East County News Service

January 8, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Jacumba Hikers are invited to join Omegamaniacs for their next hike Saturday, January 12 - Bow Willow and Rockhouse Canyons Loop.  This is a moderate 8 mile (5 hour) hike located northwest of Ocotillo off S-2.   Hikers will travel through canyons in the Carrizo Gorge Wilderness with the halfway point an old cattleman’s line shack.

By Chris Jennewein

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Jewish Family Service CEO Michael Hopkins speaks to the press after the Board of Supervisors vote. Photo by Chris Jennewein

January 8, 2019 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to help a coalition of local nonprofit groups assist asylum seekers by providing temporary shelter on county property.

“Now it falls to us to say, as leaders, what can we do? We have the obligation to help,” said newly elected Supervisor Nathan Fletcher at his first board meeting.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Supervisor Kristin Gaspar passes the gavel to Chairwoman Dianne Jacob.

January 8, 2019 (San Diego) - Supervisor Dianne Jacob was unanimously voted chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for 2019 at an organizational meeting at the County Administration Center Tuesday. The Board also named Supervisor Greg Cox to serve as vice chairman and Supervisor Jim Desmond as chairman pro tem.

By Ben Christopher

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.

Photo:  Gov. Gavin Newsom takes the oath of office from California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye in Sacramento on Jan. 7, 2019. Photo for CALmatters by Randy Pench

January 7, 2019 (Sacramento) - Preceded by a Baptist church band, a Mexican roots music quartet, and the recital by his wife of a bilingual poem by the former poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, Gavin Newsom was inaugurated on the western steps of the capitol building this morning, closing out the Brown era of California politics and pointing towards a new, more assertively progressive politics out of Sacramento.

East County News Service

January 7, 2019 (San Diego) – Mission Trails Regional Park has discontinued its free, bi-monnthly Sunday afternoon concert series which has run for seven years, despite near-capacity audiences for music ranging from indigenous to classical to jazz, The Mission Times Courier reports.  The decision to axe the concerts was made following the retirement of Jay Wilson, head of the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation who established the popular concert series.

Fortunately, musicians have found a new home at the Mission Trails Church (4880 Zion Ave., San Diego 92120), where concerts will continue in a larger space with more parking on the second Sunday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m.

East County News Service

January 6, 2019 (La Mesa) -- Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents “And Then There Were None,” based on Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery novel.  The play will be presented Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from January 11^th through February 10^th.

By Miriam Raftery

January 6, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – Two vital sites run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that scientists rely upon for up-to-date climate change data have gone dark, apparently due to the government shutdown caused by the impasse between President Donald Trump and Congress over a federal budget.

By Miriam Raftery

January 6, 2019 (La Mesa) – At the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 19^th, Mayor Mark Arapostathis will deliver his state of the city speech. Afterwards, the Council agenda includes several hot topics.

Council will hear a report on the independent investigation into a controversial use of force by a La Mesa Police school resources officer at Helix High School in January of last year. A video showed the officer knocking a handcuffed female student to the ground.  According to the city, the student declined to speak with the independent investigator and has filed a lawsuit against La Mesa.  

Council will also hear results of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and vote on whether to accept the report, which includes a 2019 work plan and ranked list of streets for traffic calming measures.

Council will also hear appeals involving two medical marijuana dispensary applications. 

East County News Service

January 5, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Following the recent death of hiking leader Richard Henry Alcorn, the Jacumba Hikers group will be inactive until new hiking leaders step forward. The group has long organized hikes in desert areas of east San Diego County and Imperial County.

Story and photos by Liz Alper

January 5, 2019 (San Diego) - ECM Sports finally made it to a basketball game on the Mesa and the lady Aztecs were ready to start Mountain West conference play today against Boise State.  They’re barely staying afloat with a 5-6 record overall.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: File photos of prior flooding at Highway 94 near Jamul Estates, where ECM has documented flooding complaints since at least 2011.

January 5, 2019 (Jamul) — A deluge on December 6th caused a creek along State Route 94  to overflow between the Jamul Casino and the entrance to Jamul Estates, causing flooding that resulted in cars trapped in rushing water and long delays for other motorists.

Luxury, energy-efficient homes still available in four neighborhoods

East County News Service

Photo: Lake Ridge, courtesy of Pardee Homes San Diego

January 4, 2019 (Santee) -- Move-in excitement is in the air as families and homebuyers are receiving keys and unpacking boxes in all four of Pardee Homes’ upscale Weston communities in Santee: Lake Ridge, Sandstone, Talus and Prism.  The new, state-of-the-art homes also have access to natural open spaces and outdoor activities.

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 4, 2019 (San Diego) - Pandemic H1N1 is the primary influenza virus circulating this season in San Diego and across most of the nation, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

Of 1,730 lab-confirmed influenza cases reported so far this season in San Diego, nearly 94 percent are influenza A. Influenza A has several subtypes, including Pandemic H1N1 and H3N2. During a typical year, the primary influenza virus is H3N2 or “seasonal” flu. This season, there are 10 cases of Pandemic H1N1 for every case of H3N2.

East County News Service

January 4, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- A new storm is heading to our region.  The National Weather Service predicts rain and snow down to 5,000 feet elevation late Saturday and Sunday.

By Miriam Raftery

January 4, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – One of the last acts of the outgoing Congress in 2018 was passage of H.R. 390, the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act. The measure passed the House and Senate by unanimous consent and was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 11, 2018.

The new law could impact familes, friends and loved ones of tens of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian immigrants and refugees who now call San Diego's East County home.

The action came shortly before President Trump ordered a pull-out of troops from Syria, against the advice of his generals and top security advisors. It is unclear how the troop withdrawal may impact implementation of the bill’s provisions.