March 4, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Thanks to Eric Kallen for sending more photos of birds showing up in March in the high desert town of Jacumba Hot Springs—including both migratory and year-round residents. Below are his notes on this desert denizens:

East County News Service

March 4, 2016 (Alpine) – The Alpine Union School District is seeking input from stakeholders on developing the profile for the future Superintendent of the Alpine Union School District.

New England Journal of Medicine Peanut Study Makes Debut at AAAAI Annual Meeting

East County News Service

March 4, 2016 (Los Angeles) -- Researchers from Kings College in London are reporting that infants who have been introduced to peanuts early in life are less likely to develop peanut allergies, even if they stop eating peanuts around the age of five.

Expert Panel to Discuss Oak Borer Beetle Tuesday March 8, 6 p.m. at Julian Library.  Public invited free.

Photo, left:  Gold Spotted Oak Borer

By Jim Madaffer

March 4, 2016 (Julian) -- Suspecting we had dead or dying oak trees on our property in Wynola Estates, my wife and I hired an arborist to inspect and inventory our trees.  The verdict: out of 80 trees, 10 oak trees are dead and must come down – all thanks to the Golden Spotted Oak Borer Beetle, or GSOB.

Democratic presidential debate to be held Sunday in Flint, drawing national attention to lead poisoning, harm to city’s children

East County News Service

Photo: Roosevelt Mitchell on Twitter

March 4, 2016 (Flint, Michigan) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) went to Flint, Michigan as part of 26-member congressional delegation to hear firsthand from the residents of Flint about the challenges they faced.

March 4, 2016 (Ocotillo) – The Jacumba Hikers and Walkers will lead a Desert Wild Flowers hike this Saturday, March 5^th. Meet at 8 am at the Imperial Valley Desert Museum  (11 W. Frontage Road, Ocotillo).  The hike begins at the trailhead to   

Mountain Palm Spring off S2, then traveling to a Palm Oases and along the you may encounter wild flowers: Ocotillo, Blooming Creosote Bush, Salton Milk-Vetch, Poppies, Mariposa Lilly, Pink Phlox, Primrose, Desert Paint Brush, Verbena, Dasies and Yellow Cups just to name a few.

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (Lakeside) — A child who climbed into a vehicle accidentally shifted it into neutral, the Medical Examiner’s report reveals.  Kiera Larsen, 10, of Lakeside was playing nearby and saw the vehicle rolling down a driveway on Highway 8 business in El Cajon. 

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (Spring Valley) – A 32-year-old Spring Valley man driving a 2002 Acura at a high rate of speed on State Route 94 eastbound at Spring Street yesterday morning struck a center divider wall, then veered to the right and hit a guard rail. 

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (La Mesa) - You’re invited to the 16^th annual Spring Harp Fest, a musical celebration on March 26^th  from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa.  The festival features top harmonica performers playing blues music and more, as well as an unknown artists’ jam session.  The mission is to inspire appreciation for the harmonica in the next generation. 

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (El Cajon) - Country music greats Larry Gatlin and Gatlin Brothers will be  performing  in concert at Sycuan’s  Live and Up Close Theater on Saturday, March 12 at 8 p.m.  Grammy award-winning Larry Gatlin has written hit songs for many famous musical stars including Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash.

By Miriam Raftery

March 3, 2016 (Washington D.C.)—Following her strong showing in the Super Tuesday primaries, Hillary Clinton is the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary.  But several revelations this week raise troubling questions for Clinton supporters regarding the integrity of Clinton and her campaign:

• The U.S. Justice Department has granted immunity to Brian Pagliano, the staffer who set up a private e-mail server in Clinton’s home, as the investigation into allegations over classified emails continues, the Washington Post reports.  What does the staffer know and could Clinton face indictment?

• The Clinton campaign and Super PACs supporting Clinton have paid pundits who have appeared on major  TV news shows. They were presented as neutral analysts , all touting Clinton’s candidacy and downplaying the electability of her opponent, Bernie Sanders.  TV networks failed to disclose financial ties, a clear violation of journalistic ethics, the Intercept  reveals in an investigative report.

• Former President Bill Clinton has drawn criticism for holding a rally for his wife outside a Massachusetts polling place, using a megaphone for amplification and even entering two other polling places on election day. Massachusetts law prohibits electioneering within 150 feet of polling places, the Boston Globe reports. No charges were filed despite videos of the activities, though the Secretary of State did sent the Clinton campaign a reminder of the state’s rules.
  

There has never been a female Secretary-General in the more than 70-year history of the UN

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today sent a letter to President Obama in advance of the United Nation's upcoming election for Secretary-General, urging the United States to "reaffirm the UN's founding principle of equality by encouraging the strong consideration of candidates for the first female Secretary-General."

March 4,  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

• 22 People Charged Under Provisions Of Chelsea's Law In San Diego County
• State laws prompt local marijuana backlash (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• MTS Admits Credit Card Security Gaps (KPBS)
• San Diego-Based Navy SEAL To Receive Medal Of Honor (City News Service)
• Navy’s new mission: alternative medicine(San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Yosemite name changes: Park Service not giving up yet (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Why won't California track where $13 billion went? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Judge’s PUC action, friendship with Brown questioned (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Despite Porter Ranch disaster, Sempra reports strong earnings (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Surge pricing at Disneyland could boost pricing by 20% (Bloomberg)

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

By Miriam Raftery

March 2, 2016 (Rancho San Diego)—Construction on a sewer replacement project along Campo Road through Rancho San Diego is slated to begin this summer and continue until spring 2018.  The project extends from Avocado to the Rancho San Diego Town Center near Cuyamaca College along the State Route 94 right-of-way.

Most work on the two-year project will be done at night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to lessen impacts on traffic, staff from Otay Water District have indicated.  Construction will also be restricted from March through August to protect birds from disruption during nesting season.

By Leon Thompson

March 23, 2016 (Alpine) -- Charlotte Figi developed severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy as a baby.  She was severely disabled and at 5 years old was having 300 grand mal seizures a week--each one potentially deadly.  She was given a liquid concentrate of Cannabidiol or CBD oil extracted from industrial hemp. Her parents and physicians said that she improved immediately and significantly.