FOOD PRICES MAY RISE DUE TO DROUGHT

 

February 10, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--The worst drought in California history is hitting farmers hard—and soon, consumers may be paying higher prices as a result.


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COASTKEEPERS CALLS FOR CONSERVATION, LONG-TERM WATER PLAN FOR REGION; GROUP QUESTIONS DRAINING OF LAKE MORENA

 

February 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - “The City of San Diego has begun drawing water out of Lake Morena …Shouldn’t a reservoir that is at just 5.4% of its capacity point strongly to a need for immediate and drastic action?” --Coastkeepers

Coastkeepers, a San Diego based group addressing water issues, is speaking out on the draining of Lake Morena.

Audio: 

Lake Morena radio interview on ECM Show

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VETERANS JOIN FIGHT TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

 

February 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - A battle is brewing in Congress over unemployment benefits for veterans.


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2 LOCAL TEENS RAISE MONEY FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS



 

February 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- While on their month long inter-session break from Saint Augustine High School, two juniors put on a golf tournament to benefit Wounded Warriors. Tournament Director Louis Molina of Chula Vista had the initial idea to organize a golf tournament after speaking to wounded warriors on the golf course when he was younger. He invited his Saint Augustine High School golf teammate, Collin McNicholl-Carter of La Mesa, to be Assistant Director and Marketing Assistant.


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CITY OF SAN DIEGO SETTLES WITH IRENE McCORMACK JACKSON

By Nadin Abbott

 

February 11, 2014 (San Diego)-- Yesterday City Attorney Jan Goldsmith told reporters, “The lawsuit filed by Irene McCormack Jackson based upon claims of sexual harassment against former Mayor Bob Filner has been settled.” The settlement was agreed unanimously by the City Council. Under the settlement, the City will pay McCormack Jackson $250,000 as full settlement including attorney’s fees.


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HOW TO AVOID SCAMS & CONS: AUTHOR TERRY AMBROSE AT CREST LIBRARY FEB. 25

 

February 13, 2014 (Crest)--It seems that almost every day a new scam appears. From trickster emails to fake phone calls, fraudulent websites to people you meet, the opportunities to get taken are everywhere. “Tips to Stay Ahead of the Con” is intended to raise your awareness about these opportunities to get taken.


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HUNTER BILL TO CREATE SAFE PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES PASSES HOUSE

 

February 10, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – This week, the House of Representatives passed legislation that includes the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, a bipartisan and deficit-neutral measure introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) to help states create and maintain public shooting ranges for hunters and sportsmen.


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JUDGE FINES CAL FIRE $32 MILLION FOR “CORRUPT AND TAINTED” ACTIONS

 

Local fire board member questions County Fire Authority’s reliance on Cal Fire in wake or ruling

By Miriam Raftery

A Superior Court judge has fined Cal Fire $32 million  to cover legal bills for Sierra Pacific Industries after Cal Fire blamed a logger working for the company of causing a 2007 wildfire in Plumas County.  Judge Leslie Nichols accused Cal Fire of “egregious and reprehensible conduct” including covering up evidence, lying, and engaging in “corrupt and tainted actions.”

Cal Fire had sought to recover its firefighting costs.  But the case against Sierra Pacific was dismissed in July  for lack of evidence and last week, the judge announced sanctions against Cal Fire.


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CANYONEERS TO LEAD HIKE IN ANZA BORREGO FEB. 15

 

February 8, 2014 (San Diego County) - The Canyoneers from San Diego Natural History Museum will be leading a nature walk/hike in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park on Saturday, February 15th starting at 9:00 AM to the Indian Hill area in the park. This walk/hike is rated Moderate with a boulder scramble 6 miles up to 1000 ft elevation change.


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BORDER PATROL AGENT INJURED IN CRASH NEAR CAMPO

 

February 7, 2014 (Campo)—A Border Patrol agent was injured shortly after 1 a.m. this morning when the vehicle he was driving veered off the road and struck a tree.  IPN reports the accident occurred at Lake Morena Drive and Buckman Springs Road, where they found the driver trapped with injuries.


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SUPERVISORS APPROVE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON FOREIGN STUDENT PILOTS

 

February 7, 2014 (San Diego)-- County supervisors have unanimously approved a new law designed to help make sure that foreign students learning to fly at County airports are undergoing federal background checks.


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DAVIS AMENDMENT TO KEEP EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE PART OF CONSERVATION DECISIONS KILLED BY HOUSE

 

 

February 7, 2014 (Washington D.C.)-- Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) joined her colleagues in offering an amendment to let the Secretary of the Interior include climate change in considering decisions on conservation and recreation on public lands.  The amendment was an effort to improve a House majority bill attempting to undermine environmental protections for National Parks.  However, the House Republican majority blocked the amendment’s passage.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: RED-TAILED HAWKS AT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN JAMUL

 

 

 

February 8, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Debbie Ekhaml photographed these red-tailed hawks at three different locations around East County recently. They were taken in the National Wildlife Refuge in Jamul.


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VALENTINE'S HIGH TEA FEB. 9 IN LEMON GROVE

 

February 7, 2014 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove Historical Society invites you to the organization’s annual Valentine Tea on Sunday, February 9 at 2 p.m. This classic, four-course English high tea will be held in the historic H. Lee House at 3205 Olive in Lemon Grove.


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LOCAL CLINIC DISPUTES EDITORIAL ON "FAKE" ABORTION CLINICS

 

 

February 9, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – On January 24, ECM published two reader’s editorials – one pro-life and one pro-choice in view, related to the anniversary of the Roe v.. Wade Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion.  The reader’s pro-choice editorial addressed crisis pregnancy clinics that the author termed “fake” abortion clinics that she asserted “frighten and mislead” women who are pregnant.

Josh McClure at the East County Pregnancy Care Clinic has sent a rebuttal disputing points in  the “fake” clinics editorial, though that piece did NOT reference the ECPCC by name and addressed issues of crisis pregnancy clinics only generally. Still in the interest of fairness and accuracy, here are the key points raised by McClure.


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OBAMA ENDORSES ALVAREZ FOR MAYOR; SAN DIEGANS HEAD TO POLLS TUESDAY

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

San Diegans head to the polls on Tuesday to elect the city’s next mayor.   Councilmembers David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer are vying for the spot.  The race is a classic matchup pitting interests of working people vs. big business.  Urban poor and minorities vs. wealthy powerbrokers   Boosting budgets to help those in need vs. belt tightening and fiscal restraint.

As the election draws near, some high-profile endorsements have been announced.  Today, President Barack Obama weighed in on San Diego’s mayoral race, throwing his support behind Alvarez.


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LAKE MORENA AND SAN DIEGO'S WATER SUPPLY

Reprinted with permission from San Diego Coastkeepers; originally published February 4, 2014 at http://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/blog/latest-blog-posts/item/428-lake-morena-and-san-diego-s-water-supply.html

 

By  Megan Baehrens

 

 

 

February 8, 2014 (San Diego)--Shortly before the Governor declared an emergency state of drought in California, a question of supply arose.

In the news recently is a story about the ongoing drawdown of water from Lake Morena. To sum it all up, the City of San Diego has begun drawing water out of Lake Morena for water supply, while the County, which runs the public park surrounding Morena, is opposed to the drawdown because it claims less water in the reservoir means harm to the environment and fewer recreational opportunities.

So who is right? The City? The County?


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NEW STUDY DETAILS THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC SAFETY REALIGNMENT ON LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

February 8, 2014 (San Diego County) - Due to statewide public safety realignment, 35 percent of all inmates in local detention facilities in San Diego County are offenders with more serious criminal histories who would have previously been housed in state prison – and these realigned offenders (who are generally at a higher risk of recidivism) now make up 15 percent of the local probation case load, according to a new SANDAG study.


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ANDERSON BILL AIMS TO PULL THE PLUG ON NSA SPYING ON CALIFORNIANS

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 7, 2014 (Sacramento)—Two California legislators have teamed up in an effort to curtail the National Security Agency (NSA) from warrantless surveillance of all Americans.  Senate Bill 828 is coauthored by  Republican State Senators Joel Anderson, who represents most of East County, and Democrat Ted Lieu from Torrance.

“I support this bill because I support the Constitution, our Fourth Amendment rights and our freedoms to live in the United States of America,” Senator Anderson stated in a press release.

The bill would prohibit state agencies and officials, as well as corporations that provide services to the state, from assisting the NSA in collecting data without warrants on 38 million Californians. Services that the NSA relies upon include power and water needed to cool its powerful supercomputers. 


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VALENTINE’S CRAFT SHOW FEB. 8 IN SANTEE

 

February 7, 2014 (Santee) – Hand-crafted Valentine’s gifts for your sweetheart will be offered at a special Valentine’s Craft Show set for this Saturday, February 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Santee Coffee Corner.  Over 17 local vendors will participate, offering items such as hand-made truffles, artwork, hair accessories and body-care products.


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FUNDS AVAILABLE TO HELP REPLACE LAWNS WITH WATER-WISE LANDSCAPING

 

February 4, 2014 (San Diego)--Residents and businesses in San Diego County could be eligible for up to $2.50 per square foot in rebates  if they replace turf grass with plants more suited to our region’s semi-arid climate.


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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NURSING, HEALTH TECH STUDENTS

 

February 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking applicants for two scholarship programs, including up to two scholarships for nursing students and five scholarships for students pursuing careers as medical health technicians.


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STOLEN VEHICLE CHASE ENDS IN CRASH

 

February 6, 2014 (Alpine)—A stolen car being pursued by Sheriff’s deputies crashed into another vehicle in Alpine on February 3. 

The incident began at 7:53 p.m., when a deputy from the Sheriff's Alpine Substation observed an unoccupied stolen vehicle in the Viejas Casino parking lot. He and his partners monitored the vehicle and observed two men get into the car and proceed out of the parking lot.


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FROM THE CHIEF'S CORNER: IT'S VALENTINE'S MONTH, PUT YOUR HEART IN IT

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

 

February 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--It’s Valentine month and February is also American Heart Month.  Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Now is a good time to take preventive steps and beat it!


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HELLO KITTY: MORE BLACK WILDCAT REPORTS SURFACE

By Miriam Raftery

 

February 5, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) –After our January 22 report, “Are black wildcats prowling East County?”  on numerous reported sightings of large black wildcats in East County, we have spoken with numerous other people whose accounts suggest that sightings of black cats close in size to mountain lions have been occurring in our region for decades.


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STANDING ROOM ONLY AT RURAL FIRE BOARD MEETING: VOTE TO DISSOLVE DISTRICT WILL BE TAKEN AT NEXT SESSION MARCH 4

 

By Nadin Abbott

February 5, 2014 (Jamul)—It was standing room only as Director Baldwin called the Rural Fire Protection District meeting to order in Jamul. In question was whether the Rural Fire District should dissolve and join the County Fire Authority. In phase three of the takeover, the County aims to absorb both the Pine Valley Fire District and the Rural Fire Protection District.

If the Rural District dissolves, the money that the County now puts into the District, to the tune of $3.6 million will continue. If the district does not dissolve, those funds will go away, and the district will only have the $1.6 million that it collects from residents. In effect, if the Fire District does not dissolve, it will have to reduce service and will only be able to staff the Jamul and Otay Stations, Director Dale Amato warned. The rest of the stations will have to go dark, or rely on volunteers—and there will be a significant degradation of fire protection service.


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FLEX ALERT ISSUED: CALIFORNIANS ASKED TO CONSERVE NATURAL GAS

 

February 6, 2014 (San Diego) –The California Independent System Operators (CAISO) has issued a “Flex Alert” asking all Californians to reduce power use until 10 p.m.  The alert is due to a natural gas shortage resulting from high demand in areas of the country hit by extreme cold weather, since natural gas is used there for heating homes as well as for electric power plants and more.

CAISO operates the power grid in California. SDG&E has joined CAISO in asking local residents to conserve fuel.


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OVERFLOW CROWD IN JAMUL OPPOSES CASINO

 

 

By Nadin Abbott

February 6, 2014 (Jamul) Last night, the auditorium at the Jamul Middle School was filled beyond capacity. Residents came to learn the status of a controversy that started over 20 years ago over Jamul Indian Village’s plans to build a casino in this rural community.

Jamulians Against the Casino, a citizens’ group, led yesterday’s meeting and gave a presentation revealing that that three lawsuits have been filed seeking to halt the project.


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FRIDAY FLY DAYS FEB. 7 AT GILLESPIE FIELD CAFE

Air Group One presents a Friday Fly Days fundraiser with World War II antique aircraft and show carss on Friday, February 7th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.at the Gillespie Field Cafe at 2015 North Marshall in El Cajon. There will be free admission and parking.

Besides the planes, visitors can expect live music, food, craft beers, and wine. Specials guests will be the Navy League and a Mystery Warbird.


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GROSSMONT HEALTH DISTRICT CONSIDERING GROSSMONT HOSPITAL LEASE EXTENSION BALLOT MEASURE

 

February 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), the public agency that serves as landlord of Grossmont Hospital on behalf of the community, has launched an effort to prepare for a possible June 2014 ballot measure to extend the existing lease agreement with Sharp HealthCare for the operation of the La Mesa hospital.


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