August 10, 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.

General news

• Trial by jury, a hallowed American right, is vanishing (New York Times)
• Not your parents’ pot: today’s marijuana strains are much stronger (OC Register)
• States and cities don't invest in infrastructure (Marketplace)
• Report: US paid Iran $400 million as American prisoners were freed (Jerusalem Post)
• Obama’s new so-called “GMO Labeling Law”is a gift to the industry (Truthout)
• Gymnastics hidden abuse crisis (Daily Beast)

Presidential campaign

• NY Times exposes Trump campaign manager on Russian payroll (Bipartisan Report)
• Clinton emails shed light on relationship between State Dept, Clinton Foundation (CNN)
• Trump’s new billionaire advisors could threaten his populist message (Washington Post)
• Donald Trump’s many, many, many, many ties to Russia (Time)
• Clinton leads Trump by 15 points nationwide (The Hill)
• New poll has Trump in fourth—behind Gary Johnson and Jill Stein –with young people (Washington Post)
• Trump’s employees have sued over sexual harassment (USA Today)
• Many questions, few answers on how Melania Trump immigrated to  U.S. (Wash.Post)
• CNN's Second Libertarian Presidential Town Hall Recap (Reason)
• How to hack an election in seven minutes(Politico)

WORLD

• Refugee Olympians: 10 athletes representing 60 million people (Washington Post)
• Syria conflict: UN says water and power cuts threaten 2 million (BBC)
• Pediatric hospital in Syria bombed, killing at least 5 kids, aid group says(CBS)
• ISIS: 'Listen Putin, we will come to Russia and kill you at your homes’(JPost)
• Paris tourism suffers after terror attacks (International Business Times)
• Nearly 100 Dead After Anti-Government Protests In Ethiopia (NPR)
• Grief, anger after 74 Pakistanis killed in hospital bomb (Reuters)
• U.N. censure of North Korea missile thwarted (Reuters)

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

Former Aztecs to compete in discus throw and triple jump, respectively

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo:  Whitney Ashley (right) and Shanieka Thomas (left) via goaztecs.com

August 10, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State track and field alumnae Whitney Ashley and Shanieka Thomas will compete at the Rio Olympics this weekend in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ashley qualified for the Olympics by winning the discus throw at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July, while Thomas punched her ticket with a runner-up finish in the triple jump at the Jamaican Senior National Championships.

SDSU nationally ranked by another publication

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: sophomore quarterback Christian Chapman courtesy goaztecs.com

August 10, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State is ranked 24^th by Sports Illustrated in the publication’s college football preseason top-25 poll, released today.

By Miriam Raftery

August 10, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Yesterday, Steven Guider, 52, was arrested in the 8200 block of Winter Gardens Blvd. in unincorporated El Cajon. Guider posted $2,000 worth of construction equipment on Craigslist that had recently been stolen from a vehicle burglary in Santee.

East County News Service

August 9, 2016 (La Mesa) –  The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now hosting its Summer Art Exhibit featuring 19 watercolor paintings by award-winning artist Marilyn Hadley Hallam of La Mesa. The show runs through September 30. The exhibit features paintings of San Diego and Southern California landmarks, as well as landscapes.

Aztecs to play host to three fall tournaments

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: goaztecs.com

August 9, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State women’s tennis head coach Peter Mattera revealed his team’s schedule for the 2016-17 campaign on Tuesday. The Aztecs will play host to three fall tournaments before opening the dual-match season in late January.

By Miriam Raftery

August 9, 2016 (San Diego) – Grocery workers voted Monday to accept the latest contract proposal affecting employees at Ralphs, Vons, Albertsons, Pavilions and Safeway supermarkets across southern California.

Originally published by Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association (SDONA)

by Chris Jennewein

Photo by Ken Stone

August 9, 2016 (San Diego) -- The San Diego parent of an American killed during the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, is suing Hillary Clinton over the incident.

 

The conservative advocacy group Freedom Watch filed the suit Monday in Washington on behalf of Patricia Smith of San Diego, whose son Sean Smith was a State Department officer, and Charles Woods of Portland, OR, whose son Tyrone Woods, a former Imperial Beach resident, was CIA security contractor.

By Miriam Raftery

August 8, 2016 (Santee) — The man who fired arrows from a crossbow at Sheriff’s deputies in Santee and died after officers returned fire during a SWAT team incident Friday has been identified as Santee resident David Michael Moya, 31.

East County News Service

August 8, 2016 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Preventive Care with Acupuncture,” a free presentation about how acupuncture can treat a variety of health issues, from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24. The program is part of the library’s Wellness Wednesday series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary.

East County News Service

Photo: San Diego’s most dangerous corridors, based on data from the UC Berkeley, Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), http://tims.berkeley.edu. 

August 8, 2016 (San Diego) - 23-year-old J’Ron Erby, an intern for the San Diego Chargers, was struck while walking early Friday in a hit-and-run crash on the 900 block of Garnet Avenue. He remains in the ICU on a ventilator with severe brain trauma, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help cover his recovery costs.  

Two of his friends, including Kendrick Hester, a nephew of a former East County Magazine intern, were also struck but fortunately escaped serious injury.

East County News Service

August 8, 2016 (San Diego) - Mark Arabo is teaming up with the San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA) to hold a memorial ceremony and free barbeque for all San Diego honoring slain officers Jeremy Henwood and Jonathan DeGuzman. Today, there will be opportunity for interviews.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  honoring the Navy on Navy Appreciation Day.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 7, 2016 (San Diego) – The Padres looked to take the series from the Phillies in today’s matinee finale with a battle of the Jareds:  Jerad Eickhoff for Philadelphia and Jarred Cosart on the mound for the Padres.

Update:   Helix Water says Lake Jennings drinking water tests clean, issue is with fish tissue; state clarifies problem is with fish tissue, not necessarily water for drinking

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

August 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – State officials are warning that 150 reservoirs statewide are tainted by mercury. Ten San Diego reservoirs are contaminated, including some of East County’s most popular fishing spots.  “Mercury is negatively impacting the beneficial uses of many waters of the state by making fish unsafe for human and wildlife consumption,” the State Water Resources Control Board website warns.

However some local officials dispute those findings.

 

What lakes locally have mercury issues,accordingto the state?

Local reservoirs listed as "mercury impaired" on the state's document are El Capitan Reservoir, Lake Henshaw, Lake Hodges, Lake Jennings, Loveland Reservoir, Lower Otay Reservoir, Lake Morena Reservoir, San Vicente Reservoir, Lake Sutherland, and Sweetwater Reservoir, according to a California Water Boards publication released in June.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 6, 2016 (San Diego) - After last night's heartbreaking loss, the Padres had to rebound tonight.  Paul Clemens took the mound for the Pads against Jake Thompson for Philadelphia.