PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION AND FLOOD SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800--BILLWE.

>> AND BY THE CONRAD FOUNDATION.

DARLENE SHILEY AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

RIGHT NOW THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING A PAY BUMP FOR THE WORKERS WHO KEEP THE TOURISM INDUSTRY RUNNING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR CERTAIN WORKERS, TO $25 AN HOUR.

OUR KPBS REPORTER JOINS US FROM THE NEWSROOM WITH THE LATEST.

>> THIS PROPOSAL FOLLOWS SIMILAR WAGE INCREASES SPECIFIC TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH.

PROPONENTS SAY SAN DIEGO'S COST- OF-LIVING HAS RISEN SHARPLY IN RECENT YEARS AND THAT HOTEL WORKERS HAVE NOT SHARED IN THE PROSPERITY CREATED BY THE TOURISM ECONOMY.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL HOTEL WORKERS UNION TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE WAGE PROPOSAL WOULD BE A STEP TOWARD ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

>> IF YOU ARE STANDING UP FOR INVISIBLE WORKERS.

FOR MANY YEARS, NO ONE CARED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AS LONG AS THEY KEPT THEIR HEADS DOWN AND CLEANED THE ROOMS AND DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO, EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY WITH THAT.

NOW, TIMES ARE CHANGING.

WE HAVE TO REINVENT THE ECONOMY.

YOU CAN BE RICH BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BILLIONAIRES.

>> THE POLICY ON THE TABLE HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED IN FEBRUARY.

HOTELS WITH FEWER THAN 150 ROOMS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE ORDINANCE.

AND THE WAGE INCREASES WOULD BE PHASED IN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

NOT REACHING $25 PER HOUR UNTIL JULY 1st OF 2030.

HOTEL MANAGERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHANGES BUT WARNED THE PROPOSAL COULD STILL HURT BUSINESS AT A TIME WHEN OCCUPANCY IS DOWN AND THE GENERAL ECONOMY IS ALREADY STRUGGLING.

>> A BIG JUMP IN MINIMUM WAGE HAPPENING IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WILL NOT HELP US ADD JOBS , CREATE ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS AND ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO DIRECTLY THROUGH THE TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX OR TO INCREASE VISITOR SPENDING.

>> TONIGHT'S MEETING IS STILL ONGOING.

A VOTE HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

YOU CAN SEE THE LATEST UPDATES BY VISITING KPBS.ORG.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> NEARLY 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION COULD FACE POTENTIAL CUTS TO FOOD BENEFITS.

AS OUR KPBS REPORTER SHOWS US, THE COUNTY HAS A PLAN TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED KEEP THEIR BENEFITS.

>> ANOTHER SENIOR SHARED, "WE ARE JUST SURVIVING AND NOT LIVING ♪ ♪.

>> THE CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK IS SHARING STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO RELY ON TOWEL FRESH WHICH IS AN LIMITATION OF THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR SNAP.

>> WITH TEARS IN HER EYES, SHE EXPLAINED HOW CAL FRESH HELPED HER EXPLAIN HOW SHE HAS FOOD SECURITY.

>> IN FEBRUARY, MORE THAN 96,000 SAN DIEGANS COULD LOSE THE BENEFITS UNDER THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.

>> NOT BECAUSE THEY DID ANYTHING WRONG.

BUT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS HARDER TO NAVIGATE.

>> UNDER THE NEW RULES, MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF THEY ARE WORKING 80 HOURS A MONTH.

THOSE INCLUDE VETERANS, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THE ELDERLY AND PARENTS OF TEENAGERS.

PREVIOUSLY, THIS GROUP WAS EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT.

>> ALL OF THESE FOLKS WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP AND LIFT UP, ARE NOW GETTING PULLED DOWN BY A SYSTEM GETTING HARDER AND MORE HARSH.

>> TUESDAY, THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR ANNOUNCED A CAMPAIGN TO HELP THE PEOPLE AFFECTED TO KNOW IT IS CHANGING AND HOW THEY CAN STAY COVERED.

>> THEY COULD LOSE THEIR GROCERIES.

THAT IS THE CRISIS WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT.

>> THE INFORMATION WILL GO OUT THERE TEXTING, CALLS, FLYERS AND OTHER OUTREACH EFFORTS.

>> THE FOOD BANK SAID THEY HAVE 360,000 PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE, MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION.

>> THIS IS THE HIGHEST RATE OF INSECURITY SINCE 2020.

>> IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON A CONCRETE PLAN OTHER WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE THE NEW REQUIREMENTS.

IN THE MEANTIME, SAN DIEGANS ARE BEING URGED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

>> NOBODY AND OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EAT.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> WEATHER HEADLINES HERE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

TRACKING SOME VERY GOOD RAIN CHANCES ACROSS NOT JUST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUT A MAJORITY OF THE SOUTHWEST AS WELL.

OVERALL, IT LOOKS LIKE A WARM, MUGGY AND BREEZY FORECAST.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ARE LOOKING NICE WE WILL HAVE A LOOK AT THE EXTENDED FORECAST COMING UP.

>>> A RIVALRY OVER $50 MILLION MEANT TO CLEAN CROSS-BORDER RIVERS IS BREWING.

OUR KPBS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER SAID SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTY LEADERS EACH MADE THEIR CASE TO THE STATE TODAY FOR THE BOND MONEY.

>> LAST YEAR, CALIFORNIA VOTERS APPROVED PROPOSITION FOUR WHICH ALLOWED THE STATE TO BORROW $10 BILLION TO PAY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.

$50 MILLION IS EARMARKED TO SPEND ON WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS IN THE POLLUTED TIJUANA RIVER AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND ANOTHER RIVER IN IMPERIAL COUNTY.

THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISOR SAID SHE WANTS ALL THE FUNDING FOR THE TIJUANA RIVER.

>> IT IS SUCH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS FUNDING TO EXPEDITE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FIX SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE EVERY DAY.

>> SHE SAID THE MONEY COULD HELP FIX A HOTSPOT IN THE TIJUANA RIVER WERE TOXIC GASES AND CHEMICALS BECOME AIRBORNE.

BUT ONE MAYOR SAID CROSS-BORDER POLLUTION IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY HAS NOT HAD ENOUGH FEDERAL ATTENTION.

THAT IS WHY SHE SAID THE ESTATE FUNDS COULD BE CRITICAL AND CLEANING THE NEW RIVER.

>> MY ASK IS SIMPLE.

KEEP REMINDING FOLKS IMPERIAL COUNTY AS PART OF CALIFORNIA TOO AND THE WE ALSO HAVE A CROSS- BORDER RIVER ISSUE.

>> THEY SAY FUNDING WOULD SUPPORT SEVERAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADES THAT ARE READY FOR DEVELOPMENT.

OR CITY HAS COMMITTED TO PAYING $25 MILLION FOR THE UPGRADES.

THE CITY SAYS AT LEAST 25 MILLION MORE IS STILL NEEDED.

THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD WILL HAVE TO DECIDE HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDING.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A NEW PARKING FEES AT BALBOA PARK BUT THEY WON'T START RIGHT AWAY.

THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A BUDGET THAT THE CITY WILL START CHARGING FOR PARKING BUT THE EXACT RATES WERE UP FOR DEBATE.

THE DEAL APPROVED LAST NIGHT HAS CITY RESIDENTS PAYING BETWEEN 5-$8 AND NONRESIDENTS BETWEEN 10-$16.

ONE COUNCILMEMBER, SEAN RIVERA, SAID THE PARK HAS DESPERATE NEED FOR MORE FUNDING.

>> I THINK WE ALL KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE LOVE BALBOA PARK, THERE ARE PARTS OF THAT PARK THAT ARE UGLY.

MAINLY INSIDE THE RESTROOMS AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THAT WAY.

IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THAT WAY, WHEN A PARENT TAKES A TELLER TO THE PLAYGROUND, THAT THEY NEED TO GO HOME TO USE THE RESTROOM.

WE NEED TO ACHIEVE THIS BY BETTER RESOURCING THE PARK.

>> CHARGES WON'T BE ENFORCED UNTIL THE CITY CAN CREATE A QUARTERLY OR ANNUAL PASS FOR FREQUENT PARK USERS.

THE DELAY WILL LIKELY CAUSE A SHORTFALL OF SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET.

>>> NATIONAL CITY PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED LAST NIGHT TO BLOCK THE CONTROVERSIAL BIOFUEL DEPOT.

OUR KPBS SOUTHBAY REPORTER SAID THE PROJECT WOULD HAVE STREAMLINED DELIVERY OF GREEN FUELS AND WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MORE POLLUTION TO WEST NATIONAL CITY.

>> THE PROJECT HAS FACED HEAVY OPPOSITION FROM NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS.

ON MONDAY, DOZENS OF RESIDENTS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENT ADVOCATES RALLIED AT CAMPBELL PARK AHEAD OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING.

>> WE WANT CLEAN AIR.

>> THE COMPANY BEHIND THE PROJECT, TEXAS-BASED UST CLEAN FUELS, HAS TRIED TO PITCH IT AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL WIN.

BUT ADVOCATES POINT OUT THAT THE REGIONAL BENEFITS WOULD COME AT A COST FOR WEST NATIONAL CITY.

THAT IS BECAUSE THE PROJECT WOULD RELY ON HEAVY DIESEL.

-- BURNING TRUCKS, BRINGING MORE POLLUTION TO AN AREA WHERE THERE IS ALREADY A HISTORY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY.

IN A DECISION, PLANNERS DENIED TWO PERMITS FOR THE PROJECT.

ONE COMMISSIONER SAID SHE WAS VOTING TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE LEGACY OF POLLUTION.

>> I DON'T WANT US TO BE THE FIRST IN REDUCING OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS HERE.

LET US TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THE CYCLE.

>> THE COMPANY SAID THEY ARE CONSIDERING APPEALING THE DECISION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

CORY SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>> RAMONA MEMORY GARDENS, A 10- ACRE CEMETERY, IS ONE OF 58 SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

SMALL GOVERNMENTAL BODIES LIKE THIS RARELY HAVE COMMUNITY WATCHDOGS.

AS A KPBS INVESTIGATION FOUND, THE CEMETERY DISTRICT DOES.

>> HIS NAME IS PETE SMITH.

>> THESE ARE ALL PUBLIC RECORDS.

THE ADVANTAGE I HAVE IS I KNEW WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

>> THE LONGTIME RAMONA RESIDENT SPENT MORE THAN A DECADE ON SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S VOLUNTEER AUDIT COMMITTEE.

THAT EXPERIENCE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO FOLLOW THE MONEY AND GOVERNMENT IN 2023, SMITH FOLLOWED THE MONEY INTO AN UNUSUAL ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING HEALTH BENEFITS FOR CEMETERY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.

>> THAT WILL BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ADJUSTMENTS IN INSURANCE COVERAGE AND PREMIUMS.

>> ON HIS OWN, SMITH FOUND TWO OF THE PART-TIME TRUSTEES, WILLIAM BIGGS AND DANIEL BIGLER, SINCE 2011, VOTED TO GIVE THEMSELVES HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

THIS COST THE DISTRICT ABOUT $49,000 PER YEAR, A TOTAL OF $402,000.

SMITH ALERTED KPBS TO THIS IN AUGUST OF 2023 AND WE DID A STORY.

>> THE CEMETERY DISTRICT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, ONLY RAMONA PAYS DIRECTORS ANY FORM OF HEALTHCARE.

>> IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THOSE RARE INVESTIGATORS STORIES THAT HAD AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT.

WE DID NOT FIND RECORDS OF BIGGS PAYING THE DISTRICT BACK VAINGLORY DID.

MANGLER PAID THE DISTRICT BACK FOR HIS INSURANCE COST WITH TWO CHECKS TOTALING $303,658.

AND ONE MORE THING.

>> AS FAR AS THE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AND CALIFORNIA, THE BOARD NUMBERS AGREED TO TERMINATE THE HEALTH BENEFITS, OR SO WE THOUGHT.

THIS JANUARY, SMITH WAS APPOINTED BY THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO FILL A VACANCY ON THE CEMETERY DISTRICT BOARD.

>> WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD, I WAS ASSURED THAT THE TRUSTEES NO LONGER HAD THE BENEFITS PAID BY THE DISTRICT.

>> LIKE ANY GOOD WATCHDOG, HE CHECKED IT OUT.

>> I HAD DIFFICULTY WHEN I GOT THERE DISCOVERING THE FACTS.

THEY WERE, IN MY OPINION, HIDDEN IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

>> SMITH EVENTUALLY FOUND RECORDS SHOWING THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR THE ANGLER WERE PAID BY THE DISTRICT .

>> I ASKED FOR A BREAKDOWN BY EMPLOYEE AS TO WHO WAS GETTING AID.

>> THE GENERAL MANAGER, JOHN VARGAS, REFUSED TO PROVIDE SMITH WITH THE INFORMATION, CLAIMING THE RECORDS ARE PROTECTED AND COULDN'T BE RELEASED.

WE ASKED A SAN DIEGO LAW APPOINTMENT ATTORNEY ABOUT THE CLAIM OF VARGAS.

>> HPPAE PROTECTS MEDICAL INFORMATION.

NOT THE PAYMENT OF HEALTH BENEFITS FROM A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION.

THAT IS ABSURD.

>> SMITH ALSO DISCOVERED SOMETHING ELSE AFTER HE JOINED THE BOARD.

IT WAS THE 2024 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OUTGOING BOARD AND VARGAS, THE GENERAL MANAGER.

>> IT HAPPENED AFTER THEY KNEW THEY WERE BEING REPLACED IN JANUARY.

>> PER THE AGREEMENT, VARGAS WAS IN LINE FOR A $45,000 SEVERANCE PAYMENT IF HE LEFT HIS JOB FOR ANY REASON.

THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THAT LAW ATTORNEY.

>> IT DOES NOT PASS THE SMELL TEST.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, THE AGREEMENT SAID THAT IF ORGANS WERE TO BE FIRED FOR CAUSE, FOR GROSS MISMANAGEMENT, HE WOULD STILL GET HIS SEVERANCE PAYOUT.

>> I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE THAT ALLOWS AN EMPLOYEE TO RECEIVE $45,000 IN SEVERANCE, IF HE IS TERMINATED OR COST.

SPECIFICALLY, THESE VERY SERIOUS ISSUES LIKE BRIBERY AND FRAUD.

UNHEARD-OF.

>> THERE IS NO EVIDENCE VARGAS ACTED IMPROPERLY.

IN JUNE, HE QUIT WITHOUT GIVING NOTICE.

SMITH SAID THAT THE SEVERANCE CHECK OF VARGAS WAS SIGNED BY AN EMPLOYEE WHO DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE THE CHECK.

VARGAS COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT.

BIGGS COULD ALSO NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT.

BUT WE DID NOT HAVE TO GO FAR TO SPEAK TO VANGLER WHO CONTINUED TO CONTINUE TO GO TO BOARD MEETINGS MONTHS AFTER BEING REPLACED BUT HE DID NOT ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO AN INTERVIEW NOW?

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT MR.

VARGAS.

>> NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

>> BOB STERN IS A LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR GOVERNMENT REFORM.

HE SAYS PUBLIC AGENCIES NEED WATCHDOGS AT ALL TIMES.

>> IF IT IS NOT BEING WATCHED, PEOPLE CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

>> SMITH SAID THAT AS LONG AS HE IS ON THE RAMONA CEMETERY DISTRICT BOARD, THEY WILL HAVE A WATCHDOG.

KPBS NEWS.

>> THAT STORY WAS WRITTEN AND REPORTED BY WJ AUGUST.

IF YOU HAVE A TIP, YOU CAN SEND AN E-MAIL TO INVESTIGATIONS @KPBS.ORG OR MESSAGE THEM ON OUR SECURE SIGNAL ON THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE RELEASED A PROPOSAL TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH NOVEMBER 21st AND AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THE SEVEN-WEEK STOPGAP THE WOULD BUY MORE TIME TO NEGOTIATE A MORE BROAD DEAL.

MOST HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD CLOSE -- FORCE HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON AND REPUBLICANS TO DELIVER THE VOTES ON THEIR OWN.

HOUSE LEADERSHIP HOPES TO VOTE ON THE BILL FRIDAY, THE LAST DAY BEFORE CONGRESS LEAVES FOR A WEEKLONG RECESS.

>>> A CONFUSING ECONOMIC PICTURE HAS CONSUMERS CLINGING TO THEIR WALLETS JUST AS THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON IS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY.

WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SPENDING FORECAST.

>> THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS FAST APPROACHING.

A RECENT ECONOMIC DATA REVEALS PRICES ARE HEATING UP IN THE LABOR MARKET IS COOLING DOWN.

CLOUDY FINANCIAL PICTURE DAMPENING SHOPPERS SPIRITS.

>> CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN FEELING RATHER SUBDUED ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

THE SENTIMENT HAS BEEN DECLINING OVER THE COURSE OF 2025 CONCURRENTLY WITH THE ESCALATION OF TARIFF RHETORIC.

>> THE DOWNTURN COMING AT A CRITICAL TIME FOR RETAILERS.

>> CONSUMERS WILL BE HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON WITH A LOT OF CAUTION.

>> THIS ACCOUNTING FIRM, PRICE WATERHOUSE, AMERICAN SHOPPERS WILL PULL BACK ON HOLIDAY SPENDING THIS YEAR, REVERSING A TREND OF YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH SINCE 2020.

>> OUR SURVEY SHOWED PULL BACK IN SPENDING.

5%.

IT IS REALLY GEN Z DRIVING THE PULL BACK GEN Z INTENDS TO SPEND 23% LESS YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

>> A SLOW DOWN IN SEASONAL SPENDING ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, COULD BE GOOD FOR PEOPLE'S POCKET BOOKS THE SHORT TERM BUT MAY HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS THE LARGER ECONOMY.

>> CONSUMER SPENDING DRIVES ABOUT 70% OF AGGREGATE GDP.

IF LARGE NUMBERS OF CONSUMERS PULL BACK SPENDING, THAT MEANS BUSINESSES THAT SERVE THE CONSUMERS ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH STRENGTH IN THE REVENUE OR PROFIT WILL WEAKEN BUSINESS CONDITIONS AND COULD LEAD BUSINESSES TO CONTRACT OR FAIL.

>> IN WASHINGTON, MICHAEL YOSHIDA.

>>> A DISEASE THAT IS KILLING CITRUS TREES IS SPREADING IN SAN DIEGO AND ORANGE COUNTIES.

OUR KPBS REPORTER, THOMAS FUDGE, TALKS ABOUT A LEGAL -- A LOCAL REGION THAT HAS BEEN QUARANTINED TO CONTAIN THE DISEASE.

>> THE DISEASE CALLED HLB, IS SPREAD BY A BUG WHICH CARRIES A BACTERIA THAT ATTACKS CITRUS PLANTS.

THE BUG AND THE DISEASE ORIGINALLY COME FROM ASIA.

THE FIRST AFFECTED U.S.

SUTURES GROVES IN FLORIDA IN 2005 SOON AFTER THAT, THEY SHOWED UP IN TEXAS AND THEY ARRIVED IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA IN 2008 ACCORDING TO GARRETT COOPER WITH THE SAN DIEGO AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

COOPERS SAID HLB WHICH HAS DEVASTATED ORANGE GROVES IN FLORIDA AND TEXAS, GOES BY ANOTHER NAME, CITRUS GREEN DISEASE.

>> ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS IS THE FRUIT.

THE FRUIT WILL BECOME SMALL AND ASYMMETRICAL.

AND IT WON'T REALLY GET COLOR.

IT WILL GET COLOR BUT WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS VERY LOUD LOOKING.

HALF OF THE FRUIT WILL STILL BE GREEN.

>> A YEAR OR TWO AFTER GETTING THE DISEASE, THE PLANT WILL DIE.

WHEN A REGION IS QUARANTINED FOR HLB, CITRUS LINES OR TRIMMINGS FROM THEM CAN BE MOVED IN OR OUT OF IT.

SEVERAL YEARS, QUARANTINED AREAS HAVE BEEN SET UP AROUND OCEANSIDE AND THE FALLBROOK VALLEY CENTER AREA.

NOW, THE DISEASE HAS BEEN SEEN IN SAN CLEMENTE, FORMING A NEW QUARANTINE REGION AND SOUTHERN ORANGE AND NORTHERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

COOPER SAID THE CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT HAS DEVELOPED A CITRUS DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THE VECTOR AND NOW THE DISEASE.

>> YOU CANNOT CURE A PLAN OF HLB DISEASE.

YOU CAN TREAT THE AREA WITH PESTICIDES.

COOPERS SAID THAT AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ARE TRYING TO ENGINEER TREES THAT WOULD BE RESISTANT.

>> REALLY FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING THOSE TYPES OF TREES FOR THE FUTURE.

>> FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN QUARANTINED AREAS CAN STILL BE HARVESTED AND SOLD AT MARKET.

BUT UNTIL THE DISEASE-RESISTANT TREE CAN BE CREATED, COOPER SAID THE QUARANTINES WILL REMAIN IN PLACE.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ABOUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, GET READY FOR WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND EVEN THUNDER POSSIBLE.

WE WILL SEE MORE LEFT OVER MOISTURE FROM WHAT WAS HURRICANE MARIO STILL BEING FUNNELED ACROSS THAT ONLY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUT A MAJORITY OF THE SOUTHWEST THROUGHOUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

FOR TONIGHT, LOW CLOUDS NEAR THE COAST.

RAINFALL DOESN'T REALLY START TO PICK UP UNTIL LATE WEDNESDAY.

TONIGHT, OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE A MIX OF 60s AND 70s.

64 TONIGHT AT OCEANSIDE AND CAMP PENDLETON.

A NICE START FOR EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE RAIN SLOWLY WORKS ITS WAY UP FROM THE SOUTH.

OVERALL, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE MOST PART LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE WARM AND REMAIN DRY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE REGION WITH HIGHS IN 80S.

EVEN SOME UPPER 90S AND PARTS OF THE MOUNTAINS.

THURSDAY, THAT IS WHEN THE RAINFALL STARTS TO WORK ITS WAY INTO THE FORECAST.

AND IT WILL LAST THAT LONG EVEN GOING INTO THE EARLY PARTS OF FRIDAY MORNING.

HERE IS AN EXTENDED LOOK AT THE FORECAST.

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, THAT IS WHEN THE RAINFALL MOVES IN.

RAIN MOVES IN LATE WEDNESDAY AND MOVES OUT EARLY FRIDAY.

ONCE AGAIN, THE WEEKEND IS LOOKING OKAY.

SUNNY SKIES AND HIGHS IN THE LOW 80S.

YOU WILL LOVE THE WEEKEND FORECAST ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS .

AS WE GO TO THE INLAND REGION, RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

TEMPERATURES ARE STEADY IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S.

WE CLEAR THINGS OUT FRIDAY.

AND THE WEEKEND, SUNNY.

PLENTY OF SUNSHINE.

CANNOT BEAT THAT FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS, RAIN CHANCES AND EVEN THUNDER.

THAT IS WHERE WE SEE THE BEST CHANCES OF STORMS.

TEMPERATURES MAINTAINED IN THE 60s.

SUNDAY, WE WARM UP AND SEE SUNSHINE BACK IN THE FORECAST WITH HIGHS CLIMBING INTO THE MID-70s.

ACROSS THE DESERT, TRACKING RAIN CHANCES WEDNESDAY.

TEMPERATURES TAKE A DIP HEADING INTO FRIDAY.

THEM A REBOUND ON THE WEEKEND.

REACHING TRIPLE DIGITS BY SUNDAY.

.

>>> COACHELLA ANNOUNCED ITS HEADLINERS FOR NEXT YEAR.

Q THE DOME DRUMROLL.

A FEW OTHER ARTISTS INCLUDE THE STROKES, DAVID BERM AND IGGY POP.

THE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS APRIL 10th THROUGH THE 12th AND APRIL 17TH THROUGH THE 19TH.

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY.

>>> ACTOR AND OSCAR-WINNING DIRECTOR ROBERT REDFORD HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 89 ACCORDING TO HIS PUBLICIST.

ROBERT REDFORD PASSED AWAY TODAY AT HIS HOME IN UTAH SURROUNDED BY HIS LOVED ONES.

WE HAVE MORE ON HIS LIFE AND CAREER.

>> HOLLYWOOD LEGEND AND LEADING MAN ROBERT REDFORD HAD MANY ROLES IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AS WELL AS BEHIND IT.

HE WAS A TRUE FILMMAKER AND WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR MANY ICONIC FILMS.

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, AND "THE WAY WE WERE."

1969, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID WAS HIS FIRST BLOCKBUSTER FILM, STARRING ALONGSIDE PAUL NEWMAN.

>> THEY ALSO COSTARRED IN THE STING FOR WHICH HE WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTOR IN 1974.

ROBERT REDFORD WAS CAST AS THE ROMANTIC LEADING MAN IN FILMS LIKE "THE GREAT GATSBY BOKUM -- AND AFRICA."

>> I DID NOT SEE MYSELF THE WAY THE OTHERS SAW ME.

I WAS FEELING TRAPPED BECAUSE I COULDN'T GO OUTSIDE THE BOX OF LEADING MAN OR GOOD- LOOKING LEADING MAN.

IT WAS RESTRICTED.

VERY FLATTERING.

IT TOOK YEARS TO BREAK LOOSE OF THAT.

>> ROBERT REDFORD WON A BEST DIRECTOR OSCAR IN 1981, FOR "ORDINARY PEOPLE."

HE DIRECTED A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, QUIZ SHOW AND MANY OTHER FILMS.

A NATIVE CALIFORNIAN, HE WAS BORN IN SANTA MONICA IN 1936.

AS LOS ANGELES GREW, SO DID ROBERT REDFORD'S LOVE FOR PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> I GREW UP RESPECTING NATURE BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO LOS ANGELES.

A BEAUTIFUL CITY.

THE AIR WAS CLEAN.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE WAR WAS SUDDENLY, THERE WERE SKYSCRAPERS AND POLLUTION.

IT FELT LIKE THE CITY I LOVED AS A CHILD WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

SO I MOVED AWAY FROM THAT.

IN SADNESS.

>> REDFORD MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY TO PURSUE AN ACTING CAREER ON BROADWAY.

HIS BIG BREAKOUT ROLE WAS "NEIL SIMON'S "BAREFOOT IN THE PARK."

A ROLE THAT HE WOULD LATER REPRISE ON THE BIG SCREEN WITH COSTAR, JANE FONDA.

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS ON BROADWAY, REDFORD LEFT THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR BEHIND.

IN 1961, HE MOVED TO UTAH WHERE HE BOUGHT 2 ACRES OF LAND FOR JUST $500 AND BUILT A CABIN FOR HIS FAMILY.

>> I DISCOVERED HOW IMPORTANT NATURE WAS IN MY LIFE.

I WANTED TO BE WHERE NATURE WAS EXTREME.

AND WHERE I THOUGHT IT COULD BE EVERLASTING.

>> AND AVID ENVIRONMENTALIST, HE BOUGHT MORE LAND OVER THE YEARS IN PARK CITY, UTAH AND TURNED IT INTO THE SUNDANCE INSTITUTE IN 1981.

A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS.

FOUR YEARS LATER, HE STARTED THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOWCASE THE WORK.

>> WHEN THE PRESS CAME, FASHION CAME.

WHEN FASHION CAME, THE PAPARAZZI CAME.

IT IS THEIR BUSINESS BUT IT IS NOT WHO WE ARE.

>> HIS LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUED.

>> YEARS WENT ON AND I BECAME MORE CONVINCED THAT NATURE PLAYED A GREAT ROLE IN OUR LIVES BUT WASN'T BEING TREATED FAIRLY.

I COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THAT.

>> BUT HE DID NOT STOP ACTING AND DIRECTING AND WAS AWARDED AN HONORARY OSCAR IN 2002, FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO FILMMAKING .

>> I WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN.

YOU KEEP PUSHING YOURSELF FORWARD AND TRYING NEW THINGS AND IT IS INVIGORATING.

I GUESS I FOUND OUT THAT, RATHER THAN RETIRING, IT JUST FEELS BETTER TO KEEP MOVING AS LONG AS YOU CAN KEEP MOVING.

I'M JEFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL SPARS WITH LAWMAKERS DURING A HEATED HEARING ON CAPITOL HILL.

THAT IS AT 7:00 AFTER THE EVENING EDITION ON KPBS!

>>> HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE FOR YOU TOMORROW.

THE MORNING EDITION SPEAKS WITH A LEGAL SCHOLAR ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT'S EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD'S INDEPENDENCE.

>>> AND KPBS MIDDAY EDITION IS TALKING TO TWO TENNIS PLAYERS THAT JUST COMPETED IN THE U.S.

OPEN.

>>> AND YOU CAN FIND OUR STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE ON KPBS.ORG.

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