For years, Alma Rodriguez and her late daughter Ana Rodriguez brought the Beatles Fair to San Diego's North Park.

This year, it's coming to the desert. The new location is one of several ways Alma is honoring her daughter. The festival is also supporting Alma's new advocacy mission around pedestrian safety.

On Midday Edition Thursday, we talk to Anna about the inspiration behind this year's event.

Plus, KPBS Cinema Junkie Beth Accomando sits down with an author about the history and evolution of Black representation in film.

And, more young people are turning to so-called 'grandma hobbies' to disconnect from social media — from knitting and gardening, to pottery and needlepoint.

We hear from two local crafters to hear how they're building community for hobbyists.

Guests:

• Alma Rodriguez, owner of Queen Bee’s Art and Cultural Center and organizer of the San Diego Beatles Fair
• David F. Walker, author of "Black Film: A History of Black Representation and Participation in the Movies"
• Marlee Drake, co-founder of Queer Crafting San Diego
• Kimberly Molin, co-founder of MoMo Craft Club

A jury last week found Meta and Google designed their social media platforms to hook young users without a concern for their well being.

The case was brought forth by a woman who had been using social media since the age of 6. She testified that she became addicted to social media as a child and that the addiction worsened her mental health struggles.

On Midday Edition Wednesday, we talk about the case and how social media features like infinite scrolling and autoplay can lead to problematic social media use.

Guest:

Kristen Vacarro, associate professor of computer science and engineering, UC San Diego

Small businesses in South County, near the sewage-laced Tijuana River, are attributing years-long revenue losses to the ongoing pollution crisis. While construction projects designed to stop the flow of untreated wastewater are underway, business owners say relief cannot come sooner.

This week, William Briggs, the deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), visited the communities most affected, including Imperial Beach, to hear directly from business owners.

He is the latest federal official to meet with people who live and work near the Tijuana River in San Diego. In February, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin also visited the region to highlight how the federal government is working with its Mexican counterparts to end the decades-long problem.

Voice of San Diego reporter Jim Hinch followed along during Briggs' visit to Imperial Beach. He joined Midday Edition on Wednesday to share his biggest takeaways.

Guest:

• Jim Hinch, South County reporter, Voice of San Diego