>>> ♪ ♪ >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM THE KPBS NEWSROOM THIS WEEK.

COMING UP, CHILD CARE FOR LOCAL MILITARY FAMILIES CAN INCLUDE LONG WAIT LISTS COULD SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AT MIRAMAR TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION APPEARS TO KPBS INVESTIGATES CREDIT UNIONS AND THE OVERDRAFT FEES IMPOSED ON CUSTOMERS.

SEE WHERE SOME OF OUR LOCAL CHAINS RANK WHEN IT COMES TO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COLLECTED STATEWIDE.

TWO CLAIMANT CHANGE IS ON THE AGENDA AT THE ANNUAL NET UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE BUT HEAR FROM SOME OF THE SAN DIEGANS WHO ARE TAKING PART.

>>> WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF ANOTHER YEAR AND ANOTHER RECORD FOR INJURIES DUE TO FALLS ON THE BORDER WALL.

WITH THE BALL NEARLY TWICE AS TALL AS IT USED TO BE THE INJURIES KEEP GETTING WORSE.

KPBS BOARD REPORTER GUSTAVO SILLIES TALK TO WHO SAY THE WALL IS CREATING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

>> Reporter: WIN THIS DR. BEGAN HIS RESIDENCY PROGRAM HE DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS.

AFTER ALL, HE SPECIALIZES IN BRAIN SURGERY.

BUT THEN HE COVERED A COUPLE OF SHIFTS IN THE TRAUMA UNIT APPEARS BECAUSE I STARTED NOTICING ALL OF THESE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD INJURIES FROM MIGRANTS COMING IN.

THE REASON IT STUCK WITH ME IS BECAUSE MY PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS, THEY CROSSED THE SAME ORDER.

IT WAS VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

I STARTED LOOKING INTO IT.

>> Reporter: THESE PATIENTS HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN COMMON.

ALL HAD CALLED FROM THE SAN DIEGO SECTION OF THE BORDER WALL.

TENORIO SAW BROKEN BACKS, COLLAPSED LUNGS, AND SEVERE BRAIN TRAUMA AND >> ONCE YOU GET ABOVE 10 FEET YOU START SEEING THESE INJURIES THAT LOOK LIKE HIGH-ENERGY CAR ACCIDENTS.

REMO DUST >> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO IS ON PACE TO RECEIVE MORE THAN 360 BORDER WALL RELATED HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS IN 2023, A NEW RECORD.

IN FACT, THE HOSPITAL HAS SEEN A RECORD NUMBER OF BORDER PATIENTS EVERY YEAR SINCE 2019.

THAT'S WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION INCREASED THE BORDER WALL HEIGHT FROM 17 FEET TO 30 FEET.

AND THE NUMBERS JUST KEEP GOING UP.

>> IN 2018 ONLY LESS THAN A DOZEN PATIENTS FALLING OFF THE WALL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

AND NOW IT'S 340 PLUS A YEAR OR AT LEAST TWO A DAY.

>> Reporter: DR. JADEN IS HEAD OF THE TRAUMA UNIT AT UC SAN DIEGO MEDICAL CENTER IN HILLCREST.

HE HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS EPIDEMIC SINCE THE BEGINNING.

>> BEFORE WE MIGHT SEE IF A FRACTURE OR A LEG FRACTURE.

NOW WE ARE SEEING EVERYTHING.

SEVERE BRAIN INJURIES, CRUSHED CHECKS TO -- CHESTS, PELVIC FRACTURES.

>> >> Reporter: MORE WOMEN ARE BEING HOSPITALIZED FROM BORDER FALLS.

IN 2019 LESS THAN A QUARTER OF ADMISSIONS WERE WOMEN SO FAR IN 2023 ALMOST HALF OF ALL PATIENTS HAVE BEEN WOMEN.

INCLUDING MORE THAN 20 WHO WERE PREGNANT.

THIS IMPACTS THE ENTIRE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

MEETING COST FOR A PATIENT IS ALMOST $300,000.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE COSTS ARE PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS.

MOSTLY THROUGH THE STATES MEDI- CAL SYSTEM.

THESE CASES ALSO REQUIRED HIGHLY TRAINED SPECIALISTS WHO ARE ALREADY OVERBURDENED WITH PATIENTS.

DOUCETTE SAYS PEOPLE NEEDING SPINAL SURGERY ARE PARTICULARLY IMPACTED.

>> THERE ARE VERY FEW SPINE SURGEONS AVAILABLE IN SAN DIEGO.

THE WAITING TIME FOR ALL PATIENTS, NOT JUST BORDER FALL PATIENTS, BUT FOR ANYBODY IN SAN DIEGO WHO HAS A SPINE FRACTURE, THEY ARE NOW WAITING TWICE AS LONG AS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE TO GET THEIR FRACTURES FIXED >> Reporter: BOTH DOCTORS HAVE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM.

TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

TENORIO WAS EVEN AN EXPERT WITNESS FOR CONGRESS AT A HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE HEARING IN JULY.

>> ULTIMATELY, THESE RAISED BORDER WALLS HAVE RESULTED IN A RECORD NUMBER OF TRAUMATIC INJURIES INCREASED SEVERELY AND INCREASED HER INTO THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS FOR >> Reporter: TO SET HAS SPOKEN TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

>> THEY ARE ALL VERY CONCERNED.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE ANY ANSWERS TO ITS PRINTS >> Reporter: HE SAYS TODAY'S POLITICAL CLIMATE PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE.

>> IT'S OBVIOUS TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVES IT'S A RADIOACTIVE ISSUE.

NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE WALL.

THE INCREASE IN INJURIES HAS OCCURRED THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS AND NEITHER OF THEM WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> Reporter: BOTH DOCTORS PLAN TO CONTINUE RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND ADVOCATING FOR SOLUTIONS.

THEY ARE ALREADY COLLABORATING WITH TRAUMA DOCTORS IN TEXAS AND ARIZONA TO GET AN IDEA OF JUST HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS.

GUSTAVO SILLIES, KPBS NEWS.

>> GUSTAVO SILLIES IS ALSO ONE OF OUR GUESTS ON KPBS ROUNDTABLE THIS WEEK'S EPISODE FOCUSES ON NEWS FROM THE BORDER.

YOU CAN STREAM IT ANYTIME AT KPBS.ORG AND WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

CIRCLE A DEADLY SECTION OF WEST POINT LOMA BOULEVARD IN SAN DIEGO IS DUE TO GET A PROTECTANT BY CLAIM THIS YEAR.

BIKE ADVOCATES SAY THOSE PLANS FELL APART DUE TO STATE REGULATORS.

METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN HAS THIS STORY.

>> Reporter: I MEET STEPHANIE VANCE ON WEST POINT LOMA BOULEVARD.

CARS ARE SPEEDING BY COMMITTEE WELL ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES AN HOUR.

YEARS AGO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND CITY OFFICIALS AGREED THAT THIS ROAD NEEDS PROTECTED BIKE LANES.

THE PLAN WAS FOR A SO-CALLED ROAD DIET, PUTTING BIKE LANES BY THE CURB USING STREET PARKING AS PROTECTION AND REMOVING ONE LANE OF TRAVEL IN EACH DIRECTION.

THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE SPEEDING AND SHORTEN THE CROSSING DISTANCE FOR PEDESTRIANS.

THE PROBLEM?

WEST POINT LOMA BOULEVARD IS NEAR THE COAST AND FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION.

THE STATE AGENCY IS TASKED WITH MAINTAINING COASTAL ACCESS ARE THEY TOLD CITY OFFICIALS IF THEY WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LANES EVEN TO IMPROVE SAFETY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO ANALYZE THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS FIRST AND AMEND THEIR LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM.

>> RESURFACING AND RESTRIPING IS A PRETTY SIMPLE THING FOR THE CITY TO DO.

WHEN YOU START THROWING IN THOSE OTHER BUREAUCRATIC PROCESSES THEN BECOMES A-WHOLE- NOTHER BALL GAME AND IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY TO DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

>> Reporter: THE CITY DIDN'T BUDGET THE TIME OR MONEY TO JUMP THROUGH ALL THOSE HOOPS.

RECENTLY RE-STRIPED ROAD TO ITS ORIGINAL DESIGN WITH NO BIKE LANES, JUST ONE MONTH AGO A WOMAN WAS BIKING HERE DRIVER STRUCK HER BEHIND.

RIGHT WHERE THE NEW BIKE LANES WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH A BROKEN PELVIS.

VANCE SAYS THE COASTAL COMMISSION IS PUTTING BUREAUCRACY AHEAD OF COMMON SENSE.

>> LET'S BE REASONABLE ABOUT WHAT WE DO TO PRESERVE COASTAL ACCESS.

AT THE SAME TIME, PER S.E.C.

-- PROTECT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE TRAVELING, REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY'RE GOING ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: THE CITY BEEN IN -- IS BEING BLAMED FOR NOT ACTING SOONER.

IT SAYS, QUOTE, THE CITY STRONGLY SUPPORTS BIKE LANES IS AN IMPORTANT FORM OF PUBLIC ACCESS BUT WE ARE STILL COMMITTED TO EXPEDITING THIS PROCESS WORKING WITH THE CITY TO GET IT IMPROVED QUICKLY AND CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> CHILDCARE IS AMONG THE LARGEST EXPENSES FACED BY WORKING FAMILIES.

PANDEMIC RELATED STRAIN ON THE CHILDCARE LABOR FORCE LED TO LONG WAIT LISTS THAT MILITARY FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS KPBS MILITARY REPORTER ANDREW DYER EXPLAINS, THE NAVY SAYS THINGS ARE IMPROVING HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: THIS BRAND-NEW CENTER JUST OPENED IN OCTOBER.

IT'S HIGH-TECH AND SECURE.

A WALL OF MONITORS IN THE LOBBY SHOW LIVE VIDEO FROM EACH OF THE BUILDINGS CLASSROOMS.

PARENTS CAN DROP IN ANYTIME AND SEE THEIR CHILDREN.

FRONT DESK STAFF CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

ALL OF ITS CLASSROOMS OPEN TO OUTDOOR AGE-APPROPRIATE PLAYGROUNDS.

MOST ARE EMPTY NOW, BUT JANET TO TAKE HIM WHO MANAGES CHILD YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR THE NAVY THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHWEST, SAYS ONCE THE CENTER IS FULLY STAFFED THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN.

SPACE THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

>> THE WAIT LIST IS ABOUT 500 CHILDREN FOR JUST MIRAMAR.

METRO SAN DIEGO, WE HAVE ABOUT 2600 CHILDREN ON WAIT LISTS AND ABOUT 1100 OF THOSE ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 MONTHS.

>> Reporter: THOSE NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THEY WERE DURING THE SUMMER OF 2022 WHEN THERE WERE MORE THAN 1000 MILITARY KIDS ON THE SAN DIEGO WAITLIST.

SPOTS FOR INFANTS OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FILL, BECAUSE OF THE SMALLER CHILD TO PROVIDER RATIO REQUIREMENTS.

IN ADDITION TO BUILDING NEW CENTERS BETTER PAY AND BONUSES HELP WITH STAFFING.

>> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH COLLEGES THAT HAVE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEPARTMENTS ARE LOOKING AT INTERNSHIP AND BRINGING THEM ON BOARD AS WELL.

>> Reporter: NAVY ALSO HOLDS HIRING AND RECRUITMENT FARES FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS.

SHE SAYS PAY RATES ARE RISING WELL ABOVE ANIMAL WAGE.

>> SOME OF THE OTHER REGIONS WERE LITTLE BIT HARDER HIT PRINT FOR US WHEN IT HIT $15 WE WERE ALREADY PAYING OVER THAT.

NOW IT'S GOING UP IN JANUARY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, TO $16.

MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING TO $16 AN HOUR.

WE ARE ALREADY PAYING ABOUT THAT PART >> Reporter: THERE JACOBS REPRESENTS THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

MIRAMAR IS PART OF HER DISTRICT AS 1000S OF SERVICEMEMBERS LIVING IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

SHE SAYS TAKING CARE OF MILITARY FAMILIES AT HOME SHOULD BE A TOP PENTAGON PRIORITY.

>> THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I HEAR FROM MILITARY FAMILIES IN MY TOWN HALLS AND CONVERSATION IS REALLY ABOUT QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES, PREDOMINATELY HOUSING AND CHILDCARE.

>> Reporter: SHE POINTS TO SEVERAL MINUTES IN NEXT YEAR'S DEFENSE BILL SHE SAYS WILL DO EVEN MORE TO ADDRESS CHILDCARE, INCLUDING BETTER PAY AND BENEFITS FOR WORKERS AND A BOOST IN THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES SERVICEMEMBERS RECEIVE.

MAC ALSO ON THE FAMILY SIDE, INCREASING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCURACY OF THE WAITLIST, SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW LONG THEY HAVE TO WAIT.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER COMPLICATION IS HOW THE DOD MANAGES CHILD CARE WORKERS, HOOTEN SAYS THAT EACH BRANCH OF SERVICE HAS THEIR OWN ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM.

THAT MEANS WITH SPOUSES RELOCATING TO A BASE RUN BY A DIFFERENT BRANCH THAT JOB DOESN'T MOVE WITH THEM.

>> OSD IS LOOKING HARD AT THAT.

BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THEIR RETIREMENT AND HOW THAT TRANSFER OVER?

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.

THEY ARE WORKING HARD ON THAT, ESPECIALLY LOCATIONS LIKE THIS.

>> Reporter: THE NEW MIRAMAR CENTER IS A BURST OF THREE FACILITY PROJECTS IN SAN DIEGO.

ANOTHER CENTER AT MIRAMAR IS BEEN UPDATED IN THE NAVY IS BUILDING ANOTHER BRAND-NEW CENTER AT NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA.

ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> NOT-FOR-PROFIT CREDIT UNIONS HAVE LONG BILLED THEMSELVES AS COMMUNITY BASED ALTERNATIVES TO BIG COMMERCIAL BANKS PROJECT KPBS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SCOTT ROHDE FOUND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO CHARGING OVERDRAFT FEES THEY HAVE SIMILAR PRACTICES.

>> THAT'S MY MONEY.

THAT'S MY FOOD BUDGET FOR THE ">> Reporter: TONY HAS USED CREDIT UNIONS MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE BUT HE APPRECIATES THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS SURPRISED WHEN I TOLD HIM CREDIT UNIONS CHARTED IN CALIFORNIA COLLECTED OVER TO HUNDRED $50 MILLION LAST YEAR IN OVERDRAFT FEES.

>> YOU THINK OF THEM AS BEING A LOCAL, A LOCAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS FOR MAKING THE BIG BUCKS.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO JUST TO BE MAKING ENDS MEET, LIKE THE REST OF US.

>> Reporter: CUSTOMERS ARE HIT WITH AN OVERDRAFT FEE WHEN THEY MAKE A PURCHASE AND THEIR CHECKING ACCOUNT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER IT FOR CONSUMER ADVOCATES, FISCAL WATCHDOGS AND EVEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE HEAVILY CRITICIZED BIG COMMERCIAL BANKS FOR THE BILLIONS THEY COLLECT IN OVERDRAFT FEES AND IT TURNS OUT IT'S BIG BUSINESS FOR CREDIT UNIONS TOO.

LAST YEAR CREDIT UNIONS CHARTED IN CALIFORNIA BROUGHT IN A QUARTER OF $1 BILLION IN REVENUE THROUGH OVERDRAFT PENALTIES, ACCORDING TO A KPBS ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED BY THE STATE.

>> REGULATORS SHOULD TREAT OVERDRAFT AS A FIVE ALARM FIRE THAT HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

>> Reporter: AARON KLEIN IS A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE WORKINGS INSTITUTE DC-BASED THINK TANK BUT HE SAYS OVERDRAFT FEES ARE NEARLY PURE PROFIT FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT CUSTOMERS LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

FOUR YEARS BIG BANKS HAVE HAD TO DISCLOSE REVENUE FROM OVERDRAFT FEES, BUT CLIENT IS CREDIT UNIONS, WHICH ARE TECHNICALLY NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES, HAVE AVOIDED THIS REQUIREMENT.

>> Reporter: CREDIT UNIONS HAVE LARGELY ESCAPED SCRUTINY AND OVERDRAFT BY ACCOMMODATION OF WRAPPING THEMSELVES IN THE GOOD GUY FLAG AS NONPROFIT, MISSION ORIENTED ENTITIES.

AND BY NOT RELEASING DATA TO THE PUBLIC AT >> Reporter: THAT'S UNTIL THIS YEAR IN CALIFORNIA BUT AFTER LAWMAKERS PASSED THE FIRST ONE THE COUNTRY REQUIRING THE DISCLOSURE OF OVERDRAFT FEE REVENUE FROM STATE CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION RANKED SECOND HIGHEST AMONG THE STATES 100+ CREDIT UNIONS COLLECTING $18 MILLION IN OVERDRAFT FEES LAST YEAR.

THAT'S SURPRISING FOR A CREDIT UNION HAS LONG MARKETED ITSELF AS THE ANTI-BIG BANK.

FOR YEARS A CREDIT UNION MINISERIES OF ADS HAMMERING GREEDY BANKS AND THEIR EXCESSIVE FEES.

>> I LIKE TO OPEN IT CREDIT ACCOUNT.

>> Reporter: THE BANKERS AND ADS COULD ONLY SAY ONE WORD.

>> MANY, MANY, MANY.

>> THE CAMPAIGN UNDERSCORES ITS MESSAGE IN THE END.

>> WE ARE NOTHING LIKE A BIG BANK, WERE BETTER.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION DECLINED A REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW AND DID NOT RESPOND TO MULTIPLE INQUIRIES AND OTHER SMALL CREDIT UNIONS LIKE THE LESSON OVERDRAFT FEES, BUT THAT REVENUE MADE UP A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THEIR INCOME.

CONSIDER OCEANSIDE BASED FRONT WAVE CREDIT UNION HEARD THEY COLLECTED NEARLY $8 MILLION IN OVERDRAFT FEES LAST YEAR.

THAT AMOUNTED TO 12% OF THE COMPANY'S OVERALL INCOME AND 140% OF ITS NET INCOME.

IN OTHER WORDS, FRONT WAVE EASILY COULD HAVE LOST MONEY LAST YEAR WITHOUT REVENUE FROM OVERDRAFT FEES.

>> WE CALL IT A SERVICE BUT WE DON'T CALL IT IF YOU.

>> Reporter: BILLBOARD IS A CEO OF FRONT WAVE AND SAYS MANY FRONT WAVE FOR MEMBERS RELY ON OVERDRAFT AT THE END OF THE MONTH AS A BRIDGE BEFORE THEIR NEXT PAYDAY.

THE CREDIT UNIONS HAS REBRANDED IT AS COURTESY PAY.

FRONT WAVE CHARGES $20 PER OVERDRAFT COME UP TO FIVE TIMES A DAY FOR EACH NEGATIVE BALANCE PURCHASE WORD THAT MEANS A FRONT WAVE CUSTOMER COULD BE HIT WITH $100 IN FEES IN ONE DAY.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INCOME TO US.

I JUST DON'T THINK WE DO IT IN A PREDATORY WAY.

>> Reporter: CONSUMER WATCHDOGS AREN'T BUYING THIS ARGUMENT TOOK KIERA IS A RESEARCHER AND POLICY ADVOCATE AT THE SAN DIEGO-BASED CENTER ON POLICY INITIATIVES.

SHE SAYS OVERDRAFT FEES ARE INHERENTLY ONEROUS EVEN IF THEY ARE REBRANDED TO SOUND LIKE A BENEFIT.

>> I'D SAY ANY BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION THAT IS PROFITING OFF OF EXPLOITING OTHER FOLKS VULNERABILITIES IS NOT HELPING PEOPLE, IT'S HURTING PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE SCRUTINY ON BIG BANKS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE .

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THEY HAVE REFORMED THEIR OVERDRAFT FEE POLICIES AND SOME ALLOW REPAYMENT GRACE PERIODS WHILE OTHERS HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THE FEES ALTOGETHER.

IT'S UNCLEAR IF CREDIT UNIONS PLAN TO DO THE SAME ANYTIME SOON.

SCOTT BROAD, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THIS IS A TWO PART STORY.

SCOTT ROHDE ALSO FOUND CREDIT UNIONS INSIDE THE EAGLE COUNTY HAVE BOOSTED CEO PAY WHILE CHARGING THEIR MEMBERS MILLIONS IN OVERDRAFT FEES THAT WE HAVE THAT PART OF THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

>>> THAT STORY WAS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE OTHERS BUT ERIC ANDERSON IS COVERING THE LATEST IMPACT ON THE SOLAR INDUSTRY AS CALIFORNIA UPDATES ITS RULES.

THE NEW REPORT SHOWS THE REAL COST OF LIVING IN SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES AND THE SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY ALSO OFFERS BANNED BOOKS TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>>> A CANOE THAT HAS SAILED AROUND THE WORLD DOCS IN SAN DIEGO PER CANDY-CLIMBED ABOARD TO LEARN HOW THE CREW IS TAKING BACK THE ANCIENT POLYNESIAN VOYAGING TRADITION.

>> Reporter: HIDDEN BEHIND CHIPS AT THE MARITIME MUSEUM IS A SMALL DOUBLE CANOE LASHED TOGETHER SIX MILES OF CHORDS.

IT'S MODELED AFTER ANCIENT POLYNESIAN VESSELS.

>> WHEN WE WERE YOUNG THERE WERE NO CANOES LIKE THIS.

THERE WERE JUST STORIES.

>> Reporter: THAT'S CAPTAIN BRUCE BLANCA FAILED THAT HE SAILED THE BOAT FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

>> ALL OF THIS WAS CREATED AT A TIME IN HAWAII WHEN THE CULTURE OF THE HELLENIC CULTURE, WAS STILL EVOLVING.

THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE HAD JUST BEEN RELEGATED TO A PAST TENSE >> Reporter: IT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT -- OUT OF HISTORY BOOKS AND BACK OUT TO WAVES DURING THE HAWAIIAN RENAISSANCE IN THE 1970s VOYAGING AGAIN BECAME A WAY OF RECAPTURING THE TRADITION OF COLONIZERS.

>> WHEN ALL OF US WHO ARE EDUCATED IN THE WEST HAD THOUGHT ABOUT LEARNING TO HUNDRED STARS AND GUIDING A CANOE ACROSS MASS EXPENSE OF 2500 MILES, GUIDED BY THE STARS, OCEAN SWELLS, THE SEABIRDS, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, BASICALLY, WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID, YEAH, I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU KNOW?

IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING IN OUR MINDS SO IMPOSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: TO HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES LATER THEY ARE STILL GOING.

THE CREW NAVIGATES USING THE SAME METHODS AS THEIR ANCESTORS ACROSS THE OCEANS CENTURIES BEFORE COLUMBUS.

SAN DIEGO IS THEIR LAST STOP BEFORE RETURNING TO SHOW LOW HOT TO THOSE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE FIRES IN MAUI.

KATIE-, KPBS NEWS.

CIRCLE THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CONFERENCE CALLED COP 28 IS UNDERWAY IN DUBAI.

SAN DIEGO'S SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY IS THERE.

THOMAS WEDGE SAYS THEY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE OCEANS ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLIMATE SCIENTISTS.

>> Reporter: -- >> OUR PEOPLE, THE WORLD, THE PLANETS NEEDS OUR ACTIONS KNOWN.

>> Reporter: AT THE U.N.

CLIMATE CONFERENCE IS A GLOBAL MEETING OF POLITICIANS AND SCIENTISTS THAT HAS A STRONG BEARING ON THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING.

IT'S WHERE THE PARIS AGREEMENT WAS ADOPTED IN 2015.

THIS YEAR SCRIPPS OCEANOGRAPHY WILL CO-HOST THE OCEAN PAVILION AT THE CONFERENCE TO SHOW THE HUGE ROLE THE OCEAN PLAYS IN THE BATTLE OVER RISING TEMPERATURES.

>> TREATING THE OCEAN AS BEING AS IMPORTANT AS THE LAND IS, IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S THE BASE OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> Reporter: PROFESSOR LYNN TALLEY WILL BE ATTENDING HER SECOND U.N.

CLIMATE CONFERENCE.

SHE POINTS OUT THE OCEAN ABSORBS 90% OF THE EXTRA HEAT GENERATED BY GLOBAL WARMING AND 30% OF THE EXCESS CARBON DIOXIDE.

>> THE OCEAN PROVIDES A SUIT -- A HUGE SERVICE AND OBSERVING SO MUCH HEAT AND SO MUCH OF THE EXCESS CARBON DIOXIDE.

BUT THOSE HAVE VERY NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE OCEAN.

THE ECOSYSTEMS.

SO, WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON THE OCEAN TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO HAS A DELEGATION OF 30 PEOPLE ATTENDING COP 28 AND THE PEOPLE GOING TO DUBAI WON'T JUST BE FACULTY MEMBERS.

MITCHELL CHANDLER IS A PHD CANDIDATE AT SCRIPPS OCEANOGRAPHY.

HE COMES FROM NEW ZEALAND WHERE HE SAYS THE WARMING OF THE OCEAN IS CAUSING MARINE HEAT WAVES.

>> INFLUENCE LIKE LAND TRUST HEAT WAVES.

YOU CAN HAVE MORE EXTREME TEMPERATURE OR DROUGHT OR EVEN MORE RECENTLY WE HAD SOME TROPICAL STORMS OR HURRICANES THAT HAVE EXTENDED OUT OF THE TROPICS AND CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE NORTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND >> Reporter: CHANDLER STUDIES OCEAN CURRENTS AT SCRIPPS OCEANOGRAPHY.

HE SAYS HE IS EXCITED TO MEET WITH POLICYMAKERS TO TALK ABOUT HOW GLOBAL WARMING IS AFFECTING ISLAND NATIONS LIKE HIS.

HE SAYS PREVIOUS GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN TOO SLOW TO ACT.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY FRUSTRATING SEEING HOW SLOW AND RESISTANT TO CHANGE A LOT OF PEOPLE, PLACES, COMPANIES, COUNTRIES ARE.

BUT THERE IS ALSO OPTIMISM THERE PRETTY >> Reporter: HE SAYS TODAY THERE IS A GLOBAL WILL TO MAKE CHANGES.

TALLEY AGREES.

>> I'M FEELING ENERGIZED TO GO TO THIS MEETING.

BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH DOUBLING ABOUT, FINALLY, ABOUT, FINALLY, RECOGNIZING IN A BROAD SENSE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE.

>> Reporter: COP 28, THE U.N.

CLIMATE CONFERENCE, RUNS FROM NOVEMBER 30th TO DECEMBER 12 AND BY IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

CIRCLE AND EXHIBIT DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY OF FILIPINOS AND FILIPINO AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH BAY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

KPBS ITSELF A REPORTER COREY SUZUKI SAYS THE EXHIBIT SHINES A LIGHT ON THE DEEP LEGACY OF SAN DIEGO'S FILIPINO COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE EXHIBIT IS TUCKED AWAY IN THE BACK CORNER OF CHULA VISTA CENTRAL LIBRARY.

WHEN YOU STEP INSIDE YOUR MEDIALLY TRANSPORTED ACROSS TIME.

OLD NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS MAKE UP THE FILIPINOS OF SOUTH BAY EXHIBIT WHICH TELLS THE SWEEPING STORY OF THE FILIPINO DIASPORA.

>> WHAT BECAME THOSE PILLARS THAT BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND THOSE WERE THE ORGANIZATIONS FROM VARIOUS REGIONS, FROM THE VARIOUS CAUSES, LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THE VETERANS.

AND THEN HOW THE BEAUTY PAGEANTS HAD HELPED WITH BUILDING COMMUNITY.

OF COURSE, PHILIPPINE DANCE AND MUSIC BRINGING AND ELEVATING THE PHILIPPINE PRESENCE IN THE SOUTH BAY.

FINALLY, OF COURSE, THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH >> Reporter: FOR HISTORY AND JUDY PRADAXA ONE OF HER FAVORITE STORIES IS OF THE ELDER BROTHER GENERATION FOR THE VERY FIRST FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS TO ARRIVE ON THE WEST COAST.

>> THAT STORE IS, I THINK, ONE OF MY FAVORITES, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES MY FAMILY.

MY FATHER CAME IN THE LATE 1920s BUT HE CAME TO COME TO SCHOOL THOUGH, NOT SO MUCH THAT HE -- HE DID BECOME A LABOR AS WELL, BECAUSE THE REALITY OF DISCRIMINATION AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

WHEN WORLD WAR II CAME HE JOINED THE U.S. ARMY.

THAT'S HOW HE WENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AND MET MY MOM AND BROUGHT HER.

>> Reporter: THE EXHIBIT ALSO SHOWS A RANGE OF OTHER STORIES.

FROM FLACCID FILIPINO ORGANIZERS CARRIED ALONG SIDE CESAR CHAVEZ TO PHOTOS OF A TINY IMPERIAL BEACH BARBERSHOP THAT IN THE EVENINGS WOULD TRANSFORM INTO A DANCE STUDIO.

ORGANIZERS SAY THEY ARE FIGHTING TO GET THIS HISTORY THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY AS A LARGEST ASIAN AMERICAN GROUP IN SAN DIEGO AND THE SECOND LARGEST IN CALIFORNIA .

>> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST ASIAN AMERICAN ETHNIC GROUP OUR STORIES HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD.

SO, FOR THIS TO COME TO FRUITION AND HAVING OUR STORIES TOLD AND HAVING MEDIA COVERAGE AND HAVING US BE IN A MUSEUM, IT REALLY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> Reporter: ALL OF THE STORIES WILL LIVE ON AT THE LIBRARY FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

COREY SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>>> TIBETAN MONKS FROM THE GARDEN SHOTS MONASTERY IN SOUTHERN INDIA ARE IN THE NORTH COUNTY THIS WEEK TO SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE OF PEACE, COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR KPBS NOT COUNT REPORTER ALEXANDER WYNNE SAYS WHILE HERE THEY ARE ALSO CREATING SACRED SAND MEDULLA TO REMIND US OF THE IMPERMANENT NATURE OF EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: WITH EACH CAREFUL TAP OF A SPECIALIZED CONE SAND MASTER EXPERT PLACES THE SAND ONTO THE DESIGN OF THE MANDALA.

IT'S A REPRESENTATION OF THE PALACE OF THE DEITY IN THE TIBETAN BUDDHIST TRADITION THIS ONE REPRESENTS THE PALACE OF THE BUDDHA MAGGIORE APPEARED MANDALA MEANS THAT WHICH EXTRACTS THE ESSENCE >> WE ARE TAKING THE BLESSING OF SOMEONE WHO IS A LUMINOUS FORM AND BY REALLY ENGAGING ON THAT BY INITIATING ON THAT DEITY AND HAVING THE BENEFIT AS OUR BLESSINGS COME BACK TO US.

A MAC THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SACRED ART OF TIBET TOUR.

HE SAYS BY GOING TO THE HARD WORK AND TRAINING TO GREAT THE MANDALA THE MONTHS HAVE PATIENTS IN THE BENEFIT OF IT.

>> WE ARE REALLY HAVING A DEEP CONCENTRATION FROM YOUR MIND.

>> Reporter: IT WAS THESE SPECIAL TREATS FOR THE STUDENTS AT VILLAGE CAPE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY TO SEE THE MANDELA BEING MADE AT THE SEASIDE CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING.

FOR SEVENTH GRADER LEONARDO LEASING IT GAVE HIM A SENSE OF CALM.

>> I FELT KIND OF LIKE PEACEFUL, LIKE A SILENCE.

IT FELT GOOD.

>> IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

NOT JUST THINKING OF IT FROM ONE STANDPOINT AND HOW THERE WAS MUCH MORE MEANING THAN JUST WHAT MEETS THE EYE.

>> Reporter: -- >> EACH COLOR AND GRAIN OF SAND HAVE A SPECIAL MEANING AND WHEN IT'S ALL COMPLETED IT WILL BE DISSOLVED SIGNIFYING THE IMPERMANENCE OF EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: FOR GARY ELLIOTT IT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE WAS EXPOSED TO THE MANDALA FOR THIS TIME THE CONCEPT OF AN IMPERMANENCE STRUCK A CHORD WITH HIM.

>> IN JUST A FEW DAYS THEY WILL FINISH CONSTRUCTING THIS BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATION, LIKE OUR OWN BIOSPHERE IT'S GOING TO BE SWEPT AWAY AND DISSOLVED IN THE OCEAN.

I'M THINKING, WHAT A REAL TIME TEACHING.

IT HAS A LOT OF LEVELS TO IT PRETTY >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY THE IMPACT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING ON THE ENVIRONMENT, HE SAYS.

THE MONKS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE MANDALA AT THE SEASIDE CENTER UNTIL SUNDAY WHEN IT WILL BE SWEPT AWAY, RUNNING US THAT EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE WILL EVENTUALLY BE SWEPT AWAY LIKE THE SANDS OF TIME.

ALEXANDER WYNNE, KPBS NEWS.

CIRCLE AFTER THEIR SET SEASIDE CENTER THE MONKS WILL HEAD TO THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN ESCONDIDO TO CREATE ANOTHER MANDALA THERE.

WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK THANKS FOR JOINING US.