May 7, 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

• Anza-Borrego Park faces claims of neglecting rain ‘guzzlers,’ leading to bighorn sheep deaths (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego received virtually no rain in April, pushing region closer to ‘severe drought’ ranking (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sempra to give record profits to investors on heels of SDG&E customer bill spikes (inewssource)
• What military equipment do La Mesa Police have? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Housing Subsidies Can’t Keep Pace with Surging Rents (Voice of San Diego)
• El Cajon will try sending some 911 calls to nurses, not hospitals. Here’s how it’s gone elsewhere (Los Angeles Times)
• Former tribal chairman accused of embezzling nearly $400K in federal funds in indictment (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Local residents open homes to Ukrainian refugees (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Orbeez shooters invade El Cajon (San Diego Reader)
• El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells doesn’t think Hasan Ikhrata should resign for wasting taxpayer money on steaks (KUSI)
• Supreme Court Sides With La Mesa Resident in Nazi-Looted Painting Suit (Patch)

STATE

• California energy officials warn of potential summer blackouts (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California voters agreed to give prisoners shorter sentences. Did they mean violent ones, too? (Sacramento Bee)
• Here we go again: California coronavirus cases rising. Is a new wave coming soon? (Los Angeles Times)
• California Investigating Oil Companies for Alleged Plastic Recycling Deception (NPR)
• California lifts five-day quarantine rule for people exposed to COVID-19 but show no symptoms (Los Angeles Times)

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

East County News Service

May 6, 2022 (Pala) -- Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, joined other tribal leaders on Thursday, May 5th at the California State Assembly to support May 2022 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month. 

Alito and his four cohorts on the Supreme Court are attempting to bury the last fifty years of safe, legal abortion, now supported by at least 70% of the U.S. population.

By Amy Goodman, Dennis Moynihan, staff writers, Common Dreams

Reprinted under a Creative Commons license from Common Dreams

Photo: CC by SA via Bing

May 6, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) - The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC is truly august, its Corinthian columns and ornate pediments reminiscent of ancient Rome's Temple of Mars Ultor, erected by Emperor Augustus to commemorate Mars, the god of war, in his role as avenger. Augustus employed the imperial design to convey that a new order had arrived after quelling a civil war that had consumed the region for fifty years. Two thousand years later, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has unleashed his own form of vengeance, from within the Supreme Court's columned walls, revealed in a draft opinion he authored, leaked by a person or persons not yet publicly known then published by Politico.

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

May 6, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- One of the questions I get from community members I work alongside in East County is “How do you determine the most important drug, alcohol and mental health issues to focus on?” The answer is that in addition to listening to the needs of the community, our priorities are also established through a framework established by the County of San Diego. The Behavioral Health Services Division of the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is designated with addressing these issues and working to promote recovery, discovery, resiliency and well-being through prevention, treatment and intervention. Integrated services are available from BHS for those who may be experiencing mental illness along with substance misuse.

Source:  San Diego Superior Court

May 6, 2022 (San Diego) – The Honorable Joseph P. Brannigan has retired after nearly 18 years of service on the San Diego Superior Court Bench, ending a storied career that started with a stint as an officer in the U.S. Army followed by time spent as an FBI agent, deputy district attorney and assistant U.S. attorney. 

East County News Service

Photo: CC by SA via Bing

May 5, 2022 (San Diego) – With a new Omicron subvariant circulating and cases climbing across the nation as prom and graduation season approaches, the County Health and Human Services Department is urging parents to make sure children are up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, and to take other preventive measures.

By Elijah McKee

May 5, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — Tuesday, May 3 at 6:50 p.m. marked exactly three years since Trevon Harris passed away, after he was struck by a vehicle on San Miguel Avenue in Lemon Grove. He was just 13 years old. 

East County News Service

April 5, 2022 (Alpine) - Wild in the Country is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Lions Tigers & Bears animal sanctuary in Alpine. After a two-year hiatus, the event returns May 21 with a “Denim and Diamonds” theme. You’re invited to  dust off those jeans, put on something sparkly, and get ready to visit with the animals, bid on amazing auction items, and rock out with The KING of Diamonds himself, Rob Garrett America's #1 NEIL DIAMOND tribute artist and impersonator who is a lead Las Vegas act.

Outfielder Irvin Weems drives in both Aztec runs

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

May 5, 2022 (San Diego) - For the second straight night, San Diego State was unable to overcome an early deficit, as visiting CSUN claimed a 9-2 decision over the Aztecs on Wednesday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

By J.W. August, freelance journalist, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

May 4, 2022 (San Diego) – It’s aptly described as “The Fiery Marsh,” covering 95 acres on the southwest side of Naval Air Station North Island. The “fiery” part of the name refers to six pits in the marshy areas of the island that were used to burn off chemicals used on the Navy base.  

Donations made through May 2022 will increase access to essential goods and childcare supplies for women veterans living in San Diego

East County News Service

Photo courtesy Foundation for Women Warriors 

May 4, 2022 (Sa Diego) -- One of California’s longest-running nonprofit organizations Foundation for Women Warriors, based in San Diego, announces it will host a Mother’s Day Drive now through the end of May 2022 to benefit veteran mothers and their children living in Southern California.

Photo: Cc by NC-ND via Bing

East County News Service

May 3, 2022 (Santee) -- You’re invited to join the City of Santee for a pre-summer kick off of the Thursday Nights Live series.

“We are warming everyone up before the Santee Summer Concerts start on Thursday, June 9 with free family fun and entertainment on Thursdays, May 5 – June 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Santee Trolley Square amphitheater,” the invitation states. “This new Thursday night occurrence will be for the whole family and a fun opportunity to get out and about on Friday Eve. Grab a bite to eat at one of the Santee Trolley Square eateries or pack a picnic dinner while you enjoy the free fun.”

By Mike Allen

May 1, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- A new estimated cost for the Advanced Water Purification project, a system of recapturing sewage and transforming it to drinkable water for about 500,000 East County residents, escalated to about $850 million, an increase of more than $300 million above the estimate three years ago.

Man seen setting multiple fires in Vista.

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff

May 1, 2022 (Vista) - The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a series of suspicious fires in the North County. 

On April 28 just before 4:00 p.m., deputies from the Vista Sheriff's Station responded to a report of a brush fire near the intersection of La Tortuga Drive and Hacienda Drive in the City of Vista.