The post Mass casualty situation declared after migrants fall from California border wall near San Diego appeared first on WebNewsys.
]]>There were six ambulances that took people who were hurt to nearby hospitals. Reports say that some of individuals who were hurt had broken bones. It is important to note that some children who were not hurt in the accident were taken with their injured parents in ambulances. This incident is just another reminder of all the dangers families face while trying to cross the border and enter in the United States.
Read also: San Diego County Board of Supervisors calls for bipartisan action on immigration reform
Pedro Rios, who runs the U.S./Mexico Border Program for the American Friends Service Committee, talked about how often these kinds of things happen. According to Rios, refugees often get hurt when they fall or get burned while using ropes to climb down the wall. It happens almost every day in San Diego, which is known for being one of the busiest places for illegal crosses.
Rios, who was in the area before the accident, saw more than 100 people standing near the wall. He said that the wall was probably more slippery than normal because of the rain. He believes that the rain was the main reason for several people falling of the wall. This incident is just another reminder of the dangers faced by migrants attempting to scale the border wall, a risk that has been further exacerbated by recent additions to the structure.
Read also: Murder investigation initiated after two men found dead near U.S. border in San Diego
Because growing number of people are trying to cross the border, new features have been added to parts of the barrier at Friendship Park, which is between San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico. These features make it harder to jump over. These metal pieces that look like roofs are currently just prototypes, but they are meant to keep people from climbing over the wall.
But Rios has previously said that he is worried about how these features could kill people, pointing out that more and more people are needing medical help after falling, and some of these people may not even be found if they fall on the Mexican side of the border.
This incident arrives amidst a heated debate on immigration policies in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential race, with immigration emerging as a pivotal issue. A recent study from Monmouth University found that a large majority of Americans think illegal immigration is a very important problem, and more than half of those people want to build a wall along the border.
This latest mass casualty incident further highlights the human cost of the ongoing immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border, raising questions about the balance between border security and the safety and well-being of those seeking a new life in the United States.
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]]>The post San Diego County seeks public input on budget priorities through engage survey appeared first on WebNewsys.
]]>You’re invited to take part in a survey on the Engage San Diego County website to share what services you think are most important. What you say will help decide what gets funded in the budget now and in the years to come.
Read also: Murder investigation initiated after two men found dead near U.S. border in San Diego
You can also let the County know the best way to keep you updated on budget matters, whether it’s through email, text, or another method. You’ve got until March 17 to take the survey.
A budget proposal will be shared with everyone on May 2, and it’s a big deal. To give you an idea, the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 was $8.17 billion. Right now, County workers are looking at all the numbers, figuring out what resources are available, listening to what people said in 2023, and making sure fairness is part of the decision on where money should go.
The County’s budget covers areas outside the city limits and also pays for services all over the region. In places not part of a city, the County takes care of things like roads, parks, and libraries. But it also has bigger jobs, like helping with mental health and addiction issues, and giving food and medical help to those in need.
San Diego County tackles big issues like homelessness and making housing affordable. It keeps an eye on public health to stop disease outbreaks and checks on restaurants, buildings, gas stations, and even beach water for safety.
Read also: Chula Vista faces uncertainty as Andrea Cardenas steps down amidst new felony charge
Other departments like the District Attorney’s Office, Probation, and Child Support are there for everyone in the county. The Sheriff’s Department looks after places without city governments and helps some cities with police work. The County is also in charge of elections, collecting property taxes, and keeping important records. And that’s just part of what they do.
The budget needs to have enough money for all these services, including any new ones that start up. A big chunk of the budget comes from the state and federal government, which is meant to be used for specific things. The rest of the money comes from property taxes, fees for different services, and other places.
After figuring out how much money comes from state and federal sources, the County has to decide the best way to use what’s left. This is a big job, and County staff work hard to suggest a budget plan. But residents have a say in this process too.
Once the proposed budget is shared on May 2, people can give their opinions online through June 13 on the Engage San Diego County website’s budget section.
There are also community meetings where you can speak up, or you can join in the Board of Supervisors’ budget meetings, either in person or over the phone. The website for the budget has all the dates and times you need to know, along with last year’s budget for comparison.
This year, department budget talks with the Board of Supervisors are set for May 14 and May 16. Public hearings will be on June 4 and June 6, with the final budget talks and approval on June 25.
Read also: Federal assistance announced for California storm and flooding recovery efforts
For more details on Board meetings or to ask for translation services, you can visit the Clerk of the Board’s website or call 619-531-5434.
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]]>The post Chula Vista faces uncertainty as Andrea Cardenas steps down amidst new felony charge appeared first on WebNewsys.
]]>On Tuesday, prosecutors added a new felony charge to former Chula Vista City Councilwoman Andrea Cardenas and her brother. This happened the day after Andrea stepped down from the Chula Vista City Council. Her leaving and the upcoming state primary election have caused a lot of uncertainty in San Diego County’s second-biggest city.
With the new charge on Tuesday, Andrea now faces eight felony charges, and her brother Jesus, who runs a political consulting firm, faces six. These charges are all related to claims of fraud. Andrea’s lawyer mentioned on Tuesday that they were hoping to come to an agreement with the prosecutors.
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However, those talks didn’t lead anywhere that morning, according to lawyer Pedro Bernal.
Andrea and Jesus appeared in court that morning to learn about the additional felony charge being added to their list of accusations.
“We have charged them with grand theft — both Jesus and Andrea Cardenas — for taking money unlawfully from the EDD,” explained prosecutor Chandelle Boyce, referencing the state’s agency that oversees its unemployment insurance arm.
The brother and sister duo is now accused of wrongly taking unemployment insurance money from California’s Employment Development Department in 2020, even though they were supposedly working at the time.
McCann mentioned that Cardenas stepping down has left a gap in the Chula Vista City Council. He shared that the other council members will soon decide whether to fill her spot with someone new for the rest of her term or keep it open until November when voters will pick council members for Districts 3 and 4.
Read also: Federal assistance announced for California storm and flooding recovery efforts
Adding to Chula Vista’s challenges is the possibility of Andrea being elected again.
“Well, she’s still on the ballot, and it’s too late at this point to remove her from the ballot, but she’s not actively campaigning, and I think I think everyone is aware of that,” Bernal explained.
Cardenas was in the running for another term and is among six people on the ballot for the March Primary. The two with the most votes will compete in the November general election.
“It’s a very awkward situation, because what happens if she does come in the Top 2 in the ballot voting,” McCann said.
Under California’s election laws, once someone’s name is on the general election ballot because they were chosen in the primary, it can’t be taken off. McCann expressed his hope that voters would simply choose another candidate.
Read also: San Diego to transform Hotel Circle building into affordable housing for the unhoused
“And then we won’t have to deal with that situation,” McCann said, shrugging.
Bernal, on the other hand, is aiming to reach an agreement before Andrea’s upcoming court date. If found guilty of all her charges, Andrea could be looking at six years behind bars. Her brother Jesus could face five years for his charges.
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]]>The post Cyclist hospitalized after cougar encounter on Washington state trail appeared first on WebNewsys.
]]>A Rare and Alarming Encounter
Upon arrival at the scene, WDFW officers managed to remove one cougar. Despite this, there were reports of a possible second cougar lurking in the vicinity. Efforts to locate the second animal ensued, with a hound handler dispatched to the area, though the search yielded no findings.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife underscores the rarity of cougar attacks on humans, noting that in the past century, Washington state has witnessed only two fatal attacks and 20 other instances where individuals sustained injuries. Given the uncommon nature of such encounters, the department advises the public on the proper actions to take if faced with a cougar. Individuals should not run, maintain eye contact with the animal, attempt to appear larger, make noise, and be prepared to defend themselves aggressively if an attack ensues.
This recent cougar attack serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife and the importance of being vigilant while enjoying outdoor activities in areas known for the presence of such predators.
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]]>The post Passenger faces legal consequences after disruptive behavior on Amsterdam-Salt Lake City flight appeared first on WebNewsys.
]]>According to a criminal complaint, Collins exhibited unruly and abusive behavior, prompting immediate action from the aircraft’s crew. Holding dual citizenship in the Netherlands and the U.S., Collins is now under investigation by the FBI for his actions on the flight.
Eyewitness accounts describe Collins as being loud, disruptive, threatening, and abusive towards other passengers as well as crew members. His behavior escalated from following and tapping passengers to physically grabbing a female passenger as she exited the bathroom. The situation deteriorated to the point where eight passengers were relocated to escape Collins’s vicinity.
The flight crew’s attempts to mitigate the situation involved moving Collins to the back of the plane, where his behavior continued to escalate. He spat on passengers and verbally abused a crew member, further alarming those on board. Despite being moved, Collins continued to inappropriately touch passengers and was eventually restrained with flexicuffs by the flight crew. His persistent attempts to move around led to the crew using three seat belt extenders to securely keep him seated for the flight’s duration.
Collins’s actions have led to charges of interfering with the crew and assaulting passengers. If convicted, he faces up to six months in prison in addition to a fine.
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