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News Ticker Entries for January, 2012

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City Council Unanimously in Favor of Urban Agriculture Amendments

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Today was a landmark for urban agriculturalists as the City Council voted unanimously in favor of amendments to municipal code which simplify the process for approving farmers' markets on private property, make minor adjustments to community garden regulations, and ease …

Fletcher Officeholder Fund Backed by Reynolds Tobacco

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Republican Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, a candidate for mayor of San Diego, raised a total of $51,000 in his so-called officeholder account last year. State law permits such funds to be used to handle a variety of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by …

Former Gateway Execs Nailed by SEC

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed today (Jan. 31) that two former executives of one-time San Diego computer giant Gateway have been enjoined from future violations of securities laws. Former chief executive Jeffrey Weitzen and former controller Robert Manza …

Residents Oppose Road Linking Mission Valley to Serra Mesa

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The Mission Valley corridor has been said to one of San Diego's burgeoning communities. A January 31 UT-San Diego article touted the valley's bustling shopping malls and retail stores, mixed-use communities, and proximity to the trolley. The valley, also home …

TV Weather Forecasters Caught in Argument Over Climate Change

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A debate is brewing over whether television weather forecasters are misleading their viewers about the true effects of climate change. On one side, Forecast the Facts, a campaign led by Citizen Engagement Lab, which bills itself as “a non-profit, non-partisan …

Broker Banned for Churning Teenager's Account

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The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has banned San Diego registered brokerage supervisor Kale Edgar Evans from association with FINRA members and ordered him to pay a fine. According to FINRA, Evans recommended unsuitable investments, including some made on margin, …

McMillins Give Big to Local Politicos

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Mark and Scott McMillin (pictured), along with their sizable local development outfit, contributed a total of $98,328.65 to various political causes during 2011, according to a January 20 disclosure filing posted online by the California Secretary of State. The frequently …

Bill Calls for Increased Disclosure on Political Advertising

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California lawmakers are considering a proposal known as Assembly Bill 1148 that would, among other things, require the three largest sponsors of political advertising in print, radio, and television to be identified in the ads themselves. Supporters of the bill …

San Diego, US Home Values Still Going South

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Home values in the 20 largest metro markets dropped 3.7% in November from a year earlier, according to Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller indices released this morning (Jan. 31). There were 18 year-over-year declines in the 20 markets and 19 month-over-month declines. …

Manufacturing Industry Expands in Tijuana

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Tijuana EDC, a nonprofit promoting the city’s manufacturing industry, has released figures on the growth of the region’s production capacity in 2011. The group reports that 14 companies opened new facilities in Tijuana last year, adding 800,000 square feet of …

Former SD Lawyer Charged with Stashing Funds Offshore

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Former San Diego attorney Christopher Rusch was charged in Phoenix today (Jan. 30) with defrauding the Internal Revenue Service by stashing funds in Switzerland. Rusch and two Phoenix area businessmen were charged with concealing millions of dollars in assets in …

Public Defender Henry Coker's Endorsement of Dumanis Violated Federal Hatch Act?

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Local resident and homeless-advocate Kathryn Rhodes filed a formal complaint to the Office of the Special Counsel, on January 25 over the endorsement (see an earlier story here) of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis by County of San Diego Public Defender …

Could Amylin Be Takeover Target?

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Biotech Amylin stock is up 18.04% to $14.33 at mid-day Monday (Jan. 30), following Food & Drug Administration approval for U.S. marketing of Bydureon, a once-weekly version of Amylin's diabetes shot. This was the third try with the FDA. Amylin …

Port Commissioner Blasts Proposal To Build A Bayfront Stadium

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San Diego port commissioner Bob Nelson appeared at the Economic Development and Strategies Committee's first meeting on Monday to offer ideas on boosting the region's foundering economy. Nelson also took the opportunity to shoot down any proposals to build a …

Fabian Nuñez Reports Almost $4.7 Million in Campaign Cash

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Former state assembly speaker Fabian Nuñez — a Democrat controversial in San Diego for a last-minute sentence reduction granted his imprisoned son by exiting GOP governor Arnold Schwarzenegger — is sitting on $4,690,047.25 in his political bank account, according to …

San Diego GOP Gets $12,500 from Rancho Guejito

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Rancho Guejito, the outfit seeking to develop a big chunk of the 23,000 acres it owns between Route 78 nearly to Route 76 in North County, was one of the San Diego County Republican party's biggest single donors in 2011, …

Naval Medical Center Studying Premature Joint Deterioration

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Doctors at the Naval Medical Center San Diego are studying the cause of rapid cartilage loss in knees, shoulders, and other joints following injuries, the Navy Times is reporting. The condition, joint chrondrolysis, is forcing otherwise healthy military personnel and …

SDGE Refuses to Testify under Oath on Its Insurance Scam

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San Diego Gas & Electric said yesterday (Jan. 27) that it would not submit responses under oath to questions posed by attorney Mike Aguirre in the long-running hearings on whether the utility can make customers — not shareholders — pick …

Bill Could Limit Executive Pay at Public Utilities

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Sacramento legislators are considering a potential bill that would place limits on the portion of executive salaries that state utilities — including San Diego Gas & Electric — could force their ratepayers to cover, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting. …

Padres and City Want More Special Events at Petco Park

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Local businesses surrounding Petco Park are asking the Mayor for relief. They say there aren't enough off-season events at the stadium and local businesses owners are left to fend for themselves during the off-season. According to a January 25 report …

Vargas Channels Schwarzenegger for Insurance Lobby

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It's not a surprise to see Juan Vargas keynoting an insurance industry event; before the Democrat was elected to the state senate in 2010 he helped guide lobbying at Safeco and Liberty Mutual, and before that, while in the state …

Councilmember David Alvarez Says Community-Benefit Districts Will Help Galvanize Barrio Logan

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Barrio Logan will be the new Little Italy, at least that's what some developers and others in the building industry hope will happen once new housing and retail centers are erected. To further enhance the area, some developers residents and …

Steve Peace for Congress?

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Could a well-known independent candidate be preparing to enter North County's already hotly-contested race for the 52nd District congressional seat? That's one intriguing possibility suggested to political insiders by poll results posted yesterday on IVN.us, a website operated by the …

New Trash Trucks Bring Better Efficiency, Less Odor

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National disposal company Waste Management has announced San Diego will be among the first markets in the country for a roll out its new fleet of Rotopress trash collection units. The new trash trucks, a combination of natural-gas-powered semi trucks …

Group to Protest State Health Spending Cuts

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A group of patients, public sector workers, and community members led by Raul Carranza, a local student suffering from muscular dystrophy, have announced plans to gather at the state administration building at 1350 Front Street downtown tomorrow at noon to …

Democrat Atkins Raised $292,960 in 2011

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The reelection fund of San Diego Democratic assemblywoman Toni Atkins took in a total of $292,960 in contributions during 2011, according to her end-of-year filing posted yesterday by the state Secretary of State's office. After spending $199,841, the Atkins cause …

CPUC's Ratepayer Advocates Back SD Hearing on SDGE Fire Scam

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The Division of Ratepayer Advocates, a group within the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) representing the interests of consumers, not shareholders, has come out in favor of a public meeting in San Diego at which San Diego Gas & Electric …

Police Search for Suspect in Failed Robbery Attempt

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San Diego police are investigating an attempted robbery at the Golden Bear gas station on the 1500 block of Morena Boulevard. On January 6, the suspect, described as “a white or Hispanic male, 17 to mid 20s, 5’6 to 5’8, …

Encinitas Council Approves Installation of "Surfing Madonna" Mosaic

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The "Save the Ocean Mosaic," better known as the "Surfing Madonna," is one step closer to finding a new home. On Wednesday, members of the Encinitas City Council unanimously approved a proposal to move the 10-foot-by-10-foot mosaic, which shows the …

Study Finds Increase In Binge Drinking

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More and more people are binge drinking in San Diego County, says a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. The study found that adults are nearly doubling what is currently considered binge drinking. Instead of the four …

117 Gang Members Nailed on Drug Charges

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A federal grand jury has handed up 17 indictments and the U.S. attorney's office has filed eight criminal complaints against 119 defendants allegedly involved in drug trafficking and other crimes. Two of the defendants are Mexican Mafia members and 117 …

Fed Will Try to Goose Stocks in Election Year

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The Federal Reserve announced today (Jan. 25) that it will stay with the longtime tradition of passing out free whiskey to voters in an election year to jack up the stock market. Of course, the Fed didn't say it that …

Report Questions Quantity, Quality of Jobs from Convention Center Expansion

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Where are the Jobs?, a report issued independently yesterday by Murtaza H. Baxamusa, Director of Planning and Development at the Family Housing Corporation, San Diego Building Trades; and an adjunct faculty at the Sol Price School of Public Policy, University …

Taxpayers Association's Political War Chest Grows

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The San Diego County Taxpayers Association, a business lobbying and advocacy group whose board includes many prominent local Republicans, raised $15,690 for its political action committee in the final six months of 2011. According to the group's campaign report, filed …

Roche Makes Hostile Bid for Illumina

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Swiss-based Roche Holding AG offered roughly $5.7 billion in cash for San Diego biotech Illumina early Wednesday (Jan. 25). Roche said it would pay $44.50 a share for Illumina, 18% more than its closing price Tuesday. Roche said Illumina was …

Survey Says Californians Support Tax Hikes, Oppose Education Cuts

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Californians heavily favor Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal for a temporary increase in sales taxes and personal income taxes of wealthy individuals, a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California indicates. They also strongly oppose cuts to education that …

SDSU Gets $1M for Industrial Efficiency Program

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Professor Asfaw Beyene and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University have been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the university is reporting today. Grant monies will fund the school’s Industrial Assessment …

SDG&E Tries to Nix Public Hearing on Fire Insurance Scam

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San Diego Gas & Electric has told the California Public Utilities Commission that there is no need for local public hearings now on its attempt to get customers to pick up uninsured costs of the 2007 wildfires. Recently, the Mussey …

Occupy San Diego Voices Complaints Against SDPD

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Members of Occupy San Diego will be attending tonight’s Citizens Review Board of Police Practices to voice complaints regarding the way the San Diego Police Department has handled the ongoing protest which began in early October. “We are going there …

Wildcoast Studies Surfers' Social and Economical Impacts in Baja

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Researchers from Wildcoast, a coastal and marine conservation group based in Imperial Beach, are calling on surfers who traveled to Baja California Sur during the past year to participate in a survey. The purpose of the survey is to give …

Manchester Resort Cited for Land Use, Environmental Violations

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While a public controversy rages around Sunday's waterfront stadium proposal by the U-T San Diego, another major project by the paper's owner has been facing difficulties with city planners. According to a September 20, 2011 "Notice of Violation," provided by …

Failing Grades Across San Diego County on American Lung Association Tobacco Report

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The American Lung Association has assigned failing grades to nearly all San Diego communities in its State of Tobacco Control 2012 report issued last week. California as a whole also received dismal rankings from the group in most areas of …

Attorney General Intervenes in SANDAG Regional Transit Plan Lawsuit

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California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced this afternoon that she has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that would subject the Regional Transit Plan drafted by the San Diego Association of Governments to additional review. The environmental groups …

Roski Plays Political Football with Campaign Cash

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Ed Roski's plan to build an NFL stadium in the City of Industry has been largely eclipsed by rival Phil Anchutz's proposal for a downtown Los Angeles venue, where many expect the San Diego Chargers to eventually play, but Roski …

The Many Faces of Bob Filner

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Life is not all dreary debates and political fundraising for Democratic congressman and San Diego mayoral candidate Bob Filner, based on online accounts of various charity events and performances he's been showing up at around the county. "Accompanying Congressman Filner …

Save Our Heritage Wins Battle: Plaza de Panama Plan

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Preservation group Save Our Heritage Organisation has been granted a petition for writ of mandate filed last summer over the city of San Diego’s adoption of a memorandum of understanding lending support to a proposal to revamp Balboa Park’s Plaza …

County Supervisors to Discuss Fat City Lofts

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County Supervisors on Tuesday will vote whether to formally oppose the development of 232 condos and 4,485 of retail space across the street from the Solar Turbines manufacturing plant in Little Italy. Supervisors Greg Cox and Dianne Jacob are asking …

"A Better San Diego" Forum Addresses Local Public Education

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A Better San Diego, a group billing itself as a “coalition of labor, community, faith, environmental, and civil rights organizations,” held the first in what’s planned as a series of community forums focusing on local problems and potential solutions on …

Council Committee to Consider Reducing Time to Pay Parking Tickets

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Recipients of parking citations will have fewer days to pay or appeal the ticket before late fees are assessed, if a city council committee decides to move the recommendations on the full city council. On Wednesday, the Budget and Finance …

Private Education and Gambling Interests Back Anderson

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A controversial private education outfit and the home of the Kentucky Derby were two of the December donors to the 2010 campaign committee of GOP state Sen. Joel Anderson. On December 17, San Diego's Bridgepoint Education, Inc. gave Anderson $2,900; …

Local Unemployment Drops Below 9 Percent

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San Diego County's unemployment rate was 8.9% in December 2011, down from a revised 9.2% in November and below the 10.1% of a year earlier. December's rate compares with an unadjusted rate of 10.9% for California and 8.3% for the …

Judge Upholds Gun Sales Reporting Law Over NRA Protest

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The Obama administration and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are celebrating a victory in their battle to deter gun trafficking across the nation’s southern border. Last week, federal judge Rosemary Collyer upheld an order given last …

Credit Union PAC Spends Big on Nancy Chase

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The San Diego Credit Unions' PAC paid $12,000 to Solana Beach political consultant Nancy Chase last year, a longtime city hall insider and widow of Gregory Canyon landfill developer Richard Chase. According to its semi-annual disclosure filed in Sacramento earlier …

Wells Fargo Holds Workshop for Homeowners

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Wells Fargo Home Mortgage wants to help homeowners who are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments. On January 25, 75 "home retention team members" will hold a workshop at the convention center to give advice and receive decisions on …

Former Energy Commission Director to Lead Intervention on Nuclear Proceedings

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The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility has signed on energy policy heavy hitter John Geesman in its intervention over Pacific Gas & Electric’s request for $64 million in ratepayer funding to conduct seismic studies at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant …

North Park Residents Plan Rally In Protest of High Number of Alcohol Licenses

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Call it an 'anti-pub crawl' or 'bar-stopping'. A group of residents in North Park will gather on Friday evening to walk in protest to the number of alcohol licenses issued to businesses in their community. The protest will be the …

Rap Artist Tyga Blames World Beat Center Riot on Misunderstanding

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California-based rap artist Tyga is downplaying allegations by TMZ that he sparked a 1,200 person riot at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park on January 6 by failing to show up for a scheduled concert. Says TMZ: “A rep …

San Diego Realtors Gave $50,000 to Pension Measure

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The San Diego Association of Realtors IMPAC committee contributed $50,000 to last year's successful effort to qualify a ballot measure that would change the city's defined benefit retirement plan. The measure, to be considered by voters this coming June, is …

Home Sales Up, Down, Depending on Who's Asked

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Competing reports from the California Association of Realtors, a real estate trade group, and real estate analytics company DataQuick paint a conflicting picture of residential property sales for the last month of 2011. The realtors' report, released yesterday, says sales …

Local, National Websites Shut Down to Protest Internet Censorship Law

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Local news website OB Rag has joined nationally recognized websites Reddit, WordPress, Wikipedia, and others in shutting down operations today in protest of the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, a proposal that detractors say would severely and unjustly limit freedom …

UCSD Researchers Reject National Policy on Smoking Cessation

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Researchers at the UCSD's School of Medicine studying smoking cessation found that despite a wide range of pharmaceutical medications and anti-smoking aids, the ratio of successful quitters remains the same. They are asking that the national policy, which recommends that …

City Attorney Says Snapdragon Deal Void

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As we first reported January 5, Mayor Jerry Sanders proceeded with Qualcomm, Inc.'s December "Snapdragon Stadium" promotional gambit despite a memo by San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith stating that the plan was illegal. The saga started back on December …

FCC to Accept Comments on Ending Sports Blackouts on TV

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The Federal Communications Commission is considering revising its sports “blackout” rules that cause fans of some local teams to be unable to watch home games on television. The FCC announced it would accept public comment on a petition backed by …

Wanted: Public Hearings on SDGE's Planned Fleece Job

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San Diego County's Mussey Grade Alliance today (Jan. 17) formally requested that San Diegans have a chance for a public hearing on a planned San Diego Gas & Electric caper that in my opinion could be one of the county's …

The Push for Community-Benefit Districts in Barrio Logan

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It's safe to say that in the past, residents of Barrio Logan haven't had much say as far as land use decisions go. The community is an assemblage of residential housing and industrial warehouses. Semi-trucks leaving the port rattle the …

Welk Resort Operators Can't Force Owners Into Arbitration, Court Rules

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The Welk Group, operators of the Welk Resort San Diego, has lost its right to force owners into binding arbitration over mold damage to the property, Courthouse News Service reports. The time share community was originally opened by television personality …

Payment Scam May Come to San Diego, Utility Warns

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SDG&E is warning customers to be wary of a scam that’s struck customers of other utilities on the East Coast, and that they fear could be spreading across the nation. As a part of the scam, utility customers are contacted …

Ex-Sempra President Among Few Local Huntsman Backers

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Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who pulled out of the GOP presidential race yesterday and endorsed fellow Mormon and part-time La Jollan Mitt Romney, didn't collect much campaign cash from San Diego donors. A major exception was Neal A. …

Poway to Prohibit Pot Dispensaries

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Poway city officials will consider closing the door for those hoping to open pot shops in the City at a city council hearing tomorrow. At the meeting, city councilmembers and the mayor will listen to public input before reading an …

Baseball Owners Wonder If Moorad Partners Have the Money

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Columnist Mike Ozanian of Forbes Magazine says today (Jan. 16) that "The sale of controlling interest of the San Diego Padres to Jeff Moorad by John Moores has been delayed by Major League Baseball because the league is not convinced …

Company Charging $55 for One-Minute Calls Escapes Legally

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The San Diego Better Business Bureau is swamped with complaints about San Diego-based BBG Communications. People complain about outrageous charges for credit card phone calls made from this company's overseas pay phones — $55 for one minute, for example. The …

Economist Laffer Sued Again

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Arthur Laffer, former San Diegan and supply side economist who is generally considered the primary force behind the Reagan tax cuts of the 1980s, was sued in a Texas court Jan. 11 for alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme. Some …

SENTRI Pass Holder Caught with $1M in Methamphetamine

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers confiscated almost 54 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a 2000 Honda Civic at the Otay Mesa border crossing on Wednesday, January 11. The vehicle was driven by a 30-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Tijuana …

Imperial Beach to Discuss Displaying "In God We Trust" in Council Chambers

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Imperial Beach city councilmember Lori Bragg requests the council discuss a proposal to display the motto, "In God We Trust" inside council chambers. On January 18, the council will decide whether they should consider it. Bakersfield councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan, president …

Bill Lerach Hosting Sherri Lightner Fundraiser

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La Jolla Democrats like Bill Lerach. And he likes them. That's at least one conclusion to be drawn from an email sent to supporters by the camapign committee for District One city councilwoman Sheri Lightner. "SAVE THE DATE for a …

Much Left to Learn About the Effectiveness of Charter Schools

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Two decades after first beginning to experiment with the concept of publicly funded but independently managed charter schools, we still don’t know much about their effectiveness in creating a better model for learning, according to UC San Diego’s Division of …

Escondidan Dodged Taxes, Lied

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Escondido's Thongsavanh Phensombath pleaded guilty today (Jan. 12) in federal court to evading half a million dollars in taxes generated by his business, JMP Precision Sheet Metal Fabrication. According to the federal government, Phensombath submitted false statements to the Internal …

Feds Let Sempra Investigate Itself

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The Washington Post reports today (Jan. 12) that in 2010, when a former employee said Sempra Energy was paying bribes in Mexico, the government did what it often does in white-collar crime cases: it asked the company (in this case …

Woman Kidnapped, Returned, Suspect Remains at Large

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San Diego sheriff’s deputies are investigating a kidnapping that took place in Escondido yesterday. At around 11:30 a.m., deputies responded to a call on San Pasqual Valley Road, where an individual reported that her 27-year-old sister had just been kidnapped …

VA Hospital Audit Finds Fire Risks, Cancer Test Delays

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There have been big troubles with colorectal cancer tests and many fire extinguishers, including those in an operating room, have gone without safety checks at San Diego's Veterans Administration hospital, accordng to a critical report released Friday by the Inspector …

Broker Banned for Churning Client Account

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The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has banned John William Grant from association with FINRA members. Grant, who then worked for Torrey Pines Securities, made $1.1 million in trades, amounting to $11,500 in commissions, in an account in which there …

Otay Mesa Power Plant Tops Greenhouse Gas List

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Just who is the biggest yearly greenhouse gas emitter in San Diego? According to an interactive map posted online by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, that honor goes to the Otay Mesa Energy Center, a power plant on the border …

Car Rental Agency Sued for Offering Gay and Lesbian Discounts

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An Arizona woman has initiated a class-action suit alleging discrimination based on her sexual orientation by Avis Rent A Car. Lynn Evenchik claims that Avis’ practice of offering discounts to members of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and …

Probation Department Shopping for Pepper Spray

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San Diego county's Probation Department wants to stock up on a big inventory of "assorted tactical gear," including 100 cans of "MK-4 OC Spray--First Defense" pepper spray from Defense Technologies of Casper, Wyoming, according to a December 29 request for …

Port Taking Suggestions for Improvement Projects

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The Port of San Diego has extended the public proposal period on its Capital Improvement Program, which considers plans for various construction and improvement projects, through February 28. The extension is intended to give the public time to give input …

Tech Rejuvenates Tijuana's Maquiladora Industry

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Baja California’s maquiladora industry is once again booming after losing ground for years to Asian competitors and suffering from waning U.S. demand in the midst of the economic recession, Public Radio International reports. Now, however, demand is up for factory …

Surfing for Dollars with Brian Bilbray and Fred Hemmings

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Next up on 2012's calendar of local GOP fundraisers is congressman Brian Bilbray's "Birthday Celebration Reception and Dinner" at Shelter Island's Bali Hai restaurant. Featured guests at the January 26 event are "surfing legends Hawaii Senator Fred Hemmings (ret) & …

Residents In Little Italy Oppose Bus Parking Lot In Community

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Residents in Little Italy are asking that SANDAG scrap plans to build a short term bus parking lot in their community. The short-term wait-station, proposed for the corner of Ash Street and Kettner Boulevard, would serve as a place where …

Girls Think Tank Urges Council to Bring Portland Loos to Downtown

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Noor Kazmi, president of homeless advocate group Girls Think Tank, lashed out at city councilmembers for a lack of action in bringing prefabricated, graffiti resistant restrooms, also known as "Portland Loos", to downtown San Diego. "Downtown and the homeless residents …

Median SD Home Values Fourth Highest

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The median value of a home in San Diego County is $338,800, fourth highest among 25 major metro areas, according to new data from Zillow. The U.S. median is $147,800. Only three metro areas -- New York, Los Angeles, and …

Magazine Shows Stresses in L.A. Stadium Proposals

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Investigative reporter Connie Bruck has a long piece in the Jan. 16 New Yorker magazine profiling Phil Anschutz *(pictured), owner of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), and Phil Leiweke, president. Most of the article does not deal with AEG's plan for …

Republican Party Endorses List of Incumbents

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The Republican Party of San Diego County issued a list of candidate endorsements this morning, with few surprises to be found on the list. House of Representatives candidates endorsed by the party include sitting Congressmen Brian Bilbray, Darrell Issa, and …

Cantaloupe Convention Will Address Industry's Battered Image

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California’s cantaloupe growers will meet tomorrow in San Diego to discuss their industry’s recovery after a deadly outbreak of the bacteria Listeria on a Colorado farm killed 30 people and sickened another 146 last year. The worst food-borne illness outbreak …

Three Local Accountants Disciplined

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The California Board of Accountancy (CBA) has disciplined three San Diego accountants. Daniel Warren and his wife Kathleen, both certified public accountants, got three years of probation for knowingly filing false, fraudulent or misleading financial statements in connection with their …

Solar Trains Hired Guns on Loft Project

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It's no secret that Solar Turbines has been doing everything it can to stop the 232-unit Fat City Lofts from being built across Pacific Highway from the firm's bayfront industrial plant, leased from the port district. Yesterday brought an editorial …

Woman Comes Across African Crowned Crane on Her Driveway

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It's not everyday that you come across an African Crowned Crane in your driveway. But that's what Jackie Bond found on Saturday when she returned to her Encinitas home after walking her dog. Bond said the 3-foot bird with a …

College Republicans Rate Professors as "Teachers or Preachers"

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SDSU College Republicans, a student organization at San Diego State University, has issued a list of “Teachers and Preachers,” in which the conservative group casts judgment on the teaching style of 72 campus professors, declaring them to “either ‘teach’ the …

County Supervisors Support Sycuan Land Transfer

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County supervisors supported a proposal from Sycuan Tribe to transfer 1,357 acres of land to their reservation during a county hearing on Monday. If approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs the land, currently owned by the tribe, will be …

Filner Visits Vietnam in Support of Funding for Aftermath of Agent Orange

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Congressman and mayoral candidate Bob Filner landed in Vietnam last week for an eight day tour of facilities and programs set up around the country for victims of the chemical Agent Orange. He was met at Tan Son Nhat airport …

Bridgepoint Offers Transfer Program to Community College Students

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Bridgepoint Education, the local for-profit online educator, announced yesterday that it established articulation agreements during the final quarter of 2011 with five community colleges. Under the agreements, students of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa; Yavapai College and Mohave Community …

Sanders Responds to Snapdragon Records Request

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The office of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders today responded to our public records act request, made December 12, for documents regarding the city's deal with Qualcomm Inc. to stage its "Snapdragon Stadium" promotion at Qualcomm Stadium last month. The …

Locals Charged with Peddling Endangered, Protected Species

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Four San Diego County citizens have been criminally charged with using internet sites to sell endangered species and other protected wildlife illegally. The charges announced in Los Angeles are the result of the Operation Cyberwild task force. Among nine cases …

State Senate Bill Would Limit CSU Raises

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In July 2011, California State University trustees announced they were hiking tuition at state schools by 12 percent. That same day, the trustees announced they were also upping the salary for incoming SDSU president Elliot Hirshman by $100,000 compared to …

Leap Wireless Continues Growth Despite Aborted T-Mobile Deal

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San Diego-based Leap Wireless, the parent company of contract-free cell phone carrier Cricket Communications, announced Wednesday that it had added a net 175,000 customers in the fourth quarter of 2011, bringing its total number of users to 5.9 million. Overall …

U.S. Adds 200,000 Jobs in December

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The U.S. gained 200,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5% from a revised 8.7% in November, according to data released by the federal government this morning (Jan. 6). Both the jobs gain and unemployment rate were …

Sweetwater's Funds for Education Committee Suspended

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In a phone call today, Sweetwater Union High School District’s interim superintendent Ed Brand said that he was suspending the Funds for Education Committee. The controversial committee was established in August to negotiate vendor contracts. "[W]e're asking those vendors to …

Investigations Launch on Bank Failures

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House Resolution 2056, signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday, directs the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Government Accountability Office to study the effects of bank failures on the economy. Particularly of interest to inspectors is the …

"Snapdragon Stadium" Was Illegal, City Attorney Memo Says

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It was an unprecedented marketing coup, according to advertising experts. Ten days of free advertising for Qualcomm's new Snapdragon wireless chip, broadcast to the world by TV coverage of major pro and college football games played here last month. Qualcomm …

SD Could Benefit from Military Focus Change

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President Obama outlined a new strategy for the U.S. military today (Jan. 5), and although changes could be made, San Diego, which relies heavily on the military, could benefit. "Details of preliminary information sound like [the effect on] San Diego …

UCSD Medical Center Settles Lawsuit Over Hiring Practices

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The Justice Department announced that UCSD Medical Center has agreed to change hiring practices at the Hillcrest facility and pay a $115,000 penalty in order to resolve a complaint that the hospital excessively screened immigrant job-applicants. The complaint, filed by …

Leadership Change on Navy Explosives Team

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Command Master Chief Lee Morrison, the top enlisted member of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, based out of Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, has been removed from his position due to a “loss of confidence in his ability to perform …

Local Company's "Sound Cannons" Garner Praise From Police, Claims of Injury From Protesters

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Police use of long-range acoustic devices (also known as sonic blasters or sound cannons) against protesters is fueling both an increased demand from law enforcement for the devices and an outpouring of criticism from members of the public. Spiking sales …

Vatican Appoints New Bishop to Diocese of San Diego

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Former trial lawyer turned Catholic priest Cirilo Flores has been named "Coadjutor" the Diocese of San Diego. Flores will co-head the diocese with 74-year-old Bishop Robert Brom until the latter retires at age 75. The decision to bring Flores to …

Controversial "Love Hormone" Trial Conducted at UCSD

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Is Oxytocin, called by some the "hormone of love," good for anxiety? That's what a new clincal study by UCSD Professor David Feifel aims to discover, according to a notice on the site ClinicalTrials.Gov, run by the U.S. National Insitutes …

Sempra Adds to Its Holdings with Mississippi Utility Purchase

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Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, announced on January 3 that it plans to acquire Willmut Gas & Oil Company, based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The transaction will require approval by the Mississippi Public Service …

Occupy San Diego Names January Free-Speech Month

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Verbatim from an email sent by Occupy San Diego media liaison Ray Lutz. 100 years after the San Diego City Council infamously suppressed free speech in downtown San Diego, Occupy San Diego will commemorate this historic event by naming January …

San Diego Zoo to Swap Tucson Elephant for Safari Park Herd

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Handlers at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson are preparing Connie, a 42-year-old Asian elephant, for her upcoming transfer to San Diego Zoo in exchange for a herd of African elephants from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, the …

High-End Fletcher Blog Wins D.C. Praise

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We'll have to wait until the end of the month for year-end disclosures to find out how much it's costing to run and from where the money came to pay for it, but for now, at least, San Diego GOP …

Sinaloa Drug Cartel Controls 16 Mexican States Including Baja California

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The Sinaloa drug cartel is second only to Los Zetas when it comes to drug-related criminal activity in Mexico. A new report released by Mexican law enforcement, and reported by University of San Diego-based research group, Justice in Mexico, says …

GOP's Garrick Funds Own Campaign with $100,000

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Republican Assemblyman Martin Garrick, ramping up for a state senate bid, has given himself a tidy year-ending gift in the form of a $100,000 personal contribution to his campaign fund, Garrick for Senate 2014. According to a December 31 filing …

Searching to Replace Filner on House Veterans Affairs Committee

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With local congressman Bob Filner resigning his seat in order to seek office as San Diego’s next mayor, political pundits and veterans groups have begun pondering who will get the nod to replace him as the ranking Democrat on the …

Allegations of Police Brutality at Occupy San Diego

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Nationwide, allegations of police brutality have been competing with protest mantras, drum circles, and "mic checks" for the loudest voice at Occupy demonstrations. One of the first instances, and perhaps the most catalyzing, was the video of New York Police …

Protesters Won't Leave Warner Springs Ranch

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Warner Springs Ranch, which is to close today at 4 p.m. so that it can be sold to the Pala Band of Mission Indians, is meeting resistance from minority members. A group of people who have opposed the sale all …

Program Guarantees Inner City Grads Admittance to SDSU

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Over 250 Hoover High School juniors are expected to enroll at San Diego State University in 2013 thanks to the College Avenue Compact agreement between the university and the City Heights Educational Collaborative, SDSU reports. The Compact is modeled on …

Obama Gives Bersin New Homeland Security Job

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San Diego's Alan Bersin, who quit his post as Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection just before his so-called recess appointment ran out at the end of the year, has been given a new job in the Obama Administration. At …

Oceanside to Hold Special Election on Rent Control at Mobile-Home Parks

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Oceanside city council on Wednesday will approve allocating $93,000 to place a controversial ordinance on the June ballot that would end rent control at mobile-home parks in the City. The ballot measure comes after pro-business, conservative council majority, comprised of …

Thefts Thwart Launch of High-End Car Rental Service

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HiGear, a San Francisco-based peer-to-peer car sharing network for high-end autos from makers such as Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, and Lamborghini, will not soon be making its debut in San Diego as planned. In fact, it won’t be operating anywhere in …

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