By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (center), Prof. Christine Blasey Ford (left), and  Julie Swetnick (right), who holds high-level security clearances and accused Kavanaugh of “gang rape” but was not allowed to testify

September 28, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – The Senate Judiciary Committee, on a party line vote with all Republicans in favor, voted today to send controversial Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the full Senate for a vote next week.

The action came after an emotional day of testimony in which accuser Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor, accused Kavanaugh of attempted rape and Kavanaugh denied the allegations in anger-laced and tearful testimony.  The committee leadership refused to allow testimony by two other accusers, including one accusing Kavanaugh of “gang rape,” or by any witnesses who might have corroborated or disputed the accounts.

Republican Senator Jeff Flake cast a key vote to advance the matter out of committee, but said he will not vote for Kavanaugh on the Senate Floor  unless that vote is delayed a week and an FBI investigation of the sexual assault allegations is conducted. However there is no assurance that Senate Leader Mitch McConnell will delay the vote scheduled for Tuesday, if he has enough votes for passage without the delay.

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department

October 2, 2018 (San Diego) - During the month of October, Sheriff’s deputies have the option of wearing a pink version of their uniform patch. The patches are a great way to spark a conversation with the public and bring attention to the fight against breast cancer during the awareness month.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pastor Harold Brown, ECTLC, during holiday party for homeless children

September 27, 2018 (El Cajon) – The East County Transitional Living Center proposes to expand by adding two new buildings to its facility at 1527 East Main Street. The plan. submitted by Pastor Harold Brown, would add 48 beds to the center, which assists homeless people transition off the streets.

East County News Service 

September 27, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The Haunted Amusement Park is opening its doors to the public Friday, September 28, 2018 with a big fundraising event for the non-profit group Team Parker for Life to help fund Childhood Cancer Research.

By John Rippo, ESPRESSO Café Newspaper

Photo:  Wreckage of PSA flight 182, San Diego Air and Space Museum (public domain image)

September 26, 2018 (San Diego) -- I drove a fellow USD student back to his room in North Park in the late morning. He was stunned, bewildered and not altogether there after a 727 crashed on the street he lived in. In the back of his Subaru truck, a burned man's shoe lodged behind the jump seats. In the shoe was a burned, bloody and crushed foot. I volunteered to drive him home---and carry the shoe to Saint Augustine High School, which became a temporary morgue that day.

September 26, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Beware the baby walker: popular toy can lead to serious injury (Healthlife)
• WHO extremely concerned about Ebola 'perfect storm' in Congo (Reuters)
• Soda can no longer be the default drink on kids’ menus in California (Mic.com)
• News from The UN's High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis (WHO)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Twitter releases new policy on ‘dehumanizing speech’ (Wired)
• Hawaii’s ‘Rapid Ohia Death’ Disease Is Killing the Forest Canopy, and There's No End in Sight (Newsweek)
• Instagram co-founders resign in latest Facebook shake-up (Washington Post)

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

East County News Service

September 26, 2018 (San Diego) – The U.S. Department of Agricultural and Cargill Meat Solutions have recalled over 132,000 pounds of ground beef products sold at major retailers nationwide. In California, stores that sold the tainted meat include Target, Vons, Safeway/Albertson’s, Central Meat & Provision Co. in San Diego, and Pak N Save.

By Laurel Rosenhall, CALmatters

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

Photo:  State Sen. Joel Anderson, Republican of Alpine. Photo by Robbie Short for CALmatters.

September 26, 2018 (San Diego) - State Sen. Joel Anderson was at least a little tipsy and rubbing a lobbyist’s shoulders during a political fundraiser at a steakhouse near the Capitol last month when he leaned in close and told her he wanted to “bitch slap” her.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit: cdc.gov

September 25, 2018 (Alpine) - A person who played bingo at Viejas Bingo located in the Viejas Outlets and rode the Sun Charter San Diego North Line to the facility has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and may have exposed others, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 25, 2018 (San Diego) - If you want to vote in the Nov. 6 Gubernatorial General Election, the deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 22. You will need to complete a new registration form if you recently moved or recently changed your name. If you’re not sure about your registration, check your status online at sdvote.com. If you’re not registered or need to change your registration, you’ll find that information there, too.

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Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 24, 2018 (El Cajon) - ECM Sports is taking a break from football this week, so we’re bringing you some exciting prep field hockey and water polo action as a band-aid, starting with a contest at Valhalla as the lady Norsemen (once again...Norsewomen for the politically correct), sitting at a steady 5-5 record, take on another nationality of seafaring raiders generally found in the Caribbean, the Buccaneers of Mission Bay High, in a non-conference Monday night matchup.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- This is the first week of fall, and with it comes Santa Ana wind season. Though fire season is year round, fall typically brings triple-digit temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds bringing high fire danger and red flag warnings. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Ek, McKenna and Vacio billboard; Kiel image via Facebook

September 23, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The November election could have high stakes in the San Miguel Fire Protection District.  A slate of three incumbents who voted to return the district to local control and axe a contract with Cal-Fire are running for reelection: Theresa McKenna, Jim Ek and Mike Vacio. All are backed by the district’s firefighters. Also in the race is William A. Kiel, son of board member William Kiel, who voted against ending the contract with Cal Fire.

Source:  CPUC

September 21, 2018 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold a public workshop in San Diego to examine existing emergency coordination and communication efforts by electric and water utilities with local and state government agencies and other stakeholders, and consider the need for new rules and regulations.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (Campo) – Jonathan Jaroslav Shuster, 20, of Campo is dead of injuries sustained in a vehicle crash. 

His Honda Civic was found early September 16^th by a driver on Church Road on the Campo Native American reservation.  The vehicle had sustained major damage from an apparent collision and Shuster had sustained fatal injuries.