March 25, 2015 (La Mesa)—Supervisor Dianne Jacob will be the featured speaker at the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Marie Callender's, 6950 Alvarado Road San Diego, CA 92120.

East County News Service

March 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --  A body believed to be that of a missing 18-year-old San Diego State University student has been found in Lake Murray.

East County News Service

March 28, 2015 (Washington D.C.) - The House of Representatives has passed broad changes to our nation’s Medicare system. The bill would raise premium costs for higher income earners and extend a health insurance program for children, also setting a new formula for paying doctors.

The bill passed by a 392 to 37 vote and now advances to the Senate.

Source: County News Service

March 27, 2015 (San Diego)--Looking to get away from the stress of everyday life? Or perhaps you have a new personal fitness goal for 2015? Maybe you just enjoy nature or have an adventurous spirit and want to get out and explore your surroundings. Spring is here- and it’s a great time to put down the electronic devices and participate in a sport you can do at your own pace.

No matter your motivation, the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department has more than 300 miles of trails throughout the County.  The County has picked out ten trails for you to check out in 2015 with a wide variety of lengths, skill levels and sights.

By Miriam Raftery

March 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - As fish stories go, this one is a whopper.

A fisherman at Lake Cuyamaca this weekend has reeled in a rainbow trout weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces—the biggest ever caught at the lake.

March 26, 2015 (San Diego)--If you think San Diego is having some growing pains, you may be right.  The Census Bureau’s numbers are in, and San Diego County is now the fifth most populous county in the nation.

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – The Supreme Court this week is hearing arguments in the case of San Francisco v. Sheehan to determine whether or not San Francisco police officers were justified in shooting and killing a mentally ill woman in her own home. The officers fired five rounds and the case centers on whether non-lethal force should be used first in such cases.

East County News Service

March 26, 2015 (La Mesa) -A bicyclist is in critical condition after being involved in a collision with an armored currency transport vehicle in La Mesa.

March 26, 2015 (Ramona) --Envision Color, creative artworks studio and supplies is now open for business at 733 Main Street.  Proud owners Carli Walsh and Donna Parsons have teamed up to provide Old Town Ramona with a much needed multimedia art studio offering artistic opportunities to all ages and abilities. No experience is required, just the passion for creating.

RESTAURANT TO OPEN ON APRIL 7 IN RAMONA

New Ramona restaurant to commemorate grand opening with ribbon cutting, giveaways and more

March 26, 2015 (Ramona) – Soon, Ramona residents will be able to dip and dunk in a single stop.

March 26, 2015 (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.

• House Passes Bill Changing Medicare Fee Formula and Extending Children’s Insurance (NY Times)
• What is driving a remarkable shift in US-Afghan relations? (+video) (CS Monitor)
• McCain: Pentagon wasting money training drug-sniffing elephants (The Hill)
• Government report finds U.S. Homeland Security deputy intervened in visa cases (Reuters)
• DEA agents held ‘sex parties’ with prostitutes paid for by drug cartels (The Hill)

WORLD

• U.S. offering tactical, intel support to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen (The Hill)
• U.S.-led coalition, Iraqis pound Islamic State in Tikrit (Reuters)
• Recording shows pilot locked out of Airbus cockpit before crash: NYT (Reuters)
• Boko Haram kidnaps hundreds of Nigerian civilians, official says (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Why the Nicaragua canal poses new challenge to Ortega's power (+video) (CS Monitor)
• 200 suspected jihadis prevented from leaving Australia (UT San Diego)
• Islamic State claims suicide bombing in Libya's Benghazi (Reuters)
• Jordan signs $10 billion nuclear power plant deal with Russia (Reuters)
  

March 25, 2015 (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

• GOP makes big entry in supervisor race (U-T)
• San Vicente Reservoir large battery ‘years away’, council told (Times of San Diego)
• 71st Assembly: Santee Mayor Voepel makes it official; Harrison locks down some big endorsements (SD Rostra)
• Energy Obamacare hits California homeowners (UT San Diego)
• Schools defend solar investments from utility proposal (UT San Diego)

STATE

• California teachers  unions promote charter schools bill (Sacramento Bee)
• CPUC boss had backchannel dealings (UT Watchdog)
• Prison population down, payroll up (UT Watchdog)
• California Senate Approves $1B Water Plan Amid Drought (KPBS)
• California’s aid in dying bill passes first committee (Sacramento Bee)

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

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

March 24, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Our state’s drought really is a state of emergency, says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. The state is now around 40 million, and growing.  What happens when America’s most populous state runs low on its most precious resource for the fourth year in a row?

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - A bill introduced this week by San Diego Congressional members Juan Vargas, a Democrat, and Duncan Hunter, a Republican, would provide expedited processing for religious minorities in Iraq/Syria.

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2015 (Sacramento)--What if every California citizen could be eligible to vote? 

California’s Secretary of State Alex Padilla, wants to register citizens automatically, using Department of Motor Vehicle records and potentially info from other state agencies.