Al-Shabaab cases takes a turn

Four Somali men hope testimony collected in East Africa will prove they didn’t send money to a terrorist group

At the end of October, defense attorneys representing four Somali men in Southern California will travel to the Horn of Africa to depose witnesses whose testimony could poke holes in terrorism charges leveled against their clients.

{after 1st article on article listing}

Wednesday, September 19,2012
Shenanigans

Shenanigans: The procurement is right

Guess the winning bids on these county of San Diego contracts

By Dave Maass

San Diego County contract bids on a rowing machine, a 2012 Ford F250, 60,336 inmate hygiene kits, and 500 wood sign posts.

Wednesday, September 12,2012
News

Bill Horn pulls questionable grant to religious group

Money would’ve helped add to pro-life ‘fleet’ of ultrasound-equipped RVs

By Kelly Davis, Dave Maass

In June, the Pregnancy Resource Center of Vista (PRC) put a plea on its fundraising website for $120,000 to replace its “mobile clinic”—an RV out of which the organization offers pregnancy testing, ultrasound services and pregnancy counseling.

Wednesday, September 12,2012
News

Reporters challenge SDPD credentials process

436 people have press badges, but not all of them meet the definitions

By Dave Maass

As of Sept. 15, 436 individuals held media credentials issued by the San Diego Police Department. But some members of the media say SDPD isn’t liberal enough and allege the credentialing process is not managed fairly or evenly.

Wednesday, September 12,2012
Shenanigans

Shenanigans: Food-stamped out

What items would you eat with $4.90 a day to spend on food?

By Dave Maass

Based on the average 34.30/week budget provided by CalFresh (California's food-stamps program), how would you spend your benefits?

Monday, September 10,2012
No Life Offline

Election apps face-off

Politics are personal, but so is my iPhone

By Dave Maass

Technological singularity? Don’t get me started. Bring up the acceleration of technology, the near omnipresence of mobile devices, the integration of net-speak into ordinary conversation, and I’ll instantly develop what my girlfriend calls my “crystal face.”

Wednesday, September 5,2012
Shenanigans

Shenanigans: Club crawl

How many San Diego DJs can you find in this mix?

By Dave Maass, Peter Holslin

A word search to find San Diego's club DJs.

Wednesday, September 5,2012
Arts & Culture Features

J. Michael Straczynski’s origin story

As the creator of ‘Babylon 5’ expands his empire, he looks to his roots in San Diego and Chula Vista

At 57, Straczynski is a figure for whom the nerd classes are already polishing a boulder on the Mount Rushmore of science-fiction history, somewhere near Gene Roddenberry and Rod Serling.

Wednesday, August 29,2012
News

Sheriff investigates sexual contact at juvenile hall

Email reveals abuse allegations and pepper-spray problems

By Dave Maass

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is investigating allegations that a staff member at a juvenile-hall facility touched a minor in a sexually inappropriate manner.

Wednesday, August 29,2012
News

Major changes to jail mail

First the postcard-only policy; next the sheriff may charge for emails

By Dave Maass

The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties has expressed concern about the Sheriff’s Department’s new rule limiting incoming mail at jails to postcards only.