By Miriam Raftery

October 29,2016 (Washington D.C.)—FBI Director James Comey has notified Congress that it is renewing its investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of e-mails on a private server.

The action comes after emails were found on a computer shared by top Clinton aide Huma  Abedin and her estranged husband,  ex-Congressman Anthony Wiener. Huma had used the computer to send e-mails to Clinton.  The computer was seized as part of an investigation into Wiener for allegedly sexting a teenage girl.  It is unclear whether any of the emails were sent by Clinton, or whether they are new or duplicates of e-mails already examined before an earlier probe was dismissed, or if any contained classified material.

Both Democratic and Congressional leaders have called on Comey and on Attorney General  Loretta Lynch to promptly provide further disclosure and clarity.

For more sports coverage, visit ECM's sports section

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

October 28, 2016 (Logan, Ut.) - Donnel Pumphrey ran for 223 yards, moving into the top five on the NCAA career list, and Juwan Washington added 137 yards and two touchdowns in San Diego State's 40-13 victory over Utah State on Friday night.

East County News Service

October 28, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Authorities seek public help to identify two men who robbed gas stations and 7-11 stores Sunday night and early Monday morning.  The two masked thieves threatened clerks with a pistol, then stole cash from numerous locations in Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Hillcrest, La Jolla and Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2016 (El Cajon) — The City of El Cajon is moving forward with plans for a new animal shelter.  A public hearing on a proposed conditional use permit for the new facility will be held by the city’s planning commission on Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers (200 Civic Center Way, El Cajon).

Attorney for white nationalist group developed computer program to drop minority voters off voting rosters in 30 states

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Miriam Raftery with Greg Palast at film debut in San Diego

Listen now to our interview with Greg Palast, originally aired on KNSJ:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Scroll down for highlights.

October 28, 2016 (San Diego)--Investigative reporter Greg Palast’s Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy:  A Tale of Billionaires and Ballot Bandits, pulls back the curtain to expose a dark conspiracy to steal votes from millions of minorities across America. A seasoned gumshoe detective turned award-winning investigative reporter, Palast leaves no room for doubt as he masterfully reveals the powerful players behind this insidious scheme.

East  County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery sat down for an exclusive interview with Palast,  in town for the debut of his film in San Diego on Monday.  You can hear our interview by clicking the orange audio link,  and scroll down to  read our review of this must-see documentary.

Source: San Diego Fire Foundation

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) - During this year’s Fire Prevention Week, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation presented grant checks to a dozen local fire agencies at open house events around the county.

“These grants enable fire departments to obtain needed fire and medical/rescue equipment and to provide training to ensure our firefighters can deliver the highest level of service to all San Diego County communities,” said Fire Foundation Chairman Frank Ault.  “Each year, we receive specific requests from agencies targeted for their individual needs.”

Source: San Diego Community College District

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) – The San Diego Community College District has issued the following alert:  As many of you may already know, families across San Diego are receiving phone calls from “virtual kidnappers” claiming a loved one or family member has been kidnapped.  These criminals then demand a ransom amount (usually a few thousand dollars) that can be dropped off at a remote location (often in Tijuana) in exchange for the safe release and return of the “kidnapped” family member. The criminals’ phone numbers are often untraceable.

Please do not meet their demands!  This is a phone scam that local law enforcement and the FBI are investigating.  

What to do when you or your family member receives a similar phone call:

East County News Service

October 27, 2016 (Descanso) -- The Descanso Ranger District in Alpine will be conducting prescribed burn activities beginning in October through May 2017, provided weather and fuel moisture conditions permit. Prescribed burns are scheduled to take place in Pine Valley and Mount Laguna, with some work being done around Horsethief rd. The project will cover approximately 500 – 700 acres with the potential for smoke visibility along Sunrise Highway, Japatul Rd and Interstate 8.

Loans are available to help people with dry wells due to the drought

By Michele Clock, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) -- Do you own a property with a well in San Diego County? Is it dry due to our prolonged statewide drought? Help is available.

A new emergency water distribution program is offering assistance to residents without access to running water for drinking and sanitation due to a dry well. Residents who qualify can receive low-interest loans to replace individual water well systems and install temporary water tanks. The water assistance is not for landscaping or agricultural needs.

Source: the Jacumba Hikers

October 27, 2016 (Jacumba) - The Jacumba Hikers have announced their November/December hiking schedule including spectacular terrain such as  painted mountains, rugged gorges, mud caves,  wind caves, and natural hot springs.  See below for a full list with details on all upcoming activities.

Seventh annual San Diego Green Building Council event showcases best practices in green residential design and building

East County News Service

Photos:  exterior:  Ramona residence is energy efficient and blends with natural environment.  Interior:  Boulder provides thermal heat and dramatic focal point in Jamul

October 27, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Green Building Council (SDGBC), an environmental nonprofit dedicated to providing education, outreach and advocacy focused on green building in the San Diego community, announced today the 10 residential projects that will be featured on the Green Homes Tour on Saturday, Nov. 12. Home sites are located throughout the county, including Mission Hills, Pacific Beach, Poway, Ocean Beach, Leucadia, Chula Vista, Ramona, Jamul and Campo.

By Billie Jo Jannen, Chairman, Campo Lake Morena Community Planning Group

October 27, 2016 (Campo) -- The Campo Lake Morena Community Planning Group has voted unanimously to formally oppose Proposition B – a developer-proposed initiative that would allow over 1,700 homes to be built on what is currently farmland, and does so in opposition to both the county general plan and the wishes of community planners and residents.

East County News Service

October 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes the college area Boo! Parade and a HallowScream extravaganza.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including La Mesa’s Historical Home Tour, a fall plantstravaganza, the Ramona Art & Wine Festival, the Trout Opener at Santee Lakes, a Veterans Day commemoration in El Cajon, the Wieghorst Museum’s holiday lunch and the Mother Goose parade celebrates its 70^th year of ushering in the holiday season in East County.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

October 25,  2016 (San Diego's  East  County)--  Measure B on the  countywide ballot was paid for by  a  developer.  Accretive Development wants voters to approve Lilac  Hills, a massive,  master-planned community the size of Del Mar in rural Valley Center. 

Why should voters in East County and elsewhere in San Diego care?  First, because taxpayers countywide could wind up footing part of the bill and second,  because if Measure B passes, developers of other controversial  projects could similarly seek to bypass state enviornmental review and the county plannning process.  That's why major environmental groups such as  Sierra Club, Save Our Forests and Ranchlands, and Cleveland Natoinal Forest Foundation are all opposed to the ballot proposition.

Hear our interview with Mark Jackson from the No on Measure B committee, originally aired on  our show on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

East County News Service

October 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, has received numerous reports around the country of scammers sending a fraudulent CP2000 IRS notice for tax year 2015.

The notice appears to claim a discrepancy between income reported by an employer and the taxpayer’s income tax return.