By Miriam Raftery

February 14, 2016 (San Diego) -- Should teenagers be allowed to vote?  Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez thinks so – at least in some cases.

By Miriam Raftery

February 13, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – The sudden death of prominent conservative Justice Antonin Scalia today leaves a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court and the prospect of numerous high-profile cases deadlocking 4-4.  President Barack Obama has announced he intends to appoint a replacement, but  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested any nomination would be blocked by Senate Republicans and stated that in this election year,  Obama should leave nominating a Supreme Court justice for the next administration.

McConnell’s remark may be viewed as hypocritical, since he voted for Republican President Ronald Reagan’s appointment of Justice Anthony Kennedy in an election year.  Kennedy was confirmed by the Senate, which was controlled by Democrats.

In fact, since 1900 there has not been a single case of the Senate refusing to confirm a presidential appointment to the Supreme Court in an election year due to the pending election. The stakes are high for both sides in filling the void left by Scalia, but so are the consequences of leaving a seat vacant for nearly a year.

East County News Service

February 12, 2016 (Lakeside) – An 18-year-old man from El Cajon driving a Toyota struck and killed a 49-year-old man from Santee who was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

East County News Service

Photo: A forensic artist has sketched the colorful intricate tattoo located on the unidentified man's upper left arm and shoulder, as well as the Greek letters tattoo located on the man's left forearm.

February 12, 2016 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office is asking the public for help identifying a man whose body was found floating in the ocean Feb. 7. He had several distinctive tattoos, including an intricate and colorful tattoo on the shoulder.

Legislators, educators, youth rally to support expanded voting rights

Source: News Release

February 12, 2016 (Sacramento) - Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) rallied on the steps of the State Capitol today with lawmakers, educators and young adults to announce the introduction of an amendment to California’s constitution allowing 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in their local school board and community college district governing board elections.

East County News Service

February 12, 2016 (Potero) – Michael Walliser, 68, has been arrested and charged with murder of his neighbor, Ronald Drinkard. Drinkard was shot March 22^nd at a residence on Coyote Holler in Potrero.

East County News Service

February 4, 2016 (Descanso) -- City folks are invited to come surround yourselves with adorable animals at a Valentine’s weekend Open Ranch at Alpacas of San Diego, located in Descanso (9718 River Drive).  This free event will be held Saturday, February 13^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Mention you heard about this event on East County Magazine, and receive a 10% discount on any item purchased!

You can meet the animals, learn about alpacas and even shop for a gift for your sweetheart, including jewelry and crafts made by local artists, natural soaps and of course, alpaca wool products.  There will also be a crafts table for kids. 

Ballot initiative proposed to break up CPUC

East County News Service

February 12, 2016 (San Diego)--A San Francisco Superior Court Judge has ruled that secret e-mails between Michael Picker, the President of the California Public Utilities Commission, the Governor's Office and Southern California Edison must be made public.(Read the order.)

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Motorists on State Route 94 report longer commutes in recent months due to delays at the Otay Border Patrol checkpoint south of Jamul, as well as construction of a casino at the Jamul Indian Village and existing delays due to Steele Canyon High School traffic.

“Since April, the lines at the checkpoint have been consistently long and wait times longer,”  Jan Hedlun, a Potrero resident who commutes to work in San Diego, wrote to the Border Patrol last September. She described backups of over two miles at the checkpoint at times, with waits of nearly a half hour. 

February 11, 2016 (San Diego)--SANDAG is considering placing a measure on the November ballot that would ask voters in the region to increase our local sales tax by up to one-half cent to support specific projects and programs.

The SANDAG Board of Directors will receive an overview of the results of public outreach efforts and discuss initial draft expenditure plan alternatives developed for the potential measure at its board meeting on Friday, February 12.  The item will begin at 10 a.m.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

February 11, 2016 (Santee) — Patrick Wehrung, 25, an employee at Champion Gymastics and Cheer in Santee, has been arrested for allegedly having sex repeatedly with a 15-year-old female student. The gym has since fired Wehrung, who is free on bail and slated to appear in court next week, 10 News reports.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Lead contaminated drinking water in Flint, Michigan; photo by Jessica Owens

February 11, 2016 (San Diego) -- In response to the crisis in Flint, Michigan, the House of Representatives voted to require water system officials to alert their customers if the EPA notifies them of increasing level of lead.  The Safe Drinking Water Act Improved Compliance Awareness Act (H.R. 4470) passed the House on a strong bipartisan vote of 416-2 with all five of San Diego’s Congressional members voting for the bill.

By Joe Green

February 11, 2016 (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.

Presidential primary

• Presidential hopefuls in dead heat in national Reuters/Ipso poll (Reuters)
• Under Sanders, income and jobs would soar, economist says (CNN)
• FBI confirms Clinton probe (The Hill)
• Court Orders Government To Explain The Holdup With 7,000 Clinton Emails (NPR)
• Stark Divide Between Democrat, Republican Candidates on Veterans Health Care (Reason)
• Carly Fiorina quits presidential race (Politico)
• Christie drops out (Politico)
• How Ohio Governor John Kasich is making life hell for women seeking abortions (Mother Jones)

Other national news

• Feds sue Ferguson to force police reforms (USA Today)
• Genital mutilation risk triples for girls and women in U.S., CDC study finds  (The Guardian)
• Lead contamination of Flint water draws multiple lawsuits (Washington Post)
• Gulf Of Mexico Open For Fish-Farming Business (NPR)
• After Returning the Money They Stole, Feds Will Pay Interest and Legal Expenses Too (Reason)
• Rams Stiff St. Louis, Leave City with $144 Million Bill (Reason)

WORLD

• Progress in the global war on poverty (CS Monitor)
• Syria ‘exterminating detainees’ – UN report (BBC)
• UAE says ready to support anti-Islamic State coalition with troops (CS Monitor)
• Mt. Sakurajimi erupts in fiery blast (Japan Times)
• Zika outbreak means it is now time to cancel Rio Olympics (Forbes)
• Germany Opens 62-Mile Bicycle Highway That's Completely Car-Free (Nature Knows)
• France Has Banned Supermarkets From Wasting Food (iflscience.com)
• Thousands flee as Russian-backed offensive threatens to besiege Aleppo (Reuters)
• German spy agency says ISIS sending fighters disguised as refugees (Reuters)
• Armed with new U.S. money, NATO to strengthen Russia deterrence (Reuters)
• Quake fells Taiwan apartment building, at least two dead  (Reuters) 
• Bomb threats made to Jewish schools in UK (JPost)
• Assailant stabs Jewish boy, 11, in Ramle attack (JPost)
• More than four months of terror, by the numbers (JPost)
• Pilot after Somalia emergency: Airplane security is “zero” (CS Monitor)

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