TIJUANA: City police are on the alert for a lion reported in a rural eastern area of the city near La Presa Dam.
The city dispatched its Pegasus helicopter to the area Wednesday after a resident called in a sighting to the police command center, police spokesman Ernesto Alvarez said. Police and wildlife inspectors were attempting to track the animal yesterday.
“We're trying to determine if it's a lion or if it's a native species such as a puma or a mountain lion,” said Marco Antonio Campoy, who heads the Baja California natural resources branch of Mexico's environmental watchdog agency, known as Profepa.
A lion – the African type – might have come from a clandestine zoo in the city, or perhaps from a traveling circus, officials said. The city zoo in Morelos Park does not have a lion.
“We're still on the lookout,” Alvarez said yesterday evening. “But we think by now it's out in the hills somewhere.” –S.D.
More evidence sought on
courtroom Bible studies
FEDERAL COURT: A San Diego federal judge said he needs more evidence before he can rule in a lawsuit brought by two San Diego Superior Court employees who want to hold weekly lunchtime Bible studies in unused courtrooms.
The two court reporters, Mindy Barlow and Dalia Smith, sued last fall, saying court administrators had violated constitutional protections of free speech, exercise of religion, due process and equal protection.
They had taken part in weekly Bible studies in unoccupied jury rooms beginning in 2000, but in 2006, a sheriff's deputy said people without “keycard access” weren't allowed in those areas behind locked doors.
Then, court administrators established rules saying that noncourt use of court facilities must be requested in writing, and they denied Barlow and Smith's request to use unassigned courtrooms.
In a ruling last week U.S. District Judge Larry Burns said he couldn't grant the Superior Court's motion to dismiss the case without determining whether the unassigned courtrooms are considered public. Burns said he wants more information on how administrators set policies.–O.R.S.
Bids start at $5 million
for right to name terminal
SAN DIEGO: The Broadway Pier cruise ship terminal project has a funding gap of several million dollars, and the Port District is hoping to plug it by selling the naming rights to the building.
This week, port commissioners directed staffers to begin advertising nationwide for companies or individuals who are willing to pay to have their name on the cruise ship terminal, scheduled to open in early 2011. The port is setting a minimum bid of $5 million.
The project's cost is estimated at $28 million, and Carnival Cruise Lines has given the port $12 million in construction funds. The commission is willing to spend some of the port's construction project money, but wants to limit the use of those funds through the naming rights sale.
The terminal is being built with energy-conserving features, including solar panels. Port officials want the building to meet top environmental standards and will seek grants in support of that goal. –R.W.P.
Sanders to speak at lunch
on managed competition
SAN YSIDRO: The San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce is hosting a special luncheon today featuring Mayor Jerry Sanders.
Sanders will speak on managed competition and solar energy development at the noon lunch at the Hometown Buffet, 930 Dennery Road, in nearby Otay Mesa. The cost is $15.
For information, call (619) 428-1281.–J.Z.
Electronic waste can be
recycled at 2 free events
SAN DIEGO: Two free recycling events for electronic waste are scheduled tomorrow in San Diego.
Cymer Inc. will host an e-waste collection from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley.
The event will be held in the northeastern section of the stadium's parking lot. Volunteers will unload broken, outdated or unwanted household electronics for recycling.
For more details on the Cymer event, go to cymer.com/e-cycle.
The other collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the County Administration Building, 1600 Pacific Highway in downtown San Diego.
Its sponsors include Recycle San Diego and the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.
For more information on the second event, go to recyclesd.com.
Items that will be accepted at both e-waste collection sites include televisions, phones, VCRs, computers, laptops, microwaves and stereos. –M.L.
Staff writers Sandra Dibble, Onell R. Soto, Ronald W. Powell, Janine Zúñiga and Mike Lee contributed to this report.
