City News Service

San Diego County and the rest of Southern California could fall under sweeping new health restrictions as soon as Sunday night due to the rapidly increasing number of hospitalizations from the coronavirus, state officials confirmed Saturday.

A fire that broke out at a Fallbrook home Friday morning spread to surrounding vegetation, but firefighters halted the blaze at a quarter-acre.

Intense critical fire-weather conditions were forecast for Friday through the San Diego area due to gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity, which combined to heighten the risk of wildfires.

A brush fire in the unincorporated Rancho San Diego area near El Cajon burned 30 acres and was 50% contained Thursday morning after destroying one home and damaging six others, authorities said.

San Diego County health officials reported 1,504 new COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths Thursday as rising hospitalization rates throughout the state prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to issue a conditional stay-at-home order.

A UC San Diego study found those suffering from economic hardships during COVID-19 are less likely comply with new stay-at-home orders but would be more likely to adhere to public health guidelines if they received stimulus funds.

Mayor Todd Gloria and City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera Wednesday announced an update to San Diego's climate action initiative.

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.