In 1851, word spreads across the country of a beautiful area of California’s Yosemite Valley, attracting visitors who wish to exploit the land’s scenery for commercial gain and those who wish to keep it pristine. Among the latter is a Scottish-born wanderer named John Muir, for whom protecting the land becomes a spiritual calling. In 1864, Congress passes an act that protects Yosemite from commercial development for “public use, resort and recreation” — the first time in world history that any government has put forth this idea — and hands control of the land to California.

Electricity customers of San Diego Gas & Electric will get refund checks in October. State regulators approved the refund because the company overcharged for a program that monitors the utility's energy buying.

The state has fined two hospitals in San Diego County for conditions that put patients at risk of serious injury or death. Sharp Chula Vista and Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside were each penalized $25,000.

Culture Lust contributor and Book Catapult blogger Seth Marko recommends some of his current favorite book, including Thomas Pynchon's latest and a debut novel with great illustrations.

The U.N. Security Council, at a rare summit-level meeting chaired by President Obama, unanimously approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution on Thursday aimed at encouraging nations to scrap their nuclear weapons arsenals.

High-tech defense contractor SAIC, one of three Fortune 500 companies in San Diego, announced today it is moving its corporate headquarters to McLean, Va.

Playwright Doug Wright has written award-winning works about the Marquis de Sade and a fascinating German transvestite named Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. The latter play, I Am My Own Wife, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2004. Wright has now adapted the August Strindberg play "Creditors" for the La Jolla Playhouse stage, where he'll also direct the production. We'll talk with Wright about his work.

Who's allowed to sell marijuana for medical use in San Diego County and who's keeping tabs on the pot outlets springing up everywhere? Our guests discuss the confusing state law, city and county ordinances and efforts to clarify what is and what is not allowed.

What can we learn from babies? New scientific research is showing that babies and young children can help us understand how we learn about love, truth and life.

London-based artist Su Blackwell creates elaborate and delicate book-cut sculptures. Culture Lust is celebrating books this week and I've included artists who work with books as their source material.

What kind of struggles do military kids face nowadays? We'll learn about the psychological and academic impact of having an active-duty parent in the military. We'll also discuss the concerns military parents have about the well-being of their children.

Terror suspect Najibullah Zazi has been indicted on a charge of trying to detonate bombs in the United States, law enforcement authorities said Thursday. Zazi is to appear in court in Denver on a count of lying to terrorism investigators. The new charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction was filed in New York.

One of the world's largest conferences on family violence and sexual assault is taking place in San Diego this week.

San Diego County has one of the largest concentrations of military families in the nation. The children of those families are affectionately nicknamed "military brats," but that nickname does little to explain the emotional and academic struggles these kids endure when a military parent is deployed or reassigned.

Immigrant rights activists question why federal agents' opened fire at three vans at the San Ysidro border crossing earlier this Tuesday. The vans were loaded with illegal immigrants when they tried to run the border.

The San Diego Film Festival kicked off last night with "Like Dandelion Dust." The festival continues through September 27th, closing with "That Evening Sun," at the Reading Gaslamp Stadium Theaters. Here's a look at some of the offerings at the festival.