One of the first stories I did when I started three-blurts-a-week was about Switchfoot in January, 1999. I was happy to be the first local writer to cover Switchfoot, Jason Mraz, Sam Outlaw, and Daring ...
March 12, 2023
Ken Leighton contributes regularly to the Reader's Blurt music column.
Articles by Ken Leighton
Switchfoot, Dinettes, Queen Bees, ASCAP, Billie Joe Armstrong, Brandon "Tiny Doo" Duncan, Agent 51
Bonsall's golf land not so idyllic
Golf Course headed for the rough? Retired Fallbrook elementary school teacher Joan McConnell had just returned on Sunday (January 24) from the site of the former San Luis Rey Downs Golf Club. Two years ago, ...
February 20, 2023
Oceanside's Victor Roy stories go on
Victor Roy, whose signature is used to certify the validity of checks issued by the City of Oceanside, says the reason he was viewing “inappropriate material” at a city library was because he was on ...
September 19, 2022
Chris Rodriguez bows out of Oceanside politics
Christopher Rodriguez appeared four years ago as one of North County’s most promising Republican up-and-comers. An Iraq war veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart, he still sports a high-and-tight Marine haircut. During Oceanside City ...
July 25, 2022
Oceanside pier bandshell set for changes – but which ones?
Oceanside’s most recognized yet most neglected building is about to get its first major upgrade since it was built in 1950. The beachfront “bandshell” immediately south of the Oceanside pier has hosted high school graduation ...
July 22, 2022
Marijuana growing in Vista great idea – or is it?
Cannabis is booming in Vista. Its 11 retail dispensaries have a corner on North County’s legal weed market, serving consumers from Oceanside, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Escondido, and Fallbrook. Since August of 2021, they haven't needed ...
July 11, 2022
Oceanside city treasurer charged on many fronts
Oceanside Treasurer Victor Roy faces serious charges from a city official he is supposed to work with, according to correspondence leaked to the public last week. Those charges include allegations that Roy tried to get ...
June 27, 2022
Oceanside firefighters consultant gets comeuppance
The October 2019 FBI arrest of Democratic fundraiser/consultant Melahat Rafiei for “theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds” was not widely known until two weeks ago. FBI special agent Brian Adkins said Rafiei “lied” ...
May 30, 2022
Will Oceanside get a stealth Amazon warehouse?
As Amazon’s business skyrocketed during Covid, the company became America’s largest private occupier of industrial real estate. There are some 23 Amazon distribution/warehouse hubs in Southern California including Otay Mesa (six-million square feet) and Vista ...
March 18, 2022