March 18, 2012 (San Diego)—The Arby’s restaurant at 6225 Mission Gorge Road was robbed at gunpoint last night at 5:24 p.m. According to San Diego Police Sgt. Todd Sluss, the suspect is described as a black male adult, 25-30 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall, wearing a black zip-up hoodie and black jeans.
March 18, 2012 (La Mesa) -- Eight students from College Preparatory Middle School (CPMS)in La Mesa competed in the Greater San Diego Botball Tournament on March10, 2012, at the University of San Diego. The CPMS Robotics Team was one of 18 regional Botball teams from San Diego, Arizona and Mexico competing at the tournament. The competition was tough and comprised of mostly high school teams but the newly formed middle school team called the Cyber Stripes, took 5th place in the seeding rounds and received the Rookie Award.
March 18, 2012 (El Cajon) -- At 7:43 p.m. March 15, Heartland Fire & Rescue in El Cajon, with assistance from the San Miguel Fire Protection District, responded to reports of a structure fire in the 500 block of East Madison Avenue in El Cajon. As crews arrived on scene heavy smoke was seen coming from a single-story home at 593 East Madison Avenue. Quick action by firefighters had the fire knocked down in less than 15 minutes. According to Monica Zech of Heartland Fire & Rescue, the home was reportedly abandoned, with windows boarded up, but was full of household items and debris. There were no injuries reported.
Survivors of Human Trafficking/Commercial Sexual Exploitation Among Those Getting Help
March 18, 2012 (San Diego) -- Four new regional projects have received more than $1.7 million in federal funding for the first time thanks to efforts by County Housing and Community Development, the lead agent for the Regional Continuum of Care. The new projects will provide transitional and long-term housing and support services for homeless people.
March 18, 2012 (Sacramento) -- The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) announced new measures last week that will improve safety and strengthen protections for residents of the state’s developmental centers. These measures include independent oversight by a nationally recognized law enforcement specialist, new protocols for first responders to the scenes of possible abuse, new rules for investigations and additional training requirements for DDS peace officers.
Legislature to weigh resolution calling for end to unlimited corporate political spending
March 17, 2012 (Sacramento) – On March 20, the California Assembly Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing and vote on Assembly Joint Resolution 22. The resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that allowed corporations to spend unlimited sums to influence elections.
If the Legislature approves the measure, as expected, California would be among the first states to formally call for an amendment. The effort is part of a national movement taking place in more than 1,000 cities and towns across America.
March 17, 2012 (La Mesa)—As part of a statewide crackdown on individuals buying alcohol for minors, the La Mesa Police Department, in a joint effort with Investigators of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) arrested six adults for purchasing alcohol for a minor. The action was the result of a compliance check operation on March 16, 2012 in which minors under the direct supervision of detectives and investigators attempted to have adults purchase alcohol for them from six separate retail licensees in the City of La Mesa.
By Monique La Chappa, Chairwoman, Campo band of Mission Indians
March 17, 2012 (Campo)--Wind power is making a difference. As a local source of clean energy, it reduces our dependence on foreign oil while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Wind power creates American jobs, and perhaps most important for the Campo Band, it is providing revenue and economic diversification so that members of our Tribe can have a better quality of life.
March 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Numerous accidents and traffic hazards pose risks to motorists across our region on this rainy, windy afternoon. Hazards include:
Update March 25, 2012: The victim has been identified as Avel Michael Jordan Edgar, 21. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner, he died of a gunshot wound to the head.
March 17, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call to a home at 8232 Mount Vernon Street in Lemon Grove, where a man had been shot, the evening of March 14.Paramedics determined that the man was deceased.
There were several people inside the home at the time of the incident and they are being interviewed to determine what occurred.There are currently two suspects in the case described as adult black males.
March 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County ) – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for East County’s mountain areas, where snowfall could dip as low as 2500 feet by tomorrow night. Higher peaks could have snow levels of two feet or more.
March 17, 2012 (San Diego) – The Booth Brothers, a gospel trio, will perform at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue, San Diego at 5:00 p.m. on March 24.
The Booth Brothers have been sharing their music since 1998. Their musical influences are from a wide range of performers-from the Eagles to the Gatlin Brothers to legendary gospel greats such as Bill Gaither and Mosie Lister.They have received numerous awards including a Grammy nomination.
March 17, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Olaf Wieghorst Museum is hosting its 2012 Round Up Country Fair at the Elk’s Lodge, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, El Cajon beginning at 5:30 p.m.Olaf Wieghorst (1899-1988) was one of the foremost western artists of the 20th Century, earning him the title "Dean of Western Artists."
Update March 25, 2012 -- The Medical Examiner has identified the deceased as Dean Leshawn Scott, 29, who died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
March 17, 2012 (San Diego)--San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit detectives are investigating a shooting that took place at the Cotijo Taco Shop, 7285 Navajo Road during a robbery attempt and the death of a man found shot in the 4100 block of 40th Street.
The deceased man matches the description of the wounded robber.
March 17, 2012 (La Mesa) -- Mayan Avitable, our assistant editor, took this photo around midnight last week as a cutting she had taken from a neighbor's plant generated this amazing bloom. The flower opened, filled the room with a fabulous aroma, and by morning was gone.
This flower is commonly called a Night Blooming Cereus. This particular plant is scientifically named Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Night Blooming Cereus refers to a large number of flowering Cereus cacti that bloom at night, and have flowers that do not live long. Some of these species, such as Selenicereus grandiflorus, bloom only once a year, for a single night.
March 17, 2012 (San Diego) – uZAAPit Smart Tags, produced by Pacific Emblem Company in San Diego, have been named “Best of Expo” at the 2012 Promotional Products Show in Las Vegas.
“We are so excited to be picked out of thousands of products,” commented East County resident Rich Soergel, company innovator at the 28-year old manufacturer and importer.
March 16, 2012 -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold Public Participation Hearings regarding the request of San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company to establish a Wildfire Expense Balancing Account for recovery of wildfire-related costs. Two hearings will be held on April 5 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Al Bahr Shriners Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Rd., San Diego.
Jones Cites Disproportionate Impact on San Diego County
March 16, 2012 (Santee) -- Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) joined with his Republican colleagues in support of Assembly Bill 1506, legislation that will repeal the unconstitutional fire tax.
“I strongly support this legislation; the fire tax is nothing more than political sleight of hand and clearly does not pass Constitutional or ethical muster,” said Assemblyman Brian Jones of the mislabeled “fee”, which was passed by the Legislature with a simple majority vote and signed by the Governor as part of the 2011-2012 Budget deal. “It wrongly labels a ‘tax’ as a ‘fee’ and also double-taxes residents by combining new ‘fees’ with current local fire district assessments. This will have a disproportionate and devastating financial impact on the residents of my district in East San Diego County.”
March 16, 2012 (San Diego County) -- Surely the Republican Party knows that it will be most difficult to occupy the White House without a significant percentage of Hispanic votes. Why then are two of the leading candidates seeking the nomination taking such anti-Hispanic positions, particularly front runner Mitt Romney? Romney must know that his flip-flops on positions affecting the Hispanic community are disconcerting and unsympathetic to the feelings of the great majority of Hispanics throughout the country.
Board votes down motion to cut spending to reduce water rate increases
After hearing heartfelt testimony from several dozen speakers from the San Diego region, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors voted to follow its own Administrative Code and vote on adoption of its next two-year budget and rate increases in April. The recommended budget includes two more years of rate increases, “averaging” 7.5 percent for 2013 and another 5 percent in 2014.
March 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Rotary will be holding its 21stAnnual Charity Auction on Friday March 30 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.at the Toyota of El Cajon Showroom, 965 Arnele Avenue, El Cajon.
March 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – Cottonwood Golf Course is hosting its Nine & Wine event on Sunday, March 25 at 3:00 p.m. at 3121 Willow Glen Drive, El Cajon.The event includes 9 holes of golf, gourmet food and wine pairings.
Tickets are $45 per person for golf, wine and food or $25 per person for just wine and food.R.S.V.P. to John at 619-980-2018 or Christina at 619-442-9891.
By Miriam Raftery; Bill Crotty also contributed to this report
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with that theater. It could be cleaned up and opened tomorrow.” – Paul Russell, former manager of the theater and founder of Christian Youth Theater
March 15, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Leaders of East County arts groups reacted with shock and condemnation to news that the El Cajon Council, by a 4-0 vote, agreed to enter into an exclusive negotiation with developer E. Neal Arthur for plans to tear down the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and build a Marriott hotel in its place.
Under Arthur’s plan, the hotel would have a “portable stage to accommodate limited performing arts.”
But arts experts say that’s woefully inadequate –and leveled sharp criticism at the council. Some also contend that the Council failed to provide adequate notice the community before taking action.
Men’s Team Gets a No. 6 seed; Women’s Team Gets No. 12 Seed
By Ryan Schuler
March 13, 2012 (San Diego)--The Aztecs are going dancing. Both the San Diego State men’s and women’s basketball teams received bids to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
March 15, 2012 (El Cajon) -- A woman, 50, who stepped into a roadway while talking with companions at a bus stop in El Cajon was struck by a PT Cruiser and killed at 8:08 p.m. last night in the 1100 block of East Main Street.
San Diego Workshop Evaluates Controversial Large Solar and Wind Projects, Desert Conservation, “Rooftop” Solar and Distributed Energy Opportunities in Mexico and the U.S.
March 14, 2012 (San Diego) — Indigenous leaders from San Diego County and across the state are set to meet with renewable energy and conservation experts, and lawmakers in a workshop on Friday, March 16, to evaluate strategies for renewable energy implementation in Southern California and Northern Baja California, Mexico.
Controversial energy projects in the Southwest deserts have raised concerns about large-scale impacts to desert ecosystems, endangered and threatened species and Native American cultural resources. Several legal challenges by tribal and environmental groups are being heard in Federal Courts in the United States and Mexico. Projects have repeatedly been stopped and delayed.
March 18, 2012 (San Diego)—The Arby’s restaurant at 6225 Mission Gorge Road was robbed at gunpoint last night at 5:24 p.m. According to San Diego Police Sgt. Todd Sluss, the suspect is described as a black male adult, 25-30 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall, wearing a black zip-up hoodie and black jeans.
March 18, 2012 (La Mesa) -- Eight students from College Preparatory Middle School (CPMS)in La Mesa competed in the Greater San Diego Botball Tournament on March10, 2012, at the University of San Diego. The CPMS Robotics Team was one of 18 regional Botball teams from San Diego, Arizona and Mexico competing at the tournament. The competition was tough and comprised of mostly high school teams but the newly formed middle school team called the Cyber Stripes, took 5th place in the seeding rounds and received the Rookie Award.
Survivors of Human Trafficking/Commercial Sexual Exploitation Among Those Getting Help 
March 18, 2012 (Sacramento) -- The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) announced new measures last week that will improve safety and strengthen protections for residents of the state’s developmental centers. These measures include independent oversight by a nationally recognized law enforcement specialist, new protocols for first responders to the scenes of possible abuse, new rules for investigations and additional training requirements for DDS peace officers. 
March 17, 2012 (Sacramento) – On March 20, the California Assembly Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing and vote on Assembly Joint Resolution 22. The resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that allowed corporations to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. 
Update March 25, 2012: The victim has been identified as Avel Michael Jordan Edgar, 21. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner, he died of a gunshot wound to the head.
March 17, 2012 (San Diego) – The Booth Brothers, a gospel trio, will perform at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue, San Diego at 5:00 p.m. on March 24.
March 17, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Olaf Wieghorst Museum is hosting its 2012 Round Up Country Fair at the Elk’s Lodge, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, El Cajon beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Update March 25, 2012 -- The Medical Examiner has identified the deceased as Dean Leshawn Scott, 29, who died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
March 17, 2012 (San Diego) – uZAAPit Smart Tags, produced by Pacific Emblem Company in San Diego, have been named “Best of Expo” at the 2012 Promotional Products Show in Las Vegas.
March 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Rotary will be holding its 21st Annual Charity Auction on Friday March 30 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Toyota of El Cajon Showroom, 965 Arnele Avenue, El Cajon.
March 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – Cottonwood Golf Course is hosting its Nine & Wine event on Sunday, March 25 at 3:00 p.m. at 3121 Willow Glen Drive, El Cajon.
By Brian Lafferty
By Miriam Raftery; Bill Crotty also contributed to this report
March 14, 2012 (San Diego) — Indigenous leaders from San Diego County and across the state are set to meet with renewable energy and conservation experts, and lawmakers in a workshop on Friday, March 16, to evaluate strategies for renewable energy implementation in Southern California and Northern Baja California, Mexico.
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