June 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's 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.

Special prosecutor investigation

• Lobbyist for Russian interests says he attended dinners hosted by Sessions (Guardian)
• Donald Trump, Felix Sater and the job:  Lawyers push to unseal court documents they say could show fraud by president (Newsweek)
• Trump lashes out at Russia probe while Pence hires a lawyer (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Senate approves new Russia sanctions (CNN)
• Criminal investigation of Trump puts his presidency in peril (Wash. Post “Right Turn”)

Other national news

• Russia warns U.S. after downing of Syrian warplane (New York Times)
• Phoenix flights cancelled because it’s too hot for planes (BBC)
• Admin revokes blocked program to protect immigrant parents (Washington Post)
• Amazon to buy Whole Foods for $13.7 billion  (Reuters)
• U.S. Supreme Court strikes down sex offender social media ban (Reuters)
• U.S. top court says law banning offensive trademarks is unconstitutional (Reuters)
• Trump owes lenders at least $315 million, disclosure shows (Reuters)
• Trump signs bill revoking Obama era gun checks for mental illness (NBC)
• Emerging portrait of shooting suspect James T. Hodgkinson:  Anti-Trump rhetoric on social media, repeat visits to YMCA near Virginia ballfield (Washington Post)
• Legal services in unprecedented danger under Trump’s budget proposal (Guardian)
• CEOs to Trump: You’re failing (CNN)
• Democratic lawmakers sue Trump, handing the president another legal challenge (NPR)

WORLD

• Van rams Muslim worshippers in London; PM condemns ‘sickening’ attack (Reuters)
• Imam praised as hero for protecting Finsbury Park attacker (CNN)
• Veteran aide expert Egeland warns of ‘Biblical famine’ in Yemen (Reuters)
• 7 U.S. Service Members Wounded In 'Insider Attack' In Afghanistan (NPR)
• Saudi king empowers young reformer son in succession shake-up (Reuters)
• Palestinian Authority has not sent medical shipments to Gaza for over three months (Jerusalem Post)
• Why Is China Snatching Up Australian Farmland? (NPR)
• Attacks on Western cities prompt insurers to adapt (Reuters)
• FBI says probing Michigan airport stabbing as 'act of terrorism' (Reuters)
• Abortive Brussels attack could have been much worse -PM (Reuters)
• Explosion in Bogota shopping center kills three, wounds nine (Reuters)
• Jerusalem on high alert after police officer killed in Old City attack (JPost)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

June 21, 2017 (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

• Key figure in CPUC hearings on 2007 wildfires accepted gifts: officials (KNSD 7)
• Daughter of ex-Lemon Grove mayor in jail (San Diego Reader)
• San Diego County’s unemployment rate down (KPBS)
• La Mesa ready to take over land at Sun Valley golf course (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego City Council votes to put SoccerCity on 2018 ballot (KPBS)
• Could desalinated water from Mexico flow to San Diego? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove School District chooses new Superintendent (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Syrian family celebrates Ramadan, but misses son (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• County proclaims June 15 Edna Kouns day (KUSI)
• Two immigration judges added to Otay detention facility (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove serving up lunch for kids all summer long (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Free Summer Meal Programs Kick Off Around San Diego County (KPBS)
• What it Would Take to Make SD’s Transit System Faster and More Reliable (Voice of SD)
• San Onofre — another Chernobyl? (SD Reader)

STATE

• CA State Universities will offer admission to all qualified applicants (SJ Mercury-News)
• Internet privacy: CA bill to prevent users from being secretly tracked (Mercury-News)
• It’s a deal. Lawmakers send Jerry Brown a jam-packed budget (Sacramento Bee)
• LP Files Groundbreaking Civil Rights Lawsuit Against San Francisco State University (LawFareProject)
• California Lawmakers Seek to Subvert Government Transparency (Reason)
• California considers reducing traffic fines for low-income drivers (Marketplace)
• Audit: Low-income phone program grew to $84 million from $36 million because of poor oversight (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Governor, Lawmakers to See 3 Percent Pay Boost (KPBS)
• Study: A Fully Renewable Energy Grid Is Too Costly for Now (KPBS)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

June 21, 2017 (San Diego) - Out of the Boat Swim, a nonprofit, provides free water-safety and beach programs to refugee and underprivileged children living in San Diego. Out of the Boat Swim offers free beach and water-safety programs to help refugee and inner city kids integrate during a challenging time of transition. Some of the children will go on to become Junior Guards in the San Diego Junior Lifeguard program by design of the partnership between Out of the Boat Swim and San Diego Junior Lifeguards.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

June 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Run up three flights of stairs in heavy firefighter boots--in the heat wave.  To walk in someone else’s shoes, or firefighter’s boots, can be eye opening and “deepen” your respect for what these men and women firefighters are required to do.  The opportunity to learn what Heartland Fire & Rescue does on a routine basis was extended via their first-ever Fire Ops 101 class held Saturday, June 17^th, at their Thomas H. Owen Sr.  training facility in El Cajon. 

By Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2017 (Jamul) – East County has a fabulous new destination for lovers of French foods. Fabrice and Allison Borel, owners of Fabrison’s French Creperie San Diego’s Little Italy and Coronado, have opened up Fabrison’s  in  Jamul .

This location has not only their signature “crepes for lovers,” but also a full menu of country French cuisine for breakfast, lunch and now, dinner.  So far, the Jamul location has earned a five-star review on Yelp, and it’s not hard to see—and taste—why.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2017 (San Diego) – Yesterday was World Refugee Day, a date established by the United Nations to acknowledge the plight of refugees and raise awareness of the world’s most vulnerable population.  An estimated 150,000 refugees live in San Diego County.

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (Rancho Bernardo) – Farouk Al-Nasser, president of the San Diego World Affairs Council, will offer his perspective on geopolitical events in the Middle at a meeting of the Rancho Bernardo Democratic Club on Monday, June 26^th. In addition, former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher will speak on the Voting Rights Act.  Refreshments and registration start at 6:30 p.m. with the program starring at 7 p.m. at The Remington Club II, 16916 Hierba Drive. This event is free of charge and open to the public. 

East County News Service

June 21, 2017 (Julian) -- The Julian Apple Pie Grand Prix will be held on Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  This year’s vintage sports car show, parade and festival is a a salute to the sports cars of Great Britain.

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (Alpine) – Once again, summer concerts will rock the night at the Alpine Community Center Park (1830 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA 91901 - behind the Library) Presented by the Alpine Community Center & the Alpine Library.

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (San Diego) -- The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to appoint current Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan as interim District Attorney. She will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis on July 7.

By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2017 (Deerhorn Valley) – The Deerhorn Valley Independence Day parade and picnic returns this July 4^th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., after the Border Fire forced cancellation of last year’s event. Spectators are encouraged to bring flags, drums, rattles, shakers and lawn chairs to enjoy the festivities.  Community members are invited to march in the parade including wagons, bikes, trucks, horses, goats and emus.  “If it moves, it can march!” the flyer proclaims.

East County News Service

File photo: U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

June 20, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – One of the nation’s largest seizures of fentanyl ever, over 44 kilograms, has been announced by the U.S. Attorney’s office in San Diego.  Fentanyl is more than 50 times stronger than heroin, but has been used to boost potency of heroin or counterfeit opioid painkillers resembling oxycodone.  This has led to an “epidemic” of deaths from fentanyl-laced street drugs, according to prosecutors.

East County News Service

June 20, 2017  (Escondido) -- California Center for the Arts, Escondido announces its forthcoming 2017/2018 season featuring an exceptional lineup of acclaimed performers, including Bill Murray, Jan Vogler and Friends; Jane Lynch; Cesar Millan; Chris Botti; Valerie June; Pink Martini; Shaping Sound; Black Violin; Jesse Cook; Priti Gandhi; Natalia LaFourcade; Bria Skonberg; Las Migas with Flamenco Arana; The Hillbenders: TOMMY; International Guitar Night; Masters of Hawaiian Music; QUATTROSOUND; Flip Fabrique; Michelle Cann Pianist; Simply Three; and more.