EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

February 17,  2016 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Porter Ranch Natural Gas Leak Temporarily Controlled (City News Service)
• Hungry? Amazon delivers from local eateries in an hour (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Obama to designate new national monuments in the California desert (The Washington Post)
• Hasty water policies don’t mix well with long-term planning (Voice of San Diego )
• Officials Show Off Facility Where Passengers Apply For TSA Pre-Check Program (KPBS)
• Dueling SANDAG Proposals Pit Transit Against Local Infrastructure (Voice of SD)
• CPUC boss and energy innovator were friendly (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Cell-tracking 'Stingray' device was kept secret (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Coastal Commission fires executive director over objections of hundreds of supporters (Los Angeles Times)
• Governor Brown’s budget includes Salton Sea funding (The Sun)
• California farmers reap record sales in record drought (Chron.com) (AP)
• How the drought boosts your utility bills, and global warming (SF Gate)
• 2 Golden Gate Bridge pedestrians hit by blow darts (SF Gate)
• US hospital held to ransom by hackers (BBC)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

LOCAL

Porter Ranch Natural Gas Leak Temporarily Controlled (City News Service)

"We have temporarily controlled the natural gas flow from the leaking well and begun the process of sealing the well and permanently stopping the leak," said Jimmie Cho, SoCalGas senior vice president of gas operations and system integrity.

Hungry? Amazon delivers from local eateries in an hour (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The e-commerce company is taking on Postmates and DoorDash with speedy restaurant delivery from more than 90 area eateries. 

Obama to designate new national monuments in the California desert (The Washington Post)

President Obama has set aside more of America’s lands and waters for conservation protection than any of his predecessors, and he is preparing to do even more.

Hasty water policies don’t mix well with long-term planning (Voice of San Diego – opinion by Mark Weston)

When I started in the water industry more than 40 years ago, providing water to the San Diego region was relatively simple. Imported water deliveries from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California seemed plentiful and reliable, and the San Diego County Water Authority reliably conveyed those MWD supplies to local water districts. The drought of 1987-92 ended that mirage.

Officials Show Off Facility Where Passengers Apply For TSA Pre-Check Program (KPBS)

Passengers in the TSA Pre-Check program go through select screening lines at the airport and do not have to take off their shoes, light outerwear, or belts.

Dueling SANDAG Proposals Pit Transit Against Local Infrastructure (Voice of SD)

SANDAG is committed to trying to raise taxes on voters countywide this November. They’re just not sure yet what they want the money to pay for. 

CPUC boss and energy innovator were friendly (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The California Public Utilities Commission is beginning to release records sought by U-T Watchdog, some of them requested almost a year ago

Cell-tracking 'Stingray' device was kept secret (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Records show extent police went to, to hide the program

STATE

Coastal Commission fires executive director over objections of hundreds of supporters (Los Angeles Times)

The California Coastal Commission fired its executive director Wednesday -- a decision made despite an overwhelming show of public support for the land use agency’s top official.

Governor Brown’s budget includes Salton Sea funding (The Sun)

Gov. Jerry Brown’s $122.6 billion budget plan out Thursday contained $80.5 million for the restoration of habitat at the shrinking Salton Sea, the creation of a longterm plan for the lake’s management, and is raising hopes for its restoration, officials said. “This $80.5 million will not fund the entire program, but it takes us a long way in the right direction,” said Bruce Wilcox, who Gov. Brown appointed in May as assistant secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the Natural Resources agency.

California farmers reap record sales in record drought (Chron.com) (AP)

A new state report shows California farmers reaping record sales despite the epic drought, thriving even as city-dwellers have been forced to conserve water, household wells have run dry and fish have died.

How the drought boosts your utility bills, and global warming (SF Gate)

By starving California’s hydroelectric dams of water, the state’s four-year drought has cost consumers an extra $2 billion in utility bills and pushed up greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by 10 percent, a new study finds.

2 Golden Gate Bridge pedestrians hit by blow darts (SF Gate)

Both victims were evaluated by paramedics and released at the scene. The CHP took both darts as evidence and sent them to be tested for harmful chemicals.

US hospital held to ransom by hackers (BBC)

Computer systems at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center have been offline for more than a week following a ransomware attack. / According to local news sources, hackers were said to have demanded $3.4m (£2.4m) to provide the codes to unlock the stolen data.