🌱 Got Storm Damage? + Police Hunt Crime Ring + Survey On Gun Violence

Good morning, everybody! It's Bettyann Pernice, your host of the San Diego Daily. We will be walking on sunshine today, finally! So, sip that coffee/tea, munch that cereal, and read on to find out what's happening in town:

• Got storm damage? The county wants to know.
• Police hunt crime ring aimed at elderly and Asians.
• County launches a survey on gun violence and ways to stop it.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cool.🌞 High: 58, Low: 39.

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

1. San Diego County needs to estimate how much damage was caused by the recent Dec. 29 – Jan. 17 storms. Residents and businesses who experienced storm damage are being asked to complete a survey to determine if the damage will qualify for disaster assistance. Completing the survey does not guarantee assistance. San Diegans can find the survey on the office of emergency services website. (Patch)
2. SDPD is asking for help from the public to take down an internationally organized theft ring that has stolen millions of dollars in jewelry in the past year, terrorizing Asian and elderly communities. Police arrested more than a dozen people, but detectives say that's "just the tip of the iceberg." Thieves target the victims, getting them to let their guard down, and then use pickpocket sleight-of-hand skills to steal everything from jewelry to wallets. If unsuccessful, they resort to rougher methods. Police have photos of 36 individuals related to the crimes, and ask anyone with information to come forward. (NBC San Diego)
3. San Diego County has a new survey concerning gun violence. Its purpose is to learn more about violence in the hope of saving lives. The county wants to know more about local suicides, domestic violence, accidental shootings and gang violence in order to find solutions to the problem. The survey, which is open through Feb. 15, is anonymous and is available to anyone who lives or works in the county. (CBS News 8)
4. County Animal Services officers rescued a dog trapped in a 10-foot-deep well filled with oil at a mechanic’s private garage in Ramona. The 11-year-old Siberian husky mix named Mia had been trapped for more than a day, trying to escape the oil that weighed her down. Using some critical-thinking skills, officers were able to remove her. Mia was taken to the Bonita shelter, where she was cleaned and given medical treatment. She is expected to make a full recovery. (NBC San Diego)

Today in San Diego:

• Aging Successfully Lectures — Fall Prevention/Intro to Elder Help (10:00 AM)
• Signing Storytime — College Rolando Branch Library (11:30 AM)
• Digital Navigator — Logan Heights Branch Library (12:00 PM)
• Silver Age Yoga — Carmel Valley Branch Library (1:00 PM)
• San Diego Natural History Museum — San Carlos Branch Library (2:00 PM)
• Lunar New Year Lion Dance — Linda Vista Branch Library (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Museum month: "Planes, trains and automobiles (and a few ships!). 🤩 Explore the 50% OFF FUN this February for San Diego Museum Council's Museum Month and visit museums including: ⚓️ Maritime Museum of San Diego ✈️ San Diego Air & Space Museum." (Visit San Diego via Facebook)
• Stretch your legs: "Get ready for the best walk you'll take all year! Join your fellow animal lovers and hundreds of furiends on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Escondido or May 6 at Liberty Station to stretch your legs for a great cause!" (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• Lunar New Year: "Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the San Diego Public Library! Visit the library's Lunar New Year webpage to find a lion dance, storytime, festival or arts & crafts program near you. More info: https://bit.ly/3CU2c5q 🐱 🐰 #lunarnewyear (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• Celebrate Korean culture: "Join us on 1/28 to celebrate Korean culture with an afternoon of crafts, dance performances, drums, and more 🧵🥁💃! There will also be opportunities to try on traditional hanbok and even bring home some wonderful goodies. All ages are welcome." (Library Foundation SD via Facebook)
• CalFresh benefits ending: "For those who receive CalFresh benefits, Emergency Allotments (EA), extra payments that started during the pandemic, will end next month. Final additional payments will be issued sometime in early March." (Feeding San Diego via Facebook)
• Museum in the Gaslamp: "WNDR Museum has officially opened its San Diego location in the Gaslamp with 20+ interactive, immersive installations that let the visitor become the artist. 📍422 Market St. 📷: Kirsten Miccoli" (Downtown San Diego Partnership via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Bettyann Pernice

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