By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office
Photo: a flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.
February 17, 2022 (San Diego) - The County Health and Human Services Agency is reporting 34 new lab-confirmed influenza cases, a slight uptick from last week when 26 cases were reported.
February 17, 2022 (Rancho San Diego) – Heritage of the Americas Museum will hold a “Rock Sale” this Saturday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can find rocks, crystals, fossils and more.
February 17, 2022 (Lakeside) – A 77-year-old woman was struck by a car while walking east at the intersection of Pino Drive and Lindo Lane in Lakeside this morning. She was taken to Sharp Memorial, where she died of her injuries.
The accident occurred at 6:45 a.m., when a 2000 Honda Accord driving north on Pino Drive hit the pedestrian. The Honda was driven by a Lakeside man, 37, who had a female juvenile passenger.
February 17, 2022 (San Diego) – The state’s new Vehicle Miles Traveled Law seeks to reduce greenhouse gases by requiring fees of developers for projects that result in vehicles traveling farther than the regional average. Projects where drivers travel 15% fewer miles than the regional average, such as infill developments near roads, jobs, and transit, can be built without costly studies and mitigation required of other projects.
So last week, San Diego Supervisors voted 3-2 to attempt to balance housing needs with the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in a two-phase approach.
Only 53% of those eligible locally have received boosters, but 88% of hospitalizations are patients who have not had booster shots
February 17, 2022 (San Diego) -- With masks coming off indoors in many public places for fully vaccinated people, County health officials are urging all eligible San Diegans to get all the recommended COVID-19 doses, including the additional dose and booster shot.
February 17, 2022 (San Diego) -- With a unanimous vote of 5-0, San Diego County Supervisors on Feb. 8 passed a proposal introduced by Supervisors Joel Anderson and Terra Lawson-Remer asking County staff to design a new pilot program providing a “shallow subsidy” to low-income, rent-burdened older adults at risk of homelessness.
Asia Avinger had 20 points and both Mallory Adams and Kim Villalobos had double-doubles
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
February 16, 2022 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (12-13, 6-8) rallied to beat San Jose State (4-21, 1-13) 77-69 inside Viejas Arena Wednesday evening. SDSU trailed by eight points with 8:15 left and then outscored the Spartans 23-7 to come back for the win.
Photo: a screenshot of the JustAnswer.com home page.
February 16, 2022 (San Diego) - The internet offer from JustAnswer is tempting for anyone looking for an expert: If you need medical advice, you can get unlimited conversations with doctors. Sign up for a small fee and a seven-day trial promises “on call experts, 24/7.”
February 16, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- You’re invited to participate in a Bike Rodeo on Monday, February 21st, President’s Day, from 9 a.m. to noon at Our Lady of Grace parking lot at 2766 Navajo Rd.
Free parking will be available at the OLP church upper parking lot.
The Kiwanis Club of Fletcher Hills together with San Diego County Bicycle Coalition are sponsoring this free event open to the public.
Bring your bicycles and helmets. All ages and skills levels encouraged to attend. Ride through a series of skill-based challenges designed to enhance both your handling and your knowledge of your bicycle.
February 16, 2022 (San Diego) — You’re invited to join members from the San Diego Astronomy Association to view the night sky through telescopes at Mission Trails Regional Park on the first Friday of each month at sunset. The next star party is on March 4 starting around 5:45 p.m.
Game times, television arrangements and moves to non-Saturdays will be announced at later date
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
February 16, 2022 (San Diego) - The San Diego State football team and Mountain West released its 2022 schedule on Wednesday. Game times and television arrangements, including moves to non-Saturdays will be announced at a later date.
February 16, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Thursday, Feb. 17 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. in San Diego County’s mountains and valleys.
February 16, 2022 (San Diego) - Powered by Matt Bradley's game-high 22 points, along with another series of timely runs, opportunistic San Diego State won its fourth game in a row Tuesday after pulling away for a 75-56 victory over Utah State at Viejas Arena.
February 15, 2022 (Lakeside) – Imagine swimming beneath waterfalls alongside fish in a freshwater lake. That dream is all part of the ambitious plans that Lakeside River Park Conservancy has announced for a new park at Channel Road in Lakeside.
“It is unfathomable that a community hasn’t changed in five years. This is a form of voter suppression, by dividing a community that can and should be kept together.” –Jeanine Erikat, Policy Associate at the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans
February 15, 2022 (El Cajon) — The City Council of El Cajon unanimously chose its Council districts map last Tuesday night, February 8. The decision, as part of decennial redistricting, determined how the City will elect council members for the next ten years.
Instead of drawing new district lines, the Council voted to keep the same boundaries drawn up in 2017, despite sharp criticism from El Cajon’s large Arab-American community, whose leaders argue that their population has changed since five years ago. They asked for updated districting to create a fair and complete representation of El Cajon.
Photo: the main gate to NAS North Island on Coronado. Undated Navy photo
February 15, 2022 (San Diego) - A vehicle with bomb-making material was stopped from entering Naval Air Station North Island about 9 a.m. Tuesday, and a “person of interest” was in custody, according to Navy authorities.
February 15, 2022 (La Mesa) — This past September, the State of California passed a pivotal housing law called Senate Bill 9. Now, like many localities around the state, the City of La Mesa is charged with considering how to best implement the legislation with local ordinances — such as the one that passed the City Council last Tuesday night.
February 15, 2022 (Pine Valley) - The Mountain Empire under 12 soccer team wrapped up their most successful season to date, finishing with an incredible 17-1 record.
February 15, 2022 (Del Mar) - The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation is offering $72,500 in 2022 college scholarships to 25 outstanding and deserving students who reside in the San Diego area and have participated in the San Diego County Fair and/or other activities associated with the Del Mar Fairgrounds in previous years.
Update:At their meeting on February 16, Padre Dam's Board of Directors voted to begin the approval process of a time change from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Staff will first research the change, such as impacts on other personnel's schedules and any financial ramifications, before sending it back to the Board of Directors for final approval at a later meeting, as per their rules.
By Miriam Raftery
February 15, 2022 (Santee) – Suzanne Till, a teacher, has asked her colleagues on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board to move meeting times from 3:30 to 4 p.m. since she has repeatedly been late due to the long commute from her job at a Chula Vista school. But so far, the board has not done so. The issue of moving the meeting time to later will be on the agenda for the board’s virtual meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 3:30 p.m., item 12.
But some fear the board majority, all Republicans, may vote to oust Till, a Democrat, for tardiness in a partisan maneuver rather than accommodate a minor shift in meeting times. Till has fought against water rates, also opposing fines for late payments and water shutoffs during the pandemic. She holds a PhD in water resources geography and is a former Marine Corps Captain. Her website details her record: www.suzannetill.com .
February 14, 2022 (San Diego) – Your next batch of guacamole may cost a whole lot more. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has banned imports of Mexican avocados, in response to a threat made to an agriculture inspector.
February 14, 2022 (Valley Center) – David Salas, Jr. of Valley Center is charged with assaulting Sheriff’s deputies with a deadly weapon after he rammed his Dodge Ram pickup truck into multiple patrol vehicles and dragged one officer.
Updated Feb. 15 with additional comments from Jennifer Mendoza.
By Miriam Raftery
February 14, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – Thieves broke into the church and food pantry at St. John’s of the Cross Church at 8086 Broadway in Lemon Grove on February 8 around 3 a.m., vandalizing the property and stealing foods used to feed people in need, according to Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, who manages the church's food pantry.
Councilmember Mendoza says, "We’re at the food pantry every Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. till noon. Any donations are much appreciated."
According to Mendoza, two of the perpetrators have been arrested. "The sheriff thinks there may be more. They don't think they were after food but were looking for electronic equipment like TVs, computers, speakers etc. or money. They also broke into the church...They caused a lof of damage to the church and pantry. We need to fix broken windows and doors, replace locks, etc. We are also thinking we now need a security system."
February 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators assigned to Border Division’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) have arrested three suspects believed to be part of an organized retail theft ring. Investigators also recovered thousands of dollars in bras, panties and other merchandise stolen from Victoria’s Secret stores across our region.
February 14, 2022 (San Diego) – Less than two weeks after the resignation of Sheriff Bill Gore, Acting Sheriff Kelly Martinez has approved a process for trained Citizen's Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) staff to respond to death scenes in county jails as well as deputy-involved shootings that result in a fatality or where death is likely.
Fraudulent, yet sophisticated, robocalls tell customers that their service will be disconnected within the hour and demand immediate payment
Source: SDG&E
February 13, 2022 (San Diego) – SDG&E is warning of a new round of scammers targeting utility customers. The robocalls tell customers that their power will be turned off within the hour and direct them to press “1” to reach customer service, where they demand immediate payment to keep service in place. This scam is troubling because the calls sound professionally produced and claim to connect customers to the billing and collections department. If the scammers do not reach a person on their first call, then they will likely call back or leave a message with the same instructions.
Our radio shows from September through December 2021 are now online. For links to listen plus an index with full list of topics and interviews in each show, click hereor click the "read more" link and scroll down for audio links below the index. (Audio files may take a few moments to load.)
Highlights included interviews with Steven Prusky of Rescue Task Force on the situation in Afghanistan, Dr. Mark Sawyer of Rady Chidren’s Hospital and Dr. William Tseng of Kaiser Permanente on COVID abd vaccines for kids, Supervisors Jim Desmond on the mileage tax and Joel Anderson on expanding parks access, State Senator Brian Jones on his legislation, and Rick Hall from the El Cajon Historical Society. We also aired a speech by Secretary of State Shirley Weber delivered during our Community Champions Awards and covered many top news stories locally.
The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM. Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. (Note: Due to COVID-19, some show dates aired reruns. Original shows are listed below.) Shows also include station IDs and public service announcements.
By 
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
Source: County News Service
Source: Serving Seniors
Asia Avinger had 20 points and both Mallory Adams and Kim Villalobos had double-doubles
Reprinted with permission from J.W. August, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
By Ray Bello
East County News Service
Game times, television arrangements and moves to non-Saturdays will be announced at later date
East County News Service
Source: goaztecs.com
By Miriam Raftery
By Elijah McKee
By Ken Stone, 
By Elijah McKee
By Liz Alper
Source: Don Diego Scholarship Foundation
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
Fraudulent, yet sophisticated, robocalls tell customers that their service will be disconnected within the hour and demand immediate payment
Our radio shows from September through December 2021 are now online. For links to listen plus an index with full list of topics and interviews in each show,
By Miriam 
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