By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2017 (San Diego) – The body of Alexandria Nicole Smith, a 30-year-old resident of the college area near San Diego State University, has been found wrapped in a blanket alongside a road near Pechanga Casino close to the Riverside County line.

East County News Service

October 14, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - The owners of The Hills in La Mesa and the Eastbound Bar and Grill in Lakeside are serving up some spooky fun--along with some wild libations, prizes and more this Halloween Season. From a cauldron of concoctions served in gravedigger skull mugs to a costume contest with a $10,000 prize, these local night spots have plenty of “treats” in store for their Halloween weekend guests.

East County News Service

October 14, 2017 (La Mesa) - Harry Griffin Park is going to the dogs! 

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

October 13, 2017 (Sacramento) --  Some California groups are predicting that President Donald Trump's new executive order on health care could undermine health-insurance markets and lead to higher premiums for many people. The order, issued Thursday, directs federal agencies to loosen regulations, to allow small businesses to band together and offer low-cost plans across state lines that don't meet the minimum coverage standards of the Affordable Care Act.



Rachel Linn Gish, communications director for the California nonprofit group, Health Access, warns these plans will be similar to those outlawed by the ACA as "junk insurance," that cover very little in the event of a serious injury or illness.

Update October 16, 2017:    The death toll is now at least 41, following death of a water truck driver. 

By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo, left: Courtesy of Cal Fire

October 12, 2017 (San Diego)—The complex of nearly two dozen firestorms raging across northern California have now collectively surpassed in deadliness the 2003 Cedar Fire, which killed 16 people in San Diego County. 

At least 31 people are now confirmed dead across northern California and the toll will likely climb higher, with hundreds of people still missing and dozens of official searchers combing the rubble of burned homes and businesses with dog teams, searching for bodies.

Show continues this weekend Oct. 12-14

Review By Kathy Carpenter

Associate Reviewer sdtheatrereviews.com

Freelance Writer Splash Magazine

October 10, 2017 - (Casa De Oro) - Kids are amazing. The Young Actors Theatre stars shine again and again. They are committed, work hard, and keep growing as talented young people—some of whom could have long careers in the arts if they wish.

Peter and the Star Catcher, directed and choreographed by Joe Dioisio, is a complex but not well known show that is at times hard to follow. The story is about Peter Pan, before he was Pan. Let your imagination take flight.

East County News Service

October 12, 2017 (Sacramento) – Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law Senate Bill 442, which aims to help make residential swimming pools safer.  It requires new safety features for new pools and pools undergoing major repairs or remodeling, a well as disclosure of pool safety problems when a home is sold.

Drowning is currently the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in Califorinia.  Drowning is a silent killer and only takes less than a couple minutes. Hospital records in California show for every fatal pool drowning there are five other near-drowning incidents resulting in hospitalization, with brain injury due to asphyxiation (lack of oxygen to the brain) being the main cause of the hospitalization.

The national anthem protests demonstrated by players using their platform on the NFL gridiron are protests against racial injustice, not the flag or military. I'd argue that if civil rights activists, including athletes like Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson, watched the NFL now, they'd applaud these patriotic men.

By Vinny Lavalsiti

Editor, The Summit newspaper, Grossmont College

Photo: Washington Redskins players kneeling in game against Oakland Raiders; cc by Keith Allison

October 11, 2017 (San Diego) -- When sports collide with politics, it's a beautiful thing to see. Well, for me at least. I do realize that there are the average Joes out there with their beer helmets who like to sit in their recliner for eight hours and watch nothing but football. I’ve been there! But please keep an open mind when reading the following.

By Miriam Raftery

October 11, 2017 (San Diego) – Carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer drug 5,000 times stronger than heroin, is turning up in street drugs marketed as opoid  narcotic painkillers such as Oxycodone, as well as in tainted heroin.  

The drug is so deadly that just a couple of granules the size of salt crystals will cause death, even with medical intervention, authorities warn. It’s turning up in street drugs locally and nationally, including drugs sold by dealers and on the Internet’s dark web—and deaths are skyrocketing as a result.

October 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

• Alpine man reflects on recovery after Vegas shooting (NBC 7)
• SDG&E wants to raise rates 11 percent, starting in two years (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove Councilman, City Manager accused of squelching free speech (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• New homeless camp area opens in San Diego (10 News)
• Following the Money in San Diego’s Community Choice Debate (KPBS)
• Clear the Air Coalition’s Ties to Sempra Aren’t Always Clear to the Public (Voice of San Diego)
• Sempra, Chamber lobbying asks city to put government-run electricity program on ice (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Padre Dam’s East County water purification project moves forward (Water World)
• San Diego's historic Santa Fe Depot is about to be sold (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Water board reports highlighted health risk before hepatitis outbreak (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trolley workers fear hepatitis from riders who use trains as bathrooms (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Battle on to halt march of Northern Calif. wildfires that have killed 17, destroyed 2,000 structures (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Power lines linked to wine country fires (San Jose Mercury News)
• Winless Chargers are having an awful time trying to grow roots in Los Angeles (LA Times)
• 224 new Calif. laws signed, 28 vetoed: list (Patch)
• New California law allows sex offenders to be removed from registry (San Francisco Chronicle)
• If Trump administration tries to sell public lands in California, a new state law says state gets first dibs (Los Angeles Times)
• At least 10 dead and two wineries destroyed as massive wildfires devastating parts of Napa and Sonoma counties (Wine Spectator)
• Scientists foresee major changes in rainfall patterns across California (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

Refugee uses GRID training to launch his own solar installation company; other trainees meet top solar employers at graduation ceremony 

Source: Grid Alternatives San Diego

October 11, 2017 (San Diego) -- This month, GRID Alternatives San Diego, an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit solar installer GRID Alternatives, introduced Syrian refugees and military veterans to the multi-billion-dollar solar industry through its Solar Installation Training Program. Attendees at the program graduation included refugee and long-time GRID volunteer Mohamed Hauter, who recently launched his own solar installation company and now employs several graduates of GRID’s training program.

East County News Service

October 10, 2017 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to restrict drones from flying near or over fires and locations that have public safety temporary area restrictions to ensure public safety.