Writ of Mandate claims El Cajon Pot Shop and Cultivation Ordinance is Punitive

By Paul Kruze

January 28, 2018 (El Cajon) -- When California voters approved Proposition 64 legalizing the recreational use and cultivation of marijuana, voters also approved a less publicized part of the proposition which allows individual cities and counties to regulate where it can be bought and cultivated.

Warner Springs and Murrieta farm raises pastured chickens, rebuilds healthy soils and grasslands, and coexists with wildlife

Story and photos @Pasturebird and Primal Pastures.

January 27, 2018 (Warner Springs) -- Most people don’t set up a wholesale pastured poultry operation in an area known for its mountain lion activity as much as for its orchards.  Yet for farmer Paul Grieve of Pasturebird, flourishing habitat is an integral part of farming. “The important thing to us is that we build an ecosystem.  Our role is to steward the land and grow a great environment for Mother Nature.”

“Your guide to financial planning & socially responsible investing”

By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®, President, Blue Summit Wealth Management

January 26, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Despite the promise of tax “reform” or “simplification,” the bill actually adds hundreds of pages to our tax laws.  And the initial idea of reducing the number of tax brackets was apparently tossed aside in the final version; the new bill maintains seven different tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%.  Most people will see their bracket go down by one to four percentage points, with the higher reductions going to people with higher income.  And the tax brackets, going forward, will be indexed to inflation, meaning that the “real” income brackets will remain approximately the same from year to year.

By Mike Allen

January 26, 2018 (Santee) -- Despite having one of the most homogeneous populations in the county and lacking any concentration of minority groups, Santee elected officials say the city’s hands are tied, and Santee is forced to comply with a state law urging cities to adopt district elections.

By Jillian Hymer

January 26, 2018 (El Cajon) – At a StoryTent pitched outside the El Cajon Library last week, children listened to stories read aloud and enthusiastically chose books to read. It’s all part of Traveling Stories, a local nonprofit that focuses on “inspiring children to learn to read so they can read to learn.”  You can bring your children ages 2-12 to weekly readings at three locations in San Diego County, including the El Cajon Library each Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 pm.

A StoryTent is set up where staff members, volunteers and parents all pitch in to “empower kids to outsmart poverty…by helping kids fall in love with reading by the 4th grade,” said Hezhi Naseem, the Field Director.

By David Lesher, editor and CEO at Cal Matters, an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government

January 25, 2018 (Sacramento) -- Dear Californians,

If you care about this state, it’s time to sound the alarm about the crisis in media and what it means for the health of democracy in the world’s sixth largest economy.

Media is declining nationally, but unique pressures have made California into America’s laboratory for a dangerous experiment about what happens to the public interest when policy is made without the public’s awareness or accountability.

Unique treatment could translate to companion Animals, humans

By Amy Quinton, UC Davis

January 25, 2018 (Davis) - Two adult female black bears that were burned during the Thomas Fire in Southern California have recuperated and are now back in the wild thanks to the help of University of California, Davis, veterinarians and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Now hiring for new Director of Sales position

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (El Cajon) --  Sycuan Casino announced today that the organization is now hiring for a new Director of Sales position. This position is the first of over 700 new jobs for the hotel and resort expansion project. The new positions will be in the hotel, food and beverage and casino divisions. Sycuan will begin hiring for departmental leadership positions during the first half of the year and will host a series of job fairs mid to late 2018.

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (Washington D.C.) --  Following an intense earthquake that occurred in the Gulf of Alaska yesterday, which prompted tsunami watches, advisories and warnings across many state coastlines, FEMA continues to highlight safety tips for those who live in or visit coastal communities.  While today’s immediate threat has passed, the situation serves as a reminder to all that there are steps that can be taken now, to prepare for future events.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 15

East County News Service

January. 24, 2018 (San Diego) —  San Diego State University’s Sage Project is looking to partner with a local community for the 2018-19 academic year. As part of the collaboration, students assist with projects that directly address the partner community’s goals and in turn, better the quality of life for area residents.

During the 2016-17 academic year, the Sage Project partnered with the City of Lemon Grove. Students from 32 courses across 12 different disciplines designed and installed an art mural on the city’s community center, assisted in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping of thousands of data points and designed gateway signage, among other projects.

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2018 (San Diego) – An urgent call for blood donors and platelet donors has been issued by the American Red Cross nationwide, including here in San Diego County. 

The Red Cross has a shortage due to donors cancelling appointments because of flu and in some areas, winter storms. Across the U.S., over 150 blood drives also had to be cancelled in January due to severe winter weather.

January 24, 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.

• Republicans fund Children’s health insurance program, but leave their local health centers in the lurch (Los Angeles Times)
• Wild horses face slaughter after U.S. government proposes new regulations (ABC)
• 7.9 quake in Gulf of Alaska spurs tsunami alerts, evacuations  (Anchorage Daily News)
• Trump team bypassed DHS analysts to produce bogus terror report (Daily Beast)
• White supremacists killed 18 people in 2017, double the number in 2016, study finds (Newsweek)
• Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar gets 40 to 175 years for sex abuse (NBC)
• A year ago, they marched. Now a record number of women are running for office (Time)
• Hawaii governor didn't correct false missile alert sooner because he didn't know his Twitter password (Jewish world Review)
• Trump’s 24-year-old drug policy appointee was let go at law firm after he ‘just didn’t show’ (Washington Post)
• Sessions is questioned as Russia inquiry focuses on obstruction (New York Times)
• 2 dead, 17 wounded in Kentucky high school shooting (USA Today)
• Ex-C.I.A. Officer Suspected of Compromising Chinese Informants Is Arrested (New York Times)

WORLD

• Turkish forces push into Syria, battle Kurdish militia (Reuters)
• Turkey kills at least 260 Kurdish, Islamic State fighters in Syria offensive: military  (Reuters)
• Chilean protests, threats 'unprecedented' for papal visit (CS Monitor)
• At least 19 dead after overnight battle at Kabul hotel in Afghanistan (JPost)
• Philippine volcano erupts, causing 56,000 to flee (BBC)
• Nikki Haley says Russia is complicit in Syria atrocities (CNN)

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

January 24, 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

• San Diego okays landmark environmental deal that could spur development (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sempra hasn’t paid corporate taxes since 2008 (San Diego Reader)
• New Sheriff’s powers raise concerns among community advocates, activists (SD Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa Police Officer Shown Body Slamming Teenage Girl in Facebook Video Is Reassigned (KPBS)
• Four San Diego County Hospitals Make C-Section Honor Roll (KPBS)
• Prebys buildings near SDSU sell for $20.9 million (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Union-Tribune to fold its operation into the Los Angeles Times? (SD Reader)
• John Coleman dies at 83; climate change skeptic starred at KUSI, founded weather channel (Times of SD)
• Pack of pit bulls euthanized after killing 7 chihuahuas in Skyline (Times of SD)

STATE

• How California lawmakers are preparing for more natural disasters (Los Angeles Times)
• Gas tax repeal headed for ballot as money about to flow for road repairs (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County reopens, nearly two weeks after a massive mudslide (Los Angeles Times)

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

Initiative would require public vote on significant changes to General Plan, to protect backcountry from “sprawl-style development” and traffic gridlock

East County News Service

Update: Hear our interview with former Supervisor Pam Slater Price and Mark Jackson from Save Our San Diego Countryside by clicking the audio link.  Learn more at https://saveoursdcountryside.org/.

January 24, 201 (San Diego) -- Today the San Diego County Registrar of Voters approved the title and summary for the “Safeguard Our San Diego Countryside” Initiative, clearing the way for proponents to gather signatures to place the initiative on the November 2018 ballot. If passed, the measure would require voter approval of amendments to the San Diego County General Plan that significantly increase density on parcels in the unincorporated county now designated for farming, open space, and wildlife uses.

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- Pepe Aguilar will perform live in concert at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State’s Aztec Bowl on January 28^th at 6:30 p.m.

The American born singer and songwriter raised in Mexico started singing on stage at three years old and he’s never left.  The son of Mexican music and film stars Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, he attained stardom in his own right with an album of romantic ballads in 1998. Since then, he’s embraced traditional Mexican rancheria and mariachi music as well as pop  music – a style that has won him multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and sold over 12 million albums.