January 1, 2014 (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/REGIONAL

• SDG&E, wind farm tangle in court (UT San Diego)
• Dry Year Takes Toll On San Diego River (KPBS)
• Scenic Baja California toll road that connects Tijuana, Ensenada collapses (KPBS)
• Mexican judge says Sempra LNG land belongs to rancher (SD Reader, Don Bauder)
• Lemon Grove council opts against pay raise (UT San Diego)
• Whale Traffic Jam Delights Visitors And Baffles Scientists (NPR)
• San Diego Lawmaker Wants State Community Colleges To Award 4-Year Degrees (KPBS)

STATE

• California has largest Native American population (Sacramento Bee)
• Federal Judge Says California Attorney General Kamala Harris Wrong on Gun Control Laws (SacBee)
• Could Big Batteries Be Big Business In California? (NPR)

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

January 2, 2013 (Santee) – Laurie Baker sent in this photo of a Red Tail Hawk eating an American Coot, also known as a mud hen. 

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Baker says of the raptor, photographed at Santee Lakes.

Decision puts families and eagles at risk, Protect Our Communities warns

Wind-turbine fire on Campo Reservation December 16, 2013 near site of wind farm lease approved by BIA in the same week that this blaze threatened nearby homes.

December 31, 2013  –On December 26, local residents learned that the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has signed a Record of Decision approving a lease for Phase II of Iberdrola’s controversial Tule Wind Project (also known as the Reduced Ridgeline Project) in San Diego County. The Record of Decision has not been published in the Federal Register so is not available for the public to review even though the BIA has already issued a press release.

“The BIA’s decision is reckless and shows outrageous disregard for the high fire risk we all face in San Diego County,” said Donna Tisdale, POC’s Secretary. “The fire district that Iberdrola contracted has no air tankers or helicopters of its own, but must hope and pray that mutual aid fire agencies can spare them. And Iberdrola’s Tule Wind Fire Protection Plan shows that it plans to use the people of San Diego County as guinea pigs by relying on an experimental fire suppression technology instead of something already proven to work.”

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

December 31, 2013 (San Diego) – New Years Eve is a special evening, however it’s no special pass to overdo it.  “These Safe and responsible tips should be practiced year round,” says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Miriam Raftery

December 30, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced its choice of six sites to test unmanned drone aircraft.  San Diego is not on the list, despite being home to drone manufacturers and having support from Supervisors and Congressional representatives.

Today’s news drew cheers from citizens’ groups opposed to drone testing in East County, but disappointment from military and economic development interests.

Could Obamacare provide impetus for a county hospital in East County?

By Miriam Raftery

December 29, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Consumers signing up for  new healthcare options or “Obamacare” through Healthcare.gov rose seven-fold in December, when over 975,000 people enrolled.  From October 1 through December 24, a total of 1.1 million people signed up for the new health insurance marketplaces nationwide.  Over a million more signed up through state websites, bringing the total to two-thirds of the 3 million goal set by the White House.

Marilyn Tavenner, administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called this a “welcome surge in enrollment as millions of Americans seek access to affordable heatlh care coverage,” adding hat the surge came in part because “we met our marks on improving HealthCare.gov.” She added that the site supported 83,000 concurrent users on December 23rd alone before the deadline to sign up for coverage starting January 1.

December 28, 2013 (San Diego) – Each holiday season, the County of San Diego and I Love a Clean San Diego work together to remind everyone that holiday recycling goes beyond just wrapping paper and gift boxes, your tree can be recycled too!

Christmas trees can be recycled into mulch and compost which are then used to improve soil health at residences, public parks, and local farms. 

Most trash companies offer curbside-pickup of Christmas trees. For instance, EDCO will pick up trees in front of single family homes from December 26 until January 10.  Trees taller than four feet should be cut in half, and be sure to remove all decorations, lights, tree stands and nails.  EDCO accepts flocked trees covered in artificial snow, but some trash companies do not, so be sure to check with yours.

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- Long-term unemployment benefits expired on Saturday , after Congress failed to authorize an extension. People who have been out of work for six months or longer will no longer be receiving unemployment checks.

About 1.3 million Americans will lose benefits immediately, including 222,000 Californians.  By the end of 2014, it’s estimated that nearly 5 million people will lose unemployment benefits. Those checks range from $40 to $450 a week, so this is a major blow for individuals who may have no other source of income.

The New York Times reports that removing this safety net for unemployed workers will push hundreds of thousands of households below the poverty line. With the cut off, only one out of every four unemployed Americans will receive jobless benefits –the lowest proportion in half a century.

Our November shows are now online—including special reports on East County issues, interviews with top newsmakers, local musicians, authors, colorful characters and people making a positive difference in our community. Click here for a list of our November shows and guests with links to listen online.

You can also hear our show live when it airs on KNSJ 89.1 FM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. and reruns Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m.  Or listen live online during those hours at www.KNSJ.org.

December 26, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) encourages football fans to take advantage of expanded Trolley service Thursday, Dec. 26, to avoid congested traffic when traveling to the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl game at Qualcomm Stadium.

MTS will operate Green Line Trolley service with 15-minute frequency or better before and after the game to accommodate increased ridership.  Fans are advised to travel early and board between 4 and 5 p.m. to ensure arrival at Qualcomm Stadium in time for pre-game festivities and kick-off at 6:30 p.m.

Fans originating travel on the Blue Line can transfer to the Green Line at the 12th & Imperial Transit Station, and those starting on the Orange Line can transfer at either the Grossmont Center, 12th & Imperial, or Santa Fe Depot stations. 

December 25, 2013 (Alpine) – A driver who died at the scene of an accident on Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego on December 22^nd has been identified as Michael Glantz, a 62-year-old Alpine resident.

December 25, 2013 (Spring Valley ) – In the early hours of Christmas morning at 12:32 a.m., Lemon Grove Sheriff Deputies responded to a radio call to help San Miguel Fire Department at a brush fire reported near homes on South Granada Avenue in Spring Valley.  Upon arrival, deputies and firefighters found a residence on fire at the rear of the house.

Fortunately, residents had safely evacuated.  Firefighters doused the blaze and asked Sheriff’’s Bomb-Arson unit to investigate. The fire’s cause was determined to be accidental.

By Miriam Raftery

December 24, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – A mountain lion has been sighted in Lemon Grove this Christmas eve morning. “Deputies met with the reporting party, who took a picture of what appeared to be a mountain lion,” said Sgt. Matt Cook with the Sheriff’s Lemon Grove substation.  The animal was apparently lying in the bushes of a vacant lot just west of the Food4Less at 7420 Broadway, the main street through the town of Lemon Grove.

The witness saw the mountain lion at 7:30 a.m. but didn’t report it until nearly 9 a.m.  Deputies searched for the big cat but did not find it.

December 24, 2013 (El Cajon) --The Halo Community Foundation has been established, just in time for a holiday gift to help people in need in our community, Visiting Angels has announced.   The mission of the Halo Community Foundation is to provide quality in-home care to low-income individuals suffering from illnesses, disabilities, and/or physical impairments.

The Visiting Angels’ East County Office can assist low income individuals receive critical in-home care for a better quality of life.  The foundation provides care to qualified individuals based upon needs and income level free of charge. 

December 23, 2013 (El Cajon) -- The Neighborhood Market Association has partnered up with Chaldean-Middle Eastern Social Services and the Chaldean American Association to help sponsor this year’s Chaldean Community Toy Giveaway, which provided over 7,000 toys to children in need this holiday season.

“Nothing brings a community together like being able to work towards bringing a smile to the face of a child, ” says NMA President and CEO Mark P. Arabo, “every disadvantaged kid deserves to feel special during this season.”