By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – A woman crossing Skyline Drive at Alton Drive in Lemon was struck by a vehicle on Thursday at 6:10 p.m. and sustained life threatening injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

January 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –The National Weather Service has issued a Drought Report following the recent rains. While the winter storms have brought some relief, water supplies remain low, though the situation may ease in coming months.

Massive release of emails between CPUC and utilities also ordered by administrative law judge

By Miriam Raftery

January 18, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Taking the helm of the scandal-ridden California Public Utilities Commission, new president Michael Picker announced reforms aimed at ending back-door access by utilities to state regulators and improving transparency to the public.

View video: http://www.justice.gov/opa/video/ag-holder-delivers-remarks-honoring-life-and-legacy-dr-martin-luther-king-jr

January 17, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--In a speech at a Justice Department ceremony Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder honored slain civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on what would have been King's 80th birthday.  He praised King as  “a man who helped to lead a really sweeping movement that forever changed the face of America and inspired people around the world to reach for opportunity and to reach for inclusion.”

He hailed the Civil Rights movement’s achievements but noted, “Even today, in 2015, our journey remains incomplete” citing economic and education inequities and recent assaults on the Voting Rights Act. 

Holder also praised the “brave men and women of law enforcement,” but added that the nation must improve police officer safety at the same time that it confronts the sense of mistrust between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve.

January 16, 2015 (Lakeside) 2 p.m. – A SWAT team stand-off at Barona following a reported shooting has shut down a section of San Vicente Road.  There is a heavy law enforcement presence; avoid the area until further notice, the Sheriff advises.

A woman is in custody but the situation is ongoing, reports 10 News, which has a news crew en route to the scene.  Tribal police and the Sheriff’s Department are responding.

East County News Service

January 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Gillespie Field Development Council has three open seats, including two seats from El Cajon and one from the County,

At the last meeting, the Council voted against expanding the board from the current five seats to seven seats.  But some, including Citizens Against Gillespie Expansion (CAGE) wants to see a council that includes representation from citizens in the community, not just cities and pilots’ interests.

Overnight mail service ends; privatization push triggers boycott of Staples

By Hayden Parsley

Miriam Raftery also  contributed to this report.

Click here to hear our radio interview with Tom Wood and Eddie B. Cooper Jr. with the American Postal Workers Union Local 197 in San Diego.

January 9, 2015 (San Diego) – Many Americans are shocked to learn that effective January 5^th, the U.S. Postal Service has stopped all overnight deliveries. Nationwide, 82 mail processing plants are closing, hours have been cut at Post Offices, and patrons are being steered toward competitors such as Staples, triggering a backlash in the form of a Staples boycott.

It’s all part of an effort by conservatives in Congress to slow down, outsource and privatize postal services—a move that could ultimately lead to the demise of the Post Office completely. That could mean price hikes for stamps and delivery services, lay-offs for workers, inconveniences and new costs for businesses, as well as potential cuts in delivery for rural residents.  That’s concerning for those reliant on mail deliveries of vital items such as prescription medications.

By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – On the first day of the new Congressional session, House Republicans pushed through a rule change that advocates for senior citizens and the disabled warn will lead to major benefit cuts for retirees and people on disability.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) legislative policy director calls the action “a mistake” that could lead to devastating 20% cuts for people dependent on disability payments as well as negative impacts for retirees--including reductions in benefit payments and another rise in retirement age, which is already set to go up from age 65 to 67.

Without a single Democratic vote, House Republicans pushed through a rule change that prohibits members from approving any financial fix to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program unless it is tied to broader “reforms” in Social Security that critics including the AARP say will lead to privatization of the program and weakening of benefits.  

January 10, 2014 (La Mesa)—A 56-year-old man walking with a cane up a steep sidewalk on Saranac Place to Thorne Drive was struck by a large pickup truck yesterday shortly before 7 a..m.  He suffered several broken bones and internal injuries, according to La Mesa Police.

"I prefer to die standing up than live kneeling." -- Stefane Charbonnier, Editor, Charlie Hedbo

Photo: #JesSuisCharlie on Twitter

By Miriam Raftery

January 7, 2015 (Paris)--Crowds around the world are standing up and journalists are speaking out to show solidarity with journalists slain at a French satirical magazine in Paris on Wednesday by  Islamic fundamentalist terrorists. The dead include the publication’s editor, other journalists including  prominent cartoonists, and two police officers.

East County News Service

January 7, 2015 (San Diego) – San Diego-based Petco, the nation’s largest pet product retailer, announced this week that it has removed all dog treats and cat treats made in China off its store shelves nationwide, as well as from its website.

East County News Service

January 5, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --The American Association of Retired Persons, is offering AARP Tax Aid, free tax preparation and online-filing of tax returns for seniors, low income residents and others in need in the East County Community.

By Miriam Raftery

January 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –Many hot agenda items are coming up before boards, commissions and councils across East County during this first week of the new year.

East County News Service

January 3, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Bleating Heart brand cheeses sold in California, Arizona and Hawaii.

January 2, 2015 (El Cajon)-- Heartland Fire Dispatch received reports at 6:21 p.m. on January 1^st of a structure fire at 1753 Woodburn Street in El Cajon.  As fire crews arrived on scene they found the attic area of the home in flames. Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon, with assistance from the Santee Fire Department, quickly had the fire out in ten minutes.