March 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Despite recent cold weather, rattlesnakes are active—and a bite proved deadly this week on a local trail, the Blossom Valley network reports.

By Miriam Raftery

March 7, 2012 (San Diego)—The U.S. military is tackling a major battle: striving to rely on renewable energy to meet half of all energy that it uses by 2020. 

“That’s a tall order,” Captain Marko Medved, Operations Officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.  Marko spoke last weekend at Forging a Sustainable Future, a two-day symposium sponsored by UnitedGREEN.  Captain Medved’s job? Makinge the military bases of the Southwest energy efficient.   That’s over one million acres—and he reports, “We’ve made significant gains.”

March 6, 2012 (El Cajon)—Smoke from an attic fire filled Kelley’s Pub on East Bradley Avenue this evening, but no one was injured thanks to the swift response from San Miguel Fire. Firefighters evacuated about 20 patrons safely, then attacked the fire by removing ceiling tiles, eliminating the need to cut large holes in the roof to vent the fire.

March 6, 2012 (San Diego)--Women from all over San Diego County will rally in front of the US Federal Courthouse, 940 Front Street in San Diego on Thursday, March 8 from 12-1 p.m. to support women's rights to contraception on International Women's Day.

"As bad as SDG&E is with a watchdog, imagine it without a watchdog.” – Donna Tisdale

“…No evidence confirming such allegations was provided by those lodging allegations, nor discovered by any of the professionals retained by UCAN’s board.” – press release posted on UCAN website

"We're trying to save UCAN and they're dissolving it." -- Mike Aguirre, attorney

March 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – To many ratepayers in East County, the Utility Consumers Action Network (UCAN) has been a valued ally in their battles against San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). For example, UCAN filed a lawsuit that tried to halt Sunrise Powerlink and submitted a study that helped persuade the California Public Utilities Commission to reject a rate hike proposal.   

So UCAN’s announcement that it is dissolving amid an FBI investigation into its finances  and a Grand Jury summons has been met with shock, dismay and skepticism here in East County.

We still have tickets left! Students $10; $35 tickets for ECM subscribers

March 1, 2012 (San Diego) – If you care about the future of our region, come join a grassroots movement and discussion to shape the energy, water, transportation and food policies of tomorrow.  Should we be investing in rooftop solar or wind farms?  Algae-based fuels or offshore drilling? Greenbelts and community gardens? These are questions that can dramatically affect the future for our children in San Diego and East County.

The Conference will be held in ENS 280; park in lot 2.  Find a map and details at www.unitedgreen.org .  The event kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday with a continental breakfast.   Famed environmental leader and nationally-known “Ring of Fire” radio host Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will deliver the keynote speech at 3:30 on Saturday. Other participants include members of Congress and Congressional candidates,  scientists, environmental planners, authors and educators. 

Update 9:30 p.m. Lanes are reopened.  ECM news partner 10 News reports the woman was struck while walking on the center median. She was taken to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. 

February 29, 2012 (Bonita) – All lanes of State Route 54 westbound are closed after multiple vehicles struck a pedestrian, according to the CHP website at 7:53 p.m. Incident Page Network reports the collision is now a fatality.

By Miriam Raftery

Next president will appoint Supreme Court justice who will be swing vote;  at stake are women’s access to birth control and abortion, attorney tells local law students  

By Nadin Abbott

Student tickets $10; $35 tickets for ECM subscribers

February 28, 2012 (San Diego) – Named among Time Magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet”, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has led legal battles to protect clean water, help indigenous tribes preserve homelands, and defend our environment around the world. 

The famed environmental lawyer, author, “Ring of Fire” radio co-host, and member of one of America’s most prominent political families will be the keynote speaker Saturday, March 3 at the “Forging a Sustainable Future” conference at San Diego State University.

February 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A winter storm is forecast to bring cold temperatures, high winds and snow down to 2500 feet tonight and Monday. Areas expected to receive snow include Aguanga, Boulevard, Cuyamaca, Descanso, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pine Valley and Ranchita.