San Diego County Posts 8.6% January Unemployment Rate

The numbers continue to be grim in the job market for San Diego, as the county's unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in January, an increase from a revised 7.5 percent rate in December and above the year-ago estimate of 5.1 percent, previously noted by the California Employment Development Department.

Trade, transportation and utilities marked the largest decline — 8,400 jobs — while retail lost 6,200, mostly in general-merchandise and clothing stores.

The hospitality sector did away with nearly 5,000 jobs, 91 percent of which were in restaurants and bars. Professional and business services removed 4,500 positions.

Trust Fund in Works for Survivor of Jet Crash

A trust fund is being set up to assist the husband who lost his wife, two daughters and mother-in-law in Mondays's deadly fighter plane crash in San Diego.

Dong Yoon, who was at work at the time of the horrific accident, was the only member of the family to survive, as the fighter jet plowed into the family home and another home.

The pilot, who ejected and survived the crash, was attempting the land the plane at the nearby Miramar air base after he lost both engines on the F/A-18D Hornet. The plane had taken off from the USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of San Diego during a training mission.

A trust fund is in the process of being established for Dong Yoon, however, until then, donations can be made out and sent to:

Dong Yoon c/o Korean United Methodist Church 3520 Mt. Acadia Blvd. San Diego, CA 92111

See related story at: gocalifornia.blogspot.com/2008/12/update-search-on-for-4th-victim-of.html

UPDATE: Search on for 4th Victim of Plane Crash

Editor's note: Authorities confirmed this afternoon that a fourth body, that of a baby girl, was discovered in the debris of one of the homes destroyed by the plane crash and fire.

Authorities in San Diego continued this morning searching for the fourth victim of yesterday's deadly F/A-18D plane crash in the city's University City section.

At approximately noon yesterday, a distressed fighter plane that had taken off from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln crashed onto a street in the UC community after the pilot reported engine problems. The pilot safely ejected from the plane shortly before it went down.

Three bodies were found in one home, while a second home was apparently empty when it was destroyed by the crash and ensuing fire. The plane crash-landed on a street and plowed into the two homes, setting off a massive fire. Six other homes suffered damages from the crash and fire.

The deceased victims in the home were identified as a 36-year-old Korean woman, her daughter, and the child's grandmother. The fourth victim, a baby girl, had not been found as of this morning.

View home video at: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Home_Video_from_the_Crash_Site_San_Diego.html

UPDATE: 2 Dead in Fighter Plane Crash

Two people were confirmed dead Monday afternoon following the crash of an F-18 fighter plane into a San Diego residential neighborhood.

See related story below for more information.

UPDATE: F-18 Crashes in San Diego Neighborhood

An F-18 fighter plane based out of San Diego's Miramar Air Base crashed shortly before noon into a residential neighborhood in San Diego's University City.

According to reports, the pilot ejected safely from the aircraft prior to impact. At least two houses were set on fire by the crash, but as of 1 p.m. there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries to the pilot or those on the ground.

The plane was a two-seat F/A-18 Hornet, from the 3rd Marine Air Wing's training squadron, which was returning from a training mission when it went down.

Backers to Ban Booze on SD Beaches Rally

With Election Day just around the corner, supporters of Proposition D in San Diego rallied in Pacific Beach on Saturday to get their point across - no booze on the beaches.

Local residents, politicians and safety personnel spoke to the crowd, who are hoping to pass Prop D on Tuesday.

According to a member of the Police Officers Association, alcohol-related incidents are down nearly 20 percent since the temporary ban was enacted at the start of the year.

A few who say no to Prop D also turned out, claiming that banning booze on the beaches makes
providing alcohol at weddings, reunions and other festivities difficult in requiring special fees and fencing.

For further information on Prop D, visit: www.smartvoter.org/2008/11/04/ca/sd/prop/D/

Teen with History of Suicide Attempts Goes Missing

The search is on in San Diego for 16-year-old Christian Harned, who has been missing since Thursday morning after not showing up for class at Helix High School.

According to authorities, Harned is bipolar and has a history of suicide attempts.

Harned is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 114 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown/blue plaid flannel shirt, jeans and sneakers.

Anyone with information on Harned is asked to call police at (619)-531-2277 or (619)-531-2000.

AIG Sub to Pay San Diego $1.625M to Settle Claim

Lexington Insurance Co., a subsidiary of AIG, will pay the City of San Diego $ 1.625 million to settle a claim brought by the city to recoup lost revenues from a Chargers game that was canceled as a result of the 2003 wildfires.

According to the city attorney's office, San Diego officials determined the Oct. 27, 2003, Monday Night Football game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins could not be played at Qualcomm Stadium because of ash and smoke, so the game was moved to Tempe, Arizona, which at the time was home to the Arizona Cardinals. As a result, the city lost out on about $500,000 from its cut of stadium sales, taxes and other revenues.

Following the fires, city officials filed a claim with Lexington Insurance Co. in an effort to recover some of the money. The claim was intially denied, so city officials sued the insurer in 2006 in an effort to recover the money.

Lexington Insurance recently said it would pay the city $1.625 million to close the lawsuit.

Walkway Collapse Injures 16 in San Diego

A walkway collapse in San Diego Thursday injured 16 people, three critically.

The covered wooden walkway fell on pedestrians at an East Village construction site during lunch hour, critically injuring two middle-aged women and a middle-aged man. The block-long pathway was constructed next to a three-story apartment building under construction at 15th Street and Imperial Avenue in downtown San Diego. The walkway was designed to protect pedestrians from debris dropping from the construction site.

Investigators with the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on the scene and reported the cause of the accident was under investigation.

The general contractor for the project is Allgire General Contractors. According to state records, Allgire has had at least a pair of accidents in recent years, including one which resulted in a $16,000 fine and citation for a serious violation of state safety law.

Shooting Leaves Teen Dead, Woman Wounded

A San Diego shooting has left an 18-year-old man dead and a woman injured.

According to authorities, the shooting took place early Saturday morning in a Descanso home. Police say that the woman's estranged husband opened fire on what he said were burglars in the house. The two shotgun blasts resulted in family tragedy.

Gary Sanner of Oak Grove Drive in Descanso reportedly contacted 911 about 2 a.m. and reported someone was breaking into his house. Only minutes later, a dispatcher heard gunshots.
After reportedly calling 911, Sanner allegedly fired a shotgun in the direction of a window where he heard a noise. He then fired a second time at another window, where a person was reportedly shining a flashlight.

Joseph Eric Burton Jr. died from a gunshot wound outside a rear window of Sanner's house. Sanner's estranged wife, Jennifer Sanner, reportedly left messages on his telephone a day earlier, requesting property from the house, as the two were in the process of a divorce. Sanner's wife filed for divorce back in April.

Jennifer Sanner was wounded in the shooting, but her injuries were reportedly not life-threatening.

The two were reportedly among five people who went to the home. Among those also reportedly there was Jennifer Sanner's boyfriend, Joseph Burton. He is the father of the young man who was killed.

San Diego Post Office Fire Deemed an Arson

Authorities say a fire to a post office in San Diego's Hillcrest section was an arson.

The fire at the Cleveland Avenue facility began late Sunday evening and took firefighters about a half an hour to extinguish.

The initial report puts damages to the building at around $10,000.

San Diego Area Deputy Tries to Kill Himself

Authorities in San Diego report that a local deputy charged with sexually assaulting a prostitute earlier this year in Mission Valley has tried to take his own life.

Thomas Sadler, 47, was arrested this past Thursday on a host of felony charges for his alleged conduct on Feb. 6 with a prostitute.

He reportedly picked the woman up and took her to a location where he forcibly touched her breasts and genitals. Several people witnessed the alleged action and the woman later came forward to provide police with a license plate description of Sadler's unmarked police vehicle. The woman and two witnesses later pointed out Sadler in a photo lineup.

Police did not describe how Sadler reportedly attempted suicide, only that it was on Friday and that he was recovering in a local hospital.

Sadler is slated to be arraigned on the charges on Aug. 7.

San Diego Deputy Charged in Prostitute Assault

Authorities have arrested and charged a San Diego County sheriff's deputy with sexual battery under the color of authority and false imprisonment charges related to a February incident involving a prostitute.

Thomas J. Sadler, 47, was arrested without incident Thursday afternoon at his Santee home.

Sadler, who has been a member of the department for 20 years, reportedly was on duty and driving his assigned, unmarked vehicle, last February when he pulled up alongside a prostitute who was sitting on a bus bench on El Cajon Boulevard. He reportedly ordered the woman to get into his car and the two drove to Camino Del Rio South in Mission Valley, near the intersection of Interstates 8 and 805, and parked. Police allege that he then fondled the woman's genitals and breasts.

Three witnesses reportedly viewed the incident and made a 911 call to report a kidnapping was taking place.

The woman later called police that she spotted the deputy and took down his plate number. When police went to question Sadler, who has not yet been arraigned, he reportedly refused to cooperate.

Sadler was later identified by the woman and two others in a photo lineup.

Binge Drinking Factors Into San Diego Rapes

Police in San Diego are looking into what they say isan increased number of rapes involving young women who take part in binge drinking and leave themselves vulnerable to men.

While others crimes in the city have decreased, police say attacks on women who have had too much to drink is one element as to why rapes have increased.

The number of rapes increased by 38 percent during the first six months of 2008 in comparison with the same period last year, from 129 to 178, according to recent crime statistics.

Women also apparently know their attacker in many cases. Stranger rapes are reportedly less than 10 percent of the attacks against women.

EDITOR'S TAKE: Need facts in Hirschfield Shooting

The shooting death last week of Steven Paul Hirschfield, 37, by San Diego Harbor Police was tragic. But before we start targeting the two officers for the shooting, how about we wait until all the facts come in?

Hirschfield was reportedly dancing on a chartered cruise ship during Gay Pride Day in San Diego last Saturday when he fell into the water. He was reportedly pulled out of the water by San Diego Harbor Police.

According to the police, a struggle between Hirschfield and one of the officers ensued. Hirschfield allegedly hit the officer in the face with his stun gun, before being shot to death by the other officer on the boat.

At a recent news conference, Hirschfield's attorney, Brian Claypool, claimed the police's version of what happened is "preposterous." Claypool said it does not fit with what kind of person Hirschfield was. Claypool even went as far as to question whether the officer's views on gay men impacted what happened on the police boat. Hirschfield's parents reportedly did not say whether or not their son was gay.

Here is where we have some issues with this case.

1. The attorney is saying police may have had a bias against gay men. 2. Hirschfield was performing on a boat whose passengers were primarily gay men. 3. Hirschfield's parents would not comment on whether or not their son was gay.

Assuming Hirschfield was gay, that's not a problem. There are a couple of problems, however.

Hirschfield's attorney is throwing some gasoline on the fire by saying the officers involved may have had a bias against gays. His parents also do not want to admit that their son was likely gay.

If he was gay, why not just admit it? And until you have clear proof that the two officers involved had a bias against gays, don't stroke the fire by claiming they may have. It is not only dangerous, it is unprofessional.

It is highly unlikely that two police officers would risk their careers and the safety of others and shoot a man out of the blue. Let the facts come in and then we'll judge the two officers involved. Judging them in the court of public opinion is unfair and more importantly, dangerous.

Illegals Discovered in Tank Truck Smuggling

Authorities reported that approximately 50 people were rounded up and taken into custody after agents working the border between San Diego and Mexico found illegal immigrants hiding out inside the tank of a stolen water truck.

Border patrol agents discovered the illegals on Friday after the truck was stopped in a location known as Smuggler's Gulch.

The truck's driver was arrested after trying to escape the area.

San Diego Half Marathon Registration Closed

Registration for the 31st Annual AFC Half Marathon in San Diego has officially closed.

The 5K event, however, is still taking applicants. There are only 10 exclusive registrations offered only to athletes who commit to raise at least $1,000 for the Habitat for Humanity San Diego.

The Half Marathon and 5K take place on Sunday, Aug. 17 in America's Finest City. The Half Marathon starts at historic Cabrillo National Monument, with its majestic view of both San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, follows scenic San Diego Bay and Harbor Island along the Embarcadero to The Star of India, winds through downtown San Diego, and ends in Balboa Park. The race starts at 7 a.m. The 5K Run/Walk will kick off at 6:45 a.m.

All participants will receive a special technical fabric t-shirt. There is a two-day AFC Fitness Expo at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive (Fri, Aug. 15 - noon to 7 p.m. & Sat, Aug. 16 -10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). T-shirts are available for pickup after the race in Balboa Park.

For further information, visit www.afchalf.com.

Comic-Con International Kicks off Thursday

Comic-Con International will kick off tomorrow at the San Diego Convention Center and you had better have a ticket to get in. The four-day event sold out recently.

A handful of comic book enthusiasts will get a sneak peek Wednesday night at the Comic-Con International Convention before tomorrow's official opening The preview night festivities include a screening of the new television series “Fringe.” that is set to air this September on FOX.

Comic-Con is advertised as the largest gathering of its kind, hosting thousands of animation, science fiction and pop-culture enthusiasts from around the country to America's Finest City.

The convention features celebrity appearances, many exhibits, seminars, art shows, gaming, autograph-signing sessions, film screenings, a masquerade party and more. Hollywood celebs like Mark Wahlberg, Keanu Reeves, Kiefer Sutherland and Jennifer Connelly are expected to attend.

For further information, visit www.comic-con.org .

PETA Goes Fishing for Support in San Diego

Now this is no fish story.

Members of PETA showed up in downtown San Diego today wearing just about nothing. Their reason for the lack of clothing? To protest commercial fishing and those who consume fish.

The members 'dressed' in silver body paint to appear like sparkling creatures from the sea. The protestors then threw a net over themselves and lay on the ground with a sign next to them reading "Scale Back Cruelty: Stop Fishing".

Editor's Take: We suggest maybe another type of net should have been placed over them. You know, the kind they put over crazy people.... We're all for treating animals with as much kindness, etc. as possible. However, at the end of the day, everyone has a right to a piece of fish or a nice, juicy slab of steak. And if you are in a real party mood, we say order some fish as appetizers before you down that steak. Eat on friends!

RelocateAgain.com Launches in San Diego

RelocateAgain.com is finally launched in San Diego.

"We are the only Web site that connects movers with all of the professionals that they will need on one convenient site," said Melanie Glover. "Our goal is to launch all major Military cities by year end. We understand how difficult moving to a new location can be and we wish to simplify that for everyone. Our site will also be a tool used for even after the move. We are currently offering a half price offer to all businesses to sign up during the launch. So please check out our site today and be a part of the fastest growing Web site designed for moving families in mind."

For further information on the company, visit www.relocateagain.com .