By the end of August, certain crime rates dropped while others peaked in parts of the county compared to March. “I figured burglaries would be the crime that would be most affected because everybody’s home,” …

On August 15, some reggaeton music fans and partyrs rejoiced, when the ElImparcial.com news outlet across the border posted a story reading in part: “In Rosarito, a massive event organized by the Papas & Beer …

That boy thinks he's fighting an octopus," said a spectator watching the fight in the stands seconds after 16-year-old Ashton Sylve punched Juan Magallanes in his gut dropping him to the mat. The ref counts: …

On July 1, the United States Postal Service issued a new set of stamps composed of four hip-hop designs based on the four elements of the lifestyle: rapping, DJing, break dancing, and graffiti art. “Since …

On August 16, the power shut off in the Clairemont neighborhood west of the 805 freeway. “Our kids were doing online music tutorials,” said Steven S., “then ‘poof,’ the electricity went dead. The internet (modem) …

At midnight on August 2, some locals in Imperial Beach woke up to blaring foghorns. “I live two miles away from the beach and the horns [sounded] like the ship was next to my house, …

On August 1, Dennis Caco's Midori green colored 1998 Honda Civic was stolen from the main street by his Mission Valley home. "Before I went for a run, I went to check on the car, …

Say goodbye to 30th Street as it is “You guys are just thinking about North Park residents shopping here and eating at your shops,” she said. “You’re not thinking about the people coming from down …

On July 12, rapper Megan Thee Stallion was shot in both of her feet. “I was saddened and stunned, but relieved to find out she was okay,” said Danyelle “Sweet Dee” Solana, a local hip-hop …

During the first three months of the COVID-19 health emergency beginning in March, “sales of cigarettes in Mexico were “extinguished by 45 percent, [an equivalent to] 254.5 million packs,” reported El Financiero on July 27. …

On the 4th of July, Kanye West tweeted: “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! …

On July 23, construction in Tijuana commenced of the eight lanes leading into the San Ysidro Port of Entry. “With this expansion we will be reaching 35 lanes, and what will that consist of?” reportedly …

On July 17, at about sunset, some “Rosaritenses” flocked to their beach adjacent to Abelardo L. Rodríguez Park; a block west from Federal Highway 1. The occupants of the predominantly packed vehicles were greeted by …

On July 3, about 2 pm, Jacinto Garcia noticed his fellow surfers being questioned by Mexican police officers across the street from his K-38 Surf Shop in Rosarito. He clicked the record button on his …

San Diego hip-hop heads were baffled as to how Tekashi 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj’s “Trollz” copped the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 list on June 12. Near the beginning of the three-plus-minute cut, …

On July 2, approximately 10,000 containers of beer in a delivery truck were seized by the city council of Mexicali — according to Mexican news outlets. There’s no mention of the location where the smuggled …

Complete public sleeping ban Imperial Beach has banned camping or sleeping in public with an ordinance that reaches into every last corner, from pavement to median, "including but not limited to dirt or landscaped areas." …

Michelle Cardenas from San Diego became worried to hear that Angeles Verdes (Green Angels), a free of charge and national road service, might be discontinued in certain parts of Mexico. “The Green Angels towed our …

On June 19, some San Diegans celebrated Juneteenth, while others paid homage to San Diego County’s circa-1982 area code “ ‘619 day’ was more of an unspoken holiday, but it didn’t come to be until …

“Be ready for the gas grenades!” yells a protester. Seconds later: boom... boom... boom. “The sun just went down and everyone’s getting violent out here,” says Arturo Gonzalez into his phone’s microphone. “Look at how …

If you want to fish, you have to be west of the checkered flag,” blared a voice from the PA speaker above us, “there’s also no fishing on the south side of the [Imperial Beach] …

On May 28, Spring Valley resident Camille Cruz was one of 1.1 million-plus viewers that saw a Chula Vista-filmed skate video on TikTok. “My past self applauds the kids for sneaking into the [Aquatica] waterpark,” …

What’s going on with our rap artists during lockdown? Rosarito based record producer Z-Boi is self-quarantining and producing reggaeton music and rap-beats from his Shock Da World Recordz studio, located 18 miles south of the …

It’s almost Zonie season, that time of year when the arrival of triple-digit heat prompts Arizonans to head west in search of cool ocean breezes. But over the last year, I’ve been driving east to …

Many parents of children that ride school buses in our districts were “taken for a ride” on May 20 — myself included. That morning, I was on my desktop computer and noticed a meme on …

22 surfers were arrested and detained on Saturday, May 16 for surfing at Cantiles Dorados in Rosarito — about 28 miles south of the border. The El Imparcial news outlet from Tijuana posted a photo …

On the morning of April 23, Jasmine King and her family's flatbed trailer was stolen from the front of their Escondido home. "People are getting desperate," she said to me on May 9, "there's been …

May Carrasco and her Imperial Beach neighbors noticed an increase in fast and reckless drivers on roadways since lockdown. “Cars race up and down the streets of IB all the time,” she said on May …

“It’s April 21, and my broomstick is still standing up on its own — look!” exclaimed Johnny B. from City Heights. NASA was quick to debunk the #BroomstickChallenge a couple of months ago when San …

In the next few days, Ann Reid and her husband will trek from their Ensenada home to San Diego to pick up their mail and shop for essentials not available in Ensenada. The transplants are …

On April 17, Ellis Zeraus from Chula Vista woke up to “a bad” Facebook notification. “We have made the sad decision to cancel Comic-Con for the first time in its 50-year history,” posted the non …

“Beat this, chump,” my cousin challenged me via Instagram. He dove onto his back with both legs crunched in a near fetal position, then feverishly spun in circles on his back. I watched the 15-second …

On the morning of April 8, surfer and jujitsu instructor Don Abadie went live on Instagram. “There’s a big swell right about now,” he said in part on the 1:15 minute video clip. “Does anybody …

Giovanni's leaves cribbage fans homeless I used to come to Giovanni’s at the turn of the century when they were located at Balboa Avenue about a mile west from the I-805 freeway. I remember playing …

“Please stay in the U.S. whether they let you cross or not,” Cathy G. pleaded to her fellow-expats on Facebook. “It’s your choice to make, knowing the consequences — you could be a carrier with …

“I believe I had this COVID-19 virus a few weeks ago,” said Sunnie. “I never felt so sick in my life." Sunnie, 54, from Pacific Beach and a registered nurse, requested we not publish her …

“Rapper P-Lo’s style of music is 100 percent ‘Bay Area’ — the type of music you can dance to, whether it’s with a partner or by yourself, and just good vibing,” said Vanessa Wong, a …

On March 12, the Rocket Con promoters postponed their upcoming comic book, toy and collectibles show in Mission Valley, to August 1-2. Anaheim’s WonderCon — a subsidiary of Comic-Con International: San Diego — also cancelled …

On February 28, Anthony “Fallbrook Kid” Cullins’ music gear was stolen. I reached out to the blues rock guitar player and as of press time, I haven’t receive a response; his social media tells the …

When ℒund’s “Reflection” dropped on YouTube and SoundCloud four months ago, I couldn’t decipher his style of music. The 2:47 song begins with a bass guitar rhythm reminiscent of the Bully video game theme song, …

“This scenario report concludes that the San Diego region could suffer severe damage to its buildings and lifeline infrastructure with devastating consequences to the communities and economy following a major RCFZ earthquake,” says the San …

“Honestly, when I first heard this on Spotify, I thought they were black,” said Matthew Hellier underneath gianni & kyle’s “do u even miss me at all?” official music video on YouTube. “Thought the first …

When Lando Martinez returned to his south San Diego home on January 20, his 1995 Honda Del Sol was missing. “I parked the car in front of our new house on the 16th,” he said, …

On February 22, Van S. passed by Kim Long, a Chinese restaurant in Playas de Tijuana; the restaurant reportedly contained a rat cage and insects inside the kitchen about a week before. "It was empty, …

On February 12, American spring breakers grew concerned about a photo posted on Facebook by Jose Martinez. The photo depicts an "Uber vehicle" getting towed, with an official Playas de Rosarito vehicle bearing the name …

Alexis, a public school teacher in Ensenada, received 20,000 pesos (about $1062) in back pay on December 20, after going months without being paid. “And some of my colleagues received up to 80,000 pesos (about …

On February 2, there’s a handful of San Diegans that will be on the Hard Rock Stadium field in Miami for Super Bowl LIV. “As a lifelong 49ers fan here in North County, I know …

M. Hernandez scoffed when he saw the “rave safe with these 10 essentials” list posted on the iEDM site last summer. Hernandez, now in his 40s, is prepping to watch EDM veteran Armin Van Buuren …

Baja residents are saying the Obamas continued celebrating the former first lady's 56th birthday in Baja California Sur. A photo of former-President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, posing next to three others in Loreto, surfaced …

It seems that local concert promoters are nodding ‘yes’ in unison with my basshead brethren lately, and following the lead of video gamers. On January 24, Sullivan King, Yakz, and Grabbitz will perform their dubstep …