East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (La Mesa) - You’re invited to the 16^th annual Spring Harp Fest, a musical celebration on March 26^th  from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa.  The festival features top harmonica performers playing blues music and more, as well as an unknown artists’ jam session.  The mission is to inspire appreciation for the harmonica in the next generation. 

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (El Cajon) - Country music greats Larry Gatlin and Gatlin Brothers will be  performing  in concert at Sycuan’s  Live and Up Close Theater on Saturday, March 12 at 8 p.m.  Grammy award-winning Larry Gatlin has written hit songs for many famous musical stars including Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash.

By Miriam Raftery

March 3, 2016 (Washington D.C.)—Following her strong showing in the Super Tuesday primaries, Hillary Clinton is the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential primary.  But several revelations this week raise troubling questions for Clinton supporters regarding the integrity of Clinton and her campaign:

• The U.S. Justice Department has granted immunity to Brian Pagliano, the staffer who set up a private e-mail server in Clinton’s home, as the investigation into allegations over classified emails continues, the Washington Post reports.  What does the staffer know and could Clinton face indictment?

• The Clinton campaign and Super PACs supporting Clinton have paid pundits who have appeared on major  TV news shows. They were presented as neutral analysts , all touting Clinton’s candidacy and downplaying the electability of her opponent, Bernie Sanders.  TV networks failed to disclose financial ties, a clear violation of journalistic ethics, the Intercept  reveals in an investigative report.

• Former President Bill Clinton has drawn criticism for holding a rally for his wife outside a Massachusetts polling place, using a megaphone for amplification and even entering two other polling places on election day. Massachusetts law prohibits electioneering within 150 feet of polling places, the Boston Globe reports. No charges were filed despite videos of the activities, though the Secretary of State did sent the Clinton campaign a reminder of the state’s rules.
  

There has never been a female Secretary-General in the more than 70-year history of the UN

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today sent a letter to President Obama in advance of the United Nation's upcoming election for Secretary-General, urging the United States to "reaffirm the UN's founding principle of equality by encouraging the strong consideration of candidates for the first female Secretary-General."

March 4,  2016 (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

• 22 People Charged Under Provisions Of Chelsea's Law In San Diego County
• State laws prompt local marijuana backlash (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• MTS Admits Credit Card Security Gaps (KPBS)
• San Diego-Based Navy SEAL To Receive Medal Of Honor (City News Service)
• Navy’s new mission: alternative medicine(San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Yosemite name changes: Park Service not giving up yet (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Why won't California track where $13 billion went? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Judge’s PUC action, friendship with Brown questioned (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Despite Porter Ranch disaster, Sempra reports strong earnings (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Surge pricing at Disneyland could boost pricing by 20% (Bloomberg)

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

By Miriam Raftery

March 2, 2016 (Rancho San Diego)—Construction on a sewer replacement project along Campo Road through Rancho San Diego is slated to begin this summer and continue until spring 2018.  The project extends from Avocado to the Rancho San Diego Town Center near Cuyamaca College along the State Route 94 right-of-way.

Most work on the two-year project will be done at night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to lessen impacts on traffic, staff from Otay Water District have indicated.  Construction will also be restricted from March through August to protect birds from disruption during nesting season.

By Leon Thompson

March 23, 2016 (Alpine) -- Charlotte Figi developed severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy as a baby.  She was severely disabled and at 5 years old was having 300 grand mal seizures a week--each one potentially deadly.  She was given a liquid concentrate of Cannabidiol or CBD oil extracted from industrial hemp. Her parents and physicians said that she improved immediately and significantly. 

By Liz Alper

March 2, 2016 (El Cajon) - One person has been found dead after a blaze at an El Cajon motel.

Sanders, Rubio and Cruz also score wins as a dozen states hold primaries or caucuses

By Miriam Raftery

March 2, 2016 (San Diego) –Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and businessman Donald Trump strengthened their positions as frontrunners in the Democratic and Republican presidential race, each scoring wins in seven out of twelve states that held primaries or caucuses yesterday.

 Vermont Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders also picked up four key wins (Colorado, Minnesota, his home state of Vermont and Oklahoma, a conservative state) , leaving the door open for an upset on the Democratic side-- but only if he can produce landslides across the west and  populous states that have not yet cast ballots.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz picked up three wins to continue his challenge to Trump, while Florida Senator Marco Rubio, also a Republican, won his first primary victory to keep his candidacy tenuously alive.

By Liz Alper

Photo: Youtube screenshot

March 1, 2016 (Radford, Va.) - A Time Magazine photographer was physically attacked by Secret Service agents at a Donald Trump rally on Monday. The assault comes just two days after Trump issued a threat against media.

East County News Service

March 1, 2016 (El Cajon) – A new fire station on Pepper Drive in El Cajon will cost up to $1.8 million to build, including the land acquisition cost. The San Miguel Fire District approved the expenditure last week of $1.4 million for construction costs – more than double the original cost projection.

East County News Service

March 1, 2016 (San Diego) – Here’s some memorable news: researchers in Australia have been able to fully restore memory loss in 75% of mice with Alzheimer’s, using a pioneering new treatment.

New Program to Reduce Blighted Properties and Encourage Community Gardens in Neighborhoods

East County News Service

March 1, 2016 (San Diego) — The San Diego City Council unanimously approved an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone, a program that will help expand community access to fresh produce through a property tax incentive for urban agriculture on vacant, blighted land.

Viejas announces funding for EMF measurements at school

By Miriam Raftery

February 29, 2016 (Alpine) -- The San Diego County Office of Education on Friday released a draft Survey and Exposure Assessment  or electrmagnetic fields (EMF) for Alpine Elementary School.  The study concludes that  the Sunrise Powerlink transmisison line buried on Alpine Blvd.does not pose a significant safety or health risk to the school site." The study further finds that readings in and around buildings at Alpine Elementary "while not representative of a pristine EMF environment, were within a normal range of exposures one could expect in a society with electric power."

The County study examines 94 measurements taken inside and outside the school and  cites several reasons for concluding the site is safe.

By Leon Thompson

February 29. 2016 (La Mesa) – Aaron Dean, owner of the Depot Springs Beer Company, in an exclusive interview with East County Magazine, spoke exuberantly about the brewery/restaurant/music/event venue now under construction in a neighborhood shopping center on Fletcher Parkway at Dallas Street—and his vision for the facility’s contribution to revitalizing the community.