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By Liz Alper
Videos courtesy goaztecs.com
November 26, 2018 (San Diego) - After a heartbreaking overtime loss to Hawaii on Saturday night, SDSU football head coach Rocky Long sat down with the media today and was surprisingly cheerful.
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November 26, 2018 (San Diego) - The next best thing after Thanksgiving is the day after when we start preparing for Christmas. This week, we’ll start from the outside and work our way inside next week.
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November 26, 2018 (San Diego) -- The deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history is finally fully contained. The Camp Fire scorched over 153,000 acres and destroying 18,000 structures, including 14,000 homes.At least 85 people died and around 250 remain missing, though that’s far fewer than the over 1,000 listed as missing in the fire’s immediate aftermath.
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Las Americas Premium Outlets was forced to close on the busiest shopping weekends of the year, as a sky made hazy by tear gas bit at customers’ throats and eyes
By Kendra Sitton
Photos by Philip Ballew
Updated November 30, 2018 with figures from a Reuters news report on economic losses to hotels in our region due to the border conflict
November 26, 2018 (San Diego) — In a Monday tweet, President Trump threatened to shut down the border if Mexico does not remove the Central American migrants, thousands of whom are still arriving in Tijuana over the next week. He has made similar threats before, but this time Trump said he would close the ports of entry permanently if need be.
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November 26, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.
For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.
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November 26, 2018 (La Mesa) – The public is invited to provide input during a public hearing December 3, 2018 at 6 p.m. on the Grossmont Healthcare District’s transition to a new system for electing its board members.
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November 26, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) –The first substantial winter storm of the seasonis predicted for this week.The National Weather Service is forecasting rainfall of up to two inches and snow in the mountains Wednesday through Sunday, with the heaviest precipitation likely on Thursday.
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Drug cartels are using teens to transport millions of dollars’ worth of drugs across the border
Source: San Diego Countywide Media Advocacy Project
Photo by David Larivière on Unsplash
November 25, 2018 (San Diego) - Drug cartels are using teens to smuggle a variety of contraband across the border. But once a teen has been caught at the border smuggling drugs and is on the law enforcement radar, drug cartels use them for another illegal purpose: recruiting.
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November 25, 2018 (Santee) – The Santee Historical Society invites you to an old-fashioned Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 1st from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Santee Barn (9200 Magnolia, betweenMast and Mission Gorge Rd.)
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Update November 26, 2018 with comments from Congresswoman Susan Davis.
Update 5:30 p.m.: Border Patrol has reopened northbound and southbound lanes.
November 25, 2018 (San Diego)—U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has shut down the international border at San Ysidro in both directions today, also closing major highways and roads nearby including portions of I-5, I-805, and state route 905. A trolley line and pedestrian crossing that closed temporarily have since reopened.
When some members of a migrant caravan from Central America attempted to cross into the U.S., agents repelled them with tear gas. Reuters reports children and babies were screaming after the attack. There are also eyewitness reports that a loud sound device was deployed, possibly a flash-bang device or a sonic weapon.
The border shutdown on a busy holiday weekend inconvenienced vacationers on both sides of the border seeking to return home. Border crossers were forced to detour and endure hours-long waits to crossings at Otay or Tecate.
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November 25, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The holiday season in East County has many fun and festive events coming up, including North Pole Limited train rides in Campo, the Spirit of Christmas in Lakeside, Ramona’s tree lighting with sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating at Viejas, the Alpine Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village, Breakfast with Santa in Alpine, San Diego Festival Chorus & Orchestra’s Christmas concert and more.
Plus, there are some non-holiday happenings this season including concerts by such stellar performers as Fleetwood Mac, LeAnn Rimes, Barry Manilow, Tony Orlando and the Kingston Trio, a radio production of It’s a Wonderful Life, a comedy appearanceby Trevor Noah,and a swingin’ holiday party with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
So scroll down for all of these events and more!
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November 25, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The new owner of Cottonwood Golf Club wants to turn the site into a sand mine along the Sweetwater River in Jamacha Valley over the next 10 years. If approved, the projectin the Rancho San Diego area of unincorporated El Cajon would mine an estimated 5.8 million tons of sandfrom 198 acres of the 280-acre site.
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“The decision to release this damning report when families are beginning to celebrate the holidays and newsrooms are short-staffed is a brazen attempt to bury the truth.”
November 25, 2018 (San Diego) - In a move environmentalists and journalists denounced as a blatant effort to bury facts that conflict with the president's denialism and pro-fossil fuel agenda, the Trump administration used the Friday after Thanksgiving to quietly release Volume II of the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), which warned "Earth's climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization" and concluded that "greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the only factors that can account" for planet-threatening warming.
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Photo: Palm farm in Borrego Springs, by Miriam Raftery
November 25, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – Borrego Springs is under a state mandate to submit a plan early next year to reduce the desert community’s water consumption by 75 percent by 2040. The town relies 100% on groundwater – and it’s using far more than is being replenished through rainfall. Citrus and palm farms use 70 to 80 percent of Borrego’s water, so the only way to meet the staterequirement and save the town’s only water supply is to eliminate some or all of the farms.
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SDG&E now says it wants to exit power-purchasing business
By Miriam Raftery
November 25, 2018 (San Diego) –Across California, nearly 20 communities are now purchasing their own power through community choice energy programs that aim to lower utility bills and provide energy from clean, green sources.
The concept is gaining bipartisan supportlocally, where Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced his intent in October for the city of San Diego to establish acommunity choiceoption backed by prominent Democrats on the city council.La Mesa’s city council voted unanimouslyin April to pursue a community choice energy alternative and Solana Beach already has one. There is also talk of some local jurisdictions banding together to form a regional community choice energy program for ratepayers.
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November 25, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State dropped its regular-season finale in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday, suffering a 31-30 defeat to Hawai'i in overtime at SDCCU Stadium.
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November 24, 2018 (San Diego) - The San Diego State women’s basketball team (4-2) had their three-game winning streak snapped with an 81-64 loss to TCU (4-1) in the final game of the SDSU Thanksgiving Classic Saturday evening.
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November 23, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Shop local this season to find unique gifts that reflect our East County communities and help support our local economy. From hand-crafted wares to pampering products to delicious locally made delicacies, here are some hints to help you with your holiday shopping this season.
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SDSU is now 4-1, their best start since the 2011-12 season
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
November 23, 2018 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball (4-1) won their third game in a row with an 83-67 win over California Baptist in the first game of the SDSU Thanksgiving Classic Friday evening.
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November 22, 2018 (Spring Valley) – The creator of the Magical Forest in Las Vegas has brought her talents to Noah Homes at 12526 Campo Road in in Spring Valley, where the Enchanted Village Festival of Trees & Lights will be open to the public December 14-16 and 21-23. View video: https://vimeo.com/301286492/bf29b3c559
Tickets cost $14.99 for adults and $9.99 for children ages 3-12; three’s a limit of 500 tickets per night so advance purchase is advised. You can reserve tickets online at www.EnchantedVillage.org. All proceeds from this delightful holiday display will benefit programs to help Noah Homes residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
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By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office
November 21, 2018 (San Diego) - Don’t want to fight the crowds on Black Friday? Enjoy a park at your own pace. County Parks and Recreation has declared Friday, Nov. 23 “Green Friday” to prompt families and friends to spend more quality time together outside on the day after Thanksgiving. Take a hike, tour a canyon, meet an animal ambassador – it’s all possible at parks on Green Friday.
Here are five great ways to celebrate the day:
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November 21, 2018 (San Diego) - Thanksgiving signifies the beginning of the holiday season and many of us will be spending more time in the kitchen preparing for the holidays.
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November 21, 2018 (Santee) — Sheriff’s deputies have arrested Joseph Bodenstadt, 50, for allegedly stabbing his sister in the face. He has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and delaying a peace officer.
His sister is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
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November 20, 2018 (San Diego) -- Every day since October 26, immigration authorities have released onto the streets of San Diego 20-30 migrant families (50-70 individuals) seeking asylum at the San Diego-Tijuana Border. Once processed and vetted for security risks, the Department of Homeland Security has quietly dropped these families – tagged with ankle bracelets and without any resources – at locations across San Diego. The situation has left hundreds of migrants homeless on San Diego’s streets, with nowhere to go and no way of getting to their final destinations.
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November 19, 2018 (Lakeside) – “I don’t know what started it,” says El Monte Valley resident Dianna Alotta, who works and lives at a horse ranch close to where the #ElMonteFire began on Sunday afternoon. After her husband told her that a fire was burning, she recalls, “I looked over and there’s smoke, so I came running back here.” She adds, “Thank God a bunch of other people, neighbors and stuff pulled together, got the horses out of the danger range.”
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New members to replace no-shows on fire boardat Dec. 11 meeting
By Miriam Raftery
November 20, 2018 (Julian) – A special election will be held in the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD) on March 19 for voters to decide whether to save the county’s last volunteer firefighting district.If over 50% of voters vote yeson the citizens’ initiative, it will reverse the county’s Local Agency Formation District vote that had approved dissolving the district and having the County Fire Authority/Cal Fire takeover all firefighting duties.
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Like our sports coverage? Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Type “Sports” on the donation line!
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By Liz Alper
Videos courtesy goaztecs.com
For videos of Anthony Luke's and Ryan Pope's portion of the press conference, click “read more” and scroll down.
November 20, 2018 (San Diego) - With men's basketball away at the Maui Jim Invitational, it was just football sitting down with the media at this week's press conference. Head coach Rocky Long was joined by senior defensive end Anthony Luke and senior offensive tackle Ryan Pope.
“Obviously, we got another game this week," Long opened with. "I think both teams will be excited about playing each other. We’re teams with very similar talent levels. They (Hawaii) throw the ball around like crazy. They’ve got one of the leading passers in the country, a couple of the leading receivers in the country, and they throw the ball a bunch, so they’re up there near the top in passing yardage and those kinds of things. After I watched the (Chiefs-Rams) game last night, when they throw it around like that, I mean, it makes it really, really hard on the defense. So our offense has to keep the ball away from them or we’re going to have to play really, really well on defense.”
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Story by Liz Alper
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
November 20, 2018 (Lahaina, Hawaii) - Now eliminated from tournament play, Aztecs men’s basketball faced another basketball juggernaut, Xavier.
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Update November 27, 2018: The CDC has narrowed the warning to only Romaine lettuce grown in central and northern Califormia. Read more.
East County News Service
November 20, 2018 (Washington D.C.) –Consumers in the U.S. should not eat any romaine lettuce; restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any forms of romaine lettuceincluding whole heads, chopped, hearts of romaine, or mixed saladscontainingromaine lettuceincluding spring mix and Caesar salads.
That’s the warning issued today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to a nationwide outbreak of a virulent form of E.coli linked to romaine that has sickened 32 people in 11 states, including 10 cases in California.Nearly a third of those cases (13) required hospitalization. An additional 18 cases have occurredin Canada.
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One-act Christmas opera in English; two performances only on December 22 at STAR Repertory Theatre in Escondido
November 20, 2018 (Escondido) - “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” a one-act Christmas opera in English written by Gian Carlo Menotti, will be presented at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 22nd at the STAR Repertory Theatre, 329 E. Valley Parkway in Escondido. The production by Genesis Opera Theatre features an all-star cast of talent drawn from Southern California’s San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties, and is directed by Cynthia Leigh with musical direction by Tim Leon.
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