January 21, 2012(Sacramento) Assemblymember Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has introduced legislation to prevent abusive ex-spouses from forcing their victims to pay them spousal support and other financial compensation following a divorce. AB 1522 was inspired by the case of a San Diego area woman who was ordered by a court to pay her husband's legal fees plus monthly spousal support, despite the fact that he was convicted of committing violent sex crimes against her and was ultimately sent to prison.
January 21, 2012 (Washington, DC) -- Congressman Bob Filner recently introduced legislation to ensure that the Department of Defense meets its obligation to contract with small businesses owned and controlled by service-connected disabled veterans.
January 21, 2012 (Sacramento) -- Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state public health officer, today warned individuals who work or play outdoors in the winter months to be on the alert for ticks that may carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
January 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an urgent high wind warning for San Diego County mountains and deserts. The warning is in effect from now through 10 p.m. tonight as a strong storm moves through the region.
January 21, 2012 (Santee) – The 2012 holiday season may be almost a year away, but Santee Santas are getting an early holiday gift. The all-volunteer, non-profit organization that has been bringing the spirit of the holidays to the Santee community for more than fifty years was informed that they will be the recipients of a $1,000 cash donation from Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.
January 25, 2012: Updated to include comments by Terry Francke, General Counsel at Calaware, who concludes this was not a Brown Act violation and a response from the San Diego District Attorney declining to prosecute the matter.
By Miriam Raftery
January 21, 2012 (Alpine) – Alpine Community Planning Group member George Barnett appears to have violated the Brown Act when he expressed his views on an agenda item in an e-mail to members of the ACPG’s Public Facilities Subcommitee meeting, a top County official has concluded. In the e-mail, Barnett voiced strong views regarding a hand-out by the East Alpine Property Owner’s Alliance on proposed land-use changes, calling its conclusions “nuts” and “needlessly alarmist.”
January 21, 2011 (La Mesa) –A man was robbed of his IPOD at gunpoint on January 17 around 9:30 pm. in the parking lot at Highwood Park, 7777 Junior High Drive in La Mesa.
Check out these loveable pups (and one bird) now available for adoption
By Cate Sacks
January 20, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -These shelter dogs have been provided training to become dream dogs for individuals or families. This month, we have several wonderful dogs to choose from, from pups to mature pets, and one bird.
January 20, 2012 (Santee)—A Sheriff’s Deputy from the Santee Station tried to pull over a driver in a white Honda for a false registration in the 10000 block of Mission Gorge Road shortly before 3 p.m. today.
“The driver initially yielded, but as the deputy was getting out of his patrol car, the driver started backing up, ramming the patrol car,” said Melissa Aquino, public affairs officer with the Sheriff.
January 21, 2012 (Spring Valley) –More than 70 homeless people in San Diego have a clean, dry mat to sleep on – thanks to the tireless efforts of Wilma Groh.
Supervisors accused of approving items not on agenda regarding cutting red tape for development projects
By Terry Francke, General Counsel, Californians Aware
January 20, 2012 (San Diego)--Californians Aware has filed suit against the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, challenging its decision at a meeting last month as a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law for local government.
The petition, filed today in San Diego County Superior Court, cites the Board’s immediate approval of a slate of recommendations from an advisory committee on cutting red tape in development approvals.
January 20, 2012 (El Cajon ) – El Cajon Police have arrested June Carol Pickard, 57, and her son, Francis Richard Noble, 31. The two were arraigned Tuesday, accused of conspiring to hire a hitman to kill Noble’s wife.
Police learned of the plot after a former classmate of Noble came forward and revealed that Pickard had offered money for killing the 31-year-old victim.
January 20, 2012 (La Mesa) -- So many people now have one of the forms of the Kindle by Amazon. Some of the Kindles do more than others, but all of them have a book-reading function. Many readers have been finding that books are very expensive through ordinary sources. However, there are many sites online that offer free books for download.
New online tool provides customers with easy access to energy use data
January 20, 2012 (San Diego)– Today San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced the launch of the “Green Button,” a new tool that will provide customers with easy access to their energy usage data.
January 20, 2012 (El Cajon ) -- Did you know that the Chase Gold Mines in El Cajon yielded $100,000? Third grade students in El Cajon are invited to dig up more historical stories and enter an essay contest sponsored by the El Cajon Historical Society. Children learning about local history are encouraged to write a 300-word essay about El Cajon's past.
January 20, 2011 (San Diego)--San Diego Voice & Viewpoint newspaper will host a forum on leadership in the African and African American Communities on Januuary 26. The purpose of this event is to discuss the differences and similarities between communities, and to begin to work more collectively on issues. Thoughts and comments are welcome to this discussion on relations between those in the African and African American communities.
January 20, 2012 (January 20, 2012 ) Lakeside –A memorial service will be held January 27 for Ryan Carter, the 12-year-old Lakeside boy stabbed to death by a playmate, age 10.
Man crushed in EDCO packing machine remains hospitalized
By Miriam Raftery
January 19, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A worker crushed inside a packing machine December 31 at an EDCO recycling center in Lemon Grove remains hospitalized three weeks later, ECM has learned.
“We understand his condition is improving,” said John Snyder, general manager at EDCO.Snyder declined to provide the worker’s name or details of his injuries, citing medical privacy laws. But he said the man, 57, is a long-time employee.
January 16, 2012 (El Cajon) -- World-renowned bluegrass band The Kruger Brothers will perform at the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theatre on Tuesday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m.
The Kruger Brothers play original music composed by Jens Kruger. It's called "unpretentious, cultivated, and delightfully fresh." The Kruger Brothers are known for their remarkable musicianship and unique take on the American Songbook.
January 19, 2012 (San Diego) --Philippino undocumented immigrant and Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Jose Antonio Vargas was the keynote speaker for the All People's Breakfast honoring Dr Martin Luther King on Monday, January 16.
Report: States Lack Sound, Consistent Policies to Enforce Job-Creation and Other Performance Requirements in Economic Development Subsidy Programs
January 19, 2012 (Washington D.C.)—Despite the fact that many economic development deals fall short on job creation or other benefits, states are highly inconsistent in how they monitor, verify and enforce the terms of job subsidies that cost taxpayers billions of dollars per year. Many states fail to even verify that companies receiving subsidies are meeting their job-creation and other commitments, and many more have weak penalty policies for addressing non-compliance.
January 19, 2012 (El Cajon)--Grossmont High School and Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) broke ground last week for a new humanities building at Grossmont High School. The two-story, 35,000-square-foot building now under construction is the largest classroom project funded by the Proposition U construction program passed by voters in 2008.
January 19, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) –For those interested in a career within the “green” construction industry, Cuyamaca College is providing a four-week introductory course free to eligible students through a training program co-sponsored by the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
January 19, 2012 (San Diego) – The Regional Task Force on the Homeless seeks volunteers to help with its annual countywide point-in-time count of homeless people in our region. Titled the “We all County Campaign,” the count will be held on Friday, January 27 from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. To volunteer, sign up at http://www.rtfhsd.org/pitc/weallcount-registration/.
January 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’re seeing smoke over our local mountains, don’t panic. Cal-Fire confirms that it is assisting the Rancho Cuyamaca State Park with a controlled burn today.
IPN indicates the burn is at the Middle Peaks area of the Park.
Crowd reacts warmly to news that CPUC denied SDG&E charge as "illegal"
Photo by Bob Silvern
January 18, 2012 (San Diego) -- Over sixty San Diegans angered by SDG&E’s proposed tax (network use charge) on rooftop solar customers protested at the company’s Energy Innovation Center open house today, pleading: “Please don’t take our sunshine away.”
Unbeknownst to protesters, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a ruling during the same hour rejecting SDG&E’s proposal after concluding that the proposed charge would be illegal.
January 18, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
U.S.
National News
Obama seeks to revamp government, focus on exports (Reuters)
Limits on military funeral protests advance (San Diego Union Tribune)
USDA says it will close 259 offices to save $150 million (San Diego UT)
Tea Party may get rebuffed in tax cut showdown (Reuters)
Cantor: US allies have doubts about policies to control Iran (The Hill)
Presidential Campaign
Huntsman drops out, endorses Romney (CNN)
Romney takes some heat over Bain Capital’s actions (Winona Daily News, South Carolina)
Judge rejects Republican candidates requests to be on Virginia ballot (Fox News)
Mitt Romney’s lies (US News & World Reports)
Which presidential candidates have earned the defense industry’s support? (RawStory)
CNN Poll: Ron Paul tied with President Obama (CNN)
WORLD
Government says Hezbollah profits from U.S. cocaine market via link to Mexico drug cartel (Propublica)
U.S. warns Iran over military posturing (CBS News)
It’s official: S&P announces mass downgrade of Eurozone countries (Business Insider)
Iran says nuclear expert killed by bomb attach (NPR)
Russian ship stopped with arms bound for Syria (NPR)
Shiite and Sunni: what are the differences? (Christian Science Monitor)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Research provides diabetes hope (BBC)
New tuberculosis strain thwarts all antibiotics (NPR)
Lights at night not a bright idea (Jerusalem Post)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
By Miriam Raftery
By Terry Francke, General Counsel, Californians Aware
By Miriam Raftery
By Manuel Ocana (Spanish translation below)
January 19, 2012 (San Diego) – The Regional Task Force on the Homeless seeks volunteers to help with its annual countywide point-in-time count of homeless people in our region. Titled the “We all County Campaign,” the count will be held on Friday, January 27 from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. To volunteer, sign up at 
By Brian Lafferty
Crowd reacts warmly to news that CPUC denied SDG&E charge as "illegal" 
Recent comments