March 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grille invites you to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at HooleyFest, a party that takes place from 5 p.m. to midnight at Hooley’s locations in Rancho San Diego and La Mesa.

The event includes a variety of live bands performing Irish music and rock and roll. Cost is $15 in advance or $20 day of event.  VIP passes are also available for $30 (in advance only) which include private bar and seating.

Deadline to R.S.V.P. is Friday, March 16

March 14, 2012 (San Diego) – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Citizen’s Academy is offering classes beginning March 24 to provide the community with information which will familiarize them with CBP’s mission and goals.  CBP is one of the Department of Homeland Security’s largest and most complex components, with a priority mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S.

• State joblessness rate dips to lowest level since ’09 (SF Chronicle)
• U.S. extends its run of strong job growth another month (NY Times)
• Drones over America: What can they see?  (NPR)
• Voters blame Obama for gas prices, but experts say not so fast (Washington Post) 

• Rampage in Afghanistan puts long-term US Presence in peril (Christian Science Monitor)
• Afghans urge US exit after killings; US says timetable unchanged (Reuters)
• Syrian opposition calls for international intervention (CNN)
•  ‘Arab revolts led to Islamization, instability’ (Jerusalem Post)
• Israel and Gaza factions ‘agree on truce’(Al Jazeera)

• Loss of Greenland ice could become irreversible,  scientists say (Los Angeles Times)
• Study: Red meat raises risk of dying; risk higher with processed meats (CBS) 

• Fukushima fallout: fire hazard could be state’s tsunami (UT San Diego)
• Fukushima fallout: lessons not learned by the U.S. government (UT San Diego)
• Nuke quake study on hold over $64 million cost: utility wants ratepayers, not shareholders,  to pay  (Sacramento Bee)
• Whistleblowers, Aguirre sue utility watchdog (Voice of San Diego)
• Water agencies  decry  “secret society”  of agencies (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa school shooting plan foiled (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Mary England denies being evicted in family home foreclosure case (La Mesa  Patch)
• Local nonprofit group’s video parks worldwide movement (10 News)
• View the video: Kony 2012, Invisible Children

• Chamber takes no position on Gov. Brown’s tax plan, opposes rivals (Sacramento Bee)
• California revenues 3.2 percent shy in February  (Sacramento Bee)

March 13, 2012 (Jamul) – Nine Girls Ask? is holding its Tee-Off for Ovarian Cancer golf tournament on May 4 at Steele Canyon Golf Club, 3199 Stonefield Drive, Jamul.  The event registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the tournament will start at 1:00 p.m.

March 13, 2012 (San Diego) – Foreclosures and notices of default remain a problem for many in the county.  The San Diego County Library is sponsoring HOME Clinics at branches throughout the county during 2012 to help homeowners get the information they need.  The clinics provide homeowners in distress with the opportunity to speak with professionals regarding their options as well as educational sessions on how to keep their home.  

An ECM exclusive interview by Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2012 (Santee) – Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) announced last week that he is running for reelection.  In an exclusive interview, the conservative legislator shared highlights  and frustrations from his first term in the Legislature, as well as his priorities for the future if reelected in November.

With reapportionment, Jones 77th district will become the 71st Assembly District.  The district picks up some new areas including Pine Valley, Julian, Ramona, and Borrego Springs in San Diego County, as well as portions of Riverside County.

March 12, 2012 (Holtville) – “Why are billions of our tax dollars going to fund large-scale energy development on our public lands instead of to home and business owners for developing rooftop solar?” asks Terry Weiner with the Desert Protective Council and Solar Done Right. Massive solar and wind developments are planned for San Diego and Imperial County, many on public lands, others on prime agricultural croplands.

On Wednesday, March 14 from 7:30 to 11 a.m., activists from throughout California plan to stage a demonstration outside the Barbara Worth Resort in Holtville (Imperial County), where the “Renewable Energy Summit and Expo” is being held.

By Miriam Raftery

March 12, 2012 (El Cajon)—During Tuesday’s meeting at 3 p.m., the El Cajon Council will consider its options for filling the vacancy left by Jillian Hanson Cox’s resignation.

Council will determine whether to appoint someone to fill the vacancy between now and the November election, and if so, whether to accept applications and conduct interviews prior to selecting an appointee.