San Diego News Fix

Latest Episodes:

Understanding Monday's "earthquake storm" below the Salton Sea | Gary Robbins Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

Scientists are carefully monitoring a swarm of small earthquakes that erupted on Monday in the Salton Sea below the southern tip of the dangerous San Andreas fault.

They are concerned about the possibility that the swarm could trigger a larger event, a phenomenon that has occurred in that region in the past.

Scientists said Monday afternoon that there’s a less than 1 percent chance that the swarm will produce a 6.0 or larger quake within the next month. But the location of the swarm is worrisome due to its closeness to the San Andreas.

Will the COVID-19 testing site at PedEast slow the South Bay spike? | Lyndsay Winkley Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

Later this week, a COVID-19 testing site will open up just outside PedEast, where tens of thousands of pedestrians cross into the United States from Mexico every day.

The location is thought to be the closest testing location to the U.S.-Mexico border in any state, and is the result, the county says, of a data-driven, community-led strategy that aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 in South Bay communities.

Officials have long known that the pandemic has disproportionately affected the South County region, where cases continue to climb. Factors that contribute to these increases include long-standing disparities in access to health care, a large population of essential workers and a lack of affordable housing.

Proximity to the border also plays a role, county officials said.

Contact the reporters: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lyndsay-winkley-staff.html

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-gustavo-solis-staff.html

Check out our COVID-19 tracker: uniontrib.com/coronavirus-data

San Diego City stalls on deal with SDG&E I Rob Nikolewski Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

City leaders are hotly debating who should provide gas and electric services to San Diegans. The city’s so-called franchise agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric is expiring in January after 50 years.

Now, it seems just about everyone wants a say in what the next long-term deal looks like. Should the city renew its contract with SDG&E? Or go with another company? How long should the new agreement be? And how much money should the city ask for?

Or should the city simply explore running its own electric and gas system, like they do in Los Angeles and Sacramento?

WFH not working? Here's what this one reporter did to fix that | Brittany Meiling Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Reporter Brittany Meiling discusses her column about why she leased out commercial office space during the pandemic: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2020-08-04/wfh-is-not-working-why-im-paying-for-a-office-space-outside-my-apartment

What went wrong in the purchase of 101 Ash St. | Jeff McDonald, David Garrick Aug 05, 2020

Show notes

Cybele Thompson, the career real estate professional San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer recruited in 2014 to manage the city’s portfolio of property and leases, has become the latest official to leave her job after a report about the troubled acquisition of a downtown high rise.

Thompson will leave Wednesday, one week after an independent review found serious deficiencies in the city’s 2016 plan to acquire the former Sempra Energy headquarters at 101 Ash Street, according to her letter of resignation dated Monday.

The departure is the second for a high-profile city official involved in the Ash Street transaction. Earlier this year, former Deputy Chief Operating Officer Ronald Villa retired amid questions of how the property was handled.

A report from the Mayor’s Office last week said it could cost $115 million or more to rehabilitate the Ash Street office tower to a condition that would be safe for city employees to occupy — a stunning amount for a building appraised at $72 million a few years ago.

What we know about the servicemen lost at sea | Andrew Dyer Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

The nine service members killed in a sinking amphibious transport near San Clemente Island Thursday were young men, ages 18 to 23, junior in rank and assigned to the same unit, the Marines said.

Cpl. Wesley Rodd, 23, of Harris, TX, was the oldest. Pfc. Bryan Baltierra, 18, of Corona, the youngest.

All were attached to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Baltierra had just completed his first year in the Corps, having reported to boot camp in San Diego on July 29, 2019.

On Thursday the 16 troops were returning from training on San Clemente Island, about 70 miles west of San Diego, when their 26-ton assault amphibious vehicle began taking on water. Two other AAVs also had been returning and helped with the rescue.

Read the story: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2020-08-03/9-troops-killed-in-marine-amphibious-transport-sinking-ranged-in-age-from-18-23

Latest update: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/military/story/2020-08-04/sunken-marine-amphibious-vehicle-human-remains-found-on-sea-floor-off-san-clemente-island

Contact the reporter: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sd-andrew-dyer-20180708-staff.html

Do you surf? You might be hanging out with baby sharks | Deborah Brennan Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

We’re about one week away from “Shark Week” but, as it turns out, it’s always Shark Week along the San Diego County coast.

It’s been a fact of life that these creatures live here, but now we’re starting to learn more about the lifestyles of younger sharks, who until now, may have gone unnoticed.

This research not only deepens our understanding of these animals, but also may be key in finding out ways to prevent shark attacks.

Read the story: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/story/2020-08-01/white-sharks-swim-among-us-at-san-diego-beaches

Contact the reporter: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-deborah-sullivan-brennan-staff.html

Ghost towns to piazzas I Brittany Meiling Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

Shopping malls and other retail centers badly impacted the ongoing coronavirus pandemic are taking a cue from the restaurant industry — moving operations outdoors wherever possible. Empty parking lots are being converted into drive-in movie theaters, lawns into art studios, and street corners into outdoor markets.

Get ready for an online college semester | Gary Robbins Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

Throughout the entire pandemic, there was optimism that things would go back to normal in the fall

With the fall semester weeks away for colleges and universities, it’s clear that things aren’t normal. While schools elsewhere have decided to risk in-person instruction: California hasn’t

Here’s what the fall 2020 semester will look like.

July is the pandemic's deadliest month | Paul Sisson Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

With 14 additional COVID-19-related deaths announced Tuesday, July became the deadliest month for the coronavirus pandemic in San Diego County since it started in mid-February. The news came amid fresh requests for deeper information on how local communities of color are being disproportionately affected by the disease.

According to county records, 161 of the region’s 547 total COVID-19 deaths occurred in July, 12 more than were reported in May, the previous month with the most fatalities. The median age of those who have died of the disease is 78 with the vast majority having other health problems that made them more susceptible to severe illness.

Contact the reporter here: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-paul-sisson-staff.html

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected