By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

March 20, 2018 (San Diego) - The National Weather Service is predicting rain around San Diego County this week, potentially heavy rain on Thursday.

People in unincorporated areas can get free sandbags at numerous locations to help them protect their homes, properties and communities.

By Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2018 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Planning Commission will consider applications for two medical marijuana dispensaries during public hearings March 21^st at 7 p.m. in the La Mesa City Council chambers (8130 Allison Ave., La Mesa).  

By Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2018 (Boulevard) – A driver, 67, from the Salton Sea was killed last night shortly before 7 p.m.  He was driving a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 truck and towing a three-axle flatbed trailer loaded with concrete blocks on I-8 eastbound near Ribbonwood Road when he lost control and plunged down an embankment.

East County News Service

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

March 15, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Marque Urgent Care Center on Lake Murray Boulevard in La Mesa was evacuated and shut down yesterday, after an out of control SUV knocked out two pillars at the facility.

The burgundy-colored Honda Pilot also knocked over signs and hit a tree before being halted by a railing outside a nearby barbecue restaurant.

Updated March 17. 2018 with photos of Williams' injuries and quote from his wife, courtesy of Candid Chronicle.

By Miriam Raftery

March 14, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Last week, the San Diego Reader published an article revealing that a claim has been filed against the City of Lemon Grove by Christopher Williams.  Williams, who has applied to open medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, seeks punitive damages and medical costs resulting from what he alleges was an assault by Councilman David Arambula. Now Councilman Matt Mendoza is calling for an investigation.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Frank Gormlie, San Diego Free Press

March 14, 2018 (San Diego) – In a visit to San Diego on Monday, President Donald Trump toured prototypes of a border wall in Otay Mesa.  Hundreds of protesters turned out, San Diego Free Press reports, at the border as well as downtown. 

Trump supporters also came to greet the president including rallies by the anti-immigrant organization San Diegans for Secure Borders, a group led by former San Diego Minutemen organizer Jeff Schwilk.

Photos, left to right: Rex Tillerson, Mike Pompeo, and Gina Haspel

By Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump has fired Secretary of State Ralph Tillerson, naming Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo as his replacement and Gina Haspel, Deputy CIA Director, to replace Pompeo.  Both nominees have controversial backgrounds and will require Senate confirmation.

Tillerson’s ouster comes less than 48 hours after Tillerson blamed Russia for the poisoning of a Russian spy in Britain with a powerful neurotoxin. 

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson and Miriam Raftery

March 12, 2018 (San Diego) -- Millions of readers who rely on Snopes.com to fact-check news articles, urban legends, conspiracy theories and more in today’s era of “fake news” may not be aware of the organization’s San Diego roots.  At a San Diego Press Club workshop titled “Nuts and Bolts”, Snopes’ managing editor Brooke Binkowski and vice president of operations Vinny Green shared insights into the fact-checking end of the news business.

By Paul Kruze

March 9, 2018 (El Cajon) -- As though the water couldn’t get any hotter for embattled El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho, he is now facing accusations that he is illegally shielding his personal assets, prior to an anticipated August trial on allegations that he sexually harassed two beauty pageant participants in 2016, among other claims.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jimmie Davis Parker, asserts that Kalasho made false real estate filings in order to hide assets that could potentially be sought to satisfy a legal judgment, should Kalasho lose the case. (View documents.) 

Filing false real estate documents is a felony crime in California, though it is not yet determined whether the allegation is true.

Update March 9, 2018:  Carl DeMaio announced that he won't be turning in papers by the filing deadline today to run against Rep. Duncan Hunter. In an e-mail to supporters, he wrote, “While I, too, am frustrated with the lack of results and the double-standards for Washington politicians, I believe the Gas Tax Repeal Initiative campaign and our plans for subsequent reform initiatives in California are so much more important,” Times of San Diego reports.

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2018 (San Diego) – Former San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio has pulled papers to run in the 50^th Congressional District currently represented by fellow Republican Duncan D. Hunter. 

DeMaio served one term on the Council from 2008 to 2012.  He has previously run for mayor and lost to Bob Filner. He also ran for Congress previously but was defeated by Scott Peters, who currently serves in the 52^nd District.

Update March 11, 2018:  "Bubbles" has been found in a canyon near the pet store from which she escaped.

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2018 (Spring Valley) – “Bubbles,” a 35-pound, 5 and a half feet long black-throated monitor lizard has been missing from Mike’s Pets at 8300 Paradise Valley Road in Spring Valley since Sunday, March 4^th.

According to reports on 10 News and Patch.com, Bubbles was last seen on a security camera strolling from his cage that he had apparently slipped out of through a small opening, toward the back door of the shop.

By Maridian Broadus

Photo: Shane Harris and Rev. Al Sharpton with victim’s families at press conference

March 8, 2018 (San Diego) – National Action Network founder and President Reverend Al Sharpton visited San Diego on February 21st.  Sharpton, along with NAN’s local chapter president, Shane Harris, held a news conference at NAN San Diego’s House of Justice Headquarters in southeast San Diego.  The civil rights icon publicly voiced his support of victim family members who have lost loved ones to police shootings across the state of California.

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Four patients were transported via air and ground ambulances following a crash near I-8 and Japatul Valley Road this morning, according to Cal Fire. 

The collision occurred shortly before 11 a.m. after Border Patrol agents attempted to stop a Ford Expedition traveling west on I-8 near Buckman Springs Road. The driver sped off at a high rate of speed and lost control as he encountered slowed traffic, becoming airborne, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

East County News Service

March 5, 2018 (Spring Valley) -- As part of its ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian safety in Spring Valley, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), will be conducting a pedestrian safety enforcement operation that will focus on motorists and pedestrians who fail to yield the right-of-way or who take unsafe and illegal actions.  The enforcement operation will take place on March 8 at Troy Street west of Central Avenue in Spring Valley.

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2018 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Community Planning Group meets Wednesday, March 7^th at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine Street. The agenda includes discussion of homeless encampments in the riverbed, county road maintenance priorities, proposed cell sites and a request for exemption from undergrounding powerlines, among other items.

View the full agenda here.