By Liz Alper

Photo:  the Chair of Honor was awarded to prisoners of war and soldiers that are missing-in-action for their service this Fourth of July weekend.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

July 3, 2016 (San Diego) – Over there, over there, send the word, send the word over there, that the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming, the drums rum-tumming everywhere…the Pads and Yanks finished up their series on the eve of the Fourth of July and it’s almost like they wanted me to open this recap by singing Over There with this scheduling.  Andrew Cashner, recently reinstated from the DL, started for the Padres today against Chad Green for New York.

East County News Service

July 3, 2016 (Dulzura) -- State Route 94 is shut down in both directions from Barrett Lake in Dulzura to State Route 188 due to a brush fire,according to Cal Trans.  The Barrett Fire is now 10 acres, Cal Fire reports.

The CHP website indicates the fire began when a motorcycle accident ignited dry brush.

By Miriam Raftery

July 3, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation spent three hours Saturday questioning presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over her use of a private e-mail server while she was Secretary of State. 

Preliminary lab studies at the Salk Institute find THC reduces beta amyloid proteins in human neurons

Source: Salk Institute

Photo: David Schubert, Professor of Salk’s Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory

July 3, 2016 (San Diego) -- Salk Institute scientists have found preliminary evidence that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other compounds found in marijuana can promote the cellular removal of amyloid beta, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

East County News Service

July 2, 2016 (Julian) - Anyone can enjoy the Julian StarFest by participating in the free public star party on Saturday, August 6, 2016.  Arrive between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and you can enter the StarFest grounds (1150 Julian Orchards Ln, Julian).  Take a star tour of the heavens using the many telescopes set up in the viewing area.  Experts will be on hand to answer questions.  Parking is available nearby and we suggest you bring a red light flashlight to guide yourself to the observing area, or red film will be provided to cover a white light flashlight.  Please, no white lights in the observing area.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  Travis Jankowski and Matt Kemp strategize before the game.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

July 2, 2016 (San Diego) – The Padres narrowly escaped the jaws of a comeback defeat against the Yankees last night.  Their job tonight was to come away with the win at a much larger margin.  Ivan Nova started on the hill for the Bombers against Drew Pomeranz for the Padres.

Update:  San Miguel Fire Protection District board member Theresa McKenna has responded to Robert Perry's editorial to detail how much notice and discussion has been held on this issue. Read her remarks here.

By Robert Perry, community resident

Photo:  Protest at station closed due to budget gaps back when San Miguel was a stand-alone station, before contracting with Cal Fire. Opinions ran hot on both sides of the partnership deal at that time.

July 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) --With zero public input and zero community discussion (thus far) the San Miguel Fire Protection District has an action item on the agenda for the board meeting of July 6, 2016 to "discuss and may approve returning to a stand alone District".  View agenda.

The district has contracted with CAL FIRE the past four years after facing a structural deficit of their own making.  There is one more year of the contract.

July 1, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• 9 plants that bug bugs—including mosquitoes (USA Today)
• List of possible Zika birth defects grows longer  (Scientific American)
• Bright, Bluish-White LED Streetlamps Disrupt Sleep Cycles, AMA Says (NPR)
• Groundbreaking Skin Cancer Treatment Given Approval In Record Time [in the UK) (iflScience)
• Bad News For Kids Who Don't Like Flu Shots (NPR)
• Abortion demand 'soars' amid Zika fear (BBC)
• For Centuries, A Small Town Has Embraced Strangers With Mental Illness (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• BMW's recycled electric car batteries to power homes (CS Monitor)
• Battle erupts over security of chip-enabled credit card readers (CS Monitor)
• Fake fingerprints: The latest tactic for protecting privacy (CS Monitor)
• India launches 20 satellites at one go; most to serve U.S. customers (Reuters)
• Did our planet once have more than two magnetic poles?  (CS Monitor)
• Facebook's political influence under a microscope (Reuters)
• ACLU files lawsuit over U.S. anti-hacking law (Reuters)

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