Last month, students at Correia Middle School in Point Loma reported seeing a classmate brandish a gun. The following week, more allegations surfaced about the classmate in question. School Facebook groups blew up; parents spun. And in the aftermath, families demanded answers about San Diego Unified’s discipline policies. In this episode, host Jakob McWhinney clarifies the messy story. Plus: More arguments on the City Attorney job change. San Diego water costs soar. Western water leaders duke it out at Politifest. Get your Politifest tickets now at politifest.org

There's an election for San Diego City Attorney in 2024. Current City Attorney Mara Elliott is termed out. Running to replace her are Deputy City Attorney Heather Ferbert and Assemblyman Brian Maienschein. The 2024 ballot could ask voters to choose not only who should be City Attorney — but what the City Attorney should do. On the show this week, our crew discusses the unique role of the San Diego City Attorney, its tumultuous history — and how it could change. Plus: Southwestern College tests out competency-based degrees. And former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher responds to the accusations of sexual harassment and assault against him. Support us: Donate to Voice today and mention the podcast. We may read your note in the next episode! vosd.org/podpeople

This week, San Diego City Councilman Kent Lee joined us for a live show in North Park. Cozied up to the beer fermenters in Original 40 Brewing, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and Jakob McWhinney spilled the tea on local public affairs. Because that’s what the people came for, right? Talking points: Civic Center redevelopment project. The housing crisis. The cost-of-living crisis. Nudists. And audience games! Support the show — and local journalism — at vosd.org/supporter Register for Politifest 2023 at politifest.org

Senior investigative reporter Will Huntsberry joins us to discuss his new investigation. He revealed a fake nonprofit that operated concession stands in Petco Park for nine years, earning a cut of the profits. A snapshot of the earning potential just this year shows the nonprofit, "Chula Vista Fast Pitch," worked enough concession stands to pull in $370,000. On the show this week, we review the story — including the nature of nonprofit vendor work at Petco (and Snapdragon Stadium), how this fake nonprofit came to be, who was behind it, who's ultimately responsible and the fallout after the story broke. Plus: Chronic absenteeism has exploded for kindergartners. San Diego homeless encampments changed a lot this summer. Tony Gwynn. See you soon! Get your tickets to our next live show at vosd.org/events

San Diego’s men’s soccer team — San Diego Loyal of the United Soccer League — announced this will be their final season. In May, a coalition of investors bought into Major League Soccer and had their own announcement: a new team is coming to town. They have squeezed out San Diego Loyal. This week, KPBS's Andrew Dyer — a local soccer nut and host of the San Diego Loyal Locals podcast — joins us to review the recent history of local soccer. We take it back to 2018 and the failed Soccer City project, discuss highlights of the Loyal’s legacy and how San Diego State University steered local soccer to where we are now. Plus: Hurricane Hilary. The latest in the Nathan Fletcher lawsuits. And a new "Song of the Week." Join us for our next live podcast and more at vosd.org/events

San Diego City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe is commanding a big lead in the special election to replace Nathan Fletcher on the Board of Supervisors. Amy Reichert is also going to the November runoff election. On the podcast, we discuss the results, the race thus far and look ahead at a weird race in a heavily Democratic district. Also riding high: Parents, students and educators gear up for a new school year. Host Jakob McWhinney shares the big school stories he's watching. Also riding high: UC San Diego researchers innovate in mushroom studies and more at their first psychedelics research lab. Also riding high: Palomar Health's anxiety. After a big budget plunge last fiscal year, how will the public healthcare provider recover? See you soon! Get your tickets for our next Brews & News live podcast at vosd.org/events

This week, environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer explains some of the drama going down in water politics. It all started when a couple farming communities tried to divorce the San Diego Water Authority. Now, rural districts seek to change the whole voting structure — with the help of state lawmakers. Plus: How to be a great composter. A Southeastern San Diego nonprofit loses community support. The last week before the special election. Subscribe to the Environment Report: vosd.org/environment

Few joys in life match a breezy summer night gossiping with good friends over cold drinks. And in this first-ever “Happy Hour” special episode, that’s what we’ve got for you. Hosts Scott Lewis and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña chat with guests Alain Stephens, reporter from The Trace, and Greg Moran, investigative reporter formerly with the The Union Tribune. Our stories: "Selling Sunset" star tied to landlord who tried to burn tenants out. Secret stories of the gun industry and the U.S. government. A short and expensive history of San Diego desalination. How the Fat Leonard scandal that blew a hole in the U.S. Navy. Watch out for Alain's podcast with The Weekly Briefing by The Trace: thetrace.org/newsletter

Monday was the first day San Diego police could enforce the homeless camping ban — made to crack down on specific areas of the city where street camping has proliferated. Voice reporter Lisa Halverstadt has been following this ban since its inception. This week she surveyed common camping areas to see how the city and police curbed campsites and affixed new warning signs. She shares all the latest details on the city's homeless efforts in the podcast. Plus:Halverstadt broke the news that the city's largest homeless services provider — Father Joe's Villages — is in hot water. Also this week: The worst trees in San Diego. Transpo leader Hasan Ikhrata is out. Fact check on Monica Montgomery Steppe's "defund the police" record.

A few weeks ago, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria asked a question — daring reporters to find out, "What other jurisdictions are applying for Homekey dollars?" "Homekey" is a state project doling out big money for new housing. Local municipalities can apply for funds to help boost permanent supportive housing projects. San Diego has applied for more than $105 million of this funding, chiefly to convert motels to permanent rooms. And despite this crisis hampering the whole region, host Andrea Lopez-Villafaña found the city of San Diego is indeed shouldering the county's weight. This week, we discuss Homekey, housing and homelessness — including the city of Chula Vista's approach and fact checks for common homelessness assumptions. Subscribe to support Voice and stay informed: vosd.org/newsletters

"Mailers are like the core concentrate of local politics. If you boil down politics, you're left with mailer content." This week, our hosts discuss political mailers. While mailers are objectively annoying inbox filler that most people throw, they are created by strategists who have a lot of data about who they're targeting. Therefore, in addition to the argument for or against any given candidate, the postal padding also serves as a proxy for what the experts think they know about the electorate. In this episode, we discuss the art of mailers and what local political groups are trying to express ahead of the special election to replace Nathan Fletcher on the Board of Supervisors. Plus: A new amendment to the lawsuit against Fletcher. More Union-Tribune staff depart. And the latest in water politics as two North County farming communities continue to try to divorce the San Diego Water Authority.

Los Angeles' richest man, Patrick Soon-Shiong, sold the San Diego Union-Tribune and the LA Times to MediaNews Group, owned by Alden Global Capital.  The U-T has had six owners since 2009. Soon-Shiong at the start of his tenure promised "stability." Now it seems there's anything but. This week on the show, we discuss how the news came trickling out at the start of the week — followed quickly by staff reduction notices and buyout offers for the waning paper. We also look at the wider picture: How did newspapers get to this point? And is there a route to stability for regional journalism? Plus: Former mayor Kevin Faulconer announced his bid for County Supervisor. The special election to replace former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher is almost here. And San Diego Unified's school board is oddly... unified. Support VOSD with a donation or subscription. Donate at vosd.org/donate Subscribe at vosd.org/newsletters

This week, we've got updates from the highly anticipated safe camping site put in place by the city of San Diego. The city opened the site to provide unhoused residents a safe place to camp, made to be more attractive than sidewalks. The first of two such sites, it precedes stricter enforcement to get tents off city streets and away from sensitive areas like schools. On the show, reporter Lisa Halverstadt details the amenities and intake numbers — and a new story about how increased homeless enforcement may affect Black San Diegans disproportionately. Plus: A wealthy family’s 100-year-old company is blocking a permanent housing project. And San Diego Unified is facing big budget deficits. Keep up with all our stories with the Morning Report: vosd.org/morning

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and other city leaders announced the opening of a safe camping site for homeless residents. It's first of two in the coming months — along with a new ban on camping, which narrowly passed the City Council last week. The ban expands current restrictions with further attention to sensitive areas such as schools and is now set to take effect in late July. Another, larger camp site is on tap for the fall. We discuss the details of the new site as part of a robust effort by Gloria to reduce tents on the streets. Plus: Two sales tax measures may hit the 2024 ballot. And a weird protest hits a Rancho Peñasquitos library. Support VOSD and the podcast as we close out the fiscal year: vosd.org/podpeople

This week's co-host, Jakob McWhinney, shared in this episode a framework he often uses to consider San Diego's present state and future: "It's gonna blow." The Padres are going to acquire huge stars and take off. San Diego's going to be a hot new music scene. Democrats are going to transform county government. The big thing is always going to happen. McWhinney and hosts Scott Lewis and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña review this week's news with that framework in mind: SDSU, sports, homelessness, billionaire investors and more. Subscribe to our most popular product, the Morning Report: vosd.org/morning

After hours of public discussion and debate, the San Diego City Council narrowly approved a law that would ban camping on public land.  The ban would bar homeless camps in public spaces at all times when shelter is available. And when shelter isn't available, tents would still be banned within two blocks of schools or shelters, as well as in canyons and along transit hubs and waterways.  The pod crew gets into what it all means.  Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople

Days before the San Diego City Council voted on a camping ban pushed by Mayor Todd Gloria, he joined us in the Voice of San Diego studio to discuss his approach to homelessness.  Host Scott Lewis had a lot of questions for him. What does the ban do that laws on the books don't do? How will it be enforced? What about this is different than what former mayor Kevin Faluconer did?  Note: The City Council narrowly approved the ban on June 13, 2023. Read our coverage at vosd.org Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople

The new point-in-time count numbers are in. The annual homeless census showed a record surge in homelessness, reaching its highest point in 12 years. On the podcast this week, we review the new data and particularly distressing increases among the senior population and in chronic homelessness. We also have a story this week about the old data: According to a report by our Will Huntsberry, before the 2023 figures came out, the regional census (while an imperfect system of measure) actually showed a 10-year decline. Meanwhile homelessness has become more visible, and tragic, than ever.  These stories all come ahead of a highly-anticipated vote next week that aims to transform homelessness in the city of San Diego, further enforcing San Diego's ban on street camping while pushing residents toward shelters and safe camping sites. Plus: Water politics is boiling. Andy is leaving. Join the VOSD Podcast crew! Support our fiscal year-end campaign at: vosd.org/podpeople

A bill that passed quietly last year, signed by the governor with no meaningful opposition, has completely upended campaign finance and is causing confusion across the state. This week, we unpack SB 1439, which requires elected officials to recuse themselves from votes involving anyone who gave them more than $250 in campaign contributions. Also a year ago, a San Diego city ordinance went into effect to curb street vendors. Vendors now say vending is practically impossible. Finally, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is gearing up for a big vote on an ordinance that could ban camping in most public spaces. We assess his latest messaging on that front. Plus: Andy Keatts has some news. Keep up with all our stories with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning

Last week, we brought in KPBS reporter Andrew Bowen to talk about his new podcast, "Freeway Exit," dedicated to the past, present and future of freeways. This is the full unabridged version of that interview — where Bowen and host Andrew Keatts are free to unleash their unbridled passion for freeways and transportation. Here, they dig into the archival footage Bowen found to inform his series. They discussed a freeway decommissioning that's in the works in San Diego right now. And, some history: How President Dwight D. Eisenhower championed freeways and their proliferation throughout the country. They also discussed freeway revolts by local communities and a glimpse into a possible future of freeway use in the region. Keep up with everything about the podcast with our weekly newsletter: vosd.org/pod Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople

The County Board of Supervisors voted this week to approve loans to help the city of San Diego to buy property to house homeless San Diegans. But it wasn't without controversy. Local Republicans, including Supervisor Jim Desmond, argued housing alone won't solve the homelessness crisis. They say housing is only part of the solution and must be tied to drug and addiction treatment. This week, we explain the arguments swirling around the once wonky policy debate over “housing first" — and how it has become a political wedge issue. Plus: KPBS reporter Andrew Bowen discusses his new podcast about the past, present and future of freeways. Support our North County coverage: vosd.org/NCountynews Watch segments and snippets on YouTube: youtube.com/voiceofsandiego

It was a momentous week in San Diego sports. A Thursday press conference at Snapdragon Stadium made it official: Major League Soccer is coming to San Diego. This week, host Scott Lewis described the scene before a "resplendent" stadium, where MLS and a gaggle of bigwigs (local and international) declared that in 2025, the highest level of men's soccer would branch out to San Diego Scott and co-hosts Andrea Lopez-Villafaña and Andrew Keatts review how the city arrived at this big sports moment and the players who made it happen. Plus: Workers in San Diego's urban core have learned police are slow or unresponsive for potentially violent interactions with homeless residents. And MTS is losing money on its ticketing app. Subscribe for The Morning Report at vosd.org/morning Support the podcast at vosd.org/podpeople

It was a packed house at Whistle Stop Bar this week. The homey "Greater Golden Hill" establishment has long been the heart of our live podcasts and this was our first show back since the pandemic — in front of a sold out crowd. Hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez Villafaña spoke with our special guests about homelessness, low riders, the Metropolitan Transit System, the Nathan Fletcher scandal — and the past, present and future of San Diego soccer. It was a great show! Enjoy. Guests: National City Councilmember and MTS Board Member Marcus Bush San Diego Loyal Soccer Club President Ricardo Campos Support the show and all our journalism at vosd.org/podpeople Get the podcast newsletter at vosd.org/pod

This week, the County Board of Supervisors decided how to replace Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. The board announced a special election, which will take place on Aug. 15. If no one captures more than 50 percent of the vote, then the contest will go to a general election on Nov. 7. However, Fletcher's position is not yet vacant and we've heard no word from him since he resigned as MTS chair following allegations of sexual harassment and assault and announced he would resign from the Board in May. His office says he's been at a treatment center with no outside contact. If Fletcher's resignation comes to pass, this special election will be triggered. In this episode, we discuss the board's decision and the current candidates. Plus: The expiration of a federal order could allow more asylum seekers into the country (and San Diego). Is the region ready? And education reporter Jakob McWhinney explains some big shakeups at San Diego Unified. Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/voiceofsandiego Support the show: vosd.org/podpeople

San Diego police are stopping people almost 50 percent less than they were a couple years ago — and nobody can say exactly why. A new analysis by Voice of San Diego revealed the decline in stops. Reporter Will Huntsberry crunched those numbers and joins us this week to break it down. And in a companion story, he honed in on data trending the same as ever: Racial disparities in police stops have crept up since 2020. Also, host Andrea Lopez-Villafaña explains the unique history and management of Chicano Park and its Steering Committee. Plus: New tenant protections, a potential overhaul of the Downtown-City Hall swath and the awkward race to fill Supervisor Nathan Fletcher’s seat. Catch us on the Tube: youtube.com/voiceofsandiego Support the show: vosd.org/podpeople

More uncertainty looms over the Metropolitan Transit Agency. In this episode, we discuss this week's votes at MTS to try to install a permanent board chair after the Nathan Fletcher scandal. San Diego City Councilman Stephen Whitburn, in Fletcher's absence, is acting chair. But no one got enough votes to clinch the gig.  It was a harsh rebuke of Whitburn by his Council colleagues — two of whom sit on the board, and one acting as an alternate for the mayor, voted against him. Per MTS rules, Whitburn will be interim chair for another month before voting resumes. Plus: San Diego City Councilman Kent Lee asks a lot of questions about the homeless camping ordinance. And reporter Will Huntsberry lays out his new investigation. Watch the podcast: youtube.com/voiceofsandiego Join us for a live recording: vosd.org/events

This week, we recap the latest from the fallout of County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher as the Board of Supervisors cast a "no confidence" vote and paused the process to hire a new chief administrative officer for the county — one of the most important things they would do this year. And Voice multimedia journalist Ariana Drehsler joins the show to talk about her new photo essay, "The Faces of Homelessness." It was a timely piece as the San Diego City Council is working to crack down on homeless camps. Meanwhile, the city aims to supply more shelter options — but is struggling to find permanent homes for people already in those shelters. See Ariana's photo essay: vosd.org/ariana Get tickets for our next live podcast: vosd.org/events

Last week we explained Nathan Fletcher's plummet following accusations that he sexually harassed and assaulted Metropolitan Transit System employee Grecia Figueroa — and the allegation against Fletcher and MTS that Figueroa was then fired for retribution. Fletcher resigned as MTS chair and plans to resign as County Supervisor. But the scandal continues to bleed across the region. This week, we review the fallout at MTS, the Board of Supervisors and the political shuffle as local leaders seek new opportunities. Amidst the chaos, MTS's interim board chair Stephen Whitburn may have a big opportunity to lead in the middle of dueling crises. Join as a VOSD member today to get free access to our next live podcast: vosd.org/podpeople Keep up with all the news with our daily newsletter: vosd.org/morning

On Sunday night, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher announced he was abandoning his campaign for state Senate and checking into a treatment program for trauma and alcohol abuse. This alone was big news for the region and we totally would have talked about it on the podcast. Local leaders and politicos quickly commended Fletcher's willingness to tackle mental health in an open way and offered lots of encouragement. But that was just the beginning. In this episode, we review in detail a tumultuous week as Fletcher eventually resigned as MTS board chair and County Supervisor following allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Plus: How wide is the blast radius of this scandal and where do we go from here? Support this show and all our reporting at vosd.org/podpeople

This week, Jason Hughes — former real estate advisor to the city of San Diego  — pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge after agreeing to pay $9.4 million back to the city, which he received for his work on two city lease deals. In this episode, hosts Scott Lewis, Andrew Keatts and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña tell the tale (for the last time?!) of the downtown high-rise that plagued the city for the better part of a decade. After years of dogged reporting by Voice's Lisa Halverstadt, one of the most topsy-turvy, confusing and expensive recent city controversies appears complete. See the full investigation at vosd.org/101ash Support this impactful investigation (and the VOSD Podcast!) at vosd.org/podpeople Also this week: Balboa Park groups push back against a safe camping idea at Inspiration Point.

This week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilman Stephen Whitburn unveiled new tactics to curb homelessness: More safe camping options, more supportive services and new bans on vehicle habitation and camping on public property. These big moves wrap into an ordinance Whitburn plans to bring to the Council, with Gloria's blessing, which puts the camping ban in effect when shelter beds are available. In this episode, we review the new plans and how they'd work as San Diego Police face a major staffing shortage. Plus: La Jolla wants to see other people. A startling cluster of chronic absenteeism in schools. Keep up with Andy's stories at vosd.org/andy Get the Schools Guide at vosd.org/schools Support the podcast: vosd.org/podpeople

San Diego's downtown civic core is back to it's pre-pandemic activity, at least that's according to a new study and sales tax revenue levels in the area.  But our hosts make the case that declaring that downtown has totally recuperated is, well, complicated. They give downtown their own grades in this episode.  Plus: We have updates on smart streetlights and why activists aren't happy. A billionaire is back in San Diego philanthropy circles but not everyone is excited about that. And the mayor has done a reorg to address homelessness better.  Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople Keep up with everything VOSD with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning Read more about the monthly count of homelessness in downtown here.

Many San Diegans who are addicted to drugs are begging for help. One intake specialist at a local detox program said that at least once a week, someone stops her on her way to work, begging for a detox bed so they can get clean. She often has to turn them away. For the entire San Diego region, there are about 70 beds where Medi-Cal patients can get the help needed to detox. None are in the city of San Diego, where most fentanyl overdose deaths occurred in recent years. This week, senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt joins us to talk about her latest story on the detox bed deficit. See Lisa's latest at vosd.org/lisa Plus: 2023 Schools Guide is out! Get your free copy at vosd.org/schools Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople

Mira Mesa is one of the fastest-growing suburban job centers in San Diego. But climate advocates say climate goals for the neighborhood aren't up to snuff. This week, we break down the city's Climate Action Plan and how to balance growth with lofty environmental goals. Plus: A local teacher who was fired for touching a student is back in the classroom. A new candidate for the Board of Supervisors. Hepatitis A lurks in the region. Submit an anonymous tip: vosd.org/contact Keep up with everything VOSD with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning Support the show: vosd.org/podpeople

This week we're Andy-less. But our temp co-hosts — associate editor Jesse Marx and senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt — have us covered with some hard-hitting cop talk. Halverstadt had the story this week about slow San Diego Police response times. Robberies, active domestic violence incidents and assaults are among the calls that saw marked increases last year compared to 2018. But the police budget keeps going up. So what gives? In this episode, we review the types of incidents in question, experiences of San Diego residents distressed by slow law enforcement and what police leadership say are hampering SDPD's speed. Plus: New proposals to curb street camping and focus solutions at Balboa Park's Inspiration Point. Scott's bear bias. Support the show at vosd.org/podpeople

This week, host Andrea Lopez-Villafaña brought in County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer to get a temperature check for the Board of Supervisors. The foremost issue in the region is homelessness. (Duh.) And that's what most of this discussion was about — including related issues of behavioral health, CARE court, supporting seniors and housing development. That's on the second half of the episode. On the first half: Another signature gathering effort flops. Andrea, Scott and Andy discuss where the new effort to fund parks and libraries stands. Plus, some big union news for the Deputy Sheriff's Association and High Tech High. It's our birthday! Check out our updated What We Stand For document at vosd.org/values Support us during our anniversary campaign at vosd.org/podpeople

Throughout the pandemic, the political divide has been bitter — and deadly. This week, Voice reporters finished an unprecedented review of death certificates from the second year of the pandemic, after the vaccine was released. They determined the demographics of who died changed dramatically. Reporter Will Huntsberry explains the findings. Plus: The most dramatic Audit Committee discussion you've ever heard. The short and adorable history of Elon Musk and SANDAG. And your new favorite newsletter. Andrea's Cup of Chisme: vosd.org/chisme

The San Diego City Council voted this week to declare housing a human right in the city. The resolution didn’t change any policies and isn’t legally binding. So, what gives? This week, we discuss the declaration and grapple with implications it may (or may not) have on the city's immediate housing crisis. Plus: The SANDAG walkout. And education reporter Jakob McWhinney lays out the state of transitional kindergarten — the new public school grade for 4-year-olds. Follow all our investigations and insights with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning

It’s not something you expect to hear: A congressional representative from San Diego saying maybe the Navy has too many ships and maybe the defense department’s budget is too big. But that’s something Congresswoman Sara Jacobs will gladly discuss. As she enters her second term, Jacobs has transitioned from rookie to leadership. The new Congress also brings her new constituents due to redistricting. In this interview, Jacobs and host Scott Lewis discuss all that, plus the recent dramatic House Speaker vote, abortion access, data protection and homelessness.

We’re cookin’ with gas! At least for now. This week, we review how we got here — a time when pundits are debating what gas stoves mean to us as a society and whether the fumes they spout are harmful. This offers another moment when San Diego's policy has caught up with reality. Because we’ve been planning to phase out gas-burning appliances for a while. In this episode, we discuss that long-standing plan and others like it that cause friction once residents realize what's coming for them. Plus: The impossible path to subsidized housing. Stormwater infrastructure fails. Follow all our work with The Morning Report: vosd.org/morning

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria had the opportunity this week to lay out his plan for the city — to explain where we stand and where we're going in his annual State of the City address. Gloria discussed the importance of law enforcement, the deadly rise of fentanyl, our urgent need for affordable housing, homelessness(!), parks and infrastructure. After attending the live event on Wednesday night, our hosts will now scrutinize each major topic. Plus: Is the City Hall redevelopment our next "San Diego Special"? New compost bins roll out this week. Keep up with all our stories with the Morning Report at vosd.org/morning

Levi Giafaglione works for National Alliance on Mental Illness, serving unhoused San Diegans with tools and services they need to get care and housing. He understands keenly how unsheltered folks feel and how hard it is to find a way out, because he used to be homeless, too. In this episode, Giafaglione tells host Scott Lewis how he first became homeless while living in Los Angeles, how he navigated the constant change and challenges of living with unhoused communities — drugs, cold nights, complicated shelter systems, and lack of control. Keep up with all our stories with the Morning Report at vosd.org/morning

This week, we preview the State of the City address. Slated for next Wednesday, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will report to the entire city what his administration did last year and what's ahead. In this episode, we look back at old State of the City addresses and make predictions for the next. An undeniable issue for discussion is homelessness. Plus: How housing costs correlate with homelessness nationwide. Transitional kindergarten ushers in a new era of education. And what's an "atmospheric river" anyway? Thank you to all who gave! You made our year-end fundraiser a success. If you haven't yet, you can join as a member support Voice: vosd.org/podpeople Subscribe to our weekly podcast newsletter at vosd.org/pod

Maggie Balint was a star pitcher for San Diego State University last year and led the school to the Women’s World Series. She was the Mountain West pitcher of the year. Throughout her career, college athletics have changed a lot. Players can make money on their names and transfer to new schools much more easily than before. People can gamble on their play and the long-term consequences are unknown. This week, Balint sits down with Voice's Scott Lewis to talk about what all those changes were like from the inside, how injury impacted her identity and relationship to the sport, and what it's like to be a standout young athlete. Support the show and our year-end campaign at vosd.org/podpeople

Chris Cate was the last Republican elected official in City Hall. His successor, San Diego City Councilmember Kent Lee, serves District 6 and completes an all-Democrat Council (with Dem mayor Todd Gloria). Throughout his tenure, Cate says local leaders grew more courageous — willing to flirt with taboo issues like the coastal height limit, trash pick-up charges and vacation rentals. But now, the homeless crisis looms over everything. In this exit-interview episode, Cate and Scott Lewis talk about the "third rails" of local politics, the evolution of the City Council, the future of the Republican party and more. Extra credit: Cate was featured in San Diego 101: A Short History of San Diego Politics. It's an 18-year recap of local public affairs and political drama. It's in this feed, dated Dec. 21, 2021. Here's a link to the episode. If you value in-depth interviews like this — and the shows we put out every week — consider a tax-deductible donation at vosd.org/podpeople We'll be back next week with another interview.

This week, Voice journalists Jesse Marx and Will Huntsberry unleash an authoritative account of Covid: Year Two. Two years ago, we had to sue the county to gain access to county death records that mentioned Covid as a cause. Marx and Huntsberry led a team to analyze those records to grasp the toll of Covid in various communities and demographics in the county. Their recent slate of stories revealed how the vaccine changed things in the second year of the pandemic. About half as many San Diego residents died in the second year, compared to the first. Further, Marx and Huntsberry reveal how localized public health initiatives, anti-vaxx sentiment and misinformation molded San Diegans' behavior, and ultimately, their lives. See the series at vosd.org/yeartwo Also this week: Why San Diego still doesn't have a safe campground for unhoused Downtown residents. Support local investigative journalism and this podcast at vosd.org/podpeople

In this in-depth interview, CEO of the San Diego Association of Governments Hasan Ikhrata explained why he's standing by a plan to charge drivers for every mile they drive — even after his board abandoned it. We also discuss whether it's time for him to leave his job (hint: maybe), the dysfunction of the SANDAG board and the future of the region. Note: Our weekly news wrap-up episode will drop Friday afternoon, as usual. Support interviews like this and everything we do at VOSD at vosd.org/podpeople

The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the American West.  But its flow is inconstant and undependable — especially as climate change propels us into a dry abyss. Now the river's use needs to be rethought. This week, we discuss environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer's story on the new way of (Colorado River) water — and a how one group agreed to give up some of its water rights: Imperial Valley farmers. Plus: The San Diego District Attorney decided not to file criminal charges in the high-profile rape case involving SDSU football players. And there are more homeless people Downtown than ever recorded. Join our year-end campaign and support the podcast at vosd.org/podpeople

One of the most famous charter schools in the region, and perhaps the country, is High Tech High. Its project-based learning model and innovative approach to education stands out in San Diego — as does its inexperienced teaching staff. Last year, HTH educators decided to unionize. And now they've hit a wall. Voice education reporter Jakob McWhinney joins the show to explain. Plus: SANDAG's leader signals a leave. The problem of towing is ongoing. And we love our members. Join our year-end fundraiser and write us a note at: vosd.org/podpeople

This week we're joined by local author, educator and curator of the AwkwardSD blog, Ryan Bradford for our annual Friendsgiving episode. There’s a lot to be thankful for — and skeptical of — this year. So our table of friends each brought one topic to dish on and sprinkled thanks throughout. Talking points: The historic peaks and current pitfalls of Twitter. How Taylor Swift’s rabid fanbase may finally bring justice to the concert behemoth Ticketmaster. The current state of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and how it disrupts residents navigating life. The Great San Diego Bike Debate. Grab a beer and hide from your relatives. It's Friendsgiving!