April 2025

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By Richard Carrico

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

April 2, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego denizen and resident Richard L. Carrico pieces fragments of evidence together for cold cases, while shedding light on a dark chapter in San Diego's history.

Monsters on the Loose tells the tragic, true stories of three females who were murdered early in 1931: Virginia Brooks, Louise Teuber, and Hazel Bradshaw.

Story and photos by Karen Pearlman

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Photo, left:  Padre Dam Municipal Water District board members Kim Hales (who represents Alpine) and Suzanne Till share information with ratepayers on Sunday afternoon, March 30, at The Alpine Club.

April 1, 2025 (Alpine) – Just a few days before San Diego County Water Authority will give presentation to the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Wednesday about wholesale water rates in 2026 and 2027, Alpine residents gathered to share some concerns about rate increases, as well as fire safety and water purification.

Two Padre Dam directors spoke Saturday at The Alpine Club. Alpine resident Anne Craig spearheaded the March 30 visit that brought Dr. Suzanne Till, who serves in Padre Dam’s Division 2 area, and Kim Hales, who oversees Division 4, including Alpine.

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By G. A. McNeeley

April 1, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — Some student loan borrowers are seeing their payment plans get suspended, which means their payments are rising. This has to do with changes at the Education Department implemented by President Donald Trump’s Administration. 

Approximately 43 million Americans have some kind of student loan debt, according to Newsweek. 

The Education Department reported that Americans collectively have $1.5 trillion in student debt nationwide. 

Mayor Snow presented proclamation to Roberto Alvarez, son of plaintiff in landmark legal case

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By Karen Pearlman

Photo:  mural artist Mario Chacon, by Christina Alvarez

April 1, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Mario Chacon stood near the mural he painted three years ago with two assistants in Lemon Grove, and paused to give some thought on what the artwork represents.

The mural on the side of the building at 7963 Broadway depicts the story of one of the first historic successful public school desegregation cases in the United States.

Residential customers will receive the first two installments of bill credits this month; electric and gas-bill credits total more than $200 per household for 2025. 

Source:  SDG&E

March 31, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego Gas & Electric® residential customers will get a break on their energy bill, thanks to the California Climate Credit administered by the California Public Utilities Commission as a result of the state’s effort to fight climate change. In April, residential electric customers and qualifying small businesses(link is external) will see a $81.38 credit on their statement. Residential customers with natural gas will also receive a $54.21 credit on the same statement.  

East County News Service

March 30, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Historical Society’s “History Alive” lecture series continues this Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. with local author Sandra Bonura speaking about her new book, Empire Building: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego. 

The event will be held at the H. Lee House in Treganza Park, 3205 Olive St., Lemon Grove.

Sugar mogul, newspaper publisher and railroad baron,  Spreckels was at the forefront of innovation and building San Diego. In the early 20^th century, one in 15 San Diegans worked for a company owned by Spreckels.