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

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

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT IS WEDNESDAY, MAY 5.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

A SUSPECTED MORE CONTAGIOUS VARIANT OF COVID-19 THAT IS HITTING INDIA WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES HAS NOW BEEN FOUND IN SAN DIEGO.

HEALTH REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN SAYS OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE VARIANTS.

>> IT'S A RUSH TO STOP BEFORE THEY INVOLVE TOO FAR.

BACK THE CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES DR. DEBBIE SMITH SAYS IT IS NATURAL FOR VIRUSES LIKE COVID-19 TO MUTATE.

>> THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT ANY WAY THEY CAN TO KEEP LIVING WITHIN US, AND THE SPREAD AMONGST US.

>> Reporter: THE FACT NEW VARIANTS ARE POPPING UP IS NOT SURPRISING.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE NOW FOUND A CASE OF THE INDIA VARIANT SUSPECTED TO BE MORE CONTAGIOUS AS A DEADLY WAVE OF INFECTIONS HITS THE ASIAN COUNTRY.

>> IS IT MORE DEADLY?

IT COULD BE MORE DEADLY.

VIRUSES DON'T IN GENERAL WANT TO KILL THEIR HOST.

>> Reporter: IT WILL TAKE TIME TO FIGURE OUT IF IT IS MORE DEADLY, AS FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING THE NEW STRAIN.

>> WE ARE COLLECTING DATA RIGHT NOW IN REAL TIME, AND HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS TO A WEEK, WE CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHAT THE EFFECT OF ANTIBODIES INDUCED BY OUR VACCINES ARE AGAINST THIS VARIANT.

>> Reporter: AT LEAST SEVEN VARIANTS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN SAN DIEGO.

UNTIL WE REACH HERD IMMUNITY WITH VACCINATIONS, ABOUT 75% OF THE POPULATION OF THE VIRUS WILL KEEP MUTATING.

>> EVERY TIME IT'S IN SOMEBODY NEW, IT ADAPTS TO ITS NEW HOME.

WHEN IT ADAPTS, THAT MEANS IT'S MAKING THESE CHANGES TO MY GENETIC CHANGES, BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS EVOLVING TO US.

>> Reporter: OF PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE HEALTHY AND DON'T NEED TO BE VACCINATED, ONE REASON TO GET THE SHOT IS TO STOP DEADLIER AND MORE CONTAGIOUS VERSION OF THE VIRUS FROM APPEARING.

>> THAT VIRUS THEN STARTS TO EVOLVE TO THAT YOUNG PERSON, AND THEN WILL SPREAD TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO MAY NOT BE YOUNG AND HEALTHY.

>> Reporter: THERE IS GREAT NEWS.

>> THE VACCINE IS STILL WORKING FOR MOST VARIANTS.

>> Reporter: THE UK VARIANT HAS BECOME THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ONE CASE OF THE INDIAN VARIANT IS FROM A WOMAN IN HER 20s WHO TRAVELED TO THE COUNTRY BEFORE BEING HOSPITALIZED HERE LAST MONTH.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS .

>>> A REMINDER, WE ARE TRACKING THE COUNTIES COVID-19 VACCINATIONS ONLINE.

IF YOU SET UP YOUR APPOINTMENT FOR YOURSELF, OR AN ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER, YOU CAN FIND A LOCATION CLOSE TO YOU ARE GOING TO KPBS.ORG .

JUST CLICK ON THE VACCINES LINK THAT YOU CAN FIND ON OUR HOMEPAGE.

>>> A MOTHER AND SON SEPARATED AT THE BORDER BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ZERO- TOLERANCE POLICY MORE THAN 3 YEARS AGO ARE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

AN ADVOCACY GROUP CALLED FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER CAPTURED THEIR EMOTIONAL REUNION.

BRIAN CHAVEZ WAS 15 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS SEPARATED FROM HIS MOTHER IN 2017.

THEY ARE THE FIRST OF FOUR FAMILIES THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS WILL BE REUNITED THIS WEEK.

MORE THAN 1000 FAMILIES REMAIN SEPARATED.

>>> SAN DIEGO WILL BECOME THE FIRST BORDER COUNTY IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO IMMIGRATION DETAINEES.

KPBS RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY REPORTER CHRISTINA KIM HAS MORE ON THE HISTORIC VOTE BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

>> Reporter: REPORTING TO THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNSEL, LESS THAN 17% OF PEOPLE DETAINED IN SAN DIEGO AND FACING DEPORTATION HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL COUNSEL.

IN A 3-2 VOTE, SUPERVISORS TOOK A STEP TOWARDS CHANGING THAT REALITY.

THEY APPROVED THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS LEGAL DEFENSE PROGRAM, A 1 YEAR PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE FREE LEGAL COUNSEL TO DETAINED HIM AND INDIVIDUALS FACING DEPORTATION OR REMOVAL HEARINGS.

THE SUPERVISORS VOTED AGAINST THE INITIATIVE, AND SAID IT IS NOT A LOCAL ISSUE.

>> I WISH WE HAD UNLIMITED FUNDING FOR EVERYONE'S REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL MATTERS, AND TO ME THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, NOT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF A LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: A MAJORITY OF THE OVER 120 PEOPLE WHO CALLED INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION WERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM.

MARIA FLORES URGED THE BOARD AND SPANISH THROUGH A TRANSLATOR TO PASS THE INITIATIVE.

SHE SAYS SHE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR AN ATTORNEY DID NOT EVEN SHOW UP IN COURT.

>> OTHER THAN HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS OF THE SITUATION, WE LOST A FAMILY MEMBER THAT WAS DEPORTED , AND THAT CREATED AN EXTREMELY SAD SITUATION.

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND WITH MY WHOLE HEART, I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS FOR OUR FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: IT WILL COST $5 MILLION AND OF THE MORE THAN $6 BILLION BUDGET.

THE COUNTY WILL WORK TO BRING THE BOARD A PLAN FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM PERMANENT IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS.

CHRISTINA KIM, KPBS NEWS NEWS .

>>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS CHANGED COURSE, ANNOUNCING IT WOULD ALLOW OVER 62,000 REFUGEES TO ENTER U.S. OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

THAT WILL BE A TOUGH TARGET TO HIT FOLLOWING YEARS UNLIMITED REFUGEE NUMBERS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> Reporter: ON MONDAY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WALKS BACK AN EARLIER PLEDGE TO KEEP A TRUMP ERA LIMIT OF 15,000 REFUGEES IN PLACE, SETTING A NEW CAP OF 62,500.

SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR REFUGEES WELCOMING AROUND 4000 DURING THE LAST YEAR OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IN 2016.

BUT THE AREA HAS ONLY RECEIVED 341 SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

UNCLE HOPKINS IS THE CEO OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE, ONE OF FOUR AGENCIES THAT WORK WITH REFUGEES LOCALLY.

>> MOST BELIEVE WE WON'T HIT 65 AND THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR, SO IT PROBABLY MEANS A COUPLE OF THOUSAND FOUR SAN DIEGO AT SOME POINT.

>> Reporter: THE REFUGEE SYSTEM IS WHOLLY SEPARATE FROM THE ASSIGNMENT SYSTEM, MEETING THIS CAP WOULD NOT APPLY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

INSTEAD, REFUGEES HAVE BEEN LIVING IN CAMPS OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME COUNTRIES AND MANY OFTEN SPENDING YEARS THERE.

HOPKINS SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN GEARING UP FOR THIS MOMENT.

>> WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF HIRING STAFF , COLLECTING FURNITURE, ET CETERA.

WHEN NEW FAMILIES ARRIVED, THEY NEED TO HAVE A HOME SET UP FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: REFUGEES HAVE A CLEAR PATH TO CITIZENSHIP IN THE U.S., SOMETHING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE WILL BEGIN TO PREPARE THEM FOR.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE WORKING WITH A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN DISARRAY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> THE PROGRAM ITSELF HAS BEEN DISMANTLED OVER THE YEARS, SO JUST FOR THE GOVERNMENT, ALL OF THE SCREENING, ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS DONE TO MAKE SURE THE FOLKS ARE VETTED PROPERLY, IT TAKES A WHILE.

4 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THESE INCOMING REFUGEES.

ANYONE INTERESTED CAN GO TO THEIR WEBSITE.

KPBS NEWS >>> THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL TODAY BEGAN A DETAILED REVIEW OF MAYOR TODD GLORIA'S PROPOSED BUDGET.

ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THE LONG-TERM BUDGET PICTURE ISN'T GOOD.

>> Reporter: FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF DOLLARS ARE SPARING SAN DIEGO FROM DRACONIAN BUDGET CUTS THIS YEAR MY BUT THE CITY'S INDEPENDENT BUDGET ANALYST TOLD COUNCILMEMBERS WEDNESDAY THAT THERE IS STILL A LONG-TERM DEFICIT PROBLEM.

SERVICES LIKE POLICE, PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND TRASH PICKUP SIMPLY COST MORE THAN WHAT THE CITY TAKES IN FROM TAXES AND FEES.

COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SAYS THE CITY SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.

>> THE BUDGET SITUATION WE ARE IN, WE WILL NOT GET OUT OF WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE SIMPLY NEED MORE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS WHAT THEY WANT AND DESERVE.

>> Reporter: FIXING A LONG-TERM DEFICIT WON'T BE EASY, SINCE RAISING TAXES OR FEES ALMOST ALWAYS REQUIRES VOTER APPROVAL.

AS THE COUNCIL WAS MEETING TODAY, ACTIVISTS HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL, CALLING FOR CUTS TO THE POLICE BUDGET, IT INCREASES TO A HOST OF OTHER PRIORITIES, AMONG THEM INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WHILE THE POLICE BUDGET PERPETUALLY INCREASES, ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENTS THAT WOULD HELP US SURVIVE THE COMING CRISIS ARE FAR DOWN ON THE LIST OF PRIORITIES.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR MORE PARKS, BUT THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY TO POLICE THE PARKS.

>> Reporter: THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO REVIEW THE BUDGET OVER EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

MAYOR GLORIA WILL PRESENT HIS REVISED BUDGET PROPOSAL ON MAY 18.

>>> A BAN ON RESIDENTIAL ADDICTIONS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WILL CONTINUE AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED 3-2 IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH ALSO ANNEX A MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN RENT INCREASES.

IT WILL EXPIRE 60 DAYS AFTER THE STATE LIFTS ALL COVID RELATED STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS.

THAT IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN JUNE 15.

THE COUNTIES MORATORIUM CLOSES LOOPHOLES ALLOWED BY THE STATE BAN, INCLUDING ONE THAT ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO EVICT TENANTS IN ORDER TO REHABILITATE A PROPERTY.

>>> SOME OF SAN DIEGO'S MOST ICONIC BUILDINGS WILL BE LIT IN RED THIS EVENING.

THE LIGHT IS MEANT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CRISIS IN NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS MISSING AND MURDERED, INDIGENOUS WOMAN AWARENESS DAY.

MEMBERS OF LOCAL TRIBAL NATIONS ARE GATHERED AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AND THAT IS ALSO WHERE WE FIND JOHN CAROL.

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SPECIAL MEMORIAL.

>> Reporter: THE COMMEMORATION GOT UNDERWAY JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO HERE AT THE COUNTY ADMIN BUILDING.

THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NATHAN FLETCHER IS TALKING RIGHT NOW.

IN A FEW MOMENTS, THEY WILL RAISE THAT RED FLAG THAT YOU SEE THERE IN HONOR OF MISSING AND MURDERED NATIVE WOMEN.

LATER TONIGHT, THE COUNTY ADMIN BUILDING, ALONG WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE BOTANICAL BUILDING AND BALBOA PARK WILL ALL BE LIT IN RED.

RED SYMBOLIZING BOTH THE SPIRIT OF NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND IN THIS CASE, THE BLOOD OF MURDERED NATIVE WOMEN.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAYS NATIVE WOMEN FACE MURDER RATES THAT ARE 10 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

KAYLEE LINTON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STRONG HEARTED NATIVE WOMEN'S COALITION.

SHE SAYS JUSTICE CAN BE HARD TO COME BY, AND A BIG REASON FOR THAT CENTERS AROUND JURISDICTION.

>> WE HAVE TO WORK AROUND THREE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS.

THE TRIBAL JURISDICTION, THE STATE JURISDICTION, AND THE FEDERAL JURISDICTION.

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT PROSECUTING CASES OR SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS, IT IS KIND OF MANEUVERING THROUGH THOSE SYSTEMS.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, SPECIFICALLY SHE SAYS TRIBES ARE IMPROVING THEIR LOCAL JUDICIAL SYSTEMS, TRYING TO GET AROUND SOME OF THOSE JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES, BUT SHE ALSO SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF WORK STILL TO BE DONE.

LIVE AT THE COUNTY ADMIN BUILDING ALONG THE EMBARCADERO, JOHN CAROL, KPBS NEWS .

>>> AFTER YEARS OF CONTROVERSY, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY COULD SOON BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING ITS MASCOT.

DAILY AZTEC REPORTS THAT THE SENATE PASSED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE CREATION OF A COMMISSION CHAIRED BY THE UNIVERSITY TRIBAL LIAISON.

THE COMMISSION WILL WORK WITH TRIBAL LEADERS TO PROPOSE AT LEAST TWO NAMED ANIMALS TO BE THE NEW OFFICIAL MASCOT.

IN A STATEMENT, THEY CLARIFIED THAT THE AZTEC NAME WILL NOT BE REPLACED, ONLY THE WARRIOR IMAGERY ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

>>> DOG OWNERS FOR THE MOST PART THINK THEIR PETS ARE FRIENDLY IN PUBLIC.

SO WHAT IS THE HARM IN AND CLIPPING THEIR LEASH FOR A FEW MINUTES TO PLAY FETCH AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK?

A LOT OF HARM CAN COME OF IT AS I FOUND OUT.

A COUPLE IN POWER IS STILL HEALING AND GRIEVING TONIGHT AFTER A DOG ATTACK OVER THE WEEKEND ENDED IN TRAGEDY.

SOME IMAGES MAY BE GRAPHIC FOR SOME VIEWERS.

>>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SHE KEYS.

>> Reporter: THE 6-YEAR-OLD MINIATURE SCHNAUZER BEGINNING ANYMORE BIRTHDAY SONGS OR TREATS.

HER LIFE ENDED LAST WEEK AFTER A VICIOUS ATTACK BY AN UNLEASHED DOG, BUT SHE WAS NOT THE ONLY VICTIM.

>> RIGHT HERE AND PUNCTURE WOUNDS HERE AND THERE.

>> Reporter: HER OWNERS CYNTHIA AND CARTER ARE BACK IN THE PARK FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE INCIDENT.

>> WE MIGHT ACTUALLY FIND BLOOD TRAILS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY TRIED TO CLEAN IT UP AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING IT ALL.

WE MAY SEE SOME.

>> Reporter: THERE IS A LONG STRETCH OF GRASS TO THE SIDE OF THE PARK COMMONLY USED AS A DOG RUN FOR UNLEASHED DOGS TO PLAY FETCH.

>> WE WERE ON THE PATH.

>> THAT'S MY GLOVE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT IS GLOVE RIGHT BLOOD RIGHT THERE.

>> THIS IS THE GLOVE YOU WERE WEARING THAT MORNING.

>> Reporter: A BLOODY GLOVE IS ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE DEADLY ENCOUNTER THAT SEEMED SO INNOCENT AT FIRST.

>> I THOUGHT HE WAS COMING TO SAY HELLO.

HE WAS CLEARLY A FRIENDLY DOG PLAYING BALL WITH HIS OWNER.

>> Reporter: INSTINCTS KICKED IN AND THE DOCK THAT HAD BEEN PLAYING HAPPILY SECONDS BEFORE HAD LOCKED HIS SIGHTS, AND HIS JAWS INTO HER BACK.

>> WOULD NOT LET GO.

AT THAT POINT HIS OWNER CAME RUNNING OVER.

WE STARTED KICKING THE DOG.

THE OWNER ACTUALLY SAID, KICK HIM, KICK HIM, DO IT, GO FOR IT.

HE GOT ON THE GROUND, AND IMMEDIATELY GOT HIS HANDS INTO HIS OWN DOG'S MOUTH TO PRY OPEN THE JAWS.

>> Reporter: IT TOOK THREE ADULTS MORE THAN 30 SECONDS TO SEPARATE THE DOGS, AT WHICH POINT THE ATTACK CONTINUED.

THE OWNER CLEARLY SHOCKED BY HIS DOGS BEHAVIOR.

>> HE KEPT SAYING, HE HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

HE HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

THIS IS NOT LIKE HIM.

>> Reporter: WHEN SHE GOT HER DOG INTO THE ARMS, THEY SPUN IN SPARKLES TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER BITE.

THIS TIME CYNTHIA'S DAUGHTER ARM GOT IN THE WAY.

>> I THOUGHT WE NEED PROTECTION, SO WE TOOK THE DOG TO THE CHILDREN'S STRUCTURE, BECAUSE I SAID THERE IS A FORT.

I NEED A FORT.

I CLIMB FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND TOOK MY FAMILY, RIGHT?

I WAS CARRYING THE DOG OVER HERE , BECAUSE I KNEW I ONLY HAD TO PROTECT ONE ENTRANCE AT THIS POINT.

>> Reporter: ONCE POLICE AND EMTs ARRIVED, CHEEKIES AND CYNTHIA WERE BOTH RUSHED TO RESPECTIVE EMERGENCY ROOMS.

CYNTHIA NEEDED SUTURES AND STAPLES.

>> THERE IS A BITE OUT OF MY ARM.

>> THERE WAS 1 INTO SEPARATING THE SKIN.

>> ALMOST TO THE BONE.

>> Reporter: CHEEKIES SUFFERED BROKEN RIBS AND ORGAN DAMAGE AND HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED WHILE CYNTHIA WAS IN THE E.R.

SHE DIDN'T GET TO SAY GOODBYE.

>> NO.

THERE IS INHERENTLY MORE SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY IN THE PARK IF ANIMALS ARE ON A LEASH.

THEY CAN'T REACH OTHER ANIMALS.

THEY CAN'T REACH OTHER OWNERS.

>> Reporter: CAPTAIN DANNY COOK FROM THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY SAID THE DOG THAT ATTACKED IS UNDER A 10 DAY BITE QUARANTINE PER CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, NOT PUTATIVELY, BUT TO RULE OUT RABIES.

SHE SAID OFFICERS REGULARLY GET OWNERS EXPLAINING WHY THEIR DOCS ARE OFF LEASH, DESPITE THE LEASH LAW.

>> MY DOG IS UNDER VOICE CONTROL, OR MY DOG COMES EXACTLY WHEN I TELL THEM TO, OR MY DOG IS THE SWEETEST DOG AND WOULD NEVER HARM ANOTHER DOG OR PERSON.

WHETHER THAT IS IN FACT TRUE OR NOT, IT IS NOT JUST FOR THEIR SAFETY, BUT IT IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OTHER OWNER SENT STOCKS IN THE PARK.

>> FRIENDLY DOGS ARE STILL WEAPONS, YOU KNOW?

THAT IS THE POINT, YEAH, IT CAN GO FROM LICKING YOUR TODDLER'S FACE TO CAUSING A BIG GASH ON A STRANGERS ARM, BECAUSE THEY ARE DOGS.

THAT IS NOT A VICIOUS DOG.

IT'S JUST A DOG.

>> Reporter: BACK AT THEIR HOME, CHEEKIES'S CRATE AND DOG DOOR AND TOYS IN THE YARD ARE PAINFUL REMINDERS OF WHAT THEY ALL ENDURED.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE FORGIVEN THE OTHER DOG OWNER, AND WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT HE HAS BEEN EQUALLY TRAUMATIZED, WATCHING HIS BELOVED PET TURNED DEADLY.

>> IF EVEN ONE PERSON DECIDES THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER TAKE THEIR FRIENDLY, SWEET, LOVING DOG OFF LEASH AT THE PARK, OR ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THE DOG PARK, I WILL BE HAPPY.

>>> KPBS INVITED THE OTHER DOG OWNER TO PARTICIPATE, BUT HE RESPECTFULLY DECLINED.

IF YOU WISH TO REPORT AN INCIDENT, YOU CAN REACH THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY LAW ENFORCEMENT DISPATCH AT 619-299- 7012.

>>> A REPUBLICAN HOPING TO UNSEAT GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM IN A RECALL ELECTION IS FACING BACKLASH FOR USING A LIVE BEAR AS A POLITICAL PROP.

JOHN COX, A BUSINESSMAN FROM RANCHO SANTA FE STARTED A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TOUR YESTERDAY WITH A KODIAK BEAR SITTING BEHIND HIM AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE.

LOCAL DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR WAY SO CALLED IT A SHAMEFUL, DISTASTEFUL TRICKS TO GARNER ATTENTION.

HE ALSO SAID IT VIOLATED THE SPIRIT OF THE CIRCUS CRUELTY PREVENTION ACT, WHICH HE AUTHORED.

TODAY, COX WAS BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, BUT WITHOUT THE BEAR.

>>> OCEAN BEACH PIER IS EXPECTED TO REOPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JANUARY, AT LEAST PARTIALLY.

CITY ENGINEERS SAY A PORTION OF THE PEER CAN SAFELY REOPEN AFTER RAILING AND OTHER PARTS DAMAGED BY STORMS ARE FIXED.

NO SPECIFIC DATE HAS YET BEEN SET, BUT ENGINEERS BELIEVE IT COULD OPEN THIS SUMMER.

A CITY INSPECTION IN 2019 FOUND THE 55-YEAR-OLD PEER HAD REACHED THE END OF ITS SERVICE LIFE.

A LONG-TERM SOLUTION IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.

>>> WE HAVE THE HEAT STAYING WITH US OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE WILL GET A COOL DOWN TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK, POTENTIALLY HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

IS DOMINANT HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS, DRY CONDITIONS STAY.

WE SEE THE WIND PICK UP AHEAD OF THE NEXT COLD FRONT BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

IN THE METRO, TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 60s.

WE HAVE LOW CLOUDS AND FOG MAMA BUT NO REAL RAIN HERE IN THE FORECAST.

TEMPERATURES NEAR THE COAST GETTING DOWN INTO THE LOW 60s AND UPPER 50s.

A LITTLE MILDER OUT THERE THAN WHERE WE HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS, GETTING DOWN TO 61 DEGREES IN SAN DIEGO.

ESCONDIDO, 54 DEGREES.

REDUCE A PRETTY MILD IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN.

60s OUT IN BORREGO SPRINGS.

THURSDAY, THAT MAIN AREA OF WARMTH CONTINUES TO PUSH FURTHER INLAND, AND WE GET SOME COOLER CONDITIONS AGAIN NEAR THE COAST, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE ONSHORE FLOW, WHICH MEANS COOLER CONDITIONS FOR SOME OF YOU.

TEMPERATURES GETTING UP TO 70 DEGREES ON THURSDAY IN OCEANSIDE, UPPER 60s IN SAN DIEGO.

STILL PRETTY MILD HERE AND SOME OF THE VALLEY LOCATIONS, MID TO UPPER 70s.

IN THE HE CONTINUES IN SOME OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN WITH BORREGO SPRINGS NEAR 100 DEGREES FOR YET ANOTHER DAY TODAY.

FRIDAY, THERE IS GOING TO BE A COLD FRONT PUSHING SOUTHWARD, AND AHEAD OF THAT, THE ONSHORE FLOW WILL INCREASE.

THAT MEANS THAT SOME OF YOU COULD BE A LITTLE COOLER.

NEAR THE COAST, TEMPERATURES WILL DROP INTO THE UPPER 60s AS WE HEAD INTO SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE HERE ASIDE FROM THAT.

INLAND, TEMPERATURES FALLING FROM THE MID TO UPPER 70s, DOWN INTO THE LOW TO MID 70s TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEKEND AND THE START OF THE NEW WORK WEEK.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, MID-60s ON THURSDAY, DOWN TO LOW 60s NUMBER AND PERHAPS THE UPPER 50s BY THE TIME WE START UP THE NEXT WORK WEEK, AND THE DESERT, YOU STAY NICE AND TOASTY, BUT NOT QUITE AS WARM AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO SUNDAY AND MONDAY, WHEN WE DROP THINGS BACK DOWN INTO THE LOW 90s.

>>> I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

TONIGHT ON "NEWS HOUR" MADAME SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI ON THE OBSTACLES TO THE PRESIDENT'S AMBITIOUS AGENDA .

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

>>> FEMALE RECRUITS WENT THROUGH MARINE BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SPRING.

AS THEY ARE SET TO GRADUATE, THESE NEW MARINES AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS SAY THE TIME HAS COME FOR THEM TO KEEP TRAINING ON THE WEST COAST.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER STEVE WALSH HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: THOUGH ISOLATED, THE FIRST GROUP OF FEMALE RECRUITS TO TRAIN IN SAN DIEGO UNDERSTOOD PEOPLE WERE WATCHING.

SOME WERE CHEERING THEM ON, WHILE OTHERS WERE MORE NEGATIVE, LIKE FOX NEWS HOST TUCKER CARLSON, WHO CALLED EFFORTS TO ACCOMMODATE FEMALE TROOPS A MOCKERY OF THE U.S. MILITARY.

SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTOR AMBER.

>> WE ARE NOT OBLIVIOUS TO WHAT HAPPENS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SIR.

THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEING SAID, AND I THINK IT BECAME MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO THEM TO PUSH THEM HARDER.

>> Reporter: THE CAMERAS OFTEN FOLLOWED THE WOMEN'S AS THEY RAN, SWAM, CLIMBED OBSTACLES, AND CRAWLED THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DIRT.

THE LOW POINT CAME MIDWAY THROUGH THE 13 WEEKS AS DRILL INSTRUCTOR STEPHANIE FALL.

>> THEY WERE VERY NERVOUS AND THEY MISSED A LOT.

WE ACTUALLY TIED FOR LAST.

>> Reporter: DRILLS, SYNCHRONIZED MARCHING, AND THE WOMEN CAME IN BEHIND THE FIVE MALE PLATOONS.

THE MALES ARE ABOUT AS THEY MOVE THEIR WEAPONS IN UNISON FROM SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.

WOMEN ARE METICULOUS, BETTER ATTENTION TO DETAIL, BUT THEY WERE NOT CONFIDENT.

THEN CAME ROUND TWO, FINAL DRILLS.

>> I THINK WE ALL WOKE UP AND SAID, WHY DO WE PUT OURSELVES DOWN?

EVERYONE ELSE IS BREAKING US DOWN, AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BUILDER SO SPEC UP.

>> Reporter: AT 21, SHE'S OLDER THAN THE AVERAGE RECRUIT.

SHE DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE IN HER JUNIOR YEAR WHEN SHE RAN OUT OF MONEY.

SHE WAS HOMELESS FOR A TIME.

HER PARENTS DID NOT WANT THEIR HONOR STUDENT DAUGHTER TO JOIN THE MARINES.

>> YOU COULD TELL THE MOMENT WE HIT THAT PARADE DECK, THERE WAS PASSION.

WE REMEMBERED, ALL OF US REMEMBERED WHY WE WANTED TO BE A MARINE.

>> Reporter: THEY WON, BEATING THE FIVE OTHER PLATOONS.

>> MADE OUR STATEMENT.

IT FELT GOOD.

THERE WERE A LOT OF TEARS WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED PLATOON WON THE DRILL.

>> Reporter: THERE WERE MORE TEARS TO COME.

UNLIKE THE MARINES TRADITIONAL TRAINING SITE FOR WOMEN IN THE FLAT, SWAMPY PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEST COAST BOOT CAMP CULMINATES WITH SCALING THE REAPER, A SUMMIT THAT LOOMS OVER TRAINING AT CAMP PENDLETON.

>> I JUST SEE THE REAPER.

YOU COULD SEE IT EVEN AT THE CHOW HALL, AND US GIRLS, EVEN, I OVERHEARD YOU RECRUITS, YOU SEE IT, AND YOU JUST KIND OF TROUBLE.

>> Reporter: THEY REACHED THE TOP WHERE THEY HELD A TRADITIONAL CEREMONY.

EACH NEW MARINE RECEIVED AN EAGLE GLOBE AND ANCHOR PIN, THE SYMBOL OF THE MARINE CORPS.

MUDDY AND SLEEP DEPRIVED, SHE HELD IT IN HER PALM.

>> IT MEANT SO MUCH MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO.

>> Reporter: GRADUATES OF WEST COAST BOOT CAMP ARE DUBBED HOLLYWOOD MARINES, AND THESE WOMEN ARE THE FIRST FEMALE HOLLYWOOD MARINES IN THE 100 YEAR HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO BOOT CAMP.

>> I DIDN'T THINK I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO BE HERE.

EVERY SINGLE DAY I WAS SCARED TO BE HERE.

I WAS SCARED PICKING UP TODAY, THINKING IT WASN'T GOING TO FINISH.

THIS SHOWS TO EVERYONE THAT I ACTUALLY CAN.

IT SHOWS TO MYSELF THAT I AM BIGGER THAN I AM.

>> Reporter: THE MARINES ARE THE LAST SERVICE TO FULLY INTEGRATE WOMEN INTO BOOT CAMP.

THEY ARE UNDER A CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE TO OPEN BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO TO WOMEN, BUT THE DEADLINE IS 2028.

FOR NOW, ANOTHER CYCLE OF WOMEN IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR SAN DIEGO.

SENIOR DRILL INSTRUCTOR DOES NOT WANT IT TO END.

>> RIGHT NOW, THERE IS SO MUCH FORWARD PROGRESS AND MOMENTUM.

WE ARE ON A HIGH RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW, THE PERFECT THING FOR THIS WOULD BE TO CONTINUE PUSHING FORWARD.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, THEY EXPECT TO ROTATE OUT TO ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT.

>> THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE OUT HERE.

THEY PROVED THAT.

AND THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN SET, AND IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED NOW, PRETTY THOROUGHLY.

AND ACTUALLY THEY CAN DO IT REALLY WELL.

>> Reporter: UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES, THESE 53 WOMEN ARE THE FIRST, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE, THE LAST FEMALE HOLLYWOOD MARINES.

STEVE WALSH, KPBS NEWS .

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

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