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Read the President's full address here.

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2014 (Washington D.C.)-- President Obama tonight spoke to the nation , laying out a comprehensive strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIL (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) terrorist group that has declared an Islamic state across Iraq and Syria, massacring thousands of Iraqis and beheading two captured American journalists.

“Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we’re hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense.  Moreover, I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are,” the President said. “That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq.  This is a core principle of my presidency:  If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”

The President made clear that the U.S. will lead an international effort to eradicate ISIL. He assured that unlike the past decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, this conflict will not include U.S. combat troops on the ground.  Instead, he laid out a four-part strategy. First, air strikes will target ISIL in Iraq, Syria and wherever else ISIL poses a threat.

Click here to hear a podcast of our interview with opponents of La Mesa’s term limits campaign

September 11, 2014 (La Mesa)--East County Magazine recently sat down to interview Kristin Kjaero and Dexter Levy, organizers of The No Term Limits for La Mesa Campaign. Levy chairs the City’s Planning Commission and Kjaero serves on La Mesa’s Sustainability Commission.   In our interview, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio, the two long-time La Mesa residents share their concerns about the proposed term limits initiative on the November ballot—including why they believe the measure reduces choices for La Mesa voters and could open the door for special interests to buy influence in La Mesa, a century-old city often likened to Mayberry for its sense of community.

September 9, 2014 (Alpine)--This isn’t the kind of “rock art” that hikers in the backcountry want to see.

Vandals have defaced numerous large boulders at Wright’s Field preserve in Alpine with graffiti tags, including pornographic images and swastikas, the Back Country Land Trust reports.

September 9, 2014 (Ramona) – Kristin Kjaero shot these photos of fun-loving folks jumping in feet first to enjoy harvest season at Hacienda de las Rosas Winery in East County.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2014 (Sacramento)--The state of California is cracking down on slick thieves who have been snatching used cooking oil from restaurants to sell on the black market for use as biofuels.  It’s selling for over a dollar and a half a gallon though it may smell like French fries or fried chicken.

September 9, 2014 (Julian)--Quilt trails highlight the unique culture of communities, display historical art forms and encourage tourism. Over 130 quilt trails exist across the U.S.—and soon,  the Julian Backcountry Quilt Trail will become the first in Southern California.

Source: County News Service

September 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Suicides are up 20% in San Diego County.  That’s one of the startling findings in the San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council’s Report to the Community.  The suicide rate steadily increased from 2008 to 2013. Last year, 14 suicides occurred for every 100,000 residents in San Diego County. That rate is also  20 percent higher than the average for the entire state of California.

September 10, 2014 (Washington D.C.)--President Barack Obama will address the nation tonight to lay out his plan for action against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, also known as ISIL.

Update: Torillo was captured Tuesday night at an El Cajon motel.  He will face charges of escaping custody in addition to drug-related charges.

September 9, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The Sheriff has issued a warning to residents to be on the lookout for Don Andrea Torrillo, a prisoner who escaped custody from Central Jail just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday. He was last seen wearing a dark sleeveless shirt with a star in the middle, khaki shorts and slippers. He has a tattoo on his left bicep shoulder area. He has short brown hair and eyes.

By Miriam Raftery

September 8, 2014 (La Mesa)--Executives of a company that hired a man with no tree trimming experience to trim a towering eucalyptus tree may soon stand trial for the man’s death.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - Many years ago, Councilwoman Marti Emerald and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith both worked as cab drivers. Now they are leading efforts to reform the City of San Diego’s taxicab policies and help hard-working cabbies.

September 8, 2014 (Rancho San Diego)--The power of music. People of different generations working together. Disabilities that go unrecognized. Talking to your kids about diversity. These topics and more will be covered over the fall semester in six workshops at Cuyamaca College’s Diversity Dialogues, a series now in its third year that focuses on a variety of diversity awareness and social justice issues.

By Tommy Hough, California News Service

September 9, 2014 (Oakland)-- According to a new report from the Center for Public Integrity, political networks funded by the Koch Brothers have already paid for nearly 44,000 television ads for political causes this year.

September 9, 2014 (La Mesa)--The date has been announced for the 2014 Kids Care Fest, a free, family-oriented event open to the public featuring free health care screenings. This year’s Kids Care Fest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Now in its 13th year, Kids Care Fest is presented by the Grossmont Healthcare District, La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation and the City of La Mesa.

Organizers expect more than 1,000 children will receive free, potentially life-saving, health care screenings, including hearing, vision and dental screenings, from healthcare professionals.

Measure faces tough hurdle in GOP-controlled House

By Miriam Raftery

September 8, 2014 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case threw out campaign finance restrictions and ruled that corporations, unions and other special interests can make virtually unlimited contributions to political campaigns.  Critics have argued that this is bad for democracy, giving powerful special interests too much influence on elections.