Trump supporter arrested for punching black protester in face at North Carolina rally; Trump event in Chicago shut down by protesters

By Miriam Raftery

March 12, 2016 (San Diego) — A supporter of Donald Trump has been arrested for punching a black protester in the face at a Trump rally in North Carolina, later stating, “The next time we see him, we might have to kill him,” CNN reports. John McGraw, 78, has been charged with assault, disorderly conduct and making threats.

By Donald H. Harrison

Photos by Donald H. Harrison and Leon Thompson

Reprinted with permission from San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Network.

Photo:  Manuela Bump, president of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club, left, and honorees Kathi Anderson, Estela De Los Rios, Mimi Pollack, and Bobbi Brink.

March 12, 2016 (Spring Valley) – La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club honored four women on Saturday, March 5, for their advocacy in behalf of Syrian refugees, victims of sex trafficking, survivors of torture, and abused wild animals. Besides a certificate of appreciation and half the proceeds from the tea for them to donate to their favorite charities, the women were honored with Paul Harris Fellowships, named for one of the founders of Rotary International.

By Liz Alper

Photo credit:  San Diego Padres on Twitter

March 11, 2016 (Peoria, Az.) - The Padres’ pitching woes continued as they faced off against the Chicago White Sox today in Peoria in another day of spring training.

By Miriam Raftery

March 10, 2016 (San Diego) –Senator Bernie Sanders scored an upset victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Michigan primary, shocking pollsters who had predicted Clinton would win by as much as 20 points in the delegate-rich state. Clinton won in Missisippi, however, maintaining her edge overall, for now. 

A record turn-out of 2.5 million people in Michigan helped Donald Trump win big in the Republican primary; the billionaire businessman also won Mississippi and the Hawaiian Republican caucus.Senator  Ted Kruz placed second in all three states, strengthening his position as the only Republican likely to have any chance to top Trump before the Republican nominating convention.

By Steve Lauria

March 7, 2016 (Lakeside) -- This Saturday, March 12^th, will be the 11^th annual It’s How We Live health and community fair at Lindo Lake Park in Lakeside. The event will start at 9 a.m., right after the Lakeside Unified School District’s Run For the Arts, a fundraiser for the District’s arts program.

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

March 10, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Gatlin Brothers concert, a St. Patrick’s Day fun run, a Circle of Art Show in Borrego Springs, and live theater including Mack and Mabel, set in the silent movie era of yesteryear.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including Tomatomania for garden lovers, Lake Jennings spring carnival,  garden tours galore and the Spring HarpFest in La Mesa. So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

March 10,  2016 (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

• Luxury development approved for Julian (U-T)
• Heavily redacted memo shields notes in fatal San Diego police shooting (KPBS)
• Charity accused of improper billing (U-T)
• MTS Board Members Ask For Faster Data Security Upgrades (KPBS)
• Contractors lose appeal on 'free speech’ gifts (U-T)
• San Diego Politicians Asked To Stop Voting On Their Own Salaries (KPBS)
• Is ballot crowding at work in San Diego city council races? (KPBS)
• Southern California aerospace industry continues to lose jobs (U-T)

STATE

• Brown’s judge friend removed from CPUC case (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Motivating the state’s refugee voters (KPBS)
• My $54,000 helicopter ride (Los Angeles Times)
• California advances bills to raise smoking age, regulate vaping (Sacramento Bee)

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

AB 2757 would establish an 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek standard for California farmworkers

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pixabay

March 10, 2016 (Sacramento) – California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) announced legislation to establish equitable overtime standards for farmworkers in line with other Californians, as well as the support of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the idea.

By Miriam Raftery

March 9, 2016 (Alpine) – The Alpine Union High School District(AUSD)  has turned down an offer by the Alpine Education Foundation to conduct independent testing of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at the Alpine Elementary School campus, citing legal concerns. 

But Superintendent Bruce Cochrane suggests the door is open to a compromise to get the readings done.  “IF AEF were open to donating the necessary funds to the AUSD, the district would be open to contracting out to the firm they have recommended to do testing at AES,” the Superintendent told ECM.

“Government By the People Act”  would make Congress more responsive to needs of everyday citizens

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (San Diego) -- During a roundtable discussion at the Copley-Price Family YMCA, Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) unveiled the Government By the People Act (H.R 20), a bold new reform that would help everyday people in San Diego and across the country fight back against wealthy and well-connected special interests.

Water Authority partners with the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of San Diego for second year

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (San Diego) - As part of the regional effort to reduce water waste, the San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are again partnering with the local chapter of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association during national Fix a Leak Week, March 14-20, to make fixing water leaks less costly for residents and businesses.

This year's tour highlights numerous gardens in East County and inland San Diego

By David Fleitner

Cover photo:  The view from the California Sunflower trail in the "Nature Adorned" garden

March 8, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Jean and Jerry Kaiwi look contentedly over their 2½-acre home site near Flynn Springs, enjoying the view from a patio table along a trail above their house. “It used to be that you couldn’t even see the land contours – the entire lot was covered with waist-high mustard,” says Jean. “ Now the beautiful natural contours and rock outcrops are finally visible, complemented by our native plants.   We so enjoy them, along with all the native birds, lizards, snakes and bees that now share this space with us.”  

By Liz Alper

March 9, 2016 (Alpine) - County Supervisor Dianne Jacob will be hosting a "Coffee With Constituents" event at the Alpine Community Center on Wednesday, March 30^th from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (San Diego) -- Speaker Emeritus Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) has introduced legislation that would close several gaps when it comes to providing screening and treatment for breast and cervical cancer to low-income Californians.

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (Tierrasanta) - Spring has arrived in Southern California and the green season is here – so the San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action is hosting its very first club outing and hike. What better way to enjoy the blooming benefit of this winter's El Niño rains than by taking a half-day hike in our backyard wilderness bounty, Mission Trails Regional Park?