January 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A high wind warning has been issued by the National Weather Service starting Monday at 6.a.m. through Tuesday at 4 p.m. A wind watch will remain in effect through Wednesday. Gale force winds may be strong enough to cause property damage and traffic hazards for motorists, the NWS warns.
January 22, 2012 (Washington D.C.) -- Despite pressure from the powerful U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobby, the White House announced today that the President would not call for an expansion of the religious exemption in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'(HHS) proposed rule regarding contraceptive coverage without cost-sharingby female employees.
Several workshops scheduled in 2012 to help thousands of American families avert foreclosure
January 22, 2012 (San Diego)--Wells Fargo & Company is hosting the first of three free workshops across Southern California in San Diego for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Wells Fargo Financial, Wachovia Mortgage and Wells Fargo Home Equity customers facing financial hardships. Wells Fargo has invited more than 9,000 mortgage customers in San Diego County and South West Riverside to the free workshop which will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., at the San Diego Convention Center - Hall E located at 111 West Harbor Drive in San Diego. Parking is free - customers should refer to the event website for instructions.
A sharing of artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck site
January 22, 2012 (Santee) -- Fourth grade students at an East County elementary school were treated to an extra special show-and-tell in January. A sampling of artifacts recovered from Titanic, 2.5 miles below the ocean’s surface, were shared with more than 130 enthusiastic Rio Seco Elementary students in Santee. The show-and-tell was a preview of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, opening Feb. 10, 2012 at the San Diego Natural History Museum.
January 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is offering absolutely free tax preparation and e-filing services in East County. Volunteers will staff these locations from February 1, to April 17, 2012.
January 22, 2012 (Spring Valley) – Three victims have been hospitalized after being stabbed with a broken wine glass at a Spring Valley home early this morning. Nicholas Millican, 24, has been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
January 21, 2012 (San Diego)--San Diego City Council will be discussing a proposed “Urban Agriculture Ordinance” on Tuesday, January 31 at 2 p.m. in council chambers, 202 C Street, 12th floor, downtown San Diego. The proposal aims to make it easier to grow food in city limits.
January 21, 2012 (La Mesa) -- Next week, the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) and the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Boards will hear action items on the development of community gardens on school district properties, including Helix Charter High School in La Mesa as well as schools in San Carlos and San Diego.
San Diego Roots, an organization which supports community gardens, is encouraging the public to attend meetings January 26 for the GUHSD and January 24 for the SDSUSD to show support for the gardens, which would benefit community residents as well as students.
January 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) --The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation (MTRP) will present "Trails", an exhibition January 22-February 10 featuring award-winning plein air artist Margaret Larlham. Many of the works were painted in, and are about, Mission Trails and others are of South Africa where the artist previously lived.
The public is cordially invited to a reception in honor of the artist on Sunday, January 22, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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.
Several workshops scheduled in 2012 to help thousands of American families avert foreclosure
A sharing of artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck site
By Miriam Raftery
By Terry Francke, General Counsel, Californians Aware
By Miriam Raftery
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