EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

July 17, 2015 (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

• Grossmont OK's more money toward lawsuit (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Residents Donate Artifacts for Cedar Fire Monument  (NBC San Diego)
• SANDAG’s Role In Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disputed (KPBS)

STATE

• Bills aim to reform utilities agency (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Judge in drought-hit California blocks water cut orders for some farmers (Reuters)
• No more showers at state beaches (U-T)
• California's Driest Region Finds Short-Term Drought Aid (NPR)
• Gov. Brown signs bill closing loopholes in sexual assault bill (los Angeles Times)
• Aetna’s 21% rate hike amounts to rate-gouging, CA Regulators say (Los Angeles Times)

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

LOCAL

Grossmont OK's more money toward lawsuit (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Alpine groups' legal challenges to cost Grossmont Union HS District thousands more.

Residents Donate Artifacts for Cedar Fire Monument  (NBC San Diego)

The monument on Lakeside Avenue pays tribute to those who died in San Diego's devastating 2003 Cedar Fire

SANDAG’s Role In Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disputed (KPBS)

Environmental groups say SANDAG is responsible for creating a transportation plan that cuts emissions 80 percent by 2050 — a target Gov. Jerry Brown set — but SANDAG says meeting those reductions isn't it's job alone.

STATE

Bills aim to reform utilities agency (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Legislation aimed at reforming the California Public Utilities Commission keeps winning support in the state Capitol, although some critics say the proposals don’t go far enough.

Judge in drought-hit California blocks water cut orders for some farmers (Reuters)

California regulators violated the rights of some farmers by demanding mandatory water cutbacks without giving them a prior hearing, a state judge ruled on Friday.

No more showers at state beaches (U-T)

Beachgoers may want to use a towel to brush sand away or bring water in a jug.

California's Driest Region Finds Short-Term Drought Aid (NPR)

Progress is being made toward bringing water to thousands of Central Valley residents in underserved communities where wells have run dry. The question is how long this solution will last.

Aetna’s 21% rate hike amounts to rate-gouging, CA Regulators say (Los Angeles Times)

California's managed-care regulator slammed health insurance giant Aetna Inc. on Thursday for "price gouging" after it raised rates on small employers by 21%.