July 18, 2013 (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 top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

Mayoral scandal:

• Filner: Why I won't resign (U-T San Diego)
• Filner’s woman problem (U-T San Diego)
• Ex-fiancee urges Filner to submit resignation (KPBS)
• Filner: 'A Fair, Independent Investigation Will Support My Innocence' (KPBS)
• Video, transcript: 2nd "Filner must quit" news conference (U-T San Diego)
• Explainer: Sexual Harassment and the Law (Voice of San Diego)

Other local news:

• San Diego Fire Officials Keeping Close Watch On Record-Dry Vegetation (KPBS)
• Sheriff’s deputies rescue man from burning attic fire in Lakeside (Santee Patch)
• Weekly Crime Report: Thieves are stealing catalytic converters (La Mesa Today)
• College district considering security switch (U-T San Diego)
• As Many As 800 State Prisoners May Be Heading To San Diego County (KPBS)
• San Miguel cuts term of ex-chief's temporary job (U-T San Diego)
• Hello-ah to a mola mola (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Janet Napolitano picked as UC President (Sacramento Bee)
• The incurable illness in the valley dust  (BBC)

• Why California won't build prisons to ease inmate overcrowding (Sacramento Bee)

• Could NSA spying hurt California economy? (U-T San Diego)

LOCAL/REGIONAL

Mayoral scandal:

Filner: Why I won't resign (U-T San Diego)

Mayor Bob Filner asked U-T San Diego to publish this response to recent events

Filner’s woman problem (U-T San Diego)

Mayor’s long history on women’s rights—and wrongs

Ex-fiancee urges Filner to submit resignation (KPBS)

The ex-fiancee of beleaguered San Diego Mayor Bob Filner says she ended her relationship with him because he became increasingly abusive toward her and began sending sexually explicit text messages to other women in her presence.

Filner latest in String of Embattled San Diego Mayors  (NBC)

 Four of the last eight elected mayors who preceded Filner either left office amid allegations of graft or admitted later wrongdoing.

Filner: 'A Fair, Independent Investigation Will Support My Innocence' (KPBS)

KPBS and inewsource have been investigating sexual harassment allegations against the mayor for several months. Sources have described the mayor's behavior as including inappropriate comments, kissing and groping. None of the women KPBS has spoken with have agreed to allow their circumstances or their names to be used for publication because of fear of retribution.

Video, transcript: 2nd "Filner must quit" news conference (U-T San Diego)

Mayor's former allies add specifics - but no names - to their calls for San Diego's mayor to step down

Explainer: Sexual Harassment and the Law (Voice of San Diego)

Three former supporters of Mayor Bob Filner allege he sexually harassed women, and the mayor himself acknowledged Thursday he’s failed to “fully respect” women who work with him.  But the only real details on the mayor’s alleged bad behavior emerged earlier this week when a KPBS reporter cited anonymous sources who claim the mayor has made lewd comments, as well as kissed and groped women. / Depending on what occurred, the latter could constitute more than just sexual harassment. It could be criminal sexual battery.

Other local news:

San Diego Fire Officials Keeping Close Watch On Record-Dry Vegetation (KPBS)

Dry brush is fueling an early start to dangerous wildfires throughout California. Vegetation moisture levels have reached record lows.

Sheriff’s deputies rescue man from burning attic fire in Lakeside (Santee Patch)

The man is being treated at UCSD Medical Center and three deputies were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Weekly Crime Report: Thieves are stealing catalytic converters (La Mesa Today)

Car part thieves are prying off expensive parts of cars and then scrapping them for cash. See Over the past month the La Mesa Police Department has received several reports of catalytic converter thefts occurring within the City.

College district considering security switch (U-T San Diego)

San Diego sheriff’s deputies would start patrolling Grossmont and Cuyamaca college campuses this fall in response to what district officials say is an increase in crime. Under a proposed contract, worth an estimated $1.4 million, sheriff’s deputies will replace the district’s police department, said spokeswoman Anne Krueger. If approved, the contract would be the first in San Diego County between the Sheriff’s Department and a community college district for police services.

As Many As 800 State Prisoners May Be Heading To San Diego County (KPBS)

We have the county's top law enforcement officials joining us to discuss the latest round of prison realignment with news that as many as 800 inmates may be released from state custody to county custody. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore and Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins weigh in with their concerns as we learn some of these prisoners may have been violent or sex offenders.

San Miguel cuts term of ex-chief's temporary job (U-T San Diego)

The San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District Board voted 5-1 Wednesday against extending a temporary employment agreement with retired San Miguel Fire Chief Augie Ghio for a year, instead offering the 61-year-old a three-month contract. / The board plans another look at the contract at the end of September to see if an extension would be warranted.

Hello-ah to a mola mola (U-T San Diego)

The strangely fascinating creatures known as mola mola (or ocean sunfish) have been showing up off San Diego.

STATE

Janet Napolitano picked as UC President (Sacramento Bee)

…Janet Napolitano, President Barack Obama's homeland security secretary, has been nominated as the next president of the 10-campus UC system, the university announced Friday. Her selection signals a major shift for California's premier public university system, which for more than a century has been led by men steeped in academia.

The incurable illness in the valley dust  (BBC)

 The valley city where people are afraid to breathe.

Why California won't build prisons to ease inmate overcrowding (Sacramento Bee)

In his final effort to forestall a federal court order requiring the state to reduce its prison population by nearly 10,000 inmates, Gov. Jerry Brown last week counted the ways prison conditions have improved since the court first winced at overcrowding years ago.

Could NSA spying hurt California economy? (U-T San Diego)

California and its businesses have a problem. It’s called the National Security Agency.