East County News Service

April 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- A 4.7 earthquake has struck in Baja, Mexico at 9:33 this evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  The site is 62 miles south of San Diego and about 40 miles south of Tijuana.

Veteran Public Works czar Michael Throne brings vast experience to the position

Source:  City of La Mesa

April 14, 2022 (La Mesa) - With a commitment to tackling aging infrastructure, the City of La Mesa has tapped Michael Throne to be the new Director of Public Works. Throne, who started on April 11, has more than three decades of experience in reimagining engineering in the public sector.

Source: House of Ukraine

April 14, 2022 (San Diego) – The House of Ukraine invites the public to join in a “Freedom for Ukraine” rally on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. at 1600 North Harbor Drive in San Diego (corner of W. Ash St. and North Harbor Drive).  The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in massive loss of civilians’ life and evidence of war crimes by Russia.

By Miriam Raftery

April 14, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – A suspect accused of carjacking an El Cajon Police vehicle containing SWAT gear and weapons last night led officers on a high-speed chase across East County before being apprehended in Chula Vista.

An off-duty ECPD officer was leaving a 7-Eleven store in Santee when "a man opened the passenger door of the unmarked pickup truck, got into the vehicle and began yelling incoherently at the driver. At some point, both parties got out of the truck and the carjacker was able to get behind the wheel and drive away," says Sergeant Michael Gonzalez with the Sheriff's department.

The vehicle had SWAT gear, an assault rifle and a pistol locked in a storage locker, according to 10 News.

East County News Service

April 13, 2022 (San Diego) – Recognizing the need for transparent and independent investigations of officer and deputy-involved shootings, members of the San Diego County Chief's and Sheriff's Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (which establishes a new countywide protocol for the investigation of officer and deputy-involved shootings.  

Source: San Diego County News Service

April 13, 2022 (San Diego) - San Diego County is one of seven California counties participating in CalScope, a study that will help public health professionals better understand how many people in California have antibodies against COVID-19.

By Miriam Raftery

April 13, 2022 (La Mesa) – The city of La Mesa’s decision to fire La Mesa Police Officer Matt Dages in 2020 was “supported by the weight of the evidence”, according to a tentative ruling issued by Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal.  According to the Judge, the evidence showed that Dages provided “false and misleading” information in his report on his arrest of Amaurie Johnson.

East County News Service

Update April 14:  Nicole Pare has been found safe, according to SDPD, which did not release details.

April 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Nicole Marie Paré, 32, a Pacific Beach woman who vanished without picking up a family member at the airport on Monday, April 11. Her white Audi A5 (CA license plate 7VAZ668) was seen Monday in La Mesa and Lemon Grove, and her purse was found in La Mesa.

She is considered at risk due to the circumstances; her family told police she has never gone missing before.

She has blond hair, brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds.

By Greg Dunne                                         

April 12th, 2022 (Alpine) -- What are the best veggies For Easter dinner? Well, that of course is a personal preference, but here are some of the more traditional vegetables for the Easter menu. Asparagus tops the list and a few more are green beans, yams, potatoes, carrots, and Brussel sprouts. Here are some great vegetable recipes for your Easter dinner, see below.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 12, 2022 (San Diego) - All of the County of San Diego’s 33 community branch libraries are expanding their hours starting Monday, April 11.

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2022 (Casa de Oro) – A dramatic transformation of the Campo Road Corridor through Casa de Oro in Spring Valley is planned to create a Main Street ambience in the heart of the community.  On April 22, the County Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed Campo Road Revitalization specific plan.

A central plaza for outdoor community activites, roundabouts, bike and pedestrian friendly changes, trees, outdoor seating, a center median, new street parking, and housing up to four-stories high are all in the revitalization plan. It covers 60 acres centered on Campo Road from Rodgers Rd. to Granada Ave. to be completed in three phases aimed at attracting private investors and enhancing the community. The plan would also seek grants and governmental funding, as well as potentially a planned business improvement district (PBID).

View the Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan here, which includes many photos and illustrations of possible prototypes in other cities.The hearing will be both in person and online. The agenda and details will be posted under the “upcoming meetings” listing within 3 days of the April 22 hearing. Here are details on how to stream County Planning Commission meetings to watch from home or participate. Scroll down for details.

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2022 (San Diego) – Many Californians are unaware that the state is offering help for those struggling to pay their mortgages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  On April 26 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., a free online webinar will be held on the California Mortgage Relief program, jointly hosted by the California Mortgage Relief Program, Urban League of San Diego County, and Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber.

Values in Arms Export Act would create more oversight for arms sales, bar arms sales to nations that repeatedly commit violations

East County News Service

CC photo by Felton Davis:  New York protest in 2017 over U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of war crimes in Yemen

April 11, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) --  San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) has introduced legislation that aims to prevent U.S. weapons from being used to commit human rights abuses.

April 11, 2022 (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 a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

Misc. national news

• Congress votes to revoke Russia's trade status, ban Russian gas and oil (10 News)
• President Biden taps oil reserves to control US gas prices (10 News)
• Baby Formula Shortage, Partially Prompted by Recall, Leads Stores to Ration (Newsweek)
• Native American tribe gets its land back after being displaced nearly 400 years ago (CNN)

January 6 investigation

• Washington Post and CBS News: White House records of January 6 show more than seven-hour gap in Trump's calls (CNN)
• Judge: Trump Likely Committed Crimes Related to Election (US. News & World Reports)
• Biden's Justice Department wants to hire 131 more lawyers to prosecute January 6 cases (Business Insider)
• Justice Dept. Widens Jan. 6 Inquiry to Range of Pro-Trump Figures (New York Times)

WORLD

Ukraine war

• Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt, says S&P (CNN)
• West pledges to punish Russia over civilian killings in Bucha (Reuters)
• Mariupol mayor says 31,000 residents deported at 'gunpoint' to Russian 'filtration camps,' evacuations stalled (Yahoo News)
• UN assembly suspends Russia from top human rights body (KPBS)
• Talks resume as Ukraine denies hitting depot on Russian soil (10 News)
• Russian Troops Suffer ‘Acute Radiation Sickness’ After Digging Chernobyl Trenches (Daily Beast)
• Ukraine claims control over Kyiv region as Russia looks east (Reuters)
• Russ­ian oli­garch Ro­man Abramovich and Ukrain­ian peace ne­go­tia­tors suf­fered symp­toms of sus­pected poi­son­ing af­ter a meet­ing in Kyiv ear­lier this month (Wall Street Journal)
• With Ukraine farmers on frontlines, U.N. food chief warns of 'devastation' (Reuters)

Other world news

• Emmanuel Macron to face Marine Le Pen in French presidential election runoff (CNN)
• Here's why Mexico's president is launching a vote to recall himself (NPR)
• China tightens restrictions and bars scholars from international conferences  (NPR)
• U.N.: 1 out of 4 of the world's population live in areas affected by violence  (NPR)
• Gunman kills 5 in mass shooting spree in central Israel  (NPR)

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