🌱 ​$4M Narcotics Bust At Border + SD Fire-Rescue Trains More Women

Hello, everyone! I'm back with your new copy of the San Diego Daily. Warm up with some coffee/tea/cocoa, munch on those Rice Krispies, and read on for what's happening in our community today:

• SD border patrol seizes $4M in narcotics at three separate busts in one day.
• Preparing for the next generation of firefighters, SD Fire-Rescue trains more women.
• Why are San Diego Unified students absent from school so often?

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy, showers; cool.☔High: 54, Low: 44.

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Here are four of the top stories today in San Diego:

1. In three separate incidents on one day, SD Border Patrol agents retrieved 300 pounds of narcotics. In the first bust, a K-9 sniffed out 57 packages of fentanyl. In a second sweep, agents at the Interstate 15 checkpoint in Murrieta seized 33 pounds of cocaine. The third bust occurred in Murrieta with 9.4 pounds of fentanyl and 4.9 pounds of heroin confiscated. A handgun was also seized. (FOX 5 San Diego)
2. Ever think you might want to be a firefighter? Well, now there is a fire prep academy that is helping to prepare the next generation of men and women to become firefighters. The program includes 17 women and two men who will learn the skills needed, so that size does not matter. The program supports women to be successful and is a great confidence booster. It also encourages women to make friends and contacts within the department. (NBC San Diego)
3. Why are students so often failing to attend school in the San Diego Unified School District? When children miss school, they fall behind in the learning progression. Of the 98,000 students enrolled, 27,700 (28.5%) were chronically absent in the past month. The number has been rising over the past year and school officials are concerned. Family service assistants have been assigned to home visits to find out what is driving this extremely high number of children missing from school. (Times of San Diego)
4. On Sunday, Feb. 5, the Annual Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, will be celebrated at the Coastal Roots Farm, a nonprofit Jewish community farm. Community members from all backgrounds are invited to attend the festival, which takes place between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The event will include hands-on activities for all ages. Local food and drinks will also be available, along with crafts, and stories. Pre-registration is required — visit coastalrootsfarm.org/event/tu-bshvat-food-forest-festival-2023/. (Patch)

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Today in San Diego:

• Conquering Your Passwords — OASIS San Diego. (10 a.m.)
• Baby Storytime — Logan Heights Branch Library. (Noon)
• Free Tax Preparation Assistance Clinic — Mission Valley Library. (1 p.m.)
• DO YOUR HOMEWORK @ THE LIBRARY — San Carlos Branch Library. (3 p.m.)
• All About Seals (ages 4-10) — San Carlos Branch Library. (3:30 p.m.)
• Digital Navigator — Logan Heights Branch Library. (3:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Feline fish finder: "Stuart is not a-mew-sed. As a fishing cat, Stuart is no scaredy-cat when it comes to water. His front toes are partially webbed, making him the purrfect feline fish finder." (San Diego Zoo via Instagram)
• Crucial enrichment toys for pets: "Did you know you can help shelter pets thrive by selecting enrichment items directly from our Amazon Wish List (bit.ly/3QBnPNt With new animals entering our care each day, we are asking our community for help keeping these crucial toys and treats in stock." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• Secure shelter for homeless women: "The newest addition to the City’s shelter network leverages the use of the old Central Library downtown. The 36-bed shelter opened this week and will serve as a safe, secure place for women to stay at night. The shelter is operated by the National Alliance for Mental Illness in partnership with the City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• Families flocked to the Lunar New Year Festival: "One of the most vibrant celebrations in all of San Diego took place at Barnard Elementary School today, where families and members of the community flocked to the school’s #LunarNewYear Festival for a colorful parade of performances representing Chinese and other Asian cultures." (San Diego Unified School District via Facebook)

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• How to Successfully Navigate the Divorce Process – Vesta San Diego, CA Hub (February 1)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— Bettyann Pernice

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming San Diego Daily? Contact me at sandiego@patch.com