November 4, 2014 (San Diego) -- With strong, gusty winds and low humidity in the forecast, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning effective immediately for the inland valleys and mountains. The warning is expected to last until 5 p.m. on Thursday night.

Santa Ana winds of 20-30 miles per hours are forecast, with gusts up to 55 miles per hour in places.  The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index for San Diego (Zone 3) indicates that the threat will peak on Wednesday with a threat rating of moderate.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Did you know that one in twelve Americans has diabetes? That’s more than 25 million people. Another 79 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Why is this awareness important? Because diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. If it’s not controlled, diabetes can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems.

Source: County of San Diego

November 3, 2014 (Ramona) –A man caught on video throwing a dog over a fence in Ramona has been identified and charged with one misdemeanor count each of animal cruelty and animal abandonment.

East County News Service

November 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)— East County Magazine has compiled this handy guide for you with links to all of our coverage of local races, as well as some statewide and federal (Congressional) races on your ballot for the election on Tuesday, November 4. 

We invited all candidates running in local races listed below to be interviewed, and include print and/or  radio interviews with those who responded.   We also have links to our coverage of debates, candidate forums, analysis, editorials submitted by our readers (ECM does not editorialize), and other relevant information on candidates and ballot propositions. Also see below for links to additional nonpartisan resources for info on these and other races.

Our nonpartisan guide is arranged in three sections: local, state, and federal (Congressional) races, with  the races alphabetical under each section. To view, click "read more" below and scroll down.

Source: County News Service

November 3, 2014 (San Diego) – Last week, the first ever yellow-fever mosquitos, Aedes Aegypti, were found in our county at Naval Base San Diego.  Now County health officials report they have found two more of the yellow fever mosquitoes in Chula Vista after a resident reported being bitten by small, black, white-striped mosquitoes during the daytime in his home. The mosquitoes were found in his residence.

Photos: Keshav Damoor, left, and Rob McNelis, right

November 3, 2014 (Santee) – Last week, East County Magazine sat down with Councilman Rob McNelis, a realtor who is proud of the city's achievements on his watch, and challenger Keshav Damoor, a UCSD graduate who works with nonprofits on poverty issues and seeks to represent a new generation on the Council. 

The candidates shared their views on smart growth for Santee and the future of the community.  Will there be a theater complex and entertainment center in Santee's future?  What about Fanita Ranch?  Listen to our interviews now:

Keshav Damoor: http://k007.kiwi6.com/hotlink/mvfi330sul/Newsmaker-KeshavDamoor-SanteeCouncilx.mp3

Rob McNelis: http://k007.kiwi6.com/hotlink/ib0vuopj8h/Newsmaker-RobMcNellis-final-x.mp3

For our previous coverage of these and other candidates in this race, click "read more" and scroll down.

Photo: Father Noel and Congressman Juan Vargas, at Chaldean-American Association banquet Oct. 30

By Miriam Raftery

November 2, 2014 (El Cajon)—Father Noel at St. Peter’s Cathedral in El Cajon is among nine Chaldean Catholic priests ordered to return to Iraq, a situation that likely amounts to a death sentence, or be suspended from the priesthood.

Louis Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq, ordered nine priests from the local diocese suspended on October 22 for refusing to return to Iraq, where priests are being tortured and murdered by ISIS terrorists and mass is no longer being held due to the danger.  Now the Eparchy of St. Peter has appealed these suspensions to Pope Francis.

Under church canons, the suspensions are on hold until the Pope issues his decision.

By Miriam Raftery

November 2, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - One of the closest election contests statewide is shaping up in the California Superintendent of Education race.

East County News Service

November 1, 2014 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the death of Victoria Lynn Lyman, 22, who died after suffering traumatic injuries.

November 1, 2014 (La Mesa) – Aubrey “Bud” Dunne, 82, passed away on October 28, 2014 at his home in La Mesa.  Past president of the La Mesa/Spring Valley Teachers Association, he taught math at La Mesa and Parkway Middle Schools. 

He also played a major role in the Associated Community Theatres (ACT) of San Diego County, which named the Aubrey Awards in his honor.  During the 1960s on Lincoln’s birthday, you could find him dressed up as Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg address at Grossmont Center. A lifelong stamp collector, he also founded the International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors.

October 31, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- East County Magazine Show's September shows are now online.  We covered top local and national issues, from East County election races to to air strikes in Iraq. Our top newsmaker interviews included Supervisor Dianne Jacob on child predator releases, Nathan Fletcher on his new Three Wise Men Foundation helping veterans, Lane Sharman from San Diego Energy Foundation on defeating the Monopoly Protection Bill, Santee Council candidates John Minto and Maggie Acerra, Kristin Kjaero and Dexter Levy from No Term Limits for La Mesa, charitable leaders from Sprites and Boys to Men, Alby Quinlan on the climate change march,  Susan Barron on bringing a cash mob to La Mesa, Jack Shu on transportation justice for East County. Plus hear from local authors, artists, theater producers and more.

To listen to our September shows and view a full list of stories and interviews in September, click here, or click “read more” and scroll down. To listen to future shows, tune in to KNSJ 89.1 FM Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. or listen online live during our broadcasts at www.KNSJ.org.

November 1, 2014 (La Mesa)--On the first Friday of November, the La Mesa Village Farmers’ Market will start operating on a “winter hours” schedule, running from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The venerable and quaint year-round farmers market, which has been sponsored by the City of La Mesa for over 20 years, typically operates from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. In winter these hours have the market starting in sunshine, transitioning through dusk, and ending in darkness, which must be illuminated by cumbersome portable lighting fixtures.

View flyer here.

East County News Service

October 31, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A flyer that landed in mailboxes just in time for Halloween features images of a haunted house and a cemetery-–along wtih a message urging recipients to “Look inside…At the scary report on the Grossmont Union High School District Board Members Jim Kelly and Robert Shield,  IF YOU DARE…” 

The flyer supports challengers Shirley Anderson and Barbara Stevens in the election, which has six candidates running including incumbents Kelly and Shield.  The mailer was paid for as an independent expenditure by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

By Brian Lafferty

October 31, 2014 (San Diego) – For a film directed by Gregg Araki – well-known for anarchic, usually erotically charged films like The Living End (1992), The Doom Generation (1995), and Mysterious Skin (2004) – White Bird in a Blizzard is unusually peaceful. While small traces of his trademarks – teenage angst, sex, and homosexuality – appear, his latest film is his most accessible by far. Whether that's refreshing or disappointing will depend on how much you're willing to readjust your expectations.