San Diego News Fix

Last October, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by five San Diego State University football players at an off-campus party. San Diego Police Department said Thursday it has concluded its criminal investigation and will submit its findings to the District Attorney. The university, however, is just starting its own investigation, nine months after the incident.

Monkeypox has now reached a state of emergency in California. The state has seen about 800 cases so far, with about 40 so far in San Diego County, which declared its own state of emergency on Monday. You can find more information about vaccines and how to protect yourself at sandiegocounty.gov. Fernando Z. López, executive director of San Diego Pride, has been helping to inform the community.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board spoke with executives from the San Diego County Water Authority on Tuesday. They discussed rate increases, what's needed to secure Southern California's water future, and why we can't conserve our way out of the drought. Here's an excerpt from the conversation.

The Wu family, who owns Mongolian Hot Pot restaurant in Clairemont, came to the United States from Inner Mongolia, China, in 1995. The parents, Gary and Mindy Wu, left their home and jobs as artists and architects to come to the United States and start restaurants. It was a struggle at first, but soon after the family found success, opening a Rice King restaurant, then many others. Their sons Mike and Peter join me today to talk about the journey.

The San Diego Union-Tribune has always been a great way to learn about San Diego, and it just got even better. The U-T has launched a guides new initiative to help readers get to know the city by sharing things to do, places to go and more. Abby Hamblin is the editor of Community Guides and Pacific Magazine.

A new border wall is going up at Friendship Park. The binational park at the U.S.-Mexico beach border has been closed since the pandemic began. With plans to add two 30-foot border walls through the park, some fear it will never reopen. Reporters Kate Morrissey and Wendy Fry explain.

Part of the 101 Ash Street saga is settled, and the city of San Diego will take ownership of the building. The San Diego City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday to settle the city’s lawsuits over leases for 101 Ash St. and Civic Center Plaza. Watchdog reporter Jeff McDonald explains.

In the city of San Diego, single family homeowners do not pay a fee for trash pickup, while businesses and condo owners do. The law is 103 years old, and known as the People's Ordinance. This November, voters will have a change to repeal it. David Garrick covers the city for the Union-Tribune.

Seaport Village might be a step closer to its long-awaited makeover. Last week, the Port of San Diego Commissioners reviewed a new proposal from 1HWY1, which would add hotels, retail space, offices, parks, piers and more. Business reporter Jennifer Van Grove joins me to talk about the project.

Isabelle DeMillan is the owner of The Mighty Bin, San Diego's first no-waste grocery store. The shop on El Cajob Boulevard sells plastic-free, package free, organic food, personal care items and home goods. In this interview, DeMillan discusses how she got started, how owning less can make you happier, and how you can start your own zero-waste lifestyle.

Union-Tribune managing editor Lora Cicalo, arts and entertainment editor Michael James Rocha, and community guides and Pacific San Diego editor Abby Hamblin discuss what it’s like to cover Comic-Con during the pandemic.

If you've ever heard of San Diego Comic-Con, you've also probably heard of cosplay. Cosplay is a portmanteau of "costume" and "play," and it's when people dress up as characters from video games, anime, TV, film and more. At Comic-Con on opening day, cosplayers were out in full force.

The San Diego City Council moved forward this week on an ordinance that will govern how surveillance technology is used in the city. But not all residents are happy with the proposal. Here to talk about it is public safety reporter David Hernandez.

San Diego police response times were worst they’ve been in more than a decade. Police are getting to emergencies like deadly shootings in minutes, but all other types of calls have much longer wait times. Union-Tribune reporter Lyndsay Winkley explains.

You may have noticed, but gas prices in San Diego have fallen slightly. The average price for regular-grade gas is now less than $6 per gallon in San Diego. But can it last? Here to discuss is Union-Tribune energy reporter Rob Nikolewski.

Dr. Bradley Bond is chair and associate professor of communication studies at University of San Diego. Dr. Bond studies parasocial relationships, our relationships with fictional characters, celebrities and other people we don't know. His research looks at how these one-sided relationships shape our identities, choices and even sexuality.

Max Disposti, executive director of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center, joined Union-Tribune health care reporter Paul Sisson, topics editor Tarcy Connors, managing editor Lora Cicalo, and editor and publisher Jeff Light to discuss how a public health story has the potential to stigmatize an entire community without the proper context.

First the first time ever, Little Blue Penguins are on view on the West Coast. Little Blues are the smallest penguins on Earth, about the size of a California burrito. The new habitat is biggest addition to the Birch Aquarium in 30 years. Aquarist Laura Reid joins me to talk about it.

After a two year hiatus, San Diego Pride is back in full swing this year. Festivities kicked off July 7 and continues through the 19th. Fernando Z. López is the executive director of San Diego Pride.

San Diego Comic-Con is back, in person, for the first time since the pandemic began. It kicks off Thursday, July 21st, through Sunday, July 24th, at the San Diego Convention Center. U-T columnist Karla Peterson and super fan Jerry McCormick have been attending for more than 20 years.

Friendship Park at the U.S.-Mexico border has been closed since the pandemic began. But now, with the Biden Administration set to replace the border wall with a taller structure, advocates are worried it might close forever. Kate Morrissey is the immigration reporter at the U-T.

The City of San Diego has established its first-ever Office of Immigrant Affairs. The goal of the office is to welcome immigrants to San Diego, and help them get established in their new lives.

Jeni Smith is from San Diego and grew up knowing she wanted to work with animals at SeaWorld, and she made her dream come true! Today she's the supervisor of SeaWorld's rescue team, which helps all kinds of marine animals in distress, including Freeway, the sea lion who has traveled inland a few times in the past couple of years.

The San Diego Union-Tribune, along with our sister paper, The Los Angeles Times, is launching a peer support program. The program was developed by clinicians who specialize in working with journalists and it's a confidential network to provide support to colleagues facing difficult times. Jeff Light, Lora Cicalo, Radvile Rinkeviciute and Kate Morrissey discuss the program.

Local hospitalizations related to the coronavirus have continued to rise in San Diego County. It's not happening quickly enough to push the region into the highest tier, but some are wondering if the future might hold another mask mandate. Union-Tribune health reporter Paul Sisson has more.

San Diego tourism is ramping up, but is it back to normal? What's going on with Terminal 1 at the San Diego international airport? U-T business reporter Lori Weisberg has more.

Police officers in the city of San Diego are leaving their jobs. In fiscal year 2022, which ended June 30th, more than 230 San Diego police officers left the department — a 52 percent increase compared to the previous year.

If you're priced out of buying a home in San Diego, there's more bad news: Rents on single-family homes are going up, too. In the past year, rents have risen 10 percent, and the median for a three-bedroom house in San Diego is $3,400 a month. Union-Tribune real estate reporter Phillip Molnar has more.

SDG&E rates are on the rise, and soon the California state auditor will be looking into reasons why. Union-Tribune energy reporter Rob Nikolewski has more.

In 1947, slavery was commonly thought of as a Southern thing, and futhermore, a thing of the past. Then, Alfred and Elizabeth Ingalls were arrested in Coronado.The couple, in their 60s, had recently moved from Boston and were charged with keeping their Black maid, Dora Jones, in involuntary servitude. Writer John Wilkens discusses the story with editors Kristina Davis, Lora Cicalo and Jeff Light. Today I'm joined by Union-Tribune writer John Wilkens, his editor Kristina Davis as well as managing editor Lora Cicalo and editor and publisher Jeff Light.

​Rev. Christopher Carter, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of theology and religious studies at University of San Diego who studies the intersection of Christianity, food and racial justice. In this conversation we discuss how he carved out such a unique career for himself, Black veganism and why he doesn't eat animal products, and how you can create a diet that reflects your own values.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Migrant Protection Protocols put in place by President Trump in 2019 can end. What does this mean for migrants in Tijuana? Union-Tribune immigration reporter Kate Morrissey has more.

After a two-year hiatus, Peter Rowe's beer column returns to the San Diego Union-Tribune. In this episode, he discusses brewery closures, Sapporo's acquision of Stone and what he's drinking lately.

The superintendent of the San Dieguito School District has been fired. Cheryl James-Ward was placed on leave in April after making comments linking Asian American academic success to an influx of wealthy Chinese immigrant families. The district's four-member school board voted unanimously Sunday to terminate her contract without cause. James-Ward's attorney says she will sue for retaliation. Union-Tribune education reporter Kristen Taketa has more.

Last week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria proposed a settlement agreement for 101 Ash Street and Civic Center Plaza. Under the deal with the building's lender and landlord, the city would have purchased both properties for $132 million. Then, Monday morning, the mayor withdrew the proposal just hours before the city council was set to discuss it.

Arts and entertainment editor Michael James Rocha, photo and video director Sam Hodgson, and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss the national and regional award-winning work from Union-Tribune journalists.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade today, leaving it up to states to decide whether to allow abortion. Abortion rights are protected in California, and Democratic state leaders have vowed to strengthen and expand access. San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Michael Smolens spoke with Senate leader Toni Atkins today.

New street vendor rules went into effect this week, along with parking requirements for ADUs in coastal areas and more. Reporter David Garrick explains.

There's a new development at 101 Ash Street, the building the city of San Diego agreed to buy in 2016 that was later found to be unusable without major repairs. San Diego leaders announced Monday that they had reached a settlement agreement with Cisterra, which is the building's landlord, and CGA Capital, its lender. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilmember Chris Cate, Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and Penny Maus, the city's director of real estate, joined The San Diego Union Tribune Editorial Board on Wednesday to discuss the deal.

San Diego city leaders are proposing a settlement agreement for the controversial 101 Ash Street property, which the city bought in as-is condition for $86 million before learning that it was uninhabitable. Watchdog reporter Jeff McDonald has more.

During the pandemic, mathmatician and data analyst Ben Smith got into building Lego. Specifically, he got into replicating buildings in North Park in Legos. He started with a mini version of Tribute Pizza, then Encontro and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Since then, he's branched out to other San Diego neighborhoods and racked up more than 8,000 Instagram followers in the process.

Union-Tribune editor and publisher Jeff Light, subscriber revenue and analytics senior manager Anthony Basilio, and community and public relations director Luis Cruz discuss the upcoming Fourth of July “print holiday.”

San Diego County is gearing up for its annual Juneteenth celebrations, marking the official end of slavery in the United States. There will be festivals, musical performances, a 5K run and more. Lauren J. Mapp has more.

After a two year hiatus because of the pandemic, the San Diego County Fair is back through the Fourth of July. This year the theme is superheroes, and you can find all the old staples: rides, games, food, festivals and more. U-T writer Pam Kragen went to the fair with a mission to eat.

Coronado and Imperial beaches in San Diego County could be closed for much of the summer. That’s because a new type of water testing has shown the beaches are much more polluted by wastewater from Mexico than previously thought.

The death of 31-year-old Haitian migrant Calory Archange is the latest in the community to make headlines. Activists attribute the deaths to the overlapping effects of U.S. border policies and systemic racism in Mexico.

Mayor Todd Gloria met with the San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board on June 8 to discuss the new policy of possibly arresting homeless people for encroaching on sidewalks. Here's an excerpt of that conversation.

Enterprise team editor Kristina Davis, Saturday editor Lyndsay Winkley, managing editor Lora Cicalo, and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss how the Union-Tribune covers live events, protests and demonstrations.

Bob Lehman is the executive director of the San Diego Museum Council, which oversees more than 50 museums in the county, and he's the former director of the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus. So he's definitely influential in the arts. But he's also a veteran and an activist who helped repeal the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, and he actually left the service so that he could marry his now-husband in 2008.

​New water restrictions go into effect on Friday, June 10, for San Diego County. Here's what you need to know.