Daily Business Report: Thursday, July 28, 2022
General Atomics’ MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS under
Navy contract to perform at RIMPAC exercise
An MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) is under contract with the U.S. Navy to support the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 exercise. RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, started in late June and continues until early August in Hawaii and Southern California operations areas.
General Atomics’ SeaGuardian is a maritime derivative of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian and remains the first UAS that offers multi-domain Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting (ISR&T) as an internal payload that can search the ocean surface and the depths in support of Fleet Operations.
The UAS is also providing real-time data feeds to the U.S. Pacific Fleet Command Center using Signals Intelligence parametrics and full-motion video to the watch floor and intelligence centers for real-time, dynamic tasking.
As of July 25, 2022, 11 flights totaling over 80 hours have been flown by SeaGuardian showcasing all operational payloads, which includes Electronic Intelligence and Communication Intelligence.
The Navy said that during RIMPAC, the MQ-9B has effectively passed information to various surface and air units, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln, guided missile destroyers, littoral combat ships, frigates, patrol boats and a litany of other U.S. and foreign units taking part in the exercise.
Top Photo: An MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System like this one is taking part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. (Credit: General Atomics)
Clairemont community to get new seniors
housing — the first in 35 years
Groundbreaking ceremonies will be held on Aug. 22 for the start of construction of a seniors living community in Clairemont — the first to be built there in three and a half decades. The Pavilion at Tecolote Canyon is a $36 million assisted living and memory care community that will provide residential living and support for the daily needs of 94 residents.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. at 3560 Mount Acadia Blvd., San Diego 92111. It will include a traditional shovel ceremony and words from local developer John DeWald of RhodesMoore LLC and Frontier Management CEO and partner in the development, Greg Roderick.
Salvaged beams and lumber from the project will be donated to the Freedom Ranch for Heroes, a project that gives veterans a place to learn new skills and enjoy the outdoors. The Pavilion seeks to invest in the neighborhood and help bring the community together. It’s located just steps away from local restaurants and small businesses, and a short walk from several parks including Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Nature Center. The building will be LEED certified and will feature both assisted living and memory care services.
San Diego home price drops for first time this year
San Diego’s home price dropped for the first time this year as rising mortgage rates slowed seemingly unstoppable gains. June’s median home price in San Diego County was $825,000, down from the all-time high of $850,000 reached the previous month, said CoreLogic/DQNews on Tuesday. Prices were mostly down across Southern California, but San Diego’s 2.9 percent monthly drop was the largest among the six counties.
Prices in San Diego County have been on a nearly constant upswing since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, when the median home price was $590,000. It was expected at the start of the year that rising interest rates would slow the market — but it had the opposite effect: pushing buyers to get a house, no matter what it took, before rates went up more.
SDG&E and school district launch region’s
first vehicle-to-grid project using school buses
San Diego Gas & Electric has successfully deployed an innovative technology that enables eight electric school buses to put electricity back on the grid when needed such as on hot summer days. A collaborative effort between SDG&E, the Cajon Valley Union School District and locally based technology company Nuvve, this is the first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) project to become operational in Southern California, helping to advance clean air and climate goals while also bolstering grid reliability.
V2G technology works by allowing batteries onboard vehicles to charge up during the day when energy, particularly renewable energy such as solar is abundant. The batteries then discharge clean electricity back to the grid during peak hours or other periods of high demand.
“School buses are an excellent use case for V2G,” said Nuvve Co-Founder, Chair and CEO Gregory Poilasne. “They hold larger batteries than standard vehicles and can spend peak solar hours parked and plugged into bi-directional chargers. Nuvve’s technology enables the grid to draw energy from a bus when it is needed most, yet still ensuring the bus has enough stored power to operate when needed.”
Caltrans, SANDAG complete roadway
connection to International Ports of Entry
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) announced the completion of the new southbound State Route (SR) 125 to the westbound SR 905 freeway connector in Otay Mesa. The $28.9 million infrastructure project was made possible by more than $16 million in funding from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
The connector is a vital link in the south San Diego County roadway network designed to improve mobility and create seamless connections for residents and travelers between nearby communities and the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro ports of entry with Mexico.
“The opening of the new connector marks a pivotal step forward in improving the movement of people and goods throughout our binational mega-region,” said Caltrans District 11 Director Gustavo Dallarda. “With a new direct westbound connection from East County, we will help alleviate traffic congestion and travel delays that in turn will improve border region mobility.”
Harrah’s Resort opens California’s
first ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ restaurant
California’s First “Hells’ Kitchen” restaurant is set to open at Harrah’s Resort Southern California on Friday, August 12. Reservations are now being taken for the unique dining experience created by multi-Michelin-starred chef and television personality, Gordon Ramsay. This Hell’s Kitchen will be the largest location to date and will accommodate up to 332 guests.
“We are thrilled to welcome guests near and far to have the legendary Gordon Ramsay ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ experience,” said Chairman Bo Mazzetti of the Rincon Tribe. “It has been an honor to work side-by-side with Chef Ramsay and his team to bring this restaurant to life, and we are grateful to finally share this exceptional, one-of-a-kind culinary adventure with you all.”
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 4-10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 4-11 p.m.
Reservations are now live for booking on Open Table, viewable here.
New ‘O’side Sips’ trail spotlights
expanding beverage industry
To help promote members of the Oceanside’s fast-growing beverage industry, a new marketing campaign from Visit Oceanside called O’Side Sips officially launched in May.
Like “wine trail” guides, O’Side Sips is a free cellphone app with information on 29 beverage businesses, many of them on or within a few blocks walk of Coast Highway in Oceanside. A few of the businesses are offering discounts and deals, plus app users who check in at multiple Sips locations can earn free Oceanside-themed swag like coasters and bottle openers.
No need to bring a designated driver when app users can digitally hail gO’Side, a free electric shuttle service available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily along the three-mile Coast Highway corridor between Oceanside Harbor and Vista Way.
CocoCabana rooftop bar offers
panoramic ocean views, sips, bites
Local group Grind & Prosper Hospitality opens the rooftop bar CocoCabana this week atop the Brick Hotel, a newly-restored historic building turned boutique hotel in Oceanside. The fourth-floor cocktail bar boasts expansive views of the Pacific and downtown Oceanside. CocoCabana’s kitchen draws influence from the Caribbean with it’s own distinctive flavor geared toward bar bites and shareable dishes. Guests also can look forward to the new Q&A Oyster Bar and Restaurant on the ground floor of the Brick Hotel, slated to open in late August.
Scripps hospitals awarded $480,000 for emergency
department treatments for opiod use disorder
Four Scripps Health hospitals have collectively received $480,000 in grant funding through the California Bridge Behavioral Health Navigator Program, which supports emergency departments statewide in their efforts to increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
This year’s grant award marks the fourth consecutive year that Scripps has received funding through the program, which aims to bolster emergency departments as primary access points where patients can receive prompt access to specialized care for these two health conditions. All of Scripps’ hospital campuses with emergency departments received funding this year: Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas and Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista.
Cymbiotika launches reformulated activated
charcoal to support digestive system
Cymbiotika, a nutritional supplement brand based in San Diego, announced the relaunch of its Activated Charcoal. Gut problems can arise as a result of many factors including a poor diet, a bloated digestive tract, an unbalanced bacterial environment, or even emotional distress. Consuming the right healthy gut supplements can improve your digestive system, immune function, and gut health drastically. When taken daily, this supplement also assists with longevity and nutritional support to help one thrive in a polluted environment.
Cymbiotika’s Activated Charcoal is beneficial for a variety of gastrointestinal issues including candida overgrowth, exposure to mold, radiation, poisons, pesticides, or even pharmaceutical residues. The supplement also helps reduce common symptoms of an overly acidic body, which can frequently happen while traveling, dining out, or after consuming alcoholic beverages.
Koji launches Video Feedback
Koji, a leading app store for social media, announced the launch of Video Feedback, a new app that provides a dedicated space where creators can give feedback to their community members through video interaction.
With Video Feedback, creators can receive video submissions from community members, fans, and other artists who want feedback and advice on their latest work and projects. These video responses, accessible directly from the link in bio, give creators a new way to build trust and meaningful relationships with others through the feedback process. The app also features a public feed of videos that have already received feedback, allowing users to see and interact with each other’s content.
The new app is free to use and available today on the Koji App Store.
Illumina unveils its most accurate
secondary analysis platform
San Diego’s Illumina Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced the release of Illumina DRAGEN v4.0, its most accurate and comprehensive secondary analysis platform. The new features expand laboratories’ abilities to perform analyses in key areas such as oncology, pharmacogenomics (PGx), single-cell sequencing, and population genomics within a single platform.
Illumina DRAGEN is a leading secondary analysis software in the genomics market, and its continuous innovations have set new standards for accuracy and efficiency. With availability across multiple access points, from a standalone server to Illumina cloud solutions and onboard select sequencers, DRAGEN streamlines sequencing data acquisition and analysis.
Visit the DRAGEN page to learn more.
