By Mike Lewis

April 17, 2012 (Sacramento)--The figures behind the state’s educational crisis are alarming. According to the California Teachers Association, California ranks 46 nationally in per-pupil funding, with over $20 billion cut from public schools and colleges statewide in the last four years. More than 40,000 teachers have been laid off during that same time, yet partisan gridlock has stalled any solution in Sacramento.

May 17, 2012 (Ocotillo) –Robert Lundahl spotted these signs posted by residents and environmentalists, who are mobilizing to inform the public about negative impacts of the proposed Ocotillo Express wind energy facility.

April 16, 2012 (San Diego) – On April 9, U.S. Congressman and candidate for Mayor, Bob Filner, was joined by San Diego Unified School Board Vice President Richard Barrera and San Diego High School Business Academy Principal Consuelo Manriquez to push for free or reduced trolley and bus fare for San Diego middle school and high school students.

April 16, 2012 (La Mesa) -- On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Space Bar Internet Café at 7454 University in La Mesa presents open mike night at 7:30 p.m.  The featured performer on April 26 will be Liz Huerta, a writer, who composes verse of truth and beauty interspersing moments of existential angst with human realizations.  Liz has lived in Barcelona, Mexico City and San Diego.

April 16, 2012 (Lakeside) – The 48th Annual Lakeside Rodeo will take place at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds. The annual event has been a tradition since the first rodeo was held back in 1920.  It encompasses a series of events April 20-22 that celebrate the community’s Wild West heritage.

Each day’s rodeo performances include seven events: saddle bronco riding, tie down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and barrel racing. Other events, including Saturday’s Western Days Parade sponsored by the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, are also slated.

Santee Teen receives Miss Teen San Diego Cities Honor 

April 16, 2012 (San Diego) -- On Sunday, April 15, 2012 Kayla Ross of Rancho Bernardo was crowned Miss San Diego Cities 2012 while Savannah Keener of Santee was crowned Miss Teen San Diego Cities 2012. Young women from across San Diego County had entered the pageants in hopes of becoming the new city ambassadors.  The contestants were scored on personal interview, speech, poise and personality, physical fitness and beauty, evening gown and an on stage impromptu question. 

• CSU faculty members set to vote on strike (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry Brown turns to robocalls and mailers to qualify his ballot initiative (Sacramento Bee)

• San Diego County: Rents are Rising (KPBS)
• Palomar campgrounds reopen after successful fundraising drive (KPBS)
• Rattlesnakes cruise for females, find people (North County Times)
• Caregiver sentenced in elder abuse of Pearl Harbor victim (San Diego Union-Tribune)

• Taliban hits Kabul, other Afghanistan cities in coordinated attack (Washington Post)
• Man in nursing home awakens listening to music from his past (Time) 
• U.S. condemns North Korea missile launch, warns on nuclear (Reuters)    

• Politifact: Romney claim on women job losses under Obama is “mostly false” (Politifact)
• Just a few states could decide battle for Obama, Romney (Los Angeles Times)
• US homebuying season finally signaling a recovery (AP)
• Residents dig out after Midwest tornadoes (NPR) 
• Don’t wait for Social Security check  in the mail (Bloomberg Businessweek)
• 15 mind-blowing facts about wealth and inequality in America (Business Insider)

April 15, 2012 (La Mesa) – An unarmed, uniformed security guard was robbed of cash and a cell phone by two men, one armed with a hunting knife.  The incident occurred on April 13 at approximately 9:49 p.m. at the Parkway Pointe Condominium Complex located at 7500 Parkway Drive in La Mesa.  La Mesa police have released descriptions of the suspects.