February 20, 2011 (Valley Center) Last night at 6:10 p.m., three armed men entered an open door at 27446 S. Canal Road on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation in Valley Center. A woman was waiting at the open door for friends to arrive when the men burst into the home, according to Sergeant Bob Bishop with the Sheriff’s department.

February 19, 2011 (La Mesa)--San Diego FBI Special Agent eith Slotter, announces the arrest of Cesar Daniel Flores, age 20, of Imperial Beach. He is charged with robbing Bank of the West in La Mesa on February 4th.

February 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy snowfall is making travel hazardous on East County roadways in mountain areas, resulting in numerous accidents and traffic delays tonight.

“The Cuyamaca area has received between 6 to 8 inches of snow and Mt. Laguna more than that,” Cal Fire’s Mike Mohler informed ECM in an e-mail. He advised people to avoid visiting these areas unless prepared.

February 19, 2011 (Spring Valley) –Lemon Grove Detectives and U.S. Marine Corps Criminal Investigators searched a home at 2851 Highlands Blvd. in Spring Valley Thursday morning that is also used as a licensed child day care center. Authorities had previously arrested Michael Manglicmot, 23, for desertion  from the Marine Corps.

Sheriff’s detective Joel Stranger, working with USMC-CID investigators, learned that Manglicmot was the primary suspect in several recent burglaries at Camp Pendleton and Spring Valley. During the search, stolen property items including USMC body armor and night vision equipment were found. Detectives arrested Manglicmot’s brother, Mario Solis, 27, on charges of drug possession and sale, as well as possessing a loaded firearm.

Bipartisan legislation would create flexible spending accounts to help families save on health care and child care expenses

February 19, 2011 (Washington, D.C). – At a press conference February 17, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) announced their new legislation that would provide flexible spending accounts for service members. Flexible spending accounts would result in savings for military families by allowing service members to set aside part of their income before taxes to cover out-of-pocket child care and health care expenses such as co-pays, dental care and eye glasses.

This benefit is currently available to civilian employees at the Department of Defense, but not to uniformed service members.

Update 10:25 p.m.: CHP reports only minor injury in this accident, which is now cleared.
February 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A Ford vehicle has plunged 200 feet over the side and rolled down into a canyon after losing control on rain-slicked I-8 just east of Highway 79. According to California Highway Patrol’s website, at least one person is trapped inside.

A rescue effort is in progress, involving 200 feet of cable down the steep side of the canyon.

February 18, 2011 (Imperial County) – Five Cal-Fire engines from San Diego County have been dispatched to Imperial County to help fight 15 tons of hay set ablaze by arsonists.

Three people are in custody in connection to a pair of haystack fires in the Imperial Valley. The Imperial County Sheriff's Office said 29-year-old Darryl Elmore Junior, 28-year-old Martin Arthur Archuleta, and 25-year-old Luis Alberto Vasquez face arson fire charges.

Nothing but the Truth!

February 12, 2011 (San Diego) --For years the Fed has been keeping interest rates near zero, trying to prop up spending and keep the economy from failing completely. It really has not worked. Jobs are disappearing, the gap between rich and poor is growing, and inflation show signs of growing rapidly.

By Brian Lafferty

February 18. 2011 (San Diego) – Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense, once said, “To make a great film you need three things – the script, the script and the script.” Too bad Korean director Sang-soo Im didn’t heed this advice when he wrote The Housemaid.

February 18, 2011 (La Mesa) –Two La Mesans announced this week that they are forming a watchdog group to monitor spending by public agencies in East County. David Smyle, president of Benchmark Commercial Mortgage Bankers, and retired teacher Russell Buckley cite scandal at the City of Bell as an example of why city, county, water and other agencies need scrutiny of how tax dollars are used.

By Miriam Raftery

“We want you to have a good start in America, and for the rest of your lives.” – Dory Beatrice, president of La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club, speaking to Somali women at Project Refuge
 

February 17, 2011 (San Diego) – Dory Beatrice felt shocked to learn that people who fled persecution and have been granted asylum in America are being released on the streets of San Diego with no funds, no information on resources, and no place to go.

So she worked with local Rotary chapters to raise funds and open Project Refuge, a transitional housing program in partnership with Somali Family Services that now assists asylees who have no family or friends here to help them.

February 17, 2011 (El Cajon) – Closing a chapter for local book lovers, the Borders Group has announced plans to close 200 Borders bookstores nationwide, including stores at Parkway Plaza in El Cajon and in the Gaslamp district downtown.

The company filed for bankruptcy reorganization after running up over a billion dollars in debt. Three San Diego County stores will remain at Mission Valley, Carmel Mountain Ranch and National City.

February 16, 2011 (San Diego) – A Hispanic man in his 50s, driving a white four-door car attempted to abduct a 10-year-old girl walking to Euclid Elementary School at 8 a.m., San Diego Police report. 

According to Sgt. Ray Battrick, the girl was walking northbound in the west alley of 4000 46th Street approaching Polk Avenue when the man asked if she wanted a ride. She refused and kept walking. The man got out, grabbed her from behind, and pulled her by the arm towards his car.

February 16, 2011 (San Diego) -- Is San Diego a land of opportunity for black women, or are opportunities for black female leadership dwindling?  Find out at a panel discussion sponsored by San Diego Democratic Women’s Club on Saturday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Weingart City Heights Library community room, 3795 Fairmount Avenue in San Diego.

The event is free and open to the public.