Statistics released by INEGI show the states drop in homicides since 2009, Baja California Sur had lowest number of homicides nationwide

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (El Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía or INEGI) has disclosed preliminary information, nationally and by state, of all homicides in Mexico for 2012. The statistics were released on Tuesday, July 30. According …

He submitted fraudulent reimbursements for events he never attended

Richard Mendoza, former chief executive of Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District in Brawley, pleaded guilty today (July 31) to embezzling more than $90,000 from the Imperial Valley hospital. According to court documents, he submitted false reimbursement requests for trainings, seminars and …

Filner denies her accusations, which lawyer says are unverified

In his thus far unsuccessful attempt to have the City pay for defense of the suit against Mayor Robert Filner, his attorney Harvey Berger has made some interesting points. Berger wrote a letter to City Attorney Jan Goldsmith dated July …

Over 18-month period, Thalheimer loaned his campaign a total if $1.1 million dollars.

Former city council candidate Phil Thalheimer owes $1.1 million dollars in loans from his 2004 run against former councilmember and current congressman Scott Peters. Luckily for Thalheimer, no collection agencies are after him. That's because the loans came from his …

Sudberry Properties, the developer of what they term a 230-acre “urban village,” is touting the energy-efficient and sustainable features of the 4,780-unit mixed-use Civita development in Mission Valley. “Recent technological advances are enabling us to select from a vast array …

San Diego Republican, famous locally for MTV party house fundraiser, makes Sacramento headlines by dating lobbyist for California Medical Association

Rack up another sex and politics case for San Diego's voluminous record books. While a horde of San Diego reporters has been chasing harassment allegation-plagued Democrat Bob Filner, one local Republican has been caught making his own hay, and headlines, …

Wood filed papers launching his run for District 5 Supervisor

Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood has officially launched off his campaign for San Diego County Supervisor, going up against longtime conservative Bill Horn. Wood filed the papers on July 15 with the California Secretary of State and were submitted to the …

Supporters of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence analyst who admitted leaking documents and video to the infamous WikiLeaks website, expressed mixed emotions at a rally in Hillcrest yesterday evening (July 30), after a military judge found Manning guilty on …

Many port destinations are outdated or victims to bad marketing

Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transport has announced that a makeover is due on many ports, which have ceased to host traffic from cruise ships. Port stops along Mexico’s coast line was once a booming business, yet in recent years …

Man fled after ramming police car, attempting to run down CHP officer

A man and woman are in custody tonight after evading arrest from El Cajon Police and California Highway Patrol officers. Around 2 p.m., officers spotted Ali Alkafaji, a known fugitive, driving on the 1300 block of North Johnson Avenue in …

Hearing for heavy metal singer Tim Lambesis is set for Friday

The lead singer of a heavy metal rock band, accused of hiring a hitman to eliminate his wife during a difficult divorce, is due in court this Friday, August 2. The attorney for Timothy Lambesis, 32, is expected to request …

Zapf collects big-time cash from building and hotel industries

District six councilmember Lorie Zapf has a friend in Sudberry Properties. Recent campaign disclosures show that the developer of the 4,780-unit Civita mixed-use development in Mission Valley raised a total of $36,000 for Zapf's campaign to fill Kevin Faulconer's council …

The San Diego Foundation, which manages charitable funds for a host of other organizations, has announced that about 800 students will receive help from the 160-plus scholarship funds administrated by the Foundation for the 2013-2014 school year. Over $2.1 million …

Embattled mayor collects $39,400 from variety of those with business at city hall; money pays for ex-Hedgecock aide Tom Shepard and San Francisco political law firm

As previously reported here, San Diego mayor Bob Filner, now under fire in a sexual harassment scandal, has since February been accumulating money in a fund called the Mayor Bob Filner for San Diego Committee. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/30/50305/ At the time, speculation …

Still, values down 28% from late 2005 high

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller real estate price index, published this morning (July 30) shows San Diego values rising 3.1% in May from April, outperforming the 2.4% gain of the top 20 metro areas. For the year to date through May, …

Shelley Thorpe pleads not guilt to theft and drug charges

Property owners were pleased with the work of a ranch hand they hired, but phoned authorities when they suspected his wife was stealing things. Shelley Leigh Thorpe, 53, is accused of stealing property from a seven-acre parcel of land at …

Cash investors still pushing out other potential buyers

In a sign that housing values may be approaching their peak, the California Association of Realtors trade group announced in its annual survey of real estate investors that more buyers of investment property are planning to hold onto their purchases …

Opinion opens the door for a recall effort against Bob Filner.

Portions of the city law governing recall elections should be repealed, reads a July 26 memo from City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's office. If city council members agree, which is highly likely, then voters hoping to oust Mayor Bob Filner from …

Teens were swept out to sea while swimming at Playas de Tijuana

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed on Friday, July 26, that the body found washed ashore at Imperial Beach was Efraín Alcaraz Bautista, a 13 year old male from Tijuana. Authorities in Tijuana later confirmed that a 16 …

Commercial cargo lanes to be used for passenger vehicles during select summer days

Customs and Border Protection officials announced that four cargo truck lanes will be open for passenger traffic during select days for the remainder of summer. The lanes, which stop taking cargo traffic at 4pm on Sundays, began opening for congested …

California Democrat and Filner critic tops list of General Atomics giving; only Democrat in Predator-maker's big five, she outranks GOP members by far, accounting reveals

Will one of America’s deadliest weapon makers put huge money behind a recall of San Diego mayor Bob Filner? That could be the message telegraphed over the weekend on CNN by Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. As previously reported , …

After a reported six-month negotiation period that failed to produce a work contract, 60 members of the Teamsters Union Local 542 commenced a strike against Gold Cross Ambulance, a company serving the Imperial County just east of San Diego’s Laguna …

But instead of confronting his methods, detractors took surefire route: sex scandal

Let's cut to the chase on this Bob Filner matter. He intelligently analyzed San Diego's festering problem: the neighborhoods and infrastructure are being ignored while the money is being hogged downtown for corporate welfare projects that should be financed with …

Repeat felon made a plea deal

Jorge Alcantara Colin, 22, admitted attempted murder for ramming another man with a car, in a plea deal last week. He also admitted personal use of a deadly weapon, a silver Mitsubishi sedan, and that he caused great bodily injury …

Jury had favored acquittal for Raul Licon Jr.

Raul Licon Jr., a California firefighter accused of molesting a boy in his care, made a plea deal and pleaded guilty to one “unreasonable noise” misdemeanor, on July 25, 2013. The week before, on July 19, a mistrial was declared …

Death of wife was first suspected to be a hate crime

Kassim Irzoqi Alhimidi, 49, was ordered to answer murder and deadly weapon charges, at the end of a preliminary hearing on July 26, 2013. His wife, Shaima Alawadi, 32, was found mortally wounded in their El Cajon home the morning …

But could sell great art from museum to help support city

Detroit seems to have swept away legal impediments to a Chapter 9 bankruptcy, but it hasn't swept the cobwebs out of leadership's brains. Despite the bankruptcy, the city is going ahead with subsidizing a hockey arena for the Detroit Red …

Some civilian employees at Naval Air Station North Island facing a string of unpaid furlough days have decided to use their newfound Fridays off to picket outside the base in protest of the budget cuts that are reducing their pay …

Apologizes to women, City; but not ceding power

Mayor Bob Filner said at a press conference shortly after noon today (July 26) that he will enter two weeks of intensive therapy Aug. 5. But he will continue to run the City; there will be no transfer of power, …

The Oceanside Public Library has announced a two-part program beginning next week to celebrate one of North County’s most notable industries with its “Books and Brew” presentations. “North County has been a leader in the craft beer industry since before …

Retired rear admiral and longtime companion and employee of CIA's Predator drone maker and national conservative GOP kingpin Linden Blue jumps into Filner fray

San Diego's already dizzying Filner follies just got even more interesting. Among four local women bigwigs who stepped forward on the set of San Diego State University's KPBS yesterday to say they'd been molested by Democratic mayor Bob Filner was …

San Diego Sheriff’s deputies are looking for help in identifying a suspect believed to be involved in a string of commercial burglaries in Poway over the last week. The man, pictured above, has targeted seven businesses in southern Poway office …

Iraqi man is accused of killing his wife, who wanted a divorce

Kassim Irzoqi Alhimidi made an emotional outburst today when his 18-year-old daughter entered the courtroom to give testimony. The judge almost halted proceedings before defense attorney Richard Berkon could speak to his client. Fatima told the court that she is …

Caused international sensation when hateful note found near body

There was a surprise witness and unexpected surveillance video presented today in a hearing for an Iraqi immigrant accused of killing his wife more than a year ago, in San Diego County. Kassim Irzoqi Alhimidi, 49, is charged with the …

Suspect was questioned at Border Patrol checkpoint, admitted to carrying drugs

A female suspect, who was questioned at the Highway 86 checkpoint in Imperial County, was arrested for carrying narcotics inside her shoes, on Tuesday, July 23. The suspect, who is a United States citizen, stated that she was carrying an …

Questions: didn't her allies vet her? Did the local press?

Several people who contribute to this blog have mentioned the relationship of Laura Fink, the second woman to claim Bob Filner harassed her, and Todd Gloria, council president who desperately wants Filner's job and loudly says he should resign. One …

San Diego refuses to pay over $43K owed for services provided related to gang prevention, group alleges in lawsuit

San Diego-based Metro United Methodist Urban Ministry, in operation since 1966, has an established track history of working with low-income youth, helping them avoid jail and achieve stable employment. Last week, the group celebrated the award of $7.5 million in …

Problems with the leaders' judgment indicated following closed-session incident in June

It's one for the record books: "The Quickest Response to a Public Records Request in San Diego's History: The U-T San Diego on June 20, with a time of under eight hours." [Sarcasm off.] The reporter was Trent Seibert. The …

Big DeMaio backers with history of amending lobbying disclosure reports paid to turn up the heat on city over lagging burger project blocked by Filner

How many lobbying firms does it take to screw in a real estate development permit in San Diego? In the case of a controversial Jack in the Box currently blocked by besieged mayor Bob Filner, at least two, and those …

New data from the California Association of Realtors corroborates private firm data released last week regarding the decline in “distressed” housing sales, and finds that nearly 80 percent of home sales in June were conducted by sellers in a positive-equity …

AG charged company refused to provide data, but stock had only hiccup yesterday

Stock of highly controversial Bridgepoint Education, which is under investigation by several state and federal bodies, is up 1.04% to $16.49 this morning (July 25). Yesterday, after the company was sued by California to turn over records about hits marketing …

Washington, D.C.-based ASB Real Estate Investments, which claims over $3.8 billion under management nationwide, has announced the purchase of three Gaslamp Quarter buildings on two parcels carrying a $15.25 million price tag. The units, at 643, 653, and 665 5th …

All told, 2013 has not been a very good year for local hotels

The occupancy rate in San Diego hotels dropped slightly in June compared with June 2012, to 79.8% from 80.2%, according to Smith Travel Research. Average daily room rate rose slightly to $137.05 from $136.73 a year ago, but San Francisco's …

Weak allegations could help the mayor, who faces huge odds

Mayor Filner may be ahead 2 to 1; the last two accusations (one made today, July 24) are weak. This doesn't mean people should put their money on Filner: as I have said repeatedly, with all Republicans, most Democrats, all …

San Diegans for Open Government demands any money spent on illegal activities is refunded to residents

Kris Michell, CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, is driven to make downtown a center of innovation and creativity, a well-oiled machine that runs San Diego's economy. She may also be driving the nonprofit straight to court, to defend …

California is the sixth-biggest solar market in the country as measured per capita, according to a new report detailing lessons learned from the top 12 solar-producing states in the country. Last year, local solar capacity grew by 35 percent to …

Home of Catholic priest was looted during homicide, authorities say

Father Ignacio Cortez Alvarez, parish priest of the María Auxiliadora Church in Ensenada, was found dead in his home on Monday, July 22. According to local authorities, the priest suffered multiple wounds to the chest. Investigators stated on Tuesday, July …

GOP ex-city councilman Carl DeMaio, target of San Diego State University expose in race against freshman Democrat, reveals what he did with KPBS-questioned cash

Which way will he go? That's the burning question of the moment regarding former city councilman Carl DeMaio, who, following a brief interregnum after losing his mayoral battle with Bob Filner last year, announced in May he was running for …

An El Cajon man was arrested the morning of July 23 after stabbing another man who had demanded the return of his borrowed bicycle. Police and paramedics were summoned to the 600 block of Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon shortly …

That will be almost double national rate, says forecaster

Zillow.com predicted today (July 23) that national home values will rise 5 percent between the second quarter of this year and the second quarter of next year. But San Diego County home values will zoom 9.3%, although that will lag …

Says Shames, formerly of UCAN, might have been overcompensated

The California State Auditor came out with a report today (July 23) stating that despite administrative weaknesses, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has generally awarded compensation to intervenors -- individuals and groups representing ratepayer interests -- in accordance with …

Potentially thousands of former prison inmates are set to be released and return to their homes in San Diego over the coming months as part of a federal court order demanding that the state reduce severe overcrowding in its prison …

Triumvirate gives $5000 a pop to lodging political action committee that insiders say could be used for recall or other forms of political engagement with mayor

Though most of the financial action took place before the current troubles of Bob Filner kicked into high gear, a look at recently filed campaign statements of his foes versus his own money raising prowess shows the uphill money battle …

In his final days at the City, Kelly Broughton demanded concerns over Saint John Garabed Church be deleted or revised.

Just how is it that a major development project at odds with the City's General Plan can slip through the cracks at City Hall? One way is if those cracks are tailor-made by a boss willing to open and close …

In the quest to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal budget, Representative Scott Peters of San Diego’s 52nd district has set his sights low. Under Peters’ new Stop Paying Something For Nothing Act, introduced yesterday (July 22), …

And questions about the mayor's response to it.

The sexual harassment suit against Mayor Bob Filner filed today (July 22) by Irene McCormack Jackson raises many questions. First, the suit outlines extremely offensive statements allegedly made to her by the mayor in January, February, February/early March, April, late …

San Diego Harbor Police recovered a mans body from San Diego Bay after a reported fall from the Coronado bridge Sunday July 21, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jake Sanchez. At approximately 4:35pm passengers aboard the southbound 901 bus …

Water Authority promoting new, even lower-flow models with rebate offers

In the midst of what’s traditionally the driest time of year, the San Diego County Water Authority is pushing to publicize a new round of rebates being offered to local residents and businesses for upgrading their toilets. Rebates have been …

Golden showers, Jerry Brown, Helen Copley, nuclear plant, Supreme Court reversal, and a municipal court judge all figured into now-ailing newspaper editor's sex scandal crusade

Now that the fat lady of sexual harassment scandals is singing, is it curtains for San Diego Mayor Bob Filner? San Diego and the world will find out more early this afternoon when heavyweight Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred steps …

State Department warns citizens to take caution when traveling in Baja California

The mayor of Tijuana, Carlos Bustamante Anchondo, has asked for the U.S. State Department to reconsider its travel warning for Baja California. According to the statement from Bustamante Anchondo, the numbers and progress in Tijuana speak for itself. The mayor …

But the price is less than legal fees

According to assessor records, another Copley property has been sold. The buyer is the family of entrepreneur Tom Fetter, a neighbor of the late Helen Copley's Foxhill estate since 1960. Fetter, of T. Fetter & Co., explains that Helen Copley …

Burnham, Torrey Pines, Amylin make more inclusive welfare list

Good Jobs First, which is doing yeoman work showing the economic damage of big corporate welfare projects, is out with a new study, "Megadeals: the largest economic development subsidy packages ever awarded by state and local governments in the United …

Pickup owners victimized in a string of thefts

Sheriff’s deputies and Crime Stoppers are warning Poway residents about a string of recent catalytic converter thefts and looking for tips that might help identify the culprits. Since July 13, authorities say, thieves have been targeting vehicles parked overnight on …

David Leroy Lucero due for another mental competency hearing

A young man arrested on suspicion of killing his mother more than three years ago has not heard any evidence presented against him in the case yet. David Leroy Lucero, now 28 years old, was taken into custody in Arizona …

Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton were hired to seek implementation of previously issued permits

Executives from San Diego-based Jack in the Box are calling in the big guns to continue with renovation, rather reconstruction, of their North park restaurant. The company has hired attorneys from Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton to grease the wheels …

San Bruno again calls for firing of CPUC head Peevey

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will audit the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to judge its ability to carry out pipeline safety, according to the City of San Bruno, which has …

Vote was eleven-to-one concluding trial for Raul Licon Jr.

A jury deadlocked on whether a California firefighter molested a boy in his care, and a mistrial was declared this afternoon, July 19, 2013. The jury of 5 men and 7 women deliberated more than one day, beginning early yesterday. …

The recently reported decline in real estate sales figures can be attributed to the decline in foreclosures and other “distressed” sales, according to the California-based market tracking firm PropertyRadar. Distress sales, including foreclosures and short sales, declined 46.5 percent last …

Warning: secure all doors and windows, even on hot summer nights

This morning, at 5:30 a.m., deputies received a call reporting an intruder in a home in the 1200 block of Calle Colnett in San Marcos. “The unknown male intruder fled from the bedroom of the caller's young daughter after she …

The Metropolitan Transit System and San Diego Police Department are out with a joint statement cautioning residents about the unregulated nature of “ridesharing” services such as Lyft, allowing users to seek driving services from a source other than a city-permitted …

Sadly for San Diego, corporate mendicants appear back in the saddle

A news release came out last night from Mayor Bob Filner's office. The headline: "Mayor Bob Filner Welcomes Comic-Con to San Diego and Backs Convention Center Expansion!!!" (The mayor's office has a grotesque habit of putting exclamation marks in its …

Protestors claim they have been targeted for demonstrating against mistreatment of animals by the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Is the City Attorney's Office getting tired of those pesky demonstrators. The latest alleged crackdown involves animal rights activists protesting against the treatment of animals used in the Ringling Brother's Circus at the Sports Arena -- now known as the …

Fate of GOP La Jollan Manchester's multi-billion dollar downtown Broadway Complex remains in the balance as high-stakes game of strange bedfellows plays out in national media

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is out with her take on San Diego's Bob Filner, and it isn't positive. "Don't identify him as my former colleague," she snapped, according to an account in the Huffington Post, when asked at a …

Lawsuit is one of many from families against the NFL for misleading the public and players about the dangers of the game.

The family of former Chargers player Lewis Bush has joined the growing list of families suing the National Football League for failing to disclose the risks of the game. Bush, who played on the famed, at least in San Diego, …

California Coastal Commission also named in suit by environmental groups

Courthouse News Service reported today (July 18) that San Diegans for Open Government and the San Diego Navy Broadway Complex Coalition have filed a suit charging that a planned waterfront restaurant in San Diego Bay violates environmental laws. Defendants include …

Company missed critical bond payment this week

According to a detailed story in the San Jose Mercury News, Rural/Metro Corp., a privately-held ambulance operation serving San Diego County, is struggling to pay its bills. The Mercury News reports that Scottsdale-based Rural/Metro missed a crucial bond payment this …

But area added 7,500 jobs over month, 19,300 over year

The San Diego County unemployment rate in June was 7.3%, up from a revised 6.8% in May. The county gained 7500 jobs over the month and 19,300 from a year ago. Obviously, more people are joining the labor force, looking …

Coastline Community College of Costa Mesa may soon begin teaching classes to military prisoners held in the Navy brig at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, the military news service Stars & Stripes is reporting. The Orange County-based Coast Community College …

Largest municipal bankruptcy in history

Detroit, once the nation's fourth most populous city, has filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, according to the New York Times. It is the largest city ever to file for bankruptcy, and the largest in terms of debt. Details are sketchy …

Industries reliant on federal funding lag others

Kelly Cunningham, economist for the National University System Institute for Policy Research, has done a study showing jobs growth in sectors most closely tied to federal spending is lagging. The villain is sequestration. The five private sectors most reliant on …

Few homicides resulted in arrests or convictions, Mexico as a whole convicted less than 2% of cases in 2012

According to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía or INEGI), less than 4% of homicides that were reported in Baja California during 2012 resulted in convictions. Nationwide statistics were recently released, showing few …

“No Labels” also means no contributor identification because “it doesn't advance our mission,” says website

San Diego voters are by now long familiar with so-called independent political committees, financed in large part by a variety of big money mystery donors. Many of the efforts are organized under federal law as 501 c(4) non-profits, and therefore …

Recent disclosure shows Goldsmith hired a public polling firm, indicating a possible run for office.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's campaign committee's war chest is drying up. By January of this year, the committee reported having just $18,900 in the account. But just because the days of $25,000 donations to Republican political action committees are over, …

About 70 people rallied yesterday afternoon (July 17) outside Congressman Darrell Issa’s Vista office to protest the “border surge” called for by the bipartisan Corker-Hoeven amendment to proposed federal immigration reform law that would significantly increase militarization of the U.S./Mexico …

Says she saw far worse conduct when on Assembly's ethics committee

Channel 10 is reporting this evening (July 17) that former Democratic assemblywoman Lori Saldana says that while Mayor Bob Filner's actions with women are questionable, they are not illegal, and he should not resign. "So far, the attorneys have not …

Mission Bay Park District Manager seeks potential donors for Lorie Zapf campaign event

Councilmember Lorie Zapf's push to ease the permitting requirements on sidewalk cafes seems to be paying off. If nothing else, her efforts have won her support from some of San Diego's most influential restauranteurs who are willing to ask City …

One aircraft crashed near Los Algodones, the other near Mexicali

Two ultra-light aircrafts, which were allegedly used to smuggle narcotics into the United States, have been seized in Baja California. According to authorities, the first discovery was on Tuesday, July 16, after a loud noise alerted police of a crashed …

El Cajon Police announced the arrest of 35 year-old Lemon Grove resident Richard Bareano this afternoon (July 17), after several tips linked him to a California Coast Credit Union robbery on July 9. Last Tuesday, a suspect entered the credit …

SDSU's broadcasting arm investigated campaign of Democratic congressman's Republican foe while taxpayer-funded state school was lobbying for money measures

It's been a busy year for fundraising and lobbying on Capitol Hill, especially for San Diego State University. As previously reported, the taxpayer-funded university, through its controlled research foundation, has had an ambitious lobbying agenda in Washington this year, run …

California home sales declined by 3.8 percent in June and by about the same amount as compared to a year ago, according to new figures out from the California Association of Realtors. “Despite a small increase in inventory, the supply …

Revenues up, but agency still seeks cost cuts through staff reductions

The Port of San Diego approved its final 2013-2014 fiscal year budget yesterday (July 16), contrasting the good news of revenues returning to pre-recession levels with a continuing increase in operations costs. In response, the Port plans to cut the …

But he is capable of wising up and must be given chance

I have spoken with a lot of people with inside knowledge of what has happened to Mayor Bob Filner. Here are some facts: 1. He is rough on people who work for him, but rougher on women than men. He …

Still a risk.

Although power is no longer being generated at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, the plant still remains a potential trillion-dollar problem, warns anti-nuclear activist Ace Hoffman. At issue is roughly 1,400 tons of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel accumulated from …

Democratic presidential rainmaker Christine Forester of La Jolla calls mounting allegations against Filner a "debacle," seeks to discourage others from running to replace him

Christine Forester, listed by Newsweek magazine as the nation's second biggest "bundler” of contributions to the 2008 campaign of President Barack Obama, having collected more than $500,000 from a variety of friends and associates in that year alone, is spearheading …

Bernardo Oliver Camarena gunned down while at restaurant, assailants captured

A former federal police commander was gunned down while dining at a Playas de Rosarito restaurant, on Monday, June 15. Bernardo Oliver Camarena, a former commander in Baja California Sur, was shot multiple times. The attack occurred shortly after 10am …

Youth team defeated Veracruz to become national champs

The Municipal Youth Little League Baseball team of Tijuana will represent Mexico in the Little League World Series, after defeating Veracruz in the national title game. The team became the first ever from Tijuana to earn a spot in the …

Three others in final running

According to press accounts (including some in the foreign press), Papa Doug Manchester made a bid for the Boston Globe, but it came in too late for evaluation. Ergo, say these accounts, Manchester is not in the running. Apparently, the …

No mention that he was fired and UCAN and Shames are suing each other

Troubled Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) has asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to pay it $535 an hour for the work that its former executive director, Michael Shames, did on the general rate case of San Diego Gas …

UT San Diego publisher waited until the final days to pay fines.

At Doug Manchester's flagship resort, the Grand Del Mar, construction crews are working on bringing the resort into compliance with city code after six long years of permit violations. Of course, no one said it was going to be easy. …

Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales a.k.a. Z-40 captured in Nuevo Laredo early Monday according to sources

Rumors emerged that Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, a.k.a. Z-40, was captured in Nuevo Laredo early Monday, July 15th. @Obsermx posted the arrest picture on Twitter and the photo soon circulated on narco-blogs. An official statement has yet to be released …

Is Filner courting downtown crowd? No white hats, it appears

I was not at the press conference this morning (July 15), at which Donna Frye, Cory Briggs and Marco Gonzalez claimed to bring out more details on why Mayor Filner should resign because of sexual harassment. But it was described …

The Child Protection Act of 2013, or “Hazel’s Law,” is gaining traction as one of the first bills introduced by Representative Juan Vargas, who in Novenber was elected to fill the seat of Bob Filner, who left the House of …

False charges drew libel suit by then-San Diego Republican mayor, forcing GOP daily into front page retraction

Only in San Diego. It was the spring of 1984, and Republican mayor Roger Hedgecock was facing a re-election challenge from an unholy alliance of would-be political reformers; super rich real estate developers and bankers eager to grab more power …

Partial recount confirms Francisco Vegas as winner of election

A partial recount has confirmed results, which were deemed unofficial last week, in the Baja California governor’s election. A computer glitch halted the vote count in which Francisco Vega of the National Action Party (PAN) narrowly defeated Fernando Castro Trenti …

The mayor says the obvious: he is entitled to due process

"I'm not going to resign, and here's why," said Mayor Bob Filner in a written statement this morning (July 15). "As your elected mayor, I fully expect to be accountable to the citizens of San Diego for all of my …

It happened in front of children, wife said in 1986 divorce case

If the accusers of Mayor Bob Filner are going to come forward this morning (July 15), as some are suggesting, then it is time to look at official public filings against those who, some say, should replace Filner. The mayor's …

With the newly-elected 52nd district congressman Scott Peters seated less than a year and primaries for the 2014 race still months away, former city councilman and failed mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio’s campaign to return Democrat Peters’ seat to Republican hands …

Woman says Filner excused staff from room and kissed her without consent.

The sexual harassment allegations lodged against Mayor Bob Filner may be more far-reaching than previously reported. There are now claims that the mayor’s advances toward women were directed not only at members of his staff and city employees. The most …

Political MoneyLine tells how it was allegedly accomplished

Political MoneyLine, a publication allied with Roll Call, says that Stephen and Susan Polis Schutz of SPS Studios in La Jolla found a way to ante up a bundle to their son, Rep. Jared Polis, D.-Colorado. In a recently-filed midyear …

This was another school bought by Michael Clifford

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) announced this month that it has put Chula Vista's United States University on probation. Rancho Santa Fe's Michael Clifford, who buys for-profit educational institutions, purchased it in 2009 when it had a …

Three men living in river canal alleged to have murdered multiple people

A group of three men, who were deported from the United States this year after serving prison time, have been arrested in connection with five Tijuana homicides. The men, Bricio Alberto Marroquín, Francisco Álvarez Guerrero, and Víctor Manuel Domínguez Ramírez, …

AT&T offers $15 a share, stock leaps higher than that

AT&T late today (July 12) agreed to buy Leap Wireless for $1.2 billion, or $15 a share. In after-hours trading, Leap's stock leapt to $16.73, well above that offer, and well over double the $5.82 closing in regular hours trading. …

The council will consider approving the budget for this coming fiscal year, despite complaints of mismanagement and lack of oversight.

On Monday, city councilmembers will once again sign off on the annual budget for the Downtown Clean and Safe program, releasing an estimated $5.8 million dollars in assessments to the Downtown San Diego Partnership to manage the Property and Business …

The city of Santee appears close to granting permission for a used car dealership to install a nearly 90-foot high electronic billboard near the junction of the SR-52 and SR-125 freeways, after determining that the proposed project “could not have …

Furniture retailer owned by DeMaio backer provides Filner's office with stylish new office pieces, including "deep t-cushions on the seat for cool comfort”

The alleged sexual harassment case swirling around San Diego mayor Bob Filner has pretty well eclipsed - at least for the time being - city hall's previous preoccupation with the infamous Sunroad scandal, involving Filner's behesting of $100,000 by the …

A local food and beverage distributor has announced that it will be teaming with Dennis Rodman, the former basketball star known as “the Worm” more recently famous for his highly-publicized trip to meet and talk hoops with North Korean dictator …

Filner's issues should remain in forefront, but he has tough battle ahead

People are correctly attacking Mayor Bob Filner for personality problems, but citizens, including those of his own party, should not forget the issues on which he was elected. Wisely, he is eating humble pie on the sexual harassment revelations, apologizing …

Poway is set to begin a major street resurfacing project this Sunday (July 14), as 4.8 million square feet of roadway along both residential streets and major arteries will receive crack sealing, deep patch repairs, asphalt overlay and slurry seals. …

San Diego's controversial history of sexual allegations and a secret settlement has taken toll on previously distinguished city officials

Democratic mayor Bob Filner - under the gun today for as yet unspecified transgressions in office regarding alleged sexual harassment - is only the latest in a long line of San Diego city officials to find themselves enmeshed by scandal …

House, backed overwhelmingly by big money, voted down bill to reform accounting

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a private watchdog group that was actually created by Congress, has been critical of the large accounting firms for accepting information from their corporate clients and blessing it without doing independent inquiries. The accounting …

Overfishing not a factor, authors say

Local fish populations have dropped dramatically in the last 40 years, according to a new study in the scientific journal Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science led by Eric Miller of MBC Applied Environmental Sciences in Costa Mesa and John McGowan …

Overall market soars as Bernanke says spigot will stay open

Stock of controversial Bridgepoint Education is up 20.94% in early trading today (July 11) as its Ashford University, which accounts for almost all of company revenue, was given accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The threat of …

Prosecutor was denied access to papers found in the jail cell of one defendant

The prosecutor in a high-profile murder case was denied access to papers found in one defendant’s jail cell, by a ruling in San Diego’s North County Superior Courthouse today, July 10, 2013. Judge K. Michael Kirkman ruled in favor of …

Representatives of First 5 San Diego, along with county supervisor Ron Roberts, appeared at the Vons grocery store in Mission Hills along with store executives today (July 10) to launch the organization’s new Healthy Eating Initiative, aimed at introducing kids …

Meetings with Melinda Gates and First Lady of Malaysia top non-profit world population groups' itinerary

Freshman Democratic congressman Juan Vargas lost his junketing maidenhood earlier this year on a free trip up the coast to a posh oceanfront resort. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jul/10/48899/ Now it's the turn of his newly broken-in staff to hit the road. In the …

The Carlsbad City Council gave the go-ahead to major mall operator Westfield LLC to begin a revamp on the 482,000-retail-square-foot Plaza Camino Real mall, originally constructed on a 77-acre plot in 1969 and acquired by Westfield in the 1990s, when …

Lawsuit alleges that Chief of Staff for former mayor Jerry Sanders used private email accounts to broker a deal with labor union in exchange for support of $520 million expansion

San Diego's elected officials have had a long and well-documented history of backroom dealings. Whether it be a midnight deal to boost redevelopment funding or letting developers dictate the size and footprint of their development, residents often find themselves in …

The local money management firm lost when phone company nationalized

San Diego-based money management firm Brandes Investment Partners has lost a case revolving around the nationalization of the leftist nation's telephone company. According to venuezuelanalysis.com, the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes agreed with Venezuela that the …

Raul Licon Jr. pleads not guilty to six felony counts

Testimony began yesterday in the trial of a California firefighter accused of abusing a boy in his care over a two-year period, starting when the child was fourteen, in 2009. The accuser is now a young man of 18 years, …

Abdul Ibrahim first brought into court 2 weeks after arrest

A 67-year-old man was charged with murder today, more than two weeks after he allegedly walked into police headquarters to announce his wife’s death. Escondido police said Abdul Rehman Ibrahim arrived at 3:36 a.m. on a Sunday morning and “spontaneously …

The San Diego County Water Authority and the City of San Diego are considering adding a 240-to-500-megawatt hydroelectric generating system to San Vicente Reservoir, the Water Authority announced yesterday (July 8). The power project, which would only be used during …

SD lawyer wants names of engineers working on project; Edison balks

Southern California Edison, which owns almost 80% of the now-closed San Onofre nuclear facility, is redacting names of its engineers so investigators can't depose them, says San Diego attorney Mike Aguirre. In a filing yesterday (July 8) with the California …

Eager to clear the field of other Republicans, downtown influence peddlers going all out for hand picked candidate, lobbyist disclosure reveals

As previousy reported here, the city's establishment Republicans and their lobbyists are vigorously working to clear the sixth district city council field of other members of the GOP to make way for their handpicked candidate, Chris Cate, vice president of …

The San Diego County District Attorney’s office will face charges that a former deputy district attorney fabricated evidence and then tried to trade assistance in mitigating damages resulting from his fraudulently obtained conviction in exchange for sexual favors, a federal …

But it's not one of 10 fittest cities

Facebook has culled a list of cities dedicated to fitness. The calculation is based on user activity such as fitness-related status updates, gym check-ins, use of fitness apps, and fitness-related life events between January 1 and March 31 of this …

Winner announced, only to be retracted after error was found

A winner was declared in the Baja California governor’s election, Sunday July 9, only to be retracted after officials declared an error may have occurred during the counting process. The first results showed the National Action Party (PAN) candidate Vega …

His "Buckets of Money" strategy not backtested as claimed, says SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today (July 8) banned San Diego-based radio personality Ray Lucia from associating with an investment adviser, broker or dealer, revoked his license and that of his former company, and slapped both with a fine …

Cops advise locking all doors and windows

There is a recent increase in burglaries overnight, either very late or in the early morning hours, according to Escondido police Lieutenant Neal Griffin. The intruder is entering homes through a ground-floor door or window which is found unlocked, police …

Sixty-nine-year-old man denies killing 73-year-old wife

Frederick Joseph Hengl, 69, was brought into court in a wheelchair today, July 8, 2013. His public defender, Deborah Kirkwood, said the man is too ill to sit through a preliminary hearing, and his next court date was set for …

The two met at a downtown diner to discuss the proper way to gain approval for the Sunroad Centrum project.

What better way to discuss pushing through a development project than over some Mussel Bisque from Dobson's Restaurant? Councilmember Lorie Zapf and Tom Story, Sunroad Enterprises' vice president of development, did just that on May 8, when the two met …

Marijuana seller got probation for new felony drug conviction

A man who testified that he narrowly survived a bullet whizzing past his ear during a marijuana-purchase-gone-bad three years ago, was in court again this morning. Jeremiah Joseph Bradtke, 35, was sentenced today to 3 years formal probation, after he …

Associate of controversial ex-coastal panel member Pat Kruer diving into poker casino operation near Sacramento, records show

Democratic Governor Jerry Brown has picked up a $5,000 contribution for his re-election campaign next year from a big poker wheel from La Jolla, according to a state financial disclosure report. Ryan Stone, whose occupation is listed on Brown's July …

San Diego Cold Storage shuts down in response

According to the Food and Drug Administration website, San Diego Cold Storage, 8671 Lonestar Road, was warned in a letter June 10 that is "not adequately cleaning or controlling pests." Inspectors found small and large rodent excrement on boxes and …

Results are beginning to come in from DUI/driver’s license checkpoints held around the county over the holiday weekend. In Encinitas, authorities on Friday night (July 5/6) stopped 767 drivers on the 1800 block of South Coast Highway 101, arresting two …

Large cocaine and methamphetamine seizures along border near San Diego

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced two large narcotic busts, during the days of July 1 and July 2, at the San Diego area port of entries. During the seizures, an estimated $5.4 million in narcotics were seized. The …

Ed Harris filed papers on July 3.

Longtime lifeguard, Ed Harris, has officially jumped in the race for District 2 city councilmember. Harris, a spokesperson for the local Lifeguard Union, filed the papers necessary to kick off his candidacy with the City Clerk on July 3. The …

The City of San Diego planning commission is set to approve a new 430-unit residential development known as Castlerock over a 204-acre plot that is currently within San Diego city limits at a meeting this Thursday, July 11. The proposal …

Herpetology clubs at the reptile show in San Diego

There was opportunity to pose with a fabulous, scaly creature this weekend, thanks to the Southern California Herpetology Association & Rescue club. Jacob Gomes, 10, took advantage and got close with a corn snake on Saturday, July 6, 2013. Jacob’s …

Cold-blooded fun in July

There was a good turnout for the fifteenth annual Reptile Super Show on Saturday, July 6, according to organizer Ramy Guirguis. The entrepreneur and reptile-lover said he always gets “excellent” response for his shows in downtown San Diego. Enthusiastic two-legged …

A closed session meeting is schedule for Tuesday, eight days after calling an end to them

The line that City Attorney Jan Goldsmith drew in the sand in his duel with Mayor Bob Filner may be disappearing. A closed session meeting is planned for Tuesday, just over a week after Goldsmith threatened to suspend the meetings …

Is now in Montana prison after being booted from drug treatment program

Former Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf, widely considered one of the biggest draft busts of all time, is working on a plea deal that would permit him to serve a Texas sentence in Montana, according to the Associated Press. He is …

Sworn complaint against independent Mitz Lee by GOP forces dismissed by state's Fair Political Practices Commission

The behind-the-scenes battle for San Diego's sixth city council district is already on the verge of boiling over, far before the time voters head to the polls, or mailboxes, as the case may be. As reported here in April, the …

Hundreds of activists spent their Fourth of July holiday gathered in Balboa Park for Restore the Fourth, one of more than 100 such rallies against National Security Agency surveillance and a perceived violation of citizens’ privacy rights. A crowd of …

SDG&E consumers got fleeced, too, over San Onofre costs

San Diego attorneys Mike Aguirre and Maria (Mia) Severson filed a report with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) July 3 stating that Southern California Edison and CPUC bureaucrats schemed to double-whammy ratepayers. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) owns …

Gains in April and May revised upward

The U.S. economy added a better-than-expected 195,000 non-farm jobs in June, and employment gains in May and April were revised upward by a combined 70,000. The unemployment rate stayed at 7.6%. The size of the labor force rose by 177,000. …

Mom reported strange behavior, a week later

A mother visiting the Escondido library the morning of June 22 told police that a strange man followed her around the aisles. The woman said she was at the library that Saturday with her two children, aged four and six, …

Ex-FBI Special Agent in Charge, now San Diego sheriff, faced disclosure questions regarding behests by corporations and tribes that bankrolled lavish sheriffs' convention here

As first reported here by Dorian Hargrove on June 12, San Diego Democratic Mayor Bob Filner has been fielding a lot of questions lately about his acceptance of $100,000 from local developer Sunroad and his subsequent decision to endorse a …

His buddy Charles Noell, an ally at Peregrine Systems, is partner

Former Padres owner John Moores and former Peregrine Systems audit committee chairman Charles Noell are expanding their thrust into horse racing. According to the Daily Racing Form, Moores and Noell have purchased 30 thoroughbred horses from Ireland's Kilfrush Stud. According …

But Lyft has been served with cease-and-desist in Los Angeles

An on-demad ride-sharing company named Lyft has begun business in San Diego, according to publications bizjournals.com and techcrunch.com. The San Francisco-based company "lets customers find rides by using a smartphone app that also processes payments," says bizjournals.com. The company is …

Statement from Gloria's Office comes on the same day that attorney files lawsuit for release of meeting record

The Fourth of July holiday couldn't have come at a better time for City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. The Independence Day break may provide Goldsmith some time to reflect on, and deflect, the criticism directed at his office for prosecuting a …

Will it also investigate Sunroad?

Channel 10 has just reported that the U.S. Attorney's office will look into the $100,000 donation made to the City of San Diego in exchange for public land. The TV channel quoted unnamed sources within the Department of Justice. The …

Historical preservationist group Save Our Heritage Organisation announced today (July 3) that they’ve recovered a 137 year-old cannon specially made in San Diego to celebrate the nation’s first centennial on July 4, 1876. The cannon, designed by tinsmith William Agustus …

Oceanside police can smell the paint

When police asked the young man why he was walking down the street after midnight carrying those cans of spray paint, he reportedly said, “I’m an artist.” One officer wondered where he did his art, and the man allegedly replied, …

More checkpoints planned around the holiday weekend

The “AVOID the 15 DUI Task Force,” administered by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department and comprised of 15 local law enforcement agencies overall, are stepping up DUI enforcement activities again over the Fourth of July holiday, scheduling both a host …

Allegedly stiffed by U-T San Diego publisher's bank in organization, vendor takes case against suddenly elusive mega-millionaire to federal court and wins $477,000

San Diego real estate developer, hotel magnate, and newspaper publisher Douglas Manchester also wanted to become a banker. Back in January 2008, the region's GOP kingpin got together with some friends and associates and sought to establish the Manchester Financial …

Abdul Ibrahim has not been formally charged yet

A man arrested on suspicion of murder, eleven days ago, has not been brought to court yet. Abdul Rehman Ibrahim, 67, is described as “patient isolated” in a “Medical Court Report” prepared by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. The …

Some disbarred, others get probation, suspension

According to the California Bar Journal, several San Diego attorneys have been disbarred or been disciplined by the State Bar of California in the April/May period. Timothy Clarence Bryson was disbarred for, among many things, improperly withdrawing funds from a …

While recent reports from the real estate industry indicate that property values are skyrocketing, in many areas across the county posting double digit year-over-year increases, San Diego County Assessor Ernest Dronenberg’s office reported more modest numbers for the year last …

Ongoing project intends to help with HIV prevention on Mexico border

A research project, which is being conducted by the University of California San Diego, has amassed $2,440,150 in federal funds to research female sex workers and the men who visit them in Tijuana, Mexico. On July 1, CNSNews detailed the …

La Jolla oncologist Joel Bernstein has been ordered, along with his company, Joel I. Bernstein M.D., Inc., to repay Medicare millions of dollars after being caught in an illegal billing scam, Courthouse News Service reports. Over a four-year period beginning …

Port commissioner Merrifield joins in merriment, courtesy of hotel mogul-backed business lobbying group attacking Filner; later reimburses, filing shows

Back in May, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association – a bastion of high-powered San Diego influence peddlers, including city hall lobbyists Paul Robinson; Al Ziegaus's Southwest Strategies; and Tom Shepard's Public Policy Strategies; as well as, according to the …

But shouldn't it spend the money shaping up its bumbling local online operation?

U-T San Diego expects to take its local online television operation national, according to the publications NetNewsCheck and Editor & Publisher. John Lynch, U-T's chief executive, says that in 90 days the U-T plans to begin courting newspapers in America's …

City Attorney says closed session transcripts may not be released without city council authority. That begs the question: Did the City Council vote to release those transcripts to the press on June 20?

It took the City Attorney less than two days to give the press carefully redacted notes from the closed-session meeting where Mayor Bob Filner booted Deputy City Attorney Andrew Jones for disrupting the meeting. Nearly two weeks later, Goldsmith is …

Former state Assemblyman, mayoral candidate, and Marine Nathan Fletcher joined Representative Scott Peters and a group of veterans outside the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in Balboa Park yesterday afternoon (July 1), calling for greater public recognition of the plight …

Callaway, TaylorMade challenge each other's ad claims

The National Advertising Division (NAD), administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, has concluded that Callaway Golf's claims for one of its clubs was misleading. In print, Internet, and Twitter promotions, Callaway said its Razr Fit Xtreme driver was …

A review of the plea-deal offers deputy city attorney Hazard said were fair

With each of the 13 "not guilty" verdicts, defense attorney Tom Tosdal grabbed Jeff Olson's shoulder in a sign of support and relief. On Monday, jurors rejected all 13-counts of vandalism charges filed against Olson for scribbling anti-Bank of America …

He said imported goods would be sold in other countries. They weren't.

Gerardo Chavez was sentenced today (July 1) to 37 months in prison for violating customs rules. He has to forfeit real estate in Tecate where he has his office, and must attend a future restitution hearing at which he could …

Daniel Hood could get more than 100 years prison

A man who was declared guilty of eleven felony counts of child abuse was able to delay sentencing this morning by claiming “ineffective assistance of counsel.” Daniel Roger Hood, 43, made several “oral motions” to a judge, plus he submitted …

15 confirmed San Diego County cases

San Diego County officials are advising residents to discard some recently purchased Woodstock brand frozen organic pomegranate kernels as well as Townsend Farms organic antioxidant berries, as the products have been linked to a hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened …

Democratic champion of U.S. military funding for local public universities and GOP's self-styled taxpayer advocate both hit the hustings outside of San Diego in quest for campaign cash

Ex-San Diego city councilman and unsuccessful GOP mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio is going on the road to raise money for his congressional bid against La Jolla Democratic freshman Scott Peters. DeMaio isn't traveling too far over the county line in …

State tourism secretary emphasizes importance of medical tourism to the region

An estimated 450,000 people a year visit the Mexican state of Baja California for medical tourism. The numbers were recently stated by Juan Tintos Funcke, the state tourism secretary. Tintos Funcke went on to claim that the medical tourism industry …

La Mesa Police were back in action on Friday (June 28) with another zero-tolerance crackdown on speeding drivers within city limits. “When caught speeding, drivers often ask for just a verbal warning,” says a release from Police Chief Ed Aceves. …