New data from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness reveals seniors across San Diego are staying homeless longer than other younger, homeless people.<\/p>\n
The latest data indicates ongoing challenges for San Diego\u2019s senior population, our Mariana Mart\u00ednez Barba writes. As she reported earlier this year, some seniors have been stuck living in homeless shelters for years<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we\u2019re really seeing it play out in the data across the state of California, across the country, but especially in high-cost-of-living areas,\u201d said Sofia Cardenas, data and compliance manager for Alpha Project, a nonprofit that provides homeless services.\u00a0<\/p>\n The staggering cost of making ends meet in San Diego is a major culprit behind the trend, but seniors also deal with physical disabilities and eligibility requirements that can make it difficult to find housing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read the full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n California May Be Turning Against Jailhouse Stings<\/p>\n For years, law enforcement agencies have relied on a controversial tactic to squeeze information from suspects \u2013 the jailhouse sting. That\u2019s been especially true in San Diego and the rest of southern California, according our partners at CalMatters<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The stings usually happen after a suspect has been arrested, but before officials have charged them with a crime. Undercover officers or civilians (who are sometimes paid thousands of dollars a day) attempt to glean incriminating information. In some cases, police officers posing as gang members hurled racial slurs at detainees or threatened them with violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n A recent ruling granted a new trial to a man convicted of murder using evidence from one of these so-called Perkins investigations \u2014 which has led to a spate of challenges to convictions that used similar strategies. One of those challenges comes from a San Diego man. His challenge includes an analysis that shows that Hispanic men are far more likely to be targeted with a Perkins investigation than White defendants.\u00a0<\/p>\n Read the whole story here.<\/a><\/p>\n SD High Schoolers Take Anti-Solitary Confinement Push to Sheriff<\/p>\n A group of local teenagers is leading an effort to eliminate the use of solitary confinement both at local jails and statewide. Today, they face their most significant test yet \u2013 a meeting during which they\u2019ll pitch a policy proposal to Sheriff Kelly Martinez.\u00a0<\/p>\n The campaign is spearheaded by San Diego Unified high schoolers Nikhil Plettner Booker and former student trustee Ashley Ordaz, who are the founder and legislative director, respectively, of Youth to End Solitary SD<\/a>.<\/p>\n Solitary confinement is \u201cemblematic of a larger criminal justice system that exacerbates the root causes of crime,\u201d Plettner Booker said. \u00a0<\/p>\n The tactic is not uncommon in jails statewide<\/a> or locally<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the goal is to eventually pressure state lawmakers to outlaw solitary confinement, Plettner Booker said he knows that won\u2019t come easy. The organization\u2019s first goal, which he also acknowledges is a long shot, is a two-week pause on the use of solitary confinement in local jails.<\/p>\n Congress Voted to Make Daylight Saving Permanent. What Now?<\/p>\n Daylight lovers rejoice: the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent<\/a>. The bill, which Pres. Donald Trump has lobbied for in recent weeks, even garnered support from some Democratic representatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n Daylight lovers lament: The bill will now head to the Senate, where its odds of passing are slim. While the effort is supported by folks like California Senator Alex Padilla<\/a>, some Republican heavyweights don\u2019t think the change is so bright. That discord will likely mean it\u2019s lights out for the proposal. Again<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Magical Tides<\/p>\n Video from Monday night showed cars driving through flooded streets<\/a> in parts of San Diego. But unlike the yearly shots of a waterlogged Fashion Valley after rains, this flooding was in Pacific Beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n The flooding was thanks to a king tide<\/a>, a phenomenon which can occur a handful of times a year. King tides happen when an already elevated spring tide comes at the same time as a full or new moon reaches its perigee<\/a>. That\u2019s the point in its orbit when the moon is closest to Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n In response to my questions about whether a king tide in July was normal, Environment reporter MacKenzie Elmer answered only in what felt like riddles: \u201cCan be. Sun earth moon alignment.\u201d<\/p>\n