A <a href="https://mcasd.org/exhibitions/giants" target="_blank">new exhibition</a> headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego comes from the personal collection of two names you'll recognize — musical icons Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. The "Giants" exhibit <a href="https://mcasd.org/exhibitions/giants" target="_blank">features works</a> from 37 Black American and diasporic artists making waves in the art space. We sit down with a local curator then arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans to hear more about the exhibit. Plus, we preview La Jolla Playhouse's <a href="https://lajollaplayhouse.org/wowfestival/" target="_blank">Without Walls or "WOW" festival</a> by hearing from San Diego artists as well as creators from across the nation and around the globe. Guests:<ul><li><a href="https://mcasd.org/about/who-we-are" target="_blank">Amy Crum</a>, associate curator, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego</li><li><a href="https://www.kpbs.org/staff/julia-dixon-evans" target="_blank">Julia Dixon Evans</a>, arts reporter and "The Finest" host, KPBS</li><li><a href="https://www.kpbs.org/staff/beth-accomando" target="_blank">Beth Accomando</a>, arts reporter, KPBS</li><li><a href="https://lajollaplayhouse.org/wowfestival/" target="_blank">'Without Walls (WOW)' Festival</a> artists - KJ Knies, Sara Biel, Casey Hall-Landers, Jesca Prudencio, Noa Barankin, Bridget Cavaiola Stone, Josette Lépine, Aubrielle Hvolboll, Matthew Sater, Lyra Levin, Michael Feldman, Karen Castelletti, Sandra Portal-Andreu, Jessica Creane</li></ul>Links:<ul><li><a href="https://www.kpbs.org/events/ongoing/la-jolla-playhouse-2023-without-walls-wow-festival" target="_blank">Without Walls (WOW) Festival</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sdbookcrawl.com/" target="_blank">San Diego Book Crawl</a></li></ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;A &lt;a href="https://mcasd.org/exhibitions/giants" target="_blank"&gt;new exhibition&lt;/a&gt; headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego comes from the personal collection of two names you'll recognize — musical icons Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The "Giants" exhibit &lt;a href="https://mcasd.org/exhibitions/giants" target="_blank"&gt;features works&lt;/a&gt; from 37 Black American and diasporic artists making waves in the art space.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We sit down with a local curator then arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans to hear more about the exhibit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Plus, we preview La Jolla Playhouse's &lt;a href="https://lajollaplayhouse.org/wowfestival/" target="_blank"&gt;Without Walls or "WOW" festival&lt;/a&gt; by hearing from San Diego artists as well as creators from across the nation and around the globe.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://mcasd.org/about/who-we-are" target="_blank"&gt;Amy Crum&lt;/a&gt;, associate curator, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kpbs.org/staff/julia-dixon-evans" target="_blank"&gt;Julia Dixon Evans&lt;/a&gt;, arts reporter and "The Finest" host, KPBS&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kpbs.org/staff/beth-accomando" target="_blank"&gt;Beth Accomando&lt;/a&gt;, arts reporter, KPBS&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://lajollaplayhouse.org/wowfestival/" target="_blank"&gt;'Without Walls (WOW)' Festival&lt;/a&gt; artists - KJ Knies, Sara Biel, Casey Hall-Landers, Jesca Prudencio, Noa Barankin, Bridget Cavaiola Stone, Josette Lépine, Aubrielle Hvolboll, Matthew Sater, Lyra Levin, Michael Feldman, Karen Castelletti, Sandra Portal-Andreu, Jessica Creane&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Links:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kpbs.org/events/ongoing/la-jolla-playhouse-2023-without-walls-wow-festival" target="_blank"&gt;Without Walls (WOW) Festival&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sdbookcrawl.com/" target="_blank"&gt;San Diego Book Crawl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</description>

MCASD welcomes art exhibition from collection of Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria on Wednesday unveiled his <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/04/15/gloria-proposes-layoffs-furloughs-and-deep-cuts-to-arts-libraries-recreation-to-close-146m-deficit/" target="_blank">proposed budget</a> for the coming fiscal year, outlining his plans to help close the city's nearly $150 million deficit. The wide-ranging cuts proposed by Gloria include cuts to local arts groups, as well as to libraries and recreation centers across the city. On Midday Edition, we take a closer look at the proposed cuts and talk about what comes next for the budget process. Guests: <ul><li><a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/author/david-garrick/" target="_blank">David Garrick</a>, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune</li><li><a href="https://www.kpbs.org/staff/john-carroll" target="_blank">John Carroll</a>, reporter and anchor, KPBS</li></ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria on Wednesday unveiled his &lt;a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/04/15/gloria-proposes-layoffs-furloughs-and-deep-cuts-to-arts-libraries-recreation-to-close-146m-deficit/" target="_blank"&gt;proposed budget&lt;/a&gt; for the coming fiscal year, outlining his plans to help close the city's nearly $150 million deficit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The wide-ranging cuts proposed by Gloria include cuts to local arts groups, as well as to libraries and recreation centers across the city.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On Midday Edition, we take a closer look at the proposed cuts and talk about what comes next for the budget process.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guests:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/author/david-garrick/" target="_blank"&gt;David Garrick&lt;/a&gt;, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kpbs.org/staff/john-carroll" target="_blank"&gt;John Carroll&lt;/a&gt;, reporter and anchor, KPBS&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</description>

Major cuts to arts and more proposed in San Diego Mayor's budget

It could be a good opportunity to look up at the skies as this week marks International Dark Sky Week. It's a global movement that aims to explore the celestial night sky, bring awareness to the impact of artificial lighting on communities and wildlife, and curb light pollution. Wednesday on Midday Edition, we explore more about dark skies and how people can manage their own light use. Guest:<ul><li>Eddie Lain, dark sky advocate, <a href="https://darkskysandiego.org/" target="_blank">San Diego County Chapter of Dark Sky International</a></li></ul>Resources:<ul><li><a href="https://idsw.darksky.org/" target="_blank">International Dark Sky Week</a></li></ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;It could be a good opportunity to look up at the skies as this week marks International Dark Sky Week.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It's a global movement that aims to explore the celestial night sky, bring awareness to the impact of artificial lighting on communities and wildlife, and curb light pollution.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Wednesday on Midday Edition, we explore more about dark skies and how people can manage their own light use.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guest:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Eddie Lain, dark sky advocate, &lt;a href="https://darkskysandiego.org/" target="_blank"&gt;San Diego County Chapter of Dark Sky International&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Resources:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://idsw.darksky.org/" target="_blank"&gt;International Dark Sky Week&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</description>

'Flick of a switch:' Seeing the stars this International Dark Sky Week

This week, the President launched a series of social media attacks against Pope Leo XIV. He also offended Catholics and Christians worldwide with an <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5783807/after-backlash-trump-deletes-post-depicting-him-as-jesus-like-figure" target="_blank">AI-generated photo</a> portraying him as a Jesus-like figure. He also called the American-born pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." The pope responded by saying he will continue to advocate against war and promote peace. Guest:<ul><li><a href="https://religion.sdsu.edu/faculty-and-staff/bartel" target="_blank">Rebecca Bartel</a>, associate professor, SDSU's Department for the Study of Religion</li></ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week, the President launched a series of social media attacks against Pope Leo XIV. He also offended Catholics and Christians worldwide with an &lt;a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5783807/after-backlash-trump-deletes-post-depicting-him-as-jesus-like-figure" target="_blank"&gt;AI-generated photo&lt;/a&gt; portraying him as a Jesus-like figure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He also called the American-born pope "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy."&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The pope responded by saying he will continue to advocate against war and promote peace.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guest:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://religion.sdsu.edu/faculty-and-staff/bartel" target="_blank"&gt;Rebecca Bartel&lt;/a&gt;, associate professor, SDSU's Department for the Study of Religion&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</description>

Religious studies professor weighs in on Trump vs. the Pope

Air pollution near the Tijuana River Valley is threatening the health of residents who live there.A new bill by California State Senator Steve Padilla would <a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2026/04/13/environment-report-tijuana-rivers-toxic-gas-gets-legislated/" target="_blank">strengthen regulations</a> around one pollutant — hydrogen sulfide. We break down the bill and what it could mean for the pollution problem in the South Bay. Guest:<ul><li><a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/author/mackelmer/" target="_blank">Mackenzie Elmer</a>, environment and energy reporter, Voice of San Diego</li></ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Air pollution near the Tijuana River Valley is threatening the health of residents who live there.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A new bill by California State Senator Steve Padilla would &lt;a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2026/04/13/environment-report-tijuana-rivers-toxic-gas-gets-legislated/" target="_blank"&gt;strengthen regulations&lt;/a&gt; around one pollutant — hydrogen sulfide.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We break down the bill and what it could mean for the pollution problem in the South Bay.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Guest:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/author/mackelmer/" target="_blank"&gt;Mackenzie Elmer&lt;/a&gt;, environment and energy reporter, Voice of San Diego&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</description>

New bill would tighten hydrogen sulfide standards in South Bay

Midday Edition uplifts voices in San Diego with fearless conversations about intriguing issues. Host, Jade Hindmon, cuts through the noise with questions that give listeners a deeper understanding of themselves, people and the community they live in. Guests share diverse perspectives from their expertise and lived experience. In a city and world that's rapidly changing, Jade’s interviews inspire, inform and make you think. New episodes drop Monday - Thursday afternoons.

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