♪ >>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS "EVENING EDITION" HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AIR, RESTORATION, AND FLOOD SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILLHOWE OR VISIT BILL-HOWELL.COM AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY AND BY THE FOLLOWING AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

♪ >>> A POTENTIAL 45-DAY CEASEFIRE IS ON THE TABLE AS THE U.S./ISRAELI WAR WITH IRAN CONTINUES.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M JOHN CARROLL IN FOR MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> THIS COMES AS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS THREATENING TO DRAMATICALLY ESCALATE THE CONFLICT AND AS A U.S.

SERVICE MEMBER WAS RESCUED IN IRAN AFTER HIS F-15 WAS SHOT DOWN.

>> Reporter: A PROPOSAL FOR A 45-DAY CEASEFIRE CALLED BY THE PRESIDENT "SIGNIFICANT," THOUGH HE HAS NOT SIGNED OFF ON IT.

>> WE'RE DOING UNBELIEVABLY WELL, WELL AT A LEVEL NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE.

THE ENTIRE COUNTRY MIGHT BE TAKEN OUT IN ONE NIGHT AND THAT NIGHT MIGHT BE TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> Reporter: ON EASTER TRUMP MADE AN EXPLETIVE LADEN THREAT TO STRIKE IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND BRIDGES IF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ REMAINS CLOSED.

IRAN SAID NEGOTIATION IN NO WAY INVOLVES AN ULTIMATUM, A CRIME OR THREAT TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES.

>> IRAN WANTS TO HOLD ONTO THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CLOSURE AND ALMOST 1,000 POUNDS OF ENRICHED URANIUM.

>> Reporter: ISRAEL SAID IT STRUCK KEY PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEXES IN I'M RAN.

>> NOW BOTH FACILITIES WHICH TOGETHER ACCOUNT FOR ROUGHLY 85% OF IRAN'S PETROCHEMICAL EXPORTS HAVE BEEN DISABLED AND ARE NOT OPERATIONAL.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE WE ARE LEARNING BOTH U.S.

AIRMEN WHOSE F-15 WAS DOWNED FRIDAY OVER IRAN ARE DOING WELL AND RECOVERING FROM THEIR INJURIES FOLLOWING THE CRASH ACCORDING TO TRUMP.

ONE CREW MEMBER WAS RESCUED SHORTLY AFTER.

THE SECOND WAS RESCUED DAYS LATER IN A HIGH STAKES OPERATION.

>> ENGAGE THE ENEMY, RESCUED THE STRANDED OFFICER, DESTROYED ALL THREATS AND EXITED IRANIAN TERRITORY WHILE TAKING NO CASUALTIES OF ANY KIND.

>> Reporter: LEIGH WALDMAN REPORTING.

>>> WE DO HAVE A TEMPORARILY WARM PATTERN THROUGH WEDNESDAY, HEAT BUILDING SLIGHTLY.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT RECORDS THIS TIME, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A WARM FIRST HALF OF THE WEEK.

THE HEAT BEGINS TO BACK OFF THURSDAY, THOUGH IT WILL STILL BE WARM.

THERE'S A BIG CHANGE COMING.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS HERE.

BY THE END OF THE WEEK, FRIDAY AND ESPECIALLY SATURDAY, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT LATE SEASON RAIN RETURNING WHICH IS VERY GOOD NEWS, ONSHORE FLOW, YOUR LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND SATURDAY LATE MORNING WITH SOME RAIN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS COMING UP.

>>> A HOT AND PARCHED MARCH ACCELERATED THE DRYING OUT OF BRUSH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER TAMMY MURGA SAYS IF HOT, DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST, FIRE OFFICIALS WARN OF MORE DANGEROUS WILDFIRE ACTIVITY.

>> Reporter: A HUGE PLUME OF SMOKE CUT EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS SHORT FOR MANY SAN MARCOS.

IT WAS THE SECOND FIRE IN THE LAST WEEK TO FORCE EVACUATIONS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

IVORY SMALL IS A METEOROLOGIST WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

HE SAYS THERE IS A REASON WHY BRUSH IS DRYING OUT SOONER AND WHY WE MAY BE SEEING MORE SMALL FIRES IN EARLY SPRING.

>> IT WAS I THINK KIND OF A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM AFTER BEING ABLE TO GET SOME RAIN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING SHUT OFF AND THE RAIN WENT NORTH AND THE HIGH PRESSURE AND HOT, DRY WEATHER REALLY SET IN AS IF IT WAS AUGUST.

>> Reporter: THESE CONDITIONS ARE STARTING TO DRY OUT PLANTS AND GRASS ACROSS PARTS OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY SOONER THAN USUAL.

>> THE GRASS IS STILL GREEN IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTY, BUT IT IS STARTING TO TURN BROWN.

SO WE WILL START TO SEE AN INCREASED ACTIVITY OF FIRES AND FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

>> Reporter: MIKE KORNET IS WITH CAL FIRE.

HE'S URGING RESIDENTS TO TAKE STEPS NOW TO REDUCE FIRE RISKS.

>> MAKE SURE THAT OUR HOMES ARE BEING SAFE BY CREATING THAT DEFENSIBLE SPACE, CREATING THAT FIRE-WISE LANDSCAPE.

>> Reporter: SMALL SAYS THE REGION COULD GET SOME RAIN IN THE COMING WEEKS.

TAMMY MURGA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT IS HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING RIGHT NOW TO DISCUSS RENAMING ITS CESAR E. CHAVEZ CAMPUS.

THE CHANGE IS BEING MADE IN LIGHT OF RECENT ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.

THE CAMPUS IN BARRIO LOGAN SERVES ADULT STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ALSO PLANS TO SIGN A PETITION TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE STREET WHERE THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED.

THE COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PRESIDENT SAYS THEY ARE COMMITTED TO A THOUGHTFUL, TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT REFLECTS THE VOICES AND VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

THE DISTRICT CHANCELLOR SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY TO KNOW WHAT THE NEW NAME COULD BE.

>>> THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCED IT IS DISSOLVING TITLE IX AGREEMENTS WITH FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS INTENDED TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER STUDENTS' RIGHTS.

THE LA MESA SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AMONG THEM.

TITLE IX PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX IN ANY FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAM.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAYS PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS WRONGLY INTERPRETED IT TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY, NOT SEX.

>>> TRAVEL EXPERTS ARE WARNING PEOPLE TO BOOK SUMMER TRIPS NOW BECAUSE TICKET PRICES ARE LIKELY TO GO UP SOON.

IT'S DUE IN PART TO RISING JET FUEL COSTS BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING WAR WITH IRAN.

JEN SULLIVAN HAS ADVICE FOR SUMMER TRAVELERS AND WAYS YOU CAN SAVE.

>> Reporter: JET FUEL PRICES ARE SOARING AND SUMMER TRAVELERS ARE WARNED TO BRACE FOR HIGHER TICKET PRICES.

>> IF YOU ARE TRAVELING THIS SUMMER AND NEED TO BOOK A FLIGHT, BOOK IT IMMEDIATELY.

>> Reporter: GOING.COM TRAVEL EXPERT KATIE NASRO SAYS THE SOONER YOU BOOK YOUR TRIP, THE MORE LIKELY YOU'LL GET A GOOD DEAL, ESPECIALLY NOW.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE WAR WITH IRAN HAS CAUSED A GLOBAL DISRUPTION IN OIL PRODUCTION.

MARITIME TRAFFIC THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ HAS EFFECTIVELY HALTED.

AS OF MONDAY, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF REGULAR GAS IN THE U.S.

WAS $4.12 PER GALLON.

SINCE THE WAR BROKE OUT GAS PRICES HAVE JUMPED MORE THAN 38 CENTS AND THAT COULD MEAN HIGHER AIRFARES FOR TRAVELERS.

>> JET FUEL IS A LARGE EXPENSE FOR AIRLINES, ROUGHLY THE SECOND LARGEST EXPENSE FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: JET FUEL PRICES HAVE DOUBLED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

FUEL REPRESENTS 20 TO 30% OF THEIR OVERALL COSTS ACCORDING TO AIRLINES FINANCIAL REPORTS AND NASRO SAYS IT'S RISKY FOR AIRLINES TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE PRICES.

>> IF DEMAND COMPLETELY BOTTOMS OUT, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SOFTEN THEIR PRICES.

>> Reporter: HERE'S A TIP IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TRAVEL THIS FALL.

NASRO SAYS IF YOU BOOK A MAIN ECONOMY TICKET NOW AND PRICES DROP LATER, MOST AIRLINES WILL ALLOW YOU TO REBOOK AT A LOWER COST.

THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE USED AS A CREDIT TOWARDS FUTURE TRAVEL WITH THAT AIRLINE.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I'M JEN SULLIVAN.

>>> WE'RE CONTINUING TO KEEP AN EYE ON OUR LOCAL GAS PRICES.

THERE WAS LITTLE CHANGE TO THE AVERAGE PRICE OF GAS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY TODAY.

IT ROSE 0.1 OF A CENT.

IT'S NOW $5.96, THE HIGHEST AMOUNT SINCE OCTOBER OF 2023.

THE PRICE IS ABOUT 2 1/2 CENTS MORE THAN A WEEK AGO AND 96 1/2 CENTS HIGHER THAN A MONTH AGO.

>>> MANY OF US HAVE NOTICED THAT GROCERIES AND DINING OUT SEEM MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY USED TO, BUT FEW OF US LIKELY KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE SPEND YEAR TO YEAR.

IN THE LATEST IN OUR PRICE OF SAN DIEGO SERIES, KPBS REPORTER KATIE ANASTAS INTRODUCES US TO ONE MOM IN POWAY WHO DOES.

>> Reporter: JEN SHERMAN IS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM OF TWO.

ONE DAY IN 2019 SHE FOUND A TRADER JOE'S RECEIPT SHE HADN'T THROWN OUT YET.

>> SO I SAID TO MY HUSBAND, CAN YOU PLEASE BUILD ME A SPREADSHEET SO THAT I CAN TRACK EVERYTHING WE SPEND ON FOOD FOR THIS YEAR AND HE ASKED ME WHY AND I SAID BECAUSE I WANT TO.

>> Reporter: AFTER EVERY TRIP TO A GROCERY STORE OR RESTAURANT SHERMAN ADDED TO THE SPREADSHEET.

>> THE VERY FIRST ENTRY TRADER JOE'S, MANDARINS IN 2019, 2nd OF JANUARY, $2.99.

>> Reporter: BY THE END OF THE YEAR SHE HAD A LOT OF DATA, SO SHE DECIDED TO SHARE IT.

>> INSTEAD OF SENDING A HOLIDAY CARD TO EVERYBODY, WE DECIDED TO WRITE A NEWSLETTER THAT ANALYZED OUR FOOD EXPENDITURES.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN 2019 AND NOW IT'S A THING WE CAN'T STOP DOING.

>> Reporter: THE LAST SIX YEARS HAVE GIVEN SHERMAN A THOROUGH LOOK AT HER FAMILY'S EATING AND SPENDING HABITS.

SOME CHANGES HAPPENED AS THE KIDS GOT OLDER.

IN 2019 THEIR MONTHLY AVERAGE FOR GOING OUT TO EAT WAS $418.

>> BACK IN 2019 IT WAS JUST MY HUSBAND AND I AND OUR DAUGHTER WAS 2 YEARS OLD.

SO SHE WASN'T EVEN EATING FROM THE KIDS MENUS AT THAT POINT.

SHE WAS JUST NIBBLING AT WHATEVER WE ORDERED.

>> Reporter: RESTAURANT FOOD IS MORE EXPENSIVE NOW AND NOW THEY HAVE TWO KIDS, BOTH OLD ENOUGH TO ORDER OFF THE KIDS MENU.

>> OUR AVERAGE COST OF EATING OUT THESE DAYS IF IT'S ALL FOUR OF US, IT'S USUALLY ABOUT 60 TO $75, DEPENDING ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.

>> Reporter: SHERMAN CAN ALSO PINPOINT WHEN SHE STARTED LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOOD SYSTEM.

IT WAS 2021.

SHE READ ABOUT THE POOR WORKING CONDITIONS AT MANY SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND THE BENEFITS OF REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE.

>> THAT WAS WHEN I STARTED TO CONSCIOUSLY KIND OF VOTE WITH YOUR FORK, AS THE SAYING GOES.

>> Reporter: THEY SOON LEARNED THAT VOTING WITH YOUR FORK OFTEN MEANT SPENDING MORE MONEY.

TAKE MEAT, FOR EXAMPLE.

IN 2019 THE SHERMANS HAD SPENT ABOUT $800 ON MEAT, MOSTLY FROM COSTCO.

IN 2021 SHERMAN FOUND A WEBSITE THAT SOLD MEAT FROM SMALL FARMS.

>> AND WE DIDN'T CHANGE HOW MUCH MEAT WE ATE.

SO WE SPENT A LOT ON MEAT THAT YEAR.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN TRIPLE WHAT THEY'D SPENT THE YEAR BEFORE.

>> IT WAS ABOUT $2,500 ON MEAT AND I THOUGHT OH, THAT'S QUITE A LOT OF MONEY.

SO THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE TYPE OF MEAT THAT WE BOUGHT, BUT WE STARTED EATING DRIED BEANS INSTEAD AND WE CRUSHED MEAT CONSUMPTION BY $1,000.

>> Reporter: SHERMAN USED TO DO MOST OF HER SHOPPING AT COSTCO OR VON'S.

SHE'S DIVERSIFIED HER FOOD SOURCES.

>> THE COSTS STARTED GOING UP.

>> Reporter: THE KIDS STILL LOVED ANNIE'S BOXED MAC AND CHEESE BUT HAVE ALSO GROWN TO LOVE FRUIT FROM THE FARMERS MARKET.

>> IF YOU STOP FEEDING THEM THE CHEAPER ULTRA PROCESSED STUFF AND START FEEDING THEM MORE OF THE REALLY, REALLY YUMMY STRAWBERRIES AND APPLES, THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL START PREFERRING AND NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT.

I KNOW, BUT IF YOU CAN AND YOU WANT TO MAKE THE CHOICE, THEN THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO START.

>> Reporter: HER ADVICE TO FAMILIES LOOKING TO START VOTING WITH THEIR FORKS, TRY A CSA BOX, COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE.

SHERMAN BUYS HERS FROM YASUKOCHI FAMILY FARMS.

THEY SOMETIMES HAVE SALES ON YEAR-LONG SUBSCRIPTIONS.

>> IT'S A COST EFFICIENT WAY OF GETTING A DIVERSE RANGE OF GOOD PLANT FOODS IN YOUR DIET.

>> Reporter: SHERMAN GOES TO THE FARMERS MARKET ONCE A WEEK AND BRINGS CASH TO AVOID CREDIT CARD FEES.

SHE KNOWS VENDORS BY NAME.

ONCE SHE'S BOUGHT WHAT SHE NEEDS, SHE STEPS ASIDE, OPENS UP A NOTE ON HER PHONE AND TYPES HOW MUCH SHE SPENT.

THE LATEST ENTRY INTO THE SPREADSHEET AND ONE MORE PIECE OF DATA FOR THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY CARD.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>> THAT STORY IS PART OF OUR PRICE OF SAN DIEGO SERIES.

WE HAVE MORE COST OF LIVING STORIES ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM RISING GAS PRICES TO SAVING MONEY ON LIVE SPORTS EVENTS.

YOU CAN CHECK IT ALL OUT ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG/PRICEOFSAN DIEGO.

>>> I'M JEFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT ON "THE NEWS HOUR," PRESIDENT TRUMP RAMPS UP HIS THREATS ON IRAN AFTER IT REJECTS A CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL.

THAT'S AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

>>> WE'LL SOON GET A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES IN THE CROWDED CALIFORNIA GOVERNORS RACE.

CNN IS HOSTING A DEBATE ON MAY 5th IN LOS ANGELES MODERATED BY ANCHORS ALEX MICHAELSON AND KAITLAN COLLINS.

TWO REPUBLICANS AND SIX DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE JUNE 2nd PRIMARY ELECTION.

THE CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVE THE MOST VOTE WILL ADVANCE TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

A NEW STATE CAMPAIGN IS WARNING ABOUT A NEW GENERATION OF NICOTINE PRODUCTS.

KPBS REPORTER HEIDI DE MARCO HAS MORE FROM SAN DIEGO ADVOCATES WHO SAY THE INDUSTRY IS EVOLVING AND SO ARE THE RISKS.

>> Reporter: A LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUP SAN DIEGANS VERSUS BIG TOBACCO IS SOUNDING THE ALARM BY HIGH-DOSE VAPES AND NICOTINE POUCHES.

ADRIAN WARNS THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IS MOVING FAST.

>> IT'S LIKE THE GAME OF WHAC-A- MOLE.

THE MINUTE YOU REGULATE ONE PRODUCT THEY POP UP WITH A NEW ONE.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IS LONG FOCUSED ON ONE STRATEGY.

>> BASICALLY HOOK THEM YOUNG, WHILE THEY'RE IMPRESSIONABLE.

>> Reporter: NOW STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE STEPPING IN WITH A NEW WARNING CAMPAIGN CALLED "NOT YOUR LAB RAT" AND IT TARGETS YOUNG ADULTS 18 TO 24 FUNDED BY THE STATE'S SETTLEMENT WITH JUUL LABS, A MAKER OF VAPES.

UC SAN DIEGO RESEARCHER JOHN PIERCE SAYS THE CAMPAIGN REFLECTS A RAPIDLY CHANGING NICOTINE LANDSCAPE.

>> THE OLD CIGARETTE IS GONE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THESE DAYS, FOR THE MOST PART.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE WHO FALL IN THE NEW PATIENT CATEGORY OF VERY HIGH RISK, THE GUIDELINE SUGGESTS EARLY INTERVENTION THROUGH HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES, INCLUDING MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT, EXERCISING REGULARLY, NOT SMOKING, PRIORITIZING QUALITY SLEEP AND TAKING CHOLESTEROL LOWERING MEDICATION WHEN RECOMMENDED BY A DOCTOR.

THE GUIDELINES ALSO LOWER THE LEVEL OF CHOLESTEROL THAT SHOULD BE TARGETED.

>> THE EARLIER YOU TREAT TO LOWER TARGETS IS OVERALL BETTER FOR OUR HEALTH.

>>> RIGHT NOW THE ARTEMIS II MISSION ASTRONAUTS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY AROUND THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON.

THEY'RE GETTING A GLIMPSE OF LUNAR SURFACE FEATURES NO HUMAN EYES HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

AS MICHAEL YOSHIDA REPORTS, THE CREW IS ALSO SET TO SET A RECORD FOR THE FARTHEST DISTANCE ANY HUMAN HAS BEEN FROM EARTH.

>> Reporter: THE ARTEMIS II CREW PASSING BY THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON GETTING VIEWS THAT COULD OFFER A RARE GLIMPSE INTO SOME OF THE MOON'S MYSTERIES AS WELL AS CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR FUTURE MISSIONS THAT AIM TO PUT ASTRONAUTS BACK ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.

>> HELLO.

THIS IS APOLLO ASTRONAUT.

WELCOME TO MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Reporter: ON DAY SIX OF THEIR MISSION THE CREW OF ARTEMIS II WAKING UP TO A RECORDING FROM RECENTLY DECEASED ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUT JIM LOVELL.

>> I'M PROUD TO PASS THAT TORCH ON TO YOU.

>> Reporter: THEIR LUNAR FLY- BY BREAKING HIS RECORD, TRAVELING FARTHER FROM EARTH THAN ANY HUMAN, SENDING EYES TO A PART OF THE MOON NO HUMAN HAS BEFORE.

>> WE USE THIS MOMENT TO CHALLENGE THIS GENERATION AND IN THE NEXT TO MAKE SURE THIS RECORD IS NOT LONG LIVED.

>> Reporter: AT THEIR CLOSEST, AN ESTIMATED DISTANCE OF 4,070 MILES FROM THE MOON THE CREW WILL BE SURVEYING THE MOON'S FAR SIDE WHICH ALWAYS FACES AWAY FROM EARTH.

THE ASTRONAUTS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE TRAINING FROM EXPERTS AND HOW TO SCIENTIFICALLY OBSERVE THE MOON AND ITS UNIQUE FEATURES.

>> THEY'LL BE TAKING PICTURES, MAKING OBSERVATIONS.

>> Reporter: VIEWS THAT CAN REVEAL MORE ABOUT ITS HISTORY, ALSO NOTING DETAILS ON SOIL COMPOSITION, TERRAIN AND OTHER INSIGHTS THAT WILL BE VITAL TO FUTURE MISSIONS.

>> AT SOME POINT WE GOT TO GO BACK TO THE SURFACE AND WE'RE DOING A BIT OF A RECON NOW IN ADDITION TO TESTING SPACECRAFT.

>> Reporter: IN ALL, THE ASTRONAUTS HAVE ROUGHLY SEVEN HOURS TO LOOK, TAKE NOTES AND PHOTOS DURING THE FLY-BY.

>> WE'RE GOING TO LEARN AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT THE SPACECRAFT WHICH IS PRETTY PARAMOUNT TO SET UP FOR SUBSEQUENT MISSIONS LIKE ARTEMIS III IN 2027 AND, OF COURSE, THE LUNAR LANDING ITSELF IN 2028.

>> Reporter: AFTER THE FLY-BY ENDS THEY'LL BEGIN TRANSFERRING SOME OF THEIR OBSERVATIONS AND IMAGES BACK TO MISSION CONTROL.

WE'RE TOLD NASA'S SCIENCE TEAM WILL THEN BEGIN REVIEWING THOSE IMAGES AND OBSERVATIONS AND WILL REVIEW THEM WITH THE CREW.

>>> WE DO HAVE A WARM PATTERN HERE THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THE HEAT'S GOING TO BE ESCALATING THROUGH WEDNESDAY, NOT RECORDS, BUT VERY WARM AND THE HEAT BEGINS TO BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT THURSDAY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH A BIT PATTERN CHANGE, BIG COOLDOWN FOR THE WEEKEND AND LATE SEASON RAIN RETURNING BY SATURDAY, MAYBE EVEN FRIDAY NIGHT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY POSITIVE NEWS, KIND OF ILL-TIMED, RAIN ON THE WEEKEND, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD THING MITIGATING FIRE DANGER AND BRINGING US A LITTLE LATE SEASON WETNESS.

61 THE LOW TONIGHT, PARTLY CLOUDY.

IT'S WARM OUT THERE FOR TUESDAY.

YOU CAN SEE THE RAIN ACROSS PARTS OF NEW MEXICO.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE, THOUGH.

WE'RE HIGH AND DRY THROUGH TUESDAY.

BY THE NUMBERS, WE'RE BACK UP AROUND 80 IN RAMONA AND EL CAJON, 77 ESCONDIDO, 71 IN SAN DIEGO, NOT LIKE THE WARMTH OF MID-MARCH, 93 IN BORREGO SPRINGS, TEMPS ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WEDNESDAY, THIS IS PROBABLY OUR WARMEST DAY WHEN THE HEAT PEAKS ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST, FRONT BYPASSES US OVER PARTS OF COLORADO.

SHOWERS BEGIN TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT AS WE LOOK AT THIS FROM TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY, YOU CAN SEE INITIALLY THERE'S YOUR STORM SYSTEM.

THIS BEGINS TO SHIFT SOUTHEAST AND IT ACTUALLY BACKS INTO US HERE, MOVES INTO US AND COME SATURDAY MORNING -- FRIDAY NIGHT TO SATURDAY MORNING PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN LOCALLY AND IT WILL FLING MORE SHOWERS THROUGH THE AREA ON SUNDAY.

OVERALL A PRETTY GOOD BIT OF NEWS.

AS WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE REGION, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING LATE THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, BUT LOCALLY THE SLOW MOVING NATURE OF THIS WILL PROLONG THE SHOWERS HERE FOR US IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, EVEN ON SUNDAY.

HERE WE GO, BIG CHANGE HERE, WARM, RELATIVELY WARM, LOW TO MID-70s, NOT BAD FOR THE COAST AND THEN THERE ARE THE SHOWERS.

THEY ROLL IN SATURDAY COOLING US DOWN A BIT, INLAND AREAS SIMILAR, VERY WARM, NEAR 80 WEDNESDAY.

SHOWERS ROLL IN, INCREASINGLY WET SATURDAY AND AGAIN, IF WE WERE TO PUT SUNDAY ON THERE, WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE SHOWERS IN OUR SUNDAY FORECAST.

IT'S GOING TO BE A WEEKEND OF SOME WETNESS, TEMPERATURES IN THE MOUNTAINS THERE 60s, BACKING DOWN TO THE UPPER 40s AND 50s.

EVEN THE DESERTS WILL SEE SOME RAIN SATURDAY WITH SOME LINGERING RAIN SHOWERS SUNDAY.

OVERALL IT'S GOOD NEWS.

IT'S JUST COMING AT A TOUGH TIME OVER THE WEEKEND.

I'M ACCUWEATHER METEOROLOGIST GEOFF CORNISH FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS ARE FOCUSED ON MEGA BUDGET EPICS, BUT INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS CAN MAKE A MOVIE FOR THOUSANDS RATHER THAN MILLIONS AND USE CROWD FUNDING TO FINANCE IT.

KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH ACCOMANDO SAYS A TRIO OF SAN DIEGO FILMMAKERS ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF A KICKSTARTER TO MAKE A NEONAWAR WESTERN.

>> THIS IS THE REHEARSAL ACTING STUDIO AND THIS PLACE IS MY SECOND HOME WHERE I WAS INSPIRED TO PURSUE WRITING AND FOCUS ON MY CRAFT AS AN ACTOR.

>> Reporter: DANIEL FIGUEROA BEGAN COMING TO CAREY SCOTT'S REHEARSAL ROOM SINCE 2023 AND HAS KEPT COMING BACK BECAUSE IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO CREATE.

>> YOU TAKE CHANCES.

YOU TAKE RISKS AND SOMETIMES THEY WORK.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T.

THAT'S WHAT'S ENCOURAGED HERE.

>> Reporter: IT GAVE HIM THE CONFIDENCE TO FINANCE A KICKSTARTER TO FINANCE A FILM HE WROTE.

>> IT IS A NEOWESTERN CRIME THRILLER, FOLLOWS TWO CHILDHOOD BEST FRIENDS WHO TURN CRIMINALS WHO ARE ON THE RUN AFTER AN ARMS DEAL GOES VIOLENTLY WRONG.

>> Reporter: FIGUEROA POINTS TO NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, HELL OR HIGH WATER AND BREAKING BAD AS INSPIRATION.

>> HOWEVER, AT THE HEART OF IT, IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT FAMILY AND BROTHERHOOD AND RELATIONSHIPS AND A BIG ELEMENT OF THIS STORY COMES FROM THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, BUT ALSO OUR MAIN CHARACTERS.

FOR ME IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO KIND OF BRING A PART OF MY LIFE INTO THIS WITH THE EMOTIONAL STAKE THAT COMES IN THE CONNECTION OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO FAMILY.

>> Reporter: THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS PLAYS OUT ON SCREEN AND OFF.

FIGUEROA AND DEREK VAUDRY PLAY THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE FILM AND BECAME FRIENDS IN THE REHEARSAL ROOM.

THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE CREATIVE TEAM IS ALSO A FRIEND, KATELYN WEISS.

WHILE WEISS HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PRODUCING FILM AND TELEVISION, FIGUEROA CONFESSES HE NEVER WENT TO FILM SCHOOL.

>> I DID NOT GO TO FILM SCHOOL.

I BELIEVE IT WAS TARANTINO WHO SAID I DIDN'T GO TO FILM SCHOOL.

I WENT TO FILMS AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'VE DONE.

>> Reporter: BUT HE'S ALSO GOTTEN AN EDUCATION BY ACTING IN OTHER PEOPLE'S FILMS.

>> I DID ONE IN 2024 CALLED SANDS FOR THE GRAM, A VERY FUNNY COMEDY HORROR FILM AND PAST YEAR I WAS IN A PUERTO RICAN-BASED SHORT FILM AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I BOOKED A LEAD ROLE.

>> Reporter: BUT RIGHT NOW ALL HIS ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON GETTING "THE LAST FAVOR" FUNDED AND MADE.

DOWN THE ROAD HE HOPES TO SCREEN IT AT FILM FESTIVALS AND MAYBE TURN IT INTO A FEATURE, BUT FIRST THINGS FIRST.

>> I'M FOCUSED ON CREATING A COMPELLING STORY THAT'S CHARACTER DRIVEN THAT GIVES YOU CHILLS, THRILLS, THAT MOVES PEOPLE AND INSPIRES.

THAT'S A BIG THING FOR ME, TOO.

YOU WANT TO PUT IT AT SUCH A SCALE WHERE IT INSPIRES OTHER FILMMAKERS, OTHER INDIE FILMMAKERS LIKE GREAT, WE CAN GO FOR IT.

>> Reporter: CURRENTLY THE PROJECT HAS RAISED 13,000 OF ITS $20,000 GOAL WITH 16 DAYS TO GO.

>> AND IT IS NO EASY FEAT.

EVERY DAY WE'RE POSTING NEW CONTENT.

WE ARE THANKING OUR BACKERS BECAUSE WE WANT TO SHOW HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THE SUPPORT.

WE'RE SHOWING THINGS LIKE OUR LOCATION, LIKE DIFFERENT STILL SHOTS FROM THE CONCEPT.

IT IS A JOB, BUT IT'S VERY REWARDING.

>> Reporter: REWARDING AND MAYBE EVEN LIFE CHANGING.

>> SO THIS IS MY FIRST KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN AND, MAN, I DON'T THINK IT WAS MY LAST BECAUSE WOW, IT'S REALLY CHANGED HOW I APPROACH BRINGING THESE THINGS TO LIFE.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN HELP BRING "THE LAST FAVOR" TO LIFE FOR AS LITTLE AS $15.

THE CAMPAIGN ENDS APRIL 23rd.

BETH ACCOMANDO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> DUE TO A TECHNICAL ISSUE, WE WERE UNABLE TO SHOW THE REST OF HEIDI DE MARCO'S STORY ABOUT A NEW NICOTINE WARNING.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE FULL STORY, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG, OR FIND IT ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR JOINING US!

I'M JOHN CARROLL.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

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