>> COMING UP, THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR POINT KPBS RECENTLY HOSTED A FORUM AND WILL BRING YOU SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK.

LGBTQ PLUS RESOURCES CAN BE HARD TO FIND IN IMPERIAL VALLEY POINT SEE SOME OF THE NEW CONNECTIONS THAT ARE EMERGING.

>>> IN THE LATEST IN OUR KPBS DIGITAL SERIES, SOCCER LAW FROM TARA.

THIS WEEK IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN THE CROSS-BORDER REGION.

>>> FIVE YEARS AGO THIS WEEK SAN DIEGO WAS SHUTTING DOWN.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CHANGES TO DAILY LIFE AMID A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI DiMARCO SAYS A CRUCIAL QUESTION REMAINS -- HOW PREPARED IS SAN DIEGO FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC?

>> Reporter: THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TESTED THE LIMITS OF SAN DIEGO'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

TODAY IT IS CLAIMED 6653 LIVES.

>> THIS WAS A GENERATIONAL, ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT.

>> Reporter: IN MARCH 2020, DR. JUAN TOVAR WAS WORKING IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL CHULA VISTA.

>> NOTHING THAT WE COULD OF DONE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO PREPARE US 100% FOR ITS.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT WE WERE AS PREPARED AS WE COULD BE.

HOSPITALS HAD TO IMPROVISE FAST.

>> WE STARTED TAKING PATIENTS OUT OF ROOMS THAT WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TREATMENT ROOMS THAT WE HAD TO BECAUSE WE NEEDED THE SPACE.

WE NEEDED EXAMINATION ROOMS OUT OF CUBBIES.

WE TREATED PATIENTS OUTSIDE.

WE SET UP TWO TENDS, WE SET UP A TRAILER POINT >> Reporter: BUT THE STRAIN WASN'T JUST LOGISTICAL.

IT WAS EMOTIONAL.

>> WE SAW PATIENTS FAMILY MEMBERS LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS AT THEIR FAMILY MEMBER DYING.

WE HAD TO HOLD THEIR HANDS AS THEY WERE DYING BECAUSE THEY WERE ALONE.

>> Reporter: THAT TRAUMA LEAD SCRIPTS AND OTHER HOSPITALS TO CREATE YOUR SUPPORT GROUPS TO HELP STAFF HOPE.

TOVAR'S EMERGENCY ROOM COLLEAGUE DR. CUNNINGHAM SAYS UNCERTAINTY IN THE EARLY DAYS MADE THE CRISIS EVEN HARDER.

>> I THINK THE MOST CHALLENGING PART WAS THE UNKNOWN AND THE ANTICIPATION, SO WE START TO PREPARE AS BEST WE COULD, GETTING READY, EXPECTING THAT TIDAL WAVE OF PATIENTS.

>> Reporter: INSTEAD OF A SUDDEN SURGE, CUNNINGHAM SAYS IT WAS MORE OF A SLOW RISING TIDE OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS.

>> WE DIDN'T REALIZE, AS WELL, THE PEOPLE WOULD GET SICK AND STAY SICK FOR WEEKS, AND MOST OF THE TIME A HOSPITAL IS SET UP TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY IN AN ACUTE ILLNESS FOR A FEW DAYS.

>> Reporter: ADDING TO THE PRESSURE, SAN DIEGO HOSPITALS WEREN'T JUST TREATING LOCAL PATIENTS.

>> IN BAJA CALIFORNIA THERE'S OVER 400,000 AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO LIVE THERE, SO A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE CROSS THE BORDER TO SEEK CARE HERE.

>> Reporter: DR. GIZELLA SHARIF IS SCRIPPS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER POINT SHE SAYS THE EXPERIENCE FORCED HOSPITALS TO RETHINK PATIENT FLOW POINT >> SO WE HAVE PERSONALLY SOME BEDS IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES SO IF THERE IS AN INFLUX OF PATIENTS WE HAVE A PLACE TO DISCHARGE PATIENTS TO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE COMING IN THE FRONT DOOR.

IS HOW DO WE GET THEM OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND KEEP THE FLOW GOING.

>> Reporter: PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ARE ALSO WORKING TO CATCH THE NEXT OUTBREAK EARLY.

AT UC SAN DIEGO RESEARCHERS ARE LEADING A FIVE-YEAR CDC BINDING PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS PROJECT, AIMED AT DETECTING NEW VIRUSES BEFORE THEY OVERWHELM HOSPITALS.

MARVA SIEFERT IS LEADING THE STUDY'S CRITICAL COMPONENT.

>> IS IT JUST WHEN PEOPLE ARE SICK ENOUGH TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW US TO KNOW WHAT'S ACTUALLY CIRCULATING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS REAL-TIME DATA COULD HELP DETECT THE VIRUS STRAINS BEFORE THEY SPREAD POINT >> SO THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED WHEN SOMETHING CHANGES WHEN THERE'S A NEW VARIANT OR A NEW STRAIN OF COVID OR FLEW THAT POPS UP.

>> Reporter: SHARIF SAYS THE DATA CAN ALSO HELP HOSPITALS PREDICT SURGES.

>> PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS ARE REALLY HELPFUL, NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE PANDEMIC ITSELF BUT ALSO HELPING US WITH STAFFING MODELS, SO WE ARE ABLE TO STAFF UP WHEN WE NEEDED TO, IN ADVANCE, INSTEAD OF JUST WAITING FOR THE STORM TO HIT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOSPITALS AND THE COUNTY HAS ALSO IMPROVED.

>> WE HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP, CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY THAN WE DID BEFORE, AND YOU KNOW WE CAN CALL IF WE NEED SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: BUT EVEN AS HOSPITALS ARE BETTER PREPARED, THE PERSONAL IMPACT OF THE VIRUS REMAINS A CHALLENGE.

PSYCHIATRIST DR. ALAN LEE IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF LONG COVID.

CONSTANT FATIGUE FORCED HIM TO STOP WORKING.

>> WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND YOU'RE TIRED AND YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCESS TREATMENT, THAT'S HARD ENOUGH.

THAN THIS IS A NEW ILLNESS.

THE STORY IS BEING WRITTEN AS WE GO.

>> Reporter: LEE SAYS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM ISN'T JUST THE ILLNESS.

IT'S THE LACK OF RECOGNITION.

>> BECAUSE WITHOUT AWARENESS, PEOPLE FORGET, AND THEN THERE IS NO FAMILY AND FRIEND SUPPORT, WHICH THESE PATIENTS NEED TO.

THERE'S NO FUNDING, WHICH IS THE FUEL FOR THE RESEARCH AND THE TREATMENT THAT'S NEEDED.

>> Reporter: UNTIL THAT TREATMENT IS FOUND, LEE SAYS HE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY ANYTHING HIS DOCTORS SUGGEST TO MANAGE HIS SYMPTOMS.

BACK AT SCRIPPS CHULA VISTA, DR. JUAN TOVAR IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE COUNTY'S FUTURE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

>> IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE MORE OF A COMMUNITY NOW THAN WE WERE PREVIOUSLY.

IT FEELS TO ME LIKE WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN SAN DIEGO AND WE CAME OUT OF THIS VERY MESSED UP DISEASE STATE, THIS PERIOD, AND NOW WE ARE DOING MUCH BETTER.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS AGREE THAT SAN DIEGO IS IN A BETTER POSITION THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

BUT PREDICTING THE NEXT PANDEMIC REMAINS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

FOR NOW, HOSPITALS AND RESEARCHERS ARE WATCHING POTENTIAL THREATS CLOSELY, HOPING THEIR WORK WILL GIVE US A HEAD START NEXT TIME.

HEIDI DiMARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> BALLOTS ARE OUT FOR THE SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION FOR A NEW COUNTY SUPERVISOR AT DISTRICT ONE.

THAT COVERS MANY COMMUNITIES FROM THE SOUTH BAY TO THE BORDER.

KPBS SOUTHBAY ENGAGEMENT PRODUCER MURRAY ALANNA CASTELLANOS SPOKE WITH VOTERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES.

>> Reporter: HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING STABILITY, THE ARTS, AND PRIORITIZING THE MOST VULNERABLE, THESE ISSUES WERE AT THE FOREFRONT OF A CONVERSATION WITH VOTERS IN DISTRICT 1 THIS MONTH AT THE SHERMAN HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CENTER AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTION.

SEBASTIAN MARTINEZ LIVES IN CHULA VISTA.

HE'S THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR JUST AND MORAL GOVERNANCE AND HAS WORKED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

>> THE BIGGEST ISSUES FOR ME ARE NUMBER ONE, HOW THE MOST VULNERABLE ARE GOING TO BE TREATED.

I WANT TO SEE A SUPERVISOR IN THAT POSITION WHO IS NOT GOING TO CRIMINALIZE THE UNHOUSED.

I'D LIKE TO SEE A SUPERVISOR IN THAT POSITION WHO'S NOT GOING TO BEND TO PRESSURE ON IMMIGRANTS.

>> Reporter: LOCAL ARTIST KIM PHILLIPS P IS THE ART DIRECTOR WITH SOUTHEAST ART TEAM, A GROUP FOCUSED ON CREATING PUBLIC ART IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO.

SHE HOPES THE NEXT SUPERVISOR WILL FOCUS LESS ON THEIR PERSONAL AMBITIONS AND MORE ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> ARTS AND CULTURE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT A LUXURY.

IT IS A NECESSITY.

IT BRINGS JOBS TO OUR DISTRICT.

IT EMPLOYS ARTISTS, AND SO ALL OF THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Reporter: JONATHAN VIRGOS IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIRST JEN SCHOLARS, A NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS YOUTH INCLUDING STUDENTS IN SOUTHBAY SCHOOLS.

BERGEN SHARED HE FEELS DISTRICT ONE CONSTITUENTS HAVE HISTORICALLY FELT UNHEARD AND UNDERESTIMATED.

>> I FEEL LIKE MY QUESTION TO THEM IS WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED, VOICES FROM THOSE IN ALL REGIONS OF THE DISTRICT, NOT JUST ARE HEARD BUT ALSO JUST AT THE HEART OF IT, LIKE HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE ABOUT DISTRICT 1 TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

>> Reporter: SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS AT THE EVENT VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT, EMPHASIZING THAT JUST A FEW VOTES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A SINGLE RACE.

THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS SAYS OVER 370,000 BALLOTS ARE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY TO REGISTER VOTERS IN DISTRICT 1.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTION OR SUBMIT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT IT ON THE KPBS VOTER HUB .

MARIA ALANNA CASTELLANOS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE KPBS VOTER HUB ALSO HAS MORE OF OUR RECENT COVERAGE, EARLIER THIS WEEK WE HEARD FROM THE CANDIDATES, WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT AND ONGOING EFFORT TO REPEAL SOME SANCTUARY PROTECTIONS AS IT RELATES TO IMMIGRATION.

WE LOOK FOR THE LINK TO THE VOTER HUB ON OUR HOMEPAGE, KPBS.ORG.

>>> EAST COUNTY STUDENTS ARE SPEAKING UP ON POTENTIAL JOB CUTS IN THE GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

MATTHEW BOWLER SHOWS US SOME OF THEIR PROTESTS.

>> Reporter: CHANTING AND WAVING HOMEMADE SIGNS, STUDENTS AT ROSEMONT HIGH SCHOOL WALKED OUT OF CLASS, PROTESTING POTENTIAL LAYOFFS IN THE DISTRICT.

>> OUR SCHOOL IS NOT GOING TO STAND FOR ONE.

>> Reporter: THAT'S GROSSMONT HIGH SENIOR MAGGIE KELLY.

SHE'S ONE OF THE STUDENT LEADERS WHO ORGANIZED THIS WALKOUT.

STUDENTS LEFT THE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS AND WALKED NEXT DOOR TO DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS.

THAT'S WHEN I SCHOOL VICE PRINCIPAL TOLD KPBS TO LEAVE BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP STUDENTS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THE MATH.

THERE IS A $2.4 MILLION DEFICIT PROJECTED FOR THE DISTRICT FOR THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR .

EVEN IF EVERY STAFF MEMBER BEING CUT WAS PAID A MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY OF $40,000 A YEAR, THERE WOULD BE MONEY LEFT OVER AFTER CLEARING THE DEFICIT.

IT WOULD BE 61 CUTS.

>> Reporter: THE GROSSMONT UNION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD VOTED 4-1 TO ELIMINATE LIBRARIAN, TEACHER AND OTHER STAFF POSITIONS TO HELP CLOSE A $2.4 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT.

GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST KATIE AGREE SO SAYS THE IMPACT IS SIGNIFICANT.

>> AT GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL THERE ARE TWO COUNSELORS, AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND A LIBRARIAN THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.

THERE ARE SOME NEW TEACHERS, TOO, THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.

AND THEN AT THE DEPARTMENT, THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT, WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 15% OF OUR STAFF FOR THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT, AS WELL.

>> Reporter: ACTING SUPERINTENDENT SANDRA WITZEL WROTE IN A LETTER TO THE BOARD THAT THE BUDGET CUTS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE DISTRICT'S LONG- TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY.

BOY SO WROTE RESERVES ARE A ONE- TIME RESOURCE INTENDED FOR ONE- TIME CHALLENGES.

THIS IS NOT THAT.

THE BOARD IS MEETING AT 6:00 P.M. TONIGHT.

THE DISTRICT IS REQUIRED TO ISSUE FINAL LAYOFF NOTICES BY MAY 15th.

MATTHEW BULLARD, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT'S BEEN A VOLATILE WEEK FOR STOCKS, LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S TARIFFS ON STEEL AND ALUMINUM PRODUCTS IMPORTED TO THE UNITED STATES.

JOHN CARROLL TALKED TO ONE LOCAL CEO ABOUT THE EFFECTS ON HIS BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: THE COMPANY IN CHULA VISTA USES A LOT OF ALUMINUM AND STEEL IN ITS PRODUCTS.

WHEN WE PAID A VISIT LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT AND CEO ERIC BARNES WAS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THE LOOMING TARIFFS.

TODAY HE SAYS THE SITUATION IS WORSE.

>> YES THERE'S BEEN ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THIS TARIFF THAT GOES INTO EFFECT AT THIS .

IN TIME, THAT THERE GOES INTO EFFECT AT ANOTHER .

IN TIME.

IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH AND HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

>> Reporter: HARD TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE BARNES JOB IS NOT TO BE AN EXPERT IN TARIFFS.

>> WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING BETTER AT PROCESSES AND DESIGNING PRODUCTS.

>> Reporter: BUT HE SAYS HE'S WORRIED WE ARE NOW GETTING INTO A SITUATION WHERE THINGS LOCALLY COULD EASILY SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.

>> WHAT STARTED AS PUNITIVE TARIFFS TARGETING SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES IS RAPIDLY GROWING INTO JUST THIS INDISCRIMINATE TRADE WAR WITH THE REST OF THE PLANET.

AND YOU KNOW, AS A COMPANY WITH A GLOBAL FOOT RENT, I'M GETTING HIT ON ALL SIDES.

>> Reporter: THE OVERALL EFFECT OF ALL THE BACK AND FORTH, UNCERTAINTY, SOMETHING BARNES TOLD US LAST WEEK IS HORRIBLE FOR BUSINESS.

>> UNCERTAINTY IS YOU JUST UP THE RISK FACTOR.

I THINK IT PARALYZES GROWTH AND PARALYZES INVESTMENT IF THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

>> Reporter: ONE THING THAT SEEMS CERTAIN AT THIS ., THE TARIFF SITUATION WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO CHANGE, WHICH MEANS WE'LL LIKELY BE CHECKING IN WITH ERIC BARNES AGAIN.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THIS WEEK RORY SUZUKI IS GIVING US A LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.

HERE IS A PORTION OF HIS TWO PART SERIES.

IT FEATURE SOME OF THE ADVOCATES TRYING TO REACH PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: I MEET THE FOUNDERS ON A WARM, WINDY EVENING.

THERE WERE FOUR OF THEM, CLARISSA PADILLA, CLARA ALL OF US, JOE ESPINOZA AND SANDRA MAROTTA.

WE'RE OUTSIDE SOPHIE'S RESTAURANT IN EL CENTRO WHERE THEY ARE GETTING READY TO HOLD THEIR FIRST MEETING OF A NEW GROUP CALLED SOCIAL CLUB.

THEIR GOAL FOR TONIGHT IS TO BRING LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR DINNER AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.

>> THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING SO WE ARE OUT HERE SEEING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

EXCITED, VERY EXCITED.

>> Reporter: QUEER SOCIAL CLUB IS ONE OF TWO NEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE FOUR FOUNDERS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO START.

THEY'RE ALSO WORKING TO START ANOTHER GROUP CALLED QUEER COSMO.

FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PADILLA SAYS THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON CREATING NEW SUPPORTIVE PLACES WHICH THEY FEEL LIKE ARE MISSING IN THE VALLEY.

>> A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE MISSING.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T BEING SERVED AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH QUEER COSTA AND QUEER SOCIAL CLUB IS TO CREATE THE VISIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO UPLIFT AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS HERE IN IMPERIAL COUNTY.

>> Reporter: THESE NEW GROUPS MARK A CHANGE FOR THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.

FOR DECADES THIS REGION, A MOSTLY RURAL FARMING COUNTY, HASN'T BEEN A WELCOMING PLACE FOR LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE.

FOR YEARS THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE DEDICATED ORGANIZATION -- THE IMPERIAL VALLEY LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTER.

>> YOU'D BE HARD-PRESSED IF SOMEONE SAID THEY ARE HAPPY TO BE TRANS IN IMPERIAL COUNTY.

>> Reporter: THE FIRST OPENLY TRANS MAYOR OF CALEXICO, THE COUNTY'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY, IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE LEFT THE VALLEY TO GO TO COLLEGE IN SANTA CRUZ THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO EMBRACE HER GENDER IDENTITY MORE FREELY.

>> THEN I GET TO COLLEGE AND I JUST WANT TO WEAR MAKEUP AND DRESSES AND HEELS AND I FEEL IN THE SAFETY OF MY COLLEAGUES AT UC SANTA CRUZ.

>> Reporter: THE IMPERIAL VALLEY HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT MORE ACCEPTING OF HER TIME.

LGBTQ PLUS CANDIDATES HAVE STARTED WINNING CAMPAIGNS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, INCLUDING ARRANGER, WHO WAS ELECTED IN 2020.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER SHIFT.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY EXPERTS WHO STUDY EXTREMISM SAY THERE IS BEEN A MOVEMENT TO RESTRICT LGBTQ PLUS RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF TRANS PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, DRIVEN BY ANTI- LGBTQ PLUS ACTIVIST, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND FAR RIGHT LEGISLATORS.

ARGIE CRAVENS IS A SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST AT THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER.

>> THESE GROUPS STARTING TO ORGANIZE AROUND THAT ROLE, TO USE TRANS IDENTITY TO WHICH A PART EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE WHEN YOU WHICH A PART COALITIONS THAT STAND FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, THEN YOU LEAVE A VACUUM.

>> Reporter: ACROSS CALIFORNIA REPORTS OF HATE CRIMES AND VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE HAVE RISEN INCLUDING IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.

IN 2020 A TRANS WOMAN NAMED MARILYN CASAREZ WAS FOUND DEAD IN BRAWLEY.

HER FAMILY CALLED IT A HATE CRIME, SPARKING LOCAL PROTESTS.

THAT YEAR WAS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST ON RECORD ACCORDING TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN.

THE VALLEY HAS ALSO SEEN HIGH- PROFILE ACTIONS LIKE WHEN A RECALL CAMPAIGN IN CALEXICO REMOVED ARENA FROM OFFICE LAST YEAR AND WHEN MORE RECENTLY THE IMPERIAL VALLEY LGBTQ CENTER REBRANDED, REMOVING THE LETTERS LGBT FROM ITS NAME.

FOR SOME LIKE URENA, THOSE INCIDENTS HAVE MADE IT HARD TO STAY IN IMPERIAL COUNTY.

THIS PAST NOVEMBER SHE RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL AGAIN BUT AFTER LOSING, THE FORMER MAYOR LEFT CALEXICO AND HAS SINCE MOVED TO SAN DIEGO.

>> AS SOON AS I LOST THE SECOND ELECTION I FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT MY GENDER IDENTITY AND ITS PRESENTATION WAS AN OBSTACLE.

ONE AS AN ACTIVIST KNOWS WHEN THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE SELF-PRESERVATION.

>> Reporter: STILL, URENA AND OTHER ADVOCATES REMAIN HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE VALLEY'S COMMUNITY.

THESE NEW ORGANIZATIONS, QUEER COSTA AND QUEER SOCIAL CLUB ARE STILL IN THE EARLY DAYS BUT THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL SAFER WELCOME IS WHAT THEY HOPE TO CHANGE.

HERE IS PADILLA.

>> THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE IS IN PERSON CONNECTION, IN THE VALLEY CONNECTION, AND NOT JUST OH, WELL YOU CAN GO ON A MESSAGE BOARD.

NO, YOU CAN COME AND BE WITH US AND FIND YOUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL SUPPORT YOU, UPLIFT YOU, HELP YOU LIVE A HAPPY, FULFILLING, THRIVING LIFE HERE IN IMPERIAL COUNTY.

>> Reporter: A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT FIRST QUEER SOCIAL CLUB EVENT, I MEET WITH PADILLA AGAIN TO HEAR HOW IT WENT.

THEY SAY IT WAS ELECTRIFYING.

>> I FELT IT COLLECTIVELY.

YOU KNOW IT WASN'T JUST A LIGHTNING STRIKE FOR ME.

IT WAS A THUNDERSTORM AND EVERYBODY WAS ON FIRE.

EVERYBODY WAS PASSIONATE.

EVERYBODY WAS SAYING HOW CAN I HELP, WHAT CAN I DO, WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE?

>> IT FELT PADILLA SEEMED TO BE SAYING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A PLACE LIKE THIS.

IN EL CENTRO, COREY SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>>> PART ONE OF THIS SERIES IS ABOUT THE REBRANDING OF A SUPPORT CENTER IN IMPERIAL VALLEY THAT'S GENERATED SOME CONTROVERSY.

COREY SUZUKI COVERS IMPERIAL VALLEY IN SOUTH BAY FOR KPBS.

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF HIS CONTENT AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AT SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS NOW ACCEPTING A NEW, MOBILE FORM OF IDENTIFICATION.

MELISSA MAY SHOWS US HOW IT CAN HELP YOU GET SECURITY CHECKPOINTS.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN NOW UPLOAD YOUR REAL I.D.

TO YOUR SMARTPHONE AND USE IT TO GO THROUGH SECURITY AT THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> THE CALVARY DMV WORKED WITH TSA ON THE FEASIBILITY OF HAVING A MOBILE DRIVER'S LICENSE AND IT'S ONE OF 50 15 STATES NATIONWIDE THAT HAVE A MOBILE DRIVER'S LICENSE OFFERED TO ITS RESIDENTS.

>> Reporter: LORI DECKERS IS A TSA SPOKESPERSON.

SHE SAYS THE NEW OPTION EVEN WORKS WITH SMART WATCHES.

>> THE BASIC INFORMATION THAT TSA NEEDS DURING THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS IS TRANSMITTED AND AT THE SAME TIME, A REAL-TIME PHOTO OF THE TRAVELER IS TAKEN BY OUR EQUIPMENT, USING FACIAL MATCHING TECHNOLOGY WE ARE ABLE TO COMPARE THE FACIAL FEATURES OF THE TRAVELER IN FRONT OF US AGAINST THE FACIAL FEATURES ON THE DRIVERS LICENSE.

>> Reporter: AND IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR PHOTO BEING SAVED SOMEWHERE -- >> THOSE PHOTOS ARE NEVER STORED.

IN FACT, THEY ARE DELETED THE NEXT TIME ANOTHER TRAVELER COMES UP TO THE UNIT.

>> Reporter: BANKER SAYS TSA IS NOW USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO VERIFY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

>> IT IS ABLE TO TELL A TSA OFFICER WHAT FLIGHT YOU'RE ON AND YOUR SCREENING STATUS, SO THEY'LL KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE TRAVELER IS ELIGIBLE FOR TSA PRE-CHECK, ALL THROUGH THE STREAMLINED PROCESS.

>> Reporter: BANKER SAYS WITH THESE TECHNOLOGIES, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO SHOW THEIR PHYSICAL I.D.

OR BOARDING PASS.

SHE SAYS THE UNITS CAN DETECT FRAUDULENT OR COUNTERFEIT I.D.S.

>> BECAUSE IDENTITY VERIFICATION IS A CORNERSTONE OF TRANSPORTATION SECURITY, THAT IS OF HUGE VALUE TO US BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE INDIVIDUALS ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE, THAT THEY ARE USING BONA FIDE CREDENTIALS.

>> Reporter: STARTING MAY 7th, AIR TRAVELERS OVER 18 CAN EXPECT DELAYS IF THEY DON'T HAVE A REAL I.D.. U.S.

PASSPORTS, PASSPORT CARDS, CENTURY AND MILITARY I.D.S ARE STILL ACCEPTABLE.

YOU CAN ACCESS THE MOBILE DRIVER'S LICENSE PORTAL IN YOUR APPLE, GOOGLE, OR CALIFORNIA DMV WALLET .

MELISSA MAY, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO FC WILL HAVE ANOTHER HOME GAME THIS WEEKEND AND WILL BEGIN THEIR 2025 SEASON ON THE ROAD.

OUR NEW DIGITAL SERIES, SOCCER ALL OF FROM TARA, TELLS THE STORY OF SOCCER IN SAN DIEGO AND TIJUANA.

THE LATEST EPISODE IS ABOUT TEAMS THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WE SEE TODAY.

HERE IS KPBS REPORTER JACOB AIR .

>> ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I HAVE TO JUGGLE THE BALL IN A GAS STATION BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WHAT SOCCER WAS.

>> Reporter: THIS IS SOCCER ALL OF FRONTERA AND WE ARE DIVING INTO THE GROWTH OF SOCCER CULTURE IN SAN DIEGO AND TIJUANA, FROM THE STREETS TO THE STADIUMS.

TODAY SOCCER IS EVERYWHERE IN THE SAN DIEGO/TIJUANA BORDER REGION.

WE HAVE FOUR TOP-LEVEL PROFESSIONAL TEAMS, PLENTY OF ADULT RECREATIONAL LEAGUES AND YEAR-ROUND YOUTH PROGRAMS.

>> I'VE GOT THE WAVE, I'VE GOT THE NEW TEAM HERE, SAN DIEGO FC HERE.

THAT'S ONE OF THEM ON THE FRONT.

THERE IS ANOTHER ONE ON THE BACK.

>> Reporter: BUT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE AT AND HOW FAR WE'VE COME, WE NEED TO REWIND THE CLOCK BY OVER HALF A CENTURY.

>> WHEN I WAS A KID I WAS ONE OF THE KIDS THAT WAS SCREAMING AND YELLING AT THE STADIUM, BANGING ON THE CHAIRS.

>> Reporter: THE YEAR WAS 1968 AND SAN DIEGO HAD ITS FIRST PROFESSIONAL TEAM.

THEY WERE CALLED THE SAN DIEGO TOUR OHS AND THEY PLAYED AT BALBOA STADIUM.

IT WAS SHORT-LIVED BLISS.

THE CLUB FOLDED AFTER JUST ONE SEASON BUT THE FOUNDATION WAS LAID.

>> THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SPORT OF SOCCER, NOT ONLY DURING THAT TIME BUT EVEN ALL THE WAY INTO THE EARLY '80S.

TEAMS WERE POPPING UP AND TEAMS WERE DISAPPEARING.

>> Reporter: IT TOOK MORE THAN A HALF DECADE, UNTIL 1976, FOR ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL TEAM TO MAKE THE SCENE.

THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE JAWS.

YET AGAIN AFTER 21 SEASON, THE JAWS SUFFERED THE SAME RATE AS THE TOUR OHS BUT THE NEXT ATTEMPT WILL BE THE ONE THAT STUCK.

>> HERE, SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM WITH BOBBY MOORE, GIORGIO CANNOT LEAH, THE ITALIAN FROM ROMA.

>> THIS IS YOU?

>> AND THAT'S ME, YET.

>> Reporter: IN 1978 THE SAN DIEGO SOCCER'S WERE BORN AND UNLIKE THEIR PREDECESSORS, THEY HAD A CHARISMATIC STAR.

>> IS A VERITABLE SCORING MACHINE.

>> Reporter: STARTING AS AN YOUR TEAM PLAYING GAMES AT JACK MURPHY STADIUM, THE FIRST FEW YEARS FOR THE SOCCERS WERE ROUGH BUT A MOVE ENDORSING THE 80s TO SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR THE FRANCHISE AND FOR PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN OUR REGION.

>> WHEN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER WENT AWAY THE ONLY LEAGUE TO PLAY WAS INDOOR.

GREAT LEVEL OF PLAY.

IT WAS LIKE SOCCER INSIDE, CATCH IT IN A BOTTLE.

>> THEY WERE A SELF-PROCLAIMED BLUE-COLLAR TEAM FULL OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS INCLUDING V AND SEVERAL OTHERS WHO HAD DEFECT DID FROM SOVIET BLOC COUNTRIES.

>> AND THE SOCCERS WERE DRAWING 8000, 10,000, 11,000, 15,000 AT SOME .

SO THEY WERE STARTING TO OUTDRAW THE PADRES.

>> Reporter: WITH ART AFICIONADO AS THERE PICASSO, THEY WERE FULL OF CREATIVITY, FLAIR AND EXCITEMENT.

>> DON'T FORGET THE EARLY SOCCER THAT HUGO SANCHEZ AND LEO CUELLAR, THE CAPTAIN OF THE MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM AND HUGO SANCHEZ, PROBABLY ARGUABLY STILL TODAY THE GREATEST SECOND PLAYER OF ALL TIME.

>> THEY DOMINATED THE MULTIPLE NATIONWIDE INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUES, WINNING 10 LEAGUE TITLES IN 11 YEARS.

>> GROWING UP, LIVING IN MESA, THERE WAS ONLY BE SAN DIEGO SOCCERS, THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE.

>> Reporter: IN A TOWN OF OTHERWISE CHAMPION LESS SPORTS TEAMS, THE SOCCERS STOOD OUT AND HELPED TO SPREAD THE CULTURE OF THE SPORT.

>> THE SOCCERS WERE WINNERS AND THE CITY WAS ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING WINNING TEAMS.

>> Reporter: AND EVEN WENT ON TO HAVE THE LONGEST WINNING STREAK IN U.S. PROFESSIONAL SOCCER HISTORY .48 CONSECUTIVE WINS FROM 2010 TO 2013.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> EVEN AFTER ALL THE DECADES, THEY'VE KEPT UP THERE WINNING WAYS AND LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A MASSIVE MOVEMENT IN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SAN DIEGO/TIJUANA BORDER.

>> SUCKER NOW IN SAN DIEGO IS HUGE.

IS CONTINUOUSLY GROWING.

YOU THINK WE ARE BIG NOW, WAIT FIVE MORE YEARS WHEN FC IS WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND WHAT THAT BRINGS TO THE CITY.

>> Reporter: WHILE KEEPING TRUE TO THEIR INTERNATIONAL WORKING- CLASS ORIGINS.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> UP NEXT ON SOCCER ALLAH FRONTERA, PART THREE, THE RISE OF WOMEN'S SOCCER IN OUR CROSS- BORDER REGION.

>>> THE STORY WAS PRODUCED BY JACOB AIR FOR THE SOCCER LAW FRONTERA SERIES.

STAY TUNED FOR THE THIRD EPISODE COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> IN OCEANSIDE A PAINTER IS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES AND DREAMS OF SCIENCE AND HER MUSE .

KPBS ARCH REPORTER JULIA DIXON EVANS SPOKE WITH MARY JUNE ABOUT HER ART .

>> SHE CALLS THEM HER GIRLS.

EACH PAINTING FEATURES A GIRL'S PROFILE SPROUTING WITH MACHINERY, BOTANICAL ELEMENTS, AND SOMETIMES EVEN BUILDINGS.

THESE SURREALIST DETAILS STEM FROM ARTIST MARY JUNE'S VIVID DREAM LIFE AND HAVE SHAPED HER PAINTINGS FOR 20 YEARS.

LAST YEAR JUNE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SLEEP APNEA AND BEGIN USING A CPAP MACHINE BUT THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCE.

>> THE MOMENT I RECEIVED THE CPAP, LIKE A MONTH IN, I LOST ALL OF MY DREAMS.

>> Reporter: WITHOUT DREAMS, JUNE WORRIED THAT HER ART WOULD SUFFER.

>> WHAT DO WE CHOOSE?

DO WE CHOOSE A THING THAT KIND OF IGNITES OUR CREATIVITY OR OUR HEALTH?

>> Reporter: EVENTUALLY SHE FOUND A BALANCE IN HER WAY BACK TO DREAMING, AND HER GIRLS.

HER NEW EXHIBIT INCLUDES PAINTINGS AND LARGE SCALE, SITE- SPECIFIC MURALS WHERE CPAP MACHINES, MASKS, AND TUBES SWIRLED THROUGH EACH SILHOUETTE, A MANIFESTATION OF JUNE'S NEW REALITY.

>> I HATED THIS AT FIRST BUT I AM LOOKING MORE LIKE MY PAINTINGS THEN I REALIZE AND IT MADE ME LOVE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF -- YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF THE NUISANCE OF IT BUT I LOVE IT.

>> Reporter: AND LOSING SLEEP I PAINTED, BY MARY JUNE, IS ON VIEW SATURDAY THROUGH JUNE 15th AT THE OCEANSIDE MUSEUM OF ART.

JULIA DIXON EVANS, KPBS NEWS.

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

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.