EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

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July 15, 2014 (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/REGIONAL

STATE

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

OCAL/REGIONAL

County plans to bolster firefighting power from the sky (SanteePatch.com)

County officials plan to have a fire-attack helicopter on standby this fall to quickly respond to wildfires under a contract that guarantees local authorities exclusive use of the aircraft for two months.

Santee mayor may step in over flag flap (10 News)

A property management company accused of trying to evict a local man who displayed an American flag in his apartment window says they are getting death threats. Meanwhile, Santee's mayor is vowing to step in if the renter's lease is not renewed.

'Duke' Cunningham To Live In Arkansas After Early Release From Post-Prison Monitoring (KPBS)

Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the disgraced ex-Rancho Santa Fe congressman, plans to live in a gated Arkansas community in the wake of his early release from post-prison monitoring

Immigration request draws mixed requests (UT San Diego)

County Congressional representatives say money largely needed but some question policies

SDG&E Offering Credits To Electric Car Drivers After Breaking Rate Promise (KPBS)

SDG&E is offering credits to some electric car owners after KPBS found the utility had raised those customers' rates with no warning.

Water use rises amid drought (UT San Diego)

San Diegans have significantly increased their water use despite pleas from the governor and other officials for Californians to reduce consumption amid the third straight year of dry conditions.

Which Countries Drive Climate Change? Don't Ask The United Nations (KPBS)

 A San Diego scientist says the United Nations is letting politics get in the way of progress on climate change.

Dems write $30,000 check in Azano case (UT San Diego)

Party was required to rid itself of money alleged to have been illegally funneled to Filner campaign

SDG&E Requests Extension After Failing To Inspect 900 Power Poles

SDG&E sent a letter Monday to the California Public Utilities Commission to ask for the extension. According to the document, the problem turned up in an internal audit of inspection records.

Healthcare district picks Campo resident (UT San Diego)

The Grossmont Healthcare District board has chosen Campo resident Randy Lenac to finish out the term on the board vacated by Dr. Michael Long, the board president who stepped down last month.

From Ethiopia To Gates: One Man's Story Of Survival And Fatherhood (KPBS)

One San Diego man survives revolution in his home country of Ethiopia, divorce and business failure, all while raising not one but two Bill and Melinda Gates scholars.

STATE

Ex-chief of huge pension fund guilty of bribery (SacBee)

 The former head of [CALPERS] the nation's largest pension fund admitted Friday that he took bribes, including hundreds of thousands of dollars stuffed in paper bags and a shoe box, and helped an associate collect millions in a fraudulent investment scheme.

California board considers fines for wasting water (UT San Diego)

Bo Cuketieh inadvertently let a fine mist from a leaky hose soak the front lawn of a Southern California home Wednesday before considering that such water waste could merit a $500 fine under unprecedented restrictions proposed by California regulators.

Gov. Brown reshaping California's Supreme Court

If Gov. Jerry Brown wins re-election in November, he will be given an unprecedented opportunity to overhaul the California Supreme Court.

A California oil field yields another prized commodity: Water (New York Times)

The 115-year-old Kern River oil field unfolds into the horizon, thousands of bobbing pumpjacks seemingly occupying every corner of a desert landscape here in California’s Central Valley. A contributor to the state’s original oil boom, it is still going strong as the nation’s fifth-largest oil field, yielding 70,000 barrels a day. But the Kern River field also produces 10 times more of something that, at least during California’s continuing drought, has become more valuable to many locals and has experienced the kind of price spike more familiar to oil: water.

California restricts access to water well records (Sacramento Bee)

A decades-old law barring the public from viewing records of water wells throughout California is drawing criticism amid the state's drought from those who believe the information locked away could help scientists and water policy specialists better protect the groundwater supply.

Terrorists take aim at PG&E. Can it shield itself? (CS Monitor)

After masked gunmen popped out of a manhole into a San Jose, Calif., substation last year, firing automatic weapons and destroying 17 transformers, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) got the message. The utility will spend $100 million over the next three years beefing up security at its Northern California operations that is home to many of America's high-tech giants. 

State’s high court takes email case (UT San Diego)

Justices will decide whether officials can keep public business secret by using personal devices.

 

 


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