By Jeremy Los

March 12, 2011 (San Diego) -- The massive 9.1 earthquake-fourth worst in recorded history--and subsequent tsunami in Japan Friday has left the world reeling. More than 1,300  are dead, Modern Tokyo Times reports, and 88,000 missing according to Business News. Today, 150,000 have been evacuated due to emergencies at nuclear reactors.  

U.S. Forces Japan reports all service personnel are safe

Dog Licenses, Microchips, Rabies Vaccinations and Free Gifts at Sunday Event

Pet owners are encouraged to have their animals microchipped, vaccinated and licensed this Sunday, March 13 from 12-2 p.m. at the County Department of Animal Service’s San Diego shelter, 5480 Gaines Street. Pet owners who take advantage of the services will receive a variety of free pet gifts.

“Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early and give your pets a lucky charm by having them microchipped,” said Dawn Danielson, Director of County Animal Services. “The chance of a lost pet being reunited with an owner is increased if the pet is microchipped.”

March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police Officer Anthony Arevalos has been arrested by the department’s sex crimes unit for sexual battery, false imprisonment and assault under the color of authority, San Diego Police announced today.

According to police, Arevelos stopped a female motorist, 32, as she was driving out of downtown after Tuesday night’s Mardi Gras revelry. She was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and the officer is accused of sexually battering the woman during the traffic stop.

March 11, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – The Senate has passed S.388, a bill coauthored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA). The bill would prohibit Congress or the President from getting paid in case of a federal shutdown by the federal government.

“I am hopeful that this bill will help convince our colleagues to work together to prevent a government shutdown, and I urge the House of Representatives to quickly pass it and send it to the President,” said Senator Boxer.

By Brian Lafferty

March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – There is a moment towards the end of The Last Lions when I experienced an emotion called elevation. The term may be unfamiliar to most readers but the feeling isn’t. If you get tears in your eyes, a lump or tightness in your throat, and you feel uplifted, that’s what elevation is. Cocoon and Harry & Tonto are the few movies to have such power over me.

March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – Southern California beaches are closing this morning as a precaution following a powerful 8.9 earthquake that rocked Japan last night, killing hundreds from the temblor and a tsunami that subsequently struck Japan.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Ron Logan, Miriam Raftery, and Merton Gaudette

March 10, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Candy Jenkins was looking forward to seeing environmental evidence presented to a federal judge in San Diego on Monday. “I live on El Capitan Mountain,” said the Lakeside resident, who  alleges that SDG&E is building Sunrise Powerlink towers only 2,000 feet from an eagles’ nest. She has photos, and says the eagles are tagged and the locations documented by the County. “Towers weren’t supposed to be within 4,000 feet,” she said. “We’re bringing this out today in court.”

Told by this reporter that the hearing had been cancelled because Judge Michael Anello announced that he will be ruling on the written record only, Jenkins expressed shock. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “Whatever happened to democracy in America?”

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Daren Sefcik

March 9, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- You just never know what you might encounter on the trails in East County!  Photographer Daren Sefcek headed out to the Anza-Borrego Desert to take photos of wildflowers in bloom--and captured a close-up of this yellow-backed spiny lizard on the trail. 

March 9, 2011 (Anza-Borrego) -- The rains have come and gone, leaving fresh air and sunshine to blanket the majesty of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Anza-Borrego Desert Park Foundation invites you to spring into action with activities to fulfill your sense of wonder and appreciation for the park.

March 10, 2011 (Alpine) – A gardener working behind Alpine Pizza and Pasta in the vicinity of Alpine Blvd. and Arnold Way yesterday shortly before 10 a.m. was attacked by an "aggressive" swarm of bees and stung repeatedly on the head and neck, Alpine Fire Chief Bill Paskle reports.

March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside Fire Department responded to a reported multi-family residential structure fire at 8810 Winter Gardens Blvd at 38 minutes past midnight. Units from El Cajon and Santee also responded, along with medics. Heartland Fire Dispatch reported to the responding units en route that the fire was located in the storage units in front of the Mountain View apartments.

March 10, 2011 (San Diego) - Steve Fisher, San Diego State men’s basketball head coach, has earned Mountain West Conference co-coach-of-the-year accolades, the league announced Monday.  Fisher, in his 12th season at SDSU and 20th overall, garners his first-ever conference coach-of-the-year award and shares it with Brigham Young’s Dave Rose. 

Fisher led the Aztecs to a share of the Mountain West regular-season title with a record of 14-2. He was previously named national coach of the year in 1992.

By Mike Copass

March 10, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) --On a serious-meets-funny note, Rep Duncan Hunter Jr's (R- El Cajon) newly-submitted "Life at Conception" bill, HR 374, would grant citizenship rights to pre-born human beings -- that is, from moment of conception, rather than at birth.

March 9, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego-based Sempra Generation’s Copper Mountain Solar project, currently the largest photovoltaic solar plant in the U.S., has been awarded “Solar Project of the Year” by Renewable Energy World as part of the 2011 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards.