♪ >>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM CBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> COMING UP, HIS ARREST OUTSIDE OF AN IMMIGRATION COURT WENT VIRAL AND NOW HE IS FREE.

HEAR FROM THE AFGHAN INTERPRETER AND THE LOCAL VETERANS WHO ARE SUPPORTING HIM.

>>> A NEW FINANCIAL CHALLENGE FOR ROAD SAFETY IN EAST COUNTY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS REVOKING A GRANT CLAIMING IT'S HOSTILE TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

>>> AND THE RIGHT TO DREAM SOCCER ACADEMY IS UP AND RUNNING.

SEE HOW SAN DIEGO FC CREATED AN ALL INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE PROS.

>>> WE START WITH A DEBATE OVER WHERE TO BUILD NEW HOMES.

A DECISION MADE THIS WEEK ADVANCES A PROJECT NEAR ESCONDIDO KNOWN AS HARMONY GROVE.

IT WILL HELP THE REGION MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS ITS HOUSING GOALS, BUT ALEXANDER NGUYEN TALKED WITH SOME RESIDENTS WHO SAY IT COMES WITH A SAFETY RISK, PARTICULARLY DURING WILDFIRES.

>> YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HONOR THE LESSONS OF PARADISE, CAMP, TUBBS, CARR, DIXIE, NORTH COMPLEX, PALISADES, AND EATON FIRES.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISORS HEARD FROM DOZENS OF NORTH COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THE NEXT COMMUNITY ON THAT LIST.

>> PEOPLE WERE GETTING OUT OF THEIR CARS RUNNING OUT TO TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THE FIRE BECAUSE THEY HAD ONE MEANS OF EGRESS.

>> Reporter: VICTORIA CAMPBELL SAYS THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE PROPOSED HARMONY GROVE VILLAGE SOUTH IS APPROVED.

SHE LIVES JUST SOUTH OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

>> IT WON'T MAKE US WRONG.

IT JUST MIGHT MAKE US DEAD.

>> Reporter: THE DEVELOPMENT WAS INITIALLY APPROVED IN 2018 BUT WAS HELD UP IN COURT.

THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AND THE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL IN AUGUST.

>> WE'RE FOR DEVELOPMENT.

WE SUPPORTED HARMONY GROVE VILLAGE, WHICH IS WITH US.

>> Reporter: THIS RESIDENT SAYS SHE RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SMART HOUSING.

>> AND IT'S A TERRIFYING THING TO BE PACKING YOUR ANIMALS AND THROWING THINGS INTO YOUR CAR WHILE YOU'RE GOING OUT PAST FLAMES AND NOT SURE IF YOU'LL MAKE IT OUT.

>> Reporter: RESIDENTS OPPOSE THIS PROJECT BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE EVACUATION ROUTE.

DEVELOPERS SAY THAT'S A BASELESS SCARE TACTIC BECAUSE EVACUATION CONCERNS HAVE BEEN DISPROVED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, AND EVACUATION EXPERTS.

DEVELOPER DAVID KOLVACH SUBMITTED A PRERECORDED STATEMENT TO THE BOARD.

>> TO THE 11 GOVERNMENT REVIEWS THAT HAVE OCCURRED FROM 2018 TO TODAY, THE ESSENTIAL CONCLUSION OF THE FIRE PROTECTION PLAN HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE DAY ONE.

SAFE EVACUATION IS NOT RELIANT ON SECONDARY ACCESS.

>> Reporter: RESIDENTS SAY THEY WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF THE BOARD VOTED FOR APPROVAL.

THE STATE SAYS THE COUNTY NEEDS TO PRODUCE MORE THAN 170,000 HOMES BY 2029.

THE VILLAGE WOULD ADD 453 HOMES.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>> OCTOBER IS HISTORICALLY A BUSY MONTH FOR WILDFIRES.

ONE RESOURCE THAT HAS REVOLUTIONIZED HOW PEOPLE GET INFORMATION IS THE WATCH APP.

FIREFIGHTERS ARE USING IT, TOO.

>> Reporter: IN AUTOMATED NOTIFICATION FLASHES ON LIAM WINSTEAD'S COMPUTER SCREEN ALERTING HIM TO A POTENTIAL GRASSFIRE.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NEAR THE MALL HERE IN CARLSBAD.

>> Reporter: NOW THE CLOCK STARTS TICKING.

WINSTEAD IS A STAFF REPORTER WITH WATCH DUTY.

HE NEEDS TO CONFIRM IF THIS FIRE IS REAL AND WHETHER IT POSES ANY DANGER.

WINSTEAD PULLS UP LIVE LOOKOUT CAMERAS IN THE AREA.

>> THERE MIGHT BE ONE SUPER FAR AWAY IN PENDLETON.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING SUPER OBVIOUS.

>> Reporter: HE CHECKS OUT TRAFFIC MAPS FROM CALTRANS TO SEE IF THERE'S A SLOWDOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 78.

THEN WINSTEAD PULLS UP MULTIPLE RADIO STREAMS.

HE USUALLY LISTENS TO TWO FEEDS AT ONCE.

>> SO THIS IS THE OCEANSIDE THE TOWN IN CHIEF TELLING THE DISPATCHER TO NOTIFY THAT CARLSBAD HAS A POSSIBLE VEGETATION FIRE.

THIS IS RADIO TRAFFIC FROM LOCAL HAM RADIO OPERATORS, WHICH IS ALSO PICKED UP ON THIS FEED.

>> Reporter: IF YOU'RE PICTURING WINSTEAD IN A COMMAND CENTER SURROUNDED BY WALLS OF MONITORS AND HI-TECH EQUIPMENT, THINK AGAIN.

THE RECENT COLLEGE GRAD IS WORKING FROM THE BEDROOM OF HIS UTC APARTMENT.

HE USES A SMALL MACBOOK, A SINGLE COMPUTER MONITOR, AND A RADIO, BUT FROM THIS UNASSUMING SETUP WINSTEAD CARRIES TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY.

HE CONFIRMS THE CARLSBAD FIRE IS REAL AND POSES A DANGER TO NEARBY RESIDENTS.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO UPGRADE THE FIRE.

SO NOW EVERYONE WILL GET A NOTIFICATION.

>> Reporter: WINSTEAD SENT THE NOTIFICATION TO WATCH DUTY'S SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUBSCRIBERS.

THE ALERT LIT UP MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PHONES.

WATCH DUTY HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND SINCE 2021, BUT IT'S WIDELY CONSIDERED THE APP TO USE WHEN YOU NEED FAST, RELIABLE UPDATES ON A WILDFIRE.

>> IF I'VE SEEN ANYTHING HAVE THE SINGLE GREATEST IMPACT ON ENGAGING THE PUBLIC, THIS IS THE TOOL THAT'S DONE IT.

>> Reporter: KEN PIMLOT IS THE FORMER CHIEF OF CAL FIRE, THE STATE'S FIRE PEVENTION AND RESPONSE AGENCY.

HE RETIRED IN 2018 AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN FIREFIGHTING.

>> WATCH DUTY HAS REALLY FOUND A NICHE THAT HONESTLY NEEDED TO BE FILLED AS THE FIRE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GROW AND ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, BUT CERTAINLY HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR INFORMATION.

>> Reporter: WATCH DUTY COLLECTS UPDATES ABOUT WILDFIRES AND EVACUATIONS FROM A NUMBER OF AGENCIES AND THEN FUNNELS THAT INFORMATION INTO AN EASY-TO-USE APP.

PAID STAFF REPORTERS AND AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS MONITOR TRAFFIC TO PROVIDE REALTIME UPDATES.

BEFORE WATCH DUTY YOU'D HAVE TO COMB THROUGH A BUNCH OF APPS, WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES TO GLEAN THE INFORMATION.

DAVID MERRITT IS CO-FOUNDER AND CTO OF WATCH DUTY.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT RELEVANT, NOT TOO MUCH, NOT TOO OFTEN, BUT GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO START MAKING DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN.

>> Reporter: MERRITT EMPHASIZES THAT WATCH DUTY REPORTS ON UPDATES AND ORDERS FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES.

IT DOES NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, ISSUE EVACUATION NOTICES ON ITS OWN.

THE APP NOW COVERS 22 STATES AND HAS 17 MILLION USERS.

THAT INCLUDES MANY FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.

>> IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE THAT THE INFORMATION GAP ALSO EXISTED ON THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE, YOU KNOW, WITH MUTUAL AID, WITH DIFFERENT FIREFIGHTING AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER.

THERE ISN'T A COMMON OPERATING PLATFORM FOR THAT.

>> Reporter: WATCH DUTY OFFERS MULTIPLE PAID MEMBERSHIP TIERS, INCLUDING ONE GEARED TOWARDS PROFESSIONALS.

THE BASIC VERSION OF THE APP WITH THE MOST ESSENTIAL INFORMATION REMAINS FREE.

VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN ALLOWING WATCH DUTY TO SCALE UP.

SOME ARE RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS AND DISPATCHERS.

OTHERS ARE FIRE TRACKING ENTHUSIASTS.

WINSTEAD, THE SAN DIEGO-BASED STAFF REPORTER, STARTED MONITORING AND POST ABOUT WILDFIRES ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN HIGH SCHOOL.

HE WAS A STUDENT AT UC SAN DIEGO WHEN HE JOINED WATCH DUTY AS A VOLUNTEER.

>> I WAS KIND OF ALL IN.

I WAS PROBABLY PUTTING IN LIKE TEN, 20 HOURS A WEEK IN COLLEGE AND THEN WHEN SUMMER CAME, THAT KIND OF BECAME INSTEAD OF HAVING AN INTERNSHIP, I VOLUNTEERED WITH WATCH DUTY.

>> Reporter: HE GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, BUT DECIDED TO STICK WITH WATCH DUTY WHEN THEY CALLED OFFERING HIM A JOB.

WHILE WINSTEAD REPORTS ON FIRES ACROSS WATCH DUTY'S ENTIRE COVERAGE AREA, HE SPECIALIZES IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION.

>> KNOWING WHERE A FIRE IS GOING TO SPREAD, KNOWING WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED, YOU REALLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND WITHOUT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.

>> Reporter: SOMETIMES IT BRINGS HIM A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE ACTION LIKE IN JUNE WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT NEAR HIS PARENTS' HOME WHERE HE WAS STAYING AT THE TIME.

>> I WENT OUTSIDE AND PRETTY SOON AFTER I STARTED LISTENING THE SMOKE KIND OF STARTED BILLOWING TOWARDS ME.

ASH STARTED FALLING ON MY COMPUTER, ON ME.

>> Reporter: WINSTEAD EVACUATED OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.

HE FINISHED REPORTING ON THE FIRE FROM A NEARBY STARBUCKS AS CAL FIRE PLANES PASSED OVERHEAD.

>>> WE'RE NOW SEVERAL DAYS INTO THE LATEST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

SAN DIEGO IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACTIVE DUTY AND RETIRED MILITARY WHO ARE CLOSELY WATCHING WHAT POLITICIANS DO IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

THAT'S BECAUSE THEIR ACTIONS OR LACK OF ACTION COULD AFFECT PAYCHECKS AND BENEFITS.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL TAKES A LOOK.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO IS HOME TO MORE THAN 110,000 ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS.

THAT'S IN ADDITION TO MANY MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS AND MORE THAN 240,000 VETERANS.

SO A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS A BIG DEAL TO A LOT OF LOCALS.

>> WE KNOW IT'S ALREADY WAY TOO HARD FOR OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET IN SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: REPRESENTATIVE SARAH JACOBS SERVES ON THE HOUSE ARMS SERVICES COMMITTEE.

SHE SAYS EVEN WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LIFE IS TOUGH FOR A LOT OF MILITARY FAMILIES IN SAN DIEGO.

>> 45,000 MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS VISIT THE FOOD BANK EVERY MONTH BEFORE A SHUTDOWN.

>> Reporter: JACOBS WAS JOINED ON A ZOOM NEWS CONFERENCE BY TWO OTHER DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE SAN DIEGO DELEGATION, REPRESENTATIVES SCOTT PETERS AND MIKE LEVIN.

SO WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO MILITARY SALARIES SHOULD THE SHUTDOWN HAPPEN?

FIRST OFF, ACTIVE DUTY TROOPS, INCLUDING RESERVE PERSONNEL ON FEDERAL ACTIVE DUTY, WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE TO REPORT FOR DUTY, BUT THEIR PAYCHECKS WOULD STOP UNTIL A NEW FUNDING DEAL IS REACHED.

THEY WOULD RECEIVE BACK PAY AFTER A SHUTDOWN ENDS.

DISTRICT 49 REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LEVIN IS ONE OF JUST A HANDFUL OF DEMOCRATIC CO-SPONSORS OF THE PAY OUR TROOPS ACT OF 2026 WHICH WOULD CONTINUE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MILITARY IN THE EVENT OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, BUT, OF COURSE, IF CONGRESS ISN'T IN SESSION DUE TO A SHUTDOWN, THE BILL CAN'T BE VOTED ON.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE PAY THEY'VE EARNED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ABLE TO LIVE COMFORTABLY AND WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON HOUSING AND ON CHILD CARE.

>> Reporter: UNLIKE THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, MOST VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICES ARE FUNDED A YEAR IN ADVANCE.

SO BENEFITS PROCESSING, MEDICAL CENTERS, AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OPERATING.

ALL THREE REPRESENTATIVES MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY'RE STILL IN WASHINGTON READY TO WORK ON A DEAL WHILE THEY SAID MOST OF THEIR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE NOT.

THE SENATE IS STILL IN SESSION.

MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT WORKERS WILL BE PAID TOMORROW.

THAT MONEY WAS ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE, BUT BEYOND THAT LIES UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT AND WHEN.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A MAN WHO WORKED IN THE U.S.

IN AFGHANISTAN AND WAS DETAINED BY I.C.E.

THIS SUMMER IS NOW FREE.

ANDREW DYER HAS MORE FROM HIM AND HIS SUPPORTERS.

>> Reporter: SAYEED NASSER IS ENJOYING LUNCH AT A LAKESIDE RESTAURANT.

LAST WEEK A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED HIS ARREST THIS SUMMER OUTSIDE A SAN DIEGO COURTROOM VIOLATED HIS DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

HE WAS RELEASED FROM DETENTION LAST FRIDAY.

>> I CAN SAY THAT FREEDOM IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FEEL IN EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY HE SAID HIS REVEAL HASN'T SHAKEN HIS FAITH IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> I STILL BELIEVE AMERICA.

I DO NOT FEEL BETRAYED.

I FEEL HOPEFUL.

>> Reporter: NASSER WORKED WITH THE U.S.

MILITARY IN AFGHANISTAN AS AN INTERPRETER AND CONTRACTOR.

HE CAME TO THE U.S.

LEGALLY LAST YEAR BY THE CBP1 APP.

HE WAS GRANTED HUMANITARIAN PAROLE.

AT A COURT HEARING IN SAN DIEGO IN JUNE, THE GOVERNMENT MOVED TO DISMISS HIS ASYLUM CASE AND DEPORT HIM.

I.C.E.

AGENTS WERE WAITING OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM.

>> I WORKED WITH THE U.S.

IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> Reporter: AFTER THAT VIDEO WENT VIRAL.

MILITARY VETERANS FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, VETERANS OF AMERICA AND AFGHAN EVAC LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO ENLIST VETERANS TO ATTEND COURT WITH AFGHAN ALLIES.

THEY CALLED IT BATTLE BUDDIES.

SHAWN VANDIVER IS THE CO- FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF AFGHAN EVAC.

>> YOU SEE A COUPLE OF OUR BATTLE BUDDIES STANDING HERE TODAY.

BATTLE BUDDIES HAS GROWN TO OVER 1,000 VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: TODAY HE'S WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING HIS FREEDOM.

NEXT HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO LOOK FOR A NEW PLACE TO LIVE AND A NEW JOB.

HE'LL START REBUILDING HIS LIFE WHILE HE AWAITS A DECISION ON HIS ASYLUM CASE.

>>> A SHARP RISE IN IMMIGRATION ARRESTS IS SHAKING ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES IN SAN DIEGO.

WE SPOKE WITH LEADERS WHO SAY THEY'RE BREAKING THE SILENCE.

>> Reporter: COMMUNITY MEMBERS FILLED A LABOR UNION MEETING HALL LAST NIGHT IN KEARNY MESA.

MANY MORE JOINED OVER ZOOM FROM THE SAFETY OF THEIR HOMES.

THE AAPI DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF SAN DIEGO AND ALLIES GATHERED TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WITH LOCAL LEADERS.

>> IF YOU WERE VIETNAMESE, YOU WERE ON A 50-HOUR FLIGHT SHACKLED HANDS AND FEET.

>> PEOPLE AREN'T GOING INTO SHOPS AND BUSINESSES.

PEOPLE ARE SCARED.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH SUFFERING IN SILENCE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: THERE WERE MORE LOCAL ARRESTS OF AAPI PEOPLE IN ONE MONTH THIS SUMMER THAN ALL OF LAST YEAR.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT RECORDS AND THE COMMUNITY IS FEELING IT.

>> PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE OR WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 40, 50 YEARS WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE AFRAID THAT IF THEY GO TO THE STORE, SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN.

THEY COULD DISAPPEAR.

>> Reporter: ANDREW NEIL BANERJI IS THE CLUB'S PRESIDENT.

HE'S HEARING FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS THEY AREN'T GOING OUT AS MUCH.

EVEN PEOPLE WITH LEGAL STATUS ARE SCARED TO GO TO CHURCH, SCHOOL, AND THE GROCERY STORE.

WHEN THEY DO, THEY BRING THEIR PASSPORTS.

THE CLUB'S VICE PRESIDENT AND RECENT GRADUATE OF UCSD SAYS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE AFRAID TO ORGANIZE.

>> IT'S MAKING 20-YEAR-OLDS, TEENAGERS, AFRAID TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUNISHED BY THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: IN MANY WAYS THESE EXPERIENCES ARE UNIVERSAL TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR RIGHT NOW.

KOENIG-SHOFFER SAYS AAPI PEOPLE ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

>> THERE'S THIS CULTURE AMONG ASIAN AMERICANS THAT WE SHOULD JUST GO ALONG TO GET ALONG AND THAT WE DON'T REALLY SPEAK UP WHEN WE'RE BEING TREATED THE WRONG WAY AND THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF REASONS THAT COME INTO THAT.

A LOT OF THEM ARE CULTURAL.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE IDLE OF THE MODEL MINORITY MYTH IN WHICH ASIAN AMERICANS ARE KIND OF PLACED IN THEIR OWN SEPARATE CATEGORY AWAY FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BUT IN THE WAY WE'RE BEING TREATED, WE'RE BEING TREATED LIKE EVERY OTHER SINGLE COMMUNITY OF COLOR OUT THERE.

THAT MODEL MINORITY MYTH IS JUST THAT, A MYTH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO PUSH BACK ON BY STANDING UP AND SPEAKING UP FOR OURSELVES.

>> Reporter: THEY HOPE SPEAKING OUT WILL ENCOURAGE BOLDER ACTION FROM LOCAL LEADERSHIP.

I.C.E.

DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO KPBS' QUESTIONS.

>>> SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES.

HERE ARE SOME FROM THIS WEEK.

EXPERTS CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE CUTS TO THE WATER USE FROM THE COLORADO RIVER.

>>> A LIGHT PLANE MAKES A SAFE EMERGENCY LANDING ON I-15 IN TIARA SANTA.

>>> AND AN EAST COUNTY COMMUNITY IS DISAPPOINTED AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP REVOKES A ROAD SAFETY GRANT DEEMED HOSTILE TO CARS.

HERE'S THAT STORY FROM ANDREW BOWEN.

>> SO CAMPO ROAD AT ONE POINT IN TIME USED TO BE THE MAIN ROAD FROM SAN DIEGO TO CAMPO.

>> Reporter: I'M WALKING WITH LISA STEWART ON CAMPO ROAD.

SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE CASA DE ORO ALLIANCE, A NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

CAMPO ROAD IS DOTTED WITH STRIP MALLS AND DRIVE-THRUS.

IT'S BUSY, FAST, EVEN CHAOTIC.

THE ROAD IS WIDE WITH FIVE LANES, BUT THE SIDEWALKS ARE NARROW AND INTERRUPTED WITH DOZENS OF DRIVEWAYS.

>> SO A PEDESTRIAN IS CONSTANTLY LOOKING, LOOKING BEHIND THEM TO SEE WHO'S COMING, LOOKING IN FRONT TO SEE WHO IS GOING TO TURN, LOOKING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT TO SEE WHO SEES THEM OR DOESN'T SEE THEM BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE CARS ARE TRYING TO SEE THE TRAFFIC AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO PEDESTRIANS.

>> Reporter: LAST YEAR SAN DIEGO COUNTY WON A GRANT OF $1.2 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT A ROAD DIET.

FOR ONE BLOCK THEY WOULD REDUCE THE LANES TO ONE IN EACH DIRECTION, ADD A MEDIAN, BIKE LANES, AND A TEMPORARY ROUNDABOUT.

THE GOAL?

CREATE SOME ORDER OUT OF THE CHAOS AND SLOW TRAFFIC TO A SAFER SPEED.

THE MONEY CAME FROM THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PROGRAM CREATED BY THE BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, BUT LAST MONTH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SENT THE COUNTY A LETTER REVOKING THE FUNDS.

THE REASON?

THE PROJECT WAS "HOSTILE TO MOTOR VEHICLES."

>> YEAH, DISAPPOINTED.

I THINK IT'S THE POLITEST THING I CAN SAY.

>> Reporter: STEWART SAYS WHAT'S HOSTILE TO CARS IS THE STATUS QUO.

>> THAT WE COULD HAVE LEARNED A LOT AND PROVEN THAT ROUNDABOUTS AND TRAFFIC CALMING ACTUALLY DOES HELP MAKE IT SAFER FOR NOT ONLY PEDESTRIANS, BUT FOR ALL DRIVERS BECAUSE THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN CASA DE ORO HAVE BEEN CAR ACCIDENTS.

>> REALLY THIS IS JUST A BRAND- NEW FRONT FOR THE WHOLE CULTURE WAR AROUND ROAD SAFETY.

>> Reporter: CORRIGAN SOLER CORRIGAN SOLERNO IS THE MANAGER.

HE SAYS WIDER ROADS LEAD TO FASTER DRIVING.

>> AND IT'S VERY WELL DOCUMENTED BOTH IN RESEARCH AND ALSO BY BASIC PHYSICS THE FASTER A CAR GOES WHEN IT HITS SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING, THE MORE ENERGY IS EXCHANGED AND THE MORE LIKELY PEOPLE ARE TO BE KILLED OR INJURED.

SO WHEN WE DECIDE THAT WIDENING A ROADWAY IS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT, WE'RE EFFECTIVELY SAYING THAT SPEED IS SAFE AND SPEED CAN BE USEFUL, BUT YOU CAN'T ALWAYS HAVE SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S COMING AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE'S SAFETY.

>> Reporter: KPBS REACHED OUT TO THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR COMMENT BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

THE COUNTY SAYS IT'S STILL COMMITTED TO FINDING ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES FOR ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> BARRIO LOGAN RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A RECYCLING COMPANY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR AT LEAST SIX YEARS.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER SAYS THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS NOW SUING THE COMPANY.

>> Reporter: LOUD POUNDING FROM DISMANTLING CARS AND CONSTRUCTION WORK, RUMBLING VIBRATIONS FROM TRUCKS STARTING EARLY IN THE MORNING, DIESEL TRUCKS IDLING THROUGHOUT THE DAY NEAR HOMES.

>> AND THE SLAMMING, LIKE THE COMPACTING OF THE BIGGER PIECES OF SCRAP METAL AND THE CARS WE'VE HEARD WAS VERY DISRUPTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN FOLKS WERE WORKING FROM HOME AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: THOSE ARE SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS BARRIO LOGAN RESIDENTS HAVE HAD AGAINST THEIR NEIGHBOR SA RECYCLING GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 2019.

JULIE CORRALES HAS ADVOCATED FOR SEPARATING INDUSTRY FROM HOMES IN BARRIO LOGAN.

>> IT DEFINITELY AFFECTED THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> Reporter: THE SCRAP METAL RECYCLING COMPANY IS ON THE CORNER OF MAIN AND 32nd STREETS.

IT SITS ACROSS THE STREET FROM MULTIPLE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND APARTMENTS.

THE SAN DIEGO CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS SUING SA RECYCLING FOR VIOLATING PERMITTING LAWS AND CAUSING A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

>> THAT'S ENCOURAGING, A LOT OF TIMES I FELT IT WAS FALLING ON DEAF EARS WITH THE CITY.

>> Reporter: THE LAWSUIT SAYS THE COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE A PERMIT TO DISMANTLE CARS NEAR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALSO THE SAYS IS ILLEGALLY RUNNING A LARGE SCALE RECYCLING FACILITY.

SA RECYCLING SAID IN PART, "WE ARE CONFIDENT THE FACTS WILL SHOW THAT OUR OPERATIONS ARE PERMITTED AND NOT A NUISANCE."

CITY ZONING INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY CONFIRMED THE UNPERMITTED OPERATIONS AFTER SEVERAL INSPECTIONS SINCE 2019.

>> TAMMY MURGA WAS PART OF A DISCUSSION WITH LOCAL ENVIRONMENT REPORTERS ON A RECENT EPISODE OF KPBS ROUNDTABLE.

YOU CAN FIND THE SHOW ON ALL MAJOR PODCASTS, PLATFORMS.

NEW EPISODES POST EVERY FRIDAY.

>>> AFTER KICKING OFF THEIR INAUGURAL SEASON, SAN DIEGO FC IS READY TO BEGIN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF SOCCER IN OUR CROSS- BORDER REGION.

JACOB AERE SAYS THE CLUB HAS OPENED UP AN ACADEMY FOR ELITE SOCCER PLAYERS.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO FC'S RIGHT TO DREAM ACADEMY IS OFFICIALLY OPEN AND THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST YOUTH CLUB IN PLACE WHO WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACILITIES IN EL CAJON ON THE RESERVATION.

THOUSANDS OF YOUNG BOYS FROM SAN DIEGO AND TIJUANA TRIED OUT FOR THE NEW PROGRAM.

>> IT'S BEEN LIKE ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I HAD, IF NOT THE BEST.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE TO MY PARENTS' HOUSE WHEN WE GO.

>> Reporter: THE 11-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS BOLIVAR MADE THE TEAM.

HE THERE WAS WITH HIS FAMILY ORIGINALLY FROM GUADALAJARA, MEXICO, BUT MOVED TO CHULA VISTA ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

HIS DAD SAID THEY'RE PROUD OF WHAT HIS SON HAS ACHIEVED AND ARE IMPRESSED BY THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE TEAM AND THE ACADEMY.

[ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: THE RIGHT TO DREAM ACADEMY IS NO ORDINARY YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAM.

IT'S A FULLY FUNDED RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL AND FOOTBALL PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PLAYERS.

HERE THOSE PLAYERS WILL LIVE AND GO TO SCHOOL ON SITE AND TRAIN ALONGSIDE THE PROS FROM THE MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER TEAM.

>> WELL, WE SEE THEM ALMOST EVERY DAY EATING IN THE CAFETERIA.

SO WE JUST SEE ALL OF MY TEAMMATES, HOW PROFESSIONAL THEY ARE AND WE JUST TRY TO COPY THEM SO WE CAN BE PROFESSIONAL LIKE THEM.

>> Reporter: THE MLS SAYS IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND PROGRAM IN THE LEAGUE.

12-YEAR-OLD TIAGO ALSO MADE THE TEAM.

HE'S FROM TIJUANA AND IS LEARNING ENGLISH AT THE ACADEMY.

HE SAYS LIVING AND PLAYING ALONGSIDE HIS IDOLS IS POWERFUL.

>> IT MEANS A LOT BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT OF HISTORY AND HE WAS LIKE FOR ME THE BEST PLAYER HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE IT'S FREE AND TIED TO TAKE LOCAL PRO TEAM, THE ACADEMY OFFERS A PIPELINE THAT YOUNG PLAYERS IN THE REGION NEVER HAD BEFORE.

>> I HOPE IT LEADS TO ME BEING PROFESSIONAL IN A FEW YEARS AND BE ONE OF THE GREATEST.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE PLANS TO EXPAND THE ACADEMY IN FUTURE YEARS TO ADDITIONAL AGE GROUPS AND GIRLS TEAMS.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> FINDING THE RIGHT SPORT FOR YOUR CHILD ISN'T EASY FROM COACHING STYLES TO CONCERNS ABOUT INJURIES.

THERE IS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

JOIN MIKEY DAMRON AND HIS SON DORIAN AS THEY TACKLE THE WORLD OF YOUTH SPORTS.

THEY ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT FIT TOGETHER.

HERE'S A FIRST LOOK AT GAME TIME DECISION, A NEW SERIES FROM KPBS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT YOUTH SPORTS.

THEY PROVIDED THE FOUNDATION FOR MY CHILDHOOD AND HELPED ME BACK THE MAN I AM TODAY.

NOW I'M THE FATHER OF A YOUNG BOY WHO JUST STARTED PLAYING SPORTS AND THE LANDSCAPE OF OUTSPORTS YOUTH SPORTS IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I GREW UP.

THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO MORE RISKS, MORE PRESSURES AND MORE COSTS.

>> MOST PEOPLE THINK IT'S ABOUT THE GAME.

IT'S NOT THE GAME.

IT'S THE LESSONS AND THE THINGS THAT CORRELATE DIRECTLY TO LIFE THAT SPORTS CAN PROVIDE.

>> I FOUND OUT PRETTY QUICKLY THERE WAS A LOT TO LEARN.

SO I SPOKE TO DOCTORS, COACHES, AND OTHER EXPERTS ABOUT THE NEW REALITIES OF YOUTH SPORTS AND HOW PARENTS CAN BEST PROPERLY PREPARE THEIR KIDS AND THEMSELVES FOR EXPERIENCES THAT COULD HAVE LIFELONG IMPACTS.

I ALSO LEARNED HOW COACHING HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

>> IT WAS A WILD WEST.

COACHES BASICALLY COULD DO AS MUCH AS THEY COULD HANDLE.

WE DID TWO-A-DAYS EVERY DAY AND MONDAY WAS A THREE-A-DAY.

>> NOW WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THE RISKS AND HOW TO MINIMIZE THEM.

>> I WANT THE KIDS TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.

I THINK THERE'S SOME ELEMENT OF BALANCING THE RISKS AND BENEFITS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM SITTING AT HOME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES, GET DIABETES, END UP WITH HEART DISEASE AND HAVE MUCH WORSE PROBLEM THAN A BAD KNEE.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTACT, FOR SURE, AND DIFFERENT LEVELS AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH.

WE'LL HAVE MORE CONTACT AND HARDER CONTACT ACTUALLY.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO PREPARE OUR KIDS FOR.

>> I LEARNED THAT DISPARITIES STILL EXIST.

>> A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS DON'T HAVE QUALITY COACHES, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.

>> SOME PARENTS THINK IF I SIGN MY KIDS UP FOR A SPORT WHEN THEY'RE SIX, IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER INTENSE AND THEY'LL LOSE THEIR CHILDHOOD.

TRY TO MAKE IT FUN.

HELP KIDS LEARN AT AN EARLY AGE THAT SPORTS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, IS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

EXPOSE THEM TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT SPORTS LIKE TRY SOMETHING ONE SEASON.

IF THEY LIKE IT, GREAT.

IF NOT, THEN TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

>> ALTHOUGH MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE I WAS A KID, THE SPIRIT OF YOUTH SPORTS, STILL STRONG AS EVER.

AS IT SHOULD BE, EVERYBODY'S YOUTH SPORTS JOURNEY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

SO JOIN DORIAN AND MYSELF AS WE SET OUT ON OUR OWN YOUTH SPORTS ADVENTURE AND MAKE OUR OWN GAME TIME DECISION.

>> VERY EXCITING.

THAT STORY WAS PRODUCED BY KPBS LEAD VIDEO JOURNALIST MIKEY DAMRON.

THE FIRST TWO EPISODES OF GAME TIME DECISION ARE AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING.

YOU CAN WATCH AT KPBS.ORG/GAME TIME.

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

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!

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