>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M JACOB AERE.

COMING UP, A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IN ESCONDIDO IS REINTRODUCING HERSELF.

CAROL DURNEY TELLS US ABOUT HER JOURNEY AS A TRANSGENDER WOMAN AND HOW SHE PLANS TO CONTINUE SERVING HER COMMUNITY.

>>> THEN A WARNING ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY.

SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ELECTED LEADERS SEEK FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS ARE ABOUT TO MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

>>> AND A CONVERSATION WITH AMNA NAWAZ.

THE CO-ANCHOR OF PBS NEWS HOUR TALKS WITH OUR LOCAL STATION ABOUT COVERING THE NEWS AT A GLOBAL LEVEL DURING SUCH A VOLATILE TIME.

>>> WE START WITH THE KPBS INVESTIGATION.

A TOP OFFICIAL AT SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES SENT A CONTRACTED AND PROFANE VOICE MESSAGE ABOUT ANIMAL SHELTER DOGS AND COMPLAINED THAT THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH EUTHANASIAS HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: RACHEL WAS NAMED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES LAST JUNE.

SHE OVERSEES OPERATIONS AT THE COUNTY'S TWO ANIMAL SHELTERS AND REGULARLY APPROVES EUTHANASIAS.

IN A TEXT MESSAGE THREAD FROM LATE LAST YEAR, SHE DISCUSSED EUTHANIZING A SPECIFIC DOG AND THE THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY IN GENERAL.

SHE FELT THE COUNTY'S CARLSBAD SHELTER WASN'T PUTTING DOWN ENOUGH DOGS.

SHE SENT THIS AUDIO MESSAGE IN THE TEXT THREAD.

>> YEAH.

BUT IN CARLSBAD, THEY DON'T EUTHANIZE ANYTHING.

EVEN IF THE DOG [ BLEEP ] BIT A KID.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS LIKE, EUTHANIZE THE DOG.

I'M SO SICK OF US KEEPING [ BLEEP ] DOGS THAT AREN'T GOING TO GET ADOPTED.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE OVERCROWDED.

CALL ME HEARTLESS BUT I'M ALSO REALISTIC.

>> Reporter: THE SOURCE WHO SHARED THE VOICE MESSAGE ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS FEARING PROFESSIONAL CONSEQUENCES.

I PERSONALLY REVIEWED THE TEXT THREAD AND VERIFIED THE VOICE MESSAGE'S AUTHENTICITY.

SHE DECLINED TO COMMENT WHEN REACHED BY PHONE.

FORMER EMPLOYEES TOLD ME THE VOICE MESSAGE REFLECTS HER GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD DOGS AND EUTHANASIA.

>> IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT IT CAME FROM HER.

>> Reporter: CHRISTINA SMITH WORKED IN THE SHELTER SYSTEM LAST YEAR.

SHE GREW VISIBLY UPSET AFTER HEARING THE VOICE MESSAGE.

>> ANY DOG WILL COME IN WITH A MINOR ISSUE, IS SHE GOING TO SAY YEAH, EUTHANIZE THIS ONE.

I DON'T CARE.

EUTHANIZE THEM ALL.

THAT'S THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO MY HEAD.

IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR THESE DOGS?

>> Reporter: A FORMER EMPLOYEE NAMED VENUS HAD A SIMILAR REACTION.

>> THAT SOUNDS PRETTY TIM CAL FOR RACHEL TO SAY.

WHEN I HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT IS YOU SHOULDN'T BE WORKING IN ANIMAL SERVICES.

>> Reporter: BOTH FORMER EMPLOYEES SAY THIS ATTITUDE FROM SOMEONE IN LEADERSHIP COULD HAVE REAL AND DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR DOGS.

IN JULY, A KPBS INVESTIGATION FOUND THE DOG EUTHANASIA RATE AT COUNTY-RUN SHELTERS HAS SKYROCKETED SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

SOME FORMER EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS CLAIM DOGS WITH MILD, TREATABLE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, ARE ROO TENIALLY PUT DOWN.

A COUNTY SPOKESPERSON HAS PUSHED BACK ON TLAES CLAIMS AND SAID EUTHANASIA DECISIONS ARE NEVER MADE LIGHTLY AND ASSESSMENTES ARE DONE BY TRAINED STAFF.

KPBS PREVIOUSLY HIGHLIGHTED THE STORY OF A 4-YEAR-OLD DOG NAMED FRANKLIN.

>> THERE HE WAS.

I'M GOING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

NOT BARKING.

JUST VERY CALM.

HE TOOK A TREAT FROM US.

YOU COULD TELL HE HAD A GOOD DISPOSITION.

>> Reporter: JEANIE MILLER ADOPTED FRANKLIN FROM THE ANIMAL SHELTER LAST WINTER.

WE SPOKE TO HER IN JUNE AT HER CARLSBAD HOME.

MILL HER TO RETURN FRANKLIN BECAUSE HER OTHER DOG, A GREAT DANE NAMED BUTTERCUP, BARKED AND GROWLED AT HIM.

IT WAS FRANKLIN'S SECOND TIME BEING RETURNED TO THE SHELTER.

A FAMILY PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT HIM BACK FOR GROWLING AND BEING TERRITORIAL AROUND FOOD.

MILLER EMPHASIZED THAT FRANKLIN WAS A VERY GOOD DOG IN THE RETURN PAPERWORK.

>> THE LADY ASSURED ME THAT YEAH, WITH THE REVIEW, HE WAS GOING TO BE ADOPTABLE AND PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY ADOPT HIM SOONER, QUICKER BECAUSE THERE'S A GOOD REVIEW.

>> Reporter: BUT THE SHELTER PUT HIM DOWN IMMEDIATELY.

LIKELY WHILE MILLER WAS STILL STANDING AT THE FRONT DESK.

KPBS FOUND FRANKLIN'S EUTHANASIA PAYMENT WORK HAS THE INITIALS RB ON IT.

RACHEL BORRELLI HAD APPROVED THE EUTHANASIA.

WE SHARED THE VOICE MESSAGE WITH MILLER TO GET HER REACTION.

>> AND THEY'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF REHOMING ANIMALS SO THEY HAVE A BETTER LIFE SO THAT THEY HAVE A LIFE.

THAT'S PRETTY COLD-HEARTED.

>> Reporter: I SENT A COMPANY OF THE VOICE MESSAGE TO THE COUNTY IN A REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

THE COUNTY SPOKESPERSON WROTE IN AN EMAIL, QUOTE, WHILE WE CAN'T COMMENT ON PERSONNEL MATTERS, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED DOES NOT REFLECT THE VALUES OR MISSION OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO AND IT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CARING AND DEDICATED WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES STAFF.

GLENN ADDED THAT DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TO IMPROVE ITS POLICIES AND TRAINING TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES AND REDUCE THE EUTHANASIA RATE.

JENNY IS AN ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.

SHE TALKS ABOUT THE STRESS WORKERS FACE.

HER REACTION TO THE PROFANE VOICE MESSAGE WAS ONE OF UNDERSTANDING.

>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE PUT INTO SITUATIONS THAT, WHERE THEY CAN'T FIND A POSITIVE OUTCOME, THERE'S FRUSTRATION AND ANGER.

>> Reporter: AT THE SAME TIME, SHE ADDS -- >> IS IT AWFUL RHETORIC?

YES.

AND IT'S HARD TO HEAR.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE SOMEBODY IN CHARGE WHO IS NOT ABLE TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR EMOTIONS AND MAKE DECISIONS RASH.

>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS.

>> IF YOU HAVE A TIP KPBS'S INVESTIGATIONS TEAM, YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL OR MESSAGE THEM ON OUR SECURE SIGNAL LINE AT THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.

619-594-8177.

>>> A REPUBLICAN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IN NORTH COUNTY IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER COMING OUT AS TRANSGENDER.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER KATIE ANASTAS SAYS COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE PUBLICLY EXPRESSED THEIR OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: ON AUGUST 5th, ESCONDIDO UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER CAROL DURNEY INTRODUCED HERSELF DURING ROLL CALL.

>> I WAS ELECTED TO THIS BOARD IN NOVEMBER 2014 AS BILL DURNEY, AND RE-ELECTED IN 2018 AND 2022.

THIS YEAR, I HAVE COME OUT AS A TRANSGENDER WOMAN AND I HAVE CHANGED MY NAME TO CAROL DURNEY.

>> Reporter: THE ROAD TO THIS MOMENT BEGAN IN APRIL 2023.

SHE HAD A STROKE.

IT TOOK OUT PART OF HER VISION ON HER RIGHT SIDE.

>> IT ALSO KIND OF CHANGED MY ATTITUDE.

IT WOKE ME UP AND SAID, YOU BETTER START LIVING.

THIS COULD HAVE KILLED YOU.

>> Reporter: IT ALSO BROKE HER LIFELONG HABIT OF BITING HER NAILS.

DURNEY'S WAY OF INVITED HER TO GET A MANICURE AND PEDICURE WITH HER.

THAT'S WHERE SHE FIRST TRIED NAIL POLISH.

>> I PUT NAIL POLISH UP AND IT LIT ME UP.

IT WAS LIKE MAGIC.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND YET, I MEAN, IT WAS JUST LIKE THE BEST THING EVER.

>> Reporter: DURNEY'S WIFE DIED SUDDENLY LAST YEAR.

A MONTH LATER, WHEN SHE WAS CLEANING THEIR HOUSE, DURNEY DECIDED TO TRY ON A DRESS.

>> AND AS I PUT IT ON, I JUST COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN.

THERE IS SO MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS AND LOVE THAT I FELT JUST PUTTING ON CLOTHES.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT I WAS FEELING.

>> Reporter: SHE CAME OUT TO HER KIDS AND HER CHURCH COMMUNITY.

SHE TOLD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUMMIT AND HER FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING, EIGHT OF THE TEN PEOPLE WHO SPOKE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT CALLED FOR DURNEY TO STEP DOWN.

>> YOU HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL ISSUES WHEN YOU WANT TO PRETEND TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL NEVER BE.

YOU ARE A MAN AND I'M SURE A FINE ONE.

BUT THIS IS AN ABOMINATION.

>> THE VOTERS VOTED FOR YOU AS A MAN AND NOW YOU HAVE BECOME A FRAUD TRYING TO BECOME SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE NOT.

>> Reporter: DURNEY SAYS SHE WON'T STEP DOWN.

SHE PLANS TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION BEFORE HER TERM ENDS NEXT DECEMBER.

>> I HAVE MY SIGNS FROM THE LAST TIME I RAN AND I'M GOING TO PUT A LITTLE PINK CAROL OVER THE NAME BILL ON THE SIGNS AND PUT THEM BACK OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: DURNEY IS A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN.

SHE SAID SHE LED THE ESCONDIDO REPUBLICAN CLUB A DECADE AGO.

SHE'S NOT HAPPY WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ESPECIALLY ITS TREATMENT OF TRANS PEOPLE.

BUT SHE SAYS SHE STILL HAS MOSTLY CONSERVATIVE BELIEFS.

>> I MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND YES, I'VE GOT SOME NEW EXPERIENCES THAT WILL HELP SHAPE MY VIEWS, BUT I'M STILL THE SAME.

THE SAME PERSON I WAS.

MAYBE JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: THIS MONTH'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY.

TELL MAJORITY OF SPEAKERS WERE THERE TO SUPPORT DURNEY AND DEANNOUNCE THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S COMMENTS.

>> CAROL, WE DO SEE YOU AND WE SUPPORT YOU 100% ON YOUR NEW LIFE JOURNEY.

>> Reporter: SOME SPEAKERS QUESTIONED WHY OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DIDN'T SPEAK UP DURING THE AUGUST MEETING.

HEATHER SMITH TEACHES AT ORANGE GLEN HIGH SCHOOL AND LEADS THE GAY/STRAIGHT ALLIANCE THERE.

>> AS ADULTS, WE NEED TO MODEL APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AND ALMOSTFUL LANGUAGE WEST DO NOT ALLOW HATE SPEECH TO BE USED ON OUR CAMPUSES.

WE WRITE REFERRALS IF THERE'S HATE SPEECH ON OUR CAMPUS.

WHY WOULD WE ALLOW IT IN OUR BOARD ROOM?

>> Reporter: AT THE END OF THE MEETING, THE MEMBER SAID SILENCE DOES NOT MEAN AGREEMENT.

>> I HAVE SAT THROUGH YEARS WORKING WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE BEEN ATTACKED.

HORRIBLE THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN AND IT'S HORRIBLE TO SIT BY AND NOT BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING OR DEFEND THEM.

THIS PERSON I'VE SERVED WITH FOR ALMOST 13 YEARS IS MY FRIEND.

>> I'M STILL A REPUBLICAN.

I DIDN'T BECOME A DEMOCRAT BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> Reporter: DURNEY SAID SHE LEFT THIS MONTH'S MEETING FEELING MUCH BETTER THAN SHE HAD LAST MONTH.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM MY CHURCH THERE AND OTHER CHURCHES.

THERE ARE ALSO TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.

THERE ARE PARENTS SPEAKING OUT.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS.

IT WAS MORE OF A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT I THINK ESCONDIDO DOES SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: SHE'S READY TO BRING BACK THE FOCUS TO HER PRIORITIES FOR THE DISTRICT.

INCREASING TRADES COURSES, IMPROVING MATH SCORES, AND GIVING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

>> I'M NOT AT THE POINT WHERE I GOT ANY KIND OF IDEAS ABOUT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

FOR NOW, I'M JUST LOOKING TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD MEETINGS AND NOT HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE THERE TALKING ABOUT ME AND LET'S GET BACK TO THE ROLE OF GOVERNING.

>> Reporter: BY NEXT MONTH'S BERD MEETING, SHE EXPECTS HER NAME PLATE IN THE BOARD ROOM TO READ CAROL.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> CHANCE OF PEOPLE OVER BILLIONAIRES RANG OUT THIS WEEK.

THEY ARE CALLING TO FUND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RATHER THAN I.C.E.

AND THE BORDER PATROL.

AS JOHN CARROLL REPORTS, LOCAL LEADERS ARE AMONG THOSE TAKING PART.

>> Reporter: THE MESSAGES WERE AS LOUD AS THEY WERE URGENT.

MEMBERS OF SEVERAL UNIONS AND ELECTED LEADERS ALL SOUNDING AN ALARM OVER THE DEPLOYMENT OF NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS AND I.C.E.

INTO COMMUNITIES.

AND FOISTING CONCERN THAT THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT LIKE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ARE UNDER SERIOUS THREAT.

>> AND AT THE MOMENT THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH BEGINS ATTACKING PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY SAID AT A POPULAR SHOW ON TV OR AN EDITORIAL FOR A NEWSPAPER, AND ARE SENT TO PRISON OR A DETENTION CENTER BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT MEANS WE'RE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE TO LOSING THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF WHAT A DEMOCRACY MEANS FOR US.

>> WE WILL NOT STAND FOR INJUSTICE.

>> Reporter: BUT THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR'S CHAIR SAYS IT IS EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

>> A RATE TO HEALTH CARE.

BASIC FOOD ASSISTANCE.

IT'S ALL BEING TAKEN AWAY IN ORDER TO GIVE TAX CUTS TO BILLIONAIRES.

IF WE DON'T COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO FIGHT BACK, WE'LL WAKE UP TOMORROW AND THERE WON'T BE ANYTHING LEFT.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL MOTORISTS TALKED IN SUPPORT AS THEY DROVE BY BUT A QUESTION SOME MAY HAVE, HOW MUCH CHANGE CAN REALLY COME FROM A PROTEST HELD FOR AN HOUR OR SO IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO?

IT'S A QUESTION I PUT TO PEDRO RIOS.

>> AND FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN FEAR, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HEAR AND TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO STICK THEIR NECKS OUT DURING A POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO DO SO.

>> Reporter: THIS PROTEST WAS NOT A ONE-OFF.

ORGANIZERS TELL ME THEY'LL BE BACK HERE EVERY THURSDAY WITH THE SAME MESSAGE, FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN WHAT THEY CALL THE FIGHT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THIS DEMOCRACY.

IN DOWNTOWN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> NEARLY 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION COULD FACE POTENTIAL CUTS TO THEIR FEDERAL FOOD BENEFITS.

AS ALEXANDER SHOWS US, THE COUNTY HAS A PLAN TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED KEEP THEIR BENEFITS.

>> WE ARE JUST SURVIVING, NOT LIVING, JUST SURVIVING.

>> Reporter: JACOB CUSHMAN IS SHARING STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO RELY ON CAL FRESH.

THE THE SNAP PROGRAM, WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS.

>> WITH TEARS IN HER EYES, AS SHE COMPLAINED HOW CAL FRESH HELPS HER FEEL LIKE SHE HAS FOOD SECURITY.

LETTER SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY IN FEBRUARY, MORE THAN 96,000 SAN DIEGAN COSMETIC LOSE THE BENEFITS UNDER THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL ACT.

>> NOT BECAUSE THEY DID ANYTHING WRONG BUT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS ABOUT TO GET MUCH.

HARDER TO NAVIGATE.

>> Reporter: UNDER THE NEW RULES, MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THEY ARE WORKING AT LEAST 80 HOURS A MONTH.

THOSE INCLUDE ELDERLY, AND PARENTS OF TEENS.

PREVIOUSLY THIS GROUP WAS EXEMPT FROM THE WORK REQUIREMENTS.

>> ALL THESE FOLKS THAT WE'VE WORKED SO HARD IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP LIFT UP ARE NOW GETTING PULLED DOWN BY A SYSTEM THAT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARSHER.

>> Reporter: ON TUESDAY, THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR ANNOUNCED A CAMPAIGN TO HELP THE PEOPLE AFFECTED KNOW WHAT IS CHANGING AND HOW THEY CAN STAY COVERED.

>> NOW IF THEY MISS A CALL, THEY WILL LOSE THEIR GROCERIES.

THAT'S THE CRISIS WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT.

>> Reporter: THE INFORMATION WILL GO OUT THROUGH TEXTING, CALLS, FLYERS AND OTHER OUTREACH EFFORTS.

THE FOOD BANK SAYS 860,000 PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ARE FOOD INSECURE.

THAT'S MORE THAN A QUAFRT POPULATION.

>> THIS IS THE HIGHEST RATE OF NUTRITION INSECURITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY SINCE 2020.

>> Reporter: IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON A CONCRETE PLAN TO HELP NAVIGATE THE NEW REQUIREMENTS.

IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ARE URGING SAN DIEGANS TO HELP THE NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

>> NOBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EAT.

>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS.

>>> SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTERS TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES.

HERE SOME FROM THIS WEEK.

A SAN DIEGO NAVY DOCTOR IS FIRED AFTER RIGHT-WING ACTIVISTS FIND PRONOUNS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

PLUS THE STORY WE HAD EARLIER FROM KATIE ANASTAS.

IN ESCONDIDO, A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CHANGE HER NAME BUT NOT HER POLITICS.

AND AVOCADO GROWERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FACE MULTIPLE CHALLENGES AS PRODUCTION DECLINES.

>>> RECENTLY, KPBS WELCOMED AMNA NAWAZ, THE PBS NEWS HOUR CO-ANCHOR TO SAN DIEGO.

DURING THAT TIME, THE EVENING EDITION ANCHOR SAT DOWN WITH HER TO TALK ABOUT HER CAREER IN JOURNALISM.

>> Reporter: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AS A PERSON WHO TYPICALLY SEEKS ANSWERS THROUGH QUESTIONS, I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR YOU TO BE ON THE OTHER END.

>> VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF IT BUT I'M IN GOOD HANDS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT THE FIRE IN YOUR GUT FOR STORYTELLING.

HAD A DID YOU WATCH, LISTEN TO OR READ THAT INSPIRED THIS JOURNALISM IN YOU?

>> I WAS ENCOURAGED AS A CHILD TO ASK QUESTIONS.

IT'S SOMETHING MY PARENTS INSTILLED IN MY SISTERS AND IN ME.

I THINK SOMETHING THEY CAME TO LATER REGRET BECAUSE WE GOT TO BE SO GOOD AT ASKING QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW, MY FATHER WAS ACTUALLY A JOURNALIST BACK IN PAKISTAN.

HE USED TO ANCHOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE EVENING NEWS.

HE COVERED WARS AND DOCUMENTARIES.

WHAT HE ENCOURAGED IN ALL OF US, ASK QUESTIONS AND KNOW THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS.

UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT YOU SAY AND WHAT YOU WRITE CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT.

HE NEVER PUSHED US INTO JOURNALISM.

I SORT OF FELL INTO IT HAPPEN STANCE AFTER TAKING AN INTERNSHIP, AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, AND IT WAS LITERALLY WEEKS BEFORE THE 9/11 ATTACKS.

FOR ME IT WAS THE FIRST BIG STORY I COVERED AND IT KIND OF SET THE PACE FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER.

I SAW ALL THE THINGS MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME.

YOU HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS.

I WATCHED A LOT OF NEWS GROWING UP.

I HAD TRAIL BLAZERS LIKE COKIE ROBERTS AND CONNIE CHUNG TO LOOK UP TO.

I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD GET INTO JOURNALISM UNTIL I FELL INTO IT.

>> YOU WORKED FOR COMMERCIAL AND LEGACY STATIONS BEFORE YOU CAME TO PUBLIC MEDIA.

WHAT DREW YOU TO PUBLIC MEDIA AS A STORY TELLER?

>> IT WAS THE CHANCE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH A LEGEND LIKE JUDY WOODRUFF, TO BE ABLE TO SUB IN HER CHAIR WHEN SHE WAS OUT ON THE ROAD, TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GET OUT AND TELL STORIES IN A THOUGHTFUL AND NUANCED WAY.

I LOVE MAY TIME AT THE COMMERCIAL NETWORKS.

I HAD GREAT BOSSES, THE ABILITY TO TELL REALLY IMPORTANT STORIES.

I WAS A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR YEARS AND COVERED DOMESTIC POLICIES AND STORIES AS WELL.

THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT PUBLIC MEDIA.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE NEWS HOUR.

AND IT IS A PLACE WHERE THOUGHTFUL STORYTELLING AND THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE BUT CORE TO WHAT WE DO.

WE LIVE IN THE GRAY.

AND I THINK WE'RE SO CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

HERE AT KPBS AND ALL THE MEMBER STATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

I THINK THAT CONNECTION, THAT RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE FEEL TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, IT CAN SERVE JOURNALISM, TOO.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE THE BATON FROM JUDY WOODRUFF?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT JUDY WOODRUFF WHO IS STILL AT IT DOING SOME INCREDIBLE STORY TELLING ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE DIVISIONS IN THIS NATION RIGHT NOW.

AND THE REASON I THINK THAT THAT HAPPENED SO SEAMLESSLY AND SO SMOOTHLY FROM THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE AUDIENCE IS BECAUSE OF JUDY AND OUR PRODUCER, SARAH.

THEY KNEW IT WAS A TRANSITION.

THERE HAVE ONLY EVER BEEN FOUR PEOPLE TO SIT IN THOSE CHAIRS BEFORE JEFF AND I WERE HANDED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THAT DESK.

WE KNEW IT WOULD BE A BIG CHANGE FOR THE AUDIENCE.

IT WAS A MOMENT FOR BOTH OF US, FOR JEFF AND I, A REAL DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ALSO JUST EXCITEMENT BECAUSE THIS IS A BRAND THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES.

IT WAS AROUND BEFORE WE WERE BORN.

IT WILL BE AROUND LONG AFTER WE'RE GONE.

RIGHT NOW WE GET TO HAVE STEWARDSHIP OF THIS INCREDIBLE INSTITUTION.

WE'RE EXCITED TO HELP WRITE ITS NEXT CHAPTER BUT WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY EVERY DAY.

>> YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

CAN YOU THINK OF A STORY YOU'VE COVERED THAT MAYBE YOU FELT THAT WEIGHT SO ACUTELY?

>> THERE'S SO MANY.

THE LAST FEW YEARS IN PARTICULAR, IT FEELS LIKE TRYING TO REPORT THE NEWS IS LIKE DRINKING FROM A FAIR HOSE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF STORIES.

AND IT IS A REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TIME TO BE A JOURNALIST BECAUSE OF THAT BUT ALSO A WONDERFUL TIME TO BE A JOURNALIST.

THERE ARE STORIES EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK.

JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, YOU THINK BACK TO SOME OF THE MASS SHOOTINGS THAT I'VE COVERED.

THOSE ARE STORIES THAT DEEPLY, DEEPLY IMPACT ONE COMMUNITY.

LIVES ARE FOREVER CHANGED.

POLICY IS AT PLAY.

POLITICS FIND THEIR WAY INTO IT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN NEWS HOUR, AND TRYING TO REPORT ON SOME OF THE REALLY DIFFICULT, EMOTIONAL, FRAUGHT STORIES IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO IN THAT PLATFORM.

I THINK BACK TO JANUARY 6th.

I THINK ABOUT THE LIVE COVERAGE WE WERE IN THAT DAY WHEN JUDY WOODRUFF WAS ANCHORING, LISA WAS INSIDE THE CAPITOL BUILDING, I WAS OUTSIDE ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS AND WE WERE LIVE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT A TIME JUST REPORTING ON WHAT WE WERE SEEING AND HEARING AND WHAT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WERE TELLING US.

THERE HAS BEEN MOMENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT I KNOW WILL FOREVER STAY WITH US.

I FEEL REALLY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL.

AND IT IS OUR JOB AS JOURNALISTS, AS EDUCATORS TO BUILD THOSE BRIDGES AND GET THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED SO THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

>> I CAN REALLY FEEL THE DEPTH TO WHICH YOU FEEL THAT.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, KPBS JUST CELEBRATED ITS 65th ANNIVERSARY.

YOU CAN STREAM OUR DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL KPBS 65, TO SEE HOW OUR NEWSROOM HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS.

IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE KPBS NEWS PAGE AND ON THE STREAMING APP.

>>> OUR PUBLIC MATTERS PROJECT IS HOSTING A LIVE Q & A NEXT WEEK.

JOIN REPORTERS FROM KPBS, VOICE OF SAN DIEGO, AND I-NEWS SOURCE, THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th.

SMILT YOUR QUESTIONS AT THE LINK ON THE SCREEN.

KPBS.ORG/DEMOCRACYDAY2025.

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, SPLIT PARTICIPATION, AND IMPACTS OF FEDERAL POLICY.

>>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE BIRCH AQUARIUM.

DID YOU KNOW SCUBA DIVERS CAN LEND A HAND OR A FIN?

THEY CLEAN THE TANKS, FEED THE FISH, AND TEACH VISITORS ABOUT OUR OCEANS.

FOR PUBLIC MATTERS EVERYDAY HEROES SERIES, LAURA McCAFFREY DOVE INTO A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VOLUNTEER DIVER.

>>> MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT SCUBA IS THE SORT OF PEACEFUL FEELING WHEN YOU GO DOWN UNDERWATER.

IT'S NOT QUIET.

YOU KNOW, THE OCEAN IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY LOUD PLACE.

THE SOUNDS WRAP AROUND YOU AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CLICKS AND FISH ACTUALLY MAKE LOTS OF SOUNDS.

THE SOUNDS OF THE WAVES AND SOUND MOVES FOUR TIMES FASTER THAN AIR.

SO OUR EARS AND BRAINS AREN'T REALLY TUNED TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIRECTIONS.

I LEARNED HOW TO SCUBA THE SUMMER AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS A GIFT FROM MY DAD.

SO MAY SISTER AND I TOOK LESSONS TOGETHER UP IN MONTEREY BAY.

IT WAS SUPER COOL TO GET TO BREATHE UNDER THERE.

THEY HAVE YOU WORK UP AS YOU GO THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.

SO WHEN I STARTED, I WAS A FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE AT UCSD.

WHEN I WAS GETTING MY MASTERS DEGREE, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO DO A PROJECT WHERE DID I THE SCRIPPS SCIENTIFIC DIVING COURSE, AND ONCE I HAD THAT CERTIFICATION, I WAS ELIGIBLE TO DIVE IN THE TANKS.

PART OF THE SIGN TIFK DIVING COURSE, WE DO EVERYTHING FROM NAVIGATION, ADVANCE SAFETY PROCEDURES, AND RESCUE, DOING THE EQUIPMENT UNDERWATER, LEARNING TO BRING STUFF UP AND DOWN FROM THE BOTTOM SAFELY.

>> THIS IS QUITE HEAVY.

THE WHOLE SET-UP ALL TOGETHER IS AT LEAST 70 POUNDS OR MORE.

ONCE WE GET IN THE WATER, AWARE NEUTRALLY WEIGHTED.

BUT BEFORE THAT, IT IS VERY HEAVY AND CUMBERSOME.

WE TYPICALLY SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE DIVE BOX AND WE'LL FLIP OUR FEET OVER AND THEN GET READY IN THE DIVE BOX SO THAT WE CAN THEN JUST SWIM DIRECTLY OUT INTO THE TANK.

>> YOU GUYS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY OVER HERE.

BUT ON THE WEST SIDE, HE HAS BEEN COMING OUT WITH A LITTLE TERRITORIALISM.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE SCORPION SHIP ON THE BOTTOM.

THE BLIND MORAY EAGLES.

I'M STILL LOOKING FOR A ZIP TIE FISH.

THERE'S ONE RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM.

YOU CAN PICK IT UP AND BRING IT BACK, AWESOME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT?

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SCUBA?

PLEASE DO A BUDDY CHECK AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR EACH OTHER ON THE BOTTOM.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO IT.

>> THERE IS ALWAYS TWO DIVERS IN THE TANK FOR SAFETY.

THE SECOND ONE, THEIR JOB IS TO SIPHON ALONG THE FLOOR.

AND I LOVE DOING THAT BECAUSE YOU JUST GET TO GO CLEAN THE TANK.

YOU HAVE TIME TO STOP AND LOOK AT THE FISH AND SAY HI TO THEM.

AND IT'S KIND OF A RELAXED JOB.

ONE PERSON FEEDS, CLEANS THE WINDOW, DOES THE SHOW.

THE BACK-UP DIVER IS SORT OF CLEANING AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL AROUND THE BACK OF THE TANK IS CLEAN.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, KEEPING AN EYE ON THEIR BUDDY.

FEEDING IS FUN BUT IT TAKES YOUR FULL CONCENTRATION.

THEY'RE SWARMING ALL AROUND YOU.

I FIRST STARTED DOING IT, I WAS NERVOUS.

MY MOM TOLD ME TO PREHE SAID THE THEY , TO PRETEND THEY WERE LITTLE PUPPIES SO THAT IS WHAT I DO.

I CONTINUE VOLUNTEERING HERE BECAUSE IT KEEPS ME CONNECTED TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THE AQUARIUM IS PART OF SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY.

I GUESS THE OTHER REASON I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT COMING HERE, IT'S A WAY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND TOURISTS TO COME TO SAN DIEGO TO SEE WHAT IS UNDERWATER RIGHT OFF OUR COAST.

WE CAN DRIVE DOWN THE HILL RIGHT NOW AND GO TO THE BEACH.

AND MOST PEOPLE SEE WHAT IS ON THE SURFACE.

AND HERE YOU GET A GLIMPSE OF THESE FSH IN THE WATER EVERY DAY, ALL DAY.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK AND SCHOOL DOING THEIR THING.

AND IT HELPS REMIND PEOPLE, HEY, ALL THIS STUFF IS RIGHT HERE.

APPRECIATE IT AND GO SEE IT AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT IT AND KEEP OUR OCEANS AND OUR BEACHES CLEAN AND HEALTHY.

>> WHAT A GREAT STORY.

THAT WAS PRODUCED BY LAURA McCAFFREY AND VIDEO JOURNALIST.

FOR PUBLIC MATTERS EVERYDAY HEROES SERIES.

YOU CAN FIND MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ONE AT KPBS.ORG/VOLUNTEER.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

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