By Miriam Raftery

Sierra Robinson also contributed to this report

June 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – it sounds like a vision out of Utopia. Imagine driving on highways and streets made of glass—12-x12 foot solar panels that produce electricity and ultimately, recharge your solar-powered car as you drive. 

No need for power lines or power plants anymore, since roads and driveways will actually deliver electricity straight to your doorstep.

Sound impossible? Think again.  The Federal Highway Administration issued a contract to Solar Roadways, brainchild of Idaho electrical engineer Scott Brusaw, to build the first ever solar Road Panel prototype in 2009. In 2011, a contract to build a solar parking lot was issued--with completion due this September

But a solar roadway can do much more than produce power--and the potential is enlightening.

117-mile, 500,000-volt transmission line improves electricity reliability, but increases concerns over fire safety for region

 June 21, 2012 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)  announced June 18 that it had completed and put into service Sunrise Powerlink, a 500,000-volt transmission line linking San Diego to Imperial Valley.  

“Putting the Sunrise Powerlink into service is the final milestone in a complex and challenging energy project that ranks among the largest and most significant in the history of San Diego Gas & Electric,” said Jessie J. Knight, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of SDG&E.

June 21, 2012 (La Mesa) – Biz Center Art, the gallery in residence at the La Mesa Biz Center, 7317 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa, is holding an opening reception for Nowhere on June 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The reception will feature the artists and their art.  “Nowhere” is a small image show featuring works of art no larger than 12” x 14” and costing no more than $100.

• White House threatens veto on GOP energy bill (The Hill)
• U.S. trafficking report reports ‘modern slavery’ toll (BBC)
• Biotech leader covered up animal deaths from GM corn (RSN)
• Could the Supreme Court’s healthcare ruling kill patient safety reforms? (Pro Publica)
• Trans-Pacific Partnership:  leaked  trade document reveals corporate interests favored over public interest (OB Rag) 

• Ousted Egyptian leader Mubarak close to death (BBC)
• Japanese authorities sat on data showing radiation spread (Reuters)

Bill also jeopardizes national parks along U.S.-Mexico and Canadian borders;

2 local Congressmen vote to kill environmental protections for all federal lands within 100 miles of borders--encompassing vast swaths in San Diego

June 21, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- While attempting to send out an alert about a missing person today, we discovered that Twitter is offline. News and blog sites worldwide are now reporting this as a global outage.  Twitter has thus far offered no explanation for the outage.

June 21, 2012 (La Mesa)—Police seek public help to locate two men who robbed the Sam’s Market at 9:40 p.m. last night. 

The suspects entered the store at 7587 University Avenue in La Mesa and one suspect displayed a brown handgun, demanding cash from the clerk. After the clerk complied, the suspects left the store on foot.  They were last seen running westbound on Sturgess Avenue from Parks Avenue.

Story and photos by Nadin Abbott

June 20, 2012 (Jamul)-- The fire that started this afternoon around the Thousand Trails Campground damaged no structures, and burned about 30 acres. According to Mike Mohler, Public Information Officer for Cal Fire, it was "wind driven, with light fuel."

Early reports mistakenly informed media that the fire started in a structure, based on a caller who reported the fire and believed it to be in a structure.

By Miriam Raftery

June 17, 2012 (Lemon Grove)—It was a sweet victory for Lemon Grove Firefighters Saturday night, when driver Joe Lavigne climbed out of his smashed-up vehicle to claim his department’s trophy.  Lemon Grove entered two cars in the Firefighters’ Demolition Derby at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar—and both made it into the final round.

 View our video of the final round by clicking above. 

 Update 4:05 p.m. - Forward spread of the fire has been halted, says Roxanne Provaznik at Cal Fire.

 Update 3:40 p.m. -- Firefighters are making good progress toward containment, Cal Fire reports.  Two air tankers have been dismissed.  

June 15, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Olaf Wieghorst Museum & Western Heritage Center, 131 Rea Ave, El Cajon will host an exhibition of nationally known local artists Grace Schlesier, Jack Jordan and Mark Martensen June 29 through August 29.  The opening night Meet the Artists Reception will be held on June 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Wine and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.