>>> GOOD EVENING, IT IS WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1st.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM I TRAMEL C. IT IS HERE, A PERSON IN CALIFORNIA HAS BECOME THE FIRST WITH THE U.S. TO HAVE AN IDENTIFIED CASE OF THE OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID-19.

>> THE INDIVIDUAL IS A TRAVELER WHO RETURNED FROM SOUTH AFRICA THE WEBER THE 22nd.

THEY TESTED POSITIVE ON THE 29th.

THE INDIVIDUAL IS SELF QUARANTINING AND ALL CLOSE CONTACTS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND ALL CLOSE CONTACTS THUS FAR HAVE TESTED NEGATIVE.

THE INDIVIDUAL WAS FULLY VACCINATED AND EXPERIENCED MILD SYMPTOMS WHICH ARE IMPROVING AT THIS POINT.

SPOT FROM WHAT IS KNOWN SO FAR, THE INDIVIDUAL IS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.

THE NEWS COMES AS SCIENTIST CONTINUE TO STUDY THE RISKS IMPOSED BY THE NEW VIRUS.

GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAD THIS MESSAGE FOR CALIFORNIANS.

>> LET'S CONTINUE TO DO WE HAVE DONE.

IN TERMS OF MINISTER DOSES OF THE VACCINE.

59.6 MILLION AS NOTED.

92 .1%.

92 .1% OF ALL CALIFORNIANS 18 AND OLDER RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE >> THE OMICRON VARIANT IS LIKELY TO TURN UP IN SAN DIEGO SOONER OR LATER.

WHAT IT DOES IT VERY WELL MAY BE DISCOVERED BY SCIENTISTS AT UC SAN DIEGO.

WE SEE THE UNIQUE WAY THEY ARE KEEPING WATCH.

>> Reporter: SOMETHING WE ALL DO EVERY DAY.

YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR NOT GIVING A THOUGHT TO WHERE THE WASTEWATER GOES AFTER YOU FLUSH.

AT UC SAN DIEGO, A GROUP OF SCIENTIST THINGS ABOUT A LOT.

>> WE ARE REGULARLY COLLECTING WASTEWATER AT SITES ACROSS CAMPUS.

ON A DAILY BASIS FOR A WHILE NO.

>> Reporter: THE WASTEWATER IS COLLECTED BY CONTRAPTIONS AT VARIOUS POINTS ACROSS CAMPUS.

AS DR. LORI SAYS, THEY'RE MONITORING FOR COVID AT UC SAN DIEGO FOR A WHILE NOW.

NOW, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>> WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN THE RESULTS SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE OMICRON VARIANT HAS A DELETION IN THE SPIKE PROTEIN AGENT.

>> NEVER VARIANT SHOWS UP, PEOPLE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE AREA WHERE IT CAME FROM OR NOTIFIED AND ASKED TO GET A NASAL SWAB TEST.

THE ADVANTAGE TO THIS METHOD IS THAT PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL A POSITIVE SAMPLE TURNS IT.

>> SO, CASES THAT WAY ALSO AS YOU MIGHT KNOW WE ARE ABLE TO PICK UP SADIE DELTA VARIANT EARLIER THAN INDIVIDUAL TEST.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO ALSO WORKS WITH THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH COLLECT SAMPLES FROM NUMEROUS SCHOOLS AND SENT THEM TO THE LAB FOR TESTING, CASTING A WIDE NET TO DETECT ANY COLD OUTBREAKS.

NOW, ESPECIALLY OMICRON.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE CDC IS CONSIDERING MORE ROBUST COVID TESTING FOR ALL AIR TRAVELERS TRAVELING IN LIGHT OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

2 REQUIRE EVERYONE TO TEST -1 DAY BEFORE ENTERING THE COUNTRY THEN, GET UPON ARRIVING.

THAT COULD APPLY TO U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS, EVEN IF THEY ARE VACCINATED.

RIGHT NOW, VACCINATED TRAVELERS HAVE UP TO THREE DAYS PRIOR TO TRAVEL TO SHOW A NEGATIVE TEST.

MONDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN BANS ALL TRAVEL FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND SEVEN NEIGHBORING NATIONS EXCEPT FOR U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO VACCINATION DEADLINE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES IS HERE.

THEY MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED OR APPLY FOR AN EXEMPTION BY TODAY OR FACE FIRED.

THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES AMONG VACCINATED EMPLOYEES.

THEY SAY THOSE WHO REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE MANDATE WILL GET A LETTER STATING THEY ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR JOBS AND HAVE 30 DAYS TO COMPLY.

THE CITY WILL THEN BEGIN THE TERMINATION PROCESS FOR THOSE WHO FAILED TO DO SO.

STRUCK INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS SAY VACCINES ARE KEY TO STOPPING DEVELOPMENT OF MORE VARIANTS.

TODAY, KPBS VISITED A VACCINATION EVENT AT HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER 12 YEARS OLD LINED UP AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TODAY TO RECEIVE THE FIRST, SECOND OR BOOSTED OVER 19 VACCINE IN THE NEW RENOVATED THEATER.

SHE CAME WITH HER MOTHER TO THE EVENT.

EACH OF THEM GOT THE FIRST DOSE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE.

SHE SAYS SHE CAME TO THE EVENT AS A VACCINATION DEADLINE IS QUICKLY APPROACHING FOR HER SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> WE ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO GET EVENTUALLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT, LIKE, I THINK STUDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK ONLINE AND HONESTLY, I DO NOT DO GREAT ONLINE SO I EXPECT TO GET IT.

>> Reporter: THE VACCINATION CLINIC WAS UNEQUAL PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTH CENTERS.. PROVIDING EASY ACCESS FOR OVER 19 VACCINE IS KEY.

>> IT IS A BIT IRONIC, THIS IS THE TYPE OF PERFORMANCE POSTED SO FAR.

>> >> >> THEY ARE MONITORED AND COMFORTABLE FOR 15 MINUTES.

AND WE ARE GOOD TO GO.

>> THEY FIRST GOT THERE DOSE OF THE VACCINE AND SHE WAS A BIT WORRIED BEFORE RECEIVING HER SHOT.

>> SOME PEOPLE SAY IT IS BAD OR NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING WITH COVID.

I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS.

>> Reporter: WHILE ANXIOUS SHE UNDERSTANDS THE SAFETY THAT THE VACCINE PROVIDES.

>> IT FEELS GOOD GETTING VACCINATED AFTERWARDS.

IT FEELS GOOD.

>> Reporter: THE HIGH SCHOOL HOPES TO OFFER OTHER SIMILAR EVENTS TO ALSO PROVIDE THE VACCINE FOR CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER.

>>> THE ALPINE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ONCE AGAIN PLANNING A MOVE IN RESPONSE TO PARENTAL DEMAND FOR FREE CHOICE.

THE DISTRICT WAS AMONG THE FIRST IN THE COUNTY TO REOPEN LAST YEAR AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED.

THEY ALSO TRIED TO DEFY THE MANDATORY MASK MANDATE.

THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS TO CREATE AN OPTION FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT GET THE COVID VACCINE TO LEARN AND ON CAMPUS LOCATION TAUGHT BY THE DISTRICT TEACHERS.

I KNOW THEY WIN IT APPLICABLE BEEN AROUND THIS.

TO KEEP HER EYE ON APPLICABLE STEAK IN THIS.

I BELIEVE AGAIN IF YOU READ EVERY LETTER I PUT OUT, IT'S MY MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE IN-PERSON LEARNING TO STUDENTS WHEN POSSIBLE.

>> ALPINE UNION HAS ABOUT 1500 STUDENTS IN FIVE SCHOOLS PER DISTRICT BOARD SHOWS NO CURRENT ACTIVE COVID CASES AMONG STAFF OR STUDENT.

TRACK U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS TODAY IN A CASE THAT COULD OVERTURN ROE V WADE.

THIS IS CONSIDERED THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL CASE ON ABORTION IN DECK IT.

KITTY ALVARADO HAS DETAILS ON THE ARGUMENTS AND REACTION FOR LOCAL WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCATES.

TRUCK OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, PROTESTS.

INSIDE, ARGUMENTS CHALLENGING A MISSISSIPPI LAW THAT MAKES MOST ABORTIONS ILLEGAL AFTER 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS CLARIFIED WHAT UPHOLDING THE MISSISSIPPI LAW COULD MEAN.

>> YOUR FIRST QUESTION IN THE RULE IN WHICH WE GRANTED THE REVIEW WAS WHETHER A PRE- VIABILITY PROHIBITIONS ON ELECTIVE ABORTIONS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> Reporter: IN 1973 ROE V. WADE SET A PRECEDENT THAT MADE ABORTIONS LEGAL NATIONWIDE.

THE CURRENT CASE ASKS IF ABORTIONS SHOULD BE A STATE ISSUE.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE OVERRULING ROE VERSUS WADE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY SAY THAT EXPLICITLY AND IT WOULD BE IN OVERRULING ON THE DECISION.

>> Reporter: THE LAWYERS CLUB OF SAN DIEGO.

SHE SAYS THE DECISION WILL GO BEYOND STATES RIGHTS AND THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

>> ESTATE CURRENTLY HAVING RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LEGISLATION PENDING.

SORT OF READY TO GO.

WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THOSE STATES ARE SIMILAR OR EVEN MORE RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LEGISLATION.

>> Reporter: DURING MORAL ARGUMENTS, THE MISSISSIPPI SOLICITOR GENERAL SCOTT STEWART HAD HARSH WORDS FOR ROE V. WADE AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> ROE V. WADE AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD VERSUS CASEY HUNTER COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE NO BASIS IN THE CONSTITUTION.

THEY HAVE NO HOME WITH OUR TRADITIONS.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD PACIFIC SOUTHWEST SAYS ONE IN FOUR WOMEN HAVE HAD AN ABORTION.

MOST PEOPLE KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS.

>> IT REALLY SADDENS ME THAT IF YOU ARE BEING TOLD WHEN TO CHOOSE AND IF WHILE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO START PLANNING YOUR FAMILY.

NO ONE CAN GET IN BETWEEN THAT DECISION.

THAT SHOULD BE A DECISION BETWEEN YOU AND THE PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILY THAT LOVE AND CARE FOR YOU.

CERTAINLY NOT THE GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO WOMEN MARCH SAYS WOMEN HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THEIR RIGHTS FOR GENERATIONS.

THIS CASE SHOWS THE NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION.

>> IF WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS EVERY DAY, WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR ABILITY TO MAKE THESE CHOICES TO HAVE THIS AUTONOMY.

IT IS A VERY, VERY FRAGILE THING THAT CAN GO AWAY, SO, LET'S KEEP FIGHTING TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: THE SUPREME COURT IS EXPECTED TO RULE ON THIS CASE NEXT SUMMER.

ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE DEBATING A BILL THAT WOULD PREVENT A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FROM INVESTIGATING ITS OWN OFFICERS WHEN THEY SEE PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW, THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICERS OWN DEPARTMENT.

IN THESE INVESTIGATIONS OFFICERS CAN GET DIFFERENT TREATMENT THEN PEOPLE SHOULD APPEAR GOOD MORNING, THIS STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES.

>> Reporter: IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON SUNDAY IN MARCH 2016, TWO MEN MADE CHOICES THAT LED TO POLICE INVESTIGATIONS.

HOW THE INVESTIGATION WERE CONDUCTED AND THEIR OUTCOMES COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFERENT.

THE FIRST WAS JOSE BLANCO, AND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO HAD GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE 711 IN VISTA.

THEN, HE SAW A GROUP OF MEN RUSHING TOWARDS HIM.

HE AND HIS WIFE JUMPED IN HIS CAR AND TRIED TO GET AWAY.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: HE DID NOT KNOW IT BUT THE MEN WERE OFF DUTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES.

THE DEPUTIES SURROUNDED HIS CAR.

HE FIRST THREW IT IN REVERSE, HITTING ONE OF THE DEPUTIES THEN, LURCHED FORWARD.

THAT IS WHEN DEPUTY JASON PHILLIPS ENDED UP ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR.

>> LAYING LITERALLY ON THE WINDSHIELD.

YOU COULD SEE HAS WHITE T- SHIRTS AND SEE HIM DRIVING.

I KNEW I WOULD EITHER FOLLOW THAT THE VEHICLE AND BE CRUSHED OR, HE WAS GOING TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.

EXCUSE ME.

I WOULD BE BADLY INJURED.

OR KILL.

AT THAT POINT I DISCHARGE MY REVOLVER THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD TO TRY TO STOP HIM.

FROM DRIVING OFF.

>> Reporter: THOUGH PHILLIPS WAS NOT WORKING, NOT IN UNIFORM, HE WAS ARMED WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN AND HE HAD SPENT THE NIGHT DRINKING.

2-3 SHOTS OF TEQUILA AND 3-4 BEERS HE LATER TOLD INVESTIGATORS.

HE SHOT BLANCO MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT, BLANCO SURVIVED.

BLANCO TOLD DETECTIVES HE HAD NO IDEA THE MEN WHO RUSHED HIS CAR WERE POLICE.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: LATER THAT MORNING, THEY WERE BOTH QUESTIONED BY DETECTIVES.

BUT, THAT IS WHERE THE SIMILARITIES OF THEIR EXPERIENCES ENDED.

PHILLIPS QUESTIONING WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD, EVEN FRIENDLY AT TIMES.

HE HAD A LAWYER WITH HIM AND THE DETECTIVES HELPED HIM ARRIVE AT ANSWERS.

>> MY DRINKING STOPPED SIGNIFICANT EARLIER IN THE EVENING AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO WORD IT >> I THINK WHAT HE IS GETTING AT IS ANY TIME DURING EVENING WERE YOU INTOXICATED?

>> NO.

OKAY.

>> THAT IS EXEC WHAT I MEAN.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE BLANCO WAS INTERVIEWED BY SHERIFFS DETECTIVES IN THE HOSPITAL WITHOUT A LAWYER.

THE DETECTIVE CHALLENGED HIM OVER AND OVER, TELLING HIM HE WAS LYING.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> IT IS THE FOX WATCHING THE HENHOUSE.

>> Reporter: DAVE MYERS IS A RETIRED SHERIFFS COMMANDER WHO HAS UNDERGONE INTERNAL AND FAIRS INTERVIEWS.

HE SAYS INVESTIGATORS OFTEN TAKE A FRIENDLY APPROACH TOWARDS HER FELLOW OFFICERS.

>> IT IS FLAWED AND INTENDED TO BENEFIT LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT AGREE TO AN INTERVIEW FOR THE STORY.

THE LAWYER FROM PHILLIPS SAYS OFFICERS WHO SHOOT SUSPECTS ARE PROPERLY SCRUTINIZED.

THEY CAN FACE MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS FROM THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT HOSPITALS I'D HOMICIDE DIVISION, THEN INTERNAL AFFAIRS, THEN OUTSIDE AGENCIES.

HE WROTE IN AN EMAIL TO KPBS THE TWO SEPARATE IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE ACTIONS OF PHILLIPS WERE APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THIS INCIDENT WAS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION HE WROTE.

THE DA CONCLUDED DEPUTY PHILLIPS HAD A USE OF LETHAL FORCE WHICH WAS LEGALLY JUSTIFIED UNDER PREVAILING LAW GIVEN THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHICH IS WHY DEPUTY PHILLIPS WAS NOT CHARGED.

AND A KPBS REVIEW OF MORE THAN 300 INTERNAL RECORDS FROM LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES, ONLY ONE OFFICER HAS EVER BEEN CHARGED FOR SHOOTING SOMEONE.

THAT HAPPENS LAST SUMMER WHEN SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AARON RUSSELL WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER HE SHOT A MENTALLY ILL MAN WHO ESCAPED FROM A POLICE VEHICLE AND WAS RUNNING AWAY.

THE REVIEW ALSO FOUND JUST FIVE CASES THAT RESULT IN ANY PUNISHMENT FOR THE OFFICER.

THIS CASE WITH PHILLIPS WAS ONE OF THEM.

IT WAS NOT FOR SHOOTING BLANCO.

HE WAS REASSIGNED AND SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY FOUR DAYS FOR VIOLATING DEPARTMENT POLICY.

THE VIOLATION WAS FOR CARRYING A GUN WHILE HE WAS DRINKING.

CLAIRE TRAGESER , KPBS NEWS.

>> TO SEARCH POLICE RECORDS AND SEE A MAP OF WHERE THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED, YOU CAN GO TO KPBS.ORG .

>>> GET VACCINATED OR HAVE YOUR PAY WITHHELD.

THAT IS THE MESSAGE FROM THE U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN TO MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY.

THE WARNING WAS SENT IN A MEMO TO NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ABOUT THE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS.

HE WROTE PENTAGON FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR PAYMENT OF DUTIES PERFORMED UNDER TITLE 32 FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY.

TITLE 32 REFERS TO OPERATIONS THAT ARE PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD UNDER STATE ORDERS AND PAID FOR BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

HE ALSO ADDED A RESTRICTION ON TRAINING, DRONES AND DEPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT GET VACCINATED.

>>> AS A STRATEGY TO FIGHT ANOTHER GLOBAL VIRUS IS BEING UNVEILED TODAY, TODAY IS WORLD AIDES DAY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS RELEASING A NEW PLAN TO FIGHT NEW HIV INFECTIONS AS WELL AS IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE LIVING WITH THE VIRUS.

IN EFFORTS TO REDUCE HEALTH INEQUITY, CERTAIN GROUPS ARE BEING PRIORITIZED WITH THE GOAL TO END THE EPIDEMIC BEFORE THE YEAR 2030.

IT HAS BEEN 40 YEARS SINCE THE CDC REPORTED THE FIRST CASE OF AIDES.

>>> WE ARE WATCHING AS THINGS COOL DOWN A LITTLE BIT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS AFTER GETTING INTO THE 70s.

WE WILL GOING TO GET BACK UNDER THE 60s.

BUT, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THINGS ARE GOING TO TREND BACKUP LATER THIS WEEKEND HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK.

ALSO WE'RE TRACKING A LOW WHICH DOESN'T HAVE MOISTURE WITH IT.

IT COULD BRING A LITTLE MORE IN THE WAY OF CLOUD COVERAGE MOVING FORWARD.

TEMPERATURES TONIGHT'S GETTING DOWN TO 43 IN OCEANSIDE.

46 TOWARDS MT.

LAGUNA.

FOR YOUR DAY ON THURSDAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT A GOOD AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS BACK IN THE UPPER 60s FOR SAN DIEGO, CHULA VISTA, MID 70s RAMONA TOWARDS EL CAJON AND BORREGO SPRINGS.

ONE OF THE WARMER SPOTS HOLDING ONTO THE MID 80s.

THE PATTERN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS LOOKS TO CONTINUE TO FEATURE TEMPERATURES THAT ARE WELL ABOVE AVERAGE ACROSS THE INTERIOR OF THE SOUTHWEST.

NEAR THE COAST AGAIN WE ARE LOOKING AT A BIT OF A COOLDOWN BEFORE WE WERE UP AGAIN AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

OR I SHOULD SAY AS WE HEAD INTO THE LATER PART OF THE WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK.

NEAR THE COAST WE GO FROM THE MID TO UPPER 60s BACK INTO THE 70s.

SUNDAY MAYBE EVEN CLOSE TO 80 DEGREES BY THE TIME WE GET TO NEXT MONDAY.

FURTHER INLAND, TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 70s FOR YOU, COOLING-OFF SATURDAY.

THEN A BIG BUMP BACK UP TO 80 DEGREES SUNDAY.

BACK INTO THE MID 80s AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT MONDAY.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, TEMPERATURES GOING FROM THE MID TO UPPER 50s FOR YOU.

BRIEFLY DIPPING INTO THE UPPER 50s ON SATURDAY.

THEN WE REBOUND BACK INTO THE 50s SUNDAY THEN 60s AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT MONDAY.

IN THE DESERT, REALLY NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE HERE, MAYBE A COUPLE OF DEGREES FROM DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

GENERALLY LOOKING TO STAY IN THE LOW TO MID 80s MOVING FORWARD.

SO, AGAIN, A GOOD AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE, NOT A LOT OF MOISTURE.

I AM METEOROLOGIST JESSICA PASH FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> A KEY FOCUS IS PRICE IN SAN DIEGO AS A GROUP OF REAL ESTATE EXPERTS MET AT A VIRTUAL MEETING.

MUCH LIKE LAST YEAR, THEY SEE THE ISSUE WITH LACK OF INVENTORY WILL BE STATUS QUO FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AS LABILE AND SUPPLY SHORTAGES HINDER NEW HOMES BEING BUILT.

THAT DRIVES UP THE COST OF LOCAL PROPERTY.

>> MULTIPLE BIDS COMING IN FROM DIFFERENT BUYERS ON HOMES FOR SALE BECAUSE INVENTORY IS SO LIMITED IN A LOT OF MARKETS.

BUYERS ARE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER, IT IS HIM IS LIKE AN OPTION MARKET AND THEY ARE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER TO GET THE WINNING BID.

>> THE COST AT HOME IN SAN DIEGO WAS UP OVER 22% TRAILING BEHIND LAS VEGAS AND PHOENIX THIS YEAR WHICH HAVE ALSO SEEN A HOUSING COST INCREASED.

RENTERS ARE EVEN FEELING THE PINCH WITH RENTAL PRICES GOING UP OVER 6% IN THE LAST MONTH IN SAN DIEGO.

EXPERTS SAY THE LACK OF HOME INVENTORY WILL CONTINUE THE RENTAL PRICE SURGE NEXT YEAR.

>>> I AM JUDY WOODRUFF TONIGHT THE SUPREME COURT HEARS AN ABORTION CASE WITH A POTENTIAL TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE.

THAT IS COMING UP AT 7:00, RIGHT AFTER EVENING NEWS ON KPBS.

>>> CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN ANIMALS ARE POPPING UP AT ZOOS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

RECENTLY, THREE SNOW LEOPARDS DIED FROM PUBLICATIONS IN A NEBRASKA ZOO.

THAT EVERY ANIMAL IS AT RISK.

MATT HOFFMAN WENT TO THE SAN DIEGO ZOO TO FIGHT AT HOW THE VIRUS IMPACTS ANIMALS AND HOW THEY ARE BEING PROTECTED.

>> Reporter: THE PAST 20 MONTHS HAVE REALLY BEEN QUITE INTERESTING FOR US.

>> Reporter: BACK IN JANUARY, THE CITY WAS ZOO SAW THE FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASES.

>> WE HAD THE FIRST REPORTED CASE OF GORILLAS BUT SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN ZOOS AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE HAD POSITIVE CASES, NOT ONLY IN GORILLAS AND TIGERS BUT COUGARS, SNOW LEOPARDS SEEM TO BE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VIRUS.

>> Reporter: THE DOCTOR IS THE CHIEF CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE HEALTH OFFICER AT THE SENEGAL ZOO.

SHE HAS BEEN LEADING EFFORTS TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROM THE SAME VIRUS THAT HAS KILLED MILLIONS OF HUMANS.

>> WE KNOW FROM SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THAT CARNIVORES, TICKLY CATS, BIG CATS AND PRIME AIDES ARE EXTERNALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS VIRUS.

>> Reporter: BETWEEN ZOO MAY LOCATION AND THE SAFARI PARK, OVER 20 CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN ANIMALS PER STAFF USUALLY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET A NASAL SWAB SO THEY TEST FECAL MATTER.

SHE SAYS SICK ANIMALS HAVE SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO HUMANS.

>> SOME ANIMALS GET THROUGH IT.

SOME ARE LETHARGIC.

SOME DEVELOP A COUGH OR FEVER.

SOME DEVELOP ALL OF THOSE THINGS ON DIFFERENT DAYS.

EACH CASE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE.

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE ALL OF THE WILDLIFE IN OUR CARE THAT HAVE CONTRACTED THE VIRUS HAVE FULLY RECOVERED.

>> Reporter: CASES ARE BELIEVED TO COME FROM INFECTED STAFF ASYMPTOMATIC OR WORKING CLOSELY WITH ANIMALS.

OVER THE SUMMER, TO SNOW LEOPARDS TESTED POSITIVE.

>> IT WAS A VERY, VERY TENSE TIME NOT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WHICH WAY IT WOULD GO.

THIS WAS PRIOR TO THEM BEING FULLY VACCINATED IT.

>> Reporter: THE ZOO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO BEGIN USING THE COVID-19 VACCINE APPROVED FOR ANIMALS.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR THE 250 HIGH RISK ANIMALS HAVE GOTTEN COVID VACCINATIONS HERE AT THE ZOO INCLUDING ALL OF THE BIG CATS INCLUDING A LEOPARD UP THERE.

HE SAYS THEY HAVE USED ALL OF THEIR SUPPLY BUT IF MORE BECAME AVAILABLE BOOSTER DOSES COULD BE CONSIDERED.

>> PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE NEW VARIANTS THAT ARE COMING OUT, WE WOULD WANT TO GIVE OUR ANIMALS THE BEST CHANCE TO FIGHT OFF THE INFECTION SO THEY CAN HAVE THE BEST LIVES POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THE ZOO STAFF WEARS FACE COVERINGS AND TRY TO LIMIT TIME SPENT INDOORS AROUND ANIMALS.

THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTED BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS AND SOME ALREADY VACCINATED BUT HER SYMPTOMS WERE MILD.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE FIRST CASE OF SOMEONE INFECTED WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID-19 IN THE U.S. HAS SHOWN UP RIGHT HERE IN CALIFORNIA YOU SEE SAN FRANCISCO RESEARCHERS IDENTIFIED THE VARIANT ON A RETURN TO THE BAY AREA FROM A TRAVELER IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THE PERSON WAS VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19, BUT HADN'T RECEIVED A BOOSTER SHOT.

THEY WERE SET TO BE EXPERIENCING MILD SYMPTOMS.

>>> HERE AT HOME, SCIENTISTS AT UC SAN DIEGO ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE NEW VARIANTS.

THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING WASTEWATER FROM DORMS AND OTHER BUILDINGS FOR MONTHS.

IF OMICRON OR ANY OTHER VARIANT SHOWS UP IN THE BUILDING WHERE IT CAME FROM PEOPLE WILL TAKE A NASAL SWAB TEST.

SCIENTISTS SAY THIS METHOD HAS PROVEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN STAYING AHEAD OF INFECTIONS.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY IS TAKING HOLIDAY EVENTS OUTSIDE THIS YEAR PLAYING AT THE NEW RADIO SHOW AT JACOBS PARK.

THEY WILL BE PLAYING ALONG TO MOVIES FROZEN AND THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL ALONG WITH THREE MORE TRADITIONAL CONCERTS.

THE SYMPHONY CEO SAYS THEY BROUGHT THE TRADITIONAL INDOOR CONCERTS OUTDOOR IN PART BECAUSE PEOPLE FEEL SAFER BEING OUTSIDE AT FULL CAPACITY LARGE- SCALE EVENTS.

IT CAN HOLD 3700 PEOPLE.

THERE ALSO IS A NEW HOLIDAY MENU WHICH CAN BE ENJOYED WITH A PICNIC BLANKET ON THE LAWN OR WITH TABLE SERVICE DOWN FRONT.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE HOLIDAY CONCERTS BUT SOME ARE LIMITED.

YOU CAN FIND SITES STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, I'M MAYA TRABULSI, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.