Source: Spring Valley Community Planning Group

July 14, 2017 (Spring Valley)—A second vacancy has been announced on the Spring Valley Community  Planning Group effective immediately, due to family commitments by Lance Unverzagt that make him unable to attend meetings.  Another vacancy also exists due to the recent retirement of James Comeau.

The County Board of Supervisors will ultimately make the appointments based on the recommendations of the Planning Group. Please refer to the San Diego County Roster of Boards, Commissions and Committees on their web site at: http://www.sdcounty.ca .gov/cob/. The applications will be reviewed and a vote for recommendation of appointment will be made at a future meeting.

By Miriam Raftery

July 14, 2017  (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump, his top aides and family members have repeatedly dismissed claims that his campaign conspired with Russia to win the election as “fake news” and “lies.”   (See a timeline of denials compiled by the BBC.)  But evidence is now clear that those statements were untrue. 

The email chain released  by the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., shows "an intent to collude with Russia, veteran prosecutors and white-collar defense attorneys.” Politico reports, handing special prosecutor Robert Mueller a “smoking gun.” A Time Magazine cover shows Trump Jr.’s face and the headline, “Red-handed: the Russia scandal hits home.”

Trump Jr. released emails,  the Washington Post reported, after learning the New York Times was about to do so, which reveal that  he set up a meeting with an attorney who was “part of Russia and its government support or Mr. Trump.” specifically because the attorney claimed to have “official documents” that would “incriminate Hillary.” 

East County News Service

July 13, 2017 (Julian) -- Learn about the world’s oldest hunting style and sport of kings from Master Falconer Cisco Cibourne on Sunday, July 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Santa Ysabel East County Preserve (500 Farmer Road) in Julian.

East County News Service

July 13, 2017 (San Diego)-- The District Attorney's Office is looking for the owners of hundreds of items that have been impounded by law enforcement in connection to a burglary series throughout San Diego County. A treasure trove of items was found in a storage unit belonging to a serial burglary suspect.

Deputy District Attorney James Koerber explains more in this video. [TWEET THIS]

Photos of all the items can be found on the DA's Facebook page.

By Miriam Raftery, Editor, East County Magazine

July 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The votes are in!  Congratulations to the winners in our East County Photography Contest.  Below are the winners, chosen by our readers from semi-finalists selected by our editorial staff.  The first place winner in each category will be displayed at the State Capitol, courtesy of Assemblyman Randy Voepel. The top four winners in each category are published in our East County Magazine article below. 

Due to the large volume of high-quality entries, we added extra categories to allow  more winners.  The categories are wildlife, landmarks, communities, close-ups, people, landscapes, waterscapes, sunsets and regional.  

Congratulations to our winners! We thank all who entered, and hope all of our readers will enjoy viewing the amazing works of these talented local photographers!   View winners: 

East County News Service

July 12, 2017 (Sacramento) -- California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to oppose legislation that would force California to accept water quality standards that are over 22 years old and give up all enforcement of its own higher state standards. The so-called Gaining Responsibility on Water Act (H.R. 23) would forbid only California from regulating the waters within its own borders.

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

July 12, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- A drive through East County’s mountain towns on the weekend after July 4^th found many communities and businesses still proudly decked out in patriotic red, white and blue.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

July 12, 2017 (San Diego) - A fifth person has died as a result of the hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County that now totals 228 cases, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

By Miriam Raftery

July 12, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Is Twitter a public forum?  The Knight First Amendment Institution says yes—and has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and White House officials seeking to halt the President from blocking Twitter users with whom he disagrees.

East County News Service

July 12, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Cal Fire family day at Lake Morena, astronomy night on Mt. Helix, the author of “Nature Adventures” in La Mesa, and a showing of The Jungle Book in La Mesita park.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a family hike plus falcons and hawks at Santa Ysabel Preserve, superstars Lionel Ritchie and Mariah Carey at San Diego State, a murder mystery theatre in Julian, a Pacific Coast Trail presentation, Laurel & Hardy night in Spring Valley, Pine Valley Days, Julian’s Apple Pie Grand Prix, the Heart of Mt. Helix, and Ramona’s Country Fair.

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

July 11, 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.

• Donald Trump Jr. makes the Russian connection (New York Times editorial board)
• ICE officers told to take actions against all undocumented immigrants (Pro Publica)
• Trump suggested a cyber-security pact with Russia. Lawmakers dumbfounded. (Wash. Post)
• Hobby Lobby agrees to forfeit 5,500 artifacts smuggled out of Iraq (NY Times)
• Trump team met with lawyer linked to Kremlin during campaign (NY Times)
• Republicans call Obamacare a ‘failure.’These 7 charts show they couldn’t be more wrong. (LA Times)
• Activists cry cowardice as Republicans senators shut door to healthcare town halls (Guardian)
• Was election rigged against Sanders? DNC lawsuit demands repayment for donors  (Newsweek)
• Judge Overturns Utah's 'Ag-Gag' Ban on Undercover Filming at Farms (NPR)
• New Rule Opens Credit Card Companies, Banks to Class-Action Suits (NPR)
• Black gun owners ask: Does the Second Amendment apply to us? (CS Monitor)
• 10 Charts That Compare the Relative Strength of the U.S. and Russia (Reason)

WORLD

• Trump says Russia was `satisfied’ with his election-meddling denials (Reuters)
• British Columbia wildfires – 14,000 evacuated as fires spread (BBC)
• ISIS lose last stronghold in Iraq but the militant group lives on (Newsweek)
• Spurned by Trump, China and Mexico talk about a trade deal (CNN)
• 122 countries approve first-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons (Time Magazine)
• UN: Gaza 'unliveable' 10 years after Hamas takeover (Reuters)
• Germans angry over 'orgy of violence' at Merkel's pre-election G20 (Reuters)
• Huge crowd rallies in Istanbul against Turkey's post-coup crackdown  (Reuters) 
• International Investigators Targeted by Spyware Sold to Mexican Government (NPR)
• French groups to protest Netanyahu attendance at Paris Holocaust ceremony (Jpost)
• [Beijing just told 340 million Chinese not to criticize Putin on social media (Vox)
• 'UNHRC focusing on Israel, ignoring other countries operating in occupied areas’ (Jpost)

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

July 11, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• North Korea 'likely' to have missile able to reach San Diego in year or two, analyst says (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• What do you get when you sign up for a 100% green electricity plan? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Candidate forum brings Hunter’s challengers together (Ramona Sentinel)
• Neighbors band together to track down cat killer (10 News)
• Santee budget balanced, but city wary of future pension, personnel costs (SD Union-Tribune)
• Whistleblowers could sway case focused on future of downtown (SD Union-Tribune) 
• Volunteers brave heat to count bighorn sheep in the desert (KQED)
• Invisible But In Danger: San Diego’s Homeless Are Targets For Attacks (KPBS)
• Why Faulconer’s decision not to run for Governor may be bad news for Issa (SD Union-Tribune)
• SANDAG Misled Voters on 2004 Tax Measure, Showing Pattern of Deception Goes Back at Least 13 Years (Voice of San Diego)
• Former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher to Run for San Diego Board of Supervisors (KPBS)
• SDG&E begins to roll out new pricing plans based on time of day usage (10 News)
• SDG&E’s Power Moves Have Fended Off Energy Choice Efforts Across San Diego (Voice of SD)

STATE

• Nature lends a hand in fight against three massive California wildfires (Los Angeles Times)
• Thousands of Callifornia’s wild horses may live or die, depending on federal budget (L.A. Daily News)
• Data exclusive: early returns suggest smoking drop in response to state tax (CalMatters)
• California Democrats plunge into ‘civil war’ (Politico)California is closer to becoming a sanctuary state (KCRA)

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

East County News Service

July 11, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - CrazyGames is offering a $1500 game development scholarship to students  - a very creative yet challenging endeavor. Founder Raf Mertens is a Stanford alumni who is passionate about computer science and using those skills in a creative way. (http://cs.stanford.edu/people/mertens/.)  The scholarship is open for any student in computer science or any related computer education program. You can find full scholarship info here - http://crazygames.com/scholarship

East County News Service

July 11, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the individual responsible for a bank robbery in La Mesa, California earlier today. 

UPDATE AS OF 9:50 PM:  FIRE IS 10% CONTAINED

UPDATE AS OF 8:57 PM: ALL MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE BEEN LIFTED 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jonathan Goetz

July 11, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The fast-moving #JenningsFire has charred over 300 acres in the past hour and forced shutdown of I-8 in both directions from Lake Jennings Road to Dunbar Lane. 

At least five structures remain threatened as of 3:30 p.m.. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered on Viewside, south of I-8,  Cal-Fire reports.

The fire, which began in brush at 1:40 p.m.,  is burning toward propane tanks at Kamps Propane, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.  Airtankers and ground crews are battling the blaze.

Fire is burning southeast from the freeway toward Harbison Canyon Rd, the Santee Sheriff substation tweeted. Residents in Harbison Canyon and Crest should be on alert!