East County News Service

May 25, 2015 (Borrego Springs)--An emergency order issued by Governor Jerry Brown is having a harsher impact on some communities than others, since the slash-water-use requirements make no distinction between northern forested communities and places like Borrego Springs, which is located in the Anza-Borrego desert.

By Rob Tade, Adjutant, American Legion Post 303, El Cajon

May 24, 2015 (El Cajon)-- Tomorrow is the annual day of remembrance for those that have gone before us and given “all” for our freedom and the liberties that we enjoy.   You are all welcome to join us for a short ceremony at the El Cajon Veteran’s Memorial. 

Project will advance to City Council

Story and photos by Janis Russell

Photo, left: Sherm Harmer, Urban Housing Partners

May 21, 2015 (La Mesa)- At yesterday’s meeting, the La Mesa Planning Commission voted to deny approval of a revised Park Station plan because of its inconsistency with the general plan and community objectives. The vote was 4-2 with Commissioner Dexter Levy absent.  Next up, the City Council will be asked to decide Park Station’s fate.

This was the developer’s third attempt to win approval.  The plan had been dramatically scaled down from 190 feet in height originally proposed  to a maximum of 75 feet in the latest proposal, though still far over the 46 feet height limit citywide and double the allowable density. The latest plan increased density and added a hotel, but reduced parking. A controversial aspect has been the developer’s effort to  get approval of a specific plan solely for Park Station so that zoning requirements of the historic downtown district and other areas in La Mesa would not apply.  It would have included a “by right” ability to make future changes without city approval, or what critics referred to as a “blank check.”

East County News Service

May 20, 2015 (San Diego)--The ACLU of California has launched Mobile Justice CA, a free smart phone app allowing Californians to automatically record and submit cell phone videos to their ACLU affiliate when they feel law enforcement officers are violating civil rights.

By Miraim Raftery

May 18, 2015 (San Diego) – Back in 2012, San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore sought to stop drugs and weapons from being smuggled into county jails in envelopes. So the Sheriff imposed a ban on mail to inmates, allowing only postcards or emails—no hand-written letters from loved ones. An exception was allowed for inmates to receive letters from their attorneys, however.

Hear our interview with Brooke Haggarty, executive director of Foundation for Animal Care and Education (FACE) , originally aired on KNSJ Radio. 

Listen now:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

May 17, 2015 (San Diego) – “What we do is give families hope when they are about to lose their best friends, their furry family members. We are able to keep them together,” says Brooke Haggarty, executive director at Foundation for Animal Care (FACE). 

The San Diego-based nonprofit  provides funds to help families save the lives or health of pets with life-threatening injuries or conditions. Unlike some other organizations, FACE does not require owners to give up their pets to get help. Instead, FACE partners  with over 100 veterinary hospitals countywide to negotiate discounts of 25% or more and pay most of the remainder for families that can’t afford care.

East County News Service

May 16, 2015 (Mt. Laguna)--The County’s Department of Environmental Health has issued a Boil Water Order for the Mount Laguna Recreation Area’s water system on Sunrise Highway on Friday. The agency indicated that  the drinking water system tested positive for E.Coli and total coliform bacteria, which means water may be contaminated with human or animal waste.

May 14, 2015 (Lemon Grove)--At approximately 7:51 p.m., Sunday, May 3, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in Lemon Grove, responded to reports of a structure fire in the 25-hundred block of Pergl Street. Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a single-story structure at 2523 Pergl Street.

May 14, 2015 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon has teamed up with Rady Children’s Hospital for school pedestrian safety improvements.

May 14, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Park Station is coming before the La Mesa Planning Commission for the third time since the application was first submitted in 2008. The hearing will be held on May 20 at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The first time it was kicked to the curb on the basis of height and density. The second time everyone -including the applicant- was stunned when the American Legion Hall withdrew their co-application during the hearing, requiring the Kitzman’s to come up with a new plan.

May 13, 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:

NATIONAL

• China, India Surpass Mexico As Leading Sources Of New Immigrants To U.S. (NPR)
• Court ruling against NSA practice could reverberate far beyond phone spying (CS Monitor)
• Federal Judge Rejects Warrantless Search of Laptop Seized at Airport (Reason)
• House Approves USA Freedom Act, Extending And Revising The Patriot Act (NPR)
• U.S. House votes to ban most abortions after 20 weeks (Reuters)
• Texas, Arkansas governors declare disasters after deadly tornadoes (Reuters)
• Illinois languishes as lowest ranked state by credit: survey (Reuters) 
• Christians In U.S. On Decline As Number Of 'Nones' Grows, Survey Finds (NPR)
• Puerto Rico orders water-rationing measures amid dry spell (AP)

INTERNATIONAL

• Exclusive: Czechs stopped potential nuclear tech purchase by Iran - sources (Reuters)
• North Korea warns of 'targeted strikes' against South's navy (Reuters)
• Nepal earthquake kills dozens, triggers panic (Reuters)
• 1,600 Rohingya, Bangladeshi migrants reach land while thousands remain at sea (CS Monitor)
• Insulting police online banned by Granby, Que., bylaw (CBS News)
• Israeli general sees common interests with Hamas (Reuters) 
• Venezuela Faces Crime Epidemic (NPR)
• Police torture in China still routine despite reforms: rights group (Reuters)
• Diplomats: Traces of chemical weapons agents found in Syria (AP)

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

May 13, 2015 (Alpine) – Yesterday at 1:55 p.m., detectives from the Alpine Sheriff’s station responded to a radio call reporting a structure fire in the 1400 block of Marshall Road in Alpine.  Finding a home fully engulfed in flames, deputies evacuated nearby neighbors and check surroundings for any victims.

By Miriam Raftery

May 13, 2015 (San Diego) – UT San Diego, our region’s largest daily newspaper, has announced an agreement to sell to Chicago-based Tribune Publishing. The fourth largest newspaper chain in America, Tribune Publishing owns the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and other major newspapers.  The $85 million deal would end local ownership of the 146-year-old newspaper and the controversial reign of developer Doug Manchester as publisher, opening the door to a potential shift toward higher journalistic standards.

By Robert Gehr

May 13, 2015 (El Cajon)--Around 3 p.m. on May 4th, a fire broke out in a four-unit apartment building in El Cajon - located at 345 West Park Ave.

May 11, 2015 (San Diego) - The San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB), the primary supplier of blood to the majority of hospitals in San Diego County, will introduce their newest blood mobile with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way, San Diego.