EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

May 11, 2017 (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

• Lemon Grove mulls bringing back a planning commission (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove taking stand on human trafficking (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego will recycle sewage into drinking water, mayor declares (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Two European airlines to offer non-stop flights to San Diego (KNSD)
• Sempra turns in strong first quarter numbers (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• At Some District High Schools, Grad Rates are Climbing as They Lose More Students (Voice of San Diego)
•  Bumble Bee Foods to Pay $25 Million Fine for Conspiring to Fix Prices (KPBS)

STATE

• The housing crisis: why 2 out of 5 millennials still live at home (Times of San Diego)
• California AG punts on probe over allegations against UC President Napolitano (Fox)
• Public pension shortfall one of nation’s largest (San Francisco Examiner)
• Report: California Does Not Know if Its Business Tax Breaks Work (KPBS)

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

LOCAL

Lemon Grove mulls bringing back a planning commission (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Lemon Grove City Council dissolved its five-member Planning Commission in 2015 and took up the role, making decisions on land use projects, general plan amendments, subdivision changes and permits.

Lemon Grove taking stand on human trafficking (San Diego Union-Tribune)

A forum in Lemon Grove brought into focus the crime of human trafficking with a compelling documentary by a local filmmaker. The event was held Monday at Lemon Grove Academy to raise community and parental awareness about the growing global issue.

San Diego will recycle sewage into drinking water, mayor declares (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Within five years, San Diegans will be sipping and bathing in water recycled from sewage, city officials declared Wednesday.

Two European airlines to offer non-stop flights to San Diego (KNSD)

These non-stop flights are a dream come true for many San Diegans, as well as a boost to the local tourism economy.

Sempra turns in strong first quarter numbers (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Sempra Energy turned in its strongest first quarter performance since [it] was formed in 1998.... / The utility company reported earnings of $441 million in the quarter ended March 31, a 25 percent increase from last year. Revenue rose to $3.03 billion from $2.6 billion, beating the analyst estimate of $2.87 billion.

At Some District High Schools, Grad Rates are Climbing as They Lose More Students (Voice of San Diego)

San Diego Unified’s class of 2016 set a record-high graduation rate of 91 percent. But a closer look at individual high schools reveals a trend that might seem contradictory at first glance: Schools whose graduation rates are rising are simultaneously losing a significant number of students to charter schools and schools in other parts of town.

 Bumble Bee Foods to Pay $25 Million Fine for Conspiring to Fix Prices (KPBS)

Tuna-canning company Bumble Bee Foods has agreed to pay a $25 million fine after pleading guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix prices, the U.S. Department of Justice said Monday.

STATE

The housing crisis: why 2 out of 5 millennials still live at home (Times of San Diego)

State lawmakers have introduced more than 130 bills this legislative session to try to solve California’s housing affordability crisis, proposing everything from 150 square-foot apartments to a $3 billion affordable housing bond.  But while many see the flurry of political activity as an encouraging sign, for millions of younger Californians, all the talk of infill development, CEQA-reform and developer fees can be reduced to one simple question: Will any of this stuff finally help me move out of my parents’ place?

California AG punts on probe over allegations against UC President Napolitano (Fox)

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra suggested he would not independently investigate the University of California after a state audit claimed its President Janet Napolitano kept a secret fund of $175 million while raising student tuition. / Becerra said Sunday that the audit was an issue for the California State Legislature to handle, even amid concerns over Napolitano’s interference with the audit.

Public pension shortfall one of nation’s largest (San Francisco Examiner)

In 2015, Pew reported, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System had 74 percent of what they needed to meet pension obligations, but that ratio has since dropped to about 64 percent due to reductions in their projected investment earnings.

Report: California Does Not Know if Its Business Tax Breaks Work (KPBS)

California does a poor job tracking the impact of billions of dollars in tax breaks and credits it provides to businesses each year, according to a new national study.