🌱 RSV Hits Kids + SD To Expand Freeway + Mapping The Aging Brain + 🎉

Good morning, everyone! It's Bettyann Pernice, your host of the San Diego Daily. Let's get this weekend started off right, with what's going on in town today:

• RSV hits kids 👶 across the nation and now in San Diego.
• 🚧 SD to expand freeway despite pledging "net zero" emissions
• Mapping the aging brain 🧠 studies to occur at Salk Institute
• 🎉 Weekend! See what's going on around San Diego.

First, today's weather:

A sprinkle in the afternoon. 🌥️ More rain at night. ☔ High: 71, Low: 63.

🏡 Attention, real estate pros in San Diego! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

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

1. An overwhelming number of young children in San Diego have been infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The disease affects mostly very young children and babies, and is surging throughout the country. In less than two weeks, 300 patients have tested positive for RSV. According to Dr. Alice Pong, children with the disease should be treated at home, unless they are having serious respiratory problems. No specific drug therapy is in place for RSV but doctors are using oxygen therapy for those hospitalized with severe cases. (NBC San Diego)
2. Should we spend $22.5 million to widen the SR-56 freeway? As travelers riding this freeway during rush hours know, it's often congested and is in need of an upgrade to prevent stop-and-go traffic leading to greater emissions. According to Kristy Reeser, deputy director of the city's Sustainability and Mobility Department, this project is on track with climate goals, as it would add carpool lanes for vehicles with two or more passengers, and eventually for bus service. Concurrently, the project would expand the bike path which is already in place. Yet, not everyone thinks this plan is a good idea. "The research is not on their side with that claim," said Amy Lee, a PhD candidate in transportation technology and policy at UC Davis. When asked whether drivers would see less congestion on SR-56 after the new lanes open, Phil Trom, program manager in the city's Sustainability and Mobility Department, said it was "hard to say." (KPBS)
3. It's called the Center for Multiomic Human Brain Cell Atlas. The National Institute of Health (NIH) and scientists from the Salk Institute in La Jolla have launched this project with the goal of mapping the aging human brain. In addition to pinpointing every single cell and its location in the brain, the study will track how cells change over time. Salk Institute was awarded a $126 million grant from the NIH to complete this study over a five-year period. This information would help scientists study the brain and issues such as autism, traumatic brain injury, depression and Alzheimer’s disease. (Salk.edu)
4. Looking for some fun this weekend? So many events are going on in San Diego this weekend — too many to list here. You can find autumn festivals, pumpkin patches, haunted venues, costume parties, Halloween spookiness, Dia de los Muertos, as well as the 2022 Annual Rancho BEERnardo Festival. So, don’t stay home — Get out and have some fun this weekend! See the dates, times, venues, and events here. (Patch)

Today in San Diego:

• Free Divorce Workshop — North San Diego Business Chamber. (9 a.m.)
• Live Interactive Video 2nd/3rd Grade Storytime with Mr. Luan — Linda Vista Branch Library (9:30 a.m.)
• Saturday Morning Storytime! — Paradise Hills Branch Library. (10 a.m.)
• San Diego Astronomy Association — Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center. (10 a.m.)
• Dance Pants Bash! — Mission Hills Branch Library. (10 a.m.)
• Guns for Gift Cards — South Bay. (10 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• 💵Millions for horse racing industry?🏇 "San Diego Humane Society is urging our community to vote No on Proposition 26 in the 2022 CA General Election. We are deeply concerned by a provision in Prop 26 that would hand millions of dollars to the horse racing industry in California." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• 🚨Stopping street takeovers:🚨 "Turn on the traction control because we are putting a damper on street takeovers! We love teaming up with our Law Enforcement partners to combat street takeovers. Last weekend, we worked alongside @CHP_BorderDivision and @SDSheriff to address a street takeover crew from Orange County who was coming to San Diego with the intent of taking over intersections." (San Diego Police Department via Facebook)
• A day without water:💧"For many Americans, living without water is a harsh reality. Today we are commemorating Imagine a Day Without Water—a National Day of Action that brings together community leaders and policymakers to advance more equitable water investment." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• 🚶🏽Walk through history: "This walking tour focuses on the Presidio de San Diego, buried underground below the Serra Museum. Learn about the historical significance of this site going back deep in time and how the unique river and marine environment have attracted people to the site since time immemorial." #NewWalkingTour #SDHC (San Diego History Center via Facebook)
• Watch party at Petco Park:🤎💛 "Catch all the brown and gold action this weekend Downtown at the San Diego Padres watch party at Petco Park! Watch games 3 & 4 at the stadium by reserving your FREE ticket at the link below. Make sure to check back for additional availability and important day-of details. : San Diego Padres" (Downtown San Diego Partnership via Facebook)
• 🚲Smart cycling course:"This is the 2nd session of our Smart Cycling Course. You must complete session 1 before registering for session II. The Smart Cycling Road Session II is for students who have completed Classroom Session I." (San Diego County Bicycle Coalition via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. 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