East County News Service

May 18, 2017 (San Diego) - Sycuan Casino is pleased to announce this year’s Summer of Sycuan concert series. Kicking off the summer series is world-famous drummer Sheila E. performing at Sycuan on Friday, June 9. Multi-platinum music group Bell Biv DeVoe will follow with three shows on consecutive nights, June 26, 27 and 28.

May 18, 2017 (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.       

Trump investigation/special prosecutor

• Meet the legendary G-man investigating Russian meddling (Politico)
• Donald Trump slams ‘archaic’ Constitution that is ‘really bad’ for this country (UK Independent)
• Reporter arrested after repeatedly questioning Health secretary (The Hill)
• The Senate starts to look at Trump’s businesses (New Yorker)
• Acting FBI chief contradicts White House on Russia and Comey (New York Times)
• Trump warning to Comey prompts questions about tapes (New York Times)
• Russian mobster Felix Sater advised the Trump campaign (SternFacts)
• Treasury unit to share records with Senate for Trump-Russia probe: WSJ (Reuters)
• Trump team knew Flynn was under investigation before he came to White House (Wash. Post)

Other national news

• Tillerson signs international declaration recognizing climate change (The Hill)
• Senate unexpectedly fails to repeal key Obama climate policy (Grist)
• Amazon to build homeless shelter in its new Seattle HQ (CNN)
• The head of the Census resigned. It could be as serious as James Comey. (Time)
• Even a semester of full-time school may help college students (CS Monitor)
• Vermont Legislature Becomes First In Nation to Legalize Recreational Marijuana (Reason)
• Hanford nuclear site accident puts focus on aging U.S. facilities (Reuters)

WORLD

• Dozens of countries hit by huge cyberextortion attack (AP)
• China's Xi lays out $900bn Silk Road vision amid claims of empire-building (Guardian)
• Yemen war: Emergency in Sanaa as cholera kills scores (BBC)
• Syria Has Been Burning Bodies To Hide Prison Executions For Years, U.S. Says (NPR)
• International inquiry finds sulfur mustard exposure in Syria (Reuters)

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

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate Reviewersdtheatrereviews.com

By Miriam Raftery

An East County Magazine Special report

May 17, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – In a bombshell announcement, the U.S. Justice Department has  issued an order to appoint a special prosecutor  to investigate Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign.  Far more broadly, the order allows investigation of any matters that arise from the investigation and all other matters within a special prosecutor’s jurisdiction under federal law – including authorization to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation.   

Acting Attorney General  Rod. J. Rosenstein issued the order to appoint Robert Mueller, a former federal prosecutor who served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Gage Skidmore

May 17, 2017 (Washington D.C.) –President Donald Trump pressured FBI director James Comey to halt the FBI investigation into former National Security Director Michael Flynn’s Russian connections, but Comey refused, according to a memo written by Comey at the time,  the New York Times reports.  Comey also refused Trump’s demand to jail journalists for publishing leaked materials—shortly before the President fired Comey.   The revelation has top Republican and Democratic Senators preparing to subpoena records that could, potentially, lead to impeachment.

“Obstruction of justice is what it looks like to anybody who’s looking at it,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat working with Republican  Senator Lindsey Graham to investigate the FBI’s role in the federal Russia investigation,  Politico reports. “This is about as lay down a case…as a prosecutor could imagine,” he added.

Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee who has said he won’t seek reelection,  today announced on Twitter that his committee will “get the Comey memo, if it exists,” adding, “I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.”

East County News Service

May 17, 2017 (Alpine) -- Detectives from the Sheriff's Homicide Detail and the Alpine Sheriff's Station are investigating the apparent murder of a 42-year-old man in Alpine.

Last night at approximately 6:35 pm, the Sheriff's Communications Center received a call of a suicidal man at 31 Viejas Grade in Alpine. Deputies from the Sheriff's Alpine Station responded to the area and found the man unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics began life saving measures but the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

East County News Service

May 17, 2017 (San Diego) – A fight that broke out in the parking lot of the Vons shopping center in the 2800 block of Navajo Road yesterday afternoon resulted in the stabbing of one man, who was taken to a trauma center for treatment of his wounds, Patch.com reports.

East County News Service

May 16, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Registration is now open for “Bike to Work Day!” Join thousands of San Diegans and cycle to work on Thursday, May 18.

Biking to work is a great way to save money, get fit, and be environmentally friendly.  Register for Bike to Work Day and log bike trips to be automatically entered to win one of many great prizes. 

East County News Service

May 16, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “All About Peripheral Neuropathy,” a free program on the causes, symptoms and treatments for this nerve disorder, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 24. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.

East County News Service

May 15, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – This week’s Destination East County includes La Mesa Rocks, the Manzanita Rendezvous, Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest, El Cajon’s America on Main Street, Explore Mission Trails Day, a Wild in the Country Casino Real benefit, and the Grip It and Rip It Golf Tournament.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a production of Into the Woods, , open house at the Oasis Camel Dairy, La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, Fly Days at Gillespie Field, the annual Julian Dance and Barbecue, Fido Fest in Santee, Lavender Days at Summers Past Farms, Sundays at Six Concerts in LA Mesa, Night Fishing at Santee Lakes, the Julian Blues Fest,  Santee Summer Concerts, a Father’s Day Brunch with Cowboy Jack, and a Father’s Day adventure at Fort Cross in Julian filled with rugged, manly experiences! 

So scroll down for all of these events and many more.