Two San Diegans were included among five men arrested by California Department of Insurance detectives on multiple felony charges alleging a complex scheme to defraud insurers. The five suspects are accused of falsifying life insurance applications to collect more than $600,000 in commissions from big insurance concerns. The local men accused — Tyler Wilkinson, 37, and Ian Frisch, 31 — were booked in the San Diego County Jail with bail set at $600,000 each. … The Brookings Institution released its inaugural metro-level analysis of foreign direct investment’s role in the San Diego metropolitan area’s economy as part of its Global Cities Initiative, a joint project with JPMorgan Chase. The report states that foreign direct investment supports 50,000 local jobs and that there is room to grow. … San Diego was the only California city listed in USA Today’s recently published list of the 10 best cities for bicycling. The piece highlighted local routes, including the Silver Strand, the ride out to Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma and the Pacific Coast Highway ride up the coastline along the county’s most beautiful beach towns. … Retired San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman launched his latest collection of Lights Out brand fashion apparel for men, sold online at lightsoutbrand.com. The line includes items for women as well as glow-in-the-dark toys for children. He retired from football after the 2013 season. … Stone Brewing Co. is celebrating its 18th anniversary with a birthday invitational scheduled the evenings of Aug. 15-16 on the campus of California State University, San Marcos. The craft brewer will donate all proceeds for the two-day party to local charities, President and co-founder Steve Wagner said, adding that the company has donated more than $2 million to local nonprofits during its almost two decades in business. For details about the soirees, as well as tickets, go to stonebrewing.com. … Finally. Now through Aug. 12, The Old Globe in Balboa Park is featuring Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” billed as an “inventive reimagining” by the New York City-based, actor-driven Fiasco Theater. Details are at theoldglobe.org. Meanwhile, the La Jolla Playhouse has two productions on the stage this summer: “The Orphan of Zhao,” based on the first Chinese play to be translated in the West 300 years ago that has inspired many operas, plays and movies; and “Ether Dome,” which explores the social issues of health care as a big business. Details are at lajollaplayhouse.org. Till next week.
Contributing Editor Tom York writes the SDBJ Insider. You can reach him with column tips at tom.york@gmail.com or tyork@sdbj.com.