEEM AS CORRECT, IT'S CONSIDERED WOKE.

>> REPORTER: AND THAT'S HOW MIKE MILTON FIRST HEARD OF THE WORD WOKE, LIGHT YEARS AWAY FROM ITS ORIGINAL MEANING.

SO I CALLED HIM BACK UP AND SHARED THIS STORY WITH HIM.

>> EDUCATED ME THAT IT GOES BACK NOT JUST TO THE 90s OR EARLY 2000S, BUT BACK TO THE 60s AND EARLY 70s PERHAPS.

>> REPORTER: DR. SMITH ANTICIPATES WE'LL BE HEARING THE WORD WOKE A LOT THIS ELECTION SEASON.

IT'S WHY HE WANTS US TO QUESTION WHO'S USING THE WORD AND WHY SO WE CAN PUSH PAST BUZZ WORDS AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REAL ISSUES.

CHRISTINA KIM, KPBS NEWS.

>> AND YOU CAN SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT RACE, GENDER, AND EQUITY.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.KPBS.ORG OR CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

(619)630-8516.

>>> IT'S BABY SEASON AT THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY, AND IT WILL BE BUSIER THAN EVER THIS YEAR.

THOUSANDS OF KITTENS WILL NEED AROUND THE CLOCK CARE IN THE COMING MONTH, SO STARTING TODAY THEY'RE HOSTING A VIRTUAL KITTEN SHOWER AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR DONATED ITEMS INCLUDING KITTEN FORMULA, BOTTLES, HEATING PADS, SCALES, AND LOTS OF BLANKETS.

TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GIVE, THEY HAVE SET UP AN ONLINE REGISTRY AT THEIR WEBSITE.

THE KITTEN NURSERY STARTED BACK IN 2009 WITH THE HELP OF YOUR DONATIONS AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY HELPED KEEP THOUSANDS OF ORPHANED KITTENS SAFE FROM EUTHANASIA.

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

GOOD NIGHT.