STORM A MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWELL FAMILY OF COMPANIES PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR, RESTORATION, FLOODING REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL ONE 800 BILL HOWE OR VISIT BILLY HOWLE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PRESERVATION.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> A DAY OF PROTESTS AND DEMANDS FOR BETTER PAY ACROSS SAN DIEGO CAN'T T. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES ARE CALLING ATTENTION TO WAGE DESPAIR BE BETWEEN THOSE AT THE TOP AND WORKERS THAT THE FRONT LINES AS KATIE ALVARADO EXPLAINS, RALLIES WERE HELD AS THE BOARD OF REGENTS VOTED ON GIVING CHANCELLORS RAISE IS.

>> Reporter: PATIENT CARE AND SERVICE EMPLOYEES OF THE JACOBS MEDICAL CENTER USED THEIR LUNCH BREAK TO RALLY OUTSIDE THE HOUSE AT ALL.

THIS IS ONE OF THREE LOCAL RALLIES THAT JOIN THOUSANDS ACROSS THE STATE TO PROTEST THE PAY GAP BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNING MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

>> YOU SEE THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING AND THE VALUE OF NOTHING.

>> Reporter: SEAN IS THE LEAD ORGANIZER THE FEDERATION.

LOCAL 3299 THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS 6000 HOSPITAL AND SERVICE WORKERS.

HE SAID THE RALLIES WERE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME THE REGIONS WERE VOTING ON GIVING THEM RAISES.

THEY ARE ASKING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES TO MAKE A MINIMUM OF $25 AN HOUR.

>> THEY GIVE HIM A HALF $1 MILLION RAISE.

THE CEO AT THE MEDICAL CENTER MAKES 1.4 MILLION.

THESE RAISES HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO HELP ORDINARY EMPLOYEES WHO SAVE LIVES.

>> Reporter: ISAAC, A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, JOIN THE LINE ON HIS BREAK.

HE SAYS HE WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN HE FOUND OUT THEY WERE VOTING ON GIVING THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE PAY SCALE ANOTHER RAISE.

>> IT MADE ME FEEL THEY REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE WORK WE DO HERE.

>> Reporter: ESPECIALLY WHEN HE SEES HIS COLLEGE STRUGGLING TO GET BY.

>> THE CHANCELLOR APPROVED A 79% RAISE FOR HIM.

79% MEANWHILE WE ARE OUT HERE ASKING FOR 5% JUST SO WE CAN AFFORD MILK AND BRAD.

IT STINGS.

I CAN'T SAY IT DOESN'T.

>> Reporter: THOSE ON THE FRONTLINE ARE NOW FORGOTTEN AND THE PEOPLE WHO STAYED HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC AND STILL WORK FROM HOME, CONTINUED TO GET THE REWARDS.

HIS MESSAGE AS THEY VOTE FOR A RAISE IS SIMPLE.

>> RECONSIDER AND THINK ABOUT THE WORKERS BEFORE YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE SYSTEM TO NOT INVEST IN BLACKSTONE.

A COMPANY IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE HOUSING CRISIS.

KATIE ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER DISPUTE HAPPENING.

A WORK STOPPAGE IS DISRUPTING BUS SERVICE IN THE SOUTH BAY.

>> Reporter: BUS RIDERS GOT AN UNEXPECTED HALT TO THEIR TRAVEL PLANS AS THE CONTRACTOR AND THEIR BUS DRIVERS NEGOTIATE A NEW CONTRACT.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> Reporter: CARLOS JUST MOVED TO THE AREA AND RELIES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET AROUND.

ESPECIALLY TODAY.

>> I WAS GOING TO A JOB INTERVIEW.

I WAS ON MY WAY HELPING TO GET A JOB SO I DON'T HAVE TO RELY TOO MUCH ON THE BUS.

IT IS DISCOURAGING.

IT MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE DEFEATED BUT SOME PUNCHES ARE UNEXPECTED.

>> Reporter: RICARDO CONTRERAS SAYS HE SAW A LOT OF ELDERLY AND SCHOOL STUDENTS REALLY CONFUSED AT THE BUS STATION THIS MORNING.

>> THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE BUS ROUTE TO WHEREVER THEY HAVE TO GO AND THEY REALLY DROPPED THE BALL BY NOT LETTING THEM COME OUT AND ADVISE THESE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: GONZALEZ DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE AND ALSO RELIES ON PUBLIC TRANSIT.

>> TRANSIT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT TAKES US FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

BEING ON STRIKE ALSO AFFECTS S. >> Reporter: 33% OF BUS ROUTES ARE NOT RUNNING.

JOSCWITH THE LOCAL 683 REPRESENTING THE BUS DRIVERS, EXPLAINS WHY.

>> IT'S AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE AT REFERS TO THE COMPANY'S BEHAVIOR FACING NEGOTIATIONS AND ALSO UNREASONABLE WORKING CONDITIONS THE COMPANY HAS PRACTICED OVER THE PAST DECADE.

>> Reporter: NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UNION STARTED BACK IN OCTOBER 2022.

OVER 600 DRIVERS ARE CURRENTLY AFFECTED.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THEY'VE BEEN KNOWN TO DO AS FAR AS UNDER BIDDING AND TURNING AROUND AND TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THE LABOR CONTRACTS TO THE POINT WHERE STRIKES HAPPEN AND THEY BLAME THE UNION.

>> Reporter: IT'S THE COMPANY CONTRACTED TO RUN 65% OF ALL SAN DIEGO ROUTES.

IN A STATEMENT IT SAYS IT'S NEGOTIATING WITH THE UNION AND GOOD FAITH AND THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS CONTINGENCY PLANS TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTIONS AND SUPPORTS CLIENTS.

IT ALSO SAYS IT'S MADE GOOD FAITH CONCESSIONS AND IS OPEN TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE THE UNION IS PREDICTING THE STRIKE WILL GO ON FOR ABOUT 20 DAYS.

MELISSA MAY, KPBS NEWS .

>>> MORE AMBULANCES WILL SOON RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES TO A NEW CONTRACT WHICH HAS STRUGGLED TO MEET RESPONSE TIME GOALS SINCE TAKING OVER THE AMBULANCE SERVICE IN 2021 THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE DEAL YESTERDAY WHICH CALLS FOR A SECOND COMPANY TO BOOST SERVICE.

THAT COMPANY WILL BE AMR WHICH PROVIDES SERVICE ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY AND THIS BEGINS ON MAY 29th.

>>> IT'S BEEN 2 1/2 YEARS IN SAN DIEGO VOTERS DEMANDED MORE OF COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT BUT KPBS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SCOTT FOUND THE CITY HAS LESS COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT NOW, THEN IT DID WHEN VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS.

A WARNING THAT THE STORY CONTAINS POLICE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE THAT SOME MAY FIND DISTURBING.

>> Reporter: IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, SAN DIEGO POLICE OFFICERS CONDUCTED A WELFARE CHECK AT AN APARTMENT ON FOURTH AVENUE.

IN BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE YOU CAN SEE OFFICERS ENTER THE APARTMENT.

TWO CHILDREN ARE SITTING ON THE COUCH WHEN A MAN WALKS OUT THE BEDROOM.

POLICE OFFICERS SHOUT INSTRUCTIONS THE MAN KEEPS WALKING AND THEN AN OFFICER FIRES A TASER.

USING THEIR TASERS THE OFFICER SHOT THE MAN A FEW MORE TIMES BEFORE PUTTING HIM IN HANDCUFFS.

POLICE MADE NO ARRESTS THAT NIGHT HOWEVER THE MAN WHO WAS TASED FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE OFFICERS FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE.

STP D CONDUCTED AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AND CLEARED THE OFFICERS BUT SAN DIEGO'S POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION WHICH IS MADE UP OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, DISAGREE THEY FOUND THE USE OF FORCE WAS EXCESSIVE THE COMMISSION SHARED ITS CONCLUSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

THAT HAVE THE OPTION TO INCORPORATE THAT FEEDBACK BEFORE CLOSING ITS INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.

OF THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, THAT'S HOW THE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

RIGHT NOW, -- >> THEY ARE REALLY NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL.

>> Reporter: ANDREA IS AN ATTORNEY.

SHE ALSO AUTHORED THE MEASURE THAT CALLED FOR STRONGER POLICE OVERSIGHT IN SAN DIEGO.

AND PASSED A 75% OF THE VOTE THE MEASURE REQUIRES THE CITY COUNCIL TO CREATE A STRONGER COMMUNITY WATCHDOG OVER THE POLICE WITH THE POWER TO LAUNCH ITS OWN INVESTIGATIONS AND SUBPOENA WITNESSES BUT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

>> IT IS A TRAVESTY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS WORKED IN SUCH A WAY INSTEAD OF IT'S AN OVERSIGHT MECHANISM.

FEWER THAN HALF ARE FILLED.

THE CITY COUNCIL COULD HAVE FILLED THOSE VACANCIES BUT CHOSE NOT TO.

AS BURNOUT CONTRIBUTED TO A WAVE OF RESIGNATIONS IN RECENT YEARS, PATRICK ANDERSON SERVED ON THE COMMISSION UNTIL LAST YEAR.

>> I WAS SPENDING 20-30 HOURS A WEEK.

IT WAS ESSENTIALLY A SECOND JOB.

>> Reporter: THE DWINDLING NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE WORKLOAD THERE IS NOW A BACKLOG OF MORE THAN 150 CASES AND IT WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO GROW BECAUSE THE COMMISSION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT WILL STOP HOLDING MEETINGS AND POSIT ITS REVIEW OF CASES NOT ONLY THAT BUT KPBS FOUND THEY HAVE CLOSED DOZENS OF CASES OF ALLEGED POLICE MISCONDUCT WITHOUT THE COMMISSIONS INPUT SIMPLY BECAUSE TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED THEY INCLUDE MORE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS SUCH AS EXCESSIVE FORCE, DISCRIMINATION AND UNLAWFUL ARRESTS.

>> WE CAN'T GUARANTEE SOMEBODY IS BEING PULLED OVER RIGHT NOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE HEARD AND GIVEN A FAIR SHAKE BY THIS COMMISSION.

THAT'S A TRAGEDY.

AND IT IS A POLITICAL DISASTER, FRANKLY.

>> Reporter: IT'S UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACT AND APPOINT NEW COMMISSIONERS BEFORE OVERSIGHT CAN RESTART.

THOSE COMMISSIONERS WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH INTENSIVE TRAINING AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOP RULES FOR HOW THE COMMISSION WILL CONDUCT ITS OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE POWERFUL WATCHDOG ENVISIONED IS STILL A WAYS OFF.

JUST HOW FAR OFF?

>> I WOULD SAY -- THIS IS THE BEST GUESS.

18 MONTHS OR TWO YEARS.

I LEARNED HOW THINGS MOVE SLOWLY.

>> Reporter: KPBS SENT MULTIPLE INTERVIEW REQUESTS .

THE COUNCIL'S MOST VOCAL SUPPORTER OF MEASURE BE.

SHE DECLINED.

AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT, MONTGOMERY SAID SHE'S PROUD OF HER WORK ON THE ISSUE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT SEAN ALSO DECLINED MULTIPLE INTERVIEW REQUESTS.

'S OFFICE PROMISED A STATEMENT BUT INSTEAD SENT OUT A NEWS RELEASE TO ALL LOCAL MEDIA SAYING THE COUNCIL WILL BEGIN APPOINTING NEW COMMISSIONERS LATER THIS MONTH.

>> A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS AND THE FUTURE IS STILL UP IN THE AIR.

IT IS TEMPORARILY CLOSE NINE MONTHS AGO AFTER A REPORT OF PROSTITUTION, DRUG USE AND HOMELESS CAMPS.

THE CITY WAS HOPING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FIRST OF THREE PHASES REOPENING.

IT WOULD START INSTALLING FENCING AROUND THE PARK MAKING REPAIRS AND ADDING A PARK RANGER.

NEIGHBORS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF PROGRESS.

>> AT THE MEETING THEY TOLD US THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE.

IT IS GOING TO BE FOR THE BETTER.

>> THEY ARE PUTTING REOPENING PLANS ON HOLD FOR NOW AT LAST NIGHTS MEETING THEY REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION WITH SCHOOLS.

>> THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO TURNING FIFTH AVENUE INTO A SLOW STREET STARTING ON JULY 1st WITH AVENUES FROM BROADWAY FROM NOON UNTIL 2:00 A.M.

THE INSTALLMENT OF EVERY CROSSWALK.

BUSINESSES EXPECT TO BOOST FOR TRAFFIC EVERY DAY.

>> THE STREETS BEING OPEN, WE SEEM MUCH MORE UTILIZATION BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO WANDER AROUND ON THE STREETS.

50,000 PEOPLE EASILY ON ANY WEEKEND IN THE CORNER.

>> THE NEXT STEP IS TO FRESHEN UP STREETS BY ADDING MORE TREES AND REPLACING THE ASPHALT.

THE CITY IS ALSO WORKING ON PLANS TO DESIGN AN WALKABLE PROMENADE IN FULL CREST.

>>> BOTH SIDES OF THE ABORTION PILL DEBATE MAKE THEIR CASE BEFORE THE COURT.

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

SOMAT THIS YEAR A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE DEMOLISHED PARTS OF THE CITY IN TURKEY AND TWO WEEKS LATER AN ENGINEER FROM SAN DIEGO STATE ARE RIGHT THERE TO STUDY THE DEVASTATION OF BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES.

THOMAS TELLS US WHAT HE SAW.

>> Reporter: THE FEBRUARY EARTHQUAKE WAS AN ENORMOUS NATURAL DISASTER CROSSING NEARLY 60,000 CONFIRMED THAT IN TURKEY AND SYRIA MOST OF THEM IN TURKEY.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING PROFESSOR ROBERT ARRIVED ABOUT TWO WEEKS EARLIER IN SOUTHERN TURKEY NOT FAR FROM THE EPICENTER.

>> IT'S ABOUT A 7.8 EARTHQUAKE IT'S THE SAME AS FROM SAN DIEGO TO SANTA BARBARA.

>> HE WAS PART OF A RECONNAISSANCE TEAM OF ENGINEERS THERE TO REPORT THE DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES.

HE SAYS THE MAGNITUDE WAS ROUGHLY THE SAME AS THE 1906 SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE BUT HE WAS NOT THERE FOR THE TURKEY QUAKE.

HE DID FEEL THE BIGGEST AFTERSHOCK FOLLOWING HIS FIRST DAY IN THE FIELD.

THE TEAM HAD GONE OUT TO A WELL- KNOWN KEBAB RESTAURANT AND HAD NOT.

>> THEY HAD SOME APPETIZERS AND MY FIRST KEBAB WAS PLACED IN FRONT OF ME AND THE BUILDING STARTS SWAYING.

IT WAS A MAGNITUDE 6.4 EARTHQUAKE.

>> THE WAITER LOOKED TERRIFIED AFTER WHAT THEY HAD WITNESSED TWO WEEKS BEFORE.

EVERYBODY FLED THE BUILDING THOUGH HE DID LATER RETURNED TO FINISH HIS KEBAB.

HE SAYS THE DEVASTATION SEEN IN TURKEY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH MODERN EARTHQUAKE DESIGN.

>> IF YOU TOOK ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS THAT COLLAPSED IN TURKEY AND PUT THEM ON ISOLATION BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE, NOT ONE OF THEM.

>> THE FOOT OF THE BUILDING IS NOT FASTENED TO THE GROUND THAT LETS THE BUILDING EITHER SLIDE AS THE GROUND MOVES BENEATH IT OR IN THIS CASE, IT ROCKS SLIGHTLY AS THE GROUND MOVES.

HE WAS ONCE A BRIDGE DESIGN ENGINEER AND HE SAYS BRIDGES CAN ALSO HAVE ISOLATION WERE THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE SHIFT AND THE LOWER STRUCTURE MOVES WITH THE EARTH BUT HE ADMITS THE LATEST EARTHQUAKE DESIGN IS EXPENSIVE AND TURKEY IS NOT A RICH COUNTRY.

HE SAYS HIS COLLEAGUES POINTED OUT TO HIM THAT POOR FUNDING AND CORRUPTION OFTEN RESULT IN THE USE OF WEAK BUILDING MATERIALS AND POOR ENGINEERING.

>> THE MATERIALS CONCRETE WITH ONE FIFTH OF THE CONCRETE.

THE REBAR THAT SOMETIMES IS DEFORMED.

IT'S THE DETAILS OF REINFORCEMENT.

>> Reporter: ONE BIT OF GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKE?

WITH ALL THE DEVASTATION TO BUILDINGS, MANY BRIDGES WERE ALSO DAMAGED BUT NOT ONE OF THEM COLLAPSED.

THOMAS SIGNAGE, KPBS NEWS.

THE THREAT OF MASSIVE SNOWMELT IS WEARING WERE CLOSERS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.

THREE CAMPGROUNDS WERE CLOSED OVER FEARS THAT WATERWAYS COULD OVERSPILL AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH UNTIL FRIDAY.

YOU MAY RECALL EASTERN PARTS WERE CLOSED LATE LAST MONTH BECAUSE OF FLAT CONCERNS THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED.

>>> THE WEATHER HEADLINES HERE ON KPBS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME PRETTY DECENT WEATHER FOR MOST OF US THERE WILL BE SOME ISOLATED MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS A LITTLE BIT OF MOISTURE THE MAJORITY OF SOUTHWEST.

ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A MONSOON IF YOU GO A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A TRUE MONSOON YET.

IT IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE SNOWPACKED SURPLUS IS PAYING DIVIDENDS.

RESERVOIRS ARE RISING AND THE SOUTHERN SIERRA BY THE WAY ARE MORE THAN 400% OF AVERAGE SNOWPACK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 40% OF AVERAGE SNOWPACKED COMPARED TO NORMAL FOR THIS POINT ON THE CALENDAR AS AVERAGE SNOWPACK REALLY DWINDLES HOLDING ONTO IT WE HAD SO MUCH DEEP SNOWPACK OUT THERE, THIS IS HELPFUL.

THE DROUGHT HAS ENDED AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE PROGRESS.

SURFERS BILL WEIR, A LITTLE EXTRA DANGER WITH A ROUGH SERVE .

LOW CLOUDS 59 DEGREES FOR YOUR LOW.

OVERNIGHT DOWN TO 56 AND 58.

59 OCEANSIDE AND THE FUTURE RADAR SHOWING SPOTTY SHOWERS AND STORMS OUT THERE CONCEIVABLY ONE OR TWO INTO THE HIGH GROUND NOT MUCH BUT A LITTLE SOMETHING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WE WILL KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT.

INTO THE DAY TOMORROW, 67 IN THE BIG CITY AND WE ARE LOOKING AT 99 WE GET TO THAT TIME OF THE YEAR TEMPERATURES ARE MOVING UPWARD THE COASTAL FORECAST LOW CLOUDS, PATCHY FOG AND WIND CATCHING LOW CLOUDS EACH AFTERNOON GETS A LOT GREATER.

BACK UP INTO THE LOW 70s.

MID- 70s LOW CLOUD BREAK AND MORE SUN IN THE AFTERNOON RISING UP TO ABOUT 80.

INTO THE MOUNTAINS WE GO.

HERE WE ARE IN THE MID-60s DROPPING OFF SATURDAY HERE TO THE LOW TO MID 60s.

IN THE DESERTS, WE ARE STUCK IN THE UPPER AND MID 90s.

JUST BE AWARE, SPOTTY THUNDERSTORMS CAN ALWAYS BRING LIGHTNING AND MORE DANGER OUT THERE FOR ANY HIKERS.

WE WILL TRY TO GET UP EARLY AND GET OFF THE MOUNTAIN BEFORE MID AFTERNOON.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> KENSING YEAR IS ARE A COMING-OF-AGE CELEBRATION FOR LATIN AMERICAN GIRLS TURNING 15 PARTIES CAN BE EXTRAVAGANT AND EXPENSIVE MAKING THEM INACCESSIBLE FOR MANY FAMILIES.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY TONYA THORNE TELLS US ABOUT A NONPROFIT MAKING THIS CELEBRATION A REALITY FOR A GROUP OF WOMEN.

>> Reporter: WE FIRST INTRODUCED YOU LAST MONTH.

>> IT MEANS THE BRAVE ONES.

AND TAKES A BRAVE WOMAN TO MAKE THAT DECISION BECAUSE IT IS A HARD DECISION.

>> Reporter: THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HELPS MEN AND WOMEN TO THEIR LEGAL BATTLES ALLOWING THEM TO LEAVE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT 22 YEARS AGO AND HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF WOMEN START A NEW LIFE AFTER EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> YOU HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE.

ARE YOU GOING TO BREAK THAT CHAIN?

SHE'S GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BROKEN THE CHAIN OF ISLANDS BY THROWING THEM THE KENSING YEAR THEY NEVER HAD.

>> A LOT OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED DID NOT HAVE THAT WHEN THEY WERE 15 IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A DESIRE IN THEIR HEART SOMETHING THEY WANTED.

>> Reporter: THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT FOR THE WOMEN THAT ARE SELECTED.

>> WE JUST ASKED HIM DID YOU EVER HAVE THAT WHEN YOU WERE 15?

DID YOU WANT ONE?

>> I DID.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE FUN?

>> Reporter: THE CELEBRATION COMES WITH ALL OF THE EMBELLISHMENTS A NORMAL QUINCEANERA WOOD.

THE DRESSES, THE WALTZ AND THE ENTERTAINMENT.

THE REASON SHE DOES IT.

>> THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES JUST THE JOY THAT THEY HAVE, HAVING THIS DREAM FULFILLED.

THAT'S MY BIGGEST PAYMENT.

>> Reporter: SHE IS ONE OF THE QUINCEANERA'S.

SHE SAYS SHE'S NERVOUS THAT SHE HAS BEEN PRACTICING.

SHE SAID AT FIRST HER FAMILY WOULD TEASE HER AND NOW THEY ARE GETTING READY TO BUY THEIR TICKETS.

THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO THE CELEBRATION ON MAY 20th.

>> WE ARE HOPING TO RAISE MONEY THIS YEAR.

I THINK WE MADE A SMALL PROFIT NOT MUCH BUT WE ARE HOPING TO RAISE MONEY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE MONEY AND WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE DO.

>> Reporter: THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT LOCAL ROOTS COMBO CHAT.

TICKETS ARE $50 AND INCLUDE DINNER AND ENTERTAINMENT.

TONYA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING.

THE LONG-TERM DREAM OF BRINGING ANOTHER MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS TEAM MAY BECOME A REALITY TOMORROW.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER IS SET TO ANNOUNCE SAN DIEGO IS THE 30th FRANCHISE.

PAINT TEASED THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SOCCER SCHEDULED FOR A 10:45 A.M. NEWS CONFERENCE AT SNAPDRAGON STADIUM.

>>> SESAME STREET'S COOKIE MONSTER WAS IN TOWN TODAY APPEARING AT THE NATIONAL MEETING AND CONVENTION AND OF COURSE KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER TRACKED HIM DOWN.

>> Reporter: THERE IS NO COMMENT FROM COOKIE MONSTER HERE AT THE NATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING AND CONVENTION BUT WHILE HE IS SILENT, HIS VANS ARE NOT .

EUGENIA HARVEY IS WITH THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING IN NEW YORK SHE GREW UP WITH THE BLUE MUPPET AND HIS FRIENDS ON SESAME STREET.

>> IT'S THE ABSOLUTE FIRST PLACE ON TELEVISION WHERE SAW KIDS WHO LOOK LIKE ME AND MY PARENTS AND PEOPLE I KNEW.

GROWING UP IN RURAL GEORGIA.

>> Reporter: SHE'S NOT THE ONLY VAN HERE WITH CHILDHOOD MEMORIES LOVING TO LEARN.

>> IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY CLOSE IN MY LIFE AND YET A VERY FRESH EXPERIENCE.

>> AND CROSSES GENERATIONS.

GRANDPARENTS REMEMBERED, MOMS AND DADS, KIDS.

IT BRINGS THE WHOLE FAMILY TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: COOKIE MONSTER'S PART OF THE FAMILY.

>> IF HE WERE IN THE MOOD TO TALK, COOKIE MONSTER WOULD TELL US THAT MILLIONS OF CHILDREN HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY TO SESAME STREET OVER THE DECADES LEARNING LIFE LESSONS BUT LIFE HAS CHANGED SINCE THE EARLY TBS DAYS.

>> WE CAN GET THEM GAMING.

>> Reporter: SARAH IS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PBS KIDS.

SHE RELEASED NEWS ABOUT MOBILE APPS AND NEW PROGRAMMING TO SERVE THE MORE THAN 12 1/2 MILLION VISITORS EVERY MONTH.

PBS KIDS LAD LEARNING AS THE PANDEMIC PROGRESSED AND CONTINUES TO DEVELOP CONTENT TO RESTORE LEARNING LOSS.

>> AS SOON AS VIRTUAL SCHOOL STARTED, MORE KIDS HAD ACCESS TO STREAMING, WI-FI, BROADBAND.

A LOT MORE KIDS HAD ACCESS THAT MEANT CANS STARTED USING OUR CONTENT DIFFERENTLY.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE PLANS FOR INNOVATIVE RECREATIONAL VIDEO GAMES AND AN ANIMATED SERIES CALLED LIMELIGHT IN THE LOOP STARRING A FAMILY WITH A YOUNG DAUGHTER PROBLEM-SOLVING AND LEARNING CONCEPTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

>> WE ARE SO CAREFUL ABOUT TESTING OUR CONTENT WITH KIDS MAKING SURE WE ARE SAYING IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO THEM.

THAT IS GO THERE TODAY THAT'S THE DNA OF PBS KIDS.

>> Reporter: COOKIE MONSTER IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE EITHER.

PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HEARS ANOTHER LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORIES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FRONT-LINE WORKERS RALLY FOR HIGHER WAGES ACROSS THE STATE TODAY THEY ARE DEMANDING THEY RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $25 AN HOUR WITH GUARANTEED PAY INCREASES TO KEEP PACE WITH THE COST OF LIVING IN THIS COMES AS EXECUTIVES VOTE ON ANOTHER ROUND OF RAISES FOR CHANCELLORS.

>>> THE WORK STOPPAGE IS IN EFFECT AT THE SOUTH BAY DIVISION IMPACTING A THIRD OF BUS ROUTES THIS AS NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CONTRACTORS AND THE OPERATORS ARE ONGOING.

BUS ROUTES AT THE EAST COUNTY DIVISION ARE OPERATING NORMALLY.

AND HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR TOMORROW IN THE NEWSROOM.

THE WRITERS GUILD NEGOTIATION IS IN USE OF AI.

ON THE NPR MORNING EDITION HOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY BEING USED IN HOLLYWOOD WRITING.

KPBS MID-DAY EDITION IS ALL ABOUT THE ART FROM THE FILM FESTIVAL TO THE FRINGE FESTIVAL PLUS THE WEEKEND PREVIEW.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT.

>>