EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

January 3, 2018 (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

• Class action lawsuit alleges immigrants are forced to labor in detention (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Alpine, County not giving up on community park (San Diego-Union Tribune)
• The Year San Diego Unified Established Itself as the Agency Most Hostile to Transparency (Voice of San Diego)
• Kasparian Under Criminal Investigation, Says Opposing Lawyer at Gag Order Hearing (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot (CNN)
• Border Patrol will go after pot at California checkpoints (NBC 7)
• Some states put a THC limit on pot-smoking drivers. Here’s why California doesn’t (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Fear of fire penalties belts Edison, PG&E stocks (San Diego Reader)

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

LOCAL

Class action lawsuit alleges immigrants are forced to labor in detention (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Immigrants in detention in San Diego are suing a private prison company, alleging exploitation and forced labor that their attorneys say breaks human trafficking laws.

Alpine, County not giving up on community park (San Diego-Union Tribune)

For nearly two decades, the mountain community of Alpine has been trying to get a park. It looks like it might be closer to achieving that goal.

The Year San Diego Unified Established Itself as the Agency Most Hostile to Transparency (Voice of San Diego)

Over the last year, through outright denials or staggeringly slow responses to public records requests, refusals to discuss important decisions and misleading public statements, the district established itself as the public agency most hostile to transparency in San Diego.

Kasparian Under Criminal Investigation, Says Opposing Lawyer at Gag Order Hearing (Times of San Diego)

A court hearing about a potential gag order in the Mickey Kasparian civil case took an unexpected turn Wednesday when a lawyer for three female accusers alleged the San Diego labor leader is under criminal investigation.

STATE

Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot (CNN)

California began selling recreational marijuana today in what's seen as a milestone in the mainstreaming of the weed, and hundreds lined up to buy it.

Border Patrol will go after pot at California checkpoints (NBC 7)

Marijuana possession still will be prohibited at eight Border Patrol checkpoints in California, a reminder that state and federal laws collide when it comes to pot. The U.S. government classifies marijuana as a controlled substance, like heroin and LSD….The checkpoints, located up to 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Mexico, are considered a final line of defense against immigrants who elude agents at the border. They also have been a trap for U.S. citizens carrying drugs, even tiny bags of marijuana.

Some states put a THC limit on pot-smoking drivers. Here’s why California doesn’t. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Under California law, regardless of the legality or illegality of a substance, if a person is under the influence to the point where it becomes a traffic safety concern, it’s a crime.

Fear of fire penalties belts Edison, PG&E stocks (San Diego Reader)

Fear of fire losses has belted stocks of Pacific Gas & Electric, vulnerable to penalties due to the Northern California fires, and Edison International, which could be hurt financially by the Southern California fires. Stock of San Diego–based Sempra, parent of San Diego Gas & Electric, has been riding along fine, since San Diego has been lucky enough to avoid fires.