EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

March 8, 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

• Report shows San Diego County among nation's worst for pedestrian deaths (KGTV/NEWSY)
• La Mesa poised to award license to first medical pot dispensary (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• How San Diego schools handle threats of mass violence (KPBS)
• Early “bud break” a concern to local grape growers (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Is San Diego’s casino industry over saturated? (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Trump administration to file suit against CA over sanctuary laws (SD Union-Tribune)
• Investors possibly buying Weinstein Co. to turn it into woman-run studio (KQED)
• Feral cattle terrorize hikers and devour native plants in a CA national monument (Los Angeles Times)
• Five people hit by avalanche at Squaw Valley ski resort; two hospitalized (Mercury News)
• Board of Equalization punts on raising California's gas tax  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Corruption scandals haven't curbed lavish gift-giving to CA lawmakers (L.A. Times)
• California hospital that sits on quake fault will close ((AP)

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

LOCAL

Report shows San Diego County among nation's worst for pedestrian deaths (KGTV/NEWSY)

A new report shows San Diego County is among the worst areas in the country when it comes to pedestrian deaths.  The Governors Highway Safety Association report ranks California tenth in the nation with 2.43 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people.

La Mesa poised to award license to first medical pot dispensary (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Sean McDermott’s medical marijuana dispensary, The Grove, appears poised to become the first such licensed business in La Mesa…The facility received the unanimous approval of the La Mesa Planning Commission on Feb. 21 and is scheduled for a vote in March by the City Council. Barring any last-minute hurdles (a competing medical cannabis collective has threatened to file an appeal), the dispensary should open this summer.

How San Diego schools handle threats of mass violence (KPBS)

In 1999, two armed teenagers opened fire at Columbine High School in Colorado, killing 13 people. The rampage left a stain on America’s consciousness, but also an important legacy. It inspired a forensic psychologist named Dewey Cornell to develop a threat assessment tool for schools. Today that tool is widely used — especially in recent weeks.

Early “bud break” a concern to local grape growers (San Diego Union-Tribune)

A month ago, as unseasonably warm temperatures spread across San Diego County, local grape growers began to panic.

Is San Diego’s casino industry over saturated? (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Though the sun was shining Friday morning, officials from the Pechanga Resort & Casino had to move a press conference about today’s grand opening of the resort’s $300 million expansion indoors. Recent rains had left the grounds of the Temecula casino’s new 4½ acre pool complex over-saturated…Over-saturated could also describe the fiercely competitive and dizzyingly dynamic San Diego-area casino industry, where the region’s 10 Indian gaming properties are locked in a $1 billion expansion battle for customers.

STATE

Investors possibly buying Weinstein Co. to turn it into woman-run studio (KQED)

Less than a week after the Weinstein Co. seemed destined for bankruptcy, a deal emerged for an investment group to buy assets from the troubled firm in order to launch a new movie studio that will be led by women.

Feral cattle terrorize hikers and devour native plants in a Calif. national monument (Los Angeles Times)

Sand to Snow National Monument is a quiet place — its mountainous high desert and cascading streams a draw for those seeking panoramic views, tranquility and solitude. But on a recent morning, the serenity was ruined by a menacing bellowing, making it clear passing hikers weren't alone.

Five people hit by avalanche at Squaw Valley ski resort; two hospitalized (San Jose Mercury News)

… The resort closed for the remainder of the day due to avalanche hazard. The Sierra Avalanche Center posted an advisory Friday morning. A Squaw Valley spokeswoman said the resort, as of 7 a.m. Friday, had received almost three feet of snow in the past 24 hours.

Board of Equalization punts on raising California's gas tax  (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Knowing that California motorists are already paying more at the pump because of a recently passed bill increasing the state’s tax on gasoline, the Board of Equalization on Tuesday turned down a recommendation to increase the gasoline excise tax 4 cents a gallon.

Corruption scandals haven't curbed lavish gift-giving to California lawmakers (L.A. Times)

New filings show [a] continuing a trend of gift-giving with few limits that has not slowed after the bribery scandals that sent former Sens. Leland Yee and Ron Calderon to prison.

California hospital that sits on quake fault will close ((AP)

Community Medical Center Long Beach, a] nearly-century-old Southern California hospital that sits on an active earthquake fault will close because it can't meet state earthquake safety requirements, officials said Monday.