🌱 Rising COVID Hospitalizations + Teen Brings Ghost Gun To School

Morning, San Diego! It's me, Bettyann Pernice, your host of the Daily. Sip your beverage of choice, enjoy your warm, buttered English muffin, and read on to learn what's happening in our city/county today:

• COVID hospitalizations are rising in San Diego
• Teen who brought ghost gun to school is arrested
• Love roses? Learn to prune at Balboa Park.

But first, today's weather:

Rain tapering off.🌧️ High: 61, Low: 50.

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

1. While there has been a decrease in flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases throughout San Diego County. Health officials monitoring wastewater testing are seeing increasing levels of the virus, which may indicate that cases may be on the rise. Although many testing sites have closed, San Diegans can still get tested at four state sites, three county-contracted sites, local pharmacies, and health care providers. COVID-19 home tests are also available to the public at the county’s six Public Health Centers, many local libraries, and by mail through the federal government. (Times of San Diego)
2. A teen at Vista high school, who appeared to be intoxicated, was arrested for bringing a gun to school. The student became aggressive when approached by school staff to question him. When he pushed a staff member, security intervened, and a ghost gun with no serial markings fell out of his pocket, according to the SD County Sheriff’s department. The student also possessed a cartridge magazine, ammunition, and liquor. He was later booked into Vista County jail. (Patch)
3. Rose lovers met this week in Balboa Park to watch a demonstration on how to properly prune roses. The goal was to maintain the beautiful, award-winning Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden in the park. If you love roses, and can spare 2-3 hours per week to help maintain this incomparable rose garden, contact the Balboa Park Garden Corps at bprosegardencorps@gmail.com (Cool San Diego Sights!)

Today in San Diego:

• Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure — The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park. (8 a.m.)
• MLK Day Camp/Adventure Group C — Camp Fire San Diego. (8:30 a.m.)
• Japanese Friendship Garden — Balboa Park. (10 a.m.)
• La Jolla Renaissance Singers — Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. (Noon)
• Pride Open Mic — Old California Coffee House and Eatery. (3 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Dine out and help the animals: "Want to support the animals in our care just by dining out? Download HungryFriend to earn free donations for animals in need! Sign up on the app, link your payment card, and select San Diego Humane Society as your charity of choice." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• Libraries Closed Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: "All San Diego County Library branches will be closed on Monday, January 16th. Please visit our online catalog at sdcl.org Todas las sucursales de la Biblioteca del Condado de San Diego estarán cerradas el lunes 16 de enero. Visite nuestr..." (San Diego County Library via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. 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