'Surf Divas' Cultivate Wave Riding Skills and Female Empowerment

During these hot days of summer, the number of women and girls on surfboards seems to grow each year. Locally, the Surf Diva Surf School in La Jolla, owned by two sisters, is partly responsible. Rebecca Tolin has the story.

  Harbor Drive Waterfront Park Development Slotted for 2009

It could be a first. The county may take a parking lot and turn it into a park. That's the plan the supervisors have for a creating a waterfront park surrounding the County Administration Building on Harbor Drive. Amita Sharma gets a look at the plans and finds out what it could take to make it happen.

  Obesity's Link to Social Relationships

Eating and exercise habits can play a role in obesity, but so can friendship. Scientists at UC San Diego and Harvard Medical School say obesity may be “socially contagious” -- and that a person's chance of becoming obese increases by 171 percent if close friends or family are obese.

  Entrepreneur Wants to Build Floating Airport Off San Diego Coast

A local company has laid claim to 40,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean from Mexico to Santa Barbara extending out 200 miles. The intent of Ocean Works Development is to build a floating international airport 10 miles off the coast of San Diego. We'll hear from entrepreneur Adam Englund about his dream to build an airport out in the ocean.

  "Hiring Heroes" Program Matches Injured Vets With Jobs

When wounded soldiers come home from Iraq and take off the uniform, it can be a difficult to resume their lives and find a job. That's why a Department of Defense program called “Hiring Heroes” is working to match injured vets with jobs. For the first time, the organization is bringing a career fair west of the Mississippi to San Diego. Full Focus reporter Heather Hill has the story.

  Retinoic Acid Holds Promise to Treat Arthritis, Colitis, Psoriasis

Local researchers have found a potential role for retinoic acid, a substance derived when Vitamin A is broken down in the body, to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. We'll talk with the scientist who led the research team about the promise retinoic acid holds to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and psoriasis.

  Dogfighting in San Diego

The arrest of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has brought to the surface the grisly underground culture of dogfighting. We'll talk with Lietenant Dan Desousa with the San Diego County Department of Animal Services about this vicious culture and if it is a problem in San Diego County.

  Suit: S.D. County Excludes Some Poor to Receive Affordable Care

San Diego County is mandated by state law to provide medical care for the county's poorest. A class-action lawsuit said the county excludes many poor patients who exceed the income cap. The state appeals court said the county program violates state law, and the county should take into account people who make more than the caps -- at that time $1,078/mo for a single person.

  20 Years' Worth of Great Tony Gwynn Photographs

In this segment we present a dozen or so photos of Tony Gwynn at various times in his career. Sean Haffey has covered Gwynn through photos for the last 20 years. He chased him around the country when he was close to getting his 3,000th hit, which happened in a nearly empty stadium in Montreal. Sean talks about being a sports photographer; he has also covered the Chargers and the Olympics.

  Well-Connected Pair May Have Acted as Public Agents in Shady Deal

Mike Madigan, a consultant and former policy director to Mayor Pete Wilson, and Paul Nieto, former president of EastLake Co., netted over a half-million dollars selling a duplex to the San Diego Community College District. The City Attorney (and perhaps the District Attorney) are looking into allegations of fraud: that the pair misrepresented themselves as agents of the district to the original seller.

  Political Unrest at the San Diego Unified School District

After Jose Betancourt, the CFO of the San Diego Unified School District, pled guilty to violating federal conflict-of-interest laws, some trustees demanded his resignation. Superintendent Carl Cohn resisted.

  Reversing Substandard Care For California Veterans

Some of California's injured veterans are getting substandard care. Wade Sanders, who was recently appointed to advise Lt. Governor John Garamendi on veterans and military affairs, will discuss what needs to be done to help the veterans.

  Project Censored Highlights Under-Reported Stories of the Year

Project Censored, a Sonoma State University initiative, looks at the stories mainstream media ignores: the news that doesn't make The News. The group says the media self-censors itself, and large-scale PR firms are the fountainhead of much of our news. Joanne Faryon has more.

  Controversial Development in San Marcos

A $1 billion mixed-use development is raising community hackles in San Marcos. Known as Palomar Station, the controversial project would be built on what is now an industrial district across from Palomar College. Plans call for 333 condos above ground-level retail shops and restaurants, plus office buildings. Opponents say the project is immoral because residents could be subjected to cancer risks from toxins produced by nearby industrial businesses.

  Tremors Precede Possible Battle Over Tijuana Sewage Treatment

A battle is brewing between competing plans to treat Tijuana sewage that fouls San Diego waters. Bajagua LLC, a start-up company with no experience in treating waste water, plans to build and operate a treatment plant in Mexico. Bajagua has missed important deadlines, and officials are questioning whether it can succeed.

  San Diegans Remember the War | Part 8: The Voice of the Padres

As part of our ongoing series, San Diegans Remember The War, we bring you the World War Two memories of Jerry Coleman, the voice of the Padres.

  Brain Injuries Shackle Returning Marines With Invisible Wounds

Brain trauma has become the “signature injury” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Full Focus reporter Heather Hill has more on how a local partnership is leading Camp Pendleton Marines down the path of recovery.

  What the Water Shortage Means

Years of drought and problems with the State Water Project may force cutbacks in California's water supply. We'll find out from the San Diego County Water Authority what it means for San Diego.

  'Other Way' Border Crossers Go South For Work and School

Every day, thousands of Mexicans wait in line to cross the international boundary and come to work in San Diego. But we rarely hear about San Diegans doing the same thing in reverse: crossing the border to go to work or school in Mexico. Reporter Adriana Alcaraz brings us the story.

  San Diego Company Grows Algae For Renewable Biofuel

Oil is a finite resource with a growing demand. So what other renewable resources will help power the world of tomorrow? We hear a lot about ethanol. But a San Diego-linked company says algae could be the next big biofuel that powers our engines. Craig Harting from Global Green Solutions tells us about how its growing algae in vertical bioreactors.