EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

December 19, 2013 (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

• El Cajon gets $1.5 miliion in federal grants (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa faces $800,000 fine for 2010 sewer spill (La Mesa Patch)
• San Diego Water Authority enters high stakes water fight (KPBS)
• Dozens of sailors from USS Ronald Reagan suffering cancer after earthquake assistance in Japan (American Live Wire)
• Cal Trans clarifies Route  67 media barrier project, pros and cons (Ramona Patch)
• What’s Behind San Diego’s Gang Problem (Voice of San Diego)
• The gift of raptors (SD Reader)
• Judge: San Diego To Receive $77M In $1B Lead Paint Ruling (KPBS)
• SWA adds nonstops from SD to 4 more cities (UT San Diego)
• Claims against Filner total $4M (UT San Diego)
• San Diego Avocado Growers Brace For New Invasive Beetle (KPBS)
• Attempted rapist Anthony Washington ordered to stand trial (10 News)

STATE

• California health exchange struggling to enroll Latinos (LA Times)
• Brown calls for federal unemployment extension (Sacramento Bee)

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

LOCAL

El Cajon gets $1.5 miliion in federal grants (UT San Diego)

It’s safety in numbers for El Cajon.The city learned that this week that it has been awarded three separate grants totaling more than $1.5 million from the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.

La Mesa faces $800,000 fine for 2010 sewer spill (La Mesa Patch)

The spill caused more than a million gallons of untreated waste to spill into waterways that lead to San Diego Bay and the San Diego River, according to findings by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.  Almost $400,000 of the fine will be set aside, according to the report, if the city completes an environmental restoration project

San Diego Water Authority enters high stakes water fight (KPBS)

For San Diego's regional water agency, its largest supplier is also its biggest adversary. A trial beginning Tuesday in San Francisco will test the San Diego County Water Authority's claim that the region's 3.1 million residents are subsidizing nearly all the rest of Southern California. Its lawsuit against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California brings to a head a long-running dispute in the epic quest to bring water to parched terrain, and the outcome may affect the pocketbooks of 19 million people.

Dozens of sailors from USS Ronald Reagan suffering cancer after earthquake assistance in Japan (American Live Wire)

Over 50 Sailors who served on the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) are Suffering from Thyroid Cancer, Leukemia, and Brain Tumors after participating in Humanitarian assistance during the Japanese earthquake of 2011. During the Fukushima nuclear rescue efforts, sailors onboard the USS Ronald Reagan and a part of the battle group that responded to the disaster, were exposed to high levels of radioactive material while afloat off the East coast of Japan.

Cal Trans clarifies Route  67 media barrier project, pros and cons (Ramona Patch)

Caltrans staff met with the Ramona Community Planning Group on Dec. 5 to answer questions about a project under consideration that might add median barriers to Route 67.

What’s Behind San Diego’s Gang Problem (Voice of San Diego)

Local street gangs are growing and getting harder to police, according to officials from nine out of 11 law enforcement agencies who spoke to SANDAG for a study released this week.

The gift of raptors (SD Reader)

“This year, I’m giving the kids the gift of raptors,” said Patrick. Lord, help me, I thought he said Rapture. But, no: we have several sons who are nature enthusiasts, and Patrick had just stumbled across West Coast Sky Falconry (619-722-0092; skyfalconry.com in Alpine.

Judge: San Diego To Receive $77M In $1B Lead Paint Ruling (KPBS)

A state judge on Monday ordered paint companies to pay 10 California cities and counties $1.1 billion to remove lead from millions of older homes.

SWA adds nonstops from SD to 4 more cities (UT San Diego)

Southwest Airlines adds 4 nonstops from SD, raising total to 100 daily flights, 23 cities. // New Orleans starting April; Orlando, Portland and Seattle in June.

Claims against Filner total $4M (UT San Diego)

If all those who say they were victims of former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s groping hands, suggestive comments or ill temper get what they want from the city, taxpayers will be out $4 million or more.

San Diego Avocado Growers Brace For New Invasive Beetle (KPBS)

A tiny Asian insect has arrived in San Diego County with the potential to cause widespread destruction to more than 100 of species of trees, including oaks and avocados.

Attempted rapist Anthony Washington ordered to stand trial (10 News)

A man accused of forcing an 18-year-old student into her car at knifepoint in a Grossmont College parking garage must stand trial on a charge of assault with intent to commit rape, a judge ruled Wednesday.

 

STATE

California health exchange struggling to enroll Latinos (LA Times)

The lack of a Spanish-language application form and a shortage of counselors hamper the California health insurance exchange's efforts.

Brown calls for federal unemployment extension (Sacramento Bee)

With Congress apparently close to a budget agreement that does not include an extension of federal unemployment insurance benefits, Gov.Jerry Brown urged House and Senate leaders to reconsider.