East County News Service

January 1, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs)--The hearing date for the proposed placement of Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Ural Davis will be held on January 22, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in San Diego Superior Court,Dept. 28 (220 West Broadway).  

The Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has proposed placement of Davis at 45612 Old Highway 80, Jacumba Hot Springs.  Testimony from the public will be accepted at the hearing. In 1993, Davis was sentenced to serve 27 years in prison for sexually assaulting women in three separate cases between 1984 and 1992.

East County News Service

January 1, 2016 (San Diego's East County)--“What could be better than the Rose Parade? How about a parade of storms!” The National Weather Service website in San Diego states on New Year’s morning. Starting late Sunday, the first in a series of storms will move in, bringing light rain across Southern California, with the heaviest rainfall forecast for southern San Diego County.  More storms will bring additional rain throughout the week, with heavy downpours  at times.  Snow is forecast for 4,500 feet elevation and higher.

Watch for blowing snow and dust in the mountain and desert areas.

By Miriam Raftery

December 31, 2015 (Sacramento)—Yesterday the California Department of Water Resources held the first snow survey of the season in the Sierra Nevada mountains. After four years of drought, the snowpack is above normal and state officials are cautiously optimistic, though reservoir levels remain below normal.

The survey found snow depth of 54.7 inches – 16 inches more than the average since 1965.  The water content is 136 percent of average for this time of year at the station ( 90 miles east of Sacramento at an elevation of 6,800 feet).  In addition, electronic readings of 99 stations throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains found water content of the snowpack is 108 percent of average for the date over multiple decades.

By Victiashea Matthews

December 30, 2015 (La Jolla)  - The Center for Comparative Immigration Studies (CCIS) and Eleanor Roosevelt College at the University of California, San Diego hosted an event called the “Comparative Responses to Asylum Seeking in Europe, Australia, the U.S., and Middle East” on November 30th,  

What drives international migration?  Why are some countries more hostile and others more accepting?  Those are some of the compelling questions posed by David FitzGerald, Co-Director of CCIS and Professor of Sociology. These are fascinating questions to consider when unpacking the asylum-seeking diaspora. Here are some highlights from the event.

East County News Service

Photo: Mt. Laguna on December 29, 2015, courtesy UCSD's HP WRen webcam

December 30, 2015 (Mt. Laguna)--Visitors flocked to Mount Laguna yesterday after a light snowfall left just enough for sledders to enjoy some winter fun.  A frost advisory is in effect for much of our region tonight through Thursday, with clear skies forecast for New Year’s Eve.

Though warmer weather this weekend is expected to melt away those patches of snow remaining, a new storm expected to hit Wednesday and Thursday of next week could bring more snow to the region, including Julian as well as Mt. Laguna—so keep those snow boots and sleds handy.

East County News Service

December 30, 2015 (Washington D.C.) — The U .S. State Department has issued a travel warning for Israel, Gaza and the West Bank due to heightened political tensions and violence that has resulted in injuries and deaths of U.S. citizens. 

By Devoreo Bell

December 26, 2015 (San Diego) -- It is well documented that America has had multiple conflicts involving race relations, specifically with law enforcement over the past couple of years. Now there is reason to believe that there are similar problems with healthcare.

Update December 30, 2015 - Homeland Security has granted California an extension until Oct. 10, 2016 to fully comply with the Real ID law, recognizing progress made in making driver's licenses more secure.

By Miriam Raftery

December 29, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’re planning to fly in 2016, you find yourself grounded.  The Department of Homeland Security is cracking down on states that have failed to comply with the Real ID law passed 10 years ago by Congress. That could mean denying boarding on airplanes to anyone with driver’s licenses from states that haven’t complied, including California, unless you have another valid form of ID.

By Miriam Raftery, Editor

December 24, 2015 (San Diego's East County) --It’s been a tumultuous year around the world and also here in San Diego’s East County. 

These ranged from water woes to lawsuits over education and transportation.  East County residents rallied for refugees and protested land use projects ranging from a sand mine to a shooting range, as well as a casino, solar farms, a hotel highrise, and safety concerns after a plane crash near Gillespie Field.  Our coverage helped clean up illegal dumping in Cleveland National Forest and save free speech outside Supervisors' meeting place.  Other hot stories touched on fire safety, terrorism, police scandals, and winery regulations,  There was also some good news--Lake Jennings was spared, a new habitat for bears opened, local police stepped up efforts to protect pedestrians, and Supervisor Dianne Jacob led efforts to find a cure for Alzheimer's. 

Here are the stories and issues that captured the attention of our East County readers in 2015:

East County News Service

File photo: Snow in Cuyamacas by Grace Schleiser

December 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – A winter storm is bringing snow, ice and fog to our mountain regions.

Chains are required due to icy/snowy conditions on the Julian-Sunrise Highway from State Route 79 to Old Highway 80, according to the County Department of Public Works. Caltrans reports icy conditions on I-8 at Mountain Pass as well as on State Route 76 at Palomar Mountain.

The Laguna Mountain Lodge reports on its Facebook page that snow is falling on Mt.Laguna.  Residents across East County report snow in the Lake Cuyamaca area, an iced over pond in Descanso and cold conditions across our inland region.

Listen to Destination East County, originally aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

By Miriam Raftery

December 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes New Year’s celebrations across our region, from swanky soirees to a masquarade party. Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions, including some activities to start off the New Year, from a guided mountain bike ride with a ranger at Mission Trails to the opening of trout season at Santee Lakes, as well as live music featuring some hot local talent.

So stay tuned (and scroll down) for all of these events and more.

 Photo credit:  Sanfranman59 on Wikipedia

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2015 (Sacramento) – Nonprofit groups that help the poor are working to qualify the Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Act for the November 2016 ballot.  The Legislative Analyst has estimated that the measure could raise up to $7 billion by adding a property tax surcharge on properties worth $3 million or more.

December 28, 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Extreme weather continues to slam Midwest, south; fatalities rise (USA Today)
• New York dam hack underscores threat for connected utilities (CS Monitor)
• Dems rip deportation plan (CNN)
• TSA can now require full body scanners (CNN)
• Cleveland police will not face charges in death of Tamir Rice (Time)
• Donald Trump defends Vladimir Putin  (Business Insider)
• U.S. Hostages Held In Iran For 444 Days Finally To Get Compensated (NPR)
• Iran deal restricts U.S. more than Congress knew (Jewish World Review)
• Arizona man indicted in 'Draw Mohammed' event hit with new charges (Reuters)

WORLD

• Islamic leader Baghdadi goads west in rare audio statement(Telegraph)
• Iraqi troops retake center of Ramadi from ISIS (New York Times)
• Australians flee bushfires, lose homes to flames on Christmas Day  (Reuters)
• Somali government bans Christmas celebrations (Reuters) 
• Struggling to absorb asylum seekers, Germany steps up deportations (NPR)
• Muslims protect non-Muslims during Kenya Islamist attack (CS Monitor)
• Newly crowned Miss Iraq receives threatening phone call: Join ISIS or else (JPost)
• U.S. reports 31 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Reuters)
• Afghan militia beheads four Islamic State fighters(Reuters)
• Turkish military offensive kills 110 Kurdish militants in six days  (Reuters)
• Floods force mass evacuations in 4 South American countries (AP)
• Senegalese police arrest 11 accused of homosexual acts (AP)

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

December 28, 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Elephants don’t get cancer (Ivanhoe)
• Preventing Parkinson’s : medicine’s next big thing? (Ivanhoe)
• Surgeons To Test New Technique For Saving The Almost-Dead (JWR)
• ER Docs Say Rule Change Could Raise Patients' Out-Of-Network Bills (NPR)
• HIV antibody curbs virus in trial (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Gonorrhoea 'could become untreatable’ (BBC)
• Blood transplants miss key immune cells, study says (U-T)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Home insurers rush to exclude drones as Christmas sees popularity soar (Telegraph)
• The Cybersecurity Argument For And Against Device Encryption (NPR)
• How chemists plan to sniff out bombs (BBC)

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

December 28, 2015 (San Diego) — San Diego WriteWay has provided a calendar of activities across our region for Readers as well as for writers.