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>> COMING
UP NEXT ON KPBS
"EVENING EDITION", A BIZARRE
TWIST IN THE "KONY 2012"
PHENOMENON.
THE FOUNDER WAS DETAINED IN
PACIFIC BEACH.
>>> AND A WALKOUT AT A SAN DIEGO
HIGH SCHOOL TODAY.
KPBS "EVENING EDITION" STARTS
NOW.
>> HELLO, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M JOANNE FARYON.
>> I'M DWANE BROWN.
>> THE FOUNDER OF "INVISIBLE
CHILDREN" WAS DETAINED YESTERDAY
IN PACIFIC BEACH.
TOM FUDGE, YOU SPOKE WITH SAN
DIEGO POLICE TO DAY.
WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU?
>> Reporter: AT ABOUT NOON
YESTERDAY IN PACIFIC BEACH,
WITNESSES SAY THAT THERE WAS A
MAN WHO POLICE DESCRIBE AS A
33-YEAR-OLD WHITE MAN WHO WAS
ACTING IN A VERY IRRATIONAL,
BIZARRE MANNER.
HE WAS ALLEGEDLY POUNDING ON
CARS, SCREAMING, HE WAS IN
VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS, SOME
WITNESSES EVEN SAY HE BEGAN TO
*** WHILE HE WAS THERE.
POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE,
AND POLICE SAY THIS THIS MAN WAS
COOPERATIVE, AND THEY DECIDED TO
TAKE HIM INTO MEDICAL CUSTODY.
I HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THAT HE
HASAN BEEN CHARGED WITH ANY
CRIMES, BUT POLICE FELT HE WAS
ACTING SO IRRATIONALLY, THEY
NEEDED TO GET HIM SOME HELP.
LATER, SEVERAL MEDIA
ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH A
STATEMENT FROM "INVISIBLE
CHILDREN" C.E.O. BEN KEESEY
IDENTIFIED THIS MAN AS JASON
RUSSELL, WHO IS CO-FOUNDER OF
"INVISIBLE CHILDREN."
HE'S A FILMMAKER.
"INVISIBLE CHILDREN" IS BASED IN
SAN DIEGO, THEY'VE CREATED "KONY
2012" THAT TELLS THE STORY OF A
VERY INFAMOUS AFRICAN REBEL
NAMES JOSEPH KONY WHO ALLEGEDLY
KIDNAPS CHILDREN AND FORCES THEM
INTO MILITARY SERVICE AND SEX
SLAVERY.
THIS VIDEO HAS GOTTEN MORE THAN
80 MILLION INTERNET HITS.
>> HAS ANYONE YOU SPOKE WITH
TODAY WHAT LED UP TO THIS?
>> Reporter: WELL, WE CAN'T BE
SURE, BUT THE STATEMENT THAT WAS
GIVEN BY BEN KEESEY, THE C.E.O.
OF "INVISIBLE CHILDREN", WAS
VERY REVEALING.
HE SAID, "THE LAST TWO WEEKS
HAVE TAKEN A SEVERE EMOTIONAL
TOLL ON ALL OF US, JASON
ESPECIALLY, AND THAT TOLL
MANIFESTED ITSELF IN AN
UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT YESTERDAY."
THIS INDICATES THIS IS A GUY WHO
HAS BEEN UNDER A LOT OF STRESS.
"INVISIBLE CHILDREN"'S VIDEO HAS
BEEN POPULAR AND ALSO HAS
RECEIVED CRITICISM, BECAUSE OF
SOME CONCLUSIONS THEY'VE REACHED
ABOUT JOSEPH KONY, PLUS A LOT OF
QUESTION ABOUT THE DONATIONS
THEY'RE SEEKING AND WHAT IS DONE
WITH THAT MONEY.
SO SOMEONE LIKE JASON RUSSELL
WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER A LOT OF
PRESSURE.
>> TOM, DO WE KNOW WHERE JASON
RUSSELL IS RIGHT NOW?
>> Reporter: I DON'T, AND
POLICE WOULD NOT TELL ME.
HE WAS TAKE NOON MEDICAL CUSTODY
YESTERDAY.
WHERE HE IS TODAY, WE CAN'T SAY.
>> KPBS REPORTER TOM FUDGE.
>>> HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WALKED
OUT OF CLASSES AT MISSION BAY
HIGH SCHOOL TODAY, PROTESTING
PINK SLIPS GIVEN TO THEIR
TEACHERS.
>> SAVE OUR TEACHERS!
>> THIRTEEN MISSION BAY TEACHERS
RECEIVED LAYOFF NOTICES THIS
WEEK.
SAN DIEGO SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS
PLANS TO LAY OFF MORE THAN 1600
EMPLOYEES: IT FACES A SHORTFALL
OF $122 MILLION.
STUDENTS ARE FED UP WITH
LAYOFFS.
>> WE WAY TOO MANY KIDS IN EACH
CLASS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH OUR
TEACHERS, AND IT'S NOT OKAY, AND
WE NEED TO FIX IT.
>> THE DISTRICT SAYS LAYOFFS CAN
BE AVOIDED IF THE EMPLOYEE
UNIONS AGREE TO CONCESSIONS.
SO FAR THE TEACHERS UNION HAS
NOT AGREED TO NEGOTIATE, SAYING
THE SHORTFALL IS BASED ON
UNRELIABLE STATE PROJECTIONS.
>>> SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON
SAYS THERE ARE TUBE FAILURES AT
SAN ONOFRE.
THIS WEEK SEVEN HAVE FAILED
DURING TESTS.
A SPECIAL TEAM OF INSPECTORS
FROM THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION WILL VISIT THE PLANT
MONDAY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE
TUBES ARE FAILING.
>>> A MAN WHO OPENED FIRE AT A
CARLSBAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS
BEEN FOUND SANE BY A JURY IN
VISTA.
THE DECISION MEANS BRENDAN
O'ROURKE COULD BE SENTENCED TO
MORE THAN 100 YEARS IN PRISON.
HE INJURED TWO SECOND-GRADE
GIRLS.
>>> IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING
MORNING FOR THE AZTECS.
THEY'RE OUT OF THE NCAA
TOURNAMENT, FALLING TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK, 79-65.
THIS WAS THE TEAM'S THIRD
STRAIGHT TRIP TO THE TOURNAMENT,
BUT THE COACH SAYS THE BEST IS
YET TO COME.
>> THE WOMEN ARE THE 12TH SEED
IN THE TOURNAMENT.
SUNDAY THEY PLAY LSU.
THE POINT GUARD SAYS THE PLAN IS
TO SIMPLY PLAY AZTEC BASKETBALL.
>> WE'RE JUST GOING TO TRY TO BE
THE AGGRESSOR, TRY TO PLAY OUR
GAME, WHICH IS VERY UPTEMPO,
VERY FAST, AND KIND OF LET LSU
ON THEIR HEELS.
>> THE GAME STARTS AT 4:45
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
IF THE AZTECS WIN, THEY WILL
PLAY TUESDAY AGAINST
PENNSYLVANIA STATE OR EL PASO.
>>> IT WAS A DAY OF SERVICE FOR
FRATERNITY OR SORORITY MEMBERS.
THE BENEFICIARY IS A SOMALIAN
CHARTER SCHOOL.
IT'S TO GET THEM TO GET A
COLLEGE DEGREE, HELP BEAUTIFY
THEIR SCHOOL, AND ENGAGE THEM IN
FUN WITH A SCHOOL CARNIVAL.
YUSEF ABRAHAM HELPED ORGANIZE
THE EVENT.
>> THE FAMINE IS CRIPPLING
SOMALIA.
>> Reporter: THESE CHILDREN
REPRESENT THE FUTURE.
THAT'S WHY ABRAHAM AND ANOTHER
STUDENT CREATED THIS
ORGANIZATION.
>> A LOT OF OUR YOUTH ARE
MISGUIDED.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM PURSUE
HIGHER EDUCATION.
>> Reporter: IT'S BRINGING
FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES FROM
SDSU TOGETHER.
>> IT'S THE MOST PARTICIPATION
EVER FROM THE GREEK STUDENTS.
THIS IS A CHANGE.
>> Reporter: THERE ARE MILLIONS
OF CHILDREN IN EAST AFRICA
AFFECTED BY FAMINE CONDITIONS.
THIS EVENT IS A SIGN OF HOPE.
ANYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NO
MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
>> I THINK THAT GREEK WEEK IS
ONE WAY WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR THAT
AND SHOW THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE, EVEN IF IT IS ON A
SMALL, LOCAL LEVEL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR
HELP OUT THERE STILL.
>> BESIDES FOOD, LACK OF WATER
IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR PEOPLE IN
SOMALIA.
THIS SUMMER THE ORGANIZERS OF
"PURE AFRICA" PLAN TO RETURN
HOME TO HELP CONSTRUCT WELLS TO
HELP PEOPLE IN MOGADISHU.
>>> A WATER WAR AND A POLITICAL
WAR OF WORDS ARE THE TOPICS THAT
JOANNE IS DISCUSSING WITH HER
GUESTS AT THE "EVENING EDITION"
ROUNDTABLE.
>> THIS WEEK KPBS HOSTED THE
FIRST TELEVISED DEBATE FOR THE
52ND CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE.
MOSTLY THE TALK WAS ABOUT
HEALTHCARE, IMMIGRATION, AND GAS
PRICES.
WAS THERE A WINNER OR A LOSER?
AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER
AUTHORITY THREW OUT WORDS LIKE
"SHADOW GOVERNMENT" AND "SECRET
SOCIETY".
IT'S THE NEWEST ROUND IN THEIR
BATTLE WITH SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST WATER
WHOLESALER OVER RISING WATER
RATES.
HERE TO TALK WITH ME IS UT
REPORTER CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO
AND 10NEWS MANAGING EDITOR J.W.
AUGUST.
J.W., TELL US, WHY IS THIS WATER
BATTLE GOING ON?
>> IT'S ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT
POWER, IT'S ABOUT WATER.
WATER IS OUR LIFEBLOOD, AND IT'S
HISTORICALLY ALWAYS BEEN AN
ISSUE HERE, AND IT'S HEATING UP.
>> WHEN WE HEAR WORDS ABOUT
"SHADOW GOVERNMENT," "SECRET
SOCIETY", THESE ARE ACTUALLY
WORDS USED IN EMAILS.
>> THEY'RE SUING MWD, UP NORTH,
AND THERE ARE EMAILS, ONE OF
WHICH I HAVE HERE, IS THE ONE
EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT,
BECAUSE IT REFERENCES A SECRET
SOCIETY MEETING, AND ALSO A
CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY CALLED
CORDOBA WHICH IS AN OUTSIDE
ADVISER CONSULTANT THAT THE
OTHER WATER DISTRICTS ARE USING
AND SHUTTING US OUT OF THINGS.
>> THIS IS REALLY OUR LOCAL
WATER AUTHORITY SAYING TO THIS
SORT OF LARGER UMBRELLA
ORGANIZATION, "WAIT A MINUTE, WE
THINK YOU'RE CHARGING US TOO
MUCH, AND WE THINK YOU'RE
MEETING SECRETLY ABOUT THIS."
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THERE IS PRETTY GROUP, LIKE
A 9:00 A.M. MEETING THAT
EVERYONE SHOWS UP, SAN DIEGO
SHOWS UP AT 8:00, THESE GUYS
HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THINGS.
THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
AND THEN THEY HAVE THESE
CONSULTANTS ADVISING THEM ON THE
SIDE, AND WHEN SAN DIEGO ASKS
QUESTIONS, THEY'RE TOLD THEY'RE
STUPID, THEY SAID, "YOU GUYS
WASTE OUR TIME."
THERE IS A LOT OF BAD BLOOD.
>> I THINK A POINT TO MAKE IS
EVEN THOUGH MWD IS L.A. BASED,
AND WE THINK OF L.A. AS
MONOLITHIC, THERE ARE SMALLER
MEMBER AGENCIES AROUND IN ALL
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
COUNTIES, AND ALSO SOME SMALLER
INCORPORATED CITIES IN L.A., AND
I THINK WHAT THE COUNTY WATER
AUTHORITY IS SAYING IS ALL OF
THESE ARE ACTING TO CONSPIRE
AGAINST SAN DIEGO, IF NOT ALL OF
THEM, A GOOD MAJORITY OF THEM,
AND I THINK IT MEANS QUITE A BIT
TO FOLKS HERE, BECAUSE YOU GET
THAT MWD IS THE ONE THAT, IF IT
RAISES ITS RATES, THOSE ARE THEN
PASSED DOWN TO ALL THE SMALLER
WATER DISTRICTS, AND YOU END UP
PAYING MORE FOR SOMETHING THAT I
GUESS IS QUESTIONABLE AT THIS
POINT.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
INCREASED RATES.
THERE IS A POINT OF LAW HERE, IN
TERMS OF THE BROWN ACT, RIGHT?
IN CALIFORNIA WE HAVE A LAW THAT
SAYS YOU CANNOT MEET SECRETLY,
THESE PUBLIC AGENCIES AREN'T
SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
>> BUT IT'S NOT THE BOSSES; IT'S
SOME OF THE SUBORDINATES.
SO THE ARGUMENT IS, ARE THE
SUBORDINATES DOING OTHER
BUSINESS OR DEALING WITH THE
BUSINESS OF THE PUBLIC?
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING UP
NORTH.
>> AND I THINK J.W. IS SAYING
IT'S THE LOCALLY APPOINTED
OFFICIALS WHO REPRESENT EACH OF
THE CITIES -- THEY WOULD
DEFINITELY BE COVERED BY THIS
BROWN ACT, BUT WOULD THE STAFF
AND CONSULTANTS AND SOME OF
THESE OTHER PAID FOLKS WHO MIGHT
MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THESE
APPOINTED FOLKS WHO PROBABLY
AREN'T AS FAMILIAR WITH THE INs
AND OUTs AND MIGHT JUST BE
CARRYING THEIR WATER, NO PUN
INTENDED.
>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CUSTOMER.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT
INCREASING WATER RATES LATELY.
DOES THIS MEAN WE ARE PAYING
MORE FOR OUR WATER HERE?
>> WE WILL BE, 12.5% OVER THE
NEXT TWO YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT THE MEETING WAS
ABOUT WHEN ALL OF THIS CAME
ABOUT, THEY WERE DISCUSSING ITS
NEXT BOOST TO SAN DIEGO.
THE ACTUAL LAWSUIT HAS TO DO
WITH THE FACT THAT SAN DIEGO
FEELS THEY'RE OVERCHARGING US
AND TAKING THAT MONEY AND GIVING
IT TO THE OTHER AGENCIES IN
L.A., AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE
ABLE TO FORM THIS GROUP UP
THERE, TO OPPOSE THE WATER
DISTRICT HERE.
>> THIS IS LIKELY ONLY THE
BEGINNING OF THINGS.
WE KNOW THERE'S A HEARING IN
APRIL ABOUT WATER RATES.
OUR SECOND BIG STORY THIS WEEK:
ON WEDNESDAY VOTERS GOT A GOOD
LOOK AT THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES
VYING FOR THE 52ND DISTRICT.
BRIAN BILBRAY, SCOTT PETERS, AND
LORI SALDANA WERE IN A DEBATE.
WAS THERE A CLEAR WINNER OR
LOSER?
CHRISTOPHER, YOU WERE A
JOURNALIST ON THE PANEL, YOU GOT
TO ASK QUESTIONS.
WHAT WAS YOUR OVERALL
IMPRESSION?
>> I THOUGHT LORI SALDANA CAME
OUT OF THE BOX VERY AGGRESSIVE,
SHE SHOWED A COMMAND OF THE
SUBJECTS THAT WE THREW OUT
THERE.
SCOTT PETERS OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO
APPEAL MORE TO KIND OF THE
MODERATE VOTER OUT THERE, SHOWED
THAT HE COULD BE BOTH
BUSINESS-FRIENDLY AS WELL AS
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.
AND I THINK BRIAN BILBRAY, BY
STRESSING A COUPLE OF THE BILLS
THAT HE HAS WORKED ON AND THE
PARTNERSHIPS HE HAS HAD WITH BOB
FILNER AND NANCY PELOSI, WAS
ALSO TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE SOME
BIPARTISANSHIP IN THIS NEW
RE-DRAWN DISTRICT.
WE'LL SEE HOW LONG HIS
DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS ALLOW HIM
TO CONTINUE ON THAT KIND OF
PLATFORM, BUT FOR NOW I THINK
EACH OF THEM HAVE SOMETHING THEY
CAN LOOK BACK ON AND BE HAPPY
ABOUT, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT
GOES FROM HERE.
>> J.W., WERE THERE ANY DEFINING
MOMENTS FOR YOU, THAT SAID,
OKAY, THAT REALLY IS GOING TO
SPEAK TO THAT CANDIDATE OR...
>> I THINK THE SOCIAL ISSUES --
PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS GOING TO
BE A HOT-BUTTON TOPIC THROUGH
THE CAMPAIGN.
OF COURSE, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, BUT
STILL, I THINK THE FACT THAT
BILBRAY VOTED TO FUND IT, AND
THEN HE SEEMED TO CONTRADICT
HIMSELF TO SAY HE DOESN'T WANT
WASHINGTON TO GET INVOLVED IN
HIS CHILDREN'S HEALTH ISSUES,
AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO
POUND HIM ON THAT.
>> I THINK THOUGHT IT WAS
INTERESTING TO HEAR SCOTT PETERS
AND BRIAN BILBRAY NOT WANTING
WASHINGTON TO GET INVOLVED, BUT
THAT COULD MEAN TWO DIFFERENT
THINGS.
IT COULD MEAN BOTH THAT YOU
DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT
INVOLVED AT ALL, OR THAT YOU
WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR
SOME OF THESE THINGS AND THEN
KIND OF STEP AWAY AND LET WOMEN
HAVE THESE THESE HEALTHCARE
ISSUES SUCH AS ABORTIONS AND
CONTRACEPTION, WHICH IS REALLY
WHAT THE HEART OF THE DISCUSSION
WAS ABOUT.
>> AND WHAT'S NEW THIS ELECTION
CYCLE, TOO, WE'VE GOT TO TOP TWO
PRIMARIES HAPPENING.
WE SAW THE TOP TWO DEMOCRATS AND
ONE REPUBLICAN IN THIS DEBATE,
AND WE COULD END UP WITH
DEMOCRAT VERSUS DEMOCRAT OR
DEMOCRAT VERSUS REPUBLICAN.
WAS IT A STRUGGLE, OR IS IT
GOING TO BE, FOR THE TWO
DEMOCRATS TO SET THEMSELVES
APART FROM ONE ANOTHER?
COULD WE SEE A HINT OF THAT IN
THIS DEBATE?
>> I THINK WE COULD.
LORI SALDANA SEEMED TO BE UP TO
SPEED ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES,
MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN PETERS,
WHETHER THAT PAYS OFF IS YET TO
BE SEEN.
>> SHE IS CLEARLY TARGETING
ACTIVISTS AND PEOPLE KIND OF ON
THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY, WHICH IS AN INTERESTING
AND MAYBE A GOOD TACTIC IN THE
END, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS
THAT GET VERY EXCITED ABOUT
VOTING AND PRIMARIES.
SCOTT PETERS IS KIND OF PURSUING
THIS GAME PLAN THAT WE THINK HE
MIGHT USE IN A GENERAL ELECTION
IF HE IS TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE
PRIMARY, WHICH IS TO APPEAL TO
REALLY A THIRD OF THAT DISTRICT,
WHICH ARE FOLKS THAT DON'T
IDENTIFY WITH EITHER PARTY, AND
HE THINKS HE COULD PICK UP A BIG
CHUNK OF THAT, AND POSSIBLY
CHALLENGE BILBRAY IN THAT WAY.
>> ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS WAS
ABOUT IRAN.
WERE THERE ANY RESPONSES TO THAT
OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT
SURPRISED YOU, THAT WE LEARNED
SOMETHING NEW ABOUT A POSITION?
>> ON THAT ONE, I THINK -- YOU
KNOW, BILBRAY IS TRYING TO GIVE
A CONSISTENT ANSWER THAT HE
ALLOWS THESE OTHER BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT TO ESSENTIALLY
OPERATE ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT
CONGRESS INTERVENING, SO HIS
ANSWER WAS HE WOULD NOT FAULT
THE PRESIDENT OR GO AFTER THE
PRESIDENT ON INVADING IRAN AS
LONG AS THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T
COMMIT GROUND TROOPS, AND I
THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO
LOOK AT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT
OF REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING BRIAN
BILBRAY ON SOMETHING LIKE THE
HEALTHCARE OVERHAUL REALLY
TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
OVERSTEPPING, SO YOU HAVE TO
KIND OF CONTRAST ONE ISSUE WITH
ANOTHER AND SEE IF THESE
CANDIDATES ARE BEING CONSISTENT.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
THERE IS A REASON KPBS LOOKED AT
THIS 52ND CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.
WHY IS THIS ONE TO WATCH RIGHT
NOW?
>> IT'S CLOSE, BECAUSE OF THE
NEW DISTRICT, THE POPULATION
SPLIT REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRAT IS
VERY CLOSE, CLOSER THAN ANY
OTHER DISTRICT IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HOT ONE, ALL
THE WAY TO NOVEMBER.
>> YOU CAN STILL SEE THIS
DEBATE, KPBS.ORG.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR BEING
HERE.
>>> SOCIAL MEDIA MAY HAVE
CREATED A NEW PROBLEM FOR THE
SURFING MADONNA.
THERE ARE PLANS TO MOVE THE
MOSAIC.
THE STORY COMING UP.
>>> IF YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR
COMIC-CON OR COULDN'T GET A
BADGE, WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE
JUST UP THE ROAD.
THIS IS
KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
.
>> THE SURFING MADONNA WILL NOT
MOVE TO MOONLIGHT BEACH AFTER
ALL.
>> THE SURFING MADONNA WILL NOT
MOVE TO MOONLIGHT BEACH AFTER
ALL.
STATE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS
DENIED A REQUEST TO PUT THE
MOSAIC AT THE BEACH ENTRANCE,
REPORTEDLY BECAUSE OF A BLOG
POST BY THE ARTIST.
MARK PATTERSON WROTE THE ***
MARY INSPIRED THE PIECE.
THAT VIOLATES THE NO PREFERENCE
CLAUSE REGARDING RELIGION.
THE OWNER WILL MEET WITH A LEGAL
TEAM TO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION.
>>> IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO BUY
TICKETS FOR COMIC-CON, YOU MIGHT
WANT TO CONSIDER WONDERCON.
BETH ACCOMANDO HAS THE STORY.
>> Reporter: ON MARCH 3RD,
BADGES FOR COMIC-CON WENT UP FOR
SALE AND CLOSED IN LESS THAN TWO
HOURS.
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER WERE ABUZZ
WITH PEOPLE THRILLED OR ENRAGED.
IT'S NORTH AMERICA'S BIGGEST
POP-CULTURE CONVENTION IN JULY.
130,000 IS CAPPED ATTENDANCE.
BUT WONDERCON STILL HAS BADGES
FOR THIS WEEKEND.
IT'S CALLED COMIC-CON'S LITTLE
SISTER.
>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN THE BAY
AREA, AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO
COMIC-CON, IT'S A POPULAR ARTS
CONVENTION THAT FOCUSES ON COMIC
BOOKS FIRST.
>> Reporter: BUT HALF THE SIZE,
WITH 50,000 ATTENDEES LAST YEAR.
GLANZER IS THE SPOKESMAN FOR
COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL WHICH
OVERSEES BOTH CONVENTIONS.
HE CONSIDERS WONDERCON AS
COMIC-CON LIGHT.
>> THIS ONE IS SMALLER AND LESS
CROWDED.
COMIC-CON IS BIG, AND IT'S FUN
TO GO TO, BUT THIS IS LESS
PACKED.
WHEN I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
SPECIFIC, IT'S EASIER TO GET
AROUND.
>> Reporter: AND EASIER THIS
YEAR, BECAUSE IT'S IN A BIGGER
SPACE THAN USUAL.
NORMALLY IT TAKES PLACE IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
>> THIS YEAR THE CONVENTION
CENTER IN SAN FRANCISCO WAS
DOING RENOVATIONS.
THIS YEAR IT WILL BE IN ANAHEIM.
>> Reporter: SAN DIEGANS
WANTING A COMIC-CON-LIKE
EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THE STRESSES
CAN TRAVEL LESS THAN TWO HOURS
NORTH AND WALK RIGHT UP TO THE
DOOR AND BUY A BADGE FOR THE
THREE-DAY CONVENTION.
ANAHEIM IS ALSO THE CONVENTION
CENTER TRYING TO WOO COMIC-CON
AWAY FROM SAN DIEGO.
>> THERE IS NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE
TO HAVE IT IN ANAHEIM.
IF THERE IS A SIDE BENEFIT, IT'S
THAT WE WILL HAVE DONE A SHOW IN
ANTIME, SO WE'LL KNOW HOW IT
WORKS, BUT WE AREN'T PUTTING THE
CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
>> Reporter: THE PLAN IS TO
RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO, BUT NO
DATES HAVE BEEN SET FOR 2013.
THE BAY AREA IS ALSO WHERE THE
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION HOSTS
"APE," THE ALTERNATIVE PRESS
EXPO, A CONVENTION GEARED TOWARD
VERY INDEPENDENT AND
SELF-PUBLISHED SMALL PRESS.
>> WE HAVE A MISSION STATEMENT
TO BRING COMICS AND THE POPULAR
ARTS TO THE PUBLIC, AND EACH OF
THOSE THREE SHOWS HELP US TO
FULFILL OUR MISSION STATION.
ALL OF OUR EVENTS, WE TRY TO
MAKE IT AS EASY TO ATTEND AS
POSSIBLE, WHETHER THAT BE
DISABLED SERVICES OR SHUTTLES,
AGAIN, TRYING TO HAVE ENOUGH
VOLUNTEERS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE SHOW
WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE
BEFORE, AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE
OVERWHELMING.
>> Reporter: IT PAYS TO CHECK
OUT THE SCHEDULE IN ADVANCE.
>> LOOK AT THE EVENTS GUIDE, THE
PROGRAM BOOK, FIGURE OUT WHAT
YOU WANT TO SEE, TAKE YOUR TIME
TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
>> Reporter: THERE IS DC AND
MARVEL BOOTHS, AND A HOLLYWOOD
PRESENCE.
20TH CENTURY FOX WILL HAVE A
PANEL ON RIDLEY SCOTT'S NEW FILM
"PROMETHEUS", PREQUEL TO
"ALIEN".
THE PANEL IS A SIGN OF THE
CHANGING NATURE OF THE COMICS
WORLD, SAYS MARVEL'S
VICE-PRESIDENT OF BRAND PLANNING
AND COMMUNICATION.
>> OUR COMPANIES EVOLVED IN THE
LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS FROM
STRICTLY A PUBLISHING AND
CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMPANY TO
WHERE WE'RE DOING THEATRICAL AND
WE'RE DOING TELEVISION, VIDEO
GAMES.
PEOPLE WHO ARE INTRODUCED TO OUR
PROPERTIES THROUGH MOVIES CAN
NOW LEARN ABOUT WHAT WE ARE
DOING IN COMICS AND TELEVISION,
SO IT KIND OF LETS US
CROSS-POLLINATE THOSE DIFFERENT
DEMOGRAPHICS AND CREATE AN EVEN
GREATER INTEREST AND AWARENESS
IN MARVEL.
>> Reporter: BUT IT'S ALL PART
OF OUR POP CULTURE, SAYS DAVID
GLANZER.
>> IT MIGHT NOT BE TRADITIONAL
ART, BUT WHO SAYS ART HAS TO BE
TRADITIONAL.
>> Reporter: THAT'S REFLECTED
IN THE COMPANY THAT OVERSEES THE
CONVENTIONS.
COMIC-CON HAS ABOUT TWO DOZEN
FULL-TIME STAFFERS, AND NONE ARE
TYPICAL BUSINESS OR CORPORATE
TYPES.
>> WELL, YEAH, WE'RE ALL FANS.
IT SOUNDS CORNY, BUT WE PUT ON
THE TYPE OF EVENT WE WANT TO
ATTEND.
>> Reporter: AND A FINAL WORD
OF ADVICE:
>> WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES,
BECAUSE YOU'LL BE DOING A LOT OF
WALKING, AND STAY HYDRATED.
>> WONDERCON STARTED TODAY AT
THE ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER
AND RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY.
>> THIS IS KPBS "EVENING
EDITION".
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE PUBLIC
SQUARE ON KPBS "EVENING
EDITION".
AS WE TOLD YOU EARLIER, JASON
RUSSELL, CO-FOUNDER OF
"INVISIBLE CHILDREN" EXPERIENCED
WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY PUBLIC
BREAKDOWN.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOW DOCUMENTING
HIS REPORTED MELTDOWN.
A WELL-KNOWN CELEBRITY GOSSIP
WEBSITE CLAIMS TO HAVE VIDEO OF
RUSSELL STANDING NAKED ON
PACIFIC BEACH AND ACTING
ERRATICALLY.
IT'S WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING
ABOUT ON TWITTER.
.
>>> IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON
THIS CONVERSATION, YOU CAN
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, OF COURSE
YOU CAN LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, AND
YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL ME
DIRECTLY.
.
>>> YOU CAN WATCH AND COMMENT ON
ANY OF THE STORIES YOU SAW
TONIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE,
KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
>> GOOD NIGHT.
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