Staff Blog Entries

April county unemployment drops sharply to 7%

Are San Diegans drinking more?

The April unemployment rate in the county dropped to 7% from 7.7% in March as the 2800 jobs were added, ...

Carlsbad broker suspended, fined for trust activity

After removing funds, Kent Houston didn't provide documentation to regulator

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (known as FINRA) has suspended Carlsbad's Kent Houston for two years and fined him $25,000 ...

Suit alleges SEC wouldn't pursue Madoff-like probes

San Diego attorney Gary Aguirre handles whistleblower case

In late 2004, Kathleen Furey, a senior attorney in the New York office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ...

San Diego has cleanest air in six decades

Despite population growth and more cars, smog level recedes

The United States Environmental Protection Agency announced today (May 16) that San Diego County is now breathing the cleanest air ...

Bridgepoint says internal controls weak, could affect stock

But stock has been rising steadily and sharply over last five days

On May 10, controversial for-profit education company Bridgepoint Education reported that it would delay its quarterly (10-Q) to the Securities ...

Papa Doug cut a rug at 70th birthday bash

Scantily-clad lasses in bikinis added to the festivities

Some think the political biases of Papa Doug Manchester of the Union-Tribune are atavistic, but his spirit sure isn't. He ...

Taxpayer association slams bonds it once endorsed

Poway's bond gets Grand Golden Fleece award

Blogger W.C. Varones points out that the San Diego County Taxpayers Association gave its Grand Golden Fleece award to Poway ...

These guys solicited homeless and addicts in tax scam

They are sentenced to 10 months in prison

Isaiah Konkus and Justin Petersen were sentenced today (May 10) to ten months in prison and ordered to pay $268,832 ...

Bridgepoint to be late filing quarterly report with SEC

Questions over internal financial control behind delay

Bridgepoint Education, the for-profit university that is under investigation on many fronts, today (May 10) filed a document saying that ...

County bonds serving disabled get BBB-minus rating

Outlook negative, says Fitch

Fitch, the bond rating agency, has affirmed the BBB-minus rating of San Diego County's certificates of participation issued on behalf ...

CPUC approves fat rate hike for SDG&E

Typical bill will jump 12.2%. Decision was unanimous

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today (May 9) approved a rate hike for San Diego Gas & Electric customers ...

Levi Strauss pays big bucks to get 49ers' stadium naming rights

The $220 million for Levi's Stadium probably 4th highest in NFL history

Levi Strauss & Co. has signed a deal to pay $220.3 million to the city of Santa Clara and the ...

Penny Pritzker's La Jolla adventure

Commerce nominee's company paid money to settle suit by retirees

Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker, nominated by President Obama to be Secretary of Commerce, faces a grilling confirmation process. As media ...

UCAN wants Shames's suit thrown out, amplifies answers

Watchdog also slices pay of remaining workers in bid to keep going

Troubled watchdog Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) yesterday (May 6) filed a suit asking that the lawsuit earlier filed by ...

Economist regrets remarks about Keynes's sex life

Slurs made at presentation in Carlsbad

Harvard professor and economist Niall Ferguson, a stern critic of Keynesian economics, has apologized profusely for linking the late economist's ...

UC hospital workers overwhelmingly authorize strike

But date and duration of possible strike not yet determined

More than 97% of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 3299 members working at all ten ...

PG&E could get stiffest fine ever for San Bruno blast negligence

Safety division recommends shareholders pick up tab, not ratepayers

The state agency investigating the 2010 horrific San Bruno blast recommended today (May 6) that Pacific Gas & Electric pay ...

Copley Mission Beach home sells for $3.85 million

3,492 square foot home had been listed for $4.495 million

An architecturally innovative home at 702 Jersey Court, Mission Beach, formerly owned by the late Union-Tribune owner David Copley, has ...

Papa Doug's Austin hotel faces drainage problems

Needs variances from city council before construction can begin

Manchester Texas Financial Group is having troubles beginning a planned 50-story, 1000-room hotel in Austin. According to the Austin Business ...

Peevey ducks legislative hearing to guzzle wine in Napa

Embattled CPUC president stiffs state senators, reports NBC

Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), on April 25 ducked a meeting of the Senate Budget ...