September 1, 2012 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District and the City of La Mesa have jointly announced that Saturday, Sept. 22 will be the date for the 2012 Kids Care Fest, a free, family-oriented event featuring free health care screenings at Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be the 11th annual Kids Care Fest event. The public is invited to attend.

September 6, 2012 (Sacramento) – Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced this week that the Health Insurance Rate Justification and Accountability Act has enough valid signatures to qualify for the November 2014 ballot. The measure will give the California Insurance Commissioner the power to review and reject excessive health insurance rate hikes.

September 6, 2012 (Lemon Grove)--Council Member George Gastil and City Council candidate Racquel Vasquez will host a weekly meet and greet at the Lemon Grove Starbucks, 7801 Broadway, starting Saturday, September 8 at 9 a.m.

Each one-hour event will provide residents with the opportunity to meet the two San Diego Democratic Party endorsed candidates, ask questions about their individual campaign platforms, and enjoy a free cup of coffee.

September 6, 2012  --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• La Mesa-Spring Valley schools face cuts of $12.5 million  if tax vote fails (La Mesa Patch)
• Wages in San Diego not rising fast enough (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa City Council Candidates (La Mesa Courier)
• 10 privatization fact checks (Voice of San Diego)
• 21 homes red-tagged: What to expect from classic Brawley earthquake swarm  (NBC)
• Recruiting allegations haunt Helix, defending state football champions (Mt. Helix Patch.com)

STATE

• California jobs picture brightens (Sacramento Bee)
• Gov. Brown promotes Prop 30, warns of devastating cuts to education if it fails (Santee Patch)
• Most tax deals die as GOP stands united (UT San Diego)
• Self-driving cars approved by California legislature (CNBC)
• California way behind Germany in solar development (KCET)
• Three races could tip the balance of power in state Legislature (Sacramento Bee)
• U.S. Chamber launches ad attacking California budget, economy (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

September 6, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:   

U.S.

        GENERAL NEWS

• The way ahead: U.S. hands of war to Afghan troops (UT San Diego)
• Sorry savers, interest rates set record lows (ABC News)
• Federal  Reserve audit finds $16 trillion in secret loans  (Senator Bernie Sanders, author of amendment requiring the audit)
• Residents impacted by Isaac return home (CBS News)
• National Conference of American Indians opposes Dept. of Interior fast-tracking on renewable energy projects near Colorado River
• Are small businesses being heard this election year? (Entrepreneur)
• Dumped by home insurance after a disaster?  (BankRate.com)
• VA phone calls won’t solve massive problems (The Reno dispatch)

        PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

• Obama’s 2008 promises:  kept or broken? (CBS)
• Democratic convention to make case for 4 more years (BBC)
• Romney and Ryan fault Obama’s economic maneuvers (Los Angeles Times)
• Romney on the offensive (CBS)
• Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7420224n&tag=stack
• Obama: GOP ideas “better for the last century” (Yahoo News)
• Video: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-gop-ideas-better-last-century-191555406--election.html
• Obama finds key asset in Bill Clinton’s support (Washington Post)

WORLD

• More than 100,000 Syrians flee in one month (CNN)
• 7.6 quake in Philippines triggers tsunami alert (CNBC)
• Syrian rebels hit back at Assad’s air power (Reuters)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

August 31, 2012 (El Cajon)--California State Ballot Propositions 30 through 40 will be discussed at the East County Democratic Club Meeting on at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. 

The main speaker will be Eric Banks, immediate past-president of SEIU Local 221, who will be addressing issues embedded in Proposition 32, focusing on the questionable issue of "paycheck protection" and sharing information about his public employee union.  Diane Cates, a new member of the SEIU Executive Board will be in attendance and adding her insights.  ECDC President John Martes and his wife Gloria will be presenting information about the other propositions.  Also local Propositions C,D,G,and V, which are bond issues for public education, will  be addressed. 

September 6, 2012 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Fit Body Boot Camp, a program designed to help its clientele achieve fitness and weight management goals in a fun and motivating atmosphere, will host an open house on Saturday September 8 from 4:00--8:00 p.m. The event includes an 80s band and DJ, plus a raffle with all proceeds going to Rady Children’s Hospital.

Talks on fitness and nutrition will be provided, as well as fitness demonstrations, chair massages, fitness games, entertainment and healthy food. Raffle prizes include an iPad2 and a six-month personal training program.

September 1, 2012 (El Cajon) – The  East County Cash Mob’s next target is Home & Soul, 229 E. Main St., El Cajon on September 8 at 12 p.m.  The group will meet at Prospect Promenade at 11:55 a.m. before heading to Home & Soul.  The purpose of a Cash Mob is to assemble a large number of people to support a local small business during tough economic times.

September 5, 2012 (El Cajon) – A man who was struck while crossing the intersection at Fletcher Parkway and Johnson Avenue against a do not cross sign Monday night died yesterday in a local hospital from injuries sustained in the accident.

"The El Cajon Police would like to remind pedestrians when walking at night to wear bright clothing and to obey all designated cross walk signs," Lieutenant Frank La Haye with the El Cajon Police stated in a media release.

September 4, 2012 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Police seek information on whoever sprayed graffiti, including hate speech, on buildings at Kennedy Park on East Madison Avenue in El Cajon.

The graffiti was found and reported yesterday morning (Monday) by a park visitor who said he saw four people leaving the park at 4 a.m., when he found the wet paint.  According to the witness, there were two men wearing all-white clothing and two women, one carrying a large duffel bag, ECM news partner 10 News reports.

September 1, 2012 (Santa Ysabel) – A woman and two children, ages 7 and 9, were killed August 28 after the driver of a Pontiac Vibe  crossed the center line and struck their Honda Odyssey van head-on. The driver, Francisco Raul Higueros Perez, was also killed in the crash, the Medical Examiner's office reports.

Mary Helen Elizabeth Aguilar, 33, from San Diego was the driver of the Odyssey, traveling eastbound on State Route 78 just west of State Route 79 when the crash occurred at 3:15 p.m.  Two young girls, Jennifer Aguilar, 9, and Camryn Aguilar, 7, who were in the backseat, also died at the scene.

September 3, 2012 (Warner Springs) – A motorist struck and killed a cow tonight around 8:17 p.m. on  S-2 between Highway 79 and Montezuma Grade, after encountering a herd of cattle in the roadway, the CHP website reports.   

The vehicle, a sedan, left the scene of the accident.  The person who reported the collisions told CHP that he began flashing his lights to alert other drivers.