Brutal Tactics in Mexico's Drug War

Acid baths, mutilations and decapitations common in Mexico's war on drugs.

Video

The year in photos

Moments of joy and moments of drama captured by Union-Tribune photographers.

Photo gallery

Citizens exchange guns for gift cards

United African American Ministerial Action Council sponsored a gun exchange at their Market St. office. Those turning in guns received a $100 gift card for Ralphs or Fry's Electronics. Response was so great they ran out of gift cards after only one hour.

Video

Pawnshops' registers are ringing

The tough economy has many people turning to their local pawnbroker for needed cash.

Video

Narrow escapes in Tijuana River Valley

People and horses battle flash flooding along the border.

Photo gallery

Escape from beached sailboat

Lifeguards rescue two men who jump from beached sailboat in Imperial Beach.

Video

Homeless Connect

Golden Hall event makes the holiday season a little brighter for San Diego's homeless.

Video

Tijuanenses terrorized by drug war

Tijuana residents are changing their daily routines as the wave of drug-related slayings continues.

Video

County's foreclosure hotspot

Ride the repo bus as the Union-Tribune explores Chula Vista's street of risk and loss.

Video | Story

San Diegans march in support of gay marriage

At least 20,000 people march down Sixth Avenue in support of same-sex marriage.

Video | Story | Photo gallery

Religious groups gather on both sides of Prop. 8

Foes and supporters of Prop. 8, the ballot measure banning same-sex marriage in California, held religious services at St. Paul's Cathedral near Balboa Park and Qualcomm Stadium.

Video: No on 8 | Video: Yes on 8

Drought, beetles killing forests

Learn more about the ravaged forests in the West with tips on how to fight them.

Multimedia | Story

Paralympic military sports camp

Wounded service members team up with U.S. Paralympians for sports camp at San Diego's Naval Medical Center.

Video

ACORN in San Diego County

The group has registered more voters in San Diego County this year than anywhere else in California.

Video | Story

Getting Ronnie right

Ronnie was sick of being Ronnie. Or, at least sick of what he had become – a no-account gangster.

Audio slideshow | Story

Men feel the pain of the pump

Hundreds of men sacrificed comfort to help raise domestic violence awareness during the YWCA's "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" high heel walk.

Video

'Thank the jellyfish'

Nobel Prize winner and UCSD researcher Roger Tsien talks about green fluorescent protein.

Video

Miramar Air Show 2008

Excerpts from the Blue Angels' Friday performance at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

Video | Photos

PSA Crash, 30 Years Later

Photos and resources from the Sept. 25, 1978 crash of a passenger jet into a San Diego neighborhood.

Photo gallery | More

Prison riot aftermath

An uprising at Tijuana's La Mesa state penitentiary turns deadly and has family members fretting outside.

Video

Bison on base

Among the odder things you'll find on Camp Pendleton are roaming bison – sometimes they get in the way.

Video | Story

Fast-Pass border lane

Fast-Pass border lane
Video | Story

2008 U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition

Sandcastle artists turn Imperial Beach into a sandy wonderland – for the weekend.

Video | Photo gallery

Rites of passage

Students around the county prepare for graduation in a number of ways as the final days tick down.

Photo gallery | Story

Locks of Love

Students at Mission Hills High School get their hair trimmed to donate to children who've lost theirs.

Photo gallery

Revamped Caliente back in the game

Take a look at the action inside and around Tijuana's revamped Caliente casino.

Video | Story

Bidding for salvation

Every weekday at 9 a.m., somebody's bidding on something – and the profit goes to the Salvation Army.

Video

From shipwreck to wrecked ship

Abandoned drug boat washes ashore off Sunset Cliffs.

Audio slideshow

Iraq war dog reunited with Marine

After more than a month apart, a Marine is reunited with the dog he rescued from Iraq.

Video | Story

Retrained for 'Action!'

Wounded Marines and sailors train for jobs behind the camera.

Audio slideshow | Story

Letter-perfect

Seventy-one contestants from schools around the region compete in the San Diego County Spelling Bee.

Audio slideshow

Remembering Sgt. Perry

After their son Sgt. Joseph Perry was killed by a sniper, his parents channeled their grief into support for others.

Audio slideshow

Going underground

Charting the rising number of illegal drug tunnels dug underneath the U.S.-Mexico border.

Interactive

Big surf

Big waves follow winter storms and surfers take advantage along the San Diego County coastline.

Photo gallery

Stabbed K9 recovers at home

Police dog recuperates after attack.

Reaching out to the homeless

The city of San Diego's Homeless Outreach Team united uniformed officers, social workers and mental health clinicians to work with the chronically homeless.
Audio slideshow

Reclaiming the river

A coalition of agencies and nonprofit groups are working to restore overdeveloped parts of the San Diego River.
Video

PAWS lends a hand

The non-profit organization P.A.W.S. was founded in 1993 to support low income, chronically ill, elderly and disabled clients with their pets.

Slideshow

Nursing shortage

Jorge Ramos

Panda cub debut

The San Diego Zoo's newest panda cub makes her public debut.

Video | Photo gallery

Hospitals look south

The nursing shortage has U.S. hospitals looking across the border for Spanish-speaking nurses.

Audio slideshow

Snow time

San Diegans hit the snow after a storm coats the region's mountains.

Photo gallery

Escaping the fury

San Diego's shelter-in-place communities and how they fared during the fire.

The searchers

Volunteers scoured a mountain to find one of their own after San Diego's wildfires.

Multimedia

Home of the Brave

The stories of five sailors and Marines who have proved themselves in combat.

Feature | Database of medal recipients

Accidental wheelie

A dump truck ends up on its two back wheels while going up a hill in City Heights.

Photo gallery

Legendary trip

San Diego lifeguards train to retrace an almost 200-mile rowing trip.

Video | Story

Healing bowls

At the San Diego Cancer Center, some find peace in Tibetan sounds.

Video

Farm Fresh

With family farms flourishing, local farmers markets are blooming.

Interactive

A high school reborn

Beloved Lincoln High reopens after a total overhaul.

Audio slideshows | Story

Jimmie Johnson revs up hometown

NASCAR hero takes a spin around Granite Hills High.

Video | Story

Sprucing up City Heights

The Urban Corps and local volunteers tackle blight along University Ave.

Video

Mural project

The Lemon Grove Historical Society commissioned a massive mural project to depict the history of Lemon Grove in five panels on the side of the Grove Pastry Shop.

Multimedia

Olympic Training Center

The Chula Vista Olympic Training Center is one of three in the country and has produced numerous medalists.

Multimedia

Parrots

Smuggled parrots to be sent back south of the border.

Audio slideshow

Military boarding school

Navy and Coast Guard practice boarding a vessel in the bay.

Audio slideshow

Dogs hit the surf

Tail-wagging action at the Loews Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach.

Video

Fighting fire in the dark

San Diego can fight fires from above at night.

Audio slideshow | Story

Coming Home

Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Mattero died in Iraq. His family says goodbye.

Photos | Story

Tax star, track star

Rancho Bernardo resident Cathy Means is a tax accountant, wife, mother -- and drag racer.

Audio slideshow

Night launch

Night takeoffs and landings aboard the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

Video

A dynamite career

Sgt. Conrad Grayson retires after 29 years on sheriff's bomb squad.

Interactive | Story

Bats in the barn

An Encinitas family gladly shares its property with a colony of 1,000 bats.

Video | Story

Otter pup

Otter pup rescued by SeaWorld.

Video

Homeless court

A special Superiour Court session held during annual Stand Down event, gives homeless an opportunity to resolve misdemeanor criminal cases.

Audio slideshow

Robot sub competition

Robot sub competition at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center on Point Loma.

Video

Saying goodbye to Santee school

Santee School District tears down its oldest school.

Video | Story

Missile defense

San Diego-based destroyer Decatur launches missile to destroy missile.

Video | Story

Science with a splash

A science lesson soaks in as students mix Mentos with Diet Coke.

Video

Wags for Wishes

Dogs run, jump and splash at the annual Make-A-Wish fundraiser.

Video | Photo gallery

Post-Fourth of July trash clean up

City workers, volunteers clean up the beach following Fourth of July celebrations.

Video

Finding home

Immigrants talk about capturing their own version of the American dream.

Video

Dead Sea Scrolls

Multitudes expected to view biblical history in San Diego.

Video | Story | Overview (PDF)

Bald eagle road trip

Wildlife biologist makes field trip to check on Catalina Island eagles.

Interactive | Story

Scavengers lose a lifeline

Dump closure will force Tijuana's landfill community to adapt.

Interactive | Story

Mexicans on immigration

Views from the other side of the border.

Video

A brand new god

Shiva Vishnu Temple in Mira Mesa has a new addition.

Audio slideshow

Fire warning

County officials warn residents about a menacing fire season.

Video | Story

Tiger cubs at play

Sumatran tiger cubs and their mother at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Photo gallery

Offshoring jobs

How "offshorable" is your job?

Interactive | Video

Over their dead bodies

"Bodies ... the Exhibition" sparks interest – and an ethical debate.

Audio slideshow

Fire destroys hotel under construction

Fire destroys hotel under construction in Carmel Valley.

Photos | Video

A chief's life

A look at the life of William Lansdowne, San Diegos' top cop.

Interactive | Photo gallery | Story

At War: Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch

He fought in both Iraq wars and lost an eye – but not his spirit.

Video

Enforcers

Police football.

Video

Filling in

Closing up a cross-border drug-smuggling tunnel.

Interactive | Story

Bomberos

U.S. firefighters train along border with Mexican counterparts.

Video

Making a new wave

Local squadron marks Navy's return to shallow-water combat.

Video | Story

Democrats meet

Big names flock to the California Democratic Convention.

Photo gallery | Weblog | Stories

Gaut convicted

Courtroom video, background on woman convicted of assault.

Video | Story

Lion cubs

Lion cubs play at Lions Tigers and Bears.

Video

Bighorn sheep

Peninsular bighorn sheep graze near the Palm Canyon Trail in Borrego.

Photo gallery

Chicano Park Day

Sights and sounds of the celebration.

Audio slideshow

Rewiring their brains

Community college program aids those with brain injuries.

Interactive

Border Patrol shooting

A Border Patrol video of a deadly shooting last month is prompting calls by the Mexican government for an investigation.

Windows Media Player

Tijuana gunbattle

Police secure the area around Tijuana General Hospital in the wake of Wednesday's gunbattle.

Windows Media

Bomb scare

Officials talk about responding to a bomb scare.
Media Player

Colossal commissary

Commissary to be world's largest, offering cheap prices, variety to region's military.

Video | Story

Rescues at the shoreline

SeaWorld vets reach out to ill and stranded animals.

Interactive

Loss of a landmark

Tijuana's bullring fades into history.

Video
| Story

A critical stage

Chula Vista Middle School's performing arts students in action.

Audio slideshow

One last roll

Roller rink in Santee set to close after nearly three decades.

Interactive | Story

African Market

A cultural bridge.

Multimedia

Highway habitat

The California Department of Transportation is installing "rockscapes."

Multimedia

Kid TV

School kids run TV program.

Video | Story

Heaven's Gate Revisited

Ten years ago, members of the cult committed suicide.

Interactive | Story

On a roll

Chula Vista police on Segways.

Video

Copter Cops

Details on San Diego's high-tech-equipped police and fire helicopters.

Interactive

Cunningham figures indicted over CIA deal.

U.S. Attorney Carol C. Lam announces indictments against three individuals linked to Cunningham scandal.

Video

Then and now

Black in San Diego.

Audio slideshow

Gangs in San Diego

Community leaders, former gang members talk about gangs in San Diego.

Flash Video | Story

Jet crashes on carrier

U.S. Navy videotape shows the jet's night-time approach and the crash.
Video | Story

Porpoises under pressure

Vaquitas face extinction off Baja.

Photo gallery | Story

Preble

Guided-missile destroyer departs.

Photos | Story

What's ahead for housing?

Local real estate experts look into their crystal balls.
Interactive

Explosive tunes

A narcocorrido group comes under fire in Tijuana.

Audio slideshow | Story

Big waves

Storm-roiled ocean brings moderately heavy surf.

Video

Mount Laguna snowfall

Kids big and small enjoy the county's first snowfall.

Cable-DSL / 56k

Polar Bears

Polar bear numbers continue to decline, officials say at the San Diego Zoo.

Video

S.D.'s changing skyline

Navy bayside development clears key hurdle.

Interactive | Story

The fate of the Gina Lisa

Final report says fishing boat flooded, sank.

Underwater video | Story

Journeys to Pakistan and Afghanistan

Audio slideshows and stories chronicling journeys through Afghanistan and quake-ravaged Pakistan.

Interactive

Tanker 910

California firefighting enters the jet age.

Video

Images of democracy

Election Day photo gallery and one man's polling place.
Photos | Video

S.D. tries to crush auto theft

San Diego starts crushing cars seized by police for having stolen parts.

Video | Story

Homeless shelter opens early

Homeless shelter opens early to help with rise of elderly, disabled in need.

Slideshow | Story

March against crime

Mexicans demand action as they march across Baja.

Audio slideshow | Story

Hunter runs for president

Rep. Duncan Hunter announces his intent to seek the GOP presidential bid.

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Border fence may split tribe

Border fence may split Arizona's Tohono O'odham tribe.

Slideshow | Story

Flying Samaritans

Volunteers bring medical aid to needy border town.

Audio slideshow

Miramar Air Show

Highlights from the display of precision and power.

Photo gallery

Submarine Dolphin retired

Saying farewell to Dolphin, Navy's last diesel sub.

Slideshow | Story

Reporter attacked

XETV Reporter John Mattes is attacked by the subject of one of his investigations. The suspect and his wife face various charges.

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The U.S. Grant Hotel

Tour the renovation of the landmark hotel.

Cable-DSL / 56k | Story

Arellano Felix

Javier Arellano Felix, other drug cartel suspects led to caravan.

Cable-DSL / 56k | Photos

Incident prompts change to airport security procedure

New regulations regarding liquid items in carry-on bags implemented in response to suspected terror plot.

Video

Homecoming

Big cats return to East County sanctuary after fire.

Video

Fans injured during Tool concert

Paramedics treat injured concert-goers and take some to local hospitals.

Video

Stand Down

Homeless vets get help.

Audio slideshow

Raid on Combat Town

Iraq-bound Marines train at Camp Pendleton.

Video

Marines oppose airport plan

Maj. Gen. Michael Leonard says airport planners suffer from "target fixation" as they eye Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.

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Video released of murder suspect

Help sought in finding Jack in the Box murder suspect.

Video | Story

'A Day Without Immigrants'

May Day demonstrations around San Diego County.

Video | Photo gallery

Forgotten Victims

Woman starts non-profit to help those who've caused accidents.

Video | Story

Canine crimefighters

Finding bombs, catching crooks — K-9s do it all.

Video

Implosion

The Hotel San Diego is reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds.

Cable-DSL / 56k

Felonious feline

Connecticut town puts cat under house arrest.

Video

Canstruction

Architects turn cans of food into statues.

Video

Snow in San Diego

Storms frost San Diego County's mountains.

Photo gallery

Snowy San Diego

Late winter storm paints San Diego's mountains white.

Photos | Poster

High school robots

Local student teams show off their robots.

Video (Flash) | Story

Mira Mesa robot progress

Members of one high school team talks about their robot.

Video (Flash)

Beached ship off Ensenada.

The container ship that ran aground and the efforts to free it.

Photo gallery

State of San Diego

San Diego's new mayor, new councilmembers speak out.

Video

Robot Challenge kickoff

Students to face robot challenge.

Video

Carrier Ronald Reagan departs

The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan leaves for its first deployment.
Photos | Story

Big Bay Parade

The sights and sounds of the Big Bay Balloon Parade.
Cable-DSL / 56k