Acclaimed author and activist Don Winslow thought he would retire from writing after his last novel, "City in Ruin" came out in 2024.

But this year, he marks his return to fiction with a collection of six novellas, "The Final Score."

Thursday on Midday Edition, Winslow talks about exploring identity in his latest work, his decision to return to writing, and his advocacy in the current political moment.

Then, KPBS' Beth Accomando sits down with the co-founder of Riot Productions to talk about their latest play, "Audition Sides," which tells a love story between two actors stuck in a callback audition.

And finally, there is plenty to do in the arts this weekend. KPBS' Julia Dixon Evans shares all the events to check out, plus a preview of what to check out in "The Finest."

• Don Winslow, author and activist, "The Final Score"
• Sarah Alida LeClair, playwright and actress, "Audition Sides;" artistic director and founder, Riot Productions
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter and host of "The Finest," KPBS

Roughly 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and healthcare workers in California and Hawaii went on strike this week. The union alleges unfair labor practices amid prolonged contract talks.

Workers on the picket lines are fighting for safe staffing levels and fair wages for caregivers.

We discuss what healthcare workers are fighting for, how Kaiser Permanente is responding, and what patients need to know.

Guests:

• Heidi de Marco, health reporter, KPBS

Over 42 million Americans have student loan debt, with a total of more than $1.6 trillion owed.Late last year, the Trump administration announced plans to begin garnishing the wages of borrowers in default on student loans, but backtracked earlier this month. The result has created confusion for many facing student loan debt.Tuesday on Midday Edition, we breakdown some of the biggest changes in the federal student loan system and what borrowers need to know.Then, a new book chronicles the origins of the U.S. student loan system and looks at student debt as an issue of civil rights.Guests:Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director, Protect BorrowersJamal Watson, higher education journalist, professor and associate dean of graduate studies at Trinity Washington University, author of “The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency"

Mass protests against the current regime in Iran have been ongoing since late December.

Iranian security forces have killed thousands. Many more have been arrested. It's been called the deadliest unrest in the country since the 1979 revolution.

A near-total internet blackout continues, limiting communication and adding to uncertainty.

We sit down with one Iranian American in San Diego, concerned about the safety of her friends and family in Iran and grappling with anxiety about the future.

Guest:

• Bibi Kasrai, Iranian American entrepreneur who has lived in San Diego since 1996

For more than a year, plans for a $10 billion data center have been quietly moving forward in Imperial County.

By some estimates, it could rank among the largest data centers in the world.

The center would use immense amounts of energy and water. But the developer is openly trying to avoid California's environmental review process.

We sit down with KPBS reporter Kori Suzuki to discuss his three-part investigation digging into the controversy.

• Kori Suzuki, South Bay and Imperial Valley reporter, KPBS

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer ordered flags on county property to be flown at half-staff in response to recent violence involving federal immigration enforcement agencies in Minnesota.

Lawson-Remer joins Midday Edition Monday to talk about her reaction to the killing of Alex Pretti by a federal officer Saturday, and what local leaders are doing to try to prevent similar violence in San Diego County.

• Terra Lawson-Remer, District 3 county supervisor and chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors

Two years ago today, historic flooding devastated neighborhoods and displaced communities across San Diego.The destruction also left many arts and culture spaces in ruin.Thursday on Midday Edition, we sit down with two local arts groups — Graffiti Gardens and PASACAT — to talk about the hardships that came from the flooding and how they have rebuilt since.Then, Oscar nominations are out! Our Midday Movies critics share their reactions to everything, from new record-setting nominations to the biggest snubs of the year.Guests:Maxx Moses, graffiti artist, owner of Graffiti GardensAnamaria Labao Cabato, executive director, PASACATBeth Accomando, arts reporter, Cinema Junkie host, KPBSYazdi Pithavala, podcaster, Moviewallas

San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital this week announced that it will stop offering gender-affirming care under the threat of losing federal funding.The hospital is the only in San Diego County dedicated solely to pediatric care.On Midday Edition, we speak with the leader of a prominent transgender advocacy group ahead of a planned protest this weekend.Guest:Kathie Moehlig, founder and executive director, TransFamily Support Services