February 18, 2011 (Sacramento) -- Do opponents of gay marriage have legal standing to challenge a decision overturning Proposition 8 in federal court after the state’s two top officers opted not to defend the measure? California’s Supreme Court has announced it will take up that legal question.

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued recalls on bassinets, heaters, food dehydrators, children’s chairs, and Disney watches due to hazards posed to consumers. For details, click the links below:

February 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy rains, thunderstorms, and flash flooding are forecast for tonight and tomorrow with snow falling down to 3,000 feet. That’s low enough to dust the tops of El Cajon Mountain (El Capitan and Tecate Peak, as well as communities such as Pine Valley and Warner Springs. A slight chance of severe weather including hail, waterspouts and tornadoes also exists through tomorrow night.

Multiple locations on district campuses were available, but GUHSD chose to use church instead, ECM research reveals

By Miriam Raftery

Jeremy Los contributed research for this report

February 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, a national nonprofit organization, says that it’s “problematic” and likely unconstitutional for the Grossmont Union High School District to host a school event at Sonrise Church, a fundamentalist place of worship in Santee.

An East County Magazine Special Report

ECM conducted exclusive interviews with people who fled war-torn Somalia and were granted asylum in the U.S. Fearing retribution against family members still in Somalia, the asylees agreed to speak out under condition that their identities be protected. The stories below are real, though the names are pseudonyms. Their tales describe dramatic round-the-world journeys to reach America, hardships endured on the road and inside U.S. detention facilities, as well as hopes for the future as they start new lives through Project Refuge in San Diego.  

By Miriam Raftery

February 17, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Aisha comes from a rural area near Mogadishu in Somalia. “I couldn’t take it anymore,” she said of the fighting and war-torn conditions that led her to flee her homeland.

February 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup covers top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s eastern regions, published in other media.

Top Roundup stories include:

• Cartels crumble in Tijuana
• City of San Diego needs 10 new fire stations, study says
• Lemon Grove trying to protect funds
• $2 billion in aid open to struggling homeowners
• San Diego County’s homeless numbers rise
• California parks must refocus to survive, study says
• La Mesa thrift store gives its profits back to community
• Group in honor of Amber Dubois gets new 4-footed member

“Your guide to financial planning & socially responsible investing”

By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®
President, Blue Summit Wealth Management

February 17, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- We had been updating you throughout 2010 on Congress’ inaction in addressing the estate tax debacle. It seems as though this inaction and deaths of four billionaires alone last year cost the federal government roughly $6.5 billion in taxes. Yikes!

So the debate is over, for now, with the 11th hour passing of “The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010″ on December 16th. This fix is temporary for only two years, therefore the debate now begins on what to do after 2012.

Commutation Transparency Legislationl Sponsored by San Diego County District Attorney

February 17, 2011 (San Diego)--Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) today joined with San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher (AD-75) to announce legislation that would provide notification to victims and their families when the Governor considers an application for commutation of a sentence.

In December, outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger provoked outrage locally when he commuted the sentence of Esteban Nunez, son of a former Assembly Speaker. Nunez pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the near-fatal stabbing of Louis Don Santos, 22, near San Diego State University.

February 16, 2011 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free seniors' discussion group on “The Aging Process: What is Normal, What is Not,” on Wednesday, February 23 at 11 a.m.

February 16, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek the public’s help to locate Sarita Esquilin, 71. According to police, “Esquilin has recently begun to experience memory loss and has trouble finding her way home.” She was last seen at 110000 Westonhill Drive in San Diego  at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 14th . She was driving a 2003 silver Honda CRV with California license ## 5AUD254.

By Dilkhwaz Ahmed
 

Trek draws national attention to impact of diet on diabetes

By Jeremy Los

Photos courtesy of the Viejas band of Kumeyaay Indians

February 15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rain is forecast starting Wednesday, with snow levels dropping to around 4,000 feet Wednesday night. The weather will break Thursday, but another storm system will bring heavy rain and mountain snow Friday night and Saturday, with scattered showers Sunday, the National Weather Service predicts.

February 15, 2011 (San Diego) – Dan Reagan, a graduate student in San Diego State University’s master’s program in jazz studies and coach of the SDSU jazz band, is a member of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra which won best tropical Latin album for Viva la Tradicion at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards February 13th.