online community journalism

Del Mar/Solana Beach/Encinitas/Carlsbad, Education, The World January 26, 2023

Climate change affects brains, UCSD NEATLabs says

Psychological trauma from extreme weather and climate events, such as wildfires, can have long-term impacts on survivors’ brains and cognitive functioning, especially how they process distractions, my team’s new research shows. Climate change is increasingly affecting people around the world, including through extreme heat, storm damage and life-threatening events like wildfires. In previous research, colleagues and I showed that in the aftermath of the 2018…

Animals and pets, Escondido January 18, 2023

Escondido reptile museum about to go cold…forever

Reptiles may like to heat up, but in the case of Escondido’s EcoVivarium living museum, life may be getting way too cold for comfort for the snakes and such due to a mounting electric bill. It’s a constant challenge keeping these cold-blooded suckers warm and kicking. Operators of the 13-year-old private non-profit 10,200-square foot museum at 641 E. Pennsylvania Ave. issued an “emergency plea” for…

California January 12, 2023

Is California drought over? Rain, snow, and reservoirs.

The year 2023 began with a historic bang — record precipitation and disastrous flooding throughout much of California. Parched watersheds soaked up the first rains, but soon became waterlogged. Runoff accelerated. Sodden hillsides collapsed. Rural levees burst and rivers spilled their banks. Towns went underwater. People died. Meanwhile, the Pacific Ocean continued to whip up more atmospheric rivers and “bomb cyclones,” and one after another,…

California January 3, 2023

Key issues shaping California in 2023

Welcome to 2023 — a year that will likely prove decisive in California’s attempts to address some of its most pervasive challenges, ranging from housing and homelessness to climate change. CalMatters, open source state journalism project, sets forth some of the noteworthy issues in the year ahead. Wednesday, state lawmakers are set to return to Sacramento (though some may be driving instead of flying Southwest…

Media, Valley Center December 31, 2022

Local news is getting creative about building sustainable business models

This article was originally published on Northwestern University’s Medill Local News Initiative website and is republished here with permission. Richland County is nestled smack dab in the middle of north central Ohio. It’s a mostly rural enclave in the center of a state in the heartland of America. Richland is not a wealthy place. The median household income and the percentage of adults with college degrees are…

Arts, Entertainment/Arts, Surprising and Strange December 30, 2022

Dat Punk Timbo interview plan (comics)

(Editor’s note: Mild-mannered student and Escondido t-shirt designer by day, Ricky Fang flies through the cartooned sky at night. He draws girls, cartoon characters and comics. Other than art, he enjoys playing video games, listening to music, taking walks around the block and hanging around with friends. For more of the inimitable Mr. Fang’s DPT and such, check out his work at http://hooksnfangs.com/.) It’s about…

Blogs, Columns/Blogs, Escondido, Featured, Fire, History, Media, North County, Opinion, Rancho Santa Fe, Riverside County, San Marcos, Valley Center, Vista October 27, 2022

Remembering the 2007 Witch Creek Fire

Fifteen years ago this week the Witch Creek Fire devastated Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe and North County San Diego. This is part of my first-hand coverage done as editor of the Rancho Santa Fe Record. I won the California Newspaper Publishers Association’s first place prize for local news coverage for this, and the other 26 stories, numerous photos, and overall coverage I produced during, and…

Lifestyle/Society October 25, 2022

Fresh squeezed orange is the way to go for fall

The  color orange punches up a room like no other color.  Orange’s bright hues and sunny disposition adds zest and surprise to any style interior.   Wake up any room in your home with bold splashes of orange accents.  Use it sparingly or get drenched in it. Orange glows with warmth and positive energy.  Without a doubt, orange is the happiest color in the spectrum. …

Escondido September 23, 2022

Gasoline prices see-saw by the Socal sea shore

See-sawing Southern California gasoline prices dropped for 98 days in a row following a sharp increase earlier this year and now are headed back up, according to the latest data cited by analysts on Friday. After declining for 98 consecutive days, the national average reversed course yesterday as fluctuating oil prices and tight supply due to planned and unplanned maintenance work at refineries on the…

Breaking News, Business, Rancho Santa Fe, Real Estate, Travel March 27, 2022

Historic Inn at Rancho Santa Fe reportedly sold

The historic Inn at Rancho Santa Fe reportedly has been sold with the announcement expected this week, according to sources who did not want to be identified. The sale reportedly will be completed by May 18. Speculation was that all employees would be laid off and have to re-interview for jobs with the current general manager and executive chef leaving the Inn. No further details…