By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2023 (El Cajon) – The iconic rock and roll band Three Dog Night will perform March 19 at 8 p.m. at The Magnolia performing arts center in El Cajon, Live Nation announced today. Founded in 1969, the group scored 11 Top Ten hit songs and a dozen consecutive gold albums in its heyday from 1969 to 1975. Today, Three Dog Night still features founding member/vocalist Danny Hutton and other stellar musicians.

The band’s well-known hits include One, Mama Told Me (Not to Come), Joy to the World, Shambala, Black and White, and many more. 

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

January 10,  2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Since the passage of Proposition 64 legalizing cannabis for recreational use, cities and counties across California have been attempting to meet the desires of the electorate while also balancing public health and safety. Local Control, the ability for cities and counties to regulate whether or how cannabis operations exist in their jurisdictions, was included in the original proposition. It often brings the fight for or against cannabis to city hall steps.

East County News Service

January 9, 2023 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s Mayor Bill Wells has previously headlined concerts to help the homeless.

East County News Service

Photo via Supervisor Nathan Fletcher: Supervisor Fletcher speaks with a homeless person during 2022 Point-in-Time count

January 9, 2023 (San Diego) – The San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness needs more volunteers to participate in its 2023 Point in Time Count on January 26.  Mandated by the federal government, the count provides data that is critical for securing funding to help reduce homelessness, as well as obtaining information on homeless people’s needs.

Chrysler and Dodge vehicles are latest on recall list

Suzanne Potter, California News Service

January 8, 2023 (San Diego) -- It's a brand-new year, and consumer auto safety groups are hoping to avoid further deaths from faulty Takata air bags by raising awareness about the ongoing recall.

East County News Service

January 7, 2023 (Santee) – Scott Lagace started the New Year off right with a stroll around Santee Lakes on January 1, where he captured a Great Blue Heron in flight, shown in these beautiful images.

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Becca Taylor oversaw downtown party celebration of Democrats’ November victories. Photo by Chris Stone

January 5, 2023 (San Diego) - Rebecca “Becca” Taylor was an aviation electrician in the Navy. Now she has the San Diego County Democratic Party wired to become its elected leader.

Source: Caltrans

January 4, 2023 (Sacramento) -- In response to the oncoming powerful storm, this morning Caltrans activated approximately 1,200 electronic highway signs statewide to display urgent safety messaging. 

UCAN denounces rate hikes as unaffordable for consumers; SDG&E has assistance programs, energy saving tips

East County News Service

January 4, 2023 (San Diego) – Effective January 1, San Diego Gas & Electric is more than doubling natural gas rates. SDG&E is also raising electricity rates, since natural gas generates 40% of electricity in the U.S. The utility cites the rising cost of natural gas nationwide as the main reason for raising rates. The national spike is due in part to record cold across much of the nation that has depleted supplies, as well as the U.S. exporting some natural gas to aid European allies cut off by Russia due to the Ukraine War.

East County News Service 

January 4, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – A Lemon Grove man suspected of attempting to steal a vehicle fled from California Highway Patrol officers. He ran into traffic on State Route 94 last night, where he was struck and injured by a vehicle drive by a La Mesa woman, says Officer Jared Grieshaber.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC via Bing

January 3, 2023 (Lakeside) – The San Diego Sheriff’s department has released the identifies of two women shot and killed on December 30 in Lakeside by a man who then fatally shot himself.  Two juveniles were also in the home in the 13500 block of Interstate 8 Business when the killings occurred.

East County News Service 

January 3, 2023 (Escondido)  – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance won the coveted Animation Award in yesterday’s 134th Rose Parade presented by Honda, with a float celebrating the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s 50th anniversary. The float’s theme, “Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation,” depicted rhinos, giraffes and the Safari Park’s iconic Wildlife Safari experience, bringing to life the Safari Park’s ability to connect guests with wildlife and provide life-changing moments.

The award recognizes the most outstanding use of animation. Giraffes and rhinos on the float were animated, with the rhinos seemingly coming to life as they turned their heads and the giraffes moving their long necks and bending down for a cool drink of water from a flowing waterfall.

 “We are humbled and honored to receive the Animation Award, but more importantly, we are grateful the Rose Parade gave San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and our Safari Park an opportunity to bring our conservation message to a global audience,” said Paul A. Baribault, president and chief executive officer, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Conservation starts with people—and at the Safari Park, we are able to make a connection between our guests and wildlife every day. Our hope is that connecting people to wildlife will inspire them to help support our mission and our global conservation programs to protect endangered wildlife.”

January 2, 2023  (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Fierce winter storm still taking a toll: 28 dead; thousands without power; flight cancellations mount. (USA Today)
• Zelenskyy's address to Congress puts him in a category with Churchill, Netanyahu and Mandela (Politico)
• Migrants dropped near Vice President’s house on frigid New Year’s Eve (CBS)
• Three Washington state electric substations vandalized (AP)
• Former Trump White House aide told Jan. 6 panel Mark Meadows burned documents a dozen times during the transition period (CNN)
• The full January 6 report is out. Here are the key details and recommendations  (NPR)
• Fox News' Sean Hannity admits he knew Trump lost 2020 election  (NPR)
• IRS mandatory presidential audit policy goes under spotlight (AP)

WORLD

• Missiles rain down on Ukraine as Putin gives combative New Year speech (Washington Post)
• Turkey, Saudi Arabia decry Taliban university ban for women  (A)
• Taliban orders NGOs to ban female employees from coming to work (Reuters)
• Ukrainian drone hits bomber base inside Russia (Reuters)
• German double agent passed Ukraine intelligence to Russia, had access to NSA info (Washington Examiner)
• As Russia bombs Ukraine’s infrastructure, its own services crumble (Washington Post)
•  Bloody property disputes a dark side of Mexico real estate (AP)
• North Korea has hacked $1.2 billion in crypto and other assets  (NPR)
• S. Korea launches jets, fires shots after North flies drones (AP)
• China sends 71 warplanes, 7 ships toward Taiwan in 24 hours (AP))
• Sudden Russian death syndrome (The Atlantic)

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

Supervisor Anderson to introduce measure to help those stranded, seek funds from FEMA – and asks public to sign petition in support

By Miriam Raftery

View video of interview with Sup. Joel Anderson

Hear audio of our interview aired on KNSJ Radio

December 31, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – With extreme cold gripping much of the nation and shelters for asylum-seekers full, the federal government sent hundreds to San Diego County. Border Patrol agents dumped at least 880 asylum seekers off at transit stations, including 140 abandoned at the El Cajon Transit Center last weekend starting on Christmas Eve.

January 2, 2023  (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Looking ahead, these are the top local stories to watch in 2023 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Minimum wage in city of San Diego increases to $16.30 an hour Sunday (10 News)
• County freezes Harmony Grove housing project after Sierra Club legal victory (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Can caring group save clinic? (Borrego Sun)
• The next Republican card falls in SANDAG make up: McCann won’t represent Chula Vista (SD Rostra)

STATE

• Absent for More Than a Century, California Condors Soar Above the Redwoods Again (Audobon)
• What to know about California’s Pay Transparency law that takes effect Jan. 1 (NBC San Diego)
• Buried treasure: California politicians stash $35 million in leftover campaign cash  (KPBS)
• How record snowfall could soften the 2023 drought season  (NPR)
• Think those bags are recyclable? California says think again  (KPBS)
• California university apologizes for prisoner experiments  (AP)

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