Update: The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old James Will, a Mountain Empire football star, East County Sports reports.

By Miriam Raftery

May 7, 2016 (La Posta) — A Campo man driving a 2004 Acura TSX was reported missing yesterday at 12:30 p.m. to the California Highway Patrol and Sheriff  after failing to reach his destination in Pine Valley, where he planned to pick up his great-grandmother at 6 a.m. yesterday morning. 

Agency will send senior official to SONGS meeting on June 22

East County News Service

May 7, 2016 (Washington D.C) -- Congressman Darrell lssa says he is pleased with the Department of Energy's response to a letter he sent earlier this month asking the Department of Energy to hold an additional meeting in Southern California to discuss options for the nation's plan to handle the long-term storage of nuclear waste.

Acknowledging Congressman Issa’s request, the Department of Energy has agreed to send the Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, John F. Kotek, to attend the next SONGS Community Engagement Panel meeting on June 22, where he will be seeking opinions and input from residents, elected officials and community leaders on this important issue. The Congressman encourages members of the public to attend.

East County News Service

May 6, 2016 (Lake Murray) -- It's a lovely time of year to visit Lake Murray, with flowers blooming everywhere. Our editor Miriam Raftery got this shot of boaters whiling away an idyllic springtime afternoon on calm,blue waters.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Left and right: bull atop El Capitan High School and former Pinnacle Peak restaurant

May 6, 2016 (Lakeside) – A popular icon in downtown Lakeside—the bull statue atop the former Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse on Maine Avenue—vanished recently, leaving locals to ponder, where’s the beef?

Fortunately the missing steer statue was found this morning not far away, standing on the roof of El Capitan High School—and that’s no bull.

No one has come forward to fess up to steering the statue to the high school, though a senior prank is rumored.

Honorees, including Lemon Grove resident Alex Eugenio, will be feted for overcoming life-altering injuries

East County News Service

Photo: Alex Eugenio, Lemon Grove resident

May 6, 2016 (San Diego) -- Sharp Rehabilitation and the Sharp HealthCare Foundation’s 2016 “Victories of Spirit” event celebrates the power of rehabilitation and the strength of the human spirit. The 26th annual celebration will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, May 13, at the San Diego Bayfront Hilton. The event, which is sponsored by United Healthcare, will honor the power of rehabilitation and pay tribute to extraordinary individuals and community organizations for their inspirational achievements and contributions to others, including Lemon Grove resident Alex Eugenio form East County.

Want to buy a car, truck, bus, golf cart or caterpillar tractor?

County News Service

May 6, 2016 (San Diego) -- Bidding for the County’s latest online public vehicle auction opens Monday, May 9, so check out what’s available before these deals on wheels drive off without you.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

May 5, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Local writer, award-winning journalist and USA Today best-selling author Jennifer Coburn is finally joining me to offer advice to authors and talk about her latest book, We'll Always Have Paris: A Mother/Daughter Memoir. I've been trying to get her here for months and have been a fan since reading The Wife of Reilly, though I had no idea at the time that Coburn lived in San Diego – not until we both ended up scheduled at a local author event at the Barnes & Noble in Santee. She was promoting We'll Always Have Paris, her first memoir. Coburn has also authored six novels and contributed to four literary anthologies, not bad for someone who originally thought she couldn't write a novel.

How do you decide whether to write a sequel? - G. Elizabeth Kretchmer, author of Women on the Brink

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (Alpine) - The Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber’s “Hot Topics” breakfast will be at Mike Place, 1602 Alpine Blvd. on May 10^th at 7:15 a.m.  This month’s breakfast features two speakers: Christine Connell with the Alpine Library Friends Association and Jefferson Baker, the Acting Branch Manager of the Alpine Library. 

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (La Mesa) – A suspect remains at large after ramming two vehicles including a police car in La Mesa early this morning, then fleeing the scene. 

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate/Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

May 5, 2016 - (El Cajon) - Remember when you were in the theatre program in high school? Perhaps even El Cajon Valley High School?  They have this beautiful little old theatre which I'm sure housed many many of you and your plays over the years. Remember how nice it would be or would have been to perform in front of a full house? A real confidence booster to feel people are here to see me. I matter.

By Miriam Raftery

May 5, 2016 (Sacramento) – California has become the second state in the nation (after Hawaii) to raise the smoking age to 21 years of age. Governor Jerry Brown signed a package of bills into law that also bans sale of e-cigarette products to youths and prohibits use of electronic cigarettes in public places such as restaurants or theaters, as well as at most areas in public schools including charters.

El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick praised the Governor’s action. “That’s going to save millions of lives,” said Kendrick, who authored El Cajon’s measures to restrict e-cigarettes and smoking in public places. The El Cajon Council, at Kendrick’s urging, also passed a resolution in support of raising California’s smoking age from 18 to 21.

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (Alpine) - Join the Nonfiction Authors Association's San Diego Chapter for their monthly meeting, held on Saturday, May 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Janet's Montana Cafe (2506 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine).

By Miriam Raftery

May 5, 2016 (San Diego) – Withdrawal of John Kasich and Ted Cruz from the presidential race leaves Donald Trump the only remaining Republican candidate in the race—and the presumptive nominee.  Across the nation and here in San Diego, Republicans shared their reactions, with many voicing deep concerns. 

May 4, 2016, 2016 (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.

General news

• U.S. women may soon be required to register for the military draft (Reuters)
• Thousands of New Yorkers named as apparent Islamic State targets (CS Monitor)
• TSA's 'gross mismanagement' persists at cost of safety, employees say (CS Monitor)
• U.S. spy court rejected zero surveillance orders in 2015: memo (Reuters)
• U.S. high court approves rule change to expand FBI hacking power (Reuters)
• There are only two companies left with triple A credit ratings (Marketplace)
• U.S. to consider banning criminal history from federal job applications (Reuters)
• Elizabeth Smart says abstinence-only sex ed harms victims of rape (Slate)
• TSA damage your stuff? Good luck getting reimbursed (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Federal Court Condemns Congress for Giving Unconstitutional Regulatory Powers to Amtrak (Reason)

Presidential primary

• 24% opt out of a Clinton-Trump race (Rasumussen Reports)
• Can California Republicans say yes to Trump? (Sacramento Bee)
• Donald Trump accused of rape and depraved sex acts in civil lawsuit (Broward Palm Beach New Times)

WORLD

• State of emergency declared in Baghdad as protesters take Iraqi Parliament (Wash. Post)
• Bangladesh terror attacks target culture of tolerance (CS Monitor)
• Will Venezuela's two-day workweek help its energy crisis? (CS Monitor)
• Why are buildings in Kenya collapsing? (CS Monitor)
• Italy nabs four suspected in ISIS plot to attack Israeli embassy, Vatican (JPost)
• Hamas: 'There will be an explosion' unless Israel lifts Gaza blockade (JPost)
• China’s Toxic School Just the Tip of the Iceberg (ECO Watch)
• What happens to a country without a government? Take a look at Spain. (CS Monitor)
• Springtime In Iran Means The 'Morality Police' Are Out In Force (NPR)
• Smuggling attempt foiled: Israel seizes 4 tons of Gaza-bound chemicals used in rockets (JPost)
• Hamas says its ties with UK Labor's Corbyn 'painful hit for the Zionists' (JPost)
• A French synagogue is being repurposed as a mosque after local Jews left the neighborhood (Washington Post)

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

May 4, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• What's Good For The Heart Is Good For The Brain (NPR)
• Critical Drugs For Hospital ERs Remain In Short Supply (NPR)
• Speedy eye-tracking device seeks to detect concussions  (Reuters)
• A Concussion Can Lead To Sleep Problems That Last For Years (NPR)
• Ruling May Help Patients Keep More Of The Winnings When They Sue (NPR)
• Puerto Rico reports 1st US Zika-related death amid outbreak (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• The Full-Fat Paradox: Dairy Fat Linked To Lower Diabetes Risk (NPR)
• Can An Online Game Help Create A Better Test For Tuberculosis?(NPR)
• New study uses Fitbit to test if weight loss can prevent breast cancer recurrence (Business Wire Health Spot)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Solar powered plane successfully crosses Pacific Ocean, lands in California (ABC)
• A Researcher Just Accidentally Developed A Battery That Could Last A Lifetime (IFL Science)
• How secure is your data? Take our quiz and find out (CS Monitor)
• Mitsubishi Says It Tricked Fuel Mileage Tests On Some Cars (NPR)
• Pop went the weasel and down went the Large Hadron Collider (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Massive secret lake and canyons found deep beneath Antarctic ice (CS Monitor)
• Half of Western European men descended from one Bronze Age ‘king’(Telegraph)
• How you can help penguins by knitting sweaters for them (CS Monitor)
• China-made drone to use AI to track, film people (Malaya Chronicles)
• Busted? 'Textalyzer' device could detect texting and driving (CS Monitor)
• SpaceX undercut ULA rocket launch pricing by 40 percent: U.S. Air Force (Reuters)

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