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>> >>DWANE: THREE DAYS UNTIL THE SEQUESTER AND HOMELAND SECURITY ASK GETTING READY BY
RELEASING SOME PEOPLE FROM ITS JAILS. I'M DWANE BROWN.
THIS STORY TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION. >> >>PEGGY: I'M PEGGY PICO.
JUST AHEAD HOW SAN DIEGO'S MILITARY DEFENSE INDUSTRY IS BRACING FOR MASSIVE FEDERAL DUTS
TO TAKE PLACE IN JUST THREE DAYS. THEN OUR PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH A SAN
DIEGO SCIENTIST SURPRISEED WITH A THREE MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE FOR HIS BREAKTHROUGH WORK.
>> >>DWANE: OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES SOMETIMES HAVE AN UGLY PROBLEM CONTAMINATED WATER.
TONIGHT WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT A PLAN TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR A SAN DIEGO TEENAGER WHO WAS HOMELESS NOT SO LONG AGO. KPBS EVENING
EDITION STARTS NOW. >> >>: ONLY CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO PASS
A LAW THAT STOPS THESE DAMAGING CUTS AND REPLACES THEM WITH SMART SAVINGS AND TAX REFORM.
AND THE SECOND I GET THAT BILL ON MY DESK I WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW.
BUT I'VE GOT TO GET CONGRESS TO PASS IT. >> >>: WE HAVE MOVED THE BILL IN THE HOUSE
TWICE. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MOVE A THIRD BILL BEFORE
THE SENATE GETS OFF THEIR *** AND BEGINS TO DO SOMETHING.
>> >>DWANE: THREE DAZE UNTIL AUTOMATIC FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS TAKE EFFECT AND PART PARTISAN
FINGER POINT POINTING CONTINUES. REPUBLICANS SAY PRESIDENT OBAMA WENT TO A
SHIP YARD IN NEWPORT VIRGINIA TO AVOID SEQUESTRATION. TO CRITICIZE REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T WANT TO
COMPROMISE. HOW SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER REITERATED THE GOP
POSITION, NO MORE TAX INCREASES. HE CRITICIZES THE PRESIDENT FOR TRAVELING
TO MAKE A SPEECH. WHILE THE DEBATE CONTINUES HOMELAND SECURITY
IS GETTING READY FOR THE CUTS BY RELEASING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HELD IN DETENTION ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. THE AGENCY SAYS THEY'RE BEING PLACED IN A
MORE COST EFFECTIVE SUPERVISED RELEASE PROGRAM AND STILL FACE DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.
SEQUESTRATION MEANS A CUT OF ROUGHLY 8% FOR MILITARY DEFENSE PROGRAMS ACHT PENTAGON OFFICIAL
SAYS IT MEAN AS LAW F UNCERTAINTY FOR OUR ALLIES AND SAYS, QUOTE, THE STAND OFF IS STUPID.
>> >>: THIS IS A RIDICULOUS WAY TO RUN A BUDGET SHOW IN WASHINGTON.
AND WE'VE BEEN SHOUTING OUT FROM THE ROOF TOPS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
>> >>DWANE: CUTS TO DEFENSE WOULD HAVE A SERIOUS EFFECT IN SAN DIEGO.
PEGGY PICO HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT THOSE IMPACTS IVMENTD BARRING AN.
>> >>PEGGY: BARRING AN UNLIKELY LAST MINUTE DEAL BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE,
SEQUESTRATION, THE TERM USED FOR AUTOMATIC ACROSS THE BOARD FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS, WILL
BEGIN THIS FRIDAY. ONE OF THE MANY PROGRAMS FACING BUDGET SPENDING
CUTS IS THE FRANK HEWETT OF SAN DIEGO'S NATIONAL DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION AND LARRY BLUMBERG
WITH THE SAN DIEGO MILITARY ADVISORY COUNCIL JOIN ME WITH DETAILS ON WHO WILL BE AFFECTED
MOST BY THESE CUTS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
FRANK, A NEW REPORT SUGGESTS THAT ABOUT ONE IN FOUR JOBS IN SAN DIEGO DEPEND ON MILITARY
OR DEFENSE FUNDING. GIVE US A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT TYPE OF COMPANIES
SPECIFICALLY AND WHAT KIND OF JOBS ARE WE LOOKING AT.
>> >>FRANK HEWETT: IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO ALL THE WAY FROM THE LARGE COMPANIES LIKE LOCKHEAD MARTIN, NORTHROP GRUMAN, TO SAIC
OVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM, ***, ALLEN, HAMILTON. IT'S A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF COMPANIES LOCATED
HERE IN SAN DIEGO PRINCIPALLY BECAUSE WE PROVIDE SUPPORT IN THE SYSTEMS COMMAND HERE.
>> >>PEGGY: THE SHIP YARD WORKERS RK THAT'S A HUGE RIGHTÊ
>> >>FRANK HEWETT: THE SHIP REPAIR INDUSTRY AND WATER FRONT.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET HIT BY TWO THINGS. , THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND THE SEQUESTER.
AND WE ESTIMATE THAT IF THE NAVY IS FORCED TO CANCEL THEIR AVAILABILITIES TO MAINTENANCE
AVAILABILITIES HERE STARTING IN THE THIRD OR FOURTH QUARTER, THAT AS MANY AS 4,000 WORKERS
COULD LOSE THEIR JOBS IN THE SHIP LE PAIR INDUSTRY.
>> >>PEGGY: WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT DOUBLE EDGED SWORD OF GETTING THOSE CUTS.
I DO WANT TO ASK FIRST, THE STRATEGIC PART THE MILITARY SAN DIEGO'S ASIAN PACIFIC FOCUS
DOES THAT MEAN THE MILITARY ENLISTED OR PROGRAMS IN THE NAVY AREN'T GOING TO BE AFFECTED MUCH
IN THE SEQUESTRATION? >> >>FRANK HEWETT: MILITARY PERSONNEL ACCOUNTS
ARE ALL EXEMPT FROM THE SEQUESTER. WE WON'T SEE SAILORS AND MARINES WILL GET
THEIR PAY CHECKS AND THE MEDICAL BENEFITS AND ALL THAT WILL STAY INTACT.
>> >>PEGGY: I WANT TO LET VIEWERS KNOW ABOUT THE STATE BY STATE LIST OF SEQUESTER IMPACTS
THE WHITE HOUSE SENT OUT. CALIFORNIA WILL SEE 54ÊMILLION DOLLARS CUT
FROM ARMY BASE OPERATIONS 64,000 CIVILIAN DEFENSE WORKERS FORCE UNDER TO FURLOUGHS AND
AIR FORCE OPERATIONS CUT BY 15ÊMILLION DOLLARS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR SEQUESTRATION.
IN SAN DIEGO, LARRY, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT WHAT THAT MEANS TO CIVILIAN WORKERS HERE.
>> >>LARRY BLUMBERG: 25,000 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CIVIL SERVANTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTED
IN THAT. WE'LL GET HIT PRETTY HARD HERE.
>> >>LARRY BLUMBERG: I HAVE THE GEORGE MASON STUDY FROM LAST JULY ON THE IMPACTS OF SEQUESTRATION
AND I HAVE THE 10 STATES LISTED. CALIFORNIA IS NUMBER ONE IN IMPACT AND OF
COURSE THE 25% MAKES THE SAN DIEGO REGION TREMENDOUSLY LARGE.
THE D.O.D. CUTS, THESE ARE JOB LOSSES, BY THE STUDY ARE ABOUT 135,000 IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THE NON D.O.D. CUTS ARE 90,000 IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA, MAKING US THE LARGEST STATE IMPACTED WITH VIRGINIA BEING NUMBER TWO.
>> >>PEGGY: SO THESE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS.
THERE WON'T BE FUNDING FOR THEM. LET'S TALK U ABOUT VETERANS SERVICES AND BET
BENEFITS. WILL THERE BE IMPACT FROM SEQUESTRATION?
>> >>LARRY BLUMBERG: THERE'S SOME TALK ABOUT TUITION ASSISTANCE
AND VETERANS BUT NOT VA AT ALL. >> >>PEGGY: WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION HERE.
BUT FRANK, THIS IS SORT OF A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD OR A DOUBLE HAMMER TO BUDGET CUTS HERE
BECAUSE CONGRESS HAD ALREADY OR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAD ALREADY BACK IN 2011 SAID THERE
WERE GOING TO BE BUDGET CUTS. TELL THUS DIFFERENCE.
>> >>FRANK HEWETT: THE D.O.D. HAS BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF REDUCING THEIR BUDGETS BECAUSE
OF THE SELF IMPOSED IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD. THEY WERE WORKING TO REDUCE BY 400Ê
>> >>LARRY BLUMBERG: 487ÊMILLION. >> >>FRANK HEWETT: OVER 10 YEARS.
SO THE SEQUESTRATION'S ON TOP OF THAT AND THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION OF COURSE IMPACTS
THE CONTRACTORS BECAUSE IF WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO BE CONTRACTED FOR, WE CAN GO TO ZERO IF
THERE'S NO CONTINUING RESOLUTION RESOLVED. AND THAT HAS TO BE RESOLVED BY THE 27TH OF
MARCH. THIS IS A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD THAT CAN IMPACT
US IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS THAT ARE MAKING THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY VERY UNCERTAIN.
>> >>PEGGY: AND VERY LONG TERM. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE OUT OF TIME.
I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN FIND MORE ON OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF SEQUESTRATION
ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG, INCLUDING THE IMPACT ON THE MILITARY AND DEFENSE INDUSTRY.
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. >> >>FRANK HEWETT: THANK YOU.
>> >>LARRY BLUMBERG: GOOD TO BE HERE. >> >>DWANE: A NEW REPORT SAYS SAN DIEGO IS
GETTING MORE REVENUES THAN EXPECTED AND SHOULD HAVE A SURPLUS OF MORE THAN 3ÊMILLION DOLLARS.
THE REPORT THE T INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USING THE SURPLUS, ONE OF THEM MORE THAN
A MILLION DOLLARS TO REPLACE POLICE EQUIPMENT, HALF A MILLION FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN
IN BALBOA PARK, AND 300,000 TO KEEP SAN DIEGO'S EMERGENCY HOPE HOMELESS SHELTER OPEN UNTIL
JUNE. SAN DIEGO HOSPICE SAYS IT'S BROKE AND CAN'T
PAY FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES OR STAFF WHICH COULD PUT PATIENT CARE IN JEOPARDY. THE DECLARATION
WAS MADE IN COURT EARLIER THIS WEEK. KPBS INVESTIGATIONS PRODUCER JOANNE FARYON
HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY. SAN DIEGO HOSPICE FILED CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY
A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEN ANNOUNCED THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN.
NOW THEY SAY THEY'RE OUT OF MONEYISM WHAT'S GOING GOING ON ON?
>> >>JOANNE: IT COMES DOWN TO FEWER PATIENTS, LESS MONEY FROM MEDICARE.
PROBABLY THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENT CAME LAST OCTOBER WHEN MEDICARE STOPPED PAYING THEM
FOR TWO WEEKS AS YOU MENTIONED THE HOSPICE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A TWO YEAR FEDERAL
INVESTIGATION WHICH IS ONE O THE REASONS MEDICARE STOPPED THE PAYMENTS.
>> >>DWANE: AND WHY ARE THEY ACTUALLY BEING INVESTIGATED?
>> >>JOANNE: MEDICARE'S LOOKING AT WHETHER ALL THE PATIENTS THEY ADMIT UNDER TO HOSPICE
WERE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE. DID THEY HAVE A TERMINAL ILLNESS, WITH LESS
THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE. >> >>DWANE: IF THEY CAN'T BUY MEDICAL SUPPLIES
OR MAKE PAYROLL, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PATIENTS THEY STILL HAVE?
>> >>JOANNE: THE ORGANIZATIONS IS ASKING THE COURT TO LET THEM BORROW FIVE MILLION DOLLARS
FROM SCRIPPS HEALTH. SCRIPPS HAS OFFERED TO BUY SAN DIEGO HOSPICE
HILLCREST BUILDING FOR MORE THAN 10ÊMILLION DOLLARS.
SAN DIEGO HOSPICE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER IN COURT DOCUMENTS FILED YESTERDAY EMPHASIZE
HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS. HE SAID HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT PATIENTS AND
IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE LOAN, QUOTE, THE PATIENT WILL HAVE LESS THAN QUALITY CARE.
WE HAVE MORE ONLINE ABOUT THIS STORY AT KPBS.ORG/ENDOFLIFE. >> >>DWANE: KPBS INVESTIGATIONS PRODUCER,
JOANNE FARYON. SAN DIEGO COUNTY WILL START TESTING A FASTER
WAY TO MEASURE WATER QUALITY AT OUR BEACHES. KPBS BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK
ANDERSON SAYS A FASTER TEST MEANS BETTER INFORMATION FOR SWIMMERS AND SURFERS.
>> >>ERIK: WATER QUALITY TESTING IS PRETTY STANDARD IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
SAN DIEGO COAST KEEPERS TRAVIS PRICHERT USES THE SAME TEST THE COUNTY OFFICIALS USE TO
CHEM CHECK FOR POLLUTION. >> >>: YOU MIX IT WITH A SOLUTION THAT'S YELLOW
IN COLOR. IF THERE ARE Y COAL TI BACT EAR YOU, THE CELLS
WILL TURN FROM YELLOW AND TO PURPLE. >> >>ERIK: TESTERS CAN USE AN ULTRAVIOLET
LIGHT TO GET A MORE SPECIFIC MEASURE. >> >>: THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS YOU'RE CULTURING
OUT LIVE BACTERIA. YOU NEED IT THEM TO GROW BEFORE YOU CAN MEASURE.
IT TAKES UP TO 48 HOURS. >> >>ERIK: AND TIME IS REAL THEA ISSUISM PEOPLE
WHO MONITOR OCEAN WATER QUALITY WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL SWIMMERS IF THE WATER IS DIRTY
RS NOT WHETHER IT WAS DIRTY A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
COUNTY SUPERVISORS AGREED IT TO WORK WITH A NEW FEDERALLY APPROVED DNA TEST THAT WORKS
IN TWO TO FOUR HOURS. >> >>: IT'S GOOD SCIENCE, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD
BUSINESS. >> >>ERIK: GREG *** SAYS A FASTER TEST MEANS
THE COUNTY WILL HAVE BETTER INFORMATION FOR SWIMMERS AND SURFERS.
>> >>: OUR GOAL IS TO OPEN UP THE BEACHES AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO VERIFY
THEY'RE SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC TO GO N. THIS NEWER TESTING WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT
IN FOUR HOURS AS OPPOSED TO WAITING UP TO 48 HOURS TO GET THE CURRENT LAB TEST RESULTS.
>> >>ERIK: THE COUNTY U GROOD TO SPEND 59,000 DOLLARS TO TEST THE NEW METHOD.
IF RESULTS ARE GOOD, THE COUNTY WILL WORK ON CHANGE STATE RULES TO PERMIT THE FASTER
TEST. ERIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.
>> >>DWANE: THE COST OF REPAIRS AND INSPECTIONS AT THE SAN ONOFRE HAVE NOW JUMPED TO MORE
THAN 400ÊMILLION DOLLARS. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, THE OPERATOR SAY
THE THE SCOPE OF THE REPAIRS COULD BE MORE EXTENSIVE THAN ESTIMATED.
SAN ONOFRE'S BEEN OFF LINE FOR NEARLY 13 MONTHS. TODAY EDISON'S CHAIRMAN TOLD WALL STREET ANALYSTS
HE HOPES TO HAVE THE UNIT TWO REACTOR ONLINE BY SUMMER, BUT THE UTILITY IS MAKING PREPARATIONS
IN CASE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. WE'VE BEEN TRACKING A RISE IN HOUSING PRICES
IN SAN DIEGO. PRICES WENT UP JUST OVER 9% LAST YEAR.
SNP HAS BEEN MONITORING HOME PRICES IN 20 CITIES SINCE THE YEAR 2000.
FROM THEN TO NOW, LOCAL PRICES HAVE GONE UP 64%.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS. >> >>DWANE: CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE
ITS STATE PRISON POPULATION MAY BE LEADING TO SOME OFFENDERS SLIPPING AWAY FROM THEIR
MONITORS. OUR MEDIA PARTNER 10 NEWS REPORTS SOME OFFENDERS
ARE CUTTING OFF THEIR GPS ANKLE BRACELETS. WITHOUT THEM LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN'T KEEP TRACK
OF THE OFFENDERS. STATE SENATOR TED LEU SAYS THERE ARE A THOUSAND
OFFENDERS WHO HAVE CROSS THEIR BRACELETS. IF THEY'RE CAUGHT THE PENALTY IS SIX MONTHS
IN COUNTY JAIL. A NEW SURVEY FINDS A MAJORITY OF CALIFORNIANS
SUPPORT GUN CONTROL. SIXTY ONE% TOLD THE FIELD POLL IT'S MORE IMPORT
TONIGHT CONTROL GUNS AND AMMUNITION THAN THOO TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUAL GUN OWNERSISM
WOMEN FAVORED GUN CONTROL MORE THAN MEN. THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 GUN CONTROL BILLS PENDING
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. MEXICAN POLICE SAY THEY FOUND A DRUG CANNON
USED TO FIRE PACKAGES OF MARIJUANA INTO CALIFORNIA. THE IM PROVIEZED CANNON PACKETS OVER THE BORDER
FENCE. THE PACKETS CARRY UP TO 30 POUNDS OF DRUGS.
U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE BEEN FINDING A LOT OF DRUG PACKETS RECENTLY.
SOME BEER DRINKERS SAY ANHEUSER BUSH IS WATERING DOWN ITS BREW.
THEY FILED CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY SAYING THEIR BRANDS HAVE MUCH LESS ALCOHOL
THAN WHAT'S ON THE LABEL, 3.28% LESS. THE COMPANY SAYS THE CLAIMS ARE GROUNDLESS.
A SAN DIEGO SCIENTIST IS ONE OF A DOZEN RECIPIENTS OF A NEW THREE MILLION DOLLARS PRIZE.
PEGGY PICO TALKS WITH HIM ABOUT HIS WORK. >> >>PEGGY: LAST WEEK UCSD MORRIS CANCER CENTER
RESEARCHER AND PROFESSOR OF PATHOLOGY, NAPOLEONE FERRARA GOT A PHONE CALL TELLING HIM HE HAD
WON A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY FOR A NEW BREAKTHROUGH PRIZE IN LIFE SCIENCES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU GOT THIS
PHONE CALL TELLING YOU YOU HAD WON HOW MUCH MONEY.
>> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: THE PRIZE WAS A THREE MILLION DOLLAR FOR EACH OF THE WINNERS.
THERE WAS A TOTAL OF ELEVEN WINNERS. I WAS CERTAINLY VERY SURPRISED FIRST OF ALL
BECAUSE I HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS PRIZE WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE
FIRST TIME THIS PRIZE WAS GIVEN, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST IN LIFE SCIENCES.
SIMILAR PRIZE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO PHYSICS. I WAS REALLY STUNNED BY EVEN THE MAGNITUDE
OF THE PRIZE WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST, THE RICHEST, BY SCIENTIFIC PRIZE IN LIFE SCIENCES.
>> >>PEGGY: TELL US ABOUT THE FOUNDATION THAT AWARDED YOU THIS MONEY AND WHY THEY DID IT.
>> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: WELL, I LEARNED YOU KNOW SUBSEQUENTLY ABOUT THE FOUNDATION.
THEY ISSUE A VERY NICE PRESS RELEASE FROM UCSF ON 20 OF FEBRUARY.
IT'S PROBABLY ONLINE SO PEOPLE CAN GATHER MORE DETAILS.
THERE ARE SOME REALLY GIANTS AND TIGHTENS IN THE SILICON VALLEY THAT TAKE THE WORLD,
THE FOUNDER OF FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, AS WELL AS THE CHAIR NN OF APPLE WHICH IS DR.ÊLEVYNSON.
THERE IS A RUTION RUSSIAN INVESTOR IS THE ONE WHO INSTITUTED THE PHYSICS PRIZES.
THERE IS A VERY CONVERGENCE OF VERY INSIGHTFUL AND POWERFUL PEOPLE.
>> >>PEGGY: THE IDEA, THOUGH, IS TO MAYBE PERHAPS INSPIRE, MAKE SCIENCE MORE POPULAR.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A MOTIVE BEHIND HAVING IT BESIDES REWARDING LET'S SAY THESE GREAT SCIENTISTS.
>> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: O, YES, THEY ARE ALL OVER.
I THINK THE MAIN INTENT WAS TO MAKE IT APPEAR TO INSPIRE YOUNGER PEOPLE TO CONVINCE THEM
THAT SCIENCE IS NOT SOME KIND OF TEDIOUS, YOU KNOW, AND REWARDÊ AND IT IS REWARDING
PURSUIT. IF YOU HAVE A SUCCESS F YOU ENJOY DISIENS
IT WILL BE SUCCESS, YOU MUST ENJOY IT. THERE COULD EVEN BE SOME FINANCIAL REWARDS.
>> >>PEGGY: LET ME READ MARK ZUCKERBERG ACTUALLY SAID THE BREAKTHROUGH AWARD AIM TO AIMED AT
CURING INTRACTABLE DISEASES AND EXTENDING HUMAN LIFE.
WHAT RESEARCH ARE YOU DOING THAT FIT INTHAT CATEGORY THAT LANDED YOU THIS PRIZE?
>> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: WEM, THE RESEARCHER I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR ALMOST THREE DECADES
ON THE SAME TOPIC NOW WHICH IS BLOOD VESSEL GROWTH.
WHICH IS OF COURSE A VERY FUNDAMENTAL BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL QUESTION AS WE LEARN OVER
THE MANY DECADES, BLOOD VESSELS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN TUMORS.
AND ALSO INTERESTING DISORDERS LIKE AGE OF RELATED TO DEGENERATION, DIABETIC.
>> >>PEGGY: AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THERE'S MORE THAN A MILLION AMERICANS WITH MACK I'LL
DEGENERATION, IS THAT THE RESEARCH YOU'RE DOING NOW?
>> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: YES, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES.
ONE IS CALLED THE DRY FORM, ONE IS THE WET VASCULAR FOMPLET EVEN THOUGH THE NEOVASCULAR
FORM ACCOUNTS FOR 20% OF THE CASES IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 80% OF CASES OF BLINDNESS.
THIS BLOOD VESSELS ARE VERY DESTRUCTIVE. THERE IS A LESSERÊ FEWER PATIENTS ARE AFFECTED
BY THE WET FORM, THAT IS THE MOST DEIVE ES EATING.
>> >>PEGGY: DEVASTATING. >> >>PEGGY: THE RESEARCH YOU'RE DOING NOW
COULD AFFECT HOW IT IS DISCOVERED OR TREATED. >> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THAT I JUST JOINED THE CANCER CENTER TWO MONTHS AGO, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.
THIS RESEARCH ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE WHEN I WAS A SCIENTIST AT THE BIOTECH COMPANY.
>> >>PEGGY: UP IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. >> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: ACTUALLY BEGAN WHEN
I WAS A POST DOCK AT UCSF. TO DISCOVER A CRITICAL FACTOR WHICH REGULATES
IN THE BLOOD VESSELS. WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING AND TO THIS FACTORY
TO DIFFERENT LINES OF THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION. >> >>PEGGY: WHAT WILL YOUR RESEARCH BE HERE
AT UCSD'S MORRIS CANCER CENTER? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE TARGETING NEXT ARE YOU STILL CONTINUING?
>> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: I THINK THERE IS A LOT TO DO IN THIS FIELD.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL FIELD. WE HAVE HAVING SOME CLINICAL RESULTS. THE
RESEARCH I DID BROUGHT TWO DIFFERENT DRUGS. AND WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH
BY BLOCKINGÊ WE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE LIMITATION, WHY SOME PATIENTS ARE RESPONDING BETTER THAN
OTHERS. SO I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE LINE OF RESEARCH
I WANTED TO PURSUE HERE AT UCSD AND OF COURSE AT THE CANCER CENTER IS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND
BETTER ABOUT THIS PROCESS. >> >>PEGGY: CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, AND WE
WILL BE FOLLOWING YOUR RESEARCH. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY OF GOOD FORTUNE
WITH US HERE. >> >>NAPOLEONE FERRARA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> >>: ON THE NEXT NEWS HOUR, THE SUPREME COURT TAKES UP THE COLLECTION OF DNA RESIDENCE,
AND GLORIA STEIN M ON THE MAKERS. THAT'S TUESDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR.
>> >>DWANE: GET OUT THE SUN SCREEN, THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL FEEL LIKE SUMMER'S COMING.
LOTS OF SUN SHINE ON THE COAST WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S, THE INLAND VALLEYS WILL
GET INTO THE 80S BY FRIDAY. MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE 50S AND
60S. SEVENTYS AND 80S FOR THE DESERT.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ARE WORKING AND GOING TO SCHOOL HOPING A HIGHER
EDUCATION WILL PAY OFF IN THE FUTURE. KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER KYLA CALVERT BRINGS
THUS STORY OF ONE SUCH STUDENT WHOSE TOUGH ROAD TO A DEGREE JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER.
>> >>KYLA: IT'S 6:30ÊA.M. AND JORGE IS ALREADY RUSHING.
HE CAN'T MISS THE NUMBER 7 BUS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB AT 37TH AND UNIVERSITY IN SAN
DIEGO'S MID CITY AREA. IT'S ONLY THE FIRST OF A THREE LEG JOURNEY
HE TAKES TO GET TO CLASS AT SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE, FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
THE 7 TAKES HIM TO THE TROLLEY STOP AT C AND 12TH STREETS DOWNTOWN. THE TROLLEY TAKES HIM
SOUTH TO CHULA VISTA WHERE HE CATCHES THE CROWDED EXPRESS BUS TO CAMPUS.
IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT JUST RIGHT, THE TRIP CAN TAKE JUST 45 MINUTES.
SOME DAYS, IT LASTS AN HOUR AND A HALF. TODAY, HE HAS TIME TO STROLL, NOT SPRINT,
TO HIS 8:00ÊA.M. MATH CLASS. JORGE HAS A CLA CLEAR IDEA OF WHERE HE HOPES
HIS LONG COMMUTES ARE TAKING HIM. >> >>: RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO GET MY ASSOCIATES
ON EMT PARAMEDIC. I WAS THINKING ABOUT MAYBE LATER ON PURSUING
A CAREER IN MEDICINE. >> >>KYLA: AND TODAY IS ONE OF THE EASY DAYS.
JORGE ONLY HAS ONE CLASS. SOME DAYS HE HAS TWO, AND A SHIFT TO WORK
AT SMASH BURGER IN HAZARD CENTER, WHICH CAN BE A TWO HOUR BUS AND TROLLEY TRIP AWAY.
>> >>: AND I HAVE TO RUN FROM HERE TO MY CLASSROOM TO THE BUS STATION, SOMETIMES THE BUS IS THERE,
SOMETIMES NOT, EVEN THOUGH IF YOU CHECK THE SCHEDULES AND EVERYTHING THEY CAN JUST CHANGE
THEM FROM 12 TO 8, AND THEN GET BACK HOME. USUALLY IT'S LIKE FROM I WORK FROM 6 TO 11,
TO CLOSING. >> >>KYLA: ANOTHER LONG RIDE HOME MEANS JORGE
OFTEN DOESN'T FINISH HIS DAY UNTIL 1230 OR 1:00ÊA.M.
IF HE ACHIEVES HIS GOALS T WILL BE INSPITE OF MUCH MORE THAN A DAUNTING COMMUTE.
IN 2010, HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY AND THE STRESS AND GRIEF OF HIS PASSING VEMPUALLY TORE ABOUT
HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOTHER AND BROTHER. >> >>: ONE DAYÊ I STILL REMEMBER HIM.
I WAS ON UNIVERSITY WITH MY GUITAR CASE Y FILL TD UP WITH CLOTHES AND I WAS LIKE I WASN'T
JUST IN THE CAR, WHAT I WAS INTERESTED IN NOW, WHAT SHOULD I DO, WHERE DO I GO?
>> >>KYLA: HE WAS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HE WAS HOMELESS.
HE SPENT THAT NIGHT IN A PARK, AND AFTER THAT RELIED ON FRIENDS AND TEACHERS FOR SUPPORT.
>> >>: IT WAS MORE THAN TWO THREE DAYS HERE, ANOTHER DAY THERE, I WAS LIVING LIKE DAY BY
DAY. >> >>KYLA: ASIDE FROM A STINT STAYING WITH
AN AUNT, LIVING DAY TO DAY IS HOW JORGE HAS SPENT MUCH OF THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
HE SAYS HAVING HOPE IS THE ONLY WAY TO WEATHER HIS SITUATION.
>> >>: I ALWAYS HAVE THIS MENTALITY OF IT COULD BE WORSE, AND ALSO THIS CAN IMPROVE.
SO THAT ALWAYS KEEPS ME GOING. >> >>KYLA: THINGS ARE IMPROVING.
HE'S NOW STAYING WITH A FRIEND PERMANENTLY AND HOPES TO SAVE UP ENOUGH FOR THE FIRST
FEW MONTHS RENT IN A PLACE OF HIS OWN. THE DAZE OF ANXIOUSLY ANTICIPATING OF WHEN
THE NEXT BUS OR TROLLEY MIGHT COME ARE ALSO COMING TO AN EAND THAJS TO THE TEACHERS.
HE WAS CHOSEN TO GET A CAR. THROUGH A NATIONAL PROGRAM CALLED RECYCLE
RIDES. AND AT THE CAR UNVEILING A FEW DAYS LATER
IT'S CLEAR HIS STORY STRUCK A CORD WITH THE TECHNICIANS AND STAFF WHO DONATED TIME AND
MONEY TO GET THE CAR READY. >> >>: THIS YOUNG MAN'S PERSEVERING AND JUST
REALLY, YOU KNOW, PURSING PAST ALL THE BARRIERS. AND THIS ONE GIFT WILL HELP HIM.
>> >>KYLA: THAT'S MIKE QUIN. HE HEADS COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR CALIBER COLLISION.
HE SAYS THE COMPANY GIVES AWAY ONE OR TWO CARS A MONTH THROUGH THE RECYCLED RIDES PROGRAM,
BUT THE STAFF OFTEN DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS ENOUGH.
>> >>: THERE'S A LOT OF THE ASSOCIATES, TEAM MEMBERS, THAT GAVE 20 DOLLARS, TO COME UP
WITH A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> >>KYLA: THOSE PERSONAL DONATIONS ADDED UP TO GIFT CARDS, CASH, AND A LAPTOP JORGE
FINDS WHEN HE OPENS THE CAR'S TRUNK. DURING HIS FIRST TEST DRIVE, JORGE SEEMS MORE
IMPRESSED BY THE PEOPLE THAT THAN THE GIFT THEY'VE GIVEN HIM.
>> >>: IT'S PRETTY AWESOME TO MEET ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE HELPING ME OUT.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR FACES LOOK LIKE. >> >>KYLA: THE CAR WILL SAVE HIM TIME WHICH
JORGE SAYS HE'LL USE TO PICK UP AT LEAST ONE EXTRA COURSE IN COMING SEMESTERS.
THAT COULD CUT A YEAR OR MORE OFF HIS TIME TO AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE.
AND HE SAYS HE'LL FEEL SAFER DRIVING. HE SAYS IT MEANS EVEN MORE TO HIM.
>> >>: FOR ME THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A CAR, IT'S LIKE A SIGN SAYING THAT I'M DOING THINGS
RIGHT AND THAT I SHOULD KEEP ON GOING. >> >>KYLA: NOW HE'LL JUST BE GETTING THERE
FASTER. KYLA CALVERT, KPBS NEWS.
>> >>DWANE: YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
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