October Job Gains Anemic
The U.S. added only 80,000 jobs in October, although the unemployment rate inched down to 9% from September's 9.1%, according to a report by the Labor Department this morning (Nov. 4). Economists had expected a gain of 90,000 jobs with …
Rumor: Hedgecock May Leave KOGO
According to Jimmy Valentine, his former producer, radio personality Roger Hedgecock may depart KOGO and wind up at KFMB. Valentine stresses that this is rumor; his statement in Dehesa Valley Gazette, his online sheet, has been picked up by others …
Qualcomm Stock Jumps 9.29% After Hours
Stock of telecom superstar Qualcomm leapt 9.29% to $57.03 in after hours trading today (Nov. 2). The company reported a 22% increase in earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter, topping analysts' estimates. The company reported strong sales of mobile phones …
Could McGrory Have Given More?
Jack McGrory, former City Manager and executive of Price Group and PriceSmart, has given $1.2 million to the Campaign for San Diego State University. That is a generous donation. Could he have given more? I don't know. At one point, …
U-T Daily Circulation Falls, Sunday Rises
Union-Tribune Monday-Friday circulation for the six months ended Sept. 30 fell to 219,347, down from 224,761 for the same period last year and 242,693 for the same period in 2009, according to Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) data released this …
ResMed Stock Plunges Almost 14%
Stock of ResMed, which makes equipment for treating sleep-disordered breathing and various respiratory disorders, plummeted 13.66% today (Oct. 25) to $27.37. Third-quarter revenues rose 12%, but that was less than analysts had expected. Earnings per share fell 11 cents to …
Warner Springs Ranch Finally to Be Sold to Pala
After a long legal struggle and political infighting, it now appears all but certain that Warner Springs Ranch -- featuring hot springs, horse stables and golf course -- will be purchased by the Pala Band of Mission Indians, who occupied …
San Diego Housing Lags Other Metro Areas
San Diego County home values dropped 0.2% from July to August, underperforming the index of the 20 major metro areas, which rose 0.2%, according to Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller data released this morning (Oct. 25). Similarly, San Diego home values were …
Jobs Drop, but So Does Unemployment Rate
San Diego County lost 3,600 jobs between August and September, but the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7% in September from a revised 10.2% in August, according to the California Employment Development Department. A major reason is that discouraged workers dropped …
Military Members Sue BBG Communications
Military personnel tied to Fort Hood, Texas, have filed suit against BBG Communications, a San Diego-based company that charges stiff rates for credit card phone calls at airports around the world. Sgt. Richard Corder paid $41 for a 4 second …
Sequenom Stock Back on Roller Coaster
Stock of biotech Sequenom resumes riding a roller coaster. Yesterday (Oct. 17) the company said its prenatal test for Down syndrome will be marketed in 20 American cities. The stock rose to $5.56 from its Friday closing of $5.03. But …
Anadys Up 251%; Roche to Buy It
Anadys Pharmaceuticals, which specializes in developing hepatitis C treatments, announced this morning (Oct. 17) that it will be acquired by the pharmaceutical giant Roche for $230 million, or $3.70 a share -- a premium of almost 260% over Friday's close. …
French Gourmet, Officers Plead Guilty
La Jolla's French Gourmet Restaurant, along with its owner Michel Malecot and manager Richard Kauffmann, pleaded guilty today (Oct. 13) to hiring at least ten illegal aliens in the 2006-2007 period. The company hired undocumented workers beginning in 2003 even …
Harrisburg, Pa. Files for Bankruptcy
Financially ailing Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, filed for municipal bankruptcy today (Oct. 12). According to Reuters, the city now faces a showdown with the state over control of the city. Municipal bankruptcies are rare: Orange County filed for Chapter …
Shames Rejoins Bar
Michael Shames, head of watchdog Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), has rejoined the State Bar of California. His readmission is dated Oct. 5. Earlier this year, the Reader reported that Shames had not been a member of the bar since …
Think Tank Says Tech Responsible for 30% of Jobs
The National University System Institute for Policy Research has concluded that technology industries account for 30% of jobs in the San Diego metro area. The 6,023 tech employers account directly for 138,800 jobs, says the institute. But these jobs generate …
Borrego Sun Editor Found Dead
According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, Judy Meier, longtime editor of the Borrego Sun newspaper, was found dead in her home today (Oct. 11). She was found in the kitchen and her estranged husband, Jim Meier, was …
San Diego Slipping Faster than Nation
Zillow's August report shows San Diego home values dropping faster than the nation's — but local home values remain among the highest. The median price of San Diego area homes is $347,300, says Zillow. Only New York, Los Angeles, and …
Medical Marijuana, Inc. Stock Down
Stock of San Diego's Medical Marijuana, Inc. is down 10.71% this morning. Friday it closed down around 6% — not surprisingly, given federal officials' crackdown on California pot dispensaries, announced Friday. Volume Friday was almost 2.5 million shares, three and …
Al Davis Dead
The Oakland Raiders said today (Oct. 8) that owner Al Davis has died at age 82. Davis had once been a coach of the Chargers in the early days and was considered persona non grata in San Diego -- just …