City News Service

The San Diego Police Department will hold a series of community meetings next week to inform the public and gather feedback on a proposal to use streetlights equipped with surveillance cameras and automated license-plate readers as tools to solve crimes.

The California Big City Mayors, a bipartisan coalition of mayors of the state's 13 most populous cities, offered its full support of two bills authored by Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) intended to "make it easier for severely mentally ill people to get the help they need."

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose Wednesday for the 22nd consecutive day and 27th time in 29 days, increasing 1.5 cents to $4.864, its highest amount since Dec. 2.

Schools in the Mountain Empire, Spencer Valley, Warner Unified and Julian Union Elementary and High School districts were closed Wednesday due to inclement weather and icy road conditions.

The schools in the districts have been closed for the past several days because of the low-elevation snow and rain in the areas.

SDPD said it will exceed its overtime budget by an estimated $9.2 million by the end of the fiscal year.

California has been battered by 10 previous atmospheric rivers this winter.

The latest in-custody death comes on the heels of news that a sheriff’s deputy was arrested for allegedly having illegal drugs on county jail property.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a statement in response to Southwest's cancellations, noting that the department will be looking into the situation.