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>> >>DWANE: HI, I'M DWANE BROWN, TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, FEDERAL REGULATORS HAVE
RELEASED A REPORT ON WHAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON KNEW ABOUT SAN ONOFRE'S STEAM GENERATORS
AND WHEN THE COMPANY KNEW IT. AND SOME NORTH COUNTY COMMUTERS WILL HAVE
TO FIND A NEW WAY TO GET AROUND THE SPRINT SR GRINDING TO A HALT AT MIDNIGHT.
>> >>PEGGY: WE'LL SHOW YOU THE PENTAGON'S NEW MILITARY MEDAL FOR DRONE PILOTS.
THEN A NEW APP FROM A YOUNG ENGINEER IN TIJUANA BRINGS EVERY DAY OBJECTS TO LIFE.
WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS AND EXPLAIN ABOUT MEXICO'S INVESTMENT IN NEW TECHNOLOGY.
>> >>DWANE: AND WHAT DO ROBOTS PLAYING FRISBEE HAVE TO DO WITH INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION
OF INNOVATORS. WE'LL SHOW YOU COMING UP.
KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS.
>> >>DWANE: HELLO, AND
GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US. FEDERAL REGULATORS HAVE RELEASE AD LONG AWAITED
REPORT ABOUT THE STEAM GENERATORS AT THE SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR PLANT.
IT CONFIRMS WHAT TWO LAW MAKERS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED. THE PLANT OPERATOR WAS AWARE OF THE DESIGN
FLAWS BEFORE THEY WERE INSTALLED. AMITA SHARMA IS HERE WITH THE STORY.
TELL US ABOUT THE REPORT. >> >>AMITA: WELL, DWANE, IT COMES FROM MITSUBISHI.
IT SHOWS EDISON AND MITSUBISHI'S JOINT EXPERTS KNEW THE STEAM GENERATORS COULD PRODUCE WHAT
WAS CALLED VOID FRACTION, THINNING THE TUBES INSIDE THE STEAM GENERATORS. THE REPORT INDICATES
EDISON CONSIDERED MAKING CHANGES BEFORE INSTALLING THEM, BUT IT SHOWS EDISON BELIEVED THE CHANGES
CARRIED UNACCEPTABLE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING A LICENSING AMENDMENT PRAWS IS.
EDISON INSTALLED THE NEW GENERATORS IN 2010 AND 2011 WITHOUT THE FIXES.
A THINNING TUBE RUPTURED LAST YEAR AT SAN ONOFRE CAUSEINGA RADIATION LEAK. THE PLANT
HAS BEEN CLOSED EVER SINCE. >> >>DWANE: WHAT KIND OF A REACTION ARE WE
GETTING FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THIS REPORT? >> >>AMITA: DAMON MOGLAND CALLED THE REPORT
A BOMB SHELL. HE SAID QUOTE, IT PROVES CONCLUSIVELY THAT
EDISON WAS AWARE OF THESE REALLY TROUBLING PROBLEMS ALL THE WAY BACK IN 2005 AND RATHER
THAN DOING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO GUARANTEE SAFETY, THEY WENT AHEAD AND DISREGARDED THE CHANGES.
EDISON DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT BUT IN THE PAST THE COMPANY HAS
SAID IT WOULD NEVER AND DID NOT INSTALL STEAM GENERATORS THAT IT BELIEVED WOULD NOT PERFORM
SAFELY. THE COMPANY WANTS TO START THE PLANT AT REDUCED
CAPACITY. CALIFORNIA SENATOR BARBARA BOXER SAYS THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INVESTIGATE
WHETHER EDISON FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER IT SHOULD
REOPEN. NRC WOULD SAY THE PROBE IS ON GOING.
>> >>DWANE: MORE HEARING ARE COMING UP. YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR COVERAGE ABOUT THE
SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR PLANT ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG/SAN ONOFRE.
THERE WON'T BE HOPPING, SPRINTING OR JUMPING ON THE SPRINTER RAIL LINE IN THE NORTH COUNTY.
INEWS SOURCE REPORTER BRAD RACINO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SPRINTER TONIGHT? >> >>BRAD: THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION PERFORMED AN INSPECTION THAT REVEALED SOME WORN OUT BRAKES ON THE TRAINS AND THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT IT'S NOT A MAJOR ISSUE.
IT'S SIMILAR TO A CAR'S BRAKES HAVING WEAR AND TEAR.
LAST NIGHT THE DISTRICT PERFORMED SOME TESTS ON TWO OF THE TRAINS AND DECIDED I GUESS AS
A RESULT TO SHUT THE WHOLE THING DOWN, THE WHOLE LINE FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS POSSIBLY
FOUR MONTHS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET THE
PARTS FROM GERMANY. HERE'S MORE.
>> >>: THIS IS AN EVENT THAT IS EMBARRASSING, CHALLENGING, AND DIFFICULT.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW WE GOT HERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
OUR PRIORITY IS OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE RIDING PUBLIC AND SAFETY.
>> >>DWANE: SPEAKING OF CUSTOMERS RS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE DAILY COMMUTERS WHILE
THEY'RE REPAIRING THE TRAINS? >> >>BRAD: NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT ANNOUNCED
A BUS SERVICE THAT WILL OPERATE THROUGHOUT 30 MINUTE INTERVALS IT WILL STOP AT THE VISTA
TRANSIT CENTER, PALOMAR COLLEGE AND CAL STATE SAN MARCOS.
THE DISTRICT SAYS THEY'RE FINALLING BUS SCHEDULES AND ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO MONITOR THE
WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. >> >>DWANE: AND SO WILL WE.
INEWS SOURCE REPORTER, BRAD BRAD RACINO. CALIFORNIA'S COASTAL COMMISSION SAID NO TODAY
TO A NAVY PROGRAM FOR EXPLOSIVES AND SO NAR TRAINING.
SEWN AR TRAINING. THE CRITICS SAY THE PROGRAM IS DANGEROUS FOR
MARINE MAMMALS. THE COMMISSIONERS SAY THE NAVY DIDN'T HAVE
ENOUGH PROOF. THE NAVY COULD SEEK MEDIATION OR GO FORWARD
WITH THE TRAINING ANYWAY. IT'S DONE SO BEFORE AND THE COMMISSION SUED
TO STOP T.THE NAVY WON THE PREVIOUS CASE. THE PENT GONE HAS PROPOSE AD NEW MILITARY
MED TOOL BE AWARDED TO PILOTS OF DRONE AIR CRAFT IN COMBAT BUT AS PEGGY PICO EXPLAINS
TONIGHT THERE'S CONTROVERSY BREWING OVER THE STATUS F THE MEDAL.
>> >>PEGGY: THE NEW DISTINGUISHED WARFARE METAL TO HONOR PILOT OF DRONE AIR CRAFT RANKS
HIGHER THAN A BRONZE STAR AND A PURPLE HEART AND THIS IS ANGERED BOTH COMBAT VETERANS AND
SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. HERE WITH FURTHER DETAILS IS RICK ROGERS,
BLOGGER AND CREATOR OF MILITARY HEAD LINE NEWS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. WHO CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA FOR THIS NEW MEDIA
AND WHY? >> >>RICK RODGERS: FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
ANNOUNCED THE NEW MEDAL ON FEBRUARYÊ13. HE IS SUBSEQUENTLY RETIRED.
THE REASON BEHIND IT IS WARFARE HAS CHANGED QUITE A BIT OVER TIME.
MORE AND MORE CYBER BEING ABLE TO PROTECT OUR COMPUTERS HAS GAINED IMPORTANCE.
>> >>PEGGY: AS YOU SEE IT, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BACK LASH AFTER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT A FEW
WEEKS AGO. WHAT IS AT ISSUE HERE? >> >>RICK RODGERS: WHAT'S AT ISSUE IS THE
MEDAL. IT RANKS ABOVE THE BRONZE STAR, AND ALSO THE
PURPLE HEART, AND THAT HAS MANY VETERANS GROUPS VERY UPSET AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
>> >>PEGGY: REMIND US WHAT THE BRONZE STAR IS FOR AND WHAT THE PURPLE HEART IS FOR SO
PEOPLE CAN SEE WHY THERE'S SOME DISTINCTION GOING ON.
>> >>RICK RODGERS: THE BRONZE STAR IS A COMBAT MEDAL MEANING YOU HAVE TO BE IN A THEATER
COMBAT THEATER TO GET IT. A PURPLE HEART IS BEING KILLED OR WOUNDED
IN COMBAT. >> >>PEGGY: THESE ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND
OR YOU WERE IN COMBAT. WHERE ARE THEY OPERATING THESE DRONES FROM?
>> >>RICK RODGERS: THEY CAN BE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN AIR BASE IN LAS VEGAS WHERE THEY OFTEN FLY THEM FROM.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE IN THE SAME COUNTRY. >> >>PEGGY: AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY NOT, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE NOT. WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR LOCAL CONGRESS MEMBERS
SAYING ABOUT THIS? >> >>RICK RODGERS: I KNOW THAT SUSAN DAVIS
RECENTLY CO WROTE AN ARTICLE WITH ANOTHER CONGRESSMAN IN COME SHE SAID SHE HAS DOUBTS
ABOUT WHETHER THIS MEDAL SHOULD BE RANKED ABOVE THE DISTINGUISHED WARFARE MEDAL, ABOVE
THE BRONZE STAR. RECENTLY MISTER DUNCAN HUNTER REPRESENTATIVEÊ
>> >>PEGGY: HE HE RELEASE AD STATEMENT YESTERDAY. >> >>RICK RODGERS: HE RELEASED A STATEMENT
THE OTHER DAY. ESSENTIALLY LAYING OUT WHY HE DOESN'T THINK
THE IT SHOULD BE ON THE SAME PAR AS THE BRONZE STAR.
>> >>PEGGY: OKAY. AND DO YOU WAND WANT TO READ A QUOTE FROM
HIM? DID YOU WANT TO DO THAT? >> >>RICK RODGERS: LET ME SEE HERE.
>> >>PEGGY: WE CAN COME BACK TO IT WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT.
ONE QUESTION THAT PEOPLE WOULD ASK, YOU KNOW, HOW DIFFICULT ARE THESE DRONES TO OPERATE?
IS THIS ON THE SAME LEVEL AND WOULD IT BE ON THE SAME LEVEL THAT, LET'S SAY A JET FIGHTER
PILOT WHO RELIES ON COMPUTER? >> >>RICK RODGERS: I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ONE
OF THE OPERATION CENTERS SO I DON'T KNOW. BUT I FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, I DON'T THINK THAT
FOR THE DRONE PILOTS THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME STRESSES ON THEIR BODIES AS SOMEONE WHO'S
PULLING G'S IN A REAL COMBAT JET. >> >>PEGGY: SO THERE MAY BE SOME ISSUE AS
FAR AS THE ACTUAL RISK INVOLVED. >> >>RICK RODGERS: NO DOUBT.
THERE'S AN ISSUE SO FAR AS RISK IS CONCERNED. I DON'T THINK THE RISK OF SOMEONE WHO IS IN
LINE TO GET THE DISTINGUISHED WARFARE MEDAL IS ANYWHERE AS CLOSE AS FAR AS A BRONZE STAR.
>> >>PEGGY: TELL US ABOUT A PETITION YOU SIGNED FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TO GET THIS RANKING, NO
NOBODY'S SAYING TAKE AWAY THE MEDAL, BUT THEY WANT A RANKING CHANGED.
>> >>RICK RODGERS: WELL, NOT LONG AFTER SECRETARY LEON PANETTA ANNOUNCED THIS MEDAL ON FEBRUARYÊ13,
WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE AND DECIDED THAT THEY NEEDED A PETITION DRIVE TO GET THE
DISTINGUISHED WARFARE MEDAL RANKED BEFORE THE BRONZE STAR AND ALSO THE PURPLE HEART
IN MERIT. SO THEY WANT A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE TO
SIGN UP FOR THIS BY MARCHÊ16. SO FAR THERE'S 17,800 SOME SO I DON'T THINK
THEY'RE GOING TO REACH THEIR HUNDRED THOUSAND GOAL.
>> >>PEGGY: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO END IT THERE.
BUT PEOPLE CAN READ DUNCAN HUNTER'S STATEMENT ON OUR WEBSITE, MILITARY BLOGGER RICK ROGERS,
THANKS FOR JOINING US. >> >>DWANE: ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN IS
DEMANDING INFORMATION ABOUT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS RELEASED FROM DETENTION.
HE SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE SOME HAVE BEEN CONVICT OFFED SERIOUS CRIMES.
HOMELAND SECURITY SAYS HUNDREDS OF. MCCAIN WANTS TO KNOW HOW AGENTS CHOSE WHO
TO RELEASE AND WHO TO KEEP. TODAY IN NEW YORK OSAMA BIN LADEN'S SON IN
LAW PLEADED NOT GUILT TEE PLOTTING AGAINST AMERICANS BEFORE AND AFTER THE SEPTEMBERÊ11
ATTACKS. HE WAS AL QAEDA'S TOP SPOKESMAN AFTER THE
ATTACKS. A STATE FUNERAL TODAY FOR HUGO CHAVEZ DREW
LEADERS AND DIGNITARIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON WAS ONE OF THE
SPEAKERS CALLING FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND VENEZUELA.
ON TUESDAY CARDINALS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL BEGIN TO CHOOSE THEIR NEXT POPE.
U.S. CARDINAL TIMOTHY DOLAN SAYS SOME NAMES HAVE COME UP, BUT THE ONE MOST OFTEN IS THAT
OF JESUS CHRIST. DOLAN IS CONSIDERED A POPE CONTENDER.
MANY NAMES HAVE BEEN MENTIONED SINCE BENEDICT THE 16TH ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT LAST MONTH.
MATT FREEDMAN HAS SOME OF THOSE NAMES. >> >>MATT: WITH THE CARDINALS GATHERED THESE
ARE THE URNS THEY WILL USE TO VOTE FOR A NEW POPE.
IN A CONCLAVE UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE LAST SIX CENTURIES, THE CARDINALS WILL CHOOSE THE
SUCCESSOR WHILE HE IS STILL ALIVE. WITH NO CLEAR FRONT RUNNER THE BIGGEST QUESTION,
WILL THEY PICK A EUROPEAN POPE OR MAKE HISTORY BY CHOOSING A PONTIFF FROM ANOTHER CONTINENT?
THE ARCHBISHOP OF MILAN, A MAN CLOSE TO BENEDICT. >> >>: HE IS AN INTELLECTUAL, VERY MUCH IN
LINE WITH POPE BENEDICT AND JOHN PAUL 2. HE IS ALSO CONSIDERED A GOOD PASTOR.
>> >>MATT: THERE'S ALSO CARDINAL RAVASRSI, AN INTELLECTUAL HEAVY WEIGHT.
CARDINAL CHRISTOPH SCHOENBORN FROM AUSTRIA, A FORMER THEOLOGY STUDENT OF BENEDICT'S SOME
SAY HE'S FAR TOO LIBERAL. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONTENDERS FROM LATIN AMERICA,
HOME TO 40% OF THE WORLD'S 1.2ÊBILLION CATHOLICS. SOME POINT TOÊ CARDINAL LEONARDO SANDRI ACTED
AS THE VOICE OF AN AILING POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND.
CARDINAL SHEER COULD BE BRAZIL'S BEST HOPE. HE EMBRACES SOCIAL MEDIA TO BELIEVERS.
>> >>: CARDINAL SHEER IS A MAN OF HUMBLE ORIGINS. HE RECALLS GROWING UP IN A PLACE IN BRAZIL
WHERE THEY COULD ONLY CELEBRATE MASS ONCE A MONTH BECAUSE THE PRIESTS COULD ONLY COME
ONCE MONTH. >> >>MATT: AS AFRICAN CONGREGATIONS SWELL,
A COMPROMISE COULD BE FRENCH CANADIAN MARK, VETTING THE WORLD'S BISHOPS.
>> >>: I DON'T SEE MYSELF AT THIS LEVEL. NOT AT ALL.
>> >>MATT: IF CATHOLICS WAIT FOR THE WHITE SMOKE THAT SIGNAL AS NEW POPE, VATICAN WATCHERS
EXPECT HE WILL BRING GRADUAL CHANGE WRATH THAN MAJOR TRANSFORMATION.
MATT FREEDMAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS. >> >>DWANE: THE U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED
IN JANUARY TO 7.7%. CALIFORNIA'S DATA WILL BE RELEASED OP MARCHÊ29.
STOCK PRICES ROSE AFTER THE NATIONAL REPORT. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
A JURY AWARDED MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS OO TO A CALIFORNIA MAN IN A LAWSUIT OVER A
DEFECTIVE HIP IMPLANT. IT'S THE FIRST OF THOUSANDS OF CASES BY PATIENTS
WHO SAY THE IMPLANTS LEFT THEM WITH CRIPPLING PROBLEMS OR NEEDING NEW SURGERY.
THE IMPLANTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE LAWYER FOR FORMER ACORN EMPLOYEE SAYS
A 100,000 DOLLAR SETTLEMENT IS A SMALL CONSOLATION FOR TROUBLE CREATED BY HIDDEN CAMERA VIDEO.
JUAN CARLOS VERA WAS TAPED AT ACORN'S NATIONAL CITY OFFICE BY A CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CLAIMING
HE WAS LOOKING FOR FEDERAL MONEY TO SET UP A PROSTITUTION RING.
THE TAPE WAS SELECTIVELY EDITED. IT'S DAMAGED HIS CLIENT'S REPUTATION AND COST
HIM HIS JOB. ACORN DISBANDED IN THE UP ROAR OVER THIS.
THERE'S A GROWING REPUBLIC REPUBLIC US TONIGHT OVER NEW RULES ON WHAT YOU CAN BRING ON AIRLINES.
THEY ALLOW SMALL FOLDING KNIVES, SOUVENIR BATS EVEN GOLF CLUBS.
THERE'S A GROWING LIST OF OPPONENTS TO THE NEW RULES INCLUDING FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, PILOTS,
INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND NOW THE HEAD OF DELTA AIRLINES WHO SAYS THEIR THERE ARE ARE BETTER
WAYS TO STREAM LINE CHECK POINT SECURITY. A NEW APP CREATED BY A YOUNG MAN NEAR IN TIJUANA
BRINGS STILL OBJECTS TO LIFE. PEGGY PICO SHOWS US HOW IT WORKS AND WHY THE
MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS INVESTED IN IT. >> >>PEGGY: THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HOPES TO
GIVE SILICON VALLEY A RUN FOR ITS MONEY. AN ASTOUNDING NEW APP BUILT BY A 20 YEAR OLD
ENGINEER IN TIJUANA COULD REDEFINE HOW WE INTERACT WITH EVERY DAY OBJECTS. LET'S TAKE
A LOOK. KPBS FRONTERAS REPORTER JON ROSMAN JOINS US
WITH MORE ON THIS APP AND JON THAT LOOKS PRETTY SPECTACULAR.
BREAK IT DOWN WHAT THIS APP DOES. >> >>JOHN ROSMAN: WHAT THIS APP ACTUALLY DOES
IS RECOGNIZES SOME OBJECTS. IN THIS EXAMPLE WE SAW THE PHONE FLOATING
OVER A PIECE OF PAPER AND THEN IT COMES TO LIFE.
WHAT IT'S DOING IS RECOGNIZES THE PIECE OF PAPER.
IT KIND OF GOES OVER THE PIECE OF PAPER, RECOGNIZES IT, GOES TO A WEBSITE WHERE AN ANIMATION PLAYS
AND THEN IT JUST COMES AND GOES. >> >>PEGGY: IT MAKES IT COME ALIVE.
TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT INVENTER. >> >>JOHN ROSMAN: HIS NAME IS DAVID FIGUEROA,
HE'S EMBLEM ATTIC OF TIJUANA THE NEW TECH MECCA.
HE WORKS OUT OF THE BIT CENTER ANOTHER PLACE THAT THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT FUNDS.
>> >>PEGGY: TELL US ABOUT THAT, THAT'S IN TIJUANA AND IT'S A HUGE BUILDING BUT A HUGE
INVESTMENT. >> >>JOHN ROSMAN: RIGHT, SO THE BIT CENTER
IS THIS REALLY BIG OPEN SPACE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN TIJUANA.
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT WANTED TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE ENGINEERS AND COMPANIES COULD
KIND OF COME AND INNOVATE TOGETHER. KIND OF LIKE ANÊ IT'S FOR ESTABLISHED COMPANIES.
THEY WENT ALL OVER MEXICO LOOKING FOR CENTERS, TO KIND OF SEE WHAT THE BEST ENVIRONMENT WOULD
LOOK LIKE. AND SO THE REASON THEY CHOSE TIJUANA VERSUS
SOMEWHERE LIKE MEXICO CITY IS BECAUSE IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE BORDER.
THERE'S A LOT F PEOPLE ARE BILINGUAL, AND THERE'S JUST MORE OF AN ABILITY TO USE THE
INVENTIONS THAT ARE CREATED IN TIJUANA. >> >>PEGGY: EXACTLY, CROSS THE CROWD.
THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT AND INNOVATION GOING ON IN TIJUANA, NOT JUST AT THE BIT CENTER.
TELL US ABOUT ONE IN REGARDS TO THESE DO IT YOURSELF DRONES.
A LITTLE BIT MORE PRACTICAL THAN THE APPLICATION WE JUST SAW.
>> >>JOHN ROSMAN: RIGHT, SO EARLIER THIS YEAR, I INTERVIEWED A COMPANY CALLED 3D ROBOTICS.
WHAT THEY MAKE ARE DRONES. WE THINK OF THESE WAR PLANES THAT DROP MISSILES.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS CREATING THESE HAND SMALL DRONES YOU CAN FLY AROUND AND TAKE PICTURES.
IT'S WHAT THEY HOPE TO BEÊ >> >>PEGGY: WHY THEY CALL IT DO IT YOURSELF
DRONES? >> >>JOHN ROSMAN: BECAUSE YOU CAN EITHER BUILD
THEM LIKE BUY THEM BUILT OR BUY THEM AND BUILD THEM YOURSELF.
>> >>PEGGY: LIKE A KIT. >> >>JOHN ROSMAN: EXACTLY.
AND SO THE BIG REASON WHY IT'S KIND OF DO IT YOURSELF IS BECAUSE THEY WANT THE HOBBYIST
MARKET TO TAKE IT OVER AND REINVENT IT. THEY WANT IT TO BE REALLY OPEN SO WHEN SOMEONE
CREATES THIS DRONE, IT CAN BECOME SOMETHING LIKE A CROP DUSTER.
>> >>PEGGY: THAT CAME FROM TIJUANA. >> >>JOHN ROSMAN: RIGHT, WELL IT STARTED BY
TWO PEOPLE. THE PERSON THAT ENGINEERED IT IS A 26 YEAR
OLD KID FROM TIJUANA. >> >>PEGGY: OKAY, ALL RIGHT JON ROSMAN, WE
ARE OUT OF TIME. FOLKS CAN READ THE REST OF THIS STORY ON OUR
WEBSITE KPBS.ORG. THANKS AGAIN.
>> >>DWANE: WITH THE U.S. FALLING BEHIND OUR FOREIGN COMPETITORS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND ENGINEERING, EXPERTS SAY THERE'S NO TIME MORE CRUCIAL TO ATTRACT YOUNG STUDENTS TO
THE FIELDS. THAT'S WHERE THE ANNUAL FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION COMES IN THAT VALLEY
VIEW CASINO CENTER, BETTER KNOWN AS THE SPORTS ARENA.
>> >>: FOR ALL THE JUDGES, THEY PLAY THE GAME AND OUR TEAM.
>> >>DWANE: A LITTLE SWAG FOR INDUSTRY JUDGES AT THE SEVENTH ANNUAL ROBOTICS COMPETITION
IN SAN DIEGO WHERE 60 TEAMS, HALF FROM SAN DIEGO, HAVE COME TO PLAY AND COMPETE IN WHAT
LOOKS LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN FRISBEE AND PYRAMID CLIMBING WITH A 100 POUND PLUS ROBOT.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT INSPIRING OUR NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS.
>> >>: DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. THE UPPER CLASSMAN TEACH THE
YOUNGER CLASSMAN AND THEY'RE SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND GREAT TO ALL OF US.
>> >>: THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS IT'S SHOWN ME WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE.
>> >>: FOR ME IT'S ALSO SPECIAL BECAUSE I HAVE A PROGRAMMING CLASS AT SCHOOL, BUT THAT'S
ALL JUST HARD CODED IN THE COMPUTER. BUT HERE YOU SEE HOW THE CODE ACTUALLY WORKS
ON A ROBOT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THESE ARE REAL LIFE APPLICATIONS OF WHAT WE'RE LEARNING
IN SCHOOL. >> >>: THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS EVENT ARE TRYING
TO MAKE BEING A GEEK COOL AND HAVE CREATED SPORTS LIKE ATMOSPHERE TO PUMP UP THE COMPETITION.
>> >>DWANE: THE MATCH BEGINS WITH A 15 SECOND PERIOD WHERE ROBOTS OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY.
EACH DISK SCORE SD WORTH ADDITIONAL POINTS. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TWO MINUTE MATCH,
DRIVERS CONTROL ROBOTS REMOTELY, AND TRY TO SCORE AS MANY DISKS AS POSSIBLE.
THE MATCH ENDS WITH THE BOTS TRYING TO CLIMB A PYRAMID.
THE HIGHER UP, THE MORE POINTS THEY GET. AND EVERY TEAM WORKS WITH PROFESSIONAL MENTORS
TO DESIGN AND BUILD A ROBOT FOR THE COMPETITION. THE BIGGER GOAL, THOUGH, IS TO INSPIRE THESE
KIDS TO CHOOSE A CAREER WHERE THEY'RE ALMOST GUARANTEED A HIGH PAYING JOB TO FILL THE GROWING
GAP IN THE SCIENCE TECH AND ENGINEERING FIELDS. THE CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE HELD IN ST.ÊLEWIS
AT THE END OF APRIL WITH 16ÊMILLION DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS UP FOR GRABS.
>> >>: ON THE NEXT NEWS HOUR, THE LATEST JOBS NUMBERS, OLDER WORKERS, PLUS DAVID BROOKS
AND RUTH MARCUS, THAT'S FRIDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR.
>> >>DWANE: SAN DIEGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL OPENED ITS TWENTIETH SEASON LAST NIGHT.
KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH ACCOMANDO WAS THERE AND SHOWS US THE FESTIVAL'S NEW SCREENING
VENUE. >> >>: THANKS FOR ALL THE 20 YEARS WE COULDN'T
DO IT WITHOUT YOU. >> >>BETH: LAST NIGHT THE SAN DIEGO LATINO
FILM FESTIVAL KICKED OFF ITS 20TH SEASON WITH A SOLD OUT SHOWING OF FILLY BROWN.
ACTOR LEU DIAMOND PHILLIPS WAS IN ATTENDANCE. A BAND PLAYED IN THE SMALL LOUNGE.
IT WAS A GOOD OPENING NIGHT THAT GENERATED THE KIND OF BUZZ YOU CAN ONLY GET AT A FILM
FESTIVAL. >> >>: IT'S BUSY, WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO START
THE FILM FILLY BROWN, WHICH LEU DIAMOND PHILLIPS IS HEREÊ
>> >>: I'M VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE SHARING FILLY BROWN WITH YOU HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE
THIS IS A GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT, YOU ARE THE FRONT LINE OF PEOPLE WHO WILL GO OUT THERE
AND TELL EVERYONE ELSE HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS FILM IS.
>> >>: PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE CELEBRATING 20 YEARS,
AND HAVE PEOPLE ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL EVENT. >> >>BETH: EARLIER IN THE DAY, ETHAN WAS AT
THE MEDIA ARTS CENTER DIGITAL GYM WHERE THE FESTIVAL IS OPENING A NEW SCREENING VENUE.
>> >>: THIS IS A NEW COMMUNITY SPACE IN THE NORTH PARK AREA CALLED THE DIGITAL GYM.
ONE PART OF THE SPACE IS A 49 SEAT CINEMA HOUSING SOME OF THE FILMS FROM THIS YEAR'S
20TH AN ANNIVERSARY SAN DIEGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL.
>> >>: THIS WILL BE A NEW LOCATION FOR THE FILM FESTIVAL, IN ADDITION TO THE DIGI PLEX,
WE'RE GOING TO BE SCREENING FILMS, AND ALSO WE HOPE IT'S A SPACE THAT PEOPLE AFTERWARDS
DIALOGUE ABOUT THE FILMS AND THERE'S INTRODUCTIONS BEFORE THE FILM, YOU CAN HAVE SOME COFFEE
OR TEA AND TALK ABOUT THE FILM AFTERWARDS. >> >>BETH: AFTER THE FESTIVAL ENDS THIS MICRO
CINEMA WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW MOVIES EVERY WEEK.
BETH ACCOMANDO, KPBS NEWS. >> >>DWANE: SAN DIEGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL
CONTINUES THROUGH MARCHÊ17. FOR A SCHEDULE GO TO SD LATINO FILM.COM.
>> >>PEGGY: IN TONIGHT'S PUBLIC SQUARE IT SEEM AS LOT OF SAN DIEGANS WITH NOT TOO HAPPY
ABOUT THE CRACK DOWN ON JAY WALKING. POLICE SAY THEY ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS HIT BY CARS. THEY RAN A JAY WALKER SWEEP YESTERDAY AND
THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO MORE. WE GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS ON OUR KPBS WEBSITE
COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. DEREK ASKS, WHEN WILL THE POLICE START CONDUCTING
CROSS WALK STINGS TO CATCH MOTORISTS WHO VIOLATE THE RIGHT OF WAY OF PEDESTRIANS.
WHILE MCLANE YOU TELLS US IT'S NOT ABOUT SAFETY, IT'S ABOUT REVENUE.
PURE AND SIMPLE. BUT VIN 72 HAD THIS OBSERVATION, ONE WOULD
THINK THE RISK OF BEING KILLED WOULD BE INCENTIVE ENOUGH TO PREVENT JAY WALKING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JAY WALKERS AND THE CRACK DOWN OR ANY OTHER STORY ON KPBS? WELL,
YOU CAN TELL US BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK, OR JUST E MAIL US AT
PUBLIC SQUARE @ KPBS.ORG. >> >>DWANE: AND A FOOTNOTE ON THE JAY WALKING
STORY POLICE ACTUALLY WROTE 328 TICKETS IN YESTERDAY'S SWEEP.
THE AVERAGE FINE, A HUNDRED BUCKS. WE'VE GOT ONE MORE DAY OF RAIN AROUND MOST
OF SAN DIEGO. BY SUNDAY WE SHOULD SEE SOME CLEARING AND
TEMPERATURES WILL START WARMING UP. STILL, COOL IN THE MOUNTAINS AND COLD AT NIGHT.
DRY AND MILD IN THE DESERT, TEMPERATURES CLIMB INTO THE 80S BY MONDAY.
YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES AND DOWNLOAD THE KPBS APP ALL ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS.