By Miriam Raftery, East County News Service

July 25, 2016 (San Diego) — Conrad Prebys, a generous philanthropist who supported numerous San Diego nonprofit organizations, health and education centers, died Sunday, July 24^th of cancer at Scripps Mercy Hospital with his family at his side.

Aztecs to open campaign against UCLA

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: goaztecs.com

July 25, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State women’s soccer head coach Mike Friesen revealed his team’s 2016 schedule on Friday. The Aztecs’ 18-game schedule features eight home games, including the season opener vs. UCLA, and does not include the return of the Mountain West Championship to SDSU Sports Deck in early November.

Regulators seek to prevent another disaster like Aliso Canyon gas leak

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

July 25, 2016 (Sacramento) -- Regulators with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) at a hearing on Thursday removed a major loophole from proposed new rules on oil and natural gas facilities, in an effort to prevent another disaster like the massive gas leak at Aliso Canyon last fall. The proposed rules require more inspections of all surface facilities, existing and new, including those offshore.

28 percent increase from 2015    

Source:  FBI press release

July 24, 2016 (San Diego) - Eric S. Birnbaum, Special Agent In Charge, San Diego FBI Field Office, is releasing bank robbery statistics for the first six months of 2016.  The San Diego FBI Field Office investigates bank robberies occurring in San Diego and Imperial County.  

For the first six months of 2016 (January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016), there were a total of 25 bank robberies, compared to 18 for this same time period in 2015 (28% increase).  There was a total of 48 bank robberies for calendar year 2015.  Calendar year 2014 totaled 101 bank robberies with 49 occurring in the first six months (January 1, 2014 – June 30, 2014). 

The following is a breakdown of bank robberies by location for January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016.  

East County News Service

July 24, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Toyota and Honda of El Cajon and Wells Fargo Dealer Services presented a $22,700 donation to the YMCA of San Diego County. The donation was made in appreciation of Toyota and Honda of El Cajon’s ongoing community support efforts. The funds will help the YMCA of San Diego’s mission of strengthening its community through offering programs that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

By Tom H. Hastings

July 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- So, let’s channel the cranky ghost of George Wallace as he justified his 1968 run for the presidency when he noted, “There's not a dime's worth of difference between the Democrat and Republican parties.” What do we know about that in our day, in this election season?

At the presidential level, we might conclude that:

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The filing period to run for local offices is now open, closing August 12.   Concerned citizens can often make positive differences in their communities by become elected officials serving as members of school boards, community planning groups, fire boards, water boards, hospital districts, city councils, or as mayors.

East County News Service

July 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- Law schools that are not accredited by the American Bar Association would be required to post more information about tuition costs, class sizes, number of faculty, bar passage rate and employment outcomes for their students under a bill by Senator Marty Block (D-San Diego) and approved this week today by the governor.

Source: Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

Photo by Leon Thompson

July 24, 2016 (El Cajon) – From classic cruises to an El Cajon Walks! Meet-up group, museum exhibits, musicals and more, there’s a lot happening this month and next in El Cajon. Plus, nominations are being sought for the Women in Leadership and Veteran of the Year awards.

No filing fees, ballot statement costs  $315 to $360 in smaller trustee districts

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County ) – For the first time, the Grossmont Union High School District will hold elections in November for individual trustee districts.   There are no filing fees, though modest fees are charged for candidates to publish ballot statements. With smaller districts, the cost for ballot statements is far less than in the past --just $315 in Trustee Area 1 (Lemon Grove/Spring Valley/La Prensa),which is an open seat, and $360 in Trustee Area 2 (La Mesa/Casa de Oro/Mt. Helix and part of Rancho San Diego) currently represented by Jim Stieringer.

The candidate filing period opened July 18 and closes August 12^th.  August 12 is also the deadline for candidates to submit ballot statements, which for the first time will be accepted electronically.

From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Why do environmentalists consider Hawaii “ground zero” in the fight against genetically engineered crops? -- Michael Van, Poughkeepsie, NY

July 24, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Most of us think of beaches, surfing and luaus when we think of Hawaii. But the constantly warm and moist climate actually provides some of the most productive land in the world with a never-ending growing season. As a result, Hawaii has become a major player in commercial agriculture, and is frequently used to test new farming techniques.

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County ) – East County Magazine received five awards in the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Pro Chapter’s 2016 Journalism Awards Contest.  Journalists honored include ECM editor Miriam Raftery, reporters Mike Allen and Janis Russell, and sound editors Ed Barrena and Leon Thompson.

Honors include the special First Amendment Award and a $100 prize for our series on county efforts to suppress free speech and first place in the multicultural category for our story on local Chaldeans’ efforts to obtain release of Iraqi Christians in an Otay immigration detention facility, including both written reporting for our website and audio coverage that ran on our radio show on KNSJ.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

July 24, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – All of San Diego was up bright and early to watch the Padres take on the Nationals in the series finale.  Christian Friedrich started for San Diego, while the rookie Lucas Giolito took the mound for Washington.

Source:  San Diego County Water Authority News Release

July 24, 2016 (San Diego) - The Emergency & Carryover Storage Project, a multi-decade effort of the San Diego County Water Authority to increase the reliability and resiliency of the region’s water system, won an Award of Merit in the annual Global Best Projects competition held by the industry publication Engineering News-Record. It is the second time in four months that a Water Authority project has earned international honors.

Source: Sheriff's press release

July 24, 2016 (El Cajon) - On July 21, 2016 around 2:20 a.m., California Highway Patrol transferred a 911 call reporting a road rage incident that occurred near the intersection of Jamacha Road and Hilton Head Place involving multiple gunshots fired.  Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area and located the victim. Varying witness accounts described the suspect vehicle as either a white SUV and/or a black sedan.    A white SUV matching the description of a vehicle involved was located at an apartment complex nearby.  Four individuals associated with the vehicle were questioned but released pending further investigation.  Several bullet casings were found in the apartment complex parking lot about two blocks away from where the white SUV was located.  There were no injuries reported in this incident and the investigation is continuing.