Daily Business Report — June 1, 2010
Laura Duffy to be Sworn In as U.S. Attorney
The Senate has confirmed veteran federal prosecutor Laura Duffy as U.S. Attorney in San Diego. She is expected to be sworn in this week. The Senate action was a day after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved her nomination on a unanimous vote. President Obama nominated Duffy to the position in February. Sen. Barbara Boxer recommended Duffy to the White House. “In her 17 years as a federal prosecutor, she has distinguished herself battling the drug cartels along the U.S.-Mexico border,” said Boxer. Duffy currently serves as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in San Diego, where she is deputy chief of the general crimes section and a former member of the narcotics unit. She joined the Department of Justice in 1993 as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Duffy is best known for successfully prosecuting members of the Arellano Felix drug cartel. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in 1988 and her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1993.
CCDC Coffee Session Set for June 3
The Centre City Development Corp. will share information about Downtown redevelopment at Thursday’s “Coffee with CCDC” program at 6 p.m. in the ninth floor community room at the Ten Fifty B affordable housing complex, 1050 B St. in Downtown San Diego (different from the Downtown Information Center where the meetings usually are held). Reservations are not required. For more information visit ccdc.com.
Baby White Sea Bass Released into San Diego Bay
Thirty-thousand baby white sea bass have been released into their new temporary home in San Diego Bay, thanks to an ongoing effort to reintroduce the native species into California’s coastal waters. 10,000 fish were discharged into grow-out facilities — netted pens in the bay — near the Grape Street Pier at the corner of Hawthorn and North Harbor Drive — on May 21. Twenty-thousand more were released on May 27. The Port of San Diego’s Environmental Fund has committed $100,000 over three years (2010-2013) to the state program designed to boost the species’ population in the wild. The program is a partnership between the San Diego Oceans Foundation and Hubbs Sea World Research Institute. The San Diego Oceans Foundation raises and releases between 40,000 and 60,000 fish every year, according to the organization’s executive director, John Valencia.
To provide scientific input for the program, juvenile fish are “tagged” by scientists with a fertilization date and brood stock information before delivered to the pens from Hubbs’ experimental marine fish hatchery in Carlsbad. If a tag is later found, scientists can determine how old the fish is, where it has traveled and other information to gauge the survivability of white sea bass that have been released. “Supporting projects like this that enhance San Diego Bay’s natural resources is a critical component of the Port’s role as an environmental steward,” said Kelly Makley, associate environmental specialist in the Port’s Environmental Services Department. “This restocking program helps maintain a healthy abundance of fish and a sustainable population of white sea bass.”
Patrick Henry High Senior Wins Science Award
Anna K. Simpson, a senior at Patrick Henry Senior High School, was named California State Science Fair Student of the Year and was presented with a $1,000 cash prize during ceremonies last month. Simpson’s project entry was titled “Local Layering of Images with a Natural User Interface.” The award is presented to the high school senior who, in the opinion of the judges, best exemplifies the qualities necessary for success in science. Simpson was also selected last year for the Patricia Beckman Project of the Year-Senior Division Award, which came with a $10,000 cash prize.
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