May 2, 2015 (Spring Valley)--PaintCare, a nonprofit that runs the California Paint Stewardship Program on behalf of paint manufacturers, is holding a special event to collect old and leftover paint to make it easier for households and businesses to recycle their unwanted paint. The event will be Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Steele Canyon High School, 12440 Campo Rd., Spring Valley.
May 3, 2015 (La Mesa) — Himalayan Cuisine, on the corner of El Cajon Blvd. & Baltimore Dr., 7918 El Cajon Blvd. #P, La Mesa, 91941, will hold two fundraising events next week to help raise funds to aid victims of the devastating 7.8 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that struck Nepal on April 25. The lunch and dinner events will be held Tuesday, May 5 and Thursday, May 7.
The $10 lunch will be served from 11:00AM - 3:00PM on both days, with $5 of the fee going directly to help survivors in Nepal. For dinner, a small $2 donation can be added to the bill to assist in relief efforts. If you can’t make it for the fundraising events, you can still drop by any day to donate and say hello.
Consumer group starts petition to urge more review
By Miriam Raftery
Photo: GMO salmon (back) is larger than non-GMO salmon of same age
May 2, 2015 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering approving a genetically modified salmon – not as a food, but as an “animal drug,” according to Sarah Alexander at Food and Water Watch. If approved, it would be the first GMO animal allowed into our food chain. But tests have found high levels of both hormone and potential allergens. Only six fish were tested for allergies – but those fish had an allergenic potency was 20 to 50 percent higher in the GMO salmon than non-GMO salmon.
Photo: Winona LaDuke with her cousin, ECM Tribal Beat journalist Leon Thompson
May 2, 2015, 2015 (SDSU Montezuma Hall) - The Conrad Prebys Student Center at San Diego State University was filled on Earth Day, April 22, as Winona LaDuke took the stage dwarfed by the giant screen depicting the past splendor and future possibilities of her native White Earth Nation. In the language of the Anishinaabe she brought greetings and recounted the Ojibwa names for the months or moons noting that not one of them was named after a Roman Emperor.
Event to benefit benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of East County, Fostering Opportunities Scholarships and Include Autism.
East County News Service
May 1, 2015 (La Mesa) -- San Diego Las Hermanas "(The Sisters") invites you to their "Boots & Bling" fundraiser on Saturday, May 9 at the La Mesa Community Center. Grab your partner, throw on your cowboy boots and hats, and join the festivities including live Country Western music, BBQ dinner, drawings, live auction, card tricks and comedy magic, line dancing instruction, and entertaining antics by Master of Ceremonies Yosemite Sam.
May 2, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Mothers across the country are telling their personal stories of drug war damage with stories, articles and interviews in honor of Mother’s Day. By sharing these powerful stories of losing loved ones to drug-prohibition-related violence, incarceration, overdose and addiction, they are bringing focus to a real need to reform our nation’s drug policies. Many of the moms leading this campaign have been personally impacted by the war on drugs, including having children who suffer from addiction and who have been repeatedly incarcerated, or have died from preventable drug overdoses and other drug related problems.
May 2, 2015 (Julian) - On Saturday, May 23th, the Julian Fire Plugs will be hosting the Julian Arts & Crafts Fair. The fair will be held in the Rabobank parking lot at 2033 Main Street in Julian, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm and will showcase work by many local artists, crafters and artisans from Julian and other nearby communities.
Photo: Maryland Attorney General Marilyn Mosby is nation’s youngest top prosecutor
May 2, 2015 (Baltimore) – Six Baltimore police officers are under arrest, facing charges ranging from manslaughter to murder for the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American man. Gray’s death of a spinal cord injury while in custody sparked riots in Baltimore and other cities.
May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Across the nation, health officials are warning about a sharp rise in hospitalizations among patients who took “spice”, a synthetic marijuana drug.
May 1, 2015 (Sacramento)--Before the 2016 election most California drivers could be automatically registered to vote and receive their ballot in the mail all without having to lift a finger. Today, the Assembly Transportation Committee hears a bill to authorize the state to use the Department of Motor Vehicles database to register all drivers who are eligible to vote.
May 1, 2015 (El Cajon) Cajon Valley Union School District announces launch of a multilingual program at the CVUSD Language Academy. The program will offer students who speak English or Spanish as their first language the opportunity to learn to read, write, and communicate in English and Spanish, learn computer programming, and a fourth language.
May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Islamic State or ISIS forces are reportedly demanding ransoms of up to $100,000 apiece for 250 to 300 Christians captured in Syria February 23rd. Fox News reports the demands were made to Assyrian leaders during negotiations with ISIL fighters arranged by Sunni Muslims. Thus far, 23 have been released.
May 1, 2015 (Santee) – Ryan Willweber, a track star and junior at West Hills High School in Santee, has died of injuries sustained in a crash yesterday afternoon. Two other students were injured, including Willweber’s brother, who reportedly suffered broken bones.
April 30, 2015 (Washington D.C.) --Vermont Senator and former Governor Bernie Sanders has announced he will run for President – challenging Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
Sanders isn’t your typical presidential contender. He’s been the only independent member of Congress since 2007 – until announcing he will run as a Democrat for the presidency. He’s also an avowed “democratic socialist”, a progressive, and he's Jewish.
Running on a populist platform, Senator Sanders has long been a vocal advocate for economic justice, denouncing the growing income gap between billionaires and ordinary working Americans.So how might his candidacy impact the race?
"Climate change science has not changed in the way Councilwoman Alessio would like us to believe. Let's stick to credible sources on science, not talking points from the climate change denier's briefing book." -- Kathleen Connell, PhD, sustainabiltiy expert and former NASA astrobiology science founder
By Miriam Raftery
Upated May 1 to add comments from Mike Bullock and data from a climate change paper he authored.
April 30, 2015 (La Mesa) – At La Mesa’s City Council hearing Tuesday, Council heard a report detailing the city’s progress on reducing its carbon footprint in order to reduce climate change.
Councilmember Kristine Alessio then stated, “The science has changed behind climate change in the last ten years. Maybe at some point we need to reconsider being part of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Change Protection Agreement.” Here audio clip here: http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/blgb31acb1/Alessio-ClimateChange-Kristine.mp3
May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce has crowned its 2015 Middle East winner, Elona Brando (photo: on right, with 2014 winner Stephanie Malouf, left). First Runner Up went to Emilyn Mohebbi. Second Runner Up went to Zuzan Taha.
April 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Volunteer with Voices for Children and be the voice for a child. Voices for Children provides more than one-third of local foster children in San Diego County with the caring support of a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). But there are many more that still need a CASA to speak on their behalf – in the courtroom, classroom, and community – to ensure their needs are met. Our information session event provides the community with an opportunity to learn more about Voices for Children and the CASA program.
April 27, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – Americans are getting too much fluoride from multiple sources including toothpaste, mouthwash, some juices and sodas, and water. So the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is recommending cutting in half the amount of fluoride that’s added to drinking water to prevent tooth decay.
April 30, 2015 (La Mesa) – With all the activities available this month, there has to be something for everyone here.
Events range from star gazing party on Mt. Helix to a free boot camp, s SANDAG public workshops on regional growth plans through 2050, what is arguable the community's most popular event, the La Mesa Flag Day Parade (if you're not in it, you're probably watching it)... and oh, so much more.
April 29, 2015 (Santee) -- GTM Discount General Stores and Meadowbrook Mobile Home Estates of Santee received special recognition from Waste Management of San Diego at this week’s Santee City Council meeting as part of Waste Management’s inaugural “Recycling Champion” program which recognizes businesses and multi-family complexes for their exemplary efforts in implementing recycling on their properties in the City of Santee.
April 29, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—A semi-truck burst into flames on I-8 near Lake Jennings Park Road in Lakeside on Thursday, turning its load of frozen meat into smoked pork.
April 29, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, recently awarded $85,500 in scholarships to 38 high school students who have expressed interest in a career as a healthcare professional.
April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department has provided a roundup of case highlights, traffic information and crime prevention/emergency preparedness news.
April 28, 2015 (Sacramento) – The tobacco industry has succeeded in snuffing out strict limits proposed on tobacco at ballparks. Legislators on the Assembly Governmental Organization Committe, many of whom took hefty contributions from tobacco interests, voted overwhelmingly to water down a bill that originally would have banned all tobacco products at every ballpark in California—from Little League to Major League ballparks.
April 29, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Watch out, water hogs. Governor Jerry Brown announced plans Tuesday to give local governments the power to levy fines of up to $10,000 for those who violate rules on water limits amid a fourth year of drought. That’s a big jump from $500 a day in the past. The highest fines would apply only to the “worst offenders,” said Brown.
April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa has once again updated its economic development webpage with refreshed Commercial Space Availability Reports. According to the most recent reports, dated April 2015, there is approximately 146,000 square feet of retail space available in the City; 150,000 square feet of office space; and 37,000 square feet of industrial space. Retail vacancy is down over 20% from April 2014 and office vacancy is down roughly 14%.
April 29, 2015 (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:
May 3, 2015 (La Mesa) — Himalayan Cuisine, on the 
By Kristin Kjaero
April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department has provided a roundup of case highlights, traffic information and crime prevention/emergency preparedness news.
April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa has once again updated its economic development webpage with refreshed Commercial Space Availability Reports. According to the most recent reports, dated April 2015, there is approximately 146,000 square feet of retail space available in the City; 150,000 square feet of office space; and 37,000 square feet of industrial space. Retail vacancy is down over 20% from April 2014 and office vacancy is down roughly 14%. 
April 29, 2015 (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:
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