Daily Business Report: February 26, 2024
Why does California elect local judges?
By Sameea Kamal | CalMatters
When you’re voting for a state legislator or a state officer like the governor, you can evaluate them based on their voting record, policy positions and campaign websites. But finding information on local judges can be trickier.
California’s method of selecting judges depends on the court level: For the higher level state Supreme Court and appeals courts, the governor appoints judges, sometimes based on the recommendation of a State Bar commission. They must be confirmed with a vote in the next general election, and run for re-election after their first term.
But for trial courts — the Superior Court judges that citizens are most likely to interact
with, voters directly decide who takes the bench for their county. These judges serve six-year terms and rule in both criminal and civil cases on issues ranging from traffic violations to divorces. There are some special circumstances that apply to voting for Superior Court judges:
- These races happen only in even-numbered years;
- If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, they are declared the winner and there is no runoff in November;
- If an incumbent judge is running unopposed, their name will not appear on the ballot;
- If there is a vacancy, the governor appoints someone, which is how most trial court judges reach the bench.
Top photo: A courtroom at the San Diego County Superior Court in San Diego on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters)
________________________________________
Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group
returns from Western Pacific deployment
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, returned to its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island on Friday, following a four-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
Carl Vinson is joined by two other CSG-1 ships, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104), which returned to their homeport of Naval Base San Diego.
The strike group departed for the scheduled deployment from San Diego Oct. 12, 2023, to sail and maneuver across the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations. While in 7th Fleet, CSG-1 participated in and supported numerous bilateral and multinational maritime exercises in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
________________________________________
Muscle as a heart-health predictor
By Joseph McClain | UC San Diego
Body composition — often expressed as the amount of fat in relation to muscle — is one of the standard predictors of cardiac health. Now, new research from the University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science indicates more muscle doesn’t automatically mean lower risk of heart trouble.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found all muscle isn’t the same. Britta Larsen, PhD, says men with a higher area of abdominal muscle have a greater risk of cardiac trouble. It’s a completely different story for men with greater muscle density. The denser the muscle, the better: Men with the densest muscle in their abdominal cavity had about one quarter the risk of coronary heart disease later on.
________________________________________
MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute
launches tech programs with employment placement
MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute (TCI) announces the addition of groundbreaking technical programs, each accompanied by comprehensive employment placement assistance and materials designed to prepare students for immediate entry into high-demand sectors.
TCI, with substantial backing from the Lowe’s Foundation through a $500,000 grant, is now offering state-of-the-art HVAC and Electrical Certificate Programs. These programs address the increasing need for skilled technicians in the energy efficiency and electrical work domains, crucial for California’s growing infrastructure.
________________________________________
Jonathan Derby takes executive director position
at PLNU’s Center for Justice and Reconciliation
Jonathan Derby, an experience lawyer, adjunct professor and nonprofit leader, has been named executive director of the Center for Justice and Reconciliation at Point Loma Nazarene University. A graduate of Pepperdine Caruso School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree, Derby worked 14 years with organizations in India to help the most vulnerable access to justice.
Derby launched Counsel to Secure Justice in Delhi, India, an organization that provides legal support and restorative care to children who experience sexual harm. Most recently, he served as special adviser for restorative justice for Prison Fellowship International, where he focused on educating and building capacity among global partners on restorative justice concepts and best practices.
________________________________________
Whole Foods Market to locate in downtown skyscraper
Upscale supermarket chain Whole Foods Market will open a location in downtown San Diego at the Front & A project at 201 West A St., project developer Holland Partner Group confirmed to the Union-Tribune. The high-end grocery tenant is set to take over roughly 50,000 square feet of ground-floor and mezzanine space at the base of the 34-story, residential tower, according to a permit application submitted to the city of San Diego in December.
________________________________________
San Diego County Credit Union returns as spelling bee sponsor
San Diego County Credit Union returns as a sponsor of the San Diego County Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, presented in collaboration with the San Diego County Office of Education and ABC 10News on March 14, at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA. The spelling bee is open to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in public or private school with a combined enrollment of 30 or more children. The winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to compete in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Tiger Woods in partnership with Carlsbad’s TaylorMade Golf
Five weeks after Tiger Woods and Nike announced their relationship had ended after 27 years, the 48-year-old Woods said it was “the right time in my life” to develop his own brand in an expanded partnership with TaylorMade Golf, which is headquartered in the city of Carlsbad. The brand is called “Sun Day Red,” and men’s apparel — golf shirts, hoodies, outerwear — will be available online in the United States and Canada starting May 1. The plan is to expand his line to include footwear, along with women and kid’s apparel.
Panda diplomacy is back with help fro San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
For the first time in more than two decades, the China Wildlife Conservation Association signed an agreement to send a pair of black and white pandas to the San Diego Zoo. Long seen as a symbol of the U.S.-China friendship, the male and female berars are expected to arrive by the end o0f the summer. The partnership also includes conservation-related research on disease prevention and habitat protection contributing to China’s panda park construction.
General Atomics secures $4 billion aircraft sale to India
Leading defense company General Atomics received the U.S. State Department’s approval to sell India 31 remotely piloted military aircraft from its affiliate General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. The $4 billion deal also includes 170 Hellfire air-to-ground missilies, 310 laser small diameter bombs, ground control stations, and logistics and program support services. San Diego-based GA is the world’s largest private participant in fusion energy research.
Dexcom, San Diego Wave expand partnership
San Diego Wave FC will represent Dexcom in its home and away kits as the club expands its partnership with the local medtech giant. In addition to being the official continuous glucose monitoring and biosensing partner of Wave FC, Dexcom will be featured on the club’s jersey sleeve, and is a presenting sponsor of all its corner kicks.
Vector Medical secures $16 million Series A funding
Vector Medical, a pioneer in non-invasive, AI-based arrhythmia analysis technology, announced a $16 million Series A investment co-led by Solas BioVentures and TVM Capital Life Science. This funding underscores investor confidence in Vektor’s vision and ability to successfully execute its mission to revolutionize arrhythmia care. Funding will support the commercialization of vMap, Vektor’s AI-based arrhythmia analysis tool, which is transforming how EPs approach ablation procedures.
U.S. completes $134 million modernization project at Otay border crossing
The federal government has completed a $134 million modernization and expansion project at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry that includes more processing capacity for both pedestrians and commercial vehicles. The project — which started in May 2020 — represents the largest investment at the port of entry since 1986. Some major stages of the project were completed last year, but the agency announced the project’s overall completion Thursday.
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation donates $50,000 to MESA Foundation
The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation presented representatives of the MESA Foundation with a donation in the amount of $50,000. The mission of MESA Foundation is to raise awareness for charitable causes in San Diego by partnering local charities with Aztec student-athletes who chose to use their social media platforms and influence to bring awareness to organizations. Sycuan is one of the first corporate partners of the MESA Foundation and further amplifies support for San Diego State University.
24 Hour Fitness extends partnership with San Diego Wave FC
24 Hour Fitness announced it has extended and expanded its partnership with San Diego Wave FC delivering a premium level of support and enthusiasm with the 2023 NWSL Shield winners as the new back of kit partner. This is 24 Hour Fitness’ flagship partnership with women’s soccer teams in 2024, intended to foster better representation in sport and to drive stronger community connections in 24 Hour Fitness’ hometown.
