STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

COMING UP, THE LIFE OF BILL WALTON, THOSE WHO COVERED THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAMER TALK ABOUT HIS DEEP CONNECTION TO SAN DIEGO.

PAYING CALIFORNIA'S CARETAKERS, THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR ELDERS SAY THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DELAY TO A STATE LAW THAT WOULD BRING THEM MORE MONEY AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH SAN DIEGO SEA LIONS?

SEAWORLD SHOWS US THE WORK IT'S DOING AFTER A SPIKE IN DEATH FOR SEA LION PUPS OFF THE COAST.

WE START WITH THE WORK DONE TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT A MAN WHO DIED IN THE SAN DIEGO BAY NEARLY AIR -- 80 YEARS AGO.

HE'S THE THIRD CALIFORNIAN ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF RACIAL TERROR AND LYNCHINGS.

KATIE HYSON LOOKED INTO HIS LIFE AND DEATH.

>> AROUND 8 P.M. ON SATURDAY APRIL 27th, 1946 ALTON COLLIER BOARDED THE FERRY TO SAN DIEGO.

HE NEVER REACHED THE OTHER SIDE.

HIS BODY WASHED UP ON THE CORONADO SHORE A WEEK LATER.

WHAT HAPPENED DEPENDENT ON WHICH NEWSPAPER YOU READ.

WHITE RUN PAPERS DIDN'T USE THE WORD MAN IN THEIR HEADLINES ABOUT COLLIER BUT , SUSPECT AND KNIFE ASSAILANT.

AND THEIR ACCOUNTS, COLLIER, 26, GOT IN A HEATED ARGUMENT WITH 219-YEAR-OLD AMY MEN AND COLLIER DREW A KNIFE AND SLASHED JOHNSON'S ARM.

GILBERT CONFRONTED COLLIER WITH BOAT HOOKS AND COLLIER LEAPT OVER THE RAILING INTO THE BAY.

THE FERRY CREW DROPPED A LIFE RAFT THEN KEPT GOING, EVEN THOUGH COLLIER SCREAMED FOR HELP AFTER HE HIT THE WATER.

THIS DETAILED BOTHERED CORONADO HISTORIAN KEVIN ASHLEY.

>> WHY WOULD A GUY JUMP IN THE WATER AND DROWNED?

IF HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM WHY WOULD HE JUMP?

>> ASHLEY SEARCHED BLACK RUN NEWSPAPERS AND FOUND A DIFFERENT HEADLINE.

DROWNED MAN VICTIM OF GANG UP ATTACK BY WHITE NAVY MEN.

IN THIS ACCOUNT, WITNESSES SAW SAILORS CALLING COLLIER THE AND WORD , CROWDING HIM TOWARD THE RAILING STRIKING HIM WITH A BOAT HOOK AND COLLIER FALLING OVERBOARD.

>> THE WHITE PRESS BASICALLY FED WHAT I BELIEVED WAS A PREVAILING NARRATIVE OF AFRICAN- AMERICAN MEN AS AGGRESSIVE AND THE BLACK PRESS PER TRADE HIM AS A VICTIM.

>> IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO HIS DEATH, RACE RELATIONS WERE BOILING IN SAN DIEGO.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE PICKETING BUSINESSES THAT WOULD HIRE THEM SO COLLIER'S STORY DIDN'T SURPRISE ASHLEY.

HE BELIEVES THE FAIRIES NAVY PASSENGERS CLOSED RANK.

>> THEY BASICALLY AGREED WHAT WAS THE STORY THEN ONE OF THE GUYS HAD A SO-CALLED/WHICH AT FIRST WAS BETRAYED AS HE LOST SO MUCH BLOOD BUT IT WAS SORT OF A SCRATCH.

>> THE CORNER DECLARED COLLIER'S DEATH A SUICIDE.

COLLIER'S WIFE, GEORGIA, SUED THE FERRY COMPANY.

>> IMAGINE THIS 24-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN WITH A PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION TAKING ON.

>> HER DEPOSITION PAINTED A DIFFERENT PICTURE OF COLLIER.

A CEMENT WORKER AND UNION MAN AT THE HOTEL THE CORONADO.

HE NEVER DRANK, HAD ASTHMA, WORE GLASSES AND IMPORTANTLY -- >> HE DIDN'T OWN A KNIFE, A RAZOR.

>> GEORGIA COLLIER TOLD THE LAWYER HE HAD NO TEMPER WHATSOEVER.

THAT SATURDAY HE GOT UP WORK BEFORE NOON, HELPED HER WITH THE DISHES AND COOKING, SCENTED FLOWERS THEN BOARDED THE FERRY TO PICK UP TAYLOR TROUSERS FOR HIMSELF AND A COAT FOR GEORGIA AT A DOWNTOWN DEPARTMENT STORE.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO DANCING THAT NIGHT.

HE NEVER CAME BACK.

HIS GLASSES WERE LATER FOUND ON THE FERRY DECK, BROKEN.

>> SHE MAINTAINED HE WAS MURDERED.

SHE NEVER GOT HER DAY IN COURT.

EVENTUALLY, THE CASE WAS DROPPED.

>> GEORGIA COLLIER NEVER SAW A DIME.

A WEEK LATER THE FERRY COMPANY SOLD FOR $5.5 MILLION.

THE SAILORS WERE NEVER CHARGED.

ASHLEY'S RESEARCH PROMPTED THE EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE TO DECLARE COLLIER'S DEATH A LYNCHING.

SDSU ANTHROPOLOGY PROFESSOR SETH SAYS SAN DIEGO COULD LEAD A NATIONAL RECKONING WITH THE BROADER DEFINITION OF LYNCHINGS.

>> YOU IMMEDIATELY THINK OF THESE IMAGES FROM THE DEEP SOUTH AND YOU THINK OF HANGINGS, WE IMMEDIATELY LINK THEM.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS.

LYNCHING IS ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

NO REPRESENTATION AND TERRORIZING AN INDIVIDUAL.

>> YVETTE IS A SEND DIEGO GENEALOGIST.

SHE WANTS ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CHANGE HIS DEATH CERTIFICATE.

>> ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF COLLIER'S DEATH LAST YEAR AROUND 8 P.M. MORE AND ACTUALLY BOARDED THE CORONADO FERRY.

>> I WANTED TO SAY I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

MAYBE NOBODY ELSE KNOWS, BUT I KNOW.

>> COLLIER DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE FLOWERS HE PLANTED THAT DAY BLOOM.

ON THE WAVES HE WAS LEFT TO DROWN IN MORE AND ASHLEY SPRINKLED FRESH PETALS.

>> SAY HIS NAME, ALTON COLLIER.

>> A PUBLIC CEREMONY WILL BE HELD THIS SUMMER.

>>> GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM IS PROPOSING TO DELAY A RAISE FOR ABOUT 150,000 DISABILITY CARE WORKERS IN AN EFFORT TO CUT THE STATE BUDGET DEFICIT.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI DiMARCO TELLS US SOME ADVOCATES SAY IT COULD LEAD TO LONGER WAIT TIMES FOR PATIENTS.

>> DOLORES SIMMONS IS AN IN- HOME CAREGIVER AND HAS BEEN CARING FOR LORRAINE FOR FIVE AND HALF HOURS FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.

WE ARE ONLY USING LORRAINE'S FIRST NAME TO PROTECT HER PRIVACY.

>> I COME IN, AND COOK FOR HER AND I ASSIST HER WITH HER MEDICATION, HER COMPANION, I PUT HER TO BED, I CHANGE HER, WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE I DO.

>> SIMMONS SAYS WHAT SHE PROVIDES THOSE BEYOND BASIC NEEDS.

>> WE ARE THERE FOR THEM EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY.

THEIR PAIN IS OUR PAIN.

WE KNOW WHAT THEY GO THERE WE GO THROUGH.

>> SHE'S UPSET GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM IS PROPOSING DELAYING PAY INCREASES FOR DISABILITY CARE WORKERS UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

SHE SAYS SHE NEEDS TO WORK TWO JOBS ABOUT 60 HOURS A WEEK TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

>> 17.71 IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE IN SAN DIEGO.

ON THIS PAY WITH HIGH RENT, FOOD, I HAVE GRANDKIDS I TAKE CARE OF.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> IN 2021 THE STATE PROMISED WAGE INCREASES TO ADDRESS A $1.8 BILLION GAP IN RATES FOR CARE PROVIDERS.

ONLY HALF HAS BEEN FULFILLED.

WORKERS ANTICIPATED ANOTHER RAISE OF 2 TO 4 DOLLARS AN HOUR IN JULY.

HUNDREDS OF ADVOCATES GATHERED LAST WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITAL TO ASK THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO KEEP THEIR PROMISE.

>> THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID A LIVABLE WAGE.

>> THE CEO OF A BETTER LIFE TOGETHER, A SAN DIEGO-BASED AGENCY THAT PROVIDES INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES.

SHE SAYS NEW SUMS PROPOSAL THREATENS AN ALREADY FRAGILE SYSTEM.

>> OUR AGENCY HAS A WAITING LIST WHICH MEANS PEOPLE AREN'T RECEIVING SERVICES BECAUSE WE CAN'T ATTRACT STAFF.

IT'S A SHAME.

>> SHE SAYS THERE'S CURRENTLY 50 PEOPLE ON HER WAITING LIST.

A MAJORITY OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA ARE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> THEY ARE GETTING OLDER.

AT SOME POINT WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THEM.

I THINK ABOUT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND HOW THINGS COULD BE EASIER IF WE COULD PAY MORE.

>> EXPERTS PREDICT A SHORTAGE BETWEEN 600,003.2 MILLION DIRECT CARE WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA BY 2030.

ADVOCATES SAY RISING WAGES AND OTHER SERVICE AND HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES MAKE IT HARDER TO COMPETE FOR WORKERS BUT SIMMONS PLANS TO KEEP ADDING TO HER 30 YEARS OF CAREGIVING.

>> I'M 57.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE FLIPPING NOBODIES HAMBURGERS.

THE MONEY IS THERE, THEY MAKE MORE THAN ME.

I'M STICKING IT OUT BECAUSE I LOVE DOING THE WORK.

>>> A RECENT FIRE AT AN ALL- TIME MESA ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY SHOWS HOW HARD IT CAN BE TO FULLY EXTINGUISH FIRES THAT INVOLVE BATTERIES.

A NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH COUNTY SAYS IT'S WHY THEY OPPOSED A PLANNED BATTERY STORAGE PROJECT IN THEIR AREA.

ALEXANDER HAS MORE OF THEIR CONCERNS.

>> UP AND DOWN COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE AS EVIDENCE BY THE SIGNS EVERYWHERE RESIDENTS HERE ARE UNITED.

>> I FEEL WE ARE THE GUINEA PIGS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THEY WANT TO STOP CIGARILLO PROPOSED ON THE SITE OF A FORMER EQUESTRIAN SCHOOL.

>> I DON'T FEEL SAFE.

MY KIDS DON'T FEEL SAFE EITHER.

>> AMANDA LIVES NEXT TO THE PROPOSED SITE JUST FEET FROM THE DEVELOPMENT.

THE MESA FIRE HIGHLIGHTS A CONCERN.

>> WHEN NEW BATTERIES CATCH ON FIRE, WHICH THEY DO, IT IS A WIN SCENARIO, THERE WILL BE AIR POLLUTION AND WE WILL HAVE TO EVACUATE FROM OUR HOME THAT WE WILL BE BREATHING IN THE TOXIC FUMES FROM THE FIRES.

>> A DEVELOPMENT MANAGER IS THE GLOBAL ENERGY COMPANY THAT WILL OPERATE THE SITE.

HE SAYS FIRE IS RARE AND THE COMPANY TAKES GREAT CARE TO MITIGATE.

>> FIRES ARE ALWAYS A HUGE CONSIDERATION OF OURS AND WE ALWAYS DESIGN OUR PROJECTS TO MITIGATE THAT RISK.

WHAT WE SPECIFICALLY DO ON OUR PROJECTS IS WE TAKE A FOUR STAGE APPROACH.

>> THIS INCLUDES A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM WITHIN EACH BATTERY MODULE TO ISOLATE FIRES AND SMOKE AND HEAT AND GAS DETECTION.

BATTERY TYPICALLY HEAT UP AND OFF GAS HYDROGEN BEFORE CATCHING FIRE BUT THOSE PRECAUTIONS HAVEN'T EASED CONCERNS.

SHE LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED SITE.

>> THIS IS NOT JUST A FIRE.

THIS IS TOXIC FUMES YOU CAN'T BREATHE.

IF YOU BREATHE, IT COULD DAMAGE YOU FOR LIFE.

IT COULD KILL YOU.

>> SHE'S CONCERNED CIGARILLO UPWIND WHICH IS ROUGHLY ONE MILE AWAY.

>> ALL THESE CHEMICALS ARE ALL OVER EVERYTHING.

HOW WAS THAT EVER CLEANED UP?

>> IT'S THIS OVERALL SAFETY RECORD STRONG IN IMPROVING SETTING RESEARCH FOR THE NONPROFIT ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE SHOWING THE RATE OF ACCIDENTS DECREASING.

DESPITE BEING CLOSE TO HOMES, THIS IS A GOOD LOCATION TO SERVE THE ENERGY NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S NEAR THE SUBSTATION AND CAN DIRECTLY FEED INTO IT.

>> WE LOOK AT THE ENERGY DEMAND.

WHAT AREAS ARE PRONE TO SUSCEPTIBLE BROWNOUTS AND BLACKOUTS?

THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF AREAS WE WANT ON THESE PROJECTS.

>> THE SITE HAS ENOUGH ENERGY STORAGE TO POWER 240,000 HOMES FOR FOUR HOURS.

RESIDENTS HERE SAY THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF A BATTERY STORAGE FACILITY TO STOW GREEN ENERGY, THEY DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THIS WEEKEND BRINGS A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE BORDER.

MEXICO IS HOLDING ITS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THIS WEEK, WE MODERATED A BILINGUAL DISCUSSION ON WHAT IS BEING CALLED ONE OF THE BIGGEST ELECTIONS IN MEXICO'S HISTORY.

IN ADDITION TO PRESIDENT, WITHIN 20,000 POSITIONS WILL BE DECIDED BY VOTERS.

IT'S ALL AVAILABLE ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

THE ELECTION IS SUNDAY AND WE WILL HAVE UPDATES AT KPBS.ORG.

THE STORY YOU JUST OFF FROM ALEXANDER NGUYEN ON LITHIUM BATTERIES WAS OUR MOST POPULAR STORY THIS WEEK.

HERE'S SOME OTHERS.

NBA STAR BILL WALTON HAS PASSED AWAY.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON HIS LEGACY IN SAN DIEGO A BIT LATER.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS FOUND GUILTY OF DOZENS OF CRIMINAL CHARGES IN NEW YORK AND SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL ELEVATES THE AIRPORT EXPERIENCE FOR TRAVELERS.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET MORE OF THE MOST POPULAR STORIES FROM KPBS.

>>> CORONADO HAS BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAWS FOR THREE YEARS.

NOW, IT'S CITY COUNCIL HAS SIGNED OFF ON A SERIES OF ZONING UPDATES THAT COULD FINALLY FIX THAT.

COREY SUZUKI SAYS THE CITY MADE IT JUST BEFORE THE STATE'S DEADLINE.

>> A CHURCH, A GROCERY STORE, A POLICE STATION.

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE BUILDINGS THE CORONADO CITY COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO REZONE ALLOWING MORE HOMES TO BE BUILT ON THE SITES IN THE FUTURE.

LAST MONTH THE COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY FOR A NUMBER OF CODE AND ZONING UPDATES THAT COULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR DEVELOPERS TO ADD MORE THAN 900 NEW HOMES TO THE CITY BY THE END OF THE DECADE.

>> THIS ITEM IS ALMOST CERTAINLY THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL LAND-USE ITEM THAT'LL BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE DECADES.

>> CALIFORNIA REQUIRES ALL CITIES AND COUNTIES TO PLAN FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF NEW HOMES.

CORONADO HAS BEEN STARING DOWN THE DEADLINE TO GET THESE CHANGES DONE.

ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO CITY LEADERS OPENLY DEFIED THE STATES REQUIREMENTS.

LAST OCTOBER, CALIFORNIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL TOOK THE CITY THE COURT .

THE JUDGE GAVE CORONADO A DEADLINE, APRIL 16th TO PASS A NEW HOUSING PLAN AND UPDATED ZONING TO MATCH.

LAST MONTH CITY OFFICIALS VOTED TO PASS THAT UPDATED PLAN.

>> NONE OF US WANT TO BE IN BUT I FULLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION BECAUSE IT DOES MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.

>> THE PAST ZONING CHANGES WITH LESS THAN A DAY TO SAY OR.

THESE CHANGES PROBABLY WILL BE ENOUGH TO MEET REQUIREMENTS.

IF THEY APPROVED CORONADO UPDATES THAT COULD BRING THE CITY BACK IN LINE WITH CALIFORNIA HOUSING LAW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS.

THE STATE HAS UNTIL JUNE 11th TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION.

KORI SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ALONG CALIFORNIA'S UNINHABITED COASTAL ISLANDS BIOLOGISTS ARE SEEING SOMETHING THAT HAS THEM CONCERNED.

HUNDREDS OF DEAD SEA LION PUPS NORMALLY THOSE WOULD BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS, JOHN CARROLL SPOKE TO A LOCAL EXPERT ABOUT WHAT COULD BE GOING ON.

>> WE HAVE DISCOVERED SCIENTISTS ARE SAYING STILLBORN OR PREMATURE BIRTHS OF CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS.

>> AS THE CURATOR OF SEAWORLD'S RESCUE PROGRAM JENNY SMITH IS PLUGGED INTO THE NETWORK OF SCIENTISTS AND RESCUE OPERATIONS ALONG THE WEST COAST.

THE POPULATION COUNTS ARE STILL IN PROGRESS WHICH MEANS SCIENTISTS AT THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S LEADING TO THE SPIKE IN PUP DEATHS.

IT COULD BE FEMALES ARE HAVING TO DO MORE WORK TO FIND FOOD.

>> THEY ARE SWIMMING MORE, THEIR BODY CONDITION IS LESS THAN IDEAL FOR HAVING THEIR PUPS.

>> PART OF THE REASON THERE ISN'T YET AN ANSWER OR ANSWERS AS TO WHAT IS BEHIND THE DEBTS IS NOAA SURVEYS HAVE ALL BEEN AERIAL.

A STATEMENT FROM THE AGENCY HEADSET WHAT COULD BE GOING ON.

IT SAYS IN PART PREMATURE BIRTHS ARE NOT UNCOMMON WITH SEA LIONS AND OFTEN BECOME NUMEROUS DURING EL NINO PERIODS WHEN PREGNANT SEA LIONS NEED TO SWIM FARTHER IN SEARCH OF SHIFTING PREY SPECIES.

WHATEVER THE CAUSE, SMITH SAYS THEY ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE SITUATION.

>> WE HAVE A COMMUNICATION MEETING ALL THE TIME WITH STRANDING NETWORKS SO WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OTHER RESCUE FACILITIES.

>> WHILE THE CAUSE ISN'T APPARENT WANTING SMITH CAN SAY FOR SURE AT LEAST FOR NOW IS THEY ARE NOT SEEING AN UPTICK IN RESCUES IN THIS REGION.

SEAWORLD HANDLES RESCUES FROM THE BORDER TO THE ORANGE COUNTY LINE BUT IF THEY DO START TO SEE THE ISSUE HERE SHE SAYS THE READY.

>> WE WILL DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THEM ONCE THEY ARE HERE.

WE WILL WEIGH THEM, WE WILL DETERMINE THEIR LENGTH, WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT THEIR BLOOD GLUCOSE IS, WHETHER TEMPERATURE IS, IF THEY HAVE ANY WOUNDS.

>> SEAWORLD'S MISSION TO HELP ANIMALS IN DISTRESS CAN BE DESCRIBED WITH 3RS, RESCUE, REHABILITATE AND RETURN.

WHEN IT COMES TO RETURNING THAT'S DONE WITH THIS VESSEL, THE SECOND CHANCE.

THIS VIDEO FROM SEAWORLD SHOWS ONE OF THOSE HAPPY MOMENTS ON THIS DAY THE RETURN OF ELEPHANT SEALS.

AS FOR THE CALIFORNIA SEA LION PUPS THE CONCERN IS FAR FROM A PANIC.

THE POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS IS ROBUST.

NOAA SAYS THERE'S 250,000 OF THEM LIVING AND THRIVING ALONG THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> KPBS IS EMBARKING ON A NEW SERIES ABOUT VOLUNTEERS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE TELLING STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO DEVOTE THEIR TIME AND UNEXPECTED WAYS IN THE FIRST INSTALLMENT KATARINA BRINGS US A STORY OF A MAN TEACHING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT TO LOCAL YOUTH.

>> OUR GRADUATION CEREMONY ISN'T IN A CLASSROOM, ISN'T IN A DANCE HALL OR ANYTHING, IT'S HERE ON THE BEACH BECAUSE THIS IS OUR CLASSROOM.

THIS IS WHERE WE FIRST MET THE STUDENTS HERE ON THIS SPEECH TWO YEARS AGO.

IT ONLY FELT APPROPRIATE AND FULL CIRCLE TO COME BACK TO THE SAME BEACH WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO SERVE THE FIRST WAVE.

>> I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> IT'S A TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WE ENROLL ABOUT 30 STUDENTS AND WORK WITH THEM MONTHLY OVER THE PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.

ONCE THEY'RE IN OUR PROGRAM EVERYTHING IS FREE.

FROM THE WETSUITS TO THE SURFBOARDS TO THE EDUCATION TO THE SURF LESSONS.

>> IT STARTED BACK IN 2020.

IT WAS IN REFLECTION OF ESSENTIALLY EVERYTHING SURFING BROUGHT ME FROM COMMUNITY TO CONNECTION ITSELF, THE CONNECTION TO THE OCEAN AND EVEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND RECOGNIZING THERE WAS KIDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY LOOK LIKE ME BUT I WOULD NEVER SEE AT THE BEACH.

I WANTED TO CREATE SOME SORT OF CELEBRATORY DAY THAT WOULD CONNECT THE STUDENTS TO THE OCEAN.

IT DEVELOPED TO BE SO MUCH MORE BECAUSE NOW WE ARE ESSENTIALLY A TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOCUSING ON SURF MODULES, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP.

THERE'S A LOT OF HEALING THAT HAPPENS ON THE COASTLINES.

THERE'S A LOT OF POPULATIONS WHO HAVE HAD SEVERED RELATIONSHIPS WITH IT WHETHER IT BE GEOGRAPHICAL DISPLACEMENT OR NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH IT NOWADAYS.

>> DON'T BE AFRAID.

BRING IT IN.

LET'S GET THE KIDDOS OUT THE WATER.

IT'S ALWAYS THE HARDEST TO DO.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT A SURF BREAK AND WE ARE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE THE CULMINATION OF TWO YEARS IN OUR PROGRAM FOR 15 STUDENTS GRADUATING TODAY.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF OVERCAST GOING ON WHICH IS KIND OF NICE, BUT THE WAVES ARE PRETTY BIG WHICH IS GREAT.

WE HAVE A BIT OF A ROUTINE THAT WE ALWAYS CENTER AROUND.

WE LIKE TO CREATE CULTURE WITH OUR ORGANIZATION.

TODAY WE USUALLY START WITH A GROUNDING CIRCLE WHERE WE GATHER BACKUP, TALK ABOUT INTENTION FOR THE DATE, LAY OUT THE INTENTION FOR THE DAY AND WILL MOVE INTO BREATHING AND YOGA.

THEN BEYOND THAT WE WILL GET TO THE WATER, PLAY IN THE WATER FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, SURF AND AFTER THAT IS WHEN WE DO THE GRADUATION CEREMONY.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT STANDS APART.

WE ARE NOT A SURF CAMP, WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE EXPERIENCE THE FAMILIES ARE GETTING FROM THE KID TO THE PARENTS ALL THE WAY TO THE COUSINS THAT COME TO DROP IN SOMETIMES.

>> I HEARD ABOUT IT THROUGH A FRIEND WHO IS A FRIEND OF MARIO.

WE JOINED BECAUSE AT LEAST FOR ME I'VE ALWAYS HAD A BIT OF A FEAR ABOUT BEING IN THE OCEAN AND SURFING EVEN THOUGH I GREW UP BY THE WATER.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR MY KIDS TO GET A CHANCE TO LEARN HOW TO SURF, TO CONNECT WITH OTHER KIDS, KIND OF THE SIMILAR BACKGROUND.

THE KIDS IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA AND JUST TO GET TO BE IN COMMUNITY.

TO ME, BEING A PERSON OF COLOR AND SOMETIMES FEELING LIKE I DON'T BELONG IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS TO SEE MY KIDS FEEL SO COMFORTABLE WITH THIS GROUP AND HOW WELCOMING THE GROUP IS, IT'S BEEN PROBABLY THE BEST TO OBSERVE.

>> FIRST-TIME SURFING WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF HARD BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SURF.

IT WAS KIND OF HARD TO REACH THE GOAL, BUT THEN I GOT TO IT AND I REACHED IT.

>> GOING IN THE WATER IT'S A VERY CHAOTIC, BUT DEFINITELY WHEN YOU GET THE HANG OF IT IT IS KIND OF CALMING TO JUST RELAX THEIR UNTIL YOUR WAVE COMES AND YOU FEEL CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO GET ON YOUR BOARD AND WRITE A WAVE.

IT'S A FUN EXPERIENCE.

>> I'M EXCITED.

SAD BUT EXCITED.

NOW I KNOW HOW TO SURF BY MYSELF AND WHENEVER I WANT I CAN COME TO THE BEACH AND SURF.

>> LESLIE.

>> FOR ME, GRADUATING WITH THESE KIDS IS SEEING MY YOUNGER BROTHER OR SISTER GRADUATE OR SOMETHING.

WE ARE REALLY CONNECTED AND WE REALLY DO GROW FAMILIAL BONDS WITH THE STUDENTS AND WITH THEIR PARENTS BECAUSE WE GET TO KNOW THEM FOR TWO YEARS.

IT'S A REALLY EMOTIONAL DAY, CELEBRATORY.

I WAS REALLY PROUD OF SEEING ALL THE KIDS STEP ONTO THE PLATE, GET THE GRADUATION CERTIFICATE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SET OFF TO DO IS ESSENTIALLY THE COURAGE YOU FIND WHEN YOU SURF, HAVING THAT TRANSFER OVER INTO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE THROUGH BUILDING COMMUNITY.

>>> THAT STORY WAS PRODUCED BY KATERINA AND CAROLINE.

ALL OF OUR STORIES CAN BE WATCHED ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

IT'S ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAMED KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

>>> SAN DIEGO AND REMEMBER BILL WALTON, AND NBA HALL OF FAMER WHO HAD A PERSONALITY AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT AS BIG AS HIS NEARLY SEVEN FOOT FRAME.

HIS DEATH WAS ANNOUNCED ON MEMORIAL DAY, THOMAS FUDGE SPOKE WITH A SPORTS WRITER AND LONGTIME FRIEND OF WALTON TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HIS LIFE.

>> BILL WALTON DIED OF CANCER MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 71.

HE WON NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH TWO DIFFERENT TEAMS, HE WAS A COLLEGE STAR FOR UCLA IN THE EARLY 70s AND BEFORE THAT LED HELIX HIGH IN LA MESA TO AN UNDEFEATED SEASON.

SAN DIEGO SPORTS WRITER JAY PEREZ SAYS TO WALTON IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE TEAM.

>> HE WAS A REBOUNDER.

THAT'S THE DIRTY WORK FOR YOU AND YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN AND FIGHT AND GO WITH THE ELBOWS AND ANTICIPATE.

ONCE HE GOT THAT REBOUND HE WOULD TURN TO GET THE FAST RATE GOING.

WHO CAN I PASS IT TO?

>> HE MET BILL WALTON IN 1979 AS A STUDENT REPORTER TRYING TO SNAG AN INTERVIEW WITH THE STAR .

HE WAS JUST A KID BUT WALTON WAS KIND AND ENCOURAGING TO HIM AND IT WAS THE START OF A 45 YEAR FRIENDSHIP.

AT THE TIME WALTON WAS ABOUT TO START PLAYING FOR THE SAN DIEGO CLIPPERS.

>> I THINK YOU LOVE SAN DIEGO MORE.

FOR HIM TO COME HOME TO PLAY FOR THE CLIPPERS, TO PLAY IN THE SPORTS ARENA WHICH STILL STANDS TODAY AND HAVE HIS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THERE, IT HAD TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST FEELINGS IN HIS LIFE.

>> J SAYS THE LACK OF SUCCESS OF THE CLIPPERS HE WOULD MOVE TO L.A. WAS A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT TO WALTON.

HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT OPTIMISM.

IT'S HARD TO FIND A PHOTO OF WALTON WHERE HE DIDN'T HAVE A BROAD SMILE ON HIS FACE.

EVEN THOUGH HE SUFFERED WITH YEARS OF PAIN.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BRING HIM DOWN WITH HIS PHYSICAL NATURE.

HIS BODY WAS ALWAYS BREAKING DOWN.

40 PROCEDURES AS HE WOULD CALL IT, 40 OPERATIONS ON YOUR BODY, YOU CAN IMAGINE BOTH YOUR ANKLES ARE FUSED TOGETHER.

THE BACK PAIN WAS SO BAD HE DID CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE.

THOSE WERE HIS WORDS.

>> SURGERY BROUGHT HIM RELIEF FROM THAT PAIN AFTER HIS LIFE AS A PLAYER WALTON BECAME A TV BASKETBALL ANALYST.

FAMOUS FOR OFF-THE-WALL COMMENTS AND FLIGHTS OF IMAGINATION.

HE WANTS A SET OF A PLAYER, JOHN STOCKTON IS ONE OF THE TRUE MARVELS, NOT JUST OF BASKETBALL OR IN AMERICA BUT IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

YESTERDAY WE CELEBRATED SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S DISCOVERY OF GRAVITY, TODAY FABRIZIO OBERTO IS DEFYING IT.

BILL WALTON WAS DEVOTED TO THE GRATEFUL DEAD WHEN HE THINKS OF WALTON HE REMEMBERS A LINE FROM A GRATEFUL DEAD SONG.

>> THERE'S A LINE YOU CAN FIND THE LIGHT IN THE STRANGEST PLACES IF YOU LOOK AT IT JUST RIGHT.

THAT WAS THE GRATEFUL DEAD.

>> THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

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

I'M AMITA SHARMA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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