Debate Rages in SD Unified Schools About Amount of Tests

Are San Diego Unified students being over-tested? How many standardized tests should a local elementary school student be expected to take in an academic year? What's the value in giving students multiple tests that don't count towards their grades? Host Tom Fudge speaks to KPBS Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis about the debate going on in the San Diego Unified School District about how many standardized tests local students should take in an academic year.

 Lessons on Life From a Centenarian

San Diegan Laura Simon turned 103 last week. In 1905, the year of her birth, Teddy Roosevelt was president and women did not have the right to vote. More than a century later, Simon has lived through 19 presidents, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and a technical revolution that continues to boggle the mind. We'll talk with Simon about the biography she wrote at age 100, and with her playwright son, Mayo Simon.

 City Councilman Peters Looks Back and Ahead

Termed-out San Diego City Council President Scott Peters talks about the state of the city, the challenges the city faces, and his vision for San Diego's waterfront.

 Film Club: Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, Quantum of Solace, Twilight and JCVD

A bio-pic about Harvey Milk proves timely, teenage vampires rule the box office, another Bond movie is in theaters and Danny Boyle tells the story of a plucky quiz-show contestant from India. Oh, and we'll talk about what Jean Claude Van Damme is up to these days.

 San Diego City Council Votes to Keep Libraries Open

The San Diego City Council has rejected Mayor Sanders' proposal to close libraries and recreation centers to balance the budget. What's next, and how will the budget come into balance? We speak with city councilman Tony Young, who sponsored the measure that was approved by the council.

 A Look Inside A Foley Artist's Bag of Tricks

Scott Paulson reprises his role as Sam the Sound Effects Man in Cygnet Theater's production of It's a Wonderful Life. As the foley artists for this 1940's radio drama, he creates the sounds of walking through snow, things breaking and people kissing. We'll get a behind-the-scenes look at his arsenal of sound effects.

 Future for Chula Vista Bayfront is Wide Open

What's next for Chula Vista following the news that Gaylord Entertainment has withdrawn its proposal to develop a 32-acre site along the city's bayfront? Is this an opportunity to redraw plans for the South Bay's future? How might this news affect the Chargers' interest in building a new football stadium in Chula Vista? Host Tom Fudge speaks to Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, and journalist Carlos Davalos about the future of the South Bay.

 What's the Future of Firefighting in San Diego County?

With the failure of Prop A, the fire tax, earlier this month, what's the future for firefighting in San Diego County? We'll talk about the new San Diego County Fire Authority and whether that's the answer to fighting the region's wildfires.

 San Diego Charities Struggle to Feed the Hungry

Many families in San Diego are struggling to make ends meet as the economic downturn continues. We'll look at how the recession is impacting the San Diego Food Bank and Catholic Charities as they struggle to meet the needs of the community.

 Talking Turkey

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Will 20 relatives be roaming around your house waiting to taste the turkey or the pumpkin pie? Well we have two of San Diego's premiere chefs in studio to answer your cooking questions and put any hosting anxieties to rest. We'll talk turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes and pie today on These Days.

 Joyce Carol Oates Talks About Her Life of Writing

A conversation with American author Joyce Carol Oates about her five decades of writing novels, short stories, poetry, plays and essays.

 San Diego Could Look Very Different in 2050 Due to Impact of Global Warming

What kind of plan should the San Diego region implement to deal with climate change in the future? What kinds of changes will the San Diego region likely face as a result of global warming? Host Alison St. John speaks to Dr. Emily Young about The San Diego Foundation's Regional Focus 2050 Study. The Regional Focus 2050 Study examines the potential impact global climate change will have on San Diego.

 Obama Announces Economic Team

President-elect Obama announces his economic team. These Days follows up with local analysis.

 Combining Vocational Ed with Academics

Should every high school student be prepared to go to college? Or should those who will never go to college get vocational education on a separate track? SDUSD is interested in multiple pathways as a way to combat low graduation and high dropout rates.

 Documentary Looks at the Tragic History of the Salton Sea and Its Eccentric Residents

A new documentary looks at this dramatic turn of events and the motley group of real eccentrics who still live there. It's called Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea and it's narrated by another true eccentric, filmmaker John Waters.

 Exploring the Future of Gay Rights

On November 4, Californians passed Prop. 8 by a vote of 52 to 48. The measure reversed a California Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal in the state. How did this happen in a blue state where 61% of the population voted Barack Obama, an African-American Democrat, for president? What role did religion and race place? And what's the future of the gay rights movement and same-sex marriage? We'll explore gender, race, religion and the law in a hour-long These Days special.

 Auto Industry Woes Reverberate in San Diego

The U.S. auto industry is in big trouble. It's being hammered by costly pensions and health care for retired employees but mostly by a terrible economy, which has resulted in (even more) abysmal sales and very tight credit. These Days looks at the state of the industry, how the recession is affecting local car dealers, what the Big 3 are asking for this week from Congress, and what the ramifications would be if one or all went under.

 Will Obama Be the Next FDR?

Barack Obama made history this month by becoming the first African-American president of the U.S. Some are now comparing him to Pres. Franklin Roosevelt. Can Obama save the country from economic ruin? We'll explore the future of America with KPBS TV's "Envision San Diego: Change."

 State of SDSU Athletic Department Discussed

What can we expect from the SDSU Men's Basketball team this season? Host Lee Hamilton speaks to Men's Basketball Coach Steve Fisher about the team's goals for the season. We also discuss the general state of the SDSU Athletic Department with two local sports reporters.

 How to Raise Good Kids in Today's Hectic World

How do you raise good, decent kids in today's fast-paced, high-achieving, conflict-driven world? Is it harder to raise kids today than in years past? We'll talk with an author of a new book on parenting and a child psychologist about raising kids with character in today's world.