A development that would bring thousands of new homes to rural north San Diego County failed to get approval from the San Diego Board of Supervisor yesterday. But the Merriam Mountain project near Interstate 15 may be back on the agenda in January.

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency said Wednesday that five more people in San Diego County have died with symptoms that could be linked to the swine flu, bringing the total number of local deaths to 52.

The City Council today tentatively approved mid-year spending cuts proposed by Mayor Jerry Sanders to close San Diego's $179 million budget deficit that will result in about 200 city workers losing their jobs.

The Oceanside Unified School Board approved a policy Tuesday that clamps down on students who want to transfer to schools in other districts.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, told NPR on Wednesday that it is "probably realistic" that the Afghan government could assume primary responsibility for security within five years.

San Diego County plans to spend $322,000 a year for covered and secure parking spaces for District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis's staff.

San Diego State University has become the latest college to offer the Zipcar rental service. The program is intended to reduce pollution and car expenses.

Mexican federal authorities have released 12 Tijuana Municipal policemen who had been suspected of having ties to organized crime.

The neo-soul band Fitz & The Tantrums plays the Casbah this Friday night. Check out their stop-motion music video for the song "Winds of Change."

Generations of children have grown up watching and learning from "Sesame Street." The furry red monster, Elmo, and his friend Kevin Clash join Maureen Cavanaugh in studio and talk about what it's like to live on "Sesame Street" and the love children have for Elmo and the other Muppets.

Tonight the San Diego Asian Film Foundation presents its Quarterly film screening of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata" at 7:00 pm at the UltraStar Mission Valley Theaters as Hazard Center.

Local governments around the state are grappling with a proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries. We'll look at how the city of San Diego is planning to regulate these store fronts.

Redistricting is not a word that makes many hearts beat faster. But a new voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Committee could potentially make profound changes in California politics.

Just in time for Holiday toy shopping, we get a new look at how gender stereotypes can actually hinder a child's development. We'll speak with the author of PINK BRAIN/BLUE BRAIN about why girls need more Legos and boys need more time away from the computer.

The California Coastal Commission is considering a request by environmental groups to revoke a development permit for a company that wants to build a desalination plant in Carlsbad.

Democrats in the Senate inched closer to an agreement on health care, taking up the two biggest hurdles blocking overhaul legislation from a final vote: abortion and a government-sponsored public option.