By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2015 (San Francisco)—The U.S. Ninth Court of Appeal in San Francisco today revoked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the pesticide sulfoxaflor because it is highly toxic to bees.  The pesticide is sold under the brand names Closer and Transform.

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2015 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police received a call at 10:06 p.m. last night reporting shots fired in the 4400 block of Parks Avenue, only a block from La Mesa Dale Elementary School.   

Responding officers “rolled out to the scene and found three cars with bullet holes,” Sergeant Brian Stoney told East County Magazine.

Thus far police have no suspect and no motive. 

Part IV: Rick Perry and Scott Walker

Miriam Raftery, Devoreo Bell, and Juwan Armostrong contributed to this series.

Update Sept. 11, 2015:  Rick Perry announced he has suspended his presidential campaign.

September 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – In part IV of our series on the 2015 presidential race, we profile Texas Governor Rick Perry and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, both Republicans who are among the most controversial contenders in this race. One is indicted on criminal charges of political favoritism,  the other survived a recall election over his anti-labor actions.

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

September 10, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County features a Car-B-Que at Santee Lakes, live musical theatre productions, the Sycuan pow-wow and a bluegrass festival in Santee.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Julian Music Festival, the opening of the silver anniversary season of the Poway Performing Arts Center featuring Kenny Loggins as well as some major fall festivals including Julian Apple Days, Fall Fest, and of course, Oktoberfest!

So scroll down for all of these events and much, much more.

Free Seminar Sept. 17 at Alvarado Hospital

By Dr. Vadim Avulov

If you are considering gastric bypass surgery to lose weight, a therapeutic effect is often the reduction or elimination of type 2 diabetes. Gastric bypass reduces the amount of nutrients absorbed by the small intestine, which appears to result in metabolic changes that have a beneficial effect on diabetes.

If you are considering surgical weight loss, gastric bypass is a popular procedure because of its success rate. Even better, it can now be performed minimally invasively, which makes it much safer with quicker recovery.

The Atlantian: The Vision Quest, Book One, by Deborah M. Pratt (VGM Publishing, Beverly Hills CA, 2015, 287 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

September 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Deborah Pratt, a master storyteller with a vivid and imaginative mind for science fiction, the former co-executive producer and head writer on the iconic NBC series Quantum Leap, has followed this up with her latest book of a similar genre; The Atlantian: The Vision Quest, Book One. The Atlantian is a classic adventure that confronts the loss of innocence and the tender heartbeats of first love, held in secret while the whole of human existence hangs in the balance.

New public discussion series considers water, public safety, downtown redevelopment and urban issues central to city’s future ; first meeting Sept. 23

September 8, 2015 (La Mesa – La Mesa Conversations, a new civic group organized as a volunteer committee, announced a new series of public programs and social events today. The Committee’s objective is to broaden, enrich and invigorate La Mesa’s civic dialogue on issues of enduring importance to residents citywide.

September 8, 2015 (El Cajon)--A 9/11 commemoration organized by State Sen. Joel Anderson’s staff is set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday at Grossmont College’s Main Quad. Speaking will be Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Lannon, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, El Cajon Councilman Bob McClellan, MCAS Miramar Chaplain Wayne (Bob) Freiberg, and Steele Canyon High School’s ASB President Trevor Krantz.

September 9, 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Bill Giving Dying Patients Easier Access To Experimental Drugs Heads To Governor's Desk (KPBS)
• Check Out Life Spans Around The World — And Likely Years Of Ill Health (NPR)
• Test shows how old your body really is (BBC)
• Weight loss surgery 'cures diabetes' (BBC)
• An upstart in the certification of doctors (APM)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• DNA cracks puzzle of Basque origins (BBC)
• Why did 60,000 Antelopes die in 4 days? (CS Monitor)
• Restless nights? Smart devices may help ease you through the twilight hours (Reuters)
• In California's Protected Waters, Counting Fish Without Getting Wet (NPR)
• Why Are Women Less Likely To Become Entrepreneurs Than Men? (NPR)

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

East County News Service

Photo: People with developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers rally outside Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins’ office in San Diego on September 1st.

September 6, 2015 (San Diego)—Over 24,000 people with developmental disabilities in San Diego and Imperial Counties rely on state services to survive.  Yet California’s funding levels have fallen to the lowest in the nation, according to the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA).

September 9, 2015 (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.

• Judge upholds Arizona's 'show your papers' immigration law (Reuters)
• Ben Carson: #BlackLivesMatter misfire (USA Today)
• Millennials don't think much of themselves, report says. (CS Monitor)
• Clinton aide invokes constitution to dodge probing about private e-mail (CS Monitor)
• Nearly 900,000 veterans are still waiting to get onto the VA backlog (CS Monitor)
• Veterans Used In Secret Experiments Sue Military For Answers (NPR)
• The Iran Vote Explained, In 1 Infographic (NPR)
• Second Review Says Classified Information Was in Hillary Clinton’s Email (NY Times)
• Oil train risks affect many U.S. schools, group says (Retuers)

WORLD

Europe and Asia

• Austria, Germany open borders to migrants offloaded by Hungary  (Reuters)
• France says taking all refugees would be victory for ISIS (JPost)
•  Egyptian Billionaire Searches For An Island That Migrants Can Call Their Own (NPR)
• How is the Arab world responding to the refugee crisis?(JPost)
• U.S. asks Greece to deny Russian flights to Syria Reuters)
• Queen Elizabeth II to break royalty record (CS Monitor)
• North Korea apparently building at nuclear site, IAEA says(JPost)

Middle East

• Migration from hell- Christians left behind (San Diego 6 News)
• Deadly storm engulfs Middle East, slows Syria air strikes (Reuters)
• Sinai blasts injure six peacekeepers, including four Americans: Pentagon (Reuters)
• Report: Iraqi woman kills ISIS commander that forced her into sex slavery (JPost)
• UN agency forced to cut food aid to 200,000 Syrian refugees (AP)
• U.S., allies launch 25 air strikes in Iraq, eight in Syria: U.S. (Reuters)
• Turkish jets strike PKK targets after deadly militant attack (Reuters)

Africa

• Village of 1,000 sealed off over Ebola (BBC)
• U.S. warns of possible attack in South Africa targeting Americans (Reuters)
• South African Jewish groups: Proposal to cancel dual citizenship motivated by anti-Semitism (Jpost)

Mexico

• 4 more Mexican officials held in 'El Chapo' prison escape (AP)

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

September 8, 2015 (San Diego) – If San Diego isn’t a hockey town, as many claim, we have a funny way of showing it.

With the Gulls returning to San Diego after a nine year absence, many excited hockey fans came to the Quartyard downtown to meet coach Dallas Eakins and other members of the Gulls’ staff in a Q&A hosted by the voice of the Gulls, Craig Elsten.

By Miriam Raftery

September 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a determination finding that individuals who invested in a shared community solar project can qualify for a 30% federal renewable energy tax credit.

Deadline swiftly approaching; residents voice displeasure 

By Kristin Kjaero

September 7, 2015 (La Mesa) -- A controversy arose at the August 11 La Mesa City Council meeting when Friends of the La Mesa Library President John Schmitz noticed that a contract for the city to hire a consultant to conduct a Civic Center/Old Police Station Feasibility Study and Master Plan did not include a permanent library building. He requested that the Council add the library back in, as it was included in earlier Master Plans. Despite this omission, the Council approved the study as is, without the library.

The Council will review a Staff Report on the issue of "Interim" vs. "Permanent" library on its agenda for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m., in which Staff takes the position that the City is not obligated to build a "permanent" Library building.

Event includes Hors d’oeuvres and Discussion on Flibanserin and Other Sexual Health/Relationship Topics for Women

September 7, 2015 (San Diego)-- With FDA approval of the new libido drug for women – flibanserin – women finally have options. This is the first FDA libido drug approved for women, despite the fact that Viagra was approved for men 17 years ago.

San Diego women are invited to attend “Sex in Our City” seminar to learn more about flibanserin (to be marketed as Addyi), as well as what else on the horizon for women in terms of dealing with low sex drives, sexual health in young women and pre- and post-menopause, bedroom secrets to enhance your relationship, hormone treatments and alternatives, and other topics.