San Dieguito Water District representative Mark Muir was Thursday elected chairman of the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors. Muir, an Encinitas councilman, succeeds Mark Weston, who chaired the 36-seat SDCWA board for two years during the height of the drought. “While supply conditions have improved this year, our region still faces many […]
Posted inCrime
Ex-Border Patrol Agent Guilty in Child-Porn Shoot, Assault on Drugged Girl
A former Border Patrol agent was convicted Thursday of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in a Mission Bay hotel room and taking photos of her in lingerie. Daniel Alfredo Spear, 46, faces more than four years in state prison when he is sentenced Nov. 18 for the crimes, which occurred when he was off duty. […]
Posted inCrime
He Denies Strangling Sex Partner, Stuffing Body in Suitcase, Then Trash
A man accused of strangling a female acquaintance after watching her have sex with two other people, then stuffing her body into a suitcase and putting it out with the trash, pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder charges that could lead to the death penalty if he’s convicted. Joshua Matthew Palmer, 32, is charged with […]
Posted inCrime
Marijuana at Root of Fatal Crash? DUI Trial Set for Woman
A Feb. 17 trial date was set Thursday for a woman who allegedly drove under the influence of marijuana and caused a head-on collision near Scripps Ranch that killed a passenger in an oncoming car. Hyun Jeong Choi, 34, is charged with second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI with drugs in the March 27 […]
Posted inBusiness
Firing Suit: Firm Told Woman She Was ‘Stupid’ to Get Pregnant
One of San Diego’s largest steel and iron manufacturers fired an employee because she got pregnant, in violation of federal law, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The employee was harassed by the CEO and officer manager at Spring Valley-based Pacific Coast Iron Inc. after informing them of her […]
Posted inPolitics
San Diego, OC Sheriffs Endorse Rep. Issa’s Re-Election
The sheriffs of both San Diego and Orange counties on Thursday endorsed the re-election of Rep. Darrell Issa to a 9th term in Congress. “Congressman Issa has the skills, leadership, and experience necessary to keep San Diego and our nation safe,” said San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore.“I’ve worked with him on some of the toughest […]
Posted inMilitary
Littoral Combat Ship USS Jackson Arrives in San Diego
The third littoral combat ship of the Independence class, which features a trimaran hull, arrived at its San Diego home port Thursday. The USS Jackson, the first warship to be named for the capital of Mississippi, was built in Mobile, Alabama. The vessel and its crew conducted training and equipment testing in Mayport, Florida, before beginning […]
Posted inCrime
2 Accused of $40,000 in ID Theft Debt Arrested in Oceanside
Two Carson residents who allegedly stole a Los Angeles County man’s identity and ran up at least $40,000 in debt were behind bars in Vista Thursday after staffers at an Oceanside hotel found counterfeit IDs in a room they reserved. William Dexter Redwine, 50, and Natalie Anne Payne, 32, had checked into the Holiday Inn at […]
Posted inLife
‘Remember Me Thursday’ Memorial for Pets that Die Waiting for Homes
A candle-lighting event is scheduled Thursday for the fourth annual Remember Me Thursday memorial for the millions of pets that die annually while waiting for a home. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m. near the dog run in the west side of Balboa Park, off El Prado. Remember Me Thursday is a […]
Posted inCrime
Bullet Allegedly Hits Mattress with Sleeping Kid During Couple’s Dispute; No Injuries
A bullet allegedly fired during a couple’s dispute early Thursday entered a Chollas Creek-area home and struck an air mattress on which a child was sleeping, but no one was injured. David Terry, 32, was arrested after allegedly firing the gunshot that shattered a sliding glass door before flattening an air mattress inside an apartment on […]
Posted inLife
Skyline Neighborhood Being Sprayed to Kill Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes
The Skyline neighborhood will be sprayed Thursday after mosquitoes capable of carrying tropical diseases were discovered near the home of a person who contracted the Zika virus while traveling. Spraying was postponed Wednesday because of the rain. San Diego County Vector Control has conducted several precautionary hand-sprayings recently after Aedes mosquitoes were discovered near residences of people […]
Posted inLife
Gusty Santa Ana Winds Developing Over East San Diego County
Gusty winds are expected to develop Thursday in the mountains and deserts of San Diego County ahead of a trough of low pressure that will change their direction. A National Weather Service wind advisory for the mountains and deserts will extend from noon today and through 2 a.m. Friday. West winds of 15 to 25 miles […]
Posted inCrime
7-Foot Uber, Lyft Driver Accused of Passenger Sex Assaults
A one-time high school and college star basketball player accused of sexually assaulting three young women while working as a driver for the Lyft and Uber ride-sharing services in northern San Diego County pleaded not guilty today to felony charges. Jeremy George Vague, who faces charges of sexual penetration by force and false imprisonment, was […]
Posted inLife
Mexican Consulate Honors Leader of San Diego Immigrant Services Nonprofit
The Mexican Consulate on Wednesday honored a a long-time San Diego nonprofit leader for his work educating and training immigrants. Bob Stewart, president and CEO of ACCESS in Linda Vista, received the Ohtli Award from Consul General Marcela Celorio Mancera at a reception at the Institute of the Americas on the UC San Diego campus. ACCESS provides […]