>>>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 DRAIN, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND, BY THE CONRAD PREBYSE FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHYLY AND BY THE FOLLOWING-AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, IT IS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27th.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

MANY SAN DIEGOANS REPLACED TO HEAR THE STATE HOMEOWNERS WERE LIFTED BUT NOT EVERYONE.

TONIGHT, A GROUP OF LOCAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCHERS ARE ISSUING A SOLEMN WARNING.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL IS ON THE PROBLEM VARIANT OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS IN SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: IT IS CALLED BE 117.

MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE UK VARIANT BECAUSE IT WAS FIRST DETECTED IN GREAT BRITAIN.

SOME SOBERING NEWS ON THAT FROM UC SAN DIEGO INFECTIOUS TO THE MODELER NATOSHA MARTIN.

>> ALTHOUGH THE PREVALENCE OF THE B117 IS RELATIVELY LOW CURRENTLY IN SAN DIEGO, AT 5%, BECAUSE OF THIS INCREASED TRANSMISSIBILITY, WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL BE THE DOMINANT STRAIN WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

>> MARTIN SAYS THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE B117 VARIANT IS ESTIMATED TO BE 50 TO 70% MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN THE CURRENT STRAIN OF COVID-19 DOMINANT IN THE COUNTY.

MARTIN SAYS EVEN THOUGH IT IS CRITICAL, WE ALL WEAR MASKS OUTSIDE OF OUR HOMES.

THE INCREASED TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THE B117 VARIANT MEANS MASKS ARE LESS EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING INFECTION.

WHY WOULD THE STATE LIFT THE STAY AT HOME OR AT THE SAME TIME THE NEW VARIANT IS SPREADING?

MARTIN SAYS THEY ARE RELYING ON DATA SHOWING CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DECLINING, BUT SHE SAYS THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> PROJECTIONS NEED TO BE REVIVED AS WE SEE VARIANCE AND INCREASED TRANSMISSION AS A RESULT.

>> Reporter: INCREASING VACCINATIONS WILL HELP, BUT MARTIN CAUTIONS JUST VACCINATING MORE PEOPLE WILL NOT GET US OUT OF THE WOODS.

>> WE WILL SEE CASE WAS TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW OR POTENTIALLY HIGHER THAN WE ARE SEEING THEM.

WE NEED A COMBINATION OF A ROBUST VACCINATION PROGRAM AS WELL AS STRICT ADHERENCE TO MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ORDERS TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION.

>> Reporter: AT THIS POINT, YOU MIGHT ASK YOURSELF IF OUR CURRENT VACCINES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE B117 AND OTHER VARIANCE.

THAT FRONT FRONT DR. ANTHONY FAUCI IN WASHINGTON TODAY, HE SAID PRELIMINARY RESEARCH IS THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE NOW ARE EFFECTIVE.

HE ALSO SAID FEDERAL HEALTH AGENCIES ARE PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THEM LOSING EFFECTIVENESS.

IF THAT HAPPENS, DR. ANTHONY FAUCI SAYS HE HAS HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT DRUG COMPANIES COULD QUICKLY CHANGE THE VACCINE FORMULAS.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS .

>>> NURSES ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING THOSE AT UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH, MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD AMENDING SAFE STAFFING SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SAVE LIVES.

THIS MORNING, IN HILLCREST, THEY GATHERED FOR AN END TO ELECTIVE SURGERIES.

THE NURSES SAY THEY ARE OVERWORKED, ARE UNDER STRESS AND WANT THE PROPER CARE FOR CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE DYING.

UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH ISSUED STATEMENT SAYING IT HAS MAINTAINED APPROPRIATE AND SAFE STAFFING RATIOS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>>> CARING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19 HAS INDEED TAKEN ITS TOLL ON LOCAL HOSPITALS BOTH IN STAFFING AND COSTS.

TODAY, CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISAAC VISITED ESCONDIDO, A SITE DEDICATED TO CARE FOR PATIENTS FROM OTHER VERDANT CARE FACILITIES.

WE HAVE MORE FROM KPBS REPORTER JACOB AIR.

>> CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISAAC TOOK A TOUR OF THE 11th FLOOR AT PELLA MEDICAL CENTER ESCONDIDO THIS MORNING TO SEE ONE OVERFLOW ROOM FOR INCOMING PATIENTS WOULD LOOK LIKE AT THE FACILITY.

THE 10th FLOOR IS STATIONED WITH 100 HOSPITAL BEDS AND USED TO CARE FOR 18 PATIENTS WITH COVID-19.

IT IS THE ONLY ALTERNATE CARE SITE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> WE SAW WARM BEDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER SURGE IF NEEDED, THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED , THAT GIVE US SOME RELIEF.

WHAT WE ALSO SAW WAS A STRAIN ON THE ACTUAL INTENSIVE CARE FACILITIES PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH ARE DESIGNED WITH NEGATIVE PRESSURE.

>> THE TWO FLOORS WERE FIRST SET UP IN THE SPRING OF 2020 BY THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP DEAL WITH THE OVERFLOW OF PATIENTS DUE TO COVID-19.

POLYMER HEALTH CEO DIANE HANSEN OF THE 11th FLOOR IS NOT IN USE CURRENTLY.

>> WE ISSUED REGULAR COD, A NORMAL CAUGHT IN A FIELD HOSPITAL.

THE STATE RALLIED AND GAVE US ACTUAL PATIENT BEDS, AN OPEN AIR UNIT.

IT HAS DIVIDERS AND ACTUAL PATIENT BEDS AND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENT'S.

>> DARELL ISSA WAS IMPRESSED BUT WORRIES THE COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE NOT PAID FOR THEIR $3.5 MILLION OF EXPENSES FOR NEW FACILITIES AND STAFF IN THE ESCONDIDO SITE.

>> HOSPITALS HAVE TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING WHEN ASKED, THAT THEY WILL NOT BE DOING IT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THEIR OWN FINANCIAL ABILITY TO PAY OTHER BILLS AND TREAT THEIR OTHER PATIENTS.

>> HANSEN SAYS THIS HAS STRESSED HOSPITAL STAFF.

POLYMER HEALTH HAS ADDED ICU BEDS TO THEIR FACILITIES.

JACOB AIR, KPBS NEWS .

>> SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE TRYING TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE, IN NORTH COUNTY, SUPERVISOR JIM DESMOND SAYS A VACCINATION SUPERCENTER WILL OPEN AT CAL STATE SAN MARCUS.

PEOPLE CAN STOP LOOKING APPOINTMENTS SATURDAY.

>>> IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, THE VACCINATION SITE AT PETCO IS UP AND RUNNING.

IT WAS CLOSED FOR A COUPLE DAYS DUE TO BAD WEATHER.

ONE MAN IN LINE SAYS HE IS GLAD THE AGE REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN LOWERED.

>> OUR FIRST TRIAL ON THE WEEKEND, WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD CHANGE IT TO 65 BECAUSE THAT WHAT WAS IN THE NEWS.

THEN, WE WENT ONLINE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT.

THE NEXT DAY, THEY ANNOUNCED 65 AND OLDER.

>> ONLY PEOPLE WHO WORK IN HEALTHCARE, OR THOSE AGED 65 AND OLDER, CAN GET THE VACCINE AT THE MOMENT.

THE STATE HAS A WEBSITE, MY TURN.CA.GOV THAT WILL ALERT YOU WHEN YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC IS ELIGIBLE.

>>> UC SAN DIEGO HAD A SURGE OF COVID-19 CASES AMONG STUDENTS RETURNING TO THEIR WINTER BREAK BUT NEW CASES HAVE DROPPED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT WEEKS.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER JOE HUNG RESPECT A AND THE UNIVERSITY HOPES TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

>> ABOUT 10,000 STUDENTS ON CAMPUS LAST QUARTER, UC SAN DIEGO KEPT COVID-19 CASE NUMBER IS LOW THROUGH THE END OF 2020.

AFTER THE WINTER HOLIDAY, CASES SPIKED AMONG STUDENTS WITH MORE THAN 200 REPORTED DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE NEW QUARTER.

ROBERT IS A PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE OVERSEEING THE UNIVERSITY'S COVID-19 STRATEGY .

>> WE ANTICIPATED THIS TO HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE COME HOME WITH MULTIPLE GENERATIONS AND SEE THEIR HOSPITAL FRIENDS AND SOCIALIZE.

THIS VIRUS TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, NUMBERS HAVE PLUMMETED DOWN TO SINGLE DIGITS THANKS TO THE TESTING QUARANTINE PROGRAM THE UNIVERSITY HAD IN PLACE LAST YEAR.

>> WE DID A NUMBER OF THINGS, WE HAD SURGE TESTING DURING THE FIRST WEEK TO IDENTIFY AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD, PEOPLE UPON RETURN WHO BROUGHT THE VIRUS BACK.

>> USDC REPORTED 61 CASES AMONG STUDENTS SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC AND 331 SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ROBERT SCHOOLEY EVEN AT ITS PEAK , THEY MANAGED THE SURGE IN CASES.

THE CAMPUS HAD QUARANTINE ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS TESTING POSITIVE.

>> WE NEVER GOT UP TO MORE THAN 180 BEDS, WE HAVE 600.

WE COULD HAVE HANDLED MORE.

WE ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE A BIG BUFFER IN TERMS OF RENTING TERMS .

>> LOOKING AHEAD, ROBERT SCHOOLEY SAID HIS TEAM IS FOCUSED ON WINNING ANOTHER SURGE DURING SPRING BREAK.

HE SAID THE UNIVERSITY OF DESIGNING SPRING AND SO STUDENTS CAN REMAIN THERE INSTEAD OF TRAVELING.

>> REALLY INTERESTING CAREER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS AND THINGS THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO DURING THE CLASS AND SCHOOL YEAR AND TRY TO SEE IF THEY CAN STAY ON CAMPUS AND NOT HAVE TO GO OFF CAMPUS AND SURGE WITH THE VIRUS.

>> ROBERT SCHOOLEY SAID UNLESS THERE IS A DELAY, HE EXPECTS THE UNIVERSITY TO REOPEN FULLY IN THE FALL.

JOE HUNG, KPBS NEWS .

>> THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SAYS IT IS POSSIBLE FOR SCHOOLS TO SAFELY REOPEN AND LIMIT SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS .

IN ONE STUDY, CDC RESEARCHERS LOOK AT SCHOOLS IN WISCONSIN THAT OPENED LAST FALL FOR IN PERSON LEARNING.

THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS 30% LOWER THAN SCHOOL IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF MASK MANDATES AND SMALLER GROUPS.

>>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE U.S. TO COMMIT TO ACHIEVING THEIR CARBON EMISSIONS BY THE YEAR 2035.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVED A MEASURE TODAY.

THIS COMES AS PRESIDENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE.

HERE IS DARRELL FORGES.

>> TODAY IS CLIMATE DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> PRESIDENT BY THE SIGNING EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TO MAKE, CHANGE A CORE PART OF ALL FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY DECISIONS.

>> IT IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

>> THE EXCELLENT HEALTH GAS LEASES ON PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS.

THEY REVIEW EXISTING FOSSIL FUEL LEASES.

THE GAS INDUSTRY AND SOME LAWMAKERS BLASTED THE MOVE SAYING IT IS BAD FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> LOOKS LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN IS WORKING ON A MAKE AMERICA UNEMPLOYED AGAIN.

>> IT WILL BENEFIT JOBS AND OUR HEALTH AND IT WILL LEAD TO THE FUTURE WE WANT TO HAND TO OUR CHILDREN.

>> BIDEN MOVED TO REJOIN THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT AND REVOKE A PERMIT FOR THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE.

>> THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS ANOTHER CRISIS FACING THE COUNTRY.

DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST COVID-19 BRIEFING, THE CDC DIRECTED VARIANCE COULD BE MY CONTAGIOUS.

>> THE VARIANCE SEEMED TO SPREAD MORE EASILY THAN WERE TRANSMISSIBLE WHICH CAN LEAD TO INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES.

>> CURRENT VACCINES SEEM TO BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST IN THE VARIOUS, BIDEN PLEDGED TO HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE FOR AT LEAST 300 MILLION AMERICANS BY THE SUMMER.

>> EVEN SO, IT WILL BE MONTHS BEFORE EVERYONE WHO WANTS A VACCINE WILL BE ABLE TO GET ONE.

>> THERE ARE MORE DARK DAYS AHEAD.

SO FAR, JANUARY IS THE DEADLIEST MONTH OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN WASHINGTON, DARRELL FORGES, KPBS NEWS .

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, IN SAN DIEGO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WERE WARNED TO THE OF A HEIGHTENED THREAT ENVIRONMENT.

THIS COMES AS INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES CONTINUE TO MONITOR THREATS BY EXTREMIST UNHAPPY OVER THE CHANGE OF PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS.

THE WARNING DID NOT CITE ANY SPECIFIC ANTICIPATED VIOLENT ATTACKS BUT ADVISES LOCAL AGENCIES PARTNER TOGETHER TO ADD EXTRA PROTECTION AROUND GOVERNMENT FACILITIES TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

>>> TODAY, CONTRACTORS AND GOVERNMENT WORKERS BUILDING THE BORDER WALL ALONG AMERICA'S SOUTHWEST BORDER MUST STOP ALL WORK.

THE HALT ORDERED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

KPBS REPORTER MAX FROM ADLER GIVES US A LOOK WHERE THINGS STAND IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> OVER 25 MILES OF BORDER WHILE REPLACEMENTS WERE BUILT BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALONG THE BORDER IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS.

AS OF LAST WEEK, WORK IN SEVERAL AREAS INCLUDING THE TOWN WILDERNESS WASN'T GOING.

ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDED A DECLARED NATIONAL EMERGENCY ON THE BORDER AND AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ALONG THE BORDER ONE WEEK TO WRAP UP THEIR WORK AND LEAVE IT IN A SAFE CONDITION WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION REVIEWS THE ENTIRE BORDER WALL PROJECT.

WORKERS HAD JUST BEGUN PREPARING TO TEAR DOWN FENCING AT FRIENDSHIP PARK, NEAR THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

FOR ANOTHER 30 FOOT HEIGHT REPLACEMENT PROJECT, SOMETHING FOR ADVOCATES FOR THE PARK HAD BEEN RALLY AGAINST FOR MONTHS.

MANY ADVOCATES DID NOT EXPECT THE BY THE DEMONSTRATION TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION.

JOHN IS WITH THE FRIENDS OF FRIENDSHIP PARK.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID NOT ANOTHER FOOT OF WILL WOULD BE BUILT ON HIS WATCH.

THAT LED US TO HOPE TO BE THIS IMMEDIATE HEALTH.

WE ARE SURPRISED IT HAPPENED.

>> FOR ELSEWHERE ON THE BORDER, THEY CONTINUED THEIR PROTEST AGAINST THE WALL CONSTRUCTION.

THEY FILED A LAWSUIT OVER THE SUMMER SAYING THE GOVERNMENT SKIPPED NECESSARY REVIEWS INTO WHETHER CONSTRUCTION WOULD DESTROY THEIR HERITAGE SITES AS THEY BUILT THE WALL.

STAN RODRIGUEZ IS A MEMBER OF THE NATION WHO PROTESTED AGAINST THE WALL THIS WEEKEND.

>> TO ME, IT SEEMED LIKE AN EDIFICE THAT WAS CREATED FOR WHITE HEGEMONY AND ALSO XENOPHOBIA.

MARGINALIZING NATIVE PEOPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KATE THEY COMPLETED WAS THE RIOT THAT WE, AS NATIVE PEOPLE, HAVE ON THE BORDER.

>> BIDEN'S ORDER STOPS ALL CONSTRUCTION REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE MONEY WAS APPROPRIATED FOR WALL CONSTRUCTION OR IF IT WAS REDIRECTED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO THE BORDER WALL FROM THE BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

MULTIPLE JUDGES HAVE RULED TRUMPS MOVE WAS ILLEGAL, BUT BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION PROCEEDED ANYWAY.

AS OF THIS TUESDAY, CONSTRUCTION HAD HALTED PROJECTS ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THAT GIVES GROUPS LIKE THE FRIENDS OF FRIENDSHIP PARK LAST MINUTE TO STOP A PROJECT REPLACING WHAT FENCING THAT IS ONLY A DECADE OLD.

ROBERTS REBAR, DEPARTED FROM THE U.S. AND WORKS WITH FRIENDS OF FRIENDSHIP PARK WITH THE MEXICO SIDE, THANKS THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REASSESS THE BORDER WALL PROJECT AND THE FUTURE OF SHARED SPACES ALONG THE BORDER.

>> THIS WOULD BE A OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIALOGUE TO START REGARDING A SIMILAR BY NATIONAL PARKS ALL ALONG THE BORDER TO REALLY LOOK AT CREATING SECURITY ON THE BORDER THROUGH FRIENDSHIP OF BOTH COUNTRIES.

>> A 60 DAY REVIEW OF THE BORDER WALL PROJECT WILL DETERMINE WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH THE MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE BORDER WALL AND RATHER TO RESUME OR TERMINATE PROJECTS.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT MADE CLEAR WHETHER IT HAS PLEDGED NOT TO CONSTRUCT BORDER WALL INCLUDING PROJECTS LIKE MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

PEDRO RIOS IS A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN BORDER COMMUNITIES COALITION.

>> OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION UNDERSTANDS THAT EVEN REPLACEMENT WHILE STILL HAS NOT ONLY DEADLY CONSEQUENCES BUT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF TRANSFORMING THE LOCAL ECOLOGICAL HABITAT THE FRAMING CULTURAL SITES.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT CAN ONLY TAKE PLACE WHEN THE IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY IS CONSULTED ABOUT HOW TO RESTORE THE LAND AND HOW TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE DONE.

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST FROM COMMENT FROM KPBS.

FOR GROUPS OPPOSING THE BORDER WALL, LIKE THE KUMEYAAY, THE PATH FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS CLEAR, SAYS STAN RODRIGUEZ.

>> THEY BROKE MANY OF THEIR OWN LAWS IN ORDER TO PUT THIS EDIFICE UP.

NO WILL STOPS PEOPLE.

THERE IS OTHER SOLUTIONS TO THIS.

A GREAT PERSON, LIKE A GREAT COUNTRY, KEEP THEIR WORD.

KEEP YOUR WORD.

HALT THIS, MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

>> MAX GORDEN ADLER, KPBS NEWS .

>>> HEAVY PRECIPITATION ALL THE WAY.

LOOKS LIKE THAT ARRIVES HERE LATE THURSDAY.

HEAVIEST RAIN AND THE SNOW COMES IN LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

FOR THE WEEKEND, LOOKS LIKE IT WILL DRY OUT AND TEMPERATURES WILL START TO CREEP UP.

WE SEE HEAVY PRECIPITATION ON THE WAY.

IT WILL TAKE IT'S TIME GETTING HERE, LOOKING AT THE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, NEAR 40 IN OCEANSIDE AND 46 SAN DIEGO, EL CAJON, A LITTLE NIPPY, AT 32.

DRAGO SPRINGS IS 37, MT.

LAGUNA IS 29 DEGREES.

HERE IS OUR SCENARIO THURSDAY, RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO PREVENT SLOWLY DOWN THE COAST.

IT WILL NOT ARRIVE HERE UNTIL LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

TRAVELING NORTH WILL BE PRETTY ROUGH WITH THE RAIN AND DEVELOPING SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS.

FORECAST HIGHS TOMORROW, LOW 60s OCEANSIDE AND SAN DIEGO.

EL CAJON IS 67, MT.

LAGUNA, SPRINGS AT 58.

HERE IS OUR FUTURE RADAR FOR YOU AND DURING THE AFTERNOON ON THURSDAY, WE CAN SEE A HEAVY BAND OF RAIN GETTING DOWN TO OCEANSIDE BY THE LATE AFTERNOON AND WE WILL SEE HEAVY RAINS COMING IN AFTER DARK AND LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE A WET NIGHT.

SNOW LEVELS ABOUT 5000 FEET.

THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL SEE ACCUMULATIONS AND UP ABOVE 7000 FEET, WE SEE 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW.

YOU CAN SEE THE WET WEATHER WILL BE WITH US RIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY.

IT WILL BE AN UNSETTLED DAY ON FRIDAY WITH RAIN AND THE MOUNTAIN SNOW.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THE FORECAST.

CLOUDING UP THURSDAY, RAIN COMES AND THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY OVER THE WEEKEND, DRYER AND MORE MILD SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

INLAND AREAS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY, THE RAIN AND MILDER CONDITIONS SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.

THAT IS ALSO HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

WE WILL SEE RAIN ON FRIDAY.

HIGHER TERRAIN SEES THE SNOW AND OVER THE WEEKEND, A PLEASANT 50 SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

WE WILL SEE THE WET WEATHER FRIDAY AND OVER THE WEEKEND IMPROVING TEMPERATURES.

FOR KPBS, I AM METEOROLOGIST MARK MANCUSO.

>>> TO THE IS THE 76th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP BY THE RED ARMY.

THE MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST ARE HONORED AS THE STATE OF INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY.

USD SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR DR. THOMAS DRIVER SAYS IT IS URGENT THAT WE REMEMBER THE PAST.

>> THE WORLD TODAY, WE ARE SEEING RESTRICTIONS OF ANTI- SEMITISM AND THE A PHOBIA.

IT HAS COME BACK.

WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THINGS LIKE THIS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST CAN HAPPEN AGAIN IF WE DON'T EDUCATE PEOPLE ON WHAT HUMANS CAN DO AND HOW TO FIGHT AGAINST THAT TO GET MORE TOLERANCE, COMPASSION AND EMPATHY.

>> USD CREATED A SERIES ON ANTI- SEMITISM WHICH LAST THROUGH APRIL 20th.

TONIGHT AT 6:00 P.M., THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CEREMONY WILL BE WATCHED FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSION.

>>> THE FIRST FEMALE REMOVED RECRUIT HAVE ARRIVED AT Mc RD.

KPBS REPORTER STEVE LAWSON SAYS ALONG WITH THEIR OWN TRAINING, THEY WILL TEST WHETHER SAN DIEGO IS PREPARED FOR INTEGRATION.

>> THEY ARRIVE AFTER DARK AND WHETHER UNUSUALLY COLD AND WINDY FOR SAN DIEGO.

THE FIRST FEMALE MARINE RECRUITS TRAIN ON THE WEST COAST.

AFTER THEIR FLIGHT LANDED, IT STARTED WITH LINING UP AT THE AIRPORT WITH MEL RECRUITS.

UNDER A NEW COVID-19 PROTOCOL, THE MARINES USE THE USO AT THE AIRPORT FOR TESTING AND PAPERWORK BEFORE THEIR BUS TO THE MARINE CORE DEPOT.

>> THEY START THE PROCESS OF FILLING OUT FORMS TO INCLUDE THE STORIES OF THEIR CELL PHONES, TO MAKE A CALL HOME TO LET THEIR LOVED ONES BACK AT HOME NO THEY HAVE ARRIVED SAFELY.

>> SHE SAYS IN SOME WAYS, IT'S LIKE A TYPICAL MONDAY AT McRD MIXED WITH HISTORY .

>> IT IS ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS MAKING MARINES.

ANYONE SHOWS UP WITH YELLOW FOOTPRINTS IS WHO IS HERE TO TRAIN.

THE FACT WE CAN TRAIN FOR MY RECRUITS IS A SUPER EXCITING MONUMENTAL DAY IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY.

>> UNTIL MONDAY, ALL FEMALES TRAINED ON THE EAST COAST, CONGRESS IS REQUIRING THE MARINES TO FULLY INTEGRATE WOMEN INTO BOOT CAMP.

AT THE MOMENT, THIS IS A ONE- TIME TEST TO SEE WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO OPEN UP SAN DIEGO TO WOMEN.

THESE WOMEN WERE CHOSEN AT RANDOM FROM THE WESTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES, 18-YEAR-OLD TSUNAMI SMITH'S MOTHER IS A MARINE.

SHE UNDERSTANDS THE SIGNIFICANCE.

>> IT IS EXCITING.

I KNOW IT IS A BIG STEP FOR THE MARINE CORPS AND IT FELT LIKE AN HONOR TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST BEING ABLE TO GO.

>> AFTER GRABBING THEIR DEAR, THE 60 FEMALE RECRUITS WERE SENT TO HOTEL ROOMS FOR TWO WEEKS, IN THE STEP DESIGNED TO KEEP COVID-19 OUT OF BOOT CAMP YEAR AFTER THAT, THEY WILL MEET THEIR DRILL INSTRUCTORS AND START THE FORMAL PROCESS OF BECOMING A U.S. MARINE.

STEVE WALLACE, KPBS NEWS .

>> IF YOU HAVE AN iPHONE OR iPAD, APPLE IS URGING YOU TO UPDATE YOUR DEVICE TO FIX MAJOR SECURITY FLAWS.

THE COMPANY HAS NOT SHARED MANY SPECIFICS, BUT ADMITTED THREE SECURITY BUGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED BY HACKERS.

APPLE IS MAKING THE SOFTWARE UPGRADES AVAILABLE.

IT CREDITED ANONYMOUS RESEARCHERS FOR POINTING OUT THE VULNERABILITIES.

>>> IMAGINE PACKAGES CONTAINING ITEMS YOU DID NOT ORDER JUST SHOWING UP ON YOUR DOORSTEP.

IT IS HAPPENING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MAYBE GAITHER EXPLAINS WHAT IS BEHIND THESE SO-CALLED BRUSHING SCAM DELIVERIES.

>> A NEW PACKAGE I DID NOT ORDER.

>> MYSTERIOUS PACKAGES CONTAINING UNUSUAL ITEMS.

>> EVERY TWO WEEKS I THINK ABOUT, I GET ANOTHER PACKAGE IN THE MAIL.

NOTHING WRONG WITH MY AMAZON ACCOUNT AND AMAZON IS LIKE DO NOT WORRY.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> A FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND FIVE EXPERTS ARE ALERTING CUSTOMERS THAT THE DELIVERIES COULD BE PART OF SOMETHING KNOWN AS BRUSHING SCAMS.

THAT IS A WAY THAT VENDORS ON AMAZON AND NUMBER KEY e- COMMERCE SITES CAN BOOST THEIR RATINGS WITH FAKE VERIFIED REVIEWS.

>> AS AMAZON BECOMES MORE COMPETITIVE, SELLERS ARE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER TO GET BY YOUR EYEBALLS, GETTING MORE REVIEWS THAT ARE POSITIVE IS ESSENTIAL TO COMPETING ON AMAZON.

>> HERE IS HOW THEY WORK.

THIRD-PARTY SELLERS ON AMAZON, eBAY, AND OTHER ONLINE MARKETPLACES PAY PEOPLE TO WRITE FAKE, POSITIVE REVIEWS ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS TO BE ABLE TO POST THE REVIEWS, THESE SO- CALLED BRUSHES NEED TO MAKE IT APPEAR A LEGITIMATE TRANSACTION TOOK PLACE.

THEY WILL PLACE ORDERS UNDER A FAKE ACCOUNT AND MAIL THE ITEM TO A RANDOM ADDRESS THEY FIND ONLINE.

THEY DON'T NOW THE PRODUCT THEY ARE WRITING A REVIEW ON, INSTEAD, SCAMMERS TYPICALLY SEND A CHEAPER AND LIGHTER ITEM THAT COSTS LESS TO SHIP.

>> THE CONSUMERS, THEY MIGHT SAY 100 POSITIVE REVIEWS AND THERE MIGHT BE 60 OR 70 THAT A LEGITIMATE.

>> AMAZON SAYS IT'S POLICY PROHIBITS PEOPLE FROM SENDING UNSOLICITED MERCHANDISE TO CUSTOMERS AND SELLERS CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE SITE FOR DOING SO.

AS A PRECAUTION, THE FTC RECOMMENDS YOU CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS AND TRACK YOUR CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS IF YOU START RECEIVING UNSOLICITED PACKAGES.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I AM MAYBE GAITHER.

>>> CLORIS LEACHMAN, THE ACTRESS BEST KNOWN FOR HER TV ROLES HAS DIED.

CLORIS LEACHMAN.

PASSED FROM NATURAL CAUSES.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER HER FROM MOVIES LIKE YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN AND HIGH ANXIETY OR HER TV ROLES ON THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW AND THE FACTS OF LIFE.

SHE WON TEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS OSCAR FOR THE LAST PICTURE SHOW AND EIGHT EMMYS FOR HER WORK IN TELEVISION.

CLORIS LEACHMAN WAS 94.

>>> I AM JUDY WOODRUFF.

TONIGHT, WE SPEAK TO WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR GINA McCARTHY ABOUT THE EVER PRESENT CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS .

>>> AN UPDATE ON OUR TOP STORIES.

TODAY, SAN DIEGO COUNTY REPORTED ANOTHER 44 PEOPLE DIED FROM THE CORONAVIRUS AND MORE THAN 1400 NEW CASES .

A GROUP OF LOCAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCHERS ARE WARNING ABOUT A VARIANT NOW PRESENT IN SAN DIEGO.

B117 CURRENTLY ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 5% OF INFECTIONS LOCALLY.

BECAUSE IT IS UP TO 70% MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, RESEARCHERS EXPECT IT WILL BECOME THE DOMINANT STRAIN WITHIN WEEKS.

>>> CONGRESSMAN DARRELL, ISSA TOWARD THE ESCONDIDO, FEDERAL MEDICAL STATION WHICH HAS 200 THAT IS DESIGNED FOR HOSPITAL SURGES.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS USED TO CARE FOR 18 CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS.

IT IS THE ONLY ALTERNATE CARE SITES LOCATED IN THE COUNTY.

TWO YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE AT KPBS.ORG .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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

ANDERSON PLUMBING HEATING AND AIR HELPING HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN DRAIN, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND, BY THE CONRAD PREBYSE FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHYLY AND BY THE FOLLOWING-AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.