February 1, 2012 (San Diego)--San Diego Police Department Northeastern Division detectives are looking for a white male suspected of exposing himself to two Rancho Bernardo High School students as they walked to a bus stop yesterday morning. 

 
February 1, 2012 (El Cajon)--The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is all about being prepared for a disaster, such as an earthquake, firestorm or house fire. This FREE preparedness education program offers residents the knowledge and tools they'll need in the event of a disaster.  The first academy is now full, but there are two more academies being offered for 2012.  Pick the one that best fits your schedule, and call (619) 441-1737 to register.  Please leave your name and best contact phone number.  Hurry, classes will fill quickly.  

 
By Millicent Arko

February 1, 2012 (San Diego) – A group of citizens attempted a citizens’ arrest of Mayor Jerry Sanders on Monday, alleging that his deal to temporarily change the name of Qualcomm Stadium without Council’s approval amounted to felony embezzlement.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith ruled that Sanders violated a municipal code by cutting a deal without the City Council's approval to allow a temporary name change for the stadium to “Snapdragon”, a company that provides mobile processing services to Qualcomm. 

February 1, 2012 (Ramona) – The California Department of Fish and Game announced today that its wardens have arrested Jacob Thogmartin, 26, of Ramona on suspicion of setting a fire in a wildlife area filled with hunters early Saturday morning. The blaze, which extended into the night, charred 650 acres.

Late night fire displaces 4 adults and 2 children

January 31, 2012 (El Cajon)—A Heartland Fire & Rescue crew from El Cajon responded to reports of a structure fire at a board and care facility at 1460 E. Lexington Avenue in El Cajon late last night. Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the facility, with reports of a trapped victim.

 
Reducing Energy Bills for Low-Income Families Across California

January 31, 2012  (Alpine) -- On Saturday, March 25, 2012 the communities of Alpine and Mt. Empire will host one of their traditions, the Miss Alpine, Miss Mt. Empire, and Miss East County Scholarship Pageants.

 
January 30, 2012 (El Cajon) – Help is needed a family with a child and two dogs, all displaced by an early morning fire at the home they were renting. The house, built in the early 1900s, may be a total loss and damage is estimated at $180,000 including contents.

Update February 1, 2012:  SB 810 narrowly failed on reconsideration. After reportedly receiving thousands of call urging him to support the bill, Vargas ducked the issue and did not vote.

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2011 (San Diego) – State Senator Juan Vargas, a former insurance industry executive who has taken massive donations from the insurance industry, may cast the deciding vote Tuesday on whether or not millions of Californians will receive  guaranteed universal healthcare and dental care coverage.

Senate Bill 810 passed committee, but fell two votes short in the Senate.  A new vote is  sought before tomorrow’s deadline for passing all Senate bills and sending them on to the Assembly. 

The bill would not set up a government-run healthcare system. It would let people keep their private physicians; doctors and hospitals would continue to be run privately. The bill aims to costs, however, by setting up a single-payer system that limits administrative costs to 5%; currently many insurance companies have administrative costs up to 30%.

January 30, 2012 (El Cajon) – A pilot attempting to start up a stalled plane at Gillespie Field Airport has died after being struck by the propeller and suffering a severe head injury. The pilot has not been identified by authorities yet pending notification of relatives. However the single-engine 1974 Piper was registered to a Lakeside resident.

 By Charlotte Reed

• C.A.R. defends DRE budget reserves
• Perception of better days ahead
• If it sounds too good to be true...

 
January 30, 2012 (Santee) -- The Board of Directors of Padre Dam Municipal Water District appointed officers for 2012. The Board unanimously reappointed Bill Pommering as president, Augie Caires as vice president, and Doug Wilson as treasurer. Committee members were also appointed for 2012.

 
January 30, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon Teen Coalition would like to recognize youth for making a difference in our community.  If you see, hear, or know of a youth who has gone the extra mile to improve the quality of life in our community, please take this opportunity to acknowledge and reward that effort. 

 
January 30, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2012 Citizen's Police Academy. The Citizen's Police Academy is an eight week program that allows members of the community to learn how their police department functions from the inside - out. 

D.A. declines to prosecute felony conspiracy charge for protest at Mayor’s speech, following public pressure

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2012 (La Mesa) – First Amendment advocates expressed shock when San Diego Police arrested La Mesa resident Mike Garcia and three others on felony conspiracy charges--a tactic customarily reserved for grave offenses such as organized crime activities and drug trafficking.

Their purported crime? Interrupting Mayor Sanders’ state of the city speech with a brief “Mic-Check” protest over a free speech issue. 

 
Check out these loveable pups (and one cat) now available for adoption

 
January 29, 2012 (Washington D.C.) — Friday, Representatives Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Tim Murphy (R-PA), introduced a bipartisan resolution with 100 original cosponsors, expressing gratitude to members of the U.S. Armed Forces for their service and sacrifice in Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.  The resolution is available here.

 
January 29, 2012, San Diego, CA….The Cleveland National Forest welcomes Donn Christiansen as the new District Ranger on the Descanso Ranger District in Alpine, CA. Christiansen started his Forest Service career in 1991 as the Counseling Program Manager at the Timber Lake Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center on the Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon.

 
January 29, 2012, (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department kicks off 2012 with its production "Inside The Actor's Process: Readers Theatre - The Theatre of the Imagination."  In this unique form of oral storytelling, space and time can stretch to create fantastic worlds and marvelous journeys that soar through the imagination.

 
January 29, 2012 (La Mesa)--In an on-going commitment to communicating with residents and in honor of the City’s Centennial, all five members of the La Mesa City Council will host a Town Hall Meeting. The open-forum session is set for Tuesday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. 

January 29,2012 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’re driving in East County, please be aware of the following hazardous situations:

• A medical helicopter is en route to 1840 Buckman Springs Road in Cameron Corners, where a rollover accident has resulted in major injuries. The accident involves a van that went off the roadway near a fire station. The accident was reported at 11:08 a.m.
  
• A bicyclist, 17, has been hit head-on by a vehicle on Japatul Road at Hidden Glen. CHP is closing the roadway, CHP reported at 10:47 a.m. The victim was reportedly conscious and breathing.
  
• High wind warnings have been issued for I-8 from Alpine to the County line and CHP advises the area is unsafe for high-profile vehicles. A wind warning has also been issued in the Julian/mountain areas.
  
• In Alpine, Arnold remains closed at South Grade due to repairs from a water main break.

January 28, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A man who was asked to leave Dirk’s Nightclub in Lemon Grove shortly before closing time at 2 a.m. returned with a semi-automatic rifle and opened fire, ECM news partner 10 News reports. The shooter and a friend are believed to have fled in a dark pick-up truck.

By Miriam Raftery

In an exclusive interview with ECM, Block shared his goals and recapped his legislative accomplishments. Last year, Block authored 14 bills that were signed into law by the Governor—more than any other Assemblymember. Bill topics ranged from helping veterans and military families to protecting safe drinking water. But most reflect his passion for strengthening public education for California’s children, teens and college students. 

 
January 28, 2012 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa La Mesa Community Services is enrolling now for their popular classes that begin the week of February 6th. La Mesa Community Services Recreational Program was honored as 2010 Best of East County, by the 2010 East County Californian Readers Poll.  

 
FBI releases photos of suspects still at large