San Diego News Fix

After 34 years, sports editor Jay Posner is retiring. Jay started the job ion 1989 as a reporter. Since then, he's covered all things San Diego sports related. He even had a stint as editor of the arts & entertainment section. In this interview, Jay talks about his career highlights, his 15 minutes of fame after appearing in a viral video, the best and worst reader mail he's ever received and more.

​Meet Ron Salisbury, the city of San Diego's first-ever poet laureate. Ron served as poet laureate from 2020 through this year, writing poems and acting as an ambassador to the art form city-wide. Ron has had an amazing and storied life. Ron has been a casino pit boss in Las Vegas, an investment banker in San Francisco, a coffee shop owner in Sonoma, and of course, a poet and a teacher of poetry for more than 40 years. He also has numerous bachelor's and master's degrees. In this conversation, we talk about understanding poetry versus writing it, how he fell in love with poetry as a child, and stick around to the end to hear him read a poem about baseball. Here's our conversation.

A county hotel voucher program known as the Regional Homeless Assistance Program had been running and expanding for about two years with little controversy until El Cajon recently blamed it for a surge in homeless people, crime and drug use. The San Diego Union-Tribune obtained years-worth of data detailing arrests and calls for service at seven hotels in El Cajon. Union-Tribune homelessness reporter Gary Warth, East County reporter Blake Nelson, managing editor Lora Cicalo; and publisher and editor Jeff Light discuss what they found.

Latino and LGBTQ activist Nicole Murray Ramirez is living San Diego history, and this weekend, he'll get an honorary street name to prove it. Starting Saturday, Dec. 3, the corner of Harvey Milk and Centre streets in Hillcrest will be known as Nicole Murray Ramirez Way.

The holidays are here and so are a ton of holiday events around the region. Abby Hamblin is the community guides editor at the U-T.

After 37 years, arts & entertainment columnist Karla Peterson is retiring from the Union-Tribune. In her time here, she covered pop culture, Comic-Con, the community and more. This week is Karla's last week with the newspaper. She joined me today to reflect on all she's done.

In San Diego County, 1 in 4 residents are nutrition insecure. The issue has improved slightly since 2021, but there's still a lot of work to be done. Anahid Brakke is the President & CEO of the San Diego Hunger Coalition.

In the past two years, the number of homeless people using hotel vouchers in El Cajon has skyrocketed. The numbers went from one or two in years prior to just under 250 in 2021 and more than 600 at one point in 2022.

It's hard to believe it, but the holidays — and shopping season — are upon us. To help you with gift-giving, the Union-Tribune arts & entertainment team has created a guide to the best presents to give this holiday season. It includes recommendations for books, beer, sports, music and more. Michael Rocha is the digital creative director at the U-T.

Saturday night at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, five people were killed and several others injured by a lone gunman. The victims are Ashley Paugh, Raymond Green, Kelly Loving, Daniel Davis Aston and Derrick Rump, according to the Gazette newspaper. Reporters Teri Figueroa and David Hernandez have been following this story.

Union-Tribune feature writer John Wilkens; enterprise editor Kristina Davis; managing editor Lora Cicalo; and publisher and editor Jeff Light look back at a Black vs. White race riot aboard the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk in October 1972.

Union-Tribune watchdog and government editor Sam Schulz; political columnist Michael Smolens; and managing editor Lora Cicalo recap the Nov. 8 election and take a closer look at some of San Diego County's close races.

The San Diego Registrar of Voters has updated election results as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

The 2022 general election is over, and results on a number of exciting races are trickling in. Michael Smolens, political columnist at the Union-Tribune, shares some of the results and surprises.

Today, as we await results, we're going to talk about what happens to your ballot after you cast it, how votes get counted and we're also gonna do some mythbusting. Adriana Heldiz is a multimedia journalist at the Union-Tribune.

Hear from 1HWY1 developer Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen about his vision for Seaport San Diego, the project timeline, and whether or not it will need public funding.

Maritza Garcia is an activist with the Environmental Health Coalition, who grew up in Logan Heights and now fights for cleaner air in her neighborhood. She's also an artist who makes crochet clothing and sculptures and she's a new mom! In this conversation, she shares what it was like to grow up in Barrio Logan and Logan Heights, where soot piles up on surfaces and children experience asthma at a high rates. We also talked about the life-giving nature of art, and how life has changed since becoming a parent.

Union-Tribune watchdog and government editor Sam Schulz; political columnist Michael Smolens; managing editor Lora Cicalo; and editor and publisher Jeff Light talk about what we can expect on Election Day and the days that follow.

Election Day is right around the corner. Tuesday, Nov. 8 is the last day to cast your ballot, but if you haven't done so, don't worry, our guides to help you make your decision. Bella Ross is a community engagement specialist at the U-T.

Nov. 3 is World Jellyfish Day! Jellyfish are more than 600-million-years old, making them one of the oldest life forms on the planet. They were even around before dinosaurs. To celebrate, and learn more about these amazing creatures, Julie Tamez joins us today. Julie is the resident jellyfish expert at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Indigenous voters are consistently underrepresented in American elections. California’s eligible voting population is 3 percent Indigenous, which is among the highest rates nationwide. But Native Americans are less likely to register to vote and have lower voter turnout rates than people of other races. U-T reporter Lauren J. Mapp has more.

In honor of Día de Muertos, we're bringing you something special today. Día de Muertos means Day of the Dead. It's a Mexican holiday with Catholic and indigenous roots that honors the deceased loved ones of those who celebrate, typically on Nov. 1-2. In honor of the holiday, today you'll hear dedications from three readers and one U-T editor who sent in remembrances of their loved ones.

The 23rd annual San Diego Asian Film Festival begins this week. The fest features 130 films, from 30-plus countries in 30-plus languages at four venues. The festival kicks off this Thursday with its opening night at the Museum of Natural History in Balboa Park. Brian Hu is the artistic director of the festival and an associate professor of TV, film and new media at SDSU.

Union-Tribune editorial and opinion director Matthew T. Hall; managing editor Lora Cicalo; and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss the U-T’s sometimes contentious and rowdy community election forums leading up the Nov. 8 election.

San Diego home prices are dropping at a pace not seen since the Great Recession. But San Diego isn’t alone. The entire nation is experiencing a slowdown brought on by rising mortgage rates. Phillip Molnar covers real estate for the Union-Tribune.

A big holiday weekend is upon us! Halloween is Monday and Día de Muertos is Tuesday, and celebrations for both have already begun. Joining me to share what's going on this weekend is Abby Hamblin, editor of Pacific Magazine.

Two candidates are running for the job of San Diego County sheriff. Last night, the San Diego Union-Tribune opinion team held an in-person forum at the San Diego Central Library with candidates John Hemmerling and Kelly Martinez. The conversation was moderated by Editorial and Opinion Director Matthew T. Hall. In this episode, you'll hear from the candidates on jail deaths, surveillance, traffic stops, conceal carry weapons, policies for transgender inmates and more.

Two candidates are vying to represent Chula Vista as mayor. Last night, the San Diego Union-Tribune opinion team held an in-person forum at the Chula Vista Public Library with candidates John McCann and Ammar Campa-Najjar. The conversation was moderated by Editorial and Opinion Director Matthew T. Hall. And as you'll hear, it was a lively night.

The Nation's Report card is in, and math grades in the shadow of the pandemic aren't looking so good. National standardized test scores for 2022 were released Sunday, showing a steep decline in math scores among public school students. Kristen Taketa covers education at the Union-Tribune.

Union-Tribune public safety editor Dana Littlefield; public safety reporter Teri Figueroa; managing editor Lora Cicalo; and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss the allegations of a horrific gang rape that were kept quiet for nearly a year and how reporters brought the story to light.

Voting in the 2022 general election is underway. In San Diego County, voters will choose leaders in national, state and local races. Michael Smolens, political columnist at the Union-Tribune, tells us what he's watching.

To help you make your decisions in the 2022 election, the U-T opinion section has been publishing candidate Q&As, video interviews and endorsements. We're also hosting in-person and virtual forums in some of San Diego's key races. Tuesday, Oct. 18, we're hosting a forum with San Diego City Council District 6 candidates, Tommy Hough and Kent Lee. We'll also host forums with candidates for Chula Vista Mayor and San Diego County Sheriff next week.

Today we're talking about the San Diego Unified school board race in Sub-District B, which covers Tierrasanta, Kearny Mesa and San Carlos. We have two candidates, early education commissioner Shana Hazan and retired principal/teacher Godwin Higa. Both met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board this month to discuss the pandemic, gun violence, standardized testing and more.

Today we're talking about the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education race in Sub-District C, which represents coastal San Diego. We have two candidates, educator/parent Cody Petterson and charter school businesswoman Becca Williams. Both met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board this month to discuss the pandemic, gun violence, standardized testing and more.

This Saturday, Oct. 15, is the first-ever Festival of Journalism, hosted by the Union-Tribune, Voice of San Diego, KPBS and the SDSU School of Journalism and Media Studies. The free, one-day event will feature panel sessions with editors and reporters, a documentary screening and keynote speakers. It's also chance to get to know the people reporting San Diego's biggest stories.

There are two candidates running for treasurer-tax collector in San Diego County. One is incumbent Daniel McAllister, first elected in 2002, and he's challenged by chief financial officer Greg Hodosevich. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board to discuss the job and how they would do it.

There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot running to be the next San Diego County assessor/recorder/county clerk: Chief deputy assessor Jordan Marks and chief financial officer and former San Diego City Councilmember Barbara Bry.

Union-Tribune public safety editor Dana Littlefield; public safety reporter David Hernandez; managing editor Lora Cicalo; and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss the latest Union-Tribune’s analysis of homicide rates in our region and why it’s important to tell these types of stories.

There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot running for San Diego County supervisors District 5, which covers North County. Republican incumbent supervisor Jim Desmond is being challenged by Democratic scientist/water director Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board ahead of the election.

There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot running for San Diego County supervisors District 4, which includes Clairemont, Linda Vista, Hillcrest, North Park, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and many communities in between. Democratic incumbent supervisor/educator Nathan Fletcher is challenged this election by Republican small business owner Amy Reichert. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board ahead of the election.

Today you're going to hear from candidates for California attorney general. First you'll hear from incumbent Rob Bonta, a Democrat, then Nathan Hochman, a Republican. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Boards to discuss crime, cannabis, immigration and more. This is the first 20 or so minutes of each conversation. To hear the interviews in their entirety, go to sandiegouniontribune.com/2022electionguide.

Today you're going to hear from gubernatorial candidates Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger, State Sen. Brian Dahle. Both candidates met with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board in September to discuss inflation, housing, climate change and more. This is the first 20 or so minutes of each conversation. To hear the interviews in their entirety, go to sandiegouniontribune.com/2022electionguide.

Proposition 31 would ban the sale of flavored tobacco in California, including flavored vaping products and menthol cigarettes. People would still be able to have these items, but they couldn't buy them in the state. Yes on 31 is supported by the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and others. It's opposed by the various tax associations and chambers of commerce. Supporters say flavored tobacco targets children and people of color, primarily Black Americans. The no side says prohibition doesn't work, it could encourage black market products, and we should trust adults to make their own decisions.

Proposition 30 would increase personal income tax on Californians who earn more than $2 million per year. The money would be used to fund programs to reduce air pollution and prevent wildfires. Supporters say it would improve air quality and help Californians afford electric vehicles. Opponents say the proposition is not business friendly and could cause job creators to move away. They also say it's a money grab for Lyft and Uber, who funded the measure, to get subsidies to electrify their fleets. Today you're going to hear from both sides of this measure, first the yes side, then the no side.

Welcome to the San Diego News Fix, the Backstory, where we take you behind the scenes in our newsroom to show you how we got the story and how decisions are made. Today we are joined by Jeff Light, Lauryn Schroeder, Kristina Davis and Sam Schulz to talk about the surge in investors purchasing homes in San Diego County.

Voting in the 2022 election begins on Oct. 10, and this week the San Diego News Fix podcast is focusing on state ballot measures. Proposition 29 is back on the ballot, and it has to do with kidney dialysis. If it sounds familiar, it's the third time this issue has appeared on the ballot in the past five years. Prop. 29 would require a licensed doctor to be on site at dialysis clinics at all times. Supporters say adding a doctor would improve patient care. Opponents say that it's not necessary and would create an undue burden on clinics, possibly causing them to close. In this episode, you'll hear from both sides. First you'll hear from an SEIU union member who represents the Yes on 29 campaign. Then you'll hear from a public affairs strategist, a doctor and a patient on the No on 29 side.

California Proposition 28 would take require the state to set aside money for arts and music education, and it's expected to generate up to $1 billion per year, with an emphasis on lower-income schools. Austin Beutner is behind the initiative. He's the former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent, and was also a former publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune. In this episode, you'll hear from the Yes on 28 campaign. The campaign has no opponents.

This week the News Fix is focusing on California ballot measures. Today you're going to hear about Prop. 27, which would allow online and mobile sports betting throughout the state. Under Prop. 27, gaming companies would be required to partner with a California tribe, and some of its revenue would go towards homeless services. The measure is funded by online betting companies FanDuel and DraftKings. It is supported by some advocates for the homeless and the mayors of Fresno, Oakland, Sacramento and Long Beach. It is opposed by a long list of tribes and tribal casinos, the California Teachers Association and many others. Both campaigns have websites you can visit for more information. Both campaigns met with The San Diego Union-Tribune's editorial board recently to share their perspectives and answer questions. In this episode, you'll first hear from Yes on 27, followed by No on 27.

This week the News Fix is focusing on statewide ballot measures. Today you'll hear more about Prop. 26, which would allow in-person roulette, dice games and sports wagering on tribal lands, as well as sports betting at horse racetracks. You'll also hear about Prop. 27, which would allow online sports betting across the state. Prop. 26 is supported by tribal casinos such as Sycuan and Pechanga. It is opposed by non-tribal card rooms, animal rights activists and some municipalities. First you'll hear from Yes on 26 campaign, followed by the No on 26 campaign.