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

CALL 1-800-BILL-HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

>>> HURRICANE MILTON IS ARRIVING ON THE COAST AS A CATEGORY FIVE STORM.

THE 11th HOUR TO EVACUATE HAS NOW PASSED.

LEE WALDMAN IS IN TAMPA, WHERE LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE IS EXPECTED IN THE HOURS AHEAD.

HURRICANE MILTON'S OUTER BANDS ARE LASHINGS OF FLORIDA GULF COAST, AND IT ONLY GETS WORSE FROM HERE.>> IT WILL KEEP LOOKING UP.

YOU WILL BE ON YOUR OWN.

>> OTHER STATE OFFICIALS ECHOING THE SAME OMINOUS TONE.

>> WHEN YOU FIGURE IT OUT, HEY I SHOULDN'T BE HERE, HEY, I NEED HELP, HELP IS NOT COMING.>> IT WILL TAKE US HOURS, IF NOT DAYS, TO COME TO YOU.

>> FINAL CALLS FOR PREPARATIONS SWITCH MIDDAY TO THOSE OF TRYING TO STAY ALIVE.

>> MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LIFE SERVER HANDY AND PLENTY OF SUPPLIES, YOU MAY BE STUCK IN YOUR HOME.>> MILTON'S WIND IS WHIPPING UP TORNADOES.>> NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF THIS STORM.>> Reporter: DESPITE THE CATASTROPHIC STORM FORECAST, SOME ARE STAYING ON BARRIER ISLANDS.

SO IF YOUR HOUSE LOSES A PYLON, THAT'S THE THING THAT SCARES ME THE MOST.

WE FEAR THAT HURRICANES, WE JUST CHOOSE TO RIDE IT OUT.>> Reporter: THE WEIGHT BEGINS FOR WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> FEMA IS READY.>> WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF STATE SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL EMBEDDED.>> GODSPEED TO ALL OF US IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.

>>> AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, GET READY FOR SOME GREAT WEATHER, I'M TRACKING LOTS OF SUNSHINE, IT WILL BE MILD, IT WILL BE BREEZY, BUT I'M TRACKING THE NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN, AND ANOTHER BIG WARM-UP, WITH DETAILS COMING UP.

>>> WE ARE ONE HOUR AWAY FROM A BIG GAME FOR THE PADRES.

IF THEY BEAT THE DOCTORS, THEY WILL CLINCH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE AND MOVE ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE PADRES HAVE GOTTEN HERE BEFORE.

JOHN CAROL IS OUTSIDE ECHOPARK, WITH SOME OF THE PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE THE PADRES FIND THEMSELVES.

JOHN?>> Reporter: MAIA, IT'S VERY EXCITING DOWN HERE, JUST LIKE YESTERDAY, MAYBE EVEN MORE TODAY.

IF THE PADRES WIN THIS ONE, THEY ARE OFF TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP.

EARLIER TODAY, I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO SAN DIEGO SPORTS IN GENERAL, AND THE PADRES IN GENERAL, LEE HAMILTON.>> IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IN SAN DIEGO, LEE HACKSAW HAMILTON IS YOUR GUY.

HE SAYS THE PADRES WERE HOBBLED BY MULTIPLE CHALLENGES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON, THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE EVEN THE MOST FAITHFUL FAN I DOUBT THEY'D REACH THIS POINT.>> THE OWNER PASSED AWAY.

WHEN CAMP OPENED, THEY LOST A $60 MILLION TV CONTRACT BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORKS.

WHEN CAMP OPENED, THEY HAD TO WRITE A LUXURY TAX.

WHEN THE OPENED CAMP, THE GENERAL MANAGER WAS UNDER FIRE.>> INAUSPICIOUS IN THE BEGINNING TO BE SURE, BUT THOSE HURDLES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CROSSED.

IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING THEY WERE HERE BEFORE, THEY GOT TO THE WORLD SERIES TWICE, ONCE IN 1984, AGAIN IN 1988.

HACKSAW SAYS THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT.

SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WHEN PLAYOFFS BEGIN, ARE YOU HOT, ARE YOU HEALTHY?

THE PADRES CHECK ALL OFF ALL THOSE BOXES, A LOT OF OTHER CLUBS CAN'T, INCLUDING THE DODGERS.

THIS COULD BE A WORLD SERIES TEAM, THIS IS A DANGEROUS WORLD SERIES TEAM, I WOULDN'T WANT TO PLAY THE PADRES RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY BECOME.

>> OTHER TEAMS IN CONTENTION MAKES THE PADRES CHANCES LOOK REALLY GOOD.

>> THE PHILLIES ARE IN DANGER OF NOT MAKING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SERIES, A PADRES VICTORY WOULD ILLUMINATE THE DODGERS.

WE CAN HAVE THE PADRES AND THE METS IN LCS, AND AFTER THAT, THE CROWN JEWEL, SOMEONE GETS TO GO TO THE WORLD SERIES.

>> I ASKED HACKSAW IF HE THINKS THIS IS THE KIND OF TEAM THAT WOULD BE IN CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION FOR YEARS TO COME, HE WASN'T SO SURE ABOUT THAT.

HIS ADVICE?

ENJOY NOW, SAVOR THE MOMENT AS THE PADRES EDGE EVER CLOSER TO THE CROWN JEWEL OF BASEBALL.>>> TARA LAWSON WANTS TO ASK THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCIES TO RUN TESTS IN THE TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY TO SEE IF IT COULD BECOME A SUPERFUND SITE.

FUNDING COULD BE ALLOCATED TO HELP DECONTAMINATE THE AREA.

THEY PROPOSED TO PETITION THE EPA, SAYING WE DON'T KNOW IF THE SUBSTANCES WOULD IMPACT THE COMMUNITY, BY LEACHING.

>> ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN HOW THESE CLEANUPS OPERATE, IT IS KIND OF EXTRAORDINARY.

SOMETIMES THEY WILL REMOVE SOIL, OR SEAL SOIL SO IT CAN'T LEACH INTO THE WATER.

>> THE SUPERVISORS TEAM SAYS SHE PLANS TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE PROCESS.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERS ARE LOOKING TO REPAIR A BACKLOG OF AIR CONDITIONERS.

KATIE ANASTAS EXPLAINS WHY IT HAPPENED.

>> REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT SAYS 480 CLASSROOMS HAD AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEMS BETWEEN AUGUST AND MID SEPTEMBER.

THE RANGE OF FACTORS LED TO MALFUNCTIONS.

RYAN RUNS THE OPERATIONS.

HE SAYS RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONERS FOR A LONG TIME PERIODS STRAINS THE SYSTEM.

>> OUR SYSTEMS ARE PASSED OR NEAR THE END OF THE USE OF LIFE.

LIFE CYCLES RANGE FROM 10 TO 30 YEARS DEPENDING ON SYSTEMS.>> Reporter: NEWER, MORE EFFICIENT UNITS ARE LOCATED TO REPAIR, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES ARE DELAYING THE ARRIVAL OF NEEDED PARTS.

THE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR SAYS THEY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.>> OVERALL WE ARE COMPLETING ROUGHLY 83% OF WORK ORDERS EACH YEAR, THE BACKLOG CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS $78 MILLION, JUST UNDER 20% IS FUNDING HVAC SYSTEMS.

THEY COULD INCREASE THAT PERCENTAGE.>> ENGAGING THROUGH THE BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS, MAKING SURE WE ARE REALLY AWARE, AND THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY AWARE OF THE CHOICES WE NEED TO MAKE.>> THEY ARE ALSO REVIEWING HOW THEY MANAGE STAFF, INCREASING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, AND LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

>>> IF YOU ARE A PARENT, YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE LATEST LAWSUITS AGAINST TIKTOK, THEY ALLEGE THE PLATFORM IS HARMFUL AGAINST TEENS.

AS AMY KILEY REPORTS, THE LAWSUITS ACCUSE TIKTOK OF BEING PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS.

>> FOR THE DEVELOPING TEENAGE MIND, THE TIKTOK PLATFORM IS LIKE DIGITAL NICOTINE.

>> Reporter: TIKTOK FACES 11 LAWSUITS FROM ATTORNEYS GENERAL WHO ALLEGED IT HURTS MENTAL HEALTH.>> WE WANT TO STOP THE COMPANY FROM ENGAGING IN PRACTICES THAT EXPLOIT YOUNG PEOPLE FOR PROFIT.>> Reporter: STUDIES SHOW SOCIAL MEDIA IN GENERAL CAN HARM TEAMS.

HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE REPORTING MORE NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES AND EMOTIONS, SINGLING OUT THE APP AS BEING ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS.

WE KNOW THE OVERUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS DRIVING AND EPIDEMIC OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

TIKTOK IS ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE AT IT.

>> THEY SAY CHALLENGE PLATFORMS CAN ENCOURAGE RISKY BEHAVIOR, LATE-NIGHT PUSH NOTIFICATIONS CAN DISRUPT SLEEP.

>> IT CAN TRACK THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION AND HURT THEM IN THE PROCESS.>> Reporter: THEY SAY THEY REMOVE UNDERAGE USERS, AND EMPLOYEE SAFEGUARDS.>> TIKTOK HASN'T BEEN STRAIGHT WITH THE PUBLIC, WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS, OVERSTATING SAFETY FEATURES WHEN IT KNOWS IN FACT, SAFETY FEATURES DON'T WORK.

>>> THE STATE ASSEMBLY SEAT IS OPEN THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CURRENT INCUMBENT IS RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE.

JOHN CAROL SAYS TWO OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE VYING FOR THE SEAT.>>> DISTRICT 79 IS ARGUABLY THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, IT ENCOMPASSES LEMON GROVE AND LA MESA, EL CAJON, LA MESA, SPRING VALLEY, AND A BIG CHUNK OF SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO.

DR. WEBER'S DEPARTURE FROM DISTRICT 79 BLUE THE RACE WIDE OPEN.

DR. COLLINS EMERGED AS ONE OF THE TOP VOTE GETTERS.

ONE CAME OUT ON TOP GAINING WHAT PERCENT OF THE VOTE, COLLINS RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER 30%.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE I AM A LEADER FROM THE DISTRICT WHO UNDERSTANDS THE DISTRICT.>> SHE SAYS HER LIFE SONG - ->> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER LIFELONG ASSOCIATION MAKES HER BETTER THAN HER OPPONENT.>> I'M WORKING WITH THIS DIRECTOR, OVER NINE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A DIRECTOR, I HAVE EFFECTIVELY OVERSEEN DAILY OPERATIONS FOR THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATIVE OFFICE, I HAVE A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL JUSTICE, RACIAL ACTIVE EQUITY, AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

>> HE POINTS TO HIS NEARLY EIGHT YEARS ON THE LA MESA CITY COUNCIL, AND THE FACT HIS MOM STILL LIVES RIGHT HERE IN LA MESA, IN THE HOUSE HE GREW UP IN, JUST A FEW BLOCKS UP TO THE DISTRICT BOUNDARY.

BUT HE SAYS THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAN WHERE A CANDIDATE IS FROM.>> IF THE TOP ISSUE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, IN THE CITY, WE HAVE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF OUTREACH WORKERS IN OUR LAST BUDGET, AND BEFORE I GOT ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THAT, AND ALSO, ROAD REPAIR, WE HAVE A SERIOUS UNFAIRNESS IN THE QUALITY OF OUR ROADS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND ESPECIALLY IN PARTS OF THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.>> OTHER ISSUES TO TACKLE INCLUDE MAKING CHILDCARE MORE AFFORDABLE, AND ADDRESSING CLIMATE ISSUES THAT SHE SAYS IMPACT THE 79th DISTRICT MORE THAN OTHERS.

AS PART OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, SHE SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE, AND MUCH OF THE DAMAGE DONE IN THE JANUARY 22 FLOODS HAPPENED IN THE 20 79th DISTRICT.

HE SAYS STORMWATER DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE MUST GET SERIOUS ATTENTION, LOTS OF ISSUES FOR VOTERS TO THINK ABOUT AS THEY CONSIDER WHO TO SEND TO SACRAMENTO TO REPRESENT ESTHER 79.>>> CALIFORNIA HAS AMBITIOUS GOALS TO DEAL WITH CHANGE.

ALEJANDRA EXPLAINS PROP 4.

>> Reporter: TELEPHONES CAN'T ESCAPE CLIMATE CHANGE.

1 MILLION OF THEM STILL DON'T HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

MY MENTAL GROUPS ARE PUSHING FOR A SURGE IN STATE FUNDING.

IF A MAJORITY OF VOTERS SAY YES, THE PROPOSITION WOULD AUTHORIZE $10 MILLION IN BONDS TO AUTHORIZE PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE, GIVING PRIORITY TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, AND THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF MONEY, $1.9 MILLION WOULD TO IMPROVING DRINK WATER.

MANY WOULD ALSO GO TO WELFARE PREVENTION, LANS AND PARKS, COASTAL SECTION, CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVES, AND AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT.

THE COST TO TAXPAYERS WOULD BE $400 MILLION PER YEAR OVER 40 YEARS, MEANING WE COULD SPEND $16 BILLION IN THE LONG RUN, ACCORDING TO THE NONPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN PUSHING TO SPEND MORE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE STATE SCALED BACK THE ORIGINAL CLIMATE SPENDING PLAN.

GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM APPROVED THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE UNITY IN 2022, SCALING BACK $10 MILLION AFTER THE STATE FACED A MASSIVE DEFICIT.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE THREAT OF WATER POLLUTION AND EXTREME HEAT ARE TOO URGENT NOT TO ACT.

OPPONENTS WARN THAT BONDS ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE WAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THESE PROJECTS, ARGUING THAT CALIFORNIA SHOULD PAY FOR OTHER WAYS TO FINANCE THESE INITIATIVES WITHOUT TAKING ON MORE DEBT.

VOTE YES IF YOU SUPPORT $10 MILLION FOR CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS, VOTE KNOW IF YOU THINK CALIFORNIA SHOULD NOT PAY FOR THESE PROJECTS BY TAKING ON MORE DEBT.

TO LEARN MORE, GO TO CALMATTERS.ORG.

>>> IT IS TIME FOR OUR NEXT WHY IT MATTERS SEGMENT.

EDITORS SCOTT LEWIS EXPLAINS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY SALES TAXES ON THE BALLOT, THIS YEAR.

[ MUSIC ] >> THIS NOVEMBER, VOTERS WILL WEIGH IN ON MEASURE E, WHICH WILL PUT A 1% SALES TAX ON TOP OF THE SALES TAX BUYERS PAY IN THE CITY LIMITS.

IT CAME UP IN OUR DEBATE LAST WEEK.

HERE IS LARRY TURNER, WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST TODD GLORIA.>> THEY SUFFER WITH THE INCREASED SALES TAX, THE REST OF US DRIVE TO ANOTHER CITY WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT.

THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WILL BE THE ONES WHO WILL HAVE MONEY TAKEN FROM THEM OFF THEIR WORK.>> IF SOMEONE DID LEAVE SAN DIEGO FOR A LOWER SALES TAX, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO PRETTY FAR.

SAN DIEGO HAD THE LOWEST RATE POSSIBLE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

ALMOST ALL THE CITIES IN ORANGE COUNTY ARE 8.75% OR HIGHER, IN IMPERIAL COUNTY, IT IS 8.25%.

THE 1% SALES TAX INCREASE WOULD PUT SAN DIEGO ON PAR WITH THE CITIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BUT SEVERAL OTHERS WANT TO JOIN THEM, INCLUDING ESCONDIDO, ENCINITAS, AND SAN MARCOS, AND EVERYONE COULD SEE IT GO UP EVEN MORE IF MEASURED G PASSES, WHICH WOULD ADD HALF PERCENT INCREASES ACROSS THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

THE REASON ALL THE CITIES WANT SALES TAX INCREASES IS BECAUSE THE STATE AND COUNTY TAKE SO MUCH FROM SALES TAXES ALREADY, WITH CITIES VOTING TO RAISE THEIR OWN ON TOP OF THE 7.25% RATE.

THEY KEEP IT.

TODD GLORIA SAID SAN DIEGO IS BILLIONS BEHIND IN ROAD AND EVERY STRUCTURE REPAIR.>> WE WILL NEVER GET AHEAD REPAIRING OUR ROADS, STORM CHANNELS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, WITHOUT NEW RESOURCES.

>> NEITHER THE MAYOR OR OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE TAX CAN PROMISE EXACTLY WHERE THE MONEY WOULD GO, IF THEY DID, IT WOULD REQUIRE TWO THIRDS SUPPORT FROM VOTERS, SAYING IT IS JUST GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND, THEY NEED A DECENT MAJORITY.

I'M SCOTT LEWIS, AND THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.>> YOU CAN SEE MORE OF OUR STORIES THAT KPBS.ORG, PUBLIC MATTERS.

[ MUSIC ] >>> WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH THE WORK WEEK, AS WE HAD THROUGH THE SECOND HALF AND THE WEEKENDS, I'M CHECKING SOME PRETTY NICE WEATHER, WE WILL GET INTO THE UPPER 50s, LOWER TO MIDDLE 60s, THE FURTHER INLAND YOU GO, THE MORE MILD TO MODERATE IT WILL BE, WITH LOW CLOUDS NEAR THE COAST, PAR FOR THE COURSE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THE OVERNIGHT LOW, A MIX OF 50s AND 60s, 70s OUT IN THE DESERT AREAS, 58 FOR OCEANSIDE AND CAMP PENDLETON, 59 IN CHULA VISTA, 61 IN SAN DIEGO.

OVERALL, AS WE GET INTO THURSDAY, THAT HEAT DOME HAS SLOWLY STARTED TO DISSIPATE, NO MORE RECORD BREAKING TEMPERATURES FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON, BUT WE ARE STILL SEEING SOME VERY WARM CONDITIONS ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS AND EXTENDING OUT TOWARD THE WEST COAST, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHWEST COAST FOR SAN DIEGO.

WEATHER ALERTS AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS MAP WAS JUST LIGHTING UP WITH EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCHES AND WARNINGS, BUT AS YOU SEE, IT'S NICE AND CLEAR HERE FOR THAT MAP, AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW.

THE HIGH, AS THE FORECAST GOES, A MIX OF 70s ALONG THE COAST, 80s INLAND, AND AS YOU GET INTO THAT DESERT, 90s, 104 DEGREES IN BORREGO SPRINGS, PLENTY HOT HERE FOR YOUR THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

RIGHT NOW, LIGHT SHOWERS FROM PARTS OF ARIZONA, INTO NEW MEXICO, THE WESTERN AND EASTERN SIDE OF THE ROCKIES, OVERALL, IT'S GOING TO STAY DRY, AND TOMORROW, MORE STRAY SHOWERS AND THUNDER STORMS ARE GOING TO BE POPPING UP, ALBUQUERQUE ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE FOUR CORNERS.

AFTER THAT, LATE AFTERNOON ON FRIDAY, NICE, CLEAR SKIES.

OVER THAT FIVE-DAY OUTLOOK FOR US, IF YOU LIKE SUNNY SKIES AND HIGHS IN THE 70s, YOU WILL LOVE THE COASTAL FORECAST.

THE LOW IN THE 50s AND 60s, MODERATE WEATHER, CLIMBING TO THE 90s ON FRIDAY, HAD THE THAT.

MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURES WILL DIP INTO THE 60s OVER THE WEEKEND, THEN WE ARE TRACKING THE TRIPLE DIGITS ON SATURDAY, AND ON SUNDAY.>>> HURRICANE MILTON POUNDS FLORIDA WITH RAIN AND TORNADOES, COMING UP AFTER EVENING EDITION, ON KPBS.

[ MUSIC ] >> JOIN US STARTING AT 6:00 P.M. TONIGHT FOR A LIVE DISCUSSION ON THE CROSS-BORDER HOUSING CRISIS.

THAT IS STREAMING ON OUR YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM PAGES.

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATION.>>> POLYNESIAN PEOPLE WERE MIGRANTS AND SETTLERS, BUT THEY DIDN'T SETTLE THE CONSTANT, THEY SETTLED ISLANDS, SEPARATED BY A VAST OCEAN THEY HAD TO NAVIGATE.

THOMAS FUTCH SPOKE WITH A SCIENTIST WHO LEARNED HOW THEY DID IT FROM GENETIC TEST'S, AND THE STORIES HIS GRANDMA TOLD HIM.>> WE CAN SEE THE GRAY PACIFIC OCEAN ON THE EDGE OF THE CAMPUS.

A GENETIC SCIENTIST AND A PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT UCSD, HE IS ALSO A NATIVE HAWAIIAN USING GENETIC ANALYSIS TO LEARN HOW HIS ANCESTORS MOVED FROM ONE ISLANDS TO THE NEXT, WITH KEY EXPLORATORY TRIPS.

HE BELIEVES THAT JOURNEY ULTIMATELY BROUGHT POLYNESIANS TO A PRE-COLUMBIAN LANDING ON THE SOUTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.>> TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES ACROSS THE PLANET OLDEST, MOST GNARLY, MOST DANGEROUS OCEAN.

YOU FIND COMFORT IN READING THE STARS, IN UNDERSTANDING WIND CURRENT LIKE THIS, IN READING ALL OF THIS ECOLOGICAL METADATA THAT ALLOWS YOU TO KNOW THE DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING.>> THAT KNOWLEDGE WAS PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT, AND TODAY IT STANDS ALONGSIDE MODERN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.>> OUR GRANDPARENTS TOLD US WE CAME FROM TAHITI, NOW I CAN SHOW YOU THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER THING TO BE PROUD OF, THAT IS WE HAVE THE GREATEST SEAFARING PEOPLE IN HISTORY.>> THEY HAVE VESSELS THAT TRAVEL THE OCEANS EFFECTIVELY.

TODAY, EVIDENCE OF POLYNESIAN MIGRATION IS SEEN IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING THE LANGUAGES ISLANDERS SPEAK.

IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEAR WHAT PATH MIGRATION TOOK, OR JUST WHEN IT HAPPENED.

THANKS TO MODERN GENETIC ANALYSIS BY FOX AND HIS RESEARCH GROUP, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRAW A MAP AND ESTABLISH A TIMELINE FOR THAT MIGRATION.

A PAPER PUBLISHED THREE YEARS AGO SHOWED A SPECIFIC EASTWARD OF MIGRATORY PATH.

BY TESTING THE GENOME OF PEOPLE ON ONE ISLAND AND COMPARING IT TO ISLANDS SETTLED BY DEPENDENCE, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE SEQUENCE OF ISLAND SETTLEMENTS.

WE SPOKE WITH THE COMPUTATIONAL GENETICIST AND COAUTHOR OF THE NATURE ARTICLE.>> YOU CAN IMAGINE THE ORIGINAL PARENT ISLAND FROM WHICH THEY CAME, THERE WERE ONLY ONE IN 100 PEOPLE WITH RED HAIR.

ONE OF THE 10 PEOPLE HAD RED HAIR, HE WOULD HAVE 10% FREQUENCY OF RED HAIR, YOU WOULD SUDDENLY HAVE THIS STRONG EFFECT.>> Reporter: EVOLUTION OF DNA ALSO HELPS YOU SEPARATE GENERATIONS OF TAHITI FROM DISTANT COUSINS IN HAWAII.

GIVEN THE SPEED AND THE EXTENT OF THE POLYNESIAN EASTWARD EXPANSION, WHY DIDN'T THEY END UP IN AMERICA?

HOW COULD THEY MISS A WHOLE CONTINENT?

FOX SAID THEY DIDN'T, AND THEY ARRIVED HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE THE SPANISH.

SO THE REALITY IS, THE NAIL IS IN THE COFFIN.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS IT'S TIME TO BURY THE NOTION THAT COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA.

THE IDEA OUR POLYNESIAN ANCESTORS MADE IT TO AMERICA FIRST IS A MYTH.>> Reporter: THEY DID MAKE CONTACT CENTURIES AGO, THAT IS INDISPUTABLE.

POLYNESIAN ISLANDERS SHARE THE SAME GENETIC SIGNATURE SEEN IN AT LEAST ONE AMERICAN INDIAN TRY.

HE SAYS THE EXPANSION ALSO FAVORS A HYPOTHESIS THAT THEY LANDED ON THE CONSTANT.>> THE SETTLING PROCESS OF THE REMOTE ISLAND OUT EASTER ISLAND, THE MOST REMOTE, WAS OCCURRING RIGHT AROUND THE TIME, AROUND THE 1100 AND 1200S, WHICH WE DATE BACK TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS.>> Reporter: SOME QUESTIONS REMAIN, SO FAR, NO POLYNESIAN DNA FROM THAT ERA HAS BEEN FOUND IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THE POSSIBILITY THAT AN INDIAN BOAT MADE IT TO A SOUTH SEA ISLANDS TO INITIATE CONTACT CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED.

BUT HE CALLS THAT SCENARIO HIGHLY UNLIKELY, GIVEN HOW LITTLE EVIDENCE WE FIND OF NATIVE AMERICAN NAVIGATION SKILLS OR CONSTRUCTION OF OCEAN WHERE THE VESSELS.

RESEARCHERS CONTINUE THEIR WORK TO ANSWER THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

HE WANTS TO BRING GENOME TESTING TO NORTH AMERICA AND HOPES THAT INDIGENOUS TRIBES WILL OFFER SAMPLES, TO SEE IF THEY MAY BE LINKED TO THE POLYNESIAN PEOPLE.>> THE IDEA OF TESTING A HYPOTHESIS THAT BRINGS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CLOSER TOGETHER AROUND UNITY AND CONNECTIVITY, HARMONY AND BALANCE, SAYING WE HAD A RELATIONSHIP BEFORE SEMLER COLONIALISM, WE HAD A RELATIONSHIP BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF SYPHILIS, SMALLPOX, LEPROSY, ET CETERA, THAT'S A REALLY POWERFUL THING.>> Reporter: THOMAS FUTCH, KPBS NEWS.

>> HAS THE LATEST WE ARE WORKING ON.

HURRICANE MILTON IS MAKING LANDFALL, AND KPBS MADAY EDITION HAS A WRAP UP OF ARTS AND CULTURE EVENTS DOWNTOWN AND IN THE WEEKEND PREVIEW.

AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN FIND STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, I'M MAYA TRABULSI, GOOD NIGHT.>>> MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES, CALL 1-800- BILL-HOWE OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

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

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.