u/Choobeen

Federal charges were announced Monday (8.17.2026) against six people with suspected ties to an El Cajon gang accused of engaging in violent crimes and trafficking drugs and firearms. A grand jury indictment alleges members and associates of the gang, which mainly operated out of the Terraza Hills Apartments in El Cajon, took part in violent acts that include the assault and robbery of someone they believed cooperated with law enforcement, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The report was submitted July 31 by HSR Inspector General Benjamin Belnap to Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate Pro Tem Monique Limón and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. It is based on the IG’s analysis of the authority’s final 2026 Business Plan, which provides updates, expected milestones, and other details around the rail project.

Voters originally approved $9 billion in bonds for the project under Prop 1A in 2008. At the time plans called for high-speed rail connections from Los Angeles to San Francisco, with an estimated cost at the time of $45 billion.

But over a decade later, and with billions of dollars already spent, the first stretch of track in the Central Valley still remains unfinished.

In his July letter, Belnap wrote that the inspector general’s office previously reviewed a draft of the High-Speed Rail Authority’s final plan in April. It concluded that the draft “was missing many statutorily required elements, which made the draft objectively incomplete.”

Among its findings, the report said the High-Speed Rail Authority’s plan “does not sufficiently emphasize” that it will exhaust its current funding as soon as December 2027 “if it does not secure funding.”

Reported by KPBS on August 18, 2026

Links to check:

https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OIG-HSR-Review-of-2026-Business-Plan-A11Y.pdf

https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-Final-Business-Plan-060126-A11Y.pdf

Hello, I’m in a local San Diego band. We need a bus to shoot a few short scenes. We wouldn’t ask to drive it and would love to compensate whoever for their time. It can be any kind of bus. If anyone knows where to find one, comment or dm!

Vehicle thefts fell across most San Diego neighborhoods in 2025, according to data obtained by Times of San Diego.

San Diego recorded 3,390 motor vehicle thefts in 2025, down from 4,172 in 2024, a nearly 19% year-over-year drop. Eighty-one of the city’s 122 neighborhoods reported fewer vehicle thefts than in 2024, while eight saw no change.

San Ysidro recorded the largest decrease, while Pacific Beach posted the biggest increase.

In San Ysidro reported vehicle thefts fell from 229 in 2024 to 102 in 2025, a decline of 127.

Other neighborhoods also saw major drops.

In Mission Valley West, police received 46 fewer reports. In Otay Mesa West, the number dropped by 40, followed by Kearny Mesa (35 fewer), Bay Terraces (34), University Heights (29) and North Park (27).

Pacific Beach reported the highest year-over-year increase, with 173 stolen vehicles reported in 2025, an increase of 34 from the year before.

Other neighborhoods with notable increases included Mission Hills, up 13 thefts; Midway District and Mission Bay Park, each up 12; Emerald Hills, up 11; and Talmadge, up eight.

So, which street did car thieves target the most?

Siempre Viva in South San Diego had the most reports with 124. Otay Pacific had the second highest with 43, only one higher than Admiral Boland Way — which is where rental cars are parked.

Jeep Wranglers remain San Diego’s most-stolen vehicle

For the third year straight, Jeep Wranglers remain the top stolen vehicle in San Diego — but Honda Civics are in a virtual tie.

San Diego police received 173 reports of stolen Jeep Wranglers in 2025, just one more than Honda Civics.

San Diego Police encourage owners to make sure to lock their vehicles, regardless where it is parked, avoid leaving spare keys or titles inside, and to consider installing a GPS tracker or a kill switch to deter thieves.

August 17, 2026, report by Dorian Hargrove

NEW YORK -- All season long, the Padres have been aggressive on the bases. It’s their organizational philosophy. It has been from Day 1. Sometimes, the extra pressure causes havoc and creates runs. And sometimes … you get Monday night.

Article by AJ Cassavell -- Related:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/08/17/padres-cant-quite-get-home-in-loss-to-mets

A salmonella outbreak stemming from a delicatessen in Ramona extends beyond the one store, county public health officials announced Monday, with local egg supplier Happy Hens linked to the outbreak.

Investigators believe the outbreak was initially connected to mayonnaise made with raw, unpasteurized eggs at Ramona Family Naturals Market. The market's owner has been working with the county's Environmental Health and Public Health Services. It has stopped using raw, unpasteurized eggs in all the deli's food products.

Even so, the salmonella outbreak now totals 21 cases, including seven hospitalizations, up from 13 cases and four hospitalizations when first reported on July 28.

San Diego County's Department of Environmental Health and Quality has reached out to retail food facilities that may have received eggs from Happy Hens with reminders about proper egg storage, grading requirements and resales, a statement from the county read.

Raw eggs carry a risk of salmonella, but this strain is not related to the salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs in the Midwest.

August 17, 2026

Boos rang out at Pechanga Arena in Point Loma on Sunday as residents confronted the Midway Rising development team over a proposed 4,200-apartment, 16,000-seat arena project that has already survived two court defeats and is now leaning on a contested state bill to move forward.

August 15, 2026

This was news from March 2026:

U.S. Women’s National Team forward Catarina Macario is joining the San Diego Wave, the club announced. ESPN reported that the contract, which runs through 2030, is worth roughly $8 million total. That would be the largest contract in the world for a women’s soccer player and marks the second known use of the NWSL’s new High-Impact Player Rule. The first was Trinity Rodman, who signed a three-year extension with the Washington Spirit.

Since joining Chelsea in 2023, Macario has played 27 matches for the English side and scored seven goals. She played the two previous seasons with Lyon of Division 1 Féminine in France. She won three domestic league titles between the two clubs.  Although Macario has played her entire professional career overseas, she did play youth soccer in the San Diego area after moving from Brazil in 2011. She became a citizen in 2020 and won two NCAA championships at Stanford University.

There is currently no CA legislative effort specifically aimed at banning betting on natural disasters at the state level. The latest push is focused on federal regulation of prediction markets and the types of events on which they can offer wagers.

Reported on August 14, 2026

The American Philosophical Society bestowed Mark Thiemens with the Magellanic Premium, an honor that has only been given out 43 times in 240 years. It is awarded to researchers who fundamentally shift what scientists know about the natural world.

Thiemens’ most notable discovery is mass independent isotope fractionation (MIF). The technique helped measure oxygen isotopes in meteorites. The discovery in turn shifted what scientists originally assumed about the earth’s origin.

His work continues to provide understanding of how the earth’s climate is changing. Thiemens plans on using isotopes to investigate how the ice is melting in the Himalayas, which could impact global drinking water supplies.

Prize description:

Mark Thiemens - for the discovery of mass-independent isotope effects and the identification of quantum-mechanical symmetry as their underlying mechanism, yielding fundamental insights into planetary evolution and novel tools for tracing modern global pollutants.

https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2026/08/11/ucsd-researcher-wins-americas-oldest-science-prize

Reported in August 2026

"One of Us" is San Diego’s first women’s sports bar and one of several popping up across the United States as the women’s sports industry experiences tremendous growth. (August 2026)

https://www.oneofusbar.com

3085 University Ave

San Diego, CA 92104

Walter is not selling his hockey stake in the deal at this point, but players and fans are watching closely.

August 2026

Among the samples is a Jetson Orin microcomputer manufactured by Nvidia, officials said. That component was reportedly recovered from the wreckage of Russia's newer S-71M Monochrome cruise missile. The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, known as HUR, also presented an inertial module containing parts manufactured by the US firm Texas Instruments and Japan's TDK Corporation, among others. Despite the export restrictions, investigations show Russia continues obtaining Western components through transshipment networks.

August 2026

🚨Test Your Aztecs FB Knowledge!
Our 1st SDSU Football Trivia Quiz in preparation for Saturday's Scrimmage is here!

Take the 10-question practice quiz now and get in game-shape for our Weekly season trivia.

Season leader wins custom SoM merch!

The Bolts wrapped up their first action of 2026 with a 27-7 preseason victory in Houston.

August 14, 2026 -- Other reports:

https://boltbeat.com/3-risers-and-3-fallers-from-the-opening-night-chargers-preseason-win-vs-texans

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7512748/2026/08/14/chargers-texans-nfl-takeaways-dj-uiagalelei-trey-lance