Most CBP employees considered essential

The vast majority of U.S. customs officials are expected to remain on duty throughout the United States government shutdown. According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials, 52,673 of the 59,561 CBP employees will remain on duty. The 88 percent …

Evidence gathered from cell phones seized in 2012 prostitution raid

A 70-year-old man was arrested near La Jolla Tuesday (October 1) as part of a prostitution sting operation dating back to June of 2012. Last year, Michael Lustig was arrested in an Encinitas hotel sting aimed at catching “johns” soliciting …

Las Vegas developer, investigative focus of Iowa Republican senator in San Diego FBI building Chinese money intrigue, forks over for Faulconer and the GOP

A partnership linked to Las Vegas developer Irwin Molasky, friend and longtime business associate of late mobster Moe Dalitz and a focus of inquiries by Iowa GOP Sen. Charles Grassley over whistle-blower alleged irregularities in the financing of San Diego's …

Interim Mayor Gloria's Office says issue will be heard in the coming months by the Land Use and Housing Committee

Food truck owners in San Diego are serving up some criticism for Interim Mayor Todd Gloria. In the latest newsletter from www.sdfoodtrucks.com, the mobile food contingent slams Gloria's recent decision to ramp up enforcement against food truck owners who park …

Election remains more than a year out

Lest any constituents of California’s 52nd Congressional district forget that there’s an election just 13 months away, Scott Peters, the sitting Democrat, and Carl DeMaio, who’s been building his candidacy virtually since losing the mayoral race in 2012, have issued …

Qualcomm will love it but domestic engineers will not

In an article in the Washington DC publication The Hill, North County Congressman Darrell Issa and former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, now head of the local Chamber of Commerce, give hoorays for the H-1B program, by which foreign residents …

Despite the federal government shutdown triggered by an argument over funding for the Affordable Care Act, popularly dubbed Obamacare, California is moving forward this morning with the launch of Covered California, the new statewide insurance exchange called for under the …

Political party class uses public clout to obtain and distribute free admissions to fair and rock concerts

It's an annual ritual of summer, the running of San Diego officials, both elected and non-elected, out to the county fair in Del Mar for a slew of free admissions and related gratuities, courtesy of the state's 22nd District Agricultural …

Study shows cost-of-living-adjusted rate would be 50% higher than official San Diego estimates

New data from the Public Policy Institute of California suggests that 8.1 million Californians, or 22 percent of the state’s population, lives in poverty. These numbers contrast the official U.S. Census Bureau numbers, which put statewide poverty levels at just …

Civil suits filed against Michael Vilkin in San Diego Superior Court

John C. Upton Senior is requesting $5 million in general damages and $1 million in special damages and “reserves the right to seek $10 million in punitive damages,” according to papers filed last week, in a suit against the man …

Her former boyfriend got less than half that Friday

Former San Diegan Mary Armstrong, mastermind of a $100 million mortgage scam that generated almost $15 million in kickbacks, was sentenced today (Sept. 30) to 100 months in prison. Her former boyfriend, William Fountain, Friday got 42 months. Armstrong, Fountain, …

Military, including contracting, is 22% of local economy

The presence of the military and aerospace/defense contracting add up to 22% of the San Diego economy, says Kelly Cunningham, economist for the National University System Institute for Policy Research. If the government shuts down tonight -- as seems quite …

BAE Systems, NASSCO, and Continental Maritime San Diego among the companies to join in opposition against the newly amended update.

Ships are starting to hit the plan in Barrio Logan. A group of ship repair companies have united and hired a lobbyist to start pounding the pavement at City Hall in hopes of getting a more industry-friendly update to the …

Forbes calls Chula Vista "Second Fastest-Growing City Since Recession;" Growth Oversight Commission's report on fire, libraries, police and traffic

The Millenia project in Chula Vista broke ground September 26 only a short time after Forbes magazine called the city the second fastest-growing in the United States. The Forbes article looked at cities with a population of 200,000 or more …

Uranium miner General Atomics, maker of deadly drones and other high-tech battle gear, joins the war for San Diego mayor

U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester, the well-heeled Republican hotel magnate and associate of the conservative Koch brothers, has just received some more big time conservative reinforcement in his mayoral proxy war with San Diego's richest man, billionaire Obama Democrat …

Following nearly 17 years of litigation, the City of Santee has announced an agreement regarding rent controls with the owners of the Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park. As part of the court-approved agreement, the owners of the Meadowbrook park will be …

Landmark Tijuana cantina closes doors in Zona Norte.

Historic Tijuana cantina Dragon Rojo closes its mural-incrusted doors on Monday, September 30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru4aGSzYw9E Originally opened in 1977, The Red Dragon is located just west of the tacky arch/clock monument on Revolucion, where the jubilant abandon of Plaza Santa Cecilia …

Most will be spent on polling and television ad buys; ads began airing this weekend.

Update: The Working Families for a Better San Diego added $22,000 to their television ad budget. San Diego's unions are united behind councilmember David Alvarez and are putting up major cash as a sign of their support. In the past …

The commission considers the matter Oct. 10

In a 24-page report, the staff of the California Coastal Commission recommended a "No" vote on the planned $520 million convention center expansion. The commission will take up the matter at a meeting Oct. 10. " The [proposal] will result …

Exclusive California Republican Leadership fund kicks off high-end cash raising event with Friday golf tournament and lavish party closed to media at publishing magnate's Grand del Mar

U-T San Diego publisher Douglas Manchester, known for his extravagant party giving, is playing host to California Republican Party officials, lawmakers, and their monied financial backers this weekend at his sprawling Grand del Mar resort in the northern reaches of …