Source:  CPUC

September 21, 2018 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold a public workshop in San Diego to examine existing emergency coordination and communication efforts by electric and water utilities with local and state government agencies and other stakeholders, and consider the need for new rules and regulations.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (Campo) – Jonathan Jaroslav Shuster, 20, of Campo is dead of injuries sustained in a vehicle crash. 

His Honda Civic was found early September 16^th by a driver on Church Road on the Campo Native American reservation.  The vehicle had sustained major damage from an apparent collision and Shuster had sustained fatal injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (Jamul) – Cal Fire responded to a 911 all reporting a hiker in distress on a trail near Horse Thief Canyon off Lyons Valley Road near Jamul today. When they arrived, he was not breathing. Cal Fire personnel and Mercy medics attempted lifesaving measures, but could not revive him.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police seek public help to find the driver of a silver Nissan Altima that struck and seriously injured a 58-year-old man in a wheelchair Thursday night around 9:25 p.m. in the 1000 block of East Main Street.

Officers and paramedics responding to a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle found the victim unconscious near the center left turn lane, alongside his wheelchair.  He was transported to a hospital with life-threatening head injuries, says Lt. Steve Kirk.

Update September 22, 2018: The victim has been identified as Melanie Alexandra Feliciano, 24, who died of blunt force injuries to her head and neck, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

September 20, 2018 (Spring Valley) – Rene Ruiz, 27, has been arrested after fleeing the scene of a fatal crash that occurred on September 17th at 1:50 p.m. on State Route 94 in Spring Valley. He has been charged with felony manslaughter with gross negligence, felony hit and run, and felony driving under the influence of drugs.

East County News Service

September 20, 2018 (La Mesa)-- On Friday, a Helix Water District customer reported  that she received phone calls from someone wanting her credit card information so they could lower her interest rates. The Caller ID on the customer’s phone identified the caller as Helix Water District, but the district warns, “These calls are not coming from Helix Water District. Under no circumstances will a Helix employee ask for your credit card number, over the phone or in person.”

East County News Service

September 19, 2018 (San Diego) -- Marine Sergeant Gary Wilson saved a woman from a burning SUV yesterday after a multi-vehicle collision, also freeing a second driver from the wreckage.

According to Officer Jake Sanchez with the California Highway Patrol, a white Freightliner truck was traveling south on State Route 163 just north of highway 52 at a high rate of speed. The truck rear-ended a Toyota Highlander, pushing it into several other vehicles stopped in heavy traffic.  The Highlander was pushed off the roadway and caught fire.

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit: PhotoSpin

September 17, 2018 (San Diego) - Local law enforcement and health officials are warning the public about a spate of deaths in beach communities connected to cocaine laced with the highly-potent and often deadly drug fentanyl.

By Miriam Raftery

August 31, 2018 (Lakeside) – The County has published a draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the controversial El Monte Sand Mining Project. 

By Ken Stone

Reprinted by Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times and The Washington Post, will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at SDSU’s Montezuma Hall. Photo via SDSU

September 15, 2018 (San Diego) - Daniel Ellsberg, the famed leaker of the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s, is set to speak at San Diego State University next month. For that you might thank a renowned leaker of early 2010.

Photo: Hurricane Florence, viewed from space, courtesy of NASA, is four times the size of Ohio.

September 14, 2018 (San Diego) -- San Diego-based International Relief Teams (IRT) is supplying relief aid to victims of Hurricane Florence on the East Coast. The hurricane is expected to cause massive damage from dangerous storm surges, coastal flooding, and unprecedented inland rainfall.

States of emergency have been declared in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia and more than one million people are under mandatory evacuation orders. A half million are currently without power.

To help families impacted by Hurricane Florence, please go to www.irteams.org/donate or mail a donation to 4560 Alvarado Canyon Rd, Suite 1H, San Diego, CA  92120.

Scooter craze offers freedom for riders seeking alternatives to cars, but raises concerns over injuries, parking and public safety

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Bird Scooters, by Grendelkhan creative commons

Updated September 10 with our readers' comments on scooter experience

Updated September 12 with comments from Councilmembers Baber and Parent in La Mesa.

September 9, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The latest worldwide transportation craze, electric “dockless” scooters for short-term rental offered by companies such as Bird, Lime, Uber and soon, Lyft, are cropping up across San Diego County.

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2018 (El Cajon) - Jon Christopher Clark has been charged with first degree murder after the body of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Kiera Bergman from El Cajon, was found beside a desert highway near Phoenix, Arizona last week.

Battle to save the county's last volunteer fire district now hinges on a protest process that could give voters the final say

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Miriam Raftery, Editor, also contributed to this report.
 

Photo:  Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber, Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District

September 11, 2018 (Julian) -- A group of Julian area residents fighting fire axes-and-hoses against a county takeover of fire and medical first responder services won a firm victory last Thursday in Superior Court. Judge Timothy Taylor ruled to allow a ballot measure to fund future operations for the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD).

Backers of the initiative hoped the ruling would curtail the County of San Diego’s efforts to terminate the JCFPD, the region’s last all-volunteer fire department, and shift fire and ambulance services to the County Fire Authority (CFA) in conjunction with Cal Fire.

But despite Judge Taylor’s ruling, yesterday the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted 7-0 to dissolve the district. Residents could still block the takeover through a protest process that’s now been triggered.  Determined opponents of the takeover are gearing up for the fight, arguing that eliminating volunteer firefighters who live in the community will make the area less safe, not safer has had been promised by the CFA.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Sunrise Powerlink tower dwarfs mountain ridges in McCain Valley

September 7, 2018 (Boulevard) -- Boulder Brush LLC (Terra-Gen) is seeking a major use permit to construct and operate a gen-tie line and substation/switchyard facilities on 110 acres of private land in McCain Valley south of I-8. The gen-time line would carry energy from the Terra-Gen Wind project proposed on Campo Kumeyaay tribal lands.