City News Service

According to a San Diego County prescription drug abuse report released Thursday, local opioid and prescription drug overdose deaths have increased significantly in recent years.

Taxpayers in areas that were declared disaster areas by Gov. Gavin Newsom are granted an extension until Jan. 15 to file California tax returns on 2019 income and make any tax payments that would have been due between Sept. 4 and Jan. 15.

The county said a total of 18 influenza cases have been reported this flu season compared to 400 cases at the same time last year. There have also been no influenza deaths this flu season, while three flu-related deaths occurred at the same time last year.

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office said it was recently notified that Richard Anthony Sepolio, 27, will be released on Friday after serving two years and 10 months of his nine-year, eight-month prison sentence.

San Diego County took its first step into the dreaded "purple" tier of the state's four-tiered COVID-19 reopening plan Wednesday, leaving just one week to determine if the county will be forced to shutter nonessential indoor businesses.

Unseasonably warm weather is expected Wednesday and Thursday throughout San Diego County, then a cold front will arrive on Friday and bring a slight chance of rain in most of the region this weekend.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive-heat warning, effective from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. next Monday.

The department is looking to fill over 400 positions, and willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars in signing bonuses to attract new employees.

It's going to feel a lot like summer across much of San Diego County starting Wednesday.