COMPANIES.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION , AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND, BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

[ MUSIC ] THANK YOU.

>>> FRONT-LINE WORKERS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SEE THEY ARE TYING TIRED OF STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

THOUSANDS OF WORKERS FORMED PICKET LINES ON MANY UC CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE, DEMANDING HIGHER PAY AND EQUITY.

OUR REPORTER HAS MORE FROM UC SAN DIEGO, ON CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS JUST GETTING STARTED.

>> WORKERS CAME HERE TO PROTEST OUTSIDE UC SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN GEORGIA.

>> WE DO NOT WE DO NOT MAKE ENOUGH MONEY.

IT'S THE ECONOMY, IT'S EVERYTHING.>> THEY REPRESENT 33,000 OF THE LOWEST PAID PATIENT CARE WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA.

THEY HAVE CUSTODIAL WORK, MEDICAL BILLING, AND FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

>> IT'S REALLY NOT ENOUGH, IF YOU HAVE TO WORK OVERTIME EVERY DAY, JUST TO FEED YOUR FAMILY, IT'S NOT FAIR.

>> THE - - >> THE LAST CONTRACT WAS RATIFIED IN 2020, JUST BEFORE THE COVID SHUTDOWN.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED.

THESE WORKERS WANT PROTECTION.

THE CONTRACT ENDS JULY 31.

THEY ALSO WANT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA TO STOP INVESTING PENSION MONEY IN THE BLACKSTONE REAL ESTATE INCOME TRUST, KNOWN FOR HIGH PRICE HOUSING IN LA JOLLA, WHICH MANY WORKERS CANNOT AFFORD.>> IT IS CAUSING A BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS, LEANING ON THE SOCIAL SYSTEM.>> IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO KPBS, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAID IN PART WHILE UC HAS NO CONTROL OVER HOUSING COSTS, WE KNOW THE COST OF LIVING IS HIGH, PROVIDING EMPLOYEES WITH COMPETITIVE WAGES, AND REGULAR PAY INCREASES, WE AIM TO HELP OUR EMPLOYEES WITH COST OF LIVING EXPENSES.

NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL BOTH BOTH SIDES REACH MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AGREEMENTS.

AT THE MOMENT, UNION WORKERS WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD.

>> THERE ARE NEW NUMBERS SHOWCASING THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

COMING UP, WHERE SAN DIEGO RANKS AMONG THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES FOR RENTERS.

>>> A PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE SALES TAX IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS MOVING FORWARD.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY TODAY.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD RAISE THE SALES TAX 1%, FROM SEVEN AND THREE ORDERS, UP TO 8 3/4%.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE INCREASE WOULD GENERATE AN EXTRA $374 MILLION ANNUALLY.

MORE THAN ONE DOZEN PEOPLE SPOKE DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SOME OPPOSE THE MEASURE, BECAUSE THERE IS ALREADY A COUNTY SALES TAX INCREASE ON THE BALLOT.

WE RECOMMEND HAVING A SUNSET CLAUSE.

SUCH A CLAUSE WOULD GIVE A CHANCE TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN WISELY SPEND THIS MONEY.>> IF YOU WANT TO ADD A 1% BOOST TO A TAX, PUT IT ON THE TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TASK.>> THE MEMBER BALLOT MEASURE WILL BE DRAFTED.

>>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE HELD INTEREST RATES STEADY, AS THE CENTRAL BANK CONTINUES A BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION.

BUT HIGHER INTEREST RATES MAY FINALLY - - THE ENDS TO HIGHER INTEREST RATES MAY BE COMING SOON.>> AMID BACK-TO-BACK MONTHS OF HIGHER THAN USUAL INFLATION DATA, THE RESERVE ANNOUNCED IT WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD BENCHMARK INTEREST RATES STEADY.

>> INFLATION HAS EASED SUBSTANTIALLY, WHILE THE LABOR MARKET REMAINS STRONG.

THAT IS VERY GOOD NEWS.

INFLATION IS STILL HIGH.

THE PATH FORWARD IS UNCERTAIN.>> WITH INTEREST RATES SITTING AT A 23 YEAR HIGH, RELIEF MANY HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR IS NOT HERE YET, BUT NEITHER IS THE RECESSION THAT MANY FEARED.

THE U.S. ECONOMY IS MORE RESILIENT THAN EXPECTED, THANKS IN PART TO THE RECORD LOW MORTGAGE RATES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> THEY ARE NOT EXPRESSING HIGHER DEBT PAYMENTS BECAUSE THEY LOCKED IN RATE.>> PEOPLE ARE STILL FACING SOME HEADWINDS, MAINLY HIGH CREDIT CARD BALANCES, AND THE SEARCH IN GAS PRICES.

>> NOTHING HURTS MORE QUICKLY MORE PAINFULLY THAN HIGH GAS PRICES.>> AS THE FED SUCCEEDS IN ITS BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION, THE PRICE PRESSURE IS EASING, AND INTEREST RATES MAY FINALLY START COMING DOWN THIS SUMMER.>> I THINK EVERYBODY IS GOING TO FEEL A BIT BETTER WITH EACH PASSING MONTH, AND BY NEXT YEAR, I THINK THEY WILL FEEL A LOT MORE.>>> COMING UP TONIGHT, CLOUDS BEGIN TO INCREASE.

WE WILL SEE THE MARINE LAYER REALLY TAKE OVER.

EXPECT THOSE LOW CLOUDS TO LINGER.

IT WILL BE COOL, WET, AND WINDY, EVENTUALLY WE DRY OUT AND WARM-UP.

ALL OF THIS IS IN THE FORECAST, COMING UP.>>> RESOLUTION AGAIN DELAYED AFTER HEARING TODAY, ANDREW DYER HAS THE LATEST, FROM THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, ON THE SO-CALLED "FAT LEONARD" CASE.

AFTER CASES AGAINST DOZENS OF CO-CONSPIRATORS, ALL THAT IS LEFT IS TO SENTENCE LEONARD FRANCIS TO PRISON, BUT THAT IS PROVING TO BE DIFFICULT.

IN 2015, FRANCIS PLED GUILTY TO BRIBING OFFICERS WITH CASH, PARTIES, AND PROSTITUTES, WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONTRACTS.

HIS CASE WAS DELAYED.

IN LATE 2022, FRANCIS ESCAPED FROM SAN DIEGO HOUSE ARREST, AND AFTER BEING TURNED BACK OVER TO U.S.

CUSTODY, LAWYERS SAID THEY WERE DONE DEFENDING HIM.

IN JANUARY, THE JUDGE GAVE FRANCIS A MONTH TO FIND NEW LAWYERS.

IT WASN'T ENOUGH, SO HE WAS GIVEN ANOTHER SIX WEEKS.

FRANCIS SAYS THAT STILL WASN'T ENOUGH.

TODAY, HE ASKED THE COURT FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS TO FIND A NEW LAWYER.

HE SAYS CAN INDICATION HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

THE JUDGE SEEMED READY TO GRANT HIM A DELAY, BUT INSTEAD ORDERED HIS ATTORNEYS TO COME TO WORK FOR TWO WEEKS.

IT'S THE LATEST IN A CASE THAT HAS DRAGGED ON FOR YEARS.

HUNDREDS OF NAVY OFFICERS WERE INVESTIGATED.

FRANCIS IS DUE BACK IN COURT ON MARCH 29.

I'M ANDREW DYER, REPORTING WITH KPBS NEWS.>>> A CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION LAW IN TEXAS IS BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE SUPREME COURT AND A PANEL OF FEDERAL APPEALS JUDGES.

THEY HEARD ARGUMENTS TODAY, BUT CAUGHT IN BETWEEN IS THE STATE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

LAURA HAS MORE ON THE TEXAS SENATE BILL, WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT.>> TEXAS IS IN A LEGAL TUG OF WAR.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO START ENFORCING THE NEW IMMIGRATION LAW THAT HE SIGNED LAST YEAR.

IT EMPOWERS STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DETAIN PEOPLE THEY'S EXPECT OF ENTERING THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY.

IT IS FACING A MYRIAD OF CHALLENGES.

WHILE COURT BATTLES PLAY OUT, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ISSUED A TEMPORARY ORDER ON TUESDAY, ALLOWING FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SB FOUR.

A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT SLAMMED THE BRAKES, AND THE GOVERNOR PUSHED BACK WEDNESDAY.

>> TEXAS HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND OURSELVES, WE WILL USE OUR AUTHORITY TO DECLARE AN INVASION AND FIGHT BACK AGAINST THAT INVASION.>> SB-4 HAS SPARKED PROTESTS, AND CRITICS SAY IT RELATES RACIAL PROFILING.

SOME CITIES MOVED QUICKLY TO ALLAY FEARS.>> WE DON'T WANT TIFFANY'S MAKING ARRESTS UNLESS SOMEONE HAS ACTUALLY COMMITTED A CRIME.

>> THE GOVERNOR, THE STATE, AND THE EYES OF THE NATION ARE WATCHING.>> WHAT THEY ARE DOING WOULD BE AKIN TO THEM DECLARING THEIR OWN WARS, AND IT WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS ACROSS TEXAS, AND OTHER STATES.

'S NEW LAWYERS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ARE REQUESTING A PAUSE ON AT LEAST FIVE CIVIL LAWSUITS LINK TO THE JANUARY 6 RIOTS.

HIS LAWYER SAYS TRIAL STRATEGY COULD BE COMPROMISED IF THE CIVIL LAWSUITS GO FORWARD.

THEY ARE ALSO CALLING FOR THE JUDGE TO WAIT FOR THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY.

THOSE WHO ARE SUING TRUMP SAY THEY WILL RESPOND TO THE REQUEST NEXT WEEK.>>> HOME PRICES ARE ON THE RISE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE STATE.

NUMBERS RELEASED BY THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SHOWED THE MEDIAN PRICE OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IN OUR COUNTY WAS $980,000, UP FROM $925,000 THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

STATEWIDE, THE MEDIAN PRICE WAS MORE THAN $806,000, UP FROM $789,000 IN JANUARY.

IN THE WAKE OF MULTIPLE MASSIVE WILDFIRES, SOME PROPERTY INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE SEVERELY RAISED RATES, OR HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM CALIFORNIA ALTOGETHER.

A NEW PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE A METHOD OF CALCULATING RATES USING CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMED PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE DISASTERS.

IT IS AIMED AT WRINGING BACK INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE POLICIES.

CATASTROPHE MODELS ARE ALREADY USE WHEN INSURING AGAINST EARTHQUAKE LOSSES.

THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS WOULD EXTEND TO LIGHTING, AND WILDFIRES.

THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE IS HOLDING A WORKSHOP NEXT MONTH, TO GET PUBLIC INPUT.>>> SAN DIEGO IS ONCE AGAIN AMONG THE MOST EXPENSIVE RENTAL MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY.

MELISSA MAY DETAILS THE NEW REPORT, INCLUDING WHICH AREAS ARE THE PRICIEST, AND WHERE RENT IS A BIT MORE AFFORDABLE.>> THIS RENTAL PLATFORM PROVIDES REPORTS, WITH UP-TO-DATE DATA ON THE MOST POPULATED CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND SAN DIEGO RANKS AS THE EIGHTH MOST EXPENSIVE CITY.>> LOOKING OVER ACTIVE LISTINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY EVERY MONTH, WE LOOK AT THE ACTIVE LISTING RENT, WE THINK WE HAVE THE BEST PICTURE OF THE OPEN MARKET.>> CRYSTAL SAYS IN FEBRUARY, A ONE BEDROOM IN SAN DIEGO WAS $2300, WHICH IS A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE THAN THE STATE MEDIAN PRICE, BUT ALMOST $1000 MORE THAN THE NATIONAL RENT INDEX.

THEY ALSO BREAK DOWN THE RENTAL MARKET FURTHER, RELEASING MONTHLY REPORTS OF METRO AREAS, INCLUDING THE SAN DIEGO METRO MARKET.>> SAN DIEGO'S MARKET COVERS ABOUT 12 CITIES IN THE METRO AREA, AND SAN DIEGO RANKED AS THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY IN THE REPORT.

SMOOTH THE TOP THREE MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES TO RENT OUR CORONADO, WITH ONE BEDROOM RENTALS AT $3900, FOLLOWED BY ENCINITAS, AT $2700, AND CARLSBAD WITH RENT AT $2400.

BUT THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR RENTERS.>> SAN DIEGO RENT HAS BEEN DECLINING FOR FIVE MONTHS, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH NATIONAL TRENDS.

I THINK SAN DIEGO WILL RETURN TO NORMAL SEASONALITY PATTERNS AFTER SOME HUGE SPIKES IN LATE 2021 THROUGH 2022.>> MORE THAN 4000 NEW APARTMENTS ARE GOING TO COME AVAILABLE ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN 2024.>> AND THAT U.S. CENSUS EURO SHOULD ALMOST 31,000 MORE PEOPLE MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY LAST YEAR COMPARED TO HOW MANY MOVED IN, SO THAT RESULTED IN A SLIGHT DIP IN THE POPULATION, OVERALL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE PRICED OUT OF THE AREA.>> EL CAJON WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE MOST AFFORDABLE PLACE TO RENT IN SAN DIEGO, WITH A ONE BEDROOM GOING FOR $1780 PER MONTH, FOLLOWED BY LAW MESA, WITH RENT AT $980, AND CHULA VISTA, AND ONTARIO BEACH WERE TIED FOR MOST AFFORDABLE.

RENTALS IN NATIONAL CITY HAD INCREASED THE MOST SINCE LAST YEAR.

MELISSA MAY, KPBS NEWS.>>> TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR A STATE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES DIAPERS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

FUNDING FOR THE DIAPER BANK IS AT RISK, BECAUSE OF THE STATE BUDGET SHORTFALL.

AT NORTH COUNTY FOOD BANK, THEY GET MORE THAN JUST FOOD FOR THIS GROWING FAMILY.

THEY ALSO GET DIAPERS THROUGH THE DIAPER BANK, FOR TWIN GIRLS.

HER HUSBAND IS THE ONLY ONE WORKING IN THE FAMILY.

WITHOUT THE DIAPER BANK, SHE SAYS IT WILL BE MORE OF A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO RAISE A FAMILY.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] ORGANIZATIONS WORKS TO DELIVER DIAPERS TO 100 FAMILIES.

ONE WOMAN RECEIVED DIAPERS THROUGH MIRACLE BABIES.

WITH PREMATURE TRIPLETS AND EIGHT OTHER UNDER TWO YEARS OLD, NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT DIAPERS WAS A HUGE STRESS RELIEVER.>> I WASN'T WORKING AT THE TIME, COVID HAD JUST HIT.

I HAD THE TRIPLETS, SO I NEEDED TO TAKE MORE TIME OFF THAN NORMAL.

IT WAS A HUGE BLESSING TO OUR FAMILY.>> FUNDING IS SET TO EXPIRE IN JUNE.

SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK RECEIVES $3.7 MILLION OF THAT MONEY FOR THE DIAPER BANK.

BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE PROJECTED SHORTFALL, THE PROJECT IS NOT SET FOR RENEWAL.

FOR SOME IT BECOMES A CHOICE BETWEEN DIAPERS OR FOOD, AND THAT CAN LEAD TO HEALTH COMPETITIONS FOR THE CHILDREN.

CASEY IS THE CEO FOR SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK.

HE SAYS NEARLY HALF OF SAN DIEGO FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO PURCHASE DIAPERS.

>> THEY WILL RATION DIAPERS, KEEP THEM ON LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD BE ON, WHICH CAN CAUSE RASHES AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES.>> THE FOOD BANK IS WORKING WITH LOCAL STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO GET FUNDING, AND TO RENEW THE PROGRAM.>>> THE DODGERS BEAT THE PADRES 5-2 IN THE SEASON OPENER THIS MORNING.

ALTHOUGH THE GAME WAS OVERSEAS, DESPITE THE 3:00 AM START TIME, THAT DIDN'T STOP THE FRYER FAITHFUL FROM SHOWING THERE'S WORK.>> EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS DOMINATING THE LEAGUE, THEY ARE OUR TEAM, AND IT IS FUN TO REFER THEM.

WHEN YOU WALK IN AND SEE ALL THE PADRES, IT IS EXCITING, IT FEELS LIKE A REAL GAME, FINALLY.>> SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE FAN.

HUNDREDS OF THEM GATHERED AT THE 7 MILE CASINO, TO ROOT ON THE TEAM.

THE DODGERS SCORED FOUR RUNS TO TAKE THE LEAD, AND THE VICTORY.

THE NEXT MATCHUP WILL BE TOMORROW, IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA.

>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER HEADLINES.

STARTING OFF WITH THE MARINE LAYER CONTINUING TO LINGER, THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF LOW CLOUDS.

HEADS UP, FOR COOL, WET, WINDY WEATHER, MAKING A COMEBACK AS WE HEAD INTO THE END OF THE WEEKEND PARTS OF THE WEEKEND, BEFORE IT RETURNS TO A DRY AND WARMER PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK.

ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY WE SEE THOSE CLOUDS INCREASING, 54 DEGREES IN SAN DIEGO, OCEANSIDE WILL DROP DOWN TO 50, NOT BAD IN LAGUNA AT 41.

THROUGH THE DAY ON THURSDAY, WE HAVE A DRY PATTERN, STILL LINGERING UP AND DOWN THE CALIFORNIA COAST, THROUGH THE VALLEYS AND INTO THAT MOUNTAINS, THINGS LOOK GOOD TOMORROW.

THIS WEEKEND WE WILL BE WATCHING FOR SOME CHANGES.

BORREGO SPRINGS WILL BE 85, MOUNT LAGUNA WILL BE 81.

LOW CLOUDS AND CHULA VISTA, AND IN SAN DIEGO, TO PURCHASE ARE IN THE UPPER 60s.

INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WE START TO SEE THAT PRECIPITATION COME BACK WITH SOME SHOWERS AND SNOW RETURNING AS WE HEAD INTO THE DAY ON FRIDAY.

THEN THE PATTERN THROUGH THE WEEKEND, A BIT OF A DIP IN THE JET STREAM, AND WE WILL SEE SOME SHOWERS FARTHER SOUTH.

SATURDAY, SUNDAY, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO SEE THINGS DEVELOP FOR YOUR OUTDOOR PLANS.

SOME SHOWERS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH, TEMPERATURES ALSO DROP WITH THIS PATTERN, AND THE HIGH IS ONLY IN THE MIDDLE 60s THROUGH THE WEEKEND, AND INTO THE NEXT WEEK.

LOOKING INLAND, WE HAVE A NICE COUPLE OF DAYS ON THE WAY, 74 ON THURSDAY, 72 ON FRIDAY, AND A FEW SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

LOOKING AT THE MOUNTAINS, IT IS GOING TO BE VERY WINDY ON SATURDAY, WINDY AND COLD CONDITIONS.

ON MONDAY, IT'S ONLY 32 DEGREES.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE DROPPING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.

WE COULD SEE A SHOWER OR TWO ON SATURDAY, AND YEAR CONDITIONS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY.>>> ONE TRAILBLAZER IS INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, RIGHT HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

LORRAINE HUTCHINSON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS AT SAN DIEGO FIRE AND RESCUE.

SHE CLIMBED UP THE RANKS FOR 25 YEARS, FIRST AS AN ENGINEER, ULTIMATELY LEAVING AS DEPUTY CHIEF.

NOW SHE'S TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION AT SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE.

SHE TOLD OUR MEDIA PARTNER THERE ARE NO BLACK FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS AT SAN DIEGO FIRE RESCUE, TO CARRY ON HER LEGACY.>> WHEN I WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT, I WOULD TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT DIVERSITY, MAKING SURE WE HAD DIVERSITY, AND THE RESPONSE THAT I WOULD GET IS THAT THEY DON'T COME TO US READY, AND TRAINED, AND WE CAN'T HIRE THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T COMPETE, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT READY.

SO I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE, AND I CAN GET THEM READY, AND IT WON'T BE AN EXCUSE NOW.

SUE HUTCHINSON SAYS MORE THAN HALF OF THE STUDENTS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PROGRAM ARE HISPANIC, AND SHE SAYS SHE'S ALWAYS EXCITED TO SEE THEM GET HIRED ON AT LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.>>> IMAGINE THIS, STAYING AWAY FROM THE WORKPLACE FOR A COUPLE YEARS, THEN RETURNING, BUT YOU FIND YOURSELF A LITTLE RUSTY WITH HOW TO INTERACT WITH YOUR COWORKERS PROPERLY.

MANY COMPANIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT'S WHAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

NOW, AS CLAIRE DUFFY EXPLAINS, THEY ARE HELPING EMPLOYEES BRUSH UP ON ETIQUETTE SQUIRREL SKILLS.>> RETURNING WAS TOUGH FOR MANY PEOPLE.

LONG COMMUTES, LESS FLEXIBILITY, AND AN UNWELCOME SURPRISE, SOME PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO BEHAVE.

NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF COMPANIES ARE PLANNING TO OFFER WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE CLASSES IN 2024.

THE ISSUES ARE WIDE RANGING, FROM HOW TO BEHAVE IN FRONT OF CLIENTS, AND WHAT CONVERSATIONS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE OFFICE.

AND DEMAND IS BOOMING.>> WE'VE SEEN A 100% INCREASE IN COMPANIES ORDERING TRAININGS IN A VARIETY OF TOPIC AREAS.>> WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMON BEHAVIOR WILL PAUSE, AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM.

SHE GAVE US SOME HANDS-ON POINTERS.>> TALK TO US ABOUT PROPER WORKPLACE ATTIRE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?>> THE WAY WE DO DRESS ATTIRE TODAY IS DRESS FOR YOUR DAY.

IF YOU ARE AT HOME, YOU CAN DRESS LEISURELY, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING INTO THE OFFICE, YOU NEED TO STEP IT UP A LITTLE BIT.>> SOME OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.>> COME ON.

DO YOU SEE THIS?>> HABITS FROM THE WORK FROM HOME ERA ARE COMING BACK WITH PEOPLE.

>> LEAVING THE DIRTY DISH ON THE COUNTER, NOT THE RIGHT MOVE.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT BEING RESPECTFUL OR CONSIDERATE TO THE OTHER PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH.>> ADJUSTING BROUGHT CHALLENGES OF ITS OWN.>> TELL HIM SOMETHING.

THIS IS PUBLICLY RECORDED.>> IT STILL CAUSES DEBATE, INCLUDING WHETHER YOU NEED TO GET FULLY DRESSED.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH, PANTS, SWEATPANTS, LEGGINGS FROM THE GYM, IF YOU DO HAVE TO GET UP TO GET SOMETHING, THEY COULD SEE THAT YOU ARE WEARING THAT.

>> AND IT IS NOT JUST ZOOM CALLS, TAKING OLD-FASHIONED PHONE CALLS AROUND COWORKERS CAN LEAD TO ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS ALSO.

>> HE SITTING RIGHT BEHIND ME, WHY?

>> IT'S NOT JUST EAVESDROPPERS THAT CAUSED FRICTION, IT'S ALSO THOSE WHO DO THIS.>> ARE WE GOING TO HAPPY HOUR LATER ASK WHERE ARE WE GOING?

>> IF WE WERE TRYING TO GET WORK DONE HERE, IF WE WERE TRYING TO DO A MEETING, THIS WOULD BE DISTRACTING.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE VOLUME OF THEIR VOICE IS AS LOUD AS IT IS.

I COMPLETELY GET THAT.

THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THEY ARE TALKING SO LOUD.

THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE OVERHEARD THEIR ENTIRE MEDICAL HISTORY ON THE PHONE.>> SHE WORKS WITH ALL TYPES OF COMPANIES ON WORK LACE ETIQUETTE.

WHILE ALL LEVELS PARTICIPATE, DEALING WITH ONE GROUP OF EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY TRICKY.

>> COMPANIES ARE HIRING US TO TEACH NEW HIRES, BUT ALSO, TO TRY TO REINFORCE SKILLS TO COLLEAGUES WHO WERE OUT OF THE OFFICE IN REMOTE SETTINGS AND ARE NOW COMING BACK.>> WHILE THE ERA OF RETURN TO WORK HAS BROUGHT CHALLENGES, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE LIKE MUSCLE MEMORY.

AS WE GET USED TO BEING BACK TOGETHER, WE SHOULD GET BETTER AT REMEMBERING HOW TO BEHAVE.>> HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR TOMORROW IN THE NEWSROOM.

PEOPLE ARE LEARNING TO SPOT A.I.

HOAXES, AND ONLINE CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

AND KPBS MID-DAY EDITION HAS A WRAP UP OF THE BEST ART AND CULTURE EVENTS HAPPENING AROUND TOWN, IN THE WEEKEND PREVIEW.

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THE STORIES TONIGHT, ON OUR WEBSITE.

TAKE YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

[ MUSIC ] >>> MAJOR FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY - - MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS.

BY CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARCOS MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING .

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.