San Diego News Fix

The Backstory: The reasons why prosecutors opted not to file criminal charges in SDSU rape case

Rarely, if ever, is the public made aware of the reasoning behind a District Attorney’s Office’s decision not to file charges in a case. The Union-Tribune obtained an audio recording of a meeting between the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the 18-year-old woman who said she was raped by three now-former San Diego State University football players. The recording provides insight into why the DA’s Office decided not to file criminal charges. Union-Tribune public safety editor Dana Littlefield, public safety reporter Teri Figueroa, public safety reporter and Saturday editor Lyndsay Winkley, managing editor Lora Cicalo, and editor and publisher Jeff Light discuss the latest developments in the case.

The Backstory: The Poway case being heard by the Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it will take up a case from Poway Unified School District that tackles a contentious area of social media — when, and if, public officials can block people from their Facebook, Twitter or other social media accounts. The case concerns a former Poway school district trustee, T.J. Zane, and a current member, Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff, and their Facebook and Twitter pages. At issue: whether public officials with social media pages where they discuss public business can block individuals, or if doing so violates the First Amendment. Union-Tribune criminal justice and legal affairs reporter Greg Moran, enterprise editor Kristina Davis, editorial and opinion director Matthew T. Hall, managing editor Lora Cicalo and publisher and editor Jeff Light discuss the case.

The Backstory: The Union-Tribune’s Community Voices Project

The Union-Tribune’s Community Voices Project is an online platform for civil discourse about news of the day and matters of the community. It brings dozens of thought leaders together with the goal of sharing diverse points of view to move toward a stronger, more inclusive San Diego region. Union-Tribune editorial and opinion director Matthew T. Hall, deputy editorial and opinion editor Laura Castañeda, managing editor Lora Cicalo and publisher and editor Jeff Light discuss the origins and goals of the Community Voices Project.

The Backstory: Behind the Union-Tribune’s 72 Hours project

San Diego County, like many places nationwide, faces a mental health crisis. For three days last year, nearly two dozen journalists with The San Diego Union-Tribune followed patients, police, clinicians, dispatchers and a host of others struggling for help to create a minute-by-minute account of our overwhelmed system. Union-Tribune public safety editor Dana Littlefield, communities editor Tarcy Connors, managing editor Lora Cicalo, and publisher and editor Jeff Light discuss this in-depth multi-media special report.

The Backstory: Customers are steamed over SDG&E’s rate-hike proposal

San Diego Gas & Electric is making a case before the California Public Utilities Commission to increase rates starting next year. SDG&E says it needs money for critical projects, like wildfire safety and pursuing clean energy goals. But many San Diegans are frustrated with rising gas and electric bills. The average price for electricity in the San Diego metropolitan area is currently higher than anywhere else in the country. Given that tension, could asking for higher rates right now backfire? Union-Tribune money reporter Roxana Popescu, topic editor Dan Beucke, managing editor Lora Cicalo, and publisher and editor Jeff Light discuss some of the challenges of reporting on this story.