East County News Service

June 21, 2019 (Jamul) – On Saturday, June 22, Jamul Casino will ring in summer by hosting an All-Star Block Party featuring casino promotions, live entertainment, and celebrity guests.  The all-day event will feature:

East County News Service

June 21, 2019 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host its 6th annual Summer Bash Business Expo on Thursday, August 15 from 5-8 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center (4975 Memorial Drive).  Attendees can meet representatives from over 45 local businesses,  enterdrawings to win door prizes and savor foods and beverages from local restaurants, breweries and more.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – A generation ago, San Diego County was considered a bastion of conservatism and East County was solid red Republican territory. But that’s changing. First the city of San Diego turned blue and now has nearly twice as many Democrats as Republicans. Then the county flipped; today 35.7% of all county residents are Democrats and 27.2% are Republicans, with 31.6% no-party-preference voters. Two of East County’s four incorporated cities now have more Democrats than Republicans, one is evenly split, and a fourth is still staunchly Republican.

East County News Service

June 20, 2019 (Sacramento) --  Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an apology through executive order on behalf of California to Native American people for the many instances of violence, mistreatment and neglect inflicted upon California Native Americans throughout the state’s history.

June 20, 2019 (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

• Rising fire insurance rates causing East County homeowners to pay up or move out (NBC 7)
• Court rules in county’s favor, strikes blow to Julian volunteer firefighters (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove starts strategizing on plans moving forward (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Here’s What San Diego’s Getting Out of the New State Budget (Voice of SD)
• SDG&E says there is a 100% chance it will start or contribute to a major wildfire (KPBS)
• Neighbors cry foul over proposed egg ranch manure plant (Ramona Sentinel)
• Judges orders 3 charter school shut down (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Public urged to file fire hazard reports online (The Alpine Sun)
• Uber says it will start delivering fast food by drone in San Diego this summer (The Verge)
• 15 beach-goers stung by stingrays in one day at (Coronado) beach (Daily Mail)

STATE

• California governor calls Native American treatment genocide (San Francisco Chronicle/AP)
• In Risk-Prone Areas, Fire Insurance Is Getting Harder and Harder to Come By (Voice of San Diego)
• California man suspected of threatening synagogue free on bond (Reuters)
• 3 of 4 Californians want to restrict housing in wildfire-prone areas, poll says (Los Angeles Times)

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

Being comfortable in your own skin

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

June 19, 2019 (San Diego) -- There’s a beauty about getting older—you become more comfortable in your own skin. The need for approval diminishes, you’re more confident in life and you can speak your mind without the fear of rejection. But if you want to stay comfortable in your own skin as you age, you need to protecting it properly!

By David R. Shorey

East County program manager, Institute for Public Strategies

Photo: Lakeside Life Town Hall was held May 29, 2019 at the Lakeside Community Center. Photo courtesy IPS

June 19, 2019 (Lakeside) -- Resident involvement is strong in Lakeside. This was very evident recently when more than 40 people came together at Lakeside Life: A Town Hall Conversation at the community center on the shore of Lindo Lake.

Knowing how emissions are created can help reduce them

East County News Service

Photo:  Undergraduate student Cain Silvey checking methane concentration in a field mesocosm with swamp milkweed in Dayton, Ohio that was part of the constructed wetland research area. The blue plastic tubes protect tree seedlings that are part of a different restoration project. Photo credit: Karla Jarecke

June 19, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - Wetlands are an important part of the Earth’s natural water management system. The complex system of plants, soil, and aquatic life serves as a reservoir that captures and cleans water. However, as cities have expanded, many wetlands were drained for construction. In addition, many areas of land in the Midwest were drained to increase uses for agriculture to feed a growing world.

East County News Service

June 19, 2019 (La Mesa) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will present “Health Fair Saturday,” one of the largest annual free health fairs in San Diego’s East County Region, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 29 in the promenade area near the movie theater at the Grossmont Center mall, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  Logan Allen pitched seven innings, gave up three hits, two walks and struck out five in his Major League debut.  Via @Padres on Twitter

June 18, 2019 (San Diego) - Back home and back in fourth place, the Padres are back to NL Central opponents, taking on the Brewers.  They won 2-0 last night--their fourth shutout of the season--and called up prospect Logan Allen to start game two tonight against Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff.

By Chris Jennewein

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the home of a suspected undocumented immigrant. Courtesy ICE

June 18, 2019 (San Diego's East County) - President Trump tweeted Monday night that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers will begin deporting millions of undocumented immigrants next week.

The cryptic tweet at 9:20 p.m. California time did not elaborate further, and the White House did not provide clarification on Tuesday morning.

East County News Service

By Miriam Raftery

June 17, 2019 (San Diego) – Congressman Duncan D. Hunter’s trial on 60 counts of federal corruption charges is scheduled for September. He has pleaded not guilty. However, last week his wife, wife, Margaret, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and is now cooperating with prosecutors. Court documents reveal that she has implicated Rep. Hunter in serious crimes and affirmed that the campaign treasurer told the Hunters that their actions were illegal, but his advice was ignored. Hunter is accused of spending $250,000 of campaign funds for personal use and falsifying federal campaign finance filings to cover up the thefts.

If Congressman Hunter is convicted and either resigns or is expelled by the House of Representatives, a vacancy would be declared and a special election could be called. When or if that could occur, however, depends on several factors.