By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2018 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police officers responding to a call reporting a domestic dispute on Grape Street this morning had a dog charge at them and fired shots, but did not strike the animal.

La Mesa Patch.com reports that while one officer fired shots, the other officer was able to get the dog into the patrol car, according to Lieutenant Chad Bell.

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2018 (Rolando) -- A masked gunman opened fire in the Food 4 Less store in the 6500 block of University Avenue in the Rolando area shortly before midnight Sunday, after demanding money from employees and chasing the manager, who locked himself into a back room. The robber then fired at least two shots at the door, according to San Diego Police.

The gunman, who wore a hooded sweatshirt as well as a mask, fled the scene without getting any money, and he remains at large. 

By E.A. Barrera

March 5, 2018 (San Diego) -- My mother, Marion Kathryn Holmes Barrera, died on March 3, 2018. She died a little after four in the morning, 25 days to the minute from when my father died. My dad was San Diego State Professor Ernesto Martin Barrera. Together, my parents led a life that began on the campus of UCLA and took them to Cartagena, Los Angeles, San Diego - and a lifetime of romance, family and meaningful purpose. 

East County News Service

March 5, 2018 (San Diego) -- On March 24th, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program's 29th Women and Families Resource Fair will provide free legal, medical, and social services to women and families in need - on one day, under one roof.  The Fair is an annual one-day event which will be held at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, located at 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego, CA 92114, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Free refreshments will be provided.  The purpose of the Fair is to provide women and families with free access to a wide range of essential services.

By Miriam Raftery

March 4, 2018 (El Cajon) – The city of El Cajon has dropped charges against a dozen people who allegedly violated the city’s temporary ban on feeding homeless people in public places.

Activists, including a 14-year-old minor, defied the ban in January, sharing food with homeless people at Wells Park in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.. They were issued misdemeanor citations and ordered to appear in court.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Prayer vigil held in 2015 by Iraqi Christians outside the ICE prison in San Diego’s Otay Mesa, where their family members were detained for prolonged periods.

March 4, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that immigrants and asylum seekers may be detained indefinitely without periodic bond hearings.  The ruling applies even to people with permanent legal status.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 3, 2018 (San Diego) - For the last game of the regular season, San Diego State men’s basketball welcomed Nevada back to Viejas Arena on Senior Night.  The Wolf Pack sit atop the Mountain West, so the Aztecs had their work cut out for them.

By Miriam Raftery

March 3, 2018 (Santee) – The Sheriff’s office is seeking a man in a red van who reportedly approached two teen girls in a vehicle in the parking lot at the Santee Sports Plex and chased one of the young women.

The incident occurred March 1^st around 11 p.m. when the girls were attending a softball game. They had returned to their vehicle to warm up when an Hispanic man approached and looked through the window. One girl locked the door and the man then grabbed the handle and tried to get in, the girl’s father told 10 News.

San Diego concludes campaign with second-best record in the MASL at 19-3

Source:  San Diego Sockers

Photo courtesy sdsockers.com

March 3, 2018 (San Diego) - The Pacific Division Champion San Diego Sockers (19-3) concluded their 2017-18 MASL regular season with a 10-3 rout of the El Paso Coyotes before a season-high crowd of 5,218 at Valley View Casino Center on Saturday night. Anthony Medina, who announced his retirement after nine seasons, scored three goals in his final game.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 2, 2018 (San Diego) - Steele Canyon.  Eastlake.  Spring Valley.  Chula Vista.  Both making the trek to inner city San Diego to Mission Bay High School for the CIF Open Division Championship.  The Cougars finished the season 12-6-6 overall and 3-2-3 in the Grossmont League.  Compare that to the Titans’ 18-5-3 overall record and impressive undefeated 9-0 record in league, and this was sure to be a wild ride.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: Students testified to GUHSD board on behalf of an Alpine High School, before board reversed its decision to build the school.

March 2, 2018 (Alpine) – In a joint press release, the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD), Alpine Union High School District (AUSD) and Alpine Taxpayers for Bound Accountability (ATBA) announced a resolution to end the prolonged legal battle over the never-built Alpine High School.

The AUSD and ATBA have agreed not to appeal to the state Supreme Court, after an appeals court ruled on behalf of Grossmont that an enrollment requirement to build the school had not been met and that therefore, Grossmont is not obligated to build the school.  In exchange, the GUHSD has agreed not to seek recovery of its court costs from the Alpine district or the Alpine taxpayers group.

“Your guide to financial planning & socially responsible investing”

By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®, President, Blue Summit Wealth Management

March 2, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The Socially Responsible Investing tenet of "knowing-what-you-own" is adding another layer of reflection to those affected by the recent gun violence in Parkland, Florida.  Educators in Florida may be surprised to learn they’ve been helping fund the firearms industry—including the company that made the gun used during the February 14th shooting.

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2018 (El Cajon) – A search warrant was served this morning at Cloud 9 Wellness, an illegal marijuana dispensary in the 500 block of West Douglas in El Cajon. 

“A large amount of cash and marijuana was seized as evidence,” Lieutenant Walt Miller with the El Cajon Police Department states in a press release. Six employees and three armed security guards working at the business were briefly detained but not arrested. However, Lt. Miller notes, “Although the employees were not arrested today, they and the owner of the business may face charges of allowing the Commercial Sale of Marijuana within the City.”

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit:  PhotoSpin

March 1, 2018 (San Diego) - In response to increasing elder abuse crimes in the region and an impending explosion of the elderly population, County prosecutors, health and aging officials and local law enforcement are committing to a new “blueprint” of goals and coordinated community response to abuse of these vulnerable residents.

By Liz Alper

Photo via Vimeo

March 2, 2018 (San Diego) - I’ve never paid attention to Bruce Willis.  Not since it became a meme to list Die Hard as a Christmas movie (over The Thin Man?  Really?  Die Hard has Christmas in one scene, whereas The Thin Man has Christmas throughout the movie.  Besides, who doesn’t love William Powell’s effortless trolling and drinking?), I’ve semi-boycotted Bruce Willis.  It’s been a while since I willingly watched one of his films. Heck, it’s been a while since I willingly cared about him.  And so it was with slight unease that I walked into the theater for his latest film, Death Wish.  Boy, was I wrong to be nervous.