Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House, by Donna Brazile (Hachette Book Group, Inc., 2017, New York, NY, 268 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

January 5, 2017 (San Diego) - Donna Brazile, former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman has written a provocative and timely book about election politics and alleged Russian influence in our political process; Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Santa Barbara oil spill, 1969, dumped up to 100,000 barrels of crude oil off California's coast, killing 3,500 sea birds as well as marine mammals such as dolphins and seals. (Dick Smith Collection, University of Santa Barbara)

January 5, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke yesterday issued a sweeping proposal to open up 98% of all outer continental shelf areas for offshore oil drilling -- including off San Diego’s coastline.  By contrast, drilling is currently allowed in only 6% of those areas.

The proposal, which also includes plans to drill in the Arctic, elsewhere along the west coast, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast, has drawn strong opposition from environmental groups and from California’s Attorney General.  View map of proposed drilling sites. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in however in public comments and public meetings to be held around the country.  A schedule of those meetings will be posted here.  Online comments at regulations.gov will be accepted starting January 8^th.

East County News Service

January 4, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library in La Mesa will host “Osteoporosis and Exercise: What Is Right and What Is Risky,” a free program on the disease that thins and weakens the bones, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free and RSVP is not necessary. Light refreshments will be served. Handouts will be available. The library is located at 9001 Wakarusa St.

By Miriam Raftery

January 4, 2018 (Santa Ysabel) – A 29-year-old man walking in the northbound lane of State Route 79 was struck and killed last night around 8 p.m. by a 2003 silver Hyundai., south of Mesa Grande Road in Santa Ysabel. 

Proposed “HELMS” Storage plan requires 1,000 year design life rather thancurrent 40-year life such as those in use at San Onofre

East County News Service

January 4, 2018 (San Diego) --  Citizens Oversight, the organization that negotiated a plan of action to move the waste from San Onofre, announced  Tuesday that it has submitted a formal petition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under NRC regulations that govern how the nuclear industry handles spent nuclear fuel.  The basis for the proposed changes is established by the HELMS proposal, also part of the submission, meaning Hardened, Extended-life, Local, Monitored, Surface storage. HELMS requires a design life for safe containment of toxic nuclear spent fuel of 1,000 years rather than the current requirement of only 40 years, despite the reality that the spent fuel will likely remain on the surface for at least 200 years.

East County News Service

January 4, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Library (201 E. Douglas Ave.), will host its third Local Author Expo on Sunday, January 28, at 2:00 p.m. This free event will feature presentations by three local authors followed by a reception where attendees may meet the authors and enjoy refreshments provided by the Friends of the El Cajon Library.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Photo: Sycuan Tribal Council and the charity Father Joe’s Villages. Chairman Cody Martinez chose this charity for the Gift Giving Ceremony

January 3, 2018 (Sycuan) – Recognizing organizations making a positive difference in our community, Sycuan’s Tribal Council and Sycuan Leadership team presented $76,000 to 30 charities during a gift giving ceremony on December 14^th. 

East County News Service

Photo:  Lisa Sanders

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - The San Diego County Library’s Acoustic Showcase series offers a variety of top local singer/songwriters, folk music performers and storytellers in free concerts for the community.

Upcoming performances include two in East County.

January 3, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Congress will return to a full slate of difficult issues (Washington Post)
• Trump dissolves voter fraud commission (The Hill)
• U.S. military to accept transgender troops on Monday: Pentagon (Reuters)
• Kim Jong Un Wants the U.S. to Know That His Nuclear Arsenal Is Complete (NPR)
• Tina Smith replaces Al Franken in Senate, marking record number of 22 female Senators (ABC)

WORLD

• The Photos That Tell Some Of 2017's Biggest International Stories (NPR)
• Protests in Iran Continue With Reports Of 20 Killed and Hundreds Arrested (NPR)
• Crisis of expectations: Iran protests mean economic dilemma for government (Reuters)
• A visual that shows just how many Rohingya villages have been burned (Reuters)
• Egypt sentences ex-President Mursi, 19 others to three years in jail for insulting judiciary (Reuters)
• Russia says it has detained a suspect in St. Petersburg supermarket blast (Reuters)
• Gunman kills 11 in attacks on Coptic church, Christian-owned shop in Egypt (Reuters)
• More Than 40 Dead and Dozens Injured After Bombing in Kabul (NPR)
• Man with explosives takes 11 hostages in Ukraine (Reuters)

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

January 3, 2018 (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

• Class action lawsuit alleges immigrants are forced to labor in detention (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Alpine, County not giving up on community park (San Diego-Union Tribune)
• The Year San Diego Unified Established Itself as the Agency Most Hostile to Transparency (Voice of San Diego)
• Kasparian Under Criminal Investigation, Says Opposing Lawyer at Gag Order Hearing (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot (CNN)
• Border Patrol will go after pot at California checkpoints (NBC 7)
• Some states put a THC limit on pot-smoking drivers. Here’s why California doesn’t (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Fear of fire penalties belts Edison, PG&E stocks (San Diego Reader)

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

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Marijuana users risk schizophrenia, but the drug helps pain (NBC)
• FDA Takes Too Long to Recall Tainted Food, Federal Investigators Say (NPR)
• Why spending time outdoors could help your child's eyesight (BBC)
• World first for dog's broken leg (BBC)
• Is Pollution Causing Obesity and Asthma in Children? (Apple News)
• Flu Cases On The Rise In San Diego, Patients Pack Into Sharp Grossmont (KPBS)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

•  Apple apologizes after outcry over slowed iPhones (Reuters)
• Researchers Discover Two Major Flaws in the World’s Computers (New York Times)
• This should freak everyone out: the Arctic will never be frozen again (Mother Jones)
• 9 Ways You Can Use Your Devices for Advanced Scientific Research (Singularity Hub)
• Police arrest alleged 'Nigerian prince' email scammer in Louisiana (USA Today)

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

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) in El Cajon will partner with The Marine Room to host Tea by the Sea on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tea by the Sea will feature complimentary champagne and a signature cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, live music and a visit from The Marine Room’s Executive Chef Bernard. The imaginative cuisine is more than matched by the up-close view of the surf.

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - The weather is getting colder. Each year, more people die in home fires during the winter months than any other time of the year.

To help you to spread the word about fire safety, the U.S. Fire Administration offers these safety tips:  https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/media/social.html

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (Santee) – San Diego homebuilder New Pointe Communities is bringing much-needed, reasonably-priced homes to market in an urban area already well serviced by essential infrastructure. The company’s 18-townhome project, Montivo, located at 8850 Olive Lane in Santee, is now open for sales.

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (San Diego) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday approved a request by California Governor Jerry Brown for a federal disaster declaration due to wildfires in southern California that began December 4th, including the Lilac Fire in San Diego as well as devastating fires in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.