Mayoral Debate -- The four leading candidates for mayor of San Diego faced questioners and each other in the KPBS studios Thursday. This mayor's race is the closest in at least eight years. Polling has Carl DeMaio at 28 percent, Nathan Fletcher at 26 percent, Bob Filner at 20 and Bonnie Dumanis at 13 percent.
The candidates were asked about plans to implement pension reform; creating an improved transportation plan; helping small businesses; improving employment; and the Chargers stadium.
Bob Filner was asked what a Filner adminstration would be like since he has not as yet released any policy initiatives. Nathan Fletcher was asked if he anticipates re-joining the GOP. Katie Orr asked Carl DeMaio why he voted to support changing the booking of conventions to ConVis. Craig Gustafson asked Bonnie Dumanis what her political identity is.
Video In Border Death Surfaces –- New video has surfaced of the May 2010 death of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas at the San Ysidro border crossing. The death was ruled a homicide by the San Diego County Coroner. Border agents said Hernandez became out-of-control after they caught him crossing into the U.S.illegally and attempted to return him to Mexico. He was tasered and, some allege, beaten.
The new video, taken from above the scene, shows Hernandez-Rojas on the ground surrounded by a scrum of agents, one of whom is seen to tase him.
Border agents are part of Homeland Security and not subject to the same public scrutiny as police. In the last two years, eight people have been killed along the border under disputed circumstances. The video is part of a new documentary on the use of excessive force by border agents airing tonight at 8:30 on Need To Know on KPBS.
Harris Reverses Self in Kruzan Case –- State Attorney General Kamala Harris has reversed her position in the Sara Kruzan case. Kruzan killed her pimp when she was 16 and spent 17 years in prison. Her horrific life included being molested, kicked out at 11, gang-raped at 13 and then pimped out the same year.
The AG's original opinion, delivered to the California Supreme Court for a habeas corpus hearing, said that Kruzan's relationship with her pimp was at best financial and professional. Therefore she wasn't a victim of domestic violence and not entitled to early release.
