July 26, 2016 (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

• La Mesa hikes effort on local climate plan (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Hunter hires a law firm amid campaign finance review (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Seven horses euthanized in Del Mar’s first eight days of racing (10 News)
• San Diego city okays plastic bag ban (Times of San Diego)
• San Diego, Tijuana officials question safety of new pedestrian crossing (KPBS)
• Santana coach arraigned for alleged sexual relations with student (Patch)
• Supervisors punt on Lilac Hills (Voice of San Diego)
• San Diego man held captive in Iran, family says (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego County Water Authority, Coastkeeper Trade Barbs Over Conservation (KPBS)
• San Diego facing $4.6M water pollution fine (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Rep. Issa proposes bipartisan-backed changes to H1-B visas (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• Out of control wildfire grows to 33,000 acres in Santa ClaritaValley (Los Angeles Times)
• Cal-Trans launches nine month road-charge pilot program(Equipment World)
• Report: San Onofre reactor was pushed too far, leak resulted(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trump backers sue San Jose for allowing 'mob' assault (Reuters)
• Court defies appellate order on San Onofre emails (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

East County News Service

July 26, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- Whatever your complexion, it’s important to use products that will help your skin and not damage it. But as you wade through the beauty aisles, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions that you should avoid skin creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps, and lotions that contain mercury.

July 26, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Unless they’re a pet and you’ve given them a name, nobody wants rats or rodents skittering around their homes, scaring them at night, creeping them out by day and maybe even making them sick.

SDSU plays six contests against opponents who finished among their conference’s top two

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo via goaztecs.com

July 26, 2016 (San Diego) - Coming off of his team’s best campaign in four seasons, San Diego State men’s soccer head coach Lev Kirshner has announced the Aztecs’ 2016 slate. The schedule features 10 matches at SDSU Sports Deck, six contests against opponents that finished among their conference’s top two, and four matches versus teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Pumphrey (offensive), Kazee (defensive) and Penny (special teams) each named MW preseason players of the year

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Damontae Kazee via goaztecs.com

July 26, 2016 (Las Vegas) - The San Diego State football team swept the preseason awards and captured all 29 first-place votes en route to being picked to win the West Division of the Mountain West in the 2016 preseason poll, the league announced Tuesday in Las Vegas. The Aztecs became just the second unanimous preseason pick in MW history (TCU in 2010).

East County News Service

July 26, 2016 (Lakeside) – A male pedestrian was struck by a box truck and killed on Interstate 8 west just east of Lake Jennings Park Road yesterday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

By Miriam Raftery

July 25, 2016 (El Cajon) — Citizens Oversight, a nonprofit government watchdog group, has sent a letter to the City of El Cajon objecting to future grants to the East County Transitional Living Center—and calling for the center to reimburse the city for grants that Citizens Oversight claims were “improperly applied to religious purposes.”  The group has asked that its letter and documents be distributed to Council members for the upcoming Council meeting Wednesday that includes community block grants.

By Miriam Raftery

July 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Miguel Fire Protection District board meets Wednesday, July 27^th at the district board room at 2850 Via Orange Way, Spring Valley.  The board will discuss possible action to reestablish discussions with Lakeside Fire District over a possible joint annexation of County Service Area (CSA) 115, a 441-acre parcel that includes the planned Pepper Drive fire station.  The board will also consider halting development of Station 19 at Pepper Drive pending results of discussions with Lakeside Fire District over annexation.

In addition, board members will discuss and may take action to approve recommendations from the Transitional Ad Hoc Committee regarding a contract for a Transitional Consultant and may approve appointment of a Transitional Consultant.  Purchase of a fire prevention vehicle will also be considered.

By Miriam Raftery

July 25, 2016 (Alpine) — Secret Hills Ranch in Alpine is hosting a barbecue, dance and silent auction on August 6^th to help fund medical bills for colon cancer survivor Vicki Halsey, a horse trainer and advocate for children. The deadline for pre-purchasing dinners is August 1.

By Miriam Raftery, East County News Service

July 25, 2016 (San Diego) — Conrad Prebys, a generous philanthropist who supported numerous San Diego nonprofit organizations, health and education centers, died Sunday, July 24^th of cancer at Scripps Mercy Hospital with his family at his side.

Aztecs to open campaign against UCLA

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: goaztecs.com

July 25, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State women’s soccer head coach Mike Friesen revealed his team’s 2016 schedule on Friday. The Aztecs’ 18-game schedule features eight home games, including the season opener vs. UCLA, and does not include the return of the Mountain West Championship to SDSU Sports Deck in early November.

Regulators seek to prevent another disaster like Aliso Canyon gas leak

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

July 25, 2016 (Sacramento) -- Regulators with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) at a hearing on Thursday removed a major loophole from proposed new rules on oil and natural gas facilities, in an effort to prevent another disaster like the massive gas leak at Aliso Canyon last fall. The proposed rules require more inspections of all surface facilities, existing and new, including those offshore.

28 percent increase from 2015    

Source:  FBI press release

July 24, 2016 (San Diego) - Eric S. Birnbaum, Special Agent In Charge, San Diego FBI Field Office, is releasing bank robbery statistics for the first six months of 2016.  The San Diego FBI Field Office investigates bank robberies occurring in San Diego and Imperial County.  

For the first six months of 2016 (January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016), there were a total of 25 bank robberies, compared to 18 for this same time period in 2015 (28% increase).  There was a total of 48 bank robberies for calendar year 2015.  Calendar year 2014 totaled 101 bank robberies with 49 occurring in the first six months (January 1, 2014 – June 30, 2014). 

The following is a breakdown of bank robberies by location for January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016.  

East County News Service

July 24, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Toyota and Honda of El Cajon and Wells Fargo Dealer Services presented a $22,700 donation to the YMCA of San Diego County. The donation was made in appreciation of Toyota and Honda of El Cajon’s ongoing community support efforts. The funds will help the YMCA of San Diego’s mission of strengthening its community through offering programs that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

By Tom H. Hastings

July 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- So, let’s channel the cranky ghost of George Wallace as he justified his 1968 run for the presidency when he noted, “There's not a dime's worth of difference between the Democrat and Republican parties.” What do we know about that in our day, in this election season?

At the presidential level, we might conclude that: