By Miriam Raftery

Photo: courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

February 13, 2019 (Jamul) – A mansion in Rancho Jamul Estates owned by prominent jeweler Leo Hamel was raided today by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Some of his jewelry stores were also searched in connection with a firearms trafficking case, 10 News reports.

In 2016, Hamel ran for the California State Assembly as a Republican, seeking to represent most of East County. Despite announcing that he had dropped out before the primary election, his name remained on the ballot and he advanced to the November run-off, but was defeated by Randy Voepel.

February 13, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• For Some Kids, Measles Becomes a Time Bomb With No Cure (The Daily Beast
• Trump Highlights Health Agenda And Vows To Lower 'Unfair' Drug Prices (NPR)
• Madagascar facing devastating measles outbreak (CNN )
• Measles outbreak declared in Philippines (BBC News US )
• Whose Hearts, Livers and Lungs Are Transplanted in China? (The Epoch Times)
• Scans Show Female Brains Remain Youthful As Male Brains Wind Down (NPR)
• China Investigating Reports Of HIV-Tainted Medication (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Critics call on Apple and Google to shut down Saudi app that can restrict women’s travel (Washington Post)
• Deadly earthquake traveled at “supersonic” speeds — why that matters (National Geographic)
• As Magnetic North Pole Zooms Toward Siberia, Scientists Update World Magnetic Model (NPR)

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

By Miriam Raftery

February 13, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) --  A strong atmospheric river storm system with "pineapple connections" (Hawaii origin) will arrive tonight and bring periods of heavy rain late and thunderstorms tonight through Thursday. Mountains could receive 4 to 10 inches of rain, with 2 to 4 inches in valleys and coastal areas and up to an inch in the desert.

The National Weather Service advises that widespread heavy rainfall is expected across the entire area with potential for significant flooding of low lying, poor drainage, and urbanized areas with debris flows possible near recent burn scars. High winds will also be a concern in the mountains and deserts.

How two women are changing the face of artifact and collection care

East County News Service

February 12, 2019 (San Diego) – Starting any company is always a risk, but starting one that is so specialized that only a small handful of people in the entire country do it, well that’s on a whole new level. Yet that is exactly what local San Diego author and historian, Melanie Dellas, and museum professional and anthropologist, Karen Lacy, did – and they are changing the way museums and private collectors think about caring for their objects and fine art.   

East County News Service

February 13, 2019 (San Diego) -- The ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLUF-SDIC) on Monday filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit by several police unions seeking to prevent the release of police misconduct records as required by the state’s new law, the “California Public Records Act” (SB 1421). The ACLU demands that local law enforcement agencies act immediately to comply with the new law.

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

February 12, 2019 (San Diego) - The County Board of Supervisors today voted to allow the Health and Human Services Agency to apply for and receive about $125 million to help people with serious mental illness and who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

East County News Service

February 12, 2019 (La Mesa) – “Toby is on the hunt for a Valentine date. The rumor is that he has his eye on a cute velociraptor,” says Jeff Phair, developer of La Mesa Summit Estates.

Phair and his wife purchased the whimsical sculptor last August and installed it at the site of the future residential project in September. Since then, Toby the T-Rex has been spotted garbed in a variety of holiday wear, also attracting artwork created by local children. 

Mayor promises more community forums; mandates City Council members to reach out to constituents with similar community forums

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Audio: tinyurl.com/ECM-012019BillWellsTownHall

February 12, 2019 (El Cajon) - El Cajon Mayor Bill Well faced a mostly friendly crowd of some 250 people at a community town hall meeting on January 20th in the Sports Plex facility at Cajon Valley High School. While the Mayor touched on various topics during the two-hour meeting, El Cajon’s chronic homeless problem and crimes perpetrated by homeless individuals took center stage.

“Our office has been receiving calls from constituents indicating that they are receiving calls with messages indicating their Social Security number has been suspended,”  Michael Harrison, District Chief of Staff/Communications Director for Hunter states in an email sent today. “Please let your groups know that this is a scam and a fraud to obtain private information and can lead to identity theft.  Do not participate in these calls.  Your Social Security number is never suspended and the Social Security Administration does not contact people by phone, only by mail.  The same is true for the IRS. 

Update February 13, 2019: Judge Whitney has issued a final ruling keeping the City of Lemon Grove as a defendant in this case.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – A witness has disputed a key claim made by Lemon Grove Councilman David Arambula in a civil suit filed by marijuana dispensary applicant Christopher Williams against Arambula and Lemon Grove.  Williams alleges that he Arambula cut his face with a beer bottle, bit, choked and punched him after a meeting at Arambula’s home regarding the dispensary application.

By Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2019 (Sacramento) – How much money are candidates in your city or county getting in campaign contributions—and from whom?  A new bill could soon require local governments to post this information online, instead of requiring members of the public to travel to a governmental office and look up hard copies—an option often not available to people who work full-time.