East County News Service

September 6, 2018 (Spring Valley) – Mt. Miguel High School Foundation will present “QUARTERMANIA,” a cross between an auction, raffle and bingo. The event will take place on October 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mt. Miguel High School’s brand new event center, 8585 Blossom Lane in Spring Valley.

East County News Service

August 25, 2018 (Ramona) - Mark your calendars. Following a highly reviewed first-time-ever event in 2017, the annual Ramona Grape Stomp returns for its second year on Saturday, September 8, 2018 from noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center–Pavilion, 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona, CA 92065.

September 5, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Can Trump pardon himself? Kavanaugh won’t say (Time)
• AFL-CIO President Likes Where Revised NAFTA Deal Is Headed (NPR)
• The first major hurricane of the year could pose a threat to the US East Coast (CNN)
• Bob Woodward’s book on Trump: The most explosive passages (BBC)
• White House Withholds 100,000 Pages of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Records (New York Times)
• Kris Kobach Will Be Investigated by a Grand Jury as He Runs for Governor (Mother Jones)
• After surprise primary victory, can Andrew Gillum win the Florida governor's race? (NBC)
• Trump stands by warning of ‘violence’ if Dems win midterms (Associated Press)

WORLD

• Microwave Weapons Are Prime Suspect in Ills of U.S. Embassy Workers (New York Times)
• U.S. accuses China of `super aggressive` spy campaign on LinkedIn (Reuters)
• U.S. confirms death of ISIS leader in Afghanistan (CNN)
• If Cardinal Was Under Pope’s Sanctions, Why Was He Allowed at Gala Events? (New York Times)
• Lula: Brazil's jailed ex-leader barred from presidential race by electoral court (BBC)
• Mass Far-Right Protests in Germany Enter Third Day  (Newsweek)
• These five world leaders had the worst summers of their political lives (Time)
• Myanmar court jails Reuters reporters for seven years in landmark secrets case (Reuters)
• 'Looks like Soviet propaganda': Putin turns to new TV show as popularity rating falls (CBC)
• UK charges two Russians for attempted murder of Skripals, blames Moscow  (Reuters)

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

September 5, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Children born through IVF face higher risk of cardiovascular disease, warns study (The Independent)
• HIV/AIDS research yields dividends across medical fields (NIH)
• China bans pig travel from African swine fever regions as sixth case detected (Reuters)
• Record High Number of STD Infections in U.S., As Prevention Funding Declines  (NPR)
• What Sparked an E. Coli Outbreak in Lettuce? Scientists Trace a Surprising Source (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• America’s Lakes Are Losing Their Blue Hue as Waters Shift to Murky Greenish-Brown (Smithsonian)
• To store really big data, Molecular Assemblies thinks really small — DNA (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Changing a Cow's Diet May Help Slow Global Warming (Associated Press)
• Divers discover massive coral reefs off the coast of South Carolina (Charlottesville Observer)
• Google, Mastercard cut a secret ad deal to track retail sales (Jewish World Review)
• Scientists found brain’s internal clock that influences how we perceive time (Arstechnica)
• Astronauts find hole in the International Space Station, plug it with thumb (CNET)

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

East County News Service

September 5, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Challenge Center of La Mesa, provider of skilled physical therapy rehabilitation, specialized assisted fitness training and wellness programs for physically challenged people, will host its 2018 Comedy Night Gala fundraiser Friday, Sept. 7 at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa at Mission Bay, 1404 Vacation Road, San Diego. Reception and silent auction begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m., live auction, a program highlighting the work of the Challenge Center and entertainment starring Colin Quinn, who appeared on the “Saturday Night Live” TV show.

East County News Service

September 5, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - Toyota has ordered a recall of some Prius hybrid vehicles  made between June 2015 and May 2018, due to an electrical system defect that can cause fires.

Wire harnesses connected to the vehicles’ power control units can wear out and overheat, causing fires. The company reports it will fix the problem free and will notify customers starting this month.

Kavanaugh previously argued that presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution, while working at the Bush White House

By Miriam Raftery

View video clip: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4746944/brett-kavanaugh-confirmation-hear...

September 4, 2018 (Washington D.C.) -- The Senate confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court justice nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, opened today over strenuous objections from Democrats who asked for postponement to allow time to review “42,000 pages of documents that we have not been allowed to read or analyze,” according to California Senator Kamala Harris and others. The documents, reflecting Kavanaugh’s tenure as White House Staff Secretary to President George W. Bush, were provided to committee members only the night before the hearing.

But Republican Chairman Chuck Grassley refused to recognize any Democrats on the committee. Several Senators asked for adjournment of the hearing, as protesters interrupted to call for justice, but the chair refused all requests.

A key concern raised is that Kavanaugh put forth arguments that a president should be above the law, not subject to criminal prosecution while in office or for actions undertaken as president.  With special prosecutor Robert Mueller already securing numerous indictments and guilty pleas in his probe of Trump-Russia ties, critics argue that as an unindicted coconspirator who could potentially face charges or impeachment,Trump  shoudl be blocked by the Senate from appointing a nominee who believes that a president should not be held accountable legally for his actions.

By Miriam Raftery

September 4, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes live music in downtown El Cajon, the Sycuan Pow-wow, star parties at Mission Trails, and the Ramona Grape Stomp.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including raspberry picking at Julian Farm and Orchard, Hank Williams Jr. at Viejas, Gregory Page and Sky Ladd in concert at Schwaesdall Winery in Ramona, Julian Music Festival, Santa Ysabel Mission’s Bicentennial Celebration, Oktoberfest in La Mesa, Alley Cat Art Walk in El Cajon, a masquerade ball in El Cajon, spooky camping at Lake Jennings, our East County Dining Club at Fourpenny House in La Mesa, fair trade shopping in La Mesa, the Pumpkin Express haunted train ride, HauntFest on Main in El Cajon, and the Borrego Days desert festival.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2018 (Washington D.C.) -- President Donald Trump started the Labor Day weekend by issuing an executive order cancelling a modest 2.1% pay raise for federal workers, and ended the weekend Monday by denouncing Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor union.

The President did Tweet, “The Worker in America is doing better than ever before. Celebrate Labor Day!” But his administration has taken a string of  actions to undermine the wellbeing of workers taken since Trump took office.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 3, 2018 (San Diego) -- It’s been about seventeen years since United Airlines flight 175 and American Airlines Flight 11 were purposely flown by hijackers into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center Buildings. The Pentagon was severely damaged by the impact of an additional airliner and resulting fire. Hijackers also crashed a fourth plane into a field near Shanksville Pa. after the passengers and flight crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Dave Jordan in 2012, courtesy of Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

September 2, 2018 (El Cajon) – A Blossom Valley couple, David Wesley Jordan, 82, and his wife, Jean Adele Jordon, 83, died of gunshots to their heads in an apparent murder-suicide, the Medical Examiner’s office has concluded.

A physical therapist told Sheriff’s homicide investigators that upon arrival at the home on Toya Lane in unincorporated El Cajon at 8 a.m. Friday, a note was on the sliding glass door.  The therapist entered the home and found the couple’s bodies in the living room.  A revolver was in Jean Jordan’s hands.

David Jordan was a long-time football coach at Grossmont College, where he led the team to a statewide championship title in 2005 and won many honors for his coaching.

East County News Service

September 2, 2018 (El Cajon) – As sexual abuse scandals rock the Catholic Church, Patriarch Cardinal Luis Rafael Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Babylon yesterday sent a letter to bishops published today by Kaldaya.ME, a Chaldean news site. In his letter, Patriarch Sako addresses “sexual harssment/ (solicitation)” and “concubinage” as well as financial scandals in the Chaldean Catholic Church. 

East County News Service

September 2, 2018 (Alpine) – The County is seeking public input on a proposed update to Alpine’s community plan.  County Planning and Development Services Department will hold a public scoping meeting on September 18, 2018 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Library, 1752 Alpine Blvd.   See Notice of Preparation: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/CommunityGroups/AlpineCommunityPlanUpdate.html.

East County News Service

September 2, 2018 (San Diego) – The U.S. State Department last week issued an updated travel advisorywarning against all travel to several Mexican states and caution to many others where “violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via ACLU: Sammy Reyes-Mejia, 3, didn’t recognize his mother after being reunited following three and a half months of separation and being held in a federal detention center.

September 2, 2018 (San Diego) – Despite a court order to reunify all children separated from immigrant parents at the border, 497 children remain in federal custody, including 322 children whose parents were deported, the Hill reported on August 30th.   There are 22 tots under age 5 in detention, and those deported included parents of six children under age 4.