Daily Business Report: February 21, 2024
‘A partner that never sleeps’:
Surveillance towers extend
Border Patrol’s California reach
By Wendy Fry | CalMatters
As California grapples with how much in state funds it should be spending on migrant humanitarian aid at its southern border, the U.S. federal government is pouring money into expanding its already extensive surveillance capabilities there.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to spend about $67.8 million acquiring 277 new surveillance towers and upgrading 191 existing towers along the entire 2,000-mile-long border over the next 14 years, the most recent federal contracts show. The agency has received more than $700 million in funding for surveillance since fiscal year 2017, according to a 2021report by the Office of Inspector General.
The spending comes as the Biden Administration is facing increased political pressure — from leaders in the Republican and Democratic parties — to take action at the border after illegal crossings soared to record highs last year. Border advocates are urging the state and federal governments to spend more on humanitarian aid, but state officials say they can’t afford to while facing a budget deficit.
Top Photo: Migrants stay in a makeshift camp in Jacumba Hot Springs in San Diego on Nov. 18, 2023. (Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters)
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Realtors host free property tax savings class
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) will present a free public education class on property tax savings opportunities for homeowners, seniors, families and disabled veterans from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the PSAR South County Service Center, 880 Canarios Court, Chula Vista. The public is invited to attend.
Presenters will include Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, and Jordan Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. At the class, information will be available on how homeowners can use tax portability to keep property taxes low if they decide to move, downsize or upgrade.
Voters approved a 2020 California ballot initiative that allows homeowners over age 55 to access property tax savings when moving their primary residence. Reservations can be made by calling (858) 286-6242.
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New Samsung Galaxy S24 Series now available to Cox Mobile customers
The newly released Galaxy S24 Series is officially available to Cox Mobile customers for preorder online and in Cox retail stores nationwide. Cox has eight store locations throughout San Diego County, including Chula Vista, Escondido, Hillcrest, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, San Diego and Santee. Samsung unveiled the newest generation of the Galaxy S24 Series and showcased how the company is transforming its smartphones to be smarter and more intuitive than ever before with Galaxy AI . With the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Series, Cox Mobile customers will experience Galaxy AI features like:
Live Translate — Real time, seamless translation via voice or text.
Circle to Search with Google — No need to articulate what you’re looking for. Get the information you want instantly by circling the object on your phone screen.
Generative Edit — When a person or object needs to be slightly moved to be in the perfect position, AI lets you adjust the position of the subject and generates a perfectly blended background in its original spot.
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How T cells combat tuberculosis
La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) is working to guide the development of new tuberculosis vaccines and drug therapies. Now a team of LJI scientists has uncovered important clues to how human T cells combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB. Their findings were published recently in Nature Communications.
“This research gives us a better understanding of T cell responses to different stages in tuberculosis infection and helps us figure out is there are additional diagnostic targets, vaccine targets, or drug candidates to help people with the disease,” says LJI Research Assistant Professor Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamm, who led the new research in collaboration with LJI Professors Bjoern Peters and Alessandro Sette.
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Sharp hospitals make Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list
For the second consecutive year, Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Women & Newborns and Sharp Chula Vista Center for Women & Newborns were named to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list. The distinction recognizes hospitals nationwide fot high-quality measures, such as low C-section rates, low newborn complications rates, and low early elective delivery rates, among other criteria.
Airport Authority welcomes three new board members
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority welcomed three new members to the Board of Directors — County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, Poway Mayor Steve Vaus, and Mr. Whitney Benzian of Coronado. Montgomery Steppe was appointed to the board on Jan. 9. Benzian was appointed to the board by the South County mayors on Jan. 16. Vaus was appointed to the board by the North County inland mayors on Jan. 26. Each new member will serve a three-year term ending January 2027.
La Mesa seeks proposals for Walkway of the Stars Mural Project
The City of La Mesa is seeking proposals for Walkway of the Stars Mural Project, a pedestrian walkway located between the Allison Avenue municipal parking lot and La Mesa Boulevard that was transformed into an urban park in downtown La Mesa in 2003. This project will create up to eight new murals along the walls of the walkway honoring La Mesa’s tradition of volunteerism. Deadline is March 4.
Kratos to attend Creative Disruptors in the Desert conference
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. announced that it will be a Visionary Sponsor of Creative Disruptors in the Desert, the Creative Defense Foundation’s inaugural conference to be hosted in La Quinta Feb. 23-24. National security leaders, entrepreneurs and innovative technology company representatives will address the conference.
General Atomics expands international collaborations
General Atomics, a defense and diversified technologies company with affiliates operating on five continents, is expanding its collaborations and partnerships across Japan with new investments in the nuclear energy and rare earth elements sectors. Numerous teaming arrangements are in the late stages of discussion and are set to be announced in early 2024. These partnerships will complement the company’s existing relationships as a long-term partner collaborating with Japanese industry and government agencies.
Bench International in strategic alliance with Ashton Tweed
Bench International, a leading global executive search firm, announces a “first of its kind” strategic alliance with Ashton Tweed, the East Coast-based life sciences leader in interim talent placement and retained search. This strategic alliance is a unique symbiotic relationship that brings additional resources and service offerings to each company’s client base. Bench International is a woman-founded executive search firm with a 49-year history serving the Life Science and Healthcare sectors
Baja Vida Snacks in partnership with NASCAR driver John Hunter Nemechek
Baja Vida Snacks, the trailblazing creators of bold, Baja-inspired snacks and seasonings announced a dynamic new partnership with NASCAR Xfinity driver John Hunter Nemechek. In the spirit of Baja Vida’s adventurous ethos, this partnership brings together the world of high-speed racing and daring culinary innovation. John Hunter Nemechek, a rising star in the world of NASCAR, embodies the spirit of adventure and boldness that Baja Vida stands for.
Quick Custom Intelligence and Pala Casino unveil the Pala PURL
In a landmark joint development and product launch, Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) and Pala Casino Spa & Golf Resort unveiled the Pala PURL, a revolutionary product for the casino industry. This unprecedented technology empowers players with instant access to their player accounts via their mobile devices, giving them the ability to self-comp (instantly redeem player points for free play, concert tickets, hotel rooms, food comps, and much more).
Angelo State University launches iGrad’s student financial literacy program
iGrad, a San Diego-based financial wellness solutions company, has partnered with Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas to provide its customized. interactive online and mobile student financial wellness platform to the public four-year university’s nearly 11,000 students. iGrad’s platform includes comprehensive customized and interactive information on everything from building and maintaining good credit, budgeting and money management to student loan/debt management and loan calculators.
Peter Vander Horn joins NanoCellect Biomedical
NanoCellect Biomedical, a leading pioneer in gentle microfluidic cell sorting technologies, announced the addition of Peter Vander Horn to their executive team as senior vice president of research & development. With an illustrious career marked by groundbreaking advancements in life sciences, Vander Horn’s expertise will further advance NanoCellect’s ability to deliver innovative solutions to the cellular research markets.
