East County News Service

September 20, 2017 (Rancho San Diego)--The 2017 edition of the Fall Concert Series at Cuyamaca College will include a trio of world-class musicians from as far away as New York who will perform the first in an ongoing calendar of classic concerts underwritten by a well-known patron of the arts.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: NASA/NSR

September 20, 2017 (San Diego) — The eye of Hurricane Maria passed almost directly over San Juan, the capitol of Puerto Rico.  The powerful storm made landfall with 155 mile per hour winds—just 2 miles per hour short of Category 5 status.  It’s believed to be the strongest hurricane in at least 80 years to hit Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory home to 3.5 million people.

By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Like the proverbial Lazarus rising from the dead, efforts to repeal Obamacare have been revived. Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy have introduced a measure that would repeal Obamacare with no replacement.  The bill would give block grants allowing states to let insurance companies deny coverage or charge more for preexisting conditions, and to eliminate lifetime caps on coverage for people needing costly care to survive.  It also cuts funds for Medicaid expansion and eliminates all subsidies for low and moderate income Americans. 

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy San Diego Kings

September 19, 2017 (San Diego) - Despite the Chargers hanging San Diego out to dry, new sports organizations are seeing San Diego for the premier sports destination it is.  And now, a new face is entering America's Finest City and it's founded by an East County high school grad.

By Miriam Raftery

“His behavior is extraordinarily irresponsible. A public official should not be in the business of threatening groundless litigation over acts that are things that reporters do every day.”  -- David Snyder, executive director, First Amendment Coalition

September 19, 2017 (San Diego) – El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho sent emails to San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Jeff McDonald repeatedly calling the award-winning journalist a “troll” and threatening legal action after McDonald asked tough questions about Kalasho’s business dealings and apparent conflicts of interests.

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Story by Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

For Christian Chapman and Ron Smith’s portion of the press conference, click “read more” and scroll down

September 19, 2017 (San Diego) - With the Pac-12 behind them, SDSU football celebrated two wins against a tough conference and prepared to open Mountain West play against Air Force this Saturday.  Head coach Rocky Long, junior quarterback Christian Chapman and sophomore cornerback Ron Smith took the floor for this week’s press conference.

Source: Stephen Moran, San Miguel Fire District

September 19, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) --  Adrienne Koroly had his Lexus parked outside his home in Morena Valley. On Saturday morning , he drove from Morena Valley to his parents home on San Vicente Blvd in the Casa De Oro area of Spring Valley. When he stepped out, he heard meowing—not a typical engine purr.

By Jeff Meyer

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: San Miguel Fire Department

Update  6 p.m. -- FAA records indicate the plane was registered to Brian T. Fink of Ramona. His Linked In site indicates he is an engineer with Qualcomm. Epoch Times reports the plane was heading from GIllespie Field to Warner Springs when an engine failed, according to FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer.

September 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – A pilot and his passenger escaped without serious injury after the Piper single-engine plane in which they were traveling crashed onto Second Street at El Rey in front of a church in El Cajon yesterday afternoon.

East County News Service

September 17, 2017 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to join La Mesa Conversations at their next mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27th at La Mesa Wine Works. The mixer topic will be an update to La Mesa's Climate Action Plan.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  Christian Chapman finished with 187 yards passing in the Aztecs' upset victory over No. 19/19 Stanford.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

September 17, 2017 (San Diego) - Christian Chapman connected with David Wells on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 54 seconds remaining to lift San Diego State to a thrilling 20-17 come-from-behind victory over No. 19/19 Stanford in front of 43,040 fans Saturday night at San Diego Stadium.

Source: Caltrans

September 16, 2017 (Ramona) - Caltrans Maintenance crews will close a two-block portion of Maine Street/State Route 67 (SR-67) from Wynola Street to Rotanzi Street in Ramona, Sunday from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. for tree pruning and removing dead wood. Signs will be posted directing motorist around the closure.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 15, 2017 (Spring Valley) - ECM Friday Night Lights stuck around Spring Valley this week to see the Matadors of Mount Miguel square off against a school we don’t get to report on often:  the Wolf Pack of West Hills High.  The kids from Santee left their blue turf this week with a 2-1 record on the young season.  The Matadors are improving, but still in the loss column at 1-2.

Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher bill would protect a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health decisions

East County News Service

September 15, 2017 (Sacramento) -- California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) won final Legislative approval of her bill protecting women from being fired for a pregnancy. The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act would also prevent an employer for firing or disciplining a woman for making any other decision related to her reproductive health. The bill now heads to the Governor, who has until Oct. 15 to either sign or veto the proposal.