May 2016 Articles

LAWSUIT CHALLENGES BAN ON ASSEMBLY HEARING VIDEOS IN POLITICAL ADS

 

 

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

Photo: Assembly Chamber, State Capitol

May 30, 2016 (Sacramento) – California law prohibits the use of video from state Assembly hearings for political campaigns or commercial purposes, although these same videos can be used by news outlets. A candidate who runs Assembly video footage in an ad can be criminally charged—even if the video is of himself speaking on the Assembly floor.

Now a lawsuit has been filed against the state claiming that this law violates First Amendment free speech, Courthouse News reports.


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CIVIL WAR DRUM ON DISPLAY MEMORIAL DAY AT HATFIELD CREEK WINERY IN RAMONA

 

East County News Service

May 29, 2016 (Ramona) — In April 1862, the Battle of Shiloh was a key early victory for the Union Army during the Civil War.  On Memorial Day, May 30th, Norm Case, co-owner of the Hatfield Creek Vineyards and Winery in Ramona, will be displaying the historic drum on which his great-great grandfather, Philo Case, played the long roll to begin the Battle of Shiloh.


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RESTORATIVE JUSTICE BILL PASSES ASSEMBLY

 

 

East County News Service

May 29,2016 (San Diego's East County) -- AB 2590, the Restorative Justice bill authored by  Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego)  passed the full Assembly last week

With a massive recidivism rate, it's time for more effective approach to public safety, Dr.    Weber believes. This bill provides an opportunity for the offender - with the consent of the victims or their families - to accept responsibility, acknowledge the harm to victims, make agreements to repair damage as much as possible, and clarify future intentions to reform.


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DBACKS TAKE SERIES AGAINST PADRES WITH A 6-3 WIN

 

 

By Liz Alper


Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

May 29, 2016 (Phoenix) - The Padres and Diamondbacks played game three, the final game of this weekend series today.  Drew Pomeranz started against Archie Bradley for the snakes.


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SANTEE FRIENDS LAUNCH FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN FOR NEW LIBRARY

 

By Mike Allen

May 29, 2016 (Santee) -- Santee’s library is bursting at the seams, hosting more children’s story-tellings, classes and community meetings than ever and library officials have the numbers to prove it.


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WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

 

 

East County News Service

May 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – This weekend, we honor the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to serve our country in the U.S. armed forces.

More than 1.1 million American soldiers have been killed in wars since our nation began, from the Revolutionary War to today. The U.S. currently has about 14 million living veterans from War World II to the present military conflicts.

Here in San Diego County:


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PADS RALLY TO WITHIN ONE, BUT SNAKES TAKE GAME TWO 8-7

 

 

By Liz Alper

 

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

May 28, 2016 (Phoenix) - The Padres looked to replicate the outstanding game they had last night, winning 10-3.  Cesar Vargas was on the mound tonight for San Diego against the veteran Zack Greinke for Arizona.


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SOUNDING OFF ABOUT THE MONEY IN POLITICS!

Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections, by Richard L. Hasen (Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 2016, 241 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

May 28, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections, this scholarly and insightful book by Richard L. Hasen, a leading expert on election law, gives a compelling answer to the dilemmas of money in politics, and comes at a time when presidential candidates such as Bernie Sanders has as his mantra campaign finance and reform. Hasen, Chancellor’s Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine, has written this book in the midst of one of the most unusual presidential campaigns in memory, where the character and personas of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders seem to shape our political history and agendas.


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METS ACQUIRE JAMES LONEY FROM PADRES FOR CASH

 

By Liz Alper

Photo: Wikipedia Creative Commons courtesy Keith Allison; originally posted to Flickr

May 28, 2016 (San Diego) - The Padres announced today that the New York Mets have acquired first baseman James Loney from the team for cash considerations, MLB Trade Rumors reports.


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PRODUCE PICKS: STRAWBERRIES (CALIFORNIA GROWN)

 

By Greg Dunne

May 28, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- It’s a berry good time of the year.  The four main berries in the markets are strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and Blackberries. What comes to mind right away with berries is snack time. When I’m watching TV and wanting a bit of ice cream or piece of pie, but don’t want to eat something that is not healthy I go to a small bowl of berries or some Greek yogurt. And of course, the combination of the two is better than ice cream and much healthier.


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FATAL COLLISION IN DULZURA

 

East County News Service

May 27, 2016 (Dulzura) – A collision on State Route 94 near Lucky Six Truck Trail in Dulzura has left a man dead and three people injured, including an 8-year-old child.


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HOMERS IN THE DESERT; PADRES TAKE GAME ONE AGAINST DBACKS 10-3

 

 

By Liz Alper


Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

May 27, 2016 (Phoenix) - After that embarrassing sweep by the Giants, the Padres got a much-needed day off before they headed to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Arizona, as we all know, is Andy Green’s old stomping grounds and he was happy to be back.  Christian Friedrich started on the hill for San Diego against Robbie Ray for Arizona.


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CHARGERS' SWAIN GRADUATES FROM NAVY; DEFERS SERVICE AND WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY IN 2016

 

By Liz Alper

Photo credit:  DoD News on Flickr; Department of Defense Photo by Marv Lynchard

May 27, 2016 (Annapolis, Md.) - Chargers' rookie fullback Chris Swain has dedicated his life to two great American institutions; football and the military.


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VOEPEL-TEORA ASSEMBLY RACE HEATS UP

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo from www.StopRandyVoepel.com, a site criticizing Voepel's  "insurgent" remarks suggesting he would be a political  hit man for the GOP in Sacramento

May 27, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Santee Mayor Randy Voepel is facing some formidable opposition in his run for the 71st Assembly seat.  An anonymous hit site, www.StopRandyVoepel.com, has posted audio of inflammatory statements made by Voepel—along with past tax lien documents on the self-proclaimed fiscal conservative’s home.

Meanwhile his opponent, Tony Teora, a centrist Republican who leans Libertarian on some issues but green on climate change, has invested heavily in his campaign including freeway signs, newspaper ads and newsletters to voters.  (Leo Hamel, a third candidate listed on the ballot, has withdrawn from the race.)


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LOCAL REPUBLICAN PARTY SNUBS TRUMP, WITHHOLDS ENDORSEMENT; SD DEMOCRATS MAKE DUAL ENDORSEMENT OF CLINTON AND SANDERS

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 27, 2016 (San Diego) – The San Diego County Republican Party’s list of endorsed candidates has a glaring omission at the top:  there is no endorsement for President.  Donald Trump, who visits San Diego today and this week won enough delegates to mathematically qualify to win the national Republican Party nomination, has been snubbed by the San Diego GOP.


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TRUMP SAYS HE WILL CANCEL PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT, CUT POLLUTION REGULATIONS TO BOOST USE OF OIL AND COAL

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2016 (San Diego) – Today after clinching the number of delegates needed for the Republican nomination, billionaire Donald Trump gave a speech at a petroleum industry conference in North Dakota.  There he told oil executives he would eliminate regulations on the fossil fuel industry and also weaken clean water protections, the Bismark Tribune reports.

“We’re going to cancel the Paris Climate agreement,” he said of the United Nations Accord signed by over 195 nations.

Promising “complete American energy independence” he vowed to roll back Obama administration limits on coal power plant emissions, global climate accord reached in Paris, approve the Keystone XL pipeline and rescind protection of waterways from industrial pollution. He has also called for an increase in fracking and has said he believes climate change is a hoax, despite 97% of climate scientists worldwide agreeing that climate change is real and caused by the burning of fossil fuels.


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TAKE A HIKE HONORING VETERANS THIS MEMORIAL DAY: WARRIOR CHALLENGE IN LAKESIDE MAY 30

 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Lakeside) -- Remember our service members this Memorial Day with an unforgettable ascent up El Capitan. 


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LAMPLIGHTERS PRESENTS NEIL SIMON’S “CHAPTER TWO” MAY 13 - JUNE 12

 

Review by Kathy Carpenter, Associate/Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

May 26, 2016 (La Mesa) - Do you believe in second chances? Neil Simon’s plays are semi- biographical; for Simon, perfect love happened twice. In Chapter Two, it happens for George Schneider, who loses his wife an early death and Jennie Malone who married the wrong man.


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ROLLING OUT AT VIEJAS MAY 28: LARGEST OUTDOOR ROLLER RINK IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Alpine) – The largest roller skating rink in Southern California will open this Saturday and remain open daily May 28 through September 5 at the Viejas Outlets in Alpine.


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WWII INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE-AMERICAN STUDENTS AT GROSSMONT HIGH: NEW EXHIBIT AT LA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (La Mesa) – AP students at Grossmont High School recently researched Japanese-American students who attended Grossmont and the impact that the 1942 internment of program had on their lives.  Now the results of their efforts are on display in a special exhibit at the La Mesa Historical Society: May through September on the 2nd & 4th Saturday  from 1-4pm: “WWII Internment and the Japanese-American Students of Grossmont High School.”


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“BROTHERS IN WAR” SCREENING MAY 28 IN LEMON GROVE

 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- The Lemon Grove Historical Society will be back in the Lemon Grove Library, 3001 School Lane, on May 28 at 2 p.m. with part II of its remembrance of the Vietnam War.  The event honors our military on the Memorial Day weekend and is an opportunity to learn more about the war that many would prefer to forget, but that scarred an entire generation in both the U.S. and Vietnam.


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SPEEDING MOTORIST KILLED AFTER ROLLING DOWN EMBANKMENT OFF I-8

 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Boulevard) – A 24-year-old man died Saturday night, May 20th after he lost control of his vehicle on I-8 West near McCain Valley Road in Boulevard. The Infinity G35 veered off the highway and rolled down a steep embankment.


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TEEN STABBED MONDAY IN SPRING VALLEY NOT EXPECTED TO SURVIVE

 

East County New Service

May 26, 2016 (Spring Valley) – Detectives from the San Diego Sheriff’s homicide detail and the East County Gang Task Force are investigating the stabbing of 17-year-old Jeffrey Quirino. The teen is still being treated at a hospital, but his injuries are so severe that he is not expected to survive, says Lieutenant Kenneth Nelson.


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HEARTLAND FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE WOMAN FROM FIRE IN LEMON GROVE

 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in Lemon Grove responded to reports of a structure fire in the 8000 block of Alton Drive around 8:30 this morning. Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the windows of a duplex unit and a woman halfway out of a window at the rear of the duplex. 


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MOTORCYCLIST KILLED NEAR JULIAN WAS SAN DIEGAN

 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Julian) – The Medical Examiner’s office has identified Andrew Grettenberger, 55, of San Diego as the motorcyclist killed on May 23rd in a solo-vehicle crash near Julian.


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EAST COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO OPEN SOON, MAYOR PROMISES

 

But action comes too late for Grossmont Community Concert Association, set to hold its farewell concert June 15

By Jonathan Goetz

May 26, 2016 (El Cajon) - El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells promised “we are in the process of refurbishing the performing arts center and it will be open soon” in response to public comment at Tuesday’s City Council Meeting.


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SHERIFF’S WISHBONE THE BEAGLE AND HIS "SMELL AND TELL" BOOK READING JUNE 25 AT EL CAJON LIBRARY

 

 

Source: San Diego Sheriff

May 26, 2016 (El Cajon ) -- The Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) K-9 Team plays a valuable role in locating missing people across San Diego County.  When he's not busy assisting Sheriff's Deputies and SAR Volunteers, Wishbone the Beagle loves meeting children.

Join Wishbone and SAR K-9 Team Leader Pam Medhurst for a special reading of a short book on this talented dog on Saturday, June 25 at 2 p.m. in the Fletcher Hills Library (576 Garfield Ave., El Cajon).

In "Wishbone The Beagle: The Smell And Tell Game," we learn about Wishbone's special talents and how he became a member of the Sheriff's SAR K-9 Team. It's a story children of all ages will love.


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AMERICA ON MAIN STREET IS A ROUSING SUCCESS

 

By Robert Gehr

Cover photo: Chase Avenue Elementary 'Mexican Ballet Folklorico'

May 26, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The 3rd annual America on Main Street in El Cajon was a big hit with young and old alike!


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TRUMP TO HOLD RALLY IN SAN DIEGO MAY 27, COUNTER PROTEST PLANNED

 

East County News Service

May 25, 2016 (San Diego) – Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, will hold a rally at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego this Friday, May 27th at 2 p.m.  You can register for tickets here.  The stop is one of several for Trump in California in anticipation of the June 7th primary.

The billionaire businessman and reality TV star’s visit has also sparked a counter-protest planned by San Diego County Democrats.  A “Stop Trump” rally will be held starting at 12 noon (gathering at 11:30) in the plaza at the southeast corner of the Convention Center across from the Bayfront Hilton.  You can RSVP here, sign a Stop Trump petition here  and visit a Facebook page for the event here.)


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NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP JUNE 25-26 IN BORREGO SPRINGS



By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2016 (Borrego Springs) –In June, the Milky Way will be  a spectacular sight to behold in the night sky over Borrego Springs.   You can join world famous night sky photographer Dennis Mammana  to learn the fine art and science of capturing the Milky Way with your camera, along with many other remarkable celestial sights visible in the clear, dark desert sky at a night sky photography workshop June 25-26.


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