EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

February 22, 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

• Supervisors adopt new climate plan over widespread opposition from green groups, residents (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• High profile gun control groups to join forces in San Diego (KPBS)
• Utilities commission wants to sanction San Diego attorney Mike Aguirre (SDUT)
• San Diego County refugee numbers plummet following Trump’s block (SDUT)
•  A lot of motorcycle deaths in San Diego County (San Diego Reader)
• Trial date set in Tony Gwynn lawsuit against smokeless tobacco company (Times of SD)

STATE

• Wildfires inspire new idea: charging rural residents more for electricity (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California weighs permanent restrictions for water wasters (AP)
• Retirement debt:  What’s the problem and how does it affect you?  (CalMatters)
• California Democrats to decide endorsements and hear from potential presidential candidates at annual convention (Los Angeles Times)

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

LOCAL

Supervisors adopt new climate plan over widespread opposition from green groups, residents (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The county of San Diego is bracing itself for the next chapter in a years-long legal saga over its plans to limit greenhouse gases.

High profile gun control groups to join forces in San Diego (KPBS)

In the wake of last week’s mass shooting in Florida, some high profile gun control advocacy groups in San Diego are joining forces to fight for tougher gun laws.

Utilities commission wants to sanction San Diego attorney Mike Aguirre (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The move is related to a lawsuit Aguirre and Severson filed in connection to San Diego Gas & Electric’s conduct during the 2007 wildfires that scorched San Diego County.

San Diego County refugee numbers plummet following Trump’s block on arrivals (San Diego Union-Tribune)

With the Trump administration’s blocks on arrivals from certain countries, the number of refugees resettling in San Diego County so far this fiscal year dropped 96 percent from last year.

 A lot of motorcycle deaths in San Diego County (San Diego Reader)

San Diego County has the dubious honor of ranking the fourth worst — of 58 California counties — in motorcycle crash deaths.

Trial date set in Tony Gwynn lawsuit against smokeless tobacco company (Times of San Diego)

A Sept. 20, 2019 trial date has been set in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn against the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, according to media reports.

STATE

Wildfires inspire new idea: charging rural residents more for electricity (San Francisco Chronicle)

The cost of preventing power-line wildfires could rise so high that California’s top utility regulator recently suggested a new way to pay for it — charge residents of high-risk areas more money for electricity.

California weighs permanent restrictions for water wasters (AP)

That sign in hotel rooms asking guests if they really need their towels and sheets washed each day would become the rule in California, enforced with a $500 fine, if water officials vote to make a series of smaller-scale conservation measures permanent in the drought-prone state.

Retirement debt:  What’s the problem and how does it affect you?  (CalMatters)

Across California, the cost of retirement benefits for public employees remains untamed. The total cost to state and local governments as well as schools and colleges has more than tripled since 2003—and projections indicate the burden in coming years will continue to grow.

Payments for public employee pensions and retiree health care benefits are putting so much pressure on government budgets that many are having to choose between service cuts and raising taxes.

California Democrats to decide endorsements and hear from potential presidential candidates at annual convention (Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of California Democrats will gather Friday in San Diego for their annual convention, where potential presidential contenders will make appearances and state candidates will battle for endorsements from the party faithful in advance of the June primary.