Issa's Digital Deputy Takes Free Trip to Turkey
It was off to Turkey last month for an aide to North County GOP congressman Darrell Issa, thanks to the American-Turkish Council, which bills itself as a "Business Association dedicated to enhancing the promotion of US-Turkish Commercial, Defense, Technology and …
Arms Trial of Coronado-Based SEAL Opens in Las Vegas
Opening arguments in the arms smuggling trial of Coronado-based Navy SEAL Nicholas Bickle began Monday in a Las Vegas federal courtroom, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has reported. "Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Smith said the government 'brick by brick' would 'build …
AMN Healthcare Facing $1600 Lobbying Fine
Del Mar Heights-based AMN Healthcare has agreed to pay $1600 to the state's Political Fair Practices Commission for "failure to timely file quarterly lobbyist employer statements" covering July through December of last year, according to a proposed stipulation agreement on …
In Wake of Durkee Allegations, Davis Throws a Fundraiser
Fresh from revelations that Burbank-based campaign treasurer Kinde Durkee allegedly looted over $250,000 from the campaign treasurery of Susan Davis, the Democratic congresswoman held her annual evening fundraising reception Saturday night at the Mission Hills mansion of ex-Port Commissioner Laurie …
FBI Searches Business and Home of Bob White Associate
The FBI has searched the Fontana home and business of former GOP state senator, Jim Brulte (pictured), currently an associate with California Strategies, the Sacramento-based political consulting and lobbying operation founded by Bob White, longtime aide to Pete Wilson during …
Sanders Aide, Judges, and Kehoe Join For "Political Bootcamp"
A self-described progressive advocacy group Run Women Run is linking up with the San Diego County Bar Association and Lawyers Club of San Diego to stage a "political boot camp" for women next month. It features a list of high-powered …
Haymet's Scripps Job Pulled From Regents Agenda
The item on today's closed session agenda of the University of California's Regents compensation committee regarding the Scripps Institution of Oceanography directorship now held by Tony Haymet has been quietly stricken. As first reported here September 9, the regents docketed …
Psychiatrist's Talk of Rap Sheet Voids Pot Conviction
A psychiatrist's testimony about an alleged pot smuggler's "rap sheet" has resulted in reversal by the U.S. Ninth District Court of Appeals of defendant Brad Ray Santini's San Diego federal district court conviction for attempting to cross the border at …
Fabiani's Partner Making Movie About Flawed Politicos
It's not about the Chargers stadium saga, but Chris Lehane, longtime business associate of the team's lobbying honcho Mark Fabiani, has written a movie starring Rob Lowe that takes some big shots at politicians and journalists, according to the website …
SDPD Sex Crimes Detective Charges Sexual Harassment
According to a complaint filed in San Diego Superior Court on September 8 posted on the website of Courthouse News Service, veteran San Diego Police sex crimes unit detective Deborah W. Burger is suing the department for "numerous egregious instances …
Regents Agenda Sparks Curiosity About Scripps Future
It was five years ago last month that Tony Haymet (pictured) was appointed as the tenth director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. The chemist and Australian national science administrator arrived in mid-September of 2006 with a full …
Durkee Got Token San Diego Ethics Fine
Professional Democratic treasurer Kinde Durkee of Burbank was arrested last week on federal charges that she allegedly stole more than $677,000 from Orange County Assemblyman Jose Solorio; used her clients' campaign funds as giant piggybanks for trips to Disneyland, ice …
Superstore Bill Draws Legions of Lobbyists
The Center for Investigative Reporting's California Watch website has launched a new searchable database of who is lobbying which bills in the state legislature, though it doesn't say on what side they're on. A good sample search is SB 469, …
Chilean Stealth Sub Visiting San Diego
The Chilean navy's Carrera, a diesel-electric submarine, has arrived for a training mission with the 3rd Fleet in San Diego, Navy Times reports. The latest generation of diesel-electric subs, with their unusual stealthiness and relatively low price have become troublesome …
Audit Cites Improper Use of State Car by Fish and Game Worker
The California Department of Fish and Game has been criticized by the state Auditor's office for letting an employee use a state car to commute between her home in San Diego and Fish and Game's Los Alamitos office, costing taxpayers …
Top Bersin Aide Quits for Consulting Gig
Ex-Nogales Mayor Marco Antonio López Jr. has announced he's quitting his job as second-in-command to U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner Alan Bersin to “pursue other opportunities in the private sector," according to Arizona newspapers. "Without elaborating, López said he …
FBI Busts S.F. Giants Worker Seeking San Diego Home Loan
A payroll manager for the San Francisco Giants has been arrested by the FBI for suspected embezzlement of more than $1.5 million after she admitted to channeling $608,562.09 of the team's payroll money to her personal bank account and forging …
Chaldean-Mexican Drug Connection Explored
Sylvia Longmire, a former Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and ex-intelligence analyst for the California state fusion center, has a unique take on her blog at HSToday.us about what was really behind that big August …
Joel Anderson gives $10,000 to Anti-Redistricting Effort
GOP state Sen. Joel Anderson has become one of the first contributors to a newly-formed political committee trying to overturn recently re-drawn state legislative district boundaries. According to a disclosure report filed August 24, Anderson's re-election committee, Taxfighters for Anderson …
Cardroom Lobby Flexes its Financial Muscle
There's an interesting story on the possible fate of San Diego's last two remaining card rooms over on KPBS.org. Seems the Palomar Card Club and Casino and the Lucky Lady Casino may be on their last legs if the city …