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

ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING, AND EIGHT, HELPING HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN DRAIN, HEATING, AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE NINETEEN VICE PRESIDENT.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FAMILY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT'S WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

BACK OPEN BUT FOR HOW LONG.

THAT IS THE QUESTION TONIGHT SURROUNDING THE COUNTY'S LARGEST VACCINATION SUPER STATION.

IT COMES AS ANOTHER 539 CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE BEING REPORTED IN THE COUNTY ALONG WITH 57 DEATHS.

THESE CASE NUMBERS ARE SMALLER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN RECENT DAYS BUT WITH THE HIGH NUMBER OF DEATHS AND VACCINE DOSES UNHIGH DEMAND, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SCRAMBLING TO MEET THE NEED.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL BEGINS OUR COVERAGE.

>> Reporter: THE VACCINATION SUPER STATION AT PETCO PARK REOPENED TODAY.

WHETHER IT REMAINS OPEN IS AN OPEN QUESTION.

>> WE HAVE RECEIVED WORD THAT SEVERAL SHIPMENTS THAT WERE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE THIS WEEK WILL NOT BE ARRIVING DUE TO WEATHER.

>> Reporter: IN THE COUNTY'S WEDNESDAY NEWS CONFERENCE, SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER SAID BEGINNING TOMORROW THE COUNTY WILL LIKELY HAVE TO PAUSE VACCINATIONS AT SOME LOCATIONS.

HE DIDN'T SAY WHICH ONES.

FLETCHER SAYS THE COUNTY WILL ALSO HAVE TO RESCHEDULE SOME EXISTING APPOINTMENTS.

BUT HE SAYS SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES SHOULD WORK THEMSELVES OUT OVER THE NEXT WEEK TO 10 DAYS.

THEN FLETCHER SAYS THE COUNTY, ALONG WITH OTHER VACCINE DISTRIBUTORS, WILL THROTTLE BACK UP AND MOVE INTO THE NEXT TIER OF RECIPIENTS.

>> WE DO BELIEVE AND HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT AT THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THAT FIRST TIER OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, TEACHERS, FOOD, AND AGRICULTURE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Reporter: AT THE STATE LEVEL, GOVERNOR NEWSOM CONTINUED HIS TOUR OF VACCINATION SITES.

>> THESE THINGS DON'T JUST MAGICALLY ARRIVE AT THE GROCERY STORE.

>> Reporter: HE WAS IN COACHELLA TODAY, AND HE BROKE SOME NEWS.

HE'S REACHED A DEAL ON LAWMAKERS ON BUSINESS GRANTS AND HOUSING FOR FARM WORKERS WHO HAVE GOTTEN COVID.

THE $24 MILLION PROGRAM WILL PAY FOR FARM AND FOOD PROCESSING WORKERS TO STAY IN HOTELS IF THEY CONTACT THE VIRUS AND HAVE NO PLACE TO QUARANTINE NEWSOME ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE STATE'S RAPID IMPROVEMENT IN COVID NUMBERS.

>> ONE MONTH AGO TODAY WE HAD 11.3% POSITIVITY.

TODAY IT'S 3.3%.

ONE MONTH AGO TODAY WE HAD 42,000 REPORTED CASE.

TODAY JUST OVER 4,000.

>> Reporter: NEWSOME SAYS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS THERE'S BEEN A 38% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED.

SUPERVISOR FLETCHER REPORTED THE SAME POSITIVE SITUATION FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE NUMBERS CONTINUING TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

LIKE FLETCHER, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE IS READY TO RAMP VACCINATIONS WAY UP AS SOON AS THE WEATHER COOPERATES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCREASES ITS ALLOCATION TO CALIFORNIA.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IN CHULA VISTA, FIRST RESPONDERS ARE DELIVERING VACCINATIONS TO SENIORS JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES.

KPBS REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN HAS MORE ON THE NEW PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO HELP THOSE AT GREATEST RISK FROM CORONAVIRUS.

>> IT'S GREAT.

I MEAN, IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THIS SERVICE DONE HERE FOR ALL THE SENIORS.

>> Reporter: THE CHULA VISTA FIRE DEPARTMENT IS BRINGING VACCINATIONS DIRECTLY TO SOUTH BAY SENIORS, PART OF AN EFFORT CALLED OPERATION IMMUNITY.

CAPTAIN LINDA IS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE GET THEIR VACCINATION.

>> Reporter: WEDNESDAY THEY WERE AT A MOBILE-HOME PARK WHERE SOME SAY THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE TO GET THEIR SHOTS.

>> I JUST APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THEY COME HERE, AND IT HELPS US OUT, YOU KNOW.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOOKING FOR TRANSPORTATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T DRIVE OVER HERE.

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

>> Reporter: TEAMS WERE PREPARED TO DELIVER AROUND 200 VACCINATIONS.

>> THAT WAS GREAT, FOR ALL THIS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM, THIS IS 55 AND OLDER SO WE'RE ELDERLY PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM RECENTLY STARTED AND IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CHULA VISTA FIRE AND THE COUNTY.

CREWS ARE HITTING DIFFERENT APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND ARE EVEN DOING VACCINATIONS TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS.

>> WE WANTED TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT.

WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST TO DO.

THIS WE'VE DONE AT LEAST FIVE SEPARATE COMPLEXES, AND WE HAVE MORE SLATED ON THE CALENDAR TO DO.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT OUT TO ALL OF THEM, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH VACCINE WE ARE GIVEN.

>> Reporter: PARAMEDICS ARE DELIVERING SHOTS, AND EMTs ARE CURRENTLY BEING TRAINED TO EXPAND THE RANKS OF VACCINATORS.

HOMEBOUND SENIORS OVER 65 CAN CALL 619-476-2397 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AND WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION AT KPBS.ORG.

JUST CLICK ON THE VACCINES TAB ON OUR HOME PAGE, AND YOU WILL FIND A SEARCHABLE MAP WITH CLINIC LOCATIONS AND LINKS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.

>>> MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF RENT RELIEF HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CHULA VISTA RESIDENT.

ON TUESDAY THE CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO HELP PAY BACK RENT AND OTHER MISSED PILOTS BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO COVID.

THE RELIEF FUND GOES BEYOND RENT.

IT CAN ALSO HELP TOWARD PAYING UTILITY BILLS.

AN EVICTION MORATORIUM CIRNLT PROTECTS RENTERS FROM EVICTION FOR NOT PAYING RENT BUT THE BACK RENT DOES ACCUMULATE.

RESIDENTS CAN SEE IF THEY QUALIFY BY VISITING A WEB SUIT OR BY CALLING.

>>> SOME PROMINENT RESEARCHERS ARE CALLING ON FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO DO A BETTER JOB AT A EXPLAINING HOW COVID-19 SPREADS.

HERE'S KPBS REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON.

>> Reporter: AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION IS PROBABLY THE WAY MOST PEOPLE CONTRACT COVID- 19.

UCSD ATMOSPHERIC CHEMIST SAYS TINY AEROSOLS CAN FILL THE ROOM ALLOWING FOR TRANSMISSION EVEN AFTER AN INFECT PERSON LEAVES THE SPACE.

>> IN DOORS, AEROSOLS ARE LIKE BEING IN A ROOM WITH A SMOKE.

THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.

THEY FLOAT OUT.

THEY ARE PRODUCED BY SIMPLY SPEAKING, NOT BICOUGHS OR NEEDSES.

THEY JUST COME OUT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE TALKING.

>> Reporter: HE AND OTHER RESEARCHERS ARE ASKING THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL TO UPDATE SAFETY GUIDANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT RISK.

>> I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT ONCE, AND THIS IS THE WE WILL POUPT OF THE LETTER, I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT ONCE'S IN THE AIR, THAT'S MAIN WAY, THEN WE CAN IMPLEMENT ALL THE MEASURES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.

WE CAN GIVE THE PROPER -- PUT IN THE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE CAN TELL PEOPLE HOW TO MAKE SURE THEIR AIR IS CLEAN.

>> Reporter: DON MILTON OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND IS AMONG THE DOCTORS ASKING THE CDC TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE AIRBORNE RISK.

>> THE COUNTRY IS MOVING FORWARD TO TACKLE THIS PANDEMIC, RAMPING UP VACCINES, EXPANDING THE USE OF MASKS AND A ADDRESSING THE DISPARATE IMPACTS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR.

BUT TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL WE MUST FINALLY RECOGNIZE INHALATION EXPOSURE.

>> Reporter: THE SCIENTISTS JOIN SEVERAL PROMINENT ORGANIZATIONS TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO CREATE GUIDE LIERCHES TO REDUCE THE RISK FOR WORKERS.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS INDICATE THEY ARE NOT CHANGING THEIR APPROACH.

ERIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> KEVIN FAULKNER IS CRITICIZING GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM'S HANDLING OF SCHOOL CLOSURE AS HE CAMPAIGNS TO REPLACE HIM IN A RECALL.

>> I STAND WITH FRUSTRATED PARENTS.

I STAND WITH THEM SAYING, PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED TO SAFELY REOPEN NOW, NOT NEXT MONTH, NOT NEXT YEAR.

NOW.

THE CDC AGREES.

DR. FAUCI AGREES.

>> THE FORMER SAN DIEGO MAYOR SPOKE IN FRONT OF A CLOSED HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO TODAY.

YESTERDAY NEWSOM SAID THE STATE IS MAKING PROGRESS IN CREATING A FRAMEWORK FOR BRINGING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS BACK TO CLASSROOMS BUT THAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE STUBBORN.

SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN LOS ANGELES ARE REOPENING AFTER MEETING THE THRESHOLD FOR ALLOWING UN-PERSON LEARNING.

>>> A NEW STUDY SHOWS BLACK STUDENTS IN SAN DIEGO AND ACROSS THE START STILL FAR MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE HARSH DISCIPLINE THAN THEIR WHITE PEERS.

JOE HAHN EXPLAINS HOW BLACK STUDENTS ARE MORE OFTEN EXPENDED, SUES SPECIALTIOND AND EVEN PHYSICALLY RETRADE.

>> Reporter: THE NEW STUDY FOUND THAT GAPS IN SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION RATES ARE HIGHER.

LUKE WOODS IS AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY AND ONE OF THE LEAD RESEARCHES.

HE SAID DURING A VIRTUAL PRESENTATION THAT THE DISPARITIES EXIST FOR BLACK STUDENTS ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS WHAT WE FIND IS THAT THE HIGHEST RATES OF THE SUSPENSION DISPARITY IS NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S NOT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, IT'S NOT EVEN IN LATTER ELEMENTARY.

IT'S UNEARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE, WHERE BLACK BOYS ARE 522% MORE LIKELY TO BE SUSPENDED THAN THEIR PEERS.

>> Reporter: PERHAPS THE MOST DISTURBING WERE FINDINGS ON HOW OFTEN PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS AND IS HE CLUTIONZ ARE USED ON BLACK STUDENTS.

>> THEY TALK ABOUT THE MECHANICAL RETRAINS.

ONLY 5.3% OF THE POPULATION BUT 31.4% OF THOSE SUBJECT TO MECHANICAL RESTRAINTS.

THIS IS 2021.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

>> Reporter: WOODS SINGLED OUT SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SAYING THE DISTRICT HAS FAILED TO REDUCE SUSPENSION RATES FOR BLACK STUDENTS DESPITE RHETORIC FROM CINDY MARTIN.

ACCORDING TO DATA THE SUSPENSION RATE FOR BLACK STUDENTS INCREASED BETWEEN 2014 AND 2019 FROM 7.8 TO 8.6%.

>> IN SAN DIEGO UNIFIED AND SAN DIEGO KITTEN GENERAL WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.

WE DO.

WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT OVERWHELMINGLY SERVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WELL.

HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING BLACK STUDENTS, THEY DON'T DO AS WELL.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS IS MONTGOMERY MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE LINDA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD.

MORE THAN A THIRD OF ITS BLACK STUDENTS WERE SUSPENDED DURING THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR.

THE SPOKESPERSON SAID NO OFFICIALS WERE AVAILABLE TO COMMENT ON CAMERA FOR THE STORY.

INSTEAD SHE SENT A STATEMENT SAYING THE RACIAL DISPARITIES FOR SCHOOL DISCIPLINE AT SAN DIEGO UNIFIED ARE CONSISTENT WITH STATEWIDE DISPARITIES.

HER STATEMENT WENT ON TO SAY THE DISTRICT HAS PIONEERED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND THAT IT IS CURRENT WORKING TO REFORM ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS FEEL SAFE ON CAMPUS.

JOE HONG, KPBS NEWS.

>>> 'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS SINCE THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS FIRED AT THE 0 FARRELL CHARTER SCHOOL BUT A LEGAL FIGHT CONTINUES.

>> Reporter: THE O' FARRELL SCHOOL FIRED JONATHAN DEAN WITHOUT CAUSE MAKING HIM ELIGIBLE FOR ADDS 250,000 SEVERANCE PAYMENT.

BUT THE SCHOOL HASN'T PAID UP AND DEAN IS SEEKING THE MONEY THROUGH PRIVATE ARBITRATION.

OFFICIALS WON'T SAY WHY DEAN WAS FIRED.

A NEWS SOURCE FOUND THE SCHOOL WAS INVESTIGATING HIM FOR MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING A FEMALE STAFFER.

DEAN DENIES THE CLAIMS.

THE OH' FARRELL BOARD HAS REGULARLY MET TO DISCUSS THE ONGOING LITIGATION.

FINANCIAL RECORDS SHOW THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN AT LEAST $60,000 ON LEGAL SERVICES SINCE AUGUST.

FOR KPBS, I'M I-NEWS SOURCE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JENNIFER BOWMAN.

>> FOR MORE GO TO INEWSOURCE.ORG, AN INDEPENDENT PARTNER OF KPBS.

>>> ASSEMBLY WOMAN GONZALEZ HAS UP TROUGH DUESED A BILL AIMED AT IMPROVING CONDITIONS AT WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.

THE GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE ON-THE- JOB INJURIES AND PREVENT WORKER EXPLOITATION RELATED TO QUOTA SYSTEMS.

ASSEMBLY BILL 701 WOULD REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO DISCLOSE WORK QUOTAS AND WOULD PREVENT EMPLOYEES FROM BEING PUNISHED FOR FAILING TO MEET THEM.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO REQUIRE CAL- OSHA TO PROPOSE NEW STATEWIDE STANDARDS TO MINIMIZE INJURY AND ILL BUSINESS RISKS FOR WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEES.

>>> T RUSHINGS NEL PRICE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUND VERSE THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY HAS DIED.

KPBS SPOKE WITH PRICE UNRECENT YEARS ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY AND COMMUNITY POVERTY THAT SPAWNED THE MOVEMENT IN THE LATE 1960'S.

SHE RECENTLY SPOKE TO OTHERS IN THE MOVEMENT ABOUT PRICE'S LEGACY.

>> Reporter: T RUSHINGS NEL PRICE WORE THE TRADEMARK BLACK PANTHER BERET ALMOST AS A SECOND SKIN.

IT REPRESENTED THE ANTIDOTE FOR WHAT HE HAD WITNESSED AND LIVED WITH FIERCE EYES, STRONG VOICE, AND A DESIRE TO PORTRAY WITH PRECISION WHAT IT MEANT TO BE BLACK OR BROWN SAN DIEGO IN NINETEEN KEVIN.

PRICE DESCRIBED A TIME WHEN THE CITY'S RACIAL FAULT LINES RAN DEEP.

>> SAN DIEGO WAS A CONSERVATIVE CITY, AND MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN SAN DIEGO DID NOT WANT ANY INTERACTION WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE INNER CITIES, THE PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO, THE PEOPLE IN LOGAN HEIGHTS.

>> Reporter: PRICE GREW UP DURING THE 1950s AND '60s EVEN THOUGH THE STEY'S RACIAL LINES WERE UNMARKED, PRICE SAID POLICE HARASSED THEM IF THEY STRAYED BEYOND THOSE BORDERS.

>> IF WE WERE ACCOSTED BY THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR WHATEVER REASON, PICK ONE, WE WERE USUALLY TAKEN DOWN BY FATHER JOE'S AT THE LUMBERYARDS, AND WE WERE BRUTALIZED.

WE WERE BEATEN OR TALKED DOWN TO OR CUSSED OUT.

>> Reporter: PRICE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC AS A 17-YEAR-OLD SAN DIEGO STUDENT IN 1967 WHEN THE NATIONAL BLACK PANTHER PARTY IN OAKLAND ASKED THE BLACK STUDENT UNION AT THE UNIVERSITY TO FORM A LOCAL CHAPTER.

>> BECAUSE IT ALLOWED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: AND HELP, HE SAID, WAS LONG OVERDUE.

LIFE WITHIN SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO WAS A TALE OF DUALITY.

WHILE IT WAS IN THE MIDST OF A VIBRANT REVIVAL -- >> NEW TYPES OF MUSIC AND NEW TYPES OF DRESS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO IT WAS A VERY UPBEAT, ROBUST SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: THE FLIP SIDE WERE CIVIL RIGHTS PROTESTS HIGHLIGHTING POVERTY ROOTED IN HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND SUBSTANDARD SCHOOLS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF SOCIAL UNREST, A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

AND THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS AND BLACK COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

SAN DIEGO WAS NOT ANY DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: PRICE SAID THE NEW LOCAL BLACK PANTHERS FED THE ELDERLY, CHILDREN, AND HOMELESS PEOPLE.

THEY ALSO STARTED COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS.

THOSE PROGRAMS STEM FROM THE STRATEGY HE TO EDUCATE, EMPLOY, HOUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, AND DEMAND THAT GOVERNMENT TREATED THEM FAIRLY.

>> YOU TALK BASICALLY THE 10- POINT PLATFORM AND WHAT IT MEANT.

>> Reporter: FELLOW ORIGINAL SAN DIEGO BLACK PANTHER HENRY WALLACE MET PRICE WHEN THEY WERE TEENAGERS IN THE LOCAL PARTY AT SDSU.

>> HE WOULD BE SO STUDIOUS WITH HIS BRIEF CASE.

A VERY SERIOUS YOUNG MAN.

WE SECURED A LAUGH WITH HIM AND DIDN'T MESS WITH HIM.

>> Reporter: THE LOCAL BLACK PANTHERS REACTIVATED IN 2017 AFTER DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECT PRESIDENT.

BUT CURRENT SAN DIEGO BLACK PANTHER CHAIRMAN ROBERT WILLIAMS SAID HE STILL LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND LIFELONG CURIOSITY AMONG OTHER THINGS FROM JUST SITTING AT PRICE'S FEET.

>> PRICE WAS KEY IN TERMS OF HELPING INDIVIDUALS THAT COME TO THE STRUGGLE AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS RECOGNIZE HOW POWERFUL WE CAN BE AS A COLLECTIVE.

>> Reporter: I NEVER GOT TO ASK PRICE ABOUT THE RACIAL JUSTICE PROTEST LAST YEAR FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD UNDER THE KNEE OF A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER.

BUT HE HAD LONG CALLED FOR POLICE TO REFLECT DEEPLY ABOUT HOW THEY INTERACT WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> IF THEY DO THAT, GOD WILLING, THEY'LL REALIZE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, AND THEY SHOULD BE TREATED OTHERWISE.

THE QUESTION IS RESPECT.

THEY THINK, LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD FEAR THEM AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

NO MAN SHOULD FEAR ANOTHER MAN.

>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS.

>> A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR PRICE IS SCHEDULED THIS SATURDAY AT 11:00 A.M. AT NEW SEASONS CHURCH IN SPRING VALLEY.

>>> CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST RUSH LIMBAUGH HAS DIED.

LIMB BUT'S WIFE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON HIS RADIO SHOW THIS MORNING.

HE HAD BEEN BATTLING STAGE 4 LUNG CANCER SINCE FEBRUARY 2020.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AWARDED LIMBAUGH THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM THE DAY AFTER HIS DIAGNOSIS.

LIMBAUGH BEGAN HIS NATIONALLY SYNDICATED CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL RADIO SHOW BACK IN 1988.

HIS POLITICS MADE HIM A POLARIZING MEDIA FIGURE.

RUSH LIMBAUGH WAS 70 YEARS OLD.

>>> THAT WINTER STORM THAT'S DELAYING VACCINE SHIPMENTS IS ALSO CRIPPLING THE POWER GRID IN TEXAS.

NEARLY 3.4 MILLION CUSTOMERS ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER.

AS NADIA ROMERO REPORTS, THE STATE IS NOW FACING WIDESPREAD EMERGENCY.

>> Reporter: FRUSTRATION.

>> IT'S EXHAUSTING.

THREE DAYS FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN 200 YEARS.

>> Reporter: AND DESPERATION MOUNTING.

>> WE WENT INTO THE STORE.

THEY BARELY HAD ANYTHING.

THERE WAS BARELY ANY FOOD.

>> Reporter: AS MILLIONS OF TEXANS ARE LEFT IN THE DARK.

>> NO TELLING WHEN IT IS GOING TO COME ON.

>> Reporter: AND IN THE COLD.

>> WE'VE JUST BEEN TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH, STAY WARM, AND STAY IN THE HOUSES.

>> Reporter: A WEEKEND WINTER STORM BROUGHT UNUSUALLY FRIGID TEMPERATURES TO MUCH OF THE CENTRAL U.S., STRAINING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA.

TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT LAYS MUCH OF THE BLAME ON ERCOT, THE POWER COMPANY SERVICING LARGE SWATHS OF THE STATE.

>> THEY SHOWED THAT THEY ARE NOT RELIABLE.

THESE ARE EXPERTS, ENGINEERS IN THE POWER INDUSTRY.

THESE AREN'T BUREAUCRATS, OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

THESE ARE SPECIALISTS AND GOVERNMENT HAS TO RELY UPON THESE SPECIALISTS TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

>> Reporter: THE CEO OF ERCOT SAYS THE ROLLING OUTAGES ACTUALLY SAVED THE SYSTEM FROM IN A CONTROLLED BLACKOUT.

IT'S A COLD COMFORT FOR CUSTOMERS BRACING FOR YET ANOTHER DROP IN TEMPERATURES.

>> I AM UPSET BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?

I REALLY JUST TRUST IN GOD TO HELP ME.

>> Reporter: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS FORECASTING UP TO HALF AN INCH OF ICE OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS FROM TEXAS TO VIRGINIA.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ONCE THE WEATHER MOVES ON, AROUND FRIDAY, IT WILL BE PLEASANT OUTSIDE.

THE ROADS WILL BE PASSABLE, AND SO FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO AT LEAST GET OUT OF THEIR HOMES, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE A RELIEF.

>> Reporter: NADIA ROMERO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> CAL ISO TWEETED OUT A MESSAGE ENCOURAGING CALIFORNIANS TO CONSERVE POWER TO HELP OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFFECT BY THE EXTREME WINTER WEATHER.

>>> HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR WEATHER HEADLINES.

IT LOOKS LIKE DRY WEATHER WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE WEEK AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT OF WARMING HE TREND THROUGH FRIDAY.

AND THEN THE NEXT SYSTEM SWINGS DOWN THROUGH CALIFORNIA DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

WILL BRING US SOME SLIGHTLY COOLER WEATHER AND SOME STRONGER WINDS, BUT RIGHT AFTER THAT, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A WARM-UP FROM SUNDAY INTO THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK, AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL ABOVE AVERAGE.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR WEATHER FOR TONIGHT.

39 IN OCEANSIDE, 48 IN SAN DIEGO.

RAMONA COOLING DOWN TO 41, AND EL CAJON AT 46.

BORREGO SPRINGS ABOUT 44 HE DEGREES.

AS WE LOOK AT THE WEATHER FOR THURSDAY WE HAVE HIGH PRESSURE UNCONTROL SO QUIET WEATHER HERE.

STILL A LITTLE COOL TIN MOUNTAINS AND INTO THE DESERTS.

BUT WE'RE QUITE PLEASANT HERE.

TEMPERATURE 67 IN OCEANSIDE.

SAN DIEGO HITS 69.

SO SOME ABOVE-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES.

EL CAJON 70s, AND RAMONA IS AT 6 4.

BORREGO SPRINGS SAT 66.

MOUNT LAGUNA, A COOL 42.

THE WEATHER ON FRIDAY, WELL, IT'S DRY.

ALL THE ACTION PRECIPITATION AWISE WELL TO OUR NORTH, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT SOME COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURES.

TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-60s THROUGH FRIDAY, A LITTLE COOLER SATURDAY, THEN IT WARMS RIGHT UP AGAIN SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.

WE'RE IN THE 70s.

INLAND AREAS QUITE PLEASANT, AND THEN THE SYSTEM COMES THROUGH SATURDAY.

LOOK AT THE WARM-UP HERE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.

AND AS WE CHECK OUT THE MOUNTAINS, A LITTLE BIT COOL THERE THURSDAY, WITH A GUSTY BREEZE.

THE NEXT SYSTEM IS THROUGH ON SATURDAY.

AND AS WE TAKE YOU OUT TO THE DESERTS, TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE RISE THROUGH SATURDAY.

TEMPERATURES COME DOWN JUST A TAD SUNDAY, AND THEN PLEASANT ON MONDAY.

AND FOR KPBS NEWS I AM METEOROLOGIST MARK MANCUSO.

>>> TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY WHICH MARKS THE START OF LENT, BUT THIS YEAR IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

REPORTER JACOB EHR SHOWS US THE CHANGES CHURCHES ARE MAKING.

>> Reporter: ASH WEDNESDAY SIGNIFIES THE START OF LENT FOR MANY CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE.

TYPICALLY PARISHIONERS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE ASHES ON THEIR FOREHEAD, BUT ACCORDING TO FATHER PETER AT ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL -- >> THE PRAYER CALLED THE PRAYER OF REPENTANCE WILL BE SAID ONLY ONCE, AND THEN THE PEOPLE WILL COME AND WE ARE USING Q-TIPS TO MARK THE CROSS ON THE PEOPLE'S FOREHEADS.

>> Reporter: THE VATICAN ENCOURAGED PRIESTS TO OFFER THE ASHES WITH A CONTACTLESS MOTION BY SPRINKLING THEM ON THE TOP OF HEADS AS POPE FRANCIS D. BUT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO CHOSE TO HAVE ALL THEIR PRIESTS USE Q-TIPS TO APPLY THE ASHES.

STAFF MEMBER BE KNIT TOE GUT TORSE RECEIVED HIS MARK OF THE CROSS INDOORS.

8 [ SPEAKING SPANISH ].

>> IT FEELS GOOD BECAUSE IT'S A SPECIAL DAY FOR CATHOLICS.

IT REMINDS US THAT WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL, REPENT, CHANGE OUR LIVES, AND IT REMINDS US THAT WE ARE DUST AND WE ARE GOING BACK TO DUST.

SOME CHURCHES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ANNOUNCED THEY WILL FORGO THE ASHES ENTIRELY WHILE OTHERS ARE SENDING ASHES IN ENVELOPES.

BUT AT ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL, FATHER NAVARRO SAYS HE'S GRATEFUL TO HAVE INDOOR SERVICES AGAIN AND IS OPTIMISTIC FOR THE FUTURE.

>> I HAD THE FIRST VACCINE.

MOST PRIESTS HAVE HAD TWO VACCINES.

A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE HERE ARE SENIORS.

THEY ALREADY HAD THEIR VACCINE, INCLUDING MY DEACONS.

THEY HAVE HAD THEIR VACCINES.

SO I'M HOPING THAT BY EASTER, I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO COME.

>> UNDER CURRENT RULE, EVEN WITH VACCINATIONS, INDOOR CHURCH SERVICES REMAIN LIMITED TO 25% OF A BUILDING'S CAPACITY.

JACOB EHR, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SPRING IS HERE.

OR RATHER SPRING TRAINING FOR THE PADRES THAT.

PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORTED TODAY TO THE TEAM'S FACILITY IN PEORIA, ARIZONA.

OTHER POSITION PLAYERS ARE DUE NEXT MONDAY.

ENHANCED HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AMONG THE NEW PITCHING ACQUISITIONS IN CAMP, JOE MUSGROVE, YOU DARE VOICE, AND BLAKE SNELL.

THE SEASON OPEN IS APRIL 1st AT PETCO PARK AGAINST THE DIAMONDBACKS.

>>> AND HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORY.

THE PETCO PARK VACCINATION SUPER STATION IS BACK OPEN BUT MORE SITES COULD BE FORCED TO BE PUT ON PAUSE AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

COUNTY SUPERVISOR CHAIR NATHAN FLETCHER SAYS THE SEVERE WINTER WEATHER ACROSS MUCH OF THE COUNTRY HAS LED TO MORE DELAYS AND EXPECTED VACCINE SHIPMENTS.

HE ADDED THAT APPEAR A POINTMENTS MAY HAVE TO BE RESCHEDULED AT SOME LOCATIONS STARTING TOMORROW.

LAST WEEK'S DELAYED MODERNA SHIPMENT FORCED PETCO PARK TO CLOSE FOR THREE DAYS.

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I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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