EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

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May 2, 2013 (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

 

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

LOCAL/REGIONAL

 

Two Former Helix Stars Selected in 2013 NFL Draft (La Mesa Patch)

Jamar Taylor (Boise State) and Levine Toilolo (Stanford) were selected by the Dolphins and Falcons, respectively.

County Registrar Suggests Alternatives To Costly Special Elections (KPBS)

Some argue the high cost and low turnout in the recent 40th Senate District and City Council special elections mean special elections should not be held at all.

East County residents complain about state fire fees; Assemblyman Jones calls fees illegal  (10 News)

Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) said California's State Responsibility Area (SRA), or fire fee, is the top issue said his constituents are complaining about.



EDCO asks for rate increase (La Mesa Today)

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, council members will be asked to set a public hearing date to consider an increase in the monthly charges Edco gets for residential and commercial services in the city. / EDCO is proposing a 3.6 percent increase in residential service and a 2 percent increase for commercial clients. This would be the first increase since 2009 and, if approved, would take effect July 1.

San Diego faces a major decision on wastewater treatment and water recycling (Groksurf)

For more than a year San Diegans have been recipients of news media reports and a public outreach program explaining the city’s one-year Water Purification Demonstration Project (WPDP). Yesterday (Tuesday April 24), the City Council got the final report and discussed possible next steps. Local news media have yet to weigh in on this story, so here’s a start:

Water Authority launches water calculator for homeowners     (San Diego County Water Authority)

 San Diego County Water Authority : “The San Diego County Water Authority on Wednesday released a new online tool that helps residents estimate how much water they use in their homes and provides practical tips for conserving the region’s most precious natural resource.”

San Diego Gas & Electric rates are nation's highest  (San Diego Reader)

San Diego Gas & Electric hates the Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA). That’s because the Jacksonville utility publishes the quarterly JEA residential rate survey, which reveals the rates charged by the nation’s electric utilities. San Diego’s local utility generally has the nation’s highest prices. When it’s not in first place, as usual, it’s always among the five highest.

Electricity, gas rate increase considered (U-T San Diego)

Officials weigh increase to San Diego's electric and gas rates of $723 million by 2015. The proposed decision would bump up SDG&E revenues retroactively by $140.2 million to $1.75 billion, effective Jan. 1, 2012.  That’s a one-year, 8.7 percent increase (though it will be applied to bills gradually over more than two years to prevent hardship). 

La Mesa Boy Accused of Posing As Girl on Facebook, Obtaining Nude Pics (La Mesa Patch)

The unidentified boy was expelled from La Mesa Middle School. He allegedly persuaded male classmates to send him nude photos for "revenge" purposes.

 

STATE

 

Bills aim to protect privacy as drone age dawns  (Sac Bee)

Several bills in the Legislature, including one scheduled for a Senate Public Safety Committee hearing on Tuesday, would set penalties for privacy violations and require law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant in non-emergency situations before deploying drone aircraft.  The proposed parameters are being considered as the Federal Aviation Administration reviews applications for drone test sites throughout the country. FAA officials estimate that as many as 30,000 unmanned aircraft could be buzzing through the country's sky by 2030.

UC admission offers up again for nonresidents (Sacramento Bee)

The number of non-Californians offered admission to University of California campuses for the coming fall has climbed for the third time in three years, officials reported Thursday, making it more difficult for state residents to be assured a slot at one of the schools

First confirmed Japanese tsunami debris in Calif. (Sacramento Bee)

Federal officials say a fishing boat that washed ashore in Northern California is the first debris to reach the state that's been confirmed as having come from the Japanese tsunami.

Capitol Alert: Jerry Brown promises opponents 'battle of their lives' on education overhaul  (Sacramento Bee)

Brown is seeking in his annual budget proposal to give K-12 school districts greater flexibility over how they spend their money, while also directing more money to districts that serve poorer students and English learners….Brown failed to secure legislative support for a similar school funding proposal last year. He said today that he will talk individually with lawmakers. He said he open to negotiation but will "fight any effort to dilute this bill."

Calif. bill would let non-citizens serve on juries (U-T San Diego)

The California Assembly passed a bill on Thursday that would make the state the first in the nation to allow non-citizens who are in the country legally to serve on jury duty.

Valley fever spurs call to close 2 Calif. prisons (Sacramento Bee)

Valley fever is spreading so quickly through two Central California prisons that a medical expert is recommending the state act quickly to stem the outbreak or shut the institutions down


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