>>> ♪ ♪ >> 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 AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL ONE 800-BILL HOWELL OR VISIT BILL HOWELL.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PRIVATE FOUNDATION.

DARLING MARCOS SHYLY AND BY THE FOLLOWING -- AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> HOMEOWNER INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE LEADING CALIFORNIA AND CONSUMER ADVOCATES WANT TO ANSWER >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

CONSUMER WATCHDOG IS CALLING ON THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE THE RECENT TREND.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL SAYS A RECORDING OF AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOBBYIST IS AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER.

>> Reporter: JAMIE CHORD WAS ON A SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT LAST WEEK BETWEEN L.A. AND SACRAMENTO WHEN HE HEARD A MAN ACROSS THE AISLE TALKING ABOUT MOVING A BILL TO THE LEGISLATURE IN THE LAST DAYS OF ITS CURRENT SESSION.

CORD WORKS FOR THE GROUP CONSUMER WATCHDOG.

HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE MAN, BUT HIS TRAVELING PARTNER DID.

THE MAN ACROSS THE AISLE WAS MICHAEL DUNNING, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER FOR LIGHTHOUSE PUBLIC AFFAIRS, A GROUP THAT LOBBIES FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES.

>> HE WAS TALKING IN PERSON TO A FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

I HEARD HIM.

I HEARD OTHER THINGS THAT WERE MORE INCENDIARY BEFORE I STARTED TAPING.

LIKE YOU SAID, I GET PAID FOR THESE LAST-MINUTE SURPRISES.

I DIDN'T GET THAT ON TAPE.

WHAT I DID GET ON TAPE WAS HIM SAYING -- >> THIS IS ALL THE SURPRISE, THE PUBLIC SURPRISE LAWMAKERS DO A LAST-MINUTE JOB.

HE INVOKED THE IDEAS THAT THESE COMPANIES WERE PULLING OUT, IN SEQUENCE, AS A WAY OF PRESSURING THE DEAL.

>> Reporter: IN FACT, AS KPBS HAS BEEN REPORTING FOR MONTHS NOW, SEVERAL INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE STOPPED SELLING HOMEOWNER POLICIES IN CALIFORNIA.

WHILE OTHERS HAVE PLACED RESTRICTIONS ON THE POLICIES THEY SELL.

THE COMPANIES DECIDED THE HIGH COST OF INSURING HOMEOWNERS WHO LIVE IN AREAS PRONE TO WILDFIRE .

AND THE REQUESTED STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR AN INVESTIGATION CONSUMER WATCHDOG SAYS INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THEIR LOBBYISTS ARE LEGALLY COLLUDING TO COORDINATE AN EXIT FROM THE STATES.

IF TRUE, SUCH COLLUSION WOULD VIOLATE STATE AND FEDERAL ANTITRUST LAWS.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT CONSTITUTES PRICE FIXING.

IF A COMPANY IS PULLING OUT OF THE MARKETS THAT THEY ARE PROFITING WELL IN AND DOING IT IN CONCERT WITH OTHER COMPANIES TO JACK UP PREMIUMS, ISN'T THAT PRICE FIXING?

>> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO MICHAEL GUNNING AND THE COMPANY HE WORKS FOR.

WE HEARD BACK FROM A PARTNER IN THE FIRM WHO PROVIDED A STATEMENT THAT SAYS IMPARTS, THE URGENCY IS UNDENIABLE.

CALIFORNIANS DESERVE SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

OUR TEAM WORKS TIRELESSLY EVEN ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

ADVOCATING FOR OUR CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES.

AG BOB BONTA'S OFFICE AS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE CONSUMER WATCHDOGS REQUEST, BUT ARE UNABLE TO COMMENT, INCLUDING CONFIRMING OR DENYING A POTENTIAL OR ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE WARM-UP CONTINUES, ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO THE INTERIOR VALLEYS AND TO THE DESERTS AS WE WORK OUR WAY INTO THE FIRST DAY.

TEMPERATURES APPROACHING 90 DEGREES AROUND RAMONA.

BACK INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS TOWARD BORREGO SPRINGS.

STILL INTO THE MID-SEVENTIES AROUND OCEANSIDE AND CHULA VISTA.

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HEAT CONTINUE AS WE WORK OUR WAY INTO THE UPCOMING WEEKEND?

I WILL LET YOU KNOW, COMING UP A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>>> AN UPDATE TO THE FAT LEONARD SCANDAL.

TODAY FOUR FORMER U.S. NAVY OFFICERS HAD THEIR CONVICTIONS ON BRIBERY, FRAUD, AND CONSPIRACY OVERTURNED.

THEY WERE CONVICTED OF ACCEPTING BRIBES FROM FOR DEFENSE CONTRACTOR LEONARD FRANCE IS KNOWN AS FAT LEONARD.

THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ALLEGED THE PROSECUTORS WITHHELD EVIDENCE AND PREPPED WITNESSES TO PROVIDE FALSE TESTIMONY.

TODAY A JUDGE ACCEPTED PLEA AGREEMENTS ON MISDEMEANOR CHARGES AND VACATED THE OFFICER'S FELONIES.

THEY WERE SENTENCED TO NO PRISON TIME AND $100 FINES.

>>> THE ESCONDIDO CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY DECIDED TO PULL FUNDING FROM A LONG-RUNNING HOMELESS SHELTER IN THE CITY AS ALEXANDER EXPLAINS, CONCERNS WERE RAISED THAT THE SHELTER WAS SERVING MORE THAN JUST ESCONDIDA RESIDENCE.

>> WE WERE VERY SURPRISED.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS THE FEELING WITH THE CEO WHEN GREG ANGEL FOUND A ESCONDIDO WILL BE FUNDING HAVEN HOUSE THIS YEAR.

IS THE ONLY FULL-SERVICE LOVE AREA HOMELESS SHELTER IN THE CITY.

>> HAYDEN HALSTEAD SHELTER IS THE ONLY SHELTER OF ITS KIND HELPING GENERAL POPULATION AND SHELTERED IN ESCONDIDO GET OFF THE STREETS.

WE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE IT NOT FUNDED.

TO MAKE THE CITY COUNCIL MADE THE DECISION LAST MONTH.

ANGEL SAYS THE CITY EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE POPULATION HAVEN HOUSE CONCERNS -- SERVES.

>> THEY SAID OUR SHELTER WAS NOT SERVING HANNAH FOR SOME PEOPLE FROM ESCONDIDO.

WE HAVE SEEN MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE WHO BECAME HOMELESS IN ESCONDIDO.

TWO ACCORDING TO INTERNAL DATA MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS AT HAVEN HOUSE OR ESCONDIDA RESIDENCE.

HAVEN HOUSE WAS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE $50,000 FROM ESCONDIDO, ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT IT HAS RECEIVED IN THE PAST DECADE.

AT THE MEETING FROM HAVEN HOUSE RESIDENT SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE SHELTER.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MR.

MAYOR., COLLEEN HEARING THAT TOME AS A TEENAGER BECAUSE SHE FELT UNSAFE THERE.

>> I DIDN'T LEAVE MY HOME BECAUSE I HAD AN ADDICTION OR ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS.

I GAINED THEM AFTER HE LEFT.

THE HAVEN HOUSE SHELTER IS THE ONLY KIND OF SHELTER I WOULD HAVE BEEN WELCOMED IN.

WHILE $50,000 IS A SMALL PART OF THE SHELTER'S BUDGET IT SPEAKS TO THE LARGER ISSUE THAT FUNDING PROMISES SERVICE IS DWINDLING, ANGEL SAYS.

>> I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS FED UP.

THE COMMUNITY IS MORTIFIED AT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ON OUR STREETS.

SOMETIMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT THINK THAT'S THE SOLUTIONS TO THAT ARE ACTUALLY PART OF THE PROBLEM.

TWO HAVEN HOUSE WILL HOST A COMMITTEE MEETING FRIDAY TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS AS WELL AS A LOSS OF FUNDING.

THE ESCONDIDO MAYOR HAS YET TO RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT FROM KPBS.

ALEXANDER WIN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> MANY PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND AND AFFORD CHILDCARE.

NOW THAT SEARCH COULD GET EVEN HARDER.

EMERGENCY CHILDCARE FUNDS SET UP DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE SET TO EXPIRE THIS MONTH.

KPBS REPORTER TANIA THORNE EXPLAINS WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR PARENTS AND PROVIDERS.

>> Reporter: FEDERAL EMERGENCY FUNDING HELPS GET THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY FROM COLLAPSING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AS PARENTS RETURNED TO WORK AND PROVIDERS NEEDED TO COVER EXPENSES.

THE $24 BILLION CHILDCARE STABILIZATION PROGRAM CASH AS PART OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT IN 2021.

>> IT GAVE FUNDING TO MORE THAN 200,000 CHILDCARE PROGRAMS ACROSS AMERICA.

TWO ONE QUARTER OF THEM IN CALIFORNIA.

NOW THOSE FUNDS ARE SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

THAT COULD MEAN MORE STAFFING SHORTAGES AND HIGHER COSTS FOR CARE.

>> FAST FORWARD TO WHAT IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THIS.

THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO INCREASE.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO DECREASE IT.

THIS WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC COMMUNAL, NOT JUST TWO STEPS BACK, BUT FIVE STEPS BACK PICK HENRIQUEZ IS THE CEO OF MAC.

HIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SAN DIEGO.

HE SAYS MANY PROVIDERS USE THE FUNDS TO INCREASE THEIR STAFF PAY AND KEEP THE CARE AFFORDABLE FOR PARENTS.

>> EVEN IF THE FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO PAY OR PAY MORE FOR WHAT THEY WERE PAYING FROM THE SUBSIDY, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CENTERS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WERE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PAY BETTER OR HIGHER WAGES THEY WERE ABLE TO PAY WITH THESE FUNDS.

>> Reporter: HE FEARS A LOSS OF FUNDS COULD MEAN THE RISING ALREADY HIGH CHILDHOOD COSTS FOR PARENTS AS WELL AS STAFFING SHORTAGES AT A TIME WHEN STAFFING IS ALREADY SHORT.

>> THE NUMBERS IMPACTED FROM THIS EXPIRATION WILL BE WOMEN OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN THE OVERALL COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.

SO, IT'S BASICALLY GOING TO PUT A BIGGER STRESS ON THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

FOR MAC HE SAYS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE WORKERS IN THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY ARE WOMEN.

AND 80 PERCENT OF THEM ARE WOMEN OF COLOR, MAKING AN AVERAGE OF $14-$15 AN HOUR.

CHILDCARE AWARE OF AMERICA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT IMPROVE CHILDCARE.

>> I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE ARE SEEING SOME BRIGHT SPOTS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN SOME STATES THAT HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP.

TWO FEEL MANY STATES HAVE STARTED TO INVEST MORE IN CHILDCARE OUTSIDE THE FEDERAL FUNDS.

>> WE NEED TO COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT THE FAIR SHARE IS FOR FAMILIES TO PAY, FOR BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES TO INVEST AND REALLY, IN PUBLIC, STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS TO INVEST IN CHILDCARE.

TO REALLY GET TO A SUSTAINABLE CHILDCARE MODEL THAT REALLY SUPPORTS ALL FAMILIES IN THE WAY THAT THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE SENATE HAS PROPOSED HIGHER LEVELS OF FUNDING IN THE NEXT BUDGET AND HELPS NEGOTIATIONS PREVAIL.

IN ORDER TO STABILIZE THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY ACROSS THE U.S. ACROSS THE U.S. TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE FOR PARENTS.

THAT TREND MY PARENTS HOW IS A ONE- STOP SHOP FOR NEWS, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES AND ITS TAILORED TO THOSE WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12.

CHECK IT OUT AT KPBS.ORG /PARENTING.

>>> GAS PRICES AROUND THE COUNTRY REMAIN STUBBORNLY HIGH.

TRADITIONALLY, THEY BEGIN TO DROP AFTER LABOR DAY, BUT SO FAR THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR JASMINE AND BL TALKED WITH SOME DRIVERS IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING SOME WHO MAY BE WILLING TO DITCH THEIR GAS POWERED CARS AND SWITCH TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

>> Reporter: CHARGING UP.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN A GAS STATION IN ABOUT THREE YEARS.

>> Reporter: VERSUS FILLING UP.

>> OH, YES.

HI.

TWO DRIVERS OF GAS POWERED CARS AREN'T FEELING AS HAPPY BEHIND THE WHEEL THESE DAYS WITH GAS PRICES THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE EASING UP.

IN L.A. AND ORANGE COUNTY REGULAR GALLON OF GAS IS UP MORE THAN $.25 FROM A MONTH AGO.

>> IT HAS BEEN ROUGH WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS AND ARE DRIVING AROUND EVERYWHERE FROM CITY TO CITY.

>> IT WHENEVER $100.

>> Reporter: YOU HAVE PROBABLY NOTICED IF YOU'RE FILLING UP WITH GAS.

AAA SAYS GAS PRICES ARE UP MORE THAN $0.03 PER GALLON HERE IN L.A. OVER JUST THE LAST WEEK.

MORE THAN $0.04 PER GALLON IN ORANGE COUNTY.

>> IT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE LABOR DAY EVER TO HIT THE ROAD ACROSS CALIFORNIA.

TWO GAS BUT HE SAYS REFINERY ISSUES HAVE CAUSED THE STATE'S GASOLINE PRODUCTION TO DROP DRIVING UP PRICES.

>> IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY ROUGH SUMMER FOR REFINERIES IT WITH RECORD-SETTING TEMPERATURES AND IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALSO THE EARTHQUAKE WHICH SLOWED DOWN OPERATIONS ALLY TO INTERRUPTIONS IN REFINING.

>> Reporter: AS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FACES ANOTHER STEEP CLIMB IN GAS PRICES BUSINESS EXPERTS SAY PEOPLE WITH E.V.

BENEFIT EVEN MORE WHERE THE COST OF ELECTRICITY IS USUALLY QUITE A BIT BELOW THAT OF GASOLINE.

EDWIN ISAAC SAYS HE PAYS JUST $10 MAC FOR A FULL CHARGE ON HIS CHEVY VOLT, WHICH CAN GET HIM ALMOST 200 MILES.

IT WAS FREE THROUGH THE CITY OF PASADENA UNTIL THREE WEEKS AGO.>> ALMOST ONE YEAR I HAD FREE CHARGING.

THE ONLY THING THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR WAS THE PARKING.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE STILL FILLING UP PRICES WILL COME DOWN AS THE DEMAND FOR GAS USUALLY DROPS IN THE FALL AND MUCH OF THE NATION TRANSITIONS TO THE CHEAPER WINTER BLEND.

THAT USUALLY HAPPENS IN OCTOBER HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> IF THINGS GO WELL BY THE END OF THE YEAR THE AVERAGE PRICE OF GAS IN L.A. COULD BE BACK DOWN BELOW $5.

>> Reporter: THESE GAS PRICES ARE STILL DOWN $1 FROM A RECORD HIGH LAST OCTOBER.

IT HAS MANY RETHINKING WHAT THEY DRIVE.

>> I THINK IT'S TIME TO SWITCH UNCONVINCED BY THAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHO CAN MAINTAIN THIS?

>> YAZAN REPORTING.

THIS IS A THIRD YEAR IN A ROW GAS PRICES HAVE HIT RECORD HIGHS FOR LABOR DAY.

IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY THE PRICE OF REGULAR GAS IS $5.41.

THAT IS UP TO.

$0.05 FROM YESTERDAY AND THE HIGHEST SINCE NOVEMBER 16th.

>>> A SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY JUDGE PUT A TEMPORARY STOP TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S POLICY REQUIRING PARENTS TO BE NOTIFIED IF THEIR CHILDREN CHANGE THEIR GINTER -- GENDER IDENTIFICATION OR PRONOUNS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD SUED CHINO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE ARGUED THE POLICY VIOLATES STUDENTS CIVIL RIGHTS WHILE CHINO VALLEY OFFICIALS SAY HE SEEKS TO INVOLVE PARENTS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.

OTHER DISTRICTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE CONSIDERING SIMILAR PARENTAL NOTIFICATION POLICIES.

>>> WITH SCHOOL BACK IN SESSION IT'S NOT JUST PARENTS SPENDING MORE MONEY ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

TEACHERS ARE ALSO DIGGING DEEPER TO MEET THEIR CLASSROOM NEEDS OUT-OF-POCKET.

MELISSA RAINEY HAS A LOOK AT THE IMPACT THAT HAS CREATED.

>> STANDUP PITCHER IT'S BACK-TO- SCHOOL SEASON AND MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF TEACHERS ARE SPENDING MORE OF THEIR OWN MONEY ON CLASSROOM SUPPLIES.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, THE LARGEST TEACHERS UNION IN THE U.S.

BUT IT ESTIMATES THAT DURING THE 2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR TEACHERS WILL SPEND $800 OR MORE OUT-OF-POCKET.

STUCK FOR TEACHERS THAT'S ROUGHLY ONE OR TWO PAYCHECKS EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THAT THEY'RE SPENDING ON BUYING SUPPLIES AND STEPPING INTO THE GAP FOR STUDENT.

>> Reporter: IN PLACE MAKES IT HARDER FOR TEACHERS TO STRETCH DOLLARS.

MOST SCHOOL SUPPLIES HAVE JUMPED IN PRICE AT THE COST OF CRAYONS, PENS, PENCILS UP NEARLY 19 PERCENT YEAR-OVER- YEAR.

A SEPARATE REPORT BY SAID HE.COM FOUND THAT THAT NEARLY 70 PERCENT OF TEACHERS CITED PERSISTENT INFLATION IS HAVING A NOTICEABLE IMPACT ON THEIR ABILITY TO AFFORD SUPPLIES ON THEIR OWN THIS YEAR.

>> I KNOW WHEN NOTEBOOKS ARE ON SALE AT TARGET AND I WOULD BUY A BUNCH OF THEM SO I'D HAVE THEM MISCELLANY KID NEEDED IT I JUST WENT TO THE STASH PICK A COMES WITH MORE TEACHERS ARE QUITTING THEIR JOBS.

CITING LOW SALARIES AND OTHER CONCERNS.

WHICH IS WORSENING AND ONGOING TEACHER SHORTAGE IN THE U.S. BEGAN FEBRUARY 2023 ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS THERE WERE NEARLY 150,000 MORE OPENINGS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THAN THERE WERE HIRES.

STUCK WITH THE HIGH COST OF INFLATION AND PRICES, ET CETERA, TEACHERS ARE CONCERNED.

YET, WE SEE ACROSS THE USA DEMAND FOR CORE ESSENTIAL SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

>> Reporter: FOR CONSUMER WATCH I'M MELISSA RAINEY.

>>> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAS BEEN APPLIED TO LOTS OF FIELDS, INCLUDING WILDFIRE PROTECTION.

UC SAN DIEGO AND ITS SUPERCOMPUTER CENTER HAVE JUST IMPROVED THEIR WILDFIRE MONITORING PROGRAM CALLED SMOKING AT.

REPORTER THOMAS WHICH SAYS THIS AI SYSTEM STILL HAS A LOT TO LEARN.

>> Reporter: WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PREVENT IT WILDFIRE FROM GETTING DANGEROUS NEED TO SPOT IT QUICKLY AND PRECISELY.

NOW THERE IS THE OLD WAY OF SPOTTING FIRES -- >> CURRENTLY WILDFIRES ARE DETECTED BY FIRE LOOKOUTS WHO ARE HUMAN EXPERTS TRAINED TO SPOT FIRES BY LOOKING AT CAMERA FEEDS WERE PATROLLING ON THE GROUND OR IN VEHICLES.

WILDFIRES ARE ALSO REPORTED THROUGH 911 CALLS, FROM RESIDENTS AND PASSERSBY.

>> Reporter: THEY CAN TAKE TOO LONG TO SEE.

THAT'S WHY THE CALLINGS THAT UCSD'S CREATED SMOKING AT.

IT'S A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SPOT AND REPORT FIRES 24/7.

SINCE ITS BEGINNING THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN LINKED TO ABOUT 100 CAMERAS AROUND SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THEY ARE PART OF A WIRELESS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM CALLED HP RAN.

NOW SMOKING IT IS ALSO MINING SATELLITE DETECTION IMAGES AND FIGURING IN WEATHER DATA, WHICH TELLS YOU HOW DRY AND WINDY IT IS.

SHE SAYS THE SPEED OF DETECTION HAS IMPROVED.

>> THEY WENT FROM ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WITH BASELINE, JUST CAMERA DATA, TO A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN FOUR MINUTES.

>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT PRECISION?

SMOKING AT SAID THERE IS A FIRE IN THE BACKCOUNTRY, IS THERE REALLY A FIRE?

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PRECISION IT'S ABOUT 80 PERCENT BUT THAT MEANS THAT ABOUT 12 PERCENT OF THE PREDICTIONS ARE FALSE ALARMS.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO THOSE FALSE POSITIVES, KEEP IN MIND SMOKING THAT WAS ALSO MISSING ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF THE FIRES THAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED.

WITH FIRE DETECTION THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGICAL SILVER BULLETS, BECAUSE SMOKE CAUGHT ON CAMERA IS STILL MISTAKE ABLE TO PEOPLE AND TWO COMPUTERS.

>> SMOKE IS VERY DIFFICULT.

HE CAN BE VERY TRANSPARENT BUT IT CAN BE MORE FIST.

IT HAS NO BORDER, NO CLEAR BORDER AND CONTAINS SHAPE.

TWO SUZANNE IS THE INTEL SPECIALIST WITH SAN DIEGO CALFIRE AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH A SIMILAR SYSTEM CALLED ALERT CALIFORNIA.

SHE HAS SEEN THE FALSE POSITIVES.

>> IT COULD BE MID-LEVEL CLOUDS THAT PASSES SHADOWS OVER THE LANDSCAPE.

THAT CAN BE THE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IT CAN DETECT SOMETHING MOVING, SO IT THINGS A SMOKE COLUMN IS GOING TO.

>> Reporter: ALERT CALIFORNIA AI HAS SPOTTED FIRES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN MISSED.

SHE GIVES ONE EXAMPLE OF A RECENT FIRE IN THE LAGUNA MOUNTAIN AREA THAT THE TECHNOLOGY CAN'T RIGHT AWAY.

>> IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IT WAS DARK AND PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING.

IT'S A REMOTE AREA, SO THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND ANYWAY.

THERE WAS A DETECTION THAT OCCURRED IN SOUTH OPS GOT NOTIFIED AND CALLED US.

WE LOOK AT THE CAMERAS AND THERE WAS A RESPONSE.

THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE FIRE VERY SMALL.

>> Reporter: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT CAN LEARN FROM ITS MISTAKES.

LIGHTING OR SAYS FALSE POSITIVES ARE POINTED OUT TO HELP TEACH THE SYSTEM TO DETECT SMOKE.

FOR NOW THE ONLY THING THAT CAN DETERMINE IF A FIRE HAS BEGUN IS A HUMAN.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AS WE GOT UP THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS THE WARMTH WILL BE PERSISTENT.

A WARMING TREND COMING UP AS WE GOING TO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

NOTICEABLY LESS CLOUDINESS.

LOW CLOUDINESS BUT ALSO MORNING FOG INTO THE INTERIOR VALLEYS.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ABOUT THE WE CAN?

WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

WORKING OVERNIGHT, WE WILL SEE TEMPERATURES SLIPPING BACK DOWN TO THE 60s.

STILL LOOKING AT THAT RIBBON A FOG AND LOW CLOUDS ALONG THE SHORELINE.

63 TOWARDS CHULA VISTA.

LAGUNA DROPPING BRIEFLY DOWN TO THE UPPER 50s.

PREGO SPRINGS DOWN TO 71.

RAMONA FALLING INTO THE MID- 50s.

LET'S GO THROUGH TOWN AGAIN.

YOU CAN SEE THE LOW CLOUDS NOT AS COMMON.

AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGHOUT EVEN THURSDAY MORNING QUITE A BIT OF SUNSHINE AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

WE WILL SEE TEMPERATURES A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

AT LEAST A FEW TO SEVERAL DEGREES HIGHER THAN WE EXPERIENCED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.

BACK IN THE 70s AROUND MOUNT LAGUNA.

EVEN SOME TRIPLE DIGITS RETURNING FOR PREGO SPRINGS.

AS WE WORKED ON THE ROAD TO THE COAST, HERE WILL WE SEE TEMPERATURES CLIMBING INTO THE 80s.

NOTICEABLY MORE SUNSHINE AS WE WORK OUR WAY INTO THE WEEKEND.

OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES FALLING OFF INTO THE 60s OVER SOME OF THE INTERIOR VALLEYS.

LOOKING TO SEE HEAT PEEKING WENT FROM SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY.

AMPLE SUNSHINE EXPECTED HEADING INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

THURSDAYS HIGH TEMPERATURE AT 84.

OVERNIGHT LOWS ALSO CLIMBING THROUGH THE 60s.

INTO THEM MOUNTAIN, LOOKING AT SOME 70s OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

TO A LITTLE BIT COOLER TRYING TO SHIFT ITS WAY AND TOWARD THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEKEND.

FOR THE DESERT, TEMPERATURES ON THE RISE.

GOING FROM THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY TEMPERATURES APPROACHING 110 DEGREES.

OVERNIGHT LOW ALL THE WAY UP TO NEAR 80 DEGREES.

FOR KPBS NEWS I'M METEOROLOGIST JUSTIN POP.

>>> THE 23rd YEAR AS SAN DIEGO'S ULTIMATE DQ FILM FESTIVAL.

THE EVENT KICKS OFF TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM.

AND THEN MOVED TO THE MUSIUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS.

KPBS ARTS REPORTER BEST DOM AMATO HAS THIS PREVIEW.

>> Reporter: WE MAY LIVE IN THE 21st CENTURY, BUT IT CAN FEEL LIKE THE DARK AGES IN TERMS OF ATTITUDES ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> SOCIETY STILL, KIND OF LIKE, PUTS US IN BOXES.

STILL SOCIETY DOESN'T REALLY GIVE US THE CHANCE TO LIVE FREELY, BECAUSE THERE ARE, I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN AMERICA.

THE LAWS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED, THESE THINGS REALLY AFFECT YOUR SOUL, YOUR HOLDING.

>> Reporter: TO CHALLENGE THIS SURGE OF ANTI-DRAG AN ANTI- TRANS LAWS THERE CELEBRATING THE LGBTQ+ MOVIE -- COMMUNITY THROUGH MOVIES.

IT'S STATED MISSION IS TO ALIGN, EDUCATE, AND INATTENTIVE THE ELGIN VISION -- EXHIBITION OF LGBTQ+ ELMS.

ONCE AGAIN, THE FESTIVAL DELIVERS ON ITS MISSION WITH FILMS THAT INVITE US INTO THE WORLD OF DRAGON PERFORMERS AND TELL PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT IDENTITY.

>> I HAD TO GET REALLY COMFORTABLE BEING THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR AND ONLY BLACK WOMAN IN A LOT OF THE SPACES THAT I WAS MOVING THROUGH IN SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: AND LOOK AT HOW A HATE CRIME CAN IMPACT A COMMUNITY.

REFLECTING THE VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS IN ISRAEL AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PERPETRATOR OF A HATE CRIME IS NOT CUT.

>> THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE SOMEONE THAT WHEN YOU GO AND ORDER A COPY HE IS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY SERVES A COPY?

MAYBE HE IS THE ONE I'M OPENING THE DOOR FOR ON A DATE.

TWO ON A DATE.

2.UNNERVES THE MAIN CHARACTER IN THIS FILM.

>> I THINK IT TRIGGERS HIS PARANOIA AND IT TRIGGERS EVERYTHING WITHIN HIM.

HIS SELF-HATE, HIS FEAR FROM MEETING, EVEN INTERACTING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE FILM IS ALSO ABOUT THE NEED FOR LOVE, EVEN AGAINST A BACKDROP OF HATE AND VIOLENCE.

FILMMAKER SAM ROGERS DOCUMENTS A VERY PERSONAL TALE OF DISCOVERY THAT BEGAN WHEN HE SAW THE KEVAN SMITH MOVIE, CHASING AMY.

>> MY LIFE CHANGED FROM THERE.

NOT ONLY WAS I SO MOVED BY THE GRAND ROMANTICISM IN KEVIN'S WORK, BUT ALSO I SAW PEOPLE HEADING TO HAVE FULL REALIZED LIVES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE IN THIS CINEMATIC FORAY INTO THAT.

CHASING AMY WAS AT LIGHTNING ROD.

ALSO UNLIKE DRAFT AND I REALLY NEEDED IT STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL AS A KID, AS A QUEER KID WHO EVERYBODY ELSE FIGURED OUT WAS QUEER BEFORE I DID PICK NOW ROGERS EXPLORES HOW CHASING AMY FITS INTO A BIGGER SOCIAL CONTEXT IN HIS CONTEXT, CHASING, CHASING AMY.

>> I ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL THERE ABOUT THE STORY OF CHASING AMY AND INTERSECTIONS WITH THE ULTIMATE DQ COMMUNITY.>> Reporter: YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH?

THE FILM BEGINS ABOUT ROGER'S LOVE FOR SMITH'S WORK.

IT THEN MORPHS INTO A STORY ABOUT HIS CHANGING RELATIONSHIP TO THAT MOVIE.

PROMPTED IN PART BY HIS INTERVIEW WITH ACTRESS JOEY LAUREN ADAMS.

>> WHATEVER MOOD YOU, THERE'S A DARK SIDE TOO.

>> Reporter: THE PROCESS PUSHED ROGERS IN WAYS HE NEVER EXPECTED.

>> AS A FILM MAKER PAINFUL PARTS WERE EXPLORING MY TRANSITION.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I WAS NOT TERRIBLY INTERESTED IN PRESERVING A PART OF MYSELF THAT HE WISHED THAT PEOPLE GENERALLY WOULD REMEMBER.

TWO ROGERS'S ABILITY TO PIVOT AS A DIRECTOR AND SEE THAT HIS DOCUMENTARY NEEDED TO BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HE HAD ORIGINALLY IMAGINED IS JUST ONE REASON WHY CHASING, CHASING AMY IS SUCH A FRESH, INSPIRING FILM.

IN THE FINAL PAIR OF RECOMMENDATIONS:SAN DIEGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL IS, PRESENTING TRACE OF YOUR LIPS FROM MEXICO ON SATURDAY.

SAID DURING THE PANDEMIC IT'S A DARK, EXPLICIT, COST -- CLAUSTROPHOBIC FILM.

SUNDAY'S CLOSING NIGHT FILM, GOLDEN DELICIOUS, CO-PRESENTED BY SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL.

IT FOCUSES ON A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WHO TRIES TO MEET EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS WHILE IGNORING HIS OWN.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE OFFERINGS AT THIS YEAR'S FILM OUT.

I HOPE THEY ENTICE YOU TO SEEK OUT MORE.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR TOMORROW IN THE KPBS'S ROOM.

THERE'S NEVER FLOW OF SURRENDERED PAST THAT THE NATION'S ANIMAL SHELTERS.

ON NPR MORNING EDITION, HOW THE- CROSS-ICE AND NATURAL DISASTERS ARE PLAYING A ROLE.

AND KPBS MIDDAY ADDITION HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE BEST IN ARTS AND CULTURE WITH THE WE CAN ROUND UP.

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

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> 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, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL HOWELL.

OR VISIT BILL HOWELL.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREVOST FOUNDATION.

DARLING MARCO SHIVELY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING -- AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THINK YOU.

-- THANK YOU.

>> ♪ ♪