By Drum Macomber

September 15, 2017 (El Cajon) -- At Wednesday night's El Cajon City Council meeting, The El Cajon Main Street Flag Program was honored for 15 years of  the flag program, which started on September 2, 2002 after 9-11.

Screenings find heart abnormalities in 1 of 300 teens tested

East County News Service

September 13, 2017 (Lakeside) – Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when a heart unexpectedly stops beating because of an undetected heart abnormality. To combat this syndrome, which is a leading cause of death in people under age 25 and the #1 killer of student athletes, the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation is hosting a free heart screening on Sunday, September 17th from 9 am. to 3 p.m. at El Capitan High School (10410 Ashwood St. Lakeside, CA 92040).

September 13, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Congress sends Trump bill denouncing Charlottesville violence, white Supremacy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• With an eye on tax reform, President courts Democrats (Christian Science Monitor)
• Nearly 25 Percent of Homes Destroyed in Florida Keys After Hurricane Irma (NPR)
• Florida's Farmers Look at Irma's Damage: 'Probably the Worst We've Seen' (NPR)
• All five living former presidents launch joint Harvey relief effort (The Hill)
• Welcome to the new world of wildfires (Truthout)
• The 48 most revealing lines of Bannon’s 60 Minutes interview (CNN)
• Rand Paul Stages Senatorial Sit-In for Debate on Sunsetting Authorization for Endless War (Reason)
• Sanders will introduce universal healthcare bill, backed by 15 Democrats (Washington Post)
• Fire torches historic national park chalet in Montana (Washington Post)
• American households finally earn more than they did in 1999 (SD Union-Tribune)

WORLD

• Before and After: Satellite Images Show Irma's Caribbean Destruction (NPR)
• Russians flock to Trump properties to give birth to U.S. babies (Daily Beast)
• Israel hits Syrian site said to be linked to chemical weapons (Reuters)
• Death toll from southern Mexico's big earthquake rises to 96 (ABC)
• Apparent 'Ethnic Cleansing' Is Now Unfolding in Myanmar, U.N. Says (NPR)

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

September 13, 2017 (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

• County moves closer to investing in affordable housing with $25M fund (Times of San Diego)
• SANDAG Reform Bill Heads to Governor's Desk (KPBS)
• Manufacturing, expo fair coming to East County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• More Turf Fields Across the District Are Being Replaced or Treated with Gallons of Glue (Voice of San Diego)
• El Cajon official who ran private chamber voted on issues affecting paying member (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Rep. Duncan Hunter’s chief of staff takes job at Pentagon (NBC 7)
• Court orders Darrell Issa to pay Doug Applegate, his campaign, $45,000 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• ‘Torture’: wife of Campo man injured in crash speaks out (10 News)
• Former San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to Run for County Board of Supervisors (KPBS)

STATE

• California’s poverty rate remains nation’s highest (Sacramento Bee)
• California may move up its primary, shaking up presidential race (KPCC)
• Sacramento report: Some bills live and some bills die (Voice of San Diego)
• Earthquake early warning in Mexico reminds CA what it still lacks (SF Chronicle)
• Major Unknowns Remain Just Ahead of Key Votes on Massive Water Project (Voice of San Diego)
• California board grants parole for Manson ex-follower Van Houten (Reuters)

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

By Paul Kruze

Miriam Raftery contributed to this report.

September 8, 2017 (El Cajon) – With hurricanes in the headlines this week, El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho finds himself in the eye of a storm—or several--yet again.  California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has sent Kalasho a letter of inquiry probing the Miss Middle East Beauty Pageant USA” run by Kalasho. The action follows questions raised by ECM with state regulators over the pageant's nonprofit status.

Sources: County News Service and Career Online High School

September 12, 2017 (San Diego) -- In a significant expansion of the County Library’s online high school program, the County Board of Supervisors approved a contract Tuesday that would offer 160 scholarships to residents interested in finishing high school.

The Career Online High School scholarships allow any resident of San Diego County who is 19 years and older a chance to get their high school diploma. The scholarships would become available starting Sept. 15.

State joined by Minnesota, Maryland, and Maine in lawsuit standing up for Dreamers

East County News Service

September 11, 2017 (Sacramento) -- Today, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, joined by the attorneys general for Minnesota, Maryland and Maine, filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative (DACA). The four States filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California arguing that the Trump Administration violated the Constitution and federal laws when it rescinded DACA.

Video: Teams compete at the 2017 Ramona Grape Stomp Competition

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2017 (Ramona) – To the strains of songs like “Mountain Dew”,  teams of competitors vied to see who could crush the most grapes in two minutes and emerge champion at the first-ever Ramona Grape Stomp this weekend.

Teams chose names such as the “Juicy Lucys” or the “Toe Jammers.”  One team member stomped the ripe purple grapes, the other filled a cup with juice spurting out of a spigot on a wine barrel.

A Grape Stomp princess was also on hand to help officiate as contestants hopped in feet first, demonstrating their stomping skills on stage as the audience cheered them on with gusto.

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2017 (Tecate) – “The history of humanity is the story of people migrating,” French artist JR posted on his Twitter feed.

Drawing attention to the plight of innocent children denied entry to, or facing expulsion from the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s tough policies, JR erected a 70-foot-tall mural titled Kikito. It depicts a one-year-old boy peeking over the border fence in Tecate, visible from the U.S. side of the border in San Diego’s East County.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2017 (San Diego)—President Donald Trump has signed into law H.R. 601, to provide $15.25 billion in emergency appropriations for disaster response. The measure also extends authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program through December 8^th to help those impacted by disasters including Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

The President confounded Republicans in Congress by crossing the aisle to work with Democratic leaders to pass the disaster relief bill, which also extends the nation’s debt ceiling until December 8^th.  Conservatives have opposed raising the debt ceiling, wanting to take money from other programs instead and/or avoid further debt ceiling decisions closer to next year’s elections.  In the end, some Republicans joined with nearly all Democrats to pass the bill.

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For Noble Hall and David Wells' portion of the press conference, click "read more" and scroll down.

By Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

September 12, 2017 (San Diego) - Aztec football is 2-0 coming into today's press conference with head coach Rocky Long, senior tight end David Wells and junior defensive lineman Noble Hall.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Little Flower Haven circa 1954, via Postcards.com on City of La Mesa's website.

September 10, 2017 (La Mesa) - The hotly disputed Silvergate apartment development proposed at the site of the former Little Flower Haven convent is back up for a vote this Tuesday in La Mesa. The decision to re-hear the item comes under threat of legal action.

Root scores her third goal in last three games

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 10, 2017 (Columbia, Mo.) - San Diego State took an early 1-0 lead in the first half, but could not hold on as Missouri rallied to win, 2-1, Sunday night at Walton Stadium. The Aztecs fell to 3-4 on the season, while the Tigers improved to 3-4-1.

East County News Service

September 11, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego River Park Foundation will celebrate its 16^th anniversary on September 21 from 6-9 p.m. at the Town and Country Resort Hotel in Mission Valley.

Festivities include live music, food, wine, beer, awards presentation and a silent auction –all for a $10 suggested donation.