By Nadin Abbott

Photos Tom Abbott

October 2, 2012 (San Diego) — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held two meetings on October 2 at the Bahr Shrine Auditorium in Kearny Mesa. The first session had about 50 members of the public attending, ratepayers who came from all over Southern California, including San Diego’s East County.

The common theme from residents, expressed well by Carol Jahnkow from Encinitas, was, “Why should rate payers pay for Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas and Electric’s (SDG&E) mistakes?”

October 3, 2013 (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

• Highway 67 barriers considered (U-T San Diego)
• Accretive plays hardball with planning groups (Valley Center Press--Opinion by David D. Ross)
• Autopsy scheduled for woman whose body was found on Barona reservation (10 News)
• Miramar air show cancelled at last minute (U-T San Diego)
• Vons store hit with tobacco sales suspension in El Cajon (U-T San Diego)
• Campo residents fight plan to move violent sexual predator into their neighborhood (10 News)
• City Investigates Foul Odor Near River in Santee (Santee Patch)
• Fired teacher sues San Diego diocese (U-T San Diego)
• La Mesa tracks down graffiti (La Mesa Courier)
• Mission Trails Regional Park out of control? Wildlife Agencies say it is (Mission Times Courier)
•  Jamul Groups Sue to Derail Casino (UT San Diego)
• Casino planned for Jamul, CA faces challenges (Courthouse News)
• San Diego Researchers Lead The Way In Early Warning Earthquake Sensors (KPBS)
• SANDAG OKs $200M for bike projects (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• California report says truancy may cost state billions (Sacramento Bee)
• Brown Signs Bill Ending Current Standardized Tests (KPBS)
• Quarantine for citrus pest grows in central Calif.

Click “read more” and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

October 3, 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.

• Obamacare open enrollment begins: What you need to know Oct. 1 (CBS)
• U.S. government shuts down as Congress can’t agree on spending deal (CNN)
• GOP puts new price on debt hike (The Hill)
• Why the healthcare law scares the GOP (New York Times)
• Soaring number of elderly women living in extreme poverty (RawStory)
• "For Their Own Protection": Children in Long-Term Solitary Confinement (Reason)
• Fighting fires with aging tankers from another era (Los Angeles Times)
• Immigrant activists will attempt to cross back into U.S. (Raw Story)
• US sending bankrupt Detroit $300 million. Think 'stimulus,' not 'bailout.' (+video) (CS Monitor)
• U.S. deputy nuclear commander suspended during investigation (Reuters)
• JPMorgan In Talks To Avoid Criminal Charges (NPR)

WORLD

• Defected Syrian general: Assad will never cede chemical arsenal
• How Likely is a Nairobi-Style Attack in the US? (Reason)
•  Unleashing Boy Scouts To Counter Drug Cartels (KPBS)
• Two Marine Generals Forced To Retire After Taliban Attack On Base(AP)
• Kenya says 'at war' with al Shabaab, faces security questions (Reuters)
•  New leak at Japan nuke plant due to tank overflow (U-T San Diego)
• Jellyfish invade, shutdown Swedish nuclear reactor (CS Monitor)
•  Pakistan rocked by another major earthquake (CS Monitor)
• Hundreds rally in Spain protesting the monarchy (U-T San Diego)
• Greek Neo-Nazi Party Arrests Follow High-Profile Murder
• Multiple Car Bombs Wreak Havoc In Baghdad, Killing Dozens (NPR)
• China's power capacity will double by 2030, report says (CS Monitor)
• Fugitive Snowden short-listed for European rights prize (Reuters)
• Tropical storm Wutip hammers Vietnam, Thailand (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Mexico rescues 73 suspected kidnap victims near U.S. border (Reuters)

Click “read more” and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

October 2, 2013 (San Diego)--Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to provide retroactive pay to federal workers regardless of their furlough status.  If enacted, the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act (H.R. 3223) will ensure that federal employees impacted by the government shutdown receive retroactive pay for the full duration of the federal government shutdown.

The San Diego region is home to more than 45,000 federal workers, many of whom have been placed on furlough status and will not receive back pay without congressional action.

By Janis Mork

October 3, 2013 (San Diego)- At its September 11 meeting, the Board of Supervisors received an update from the Office of Emergency Services (OES) on how the department is better preparing San Diego for the 2013 fire season. The board also learned steps to keep those with special needs safe and what caregivers can do.

Supervisor Dave Roberts, a former firefighter, spoke first. “ I have tremendous respect for fire fighters…[to] take care of the vulnerable population.”  He  thanked the OES for its efforts and said he is pleased to be moving the item forward. “This will help get caregivers more assistance.. It’s my hope that today everyone will leave with a better understanding of being prepared.”

October 1, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) –San Diego’s Sheriff seeks public help to located Sean Colin McRea, 35.  He is wanted for making terrorist threats to harm his wife and for reckless driving while intoxicated. A felony warrant was issued after he failed to appear in court regarding a Sheriff’s investigation in unincorporated El Cajon 

He has a military background and is believed to have access to weapons; he is believed to be armed and dangerous.

But feds still outlaw cultivation of hemp, leaving farmers in legal limbo

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2013 (Sacramento) – Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act,Senate Bill 566.  The measure authorizes growing of hemp for industrial purposes—but only varieties that don’t contain substantial levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical in hemp’s close relative, marijuana.  

September 30, 2013 (Ramona) – With the federal government nearing a shutdown, Supervisor Dianne Jacob and Supervisor Ron Roberts have issued a press statement emphasizing the importance of keeping the Ramona Airport traffic control tower open. The Federal Aviation Administration earlier this year targeted the facility – a hub of aerial firefighting operations -- for closure due to sequestration, but extended the funding to October 1.  In recent weeks, the FAA has not publicly disclosed its plans for the tower and the looming shutdown is heightening worries about the facility’s future.

By Trang Pham

September 30, 2013 (San Diego)--On September 27th, Assemblymember Toni Atkins met with community members, medical interpreters and former patients to honor those who have been affected by language access barriers at medical facilities. She also called on Governor Jerry Brown to sign legislation to improve patients’ access to interpreters.

September 30, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--We had a great lineup of guests in September!  Our radio shows are now posted,  so you can listen to shows you  missed.  Below are links, along with a lineup of guests each day including Sheriff Bill Gore, Supervisor Dianne Jacob, climate change expert Eve Simmons, Noori Barka from the Chaldean American Institute, Van Collinsworth from Preserve Wild Santee, Helix Water’s Joel Scalzetti, and others including local authors, musicians, historians, and more.

Three ways to listen: 

1.  On-air broadcasts of our show run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and repeats Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on KNSJ 89.1 FM. 

2. If you can’t hear the signal, you can listen live during broadcasts at www.knsj.org. 

3. To listen online to our September shows, click “read more” below and scroll down to read a lineup of guests on each day’s show. (Note: you can find older shows further down the page you're now on.)

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- This week, we highlight upcoming items on the agendas for the Lemon Grove City Council and tehl Lakeside Community Planning Group.

September 30, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Festival Chorus is a non-audition, 70-member chorus with singers from all across East County.  Beginning its 13th season, the group has performed everything from Beethoven to Broadway and everything in between.  The chorus has two concerts in December and May with its 45- piece orchestra for audiences of up to 1200.  The chorus also does outreach performances.

September 30, 2013 (La Mesa) – A wide variety of hand-crafted, fairly traded items will be available at a La Mesa gift faire scheduled for October 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall, 7710 El Cajon Boulevard in La Mesa.  Visitors can savor samples of Fair Trade certified ice cream, (Ben and Jerry’s) and coffee while perusing gift items such as hand made baskets, jewelry, clothing accessories, and an abundance of gift items. Also available for purchase will be Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, tea, bananas and soda.

Here is an opportunity to join the many thousands of today’s consumers who are inspired to add “socially responsible” to their shopping list. To purchase a Fair Trade certified product is to make a difference. The designation signifies that artisans and farmers in the poorest areas of the world have received fair, livable wages for their product or ingredients. In addition, certain standards must be met in the production process. These include protecting the environment, building economic sustainability, and providing opportunities for education and health care for families. Young children are protected from forced labor.

September 30, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Sprites of East County, a mother-daughter non-profit philanthropic organization, is looking for new members. The organization’s goals include providing volunteer service to local charities, financial assistance to their philanthropies, along with providing scholarships to deserving young girls in the community. Sprites is comprised of mothers and their 7th-12th grade daughters who reside in the Grossmont Union High School District.

Those interested in becoming a “Sprite” can contact membership coordinators Jocelyn Cherin and Emily Waring at contact@spritesofeastcounty.org, on Facebook, and by mail at Sprites of East County Inc., P.O. Box 786, El Cajon, California 92022-0786.