San Diego

These are the top 15 school districts in San Diego County, according to Niche

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — One local school district has achieved recognition as the best in all of San Diego County and the third-best in California, according to Niche’s recently released 2025 Best Schools and Districts rankings. The rankings, which evaluated over 11,000 school districts nationwide, spotlighted San Dieguito Union High School District as a standout among 15 districts in the San Diego region and 300 across the state. Niche awarded the San Dieguito Union High School District an impressive overall grade of A+. The district excelled in several specific categories, receiving top marks in academics (A+), teachers (A+), college prep (A+), clubs and activities (A), sports (A), administration (A), as well as resources and facilities (A-). However, the school district received a B grading from Niche for food and a B+ in diversity. Hot-tober in full swing as extended heat wave hits Southern California With a student body of 12,615 enrolled in grades 7-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 25 to 1, the district has shown academic performance, with 66% of students achieving proficiency in math and 77% in reading, based on state test

Los Angeles

Elly Ross on launching candy shop featuring imported treats

Elly Ross on launching candy shop featuring imported treats – CBS News Watch CBS News At the grand opening of her candy shop in NYC, Elly Ross welcomed hundreds of customers wanting a taste of viral Swedish candy. The self-proclaimed “candy connoisseur” talks about what makes foreign treats stand out. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

DNA found in truck leads to suspect in girl’s 1995 abduction

Tracing family trees to catch killers Inside the genetic genealogy being used to solve crimes 13:49 Almost three decades after a 6-year-old girl was abducted in western Arkansas, modern forensic tests helped identify the suspect in her disappearance, authorities said this week. Morgan Nick was kidnapped from the parking lot of a Little League baseball field in the city of Alma, near the Oklahoma border, on the night of June 9, 1995, according to the Alma Police Department. At the time, detectives received a description of the suspect that alleged he drove a red truck with a white camper shell, which witnesses reported seeing in the area when Morgan vanished. Despite a massive investigation into her abduction that has continued into the present day, Morgan was never found. Law enforcement officers with local, state and federal agencies have since spent thousands of hours pursuing more than 10,000 leads in hopes of solving Morgan’s case, the Alma Police Department said Tuesday. Announcing a “major development” in the ongoing probe, police said the results of DNA testing on evidence gathered from that red truck finally confirmed the suspect’s identity. 

Los Angeles

Vance and Walz spar over gun control, economy, abortion at VP debate

Vance and Walz spar over gun control, economy, abortion at VP debate – CBS News Watch CBS News Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz took the stage Tuesday night for the only vice presidential debate before the November election. While a CBS News poll shows most viewers thought the debate had a generally positive tone, the two candidates sparred over domestic topics like the economy, gun control and abortion. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

“Mornings Memory:” The launch of “Big Brother”

“Mornings Memory:” The launch of “Big Brother” – CBS News Watch CBS News On this “Mornings Memory,” “Big Brother” premiered, changing the reality TV landscape forever. Eddie McGee and two runners-up share how the show impacted their lives. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

Tile’s Back With Trackers That One-Up AirTags

Remember Tile? They were one of the first Bluetooth tracking tags, and now they have four new products. The company—fresh off its Life360 acquisition—hopes to stand out in a world of AirTags and Android Trackers with unique features. Tile Mate is $25, has a 350-foot range, and a 3-year battery you can’t replace yourself. Tile Pro is the top-of-the-line model at $35. It has a 500-foot range and a battery that you can replace yourself. This is my pick since you get the best overall features for the price. Tile Slim can slip into a wallet, has a 350-foot range, and lasts 3 years on a single battery charge —you can’t replace it yourself. Tile Sticker is small enough to stick on an item like a remote control. It has a 350-foot range and a 3-year battery you can’t replace. Keep in mind that those ranges are based on Bluetooth. You’ll rely on Tile’s finding network when your phone isn’t near these tags. That’s one of the biggest differences between Apple and Android. Tile has its own tracking network based on the 70 million customers

Los Angeles

Early-morning shooting leaves man dead in San Gabriel Valley

An investigation is underway into the shooting death of a man in the Rowland Heights area of the San Gabriel Valley early Wednesday morning. The incident was reported shortly before 1:15 a.m. in the 18900 block of Labin Court, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. First responders arrived and pronounced the unidentified man dead at the scene. Homicide investigators are investigating but have yet to release any information regarding a suspect. Anyone with further information about the incident was asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 323-890-5500. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Los Angeles

New brush fire quickly stopped in northwest Los Angeles County

Firefighters responded to a new brush fire that was sparked in the hills of Castaic in Los Angeles County Wednesday morning. The crews were initially called to a 10-acre fire reported near Ridge Route Road and Lake Hughes Road, the Angeles National Forest posted on X, formerly Twitter, at 3:12 a.m. The blaze, dubbed the Lago Fire, quickly grew to about 25 acres by 4:09 a.m. A firefighter battles the Lago Fire in Castaic on Oct. 2, 2024. (KTLA) Crews respond to the Lago Fire in Castaic on Oct. 2, 2024. (KTLA) The Lago Fire in Castaic is seen in an image taken from video on Oct. 2, 2024. (Citizen) Firefighters worked quickly to build containment lines around the fire, the Angeles National Forest stated. Sky5 was overhead at 4:45 a.m. where crews had gained the upper hand on the fire, which was 50% contained. A large response of fire trucks could be seen along Lake Hughs Road where crews could monitor embers still burning in the brush. Shortly before 5:30 a.m., officials reported that forward progress had stopped and firefighters had successfully knocked down

Bay Area

Even eggplant skeptics will enjoy this comforting dish

Eggplants are part of the nightshade family. In the 16th century, many Europeans called eggplants “raging apples” because it could either be an aphrodisiac or potentially poisonous — due to it being a fruit from that same family. What a choice to have to make! According to my research, plants in the nightshade family can be medicinal or ornamental; some are spices, some are weeds. The edible nightshades — peppers, tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes — all have alkaloids in them, which can have positive effects on your health. Though there’s some controversy about them causing inflammation, it’s generally thought that the benefits far outweigh any possible side effects. Eggplant is low in fat, has antioxidants, like vitamin C, and polyphenols, which help reduce sugar absorption. So, why isn’t eggplant more popular? From a survey of my friends, most like the flavor of eggplant but either don’t really know how to cook it or only cook it once a year in a ratatouille. I like ratatouille but there’s so much more you can make with eggplant. You can stuff it; stir fry it with peppers, black

Bay Area

Quick Bake: Make these stunning Apple Rose Pastries for fall

PG&E will not have planned shutoffs in Bay Area SUBSCRIBER ONLY Quick Bake: Make these stunning Apple Rose Pastries for fall These sophisticated orange blossom-scented Apple Rose Pastries are incredibly easy to make, thanks to pre-made puff pastry dough. (Courtesy Blanche Shaheen) Perfumed with orange blossom water and spiked with cinnamon, these stunning apple pastries are a breeze to make, thanks to purchased puff pastry dough. Originally Published: October 2, 2024 at 6:30 a.m.

Bay Area

Bay Area disability rights activist receives MacArthur fellowship

San Francisco-based writer, editor and disability justice activist Alice Wong was recognized by the MacArthur Foundation this week with one of its prestigious fellowships for her work on increasing representation of people with disabilities. Wong, 50, was born with spinal muscular atrophy, where nerves in the brain and spinal cord break down, causing progressive weakness and atrophy in the muscles. As a disability rights advocate, she uses storytelling across various media platforms to share her own experiences and broadcast other people’s stories to reveal how ableist attitudes, policies and practices marginalize people with disabilities. “The systemic ableism that I and millions of us face every day tells us that we don’t matter, that our lives are too expensive and not worth saving,” Wong said in a video introducing herself as a 2024 MacArthur Fellow. “I want to change the way people think about disability from something one-dimensional and negative to something more complex and nuanced. “There’s such diversity, joy and abundance in the lived disabled experience. We are multitudes.” San Francisco-based writer, editor, and disability justice activist Alice Wong was recognized by the MacArthur Foundation

Bay Area

West Contra Costa Unified superintendent Dr. Kenneth Hurst announces retirement

SUBSCRIBER ONLY West Contra Costa Unified superintendent Dr. Kenneth Hurst announces retirement Hurst’s leaving the district to focus on caring for his ailing mother-in-law West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Hurst takes part in a community meeting regarding the closure of Stege Elementary School on Sunday, July 28, 2024, in El Cerito, Calif. The campus, which has been the subject of several complaints and a July 19 lawsuit over unsafe facility conditions was recently closed by the West Contra Costa Unified School District to repair environmental hazards. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) Hurst shared optimism for the future of the district in his retirement announcement. His last day will be in December, and the board is slated to discuss appointing his replacement in closed session Tuesday. Originally Published: October 2, 2024 at 6:15 a.m.

Bay Area

MacKenzie Scott donates $30 million to Bay Area affordable housing nonprofit

SUBSCRIBER ONLY MacKenzie Scott donates $30 million to Bay Area affordable housing nonprofit Housing Trust Silicon Valley focuses on housing finance through a public-private partnership model to develop affordable housing projects and first-time homebuyer assistance Mackenzie Scott, the world’s 18th-richest person with a $60.7 billion net worth, announced the latest gifts in a blog post, saying she asked her team to figure out how to give away her fortune faster. Scott’s wealth has climbed $23.6 billion this year alone, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as Amazon.com Inc, the primary source of her fortune, has surged. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Housing Trust Silicon Valley focuses on housing finance through a public-private partnership model to develop affordable housing projects and first-time homebuyer assistance Originally Published: October 2, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

Los Angeles

The week’s bestselling books, Oct. 6

Hardcover fiction 1. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $29) Two grieving brothers come to terms with their history and the people they love. 2. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” 3. Playground by Richard Powers (W. W. Norton & Co.: $30) The Pacific Ocean-set novel explores one of the last wild places we have yet to colonize. 4. The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk, Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Transl.) (Riverhead Books: $30) The Nobel Prize winner sets her latest novel in a sanitarium on the eve of World War I. 5. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (Random House: $30) A return to the town of Crosby, Maine, and its colorful cast of characters. 6. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $29) A woman upends her domestic life in this irreverent and tender novel. 7. Colored Television by Danzy Senna (Riverhead Books: $29) A novelist in L.A. gets the opportunity to cash in on her biracial background in this sharply funny Hollywood takedown. 8. Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (Scribner: $30) A seductive and cunning

Sacramento

Reep pleas not guilty in fatal shooting case

RED BLUFF –  One of three suspects accused of the murder of  Dominic Carrillo appeared in Tehama County Superior Court Tuesday Morning for an arraignment hearing. Nathan Olney Reep, 19, of Red Bluff, was charged with murder, alleged as first-degree murder.  His attorney entered a not-guilty.  Reep’s case is set for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 3, with a pre-preliminary hearing on Dec.  2.  According to District Attorney Matt Rogers, the first-degree means premeditated, willful and deliberate murder and carries with it a sentence of 25 years to life. Another of the accused, Blake Micheal Bush, 17, of Redding, was charged with murder, alleged as first-degree murder. Rogers said this charge comes with a special allegation, which also carries with it a sentence of an additional 25 years to life for the use of a firearm causing death. “We will be seeking to elevate Bush into adult court and try him as an adult,” the D.A. added. “State law prohibits us from doing so without judicial approval, which means it could take some time before a ruling is made on the issue.” Rogers elaborated further

Sacramento

Monster trucks headed to Red Bluff

RED BLUFF – The Monster Trucks will roar into town kicking off with a parade in downtown Red Bluff Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. Event organizers encourage attendees to show up early. The parade begins at Bob’s Tires on Walnut Street and continues to Main Street. It will then take a left to Growney Motors. Attendees can get photos with the trucks and autographs from the drivers. The 28th Annual West Coast Monster Truck Nationals will take place Oct. 4, 5 and 6 at the Tehama District County Fairgrounds on Antelope Boulevard in Red Bluff with 10 massive Monster Trucks showcasing and competing. David “Too Tall” Olfert is one of the participants back behind the wheel of a fan favorite, “Velociraptor.” Tyler Groth is another featured driver in “Double Trouble.” Also in the lineup are Veteran; First Responder; Rockwell RED; Rat Attack; Pretty Obsessed; Jurassic Attack; Kamikaze; and Obsessed. According to the 28th Annual West Coast Monster Truck Nationals representatives, “Monster Trucks will be battling it out with jaw-dropping stunts, heart-pounding races and epic destruction in Best Trick Contest, Monster Truck Racing and Freestyle.”

Sacramento

Beef Pot Roast with Maple Sweet Potatoes and Cider Gravy | Cattlewoman’s Corner

One boneless beef shoulder pot roast  (3 to 3- 1 2 pounds) Two teaspoons of olive oil 1 – 3/4 teaspoons salt, divided 3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided 1 cup chopped onion Two teaspoons chopped fresh thyme 1 cup ready-to-serve beef broth 3/4 cup apple cider 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled, cut crosswise into 1- to 1  1 / 2 -inch pieces Four cloves garlic, peeled Two tablespoons maple syrup One teaspoon fresh ginger Two tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons brandy or water 1. Heat oil in stockpot over medium heat until hot. Place beef pot roast in stockpot;  brown evenly.  Remove pot roast;  pour off drippings and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 / 2 teaspoon pepper. 2.  Add onion and thyme to stockpot; cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender.  Add broth and cider;  increase heat to medium-high.  Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until browned bits attached to stockpot are dissolved.  Return pot roast to stockpot; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover tightly, and simmer 2- 1/ 2 hours. 3.  Add sweet potatoes

Sacramento

Postal workers protest short staffing

On Tuesday, Area Local 960 joined American Postal Workers Unions all over the USA for a National Day of Action. Workers protested short staffing and public staffing. Red Bluff workers took part in the rally between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., while  protests occurred included Redding and Mt. Shasta in the afternoon Short staffing concerns include cutting post office hours of operation, along with postal employees, and encouraging the use of self-service machines in the lobbies. Public service centers on union concerns that the postal board of Governors and senior postal leaders are not being accountable to the public. It argues public has a right to voice their concerns and not be locked out of the Board of Governors’ quarter meetings.

Los Angeles

DNC chair reacts to vice presidential debate

DNC chair reacts to vice presidential debate – CBS News Watch CBS News Democratic National Committee chair Jaime Harrison spoke to “CBS Mornings” about the vice presidential debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance, and the state of the presidential race. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

Biden to visit the Carolinas as search for Helene survivors continues

Biden to visit the Carolinas as search for Helene survivors continues – CBS News Watch CBS News Officials say more than 160 people have been found dead in six states after Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast last week. On Wednesday, President Biden will visit North and South Carolina to survey the damage brought by the historic storm. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

How the port strike could impact consumers

How the port strike could impact consumers – CBS News Watch CBS News The 14 ports that shut down in a strike handle about 80% of the coffee, tea, spirits and beverage imports as well as about 60% of medical and surgical instruments coming into the U.S. While many businesses knew the strike was coming and stocked up in advance, the strike could cost the economy up to $5 billion per day. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On