-- Final bond sale to complete facilities improvements at Sharp Grossmont Hospital

May 5, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a taxpayer-supported public agency that serves as landlord of Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, said it recently finalized the sale for two separate series of general obligation (G.O.) bonds totaling $24.5 million and $175 million.

By Kristin Kjaero

May 5, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council voted 5-0 April 28 to issue a public notice of a possible rate increase for both residential and commercial trash pickup in La Mesa. The public hearing will occur at the June 23 City Council meeting in the 7:00 p.m. time certain slot for hearings.

EDCO President and CEO Steve South made the presentation to the Council. The company is requesting 3.6% and 1.5% increases for residential and commercial, respectively. That translated to a 68-cent increase for residential from $19.09 to $10.77, and an increase of $1.45 from $99.29 to $100.74 for commercial.

By Sharon Penny

May 5, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - I’m a lifelong resident of East County and, for the past 25 years, I’ve lived four miles from Green Valley Falls. Until last week, I had never heard of the Airplane Monument hiking trail just north of Green Valley – literally 4.5 miles from my house.

May 5, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, recently presented $16,000 in scholarships to eight local college students planning a career either in nursing or in the healthcare technician field.

May 4, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Myra Witzer, a strong willed woman in her late thirties, is determined to get married at any cost and Leonard Shank, an unassuming man in his early forties, is the guy she goes after and gets, much against his will. After several months of married life, Myra realizes that the chase excited her more than the capture and wants out. On the other hand, Leonard, who at the beginning wanted no part of the marriage, now wants to stay married to her more than anything. Now that he's fallen for her, will Leonard be able to convince her that he's her prince charming?

May 4, 2015 (El Cajon)--At approximately 9:03 p.m., Friday, May 1, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a structure fire in the nine-hundred block of Broadway.  Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the windows of “Broadway Thrift” store at 941 Broadway.

By Ed Barrena

May 4, 2015 (San Diego) - The San Diego Chargers had the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft this weekend, when college football’s biggest stars make the transition to professional sports in front of millions of TV viewers. This year’s draft featured a departure from tradition as the 3 day ceremony was held in Chicago instead of New York, where it had been previously held every year since 1963.

May 3, 2015 (Borrego) – La Casa del Zorro in Borrego Springs is offering several upcoming attractions, set against a beautiful desert backdrop.

Consumer group starts petition to urge more review

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: GMO salmon (back) is larger than non-GMO salmon of same age

May 2, 2015 (Washington D.C.)  -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering approving a genetically modified salmon – not as a food, but as an “animal drug,” according to Sarah Alexander at Food and Water Watch.  If approved, it would be the first GMO animal allowed into our food chain. But tests have found high levels of both hormone and potential allergens.  Only six fish were tested for allergies – but those fish had an allergenic potency was 20 to 50 percent higher in the GMO salmon than non-GMO salmon.

By Leon Thompson

Photo: Winona LaDuke with her cousin, ECM Tribal Beat journalist Leon Thompson

May 2, 2015, 2015 (SDSU Montezuma Hall) - The Conrad Prebys Student Center at San Diego State University was filled on Earth Day, April 22, as Winona LaDuke took the stage dwarfed by the giant screen depicting the past splendor and future possibilities of her native White Earth Nation.  In the language of the Anishinaabe she brought greetings and recounted the Ojibwa names for the months or moons noting that not one of them was named after a Roman Emperor.

May 2, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Mothers across the country are telling their personal stories of drug war damage with stories, articles and interviews in honor of Mother’s Day. By sharing these powerful stories of losing loved ones to drug-prohibition-related violence, incarceration, overdose and addiction, they are bringing focus to a real need to reform our nation’s drug policies.  Many of the moms leading this campaign have been personally impacted by the war on drugs, including having children who suffer from addiction and who have been repeatedly incarcerated, or have died from preventable drug overdoses and other drug related problems.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Maryland Attorney General Marilyn Mosby is nation’s youngest top prosecutor

May 2, 2015 (Baltimore) – Six Baltimore police officers are under arrest, facing charges ranging from manslaughter to murder for the death of Freddie Gray,  a 25-year-old African American man.  Gray’s death of a spinal cord injury while in custody sparked riots in Baltimore and other cities.

Goal is to Increase State's Dismal Voter Turnout

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

May 1, 2015 (Sacramento)--Before the 2016 election most California drivers could be automatically registered to vote and receive their ballot in the mail all without having to lift a finger. Today, the Assembly Transportation Committee hears a bill to authorize the state to use the Department of Motor Vehicles database to register all drivers who are eligible to vote.

By Miriam Raftery

May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Islamic State or ISIS forces are reportedly demanding ransoms of up to $100,000 apiece for 250 to 300 Christians captured in Syria February 23rd.  Fox News reports the demands were made to Assyrian leaders during negotiations with ISIL fighters arranged by Sunni Muslims.  Thus far, 23 have been released.

By Miriam Raftery

April 30, 2015 (Washington D.C.) --Vermont Senator and former Governor Bernie Sanders has announced he will run for President – challenging Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

Sanders isn’t your typical presidential contender.   He’s been the only independent member of Congress since 2007 – until announcing he will run as a Democrat for the presidency.  He’s also an avowed “democratic socialist”, a progressive, and he's Jewish.

Running on a populist platform, Senator Sanders has long been a vocal advocate for economic justice, denouncing the growing income gap between billionaires and ordinary working Americans.So how might his candidacy impact the race?