Certain CalFresh Recipients Eligible to Participate

March 14, 2013 (San Diego)--The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency has launched a new program to help seniors, disabled individuals and homeless gain more opportunities to buy hot, prepared meals with their CalFresh benefits.

The Restaurant Meals Program allows certain CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) recipients who have difficulty preparing meals for themselves or do not have a place to store and cook food, to use their benefits at participating restaurants.

January 30, 2013 (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:

WORLD

• Egypt's leader declares emergency after clashes (Reuters)
• Canadian opposition introduces bill that makes secession easier (Reuters)
• Images suggest NKorea ready for nuke test  (U-T San Diego)
• After threatening the US, North Korea turns its ire on South Korea (U-T San Diego)
• Around The Globe, Women Already Serve In Combat Units (NPR)
• Violence flares on anniversary of Egypt uprising (Jerusalem Post)
• Russian forces kill three militants in North Caucasus (Reuters)
• 15,000 crocodiles escape in South Africa? Police need herding help after floods (Christian Science Monitor)
• Russia's Vladimir Putin says West is fomenting jihadi 'blowback' (Christian Science Monitor)
• Muslim ‘modesty patrol’ stalking streets of London (Jerusalem Post)
• Court rejects Saudi blogger case (BBC)

NATIONAL

• Title IX redux? Education Dept. says school sports can't shut out disabled. (Christian Science Monitor)
• Court won't hear challenge to Clean Air Act rule (U-T San Diego)
• Regulator: Huge cuts coming to New England fishing (U-T San Diego)
• Shocking: Reporting Factory Farm Abuses to be Considered ‘Act of Terrorism’ If New Laws Pass  (Alternet, reprinted at San Diego Free Press)
• Anonymous threatens Justice Dept. over hactivist death (CNN)
• Court: Obama appointments are unconstitutional (U-T San Diego)
• Court says EPA overestimates biofuels production (AP)
• Pentagon researches new life for dead satellites (Sacramento Bee)
• Court overturns another Guantanamo conviction (Reuters)
• Pentagon To Dramatically Expand 'Cyber Warrior' Force (NPR)

HEALTH

• New Norovirus Strain Rips Through The U.S. (NPR)
• Scientists create 'tractor beam' (BBC)
• Heroin: Small cities, even rural towns face growing problems (Christian Science Monitor)
• Long-term aspirin 'blindness link' (BBC)
• New lingo for consumers: health overhaul glossary (U-T San Diego)
• Health insurance exchanges will transform market (U-T San Diego)
• Bird, Plane, Bacteria? Microbes Thrive In Storm Clouds (NPR)
  

• Mayor: City’s structural deficit over (10 News)
• San Diego has most expensive gas in nation (UT San Diego)
• Low rainfall may mean more local conservation (10 News)
• Get to know new District 9 candidates: Speak City Heights (Voice of San Diego)
• Teen struck by trolley was becoming ‘man of integrity’ mentor says ; has shown improvement from brain injury (La Mesa Patch)
• Case shows flaws at special police force (UT San Diego)
• Boy accused of killing friend receiving ‘extraordinary care’ (10 News)
• Heroin use jumps 229 percent amongst county’s young adults (Santee Patch)
• Refugee moms and their American daughters bond through cooking (KPBS)

• Consumer advocates, unions back healthcare ballot measures (Sacramento Bee)
• California Republican party endorses auto rates initiative (Sacramento Bee)
• Fewer than 1 in 3 California registered Republican (Sacramento Bee)
• Democrats want to extend guaranteed retirement savings to private sector (Sacramento Bee)
• Investigation alleges abuse cover-up at California centers for the disabled (KPBS)

October 23, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The always rousing wheelchair basketball game, where tumbles and spills are as much a part of the action as the pivoting and spinning of custom-built wheelchairs across the gym floor, is set for noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Cuyamaca College gym as part of the college’s annual commemoration of National Disability Awareness Month.

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments yesterday in Pasadena in a lawsuit that has sweeping implications for the state budget and thousands of low-income, disabled Californians and their families.

The Developmental Services Network and other nonprofit associations filed suit to challenge a 2009 freeze in Medi-Cal funding that will harm California’s most vulnerable residents – the developmentally disabled with medical needs who live in intermediate care facilities.

September 30, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories in our region and state, published in other media outlets.  These week's top Roundup headlines include:

•          Tribe attempts to evict private military contractor: Los Coyotes band in a legal standoff with Blackwater-tied company (San Diego CityBeat)
•          Ballot effort to repeal fire fee falls short (Sacramento Bee)
•          San Diego family of 3 needs $63,000 to be self-sufficient (KPBS)
•         San Diego ATM fees second highest in nation (KPBS)
•          Tankers for Sunrise Powerlink project upsets residents (10 News)
•          Palomar Mountain State Park campgrounds close for good (signonsandiego.com)

•          California breaks from 50 state probe into mortgage lenders[will conduct own probe] (Los Angeles Times)
•          Education lawsuit would impact future California budgets (Sacramento Bee)
•          Advocates for disabled to sue over state budget cuts (Sacramento Bee)
•          FPPC looks at easing candidate reporting requirements (KPBS)  

Our Guide to the Best Disability-Based Websites on the Net

By Janelle Eckardt

May 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)--The concept of having a “social life” doesn’t exactly mean the same thing it did twenty, ten, or even five years ago. Interfacing with family and friends seldom actually involves meeting face-to-face, and meeting someone new is only one click away. Chat room chat-ups and instant messaging marathons have, whether or not many of us would like to admit it, become integral elements to our link to the world around us.

This month, I’m celebrating some of the best disability-based websites I’ve found for learning, socializing, and sharing. Here are some of the sites I return to again and again – whether I’m looking for wheelchair-friendly travel ideas or a reason to laugh, these sites never disappoint.