Growth & Dev.

 Officials Say Blackwater Used Subcontractor's Name on Permit Application

The head of San Diego's development services department said today he welcomes a probe into how Blackwater USA got permits to build a military training center in Otay Mesa. Yesterday, the mayor called for an investigation into the permitting process for the private contractor. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma has more.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders today called for an investigation into how the city granted permits to Blackwater USA to open a military training center in Otay Mesa. The facility will be used to train Navy sailors and possibly the Coast Guard in counterterrorism. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma has more.

 Private Contributions Vital to Balboa Park's Maintenance

The Balboa Park Trust announced today it has passed the $1 million mark in private contributions. But the money is a drop in the bucket compared to the maintenance backlog at Balboa Park, which is one of San Diego's main attractions. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 Airport Authority Moves Forward With Expansion Plan

The San Diego County Airport Authority is moving forward with a Master Plan to meet expansion needs for Lindbergh Field. But, as KPBS reporter Alison St. John tells us, not everyone likes the plan.

California's population has now topped thirty-eight million people. The state Department of Finance reports nearly 500,000 have been added to the state over the past year. That's a growth rate of just over one-percent.

 New Downtown Children's Museum Opens This Weekend

The brand new Children's Museum in downtown San Diego makes its debut this weekend after running into some money problems several years ago. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis more.

 More Californians Putting Life in Storage

It seems no matter what the economy looks like, self-storage is big business. An estimated 2 billion square feet of space is for rent in the United States. Most of that is in California. With foreclosures displacing families, and deployments sending service members overseas, demand for storage space keeps rising. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps decided to revisit his own space.

 Home Prices Continue to Plummet in San Diego

A new report shows home prices are continuing to plummet in San Diego, declining more than 19 percent in February from a year earlier That follows a drop of 16 percent just one month before. Reporter David Nogueras has more.

 Real Estate Foreclosures Slowing, Local Home Prices Continue Dropping

Local home foreclosures slowed last month, but the rate of mortgage failures is still much higher than last year. Is this a sign of improvement in the housing market, or an indication that the worst is yet to come? We speak to Andrew LePage with DataQuick Information Systems, and Union-Tribune reporter Dean Calbreath about the latest news on local real estate.

 San Diego's Airport Saga Continues

The future of Lindbergh Field moves into another phase this morning with the first in a series of joint meetings to work on a long-term vision of expansion. But there are still serious questions swirling around the Airport Authority's short term Master Plan. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 Former Realtor Targeted Hispanic Immigrants in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

The FBI reports mortgage fraud cases are skyrocketing nationally. Yesterday, a key figure in a San Diego scheme admitted to forging documents to secure loans for mostly Latino borrowers who couldn't afford them. A judge then sentenced Alejandro Lopez to three months in prison and four months in a residential re-entry center.

 Searching for Solutions to San Diego Downtown Parking

A downtown workshop later today will tackle the problem of parking -- or the lack of it -- in San Diego's urban core. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

A research firm reports a glut of foreclosed homes led to a sharp drop in California home prices in March. bought near the height of the boom.

San Diego County's median home price has dropped nearly $100,000 in one year. A new report from DataQuick Information Systems says home sales have also dropped sharply. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps has details.

The number of foreclosed homes in California went up more than 20-percent in March. It was the second highest month nationally since the firm RealtyTrac began keeping track at the start of 2005. From Sacramento, Ben Adler reports.

Swedish construction firm Skanska AB said Monday it has received a $68 million order from California's state department of transportation to build a new highway in the Imperial Valley.

 U.S. Consulate in Tijuana Breaks Ground on New Facility

The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana has broken ground on a new facility. Consular officials say the new building will let them help more people more efficiently. KPBS reporter Amy Isackson has details.

 Feinstein Wants Strict Rules to Shape-Up Mortgage Lender Behavior

Senator Diane Feinstein says she wants to crack down on shady mortgage lenders. She says California is bearing a disproportionate burden of the country's home foreclosure crisis. Eric Niiler reports from Capitol Hill.

 State Lawmakers Working on Reforms to Ease Wave of Foreclosures

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are tinkering with tools to stop the nation's economic engine from sputtering to a halt. Senators Wednesday agreed on a package of tax breaks and housing bonds to help slow down a nationwide wave of foreclosures. In Sacramento, state lawmakers are doing some economic tinkering of their own. Julie Small says they're working on a number of lending reforms.

 San Diego Home Prices Decline for 22nd Straight Month

San Diego home prices declined in January for the 22nd straight month. An index of home prices shows a 2.5 percent drop from December. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps has details.