San Diego, CA
If you weren’t selected for the CDC’s Tijuana River sewage survey, here’s another one you can take
Late last week, local and federal public health officials interviewed households near the Tijuana River Valley about how the crossborder sewage crisis may be impacting their health. For those who did not receive a visit, there’s a new opportunity to share feedback.
On Monday, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), in collaboration with San Diego County, launched an Assessment of Chemical Exposure, or ACE, an online survey aiming to identify how many people have been exposed to contaminants related to untreated wastewater and toxic chemicals in the Tijuana River Valley, symptoms they may be experiencing and what immediate support they may need.
“This community deserves better,” Ankita Kadakia, county interim public health officer, said in a statement. “By bringing in this federal agency to help us conduct an ACE survey, individuals who live or work near the water have a chance to voice their concerns, their experiences, and the impacts to their physical and mental health.”
According to the federal agency’s website, an ACE can include interviewing people about their exposure and medical history, symptoms experienced, the health services they’ve received, and even if their pets’ health has been affected. Hospital staff and incident responders are also contacted to learn more details about who has been exposed and what’s been done to protect people.
The information collected can help local health departments identify a group of exposed people that could be followed for long-term effects, find ways to prevent further exposure, decide whether to modify emergency response procedures or take other measures to protect the public.
The ACE in South County follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), which officials conducted in person from Oct. 17-19. County officials said there are noticeable differences between the two surveys, however.
With the CASPER, surveyors visited 210 randomly selected households closest to the Tijuana River Valley to document how sewage pollution may be affecting their health. ACE is meant to capture more individuals who live, work or frequent beaches in Imperial Beach and Coronado and around the Tijuana River Valley, than the household survey. County officials said some crossover is possible.
Officials said they want to hear from people who have done anything like surfing, shopping, fishing or walking near those areas in the last month.
Tom Csanadi, an Imperial Beach resident and retired pediatrician who lives on the city’s beach, said he has a lot to say about how the crossborder sewage crisis has impacted his household. But he was not part of the 210 surveyed last week. So, he plans to take the ACE survey.
“As a resident living very close to the water, close to where a great volume of raw human sewage pours onto our shores and soil, it’s impossible to believe that there are no harmful effects to people who live and visit this area,” he said. “And so, in situations like this, you have to cast a wide broad net.”
Residents have reported experiencing symptoms such as chronic coughs, watery eyes, headaches, nausea and diarrhea after being regularly exposed to strong odors emanating from the Tijuana River or after heavy rains that bring more polluted flows across the U.S.-Mexico border and sometimes spill onto local roads. Local university researchers have also discovered that bacteria from raw sewage in the waters of Imperial Beach and the river have become airborne.
The sewage crisis is primarily caused by outdated and underfunded treatment infrastructure that has been unable to clean the volume of wastewater produced by Tijuana’s growing population. In the last year, more than 30 billion gallons of polluted flow and trash have made their way into South County via the river and Pacific Ocean.
Over the past months, the local public health department has been working with the state and CDC to dig deeper into potential health impacts of the sewage crisis that have not shown up in reportable county health data. Besides securing the CASPER with the CDC, the county had also inquired with the ATSDR to conduct an ACE.
ACE will be open through Nov. 22. To take the survey, available in English and Spanish, visit redcap.link/tjrv2024.
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
San Diego, CA
SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.
The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.
The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.
Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.
The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.
Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.
Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.
“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.
The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.
Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.
“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.
Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.
Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.
Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.
“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”
Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.
“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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