East County News Service

April 23, 2019 (El Cajon) -- On Wednesday, April 24, the Congressional Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment and the Committee on Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will hold a joint field hearing entitled, “Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Ensuring the Success of our Student Veterans.”

Source:  MTS

Photo IDs: (From Left to Right) Mike Wygant, Chief Operating Officer, MTS Bus; Kim Kawada, Chief Deputy Executive Director, SANDAG; Brian Riley, Superintendent of Transportation, MTS Rail; Wayne Terry, Chief Operating Officer, MTS Rail; Paul Jablonski, Chief Executive Officer, MTS; Georgette Gómez, City of San Diego Council President and Board of Directors Chair, MTS; Mona Rios, Vice Chair, MTS; Robyn Stimson, Vice President of Business Development, Siemens; Chuck Bell, Project Manager, Siemens; Nick Balfour, Engineering Project Manager, Siemens; Andy Goddard Jr., Superintendent of LRV Maintenance, MTS Rail; Ed Graham, Assistant Superintendent of Transportation, MTS Rail.

April 18, 2019 (San Diego) - As the next generation of trolley cars gears up to begin service on the UC San Diego Blue Line this Saturday, officials with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) unveiled to the public the first vehicle of the new trolley series as part of a ‘Trolley Open House’ on Wednesday. The new trolley cars will enter service as part of the 5000 vehicles series, representing the third generation of modern, low-floor vehicles, which have been in operation on MTS’ light rail network since 2005.

Julian paramedics struggling after County freezes JCFPD funds

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Read the documents here: JCFPDCourtDocuments

View older ECM article on Brown Act violations: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/julian-cuyamaca-keep-fire-district-starts-path-healing

April 15, 2019 (Julian) -- The judge who ruled in favor of the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District a week ago, San Diego Superior Court Judge Randa Trapp, late Friday afternoon was designated to preside over the ex parte hearing requested by JCFPD attorney Cory Briggs. The change of judge was noted in the legal case’s online Register of Actions on the San Diego Superior Court website.

By Ken Stone 

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

Photo:  Destiny Guns, 22, escaped from La Colinas women’s jail in Santee about 6 p.m. Saturday. Photo via Sheriff’s Department

April 13, 2019 (Santee) - When 22-year-old Destiny Guns jumped walls and fences Saturday night at Las Colinas women’s jail, she made local history — as the first-ever escapee from the Santee lockup.

But Thursday night, she ended a manhunt with her arrest in the parking lot of the jail, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Melissa Aquino.

Residents weigh legal challenge as election paves way for County Fire Authority and CAL FIRE to assume fire protection and medical emergency services

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

April 5, 2019 (Julian-Cuyamaca) - After nearly two years of controversy, Julian residents voted on Mar. 19 by mail ballot to abolish the 34-year old Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD) and replace it with fire and medical emergency services provided by the San Diego Fire Authority and Cal Fire.

April 3, 2019 (La Mesa) - La Mesa Police report that at 2 p.m. today,  Conception "Connie" Bibo, 89, was found safe in San Ysidro.

Bibo, who is believed to have pre-dementia and has memory issues. She had been last seen yesterday around 11:30 a..m. leaving her residence in the 6700 block of Alamo Way in tLa Mesa. Hers family returned home at approximately 2:30 p.m. and and discovered Mrs. Bibo and her vehicle (a gray 2013 Hyundai Elantra)were not at the residence.

East County News Service

April 2, 2019 (San Diego)--The National Weather Service has issued a wind warning in effect from noon today to 11 a.m. tomorrow for San Diego’s mountain and desert areas.  Southwest winds of 20-30 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 mph are forecast.

Watch for blowing dust or sand in these areas and use caution if driving a high-profile vehicle.

By Miriam Raftery



Updated April 1, 2019 with clarifications from Catherine Martin at the GUHSD.

March 31, 2019 (Alpine)  -- For over two decades, Alpine residents have sought a high school in their community.  After the Alpine Union-High School District (AUSD) board recently voted to close the Alpine Elementary School in June due to declining enrollment, the AUSD and the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) are exploring options to bring some high school programming to the campus on Alpine Boulevard. But it won't be a full-service high school, as the community was originally promised in two past bond initiatives.

GUHSD Superintendent Tim Glover confirmed in an e-mail to ECM, “We’ve been having discussions with AUSD over several months regarding potential programs and services as part of a satellite program option. We look forward to creating an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with AUSD and gauging the interest in some specialized program offerings such as Independent Study, Home Choice, and Adult Education classes.”

By Miriam Raftery 

March 30, 2018 (Santee) – The Sheriff’s department is warning the public about a man who tried to lure a 9-year-old girl into his silver convertible vehicle on Thursday at 8 p.m.  The girl was riding her bicycle in the 8000 block of Poplin drive in Santee when the man asked if she wanted a ride to a “game,” says Sgt. Kamon Harris.

By Miriam Raftery

March 29, 2019 (Washington D.C.)—Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s long awaiting report has been submitted to the Justice Department.  A summary written by newly appointed Attorney General William Barr has been made public, but thus far, Congress and the media have not seen the full report.

According to Barr’s summary, Mueller’s two-year investigation did not find evidence of a conspiracy involving President Donald Trump and Russia to tamper with the 2016 election despite “multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign.  But as for whether Trump committed the crime of obstructing justice, Barr states that while Mueller’s report does not recommend prosecution of Trump for obstruction of justice, “it also does not exonerate him.”

Trump called the report “a complete and total exoneration” based on Barr’s summary.

But that’s not fully accurate. The Justice Department has long held that it does not have the power to indict a sitting president, deferring investigation of presidential actions to Congress, which has the power to impeach under the Constitution. Without reading Mueller’s full report it is difficult to speculate on the Special Counsel’s intent, but Mueller could have intended for Congress to weigh any evidence his investigators found with regard to obstruction of justice.

By Miriam Raftery

March 29, 2019 (Descanso)—The worst ice storm in decades knocked East County’s nonprofit community radio station, KNSJ 89.1 FM, off the air for weeks, damaging its antennae atop Mt. Laguna. East County Magazine’s radio show airs on KNSJ, along with many other local and national shows providing independent news, views, music and culture.

Thanks to a board member’s $5,000 loan, the station is back on the area—but urgently needs donations recoup those costs for repairs and buying an ice shield, as well as thousands of dollars in more equipment recommended to improve reliability, boost the signal and prevent future disruptions during emergencies when people need news most.

You can help KNSJ’s “people powered radio” station by making a donation at www.KNSJ.org/donate.