Source:  Ramona Valley Vineyard Association

June 22, 2017 (Ramona) --Travel + Leisure, a leading travel publication, recently named Vineyard Grant James, located in San Diego County’s Ramona Valley wine region, the number two winery in the United States in its list of “a few select vineyards around the country that go above and beyond to astound visitors.”

By Robert Gehr

June 22, 2017 (El Cajon) -- This morning, volunteers were out and about all over San Diego County excitedly shouting out and collecting monetary donations for Ronald McDonald House, which helps families in need with housing, meals and so much more at no cost when their children are hospitalized due to illness or injury.

By Miriam Raftery

June 22, 2017 (La Mesa)  -- Radio personality Cha Cha from106.7 FM will scale new heights –and slither in new depths—all to help the hungry. She’ll be broadcasting from inside an exotic jungle snake pit  at Grossmont Center’s courtyard on Saturday, June 24 starting at noon – and she won’t come out until at least 1,057 canned goods or dry food items are donated to help the Jacob and Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

You’re invited to face your fears and help fight hunger in our community. Bring canned or dry food items and hold a snake from the San Diego Reptile Association.  Post a picture of you overcoming your fears on Twitter or Instagram, and challenge others to do it too! Use the hashtag #SnakePitChallenge and tag 105.7 MAX FM. (Or skip the snake and just donate.)

By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Tuesday’s blistering heat wave set a new county record. In Ocotillo Wells, the temperature reached 124 degrees—the hottest temperature ever recorded in San Diego County, according to Noel Isla with the National Weather Service.

June 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect 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.

Special prosecutor investigation

• Lobbyist for Russian interests says he attended dinners hosted by Sessions (Guardian)
• Donald Trump, Felix Sater and the job:  Lawyers push to unseal court documents they say could show fraud by president (Newsweek)
• Trump lashes out at Russia probe while Pence hires a lawyer (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Senate approves new Russia sanctions (CNN)
• Criminal investigation of Trump puts his presidency in peril (Wash. Post “Right Turn”)

Other national news

• Russia warns U.S. after downing of Syrian warplane (New York Times)
• Phoenix flights cancelled because it’s too hot for planes (BBC)
• Admin revokes blocked program to protect immigrant parents (Washington Post)
• Amazon to buy Whole Foods for $13.7 billion  (Reuters)
• U.S. Supreme Court strikes down sex offender social media ban (Reuters)
• U.S. top court says law banning offensive trademarks is unconstitutional (Reuters)
• Trump owes lenders at least $315 million, disclosure shows (Reuters)
• Trump signs bill revoking Obama era gun checks for mental illness (NBC)
• Emerging portrait of shooting suspect James T. Hodgkinson:  Anti-Trump rhetoric on social media, repeat visits to YMCA near Virginia ballfield (Washington Post)
• Legal services in unprecedented danger under Trump’s budget proposal (Guardian)
• CEOs to Trump: You’re failing (CNN)
• Democratic lawmakers sue Trump, handing the president another legal challenge (NPR)

WORLD

• Van rams Muslim worshippers in London; PM condemns ‘sickening’ attack (Reuters)
• Imam praised as hero for protecting Finsbury Park attacker (CNN)
• Veteran aide expert Egeland warns of ‘Biblical famine’ in Yemen (Reuters)
• 7 U.S. Service Members Wounded In 'Insider Attack' In Afghanistan (NPR)
• Saudi king empowers young reformer son in succession shake-up (Reuters)
• Palestinian Authority has not sent medical shipments to Gaza for over three months (Jerusalem Post)
• Why Is China Snatching Up Australian Farmland? (NPR)
• Attacks on Western cities prompt insurers to adapt (Reuters)
• FBI says probing Michigan airport stabbing as 'act of terrorism' (Reuters)
• Abortive Brussels attack could have been much worse -PM (Reuters)
• Explosion in Bogota shopping center kills three, wounds nine (Reuters)
• Jerusalem on high alert after police officer killed in Old City attack (JPost)

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

June 21, 2017 (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

• Key figure in CPUC hearings on 2007 wildfires accepted gifts: officials (KNSD 7)
• Daughter of ex-Lemon Grove mayor in jail (San Diego Reader)
• San Diego County’s unemployment rate down (KPBS)
• La Mesa ready to take over land at Sun Valley golf course (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego City Council votes to put SoccerCity on 2018 ballot (KPBS)
• Could desalinated water from Mexico flow to San Diego? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove School District chooses new Superintendent (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Syrian family celebrates Ramadan, but misses son (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• County proclaims June 15 Edna Kouns day (KUSI)
• Two immigration judges added to Otay detention facility (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove serving up lunch for kids all summer long (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Free Summer Meal Programs Kick Off Around San Diego County (KPBS)
• What it Would Take to Make SD’s Transit System Faster and More Reliable (Voice of SD)
• San Onofre — another Chernobyl? (SD Reader)

STATE

• CA State Universities will offer admission to all qualified applicants (SJ Mercury-News)
• Internet privacy: CA bill to prevent users from being secretly tracked (Mercury-News)
• It’s a deal. Lawmakers send Jerry Brown a jam-packed budget (Sacramento Bee)
• LP Files Groundbreaking Civil Rights Lawsuit Against San Francisco State University (LawFareProject)
• California Lawmakers Seek to Subvert Government Transparency (Reason)
• California considers reducing traffic fines for low-income drivers (Marketplace)
• Audit: Low-income phone program grew to $84 million from $36 million because of poor oversight (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Governor, Lawmakers to See 3 Percent Pay Boost (KPBS)
• Study: A Fully Renewable Energy Grid Is Too Costly for Now (KPBS)

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

East County News Service

June 21, 2017 (San Diego) - Out of the Boat Swim, a nonprofit, provides free water-safety and beach programs to refugee and underprivileged children living in San Diego. Out of the Boat Swim offers free beach and water-safety programs to help refugee and inner city kids integrate during a challenging time of transition. Some of the children will go on to become Junior Guards in the San Diego Junior Lifeguard program by design of the partnership between Out of the Boat Swim and San Diego Junior Lifeguards.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

June 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Run up three flights of stairs in heavy firefighter boots--in the heat wave.  To walk in someone else’s shoes, or firefighter’s boots, can be eye opening and “deepen” your respect for what these men and women firefighters are required to do.  The opportunity to learn what Heartland Fire & Rescue does on a routine basis was extended via their first-ever Fire Ops 101 class held Saturday, June 17^th, at their Thomas H. Owen Sr.  training facility in El Cajon. 

By Jordan Damond

Update June 22, 2017 – The Senate Republican bill has just been released this morning. Watch for an update soon on its contents.

June 21, 2017 (San Diego) – After Republicans passed a measure to repeal the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare and pass their own healthcare reform plan, leading Senators asserted that the Senate would go it’s own way. Senator Lamar Alexander stated, "We're writing a Senate bill and not passing the House bill."  Senate Republicans are pushing for a vote by the end of next week, but the majority of the Senate, the press and public have not yet been allowed to view their revised proposal.

"Republicans are writing their health care bill under the cover of darkness because they are ashamed of it," Stated by Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer.

By Pat Landis

June 21, 2017 (Julian) -- Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District is at risk. Choices appear to be (1) Do nothing and persevere until finances force it to dissolve; (2) Voluntarily dissolve and allow the Fire Authority to take over; (3) Increase the Benefit Fee to cover the rising costs and remain viable as an independent/volunteer fire department.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Lamplighters Community Theatre presents Women in Jeopardy! This new comedy by Wendy MacLeod, directed by Rob Conway, will run July 7-30 at Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa.

East County News Service

June 21, 2017 (La Mesa) - It’s Charley Brown Preschool’s 45^th anniversary and you’re invited to join the celebration honoring its long history of service to East County families.  Former students, parents, friends and neighbors are invited to the event on Saturday, July 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 5921 Jackson Drive in La Mesa.

East County News Service

June 21, 2017 (El Cajon) - Elvis tribute artist Scott Bruce will shake, rattle and roll with your favorite Elvis Presley songs on Friday night, June 30^th from 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown El Cajon. It’s all part of the Dinner and Concert series all summer long in Prescott Promenade Park. 

By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – The US. Supreme Court has ruled that former Bush administration officials cannot be sued for allegedly violating Constitutional rights protecting against illegal search and seizures.  The case, Ziglar v. Abbasi, was filed by Muslim immigrants who allege that they were profiled based on their religion, arrested and detained in harsh conditions after the September 11^th terrorism attacks.