June 4, 2014 (La Mesa) – Voters have overwhelmingly approved Prop H by an 87-13% margin. With 85% of precincts counted. The measure continues Grossmont Healtcare District’s lease with Sharp Healthcare for Grossmont Hospital.
“The returns indicate that Prop H will strongly pass. The Grossmont Healthcare District Board placed the measure on the ballot so the voters could decide an important issue to the East Region, whether the partnership with Sharp HealthCare should continue,” Barry Jantz, CEO of the Grossmont Healthcare District told ECM. We will work hard to ensure we continue working with Sharp to continue the hospital improvements underway and provide the best patient care for our community."
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June 3, 2014 (San Diego) – Governor Jerry Brown (D) appears likely to square off in November against Republican Neel Kashkari, the former U.S. Assistant Treasury Secetary. Kashkari, son of immigrants from India, placed second in field of contenders in the gubernatorial primary, including Minute Man founder Tim Donnelly. With over 58% of precincts counted statewide, Brown has over 55%, Kashkari 18%, and Donnelly 14.7%. (For full gubernatorial results, see http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/governor/).
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom , a Democrat, currently has a solid lead with just over 50% of the vote at midnight Tuesday after 62% of precincts have been counted. In second place with 23% and likely to face Newsom in November with Ron Nehring, former chair of the San Diego Republican Party and the state GOP in the eight-person race.
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May 30, 2014 (Lakeside) -- “Heartland Charter School helped me get a job,” said Andy Casteruita. “I learned good work habits and leadership skills.” Andy is one of 49 students at the Heartland Coalition’s one year old Youth Build Charter High School with classes and an office on Orange Avenue in City Heights.
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June 2, 2014 (San Diego)—Our special guest on the East County Magazine radio show today is District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, talking about crime issues in our region and her candidacy to win reelection in tomorrow’s primary election. Dumanis squares off against attorney Bob Brewer, who did not respond to our interview requests, and Terri Wyatt ( who was previously interviewed here: http://kiwi6.com/file/f1epluf93r)
Today’s show also includes coverage and analysis of the 50th and 53rd Congressional races, where incumbents Duncan Hunter and Susan Davis face off against multiple challengers. Also learn more about the Insurance Commissioner race, which pits an incumbent championing consumer issues against insurance companies against an insurance broker and a third candidate who wants to eliminate insurance companies altogether and see a single payer healthcare system enacted.
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June 1, 2014 (Ramona ) – Ramona resident Juan Perez Alarcon, 54, was struck by a vehicle and killed on May 28 at 6:44 a.m. while riding his bicycle at the intersection of Keyser Road and Warnock Drive in Ramona.
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Duncan Hunter and James Kimber do battle for Reps and Dems; Libertarian Michael Benoit also in race
June 1, 2014 (San Diego)-- Congressman Duncan D. Hunter(R) will face off against two other opponents, Democrat James Kimber, a Navy veteran and retired Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman/ current neurosurgery physician assistant, as well as Libertarian Michael Benoit, a retired business owner.
Due to the California Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, the top-two-vote-getters in the California 50th Congressional District will then square-off in an all-out battle in November. This Tuesday’s Primary election represents the opportunity for voters to decide whether to back fiscal austerity on domestic programs and a big military budget with the Republican candidate, the Libertarian candidate who aims to shrink government, or the Democrat, who wants to make healthcare, veterans’ issues and immigration reforms his top priorities.
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May 29, 2014 (In-Ko-Pah) – On May 31st, the Jacumba Hikers invite you to an In-Ko-Pah “Spirit Retreat” to the Desert View Tower. The event also includes a tour of a strawbale cabin, earth shrine, “The Vortex” and other points of interest along the way to the Desert View Tower one of the oldest roadside attractions/historic landmarks in San Diego.
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May 31, 2014 (Sacramento)--California is becoming bluer – leaving Republicans singing the blues.
According to the Secretary of State, the number of registered Republicans in California has plummeted, while Democratic registrations have held steady.
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May 29, 2014 (San Diego) One of the effects of Climate Change is that San Diego County is expected to have more wild land fires. They already pose a challenge for San Diego Gas and Electric, since wooden poles can burn down, which can delay power restoration in the backcountry.
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Third candidate wants universal healthcare and elimination of insurance companies
By Stevon Marshall
May 31, 2014 (Sacramento)--All three candidates in the running to become California’s next insurance commissioner in the June 3rd primary election call themselves consumer crusaders. Yet where do the similarities end and where does the actuality of their plans begin? The three candidates are incumbent Dave Jones, Ted Gaines, and Nathalie Hrizi.
The race pits the incument, with a track record of battling insurance companies on behalf of consumers, against an insurance broker seeking to reduce regulation of the insurance industry and a socialist who wants to eliminate insurance companies altogether and get universal healthcare for all Californians.
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May 31, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - The Sheriff's Department, San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force (FTF) and Crime Stoppers are asking the public to be on the lookout for Daniel Juarez Martinez. He is wanted for attacking his wife and setting fire to their home in Bonita in February of this year. He also goes by the name Daniel Catavarrias and Daniel Juarez. He has tattoos including three black circles on his right arm and the letters "DD" on his upper body. Martinez is also known to dress as a woman.
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May 31, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – After learning that the Democratic Party didn’t have a candidate on the ballot in the 71st Assembly District that includes most of San Diego County’s inland regions as well as south Riverside County, Howard Katz obtained signatures to qualify as a write-in candidate.
Chairman of the Riverside Democratic Party, Katz wants to roll back tuitions for public colleges and universities statewide, push for a healthcare-for-all Californians plan (which failed by two votes previously in the State Legislature), and support modest tax increases if needed to fund these initiatives. Hear our radio interview podcast with Katz here: http://kiwi6.com/file/oj62bcco0x
Katz previously ran for Congress against Darrell Issa. In addition to Katz and Jones, a conservative Republican, moderate Republican Tony Teora, an engineer and science fiction author, is also in the race.
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May 30, 2014 (San Diego) – An all-day writing fundraiser is planned on Sunday, June 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to benefit Writers Ink programs for the San Diego writing community.
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May 29, 2014 (Sacramento)--The California Assembly passed AB 2145 by a 51-15 vote. A broad and diverse coalition of business, local government, community and environmental organizations have decried the Assembly’s passage of what they are calling California’s ‘Utility Monopoly Power Grab of 2014.’
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May 30, 2014 (Lakeside) -- A head-on collision on Highway 67 near Winter Gardens Boulevard today at 3:15 p.m. has resulted in the death of an El Cajon man and a Jamul woman who was driving on the wrong side of the freeway.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the Jamul woman, 29, was driving a 2003 Ford F150 southbound in a northbound lane at 60 mph when she struck a Chevrolet 3500 utility vehicle towing a trailer. The Chevrolet was driven by an Alpine man, 53.
The crash caused both vehicles to spin across traffic lanes and one struck a third vehicle—a 2002 Ford F450 driven by the El Cajon man, 53.
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May 30, 2014 (San Diego)--Future Quest, which exists to ignite and equip youth ministries from all over southern California, will hold its seventeenth annual Youth Conference June 25-27, 2014. The conference is a ministry of the Foothills Christian Church in El Cajon.
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Jessica Richmond and Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report
May 29,2014 (San Diego)- Updated June 2, 2014 - This year if the current District Attorney, Bonnie Dumanis, would like to keep her job, she will need to defeat two opponents who have stepped up to the plate to take swings at the incumbent. Bob Brewer, ex-Sempra Energy lawyer and Terri Wyatt, 26-year Deputy District Attorney in San Diego County, are both challenging Dumanis in the June 3rd primary. The top two vote getters will then square off in November—unless one candidate receives over 50% of the votes in June to win outright.
The race has shaped up to be very intriguing due to allegations flying among two of the candidates, Dumanis and Brewer. (Wyatt seems to be free of scandal.) Accusations in the race include corruption, illegal campaign contributions, federal probes, a corporate cover-up and a good old April fool’s joke, just to name a few. In an election for the role of the top prosecutor in San Diego, you might ask, shouldn’t candidates vying for the DA seat uphold the letter of the law, not appear to break it?
This is the first time in 12 years that someone has challenged Dumanis, giving her a lot of time to build up her portfolio as DA.
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May 29, 2014 (San Diego)--The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency recently announced that the number of pertussis cases reported in the San Diego County and throughout California has surged over the past few years.
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Suspect may have approached children in San Diego, too, authorities warn
May 30, 2014 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Police seek public help to locate a man who approached two girls, ages 11 and 12, in a vehicle and asked them inappropriate questions on Friday, May 23 between 4 and 5 p.m. The girls were walking in the 6000 block of Bob Street when approached by the man, who sped off northbound.
The suspect has been described as a White male in his early 30’s. He has brown wavy hair, a mustache and goatee. He was wearing black framed eye glasses with clear lenses. He was well dressed and possibly has an earring in one ear. The suspect vehicle is described as a gold, silver, or grey older model four door sedan with beige interior.
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Photo: Otay fire caused by target shooting on BLM land
Effective immediately, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has banned recreational shooting g on all BLM lands in San Diego’s East County and the South Coast areas for the remainder of fire season.
“Collectively our staffs have discussed our emerging potentially very dangerous fire season given the prolonged drought,” Clayton R. Howe, Battalion Chief with the BLM, wrote in an email sent to County Fire Authority Acting Chief Greg Griswold on May 23. “We have also sought to reduce the threat of wildfires related to recreational shooting on BLM Administered Public Lands located within your Units.”
Cal Fire Chief John Francois, in an e-mail sent to fire officials and community leaders across our region, stated that fire agencies now have the authority to enforce the restriction on shooting. “If you see anyone shooting, please contact your local law enforcement agency,” Chief Francois urged.
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Photo (left to right): Jim Stieringer, Susan Davis, Joel Marchese, Wayne True, and Larry Wilske
May 29, 2014 (San Diego)--The race for California’s 53rd Congressional district will be narrowed down from eight candidates to the top two vote-getters this Tuesday, June 3. Incumbent Democrat Susan Davis will be on the June ballot, along with five Republican and two independent challengers.
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An analysis on the impacts of energy policies and projects on the future of East County
By Jessica Richmond and Miriam Raftery
May 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A growing number of East County residents, fire chiefs, environmentalists and elected officials are voicing alarm over the proposed large-scale destruction of natural and scenic resources for numerous industrial-scale “renewable” wind and solar energy projects and related powerlines, substations and more. A map reveals that East County is targeted for a disproportionate share of these projects, pushed forward by energy companies and politicians who contend such development is needed to disrupt disastrous effects of global warming and fill the regional energy gap left by closing San Onofre nuclear generation stations.
But opponents say these projects are not green or sustainable, instead setting up our region for an ecological disaster in the making. They raise some crucial questions:
How did San Diego’s East County come to be targeted for fast-tracking by federal, state and county governments to facilitate construction of so many massive-scale solar and wind projects and related transmission lines in rural, mountain and desert areas instead of urban locations where demand for power is highest?
Why isn’t preference given to incentivize less destructive renewable options, such as rooftop and parking lot solar or small-scale wind turbines for use by residents, schools, municipal governments and businesses?
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May 29,2014 (Alpine)- Movies in the park return at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine, where you can enjoy watching the latest action thrillers and other blockbuster films while lounging under the stars in a serene park setting.
Admission is $5, which includes a regular-size popcorn, plus a 12oz. soda and preferred seating. Children 12 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult. Movies start at 8 p.m. Movies run from late May through August 22.
To download and print the 2014 schedule, please click HERE or click "read more" and scroll down.
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May 29, 2014 (Santee)--The Santee chamber of Commerce invites you to join more than 60,000 visitors at the Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for two-action packed days great for the whole family to enjoy. This free event will be held at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee.
Celebrating its sixth year, the Street Fair will host its first annual beer festival featuring five local breweries; Twisted Manzanita Ales & Spirits, BNS Brewing & Distilling Co, Butcher’s Brewing, Pacific Islander Brewing Company and Oggi’s Pizza and Brewing Company. There will also be more than 300 various food and vendor booths, live entertainment, a family-friendly fun zone with games and attractions and more than a dozen carnival rides. Admission to the event is free and parking will be available adjacent to the event.
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May 29, 2014 (Julian)—On Saturday, May 31st, the Julian Town Hall will come alive with music at a fiddle and guitar picking contest open to all ages. For beginners and aficionados alike, this event is a chance perform and compete for prizes in the festive and competitive atmosphere of the traditional old time fiddle contest.
Harkening back to the days of the Julian banjo and fiddle contest tradition of decades past, this fiddling and guitar picking contest continues the Julian history as a long time supporter of traditional music and hosting music festivals.
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May 29, 2014 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa hosts its annual Flag Day parade on Saturday, May 31st in the downtown village. The festivities kick off at 9:00 a.m., with pre-parade concerts by La Mesa Middle and Parkway Middle Schools. At 10:00 a.m. the parade led by the United States 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band starts through the downtown La Mesa Village. Enjoy this year’s Grand Marshal celebration of the Ford Mustang 50th anniversary.View floats, military vehicles, active and retired war heroes, equestrian units, service clubs, and youth groups. This year the City of La Mesa will also have the First Class Petty Officers Association from Tactical Training Group Pacific carry a community Living Flag to conclude the parade.
Spectators are encouraged to dress in patriotic attire and cheer on the participants in this annual parade. After the parade, join the La Mesa’s Human Relations Advisory Commission for ice cream, see classic and new Mustang cars, and talk to the car owners at Palm Avenue and La Mesa Boulevard.
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Tour to unveil the first brand new building on Hubbell Hill in 10 years
May 26, 2014 (Julian)--Iconic San Diego artist, global humanitarian and cultural leader, James Hubbell, will once again invite the public to tour his family’s magical and historically-designated compound in Julian, Calif. for the annual Father’s Day Open House on Sunday, June 15, 2014. The tour will also unveil the brand new ninth building on the compound – the Ilan-Lael Foundation building, which has been under construction since early 2013. The archive and gallery spaces of the new building will be open for the first time ever, which will showcase some of Hubbell’s most recent work.
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May 26, 2014 (San Diego) – Terri Wyatt has been a Deputy District Attorney for 26 years. Now she’s running for the top slot: District Attorney.
Wyatt believes incumbent Bonnie Dumanis has politicized the office. She also fears that the third candidate in the race, attorney Bob Brewer, would be unsuited for the job because he has made his living defending corporate clients such as SDG&E and defending high-profile criminals” such as Nancy Hoover, who was convicted in the J. David Dominelli Ponzi scheme. Wyatt asks why Brewer has made friends with his convicted client and even taken campaign money from Hoover.
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
May 28, 2014 (San Diego)--The Gubernatorial Primary Election is Tuesday, June 3 and the Registrar of Voters still needs 150 poll workers throughout the County.
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May 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM 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:
For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.
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