The owner of a popular San Diego restaurant and catering business is the latest employer to be sentenced for hiring undocumented workers.

A family's missing cat, aptly named "Merry Christmas," came home just in time for the holiday.

Skeletal remains found last month in the ocean off the coast of La Jolla are those of a 28-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting a self-employed cabbie two months ago.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists working at the San Ysidro port of entry said they stopped the illegal importation of almost 29 pounds of shark fins.

From Japan’s Mount Fuji to the “Sleeping Giant” submerged beneath Naples to the Yellowstone “supervolcano” in the United States, travel with scientists from around the world who are at work on these sites, attempting to discover how likely these volcanoes are to erupt, when eruptions might happen and how deadly they could prove to be.

House Republicans have relented, caving to the demands of President Obama and even some members of their own party to vote on a two-month extension of the payroll tax.

Nearly all housing markets in the U.S., including San Diego, will lose value in 2011.

On KPBS Midday Edition, we take a look at top San Diego military stories of 2011. The year included military cuts, the end of "don't ask, don't tell," and a close to the war in Iraq, among other things.

On KPBS Midday Edition we'll look at San Diego's top education stories in 2011, from the threat of insolvency in SDUSD to budget cuts. We hear from our KPBS education reporter who covered the issues.

How have water prices, labor shortages, and insects impacted San Diego growers in 20ll?

It's been an exciting year in San Diego arts and culture. 2011 featured an ever-growing theater community, buzz-worthy visual arts and even some controversy. Here's the Culture Lust report on the year in our local arts and culture scene.

A loose coalition of individuals is currently maintaining and protecting Salvation Mountain in the wake of creator Leonard Knight's departure.

In a blow to House Republicans, Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the House and Senate should meet in Washington to extend the payroll tax set to expire Dec. 31.

An upper level low pressure system over Arizona and surface high pressure over the Great Basin will bring strong offshore winds into Friday morning.

Mrs. Gingrich, who is Newt Gingrich's third wife, is a devout Catholic who sings in the professional choir at the the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Comparative international studies is just the latest of several new majors announced by San Diego State University this year.