Daily Business Report: June 24, 2024
Still need your landline?
California regulators just
stopped AT&T
from pulling the plug
By Khari Johnson | CalMatters
California’s Public Utilities Commission rejected AT&T’s application to stop providing landlines and other services in areas where there is no other option. Its 4-0 vote came after a judge determined the application by AT&T California was “fatally flawed.”
AT&T is the “carrier of last resort” for California, an official designation that means it covers most major cities, rural communities, and the land of more than 100 tribal governments. To find out if your home is in that area visit this website. The commission first labeled AT&T a carrier of last resort nearly three decades ago.
More than a dozen speakers during the public comment period at last week’s meeting supported keeping AT&T’s carrier-of-last resort designation and landlines. Previously, more than 5,000 public comments were written in response to AT&T’s application and nearly 6,000 people attended eight public forums held earlier this year. Numerous commenters said that, due to inconsistent cell coverage in their area, their landline is their primary means of communication with family, medical providers, and the outside world in the event of an emergency. Those concerns are particularly important for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and people who say they are sensitive to electromagnetic activity.
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Three San Diegans appointed judges on the San Diego Superior Court bench
Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed three San Diego County residents to the San Diego Superior Court bench to fill vacancies created by judicial retirements.
Kelly Mertsoc has served as a commissioner at the San Diego County Superior Court since 2011. She was a sole Practitioner from 2001 to 2011 and an associate at the Law Office of Cheryl Tomac in 2001. She was an associate at the Law Office of Daniel V. Burke from 2000 to 2001. Mertsoc earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert P. Dahlquist. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2025. Mertsoc is a Democrat.
Rosy Meyerowitz has served as a commissioner at the San Diego County Superior Court since 2022. She served as a managing attorney and research attorney at the San Diego County Superior Court from 2015 to 2022. Meyerowitz was an associate at Woolf, Gafni & Fowler LLP from 2013 to 2015. She served as a graduate law clerk and Deputy District Attorney at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2012. Meyerowitz earned a Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Patricia Garcia. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2025. Meyerowitz is registered without party preference.
Kristopher Young has served as a supervising deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General since 2010. He served as a lieutenant colonel, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps from 2012 to 2024. Young was an Associate at Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP from 2007 to 2010. He served as a Captain, Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002 to 2007. Young earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in Professional Military Education from the Marine Corps University Command and Staff College. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gary M. Bubis. Young is a Democrat.
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First-gen Chemistry student awarded
fellowship for cancer drug research
Alyssa Gomez is not afraid of navigating unfamiliar paths. She came to San Diego State University as a first-gen student with a range of interests before deciding to pursue chemistry.
Today, as a rising senior, she possesses a year of lab experience, has presented her work at several conferences and is conducting research to improve cancer treatment through a fellowship from Pfizer.
Gomez has an innate love of learning. Her parents recognized her passion for school and habit of maintaining good grades as signs she should go to college.
“I didn’t really know what that looked like because they didn’t go to college themselves and their parents didn’t. Their parents immigrated here from Mexico and Nicaragua and Puerto Rico,” Gomez said. “I just always did my best in school.”
In high school, she took a host of AP and honors classes, studying subjects from economics to world history. Chemistry was one of her favorites but without in-depth exposure to the field, she wasn’t sure how to apply the concepts.
“I didn’t know how you get from high school chemistry to researching cancer,” she said. “I didn’t think I could just go and do that.”
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San Diego Community College District Board
of Trustees approves $1.03 billion budget
A tentative budget of almost $1.03 billion has been approved by the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees, representing an increase of almost $14 million over the previous year as the district continues to see enrollment growth at its four colleges. The district’s tentative budget represents a starting point for discussions of how it can best serve approximately 80,000 students at City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges. The district’s enrollment has increased by 12 percent since last year.
The new fiscal year begins July 1. All California community colleges are required to adopt a tentative budget by June 30th and a final adopted budget by Sept. 15 each fiscal year
To protect against swings in the California budget, the district’s budget includes a 17 percent reserve, a policy the district’s Governing Board committed to in 2021. The Legislative Analyst’s Office is estimating a $45 billion deficit in the 2024-25 state budget.
GSK acquires Elsie Biotechnologies for $50 million
After a year of research collaboration with Elsie Biotechnologies, pharma giant GSK has bought the San Diego startup for $50 million to expand its oligonucleotide therapeutics R&D capabilities. GSK will retain and grow Elsie’s team as it develops predictive models for future oligonucleotide design using AI and machine learning, with a focus on diseases with large patient populations.
San Diego Wave FC partners with LaCroix
Sparkling water company LaCroix joins San Diego Wave FC as the club’s first-ever back-of-training kit and official sparkling water partner. The multi-year partnership includes LaCroix’s support for the Wave’s Festival de Futbol Femenil, a first-class girls-only soccer tournament that provides aspiring uoung players with opportunities to showcase their talents and pursue their professional soccer dreams.
SDG&E awards 30 local environmental organizations $1 million in grants
Committed to driving positive environmental change through collaborations with local organizations, SDG&E will award close to$1 million to 30 regional nonprofits through its Environmental Champions Award Grants. This year, more than85 percent of the grants are set to benefit diverse and underserved populations and will support habitat restoration, urban greening, and biodiversity projects.
San Diego Foundation announces $875,000 in grants for family nonprofits
The San Diego Foundation and the connected San Diego Women’s Foundation announced $875,000 in grant awards to local nonprofits that provide mental and behavioral health services and support to children, youth and families. Those grants are through the SDF Healthy Children & Families Initiative, intended to support “expanded access to critical services for children, youth and families in our region,” a statement from the foundation read. Since launching the initiative in 2021, SDF has granted more than $1.1 million to local nonprofits.
Stock offering for RNA specialist Avidity Biosciences raises $461 million
Avidity Biosciences, a Torrey Pines biopharmaceutical company, has closed its underwritten public offering of 12.13 million shares of common stock.That includes 1.58 million shares soldpursuant to the underwriters’ full exercise of options to purchase additional shares, at a price to the public of $38.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Avidity from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other expenses, were approximately $461 million. The stock was trading at $37.76, down 1.47 percent, at midday Thursday, but has been on an upward trajectory since late February.
An’s Dry Cleaning in North Park named Best Ice Cream Shop in America
An’s Dry Cleaning in North Park was named the best independent ice cream shop in the country by USA Today. The shop, which opened in 2018 and was named after the dry cleaning business it replaced at 3017 Adams Ave., bumped up in USA Today’s annual ice cream shop rankings from last year, when it placed second. “The made-from-scratch gelato flavors at An’s Dry Cleaning are named after fabrics, like taffeta and twill, as an homage to the dry cleaning business that originally inhabited the historic 1934 building,” USA Today wrote. “The rotating menu offers options such as mango and peaches, macadamia, and lavender with honey and oats.”
Cryo Sculpting Lab announces franchise
opportunity in non-invasive body contouringCryo Sculpting Lab (CSL), a pioneer in non-invasive body contouring, is excited to announce its new franchise opportunity, offering entrepreneurs a chance to own a business in the rapidly growing health and wellness industry. Specializing in cutting-edge fat freezing treatments, CSL provides a proven business model designed for high profitability and scalability. The CSL franchise requires a minimal initial investment, starting at just $49,750, which includes a state-of-the-art cryo sculpting machine and an $18,000franchise fee. Entrepreneurs can begin operations in a compact 150-square-foot space, such as a private suite or shared salon, eliminating the need for large, costly build-outs.
VIIA launches innovative new gummy lineup
VIIA, a leading force in the cannabis industry, today announced a new lineup of federally legal cannabis gummies that incorporate botanical supplements and functional mushrooms at varying THC potency levels. This makes VIIA the first-ever cannabis company to offer effect-based gummies while giving consumers strength-based options.
This exciting announcement comes just two days after the company’s rebrand and website relaunch, showcasing VIIA’s commitment to providing a personalized, curated experience for the modern-day cannabis consumer.
Juice Division Records inks deal with BMG affiliate Too Lost
Juice Division Records LLC CEO & Artist Juice Lee recently signed a publishing deal with Too Lost publishing LLC, a new emerging publishing company representing rights for songs including 6x platinum “Jocelyn Flores” by XXXTENTACION & the certified gold “BEEF” by Flo Milli, with publishing interest in Nic D, Emily Vaughn and more, all of which are administered by BMG.
Sempra appoints Jennifer M. Kirk to board of directors
Sempra announced the appointment of Jennifer M. Kirk to the company’s board of directors. Kirk is currently the global controller and chief accounting officer of Medtronic plc and has deep executive experience in finance, accounting and capital market activities, including more than 20 years in the energy industry. Before joining Medtronic, Kirk, 49, worked at Occidental Petroleum Corporation for more than two decades, serving in roles of increasing responsibility, including senior vice president of integration and value capture, and vice president, controller and principal accounting officer.
Mercury Insurance turns up volume at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Mercury Insurance, a longtime supporter of live music, will be amping up the summer concertgoing experience at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre (NICUA) in San Diego. Music lovers will have more than just music to enjoy during NICUA concerts, with fan experiences designed to excite the eyes as well as the ears. A key feature of the sponsorship is an art installation from world-renowned muralist Nigel Sussman, who created a 75-foot mural that blends San Diegolandmarks, music and fanciful characters that will delight fans of all ages.
