Daily Business Report: Jan. 2, 2024
These new California laws take effect in 2024
By CalMatters
Of the 1,000 or so laws that the California Legislature passes each year — and the smaller number signed by the governor — the vast majority are technical or not that consequential.
But some do have an impact on policies on key issues, and a smaller number can affect the daily lives of Californians.
These laws change the rules in crime, health care, housing, schools, workplaces and on the streets. And they can hit the pocketbook.
Click here to read some of the most interesting new laws that took effect on Monday.
Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock
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Nominations are now open for Men of Influence in San Diego County.
Deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 16. Get your nomination form here
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Project Street Vet, CNN Hero of the Year, shares award
By SDNEWS staff
San Diego Foundation announced a $90,000 grant to the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year, Dr. Kwane Stewart. Stewart, who split his award money with the other Top 10 Heroes, received the recognition for founding Project Street Vet, an Encinitas-based nonprofit that helps people experiencing homelessness care for their pets by providing free veterinary care, treatment and support.
“The work of Dr. Kwane Stewart is commendable, touching countless lives of the most vulnerable among us and their beloved pets,” said Mark Stuart, president and CEO of San Diego Foundation. “We hope this grant will help him continue to make a difference in the community and inspire others through his commitment and acts of selflessness.”
After receiving the CNN Hero of the Year award, Stewart announced he would share the grant among the Top 10 Heroes equally. San Diego Foundation’s leaders committed the grant for Project Street Vet to recognize the valuable contributions of Stewart to the North San Diego County communities he proudly serves.
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Federal appeals court upholds new California
law banning handguns in public places
A federal appeals court on Saturday cleared the way for a California law that bans the carrying of guns in most public places to take effect at the start of 2024, as the panel put on hold a judge’s ruling declaring the measure unconstitutional.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suspended a Dec. 20 injunction issued by a judge who concluded the Democratic-led state’s law violated the right of citizens to keep and bear arms under the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.
The three-judge panel issued an administrative stay that put the injunction on hold until a different 9th Circuit panel can consider whether to issue an even longer pause while the litigation plays out.
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Walk among the dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest
sdnews.com
Families can walk among the nation’s biggest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs when Jurassic Quest kicks off its migration at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for one weekend of prehistoric thrills, Jan. 19-21.
Families can walk through 165 million years of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods to learn about the creatures that ruled the Earth.
In addition to life-like dinosaurs, Jurassic Quest’s classic experiences for the whole family include some of the largest rideable dinosaurs in North America, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities including a fossil dig and real fossils like T-rex teeth, a triceratops horn and life-size dino skull, a “Triceratots” soft play area for our littlest explorers, bounce houses and inflatable attractions, photo opportunities, and more.
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Old Point Loma Lighthouse to close temporarily for restoration
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument will close Jan. 8-18 for restoration work. Constructed in 1855, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse is an icon of local maritime history. It gives visitors a glimpse into the life of a lighthouse keeper as well as the workings of the light. The interior restoration, including painting and other minor repairs, will protect the masonry walls from the damp coastal environment, which is crucial to protect the structural integrity of the building and preserve it for future visitors.
The National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Crew will carry out the project to preserve the lighthouse.
“We understand the importance of the lighthouse as a symbol of San Diego’s past and rich maritime history,” said Amanda Gossard, visitor services program manager at Cabrillo National Monument. “This restoration effort is part of our commitment to preserving our national treasures, and we appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation during this brief closure.”
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City of San Diego hourly minimum
wage increases to $16.85 in 2024
Many San Diegans will see an increase in their pay when the City of San Diego’s minimum wage goes up in the new year. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, employees who perform at least two hours of work in one or more calendar weeks of the year, within the geographic boundaries of the City of San Diego, will receive a minimum wage increase from $16.30 to $16.85 an hour. The change is in accordance with the city’s Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, approved in 2016.
City begins installation of new pure
water pipeline at Miramar Reservoir
The City of San Diego is preparing to install a new underwater pipeline at its Miramar Reservoir as part of the Pure Water Program. This will be the final segment of a pipeline project that will convey purified water from the North City Pure Water Facility, located off Eastgate Mall, through 8 miles of pipeline to the reservoir. Completion of the 1-mile branched pipeline along the Miramar Reservoir bed includes pipeline assembly on shore before the pipe is loaded onto barges and permanently installed underwater.
Shield AI raises additional capital in Series F
Shield AI, the defense technology company building the world’s best AI pilot for aircraft, announced the expansion of their Series F funding round to a total of $500 million. An additional $100 million in equity, raised at the Series F price, and $200 milliob in debt from Hercules Capital were added to the initial $200 million in equity closed in November.
UC San Diego spin-off company receives
purchase orders for advanced sodium-ion batteries
UNIGRID Battery, a University of California, San Diego spin-off startup company, announced that it 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.
Zerigo Health appoints Tim Raducha-Grace as chief platform officer
Zerigo Health, a digital health platform for the treatment of chronic skin conditions, announced the appointment of Tim Raducha-Grace as chief platform officer.
Raducha-Grace 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.
San Diego federal judge confirmation delayed
The anticipated confirmation of a San Diego federal judge nominee has hit a snag. Marian Gaston was nominated by President Joe Biden in December 2022 and recommended by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 11-10 party-line vote in May. However, the full Senate failed to take a vote on her confirmation in the months that followed. Now, as the first congressional session closes, her nomination, along with several others, has been sent back to the White House. Biden will have to nominate her again in 2024 and send her back through committee.
