August 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.

Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.
• Obama to issue new proposals on job creation, debt reduction (Washington Post)
• Study: 1 in 5 U.S. children live in poverty (CBS)
• GOP debate: Hitting hard at Obama and each other (Sacramento Bee)
• Sharp jabs thrown in Minnesota debate—and not all at Obama (USA Today)
WORLD
• 7 pulled from Iraqi mosque, killed execution style (USA Today/AP)
• London riots: more than 1,000 people charged (BBC)
• Hamas bans Gaza students studying abroad (MSNBC News)
• France, Germany propose ‘true European economic summit’ (NPR)
• Gobachev criticizes Putin’s Russia as backsliding on democracy (CS Monitor)

August 18, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) will provide an update on what’s happening in Washington D.C. and take question from attendees at the Spring Valley Citizens Association Meeting tonight, August 18 from 7-7:30 p.m. The meeting will be at 2850 Via Orange Way in Spring Valley.

By Brian Lafferty

August 17, 2011 (San Diego) -- I’m sure many of you are wondering about the absence of columns. I feel it’s required of me to explain.

As I’ve mentioned previously, I lost my mother last November from aggressive and invasive breast cancer. It was so aggressive that doctors believed that by the time she discovered something was wrong it was already too late.

By Lauren Radice

August 18, 2011 (El Cajon) – “7 Galleries~1 Evening” will be held this Friday, August 19 from 5-8 p.m. “Come and join us for a fun, short 1/2 block walk, full of Art, champagne, wine, hors d'oeuvres and a "Downtown Gallery Walk" passport full of prizes,” says Lynn Endicott, owner of Silver Creek Fine Art Gallery.

August 16, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –A Sig Alert has been issued for northbound 125 at Spring Street, where a vehicle rolled over, blocking lanes and a dog has reportedly been injured.

There is also a hazardous fuels spill on Highway 94 at Dulzura Café reported at 1:19 p.m.

August 15, 2011 (Encanto) – A 71-year-old deaf woman awoke to find a man in her home at 200 Jenna Court on August 13th at 2:35 p.m. According to San Diego Police, the suspect was going through her purse and pointed a gun at her when she awoke, ordering her to give him the key to her truck.

By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH

August 15, 2011 (San Diego)--According to an article in Friday’s Union-Tribune (Aug 12), “State to reduce supply of free flu vaccines,” San Diego County will receive 30,000 “fewer free flu vaccines available for low-income adults than in previous years.”

By Brian Lafferty

August 15, 2011 (San Diego) – The subject of sex trafficking is a serious one. Here in San Diego, teenage girls are taken by gangs and forced to become sex slaves. This subject deserves a better exploration and treatment than that seen in The Whistleblower, a film that is nothing more than 35-millimeter TV.

August 14, 2011 (Blossom Valley) – Does your dog have what it takes to become a therapy dog, comforting patients in hospitals and other special settings?

“Any dog can become a therapy dog if the owner has time and commitment to do the work,” says Cate Sacks at Shelter Dogs to Dream Dogs in Blossmon Valley.

Westfield Parkway to make donation to local school; shoppers can join Westfield Parkway in giving back by donating clothes, school supplies, and funds to schools and Boys & Girls Clubs of East County

By Miriam Raftery

By Brian Lafferty

August 11, 2011 (San Diego) – It can get really eerie when a movie parallels your life. The Tree does so for me, striking a powerful emotional cord.