PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com LOCAL, INDEPENDENT, TRUSTED
VOL. 38, N0. 14
April 5, 2024
Feds look into .com SANDAG SAN MARCOS -NEWS
THE DOJ contacts staff after VISTA report on toll road fiasco NEWS By Laura Place
HISTORIC
RUN
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Despite a 20-point performance from junior Charity Gallegos, the CSUSM women’s basketball team’s historic season ended in the program’s first-ever DII Final Four appearance. Story on 12.
Man arrested in alleged police attack was driving in the Police say suspect officer 1000 block of Carlsbad Drive underneath hit officer in head Village Interstate 5 when a rock the spotlight and with skateboard struck front windshield of his pa-
Solar eclipse viewing held in Encinitas
By Erik P. Gabaldon
The SDSU Astronomy Department hosts a total solar eclipse viewing on April 8 at the Encinitas library. 16
CARLSBAD — A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly striking a police officer in the head with a skateboard, authorities said March 31. Around 11:15 p.m. last Friday, a Carlsbad police
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REGION — SANDAG executives knew about failures with the issue-ridden state Route 125 tolling system for over a year and a half before informing the board of directors, and financial reports from vendor ETAN Tolling Technologies canRANCHO not be relied upon, according to anSFNEWS investigative report shared with the board on Friday. IKHRATA The investigative report completed by SANDAG’s Office of the Independent Performance Auditor (OIPA) is the latest development in the saga of the South DOUZDJIAN Bay Expressway tolling system, detailing how senior financial management allowed issues with financial information to persist without intervening, costing the agency around $2 million. In October, the SANDAG board was first informed of longstanding issues with ETAN’s tolling system in a closed-session meeting. The following month, former finance director Lauren Warrem sued the agency, alleging that she was terminated after raising questions about why the agency continued to pay contractors for deficient tolling technology that had mischarged drivers. OIPA launched an investigation in December and found that former CEO Hasan Ikhrata and Chief Financial Officer Andre Douzdjian
trol car. “The impact from the rock-strike destroyed the spotlight and damaged the windshield,’’ the department reported. The officer called for a supervisor and pulled into a nearby parking lot to inTURN TO ATTACK ON 16
DAZZLING SKY
North County residents took to social media to post photos and videos of a SpaceX rocket clearly visible on April 1 in the skies above San Diego. Residents were awestruck by the dazzling display of the rocket’s glowing exhaust trails on its way into lowEarth orbit. Story on 5. Photo by John Melson
TURN TO SANDAG ON 24
Mariachi Serenata San Diego Concert Saturday, April 20, 2024 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
ner/ ncert kets
Dinner/ Concert Tickets
Band Plays 5:30p.m.- 8:30p.m.
0.00
$
Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92058
er son
60.00
Per Person
Make checks payable to AGIF Education Foundation Advanced Ticket Sales
23
Jerry Alaniz 760-583-3870 • Manny Astorga 760.681.2576 • Debra Acuna 760.445.3723
Sponsored by: American GI Forum Education Foundation of Oceanside
Full Moon Poets present The 2024
Pink Moon Poetry Slam Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Dedicated to Trish “The Dish” Dugger NANA RULES!!!
Poets' call 6:00 PM Show starts at 7:00 PM MC: Marit Anderson Host: Danny Salzhandler
FREE ADMISSION! CASH PRIZES!
For rules & more info call Danny 760-473-5164
SPONSORED BY:
SURFING MADONNA OCEANS PROJECT
101 ARTIST COLONY
@ La thePaloma historic La Paloma 471 S. Encinitas Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas Theatre, 471 STheatre, Coast Hwy 101, • FullMoonPoets.org