October 15, 2014 (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.

• Blackwater Founder Wants Mercenaries to Fight ISIS War (Reason)
• Supreme Court blocks Texas abortion law (Washington Post)
• U.S. Army says it faces huge equipment, training risks with budget cuts (Reuters)
• Lay-offs begin at CNN (Media Bistro)
• Feds Clear 7 On No-Fly List To Travel, Will Tell 6 More Why They Can't (NPR)

WORLD

• Meet The Kurdish Female Fighters Who Are Determined to Kick ISIS' Arse (JWR)
• Mexican activist slain during radio broadcast (AP)
• Global hero, local lightning rod? Why Malala's Nobel rankles many Pakistanis (+video) (CS Monitor)
• UN agency: Ebola cuts food in Sierra Leone (AP)
• Nations pledge $5.4 billion for Gaza at Cairo reconstruction conference (Reuters)
• UK lawmakers pass symbolic motion to recognize Palestine as a state (Reuters)
• Soldiers who fought in Gaza worry about traveling overseas (Jerusalem Post)
• ISIS threatens to conquer the Vatican, 'break the crosses of the infidels' (JPost)

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

October 13, 2014 (San Diego)--The County Board of Supervisors (Board) will evaluate proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance (POD-13-003) when they meet on Oct. 29. The proposed improvement includes changes to various definitions, use regulations, procedures and other miscellaneous revisions and clarifications. They also include proposed amendments related to setbacks, detached garages and barns and recycling.

October 13, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Youth Choir of San Diego will perform its first concert on Thursday, October 16 at 7 pm. in the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Center ( 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon).  This is a new nonprofit organization that has formed a group of high school students who gather twice a week, blending their communities as well as their voices to make music under the direction of Jason Prater - Artistic Director and Jonni Glaser - Musical Director. There are several San Diego City and several East County schools represented.

Listen to our full interview here (it may take a few moments to load): https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au... For highlights, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Magazine invited both candidates for the 50^th Congressional District to be interviewed on our radio show.  Congressman Duncan D. Hunter did not respond, but we did sit down for an in-depth interview with his opponent, Navy veteran and medical professional James Kimber, who talked about his views on topics including Social Security, healthcare, education, veterans, women's issues, bringing jobs to the district, student loans, energy issues, the Iraq and Syria conflicts, and the need to bring back compromise and end the partisan divide in Congress. 

Kimber has served in the healthcare field for 30 years, currently as a physician assistant specializing in neurosurgery. Asked why he’s running for Congress, he states, “I see the inaction going on within Congress. There are a lot of issues facing this country and some of them are very serious right now, but Congress has stepped back and they’re not working together very well right now.”

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2014 (Sacramento)--Why did Covered California award $184 million in no-bid contracts – including millions to consulting companies with ties to executives on the Covered California board?   For instance, $4.2 million went to the Tori Group, whose founder once worked with Covered California’s executive director, Peter Lee, and other contracts went to a subsidiary of a firm  that Lee once led.

East County News Service

October 14, 2014 (San Diego)--A blood filtration treatment made by a San Diego company has now joined the fight against Ebola.  Aethlon Medical announced Tuesday the first use its Hemopurifier therapy on a patient infected with Ebola virus, Times of San Diego reports.

“This is criminal… This vote could possibly be blocked if enough Edison and SDG&E ratepayers raise enough hell.” – San Diego Reader reporter Don Bauder

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2014 (Sacramento) – California Attorney General Kamala Harris has opened an investigation into the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The Sacramento Bee reports that the probe centers around rate-setting procedures and oversight of Pacific Gas & Electric Company regarding the deadly San Bruno  pipeline explosion, and assignment of administrative law judges to CPUC matters. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s office has notified PG&E of a separate investigation into private communications suggesting that the  state regulatory issue was trying to help PG&E avoid tough penalties for the fatal explosion. 

CPUC Chairman Michael Peevey, a former PG&E executive, announced after exposure of internal emails revealed inappropriate communications that he will resign at year’s end.   PG&E has fired some executives in the wake of the scandal. But ratepayer advocates say that's not enough.

San Diego Online News Association (SDONA)

By Chris Jennewein , originally published in Times of San Diego

Photo by Chris Jennewein

October 12, 2014 (San Diego)--San Diego transit and planning agencies on Thursday  celebrated completion of the $44 million Mid-City Rapid project, which starting Sunday will provide fast bus service between San Diego State University and downtown San Diego.

By Nadin Abbott

Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

October 12, 2014 (San Diego) In a previous story, East County Magazine covered asset forfeiture program.

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/civil-asset-forfeiture-system-leads-abuse

This program, which started with the federal war on drugs, has evolved to the point that the law agencies share the assets that they seize, with 80% of the value staying with the local agency.

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Small wineries have been flourishing since our County passed its boutique winery ordinance.  Unlike most small businesses, wineries that grow their own grapes can’t generate profits for several years, since it takes that long after planting vines before a quality wine can be produced.  Many local wineries have relied on friends and other volunteers to pick grapes, help with events and other tasks.

October 11, 2014 (La Mesa)—A masked man armed with a handgun robbed the Motel 6 at 7621 Alvarado Road in La Mesa at gunpoint last night at 9:10, La Mesa Police report. The suspect remains at large.

October 12, 2014 (San Diego)--For experienced daredevils, that adrenaline rush is hard to come by when you are scared of virtually nothing. So, where do all of these gutsy guys and gals live and what do they do for thrills and excitement?

Roeling Adams released from San Quentin State Prison after wrongful conviction, with help from California Western School of Law in San Diego

October 12, 2014 (San Francisco)-- Roeling Adams walked out of San Quentin State Prison a free man on October 10th after he spent 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

By Donn Rutkoff

EarthTalk® E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest on efforts to ban plastic bags? How many U.S. locales have instituted some kind of ban, and have these initiatives made a dent in the amount of plastic litter?

                                                                                                               -- Melinda Clarke, New York, NY

October 11, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - California made big news recently when it announced the first statewide ban on plastic shopping bags set to kick in during the middle of 2015. Beginning in July, large grocery stores, pharmacies and other food retailers in the Golden State will no longer be able to send shoppers home with plastic bags, while convenience markets, liquor stores and other small food retailers will join the ranks a year later.