This story first appeared in inewsource’s weekend newsletter. Sign up for it here.
Say hello to investigative data reporter Jill Castellano. She’s had a very busy few months tracking all of the money in the 2018 election. This week we sat down, and I asked her a few questions:
Why did you get into the news business?
I chose a career in journalism because I want to hold powerful people accountable and expose abuse and injustices. I also like to meet new people and tell their stories, and journalism is the perfect chance to do just that.
What do you cover at inewsource?
During the 2018 elections, I’m focused on campaign finance in San Diego politics. I write stories about how candidates and ballot measure campaigns raise and spend money, and I also write about all the political action committees and unions that support those campaigns and candidates. What I love about covering the money in politics is that once you know how to read all of the complex financial documents that most people can’t decipher, you can uncover interesting stories nobody else has written!
What do you in your free time?
I’m an ardent hiker and a novice surfer. You can find me on the weekends practicing my surf technique in La Jolla Shores or out on a 23-mile trek in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Any podcast favorites?
I love podcasts, and I highly recommend Reply All (about how the internet shapes our lives) if you haven’t listened to it.
Don’t forget to follow Jill on Twitter (@Jill_Castellano) or reach her by email: jillcastellano@inewsource.org.
Have a good weekend, and thanks for reading.
– Shyla Nott, inewsource
Critics accuse nonprofit of using a dead horse to solicit funds
HiCaliber Horse Rescue in Valley Center is under scrutiny again for its fundraising practices after critics accused the nonprofit of using questionable photos to solicit donations.
This week a HiCaliber Facebook post contained a photo of an emaciated horse, along with this:
“Please help in any way you can so we are prepared when we get the next call for an emaciated horse that needs our help. Until ours are fed, we can’t help others!”
Googling “skinny horse” turns up the same photo HiCaliber used. The original photo, however, was taken six years ago during an animal abuse case in Florida. HiCaliber’s Facebook post with the photo raised more than $1,800 for the nonprofit.
In another Facebook fundraising campaign, a HiCaliber volunteer acknowledged that Linus, a horse the group rescued last week, had died. But fundraising for Linus continues, with HiCaliber collecting at least $2,100 in donations.
Possible new air monitors for county’s most polluted neighborhoods
Diesel pollution has the greatest cancer risk of any air toxin. And about 142,000 people in San Diego County live in some of the most polluted areas in the state for diesel emissions.
These areas include: Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, Logan Heights, parts of National City, and parts of Otay Mesa and San Ysidro.
San Diego County is asking the state to pay for 25 air quality monitors in these neighborhoods. It’s part of a testing program that stems from a bill the Legislature passed last year to give extra money to counties to monitor air quality.
Updated voting maps of final 2018 primary election results
We updated our 2018 primary election maps for six of the biggest contests in San Diego County, including:
- 49th and 50th Congressional Districts
- 4th and 5th Board of Supervisors Districts
- District Attorney
- Sheriff
Nearly 40 percent of San Diego County’s registered voters cast ballots in the June primary election, making it the highest turnout for a midterm primary since 1998.
Grab drinks with us on Tuesday
Come out and grab a drink with our newsroom staffers on Tuesday, July 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bivouac Ciderworks in North Park. You’ll get to hear about what we’re working on, ask us questions, meet the owners of Bivouac and enter a raffle for a $100 Amazon gift card.
Plus, a portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to inewsource.
Grab your free tickets – and don’t forget to bring a friend!
We’ll let you know when big things happen.
