August 16, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Organizers of white nationalist rally in Virginia, driver sued for $3 million (Reuters)
• Anti-government extremist arrested in Oklahoma bomb plot (Los Angeles Times)
• Trump again blames ‘both sides’ for violence at white supremacist rally in VA (Washington Post)
• Google boots out neo-Nazi website that attacked Charlottesville victim (San Jose Mercury News)
• Turkey detains suspected Islamic State militant for planning to bring down U.S. plane (Reuters)
• Justice Dept. demands 1.3 million IP addresses related to Trump resistance site (The Hill)
• Virginia Governor declares state of emergency as alt-right rally turns violent (NBC)
• Trump threatens Venezuela with unspecified military action (Reuters)
• Trump’s odd thanks to Putin for expelling U.S. diplomats sparks anger among foreign service officers (Los Angeles Times)
• A New Report Raises Big Questions About Last Year’s DNC Hack (The Nation)

WORLD

• Patriot interceptor batteries to be deployed pronto in Western Japan (Japan Times)
• North Korea’s Missile Success is Linked to Ukrainian Plant, Investigators Say (New York Times)
• How ISIS nearly stumbled on the ingredients for a 'dirty bomb' (Jewish World Review)
• China issues order to implement U.N. sanctions on North Korea (Reuters)
• As Pakistan Marks 70 Years of Independence, Its Minorities Struggle for Space (NPR)
• Report: Iran and Russia violated U.N. weapons sanctions (JPost)
• Hearing loss of US diplomats in Cuba blamed on covert device (AP)
• PA arrests five journalists for "leaking" sensitive information (JPost)
• Report: Attack on police vehicle kills four in northern Sinai (JPost)
• Machine gun attack on U.N. Mali base in Timbuktu kills seven (Reuters)

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

August 16, 2017 (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 Family Endures Months, Possibly Years of Toxic Indoor Air (KPBS)
• Pope names new bishop for Chaldean eparchy of San Diego (Catholic News)
• Care about climate change? San Diego County seeks input (Times of San Diego)
• Already suing, El Cajon officer says she faces harassment, discrimination (SDUT)
• Energy choice might come down to which entity people hate less: government or SDG&E (Voice of SD)
• Large tents to house San Diego homeless endorsed (Times of San Diego)
• Bark beetle makes way in Julian (Borrego Sun)
• New Arguments Emerge Against AB 805 (Voice of San Diego)
• Escondido mom says Homeland Security agent pointed gun at her on I-15 (10 News)
• District admits it urged low-performing students to transfer to charters (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• Despite California's strict new law, hundreds of schools still don't have enough vaccinated kids (Los Angeles Times)
• Faulconer lays out vision for ‘new California Republicans’ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California hopes ‘healthy soil’ will help fight climate change (KPBS)
• Schwarzenegger donates $100,000 to anti-hate group in aftermath of Charlottesville violence (Los Angeles Times)

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

August 16, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Trump declares opioid pain drugs national emergency (BBC)
• End of U.S. payments to health insurers would cause premiums to rise: CBO (Reuters)
• Vitamin B-3 may prevent miscarriages and birth defects, study says (BBC)
• Marijuana use holds three-fold blood pressure death risk (Reuters)
• San Diego Scientists Tweak Gene Editing Tool to Target RNA (KPBS)
• UCSD: Desert plant could treat giardia and ‘brain-eating’ amoeba infections (Times of San Diego)
• Surgery waiting numbers highest in decade, says NHS England (BBC)
• 'Fat but fit' still risk heart disease (BBC)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

•  Scripps Research Institute ranked first worldwide in science (SD Union-Tribune)
• U.S. court rejects Obama-era plan to eliminate some potent planet warming chemicals Science)
• Forget Tough Passwords: New Guidelines Make It Simple (NPR)
• First ‘winged’ mammals flew over dinosaurs (BBC)
• Antarctica home to considerably more volcanoes than previously thought (Verge)
• Who owns the seeds bought by farmers and gardeners? (Marketplace)
• U.S. firm reveals gun-toting drone that can aim and fire in mid-air (BBC)
• Chinese quantum satellite sends 'unbreakable' code (Reuters)

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

By Miriam Raftery

August 15, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- President Donald Trump’s long tolerance of violence and hate speech by white  hate groups has long drawn criticism, brought to the forefront following his two-day-belated denouncement of deadly violence in Charlottesville at the hands of a neo-Nazi during a white supremacists  rally. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 15, 2017 (Mount Helix) – A resident on Mount Helix says he caught a woman driving a Lexus luxury car red-handed, stealing avocados off trees at his home before dawn last week.

The resident, Alan van Antwerp, in an interview with ECM news partner 10 News, said a motion sensor alerted him. He posted a photo of the startled woman and her license plate number on the Next Door Mount Helix forum, eliciting over 100 comments, many from residents reporting similar thefts of avocados and other fruits by thieves who left trees stripped bare.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Children’s Weekly

August 15, 2017 (El Cajon) – Today is Sunshine Horton’s 72^nd birthday. Each year since 1995, Sunshine Horton has done a Miracle Maker birthday to raise money for Rady Children’s Hospital.

“For my 50^th birthday I wanted to thank this country for giving me such a great life and I wanted to do something special, so I went to the Sheriff’s Department and they told me to do a walk.

By Miriam Raftery

August 14, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – “In recent months, the Rancho San Diego Command has experienced a trend of violent take-over style robberies of marijuana dispensaries,” Sergeant K. Murashige with the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s substation says, adding, “In each case, armed guards were not a deterrent, the suspects were all armed, dispensary staff members failed to call for help even after people were physically assaulted, and in some cases the staff members refused to allow law enforcement to enter, causing a stand-off situation that stretched the department's resources in helping victims.”

East County News Service

August 14, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Celebrating its 44th year in 2017, the popular La Mesa Oktoberfest is going back to its roots to bring guests more entertainment, more vendors, more beer, and more "Prost!” (cheers!) than ever before, organizers have announced. Under the direction of the La Mesa Village Association, this year’s fest will showcase a revitalized and elevated experience for all ages on Friday, September 29th through Sunday, October 1st. Attractions include many vendors featuring craftwork and knick-knacks, foods ranging from scrumptious sausages to food truck favorites, live entertainment, beer and now, cocktails. 

By Robert Gehr

August 14, 2017 (Santee) -- I spent a wonderful Sunday morning hanging out with my ‘son’ Jeffrey Caton and his son Jeffrey junior at this relaxing place of beauty.

The morning dawning was cool and slightly overcast, with a hushed calm accompanied by the pleasant sounds and smell of nature filling my senses.

Other County Apps can help find lost dogs, get emergency info, find veterans services, search for library books, save lives and more

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2017 (San Diego) – See a pothole, graffiti, or other problem in San Diego’s unincorporated communities?  Now you can download the County’s “Tell Us NOW” app, enabling you to take a photo and instantly submit it. The App is available for Apple and Android phones.

Copyright 2017 by Sam Warren

August 13, 2017 (San Diego) -- This week we have monsters, robots, goddesses, etc. to keep you occupied. Scroll down for a full list of local readers and writers’ events.

Broil & brewfest will benefit La Mesa Police Department Peer Support Fundraiser

August 12, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Looking for a true southern cookout without having to travel to New Orleans? The Hills Pub has just the summer broil and brew event for you!

On Saturday, August 26, La Mesa’s The Hills Local Pub will be hosting its first annual neighborhood Crawfish Broil in conjunction with local breweries. From 2- 6 p.m., foodie enthusiasts can enjoy hearty portions of flavorful crawfish prepared and prepped in true bayou-style. The Hills will also have a smoker with slow-cooked sausages, and energetic live music will keep the party going all night long.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Ben Kalasho, August 8, 2017 (El Cajon)

August 11, 2017 (El Cajon) - Councilman Ben Kalasho threatened to file an employment discrimination complaint Tuesday as the Council discussed a resolution to limit Council members’ use of electronic devices during City Council meetings.    

By Robert Gehr

August 11, 2017 (El Cajon) - The now closed Hometown Buffet building located at 390 west Main St. in El Cajon is currently being transformed into a brand new Golden Corral buffet restaurant.

As I write this article, construction is going on inside and out, giving the place a fresh new look and feel.

Events provided by Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

August 11, 2017 (El Cajon) – This Saturday, El Cajon hosts a free e-waste and paper shredding event. Coming up this week are the Heroes in concert, and Cajon Speedway Night downtown.  Other upcoming activities include the Alley Cat art walk and an Air Group One breakfast featuring World War II aerial crew heroes sharing their historic memories.  Scroll down for these events and more – all in El Cajon.