May 4, 2015 (El Cajon)--At approximately 9:03 p.m., Friday, May 1, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a structure fire in the nine-hundred block of Broadway.  Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the windows of “Broadway Thrift” store at 941 Broadway.

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (Santee) – Ryan Willweber, a track star and junior at West Hills High School in Santee, has died of injuries sustained in a crash yesterday afternoon.  Two other students were injured, including Willweber’s brother, who reportedly suffered broken bones.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

April 29, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—A semi-truck burst into flames on I-8 near Lake Jennings Park Road in Lakeside on Thursday, turning its load of frozen meat into smoked pork.

April 29, 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

•  Ex-La Mesa mayor Art Madrid writing book
• 4 San Diego climbers trapped in Nepal (UT San Diego)
• It’s Over: The Chargers Are Done With San Diego (Voice of SD)
• San Diego's homeless on rise (U-T)
• How The Fall Of Saigon Made San Diego A Refugee Hub (KPBS)
• Utilities on the trail to tiers  (SD Reader)
• Padre Dam Water District launches pilot drinking water program (Alpine Sun)
• Las Colinas is something to Yelp about (SD Reader)
• New Chief of Police Walt Vasquez getting reacquainted to serve the citizens of La Mesa (East County Californian)
• Emerald Wants Her Chief Of Staff To Take Over San Diego Council Seat (KPBS)
• Water deal with Imperial Valley on the line
• City’s own water use spiked

STATE

• Governor, state get tougher on water use (U-T)
• What's that Caltrans is using for water? (U-T)
• CA still tied to Gold Rush era water rights system (U-T San Diego)
• Is that joint damaging our environment? (U-T San Diego)
• Marijuana: the new drought villian? (U-T San Diego)
• Thirsty for clean power, California taps winds in Mexico (U-T San Diego)
• Time for state's leaders to tackle teacher tenure (UT San Diego)
• Union challenges CPUC law deal (U-T San Diego)

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

April 29 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.

• Obama apologizes for attack that killed two hostages (Washington Post)
• US, Japan release new defense guidelines for Japanese global role (CS Monitor)
• High costs hinder outfitting of U.S. cops with body cameras (Reuters)
• Graffiti artists’ move to national parks shocks nature lovers (Los Angeles Times)
• Minnesota declares state of emergency over bird flu in poultry (Reuters)
• Goldman Paid Bill Clinton $200000 For Speech Before Bank Lobbied Hillary Clinton
• (International Business Times)
• Oklahomans Feel Way More Earthquakes Than Californians; Now They Know Why (NPR)
• Hostage locations difficult to track - and may be getting harder (Reuters)
• Exclusive: Clinton charities will refile tax returns, audit for other errors (Reuters)
• Russian hackers read Obama's unclassified emails last year: NYT (Reuters)

WORLD

•  Russian spacecraft 'out of control' (BBC)
• Iranian Revolutionary Guards seize cargo ship in Gulf (Reuters)
• If You Find $1.3 Billion in Missing Aid to Afghanistan, Please Contact the Pentagon at Your Earliest Convenience. (Reason)
• Signaling from the Supreme Court: Justices Mostly Show Their Cards on Gay Marriage (Reason)
• Experts gathered in Nepal a week ago to ready for earthquake (U-T San Diego)
• Spanish tax agency uncovers wind farm payoff scheme (WCN)
• Mexico recovers stolen radioactive material (AP)
• China warns on rising North Korea nuclear capability: WSJ  (Reuters)
• 'Bookkeeper of Auschwitz', 93, on trial in Germany: 'I did not question that the Jews were our misfortune' (JWR)
• Rocket fired from Gaza lands in Israeli territory; IDF strikes terror site (JPost)
• Chinese experts reportedly say North Korea may have 20 nuclear warheads (CS Monitor)
• Putin accuses US of supporting separatists in Russia (AP)
• Russian Justice Ministry annuls opposition party registration (Reuters)
• 
EU border agents too busy to screen migrants (AP)
• Saudi says arrests 93 Islamic State suspects, foils U.S. embassy attack (Reuters)

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

April 28, 2015 (San Diego)--The FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public that there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with the recent Nepal earthquake should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.

East County Magazine

April 27, 2015 (La Mesa) – Back in December 2013, the city of La Mesa installed roundabouts to slow down speeders at two locations on Harbison Avenue, at the Watson Way and Annapolis Avenue junctions.

By Bonnie Baranoff

April 27, 2015 (La Mesa) -- It’s a beautiful, sunny day in Southern California as patrons enjoy lunch and dinner at Himalayan Cuisine, and shopping at the Himalayan Bazaar in La Mesa. But on the other side of the world in Nepal and in parts of India and China, the scene is much different: it’s raining, it’s dark, and it’s destroyed.

Mr. Khem Kharel, owner of Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa and a native of Nepal, says that his immediate family in Kathmandu--his 84 year old mother, his brother, brother’s wife and other family members--are thankfully “fine, just scared” and hungry. He has been in touch with his family, briefly, by phone, two times since the epicenter of the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the remote village of Barpak, in the northern-central Gorkha District, about 50 miles northwest from Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu on April 25. The latest numbers report more than 4,400 deaths.

Street gangs reportedly issue threat against police, warning disseminated nationwide

By Miriam Raftery

April 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Another city has erupted in violent protests over alleged police brutality. Rioting has broken out in Baltimore, Maryland after the funeral of Freddie Gray, an African-American who died after suffering spinal injuries while in a van in police custody.

Rioters set fire to police cars and a pharmacy, sabotaged fire hoses and hurled bricks at police officers.  At least 15 police officers have been injured, Associated Press reports. Looting has also been reported. A senior center built by a church has also been torched.

East County News Service

April 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Harley-Davidson Motor Company has announced a recall of 45,901 motorcycles for model years 2014 and 2015 due to dangerous clutch problems.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pawen Kuznier, creative commons

April 25, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--Should a government-backed board be able to seize part of farmers’ crops in order to keep supplies down and prices up?

By Miriam Raftery

April 26, 2015 (Cleveland National Forest) – The County has begun a major cleanup of dirt dumped along Boulder Creek Road that polluted a federally protected watershed in response to an East County Magazine investigation.

Eagle Peak Friends and Collaborators, a concerned citizens' group, posted a video on its Facebook page documenting massive quantities of dirt dumped along Boulder Creek Road inside Cleveland National Forest in San Diego’s East County.  The group contended that the County is responsible for dumping 20,000 cubic yards of dirt from road-grading inside the federally recommended Eagle Peak Wilderness area.

Before our inquiry, nothing appeared to have been done to halt the county’s actions, which had gone on for many months or more, a whistleblower told ECM.

East County News Service

April 25, 2015 (San Diego)--San Diego has been named among the world’s smartest cities – the only U.S. city chosen.  San Diego’s technological innovation, creative talent and unique lifestyle originally aired this morning and will be featured again May 2 at 8 a.m. in all U.S. time zones.

By Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2015 (San Diego)--Madison, Wisconsin has become the first city in the nation to give legal protections to atheists in housing, employment and public accommodations.

Get Ready to Kick-off Summer with a fitness Boot Camp for all levels and instruction provided by Fit-X San Diego. Whether you are a seasoned athlete, just beginning a fitness routine, or merely thinking about increasing your physical activity this workshop is a “no risk” opportunity to learn what the Boot Camp craze is all about. Instructors will identify exercises for all fitness levels. Wear appropriate workout clothing, sports shoes, and bring a towel.  Not sure but curious? Join in the observer section – but dress appropriately and bring a towel anyway – you might catch Boot Camp fever!