March 9, 2012 --  (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: 

• Strong solar storm to hit earth Thursday (BBC)
• Election irregularities reported across Russia (NPR)
• Syria’s deputy oil minister defects from Assad (Reuters)
• Satellite images show buildup in Syria (New York Times) 

• Romney wins Ohio, 4 other Super Tuesday states (Sacramento Bee)
• Seattle’s first urban food forest will be open to foragers (NPR)
• Where women stand on the political race (NPR)
• All the ads pulled from Rush Limbaugh’s show (Yahoo! News)
• Green firms get fed cash, give executives bonuses, fail (ABC)
• Big Pharma’s role in the contraception debate (Daily Beast)
• BP Settlement sells out victims: deal buries evidence of oil company willful negligence (GregPalast.com)
• Deaths from dangerous gut bacteria hit historic highs (NPR)
• Cash mobs profit locally owned stores (PRI)

• Jerry Brown pushes his tax proposal
• Redevelopment demise leaves CA housing money in limbo (Sacramento Bee)

• Scripps warning on Statin-induced diabetes (UT San Diego)
• Would you buy gas in Mexico? It’s $2.91 a gallon  (UT San Diego)
• Barona Fire Captain arrested on molestation charges (UT San Diego)
• Madrid opposes county taxes to help build Chargers Stadium (La Mesa Patch)
• Poway reps to oppose water rate increases (Pomerado News)
• Bonnie buys some open government cred (CityBeat)
• SDG&E helicopter has hard landing (10 News)
• Tire surcharge funds paving projects that use old tires (KPBS) 

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – What are the cumulative impacts on our region from the loss of federal, state and county public lands?  In the span of just  a few short years, we’ve lost vast tracts of our most beautiful properties once set aside by the federal, state and county governments as preserves for future generations. Wildfires, budget cuts, and now, massive energy projects are destroying our region's scenic wonders. 

 East County Magazine has sent our photographers into the wilds of San Diego’s East County, as well as just over the border into neighboring Imperial County, to document the destruction of our inland treasures. 

March 7, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Community leaders expressed shock and sadness today over the resignation of El Cajon Councilmember Jillian Hanson-Cox.

 March 1, 2012 (Julian) -- Imagine making a brutal desert crossing on a San Diego-bound stagecoach and coming to a station with water, food and the first sign of greenery for miles.  Or marching east across the desert during the Civil War as a Union volunteer from California, determined to reach Arizona or New Mexico to halt invading Confederates. 

March 8, 2012 (Potrero) – The SNAP (Spay Neuter Action Project) Mobile Veterinarian staffed bus will be at the Potrero Library, 24883 Potrero Valley Road, in Potrero on March 16th and 17th. The project provides spay and neutering services for low income pet owners as well as good Samaritans with feral cats in traps.

March 8, 2012 (La Mesa)-- Do you have a budding artist or a child that loves to act?  What about your sports enthusiast or do they love to work with wood and tools?  La Mesa Community Services is offering these 12 “memories-to-be-made” camps to put a smile on children's faces. Camps are offered for ages four years and up:  

 *Art Smarts Art Camp, *Arts and Crafts Camp, *Creative Theatre Camp, *Day Camp, *Engineering Camp, *Fencing Camp, *Flag Football Camp, *FRESHi Filmmaking Camp, *Jump Rope Camp, *Mad Science Camp, *Tennis Camp and * Woodworking Camp.

March 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Despite recent cold weather, rattlesnakes are active—and a bite proved deadly this week on a local trail, the Blossom Valley network reports.

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2012 (Sacramento) –An antiquated California law written before the Internet was invented restricts the running of public notices to only print newspapers.  Today, with the majority of Americans seeking out news online, Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) has introduced legislation to update the law and allow online media outlets to publish public notices such as new business announcements.

“AB 1902 will provide residents greater access to legal notices, and will more appropriately fulfill the intent of the law to insure the public is adequately made aware of public notices,” a fact sheet on the bill provided by Jones’ office states.   “Permitting online publications to sell and post public notices is a reasonable response to changing technology."

Warning lamp and switch failures may cause airbag failure or inability to start vehicle

March 8, 2012 (Torrance, CA)– Toyota Motor Sales, USA announced yesterday that it will conduct two voluntary safety-related recalls. 

One involves air bag warning lamps that may fail, preventing deployment of airbags in a crash. The second is a stop lamp switch that may result in vehicles behind unable to start or shift out of park.

By Miriam Raftery

March 7, 2012 (Potrero) – Richard Fox has been arrested after a  homemade cannon that he fired killed his girlfriend, Jeanette Ogara, 38, at her Potrero residence.