From San Diego to Moscow: George Gorton’s Strange and Wild Assignments: San Diego son George Gorton has had a front-row seat for history, from Nixon to Wilson to Yeltsin. But his bout with Parkinson’s, and how he thinks he might have gotten it, could just be his most interesting tale of all.

Suicide Magnet: A two-part series chronicles the history of suicides from the Coronado Bridge and what is, or is not, being done to stop them.

The Thinning of the Gray Whales: As gray whales adapt to the Arctic’s changing climate, the effects are felt in San Diego and in a remote fishing village on the shores of a lagoon in Baja California Sur.

A Trail of Broken Promises The Valencia Business Park in southeastern San Diego went wrong for a number of people. But it appears to be going right for a developer with ties to a public official.

Always Running: Luis Acle With runs for Congress and bi-national business efforts, school board President Luis Acle has long sought power and success. But when he finally reached a position of influence, he has both tried to escape from the role and abdicated much of its authority.

A Towering Figure: The Life and Business of Aaron Feldman In the three decades since he immigrated to the United States, the intensely private president of Sunroad Enterprises has built a wide-ranging business empire that spans two nations. Now, at the height of his success, he faces unprecedented challenges.

Police Chief Has History of Inaccuracies: A two-part special report finds San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne has been misstating key statistics on television and in front of the City Council for several years.

Affordable No More: The city’s Southeastern Economic Development Corp. has allowed the limits of its affordable housing regulations to be stretched and, at times, crossed.

The Forbidden City: Oblivious to the immigration debate that spins out of control around them, the migrant workers of Carmel Valley continue to live how they have for decades: In a trash-strewn canyon with candles for light, a stream to bathe in, and each other’s companionship to keep themselves warm.

Ghostwriting the Airport’s Story: If you support replacing Lindbergh Field and your name carries credibility, the airport authority will spend thousands to have professionals clandestinely write an op-ed under your name for the local newspaper. It’s all part of a multi-million dollar public-relations campaign that critics are complaining about, but that appears to be working.

Mission Valley: The Unplanned Neighborhood: It’s gone from being the home of the exotic crops of Spanish missionaries to the enormous chains of American merchandising. Now, as a burgeoning residential community, Mission Valley is becoming just plain home. But its sordid history leaves its residents contemplating the future in a flood plain without a school, park land and a permanent fire station.

No Ex-Councilman Left Behind: Internal e-mails show that City Councilman Jim Madaffer worked diligently behind the scenes to secure a significant pension boost for an ex-official who had long since left city service. At the same time, Madaffer lobbied the ex-official for millions of dollars in land grants.

Another Pension Fund in the Red: In the shadow of the fiscal scandal that has left San Diego’s City Hall in a legal and political quagmire is another billion-dollar pension problem.

The History of V&E: Hired to be a narrator of San Diego’s problems, the Vinson & Elkins law firm instead became a primary character in the tale of a city mired in a financial crisis, myriad investigations and mounting legal and consulting bills. The firm’s failures were initially hidden from the public and carry real consequences.