EDUARDO CONTRERAS / Union-Tribune Mike Hancock of Jamul parked his beer on a block wall as he pitched horseshoes yesterday at Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, where a temporary ban for Labor Day weekend has been announced by California State Parks officials.

CORONADO – Beach-goers expecting a raucous party at Silver Strand State Beach over the upcoming Labor Day weekend are in for a major “buzzkill.” Officials with California State Parks have imposed a temporary alcohol ban from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, on the last public beach in San Diego County where alcohol is still allowed.

SAN DIEGO – A San Diego police officer who was charged yesterday in the death of his canine partner is unlikely to lose his job but could face disciplinary action pending an internal investigation, San Diego police Chief William Lansdowne said.

DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO – In the competition to build a new City Hall for San Diego, the underdog is now the only dog. Portland, Ore.-based Gerding Edlen is the lone developer still in the running to overhaul the four-block Civic Center, meaning that officials have only one bidder to choose from for a $600 million-plus job.

Local political scientist James Fowler thought his research about politicians being lampooned on “The Colbert Report” might land him a guest spot on the satirical show. He found out it wasn't so easy.

SAN DIEGO – A Superior Court judge has criticized San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre over his office's reluctance to release documents under the California Public Records Act.

Was a museum ghost at work? When San Diego Natural History Museum curators arrived at the exhibit “Water: A California Story” on Thursday morning, they found water – one to two inches deep – that wasn't supposed to be there. Had the exhibit sprung to life or sprung a leak? Or was there truth to tales of ghosts haunting the Balboa Park building?