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Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, August 21, 2025…
- San Diego County’s jail system is facing new scrutiny in a class action lawsuit that challenges nearly every aspect of daily operations. The case centers on years of reported neglect inside the jails, where at least 250 people have died since 2006. A hearing had been set for Thursday, on whether evidence from two recent jailhouse deaths can be used in the case, but the judge canceled it, saying he already has enough information to make a ruling.
- The California Supreme Court has ruled against state Republicans, who were attempting to slow down Governor Newsom’s redistricting efforts. The state legislature is expected to approve the proposal on Thursday, after which Newsom will call for a special election on November 4. That gives local election offices less than three months to prepare.
- Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has filed a legal claim, alleging Mayor Karen Bass smeared her conduct and decision-making after she was fired.
Class Action Lawsuit Scrutinizes Daily Operations In San Diego’s Jail System
San Diego County’s jail system is facing new scrutiny in a class action lawsuit that challenges nearly every aspect of daily operations.
The case centers on years of reported neglect inside the jails, where at least 250 people have died since 2006. A hearing had been set for Thursday. The judge in the case was scheduled to determine if evidence from two recent jailhouse deaths would have been permissible in the lawsuit. But the judge canceled it, saying he already has enough information to make a ruling.
Kelly Davis is a reporter with the San Diego Union Tribune who has been covering the jail system for years. “There were two recent deaths and immediately after both deaths, an attorney for the plaintiffs came down to San Diego to get witness statements. And what these men described was pretty horrific. Corey Dean, who died on July 13th, he was crying for help for days. He was covered in feces and he was basically ignored. Karim Talib, who died on July 28th, he was refusing food, refusing medications. He wore diapers. No one was changing his diapers. My colleague Jeff McDonald and I, we’ve been working together on stories on these deaths. The word we kept turning to in describing these witness statements, declarations, is gruesome,” she said…