IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. -- The city of Imperial Beach is asking the U.S. Department of State to declare a state of emergency over ongoing pollution coming from south of the border, in particular raw sewage. Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre says the bacteria levels in the water along are at "astronomical" levels and have led to consistent beach closures since Dec. 2021. "I've asked for a state of emergency, because just like a tornado or a hurricane or a tsunami that can lead to a natural disaster, the levels of pollution that we're talking about are impacting us," said Aguirre. According to ..read more

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (CNS) - A man who allegedly shot and killed his stepmother and half-brother in Imperial Beach last month, killings which prosecutors allege were intended to cover up sexual crimes he committed days earlier, pleaded not guilty Monday to murder and other charges. Marco Antonio Valadez Jr., 47, is accused of the Dec. 4 slayings of Raquel Pitsenberger, 55, and her 36-year-old son, Marco "Tony" Valadez Jr., who sheriff's deputies found mortally wounded inside a home in the 1300 block of Fern Avenue shortly before 4:30 p.m. Police investigate string of car fires in Mira Mesa Pits ..read more

CHULA VISTA, Calif. (CNS) - A 19-year-old man who fatally shot another young man in Imperial Beach last year was sentenced Wednesday to six years in state prison. Johnathan Reibeling pleaded guilty earlier this year to voluntary manslaughter and a gun-use allegation in connection with the April 10, 2020, shooting death of 18-year-old Diego Rodriguez. Reibeling, who turns 20 on Thursday, faced a murder charge in the case prior to his plea in October. San Diego County reports first flu death The victim was shot in the head and dropped off by Reibeling about 12:45 a.m. at Scripps Mercy Hospital C ..read more

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - An Imperial Beach man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison for duping underage girls into sending him sexually explicit pictures and videos of themselves. Kevin Brito, 22, represented himself on social media to be between the ages of 12 and 14 when messaging more than 200 girls, some as young as 10 years old, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Navy details changes, more oversight in wake of warship fire Prosecutors say Brito coerced young girls into sending him graphic content and when victims tried to refuse, he told them he would send the material the ..read more

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (CNS) - A 56-year-old man died after what police called an altercation with a stepson Monday in Imperial Beach. Deputies responded at 12:14 p.m. to a call regarding a person lying on the ground in the 1100 block of Donax Avenue and found William Louis Bischel suffering from head trauma, San Diego County Sheriff's Department Lt. David Gilmore said. Kaiser Permanente health care workers authorize strike During the course of their investigation deputies learned that Bischel was injured during a family-related argument with his 24-year-old stepson, Michael Jarad Ezell, autho ..read more

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (CNS) - Health officials on Monday extended a water contact closure area at the Tijuana Slough shoreline north to include the Imperial Beach shoreline. The closure was due to ocean currents that were moving north into the U.S. early in the week, according to the county's Department of Environmental Health and Quality. Water sample results indicate contamination of ocean water now extends from the international border north through Carnation Avenue, Imperial Beach. Signs warning of sewage-contaminated water will remain in place until sampling results indicate the ocean wa ..read more

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. - Fishermen are growing increasingly frustrated with restrictions on the Imperial Beach Pier, which only allows them to fish in a designated area. Currently, the pier is about 1,500 feet long and fishing access is limited to less than half of that. Local 6-year-old fighting cancer in need of blood donations “It’s elbow to elbow where we have to really practice line etiquette and make sure you’re not getting tangled,” said Kevin Rasmussen, an avid fisherman.  The issue comes with the access provided to surfers and swimmers, both allowed within 20 feet of the pier. It ..read more

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. - The Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and shorelines in Imperial Beach were closed Thursday due to sewage-contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River Valley. Signs now are posted along the shoreline warning visitors to keep out of the water. It is just the latest closure in what has been a decades-long struggle with pollution at city beaches stemming from the flow of raw sewage into the ocean in the area. Imperial Beach mayor praises pandemic response, says sewage crisis ‘needs to stop’ Despite the yellow warning signs, many visitors were seen jumping into the wat ..read more

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. - The Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and shorelines in Imperial Beach were closed Thursday due to sewage-contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River Valley. Signs now are posted along the shoreline warning visitors to keep out of the water. It is just the latest closure in what has been a decades-long struggle with pollution at city beaches stemming from the flow of raw sewage into the ocean in the area. Imperial Beach mayor praises pandemic response, says sewage crisis ‘needs to stop’ Despite the yellow warning signs, many visitors were seen jumping into the wat ..read more

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County's environmental health department closed the San Diego Tijuana Slough shoreline in southern San Diego County Thursday, cautioning people against coming into contact with the ocean water. The Tijuana River enters San Diego County from Mexico and flows through the southernmost part of the county before it empties into the Pacific Ocean. Man arrested after mother found dead in Barrio Logan apartment Sewage-contaminated runoff that enters the river in Mexico may be moving north along the San Diego County shoreline, according to a statement Thursday from the San D ..read more