♪ ♪ >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS "EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY, ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, HELPING HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN DRAINS, HEATING, AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978, AND BY THE CONRAD PURVIS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCO AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29th.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I AM IN FOR MAYA TRABULSI .

WE NOW KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL FOUR PEOPLE KILLED MONDAY NIGHT IN THAT CRASH OF A JET NEAR GILLESPIE FIELD IN EL CAJON .

MJ PEREZ HAS MORE ON THE IDENTITIES OF THE FLIGHT NURSES ON BOARD AND THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT WENT WRONG.

>> IT IS A POIGNANT PICTURE.

THE TWO FLIGHT NURSES STANDING IN FOR FRONT OF THE LEARJET THEY FLEW IN SO OFTEN TO CARE FOR MEDICAL PATIENTS.

THEY HAD LONG CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE THAT ENDED IN THIS TRAGIC PLANE CRASH MONDAY NIGHT.

THE PLANE WAS ON APPROACH TO GILLESPIE FIELD WHEN IT SLAMMED INTO THE GROUND ALONG PEPPER DRIVE INDICES COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EMTs AND PARAMEDICS, LOCAL 162.

THE UNION THEY BOTH WERE MEMBERS OF.

ARIANNA ALIOTO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT AND A PERSONAL FRIEND OF BOTH.

>> IT IS A HUGE LOSS FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS.

THEY HAD LONG CAREERS.

THEY FIGURE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THEY HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> INVESTIGATORS WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD SPENT THE DAY GOING THROUGH THE CRASH SITE, LOOKING FOR CLUES TO WHAT WENT WRONG.

SOME POWER AND INTERNET CONNECTIONS ARE STILL OUT AS WORKERS TRY TO RESTORE SERVICES.

THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER HAS NOW OFFICIALLY IDENTIFIED ALL FOUR OF THE VICTIMS WHO DIED, INCLUDING THE TWO PILOTS, 45-YEAR-OLD DOUGLAS JAMES GRANDE AND 55-YEAR-OLD JULIAN JORGE BUGAJ.

THEIR FRIEND AND COWORKER TOLD US BY PHONE THAT LAURIE GENTZ WAS A LEADER AND LOGGED MANY HOURS IN THE AIR.

>> SHE WORKED FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT FLIGHT COMPANIES BEFORE, WHETHER IT WAS THE PLANES OR THE HELICOPTER, SHE WORKED IN HOSPITALS, ER INTENSIVE CARE UNITS, AND TINA, SHE STARTED OUT AS A PARAMEDIC.

SHE WAS A FIRST RESPONDER BEFORE SHE WAS A NURSE.

SHE HAS ALSO WORKED AT DIFFERENT HOSPITALS.

>> THE JET WAS REGISTERED TO AARON MEDEVAC RACE AT GILLESPIE FIELD.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON, THE COMPANY ISSUED A STATEMENT, HONORING THE CREWMEMBERS LOSS AND HONORING A COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

>> TINA AND LORI LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

>> STRONG WOMEN AND STRONG MEMORIES TO HOLD ON TO.

MJ PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE U.S. IS SEEING AN EXPLOSION OF NEW COVID CASES, SHATTERING PREVIOUS RECORDS.

CALIFORNIA BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO RECORD MORE THAN 5 MILLION CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS ME FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

AS ISABELLA ROSALES REPORTS, HEALTH EXPERTS ARE BRACING FOR THE PEAK OF THE SURGE IN NEW CASES, WHILE AMERICANS FACE LONG LINES TO ACCESS COVID TESTS.

SEGMENT >> IN THESE LAST DAYS OF 2021, OMICRON IS USHERING IN AN ALL- TIME RECORD HIGH OF NEW COVID- 19 CASES.

>> OMICRON IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

>> THE SEVEN DAY AVERAGE, MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A NEW CASES A DAY.

MEANWHILE, NEW DATA SUGGESTS THAT OMICRON IS LESS SEVERE THAN DELTA.

>> WE SHOULD NOT BECOME COMPLACENT SINCE OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM COULD STILL BE STRESSED IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS HAVE NOT RISEN AS QUICKLY AS NEW CASES.

HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE LAGGING INDICATORS, RENEWED WORRIES ABOUT YOUNG CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION.

ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID PER DAY.

>> WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A VIRUS THAT MAY BE AS TRANSMISSIBLE AS MEASLES AMONGST OUR UNVACCINATED POPULATION, THAT WILL BE VERY ROUGH.

>> COVID-19 TESTS ARE INCREASINGLY HARD TO FIND.

>> WE SAT IN THE CAR FOR 2 1/2 HOURS, THEN FINALLY THE POLICEMAN CAME AND SAID, NO MORE.

SEGMENT A NEW UPDATE ABOUT RAPID AT-HOME TEST.

THE FDA SAYS STUDIES SHOW THEY MAY BE LESS EFFECTIVE IN DETECTING THE OMICRON VARIANCE.

>> THE TEST IS STILL WORTH WILD.

DON'T LET ANYBODY THINK THE FDA IS SAYING, THE TEST IS NO LONGER GOOD.

>> IN WASHINGTON, ISABELLA ROSALES, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE DEMAND FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING IS RISING, BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING TROUBLE TO FIND WHERE TO GET RESULTS QUICKLY.

MATT HOFFMAN SAYS BEE COUNTY IS MAKING IT A LITTLE EASIER BY GIVING OUT FREE RAPID TESTS.

>> HERE YOU GO.

>> I AM PICKING UP A COVID TEST THAT I JUST HEARD ABOUT ON FACEBOOK GROUP.

I AM EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE AND THAT HE HAS IT, EVEN THE TESTING SITES, NO AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT.

>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A COVID-19 TEST, DON'T WANT TO WAIT IN THOSE LONG LINES OR CAN FIND THEM, YOU CAN TRY YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.

THEY COUNTY IS PARTNERING TO GIVE AWAY ONE PER PERSON.

>> I WANT TO RITE AID, CBS, WALMART, EVERYONE IS OUT.

>> THE RESULTS ARE DELIVERED IN MINUTES AND ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE SAN DIEGO REGION.

THEY INCLUDE COUNTY BRANCHES AND REGIONS IN SAN DIEGO, CORONADO, AND OCEANSIDE.

SOME SITES ARE ALREADY OUT OF TEST AND AT THE EL CAJON LIBRARY, THE KIDS WERE GOING QUICK.

>> MY DAUGHTER TOLD US THEY WERE GIVING OUT FREE RAPID TESTS HERE, SO WE CAME DOWN AND GOT IT.

NOBODY ELSE HAS IT.

>> LAWRENCE ALSO SAYS, HE COULD NOT FIND ANY TEST AT PHARMACIES.

HE WANTS TO GET TESTED AFTER HIS GRANDKIDS TESTED POSITIVE PEERS >> WE HAD CONTACT DURING CHRISTMAS.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET TESTED.

>> MANY PEOPLE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

>> MY SON HAS SOME SYMPTOMS, BUT WITH NO FEVER OR NOTHING.

SO, I WAS ABOUT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HIM TO DO A TEST, THEN I DISCOVERED THEY ARE HANDING THESE TESTS, VERY GOOD.

>> EVERYONE WE TALKED TO SAID, THEY HEARD ABOUT THE TEST VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

EACH BOX GIVEN OUT HAS TWO TESTS INSIDE AND THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE TAKEN AT HOME WITH RESULTS IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

PEOPLE SAY, PICKING THEM UP WAS PRETTY EASY.

>> PIECE OF CAKE, A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS.

REALLY APPRECIATE THE SIMPLICITY.

>> ANOTHER THING WE HEARD FROM EVERYONE, THEY WANT THE COUNTY TO KEEP THE FREE RAPID TESTS COMING.

>> IT IS A GREAT IDEA.

>> THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY DO THIS KIND OF THING.

THIS THING IS SPREADING LIKE FIRE, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE HOLIDAYS.

>> BEFORE GOING TO THE LIBRARY, A GOOD TIP IS TO CALL AHEAD AND SEE IF THEY STILL HAVE THE TESTS AVAILABLE.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A PLAN TO EASE COVID TESTING SHORTAGES IS IN THE WORKS.

MORE AT HOME KITS WILL SOON BE ON THE WAY.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS, IT IS MY 500 MILLION OF THE TESTS WITH DELIVERIES EXPECTED IN JANUARY.

THERE WILL BE A FREE SYSTEM, INCLUDING A NEW WEBSITE FOR DISTRIBUTION.

>>> WHILE MUCH OF THE ATTENTION IS ON COVID, THE FLU IS ALSO GOING AROUND.

TODAY, SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORTED THE FIRST DEATH OF THE FLU SEASON.

THE PATIENT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A 42- YEAR-OLD MAN WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

HE HAD NOT BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST INFLUENZA.

HE ALSO TESTED NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19.

THE COUNTY IS ALSO REPORTING 192 LAB CONFIRMED FLU CASES FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 25th.

A SLIGHT UPTICK FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

>>> IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY RAINY HOLIDAY SEASON SO FAR AND ANOTHER STORM IS ON THE WAY TONIGHT.

KPBS REPORTER MELISSA MAE DESCRIBES HOW THE WEATHER IS AFFECTING SAN DIEGO AND.

>> A DAY AT THE BEACH, SCUTTLED BY STORMWATER RUNOFF.

>> WE CAME AND THERE WAS WARNINGS AGAINST THE WATER, BUT THE KIDS REALLY WANTED TO TRY IT.

MY ONE GRANDDAUGHTER HAD NEVER SEEN THE OCEAN BEFORE, SO SHE JUST CANNOT WAIT.

>> LIBBY WRIGHT AND HER FAMILY WERE HOPING TO GO SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN TODAY, BUT THOSE PLANS CHANGED AFTER A LIFEGUARD TOLD THEM THE WATER WAS CONTAMINATED.

>> HE SAID, THERE IS REALLY HIGH CONTAMINATION RIGHT NOW, HIGHER THAN USUAL EVEN, AND THAT THE RUNOFF BETWEEN THE RAINSTORM AND THE WINDS IS REALLY PUSHING UP ALL THE WAY UP THIS COAST.

>> SAN DIEGO HAS HAD FOUR STORMS SINCE CHRISTMAS EVE AND ANOTHER ONE IS ON THE WAY TONIGHT.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST ALEX TARDY SPOKE WITH KPBS ACROSS MIDDAY ADDITION.

>> THE ROADWAYS WILL BE SLICK.

YOU REALLY NEED GOOD TIRES, OTHERWISE, YOU WILL HYDROPLANE, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS.

IN YOUR YARD, YOUR POOL MIGHT BE FILLING UP, RAIN GUTTERS MIGHT BE SPILLING OVER IF YOU HAVE THEM OR THEY ARE NOT WORKING.

>> THERE IS A FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ACTIVE UNTIL EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

>> IT WILL BE HEAVY.

WHAT I MEAN BY HEAVY, IS ENOUGH RAIN WILL CAUSE URBAN FLOODING.

IT WILL CAUSE WATER TO RUN DOWN THE STREETS AND OF COURSE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.

>> THE IMPLEMENT WEATHER SHELTER PROGRAM HAS BEEN IMPLEMENT FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH TWO SHELTERS EXPECTING THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS UNTIL THEIR FACILITIES ARE FULL.

MELISSA MAE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE ARE TRACKING A STORM SYSTEM THAT CONTINUES TO PUSH FURTHER SOUTH HERE IN CALIFORNIA .

IT WILL MAKE ITS WAY DOWN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW MORNING.

THAT BRINGS THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAINFALL.

A LOT OF THOSE HAVE BEEN DROPPED FROM STORM WARNINGS TO WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES.

THEN, WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO AN IMPROVING FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND.

THESE WILL BE DISCONTINUED AS WE HEAD INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING, BUT THE FLOOD WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

KEEP THAT IN MIND.

HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF THE DAY ON THURSDAY.

HEADING INTO TONIGHT, HERE IS THAT RAIN CONTINUING TO PRESS FURTHER AND FURTHER SOUTH, GETTING INTO SAN DIEGO WITH STEADY RAIN EARLY THURSDAY MORNING, 6:00, 7:00 A.M. TO JUST FOR TONIGHT LOOKING TO STAY PRETTY MILD.

UPPER 50s IN EL CAJON.

LOOKING AT DRIVETIME FOR YOU IN BORREGO SPRINGS.

TOMORROW FEATURES PLENTY OF WET WEATHER HERE FOR YOUR THURSDAY, MID 60s IN SAN DIEGO.

60 OUT TOWARD CHULA VISTA, UPPER 50s IN BRUEGEL SPRINGS AND ONLY IN THE 30s IN MT.

LAGUNA.

TRACK OUT SOME OF THAT RAIN FOR THURSDAY.

AGAIN, STEADY RAIN OR THE EARLY PART OF THE DAY THAT LOOKS TO LIFT A LITTLE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS, BUT STILL AFTERNOON SHOWERS POSSIBLE ALL THE WAY INTO YOUR THURSDAY EVENING.

FRIDAY FEATURES ABNORMALLY COOL AIR ACROSS MUCH OF CALIFORNIA, BUT MAYBE SOME LINGERING SHOWERS INTO SOUTHERN PARTS OF CALIFORNIA.

NEAR THE COAST, TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 50s TO LOW 60s AS WE GET INTO THE WEEKEND.

SOME SUNSHINE SHOULD MAKE IT FEEL A LITTLE NICER OUT THERE.

FURTHER INLAND, A LITTLE RAIN LINGERING THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON FRIDAY.

AFTER THAT, WE BRING BACK SHINE SATURDAY, SUNDAY, HEADING INTO MONDAY, TEMPERATURES BUMPED UP A COUPLE OF DEGREES, GETTING INTO THE LOW 60s.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, SNOW POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 30s.

WE WILL SEE THAT FORECAST IMPROVE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

IN THE DESERTS AGAIN, PLENTY OF CLOUD COVER LASTING THROUGH FRIDAY, OTHERWISE WE WILL SEE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE WEEKEND.

FOR KPBS NEWS, METEOROLOGIST JESSICA PASH.

>>> AFTER A LAST-MINUTE SCRAMBLE TO TRY AND SAVE THE GAME, ORGANIZERS ANNOUNCED TODAY THE HOLIDAY BOWL IS OFFICIALLY COUNSELED.

HOLIDAY BOWL REPRESENTATIVES SAID, THEY WORKED WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE STAFF TO FIND A REPLACEMENT TEAM FOR UCLA, WHICH WAS UNABLE TO PLAY DUE TO COVID-19 PROTOCOL, BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND ONE.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST YEAR AT PETCO PARK SINCE THE MISSION VALLEY STADIUM WAS DEMOLISHED.

ALL TICKETS PURCHASED THROUGH TICKETMASTER.COM AND PADRES.COM WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE REFUNDED.

>>> COVID IS ALSO FORCING THEATER CANCELLATIONS IN LOS ANGELES.

PERFORMANCES OF THE HIT MUSICAL, HAMILTON AT THE THEATER ARE CANCELED THROUGH LATE JANUARY BECAUSE OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

PRODUCERS SAY WITH COVID CASE IS STILL RISING IN L.A., I DECIDED TO HOLD OFF ON PERFORMANCES UNTIL JANUARY 23rd .

ALL TICKETS FOR CANCELED SHOWS WILL BE REFUNDED.

>>> OMICRON IS SPREADING RAPIDLY .

ECONOMIC RECOVERY HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

AS BRITT CONWAY REPORTS, ECONOMISTS WORRY WE ARE IN FOR A WEAK START TO 2022.

>>> THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS CANCELED.

BACK TO THE OFFICE PLANS SHELVED .

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAMES CALLED OFF.

BROADWAY SHOWS SHUTTING DOWN RESTAURANTS SLOWING DOWN.

ANOTHER COVID FUELED ECONOMIC LUNCH WITH RISING CASES RAISING SAFETY CONCERNS AND HITTING THE WORKFORCE, ALL WHILE THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND BALANCE REMAINS OUT OF WHACK.

GAS BUDDY.COM PREDICTS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR GAS PRICES COULD FLIRT WITH THE $4 MARK BY MEMORIAL DAY.

AGRICULTURAL ANALYSTS DON'T THINK WE WILL GET MUCH OF A BREAK AT THIS SUPERMARKET EITHER.

BETWEEN PENT-UP DEMAND, HIGH SHIPPING COSTS AND BAD WEATHER, FOOD PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO GO DOWN ANYTIME SOON BUT OF COURSE, THESE ARE ALL JUST PREDICTIONS, BUT ECONOMISTS HAVE DOWNGRADED THEIR FORECAST FOR EARLY 2022 SAY THEY ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON COVID-19 AND CAPITOL HILL.

>> THE BIG PART OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA IS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

THAT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

FOLKS COME OF THE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE GETTING THAT TAX CREDIT WILL NOT GET THAT MONEY EARLY NEXT YEAR AND THAT WILL HURT.

OF COURSE, THIS COMBINED WITH OMICRON MEANS GROWTH GOING INTO NEXT YEAR WILL BE WEAKER THAN PREVIOUSLY ANTICIPATED.

>> BRITT CONWAY REPORTING.

>>> SEVERAL STATE LAWS ARE ABOUT TO TAKE EFFECT IN THE NEW YEAR.

ONE IS AIMED AT ALLEVIATING CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING SHORTAGE, AUTHORED BY A SAN DIEGO LAW MAKER.

>> CALIFORNIA HAS A HOUSING SHORTAGE.

A UNIQUE HOME PRICE BROKE $800,000 IN 2021.

SOME EXPERTS SAY, CALIFORNIA NEEDS ABOUT 3 MILLION NEW HOMES FOR THE GROWING POPULATION, BUT FOR DECADES, STRICT ZONING LAWS HAVE ALLOWED DEVELOPERS TO MOSTLY BUILD SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

>> HI, I AM FROM CAL MATTERS AND I WILL EXPLAIN CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING LAWS IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE.

>> IN THE HOPES OF EASING THE SHORTAGE, LAWMAKERS DID AWAY WITH SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING, A POLITICAL GOAL YEARS IN THE MAKING.

GOODBYE BACKYARDS, HELLO DUPLEXES.

TONY ATKINS OF SAN DIEGO SAYS IF THEY WANT TO, OWNERS WITH ANY PARCEL DESIGNATED WITH ONE STANDALONE HEALTH WILL NOW BE ABLE TO BUILD TWO SEPARATE HOUSES OR A DEPRESSED DUPLEX.

THE EXCEPTIONS, ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.

IF THE LOT IS BIG ENOUGH, IT CAN BE SPLIT IN TWO, MAKING ROOM FOR UP TO FOUR HOUSES.

THAT IS NOT ALL.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR, SCOTT WEINER , OF SAN FRANCISCO, SUCCESSFULLY PUSHED THROUGH ANOTHER LAW THIS YEAR THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO BUILD SMALL APARTMENT BUILDINGS NEAR TRANSIT, SPENT SKIPPING ENVIRONMENTAL USE.

SUPPORTERS HOPE MORE OF THIS WILL DRIVE DOWN PRICES.

CRITICS WORN, NEW HOMES WILL MOSTLY BENEFIT DEVELOPERS AND DISPLAYS LOWER INCOME PEOPLE FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT CALMATTERS.ORG.

>>> IF YOU ARE UNINSURED AND WANT HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, STARTING JANUARY 1st, YOU HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY TO ENROLL.

COVER CALIFORNIA, WHICH RUNS THE STATE'S INSURANCE EXCHANGE, SAYS THE SURGE IN COVID-19 UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR QUALITY HEALTH COVERAGE.

A RECENT STUDY FROM A NONPROFIT THEIR HEALTH, THE AVERAGE ICU COVID PATIENTS PAID OVER $100,000 IN MEDICAL BILLS.

UNINSURED CALIFORNIANS CAN ENROLL IN THE STATE'S HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET IN JANUARY, BUT COVERAGE WILL NOT START UNTIL FEBRUARY 1st.

>>> FOR MONTHS, THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN GYMS EVERYWHERE.

NOW THAT THEY ARE OPEN AGAIN, SOME ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN CLIENTS.

KPBS REPORTER TANIA THORNE SAYS TO ME THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE COVID MADE PEOPLE REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT HEALTH IS.

>>> JOSHUA NOAH DROPS 30 MINUTES EVERYDAY TO WORK OUT FOR AN HOUR.

HE HAS LOST 30 POUNDS SINCE HE STARTED WORKING OUT.

THAT IS WHAT KEEPS THEM COMING BACK.

>> THE PEOPLE, THE ENCOURAGEMENT, THE MOTIVATION, MY FUTURE.

>> AFTER RECOVERING FROM COVID- 19, HE DECIDED TO GET BACK TO THE GYM.

>> I WALKED AROUND, JUST REALLY DEPRESSED, AND NOT A LOT OF CAN GET YOU OUT OF THAT DEPRESSION.

THE HEALTH THING IS SO IMPORTANT IN LIFE.

IT REALLY IS CRITICAL.

>> Reporter: WHEN THE PANDEMIC FORCED GYMS TO CLOSE, IT WORRIED JIM OWNERS HIM ABOUT THE NEED FOR GOOD HELP WORRIED HIM MORE.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> BRAND SAYS, COVID DEPTHS MADE HIM REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE DYING FROM COVID BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HEALTHY.

HE OPENED HIS GYM AS SOON AS HE COULD AND MEDIALLY, HE SAW AN INCREASE IN CLIENTS.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> HE SAYS, LOTS OF HIS CLIENTS STARTED EXERCISING BECAUSE AFTER COVID, THEY SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH TOO.

DURING THIS TIME, EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HEALTHY, HE SAYS.

FUENTES STARTED TRAINING WITH BRANDON ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

HE SAYS COVID WAS ONE OF THE REASONS HE WANTED TO GET HEALTHIER.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> HE SAYS, HE SAW ON THE NEWS THAT EXERCISE WOULD HELP AND TOLD HIMSELF NOW IS THE TIME.

HE HAS LOST MORE THAN 70 POUNDS, HAS NEVER HAD COVID, AND SAYS HE FEELS GREAT.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> BRAND SAYS, HIS TRAINING MODEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH HELP YOU CAN DO IT ALL, WITHOUT IT, NOTHING.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> HE SAYS, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TONS OF MONEY IN THE BANK, WITHOUT GOOD HEALTH, YOU WILL NEVER ENJOY IT.

TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> TONIGHT ON THE "NEWS HOUR" COVID SURGE.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RISING INFECTION RATES AND THE SPIKE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG CHILDREN COMING UP AT 7:00 RIGHT AFTER TRANSIT ONE KPBS.

>>> AS WE WRAP UP 2021, WE ARE IS VISITING SOME OF OUR FEATURE REPORTING.

THIS FALL, WE MET A HIGHSCHOOLER WHO IS ALSO A VOTING MEMBER OF SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SPORT.

MJ PEREZ INTRODUCES US TO THE YOUNG MAN, WHO IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE SURE STUDENT VOICES ARE HEARD.

>> DID HE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH HIS FATHER, OR WAS THAT AN INDIRECT CONNECT?

>> ZACHARY PATTERSON IS A STUDENT WHO LIKES TO ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

ON THIS DAY, THE QUESTIONS COME IN THIS ENGLISH LITERATURE CLASS.

HERE AT UNIVERSITY CITY HIGH SCHOOL, ZACHARY IS A SENIOR.

LIKE MANY OF HIS CLASSMATES, PREPARING FOR GRADUATION, HE IS STRESSED.

>> I AM IN AP CLASSES.

I AM A STUDENT THAT IS WORKING HARD, BUT HANDS-DOWN, IT TAKES A TOLL ON MY MENTAL HEALTH.

HE DOES TAKE A TOLL ON ME BEING ABLE TO DO THIS.

I GUESS I LOVE IT.

>> HE IS NOT JUST TALKING CLASS ASSIGNMENTS, ZACHARY HAS ANOTHER LOVE.

>> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I, STATE YOUR NAME.

>> I, ZACHARY PATTERSON.

>> Reporter: IN JUNE, HE WAS SWORN IN AS A SECOND TERM AS THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE SAN DIEGO BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SANDY MARTIN, THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, AND CURRENT DEPUTY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DID THE ULNAR ONLINE.

SHE IS ONE OF ZACHARY'S MENTORS.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO D.C., MAYBE WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH MY OLD SUPERINTENDENT, MY GOOD FRIEND SANDY MARTIN.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY EXPERIENCE.

>> FOR NOW, HE'S GRATEFUL TO SERVE THE MORE THAN 100,000 STUDENTS IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

HE IS THE FIRST EVER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, A POSITION HE STARTED CAMPAIGNING FOR IN SEVENTH GRADE.

WITH THE HELP OF OTHERS, HE CREATED A STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD FIRST BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO SCHOOL BOARD IN 2019.

>> I GET TO SPEAK AS A BOARD MEMBER.

IN THE END, 95% OF MY EXPERIENCES ARE FORMED RIGHT HERE ON MY CAMPUS IN TALKING TO STUDENTS IN THAT RELATIONSHIP I HAVE, NOT AS A BOARD MEMBER, TO CONSTITUENT, BUT A STUDENT TO STUDENT, PEER TO PEER.

>> WE ARE USING RAZZ KIDS.

>> IS THERE A PROGRAM IN SPANISH?

>> ZACHARY IS FLUENT IN SPANISH, WHICH WAS HELPFUL ON A TOUR OF THE DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM.

THIS IS WHERE HE COLLECTS INFORMATION AND CONCERNS FROM STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO TAKE BACK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] >> ALONG WITH CAMPUS TOURS, THERE ARE PRESS CONFERENCES TOO.

>> WE GET VACCINATED, IF WE STAY STRONG, WE SEND A MESSAGE WE BELIEVE IN SCIENCE.

>> A MONTH AGO, ZACHARY WAS THE BOARD MEMBER WHO PROPOSED LOWERING THE AGE OF THE COVID VACCINATION MEDIC FOR STUDENTS AS YOUNG AS 12 YEARS OLD.

FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE AND THE LEAD OF THE LOS ANGELES AND OAKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

HE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATION OF A STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS AND LEADING THE EFFORT TO ADD A MENTAL HEALTH CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS.

ZACHARY SAYS, COMPETING ON HIS HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY TEAM HELPS HIS MENTAL HEALTH, ALONG WITH MEDITATION, AND WATCHING A PARTICULAR TV SHOW THAT REFLECTS HIS LIFE.

HE IS A PARKS AND REC FAN.

>> I WILL DRAW PARALLELS BETWEEN JUST THE CRAZINESS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S FEAR OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT IS SUPER FUNNY.

I WILL SOMETIMES LAUGH WHILE WATCHING THE SHOW.

>> MIKE IS THE NEW PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSITY CITY HIGH SCHOOL, FIRST MET ZACHARY ON A ZOOM CALL , AND NOTICED HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS BEAMING THROUGH THE SCREEN RIGHT AWAY.

>> I AM AMAZED BY HIS ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE WAY HE DOES WITH THE ADULT WORLD AND COME BACK TO SCHOOL AND BE A KID.

HE DOES IT WITH EASE.

HE DOES IT WITH -- LIKE A SEASONED VETERAN.

>> ZACHARY PATTERSON IS VERY MUCH A YOUNG MAN ON A MISSION TO MAKE SURE STUDENT VOICES ARE HEARD, BUT THAT MISSION IS REALLY JUST GETTING STARTED.

AS THE SAYING GOES, IT'S A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT.

HE TEXTS WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MARTIN ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND HAS APPLIED TO 16 COLLEGES, MOSTLY ON THE EAST COAST, HOPING TO GET A CLOSE TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AS POSSIBLE.

HE WILL NOT BE A TEACHER, BUT WANTS TO STUDY EDUCATION POLICY AND HOW HE CAN IMPROVE IT.

HE HAS ALREADY MADE HIS MARK.

>> EVERYONE WHO RUNS FOR THIS OFFICE IN THE FUTURE AND SERVES IN THIS OFFICE IN THE FUTURE IS GOING TO HAVE NOW THIS CONFIDENCE FROM YOUR EXAMPLE THAT THEY CAN LEAD.

>> WE DESERVE AN EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT IS FOR THE STUDENTS AND BY THE STUDENTS.

I PROMISE THAT I WILL SPEND EVERY DAY THAT I SERVE ON THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND BEYOND, FIGHTING FOR JUST THAT.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING NO ONE QUESTIONS.

MJ PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WANT TO START THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW BEST FRIEND?

THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY'S RANKING IN 2022 WITH $22 ADOPTION FEES FOR ADULT DOGS.

THOSE ARE ALL DOGS 7 MONTHS AND OLDER.

THE OFFER IS GOOD TODAY THROUGH JANUARY 2nd AT ALL LOCATIONS IN SAN DIEGO, ESCONDIDO, EL CAJON, AND OCEANSIDE.

HOWEVER, THE HUMANE SOCIETY WILL CLOSE EARLY AT 1:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY AND REMAIN CLOSED SATURDAY, JANUARY 1st.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE ANIMALS AVAILABLE AT SDHUMANE.ORG/ADOPT.

>>> FINAL PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE TIMES SQUARE NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL DROP.

TODAY, ORGANIZERS CONDUCTED THEIR AIRWORTHINESS TEST FOR THE CONFETTI THAT WILL BE RELEASED INTO THE AIR AT MIDNIGHT.

A TON AND A HALF OF CONFETTI WILL BE USED ON THE BIG NIGHT.

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ ♪ >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS "EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY, ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR, HELPING ON A HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM SINCE 1978.

BY THE CONRAD PRIVATES FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCO, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

♪