Daily Business Report: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023
The most fuel efficient cars from 1975 to today
Visual Capitalist
When shopping for a new car, what is the most important factor you look for? According to
Statista, it’s not design, quality, or even safety—it’s fuel efficiency.
Because of this, automakers are always looking for clever ways to improve gas mileage in their cars. Beating the competition by even the slimmest of margins can give valuable bragging rights within a segment.
In this infographic, we’ve used data from the EPA’s 2022 Automotive Trends Report to list off the most fuel efficient cars from 1975 to today.
Downsizing
Prior to 2000, the best way for automakers to achieve good fuel efficiency was by downsizing. Making cars smaller (lighter) meant they could also be fitted with very small engines.
For example, the 1985 Chevrolet Sprint was rated at 49.6 MPG, but had a sluggish 0-60 time of 15 seconds.
Hybrids
The 2000s saw the introduction of mass-market hybrid vehicles like the Honda Insightand Toyota Prius. By including a small battery to support the combustion engine, automakers could achieve good MPGs without sacrificing so heavily on size.
While the Insight achieved better fuel economy than the Prius, it was the latter that became synonymous with the term “hybrid.” This was largely due to the Prius’ more practical 4-door design.
Photos: 1975 Honda Civic, top, and 1980 VW Rabbit diesel
Thieves drain millions off CalFresh and CalWorks
recipients’s cards, families wait and taxpayers pay
by Jeanne Kuang | CalMatters
The first time it happened to Courtney Abrams, hardly anyone believed her.
Someone had drained the more than $700 in cash aid and nearly $200 in food stamps from the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card the 33-year-old single mother received from the state, just minutes after those monthly payments appeared in her account.
Abrams never got to spend a dime of it,though she hadn’t lost her card.
Abrams, a West Los Angeles College student, called the card company’scustomer service line that day to dispute the mystery transactions. She got a replacement card from the county and filed a police report.It took a couple of weeks for money to be loaded onto her new card. She also changed the PIN.
That was last March. In September it happened again. This time it took a month to get her money back, she said.
In November it happened again. Now she changes her PIN every month, the night before she gets her benefits, hoping to outsmart the thieves.
Alaska Airlines expands San Diego
network with new coast-to-coast nonstops
Alaska Airlines is adding new, daily nonstop flights between San Diego and both Washington, D.C. and Tampa. Service to Washington, D.C. starts June 15, and service to Tampa begins on Oct. 5. The airline also is adding new daily nonstop service between San Diego and Eugene, Oregon on June 15.
All flights from San Diego offer a three-class cabin. Guests in First Class and Premium Class enjoy early boarding and the most generous legroom of all domestic carriers. First Class offers complimentary hot meals based on a seasonal menu with a range of fresh, bright West Coast-inspired flavors along with a variety of beverages. Flyers in Premium Class can also take advantage of complimentary cocktails, hand-selected wines and local beers.
Wi-Fi is available for only $8 on most flights and offers streaming-fast speeds on most mainline flights. And all guests can stay connected with family and friends while in the air with free texting.
MiraCosta celebrates groundbreaking
for new Media Arts Complex
MiraCosta College will conduct a groundbreaking event on Feb.27 for its new $25.9 million Media Arts Complex at the Oceanside campus. The new facility will support certificate and degree programs in the arts, including Art History, Digital Photography, Museum Studies, Studio Arts, and media arts and technologies, including Graphic Design and Digital Media.
The San Diego Workforce Partnership has identified digital media as one of the top career subsectors in San Diego County. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in arts and design occupations will grow four percent through 2030. About 94,500 arts and design openings each year, on average, are projected to come from growth and replacement needs.
The design/build team is Balfour Beatty/HMC Architects. Landscape architect is Schmidt Design.
USD’s master’s program in law enforcement
and public safety ranked among best in U.S.
University of San Diego’s online master’s program in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership (LEPSL) was ranked 22nd in the country in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings, the fifth straight year it has been recognized as one of the nation’s best online criminal justice graduate degrees.
U.S. News also ranked the program 13th among criminal justice programs for veterans. The program launched in 2015 with an aim to develop ethical and innovative law enforcement leaders through a curriculum that addresses the most pressing challenges facing public safety agencies today. More than 1,000 law enforcement professionals have enrolled in the program since it started.
Salk researchers identify factor contributing
to diabetes-associated peripheral neuropathy
Approximately half of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes experience peripheral neuropathy—weakness, numbness, and pain, primarily in the hands and feet. The condition occurs when high levels of sugar circulating in the blood damage peripheral nerves. Now, working with mice, Salk Institute researchers have identified another factor contributing to diabetes-associated peripheral neuropathy: altered amino acid metabolism.
The team found that diabetic mice with low levels of two related amino acids, serine and glycine, are at higher risk for peripheral neuropathy. What’s more, the researchers were able to alleviate neuropathy symptoms in diabetic mice by supplementing their diets with serine.
The study, published January 25, 2023 in Nature adds to growing evidence that some often-underappreciated, “non-essential” amino acids play important roles in the nervous system. The findings may provide a new way to identify people at high risk for peripheral neuropathy, as well as a potential treatment option.
Krystal Weaver elevated to shareholder at Littler
Krystal Weaver, attorney in the San Diego office of Littler, an employment and labor law firm representing management, has been elevated to shareholder.
Weaver focuses her practice on ederal and state Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) law and regularly assists employers with a wide range of complex situations in the workplace.
Weaver frequently represents employers in OSHA appeals, settlement conferences and hearings, and is well-versed in responding to written complaints and requests for information, including by the Bureau of Investigations.
Weaver earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law, her M.Ed. from Chapman University and her B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of San Diego.
Grant awarded to SDHC affiliate to support
homeownership program for people of color
SAN DIEGO — A new grant awarded to a San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) nonprofit affiliate will provide additional financial support for expanded efforts to help more people of color become homeowners in the City of San Diego. The $184,000 grant from the National
Fair Housing Alliance will provide funds for programs that help households of color prepare for homeownership and/or purchase a home. These activities include debt reduction, credit counseling, peer mentors, homeownership navigators and community educators, as well as down payment or closing cost assistance grants and credit-building loans.
Sony Electronics unveils two 4K
IP-based pan-tilt zoom cameras
SAN DIEGO — Sony Electronics is expanding its lineup of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras with the addition of two 4K models with built-in AI analytics. The SRG-A40 and SRG-A12 cameras automatically and consistently track, and naturally frame presenters, regardless of movement or posture, for seamless content creation and control – all without operating a computer. The new Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) Auto Framing technology features automatic operation for quick object tracking and rediscovery, as well as multiple Auto Framing options. Highlights of the cameras include image quality with automation, the flexibility of IP, powerful zoom, remote control, and easy configuration and operation
Petco unifies customer memberships
under “Vital Care’ program
SAN DIEGO — Petco Health and Wellness Company Inc. announced it will unify over 24 million subscribers within a two-tiered offering under itsVital Care program. Vital Care sits at the intersection of value and loyalty and provides pet parents with a seamless connection to Petco’s differentiated merchandise and services offerings, while driving repeat visits and engagement. The free membership tier, “Vital Care Core,” and paid membership tier, “Vital Care Premier,” make it more convenient, accessible and affordable for pet parents to tap into every resource Petco offers across more than 1,500 Petco pet care centers, petco.com and the Petco app.
Aethlon Medical contracts with NAMSA to
advance Hemopurifier clinical programs in cancer
SAN DIEGO — Aethlon Medical Inc., a company developing medical technology to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, has entered into an agreement with NAMSA, a world leading MedTech Contract Research Organization (CRO) offering global end-to-end development services, to oversee the company’s clinical trials investigating the Hemopurifier, Aethlon’s immunotherapeutic device, for oncology indications. NAMSA will manage Aethlon’s study of the Hemopurifier for patients in the United States and Australia with various types of cancer tumors. It is anticipated the initial clinical trials will begin in Australia.
Planet Based Foods to offer
its ‘superfoods’ in select stores
SAN DIEGO — Planet Based Foods Global Inc. has reached an agreement with major southwestern grocery retailer, Fry’s Food and Drug , to offer Planet Based Foods’ nutrient-rich “superfoods” in select stores. Fry’s is a popular grocery retail chain based out of Arizona, and offers a wide array of bakery items, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, and liquor. As of late, Fry’s has begun offering more sustainable and health-conscious foods.
Mitek adds Scott Carter as executive chairperson
SAN DIEGO – Mitek, a global leader in digital identity and digital fraud prevention, announced the addition of Scott Carter as executive chairperson of the board, a new position created to take full advantage of expanding growth opportunities in the field of identity verification. As executive chairperson, Carter will provide leadership and direction to the board and work with Mitek CEO Max Carnecchia to provide expertise with respect to the company’s strategy and future growth. Carter has served as a member of Mitek’s Board of Directors since March 2022 and has previously acted as a special adviser to Carnecchia and the board.
