EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

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July 25, 2019 (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

STATE

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

LOCAL

Former Employees at Youth Migrant Facility  in El Cajon Describe Wide-Ranging Neglect of Children and Employees (NBC 7)

Supervisors at a migrant youth detention shelter in El Cajon ignored reports of child abuse and told staffers not to respond to the children’s pleas for emotional help and ignored requests to use the restroom, according to a June 4 lawsuit filed by former employees of the Southwest Key Programs shelter. 

Wildlife center seeing record number of patients (Ramona Sentinel)

In the first six months of this year, the Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona has seen an all-time high of patients. Between Jan. 1 to July 1, the center cared for 588 patients—a 35 percent increase compared to the same time period last year at 434, the Humane Society of the United States reported.

Footprints on the moon: local region has been big contributor in every major space program, including 3 astronauts who graduated from Grossmont High School (San Diego Union-Tribune)

It was a moment of anxiety and suspense, fear and exhilaration. And, in the end, astonishment and pride. Fifty years ago this weekend…Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to land on the moon when their fragile spacecraft Eagle gently touched down as hundreds of millions of people watched on live television.

Ratepayer Lawsuit Claims New Wildfire Fund Law Unconstitutional (KPBS)

Gov. Gavin Newsom says the law is needed to protect consumers from skyrocketing wildfire costs. Former City Attorney Michael Aguirre calls it an unlawful gift of public funds.

Activists fight to keep serial rapist behind bars (Fox 5)

A demonstration was held in front of the downtown San Diego courthouse Tuesday opposing the release of the "Bolder Than Most Rapist." Alvin Quarles has spent 25 years behind bars in a 50 year sentence for victimizing 14 people and raping four at knife point… The hearing was closed to the public and victims, who say the judge is breaking the California Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008…Judge Gill was initially going to grant Quarles freedom to move into a home in Jacumba last year, but is now reconsidering.

All too rare: Public agency quickly improves transparency after being called out (San Diego Union-Tribune editorial)

When government agencies face sharp criticism for their decisions, it’s rare for them to immediately admit error. But that’s just what the Sweetwater Authority has done. On Friday, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board posted an editorial criticizing the water agency for no longer requiring that minutes be kept at meetings of two important committees where key decisions are made…

San Diego council members call for inquiry of alleged Junior Theater sex abuse cover-up  (10 News)

Two San Diego City Council members called Wednesday on California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and District Attorney Summer Stephan to investigate San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott's possible role in an alleged child sexual abuse cover-up at the San Diego Junior Theatre.

STATE

Not enough Latinos and women are applying to draw new California political districts (Sacramento Bee)

 Latinos, Asian Americans and women are underrepresented among applicants for the 2020 commission that will draw California congressional districts, and some advocacy groups are asking for a deadline extension to address the disparities.

U.S. Forest Service relents in California firefighting dispute, state to recoup millions (Sacramento Bee)

The state of California and the U.S. Forest Service reached an agreement late Tuesday on federal reimbursement rates for local firefighters, ending a tense standoff that had alarmed state officials.

'California Is Being Overrun By Rodents,' Study Shows (Patch.com)

California is home to the nation's second "rattiest city", and San Francisco, San Diego and LA are all part of the problem, a study found.

Idyllwild prized its isolation. Now, with the roads into towns wrecked, it feels all alone. Los Angeles Times)

…Idyllwild’s causes celebres tended toward high passion, but usually without a life-altering wallop. That changed in a seeming instant five months ago, when record-setting rainfall washed away one main road to the community and left another severely damaged and available only part of each day.

 


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