November 14, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--Our October shows are now online—including special reports on East County issues, interviews with top newsmakers, local musicians, authors, colorful characters and people making a positive difference in our community.  Click here for a list of October shows and guests with links to listen online now.

You can also hear our show live when it airs on KNSJ 89.1 FM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. and reruns Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m.  Or listen live online during those hours at www.KNSJ.org.

By Miriam Raftery

Back Country Voices, a citizens group in East County, held a forum on November 11 regarding a proposal to test drones--unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs-- over backcountry areas in San Diego and East County.   Concerned citizens packed into Julian’s library to learn more about the implications of drone testing in our region.

The first speaker was John Raifsnider, a local resident.  “San Diego Military Advisory Council, the Economic Development [Council] and then the Chamber…What does that mean? “ he asked. “Money and military. What does that mix create? We want to know.”

October 31, 2013 (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

• Some local inmates to work in fire camps (U-T San Diego)
• Five San Diego School Sites Where Toxic Waste Was Found (Voice of San Diego)
• Sharp fined for removing wrong kidney (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego Should Have Enough Water For 2014 (KPBS)
• Water war lawsuit goes to trial (Mission Times Courier)
• HealthCare.gov Contractor’s Other Client: The City of San Diego (Voice of SD)
• Tribute - A Hole in the Heart of La Mesa (La Mesa Courier)
• FEMA To Evaluate San Onofre Safety Procedures At Public Hearing (KPBS)
• San Diego mayoral debate abruptly canceled...due to pension truth? (Reader)

STATE

• Cattle rustling up in Calif. as beef prices rise (Sacramento Bee)
• Calif., PACs reach $1M campaign-finance settlement (UT San Diego)
• 'Pepper spray' cop gets bigger payout than sprayed students. Wrong message? (CS Monitor)

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

October 17, 2013 (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

• San Diego home prices back on the rise (UT San Diego)
• New requirements for boaters crossing into Mexican waters (10 News)
• Hannah Anderson tells of zip-ties, handcuffs and Russian roulette during her kidnapping ordeal (10 News)
• Lakeside shooting and molestation defendant sentenced to multiple life terms (SanteePatch)
• Southern California tribes resist giant solar project (Budget and Tax)
• Paranormal investigation – the haunting of the American Legion Post 282 (East County Californian)
• Padre Dam supports Castlerock annexation (U-T San Diego)

State

• California health exchange reports nearly 100,000 application starts (Sacramento Bee)
• Prop 39 energy retrofit funds heading to California schools (Sacramento Bee)
• Shutdown hits town near Yosemite already hurt by wildfire (CBS)

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

By David Ross

A special joint investigation by East County Magazine and Valley Center Press into the county takeover of rural fire districts

PART II in a series

October 3, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- Recently a volunteer fire chief in the Backcountry wrote this (pun intended) inflammatory conclusion about the level of preparedness at his rural department: “The _____ currently is at a dangerously low staffing level that is putting current firefighters, residents and visitors in danger.”

The name of the organization is left out (it is revealed later below), because it is a generic statement that might very easily apply to several communities in San Diego County’s rural unincorporated area.

September 26, 2013 (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

• Supervisors Support Push For Southern California Drone Test Site (KPBS)
• Rainbow Investment to Take Control of Grossmont Center Mall (La Mesa Patch)
• San Diego’s Craft Beer Economy, in Three Charts (Voice of San Diego)
• Mother of drowned toddlers arrested (U-T San Diego)
• El Cajon will cover costs of new ordinance (UT San Diego)
• Traffic ticket costs spike with add-ons
• Rainbow water district officially opposes Gregory Landfill (Village News)

STATE

• Judges extend deadline in California prison case U-T San Diego)
• Federal highway funding crisis will hurt states, lawmakers told (Sacramento Bee)
• California Jobless Rate Increases To 8.9 Percent(KPBS)

Click “read more” and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

By Nadin Abbott; editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

Photo credti: UCSD's HPWren webcam atop Lyon's Peak

An advisory evacuation clearly means that authorities believe those homes are at risk of burning.  But by not opening shelters-- or closing shelters unannounced in the middle of an emergency--officials are sending a disturbing signal: If you leave now, you’re on your own.

September 10, 2013 (San Diego) East County Magazine has encountered disturbing issues with emergency shelters found closed during three major evacuations in the past two months alone. How many other times has this have occurred—and what can be done to better protect residents during disasters? Today, we brought the issue to the County Board of Supervisors at a public hearing.

Update September 11, 2013:  This agenda item has been postponed until September 25th due to the absence of Supervisor Greg Cox.

Hear ECM’s radio interview with Supervisor Dianne Jacob on this issue: http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/uuv0z6n9db/diannejacob-energyplanhearing.mp3

By Miriam Raftery

September 7, 2013 (San Diego) Updated September 8, 2013 –On Wednesday morning, Supervisors will consider approval of the first phase of a “Renewable Energy Work Plan” to support renewable energy development – and determine just what types of renewable energy the County should pursue.   This includes an overview of energy resources available in the unincorporated areas including East County, a cost analysis of renewable energy options, and consideration of consumer choice alternatives for purchasing power from a source other than SDG&E, such as through community choice aggregation.

CHP seeks witnesses to brazen mid-day theft

September 3, 2013 (San Diego) – The California Highway Patrol is warning motorists about two people in a white Crown Victoria equipped with flashing red and blue lights to resemble a police car.  The pair reportedly pulled over a Jeep near the junction of freeways 805 and 905 today at 1:05 p.m.. A Hispanic man wearing a black jacket with “police” across the chest and wearing what appeared to be a holstered handgun on his hip got out of the passenger side of the Crown Victoria. He asked the Jeep driver to get out, then stole the vehicle.

August 21, 2013 (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

• Campgrounds, most trails reopen in the Lagunas (U-T San Diego)
• Wind turbines are everywhere out here:They're over 300 feet high. They kill birds. They're linked to cancer.     (The Reader)
• La Mesa man gets 40 years for Lemon Grove cabbie’s shooting death (La Mesa Patch)
• A great-grandmother's profile in courage (U-T San Diego)
• Late Filner payments imperiled city credit (U-T San Diego)
• Judge Rules State Pension Law Conflicts With Local Power (KPBS)
• Padre Dam looking at new ways to provide water in Santee (U-T San Diego)
• Feds delay decision on Calif transit funds (U-T San Diego)
• Southern California Customers To Benefit From Settlement With Canadian Utility (KPBS)

STATE

• California grapples with inmate illness as hunger strike drags on (Reuters)
• Calif. wins federal court approval to feed hunger-strike inmates (Sacramento Bee)
• State balks at limits on drones (U-T San Diego)
• Lawmakers OK noncitizens on juries (U-T San Diego)
• Navy Rejects Calif. Whale Protection Suggestions  (AP)

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

August 8, 2013 (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

• Horses give Border Patrol a leg up in Southern California (Sacramento Bee)
• Time-lapse beauty of Borrego Springs (CBS)
• Student left in DEA cell to get $4 million from US (AP)
• San Diego Emergency Response Times Too Slow Too Often (Voice of San Diego)
• Filner will pay group back for Paris trip (U-T San Diego)
• Sheriff's harassment line 'lit up' with calls (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego mayor accused of inappropriate behavior by 11th woman (Reuters)  
• Grand jury: Filner's worst nightmare? (U-T San Diego)
• Bureau of Reclamation awards $1.025 million toward San Diego watershed basin study (Groksurf San Diego)

STATE

• Citrus growers import wasp to fight disease threatening groves (Los Angeles Times)
• Ex-lawmaker seeks to bolster privacy (U-T San Diego
• U.S. high court backs order on California prison crowding (Reuters)
• Unions target Westfield malls over Prop 13 tax benefits (Los Angeles Times)
• California's New Rules Could Change The Rideshare Game (NPR)
• California Takes Drivers' Orders For 'Vintage' Car Plates (NPR)

Click “read more” for excerpts and links to full stories.

By Nadin Abbott

July 27, 2013 (San Diego) This has been a busy few weeks of news gathering for East County Magazine. We were at the scene shortly after the Chariot Fire started. We made multiple trips to Mount Laguna reporting on the fire’s path and damage behind fire lines, also visiting the evacuation center. We remained long after other news media left, if they came at all.  We were at the fire scenes in Ranchita, the Old Fire, the Shockey Fire and more – sometimes in the middle of the night. 

We regularly cover local boards and commissions that the San Diego media ignores.  We drove to Julian to cover fire board meetings and report on citizens’ concerns when the fire department was at risk of dissolving and being taken over by the county.  We went downtown to cover hearings on the controversial County wind ordinance, the Quail Brush power plant, and other hot land-use issues impacting East County.

LOCAL/REGIONAL

•  

• Filner Asked To Resign Over Sexual-Harassment Claims (KPBS)

• The Long History of Complaints Over Filner’s Behavior (Voice of SD)
• Environmental Lawyer Sues City, Sunroad Over Development Deal (Voice of San Diego)
• Big electricity users get walloped on bills (U-T San Diego)
• Madrid, Ewing face off in public spat (La Mesa Today)
• Ritual flames honor Kumeyaay matriarch (U-T San Diego)
• Filner’s behavior likely to have costly consequences (U-T San Diego)
• A broader view of Filner’s ‘shakedown’ of Sunroad - An honest examination also includes the developer and the City Council (SD CityBeat)
• San Diego judge puts unprecedented gag on sidewalk chalk protester (Truth-Out)
• La Mesa facing serious budget challenges (U-T San Diego)
• Expenses Still Outweigh Revenues for City of La Mesa (Patch.com)
• $32 million district budget calls for 3% hike for water, 4.5% for sewer  (Ramona Sentinel) 
• Departed Mayoral Aide Stands by Sunroad Deal, Says Mayor Guided It  (Voice of SD)
•  Developer: 'We have paid him the money' (U-T San Diego)
• Lawyer trapped, forgotten inside San Diego-area jail (NBC)
• Sidewalk chalk activist lands in court (U-T San Diego)
• The Other Developer Donation (Voice of San Diego)
• UCLA scientists predict Southland will experience a 40 percent drop in snowfall in 30 years  ( SGVTribune.com )
• Shuttered nuke plant still charging customers (U-T San Diego)
• La Mesa City Council (La Mesa Today)
• El Cajon won't put sewer charges on tax bill (UT San Diego)
• Prominent attorney asks Mayor Bob Filner to resign (SD City Beat)

STATE

• California agrees to move inmates at risk of Valley Fever (Reuters)
• PUC drops PG&E penalty proposal (Sacramento Bee)
• $839M inmate medical complex dedicated in Calif. (U-T San Diego)
• Democrats press prevailing wage (U-T San Diego)
• Sperm donor or dad? California lawmakers consider the question (Sacramento Bee)
• Meth floods US border crossing (Sacramento Bee)
• "Gas Tax Swap" Sends Calif. Gas Prices Up 3.5 Cents (KPBS)
• Personal data of 2.5M people compromised in Calif. (Sacramento Bee)

Click 'read more' and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

June 20, 2013 (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:

STATE

• California lawmakers pass state budget bill (Sacramento Bee)
• Highlights of California’s 2013-14 budget  (Bakersfield Now)
• California Democrats pass state budget, flex supermajority(Fresno Bee)
• Judge orders California to immediately release prisoners (Sacramento Bee)
• Changes To Domestic Violence Response Protocol Included In Trailer Bill (KPBS)
• Governor's sister joins Sempra board  (UT San Diego)
• Poop power: A new generation of companies bet on a different renewable energy (Infographic) (Marketplace)

LOCAL//REGIONAL

• NRC considers voiding key ruling on San Onofre (KPBS)
• Settlement Reached on Kumeyaay Wind Project Warranty Coverage: (Recharge News)
• Death’s in the details - Lapses in reporting inmate mortalities raise questions of oversight in San Diego County facilities (CityBeat)
• $2.75 billion San Diego city budget passed (Sacramento Bee)
• El Cajon economic picture mostly upbeat (U-T San Diego)
• Volunteer Fire Department on Palomar Mountain in tight spot (U-T San Diego)
• Quake studies cut short by nuke shutdown (U-T San Diego)
• Bond projects OK'd despite flap (U-T San Diego)
• 1 dead after firetruck collides with another vehicle in Poway (10 News)
• School fires teacher, a domestic abuse victim (UT San Diego)
• PBID supporters promise new, leaner proposal (La Mesa Today)
• Mayor Blows Up Planning, Development Org Chart (Voice of San Diego)
• Woman gives birth while on Interstate-8 in Flinn Springs (10 News)
• Several injured in brawl at Viejas Indian reservation (CBS)
• Cohn taking over Malarkey restaurant (U-T San Diego)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

June 6, 2013 (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:

REGIONAL

• A backcountry newspaper war (U-T San Diego)
• Hepatitis A Outbreak Linked To Frozen Berries (KPBS)
• Potrero man who fell down well now recovering at home (10 News)
• Moving forward: the future of the Colorado River Basin, San Diego, California, May 28, 2013 (video podcast)  U.S. Bureau of Reclamation  
• Gonzales, Cole and labor win (Voice of San Diego)
• Lake Murray July 4th Music Fest, Fireworks Update (Mission Times Courier)
• Domestic violence a plague for refugees (U-T San Diego)
• A war ends twice, San Diego changes forever (U-T San Diego)
• Working poor line up for food (U-T San Diego)
• Jacobs' committee appeals Plaza de Panama lawsuit (U-T San Diego)
• It's Official: DeMaio to Challenge Congressman Peters for 52nd Congressional Seat   (OB Rag)
• The $2 billion fight: San Diego’s water supply  (Scoop San Diego)

STATE

• Nearly 2,800 told to evacuate amid Calif. wildfire (Sacramento Bee)
• Wal-Mart to pay $81.6 million for illegal waste disposal in CA  (Sacramento Bee)
• Editorial: State toxics agency could use a cleanup (Sacramento Bee)
• Feds crack down on foreclosure auction scams (Sacramento Bee)
• Valley Voice: let’s get busy and save the Salton Sea   (The Desert Sun)