LA JOLLA – Cindy McCain is all paid up. McCain, wife of presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, oversees the trust that owns a La Jolla condo occupied by her elderly aunt. Until several days ago, the property taxes hadn't been paid for four years. On Monday, the remainder of the $8,486 bill was settled.
CORONADO – Kite surfing is creating conflicts with other beach activities, and the potential for problems has prompted new kite-surfing rules that took effect Tuesday for a six-month trial at Silver Strand State Beach. The rules require kite surfers to launch and land in a newly designated kite-surfing zone, a 133-yard-wide stretch of beach near Silver Strand's main entrance off state Highway 75. The regulations are believed to be the first issued by any agency in San Diego County.
SAN DIEGO – The reward for information about the January death in San Diego of Orange County resident Dane Chandler Williams doubled Tuesday to $20,000 for information that leads to a felony arrest. San Diego County Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000, Jack's Surfboards in Huntington Beach is offering $9,000, and Hurley International is offering $10,000. Williams was last seen at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 26 in the Gaslamp Quarter. His body was found three days later in a City Heights alley.
EL CAJON – Iraq's government is considering San Diego as a possible site for a consulate that would serve thousands of Iraqi-Americans in California, Iraq's top diplomat to the United States said Wednesday. Iraqi Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie said San Francisco and Los Angeles are also in the running. About 30,000 Iraqis live in San Diego County, many in East County.
OCEANSIDE – A record number of birds tested positive for West Nile virus in the county last week, with the highest concentration in Oceanside. A total of 17 infected birds – six in Oceanside – were found. Sixty-one have tested positive countywide this year. So far in 2008, San Diego County has reported the highest number of West Nile-infected birds in the state, according to the most recent statistics available from the U.S. Geological Survey.
TIJUANA – Diesel fuel delivery problems in Baja California continued to hamper customers last week. Representatives of the government oil monopoly, Pemex, told state officials they haven't been able to move trucks fast enough to deliver diesel fuel because demand is up 30 percent at some places along the border. Subsidized Mexican diesel sold Thursday for $2.17 a gallon in Tijuana, less than half of what it sells for in San Diego County. A gas station owners group accused Pemex of deliberately withholding diesel.
