Judge denies couple’s request to delay sentencing, after they claimed air travel was unsafe for Jessica Kalasho due to pregnancy

By Miriam Raftery

File photo of  Ben and Jessica Kalasho at a prior hearing

August 26, 2023  (San Diego) – Former El Cajon Councilman Bessmon  “Ben” Kalasho and his wife, Jessica have been found guilty on four counts each of contempt of court in a civil defamation case won by attorney Lina Charry. 

They have been ordered to report to San Diego Superior Court on September 1 to being serving an eight-day jail sentence, as well as pay fines of $1,000 apiece for each count.

View United Nations 2023 video on climate change:  https://youtu.be/I1Vx_a6F57Q 

By Roger Coppock

August 26, 2023 (La Mesa) --Before this week’s GOP 'debate,' I used to give Republicans a healthy benefit of the doubt.  I would listen to them and read their literature.  However, when a political party's line differs from introductory science textbooks, that party is too extreme for my vote.

Last night 8 GOP Presidential candidates were asked, "If you believe in man-made climate change, raise your hand."  None did.  One candidate called it "a hoax." 

BY: ROSS WILLIAMS, STANLEY DUNLAP AND JILL NOLIN

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Booking photos from the Fulton County conspiracy case charging Donald Trump and allies with trying to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. Top row, from left Jeffrey Clark, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Michael Roman, Ray Smith, David Shafer, Sen. Shawn Still. Center row, from left, Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, John Eastoman, Kenneth Chesebro. Bottom row from left, Robert Cheeley, Harrison Floyd, Stephen Lee, Scott Hall, Misty Hampton, Cathleen Latham, Trevian Kutti. (Georgia Recorder illustration from Fulton County Sheriff’s Office photos)

August 26, 2023 (Fulton Co., Georgia) -- At the end of a historic week at the Fulton County jailhouse, the criminal case against former President Donald Trump and his 18 allies also accused of subverting Georgia’s 2020 presidential election is just beginning.

By Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 26, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- The County of San Diego is asking residents ages 55 and older to share their thoughts in a comprehensive needs assessment survey. 

The state survey will be used to inform future local program development or maintenance. This survey was first sent out to randomly selected residents in July and is now available to the general public. The survey will close September 4th. 

Those 55 and older can fill out the survey online. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 25,  2023 (Milwaukee) – Eight Republican presidential candidates squared off in a debate in Milwaukee. Donald Trump, facing indictment on 91 criminal charges in four cases, did not participate but was a topic of discussion among his opponents.  The debate proved lively, with some candidates sharply differering with each other, all criticizing Democrat Joe Biden’s administration, all approving Vice President Mike Pence's action to certify votes, but only two willing to criticize Trump, the party frontrunner.

The issues ranged from abortion, which all eight candidates support restricting, to Bidenomics, climate change, crime, border security and foreign policy. Clear policy differences emerged--as well as some strong clashes among contenders.

Fox news anchors Bret  Baier and Martha MacCallum posed questions to the candidates shown in the photo, top left to lower right: North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum,  former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie,  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Former United Nations Ambassador and ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and  U.S.Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina.

Our coverage includes positions of Trump, despite his absence, and the record and stances of the Biden administration as well to provide the range of options for voters.

By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Suzanne Bartole

August 24, 2023 (San Diego) - It’s been one year and counting since hopeful chefs looking for a way to start a business in their homes found one through the County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) program.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 24, 2023 (San Diego) -- This August celebrates National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you are looking for an excuse to make a change, start this month in support of National Wellness Month.

By Jessyka Heredia

August 18, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Approximately 50 people were in attendance earlier this month at the Lemon Grove Library to hear what Mayor Raquel Vasquez, the city council and staff has accomplished this past year and what is planned moving forward for Lemon Grove.

By Sameea Kamal, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  the California Air Resources Board meets at the California Environmental Protection Agency building in Sacramento on June 23, 2022. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

August 23, 2023 (Sacramento) - For a July meeting, the Little Hoover Commission — an independent state oversight agency — posted notice that the public could attend in Sacramento, but also in Traverse City, Mich., or Southampton, N.Y.

August 23, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Alpine school district becomes 1st in county to provide affordable housing for teachers (10 News)
• What is in San Diego's Housing Action 2.0 Package? (NBC7)
• Much of San Diego will soon be surveilled by a network of police cameras. Here’s what you should know (San DIego Union-Tribune)
• Supreme Court to hear Poway school board case over blocking criticism on social media (Reuters)
• Our Border Sewage Crisis Has a Solution. SANDAG Holds it. (Voice of San Diego)
• FAA Probing Near Collision of Southwest Airliner and Executive Jet in San Diego (Times of San Diego)
• Family of 14-year-old found at Camp Pendleton demand answers (Times of San Diego)
• County Human Relations Commissioner Resigns After His Antisemitic Rant (Times of San Diego)
• Zoe Bernard of La Mesa acts with the stars in ‘Asteroid City’ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 29:Eleven Maternity Home in El Cajon helps unsheltered pregnant women(CBS 8)
• Protesters gather outside New Children's Museum over drag queen story time  (10 News)
• County Water Authority sues over Rainbow, Fallbrook agencies' departures  (KPBS)
• Orphaned pets from Maui fire on their way to Helen Woodward Animal Center (KUSI)

STATE

• Los Angeles crime lab finds 4% of seized fentanyl samples contain flesh-eating sedative (Los Angeles Times)
• California voters made public records a right, will they give it more teeth?  (San Jose Mercury News)
• Record numbers of people have died in California jails. Now lawmakers could crack down (Cal  Matters)
• Alaska Airlines flight makes hard landing during California storms  (NPR)
• Sea level changes could drastically affect Calif. beaches by the end of the century  (NPR)
• .Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, falls at home and goes to hospital, but scans are clear, her office says (AP)

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

Video by: Jessyka Heredia

August 23, 2023 -- Hurricane Hillary was downgraded to a tropical storm before hitting San Diego on Sunday. See what some residents experienced around the county from as far east as Sunshine Highway in Mount Laguna to as far north as La Jolla and as far south as Imperial Beach and several spots in between.

Update August 24:  Missed the debate? View the video.  Watch for analysis to be posted soon.

East County News Service

August 23, 2023 (San Diego) –At 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time,  Fox News will broadcast the first debate among  Republican presidential primary candidates, though former  President Donald Trump will not be participating.

The eight candidates who qualified for tonight’s debate in Milwaukee are, in alphabetical order:

1. Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota
2. Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey
3. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida
4. Nikki Haley, the former ambassador to the U.N. and former governor of South Carolina
5. Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas
6. Mike Pence, the former vice president and a former Indiana congressman
7. Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur
8. Tim Scott, U.S. senator from South Carolina

Photo,  top left to lower right:  Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence,  Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott.