photo courtesy Alex Sachs (c) 2009 facebook and model release (c) 2023
August 31, 2023 (San Diego) -- All public San Diego County offices, family resource centers, libraries and animal shelters will be closed Monday, Sept. 4 for Labor Day.
Law enforcement, emergency animal control response, and other essential services will continue through the holiday.
County parks, campgrounds and neighborhood day-use parks remain open 365 days a year. However, the following locations will be closed:
August 30, 2023 (Santee) -- Santee’s City Council approved a series of two-year pay hikes for its unionized firefighters, and then gave all its employees, including themselves, raises for the next two years. All totaled, the salary raises approved at the August 23 Council meeting will mean the city’s amended 2023-24 budget increased by about $967,000, which will be funded from the budget’s reserves.
Photos are from the National Weather Service presentation
August 30, 2023 (San Diego)—Across Southern California, communities suffered major damage. The National Weather Service has posted a presentation with dramatic photos of the storm’s damage around the state.
August 30, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) — Medicare can now negotiate lower prices for 10 common high-price drugs, cutting out-of-pocket costs for an estimated 9 million seniors and saving taxpayers billions, the Biden administration said Tuesday.
August 29, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Over Labor Day weekend on September 2, Jacumba Hot Springs celebrates its wild sunflowers -- cheerful survivors of a challenging high desert clime - with a friendly Pop-Up Art Show, Nature Photography Exhibit and its monthly Bathhouse Bazaar.
August 29, 2023 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning for the San Diego County deserts, mountains and valleys through Wednesday, August 30, at 8 p.m.. Temperatures will reach 110 to 117 degrees in the deserts, 95 to 107 in the valleys, and 90 to 100 in the mountains.
The San Diego County Department of Emergency Services advises:
Stay inside or shaded areas. Drink lots of water.
If you feel sick from the heat, call 9-1-1.
Never leave young children or pets alone in vehicles.
August 29, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Maybe you've been waiting for it too, the rebirth of this cultural landmark in the high desert backcountry, a historic health destination for Hollywood luminaries and international visitors. After years of planning and rebuilding, Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel is open again, and the little town of Jacumba Hot Springs is breathing a sigh of relief.
August 29, 2023 (San Diego) – A SWAT team standoff last night ended in a hail of gunfire that killed a man who opened fire on police, after fatally shooting a woman and a dog, then setting fire to the home.
August 29, 2023 (Poway) -- The Poway Chamber of Commerce will host it’s annual Pre-Rodeo Mixer on Thursday, September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Pedder CDJ&R (13811 Poway Rd.), Poway.
August 29, 2023 (San Diego) - California Coast Credit Union, the longest serving financial institution based in San Diego, with over $3.5 billion in assets, has named Kellen Gill as Chief Audit and Risk Officer.
Photo: Shelter Valley Community Center Board President Steve Bassett inspects installation at Shelter Valley Community Center site.
Connected devices such as energy storage and smart thermostats centrally managed to reduce demand on the grid
August 28, 2023 (San Diego) – As extreme heat records fall across the West and strain the power grid, San Diego Gas & Electric is piloting a new cleantech innovation known as a virtual power plant (VPP) to reduce energy demand and put electricity back on the grid during peak hours – all through leveraging the capabilities of customer-owned smart thermostats, rooftop solar, energy storage and other connected resources such as water pumps.
If you find yourself craving a ceramic bird whistle, a new painting, zucchini plants or luffa sponges, you’re likely to find them at the Bathhouse Bazaar.
By Rebecca Person
August 28, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs) - High desert heat, the cold, the wind - the threat of a category 2 hurricane - the elements have not diminished interest in Jacumba’s lively backcountry street market, The Bathhouse Bazaar, now in its 3rd year.
Photo, left: Judge Tanya Chutckan, who will preside over the federal case in Washington D.C.
August 28, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – The first criminal trial against former President Donald Trump has been scheduled to begin on March 4, 2024, in the midst of the primary season, opening one day before Super Tuesday.
Trump—now the leading candidate for the GOP's 2024 presidential nomination—has pleaded not guilty to the four federal charges of election interference. He is the only named defendant in the case, which lists four unindicted coconspirators.
Browning helped Aztecs to a 20-13 win over Ohio on Saturday
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
August 28, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego State football’s Cody Moon and West Hills High School alum Jack Browning have each been named Mountain West players of the week, the league announced Monday morning. Moon was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week for the first time of his career, while Browning was chosen as the MW Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time.
Judge denies couple’s request to delay sentencing, after they claimed air travel was unsafe for Jessica Kalasho due to pregnancy
By Miriam Raftery
File photo of Ben and Jessica Kalasho at a prior hearing
August 26, 2023 (San Diego) – Former El Cajon Councilman Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho and his wife, Jessica have been found guilty on four counts each of contempt of court in a civil defamation case won by attorney Lina Charry.
They have been ordered to report to San Diego Superior Court on September 1 to being serving an eight-day jail sentence, as well as pay fines of $1,000 apiece for each count.
August 26, 2023 (El Cajon) -- PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E are trying to pull a fast one on us, and there hasn’t been nearly enough media coverage about what they’re up to. They are trying to impose a utility tax of between $400-$1,000 per year on us. This will raise electricity bills for millions of hard working Californians like myself, who are just trying to make ends meet. I’m appalled that the legislature and Governor Newsom voted in favor of this proposal.
August 26, 2023 (La Mesa) --Before this week’s GOP 'debate,' I used to give Republicans a healthy benefit of the doubt. I would listen to them and read their literature. However, when a political party's line differs from introductory science textbooks, that party is too extreme for my vote.
Last night 8 GOP Presidential candidates were asked, "If you believe in man-made climate change, raise your hand." None did. One candidate called it "a hoax."
August 26, 2023 (Sacramento) -- Seventeen financially distressed California hospitals — including three that filed for bankruptcy earlier this year — will receive close to $300 million in interest-free loans, state officials announced Thursday.
Booking photos from the Fulton County conspiracy case charging Donald Trump and allies with trying to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. Top row, from left Jeffrey Clark, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Michael Roman, Ray Smith, David Shafer, Sen. Shawn Still. Center row, from left, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, John Eastoman, Kenneth Chesebro. Bottom row from left, Robert Cheeley, Harrison Floyd, Stephen Lee, Scott Hall, Misty Hampton, Cathleen Latham, Trevian Kutti. (Georgia Recorder illustration from Fulton County Sheriff’s Office photos)
August 26, 2023 (Fulton Co., Georgia) -- At the end of a historic week at the Fulton County jailhouse, the criminal case against former President Donald Trump and his 18 allies also accused of subverting Georgia’s 2020 presidential election is just beginning.
August 26, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- San Diego County Probation officers partnered with STAR/PAL, a nonprofit youth organization at its Back-to-School event passing out 450 backpacks and supplies to help students start the school year off right.
August 26, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- The County of San Diego is asking residents ages 55 and older to share their thoughts in a comprehensive needs assessment survey.
The state survey will be used to inform future local program development or maintenance. This survey was first sent out to randomly selected residents in July and is now available to the general public. The survey will close September 4th.
August 25, 2023 (San Diego) - For week two, ECM Sports heads up to Poway Unified, where the Patriots of Patrick Henry traveled north to face the Sundevils of Mt. Carmel. The green and gold are 0-1 on the season after a bad loss to St. Augustine last week.
August 25, 2023 (San Diego) -- The Cal Coast Cares Foundation has awarded more than $160,000 in scholarships to support college-bound high school seniors, foster students and current college students in San Diego or Riverside Counties.
August 25, 2023 (Milwaukee) – Eight Republican presidential candidates squared off in a debate in Milwaukee. Donald Trump, facing indictment on 91 criminal charges in four cases, did not participate but was a topic of discussion among his opponents. The debate proved lively, with some candidates sharply differering with each other, all criticizing Democrat Joe Biden’s administration, all approving Vice President Mike Pence's action to certify votes, but only two willing to criticize Trump, the party frontrunner.
The issues ranged from abortion, which all eight candidates support restricting, to Bidenomics, climate change, crime, border security and foreign policy. Clear policy differences emerged--as well as some strong clashes among contenders.
Fox news anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum posed questions to the candidates shown in the photo, top left to lower right: North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Former United Nations Ambassador and ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and U.S.Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina.
Our coverage includes positions of Trump, despite his absence, and the record and stances of the Biden administration as well to provide the range of options for voters.
SAN DIEGO, CA, August 24, 2023 – San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister is reminding San Diegans to go online now to find out if they are owed part of $543,171 in unclaimed money before it is rolled into the County General Fund. Deadline to file claim is September 21, 2023
August 24, 2023 (San Diego) - It’s been one year and counting since hopeful chefs looking for a way to start a business in their homes found one through the County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) program.
August 23, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – On Tuesday, the Biden launched an application for a new student loan repayment plan called the SAVE Plan, or Saving on a Valuable Education Plan. Borrowers can sign up and learn details at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan .
This is a revised plan after an earlier effort to forgive student loans was blocked by the Supreme Court, though Republicans have also filed a challenge to the new plan.
The new SAVE plan calculates repayment based on the borrower’s income family size. According to the White House fact sheet, it will cut many borrowers’ monthly payments to zero, save others around $1,000 a year, and prevent balances from growing because of unpaid interest.
August 24, 2023 (San Diego) -- This August celebrates National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you are looking for an excuse to make a change, start this month in support of National Wellness Month.
August 24, 2023 (San Diego) – Summer heat can interfere with our power supply in many ways. Hot weather can drive up energy demands, often to power air conditioners, which can overload your electrical grid.
August 18, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Approximately 50 people were in attendance earlier this month at the Lemon Grove Library to hear what Mayor Raquel Vasquez, the city council and staff has accomplished this past year and what is planned moving forward for Lemon Grove.
this year Labor Day falls on Monday, Sept. 4
By Mike Allen
By Miriam Raftery
By Rebecca Person
August 29, 2023 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning for the San Diego County deserts, mountains and valleys through Wednesday, August 30, at 8 p.m.. Temperatures will reach 110 to 117 degrees in the deserts, 95 to 107 in the valleys, and 90 to 100 in the mountains.
By Rebecca Person
Source: California Coast Credit Union
Source: SDG&E
If you find yourself craving a ceramic bird whistle, a new painting, zucchini plants or luffa sponges, you’re likely to find them at the Bathhouse Bazaar.
Browning helped Aztecs to a 20-13 win over Ohio on Saturday
By Miriam Raftery
By Cheri Ippolito, El Cajon
View United Nations 2023 video on climate change: 
BY: 
By 
By 
Story and photos by Liz Alper
San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister is reminding San Diegans to 
This August celebrates National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you are looking for an excuse to make a change, start this month in support of National Wellness Month.
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
Approximately 50 people were in attendance earlier this month at the Lemon Grove Library to hear what Mayor Raquel Vasquez, the city council and staff has accomplished this past year and what is planned moving forward for Lemon Grove.
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