Daily Business Report: Dec. 21, 2023
California approves rules
that turn sewage into drinking water
By Rachel Becker | CalMatters
In a milestone for creating a major new source of drinking water, California has approved its first standards for turning sewage into potable water supplies delivered to homes and businesses.
The State Water Resources Control Board, in a unanimous vote Tuesday, outlined for the first time how water suppliers can treat recycled water and send it directly to taps. Currently recycled water is mixed into aquifers or used for irrigation and other non-drinking purposes.
The new rules — which have been more than a decade in the making and were mandated by a state law — outline a slew of requirements aimed at ensuring that germs and chemicals are scrubbed from treated sewage.
Often dubbed “toilet-to-tap,” the process is actually much more extensive and complex, requiring multiple treatment steps overseen by 63 pages of detailed rules. The new rules also call for extensive monitoring to ensure the treatment is working.
Photo: Luis Canela, a water quality technician, injects sodium hypochloride and armonium sulfate to treat water at the Pure Water Southern California Demonstration Plant in Carson, on July 28, 2023. (Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters)
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Transborder Scholar Collaborative launches
borderlands research opportunities
By Daniella Rodiles | SDSU
SDSU Imperial Valley faculty members, Vannessa Falcon Orta, Gilberto Reyes and Efren Lopez, work closely with transborder students, understanding the challenges that come from crossing the border to pursue one’s higher education goals.
In October 2023, the team launched the Transborder Scholar Collaborative, a research initiative dedicated to the social justice of transborder students in education along the U.S. – Mexico borderlands. As part of the initiative, the team embarked on a mission to support and guide students who reside in the U.S. – Mexico border research projects to implement border-conscious teaching practices.
“When I teach Chicano studies classes, I remind my students – whom I know many cross the U.S. – Mexico border on a daily basis – that their experience as a transfronterizx (transborder) student is unique, but also worthy of sharing in academia,” said Reyes, a history instructor at SDSU Imperial Valley.
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Sanford Burnham Prebys continues
unprecedented recruitment of early-career scientists
Continuing its rapid and dramatic recruitment of emerging, top-tier researchers, Sanford Burnham Prebys has hired two more highly regarded early-career scientists: Angela Liou, M.D., a specialist in pediatric oncology and hematology; and Xueqin Sherine Sun, Ph.D., a cancer biologist and genome engineer.
The unprecedented hiring effort is the result of a $70 million gift earlier this year from philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to recruit a cadre of early-career scientists in the fields of cancer, neurodegeneration and aging, cardiovascular disease and computational biology.
“With Drs. Liou and Sun, we have now hired eight superb young scientists and physicians in less than a year, an achievement that reflects the extraordinary challenges in biomedical research today and our ambitious plans to translate them into better human health,” says David A. Brenner, M.D., president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys.
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Viasat and Safran Data Systems
develop launch vehicle telemetry
LONDON, England — Carlsbad-based Viasat Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, is working with Safran Data Systems to jointly bring InRange to market so launch providers and spaceports can relay launch vehicles’ telemetry in flight throughout their trajectory — and without having to rely on ground networks.
InRange uses Viasat’s global L-band satellite fleet — which Viasat now operates following the acquisition of Inmarsat in May — to provide real-time telemetry data for launch missions. By using space-based communications, InRange will allow launch mission controllers to monitor the performance of missions beyond the line of sight, without the need for ground communications infrastructure.
A global satellite communications network can also prevent so-called “blackout zones” when a launch vehicle moves into an area not covered by Earth-based connectivity.
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Molly Teas named Outstanding New Attorney
Higgs Fletcher & Mack attorney Molly H. Teas has been selected as the Outstanding New Attorney by San Diego Defense Lawyers (SDDL), and she will receive the award at the organization’s 39th Annual Installation Gala on Jan. 27, 2024.
The Outstanding New Attorney award is presented annually to one outstanding defense attorney in recognition of their success and overall achievements in law.
Teas’ practice primarily focuses on the transportation industry, where she defends trucking and rideshare companies in personal injury litigation.
She also has experience in premises and product liability defense as well as representing individuals in trust litigation.
Additionally, Teas is admitted to the Intertribal Court of Southern California where she defends local federally recognized Indian tribes in injury and premises liability cases.
San Marcos City Council approves Restaurant Row project
The San Marcos City Council unanimously approved the Restaurant Row mixed-use project, overcoming initial Planning Commission rejection. Designed by Lennar Homes, the project involves 202 housing units, 10,000+ square feet of commercial space, and a 1.5-acre park.
All units will be market rate, with Lennar Homes choosing to pay the city “in lieu” fee. The project aims to revitalize the area and spur positive development along West San Marcos Boulevard.
Canada orders a fleet of drones from General Atomics
The Government of Canada has signed a contract to purchase a fleet of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. The order includes the associated Certified Ground Control Stations and support equipment from General Atomics. The first delivery is expected in 2028.
Intesa earns Women Business Enterprise certification
Intesa Communications Group is one of only 3,000 California businesses who have earned the Women Business Enterprise certification from the California Public Utilities Commission. Led by partners Margie Newman Tsay and Maddy Kilkenny, Intesa has been
operating since 2012 and meets the state’s stringent diversity supplier standards.
Palomar Medical Center Poway earns
2023 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award
Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Palomar Medical Center Poway (PMCP) was named a Top General Hospital by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization known as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality. The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. More than 2,100 hospitals were considered for the award.
Athletic Brewing Company launches ‘Track Record’
Athletic Brewing Company, America’s largest non-alcoholic brewery, is inviting drinkers to “Give Dry a Try” this January by offering an easy way to track the days they don’t consume alcohol. Called Track Record, the new alcohol moderation tool will launch on Dec. 27, 2023, in the Athletic Brewing mobile app and on athleticvrewing.com. Track Record will give the millions of Americans looking to cut back on alcohol a guilt-free way of practicing mindfulness and moderation.
Tourmo renames Mobile Workforce and Fleet Management product
Tourmo announces a new naming convention for its innovative system, designed to address the most persistent challenges in the Mobile Workforce and Fleet Management industry. The core product is now named Tourmo AutoPilot, with associated module names such as Sync, Drive, Eco, Video, and Work. AutoPilot allows enterprises to put their operations on “Auto-Pilot,” offering a unified and prioritized data system that seamlessly connects multiple data sources into a single, integrated platform.
UC San Diego spin-off company receives MWh-scale purchase orders
UNIGRID Battery, a UC San Diego spin-off startup company, has received its first commercial MWh-scale purchase orders for their advanced sodium ion batteries. The company was founded in 2021 from the groundbreaking Ph.D. research work by Dr. Darren H. S. Tan and Dr. Erik A. Wu, who were both advised by Prof. Zheng Chen and Prof. Shirley Meng, prominent figures in the battery field.
Tim Raducha-Grace appointed chief platform lfficer for Zerigo Health
Zerigo Health, a digital health platform for the treatment of chronic skin conditions, announced the appointment of Tim Raducha-Grace as chief platform officer. He joins
Zerigo Health after leading commercial and product teams across the health care industry, including venture-backed and Fortune 20 companies. Most recently, he served as head of clinical partnerships at Harbor Health, where he built a high performing clinically integrated network including partnerships with leading health systems.
Arelion deploys new PoP at LightEdge Solutions site
Arelion announced a new Point-of-Pfresence (PoP) in San Diego at the Lightwave Data Center operated by LightEdge Solutions, a leading provider of secure cloud and colocation for nearly three decades. This will be Arelion’s second fully diverse PoP in the emerging tech hub, providing wholesale and enterprise customers with high-speed connectivity to the carrier’s global IP backbone and access to its ecosystm of cloud and content services.
Team Lewis adds 2 to its leadership team
Team Lewis, the global marketing agency, has named two additions to its North American leadership team. Inez Odom joins the team as vice president of professional development. Christine Branom joins as head of human resources. Both roles will support HR operations in the United States. Early in 2024, Team Lewis will also launch its largest ever investment in online learning, Lewiversity.
Raken releases new solutions for time, safety and quality management
Raken, the top-rated construction field management app, is celebrating a record year in product development. In 2023, the California-based software provider expanded their lineup of easy-to-use solutions to include new safety and quality management tools, a mobile worker time clock, digital forms, and worker certifications. Raken’s safety and quality management tools help customers reduce risk and protect themselves from costly litigation.
