>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I'M JADE HINDMON.

COMING UP, SAN DIEGO REMEMBERS POPE FRANCIS.

SEE HOW LOCAL CHARITIES ROOTED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH CARRIED ON THEIR TRADITION OF SERVICE IN LIGHT OF THE POPE'S PASSING.

>>> AND ESCONDIDO'S LIBRARY IS ON THE MOVE.

LEARN ABOUT ITS TEMPORARY HOME INSIDE A MALL AS THE LIBRARY GETS SOME OVERDUE UPGRADES.

>>> AND INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY IS HAPPENING LATER THIS MONTH.

MUSICIANS IN TIJUANA TELL US ABOUT THE LOVE FOR JAZZ IN MEXICO THAT'S STILL GOING STRONG.

>>> WE START IN SAN DIEGO WHERE THE CITY WANTS TO LOWER 2 SPEED LIMITS OF A HANDFUL OF COMMERCIAL STREETS.

ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE BOTH SAFETY AND BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: CARS ARE ZIPPING BY ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE IN THE HEART OF HILL CREST.

IT'S ONE OF THE FEW STREETS IN SAN DIEGO THAT WILL SOON HAVE A NEW SPEED LIMIT OF 20 MILES PER HOUR.

BENJAMIN NICHOLS IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HILLCREST BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.

HE SAYS THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEPENDS ON FOOT TRAFFIC.

>> AND SO HAVING CARS MOVE SLOWER THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAFER.

AND I THINK THAT'LL MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN THEY'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD VISITING WITH BUSINESSES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, HILLCREST IS A WALKING NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Reporter: THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TUESDAY TO MAKE USE OF A STATE LAW CALLED AB 43 THAT GIVES CITIES MORE FLEXIBILITY WHEN SETTING SPEED LIMITS.

NICHOLS SUPPORTS THE CHANGES, BUT HE SAYS SPEED LIMITS ARE EASY TO IGNORE AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS, AND STREET TREES CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT CALMING TRAFFIC AND IMPROVING SAFETY.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SIGNS.

IT'S ABOUT THE WAY YOU BUILD THINGS AND THE WAY YOU CONTROL ALL SORTS OF MOVEMENT THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Reporter: SPEED LIMITS IN CALIFORNIA ARE TYPICALLY BASED ON HOW FAST PEOPLE ACTUALLY DRIVE, EVEN IF THOSE TRAVEL SPEEDS ARE UNSAFE.

THIS CAN LEAD TO A PHENOMENON CALLED SPEED CREEP, WHEN CITIES HAVE TO INCREASE SPEED LIMITS BECAUSE SPEEDING HAS BECOME THE NORM.

THE COUNCIL ALSO VOTED TO RETAIN CURRENT SPEED LIMITS ON SEVERAL STREETS ACROSS THE CITY WHEN IT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO RAISE THEM.

>> THE LAW BEFORE AB 43 ON TYPICAL STREET SPEED LIMITS WAS ABSOLUTELY BACKWARDS, AND IT ENCOURAGED DRIVERS TO ACT MORE DANGEROUSLY.

>> Reporter: CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEERS ARE ALSO DEVELOPING A CITYWIDE SPEED MANAGEMENT PLAN DUE OUT LATER THIS YEAR.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE SAW A SERIES OF RALLIES THIS WEEK FROM MEDICAID SUPPORTERS TARGETING LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

ONE OF THOSE EVENTS TOOK PLACE IN SANTEE WHERE PEOPLE WILL DISABILITIES HAD THEIR VOICES HEARD.

AS WE REPORT, THEY SAY THEY DEPEND ON THE FEDERALLY FUNDED HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 100 DISABLED PEOPLE, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, CAREGIVERS, AND COMMUNITY ALLIES RALLY OUTSIDE CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ICE'S OFFICE IN SANTEE.

>> TELL THE CONGRESSMAN HANDS OFF MEDICAID, PUT AWAY THAT CUTTING BLADE.

HANDS OFF MEDICAID.

>> Reporter: HE'S ONE OF 216 HOUSE REPUBLICAN WHO IS VOTED IN FAVOR TO CUTS TO PROGRAMS OVERSEEN BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE.

THAT INCLUDES MEDICAID, KNOWN AS MEDICAL IN CALIFORNIA.

ORGANIZERS SAY THIS IS PART OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRST STATEWIDE MOVEMENT LED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES URGING CONGRESS NOT TO CUT MEDICAL FUNDING.

>> WE ARE HOPING WE CAN HUMANIZE THIS ISSUE.

IT'S NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE, IT IS ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS WHOSE LIVES ARE -- AND THEIR LIFE QUALITY IS AT STAKE, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN SPECIFICALLY CONVINCE PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISSA TO OPPOSE THESE CUTS, TO SEE THE VALUE OF MAINTAINING WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: DIANA WITH DISABILITY VOICES UNITED SAYS SHE IS SPEAKING UP FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHAT MEDICAL MEANS FOR THEM.

>> PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE ON THE LINE.

PEOPLE'S LIFE QUALITY IS ON THE LINE.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO GO BACK INTO INSTITUTIONS WHEN THE CUTS TAKE EFFECT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT WE ARE OVERREACTING, THAT WE WILL WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF WAITING.

>> SO AS A PROUD DISABLED WOMAN, IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE OUR ALLIES.

OFTENTIMES IT'S REALLY HARD TO HAVE ALLIES IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: TONY IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.

SHE DOESN'T RELY ON MEDICAL BUT WANTS TO SHOW HER SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO.

>> IF WE DON'T HAVE MEDICAID, IT KILLS PEOPLE.

THIS GIVES US ACCESS TO IN-HOME SUPPORT, THE ABILITY TO GET JOBS, THE ABILITY TO BE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IF FUNDING IS CUT, THAT MEANS WE CAN NO LONGER BE IN THE COMMUNITY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS SO.

WE DIE, WE GO BACK TO INSTITUTIONS.

>> Reporter: THE PERSON AT THE FRONT DESK AT THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE TOLD THE GROUP HE AND HIS STAFF WERE NOT IN THE OFFICE TO SPEAK WITH THEM.

KPBS CONTACTED ISSA'S OFFICE AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE BY OUR DEADLINE.

MELISSA MAE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL SOON BEGIN THE PROCESS OF ELECTING A NEW POPE.

JACOB SPOKE WITH LOCAL CATHOLICS ABOUT POPE FRANCIS AND HOW HE'LL BE REMEMBERED IN SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: ON A DAY OF GREAT MOURNING FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO CAME TOGETHER AND DID WHAT POPE FRANCIS OFTEN PREACHED, HELPING THOSE ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY.

>> HIS PASSING, THIS IS BITTERSWEET FOR US AS CATHOLICS.

BITTERSWEET IN THE SENSE THAT WE MOURN THE LOSS OF HIM, AND YET WE KNOW THAT HE'S EXACTLY WHERE HE WANTS TO BE.

>> Reporter: THEY HELD A SPECIAL EASTER CELEBRATION WHICH OFFERED JOY AND A CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS DESPITE THE NEWS.

>> YOU WORK FOR THE MARGINALIZED.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DID WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE VATICAN WHEN HE WAS ELECTED POPE IN 2013 WAS TO MAKE SURE THE HOMELESS AROUND THE VATICAN, THEY WERE CARING FOR THE HOMELESS AROUND THE VATICAN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> I FEEL THE POPE AND FATHER JOE RIGHT HERE.

THEIR SPIRITS ARE HERE.

THEIR COMPASSION.

THEIR CARING FOR PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: KATHY McKINLEY IS PART OF THE LADY'S GUILD WHO VOLUNTEERED AT THE EVENT.

SHE'S A LIFELONG CATHOLIC AND HAS BEEN A VOLUNTEER WITH FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES FOR 20 YEARS.

McKINLEY FEELS BLESSED TO HAVE POPE FRANCIS LEAD THE CHURCH AS LONG AS HE DID AND NOTED THAT HE DIED THE DAY AFTER CELEBRATING EASTER.

>> I WAS -- I WAS, PERHAPS, GRATEFUL FOR THE TIMING, BECAUSE WHAT BETTER DAY THAN AFTER THE RESURRECTION?

>> Reporter: A FEW MILES AWAY, ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE MICHAEL FALM SAYS THE POPE'S DEATH IS A GREAT SADNESS FOR HIM AND CATHOLICS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> POPE FRANCIS, OUR HOLY FATHER, HAD APPOINTED ME TO BECOME AN AUXILIARY BISHOP, SO IT'S SENTIMENTAL FOR ME LEARNING HE PASSED AWAY.

>> Reporter: HE HOPES POPE FRANCIS' LEGACY, GIVING A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS, LIVES ON.

>> AND THEN HE TALKED ABOUT OR CARED ABOUT THE PRISONERS WHO HE WOULD GO THERE AND WASH THE FEETS OF UNHOLY THURSDAY.

HE -- MINDFUL OF THE MARGINS, LIKE THE IMMIGRANTS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF WELCOMING.

>> Reporter: POPE FRANCIS ALSO POINTED SAN DIEGO'S FIRST EVER CARDINAL, ROBERT McILROY, APPOINTED ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON, D.C. McILROY WILL BE PART OF THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT A NEW POPE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

JACOB, KPBS NEWS.

>> YOU CAN GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES AS A NEWSLETTER.

SIGN UPS A KPBS.ORG.

HERE ARE SOME FROM THIS WEEK.

PROJECT 2025 LANDS IN SAN DIEGO IN A FIVE-PART PUBLIC MATTER SERIES, WE REPORT ON WHAT'S CHANGING AND WHAT'S AT RISK.

LAWSUITS IN TEXAS, NOW THE BORDER PATROL MIGHT BRING THEM TO CALIFORNIA.

AND HOW THE NEW SAN DIEGO COUNTY PROPOSAL FOR A TAX INCREASE WOULD WORK.

>>> APRIL 30th IS UNESCO'S INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY.

WHILE SAN DIEGO ISN'T HOSTING OFFICIAL EVENT THIS IS YEAR, JUST ACROSS THE BORDER, TIJUANA IS KEEPING THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ ALIVE WITH ROOTS DEEPER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

VIDEO JOURNALIST MATTHEW BOHLER TAKES US THERE.

>> Reporter: JAZZ, A UNIQUELY AMERICAN ART FORM.

>> DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE BORN OR THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN OR HOW YOU WORSHIP.

THROUGH OUR INSTRUMENTS AND SONGS, MUSICIANS OF ALL AGES TELL STORIES BURSTING WITH PASSION ABOUT EVERY CONCEIVABLE SUBJECT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS JAZZ LEND HERBIE HANCOCK AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE FIRST JAZZ DAY.

THE NOW 85-YEAR-OLD MAESTRO LED THE CHARGE TO CREATE JAZZ DAY WITH UNESCO.

MUSICIANS AND FANS WORLDWIDE HAVE CELEBRATED JAZZ EVERY APRIL 30th FOR 13 YEARS, BUT IN OUR REGION, YOU'LL HAVE TO HEAD SOUTH TO TIJUANA TO PARTICIPATE.

THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY EVENTS IN SAN DIEGO.

BUT THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE TIJUANA HAS ITS OWN RHYTHM.

AND DEEP CONNECTION TO JAZZ.

>> WE CAN SEE HERBIE HANCOCK, WE CAN SEE WAYNE SHORTER, TONY WILLIAMS, AND B. PLUMMER.

>> Reporter: JAZZ ROYALTY IN TIJUANA IN 1966.

ARTURO ARRIZON, A SELF-APPOINTED TIJUANA HISTORIAN, SHOWS OFF HIS TOME, A BOOK HE SELF-PUBLISHED CALLED TIJUANA, CIEN ANOS DE MUSICA.

TIJUANA'S CONNECTION TO JAZZ DOESN'T START THERE, FOR THAT YOU HAVE TO GO BACK MORE THAN A CENTURY TO THE EARLY DAYS OF JAZZ ITSELF.

FERDINAND JOSEPH LaMOTHE, BETTER KNOWN AS JELLY ROLL MORTON, WORKED IN TIJUANA FROM 1917 TO 1922, ACCORDING TO ARRIZON, AT A BAR CALLED THE KANSAS CITY BAR WHERE HE'S THOUGHT TO HAVE COMPOSED HIS HIT KANSAS CITY STOMP.

>> HERE'S JELLY ROLL MORTON'S VISA TO WORK IN MEXICO.

>> Reporter: DECADES LATER, ANOTHER ICON FOUND INSPIRATION IN TIJUANA, ARRIZON SAYS WORLD FAMOUS COMPOSER AND BASSIST CHARLES MINGUS WAS GOING THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES AND SPENT A MONTH IN THE MEXICAN CITY, THE CITY INSPIRED HIM.

>> AND HE SPENT A FULL MONTH IN TIJUANA GETTING DRUNK.

I'M TELLING YOU, NOT ONLY -- BUT HE LISTENED TO THE MARIACHI BANDS, AND HE LISTENED TO THE BANDS IN OTHER PLACES.

AND HE RECORDED SONGS LIKE ISABEL AT THE TABLE.

THE MARIACHIS.

AND THE GIFT, IN SPANISH, LOS REGALOS.

AND THEN HE SAYS THAT'S THE BEST RECORD HE'S EVER MADE.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER TIJUANA BASSIST MAKING WAVES, MARCO RENTERIA PLAYS BASS IN THE WORLD FAMOUS ROCK BAND.

BUT HE LOVES JAZZ TOO.

RENTERIA IS HUMBLED WHEN ANYONE CALLS HIM A JAZZ MUSICIAN.

>> FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO CALL MYSELF A JAZZ PLAYER, I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO LIKE LIVE IN NEW YORK, AND YOU KNOW, LIKE PLAY ANY STANDARD IN ANY KEY, ANY TIME, ANY METER.

THAT'S THE LEVEL THERE.

>> Reporter: HE'S PLAYING FOR INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY.

>> LET THIS BE A TRIBUTE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DREAM.

>> Reporter: THAT'S NATALIA VELASQUEZ, HEAD OF THE JAZZ SOCIETY.

SHE ORGANIZED THE CONCERTS, JAM SESSION, AND MASTER CLASSES TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GENRE AND CITY SHE LOVES.

>> IT'S SUCH A GOOD AND REWARDING THING FOR MYSELF TO BE ABLE TO SAY I LOVE MY JOB.

>> Reporter: RENTERIA SAYS TIJUANA IS FULL OF BRILLIANT MUSICIANS READY TO SOAK UP NEW MUSIC.

>> THE PEOPLE HERE IS HUNGRY TO LISTEN TO DIFFERENT MUSIC, YOU KNOW.

THEY'RE REALLY RESPECTFUL.

I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY TALENTED.

>> Reporter: IF YOU CAN'T CROSS THE BORDER BUT STILL WANT TO ENJOY JAZZ DAY IN TIJUANA, THE APRIL 26th CONCERT WILL BE LIVESTREAMED ON OJAZZ.TV.

WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE CROWD OR WATCHING FROM HOME, INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY IS A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE MUSIC THAT CROSSES BORDERS AND BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

MATTHEW BOHLER, KPBS NEWS.

>> FOR MORE ARTS COVERAGE, STREAM OUR NEWEST PODCAST.

IT'S CALLED THE FINEST, AND IT'S HOSTED BY ART REPORTER JULIA DIXON EVANS.

YOU CAN LISTEN AT KPBS.ORG/THEFINEST OR LISTEN WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

>>> THE CITY OF ESCONDIDO'S PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL RELOCATE AS PART OF A MAJOR UPGRADE.

JACOB TELLS US ABOUT THE LIBRARY'S TEMPORARY HOME.

>> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF PAPER AND A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE SIT WITHIN THE 45-YEAR-OLD ESCONDIDO PUBLIC LIBRARY, BUT APRIL 26th IS THE LAST DAY OPEN FOR A WHILE.

BEFORE IT CLOSES FOR SOME SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS FOR ROOF LEAKS, HVAC SYSTEM FAILURE, AND AN AGING INTERIOR, SAYS LIBRARY DIRECTOR RINO LANDA.

>> THE MAIN CHANGES WILL BE TO RESTROOMS FOR ADA COMPLIANCE, NEW LIGHTING, SO WE'LL BRIGHTEN UP THE SPACE.

WE'RE GOING TO RECONFIGURE SOME OF THE AREAS ON THIS FIRST FLOOR TO MAKE IT MORE PEOPLE FRIENDLY.

INSTEAD OF GIGANTIC BOOK STACKS, WE'LL HAVE SHORTER ONES.

>> Reporter: WHILE THERE WILL BE LIMITED SERVICES AT THE PIONEER ROOM FOR THE NEXT MONTH, IN LATE MAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO RE-OPEN.

ON A TEMPORARY BASIS IN A SPACE THAT'S RATHER UNCONVENTIONAL.

THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE NORTH COUNTY MALL.

>> SO WE HAVE PROBABLY CLOSER TO 150,000 ITEMS THAT'LL BE MOVED.

>> Reporter: DECADE LONG LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS GEORGIA CHONKO AND AMY BROWN SAY THEY NEED BOOK DONATIONS TO CONTINUE AT THE MALL TO FUND THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS.

BUT THEY SAY THE BENEFITS OF THE LIBRARY UPGRADES OUTWEIGH THE INCONVENIENCES OF THE MOVE.

>> WELL, IT'S BE BIGGER AND BETTER AND MORE CLIMATE CONTROLLED, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> Reporter: SO FOR NOW IT'S A TWO FOR ONE DEAL, IF YOU WANT, GO SHOPPING AND BORROW A LIBRARY BOOK ALL IN THE SAME PLACE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO OFFER AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME SHRINKAGE BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING FROM ABOUT A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING DOWN TO 15,000 SQUARE FEET SPLIT ACROSS TWO PRIMARY LOCATIONS AND STAFF SUPPORT AREAS AROUND THE STOREFRONTS.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT IS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY A $10 MILLION STATE GRANT.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGH SPRING 2026.

AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING THAT GOT MOVED TO THE MALL WILL BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE NEW AND IMPROVED ESCONDIDO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

JACOB, KPBS NEWS.

>>> GROWING CASH CROPS IN THE U.S. MEANS USING FERTILIZER AND ACCEPTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE THAT COMES WITH IT.

NOW SOME RESEARCH AT SAN DIEGO SALK INSTITUTE SHOWS A WAY TO HELP PLANTS CONSUME NUTRIENTS ALREADY IN THE SOIL.

KPBS REPORTER THOMAS FUDGE HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: FERTILIZER ON FARM FIELDS DOESN'T ALL STAY THERE.

A LOT OF IT IS WASHED INTO STREAMS, BAYS, AND THE OCEAN, CAUSING ALGAE GROWTH, BLOCKING SUNLIGHT, AND STEALING OXYGEN FROM AQUATIC CREATURES.

CAN SCIENCE PROVIDE A SOLUTION?

HERE AT THE SALK INSTITUTE RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE FARM PLANTS LESS DEPENDENT ON FERTILIZER.

THE KEY IS AN ACTIVATING MOLECULE FOUND IN PLANTS THAT CREATES A SYMBIOTIC BOND BETWEEN PLANTS AND A SOIL FUNGUS.

THE FUNGUS BECOMES EMBEDDED IN THE PLANT'S ROOTS AND DELIVERS SOIL NUTRIENTS TO THE PLANT IN EXCHANGE FOR CARBON THAT THE PLANT PULLS OUT OF THE AIR.

PLANT BIOLOGIST LANA MUELLER SAYS -- BY ADDING IT TO THE SOIL WHERE IT'S ABSORBED INTO THE ROOTS.

>> AND WE FOUND THAT THIS MOLECULE, WHEN WE APPLY IT, FOR EXAMPLE, IT AMPLIFIES THE SYMBIOSIS.

SO ROOTS BECOME A LOT MORE COLONIZED BY THE FUNGUS WHEN THAT MOLECULE IS ADDED.

>> Reporter: PLANT ROOTS DERIVE NUTRIENTS FROM THE SOIL ALL BY THEMSELVES, OF COURSE, BUT THE FUNGUS DOES IT A LOT BETTER.

MUELLER AND HER SALK RESEARCH TEAM HAVE DONE THEIR EXPERIMENTS WITH A LEGUME THAT'S SIMILAR TO A SOY BEAN PLANT.

>> THIS IS OUR LITTLE LEGUME THAT WE WORK WITH, AND IT LOOKS VERY SAD HERE BECAUSE WE DON'T GIVE IT A LOT OF NUTRIENTS BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO ATTRACT THE FUNGUS.

>> Reporter: ONCE THAT INTERACTION TAKES PLACE, THE PLANT BECOMES A LOT LESS SAD.

THEY FOUND THEIR LEAVES CONTAIN 200% MORE OF THE NUTRIENT PHOSPHATE.

MUELLER SAYS 38% OF PLANTS CAN PERFORM THIS INTERACTION WITH FUNGUS THAT BOOST PLANT NUTRITION.

THESE INCLUDE -- THE MOLECULE SHE IDENTIFIED COULD BE INCREASED IN THOSE VARIETIES OF CROPS.

>> WE COULD TEST IF OUR ALREADY EXISTING VARIETIES THAT HAVE BEEN BRED FOR YIELD, IF THEY WOULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE OR IF THAT MOLECULE WOULD WORK ON THEM.

AND THAT WOULD BE REALLY EXCITING.

>> Reporter: COULD FUNGAL SYMBIOSIS ACTUALLY ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR FERTILIZER?

MUELLER SAYS PROBABLY NOT, BUT JUST REDUCING FERTILIZER USE WOULD BE A STRONG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROZE FEDERAL FUNDING TO SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE DEI.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER KATIE TELLS US ABOUT THE UPGRADES TO SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE'S PLANETARIUM MADE POSSIBLE BY FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LATINO STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: SINCE 2014, SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE HAD ASTRONOMY CLASSES IN A PLANETARIUM.

>> I THINK I REALLY LIKE THE EXPERIENCE IN THE PLANETARIUM.

I WOULD SAY IT'S THE PART OF MY DAY THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO ON MY TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.

>> Reporter: PROFESSORS LOOK FORWARD TO IT TOO.

>> HAVING TAUGHT ASTRONOMY IN A PLANETARIUM AND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS WITHOUT ONE BEFOREHAND, I CAN'T IMAGINE GOING BACK TO NOT HAVING A PLANETARIUM ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: LISA WILL IS A PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY PROFESSOR.

SHE TAUGHT THE FIRST ASTRONOMY CLASS TO USE THE COLLEGE'S PLANETARIUM IN SPRING 2014.

>> WHAT I REMEMBER MOST FROM THAT DAY IS A STUDENT SAID, IT'S GOOD TO SEE CITY COLLEGE GETTING WHAT IT DESERVES.

AND I THINK WHAT THAT STUDENT REALLY MEANT IS IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE CITY COLLEGE STUDENTS FINALLY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE.

THEY DESERVE THE BEST EQUIPMENT.

THEY DESERVE A ROOM THAT EXCITES THEM, THAT MAKES THEM WANT TO COME TO CLASS.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN A DECADE LATER, IT'S NO LONGER THE BEST EQUIPMENT.

>> ONE OF THE PROJECTORS TAKES ABOUT 25 MINUTES TO WARM UP AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER PROJECTOR WHICH IS STILL WORKING FINE, BUT THEY DON'T MANUFACTURER THESE ANYMORE.

YOU WANT TO HAVE MATCHING PROJECTORS IN A PLANETARIUM SYSTEM.

AND SO IT'S STILL WORKING, BUT EVERY TIME I BOOT IT UP, I'M KIND OF WORRIED THAT THIS WILL BE THE DAY THAT IT DOESN'T.

>> Reporter: WILL KNOWS JUST HOW GOOD THE PLANETARIUM COULD BE.

SHE'S ALSO THE FLEET SCIENCE CENTER'S RESIDENT ASTRONOMER.

THERE SHE CAN EASILY ACCESS DATA FROM AGENCIES AROUND THE WORLD, LIKE NASA AND THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY.

NEW SOFTWARE WOULD ALSO ALLOW HER TO SHOW CONSTELLATIONS FROM OTHER CULTURES, LIKE THE KUMAI.

>> THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL STORIES TO TELL ACROSS DIFFERENT CULTURES.

WHEN I SHOW THEM THE CONSTELLATIONS, I TRY TO INCLUDE THAT.

THE CONSTELLATIONS WE'RE SHOWING HAVE THE 88 STORIES THAT BASICALLY ARE CONNECTED TO THE CONSTELLATIONS THAT PROFESSIONAL ASTRONOMERS USE.

>> Reporter: THAT KIND OF CULTURAL RELEVANCE IS SOMETHING CITY COLLEGE HAS BEEN WORKING TO INCORPORATE THROUGHOUT ITS CLASSES.

ADMINISTRATORS REALIZED THE OUTDATED SOFTWARE LIMITED THOSE EFFORTS, SO THEY GOT PERMISSION FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SPEND SOME GRANT FUNDING FOCUSED ON LATINO AND LOW-INCOME STUDENTS IN S.T.E.M.

ON THE PLANETARIUM.

SCHOOL LEADERS SAY IMPROVING THE PLANETARIUM ALIGNS WITH THE MISSION TO MAKE SCIENCE MORE ACCESSIBLE.

>> WELL, THE REALITY IS THAT A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO INTO THE FIELD OR LIKE DO FIELD TRIPS.

EVER SINCE THE K THROUGH 12 SYSTEM.

NOT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS HAD THE SAME ACCESS.

WE ARE LUCKY THAT OUR FACULTY AND DEAN HAD AMBITION TO PROVIDE LEARNING WITHOUT LEAVING CAMPUS.

>> Reporter: IN FEBRUARY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTE TODAY SPEND MORE THAN $400,000 FROM THAT FEDERAL GRANT ON PLANETARIUM.

THE AGENDA ITEM SAID THEY SHOULD SPEND THE FUNDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SINCE FEDERAL FUNDS SUPPORTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES COULD BE FROZEN.

THE FUNDING FOR THE UPGRADES IS SECURE.

>> FOR OUR PARTICULAR GRANT, AGAIN, IT'S MEANT TO SUPPORT LOW INCOME AND HISPANIC OR LATINO STUDENTS.

AND THIS HASN'T BEEN -- WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT SAYS THAT THAT MISSION IS GOING TO CHANGE.

SO LIKE WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO CONTINUE THE WORK AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT.

>> Reporter: WILL SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT PUBLIC RESOURCES LIKE THE PLANETARIUM.

>> I THINK SOMETIMES THE GENERAL PUBLIC HEARS OF THESE DATA SETS OR THESE MISSIONS AND THEY DON'T FEEL A CONNECTION TO THEM.

BUT THEY ARE OWED THE RIGHT TO WITNESS THEM.

THEY'RE OWED THE RIGHT TO SEE THAT DATA, BECAUSE THEY PAID FOR IT AND IT'S THEIRS.

>> Reporter: THE FIFTH AND FINAL YEAR OF THE GRANT BEGINS IN OCTOBER.

SHE DOESN'T EXPECT THAT FUNDING TO BE PULLED AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE PARAMETERS APPROVED IN 2021.

IT'S HELPED CITY COLLEGE EXPAND S.T.E.M.

TUTORING, COUNSELING SERVICES, FACULTY DEVELOPMENT, AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.

>> AND THEY ARE TRANSFERRING TO FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS.

THEY ARE BEING RECOGNIZED IN NATIONAL CONFERENCES.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THE TYPE OF WORK REGARDLESS OF WHO FUNDS IT.

>> Reporter: THE NEW PLANETARIUM EQUIPMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE INSTALLED IN THE FALL.

KATIE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

INDEED, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS.

THAT FAMOUS QUOTE IS FROM ANTHROPOLOGIST MARGARET MEAD.

JOHN CARROLL TELLS US ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE DOING JUST THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I LIVE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE, AND I'M A GRAPHIC DESIGNER.

>> Reporter: YOU COULD ALSO CALL OCEAN BEACH RESIDENT AARON KNOLL A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, AT LEAST AS OF 2018.

>> ESPECIALLY OVER THE SUMMER, I WOULD SEE LOTS OF TOURIST TRASH ACCUMULATING HERE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE LIVE AT THE BEACH.

>> Reporter: SO KNOLL DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LITTER.

HE SAT DOWN AT HIS COMPUTER AND PUT HIS GRAPHIC DESIGN SKILLS TO WORK.

>> THIS MAP OF THE TOWN AND PUT MY ADOPTION OF MY STREET ON THERE.

I SAID, WHO ELSE WANTS TO JOIN ME?

TOOK TWO OR THREE MONTHS AND, OUR WHOLE TOWN WAS TURNED GREEN.

ADOPTED IMMEDIATELY.

>> Reporter: SO STREET STEWARDS WAS BORN.

NEIGHBORS COMING TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH TO PICK UP LITTER.

>> THEN I DISCOVERED STREET STEWARDS RIGHT DURING THE BEGINNING OF COVID IN 2020.

AND I SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED UP IN ESCONDIDO.

>> Reporter: SCOTT HORST IS NOW THE CODIRECTOR OF STREET STEWARDS.

HE'S IN CHARGE OF SETTING UP STREET STEWARD GROUPS.

>> WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL CAPTAINS.

AND CAPTAINS ARE PEOPLE, STREET STEWARDS IN INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES, THAT PROMOTE THE PROGRAM WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> PICKING UP LIT SER A GOOD WAY TO GET OUT THERE, GET SOME EXERCISE, FIND, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR MY COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THAT'S RESIDENT MIKE, HORST RECRUITED HIM TO LEAD THE ESCONDIDO STREET STEWARDS.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AS THEY CLEANED AN EMBANKMENT NEXT TO THE ESCONDIDO BANK TRAIL.

>> WHAT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON IS WE HAVE A PASSION FOR CLEANING UP OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND WHEN WE'RE COMING TOGETHER, FRIENDSHIPS ARE DEFINITELY MADE.

>> ONE THING THE STREET STEWARDS LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THIS IS AN ACTIVITY FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING AGE GROUPS, THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT SO YOUNG, RIGHT DOWN TO THE VERY YOUNG.

>> AND I LIKE HELPING PEOPLE OUT, SO I JUST THOUGHT I COULD TRY.

>> Reporter: AT JUST 8 YEARS OLD, ZETH ESCOBAR IS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE ESCONDIDO GROUP.

>> IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW THAT OUR WORLD'S CLEAN.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE NOW ABOUT 1,000 STREET STEWARDS SPREAD ACROSS TEN COMMUNITIES.

KNOLL AND HORST WANT TO GROW THE GROUP TO WHERE THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS COVERED.

$35,000 IN GRANTS FROM THE COUNTY IS HELPING THEM TO DO THAT.

IT ALLOWED FOR THE CREATION OF AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO TO ADOPT A BLOCK.

THE GREEN AREAS ARE BLOCKS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.

THE YELLOW REPRESENTS AREAS ADOPTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT MIGHT NEED FRESH ATTENTION.

THE LONG-TERM PLAN IS TO TAKE STREET STEWARDS STATEWIDE AND THEN TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND BEYOND.

>> WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS A PHONE APP.

THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED.

AND PHONE APPS ARE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, SAYS HORST, BUT THE STREET STEWARDS ARE ON THEIR WAY.

REMEMBER MARGARET MEAD'S WORDS ABOUT A GROUP OF COMMITTED CITIZENS CHANGING THE WORLD, JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

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

I'M JADE HINDMON, THANKS FOR JOINING US.