By Miriam Raftery

September 13, 2023 (La Mesa) – At last night’s La Mesa City Council meeting, Councilman Jack Shu proposed replacing the city’s restrictive beekeeping ordinance with a more expanded ordinance patterned after the county of San Diego to enable backyard beekeeping.

By Susanne Clara Bard

September 12, 2023 (San Diego) -- A striking black and yellow beetle called the goldspotted oak borer has been decimating oak trees in Southern California for more than 20 years, including on the ancestral lands of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians on Palomar Mountain. The insects’ larvae burrow into bark, increasing drought stress on the trees. 

East County News Service

September 11, 2023 (La Mesa) -- Food connoisseurs and Italian cuisine aficionados are in for a treat! Aromi Italian Cuisine, the city's newest Italian dining sensation, is proud to introduce its authentic Italian Rigatoni Carbonara crafted by none other than Andrea Carbonaro. Drawing inspiration from family recipes and the heart of Italy, he brings a taste of his heritage to every plate.

By Miriam Raftery

Click image, left, to view San Diego Sheriff's video remembering 911

September 11, 2023 (San Diego) – Flags across the nation are at half-mast today to commemorate 2,996 people killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The attacks by hijacked airlines destroyed the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City, ravaged the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and took the lives of passengers and crew aboard a United Airlines plane bound for the Capitol that crashed in Pennsylvania.

Locally and nationally, first responders today are remembering those who lost their lives, as well as the brave first responders who came to the aid of survivors.

San Diego State will play four and possibly five opponents who competed in the postseason in 2023 among 13 non-conference games

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 11, 2023 (San Diego) - Coming off the most successful men’s basketball season in program history, posting a 32-7 mark and having played for the 2023 national championship, San Diego State men's basketball program revealed its 2023-24 out-of-conference slate on Monday.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Mary Loeza, Mom'sTravel Team

September 10, 2023 (El Cajon) – An engine cut off while an aviation student was piloting a plane yesterday slated to land at Gillespie Field in El Cajon.  The instructor, Steve Mitchell, 67 with Blue Max Aviation, told  Fox 5 that he took over the controls and  made an emergency landing, crashing into a wire fence around the airport as well as a fence on private property, dragging it across Magnolia Avenue.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 8, 2023 (San Diego) - The storm has passed – now what?

Though the heavy rains have subsided, more rain is in the forecast. However, the danger will lurk with mudflow and erosion problems. Make sure you are prepared.

In the next few days, you might find your home and property damaged and you’ll be wondering how do I get this put back together?

Where do I start? 

Chronic absenteeism has always been at its worst in lower grades. Now that rates have exploded, it’s an even greater cause for concern.

by Jakob McWhinney, Voice of San Diego

By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 7, 2023 (San Diego) -- After years of declines, confirmed suicide deaths in San Diego County rose to 360 in 2022, slightly more than the 358 recorded in 2021, which was the lowest number of deaths in 10 years. 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 7, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- We all face storms in life. They say those are the association dues for being alive. But there is a different storm brewing out there, monsoon season that brings flashfloods storms. It is important to start thinking about these rare storms because this is the season!

As firefighters we know the power of water. “We have some of the best apparatus capable of pumping thousands of gallons of water per minute during fires. In this capacity, water saves lives and property—it is essential to protecting our communities,” says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.”

But a different power of water is Flashfloods. They are the number one storm-related killed in the United States.

Eighty percent (80%) of flood deaths occur in vehicles, and most happen when drivers make a single, fatal mistake – trying to navigate through floodwaters.

Do you know what 6 – 12 and 18 add up to? Danger!

“The eye never forgets what the heart has seen.” – African proverb

By Miriam Raftery

Photos and videos by Mark and Miriam Raftery; Video editing Jacob Pamus

September 7, 2023 (South Africa) -- Bugling elephants emerge on the trail ahead of our safari vehicle. A white cloud of sacred ibises ascends from shimmering lake to sky. An endangered black rhinoceros raises its horn, a striking sentinel on the savannah as dusk approaches. Silhouettes of thorny acacia trees sway in the breeze against a flaming orange African sunset.

These are memories that I will never forget. My recent journey through South Africa has, indeed, captured a part of my heart.

By Branda Gorgies

Photos from Branda Gorgies, Brenda Ramirez and Creative Commons via Google Images

September 6, 2023 (Spring Valley) -  Teachers at Steele Canyon High School, a charter school in the Grossmont Union High School District, are seeking a salary increase because many of them feel they’re not being paid a competitive salary. On August 16, at the high school’s library, Steele Canyon’s independent governing board held a meeting with public comment from five teachers. On Monday this week, students held a walkout to show support for the teachers.