Deadline for public comments in August 8

By Henri Migala

Photo: mule deer buck by Debbie Merrill

July 17, 2022 (San Diego) -- The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on their proposed plan to open 160 acres of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge to hunting. Hunting would be allowed only in the Otay Mesa and Lakes Management Area of the refuge (near Otay Lakes).

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via San Diego Sheriff

July 18, 2021 (Otay Mesa) – San Diego Sheriff’s deputies and medical staff assigned to the George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa used medication to save seven individuals suspected of overdosing on fentanyl.

Congressman seeks funds for highways 52 in Santee, 78 at I-5, and 11 at Otay crossing

East County News Service

April 28, 2021 (Washington D.C.). — Yesterday, Congressman Darrell Issa announced CA-50’s Member Designated Projects submissions to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) for deliberation in the 2021 surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

Photo: San Diego Fire and Rescue

Update August 2, 2019 ,11 a.m.  The Caliente Fire is 60% contained at 490 acres. An arson investigation is underway; Fox 5 interviewed a witness who saw teen boys fleeing scene when the fire began.  NBC 7 reports two businesses burned, but no homes were lost.

Update August 1, 2019, 8 p.m.  The fire has burned 490 acres and is 50% contained. Around 70 structures were evacuated but none were lost. A pallet fire caused explosions, but no one was injured, Chula Vista Fire reports. Evacuation orders have been lifted and all roads are now open.

East County News Service

December 1, 2015 (Otay Mesa) – On December 9^th,  a private port of entry called the Cross Border Xpress is set to open in Otay Mesa with a bridge linking the facility to the A.L. Rodriguez International Airport in Tijuana.  The Tijuana airport services 4.5 million passengers each year, 60 percent of whom cross the international border.

The Cross Border Xpress will be available only to ticketed airline passengers and will be the first border crossing in California to charge a toll: $15 for those who pre-pay at the facility’s website, or $18 for those who pay at the gate. Tickets are slated to go on sale this week at www.CrossBorderXpress.com.

East County News Service

May 16, 2015 (Otay Mesa) – The Sheriff is seeking an inmate who escaped from the East Mesa reentry facility in Otay Mesa Saturday and was found to be missing at 1 p.m.

Photo: Wind turbines in Ocotillo dwarf resident and mountains surrounding the desert town

By Miriam Raftery

August 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Jim Avery, a senior vice president at San Diego Gas & Electric Company, says the utility will meet California’s 33% renewable energy goal by the end of 2014 – six years ahead of schedule, IT San Diego reports.

December 10, 2013 (Otay) – Elected officials and business leaders from the U.S. and Mexico will hold a groundbreaking ceremony today on a new state highway project aimed at reducing border wait times and improving cross-border commerce.  State Route 11  will be a four-lane highway connecting a planned port of entry, Otay Mesa East, to the state highway system.

The 2.5-mile project will be built in three segments. The $112 million Segment 1, starting construction now, will include connectors to SR 905, plus a stretch of new highway from SR 905 east to Enrico Fermi Drive. Segments planned for the future will extend the highway to the border and create a new border crossing.

September 15, 2012 (San Diego) - The California Energy Commission on September 12 approved the construction of the proposed Pio Pico Energy Center, a natural gas-fired “peaker” power plant.

By a 4-0 vote, the Energy Commission adopted the presiding member's proposed decision (PMPD) for the project.

"This power plant will be able to respond quickly and follow load fluctuations in the San Diego area when power demand is high,” said Energy Commissioner Carla Peterman, presiding member for the committee reviewing the project.

November 30, 2011 (Otay Mesa)--A drug tunnel discovered Tuesday between Tijuana and San Diego was described by U.S. authorities as one of the most elaborate ever found beneath the U.S.—Mexico border. The passageway, the second major one uncovered in the past two weeks, connected a warehouse in Mexico to another in Otay Mesa.

June 17, 2011 (Otay Mesa)-- Highway 94 was closed briefly late today while firefighters worked to contain a brush fire.  The fire was held at 12 acres and all lanes are now open, Cal-Fire confirms.

November 16, 2010 (Otay Mesa) – San Diego Police are investigating two armed robberies on Sunday, November 14 of gas stations in Otay Mesa. The first occurred at 10:56 p.m. at the Chevron Gas Station, 3302 Palm Ave. The second robbery was at 11:35 p.m. at the Unocal Gas Station, 4360 Palm Avenue. In both cases, the suspect pointed a possible shotgun wrapped in a white cloth or white T-shirt at the clerk, then fled on cash with the cash.