San Diego News Matters KPBS

Positive COVID-19 tests are on the downward trend in San Diego. Also on KPBS’ San Diego News Matters podcast: San Diego County officials are moving forward with plans to reopen restaurants for dine in service and retail stores, but healthcare workers want more of a say on how quickly that happens, eleven employees at a VA Counseling Center in Mission Valley that serves homeless veterans have tested positive for COVID-19 and more local news you need.

On Tuesday, San Diego County Supervisors decided to ask the state to let our county be a test case for an accelerated reopening. Also on KPBS’ San Diego News Matters podcast: San Diego City Council members extended a moratorium on evictions for struggling renters and businesses, California blood banks are urgently asking COVID-19 survivors to donate plasma and more local news you need.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a dramatic relaxation of health standards to reopen the state. Also on KPBS’ San Diego News Matters podcast: droves of people turned out for Viejas Casino & Resort's reopening yesterday, restaurants across San Diego are preparing to open for dine-in service as soon as they get the go-ahead, the coronavirus’ silver lining and more local news you need.

Four San Diego Indian casinos will reopen this week. Also on KPBS’ San Diego News Matters podcast: expanded COVID-19 testing and new testing sites in central and southeastern San Diego, the COVID-19 numbers in San Diego County suggest the virus was likely not widely circulating before stay at home orders, as it may have been in other places like New York City and more local news you need.

Today, a story about how creativity persists, even in a pandemic.

Because like a river that snakes its way around rocks, creative juices don’t just stop flowing when hit with obstacles. Often, creativity just finds a way around things.

When the coronavirus hit, Katie Harroff didn’t waste any time. Like, at all.

While most people were still scrambling to figure out how to live their new lives in quarantine, Katie not only got right back to work for her day job, but she also did something kinda nuts.

She relaunched her own theater company.

This is the last episode of "The Pandemic Pivot" popup podcast. Listen to all the episodes in the limited-run series here: https://www.kpbs.org/pivot

Support future pop-up project like this by becoming a KPBS member: http://www.kpbs.org/donate

A petition was launched today to reopen a portion of Ocean Front Walk between Mission Beach and Pacific Beach for one select purpose: to allow the rollerblader known as ``Slomo'' to once again take to the boardwalk, where he's been a rolling icon for, like, ever. Also on KPBS’ San Diego News Matters podcast: city and county officials are moving forward with a plan to reopen the economy faster than currently allowed by California guidelines, Metropolitan Transit System workers are getting $1000 bonuses for their work during the coronavirus pandemic and more local news you need.