The number of people under mandatory evacuation in San Diego is now equivalent to Nebraska’s entire population….

10-23-07 11:21 a.m. Overall evacuation update. A total of 349,915 Reverse 9-1-1 and AlertSanDiego phone calls have been issued between the County of San Diego and the City of San Diego, informing residents of both advisory and mandatory evacuation orders. Based on 2000 census data, approximately 513,000 people in San Diego County have received a mandatory evacuation order and an additional 12,000 people have been advised to leave their homes.… Read More

Doing his best to prove there is a God, mean-spirited extremist Congressman Pete Stark took to the House floor today to stop the bleeding for House democrats by apologizing to his colleagues, the President and the troops. In his own words "I hope with this apology I will become as insignificant as I should be."

Pete Stark can never be as insignificant as he should be.… Read More

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders is encouraging residents and business owners to donate the following items in support of fire evacuation relief efforts at Qualcomm Stadium: prepared foods, packaged snacks, water, tents, cots and blankets.

All donations should be delivered to Gate P at Qualcomm Stadium.

If you know of anyone with a large surplus of blankets and/or cots, or a restaurant that wishes to donate food, please contact Scott Maloni at (858) 663-8838.

211 San Diego is also seeking volunteers to take on shifts to answer phones. Please call Megan at (858) 300-1240 to find out how you can help.

10:30 UPDATE: Del Mar evacuated… Read More

The freeways on the way downtown were wide open, at rush hour. From what I can tell downtown is largely shut down. Tourists and the homeless are just about the only people in the street. City buses and the trolly are stopping and no one is getting out or in. A dull haze hangs over the city, and the smell of smoke is everywhere. San Diego has ground to a halt.… Read More

Some bozo in Paso Robles complained that there was a collage of photos on the wall of the local post office displaying photos of local folks deployed in the military oversees. Some even bigger bozo at the U.S. Postal Service, in response to bozo #1 went ahead and ordered the collage removed.

Well, the photos are back up now, due to the intervention of Congressman Kevin McCarthy. Check out the story on Fox News here.… Read More

Today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail has a California item: (two if you count the Quote of the Day below it):

The Ballot War for California

The race to put a controversial measure on California’s ballot that would end the state’s "winner take all" allocation of its 55 Electoral College votes is back on. A group of Republican political consultants announced yesterday they will try to collect some 600,000 signatures by a November 13 filing deadline.

"Our budget is going to be whatever it takes to make the June ballot," said political strategist David Gilliard, who played a crucial role in getting the recall of then-Governor Gray Davis on the 2003 ballot. He will be aided by a campaign team that includes former Reagan political aide Ed Rollins and fundraiser Anne… Read More

WITCH FIRE: The latest update from CALFIRE reports the fire is now 145,000 acres and zero percent contained. The cause is under investigation.

600 structures have been destroyed (500 residences, 50 outbuildings, 100 commercial properties)

300 structures have been damaged (250 residences, 75 commercial properties and 50 outbuildings)

Seven injuries to firefighters; one civilian injury

The fire is threatening the communities of San Diego , Poway, Ramona, Escondido, Lakeside, Valley Center, San Marcos, Rancho Santa Fe. Currently, about 625 firefighters are battling the blaze using 89 engines, nine fire crews, ten dozers and two water tenders.

HARRIS FIRE: The Harris Fire has now burned 22,000 acres and is five percent contained. Some civilians have chosen not to evacuate and have created rescue problems as the fire impacts their community.

Five firefighters injured; one civilian fatality, six civilians injured

The cost to date to fight this fire is $1,300,000

The fire is threatening the communities of Potrero, Barrett Junction, Barrett Lake area, Engineer Springs, Dulzura, Deerhorn Valley… Read More

*Today we ask all FR readers to take a moment and keep all of this immediately impacted by the expansive southland wildfires in their thoughts and prayers…*

We are pleased to present this outstanding commentary from Diana Ernst with the Pacific Research Institute.

The California legislature is in a special session on health care expected to last until mid-November, summoned by a governor who refuses to appreciate that tax hikes don’t equate with health reform. Thankfully, the governor recently vetoed Assembly Bill 8, which would have mandated that employers pay at least 7.5 percent of payroll towards health care, a tab that that many businesses find too expensive.… Read More