By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has released a $200 billion, 35-year regional growth plan for the county titled "San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan."   The plan lays out visions for transportation, sustainability and growth through 2050 including higher density land use along transportation corridors.

Several public hearings will be held including a May 13^th hearing at 6 p.m. in La Mesa’s community center.  But thus far, no hearings have been schedule in East County’s mountain, desert or rural areas.

East County Magazine asked the County why no hearings are scheduled in those areas. We pointed out that rural, mountain and desert areas lack public transit, making it difficult for residents to travel long distances to attend hearings in San Diego or even La Mesa.  In response, the County indicated it could hold additional workshops potentially if a community group to partner with could be found.

April 28, 2015 (El Cajon)--Need help finding a job – or a new career?

April 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Hospitalizations from synthetic pot (“spice”) spike, officials say (USA Today)
• Fake Medicines Do Real Damage: Thousands Die, Superbugs Get Stronger (NPR) 
• Why Oregon lawmakers want limits on antibiotics for farm animals (CS Monitor) 
• Critics Lash Out At Chinese Scientists Who Edited DNA In Human Embryos (NPR)
• Salk Scientists Propose New Mitochondrial Disease Fix (KPBS) 
• Thoughts Can Fuel Some Deadly Brain Cancers (NPR) 
• Too Many Dietary Supplements May Up Your Cancer Risk (JWR) 
• Why Do Mosquitoes Like To Bite You Best? It's In Your Genes (U-T)
• Feds Say It's Time To Cut Back On Fluoride In Drinking Water (NPR) 
• Ohio students invent DUI marijuana testing device (CS Monitor)
• Maybe You Should Rethink That Daily Aspirin (NPR)  
• Real-world doctors fact-check Dr. Oz, and the results aren't pretty (LA Times) 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Scientists find huge magma reservoir in Yellowstone 'supervolcano' (+video) (CS Monitor) 
• Does digital mean the end of history? (BBC) 
• Ten quirky ideas for making our cities more sustainable (Guardian) 
• Tweets could create flood maps that help save lives (CS Monitor) 
• How Tech Firms Are Helping People In The Nepal Earthquake Zone (NPR) 
• Can drones plant trees? Former NASA scientist says yes. (CS Monitor)
• Download Your Google Search History, and/or Delete It! (Reason)
• Some Adidas products to be made of plastic debris from oceans (CS Monitor)

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

By Miriam Raftery

April 27, 2015 (Washington D.C.)  - The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a landmark case this week, Obergefell v. Hodges, that is expected to decide whether same-sex couples should have a constitutional right to marriage in all 50 states.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left, by CalFlier 001 on WIkipedia:  Famed Dharahara Tower, Khatmandu in 2013, was reduced to a stump by the April 25, 2015 quake

Photo, right: Google executivfe Dan Fredinburg, who perished on Mt. Everest, reported on Instagram by his sister, Megan.

April 27, 2015 (San Diego) -- A devastating earthquake has struck Nepal on Saturday, April 25th,  killing over 3,700 people  in India,  Nepal, Bangladesh and the Tibetan region of China.  The quake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale,  stronger than the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the strongest to hit the Nepal region in more than 80 years.

An avalanche on Mt. Everest killed at least 18 mountain climbers and sherpas, including Google executive Dan Fredinburg,  whose father and stepmother live in Carlsbad in San Diego’s North County.

Cultural resources have also been devastating particularly in Khatmandu Valley, including the landmark Dharahara Tower, which collapsed. Multiple temples have also been damaged or destroyed.

Memorial services set for May 1^st at Miramar National Cemetery

April 25, 2015 (San Diego) - James W. Loiselle, a retired Navy Captain and defense contractor, died April 14, 2015 from an accident at his home, the San Diego Daily Transcript reports.  Loiselle, who lived in El Cajon and Coronado, was named by San Diego Daily Transcript as one of the top 15 most influential people in the technology field in our region.

April 24, 2015 (San Diego)--Mylar balloons are colorful, festive decorations, however, they can also pose a safety hazard to our electric system if they’re outdoors and not securely tied down. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is urging customers to be aware of the dangers that can arise when Mylar balloons touch power lines. The metallic coating on Mylar balloons is an excellent conductor of electricity. When a Mylar balloon comes in contact with a power line, it can cause a power outage in your neighborhood, and can even spark an electrical fire.

April 24, 2015 (San Diego – Yet another terror suspect has been arrested in San Diego.  Mohamad Saeed Kodaimati was arrested Thursday.

April 22, 2015 (El Cajon)—El Cajon has rolled back its sales tax from 9% to 8.5% due to the sunsetting of Proposition O, a temporary sales tax that helped build public safety facilities and more.

April 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• UC San Diego Study: Electronic Cigarette Smokers Aren't Less Likely To Quit (KPBS)
• Use Of E-Cigarettes Triples Among U.S. Teens (NPR)
• Mad Cow Disease In Texas Man Has Mysterious Origin (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• How shoes that grow could help change the lives of children in poverty (CS Monitor)
• 3-d printing aircraft parts may be in Israel's near future (JPost)
• 5 years after BP spill, drillers push into riskier depths (AP)
• We Might Welcome Robot Lawn Mowers, But Astronomers Aren't So Happy (NPR)

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

April 23, 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

• El Cajon event brings hope, help to homeless (UT San Diego)

• Where San Diego Gets Its Water – and Where it Goes (Voice of SD)
• Federal official admits taking bribes, theft (U-T San Diego)
• 3 top staffers leave supe's office (U-T San Diego)
• Iraqi official seeks local Chaldean support (U-T)
• San Diego jobless rate falls to 5.1 percent (UT San Diego)
• Surprise! San Diegans are good budgeters (SD Reader)
• Schools That Best Prepare Neighborhood Kids for Graduation Also Retain Them, or Vice-Versa (Voice of San Diego)
• David Glismann, 91, Grossmont choral director (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Bill would ease CPUC appeals (U-T)
• Regulators back higher electric rates for some (U-T)
• A call to invest in safety of the power grid (Marketplace.org)
• Elizabeth Warren to headline California Democratic convention (Sacramento Bee)
• Are race relations in California better than rest of US? (CS Monitor)
• Chairman: Scrap San Onofre deal (U-T)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: 2010 quake in Mexico, 2004 tsunami in Indonesia

April 21, 2015 (San Diego)—Scientists studying the Ventura fault north of Los Angeles have concluded the fault line is more dangerous than previously thought.  Now, seismologists have concluded the Ventura fault could produce a quake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale – along with a tsuami capable of inundating coastal areas of Southern California, affecting hundreds of miles.

April 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- A project to rehabilitate the pavement on the main lanes, shoulders and ramps on State Route 67 from Interstate 8 to the San Diego River Bridge north of Mapleview Street is scheduled to begin Monday.  The work will also include installation of new guardrail and concrete barrier.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Ramadi mosque in 2004, U.S. Marine Corps

April 19, 2015 (San Diego)--The battle between Islamic State extremists, or ISIS, is intensifying in the Middle East. Here are the latest developments.

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2015 (El Cajon) --  Recently, Citizens Oversight founder Ray Lutz challenged the city of El Cajon’s allocation of community development block grant funds to the East County Transitional Living Center for programs that benefit homeless people seeking to get off the streets. In a complaint sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Lutz argued that the program was illegal due to church-state separation requirements of the U.S. Constitution.