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Stories by Ryann Grochowski
U-T San Diego Political Ads Don't Add Up
- April 5
- By Amita Sharma, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
An inewsource and KPBS investigation found the U-T San Diego appears to have offered discounts to favored candidates and causes in last November’s election.
Extra Pay To City Employees Is Increasing, New Report Says
- March 28
- By Claire Trageser, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
A new report shows “specialty pay” increased by 60 percent between 2000 and 2011 in 16 San Diego County cities.
San Diego Hospice Failed To Report Patient Data To State
- March 11
- By Joanne Faryon / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
The troubled San Diego Hospice did not report patient information to the state back in 2009 and 2010 - information that would have indicated how long hospice patients received care.
San Diego Hospice Needs $2 Million To Care For Dying Patients
- Feb. 28
- By Joanne Faryon / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
San Diego Hospice continues to care for 401 dying patients - despite being in bankruptcy court and winding down operations for good. But the care of those patients could be in jeopardy if the organization does not get an immediate two million dollar loan.
Fired Nurse Files Lawsuit Against San Diego Hospice
- Feb. 22
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
In the lawsuit, a former nurse for San Diego Hospice alleges executives encouraged employees to falsify records and admit patients, even if they didn't need care.
San Diego Hospice Moving Operations
- Jan. 25
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
The county's largest hospice provider is moving to its Hillcrest facility to save money.
New Superior Court Judges To Take Office
- Jan. 7
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
San Diego's Superior Court swears in three new judges today, including controversial attorney Gary Kreep.
Campaigns Spending Big In Last Days Of Election
- Nov. 5
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Final campaign filings show candidates and super PACs focusing efforts on advertising.
San Diego Campaign Spending Ramps Up As Election Nears
- Oct. 26
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
With less than two weeks to go until the election, the latest campaign finance reports show accelerated fundraising and spending in city and congressional elections.
Democratic Chair Says Ellis Broke Campaign Rules
- Oct. 25
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource and City News Service
The chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party alleged today that City Council candidate Ray Ellis violated campaign rules in his high-stakes race to unseat incumbent Sherri Lightner.
Legal Community Rallies Around 'Well-Qualified' Judicial Candidate
- Oct. 19
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
About a dozen lawyers and retired judges asked voters to consider the county bar's ratings in November's judicial election. Robert Amador is the only candidate with a "well-qualified" rating.
Super PACs Spending Big, Spending Negative In Congressional Race
- Oct. 16
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
National Super PACs have thrown more than $4 million into the 52nd Congressional District race. Most of the cash has been spent on negative ads.
Lincoln Club Reverses Miller Endorsement, Switches Support To Amador
- Oct. 11
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
A prominent pro-business political club reversed its endorsement of attorney, Jim Miller Jr., for a seat on the Superior Court bench after it discovered Miller had not been forthright about his credentials.
Local ‘Super PACs’ Making Major Statement In San Diego Mayor’s Race
- Oct. 8
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
San Diego mayoral candidate Bob Filner might be leading in the polls, but he is still behind his opponent Carl DeMaio when it comes to campaign fundraising.
Filner Sits Out Votes In Congress While He Runs For Mayor
- Oct. 4
- By Brad Racino / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
While he’s been running for mayor this year, Congressman Bob Filner has missed voting on well more than half the votes in the House, more than any other California congressional member.
Judging San Diego's Judicial Candidates (Video)
- Sept. 17
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Superior Court Judge races usually don’t get a lot of attention, and candidates, not a lot of scrutiny. The KPBS/I-Newsource Investigations Desk takes a closer look at judicial seat number 25 and what’s at stake.
Campaign Mailers: A Tricky Business
- Aug. 6
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Why would a Republican candidate appear on a campaign flier that endorses a Democratic President? The Investigations Desk takes a closer look at why Gary Kreep appears on campaign mailers with Barack Obama. Kreep, who won his race for Superior Court Judge, has serious doubts about whether Obama is a U.S. citizen.
DeMaio Has Fundraising Lead In Mayor's Race
- Aug. 1
- By Kevin Crowe / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Councilman Carl DeMaio outspent and outraised Congressman Bob Filner in the primary election for San Diego mayor, but pro-Filner forces are lining up to make the runoff in November competitive and expensive.
Filner's Second-Spot Primary Win Comes At Bargain Price
- June 8
- By Kevin Crowe / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Bob Filner definitely got the most bang for his buck in Tuesday’s primary. The Democrat congressman spent just $8.75 per vote to make it into the general election for mayor of San Diego against Republican councilman Carl DeMaio.
Fundraising Amps Up For Proposition A, B Committees
- June 1
- By Kevin Crowe / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
On Tuesday's ballot, voters will choose whether to approve two propositions involving city labor agreements and workers' pensions.
Scott Peters Lent His Campaign $1.25 Million in May
- May 30
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Democrat Scott Peters, an attorney and port commissioner, lent his campaign $1.25 million dollars in May. He’s now the top fundraiser in the race, approaching $2 million. Nearly 70 percent of that cash comes from his own bank account.
Business Groups, Builders And Labor Battle Over Propositions
- May 25
- By Kevin Crowe / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Supporters of the proposition to reform the City of San Diego’s pension system have outspent the opposition committees more than six to one according to the most recent financial statements filed with the City Clerk.
DeMaio Spends Big On Own Campaign, Super PACs Start Raising Cash For Mayoral Candidates
- May 25
- By Kevin Crowe / inewsource, Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Two candidates for San Diego mayor have each raised more than $1 million so far, underscoring that this is a high stakes, high money contest. And it’s only the primary.
Bilbray’s Legislative Machine: Money, Support Surrounds Algae Bills
- May 21
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Big money has been pouring into the Congressional race for San Diego’s 52nd district since its boundaries were redrawn and it suddenly became wide open territory.
Follow The Money: Non-Monetary Campaign Donations
- May 7
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
In the latest installment of the “Follow the Money” series, we examined the details behind what candidates can accept in contributions other than cash.
Hoteliers, Hospitality Industry Back DeMaio Over Other Candidates
- April 26
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Councilman Carl DeMaio strongly supports the convention center expansion and the hotel tax that will fund it. In turn, he’s attracting the financial support of local hoteliers, caterers and event planners in his bid for mayor.
Follow The Money: Campaign Disclosures
- April 20
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
This is the time of year that voters start finding their mailboxes stuffed with campaign mailers, and their phones start ringing with campaign polls and robocalls. Campaign committees do have to abide with specific regulations when it comes to telling voters exactly who’s behind those fliers and phone calls.
Follow The Money: Donation Limits
- April 18
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
It’s not a free-for-all when candidates raise campaign cash in San Diego. Limits on donations are carefully governed by the San Diego Ethics Commission. Candidates and committees must abide by the rules, or they could face fines.
Follow The Money: Self-Financing A Campaign
- April 17
- By Ryann Grochowski / inewsource
Candidates in some of San Diego’s most contested elections have already loaned and donated to their campaign large sums of money. Self-loans and donations are good ways to increase a campaign’s bottom line, but there’s key differences between the two practices.