August 7, 2014 (Deerhorn Valley)--The Deerhorn Valley Antler reports sightings of a mountain lion and four attacks on livestock in Bratton Valley near Jamul over the past month.

By Miriam Raftery

August 6, 2014 (California) – Consumers have launched an online backlash against Adriana’s Insurance Service after the company delivered five-gallon buckets filled with coins as payment for a $21,000 settlement  to an elderly man assaulted by a company employee.

By Miriam Raftery

August 8, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—The severity of California’s drought has taken a sharp turn for the worse.  Virtually all of California (99.8%) is now in severe drought or worse, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor's latest report.  Nearly 82% is in extreme drought (including San Diego County) and over half the state (58%) is now in exceptional drought—the worst possible rating. 

“The challenges drought has presented to Cal Fire are huge,” said CAL FIRE Chief Tony Meecham in a public forum last night in Boulevard for residents to meet new fire officials. “We have entire counties in California that are going to run out of water.” 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: President Obama meets with national security advisors on August 7 (WhiteHouse.gov)

August 8, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – U.S. fighter jets today dropped two 500-pound bombs on terrorists’ artillery that were being used to attack Kurdish forces in Irbil, the capitol of the Kurdish province in Iraq. In addition, U.S. planes dropped humanitarian relief to aid refugees stranded without food or water.

President Barack Obama last night authorized the use of force against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Al Qaeda splinter group that has renamed itself the Islamic State.  The President also authorized humanitarian aid for victims of ISIS forced to flee their homes or be killed, including persecuted Christians and other religious minorities. The President made clear however that he will not authorize ground troops in the conflict.

Locally the announcement drew praise from Mark Arabo, CEO of the Neighborhood Market Association and a national spokesman for Iraqi Christians.

​"​Our work that began seven weeks ago in Congressman Juan Vargas’ office has resulted in a crescendo of tears, smiles and joy throughout the ​entire Iraqi Christian community​," Arabo said, referring to a Congressional resolution authored by Vargas and drafted by Arabo calling for humanitarian aid. 

August 4, 2014 (La Mesa) – Notice is hereby given that a General District Election will be held in the Helix Water District on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, for the following offices for which candidates may be nominated:

August 5, 2014(Santee)--You might say that it’s a slow news day in Santee—where an African desert tortoise weighing 60 pounds has been found roaming the streets in a residential neighborhood.

August 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – National 811 day, appropriately on August 11^th, urges people to call 811 before doing ANY type of digging. That means homeowners in their gardens as well as contractors. The service is free; two days notice is requested for an inspection to locate and mark underground lines.

East County News Service

August 6, 2014 (San Diego)--San Diego State University is launching  a new program aimed at empowering music studies to run successful businesses.

August 2, 2014 (San Diego)—The California Highway Patrol reports 105 crashes occurred locally from midnight to 4 p.m. today, as a storm doused the region. The statistics include freeways in San Diego County, streets in San Diego’s unincorporated areas, as well ass also Temecula in south Riverside County.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo from Yasmen Vidales’ Facebook page

August 1, 2014 (Ramona) – An 18-year-old woman who died July 22 of heat exhaustion following a hike in the Three Sisters Falls area has been identified as Yasmen Vidales, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports.  A recent graduate of Chula Vista High School, she also played in the school’s orchestra.

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

July 31, 2014 (San Diego)--One of the myriad of groups at Comicon San Diego was Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street, which came fully armed with street theater. The group’s members contend that since the big banks and hedge funds caused the nation’s financial crisis, they should pay their fair share to clean it up.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2014 (La Mesa)--Downtown La Mesa is getting a facelift.

Construction has begun on the Downtown village Streetscape Project, which will include new landscaping, sidewalks, outdoor lighting, benches, and enhanced pedestrian features, as well as upgrades to sewers and street signs.  The project will take several months with construction expected next year.

August 1, 2014 (El Cajon) – Tomorrow, nearly 12,000 people worldwide will be staging protests over the violence against Christians in Iraq and Syria.   In San Diego's East County, Ben and Jessica Kalasho have organized a local protest at 6 p.m. in Prescott Promenade Park  on Main Street in downtown El Cajon.

ISIS terrorsts have sprayed the red letter for "Nazarene" shown at left on Christian homes, where residents face a choice of converting to Islam or death.  Many have fled, seeking safe refuge.

A Facebook page for the local event lists 156 participants so far.  “Join us to stand in solidarity with our Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac brothers and sisters around the world to protest the violence against the Christians in Iraq and Syria,” Kalasho writes.  Guests can RSVP at the Facebook page here locally:  https://www.facebook.com/events/813180182039823/permalink/815478478476660/

In other cities visit  https://www.facebook.com/events/653888978028664/ or scroll down for a list of events listed as of now:

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our audio highlights from the vigil, as reported on KNSJ 89.1.  Listen now:  http://kiwi6.com/file/31hofx5nbg

July 26, 2014 (El Cajon)--Local political and religious leaders offered messages of hope for Iraqi Christians fleeing persecution and genocide in Iraq, many of them seeking to find refuge in America.   They offered a safe haven here in East County, as well as political actions now underway in Washington D.C. and Sacramento to aid Christians in their homeland.

“When they come here, I want you to tell them they will be safe here,” Mayor Bill Wells told the crowd during a prayer vigil in El Cajon’s Centennial Plaza last night  that was attended by an estimated 2,000 people.

The Mayor denounced the “unconscionable” slaughter of Iraqi Christians by ISIS terrorists who have declared a caliphate, or Muslim state, in the Mosul area, where churches dating back to Biblical times are being destroyed and Christians ordered to convert to Islam or die by the sword.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Mister Oh

July 30, 2014 (San Francisco) – A federal grand jury has indicted Pacific Gas & Electric for allegedly obstructing an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into the deadly San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. In addition, the public utility is charged with 27 counts of willfully violating the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act.