June 23, 2013 (San Diego ) – The San Diego Medical Examiner has listed a man killed June 20 as a John Doe, since his identity remains unknown.  He was driving a white Acura Integra westbound on State Route 94 just east of 25^th Street in San Diego at 7:38 p.m. June 20 when he lost control of the vehicle. It overturned and struck a palm tree.

By Greg Dunne

June 22, 2013 (Alpine)--“I'm a bluebird, I'm a bluebird I'm a bluebird, yeah, yeah, yeah,” to quote Paul McCartney. Just last week our “children” left the nest here in Alpine, our Western Bluebird children, that is. We enjoyed their company for about three weeks.

We have a birdhouse sitting on the railing going down steps leading to the front door of our house. It was put there some time ago just for yard décor; we thought it was too close to everyday foot traffic to be a choice place to set up raising baby birds.

"A free and independent press is fundamental to a functioning democracy--it differentiates democracy from dictatorship; separates a free society from tyranny."-- Gary Pruitt

June 21, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Associated Press President and CEO Gary Pruitt, in an address to the National Press Club on June 19, warned journalists that AP and other news organizations are experiencing a “chilling effect” on news gathering due to revelations that the government had covertly accessed reporters phone records and  more.

Sources, even in law enforcement, have voiced fears over talking to reporters as a result of the surveillance, Pruitt said.

Below is the full text of his speech from a press release issued by AP:

Cases have significance for ratepayers if jurors find SDG&E liable for punitive damages

By Nadin Abbott; Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

June 21, 2013 (San Diego)—Six years after the Witch Creek/Guejito fires, which the California Public Utilities Commission found were caused by SDG&E’s lines, over 2,000 victims have reached settlements with SDG&E. But 16 victims have not settled or received any compensation from the utility for their losses.  Now a judge has ruled that some cases may proceed to trial.

At a court hearing on June 19, Judge Richard E. L. Strauss ruled that victims will finally have their day in court—in some cases, with a tort liability, all-issues trial. That could force SDG&E to pay punitive damages if a jury finds the utility was negligent and knew of fire hazards that it failed to correct.    

Judge Strauss has set a date for the all-issues trial to finally settle the remaining cases of the Witch Creek/ Rice and Guejito Fires of 2007. These were among the most destructive fires in San Diego history.

By Brian Lafferty

June 21, 2013 (San Diego) – There’s always a first for everything.  Monsters University is the first Pixar film I disapprove of (I should note that I still haven’t seen Cars 2).  Has Pixar gotten complacent since Toy Story 3?  It sure seems so.  Since 1995 they could be counted on to turn out a high-quality product.  Now they’re dangerously close to being indistinguishable from DreamWorks, Blue Sky Studios, and Sony Pictures Animation.

A short path in the southern part of the County measures only ¼ of a mile long but its destination is huge -- Otay Valley Regional Park and 8,500 acres of open space.

June 21, 2013 (Otay) -- The Palm Avenue trail was formally opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday and links the community of Otay Nestor to the regional park, which is expected to one day span 13 miles from the coastal area to the Lower and Upper Otay Lakes.  

“This new trail segment will open up Otay Valley Regional Park to South Bay residents and visitors, providing them with incredible recreational opportunities ranging from playing fields and picnic areas to hiking, biking and horse trails,” said San Diego County Board Chairman Greg Cox.

June 21, 2013 (San Diego) – June is International Refugee Month and the Nile Sisters Development Initiative is sponsoring World Refugee Day on June 29 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 6035 University Avenue, San Diego, in the parking lot.  The event will celebrate the diverse refugee cultures in our community with food, music, entertainment, raffles and more.

June 21, 2013 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police responded to a 911 call last night at 11:17 p.m. from a woman who had been shot in the hand and abdomen by her husband, Clyyde Hayen. On arrival at the residence in the 7300 block of Princeton Avenue, Police found that the suspect was still inside the residence and the victim was unable to leave.

After a few minutes, the 73-year old victim was able to leave the residence.  The victim reported that she had just served her husband with divorce papers prior to the shooting.

By Meg Jensen

June 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – Fueling criticisms of a Republican “war on women,” the GOP-controlled House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1797, a bill that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks in all 50 states.

Nationwide, only 1.1% of abortions occur after 21 weeks; 98.9% are done before 21 weeks. Supporters of the bill contend that it would prevent fetuses from feeling pain.  Opponents voice concerns over the bill taking away the option for parents to terminate a pregnancy when tests available only in the later stages of pregnancy show severe fetal abnormalities.

By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – In a surprise action today, the farm bill was voted down by a 195 to 234 margin in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Currently a 2008 farm bill is in effect, but it expires September 30. Without action to pass a farm bill this year, the 1949 version of the farm bill will be back in place—a move that is expected lead to steep price increases on milk and other agricultural products.

House Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the Farm Bill due to $20 billion in cuts to the food stamp program, which was denounced as cruel at a time when more Americans than ever before are facing food security issues.  Only 24 Democrats in the House voted for the measure.  They were joined by 62 Republicans who also voted against it though for different reasons; Republicans contended the $940 billion bill was too costly.

San Diego’s Congressional delegation split down party lines, with Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa voting for the bill, while Democrats Susan Davis, Juan Vargas, and Scott Peters voted no.

June 20, 2013 (La Mesa)—The City of La Mesa announces a free summer lunch program offering every child under 18 the opportunity or a free lunch each week day all summer. This program is offered to La Mesa in partnership with the USDA, California Department of Education, La Mesa Spring Valley School District, Heaven's Window and a number of churches in La Mesa to staff the two locations.

Saint Andrew’s Episcopal serves lunch from 11:15 to 12:15 at 4816 Glen Street.  Vista La Mesa Christian Church offers lunches from 11:30 to 12:30 at 4210 Massachusetts Street. Enrichment activities are offered after lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays.

June 20, 2013 (Santee) -- Assemblyman Jones (R-Santee) and East County Magazine announced today that they will host a photography contest that features photographs taken in San Diego’s East County. The winning photographs will be displayed in Assemblyman Brian Jones’ Capitol Office and featured in East County Magazine. 

“It’s an honor to be able to highlight the photographers and the beautiful landscapes Eastern San Diego County has to offer,” Jones said.  

Miriam Raftery, Editor of East County Magazine said, “East County Magazine appreciates this opportunity to showcase the works of talented local photographers.  East County Magazine looks forward to publishing works displaying our region’s beautiful scenery and our historic communities.”

All entries must be received by July 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. to be eligible. For details, scroll down.

June 20, 2013 (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 reflect 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.

• Supreme Court: For right to remain silent, a suspect must speak (Jewish World Review)
• Supreme Court rules that human genes cannot be patented (+video) (Christian Science Monitor)
• NSU admits listening to US phone conversations without warrants (CNET)
• ACLU sues to prevent dragnet collection of phone records (New York Times)
• New York lays out $20 billion to adapt to climate change (Reuters)
• How Regulators Enticed Verizon to Sell Out Customers to the NSA (Reason)
• Education crisis not limited to poor school districts (U-T San Diego)
• FEMA denies aid to Texas for blast (AP)
• Obama’s Supreme Court Losing Streak: 0-3 in Property Rights Cases (Reason)

WORLD

• Pentagon bracing for public dissent over climate change and energy shocks (Guardian)
• Japan formally OKs new nuke safety requirements (U-T San Diego)
• China puts up a green wall to US trash (Christian Science Monitor)
• Somali Islamist rebels launch deadly attack on U.N. compound (Reuters)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

Update June 20, 2013 4 p.m. -- The Sacramento Bee reports that due to mounting public pressure, the Governor will abandon efforts to weaken the Public Records Act.  The Bee also reports that Democrats plan to push for a state Constitutional amendment to assure public access to government documents and require local agencies to pay the costs, thwarting efforts by local governments that have sought reimbursement from the state for costs of complying with the decades-old law.

“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.”

By Miriam Raftery, Editor, East County Magazine

June 20, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A budget now on the Governor’s desk would gut the California Public Records Act, eliminating your right to access  public records.  Donna Frye, president of Californians Aware (CalAware), warns, “This is where we are today, facing a Public Records Act wipe-out unless Governor Brown vetoes that portion of the budget trailer bills and restores all the provisions currently in place.”

CalAware, a watchdog group dedicated to protecting open government, urges  citizens to call the Governor today at (916)445-2841 and ask the following: