By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

April 25, 2018 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council on Tuesday night gave a unanimous thumbs down, turning its back on an earlier La Mesa Planning Commission conditional use permit approval of a marijuana dispensary in the La Mesa Medical Plaza near 70th and El Cajon.

April 25, 2018 (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

• Gillespie Field advisory board chairman has airport-related financial interests (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Art in the alley: murals liven up Lemon Grove businesses (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Local program gives much needed help to homeless (CBS 8)
• Daughter of former Lemon Grove mayor gets 4 years in prison for role in fentanyl ring (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego County’s campaign finance data is hard to search. We’re here to help. (inewssource)
• County sues pension board for refusing to implement reduced benefits for new employees (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• SDPD May Not Be Following State Law on License Plate Readers (Voice of San Diego)
• Democrat [Butner] Claimed Independent Status in Election Filings, but Records Show He Was a Republican (Intercept)
• Alpine names honorary mayor: Alpine Sun publisher Tschida (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Jimmie Johnson has long career ahead to sell to sponsors (KNSD)

STATE

• Where candidates for California governor stand on universal healthcare (Sacramento Bee)
• Bid to repeal rent control limits in California could be headed to ballot (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Groups claim thousands improperly removed from CA voting rolls (Public News Service)
• As lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom has had few duties — and he skipped many of them (Los Angeles Times)

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

April 25, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• FDA 'blitz' aimed at reducing youths' use of Juul, other e-cigarettes (CNN)
• Marijuana-derived drug for epilepsy gets FDA committee recommendation (CNN)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Electrical defects cause Priuses to stall: Toyota may be bracing for a legal fight as safety worries grow (Los Angeles Times)
• Why are tens of thousands of Americans still driving around with explosive devices in their cars? (Washington Post)
• This Start-Up Says It Wants to Fight Poverty. A Food Stamp Giant Is Blocking It. (NY Times)
• AT&T and Verizon are under federal investigation for potential collusion (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 25, 2018 (San Diego) - Two studies released today show an increasing economic and physical toll of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia on San Diego County families and the region’s health care economy.

The pair of studies, produced by the County’s Health and Human Services Agency, say the San Diego County region can expect the cost to provide care for those suffering and the number of caregivers needed will both balloon by 2030.

Update April 25, 2018:  A  sketch of the suspect has been release by the Sheriff's department.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (Jamul) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of an attempted child abduction today at 3:49 p.m. near Jamul Primary School (15567 Lyons Valley Road.  According to Sgt. K. Menzies, “An 11-year-old girl was apparently approached and forcibly grabbed by an unknown male.”

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (La Mesa) — Looking for trees, shrubs, bedding plants, veggies, herbs, cacti or succulents? How about tools, accessories, pots and garden books?

 La Mesa Beautiful will host its 38^th annual plant sale on Saturday, May 5^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 6^th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 4816 Glen Street in La Mesa.

East County News Service

April 24, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is proud to announce the honorees for its 2018 Healthcare Heroes awards. GHD officials said the recipients are volunteers of all ages and walks of life who serve in health care in San Diego’s East Region community.

This year’s honorees include a family practice physician who helps those not able to afford health insurance, two volunteers who provide one-on-one comfort following crisis events, a 23-year-old who spends part of her weekends in a hospital emergency room, a couple who drives people to their cancer treatments and a non-profit board member who has volunteered for the past 20 years.

“The purpose of the Healthcare Heroes Awards is to recognize volunteers whose unsung work in healthcare might not otherwise be celebrated,” said Michael Emerson, GHD board president. “We are proud to recognize the 2018 winners and their inspiring commitment to caring for others.”

Here are the heartwarming stories of this year’s winners:

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo:  Helix sophomore Thomas Caneday posted nine complete innings while giving up just four hits and no runs in the shutout win for the Highlanders.

April 24, 2018 (Lakeside) - El Capitan and Helix baseball have produced some outstanding college and MLB recruits and today, we got to see both programs in action at Hostetler Field on the campus of El Capitan High.  The Vaqueros, however, have had a rocky season, going 6-11, but the positive takeaway is that they are .500 (2-2) in the Grossmont League coming into today’s game.  The Highlanders have a decent overall record (12-7), but are strangely winless in league play, going 0-2.  Sophomore Thomas Caneday got the start today for Helix against senior Blake Peyton for El Cap.

Listen now! Click the audio link .

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Teresa Burrell, local author of the award-winning Advocate Series, The Tuper Mystery Series, as well as three children’s books, sat down for an interview this week on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ.  Click the audio link above to listen now. 

Our Bookshelf host, Reina Menasche, spoke with Burrell about her passion for protecting children as well as her love of literary endeavors.  A teacher-turned-attorney, she has dedicated her life to helping children in the classroom and the courtroom. 

Many of her novels are inspired by actual legal cases. She is the author of The Advocate Series of legal thrillers which now contains nine novels. The Advocate’s Felony received the San Diego Best Mystery Award, and six of the books have received the International Readers’ Favorite Award.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

April 23, 2018 (El Cajon) - Grossmont boys lacrosse, like most other Grossmont sports, is undefeated in league, sporting a perfect 9-0 while remaining almost flawless overall, going 11-2.  Tonight, they faced a school that ECM Sports doesn’t get to cover as much when league play comes around due to league differences, the Patriots of Patrick Henry, who are just as good, sitting at 3-1 in the Eastern League and 9-6 overall.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (El Cajon) – A motorcyclist who rear-ended a Toyota Tacoma last night on I-8 east, just west of El Cajon Boulevard, succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.

The victim, 55, from Oceanside was riding a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle at a reportedly high rate of speed, along with a passenger, when he struck the rear of a Toyota Tacoma around 6:06 p.m. Both the motorcyclist and his passenger, a 30-year-old woman from South Carolina, were ejected onto the freeway lanes with major injuries.

April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 23, 2018 (San Diego) --The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that road rage “involves a criminal act of violence, whereas aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights.”

By Kathy Carpenter

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2018 (San Diego) - The Centers for Disease Control has broadened its health warning regarding e-coli cases linked to romaine lettuce.  

The federal health agency is now advising consumers to avoid all forms of romaine lettuce, including lettuce heads, chopped romaine and salad mixes that may contain romaine, unless you are certain that the lettuce was not grown in Yuma, Arizona. 

Aztecs lose series with the Bulldogs

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  West Hills alum Katie Byrd had two hits in SDSU's 4-2 loss at Fresno State.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

April 22, 2018 (Fresno) - The San Diego State softball team dropped the series finale at Fresno State by a 4-2 score Sunday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond in Fresno, Calif. The Aztecs are now 14-28 on the season (5-10 in Mountain West play), while the Bulldogs are 29-16 overall and remain in first play in the league standings at 12-3.