By Liz Alper

April 25, 2016 (El Cajon) - The Foothills Bar Association is organizing Law Day. This is an opportunity for the public to meet with lawyers in the community who service different areas of law.

The free legal service will be held on Monday, May 2nd from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the El Cajon Library (201 East Douglas in El Cajon). The event is held once a year and is a unique experience and opportunity.

Attendees can consult with lawyers in a variety of areas including family law, criminal law, probate/trusts/estates, landlord/tenant, general civil and civil harassment orders and more.

Scroll down to view a flyer with full details or call 619-531-3900,

East County News Service

Photo: Pixabay, Creative Commons

April 26, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – If you’re a public employee, you can’t be fired or demoted for supporting a political candidate that your boss doesn’t like.  By a 6-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision strengthening free speech protections for 22 million public employees nationwide. 

East County News Service

April 26, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Thanks to Eric Kallen of http://jacumbabirding.com/ for sending in these gorgeous photos of some colorful birds spotted during springtime in East County.  Below are his notes:

By Ken Stone

Photo:  Tim Glover, new Grossmont Union High School District superintendent via GUHSD

Originally published in Times of San Diego, a San Diego Online News Association member

April 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- With a court verdict looming in its fight with Alpine residents, the Grossmont Union High School District board has chosen a longtime East County resident as its new superintendent.

By Miriam Raftery

April 26, 2016 (Sacramento) – The California Assembly has approved Assembly Bill 1594, a measure touted as banning smoking and vaping on all California State University and community college campuses statewide (smoking is already banned at the University of California). But as written, this measure also appears to outlaw smoking marijuana including medical marijuana, even in the privacy of one’s dorm room or vehicle on campus.

Event helps kids stay active and keep learning all summer long

Source:  East County YMCA Press Release

April 25, 2016 (Santee and Rancho San Diego)--On Saturday, April 30, the Cameron Family YMCA in Santee and McGrath Family YMCA in Rancho San Diego are holding free community events to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active. This year marks the 25^th annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day^®, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families.  The day-long event features activities such as games, arts, crafts, wellness education, fitness demonstrations, and water safety in preparation for the upcoming summer months. All activities are designed to motivate and teach families how to develop healthy routines at home.  

By Kara Murphy

April 25, 2016 (El Cajon) - Continuing its tradition of producing quality works on the natural and cultural histories of the southwest deserts, Sunbelt Publications is pleased to share several new accolades with author and retired Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Superintendent Mark C. Jorgensen, photographer Jeff Young and designer Kathleen Wise. Two of the most reputable agency awards in the independent publishing community, Independent Book Publishers Association’s Benjamin Franklin Awards and Jenkins Group’s Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards have recognized the immensely popular Desert Bighorn Sheep: Wilderness Icon with gold medal awards for cover design. Additionally, the book was awarded a Benjamin Franklin silver medal in the category of nature and environment and an IPPY silver medal for best regional non-fiction in the west-mountain region.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Let’s rock and roll! And I’m not talkin’ about a music fest.

East County News Service

Photo: Feral pig, U.S. Department of Agricultural

April 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Efforts to eradicate wild pigs across San Diego’s backcountry have proven effective.

 

Officials report that monitoring through trail cameras and other means indicate there could be just eight feral pigs left in our region.  Professional hunters hired by federal, state and local governments have trapped and killed about 150 of the pigs over the past five years, the Union-Tribune reports. Drought has also taken a toll on the invasive species.

By Liz Alper

 

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

April 24, 2016 (San Diego) - The series finale between the Cardinals and Padres was a beautiful Sunday at Petco Park.  Colin Rea took the mound for San Diego, Mike Leake for St. Louis.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2016 (Sacramento) -- Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s  proposed constitutional amendment, ACA 11, to restructure California's regulatory agencies has passed the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee by a 12 to 1 vote.  

The strong bipartisan support comes in the wake of a series of scandals involving the CPUC, including allegations of backroom dealings to protect PG&E after the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion and controversies over charging ratepayers for utility mistakes that led to closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Stations.

Mike Aguirre, former attorney for the City of San Diego, appeared as a witness in favor of reforming the Commission, asking that an updated copy of the Aguirre & Severson Report on Malfeasance and Institutional Corruption at the California Public Utilities Commission be officially entered into the record, as well as other smoking gun documents that implicate top officials at the CPUC.  That report raises concerns over issues ranging from wildfires caused by SDG&E lines to the burial of nuclear wastes at San Onofre. It also chronicles allegations of corruption and cover-ups involving top CPUC officials.

East County News Service

April 24, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Military Personnel, included a number of policy provisions to increase benefits available to our men and women in uniform. The Subcommittee approved its portion of the working draft of the National Defense Authorization Act.

East County News Service

April 24, 2016 (Alpine) – You’re invited to a party complete with a rib eye steak dinner, art show, live jazz, blues and swing music by Chet and the Committee—all to benefit revitalization of the Alpine Community Center, which needs help to keep its doors open.

Coordinated system aims to improve travel-time, reliability on I-15

April 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- Officials from SANDAG and Caltrans are activating the final piece of a system designed to guide motorists around major incidents when they occur along the Interstate 15 corridor, providing travel choices and improving travel-time reliability.

East County News Service

April 24, 2016 (Alpine) -- If you want your business, organization or agency to blossom, sign up for the May 18 Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce 2016 Spring Business Festival. There will be marketing opportunities for Chamber members from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Alpine Regional Center’s lobby area at 1620 Alpine Boulevard  in Alpine. The general public is invited to attend free.