>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT'S WEDNESDAY, MAY 18.

INKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT THEM UNTIL YOU ARE LOVED ONE NEED THEM.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AMBULANCES AND TONIGHT, SAN DIEGO'S NEW AMBULANCE PROVIDER IS ON LIFE SUPPORT ITSELF.

HE REPORTS SHOW STILL FAILING TO MEET EXPECTATIONS AND IS NOW FACING FINANCIAL PENALTIES.

HERE'S KPBS HEALTH >> Reporter: HOFFMAN.

>> WHILE THIS CONTRACT FALLS SHORT.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO'S AMBULANCE PROVIDER FALCK IS GETTING HIT WITH A PENALTY FOR NOT MEETING RESPONSE TIMES.

DATA FROM FALCK SHOWS THEY HAVE IMPROVED IN APRIL, BUT THEY PROMISED WERE AMBULANCES ON THE ROAD AND SIX MONTHS AFTER TAKING OVER THE NINE ONE CONTRACT, THEY HAVEN'T LIVED UP TO THAT.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT THE SAME SERVICE LEVEL AS WE HAD ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

THAT IS NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED IN THIS CONTRACT.

WE EXPECTED MORE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR.

>> Reporter: FIRE RESCUE CHIEF :STOLTZ IS THE PROMISE OF EXTRA AMBULANCES IS HOW I FELT WHEN THE CONTRACT LAST YEAR.

HE SAYS THEY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE BRINGING IN AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.

>> IF THEY ARE IN FACT DOING EVERYTHING THAT IS WITHIN THEIR REASON TO BREE STEFFEN WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAN THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE.

>> Reporter: PHELPS MANAGING DIRECTOR SAYS THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING WHAT THEY INITIALLY PROMISED.

WERE NOT PREPARED TO MAKE EXCUSES.

WE MAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR CONTRACT AND ARE COMMITTED TO REACHING THESE COMMITMENTS.

BUT ADMITTEDLY, MEETING THESE GOALS HAS BEEN HARDER THAN ANTICIPATED DUE TO COPING SEARCHES AND LACK OF PARAMEDIC AVAILABILITY.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY AMBULANCES ARE GETTING 2911 CALLS FOR THE LACK OF STAFFING MEANS FIRST RESPONDERS ARE PULLING EXTRA SHIFTS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> FALCK NEEDS TO GET SERIOUS IN THE RECRUITMENT, HIRING AND RETENTION INCENTIVES OF CURRENT PARAMEDICS OR WE WILL CONTINUE TO NOT MEET THE 1000 HOURS PROMISED AND WE WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.

OUR PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED BUT ARE GETTING CRUSHED.

>> Reporter: FALCK SAYS THEY ARE OFFERING INCENTIVES TO NEW HIRES AND EXISTING EMPLOYEES WHO PULL EXTRA SHIFTS.

THIS IS THE COMPANY'S SECOND UPDATE OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.

CITY OFFICIALS SAID THEY ARE NOT SAYING ENOUGH IMPROVEMENT.

>> WE ARE AND NOT SURPRISED BY THE SITUATION.

THEY WERE GOING TO FIND FALCK $2.3 MILLION BUT REDUCED IT BACK TO COVID SURGES.

THE FIRE CHIEF IS PREPARING FOR THE WORST AND HE IS CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO A PLAN THAT WILL BRING AMBULANCE SERVICES BACK IN- HOUSE.

>> HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO USE IT, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE IT IN PLACE.

>> Reporter: FALCK HAS SAN DIEGO'S 911 CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE NEXT CONTRACT IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A FOLLOW-UP NOW ON A STORY THAT WE BROUGHT YOU LIVE LAST NIGHT AFTER MORE THAN FIVE HOURS OF EMOTIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NO DECISION ON TWO PROPOSALS FOR EVICTION MORATORIUM PROTECTIONS IN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA.

KPBS REPORTER KITTY ALVARADO ON WHY THIS WILL BE A LONG PROCESS.

>> Reporter: RENTERS AND CHULA VISTA SHOWED UP IN FORCE TO TUESDAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO URGE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PASS STRONGER EVICTION PRODUCTION ORDINANCES.

DOZENS SPOKE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE NEED TO EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND CLOSE RENOVATION LEUPOLZ, LANDLORDS ABUSE LAWS FOR LOWER PAYING TENANTS.

LAURA BROKE DOWN IN TEARS WHEN SHE SHARED HER STORY.

>> WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO?

I HAVE TWO WEEKS.

MY OTHER NEIGHBORS HERE.

17 YEARS, SHE'S BEEN HERE LIVING THERE ALMOST 50 YEARS.

AND WE ARE BOTH BEING EVICTED AND WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR HELP.

>> Reporter: BUT LENDERS LIKE MICHAEL CAMPBELL SPOKE OUT TOO, SEEING CREATING UNNECESSARY LAWS TO PUNISH A FEW BAD APPLES IS NOT A SOLUTION.

>> THERE'S AN OVERREACH AND TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT IS NOT REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

AND I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T WANT TO BE A LANDLORD ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: IN THE END, IT WAS ALL FOR NOT.

THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO POSTPONE VOTING ON THE ORDINANCES UNTIL JULY 12th, BUT NOT BEFORE SOMEONE VOICED THEIR FRUSTRATION OUT LOUD.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO THAT, PLEASE, SIR.

>> IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.

>> Reporter: THE LEGAL DIRECTOR OF ALLIANCE OF CALIFORNIANS FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT SAN DIEGO, A GROUP MEETING THE MOVEMENT TO PROTECT TENANTS IN THE CITY SAYS IF THE CITY WON'T ACT, VOTERS WILL.

>> THE VOTER SUPPORTS STRONG TENANT PROTECTIONS.

IT'S JUST THE LOBBYISTS AND THE POWER OF THE REALTORS SOMETIMES PREVENTS US FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THAT'S MOSTLY WHAT WE SAW LAST NIGHT.

>> WE HAVE RAISED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

>> Reporter: COUNCILMEMBER SAYS OUR AFTER HOURS OF TESTIMONY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY NOT ONLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE THE VOTE BUT THE PROPOSAL SLOPPY SUBSTANCE AND RESEARCH TO GO FORWARD.

IT'S VERY CONFUSING.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER MAPPED OUT PLAN AND REALLY ADDRESS HOW MANY STAFF PEOPLE WE WILL NEED.

HOW MANY ADDITIONAL ATTORNEYS WE NEED TO HIRE IN THE CITY TO ENFORCE OUR OWN ORDINANCE.

>> Reporter: KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> TODAY, SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA RELEASED THE VISION TO HIS READY TO REBUILD BUDGET.

INCLUDES NEW INVESTMENTS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES, INCREASE SHELTER CAPACITY, EXPAND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND ENHANCE PARK SAFETY.

THE ADDITIONS BRING THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR TO JUST OVER $5 BILLION.

THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A HEARING ON THE REVISED BUDGET TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THE FULL COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE BUDGET IN JUNE.

>>> MANY LOCAL FAMILIES ARE JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED TODAY.

BABY FORMULA AND FOR FREE.

THE RELIEF COMES AS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE DRAGS ON.

AS KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US, THE ACT OF KINDNESS CAME FROM A GROUP KNOWN FOR ITS GIVING.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO ORIGINAL BLACK PANTHER PARTY FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, THEIR FULL TITLE HAS BEEN HOSTING A FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENT IN FRONT OF THE CLEMENTINE McDUFF ELKS LODGE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, BUT RECENTLY, THEY ADDED SOMETHING NEW.

>> WE PUT OUT A CALL TO GET PEOPLE TO DONATE TO THIS CAUSE.

>> Reporter: THE CALL WAS ANSWERED.

WALLACE SAYS THEY RECEIVED ABOUT 130 BOTTLES OF FORMULA.

A GODSEND FOR KATHY DIXON.

>> IS VERY SAD THAT THE MOMS CAN GET MILK FOR THE BABIES.

WE HAVE TO FEED THE BABIES.

WE'VE GOT TO FEED THE BABIES.

MATT DIXON WAS HERE GETTING FORMULA FOR HER GRANDCHILD.

THE MOTHER OF HER GREAT GRANDCHILD.

>> SOME ARE BREAST-FEEDING, BUT THEY NEED THAT EXTRA NUTRIENTS.

I JUST HOPE THE MOMS WILL BE ABLE TO GET WHAT THEY NEED AND NOT HAVE TO DRIVE SO FAR.

GIVEN THE SHORTAGE OF FORMULA, YOU MIGHT'VE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE FIRST ITEM TO GO HERE.

THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

IT BECAME OBVIOUS SHORTLY AFTER GETTING HER THE PART OF THE REASON FOR THE STORY WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT GETTING OUT THE MESSAGE ABOUT FORMULA BEING AVAILABLE.

ALL THE FOOD IS GONE NOW, BUT THEY HAD EIGHT BOTTLES OF FORMULA (SPOT WE'VE BEEN GIVING IT OUT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND IT AMAZED ME THAT THE STORY WASN'T GETTING OUT THAT SAN DIEGO ORIGINAL BLACK PANTHER PARTY HAD BABY FORMULA.

>> Reporter: THE FOOD AND FORMULA DISTRIBUTION HAPPENS HERE AT SIX HEMSLEY STREET EVERY WEEK DAY BEGINNING AT 11:00 A.M. HENRY WALLACE SAYS HE HOPES THE WORD WILL NOW GET OUT THE BABY FORMULA IS HERE.

ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS OF INFANTS FILLED WITH ANXIETY ABOUT WHETHER BABIES' NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> GAS IS ONCE AGAIN INCHING CLOSER TO RECORD HIGHS.

THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A GALLON OF REGULAR IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ROSE A 10th OF A CENT TODAY TO JUST ABOVE SIX DOLLARS.

ACCORDING TO AAA, THE AVERAGE PRICE HAS GONE UP 15 OF THE PAST 16 DAYS I ALMOST $.24 PER GALLON.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE PRICE ROSE TO OR DOLLARS $.52 PER GALLON.

THAT'S A NEW RECORD.

ANALYSTS ARE WARNING THAT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WOULD BE MORE THAN SIX DOLLARS A GALLON BY AUGUST.

>>> SAN DIEGO'S FIRST EVER CLIMATE REPORT CARD IS OUT.

THE GRADES COME FROM GROUPS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE REGION 'S ELECTED LEADERS ARE CARING FOR THE EARTH.

HERE'S KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIC ANDERSON.

>> Reporter: IS THE FIRST TIME COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN MEASURED BY THEIR VOTES ON CLIMATE RELATED ISSUES.

THE NEWS WAS GOOD BUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISORS NORA VARGAS, TERRA LAWSON REMER AND NATHAN FLETCHER ALL GOT A's.

JIM JUSTMAN EARNED A B AND JILL ANDERSON SC.

SUPERVISORS WERE GRADED ON VOTES INTO THE CLIMATE COUNTY ACTION PLAN, POLLUTION AND THE ZERO CARBON SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.

>> CREATED THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENT ON CLIMATE JUSTICE AND WE ENSURED THAT WE HAVE A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT HAS AN EQUITY LENS.

>> Reporter: ON THE CITY COUNCIL, MONICA MONTGOMERY STEPP AND VIVIAN MARINO EARNED LETTER A's.

THE CITY'S POLITICAL DECISION- MAKERS WERE VOTED LINK TO STORMWATER FUNDING, A PARKS MASTER PLAN AND FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT.

BUT WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HOLD THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY CLIMATE THAT THEY ARE VOTING ON.

AND WE HOPE THAT THIS REPORT CARD WILL BE USED AS A TOOL FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE FALLING SHORT.

>> Reporter: CHRIS KATE GOT THE ONLY FAILING GRADE ON THE REPORT CARD.

HE EARNED FOR FEWER THAN FOUR POINTS ON 15 CASE CITY ISSUES.

THAT INCLUDED VOTES ON A CITY UTILITY DEAL AND STORMWATER UPGRADES.

MAYOR TODD GLORIA ALSO GOT A C. >> THIS REPORT IS ONLY THE FIRST.

THE ORGANIZERS HOPE IT WILL BECOME A REGULAR TOOL TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP KEEP TRACK OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> Reporter: ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE ARE LEARNING MORE TONIGHT ABOUT THAT 18-YEAR-OLD ALLEGED GUNMAN WENT ON A RACIALLY MOTIVATED SHOOTING RAMPAGE IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AS CHRIS KNOWN REPORTS, POLICE ARE DIGGING INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA AND ABOUT HOW HE GOT THE ASSAULT WEAPON THAT HE USED.

>> Reporter: IN BUFFALO NEW YORK, ANGER AND DESPAIR AS A COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GRIEF.

>> WE FEEL RIPPED APART.

>> Reporter: NEW DETAILS ABOUT PEYTON JENSEN, THE 18-YEAR-OLD WHITE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING 10 PEOPLE AND WOUNDING THREE OTHER TOPPS SUPERMARKET IN A MOSTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD ON SATURDAY.

THE COMMUNICATION SERVICE DISCORD SAYS THEY CREATED A PRIVATE CHAT LOG TO DISCUSS THIS PLAN AND INVITED PEOPLE TO VIEW 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE ATTACK.

>> YOU PEOPLE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF HIS PLAN, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> Reporter: THE ALLEGED GUNMAN WROTE HE VISITED THE GOVERNMENT THREE TIMES ON THE SAME DAY IN MARCH TO SURVEY THE LAYOUT.

>> WE SOMETIMES CALL THESE SHOOTERS ALONE WALLS WHAT THEY ARE PART OF AN EXTREMIST NETWORK THAT INSPIRES EACH OTHER TO ACTION ONLINE.

>> Reporter: THE POST INDICATES HE CHOSE THE Z.I.P.

CODE BECAUSE IT HAD THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF BLACK PEOPLE RELATIVELY NEAR HIS HOME.

GENDRON WAS HELD FOR A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION LAST JUNE AFTER MAKING A SHOOTING THREAT AT A SCHOOL THAT NEW YORK STATE POLICE DID NOT SEEK A RED FLAG ORDER OF PROTECTION AGAINST HIM.

>> IT SEEMED THERE WERE LAYERS THAT MISSED THESE CUES.

>> Reporter: CHRIS NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IN A STUNNING REVERSAL, THE SAN DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY DROP CHARGES AGAINST JANE DORA TECH.

SHE WAS CONVICTED IN 2000 MURDERING HER HUSBAND AND THEIR VALLEY CENTER HOME AND TO MAKE HIS BODY IN THE ROAD A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY.

DORATICK TOLD THAT THERE WERE OTHER SUSPECTS THAT WEREN'T FULLY INVESTIGATED.

>> THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT CAME OUT IN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA WITH A SERIES OF VIOLENT ATTACKS ON PEOPLE.

ONE MONTH BEFORE, LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED AND TWO MORE RIGHT AFTER HE WAS KILLED.

SOME OF THEM COMPLETELY UNPROVOKED.

BY ONE PARTICULAR PERSON AND NOT INVESTIGATED IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND.

>> AFTER DNA EVIDENCE POINTED TO ANOTHER SUSPECT AND AN AUDIT FOUND SLOPPY WORK BY A SAN DIEGO CRIME LAB, DOROTIK'S CONVICTION WAS THROWN OUT.

NOW, 75 YEARS OLD, DOROTIK 17 IS TRULY FOR AFTER TWO DECADES IN PRISON.

SHE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT SHE WAS INNOCENT.

>>> SAN DIEGO HASN'T HAD A NEW SHERIFF IN OVER A DECADE WITH US CHANGING AS VOTERS CHOOSE THE REPLACEMENT FOR RETIRED SHERIFF BILL GORE.

KPBS REPORTER CLAIRE INTRODUCES US TO THE CANDIDATES.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE SEVEN PEOPLE RUNNING FOR SHERIFF.

WE REACHED OUT TO ALL OF THEM AND HEARD BACK FROM THREE.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH THOSE THREE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> I'M JOHN HEMMER LING.

ON THE CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF HERE IN 2022.

I'M ENDORSED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I'M A 30 YEAR PLUS A PUBLIC SERVANT BETWEEN MY TIME IN THE MARINE CORPS, MY TIME OF THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MY TIME AT THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS THE CHIEF CRIMINAL PROSECUTOR.

>> I'M KELLY MARTINEZ.

I'VE WORKED MY WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS AND I'M CURRENTLY THE UNDERSHERIFF.

I RUN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

>> MY NAME IS DAVE MYERS AND I AM RUNNING FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF.

I SPENT 35 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I HAVE WORKED MY WAY UP THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS COMMANDER.

WE ASKED THE CANDIDATES WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

JOHN HEMMER LING SAYS IT'S THE HIGH NUMBER OF DEATHS IN SAN DIEGO JAILS.

A STATE AUDIT SAYS THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD REQUIRE MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AT INTAKE AND MORE INTERACTION BETWEEN NURSES AND INMATES, AMONG OTHER CHANGES.

>> THE FIRST THING IS TO MAKE SURE ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED FROM THE STATE AUDIT WERE IMPLEMENTED.

I THINK THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY TALK ABOUT IN THERE.

SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES FROM THE STATE BOARD AS WELL THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT.

THERE ARE SOME BEST PRACTICES FROM THE NATIONAL BOARDS AS WELL.

THAT WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT.

>> Reporter: KELLY MARTINEZ SAYS IT'S HIRING MORE STAFF WHICH LEADS TO BETTER CARE IN JAILS.

>> WE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SO WE NEED TO HIRE ABOUT 400 PEOPLE, DEPUTIES.

AND ONCE THE HIRING IS SO KEY BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER THINGS WILL BE WITH STAFF.

>> Reporter: RESTORING TRUST IN THE DEPARTMENT.

YOU CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH MISTRUST IS THE STATUS QUO IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

BUT THIS CURRENT STATUS QUO IS NOT GOING TO STOP JAIL.

THE SHERIFF'S LEADERSHIP IS NOT GOING TO ADDRESS RACIAL BIAS.

>> Reporter: HEMMER LING IS A CITY ATTORNEY IN SAN DIEGO.

HE SAYS HIS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AS A MOST QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.

>> I SPENT ALMOST A DECADE AS A POLICE OFFICER WORKING.

MOST OF THAT TIME WAS IN CITY HEIGHTS WHERE I WORKED THE BEAT IN CITY HEIGHTS.

I LEFT THERE IS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER.

I'VE BEEN WITH THE LAW SCHOOL WHILE I WAS WORKING AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WORKING MY BEAT TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON FOR THE COMMUNITY.

A BETTER PERSON FOR MYSELF.

>> Reporter: MARTINEZ, THE UNDERSHERIFF FOR THE DEPARTMENT HAS DIRECT EXPERIENCE LEADING THE DEPARTMENT.

BUT NOBODY KNOWS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OUR COUNTY BETTER THAN I DO AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING TOWARDS ALL OF THESE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES WE MAY WE NEED TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.

>> Reporter: THE RETIRED SHERIFF'S COMMANDER SAID HE CAN HELP DIVERSIFY THE DEPARTMENT.

BUT CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE POSITIONS REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY WITH POLICING.

THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WILL LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WITH POLICING.

>> Reporter: PARTY POLITICS STILL PLAYS A ROLE IN THE RACE.

HEMMER LING WAS AN INDEPENDENT VOTER, BUT IN 2020, CHANGED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HAS THEIR BACKING.

HE SAYS DESPITE THE COUNTY'S MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS, HE CAN BE ELECTED.

>> NO MATTER WHERE YOU FALL IN THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, YOU WANT TO BE SAFE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, MARTINEZ WAS A REPUBLICAN BUT CHANGED TO DEMOCRAT IN NOVEMBER 2020, AND HAS THE BACKING OF MANY WELL-KNOWN DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA.

SHE SAYS HER DECISION TO CHANGE PARTIES WAS PERSONAL.

>> IT WAS DONE FOR I DECIDED TO RUN FOR SHERIFF BUT THE SHERIFF IS NOT PARTISAN.

THE JOB OF PUBLIC SAFETY DOESN'T FALL ON ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER.

>> Reporter: MYERS ALSO CHANGED HIS PARTY FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRAT IN 2016 AND HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HE RAN FOR SHERIFF IN 2018 AND LOST, BUT SAYS IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

>> I WAS A FULL-TIME COMMANDER OF THE TIME.

IT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME BECAUSE I'M RETIRED.

I'M NOT A FULL-TIME COMMANDER.

I'M NOT GETTING PICKED ON.

I'M NOT GETTING MARGINALIZED.

I'M NOT GETTING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

>> Reporter: THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS IN THE PRIMARY JUNE 7th WILL ADVANCE TO THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

CLAIRE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE JUNE PRIMARY, YOU CAN GO TO KPBS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE MOTOR HUB TAB.

YOU WILL FIND OUR BALLOT GUIDE BREAKING DOWN ALL THE RACES AND CANDIDATES, AS WELL AS LOCATIONS TO VOTE OR DROP OFF YOUR BALLOT.

>>> IT'S OFFICIAL.

FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS WILL NO LONGER BE SOLD IN SAN DIEGO STARTING NEXT YEAR.

KPBS JACOB AERE SAYS THE BAND GOES ONE STEP FURTHER.

>> Reporter: STARTING JANUARY 1st, 2023, FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS INCLUDING E CIGARETTES, CIGARILLOS AND MENTHOL CIGARETTES WILL NO LONGER BE SOLD IN SAN DIEGO.

>> THE TOBACCO COMPANY FOR DECADES HAS USED FLAVORS AS A WAY, INCLUDING MENTHOL, TO HOOK USE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO WE NEED TO TACKLE ALL OF THOSE MARKETING PRACTICES AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STOP.

>> Reporter: COUNCILMEMBER MARNIE JUAN WOLPERT LED THE MOVE TO BAN THE PRODUCTS THROUGH AN ORDINANCE SHE CALLED AS A AFD WHICH STANDS FOR STOP ADOLESCENT ADDICTION FROM E CIGARETTES.

BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STRAWBERRY, BANANA, AND WATERMELON CANDY.

THINGS THAT KIDS NORMALLY WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE SEEING A RISE IN RATES AND THAT'S WHY WE TOOK ACTION TO STOP THAT RISE.

>> Reporter: IT WAS OPPOSED BY SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

HE SAYS FLAVORED TOBACCO ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY HALF HIS BUSINESS.

AT HIS SMOKE SHOP.

>> I MIGHT AS WELL SHUT DOWN.

IS NOT GOING TO STOP ANY KID FROM GETTING ANYTHING THEY WANT.

IF THERE ISN'T FLAVORED TOBACCO, THEY WILL GET THERE MARIJUANA.

THERE ARE ALREADY MARIJUANA CARTRIDGES IN SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: THE MOVE COMES MONTHS BEFORE THE STATEWIDE REFERENDUM TACKLING THE ISSUE IN NOVEMBER.

IT ALSO FOLLOWS A SIMILAR ACTION IN CITIES SUCH AS IMPERIAL AND SOLANA BEACH, ENCINITAS AND AREAS OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

ANDRE WILLIAMS SAYS HE SMOKES MENTHOLS AND WILL FIND A WAY TO GET SOME, REGARDLESS OF THE VAN.

>> IS GOING TO INCREASE CRIME RATE BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE NEED MORE MONEY.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD A PACK OF CAMELS OR MARBLE ROW THAT COST $15.

COMPARED TO SEVEN OR EIGHT.

THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> Reporter: THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T APPLY TO CIGARS, LOOSELEAF TOBACCO OR TOBACCO FLAVORED E CIGARETTES NOR DOES IT APPLY TO FDA CESSATION DEVICES, SUCH AS NICOTINE GUM AND PATCHES.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SOME CLOUD COVER, ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOKED ACROSS THE COAST.

IT'S DEFINITELY KEPT THINGS COOL, COMFORTABLE.

WE DO HAVE A DRY STREET THAT WILL CONTINUE ON AND THEN SOME BREEZY CONDITIONS AS THE NEXT COLD FRONT WORKS ITS WAY ACROSS THE AREA.

SO FOR TONIGHT, WITH THOSE CLOUDS AT PLAY, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST, THEY WILL LINGER HERE AND NOT WORK THEIR WAY FURTHER IN LAND LIKE THEY HAVE IN PREVIOUS TIMES.

THAT WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES AROUND 50s AND EVEN 60s POSSIBLY FOR SAN DIEGO, EL CAJON 55.

RAMONA DROPPING DOWN TO 50 OVERNIGHT.

BY THURSDAY, WE CAN SEE THE COLD AND WORKING INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, STRETCHING DOWN ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN.

MUCH COOLER CONDITIONS BUT IT WILL REMAIN QUITE WARM FOR MUCH OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHWEST.

BUT AGAIN, ALONG THE COAST WITH THOSE CLOUDS AND THE ONSHORE FLOW, IT WILL KEEP THINGS RELATIVELY SEASONABLE.

YOU CAN SEE THE CLOUDS EVEN ACROSS THE LUNCH HOUR.

MARINE LAYER PRETTY THICK WORKING ITS WAY ONSHORE INTO THE EVENING HOURS AND MORE SO.

BUT I DON'T THINK AGAIN IT WILL COME TO PLACES LIKE POMONA OR EVEN MOUNT LAGUNA.

HE WOULD JUST STICK WITH CLOUDS JUST AROUND THOSE COASTAL AREAS.

TOMORROW WITH A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS, SAN DIEGO STAYING PRETTY PLEASANT AT 70.

OCEANSIDE 70.

CHULA VISTA 68.

RAMONA TO THE EAST LIKE BORREGO SPRINGS, YOU WILL SEE SOME WARMING AND EVEN INTO MOUNT LAGUNA AT 70 DEGREES.

AND FRIDAY, THAT HE CONTINUES BUT IS LIMITED FOR PLACES LIKE PHOENIX TO ALBUQUERQUE.

VEGAS MUCH COLDER ACROSS ELKO, SALT LAKE CITY, EVEN INTO CEDAR CITY IS THE COLD FRONT.

TEMPERATURES RIGHT ALONG THE COAST REMAIN STEADY WITH THOSE LOW CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON.

YOU CAN SEE A SLIGHT COOLING TREND FOR YOUR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THEN BACK TO THE UPPER 70s FURTHER IN LINE FOR THE START OF NEXT WEEK.

FOR THE MOUNTAINS, 60s AND THE FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND AND ACROSS THE DESERT, YOU GET A CHANCE TO COOL OFF SLIGHTLY IN THE 90s, BUT BACK TO THE TRIPLE DIGITS BY MONDAY.

FOR KPBS, I'M METEOROLOGIST MICHELLE ROTELLA.

>>> THIS WEEKEND, ABOUT 4000 STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE FROM CAL STATE SAN MARCOS.

MORE THAN HALF OF THEM ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO RECEIVE A BACHELORS DEGREE.

TONIGHT, KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER MG PEREZ HAS A STORY ONE GRADUATE WHO TURNED HEARTBREAK INTO HOPE.

>> WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW IS JUST WATCHING THIS PRESSURE GAUGE AND MAKING SURE IT DOESN'T GET TOO LOW.

>> Reporter: 22-YEAR-OLD MADISON WAGNER DOES BEST WITH HANDS ON LEARNING.

>> WE EVACUATED THREE TIMES WITH NITROGEN.

>> Reporter: SHE ALSO SPEAKS FLUENT CHEMISTRY.

A CHALLENGING SCIENCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUNSELOR ONCE TOLD HER WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR HER TO PURSUE.

>> THERE WAS A BIG PART OF ME THAT DID BELIEVE WHAT THE COUNSELOR TOLD ME AND DID THINK I COULDN'T DO IT.

BUT THERE WAS A BIG DRIVE FOR ME.

I WANTED TO MAKE GREAT MEDICINE AND I KNEW TO DO THAT, I NEEDED TO GO INTO SCIENCE.

>> Reporter: MEDICINE GROUP IN VALLEY CENTER AS A CHARLIE RADIO CHAMPION.

SHE WAS CROWNED MISS RODEO CALIFORNIA 2019.

ANNA COLLEGE AND SOMEONE ELSE TOLD HER SHE COULD ALSO ACHIEVE.

THAT WAS THE SAME YEAR SHE TRANSFERRED TO CAL STATE SAN MARCOS WHERE SHE WILL GRADUATE THIS WEEK WITH HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY.

THE FIRST IN HER FAMILY TO DO SO.

BUT HER FAMILY IS MISSING SOMEONE.

>> HE SUFFERED REALLY SEVERELY WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSION.

>> Reporter: THE WAGNER'S LOVED AND LOST THEIR SON AND MADISON'S OLDER BROTHER PIERSON SUDDENLY .

TO TO MENTAL ILLNESS WHEN HE WAS JUST 16.

THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO HIS DEATH IS SOMETHING THIS YOUNG SCIENTIST IS DETERMINED TO END WHILE SHE CONTINUES HER WORK IN THE LABORATORY.

>> IT REALLY INSPIRED ME TO MAKE A CHANGE AND TO CONTRIBUTE WHAT I COULD TO MAKING GOOD MEDICINE AND MAKING CHANGES IN THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: MEDICINE HAS BEEN MEANT TOWARD BY DR. ROBERT IAFE, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR WHO HAS TRAINED STUDENTS WHO WENT ON TO DO WORK IN LABORATORIES RUN BY NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS.

IT'S A PERFECT MATCH.

WITH THE FORMER RODEO QUEEN DETERMINED TO PROVE THAT SHE IS SADDLED AND READY TO CHANGE THE WORLD OF MEDICINE.

>> I WANT STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, EVEN IF IT'S A SMALL ONE THAT OTHERS HAVE SAID DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO, DEFINITELY TRY.

>> SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE.

AS YOU CAN SEE.

>> Reporter: MEDICINE WILL BEGIN HER PHD IN CHEMISTRY IN AUGUST WITH HER PRESTIGIOUS SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTION.

SHE'S ALSO THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AT GRADUATION.

WERE SHE WILL MENTION HER BROTHER PIERSON.

AND THE SCIENCE SHE WILL PRACTICE IN HIS MEMORY.

SHE CONSIDERS THAT A GIFT.

>> I JUST FEEL VERY PROUD FOR HOW FAR I HAVE COME AND THANKFUL TO HIM.

THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS MOST OF ALL.

>> Reporter: ONE COLLEGE GRADUATE THIS SPRING, AS STRONG AS THE MEMORIES SHE HOLDS ONTO.

MG PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WHAT A GREAT STORY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HOOPER YOU CAN TYPE FIND TONIGHT STORIES AT KPBS.ORG.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.