San Diego News Fix

The role libraries play in our communities is expanding. The San Diego Central Library in downtown will hire a social worker to help homeless patrons, who make up the majority of visitors each day. Gary Warth covers homelessness for the U-T.

Union-Tribune editor and publisher Jeff Light, director of subscriber analytics and revenue Anthony Basilio, and managing editor Lora Cicalo discuss the upcoming Labor Day “print holiday.”

This Labor Day weekend, the Barona Band of Mission Indians will hold their 50th annual powwow celebration. The three-day event is free, and will feature dances, drum performances, traditional foods and vendors. Lauren J. Mapp covers indigenous communities for the Union-Tribune.

Gina Champion-Cain has made headlines for the past three years for scandalous reasons. But for decades before that, she captured more positive media attention. She was the cover girl for downtown San Diego’s revitalization, beginning in the 1990s. She appeared on magazine covers and newspaper articles, lauded as a dealmaker, a real estate guru and a restaurateur. Champion-Caine was a business powerhouse with a big smile, long black hair and a charming personality. She seemed invincible. San Diego even named a day after her. Now she’s a convicted felon with a title no one else can claim — the architect of San Diego’s biggest Ponzi scheme.

Tuesday marked one year since the United States pulled troops from Afghanistan, ending a 20-year-war. On Monday, President Joe Biden called the leaders of two volunteer organizations who have helped Afghan allies leave the country and relocate to the U.S. One of those organizations was Afghan Evac, which was founded in San Diego by veteran and humanitarian Shawn VanDiver.

The first Monkeypox death occurred today in the United States. The person was an immunocompromised adult living in Houston, Texas. While the mortality rate for monkeypox is low, the news adds a new level of concern. Dr. Brad Perkins is the chief medical officer at Karius, and is a former CDC official.

Anne Mauler is the vice president of marketing at Soapy Joe's car washes. She's in charge of bringing in new ideas and making the experience fun. This summer she created an NFT scavenger hunt for customers. In this interview we talk about bringing creativity to your job, focusing on mindfulness, what makes San Diego such an amazing place and more.

Professor Justin Brooks, co-founder of the California Innocence Project, joins Union-Tribune public safety editor Dana Littlefield, managing editor Lora Cicalo; and editor and publisher Jeff Light to discuss the case that inspired him to start the California Innocence Project at the California Western School of Law in 1999.

California has banned the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. It's a bold move that's expected to influence other states to take similar actions. While it might be a challenging transition, supporters say it's necessary to curb greenhouse gases. Opponents worry about the cost and carmakers' ability to make the change. Rob Nikolewski covered energy at the U-T.

If you look out into the ocean from Coronado this Saturday, you might see a part of Kumeyaay heritage. Kumeyaay students, professors and community members will sail 50 traditional tule boats Saturday.

Chula Vista is closing its Harborside Park for at least 90 days. In recent years, the park has become a campsite for the homeless and reportedly attracts illegal activity.

Inflation is still up in San Diego, but not as much as it was in the first half of the year. The inflation rate for the San Diego metro area was 7.3 percent in July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. Phillip Molnar is a business reporter at the Union-Tribune.

Doug Marker is the founder of DeathRacer, a skateboarding club for older adults. Doug was a pro skater when he was younger, but he set skateboarding aside for years while he raised a family and worked. Now that he's retired, he and some buddies decided to pick it up again, and their story is an inspirational one, about community, a can-do attitude regardless of your age, and frankly, just having fun.

Alison Reid, one of the owners of DIESEL, A Bookstore; Union-Tribune managing editor Lora Cicalo; and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss why the annual San Diego Union-Tribune Festival of Books is important to the community and the book industry.

The San Diego Festival of Books is back in person and on line this weekend on Saturday, Aug. 20. Fiona Leung is the director of events and strategic sponsorships at the Union-Tribune.

Diablo Canyon Power Plant near San Luis Obispo is the last functioning nuclear power plant in California. It was slated to shut down in 2025, but Gov. Gavin Newsom is now raising the prospect of keeping it open. Rob Nikolewski covers energy at the Union-Tribune.

San Diego County wants to create a database that lists homeless people by name. The Board of Supervisors showed unanimous support for the idea on Tuesday, and will study the proposal's feasibility over the next 90 days. San Diego County is home to more than 8,500 people who are experiencing homelessness. Gary Warth reports on homeless issues at the Union-Tribune.

Mental health care workers in San Diego County are underpaid compared to their peers throughout the state, and many are feeling burnt out. That's the top line finding of a recent report by the San Diego Workforce Partnership. Paul Sisson has more.

A Mexican cartel shut down Tijuana over the weekend by setting vehicles on fire throughout Baja California. The cartel seemed to be sending a message to the Mexican government for jailing some of its members. Union-Tribune reporter Wendy Fry has been covering this story.