EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

September 30, 2024 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• San Diego receives $240 million loans for Lake Hodges dam replacement  (KPBS)
• 700+ flood victims sue City of San Diego, alleging it failed to maintain Chollas Creek  (NBC 7)
• A parent’s guide to San Diego (countywide) schools (Voice of San Diego)
• La Mesa Community Police Oversight Board and the La Mesa Police Department working hand-in-hand with the community it serves (SD News)
• San Diego Airport Opens New Terminal 1 Parking Plaza with 2,834 Spaces (Times of San Diego)
• House Judiciary Committee discusses illegal border crossings in Santee (10 News)
• San Diego native awarded Carnegie Medal for stopping Colorado nightclub gunman

STATE

• California becomes latest state to restrict student smartphone use at school (KPBS)
• California governor signs laws to crack down on election deepfakes created by AI  (AP)
• U.S. to hand over pest inspections of Mexican avocados to Mexico and California growers aren't happy 
• Hollywood leans on Gavin Newsom to rein in AI (Politico)
• California firefighters’ union: Trump should ‘be ashamed’ over threat to withhold firefighting aid (Los Angeles Times)
• Google to invest in satellites and AI to better detect wildfires (Los Angeles Times)

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

LOCAL

San Diego receives $240 million loans for Lake Hodges dam replacement  (KPBS)

Over the next year, San Diego engineers will work with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers on finalizing an agreement for the terms of the loan... "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to pay dividends here in San Diego. I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for selecting the city to participate in this program that is going to help build a new dam at the Lake Hodges Reservoir," San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said.

700+ flood victims sue City of San Diego, alleging it failed to maintain Chollas Creek  (NBC 7)

More than 700 people have joined a lawsuit against the City of San Diego, claiming it failed to maintain Chollas Creek ahead of the historic January rainfall, which they allege made the flooding far more devastating.

A parent’s guide to San Diego (countywide) schools (Voice of San Diego)

Voice of San Diego’s 2024 Parent’s Guide to San Diego Schools helps families make informed decisions for their child’s education. The Guide explains school choice opportunities and enrollment deadlines, UTK and TK, what’s available for after-school care, school performance data in an easy-to-use format and much more....See all data from the guide.

La Mesa Community Police Oversight Board and the La Mesa Police Department working hand-in-hand with the community it serves (SD News)

The Community Police Oversight Board (CPOB) for the City of La Mesa has been in operation since early 2021 as a result of the diligent efforts of a small group of community advocates who believe in the importance of building trust, improving transparency, and providing a liaison between the citizens and our Police Department. This process has proved to be very rewarding and productive thanks to the collaborative efforts of Police Chief Ray Sweeney, the La Mesa Police Officers Association, and the members of the Community Police Oversight Board.

San Diego Airport Opens New Terminal 1 Parking Plaza with 2,834 Spaces (Times of San Diego)

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Wednesday opened the New Terminal 1 Parking Plaza with a ribbon cutting at San Diego International Airport, which provides 2,834 parking spaces. The five-story T1 Parking Plaza is opening in two stages, with this first stage more than doubling the number of spaces available in the previous Terminal 1 parking lot.

House Judiciary Committee discusses illegal border crossings in Santee (10 News)

... Issa hosted the hearing and emphasized the need to improve the U.S. vetting system for migrants who cross into the country illegally.

San Diego native awarded Carnegie Medal for stopping Colorado nightclub gunman

Richard M. Fierro, a Mira Mesa High School and San Diego State University graduate, helped subdue the shooter who committed the Nov. 19, 2022, rampage at Club Q in Colorado Springs…. After diving to the floor when the initial shots were fired, Fierro, 45, ran at the gunman, who pointed a pistol at Fierro and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire... Fierro grabbed the gun and took the shooter to the floor. He then struck the gunman with the pistol and held him there until police arrived.

STATE

California becomes latest state to restrict student smartphone use at school (KPBS)

School districts in California will have to create rules restricting student smartphone use under a new law… The legislation makes California the latest state to try to curb student phone access in an effort to minimize distractions in the classroom and address the mental health impacts of social media on children. Florida, Louisiana, Indiana and several other states have passed laws aimed at restricting student phone use at school… The law requires districts to pass rules by July 1, 2026, to limit or ban students from using smartphones on campus or while students are under the supervision of school staff.

California governor signs laws to crack down on election deepfakes created by AI  (AP)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three bills Tuesday to crack down on the use of artificial intelligence to create false images or videos in political ads ahead of the 2024 election.  A new law, set to take effect immediately, makes it illegal to create and publish deepfakes related to elections 120 days before Election Day and 60 days thereafter. It also allows courts to stop distribution of the materials and impose civil penalties.

U.S. to hand over pest inspections of Mexican avocados to Mexico and California growers aren't happy 

California avocado growers are fuming this week about a U.S. decision to hand over pest inspections of Mexican orchards to the Mexican government.  Inspectors hired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been guarding against imports of avocados infected with insects and diseases since 1997, but they have also been threatened in Mexico for refusing to certify deceptive shipments ...California growers question whether Mexico's own inspectors would be better equipped to withstand such pressure.

Hollywood leans on Gavin Newsom to rein in AI (Politico)

Actors Mark Ruffalo, Sean Astin and Rosie Perez are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a major AI safety bill that’s currently sitting on his desk.

California firefighters’ union: Trump should ‘be ashamed’ over threat to withhold firefighting aid (Los Angeles Times)

 Brian K. Rice, president of the California Professional Firefighters union, which represents more than 35,000 firefighters, said in a statement Saturday evening that it “is shocking that we have a presidential candidate who is threatening our public safety.”

Google to invest in satellites and AI to better detect wildfires (Los Angeles Times)

Amid an outbreak of recent wildfires in California, Google announced a commitment to spend $13 million to improve satellite imaging to help track and detect wildfires, starting as early as next year.