July 19, 2022 (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

• East County has waited 20 years for a new hospital. Should it wait another decade? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa, flush with federal cash, is now accepting pitches for new businesses (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Dozens of Cars Involved in Street ‘Takeovers' Seized: San Diego Police (NBC San Diego)
• Philanthropists Joan and Irwin Jacobs give $10 million to Planned Parenthood (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Heated hearing over possible placement of sexually violent predator in Borrego Springs (10 News)
• Tribe Runs State's Only On-Reservation Brewery – in Valley Center (San Diego Business Journal)

STATE

• Californians can vote to make abortion a part of the state's constitution (NPR)
• Yosemite wildfire updates: Firefighting force grows; Wawona, Mariposa Grove remain threatened (Fresno Bee)
• Newsom Signs Law Allowing Californians to Sue Gun Manufacturers for Negligence (Times of San Diego)
• Politicians punch holes in California’s sunshine laws  (Cal Matters)
• Gavin Newsom plants flag on climate, spurring 2024 chatter (The Hill)

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

East County News Service

July 19, 2022 (San Diego) - The average price for a gallon of gasoline in San Diego County has dropped for 33 consecutive days, falling 49.5 cents per gallon since May 13 according to figures from the Automobile Association of America (AAA) and the Oil Price Information Service.  The current price averages just under $5.88 per gallon of self-serve gas, though far lower prices are available at some outlets. At Costco in Santee this week, the price dipped to $4.99 per gallon.  Sycuan also had prices hovering close to $5 per gallon.

July 18, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Biden administration says federal law preempts state abortion bans when emergency care is needed (CNN)
• Inside the Groundbreaking Tech Helping Paralyzed Patients Feel Again (Wall Street Journal)
• Drugmaker seeks approval for first nonprescription birth control pill in U.S. (Washington Post)
• Undercounted Covid-19 cases leave US with a blind spot as BA.5 variant becomes dominant  (CNN)
• Multipronged vaccine protects against COVID virus family members — even some still in hiding (Los Angeles Times)
• Conservative blocs unleash legal action to curb public health powers (NPR) 
• As many try to return to normal, disabled people face a different reality (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Elon Musk Backs Out Of Twitter Deal (Patch)
• James Webb telescope takes super sharp view of early cosmos (BBC)
• ‘Everything’ in app popular with US troops is ‘seen in China,’ new report says (Task and Purpose)
• After 40 years of extinction, rhinos return to Mozambique (Reuters)
• As weather disasters increase, deaths from them have actually fallen (NPR)
• After many years, New England cod seems to be rebounding from overfishing (NPR)

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

East County News Service

July 18, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Today, Assemblymember Akilah Weber, MD, held a press conference to announce success in securing $51,550,000 dollars in state funds in the budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom for several projects in her 79^th Assembly district.

East County Wildfires and Emergency Alerts

Update July 18, 2022:  This group of fires was halted at 100 acres.

Update 12:32 p.m.:  Incident commander indicates the fire is now 40 acres. At least 10 aircraft have been assigned including helitankers, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. 

July 17, 2022 (Otay) – Multiple small brush fires totaling approximately 10 acres are burning southeast of Otay Reservoir, about 1.5 miles south of Otay Lakes Road.

The fires, collectively called #Border27Fire,  are within the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.

East County News Service

Photos by Shiloh Ireland Photography

July 17, 2022 (Lakeside) – For the past several years, Lakeside residents have held an impromptu Fourth of July parade.  This year’s event honored the memory of the late Betty McMillen, founder of the Maine Avenue Revitalization Association and long-time leader of the Lakeside Historical Society.

Participants meet at the Lakeside Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building in decorated vehicles, then drive through the town to show their patriotic spirit each Independence Day, followed by lunch with hamburgers and hotdogs at the VFW. This July 4, Shiloh Ireland Photography sent in these photos of the occasion.

Source: Julian Chamber of Commerce

July 17, 2022 (Julian) -- On Saturday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Julian Chamber of Commerce is co-hosting the 7th annual Sip of Julian. The Sip features many of Julian’s alcoholic beverage purveyors.

Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act would close a loophole in human rights vetting in Pentagon security cooperation programs

Source: Congresswoman Sara Jacobs

July 16, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) – San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA53) and Senator Van Hollen (D-MD) have introduced The Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act, legislation to close loopholes in Leahy Laws, conduct needed oversight of Pentagon security cooperation programs and ensure that the United States does not provide security assistance to human rights violators under two key Department of Defense funding authorities. The Jacobs-Van Hollen Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act would also increase transparency and expand reporting requirements to bolster oversight.

East County News Service

Photo via San Diego GI Film Festival

July 16, 2022 (Washington D.C.) --  A measure introduced by Congressman Darrell Issa aims to recognize Korean War veteran and retired Navy Captain Royce Williams of Escondido, 97, with a Congressional Medal of Honor. The measure, supported by San Diego’s full Congressional delegation, was overwhelmingly approved by the House and added to the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It will now advance to the Senate.

By Elijah McKee

Photo: CC via Bing

July 15, 2022 (El Cajon) — It is no secret that 9-1-1 medical calls are sometimes not placed for life-threatening emergencies — yet for lack of any other system, those moments are often forced to be treated with urgent responses, such as ambulance rides to emergency rooms. 

By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  one of the winning entries of the County’s 2021 Our Health is Worth a Shot! Youth Challenge

July 15, 2022 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego is calling on young local artists to share their video and visual art submissions for the 2022 Our Health Deserves a Boost(er)! Youth Challenge.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by:  Adriana Martinez 

July 15, 2022 (Alpine) – A Lakeside woman, 35, died at the scene of a collision this morning on Interstate 8-west in Alpine. Two children, ages 3 and 9, in her vehicle sustained moderate injuries, says Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol.

By Jessica Des Lauriers, CAWA, San Diego Humane Society SVP & Chief Operating Officer

July 14, 2022 (San Diego) - The days are long, the weather is warm and who better to share your summer with than a new furry friend? San Diego Humane Society currently has more than 600 adoptable animals — just waiting to give and receive love — and San Diego Humane Society is calling on the community to help us make space in their shelters.

Source: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Photo credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

July 14, 2022 (San Pasqual)  — The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has welcomed three new residents: 8-year-old female African lions Malika, Zuri and Amira from the Caldwell Zoo in Texas. The three lions, who are sisters, curiously explored their new home at Lion Camp earlier today—shyly at first, but soon showing great confidence as they became comfortable with their new surroundings.