Homicide detectives and SWAT officers swooped into Ocean Beach Wednesday, May 1, after a woman’s body was found inside the garage of a rental property and a 36-year-old man, Daniel Chase McKibben, was seen running …
May 6, 2019
Latest News & Stories
Suspect in Mom's murder helped her with VRBO in Ocean Beach
Valley Center gopher snake lover gets a reaction
On April 30, Jessica Y. found a snake by her Valley Center house, picked it up, then snapped a selfie. Jessica, posted the photo on Facebook and captioned it: “Instead of killing gopher snakes: pick …
May 6, 2019
This morning’s catch at Blue Water Ocean Beach
Peering into a glass counter filled with seafood, I start talking like I might try the local swordfish. But the fishmonger has a better idea. “That halibut was caught this morning,” he tells me, “right …
May 6, 2019
Fallbrook – 56 miles and an eternity from San Diego
When I say Fallbrook, nothing comes to mind “They are going to fix the streets? For whom? Every other shop is vacant and has been for the last few years. There’s no draw for tourists. …
May 6, 2019
Ray Westberg and the Reader
Westberg, a Vietnam veteran and a high school wrestling coach from Ellensburg, Washington, was recruited to write for the Reader by editor Judith Moore, who had lived in Ellensburg as a young housewife. Westberg died …
May 5, 2019
12 important things I learned from Rod Serling's Twilight Zone
A lot of people have made very predictable lists of “Stuff I learned from the Twilight Zone,” but here’s 12 unexpected and important things I figured out that few seem to “get” from Rod Serling’s …
May 4, 2019
Luis Urrea and the Reader
Born in Tijuana, Urrea wrote feature stores for the Reader from 1990 through 1994. Urrea's collection of short stories, The Water Museum, was a finalist for the 2016 PEN-Faulkner Award and was named a best …
May 4, 2019
South Bay physical media pull with Kurt Russell, Scorsese’s Rolling Stones, and a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western
Things your ever-diligent physical media hound sleuthed out while making the rounds of the South Bay region. Dark Blue (2002) We Lend More Inc. had a copy with my name on it. In the days …
May 3, 2019
The Lorax Leaves La Jolla: Seuss stand-in skedaddles after San Diego scored sixth smoggiest city in nation
As sad, strangled Swomee-Swans mournfully depart overhead and harried Humming-Fish hustle to escape the bacteria-ridden waters below, a grumpy Lorax remonstrates with the unrepentant Onceler, who offers him a trash can where he can stick …
May 3, 2019
SDG&E mascot begs for company to be relieved of temptation to abuse its customers
When SDG&E created smartwatch-based mascot Friendly McPlugface, they gave him one simple task: convince people that it’s okay for the company that provides people with electricity to charge more when people actually need that electricity. …
May 3, 2019
Billy Graham: Death, for the Christian, is overcome by the reality of hope — Heaven
Billy Graham “I don’t think I would be afraid to die if I knew what to expect after death,” said a young man with an incurable disease. Evidently, he had not heard of what God …
May 3, 2019
North Island Navy jet repair depot hit by audit
San Diego's Fleet Readiness Center Southwest at Naval Air Station North Island is badly broken and must be fixed to avoid a big hit on the nation's combat readiness, says an audit by the U.S. …
May 2, 2019
The four important elements of button-down
Learn to wear a casual button-down shirt. It’s the most versatile shirt on offer, appropriate for everything but weddings and funerals. They’re not dress shirts. The main difference is that you can wear casual shirts …
May 2, 2019
Stephen Vincent Benet: his short story was basis for Academy Award-winning 1954 musical film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
May Morning I lie stretched out upon the window-seat And doze, and read a page or two, and doze, And feel the air like water on me close, Great waves of sunny air that lip …
May 2, 2019
Pine House Cafe & Tavern: Knotty, but nice tree people
‘Bobcat!” says Mag. This hairy-tailed thing pads across the Sunrise Highway and up into the trees. Bobcat? Fox? Raccoon? Or just someone’s big hairy pet kitty? Mag and I stare across the gravel lot outside …
May 2, 2019