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<p>A new study reviewing COVID-19 deaths shows that a higher percentage of Republicans than Democrats died from the illness after vaccines became available last year.</p>

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<p>The City of San Diego has passed a new ordinance banning single-use food packaging commonly known as styrofoam, the white spongy material used for&nbsp;<span>food trays, egg cartons, cups, and other disposable containers.</span></p>

<p>Beginning in April 2023, polystyrene foam products will no longer be allowed at any City facilities and no City departments will be able to use public funds to purchase polystyrene foam products.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>A South Texas Republican Congresswoman who flipped her district in a June special election has been defeated by a three-term Democratic Congressman, ending her political career in Washington, DC just five months after it began.</p>

<p>Mayra Flores was elected in June to finish the term of veteran Democratic Congressman Filemon Vela, who left office to become a lobbyist. Vela was serving his fifth two-year term in Congress when he resigned in March 2022.</p>

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<p>Elected officials and the Democratic Party continue to campaign for a deceased candidate for the position of City Attorney for Chula Vista in a move that could cause an expensive special election early next year to fill the role of the City's lawyer.</p>

<p><img alt="Art Castanares" data-align="left" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13e33bee-5a17-46a7-b2e0-9b016034f2f6" height="207" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/pic_ACperspective.jpg" width="207"></p>

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<p>San Diego voters received a campaign mail piece over the weekend supporting a November ballot measure related to trash collection in the City, but the mailer does not explain that passage of the measure would allow the City to create a new trash service tax on most single-family households.</p>