WE HAVE A DIFFERENT LOOK WITH A LOOK AT OUR BEST REPORTING AND MOST POPULAR STORIES OF 2024, HOMELESSNESS BEYOND SAN DIEGO.

SEE HOW NATIONAL CITY IS DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM AS SMALLER COMMUNITIES TRY TO FIND THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS, THE RISE IN ASYLUMS SEEKERS IS ANOTHER BIG STORY, HEAR FROM LIFEGUARDS IN SAN DIEGO AND MEXICO WHO ARE RESPONDING TO MORE DROWNINGS NEAR THE BORDER WALL.

KPBS INVESTIGATES THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF LOCAL NEWS AFTER THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE DISCONTINUED SOME OF ITS STAMP -- SPANISH-LANGUAGE CONTENT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOCAL STORIES IS THE EXTREME WEATHER THAT HIT SAN DIEGO IN JANUARY, INTENSE FLOODING.

HEAVILY DAMAGING SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS, WE FOLLOW THE COVERING.

KITTY HEISS AND VISITED TO SEE HOW THE SHOWER BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: IN A CRAMPED KITCHEN, MISS ROSALES COOKS CHICKEN AND PORK, RICE, BEANS, POTATOES, CARROTS, 50 POUNDS OF IT.

GONZALEZ LIVES IN EL CAJON AND BEGAN BRINGING MEALS TO SHELTER WEEKS AFTER THE JANUARY FLOOD DEVASTATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF NATIONAL CITY.

LIKE MANY IN THE COUNTY, SHE WAS REMOVED FROM THE IMPACTS OF THE FLOOD.

>> I KNEW THERE WAS RAIN BUT DID NOT KNOW THE DAMAGE, I DO NOT LIKE TO WATCH THE NEWS.

>> SHE STARTED TO SEE IMAGES OF DESTRUCTION ON FACEBOOK, SHE'S A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE AND COOKS FOR MULTIPLE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SHE RUNS, SHE FELT COMPELLED TO HELP.

>> I STARTED TO PRAY, HOW COULD I BE USED?

>> HER FIRST TRIP BROUGHT NEW REALITY TO THE IMAGES.

>> I CRIED AS SOON AS I GOT THERE BECAUSE I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE DEVASTATION IN THE STREETS.

>> ROSALES CONVEX EVERYTHING SHE'S SEEN BUT FOR HER, A HOT MEAL IS EVERYTHING.

>> I TRIED TO CELEBRATE WITH PEOPLE DURING THE DARKEST TIMES.

FOOD DOES THAT FOR US.

>> MANY SHELTER NONRESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE WORKING KITCHENS, NO STOVES OR SINKS, THEY IMPROVISE WITH PORTABLE COOKTOPS AND MICROWAVES.

>> FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE IN IN BOTH -- LIMBO.

THEY CANNOT PREPARE A HOT MEAL AND STAY AT THE TABLE WITH HER FAMILY.

>> ROSALES KEPT WORKING WITH A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO COOK HOT MEALS FOR THE NEIGHBORS, SHE GOT TO KNOW -- ZARATE , NOW SHE DRIVES TO ZARATE'S HOUSE AND SETS UP THE TABLE FOR NEIGHBORS.

THEY GATHER LIKE FAMILY.

THE DISASTER FEELS MORE RECENT THAN THREE MONTHS AGO, SANDBAG STILL PILE ON THE SIDEWALK.

A LARGE DUMPSTERS SITS IN THE STREET TO SHOW HOW HIGH IT FLOODED ON JANUARY 22nd, THEY POINT SEVERAL FEET UP THE WALL.

>> IT IS HORRIBLE, EVERYTHING WAS DARK.

IT WAS ALL THE TRASH, EVEN IT WAS -- THE ANIMALS THERE, IT WAS LIKE A NIGHTMARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING.

>> HER HOUSE IS MOSTLY EMPTY OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS ALL LOST TO THE FLOOD, THE DONATIONS TO FLOOD SURVIVORS ARE PILED TO THE CARPORT CEILING, PRESIDENT BIDEN DECLARED A DISASTER A MONTH AFTER THE FLOOD.

THERE ARE TWO DAYS LEFT TO APPLY FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE, 42 1/2 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE, REPAIRS, AND PROPERTY LOSS.

THERE IS CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HELPLINE OPERATORS, THEY SAY IT CAN BE HARD FOR SOME OTHER NEIGHBORS TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS.

SHE'S LIVED IN HER HOUSE FOR 25 YEARS, THE STREET IT'S ON CONNECTS TO A FREEWAY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SHE SAYS IT USED TO BE FILLED WITH TRAFFIC AND CHILDREN.

NOW -- >> THIS IS AN EMPTY STREET.

>> MANY FAMILIES LOST THEIR HOMES ENTIRELY, IT'S REALLY SCARY NOT HAVING THOSE MILES HERE ALL AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THE NEW CYCLE HAS MOVED ON, BUT IT'S NOT SO EASY FOR THE REST OF THE RESIDENCE, IT'S A LONG RECOVERY PROCESS, FOR THE FIRST MONTH, IT WAS COVERING THE BASIC NEWS.

THIS IS THE REALITY, YOU HAVE TO FACE YOUR REALITY.

YOU LIVE TO SURVIVE, NOW WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH OURSELVES BUT ALSO WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> THE WATER HAS DRIED BUT SHE SAID IT LEFT BEHIND PTSD, SHE EXPLAINS HOW IT FEELS.

>> IT IS LIKE THE EMOTIONS ARE NUMB WHEN YOU -- HAVE -- AND YOU ARE BARELY WAKING UP, THIS IS HOW WE ARE FEELING IT WE ARE COLORBLIND.

WE CANNOT SEE THE COLORS, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO AND IT'S HARD.

>> SHE ALSO NOTICED HER NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE FOR GOOD.

>> THE BEAUTIFUL THEME OF THIS IS WE BECOME LIKE A FAMILY.

WE ARE HOLDING HANDS AND SAYING WE ARE TOGETHER IN THIS, IT IS SO -- MUCH LOVING TO SEE A SURVIVOR THAT IS COOKING IN THE BACKYARD FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE.

I SHARE WITH YOU AND I SHARE WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

>> SHE SAYS THE TRAGEDY UPENDED THEIR DAILY ROUTINES, BUT SHE SEES A GIFT AND THAT TOO.

>> THE LIVE -- IT GOES LIKE THREE DAYS -- 365 DEGREES DIFFERENT FROM THE WAR, NOW WE VALUE LIFE, WE VALUE MORE THE SENSE OF HOW TO BE ALIVE.

IT IS A GIFT TO BE ALIVE.

>> WITNESSING THOSE LIVES IS THE GIFT THAT VOLUNTEER ROSALES BRINGS TO ZARATE AND HER NEIGHBORS.

>> SHE SAID I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO FORGET ABOUT US, I SAID DON'T WORRY, WE WON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU.

>> SHE'S ONE OF 1000 FLOOD VICTIMS STILL FIGURING OUT HOW TO SURVIVE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> LAST MONTH, THE SUPREME COURT ISSUED A RULING THAT MANY LEGAL EXPERTS BELIEVE ALL EXPAND THE POLICING OF HOMELESSNESS, HOW THAT PLAYS OUT REMAINS TO BE SEEN BUT NOT ALL CITIES ARE CRIMINALIZING ENCAMPMENTS, KPBS SOUTHBAY REPORTER COREY SUZUKI SAYS THAT THEY ARE MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND OFFICIALS SAY IT IS WORKING.

>> HECTOR IS DRIVING DOWN HIGHLAND AVENUE NATIONAL CITY WHEN HE SEES THE TENT.

>> LOOK AT THAT, WE HAVE A TENT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE -- THAT'S NOT GOOD.

>> HE WAS A CASE WORKER ON THE CITY'S HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM, IT'S ON PRIVATE ROB READY RIGHT IN FRONT OF A WELLS FARGO, THEY HAVE TO ASK THEM OWNER -- OWNER TO MOVE IT, HER PARTNER INTERRUPTS.

SHE RECOGNIZES THE TENTS OWNER.

>> WE CAN TALK TO HIM.

>> IT TURNS OUT, IT IS GONZALEZ, SOMEONE THEY TALK TO FOR MONTHS, A CLIENT OF THEIRS.

EVEN THOUGH WILLIAMSON IS HERE TO TELL HIM HE HAS TO MOVE HIS THINGS, GONZALEZ IS HAPPY TO SEE THEM PICK THE TWO OUTREACH WORKERS HAVE BEEN HELPING HIM FOR MONTHS WITH A NEW TENT AND A CAN BEING STOVE TO HEAT UP COFFEE.

>> MY LIFE STARTED GETTING BETTER.

>> NATIONAL CITY HAS BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH A DIFFERENT WAY FOR THE CITY TO REACH OUT FOR HOUSED -- UNHOUSED RESIDENCE, GOING OUT AND TALKING TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WILL FALL TO THE POLICE LIKE IN SAN DIEGO.

OUTREACH IS A VITAL PART OF THE RESPONSE BECAUSE IT IS PROACTIVE AND TRIES TO BRING SERVICES TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE INSTEAD AWAITING THEM TO WALK INTO A SHELTER OR COLLIE HOTLINE, CRITICS HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER POLICE SHOULD BE LEADING THAT WORK.

IAGO IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO.

>> WE ARE RELYING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH CRIMINAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS, THEY ARE NOT -- ADEQUATELY TRAINED TO NECESSARILY PROVIDE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE.

>> STILL, THAT IS THE DEFAULT FOR MANY CITIES BECAUSE OF WORRIES ABOUT DRUG USE AND VIOLENCE.

THAT'S HOW IT USED TO WORK IN NATIONAL CITY, THEY HAD THEIR OWN TEAM OF POLICE OFFICERS AND WOULD REACH OUT TO PEOPLE ON THE STREET, SOMETIMES BUILDING CONNECTIONS BUT THEY ALSO JUGGLED OTHER POLICE WORK AND DID NOT HAVE THE TRAINING, THEY SAID THE APPROACH WAS NOT HELPING PEOPLE GETTING INTO HOUSING, NATIONAL CITY STARTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEY HIRED TWO CASEWORKERS, TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HOMELESSNESS REGION KNOW HOW TO BUILD TRUST, KIANA WILLIAMSON AND HECTOR, THEY CALLED IT THE HOMELESS OUTREACH AND MOBILE ENGAGEMENT UNIT.

>> THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM, THE MORE YOU CAN ASSIST THEM.

>> YOU CANNOT BE AFRAID ABOUT HOW PEOPLE BECAME UNHOUSED.

>> MY POINT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS TO CONNECT IT TO A SERVICE, I DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE HYGIENE KITS, THAT'S NOT OUTRAGE.

THAT IS NOT OUTRAGE, OUTREACH IS ENGAGING IN INDIVIDUAL -- HOLDING OUT HOPE.

>> THEY SPEND THE DAY DRIVING AROUND TALKING TO ANYONE THEY SEE, STOPPING BY DENSE, CHECKING ON FREEWAYS AND KNOCKING ON RV DOORS, THEY HAVE A TRUCK TO GIVE PEOPLE RIDES, THEY HAVE A LOT OF DISCRETION, THERE'S NO QUOTAS TO MEET, THEY WILL SPEND A WHOLE DAY WITH ONE PERSON HELPING THEM GET TO THE DMV TO APPLY FOR A STATE I.D.

FOR EXAMPLE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD STORIES LIKE THIS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF NONPROFIT WORKERS THAT DO THIS OUTREACH BUT WHAT SETS THE HOME TEAM APART IS THAT IT IS A CITY UNIT THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE POLICE BUT STILL HAS RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.

HERE IS HECTOR WAY SO.

>> WE ARE MAKING A MOLD FOR THIS PROGRAM.

THEY WORK THINGS IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US OR BETTER THAN US, GO OUT THERE AND HELP THE CLIENTS.

IN THAT PROGRAM'S FIRST YEAR, HOMELESSNESS DECREASED BY A THIRD AND HAS NOT GONE BACK UP.

THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS CAN REALLY WORK, NATIONAL CITY, IT'S ONLY BEEN ABOUT 10 MONTHS, IT'S ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

>> WE ARE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREET AND CLEAR THE STREETS, WE KNOW EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

THEY ARE ALSO IN A BIT OF THE CROSS ARE OATS, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO PASSED ITS CONTROVERSIAL CAMPING BAN THAT GAVE THEM MORE POWER TO FORCE UNHOUSED RESIDENTS TO MOVE, OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE THEY RECOGNIZE.

CHULA VISTA TO THE SOUTH IS CONSIDERING ITS OWN BAND, THEY ARE CEILING -- FEELING PRESSURE TO DO THE SAME, THAT THIS MIGHT UNDERMINE THE WORK OF THE HOME TEAM.

>> IT WILL HURT THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT OUTREACH WORKERS HAVE MADE WITH THESE PEOPLE -- >> RACHAEL HAYNES IS AN ADVOCATE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, SHE WAS LIVING IN A TENT IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO.

>> IT'S GOING TO COST -- AND ADD MORE TRAUMA.

TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE A VERY DRAMATIC LIFE.

>> THIS SHOWS HOW DECISIONS CAN TRANSFORM WHAT HAPPENS IN ANOTHER, THE DECISION LIKENING CAMPING BAN AND A HOME TEAM.

KPBS NEWS, NATIONAL CITY.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED AN ORDER THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWED THE NUMBER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS, THEY ENDED UP -- 2023 IS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST YEARS FOR MIGRANTS.

GUSTAVO SOLIS SAYS THAT TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT ALONG THE VOTER -- BORDER PUSHES THEM TO CROSS IN DANGEROUS WAYS.

THEY ARE PULLING TO LIFEGUARDS WHO SEE A SPIKE IN DROWNINGS.

>> THE CRASH OF WAVES AND CHILDREN THOSE VISITORS INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE, THERE IS A DIFFERENT STORY, PARTICULARLY THE U.S. MEXICO BORDER WHERE THEY STAKE OUT OVER 200 FEET INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> LUIS HERNANDEZ SAYS THE METAL POST CREATE A PERMANENT RECURRENT THAT PULLS SWIMMERS OUT INTO THE OCEAN.

THESE WATERS ARE UNFORGIVING, NOT LIKE SWIMMING IN A POOL, YOU CAN GRAB ONTO A LEDGE.

>> THE STRETCH OF OCEAN IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TO MIGRANTS TRYING TO SWIM AROUND THE BORDER, TIJUANA LIFEGUARDS HAVE SEEN A RECORD NUMBER OF GUESTS, THERE IS A WHITEBOARD FROM THEIR MAIN TOWER JUST FIRE RESCUES IN 2020, THEN 59 RESIDENTS IN 2022 AND 41 LAST YEAR.

HERNANDEZ SAYS THAT MIGRANTS CROSSING IN ONE OF TWO WAYS, THE FIRST IS TO SWIM AROUND THE BORDER BUT FIGHTING THEM, POWERFUL CURRENT IS EXHAUSTING.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ].

>> THE SECOND -- >> Translator: IS TO WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND THE BEAMS AND USE SHELLFISH AS LEDGES, THOUGH SHELLS ARE VERY SHARP.

LIFEGUARDS OFTEN RESCUE MIGRANTS WITH CUTS THROUGHOUT THEIR BODY.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] MOST RESCUES HAPPEN ON THE SAN DIEGO SIDE OF THE BORDER WHERE -- THEY ARE SWIMMING AGAINST A POWERFUL RECURRENT.

WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS, U.S. LIFEGUARDS RESPOND, THERE IS AHEAD LIFEGUARD IN THE IMPERIAL BEACH.

>> IF WE GET A CALL FROM BORDER CONTROL WATCHING SOMEONE FROM THE VENTS OR SWIMMING AROUND IN DISTRESS.

WE TRY TO RESPOND NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE IT IS IN THE CITY LIMIT, IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE BORDER.

>> THERE ARE MIGRANTS WHO ARE NOT STRONG SWIMMERS, THEY JUMP INTO THE OCEAN WITH ALL THEIR CLOTHES ON AND CARRY BELONGINGS IN THEIR EVERY BACKPACKS.

THAT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GET OFF OF IT.

THE DEFENSE IS DANGEROUS, EVERY SINGLE DAY THE WATER IS POLLUTED.

>> MORE MIGRANTS ARE DROWNING AROUND 2019, AND REPLACE WITH A TALLER ONE.

>> IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE WAY MORE FATALITIES FROM HERE TO THE BORDER THAN WE EVER HAD AND IT'S DUE TO MIGRATION.

>> A NEW STUDY CONFIRMS WHAT LIFEGUARDS ARE SEEING IN THE WATER, PETER LINDHOLM FOUND THAT DROWNINGS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER THE DAM WAS BUILT FROM JUST ONE DROWNING TO THREE IN THE FOUR YEARS AFTER, TO BE CLEAR, THE STUDY DOES NOT ESTABLISH CAUSATION OR TRANSLATE TO THE BORDER WALL.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LIFEGUARDS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS, FOR THE UC HEALTH SYSTEM TO KNOW IF WE HAVE DROWNING RELATED DEATHS COMING IN, THEY NEED TO HANDLE THAT.

>> HE'S A PHD IN MEDICAL STUDENT IN SAN DIEGO BECOMING INTERESTED IN MIGRANT DROWNINGS DURING THEIR ROTATION AND UC SAN DIEGO HILLCREST MEDICAL CENTER WHERE SHE SAW A LOT OF -- INJURIES FROM PEOPLE FALLING, AND WONDERED IF ANYONE TRIED TO SWIM AROUND.

>> WE HAD A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THIS IN A LOCAL CONTEXT, THERE'S OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILLING TO HELP US DO THIS WORK.

>> ALTHOUGH DROWNINGS ARE RELATIVELY NEW, THEY ARE MUCH MORE COMMON IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

>> DROWNING IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH ESPECIALLY AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA, THERE HAS NOT BEEN SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION, I HOPE THE WORK WE DO CAN LAY A FRAMEWORK FOR OTHER RESEARCHERS AND PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THIS.

>> RESEARCHERS CALL THIS A PRELIMINARY STUDY, THEY WOULD LIKE TO AND NOW -- ANALYZE MORE DATA.

>> WE ARE MISSING A LOT OF INFORMATION, AS A SCIENTIST, IT'S INTERESTING TO FIND IF WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THAT INFORMATION.

>> DROWNINGS WILL CONTINUE, THE WORK IS TAKING A TOLL.

>> IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE FROM MEXICO, WE SEE RUSSIA, YEMEN, LOTS OF PEOPLE.

>> SOME STORIES ARE DIFFICULT TO FORGET, LIKE A MIGRANT WHO TRIED TO DIG A HOLE UNDER THE FENCE.

>> HE DUG UNDER AND THEN HE GOT STUCK, THEN THE TIRE -- TIDE WAS COMING IN, HE WAS UNDERWATER EVERY TIME AWAY WOULD COME IN.

>> IS A SUCCESSFUL RESCUE, GUSTAVO SULLY'S, KPBS.

>>> ONE WAY TO KEEP TRACK IS TO SIGN UP FOR KPBS NEWSLETTERS OPTIONS INCLUDING HEADLINES, KPBS ART AND NORTH COUNTY FOCUS, GO TO DO -- THE KPBS NEWSLETTER SECTION AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING FOR THOSE WHO GET THEIR NEWS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, THIS DECISION BY THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE TO CANCEL ITS SPANISH-LANGUAGE WEEKLY.

INVESTIGATED REPORTER -- HEARD FROM THE NEWS INDUSTRY OBSERVERS AND THEY SAY THE MOVE ELIMINATES A VITAL INFORMATION SOURCE FOR THE AREAS SECOND LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP AT A PIVOTAL TIME.

>> Reporter: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, INCREDIBLE BREAKING NEWS TO TELL YOU.

>> AT THEIR BEST, JOURNALISTS GIVE THEIR PEOPLE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DURING EMERGENCIES AS WILDFIRES RIPPED THROUGH EASTERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN OCTOBER OF 2003, THE REPORTER, YOU RAM SOTO DID JUST THAT, HE WAS WORKING FOR THE ANNUAL -- WEEKLY SPANISH-LANGUAGE EDITION AND DROVE TO FIRES TO INTERVIEW FARMWORKERS.

>> IT WAS FULL OF SMOKE, YOU COULD NOT BREATHE AND THEY WERE STILL PICKING TOMATOES AND STRAWBERRIES.

>> IT WAS SOTO WHO TOLD THE WORKERS TO EVACUATE 20 YEARS LATER, HE SAYS HE COULD HAVE NEVER DELIVERED THE CRUCIAL NEWS HAVE THE WEEKLY NOT EXISTED.

SO, HE WAS HEARTBROKEN WHEN HE HEARD THE PAPERS NEW OWNER HAD KILLED THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE EDITION.

THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM LAID OFF THE EDITOR AND TWO REPORTERS, SOTO WORRIES THAT TWO DECADES OF GAINS WILL NOT BE LOST, THEY SERVE THE COUNTY WERE 35% OF PEOPLE ARE LATINO, 150,000 ACROSS THE BORDER WITH MEXICO DAILY.

>> THE DAY BEFORE THIS, THE UNION TRIBUNE COVERAGE OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, LATINO COMMITTEES, BORDER COMMUNITIES ARE VERY CENTERED ON CRIME AND DRUG TRAFFICKING ET CETERA.

WHEN THIS PUBLICATION NO BAND, THEY BROUGHT THEM TO COVER THE ARTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND UPLIFTED PEOPLE BRINGING REAL CHANGE.

>> REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE UNION TRIBUNE REFUSED TO COMMENT, TIM FRANKLIN IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL NEWS INITIATIVE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, HE SAYS THAT HE PUTS THE BOTTOM LINE 1st.

>> HE'S GOING TO JETTISON WHAT IT VIEWS AS ITS MOST COSTLY OR LEAST PROFITABLE PIECES OF ITS OPERATION.

>> THAT'S HARDLY THE OUTLIER, FRANKLIN JUST UPDATED A LARGE MIDFIELD DATABASE ON NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HE SAYS THAT ETHNIC MEDIA TOOK A HUGE HIT DURING THE PANDEMIC, MOM-AND-POP BUSINESSES SHUTTERED.

>> THERE WAS A NUMBER OF ETHNIC MEDIA IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'VE LOST 173 OF THOSE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

OF THE 173 THAT CLOSED, 176 ARE LATINO PUBLICATIONS.

MOST OF THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE IS.

>> THE TIMING COULD NOT BE WORSE FOR PEOPLE WHO DEPENDED ON THE WEEKLY, THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR WITH IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ON THE BALLOT.

>> THEY PREPARED THEIR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACIES.

>> VICE PRESIDENT FOR PRINCE WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION WITH HISPANIC JOURNALISTS SAYS THAT SO MANY COMMUNITIES ARE DOMINANT SPANISH SPEAKERS.

>> LATINOS ARE MORE THAN 19% OF THE POPULATION WE CONTINUE TO GROW, THERE IS A MIGRANT POPULATION THAT IS INCREASINGLY LEANING RESOURCES IN THEIR -- NEEDING RESOURCES IN THEIR LANGUAGE TO NAVIGATE THIS NEW WORLD OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> SHE'S A PUBLISHER FOR SAN DIEGO, MANY BILINGUAL PEOPLE LIKE TO READ THEIR NEWS IN SPANISH.

>> IT'S NOT JUST LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE, AND IMPACT, HOW THEY IMPACT LATINOS.

>> IRAM SOTO, IT'S ALSO ABOUT TRUST.

THE UTES SPANISH-LANGUAGE EDITION GAINED TRUST WITH LATINOS IN 2007 ONE FIRESTORMS RETURNED.

HE REPORTS ON MIGRANTS THAT WERE BURNED TO DEATH.

>> WE FOUND THE BODIES OF PEOPLE BURNED, WE TOLD THE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LOST CROSSING THE BORDER.

THE STORIES BEHIND IT, HOW PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY RALLIED AND PROVIDED RESOURCES TO FIND THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> SOTO SAYS THOSE PIECES TOLD LATINOS THAT THE PAPER CARED ABOUT THEM, HE FEARS THAT'S NO LONGER TRUE.

AMITA SHARMA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> YOU CAN STREAM MORE NEWS ON THE KPBS PAGE, GET NOTIFIED WHEN CONTENT IS POSTED FROM THE NEWSROOM OR OTHER ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING LIKE ON KRAMERS ABOUT SAN DIEGO.

IT'S ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAM KPBS WEEKEND EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00, GIANT PANDAS RETURN TO THE SAN DIEGO ZOO THIS MONTH AFTER FIVE YEARS.

THEY WILL GO ON PUBLIC DISPLAY IN THE COMING WEEKS, PANDAS GET A LOT OF ATTENTION BUT IT'S A MUCH SMALLER ANIMAL THAT ENDED UP STARRING IN ONE OF OUR MOST- WATCHED STORY SO FAR, THOMAS BATSCH SHOWS US WHAT DIVERS ON THE SAN DIEGO COAST FOUND IN THE OCEAN FLOOR.

>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO SERVE IN KAYAK, WHAT'S EXCITING MIGHT BE BELOW THE SURFACE.

>> IT WAS HERE OFF OF LA JOLLA SHORES BEACH ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHERE ANNA WENT FOR A DIVE, HE SAW SOMETHING PRETTY AMAZING.

>> AS WE GOT CLOSER TO THE CANYON, WE STARTED TO DESCENDENT IT WAS JUST A CARTON OF TUNA CRABS, RED AS FAR AS MY DIVE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE.

IT WAS SURREAL.

>> EQUIPPED WITH CAMERA AND LIGHTS, SHE SAW THEM ON ONE END OF THE LOYOLA CANYON, THEY ARE CRABS BUT LOOK MORE LIKE LOBSTERS.

AS FOR WHERE THEY GET THEIR OTHER COMMON NAME, SQUAD LOBSTER.

THE TUNA CRABS ARE A SNEAKY -- TASTY CRAB FOR TUNA OR FOR ROCKFISH.

>> I ACTUALLY DID HIS -- EVENT DOWN IN THE CANYON ON APRIL 21st.

I CAUGHT SOME FOOTAGE OF A ROCK FISH EATING ONE.

>> TUNA CRABS EAT KRILL, THEY DID FIND THAT THEY SOMETIMES EAT EACH OTHER.

SHE SAW A GROUP OF THEM FEASTING ON A SINGLE ONE, THIS ONE FINISHING OFF A FELLOW SQUAD LOBSTER'S CLAW.

THAT WAS KIND OF DARK, SHE SAID.

SEEING TUNA CRABS THIS CLOSE TO SHORE IS NOT UNHEARD OF BUT IT IS REMARKABLE.

SHE REMEMBERS A TIME THAT SHE HONOR RATED -- OPERATED A CAMERA WHERE SHE CLOT -- CAUGHT GLIMPSES.

>> I SAW THESE LOBSTERS THAT LIVE IN THE DEEP-SEA IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS, TO SEE THEM -- THOUSANDS OF THEM WAS PRETTY COOL.

IN THE DEEP-SEA ENVIRONMENT, MAYBE ONE OR TWO AT A TIME.

>> MOST OFTEN FOUND IN SUBCHONDRAL -- SUBTROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS.

WARM WATER CURRENTS THAT COME WITH EL NINO HAVE MOVED A LOT OF THE CREATURES NORTHWOOD.

>> FROM CALIFORNIA, ACCOMPANIED BY WARM WATER THAT HAPPENED 10 YEARS AGO.

THEY LEFT IN THE DEEPER ARMOR.

>> THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE LIKELY HEADED AS THE RECENT EL NINO WIND, SEEING SO MANY TUNA CRABS OF THE LA JOLLA SHORES WAS A SPECIAL MOMENT.

>> IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO DISCOVER SOMETHING, HONESTLY, EVERY DIVE I GO ON.

I FEEL A SENSE OF WONDER EVEN IF WE DO NOT SEE ANYTHING EXTRAORDINARILY UNIQUE, I LOVE THE -- BEING IN THE OCEAN.

>> THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HOPE YOU LIKE THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME.