February 14, 2022 (San Diego) – Your next batch of guacamole may cost a whole lot more. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has banned imports of Mexican avocados, in response to a threat made to an agriculture inspector.
February 14, 2022 (Valley Center) – David Salas, Jr. of Valley Center is charged with assaulting Sheriff’s deputies with a deadly weapon after he rammed his Dodge Ram pickup truck into multiple patrol vehicles and dragged one officer.
Updated Feb. 15 with additional comments from Jennifer Mendoza.
By Miriam Raftery
February 14, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – Thieves broke into the church and food pantry at St. John’s of the Cross Church at 8086 Broadway in Lemon Grove on February 8 around 3 a.m., vandalizing the property and stealing foods used to feed people in need, according to Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, who manages the church's food pantry.
Councilmember Mendoza says, "We’re at the food pantry every Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. till noon. Any donations are much appreciated."
According to Mendoza, two of the perpetrators have been arrested. "The sheriff thinks there may be more. They don't think they were after food but were looking for electronic equipment like TVs, computers, speakers etc. or money. They also broke into the church...They caused a lof of damage to the church and pantry. We need to fix broken windows and doors, replace locks, etc. We are also thinking we now need a security system."
February 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators assigned to Border Division’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) have arrested three suspects believed to be part of an organized retail theft ring. Investigators also recovered thousands of dollars in bras, panties and other merchandise stolen from Victoria’s Secret stores across our region.
February 14, 2022 (San Diego) – Less than two weeks after the resignation of Sheriff Bill Gore, Acting Sheriff Kelly Martinez has approved a process for trained Citizen's Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) staff to respond to death scenes in county jails as well as deputy-involved shootings that result in a fatality or where death is likely.
Fraudulent, yet sophisticated, robocalls tell customers that their service will be disconnected within the hour and demand immediate payment
Source: SDG&E
February 13, 2022 (San Diego) – SDG&E is warning of a new round of scammers targeting utility customers. The robocalls tell customers that their power will be turned off within the hour and direct them to press “1” to reach customer service, where they demand immediate payment to keep service in place. This scam is troubling because the calls sound professionally produced and claim to connect customers to the billing and collections department. If the scammers do not reach a person on their first call, then they will likely call back or leave a message with the same instructions.
Our radio shows from September through December 2021 are now online. For links to listen plus an index with full list of topics and interviews in each show, click hereor click the "read more" link and scroll down for audio links below the index. (Audio files may take a few moments to load.)
Highlights included interviews with Steven Prusky of Rescue Task Force on the situation in Afghanistan, Dr. Mark Sawyer of Rady Chidren’s Hospital and Dr. William Tseng of Kaiser Permanente on COVID abd vaccines for kids, Supervisors Jim Desmond on the mileage tax and Joel Anderson on expanding parks access, State Senator Brian Jones on his legislation, and Rick Hall from the El Cajon Historical Society. We also aired a speech by Secretary of State Shirley Weber delivered during our Community Champions Awards and covered many top news stories locally.
The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM. Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. (Note: Due to COVID-19, some show dates aired reruns. Original shows are listed below.) Shows also include station IDs and public service announcements.
February 13, 2022 (San Diego) - Morris Casuto, the Anti-Defamation League regional director who defended San Diego County’s Jewish community against antisemites while forging good relations with other ethnic and religious groups within the county, died from leukemia Friday night, February 11, at the UCSD Jacobs Medical Center. Graveside funeral services for Casuto, 79, will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at El Camino Memorial Park.
February 12, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) - Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA-50) issued the following statement on Feb. 7 after passage of his amendment by the House of Representatives. The Issa legislation requires the Department of Commerce to report to Congress within 60 days outlining policy changes that can be implemented within 30 days to address the continuing supply chain crisis.
Photos: Councilmember Lothian envisions murals, such as this one projected onto a currently blank building wall.
February 12, 2022 (La Mesa) — Ever drive through La Mesa and notice the blank gray side of a building? Councilmember Laura Lothian sure does, and she’d like to change what people see.
February 12, 2022 (Las Vegas) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (11-13, 5-8) lost at first place UNLV (20-4, 12-1) 76-67 inside Cox Pavilion Saturday afternoon.
February 12, 2022 (Lakeside) – Bryan Luther Edwards, 27, has been arrested for the shooting death of his brother, Derek Maurice Edwards, 32, at their Lakeside home. Bryan was stabbed in the altercation with Derek and was transported to a local area hospital for treatment.
February 12, 2022 (Santee) -- Santee’s grand plan to turn part of Trolley Square into an arts and entertainment district took a big step forward on February 9 when the City Council approved the sale of a parcel for a four-story, 89-room hotel.
February 11, 2022 (La Jolla) -- The COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 harbors a vulnerable site at the base of its spike protein that is found also on closely related coronaviruses, according to a new study from Scripps Research. The discovery, published Feb 8 in Science Translational Medicine,could inform the design of broad-acting vaccines and antibody therapies capable of stopping future coronavirus pandemics.
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, IAVI, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the San Diego Center for AIDS Research, the John and Mary Tu Foundation, and the James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust.
February 11, 2022 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Historical Society’s featured speaker on Monday, February 28th at 6 p.m. will be Richard Edmonds, a Lakeside resident, retired firefighter and Africanized bee safety trainer.
Leashes help to keep dogs & people safer by preventing bites, fights & traffic accidents!
Source: City of La Mesa
February 11, 2022 (La Mesa) - La Mesa City leaders are reminding dog owners to be good neighbors by keeping their dogs on a leash, unless in a designated off-leash area. It's also the law. Leashes keep dogs and the people around them safer by preventing bites, fights and traffic accidents, as well as avoiding potentially dangerous encounters with snakes, coyotes, or other wild animals.
“Now we have 5G rolling out in massive quantities, without due diligence to determine are these sources of radiation safe not only for humans but for wildlife. And the answer is, no, they are not." --Dr. Albert Manville, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and co-author of the study
February 11, 2022 (Sacramento) -- A growing body of scientific studies showed electromagnetic fields from the extremely low frequencies common to power lines and radio-frequency radiation, the kind from cell towers and mobile devices, may be harmful to wildlife as well as humans.
February 11, 2022 (Alpine) – The deadline for public comments has been extended to March 5 for the Alpine Community Plan Update and a proposed General Plan Amendment that would allow increased density on formerly protected lands in close proximity to Cleveland National Forest lands. A Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) has been prepared to analyze and disclose the environmental impacts of the project.
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies
Photo left via Creative Commons
February 11, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) - In 1933, the federal government established the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC), a program set up as part of the New Deal, intending to address the large number of home loans in default because of the Great Depression and to also expand opportunities for buying homes. Between 1935 and 1940, the HOLC created a series of color-coded maps that it stated was for the purpose of identifying creditworthiness and mortgage security risk. While assessing risk is understandable, the maps and the investments they guided, created a system of inequity and institutional racism that is still affecting poor and minority communities today.
February 11, 2022 (San Diego) – Doyle Nyles Marler, 63, has died while in custody of a hospital guard unit while awaiting palliative care for a terminal illness.
Marler, was arrested on May 2, 2020 and charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Two months later, on July 24, 2020, he was committed to Patton State Hospital but never sent there, due to COVID-19 restrictions at the hospital.
February 11, 2022 (La Mesa) — Phil Rath could see the light at the end of the tunnel. He had the La Mesa Planning Commission’s stamp of approval, as well as the Design Review Board’s. It appeared that his employer, Urbn Leaf, would soon have a new cannabis dispensary at 7901 Hillside Drive.
February 10, 2022 (La Mesa) -- To help struggling La Mesa families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City announced today the expansion of the current Mortgage Assistance Program to also include rent payment relief for residents. Beginning Monday, February 14, applications will be accepted for rental assistance.
February 10, 2022 (San Diego) – Starting February 15, fully vaccinated people will no longer have to wear masks indoors in most places in San Diego County. But the action runs counter to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control advice, which continues to recommend face masks, particularly N95 masks, as the best way to prevent spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
February 9, 2022 (San Diego) – Last week, the California State Auditor affirmed that over 185 people have died in San Diego County jails from 2006-2020. Today, the People’s Association of Justice Advocates (PAJ) called for a racial breakdown of those deaths as well as data on how many of those who died ever came before a judge.
February 9, 2022 (San Diego) – Despite a pandemic and record wildfires, California is experiencing a strong economic record and higher than expected revenues, resulting in a projected record budget surplus, The state projects a $45 billion surplus, including $20.6 billion in discretionary funds Just how those funds should be used, however, has prompted a wide range of opinions.
February 9, 2022 (San Diego) - After an unsuccessful road trip, SDSU women’s basketball is back home hosting Nevada this morning for SDSU’s annual Field Trip Day.
February 9, 2022 (La Mesa) -- The annual Cupids & Canines MEGA Adoption Event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Grossmont Center shopping mall, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa.
About two dozen animal rescue agencies and shelters are expected to bring nearly 300 adoptable dogs and cats to the mall looking for prospective homes as part of the event put on by the San Diego Animal Support Foundation.
Feb. 9, 2022 (Santee) One location now has two restaurants. Since early January, Al Pastor Town has shared the commercial space with The Omelette Factory Santee on Magnolia Avenue.
The Omelette Factory Santee runs the breakfast, brunch, and lunch time period. Al Pastor Town operates the restaurant space from the afternoon until evening, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
February 9, 2022 (Ramona) -- Looking for some fun exercise? How about a walk to view Ramona’s murals and count the hidden hearts? Then check out your blood pressure and maybe win a home blood pressure monitor. And it will all be good for your heart (or H.E.A.R.T.)
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
Fraudulent, yet sophisticated, robocalls tell customers that their service will be disconnected within the hour and demand immediate payment
Our radio shows from September through December 2021 are now online. For links to listen plus an index with full list of topics and interviews in each show,
By Miriam 
By Donald H. Harrison, S
East County News Service
By Elijah McKee
Sophia Ramos led the Aztecs with 18 points
By Miriam Raftery
By Mike Allen
Scientists identified vulnerable site on multiple coronaviruses that could be targeted to prevent future pandemics
By Miriam Raftery
L
By Suzanne Potter, California News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies
East County News Service
By Elijah McKee
Source: City of La Mesa
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
Story and photos by Liz Alper
Story and photos by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
Source: Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Murals
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