By Nadin Abbott
Photos by Tom Abbott

Few San Diegans today are aware of numerous free speech fights across America a century ago—or that “dwarfing them all was the San Diego episode,” according to the San Diego Journal of History’s fascinating account at http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/73winter/speech.htm. Fearing mob violence from the Industrial Workers of the World amid a growing U.S. labor movement and actions by anarchists, City leaders in 1912 outlawed public speaking in a five-square block area of then-downtown centered at Fifth and E streets. Thousands of defiant people turned out in protest of the ban and numerous arrests ensued, clogging jails and courts. Fire hoses, horsewhips and clubs were used by police; vigilantes joined police, even kidnapping a newspaper publisher as riots and deaths ensued in a conflict that lasted six months.

To this day, however, San Diego has never restored the people’s free speech rights.

Photos by Monica Zech

January 4, 2012 (El Cajon) – A homeowner escaped her burning mobile home this morning, but her chihuahua dog, Mojo, was found unconscious and near death. Thanks to dedicated efforts  by local firefighters, however, Mojo's live has been saved. 

 
January 4, 2011 (Scripps Ranch) –A man in his 40s has been transported to a hospital with fractured vertebrae following an accident on Scripps Lake Drive yesterday. 

 
January 1, 2012 (San Diego County) -- The National Weather Service has provided the following reflections on local weather highlights for the past year--which included some wet and wild times.

January 1, 2012 (Otay)—Josephina Lopez has been found safe in Mexico following an intensive search and rescue effort to find the missing woman.  Lopez, who suffers from medical problems, disappeared from the Otay area while visiting family over the holidays.  She had last been seen December 23, when she told family she was walking to a pharmacy. 

January 31, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – New Year’s celebrations around the world have begun, starting in Sydney, Australia.  Those party-loving Aussies welcomed in 2012 with an elaborate fireworks display launched from barges on the water, off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and rooftops of buildings.  The extravaganza included 11,000 shells, 25,000 shooting comets and 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects all synchronized to music.   Click to enjoy the show—and happy New Year!

For more fireworks shows around the world, scroll down to find links.

Photos and video by Jon Nevin, firefighter/paramedic, Heartland Fire & Rescue (video edited by Paul Kruze, ECM)

December 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – Patrons of a restaurant helped three women passengers, including an elderly woman in a wheelchair, escape from a burning van in downtown El Cajon today.

December 30, 2011 (Jamul) -- Yesterday's fire at Skyline Truck Trail and Lawson Valley Road has left a family's lives in ashes.

East County Performing Arts Center is among major projects at risk from the decision

December 29, 2011 (Sacramento) – Sounding a death knell for hopes to restore redevelopment funds eliminated by the Legislature to fund education, the California supreme Court today ruled that the state has the right to eliminate local redevelopment agencies. The decision has sparked criticism from local business owners and politicians on both the left and right.

December 30, 2011 (Poway) – A traffic accident caused a power outage in the Poway area briefly yesterday morning, seriously injuring the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.

Local business leaders praise decision to expand renewable energy

Opponents hope Supervisors, court will protect scenic, cultural and wildlife resources

By Miriam Raftery

December 26, 2011 (McCain Valley) – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed approval December 20 forTule Wind Project on federal lands in McCain Valley in East County. The federal lands portion approved by the Department of the Interior constitute the bulk of the project, capable of generating up to 186 megawatts (MW) of the project’s total 200 MW capacity. 

The project will need additional approvals from the County of San Diego, California Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and California State Lands Commission.  The County will hold hearings on a major use permit in the first quarter of 2012.  Planning Commissioners and ultimately, the Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the issue.