>> BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR, FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT .billHowe.com AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATIO, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

[MUSI] >>> ELECTRIC CARS COULD BECOME THE NORM UNDER NEW FEDERAL MILEAGE RULES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

A PROBABLY TO TOUGHER POLLUTION RULES ARE EVEN MORE AMBITIOUS THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN CALIFORNIA.

JACOB AERE TELLS US ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR SAN DIEGANS.

> Reporter: CHANGE IS AN URGENT PROBLEM AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMET IS PROPOSING NEW REGULATIONSES TO TRY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ON WEDNESDAY ARE, THE - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PROPOSED STANDAR THAT COULD REQUIRE ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO- ACCOUNT FOR TWO THIRD OF NEW CAR SALES IN THE U.S. BY 2032.

>> WELL, ELECTRIC CARS ARE HERE FOR SURE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMNT IS HOPING TO ACCELERATE THAT TRANSITION.

>> Reporter: MARK JACOBSON SAYS THE LIMITS ARE THE STRICTEST VER PROPOSED AT THE FEDERAL úLEVEL, BUT CALIFORNIA ALREADY HAS SOME REGULATIONS IN PLACE THAT ALL NEW CARS, PICKUP- TRUCKS, AND SUV SALES IN THE STATE HAVE TO BE ELECTRIC OR HYDROGEN BY 2035.

THE TRIBUNAL TRICK IS GOING TO BE TO MAKE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE EV CARS, ADDING CHARGES STAYSES, AND GETTING PEOPLE TO BUY IN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION TO - ELECTRIC VEHICLES ALMOST CERTAINLY AROUND THE WORLD AT SOE POINT POTENTIALLY VERY SOON, MAYBE NOT FOR ANOTHER TEN, 15 YEARS.

IT'S NOT CLEAR, RIGHT?

AND SO THEFEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SPEED UP THAT TRANSITION, PARTICULARLY IN STATES THAT ARE NOT CALIFORNIA OR NOT THE STATES FOLLOWING CALIFORNIA'S LEAD.

> Reporter: TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY 30% OF ALL úGREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE U.S.

ACCORDING O THE EPA.

JACOBSN SAYS THE EFFECTS FROM THIS PROPOSAL COULD GREATLY REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ESPECIALLY IF THE COUNTRY'S ELECTRIC GRID IS ALSO DECARBON YEPSED.

IT'LL ALSO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN SAN DIEGO.

>> IMPLICATIONS ARE PROFOUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR SURE FOR LOCAL AIR QUALITY ELECTRIC CARS ARE FANTASTIC AT REMOVING POLUTION FROM CITIES.

>> Reporter: THE EPA WILL ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITS PROPOSAL FOR 60 DAYS THEN ISSUE ITS FINAL REGULATION.

THE FEDERAL PLAN WOULD REPRESENT THE STRONGEST PUSH YET TOWARDS A úSHIFT FROM GAS AND DIESEL POWERED CARS TO BATTERY POWERED VEHICLES.

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>>> HIGH GAS PRICES ARE ANOTHER REASO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT ELECTRIC CARS.

LOCALLY AAA REPORTS THE AVERAGE - FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR IS 4.93.

PRICES HAVE BEEN JUST SHORT OF THE $5 MARK OVER THE PAST MONTH.

>> THE LATEST STATUS CHECK ON INFLATION SHOWS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SHOWS INFLATION IS AT 5% YEAR OVER YEAR.

IT'S THE NINTH STRAIGHT MONTH OF DECLINES.

INFLATION IS MOSTLY FLAT MONTH TOMANHATTAN WITH JUST A 0.1% NUMBERS.

>>> THE TAX DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BUT IF YOU QUALIFY FOR FREE TAX HELP, MELISSA MAE EXPLAINS WHY.

>> Reporter: IS YEAR, SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THEIR TAXES COMPLETED BY APRIL 18TH.

>> WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY OUR IRS PARTNERS IS THAT THE TAX EXTENSION TO OCTOBER 16TH IS AVAILABLE FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENTS AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTIES THAT QUALIFY WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE STORMS.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO MAKE LESS THAN $60,000 A YEAR ALSO QUALIFY FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION.

>> WE STILL RECOMMEND THAT FOLKS IF THEY'R LOW AND MODERATE INCOME TO GET THEIR TAXES FILED B APRIL 18TH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE BULK OF THE FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE.

- >> Reporter: THE EARNED INCOME TAX COALITION HAVE COMPLETED OVER 11,000 TAX RETURNS.

THAT'S ALMOST 2,000 MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

AND $20 MILLION IN REFUNDS HAVE BEEN ISUED.

>> WE WANT TO BE COORDINATED IN OUR APPROA SO ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THIS- SERVICE ARE GIVING OUT THE SAME MESAGE AND PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

ú >> Reporter: THIS COALITION IS MADE UP OF OVER 35 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUTY THAT PROVIDE FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES.

>> IN NORTH COUNTY, EAST, CENTAL, SOUTH BAY AS WELL AND ALL ONE HAS TO DO IS CALL 211 AND THEY CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANY OF THE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

>> Reporte ALL OF THE COALITION'S PARTNERS ARE CERTIFIED AND ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> BUT THEY CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE VERY FRIENDLY.

TEY MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT VERY WARM AND WELCOMING AND IT'S NOT NTIMIDATING AT ALL.

>> Reporter: THEY' USED THIS FREE TAX ASSISTANCE FOR YEARS.

> THIS IS SUCH A GREAT SERVICE.

WE ENJOYED THE TIME HERE AND IT'S SO EFFICIENT AND THE BEST PART IS WE GET ALL THIS GREAT SERVICE FOR NOTHING.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY A PENNY.

TE PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY UNDERSTANDING IF YOU ARE MISSING SOMETHING, YOU WILL HAVE THE TIME TO PROBABLY GO GET WHATEVER YOU'RE MISSING AND COME BACK AND THEY WILL STILL HELP YOU.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNSURE I THEY QUALIFY FOR THE EXTENSION OR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES, CALL 211.

MELISSA MAE, KPBS NEWS.

ú >>> CHILD CARE IS IN HIGH DEMAND.

THIS HAS THE STATE STEPPING IN WIT FINANCIAL GRANTS TO HELP CENTERS EXPAND.

THE PROBLEM IS PROVIDERS FACE LONG DELAYS IN GETTING THE MONEY.

TANIA THORNE TAKES A LOOK AT THE- IMPACTS.

>> Reporter: BUDS AND BLOSSOMS PRESCHOOL IS ONE OF THE FEW CHILD CARE CENTERS IN FALLBROOK.

OR ANYWHERE IN THE SURROUNDING RURAL AREA.

>> WITH TE LACK OF CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS, IT'S A HUGE DEMAND.

>> NIKKI BOLES GETS CALLS DAILY FROM PARENTS LOOKING FOR OPEN CHILD CARE SLOTS.

>> I HAVE A WAITING LIST OF CHILDREN TO ENTER INTO THE PRESCHOOL.

WE OPENED AND EXPANDED INTO THE INFANT CARE BECAUSE I WAS TURNING AWAY CHILDREN THAT WERE BELOW THE AGE OF 18 MONTHS.

>> Reporter: ST YEAR, SHE GOT A GRANT FROM THE STATE TO EXPAND HER PRESCHOOL TO PROVIDE INFANT CARE.

>> I APPLIED FOR THE FUNDING AND THEY GAVE IT TO US, BUT THERE WAS SUCH A HOLDUP ON RECEIVING THE FUNDING.

>> Reporter: BOLES WAS AWARDED $1 MILLION.

IT WAS GREAT NEWS, BUT THERE WAS A CATCH.

SHE HAD TO WAIT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS FOR THE MONEY.

>> IN ORDER TO OPEN THE INFANT TODDLER, WE TOOK OUT MULTIPLE LOANS, PERSONAL AND BUSINESS LOANS TO GET IT STARTED IN ORDER FOR US TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF CHILD CARE IN THIS AREA.

>> Reporter: SHE HAD TO TAKE LOANS WHIL SHE WAITED FOR THE STATE MONEY TO COME THROUGH.

SHE WAS ON THE VERGE OF HAVING O LAY STAFF OFF.

FINALLY, SHE GOT A PORTION OF - THE MONEY IN FEBRUARY, BUT IS STILL WAITING ON THE REST.

>> THE FUNDING ITSELF, WE WERE EXPECTING A LOT SOONER.

>> Reporter: THIS WAS BOLES' FIRST TIME APPLYING FOR STATE GRNTS AND SHE WAS TAKEN ABACK BY ALL OF THE FINE PRINTS.

>> W FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT A GRANT.

IT WAS ACTUALLY -- IT WAS A CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE TO MEET DEADLINES.

WE HAVE TO HAVE INCOME QUAIFICATIONS FOR PARENTS THAT ARE ACCEPTED TO THAT PROGRAM.

UR RATIOS HAD TO BE LOWER IN THE INFANT AND TODDLER PROGRAM.

SO CARRYING THOSE BURDENS WAS A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO NAVIGATE.

E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. THE STATE AWARDED MORE THAN $30 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SEVEN CHILD CARE BUSINESSES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

SEVERAL OF THOSE BUSINESSES TOLD KPBS THEY HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED DELAYS AND JUST LIKE BOLES, THE CENTERS THAT DO GET FUNDING HAVE TO MEET THE CONTRACT CONDITIONS.

IF THEY DON'T, THAT FUNDING HAS TO GO BACK TO THE STATE.

IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, úCALIFORNIA'S DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AWARDED SAN DIEGO-AREA CHILD CARE BUSINESSES - MORE THAN $21 MILLION.

BUT ALMOST 14% OF THAT WENT UNSPENT.

>> ALL THESE FAMILIES NEED CARE AND ALL THESE PROVIDERS NEED THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CARE.

AND EACH DAY THAT GOES BY IS A LOST OPPORTUNITY FOR A FAMILY ND FOR A PROVIDER.

>> Reporter: KIM MCDOUGL IS A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> SITUATIONS HAPPEN WHERE THE MILLINS OF DOLLARS GO BACK TO THE STATE AND THOSE DOLLARS GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

THEY DON'T GO BACK INTO CHILD CARE.

IT TOTALLY DOES NOT HELP OUR CASE FOR CHILD CARE ADVOCACY.

IT MAKES LEGISLATORS IN THE STATE THINK MAYBE THESE DOLLARS AREN'T NEEDED.

NOBODY IS SPENDING THEM.

WHEREAS THE REALITY ON THE GROUND, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THEM.

>> Reporter: CDOUGAL SAYS LARGER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE YMCA ARE ALSO IMPACTED BY THE úDELAYS.

BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STREAMS OF FUNDING TO PULL FROM.

úBUT SMALLER CENTERS DON'T.

AND FUNDING DELAYS MEANS FEWER KIDS GET CARE.

LIKE BOLES BACK AT BUDS AND BLOSSOMS.

SHE'S CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING NEW ENROLLMENTS.

>> SO IT'S BEEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN TRYING TO FIND CARE AND I HAVE FAMILIES WHO CALL ME DAILY.

>> Reporter: AND ALL OF THOSE FAMILIES HAVE TO GO ON THE WAITING LIST.

TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY PLANS TO REOPEN A BUILDING ON CAMPUS THATAS THE CENTER OF A úHEALTH SCARE AFTER REPEATED TESTING.

THE EXERCISE AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES BUILDING HAS NO PRESENCE OF THE BACTERA THAT CAUSES LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE, AN FOUND IN A WATER LINE HAS BEEN DISINFECTED.

SDSU NOW PLANS TO REOPEN THE BUILDING TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY ON MONDAY, APRIL 24TH.

THE AREA WAS SHUT DOWN IN FEBRUARY WHEN A LONG-TIME PROFESSOR AT SDSU DIED FROM LEGIONAIRE'S DISEASE.

>>> EVEN BEFORE HE TAKES OVER THE NEW CEO OF THE EL CENTRO REGIONAL CENTER IS RESURING RESIDENTS THAT THE HOSPITAL WILL BE THERE LONG TERM.

>> I'M GOING TO DO THE BEST THAT I CAN TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES AND THE CARE THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE VALLEY COMMUNITY.

>>> PABLO IS A FORMER NURSE WHO ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS TO CEO.

HE IS TAKING THE HELM OF THE FINANCIALLY STRAINED HOSPITAL THAT SERVES THE COUNTY'S 180,000 RESIDENTS.

úIT RECENTLY CLOSED THE LABOR AND DELIVERY SERVICE WHILE THE BOARD EXPLORES OPTIONS TO MAKE THE HOSPITAL FINANCIALLY STABLE.

MANY PEOPLE IN IMPERIAL SEEK HEALTH CARE OUTSIDE OF THE VALLEY ND HE WANTS TO CHANGE THAT.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING AND COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS HOSPITAL.

>>> THE REGIONAL RECENTLY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH TO TAKE OVER OPERATIONS DURING RESTRUCTURING.

ONE IDEA TO HELP BALANCE THE BUDGET IS CREATING A NEW TAX DISTRICT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY'S HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO SHARE RESOURCES AS A SINGLE HEALTH SYSTEM.

>>> A FORMER SAN DIEGO CONGRESSMAN WHO RESIGNED IN DISGRACE MORE THAN THREE YEARS AGO OVER A CAMPAIGN FINANCE SCANDAL IS FACING RENEWED SCRUTINY OVER HIS ACTIONS WHILE SERVING IN IRAQ IN 2004.

KPBS MILITARY AND VETERANS REPORTER ANDREW DYER HAS MORE ON THE NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT DUNCAN HUNTER.

>> Reporter: BEFORE DUNCAN D. HUNTER WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS, HE WAS A MARINE ARTILLERY OFFICER FIGHTING IN IRAQ AT THE FIRST BATTLE OF FALLUJAH.

HIS FATHER WAS A CONGRESSMAN AND CHAIR OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, A POWERFUL POSITION WITH INFLUENCE OVER THE MILITARY'S BUDGET.

IT WAS THE SPRING OF 2004 AND AS A RELATIVELY NEW OFFICER, HUNTER COMBAT OPERATIONS CENTER COORDINATING MORTAR STRIKES.

A MARINE PLATOON CALLED IN A TRIKE TO A NEARBY POSITION.

ACCORDING TO A NEW INVESTIGATION FROM THE NPR PODCAST EMBEDDED, HUNTER CHECKED THE WRONG MISSION CARD, DECIDING NO FRIENDLY UNITS WER CLOSE.

HE PLOTTED THE COORDINATES AND APPROVED THE MORTAR STRIKE.

IT LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOLHOUSE COURTYARD.

TWO MARINES AND AN INTERPRETER WERE KILLED.

>> CLEARLY, IF THIS HAD COME OUT BACK IN 2004 THAT THE SON OF THE CHAIR OF THE ARMS SERVICES COMMITTEE WAS INVOLVED IN A DEAD HI FRIENDLY FIRE ACCIDENT, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BIG NEWS.

>> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T THE MARINES DIDN'T EVEN TELL THE FMILIES THEIR LOVED ONES WERE KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE FOR THRE YEARS.

AFTER A COLONEL RECOMMENDED SEVERAL OF THE MARINES BE UNISHED OVER THE INCIDENT, MILITARY OFFICIALS OVERRULED THAT AND NO ONE WAS PUNISHED.

HUNTER'S INVOLVEMENT WAS KEPT SECRET UNTIL THE THIRD EPISODE OF THE PODCAST RELEASED LAST WEEK.

RELEASING THURSDAY, EPISODE 4 PROMISES TO DELVE DEEPER INTO HUNTER'S ROLE AND THE 19-YEAR COVERP.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>> A CITY IN THE BAY AREA IS THE LATEST TO CONFRONT ALLEGED MISCONDUCT WITHIN ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NOW THE CITY'S MAYOR IS ANGRILY CRITICIZING HATEFUL COMMENTS REVEALED BY OFFICER TEXT MESSAGES.

J.R. STONE HAS MORE FROM AN EMOTIONAL PUBLIC HEARING IN ANTIOCH.

[CROWD NOISE] >> I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING ATACKED BY THESE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY APOLOGIZING FOR THE RACISM THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY!

YOU'RE THE PROBLEM!

YOU'RE THE PROBLEM!

>>Reporter: TENSE MOMENTS BETWEEN ANTIOCH MAYOR, LAMORE THORPE, AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN A SPECIAL MEETING WHERE RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS COMMENTED ON ALLEGED RACIST AND OMOPHOBIC TEXT MESSAGES SENT BETWEEN SOME ANTIOCH POLICE OFFICES.

>> IT'S DISGUSTING, IT'S VILE, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE THIS.

THAT PUT A HURT ON ME.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

T'S DISGUSTING.

IT'S MORE THAN DISGUSTING.

>> THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> TO ALL THE OTHER OFFICERS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH USING RACIT TERMS AND CALLING BLACK PEOPLE BY REALLY DEROGATORY TERMS, IT'S TOO MUCH.

>> Reporter: THE TEXTS, PART OF AN FBI AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY INVESTIGAION, HAVE NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

OUR MEDIA PARTNER, THE MERCURY NEWS, OBTAINED A REPORT CONTAINING THE TEXTS IN WHICH OFFICERS USED SLURS AND MADE LIGHT OF NATIONAL CASES INVOLVING POLICE VIOLENCE.

DURING TUESDAY'S MEETING, MAYOR THORPE ADDRESSED THE TEXT MESSAGES AND VOWED TO MAKE CHANGES.

>> THIS IS IN THEIR HEART.

úTHIS IS IN THEIR HEART AND IT'S NOT JUST 17 INDIVIDUALS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT 24 >> 26!

>> 24.

M NOT SWEEPING IT UNDER THE RUG.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

THE INSTITUTION AND STATUS QUO MAY GET UPSET, BUT I'M NOT HIDING BEHIND THAT.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS AND WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> Reprter: THERE IS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE IMPLICATED IN THE REPORT.

ANTOCH POLICE CHIEF STEVEN FORD ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AT HAND SAYING OFFICERS WHO MAY HAVE EEN INVOLVED HERE ARE NOT CURRENTL ON PATROL.

>> THERE'S AOT OF GOOD OFICERS IN THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO WORK HARD EVERY DAY AND WHEN I CAME HERE FROM SAN FRANISCO AFTER 32 YEARS, I NECESSARYNOTICED THE DEDICATION THESE OFFICERS HAVE TO THE PROFESSION.

I'M NOT GOING TO INDICT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

THIS WAS UNFORTUNATE.

LE'S NOT GLOAT IN THIS.

THIS IS VERY, VERY UNFORTUNATE TO THE CITY, TO THIS ORGANIZATION, AND TO THE PROFESSION.

>>> AND THA WAS J.R. STONE REPORTING.

I NEWS SOURCE HAS AN IN DEPTH STORY INVOLVING A SAN DIEGO POLICE OFFICER CALLING OUT WHAT HE DESCRIBS AS ANTI-BLACK RACISM IN THE DEPARTMENT.

OFFICER JOHN COCHRAN IS SPEAKING OUT PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HE SAYS THAT HE'S FILED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES DURING HIS THREE DECADE CAREER.

úFURTHER DETAILS ARE NOW EMERGING ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS INTERNAL CASE FILES.

AND WE HAVE THAT STORY FOR YOU AT KPBS.ORG AND IN TODAY'S SAN DIEGO NEWS NOW PODCAST.

>>> I'M JEFF BENNET.

TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE EPA'S LATEST MOVE TO GET AMERICANS TO SWITCH TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, COMING UP AT 7 AFTER [MUSIC] >>> THE COLORADO RIVER IS ONE OF SEVERAL PLACES THAT SAN DIEGO GETS ITS WATER, BUT OTHER MAJOR% CITIES WITHIN A DAY'S DRIVER OF US RELY ON THE COLORADO RIVER HEAVILY.

LUCY KAFANOV EXPLAINS THE TOUGH CHOICES THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE MADE IF CLIMATE TRENDS CONTINUE.

>> Reporter: AS WATER LEVELS S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S RSERVOIRS REMAIN AT ALARMINGLY LOW LEVELS EXACERBATED BY MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF DROUGHT AND CHRONIC OVERUSE, THE FEDERAL GOVRNMENT RELEASING A DIRE ASSESSMENT OF THE PAINFUL CHOICES FACING THE AMERICAN WEST.

ú >> WE CANNOT KICK THE CAN ON FINDING SOLUTIONS AND THE WOMEN AND MEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE SYSTEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF 40 MILLON AMERICANS AND COUNTLESS ECOSYSTEMS.

>> Reporter: SNAKING ACROSS THE SOUHWEST AND INTO MEXICO, THE COLORADO RIVER IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE REGION.

IT WATERS BOOMING CITIES WHILE NOURISHING SOME OF THE NATION'S MOST FERTILE FIELDS AND GENERATES HYDROELECTRICY.

WITHOUT CHANGES, ALL THAT COULD SOON BE AT RISK.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS AHEAD OF US IN THIS BASIN.

BUT THOSE PATHS HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES IN SOME CASES, AND THEY STIR OPPOSITION OR EVEN ITIGATION.

- >> Reporter: THE OPTIONS PRESENTED BY THE INTERIOR DPARTMENT TO CUT 2 MILLION-ACRE FEET IN WATER USAGE IN 2024 ARE GRIM.

ONE PRIORITIZES THE NEEDS OF THIRTY FARMING REGIONS IN CALIFORNIA WHICH ALONG WITH NATIVE TRIBES HAVE A HIGHER WATE PRIORITY CLAIM.

BUT THAT COULD DEVASTATE MAJOR WESTERN CITIES LIKE LAS VEGAS WHICH GETS INHIBIT% 90% OF ITS WATER FROM THE COLORADO RIVER A WELL AS LOS ANGELES AND PHOENIX.

OPTION TWO, SPREAD THE PAIN EENLY.

A THIRD OPTION, DOING NOTHING AT ALL, MIGHT HAVE THE HIGHEST COST IF THE RIVER CONTINUES TO DWINDLE.

>> THIS NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE, WE WILL SEE THE MOST IMPACTS TO THE SYSTEM.

WE CAN EXPECT WATER LEVELS TO CONTINUE TO DECLINE, THREATENING THE OPERATIONS OF THE SYSTEM AND THE WATER SUPPLY OF 40 MILLION PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: WHILE AN UNUSUALLY WET WINTER IS PROVIDING SOME RELIEF, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SOLVE THE COLORADO RIVER CRISIS.

>> EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN THE BASIN KNOWS THAT ONE GOOD YEAR WILL NOT SAVE US FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES OF DROUGHT.

>> Reporter: OR SOME COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA, THE DIRE FUTRE IS A PRESENT REALITY.

PART OF MARICOPA COUNTY, ABOUT AN HOUR'S DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, THE R IOVERDE COMMUNITY, TOO MANY HOMES, TOO LITTLE WATER.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY THINKS THE GOVERNMENT OR SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THE U.S. IS THINKING, AND THEY NEED TO WAKE UP AND PEOPLE NEED TO START CONSERVING WATER OW.

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

>> WE LOST ALL OF OUR WATER.

>> Reporter: DOUGHT HAS ALREADY PUSHED FARMERS LIKE THIS ONE TO THE BRINK.

O YOU FEAR THE FUTURE OF FARMING IN ARIZONA IS UNDER THREAT?

>> YEAH, NO ONE CAN PRODUCE IT LIKE THE COLORADO RIVER CAN FOR FOOD.

NOWHERE ON EARTH IS IT DONE LIKE THAT, SO I'M REALLY WORRIED.

50 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, UNLESS WE COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, FARMING WON'T BE HERE.

>> eporter: BUT TIME TO COME UP WITH THOSE SOLUTIONS IS RUNNING OUT.- [MUSIC] >> CLOUDS HAVE A TENDENCY TO LINGER THROGHOUT THE OVERNIGHT, EVEN A COUPLE OF SHOWERS INTO THURSDAY.

BUT LATER ON THIS WEEK INTO THIS WEEEND, WE'LL BE ALKING ABOUT A WARMING TREND.

MORE ON YOUR WEEKEND FORECAST HERE COMING UP SHORTLY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONDITIONS HERE FOR TONIGHT.

AND LIKE I SAID, SOME CLOUDS% AROUND, A SPRINKLE OR TWO.

NOTHING OVERLY HEAV WHEN IT COMES TO PRECIPITATION.

TEMPERATURES DROPPING DOWN INTO THE MID 50S.

AND THE LOW 50S AROUND OCEANSIDE, CHULA VISTA DOWN TO 53.

SOME SHOWERS FURTHER INLAND OVER SOME OF THE INTERIOR VALLEYS, MOUNT LAGUNA DOWN TO 40.

NOTICE AGAIN, SOME O THE CLOUDS AROUN, SOME OF THE WET WEATHER, THIS WILL PERSIST.

YOU CAN SEE THIS ON FUTURE CAST THROUGHOUT THE LATE EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT.

A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN SHOWING UP, BUT DEFINITELY A LO OF CLOUDINESS, SO MUCH LIKE THE LAST COUPLE DAYS, NOT THAT MUCH IN THE WAY OF SUNSHINE UNTIL THE LATTER HALF OF THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

A LITTLE BIT BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS AT TH POINT, BUT MUCH OF THE DAY WE'LL SEE CLOUDS AROUND AND SOME SHOWERS, AT LEAST SOME SPRINKLES, AND THAT WILL HOLD THOSE TEMPERATURES DOWN CONSIDERABLY BELOW THE HISTORICAL AVERAGE.

ONLY 50S AROUND CHULA VISTA, OCEANSIDE, 72.

MOUNT LAGUNA, 43.

LET'S GO DOWN THE ROAD HERE, A CHANGE IS COMING TOWARDS THE COAST.

ONCE WE GET PAST THURSDAY, WE'LL NOTICE SOME SUNSHINE AND MILDER AIR AS WE TOP OFF INTO THE 60S FOR THE WEEKEN AND HEADING RIGHT INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

VERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE RISING UP INTO THE LOW 50S.

INTERIOR VALLEYS, MORNING SHOWERS THURSDAY.

OTHERWISE, INCREASING AMOUNTS OF SUNSHINE AS WE WORK OUR WAY TO THE WEEKEND.

NICE IN FACT HERE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY ARE HIGHS CLIMBING UP INO THE 70S.

OVERNIGHT LOW RISING UP TO RIGHT AROUND 50°.

AND TOWARDS THE MOUNTAINS, LOOKING AT SOME RAIN ON THURSDAY, SOME WIND, STILL CHILLY FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY.

BUT WE WILL NOTICE A BIT OF WARMING HERE SUNDAY ALSO INTO MONDAY WITH SOME BREEZES WORKING THEIR WAY BACK IN.

TOWARDS THE DESERT, ALSO NOTICE A WARMING TREND HERE AS WE WORK OR WAY INTO THE WEEKEND WITH HIGHS CLIMBING BACK INTO THE 80S WITH SUNSHINE.

I'M METEROLOGIST JUSTIN POVICK.

>> THE POPULARITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAS CAUSED SAN- DIEGO'S LARGEST TECH COMPANY TO REMODEL ITS MISSION.

THOMAS FUDGE TELLS US WHY QUALCOMM NOW SEES ITSELF AS AN - A.I.

COMPANY.

>> Reporter: TH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER AT SAN DIEGO STATE IS TRYING TO CREATE PROGRAMS THAT USE A.I.

TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN MANY DIFFERENT SETTINGS.

BUT ONCE THE PROGRAMS ARE CREATD ON A SUPER COMPUTER, THEY HAVE TO START WORKING ON DEVICS THAT AREN'T SO SUPER.

>> WHEN IT'S TRAINED AND WE'RE PAST THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE, IT'S GOING TO NEED TO EXIST ON EVICES THAT CAN ACTUALLY RUN THEM BUT AREN'T SO -- THEY DON'T TAKE A LOT OF POWER OR THEY CAN HANDLE THESE ALGORITHMS.

SO QUALCOMM FITS IN MORE OF THE EDGE AND ACTUALLY USING A.I.

>> QUALCOMM IS PUSHING THE LIMITS OF TECHNOLOGIES LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> Reporter: A WELL,TRYING TO LINK QUALCOMM WITH A.I.

IN THE MIND O THE MARKET, DON MCGUIRE IS CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER FOR QUALCOMM AND SAYING THE COMING GROWTH OF A.I.

POSES A DIFFICULT QUESTION.

>> WITH THESE LARGLANGUAGE MODELS, PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY EXPECT WHEN THEY'RE QUERYING ChatGPT, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THESE ANSWERS ARE COMING BACK, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM, HOW IS THAT HAPPENING?

TODAY IT'S HAPPENING PRIARILY IN THE CLOUD, RIGHT?

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, HE SAYS, IS DATA CENTERS DON'T HAVE THE POWER AND THE ECONOMIC MODEL TO ACCOMMODATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS ITS USE INCREASES.

>> SO REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER ALL THIS TO WORK AT SCALE IS A.I.

HAS TO BECOME HYBRID, MEANING A CERTAIN AMOUT OF COMPUTATION AND BEHAVIORAL ALGORITHMS HAVE TO BE DONE ON DEVICE AS WELL AS IN THE- CLOUD.

>> Reporter: AND THAT, MCGUIRE SAYS, IS WHERE QUALCOMM COMES IN.

HE SAYS ON-DEVICE A.I.

NOT ONLY APPLIES TO SMARTPHONES AND LAPTOP BUT TO MANUFACTUING PROGRAMS AND TO CARS.

ONE QUALCOMM PRODUCT FOR CARS IS CALLED A DIGITAL CHASSIS THAT INCLUDES DRIVER-ASSIST FUNCTIONS THAT FALL JUST SHORT OF DRIVERLESS CAR TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE'RE NOT AT FULL AUTONOMY- YET, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DRIVER ASSISTANCE GOING ON IN VEHICLES FOM $30,000 AL THE WAY TO $100,000 LIKE LANE ASSIST, FOR EXAMPLE.

LIKE DETECTING IF YOU'RE SLEEPY, DROWSY, AND GIVING YOU A NOTIFICATION.

>> Reporter: ARKETING COMPUTER CHIPS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE CAN BE A CHALLENGE SINCE CHIPS ARE NOT THE KIND OF THINGS CONSUMERS RELATE TO, BUT úQUALCOMM IS TRYING TO GET CONSUMERS WHO CARE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY TO BECOME AWARE OF QUALCOMM'S DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN EVERYTHING FROM COMPUTERS TO CARS.

>> SOME DAY, I WANT A CONSUMER WALKING INTO A DEALERSHIP AND SAYING, HEY, IS THIS CAR POWERED BY SNAPDRAGON?

THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.

>>> AND HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR TOMORROW IN THE KPBS NEWSROOM.

THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST INSAGRAMABLE TIME OF THE YEAR.

MORNING EDITION HAS A STORY ON THE SUPER BLOOMS THAT ARE DRAWING CROWDS HERE IN THE WEST.

>>> AND KPBS ARTS EDITOR WILL JOIN MIDDAY EDITION TO GIVE HER PREVIEW OF THI YEAR'S COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI, GOOD NIGHT.

ú[MUSIC] >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE% POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDIG SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR, RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMDELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 úYEARS.

CA 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT .billHowe.com.

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

[MUSIC] >> AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

[MUSIC]