By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Will Rodriguez-Kennedy. Photo by Chris Jennewein

May 7, 2022 (San Diego) - The chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party revealed Friday he will take a leave of absence amid reported allegations of assault.

Source: San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

May 7, 2022 (San Diego) -- SANDAG, Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), North County Transit District (NCTD), and the County of San Diego joined the community on Friday morning to announce the SANDAG Youth Opportunity Pass pilot program. The new program is the first of its kind in the San Diego region, offering free public transit to anyone 18 and under, with a Youth PRONTO account, from May 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.  To sign up for the pass to receive free rides, visit https://youthopportunitypass.sandag.org/.

May 7, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Week-long ‘Mother’s Day Strike’ set to protest overturn of Roe (The Hill)
• FDA puts strict limits on Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine (CNN)
• Better ventilation makes a healthier workplace — if companies invest : Shots - Health News (NPR)
• The tick that makes people allergic to red meat is in D.C. (Washington Post)
• Public health expert talks about effectiveness of a second COVID-19 vaccine booster (KPBS)
• E-cigs using synthetic nicotine come under FDA oversight (10 News)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• You can now ask Google to take your personal data out of its search results (NPR)
• Elon Musk launches hostile takeover bid: ‘Twitter needs to be transformed’ (Washington Post)
• Meet the Reddit ‘Aunties’ covertly helping people get abortions (Washington Post)

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

May 7, 2022 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Anza-Borrego Park faces claims of neglecting rain ‘guzzlers,’ leading to bighorn sheep deaths (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego received virtually no rain in April, pushing region closer to ‘severe drought’ ranking (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sempra to give record profits to investors on heels of SDG&E customer bill spikes (inewssource)
• What military equipment do La Mesa Police have? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Housing Subsidies Can’t Keep Pace with Surging Rents (Voice of San Diego)
• El Cajon will try sending some 911 calls to nurses, not hospitals. Here’s how it’s gone elsewhere (Los Angeles Times)
• Former tribal chairman accused of embezzling nearly $400K in federal funds in indictment (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Local residents open homes to Ukrainian refugees (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Orbeez shooters invade El Cajon (San Diego Reader)
• El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells doesn’t think Hasan Ikhrata should resign for wasting taxpayer money on steaks (KUSI)
• Supreme Court Sides With La Mesa Resident in Nazi-Looted Painting Suit (Patch)

STATE

• California energy officials warn of potential summer blackouts (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California voters agreed to give prisoners shorter sentences. Did they mean violent ones, too? (Sacramento Bee)
• Here we go again: California coronavirus cases rising. Is a new wave coming soon? (Los Angeles Times)
• California Investigating Oil Companies for Alleged Plastic Recycling Deception (NPR)
• California lifts five-day quarantine rule for people exposed to COVID-19 but show no symptoms (Los Angeles Times)

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

East County News Service

May 6, 2022 (Pala) -- Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, joined other tribal leaders on Thursday, May 5th at the California State Assembly to support May 2022 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month. 

Alito and his four cohorts on the Supreme Court are attempting to bury the last fifty years of safe, legal abortion, now supported by at least 70% of the U.S. population.

By Amy Goodman, Dennis Moynihan, staff writers, Common Dreams

Reprinted under a Creative Commons license from Common Dreams

Photo: CC by SA via Bing

May 6, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) - The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC is truly august, its Corinthian columns and ornate pediments reminiscent of ancient Rome's Temple of Mars Ultor, erected by Emperor Augustus to commemorate Mars, the god of war, in his role as avenger. Augustus employed the imperial design to convey that a new order had arrived after quelling a civil war that had consumed the region for fifty years. Two thousand years later, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has unleashed his own form of vengeance, from within the Supreme Court's columned walls, revealed in a draft opinion he authored, leaked by a person or persons not yet publicly known then published by Politico.

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

May 6, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- One of the questions I get from community members I work alongside in East County is “How do you determine the most important drug, alcohol and mental health issues to focus on?” The answer is that in addition to listening to the needs of the community, our priorities are also established through a framework established by the County of San Diego. The Behavioral Health Services Division of the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is designated with addressing these issues and working to promote recovery, discovery, resiliency and well-being through prevention, treatment and intervention. Integrated services are available from BHS for those who may be experiencing mental illness along with substance misuse.

Source:  San Diego Superior Court

May 6, 2022 (San Diego) – The Honorable Joseph P. Brannigan has retired after nearly 18 years of service on the San Diego Superior Court Bench, ending a storied career that started with a stint as an officer in the U.S. Army followed by time spent as an FBI agent, deputy district attorney and assistant U.S. attorney. 

Source: County of San Diego Health and Human Services

May 5, 2022 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has received COVID-19 self-test kits from the state. Distribution criteria and a distribution plan have been developed to ensure that those at highest risk of illness and death from COVID-19 infection and those in low income and underserved communities receive these kits.   

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

Author to hold book signing at Julian Library on May 10 at 1 p.m.

May 5, 2022 (La Mesa) -- The Colonized and the Scramble for Africa, the first of The Colonized series, provides true stories of how the author, Wanjirũ Warama, her family and community lived in abject poverty on British colonial farms in Kenya.

Warama, a resident of La Mesa, is a member of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. She will host a book signing in Julian at the County Library on May 10 at 1 p.m.

Outfielder Irvin Weems drives in both Aztec runs

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

May 5, 2022 (San Diego) - For the second straight night, San Diego State was unable to overcome an early deficit, as visiting CSUN claimed a 9-2 decision over the Aztecs on Wednesday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

By J.W. August, freelance journalist, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

May 4, 2022 (San Diego) – It’s aptly described as “The Fiery Marsh,” covering 95 acres on the southwest side of Naval Air Station North Island. The “fiery” part of the name refers to six pits in the marshy areas of the island that were used to burn off chemicals used on the Navy base.