By Miriam Raftery

Photo: General Grant Tree, courtesy National Park Service

September 12, 2015 (Sequoia National Forest)- The fast-moving Rough Fire (#RoughFire)  has charred over 128,000 acres and threatens the famed Grant Grove of ancient Sequoia redwood trees in King’s Canyon National Park. The lightning-sparked fire is 29% contained.

The grove includes giant sequoias thousands of years old, notably the General Grant tree, named in 1867 after Ulysses  S. Grant and declared our nation’s Christmas tree by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926. 

The National Park Service has closed and evacuated the Grant Grove area of King’s Canyon including John Muir Lodge, all campgrounds and the John Muir cabins. The Cedar Grove area and all lodging there are also closed. Those areas will stay closed until at least September 18.  Sequoia National Park remains open but a smoke advisory is in effect.

September 11, 2015 (Sacramento)--Assembly Bill 1461, also known as the California New Motor Voter Act, was approved today by the California Assembly on a 44-21 concurrence vote. The bill will now be sent to the Governor for his consideration.

East County News Service

September 11, 2015 (Sacramento)—Two major measured backed by Governor Brown have failed to win passage at the end of  a special legislative session.

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont High School’s principal sent a letter to all parents yesterday warning of a apparent attempt to kidnap a female student on Tuesday, September 8th. 

According to Principal Daniel Barnes, the teen girl was waiting for a ride at 3:30 p.m. near the baseball field on Milden Avenue when she was approached by a man, who beckoned to her with a cigarette and told her to “get in” his vehicle. She refused and the man drove off on Water Street.

The victim described the suspect as a Hispanic man about 30 to 40 years old with brown hair, brown eyes, dark complexion, round face and large mole on his right cheek.  He was driving  a maroon single cab pickup truck, possibly a Ford F-150, older model with chipped paint.

August 10, 2015 (Santee) – The Santee Lakes Foundation invites you to join in the sixth annual 5K Lap the Lakes on Saturday, September 19at 7 a.m.  The run/walk is held at Santee Lakes in a flat, beautiful setting. There is also a half-mile Jr. Fun Run course for kids.

By Elizabeth Alper

September 9, 2015 (Julian) – Like apples?  Julian is hosting its Apple Days Festival as part of its Apple Days Celebration.  The festival will span two days, September 26 and 27, and will be held at the Menghini Winery (http://www.menghiniwinery.com/).

by Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof (1st Amendment, US Constitution)

September 8, 2015 (San Diego)-- A Kentucky county clerk, Kim Davis has become a symbol of religious opposition to same-sex marriage after she was jailed Thursday for defying a federal court order to issue licenses to gay couples, the Union-Tribune reported.

Clinton Cash, by Peter Schweizer (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, NY, 2015, 243 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

September 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Peter Schweizer, the author of Extortion, Throw Them All Out, Architects of Ruin, and other books that have revealed political wrongdoing, and has been featured on 60 Minutes, in the New York Times, and elsewhere, has written a timely and provocative book; Clinton Cash: The Untold Story Of How And Why Foreign Governments And Businesses Helped Make Bill And Hillary Rich. It is timely because Hillary is the presumptive Democratic candidate for president of the United States, with the excess baggage of Benghazi and the email controversy hanging over her head. This book really comes at a bad time for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.

September 9, 2015 (Ramona)--Attention, pumpkin patch owners!  If you’ve got the great pumpkin growing in your patch, the Ramona Home Journal invites you to enter its “Pick of the Patch” contest and win cash prizes.

By Liz Alper

September 8, 2015 (Grayson, Ky.) - A Kentucky county clerk who was jailed for withholding marriage licenses to gay and straight couples has been released today.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

September 8, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - I'd like to dedicate this week's column to my fur baby, Katie. She passed away suddenly on September 2. She was a beautiful American Eskimo and a never-ending source of joy.

What tips do you have that you would like to share with writers marketing on Twitter? I have a website and I put fresh posts on it daily with pictures. It targets the topic of my book, which is child abuse, and I share the latest information on new court cases and people who are battling this issue and suffering PTSD, relationship problems resulting from their past trauma currently. I also share my own experiences at intervals.  – M.J. Payne

By Miriam Raftery – Photo by Jim Larson, Caltrans

September 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Exactly 39 years ago this week, Hurricane Kathleen struck our region – the most powerful tropical cylone ever to hit San Diego and Imperial Counties. With another powerful storm, Hurricane Linda, set to sock our region starting Wednesday, it’s worth remembering just how much devastation was wrought the last such storm set to hit the identical area, on the very same day of the year.

Some dangerous road conditions are reported across region

East County News Service

Photo by Paul Cummings: View from Mt. Laguna looking south at 1:30 p.m.

September 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County ) – The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for San Diego County’s mountains, lower and upper deserts in effect now through Thursday.

Tropical moisture is building across the region, bringing thunderstorms , locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding possible.  Heavy rain and flooding are reported currently in Boulevard and Pine Valley, the CHP website reports.  A mudslide is reported on San Felipe Road 2 miles south of State Route 79, blocking the roadway.

September 9, 2015 (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

• Water levels rise amid drought (U-T)
• Quiet supervisor’s race may be deceiving (U-T)
• Judge Kreep to pay $6,000 ethics fine (U-T)
• Governor Signs New Pact With East County's Sycuan Tribe (Patch)
• SD Politicians Haul in Thousands in Shady Towing Donations (Voice of SD)
• Creation Museum Again Denied Membership In San Diego Museum Council (KPBS)
• Veterans sought for history project (U-T)
• The Roadrunner has been sold (The Roadrunner)
• The Secrets of Pauma Valley (San Diego Magazine)
• New SANDAG Policy Leaves Transit Advocates Wanting More (Voice of SD)
• Don’t name me board chairman, Dave Roberts says (U-T)
• UCSD's most embarrassing fiasco (U-T)

STATE

• This nuclear power plant has been dubbed California’s Fukushima (Business Insider)
• ACLU fights U.S. funding for Los Angeles police body cameras (euters)
• Driver Fees Would Fund Bulk of California Governor's Road Repair Plan (KPBS)
• Governor Appoints New Salton Sea Policy Official (KPBS)
• Unions prep for end to mandatory dues (U-T)
• Hope for California Body Camera Bill Fades Amid Special Interest Power (Reason)
• Anthony Rendon selected next Assembly speaker (SacBee)

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

By Miriam Raftery

September 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—California’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a notice of intent to label glyphosate, an herbicide that is the main ingredient on Monsanto’s Roundup, as a carcinogen“known to cause cancer.”  The public has until October 5^th to comment on the proposal.

Glyphosate has also been linked to a sharp drop in Monarch butterfly populations across the nation as well as to potential health impacts in humans.