🌱 FREE College For Childcare Workers + Low SD Rainfall + No Day Tents

Welcome back, San Diego! I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Hope you all have a great day. In today's issue, we'll cover these stories and more...

• FREE college for childcare workers
• Low SD rainfall — even with recent monsoon rains
• Police ban homeless tents during the day.
• SD zoo welcomes 41 endangered turtle hatchlings.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and humid.🌞High: 76, Low: 67.

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

1. To combat the shortage of childcare services here in San Diego, childcare workers can now attend community college free of charge. The goal of the new program is to encourage more people to enter the childcare field and improve the quality of childcare in San Diego. Said Robin Sepulveda, the Department Chair for the Child Development Education and Family Studies at Grossmont College, “We want early childhood educators to have more of a background of what the field is really about and then continue to grow as early childhood educators," he said. (NBC San Diego)
2. It is not good news! The rainfall total in San Diego is 30% below average. We are now in our fifth year of significant drought. The La Niña pattern has remained in the Eastern Pacific for two years, and now we face a third year. (CBS News 8)
3. Homelessness is a public health crisis in San Diego County. Now, the police department is cracking down on the homeless population, who must deconstruct their tents during the day. Police hope this crackdown will encourage people to take advantage of services and accept shelter. (NBC San Diego)
4. Conservationists at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) are ecstatic! After two decades, an endangered species of turtles has finally bred at the San Diego Zoo. Over 40 Indian narrow-headed softshell turtles hatched on Monday. The reptiles lay their eggs at night, covering them with dirt — making it difficult to discover the location of the nests. This past summer, two nests were discovered. The SDZWA is proudly the first accredited conservation group in North America to hatch these turtles. (ABC News)

Today in San Diego:

• Storytime — Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center. (10 a.m.)
• Mind/Body Fitness for Older Adults — San Carlos Branch Library. (10 a.m.)
• Outdoor Kids Dance Party — Pacific Beach/Earl and Birdie Taylor Branch Library. (10 a.m.)
• Toddler Storytime — University Community Branch Library. (10:30 a.m.)
• Gamblers Anonymous — Ed Brown Center. (7 p.m.)
• 'Hitchcocktober' Film Fest 2022 — Angelika Film Center. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• San Diego Humane Society: "Our Emergency Response Team (ERT) is on the third day of their deployment to help animals and pet families in Florida in the aftermath of #HurricaneIan. The 4 team members — Lieutenant Ganus, Summer, Devin and Mike — have been providing support alongside the ASPCA’s Disaster Response Team. The team has helped clear wreckage and debris from local animal shelters, and today are canvassing badly damaged neighborhoods to check on stranded pet families, providing pet food and supplies." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• City of San Diego: "Today marks the start of Customer Service Week! To kick things off we’re highlighting Ken Franklyn, a Combination Inspector for the City’s Development Services Department. In his role, Ken performs virtual inspections on single-family rentals, duplexes and town homes to ensure that all fire and life safety issues are met." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• Feeding San Diego: "Feeding San Diego is honored to have received first place in the Harrah's Resort Southern California's All-in-for-Change grant process. That means $55,000 will go towards our mission of ending hunger through food rescue!" (Feeding San Diego via Facebook)
• San Diego County Bicycle Coalition: "Thank you for join us this past weekend for our Women+ on Wheels rides and celebration! We hope you had a great time riding through the streets and hitting some trails around San Diego." (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition via Facebook)
• San Diego Botanic Garden: "Since 1996, San Diego Ag in the Classroom has connected county educators to resources to bring agriculture to life in local classrooms and school gardens. Their Teacher Resource Fair is being held in our Garden this year, where school staff and volunteers gather together to meet local farmers and learn how we can support each other." (San Diego Botanic Garden via Facebook)
• San Diego Unified School District: "The School Choice application window for the 2023-24 school year is now open! All applications received by November 15, 2022 will be part of the lottery process." (San Diego Unified School District via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, San Diego, CA — (Visit website)
• Au Pair Childcare USA — (Visit Website)
• Convivio Society — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Burn N Sol Reggae Featuring Quino McWhinney Of Big Mountain At Ebullition Brew Works & Live Music. (Oct. 8)
• Pumpkin Palooza Fest featuring 3 bands, 3 food trucks, 6 vendors, & craft beer cocktails. (Oct. 8)
• EdUCate! Oktoberfest. (Oct. 8)
• Online webinar with professionals catamaran rental in San Diego. (Oct. 16)
• Skatoberfest ft. The Untouchables, Beta 7, The Stand Outs, & More! (Oct. 22)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Bettyann Pernice

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