By Miriam Raftery

April 23,2015 (Sacramento) – An effort is underway to put an initiative on the ballot in 2016 that would repeal Assembly  Bill 1266, a California law that allows transgender students to use bathrooms, showers and locker rooms that match their gender identity.  The initiative, if passed, would also have impacts for all government buildings and for business owners.

East County News Service

April 24, 2015 (Washington D.C.) -- Federal regulators have decided that a merger proposed between the nation’s two largest cable companies would not be a marriage made in heaven. On Friday, Comcast announced that it has officially dropped its effort to acquire its chief rival, Time Warner Cable.

April 23, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Here are the highlights of what the La Mesa City Council will consider on its upcoming agenda for Tuesday, April 28:

East County News Service

April 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- Deborah M. Pratt, noted author, writer, director, producer and actress was in East County for a signing of her latest book, The Tempting: Seducing the Nephilim. East County Magazine Show’s Bookshelf host Reina Menasche sat down with Pratt for an exclusive interview  aired on KNSJ radio, which you can now hear online here:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Pratt has been executive producer of “The Net” for the USA network as well as head writer and co-executive producer of the NBC TV series “Quantum Leap.”

By Cleveland National Forest Foundation

April 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--As San Diego’s population grows, a new report finds that the region’s shifting demographics are driving an urgent need for major public transit investments and a halt to highway expansions. A move toward investments in transit would protect air quality, prevent suburban sprawl and support demographic and land use trends toward pedestrian-friendly communities.

April 23, 2015 (San Diego) – The Jewish Federation of San Diego County and community partners announce the annual community celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israeli Independence Day. On Sunday, April 26, Israel Fest will be held at the Nobel Athletic Field in UTC from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  This is a free event to celebrate Israel and educate the local community about Israeli culture. The entire Jewish community of San Diego will be participating, including Friendship Circle of San Diego, which will be kicking off the day with the annual Friendship Walk at 9AM to benefit children with special needs. State Senator, Marty Block and  Congressman, Juan Vargas will be in attendance.

Photo: Senator Elizabeth Warren, critic of the trade deal.

By Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--There’s a battle brewing between the Democratic Party’s labor and business wings over the impending Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, that the Obama administration hopes to reach with 11 Asian-Pacific nations.

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

April 22, 2014 (Sacramento) -- Changes to some health insurance policies under the Affordable Care Act are winding their way through the California Legislature. The bills aim to free patients from surprise charges and outrageous co-pays.

Get Ready to Kick-off Summer with a fitness Boot Camp for all levels and instruction provided by Fit-X San Diego. Whether you are a seasoned athlete, just beginning a fitness routine, or merely thinking about increasing your physical activity this workshop is a “no risk” opportunity to learn what the Boot Camp craze is all about. Instructors will identify exercises for all fitness levels. Wear appropriate workout clothing, sports shoes, and bring a towel.  Not sure but curious? Join in the observer section – but dress appropriately and bring a towel anyway – you might catch Boot Camp fever!

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

April 23, 2015 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Chamber members and local business owners joined together on Tuesday, April 14th to learn of upcoming Chamber activities and hear from the guest speaker, Supervisor Dianne Jacob. 

Supervisor Jacob shared her accomplishments from the past several years, discussed new ordinances for agricultural activities within the county and shared her new passion, The Alzheimer's Project: A Call To Arms.

The Supervisor shared the startling statistics of the negative and detrimental impact of this disease. Supervisor Jacob also informed the audience that not only does Alzheimer's impact the deterioration in the health of the patient, but it has a huge negative impact on the family members that are care givers. She is encouraging partners on this project and challenged groups to come on board and be a part of this project.

East County News Service

Photo by Michael Pereckas

April 22, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – A divided Supreme Court has ruled that police cannot detain a motorist pulled over for a traffic stop any longer than required to issue a ticket or warning for the driving infraction.  An officer cannot delay a motorist to allow for inspection of the vehicle, such as by a drug-sniffing dog when the cause for the stop was a traffic violation.

April 23, 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

• El Cajon event brings hope, help to homeless (UT San Diego)

• Where San Diego Gets Its Water – and Where it Goes (Voice of SD)
• Federal official admits taking bribes, theft (U-T San Diego)
• 3 top staffers leave supe's office (U-T San Diego)
• Iraqi official seeks local Chaldean support (U-T)
• San Diego jobless rate falls to 5.1 percent (UT San Diego)
• Surprise! San Diegans are good budgeters (SD Reader)
• Schools That Best Prepare Neighborhood Kids for Graduation Also Retain Them, or Vice-Versa (Voice of San Diego)
• David Glismann, 91, Grossmont choral director (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Bill would ease CPUC appeals (U-T)
• Regulators back higher electric rates for some (U-T)
• A call to invest in safety of the power grid (Marketplace.org)
• Elizabeth Warren to headline California Democratic convention (Sacramento Bee)
• Are race relations in California better than rest of US? (CS Monitor)
• Chairman: Scrap San Onofre deal (U-T)

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

By Suzanne Porter, Public News Service

Photo credit: chilombiano/morguefile.com

April 22, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Over the past 30 years, the Latino population in the United States has risen by 243 percent. But during that same period, according to a UCLA study of census data, the number of Latino doctors has decreased 22 percent.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Greg Hume

April 22, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food chain, is the latest company that has pledged to eliminate deforestation from its global supply chains. Palm oil deforestation leads to destruction of habitat for endangered and threatened species such as orangutans, elephants, rhinoceros and tigers.

Story and photos by Susan A Mahalick

April 20, 2015 (Baja, Mexico)--Located as an exit off the toll road, or Cuota, is La Salina at Km 73. Two exits after crossing the bridge with the estuary to the left as you travel south from Rosarito is a public beach with palapas to the right. It is Easter weekend which traditionally starts the official camping on the beaches, no matter the weather, as Mexicali, Tijuana and Tecate empty out for all the free camping in this part of Baja. Here the fee is $500 pesos, around $4 at the current exchange rate, per vehicle which accounts for this beach not being overcrowded.