March 3, 2014 (San Diego)--Apple picking is a trend nationwide – no, we’re not talking about plucking fruit. Thieves have been stealing Apple iPhones, which are costly to buy and hold their resale value.

There has been a rash of iPhone thefts at  San Diego State University, prompting numerous alerts recently.

March 3, 2014 (Sacramento)—Democrats have lost a supermajority in the state Senate, which means they can no longer pass tax measures or constitutional amendments without at least one Republican vote. That could mean a return to gridlock in Sacramento.

March 1, 2014 (San Diego)--Mike Lumpkin,  a Democrat who once ran against Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter for the district representing much of East County and San Diego, has been named Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.  

March 3, 2014 (San Diego): The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, in partnership with the Resource Conservation District of San Diego County, is offering a free Defensible Space Assistance Program (DSAP) for low income seniors or disabled residents.

March 2, 2014 (Poway)-- The Poway Chamber of Commerce will host an educational workshop for small business owners on Wednesday, March 12from 11:30 a.m.-1:00p.m. The workshop will feature guest speaker Nathan Craig of Lundy Insurance Services, and he will discuss the current status of the ACA, extended deadlines, and requirements that affect small businesses (under 50 employees).

By Miriam Raftery

March 3, 2014 (Ramona) – A man with a felony warrant who is also suspected of a vehicle theft in Ramona fled from deputies but eluded capture this evening,  according to Lt. Hank Turner.

By Mark Duchamp, World Council For Nature

March 1, 2014 (Denmark)--The World Council for Nature (WCFN) has been informed that Danish taxpayers’ money is being spent to the tune of €2,665,688 to spy on associations and citizens’ groups of windfarm victims (present or potential). The name of the program is “Wind2050 – Multidisciplinary study on local acceptance and development of wind power projects” (1). It is administered chiefly by the Danish multinational company Vestas, the Danish government, and Denmark’s Aarlborg University. Its aim is to break the resistance of windfarm neighbors and opponents to Big Wind in Denmark and around the world. Note: in Denmark alone there are more than 200 associations of neighbors fighting the windfarm scourge, and Vestas’ profits have taken a big plunge.

The first collaborative show will be on display from March 1 - 31

March 1, 2014 (Kensington) -- For the first time, Sophie’s Kensington Gallery and Kensington Gallery will collaborate to display the work of a local artist Joe Nyiri. His collection “Birds, Animals & Humans I Admire” will be featured in this joint public display the entire month of March, and a special public reception to welcome the artist will be held on Saturday March 1, at Sophie’s Kensington Gallery from 5-8 p.m. The gallery is open regularly on Tuesdays from 12-5 p.m., Wednesday- Saturday from 12-7 p.m. and Sundays 12-4 p.m.

March 1, 2014 (Rancho San Diego)—To celebrate the opening of its new Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavillion, the Water Conservation Garden invites the public to a Butterfly Festival on April 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Source: Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce

March 1, 2014 (Alpine)-- Fire benefit fees will increase by 1.1 percent this year in Alpine as a result of a 3-2 vote by the Alpine Fire Protection District Board.  The increase would be about 71 cents a year for the average single-family dwelling and $1.80 annually for the average business to a total of $65.59 per home and $164 per business, according to district staff. Board members made the decision after their annual benefit fee review at their Feb. 18 meeting, when they also approved buying a new fire pumper with the help of a $127,802 Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Grant.

March 2, 2014 (Sacramento)- - A federal court has ruled two laws passed as a result of ballot initiatives in Califiornia to be unconstitutional.  Both measures imposed more severe punishments than were in place when crimes were committed, ruled U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton.

March 1, 2014 (El Cajon) - Bring your new puppy to Camp Bow Wow in El Cajon on Monday, March 3rd for a puppy socialization hour. Puppies from 10 weeks to 4 months old can romp around with each other in an indoor play yard. The puppy social starts at 7 pm and ends at 8 pm. You will have a chance to meet Behavior Buddies trainer.

March 1, 2014 (San Diego) -- The storm that surged across our region Friday resulted in many accidents. California Highway Patrol reports 514 collisions during just 24 hours on Friday, far more than the normal 50 to 75 crashes on good weather days. Those statistics include San Diego County and Temecula to the north.  That included a multi-car crash on I-8 near Lake Jennings and a serious crash that briefly blocked Highway 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon in Lakeside.

Update March 2, 2014:  The body of the missing fisherman has been found, ECM has learned.

March 1, 2014 (Ramona) – A search and rescue effort is underway at Lake Sutherland, where a kayar was found floating upside down at 5:20 p.m. in the Ramona lake.  According to Lt. Dave Schaller with the Sheriff’s office, the kayak is believed to be owned by a 55-year-old man who frequents the lake for fishing and is known to employees at the lake.

Photo credit: Tom Lemon

Safety tips from the nonprofit FLASH

March 1, 2014 (San Diego)--With much needed rain expected over the next few days, residents should take precautions to protect their home and family from the possibility of flooding. Eighteen to 24 inches of moving water can wash an SUV off of the road. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, more than half of all flood-related deaths are people driving through flooded roads. The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) reminds residents to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” and offers the following safety tips to protect your home from costly flood damage.