East County News Service

May 13, 2015 (San Diego) - San Diego Supervisors this week approved steps in response to state-mandated orders to slash water use during the drought.

May 12, 2015 (El Cajon) --  Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a commercial structure fire in the 100 block of Fletcher Parkway in the early morning hours on May 3rd.  Upon arrival firefighters found heavy black smoke coming from a commercial building at the site of the former El Cajon Police station.

May 12, 2015 (La Mesa) – At their upcoming meeting Wednesday May 13, 4 p.m., the Board will discuss a Drought Action Plan to meet state imposed water cuts of 20% to the District, including limiting all customers to watering two days per week, requiring 10-20% cuts by residential tier 3 users with penalties for violations, and increased enforcement on water waste reports.

May 11, 2015 (El Cajon) - The Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), an El Cajon-based non-profit organization that provides services, training and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities, will present its 41st annual Home of Guiding Hands Gala from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday, June 6, at the Hotel Del Coronado. Proceeds will benefit programs and services HGH provides to more than 1,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. Former Padres pitcher Randy Jones, a National League Cy Young Award winner, will be the master of ceremonies.

May 9, 2015 (Santee) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, has sent a letter to the Navy stating its opposition to the pending closure of a health clinic in Santee.

By Patricia O’Reilly, Photos by Ed Rodden

May 8, 2015 (La Mesa)--The 7^th Annual Golden Artistry Jewelry Design Competition was honored with a special fundraising event at the La Mesa Women’s Club on Friday evening, May 1^st, 2015.

Terry Whyte, owner of Golden Artistry in La Mesa Village, established the competition to encourage and inspire young designers from the high schools of the Grossmont Union High School District.

May 7, 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

• Longtime TV personality Bob Dale dies at 83 (U-T)
• West Sacramento Claims Santee ‘Hijacked’ Tax Revenue (Times of San Diego)
• State questions tribal fund spending (U-T)
• Lemon Grove axing its planning commission (U-T)

STATE

• California Drought Killed 12 Million Forest Trees Since Last Year (KPBS)
• Earnings jump at Sempra (U-T)
• California approves new uniform rules for seawater desalination (Reuters)
• California Regulators Approve Unprecedented Water Cutbacks (AP)

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

By Jack Haworth

May 6, 2015 (San Diego) -- For the first time in more than 40 years, the SDSU Debate Team has placed as a team in the National Forensics Association Tournament. The team of Vincent Bellinghiere, Cody Meza, and Darron DeVillez, represented Aztec Forensics at the NFA tournament at Ohio University and placed 8th in Division III, competing in literature interpretation and platform speeches.

“Hundreds of universities across the nation compete in intercollegiate individual events, and only a select number qualify to compete at the national tournament,” said Bill Snavely, director of the School of Communication. “This is a great accomplishment for only three competitors against much more well-funded programs from across the country.”

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.