City News Service

The dangerously high winds will strengthen and spread southward through San Diego County over the day Thursday, reaching their zenith overnight and into Friday morning.

The alert status for heightened combustion hazards in the county's inland valleys and mountains went into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday and will last until 6 p.m. Friday.

Nearly 9,000 San Diego Gas and Electric customers were without power Wednesday afternoon due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs, with more than 69,000 others at risk of being shut off due to weather conditions.

Children's Hospital of Orange County and Rady Children's Hospital San Diego announced a merger Wednesday, combining the two hospitals into a health care system called Rady Children's Health.

Vargas announced on Dec. 20 that she wouldn't serve a second term after winning re-election in November.

After a tied vote for chair, Terra Lawson-Remer will continue her role leading the San Diego County Board of Supervisors amidst ongoing discussions about board leadership.

The announcement comes after a judge struck down San Diego's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, saying only the state can make that a requirement.

Earlier this month, supervisors unanimously voted to oppose any further placements of sexually violent predators until local jurisdictions are able to fully participate in the placement process, including having full veto authority.