East County News Service

July 24, 2017 (San Diego) -- On Monday, August 21st, a total solar eclipse will pass over the Pacific Northwest affecting California’s solar resources that supply power to the grid. The eclipse is expected to occur from 9:02 a.m. to 11:54 a.m., with the moon obscuring 58 to 76 percent of solar rays, depending on the resource location, and causing a loss of 4,194 megawatts of California large scale solar electricity.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 31, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - I don’t know about you, but people seem to be more grumpy and impatient when temperatures heat up and even more so when the humidity increases. The next few days may be a little tough with hot humid weather coming in.  First and foremost - Drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty, to stay cool in hot weather. Then follow these safety tips:

East County News Service

July 30, 2017 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Community Planning Group meets Wednesday, August 2^nd with an open house from 6:00 to 6:30 including public viewing of available project plans.  An earlier Trails Subcommittee meets from 6:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the Planning Group meeting at 6:30 p.m.

The agenda includes a public hearing on a proposed 35-foot-high AT&T wireless facility at Buena Vida and Muth Valley roads disguised as a water tank, a major use permit to expand an assisted living facility on Willow Road, a tentative parcel map approval at West Hills Road and West Hills Terrace, and approval of new Planning Group appointees, as well as subcommittee reports and more.  For full agenda, scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego County will experience monsoonal moisture starting Monday through at least Friday, with high heat, afternoon and evening thunderstorms and rain possible each day, especially over the mountains and deserts, though dangerous conditions are also forecast along the coast.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot, the Washington Post

July 30, 2017 (San Diego) -- Law enforcement leaders across the nation are denouncing remarks made by President Donald Trump that critics say encourages police brutality. View video of Trump’s remarks.

Here is what President Trump said while speaking to law enforcement officers at Suffolk County Community College in New York:

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2017 (Spring Valley) – A resident of Sangamon Avenue on Dictionary Hill in Spring Valley says a backyard security camera at his home captured an image of a large cat that he believes to be a mountain lion. 

East County News Service

July 28, 2017 (La Mesa) – More than 60,000 people in San Diego County reportedly suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Another 150,000 people love and care for them. What are the risk factors for dementia and lifestyle factors associated with good brain health? What is the latest research telling us? Are there new daily habits that can improve brain health?

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2017 (Jamul) – Earlier this month, we covered concerns raised by Jamul community members and Supervisor Dianne Jacob over highway safety concerns on State Route 94 since the Hollywood Jamul-San Diego Casino opened and on delays in improvements planned on State Route 94.

In response to our inquiry, we received a statement issued by Caltrans, as well as additional remarks from Caltrans public information office Cathryne Bruce-Johnson.

Below is the statement:

East County News Service

July 28, 2017 (San Diego) — The Pomerado Brass Quintet will perform a free concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 30 in the visitor center at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Based in San Diego, California, the Pomerado Brass Quintet was formed in the summer of 2005 as a spin-off from the Pomerado Community Band.  The Pomerado Brass Quintet performs a wide variety of music from classical, marches, jazz, ragtime, Dixieland, and selections from Broadway musicals.

U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations votes on Leahy Amendment

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- This morning, the Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to include an amendment introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (R-VT) in the FY2018 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The amendment prohibits the use of Federal funds to interfere with medical cannabis patients and programs that are in compliance with state medical cannabis laws.  

Country threatens to take away all funds and a fire/paramedic engine if district board refuses County’s offer

East County News Service

July 27, 2017 (Julian) -- On Thursday, July 27 at 6:30 pm, at the Julian Fire Station (3407 Highway 79 in Julian), the San Diego County Fire Authority will make its final presentation to try to convince the community to dissolve its volunteer fire department and be accepted under the Fire Authority. 

The meeting will begin with a professional video mad for  the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD),  followed by a Powerpoint presentation by County Fire Chief Tony Mecham. The audience will be able to ask questions and express concerns.

The County is proposing that, at a cost of $1.5 million, it will provide a staff of three professional firefighters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. But if the JCFPD refuses the offer, the County will withdraw all financial support that it has been giving for 30 years, including a paramedic/engine placed at CalFire almost 2 years ago.

Source: Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego

July 27, 2017 (San Diego) -- On Tuesday evening, the San Diego Unified School Board unanimously adopted a policy to delete all emails from district servers after one year despite a recommendation from the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists to retain them for two years as other large California school districts do. San Diego SPJ spoke at the meeting, raising concern with this and the fact that district employees will be charged with deciding which emails are public records.