KPBS Midday Edition

25 years ago, Point Loma’s Liberty Station began its transformation from military base to arts center.

It was renamed Arts District Liberty Station — and soon became a cultural hub for the city.

In fact, it was recently designated as a California Cultural District for its contribution to the arts.

Thursday on Midday Edition, we talk about the place Liberty Station has in San Diego's arts and culture scene.

Then, KPBS' B...

A local Indigenous-owned company is making waves in the beauty industry.

N8iV Beauty is a skincare brand that draws from ancestral traditions, infusing that knowledge and plant-based ingredients — like acorn oil — into its products.

Last year, the company won a 2025 “Best of Beauty” award from Allure, making them the first Indigenous-owned brand to receive that recognition.

Wednesday on Midday Edition, we hear from its fou...

Many parents worry about their kids talking to strangers on the internet. 

What if those strangers are not human, but bots?

Concerns over kids’ exposure to artificial intelligence have led to growing efforts to regulate that exposure. We sit down with one San Diego lawmaker who authored a law to put guardrails on toys with AI chatbot capabilities. 

Guest:

• State Sen. Steve Padilla, California's 18th Distri...

It’s been nearly two weeks since lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill, and a possible health care compromise is still on the table to bring federal health care subsidies back.

Last week, the House passed a bipartisan proposal that could extend the subsidies.

In the meantime, health care premiums are soaring for many Americans — including right here in California.

This Wednesday on Midday Edition, we hear about how rising hea...

Child care providers are bracing for impact amid the Trump administration's efforts to freeze roughly $10 billion in child care and family assistance funding — $5 billion of which are allocated to California.

This comes amid allegations from conservative activists of fraud in the child care industry.

Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear from two child care experts about the domino effect this could have on California's child ca...

Take a walk through Balboa Park, and you'll find dozens of historic cottages celebrating cultures around the world.

The volunteer-driven "houses" are officially called the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages. They promote education, community and cultural understanding.

Now, the House of Somalia is joining them to become the first African country represented by the Balboa Park cottages. We talk about its signifi...

In recent years, San Diego County jails have seen a sharp increase in overdose deaths. One recovery program in the Vista jail is trying to change that through medication-assisted treatment.

More jails are embracing the approach amid the growing fentanyl crisis.

We discuss the medication-assisted treatment program and what it could mean for drug rehabilitation in San Diego jails.

Guest:

• Kelly Davis, investig...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidelines for childhood vaccines last week. That advice, however, runs counter to recommendations from California and San Diego County public health officials. 

On Midday Edition Monday, we hear from a local infectious disease expert on the CDC's changes, and why guidance remains unchanged for families in San Diego County.

Guest:

• Dr. P...

Under a new state law, a statewide board has designated 31 California colleges as Black-Serving Institutions.

Two San Diego community colleges made the list — San Diego City College and San Diego Mesa College.

On Midday Edition, we sit down with the presidents of the two colleges to talk about what the designation means and how they're serving Black students in San Diego.

Guests:

• Ashanti Hands, president of San Dieg...

“Chaotic, dusty, loud—and perfect.”

That’s how writer Mariano Velez describes life in Calexico in his short story collection, “Mostly Made-Up Stories from a Small Town Nobody,” based on his own upbringing in the region during the 1970s and 1980s.

Thursday on Midday Edition, we hear from Velez about the inspiration behind the book.

Then, KPBS' Beth Accomando sits down with comics curator Caitlin McGurk to talk about her Eis...

The city of San Diego is suing the federal government over their construction of wire fencing on city-owned land in Marron Valley, near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The lawsuit accuses federal agencies of trespassing and causing environmental damage on protected land. 

"They are taking city property without telling us, without paying for it, without even communicating about it," said San Diego City Attorney Heather Ferbert. "...

Five years ago, insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Four died during the attack, including Ashli Babbitt from San Diego. In the days and weeks that followed, five police officers died — some by suicide. 

Today House Democrats held a special hearing to observe what happened that day. They called for accountability and accused President Donald Trump and his supporters of attempting to "whitewash" history. 

"...

For people who live and work near the Tijuana River, raw sewage-turned-airborne pollution is a facet of daily life.

Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear about a new reporting series from inewsource diving into the impact of the sewage crisis on more than 100 community members.

Plus, what could Medi-Cal cuts mean for the San Diego healthcare system? We dig into the possible impacts.

Guests:

• Philip Salata, ener...

With the new year comes new resolutions, from self-care and beauty to exercise — all of which feed into this broader idea of wellness. Monday on Midday Edition, we hear from a local yoga instructor and the founder of the Block Club to talk about their respective approaches to achieving wellness and how they are starting those conversations in the community.

Guests:

• Sally Morgan, yoga instructor, founder of Seeking Satya
• La R...

Slop. Rage bait. Gerrymandering. Aura farming.

Those are just some of the top words of 2025, according to Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary.

Every December, these dictionaries release lists of the top words that defined the year. In 2025, terms related to technology and artificial intelligence took center stage.

On Midday Edition, we talk with word expert Martha Barnette about the most popular phrases of 2025. And, the...