San Diego News Matters

People gathering for "drum circles" in Ocean Beach have not been wearing face coverings or practicing social distancing. Residents say they're fed up. And, arrest warrants have been issued for Jeffrey Brooks, 38, and Henry Brooks Jr., 32, for the alleged attacks on Marcus Boyd and a group of protesters on June 7. Plus, The San Diego Urban Corps works to clear brush in the urban San Diego canyons.

County supervisors approved a measure Wednesday to allow gyms and houses of worship to meet outdoors at county parks, as more activities move outside to limit the spread of COVID-19. And, clean air advocates fall short in their bid to protect communities of color from fossil fuel extraction in urban areas. Plus, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said Wednesday that California had reported issues with private labs and reporting, meaning some additional cases might be retroactively added to both local and statewide case totals in coming weeks.

The U.S. military announced Tuesday it located an amphibious assault vehicle that sank last week off the coast of San Diego County. The Navy confirmed the presence of human remains where the vessel came to rest on the sea floor. And, the county reports its lowest daily COVID-19 case count compared to the last month. Also, a new pilot program will have sheriff's deputies patrolling parts of Del Mar to educate and cite those not in compliance with rules meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. And, election day is three months away, but voting will start much earlier. San Diego County Registrar of Voters, Michael Vu, answers your voting questions.

Of 6,536 tests the county recorded Monday, just over 5% returned positive, bringing the 14-day rolling average of positive tests down to 5.3%. And, online review service Yelp estimates some 29,000 California businesses on its site have closed since the pandemic started. Also, Giant Kelp have survived off the Southern California coast for hundreds of years, but the iconic plant may be in trouble as the ocean warms.

Demonstrators gathered Saturday at La Mesa City Hall to demand justice for women of color as the city set temporary restrictions in a two-block downtown zone. And, the Marine Corps says eight troops are presumed dead after their landing craft sank off the Southern California coast during a training exercise. Plus, School starts this week online for the Sweetwater Union High School District. Also, we have a full length interview with Metropolitan Transit System's first woman CEO, Sharon Cooney.

The county set a goal that 70% of new case investigations would begin within 24 hours—currently, just 11% of case investigations meet that goal. Also, a proposal for low- and middle-income housing at the Palm Avenue station has grown from 250 units to more than 400, as transit officials look to maximize the use of its real estate. Plus, more than two million unemployed Californians rely on the extra $600 a week provided under the federal CARES Act. Now that it's ending, nonprofits and the state look to help fill the gap.

Small businesses are bleeding in San Diego County as the pandemic rages on. More coronavirus relief is likely in store, though, as congress works on another round of loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, known as PPP. NPR member station KPCC in Los Angeles mapped where loans were given out in San Diego and KPBS investigative reporter Amita Sharma found that businesses south of Interstate 8 had a tough time getting any money in the first round of PPP loans. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/

As activists nationwide call for the defunding of police departments, the same reckoning is occurring in schools. At San Diego Unified, students say police have no place on their campuses. But the district's police department has made some progress in recent years. KPBS Education Reporter Joe Hong spoke to students and experts about whether police can play a role in student well-being. Plus: Tenants in San Diego who have fallen behind on rent just got a little extra time to repay it, San Diego falls short of housing goals, daycares are struggling to stay open and more of the local news you need. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/

The city of San Diego will soon negotiate a multi-billion dollar deal with a utility to provide gas and electricity to residents for years to come. Community advocates say this potentially lucrative agreement could be a significant source of revenue for the city. But, as KPBS science and technology reporter Shalina Chatlani finds, some are concerned that city leaders may be giving away too much. Plus: Your guide to Comic-Con’s offerings that are still available online, a new high in hospitalizations in the county and more local news you need. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/donate

Looking at the zip codes of the people who’ve died of the virus reveal a huge disparity. Plus: The Padres are back sans fans, the big differences between virtual learning and homeschooling, how the pandemic is shaking up plans for the region's transportation future and more of the local news you need. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/donate

As a movement to "defund police" travels across the country, one potential target for budget cuts is removing police from mental health calls. Many activists, health officials and some elected leaders say police are the wrong people to be responding to these calls. KPBS reporter Claire Trageser says the details on how that would work are being explored in San Diego County. Plus: the La Mesa Police Department has released body camera footage from a use-of-force incident that left a grandmother blind in one eye, some San Diego gyms are defying County health orders and staying open and more local news you need. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/donate

San Diego's police budget has been under the microscope lately, since the nationwide wave of protests against police violence. Activists have been calling on city leaders to cut the police budget and give more money to libraries, parks and mental health services. But even when its budgets are cut, SDPD has a track record of overspending. Plus: sewage water in the South Bay, building up the Midway District and more local news you need. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/donate

Description: San Diego County has nearly 600 assisted living facilities but not a lot is publicly known about how they’re handling COVID-19; inewsource investigative reporter Jill Castellano tells the story of a tragic outbreak at one local facility. Plus: One superintendent about plans to reopen schools even if the COVID numbers in San Diego County remain high, San Diego records the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since July 7 and more of the local news you need. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/donate

The state now says barber shops and nail salons can reopen if operations are moved outside. Plus: Low-income San Diegans who have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic can begin applying today for one-time emergency financial help to pay their rent, hiking San Diego County and more local news you need.

We now know that many schools in San Diego will likely be closed in the fall, but what about daycares and preschools? Plus: Thousands of workers in California have filed complaints in recent months about feeling unsafe on the job because of coronavirus, members of the Kumeyaay Nation have been protesting the construction of a border wall and more local news you need. San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily news podcast. Support the show: https://www.kpbs.org/donate