Update 2 p.m.: Police this afternoon are blocking access to the site that has been the focus of protests where  Alfred Olango was shot on Sept. 27.

East County News Service

October 18, 2016 (El Cajon) — El Cajon Police declared an unlawful assembly and arrested eight protesters last night at 800 Broadway near Mollison, the site where Alfred Olango was shot by police over two weeks ago.

According to a press release, the trouble started last night around 5 p.m. when two people arrived and became angry that a makeshift memorial had been removed. Police say the strip mall’s owner hired a security company to help return to business as usual. Earlier in the day, the release states, ”participants in the memorial, who had been asked to leave the property returned and asked to collect their items. They removed the tents, grills and other memorial and personal items. Neither the property owners nor the police department removed memorial items.

By Amber M. Henry

Read full transcript of debate

October 18, 2016 (Washington University) -- Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump walked onto the stage from opposite sides as the town hall in Washington University erupted in applause at the second presidential debate on October 9th. Clinton smiled, nodded and called out “Hello!” to the audience. Trump walked in with his hands close to his sides, a guarded but friendly expression on his face.

By Petty Officer Jamal McNeill, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

October 18, 2016 (San Diego) - A 2003 Mount Miguel High School Graduate and San Diego, California native recently returned to the United States from an overseas deployment with the largest amphibious warship in the Navy.



Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Vizcorrondo, is a master-at-arms serving aboard USS Boxer (LHD-4), based in San Diego, California.

By Miriam Raftery

October 17, 2016 (La Mesa) — Recently, La Mesa’s Planning Commission and Environmental Sustainability Commission held a public meeting on the potential for La Mesa to form its own community choice aggregation (CCA) energy program. The plan would enable the city to purchase power from renewable energy sources and sell it directly to residents, offering an alternative to SDG&E, which would continue to maintain power lines.

But where do the three candidates running for La Mesa’s City Council stand?  ECM contacted each candidate; their replies are below.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 17, 2016 (San Diego) -- Voters interested in casting their ballots early for the Nov. 8 Presidential General Election can now do so at the County Registrar of Voters office located at 5600 Overland Ave. in Kearny Mesa. Early voting began Monday and will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and until the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. The office will also be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 and Sunday, Nov.6 for weekend voting.

October 18, 2016 1 p.m. --Update:  Paul David Carr, 61, has been arrested for this crime.  The victim has been identified as Rev. Craig Hodson, 55,  from Grace Baptist  Church in Jacumba, father of 11 children. Cause of death was a penetrating gunshot wound to the torso.  The death has been ruled a homicide.  NBC 7 reports Rev. Hodson was serving an eviction notice on Carr when he was shot.

East County News Service

October 17, 2016 (Boulevard) – Sheriff’s deputies responding to a call of a shooting last night at 7:22 p.m. in rural Boulevard.  They found a 55-year-old white man with multiple bullet wounds to his torso, lying on the ground in front of a garage at 36536 Old Highway 80.  The man succumbed to his injuries at the scene despite medical aid rendered by deputies and later, paramedics who arrived.

East County News Service

October 16, 2016 (San Diego) – Effective immediately, all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smart phones are banned on all flights to, in, or from the United States due to the risk of explosions.  The ban includes carry-ons, checked baggage, and shipping as air freight.

By Miriam Raftery

October 16,2016 (San Diego)—The state Commission on Judicial Performance has filed 11 counts of judicial misconduct against San Diego Superior Court Judge Gary G. Kreep,  following a preliminary investigation.   View the charges and notice of formal proceedings here.

 Judge Kreep has 20 days from the date of service (October 7, 2016) to file a written response to the charges,  which include conduct while serving as a judge as well as ethical violations during his campaign.  California’s constitution provides remedies that could include removal from the bench, censure, public or private admonishment.

East County News Service

October 16, 2016 (San Diego) — Campus police at San Diego State University have issued an alert warning about a sexual battery that occurred at 2:20 a.m. on Montezuma Road near East Campus Drive. 

According to police, an unknown white man in his mid-30s, wearing a dark shirt and pants, grabbed a female student and touched her inappropriately. The woman was able to fight the man off and run away. She was not injured.

East County News Service

October 15, 2016 (La Mesa)—Three candidates vying for two seats on the  La Mesa City Council are slated to appear in a forum  on Tuesday, October 18 at 6 p.m.in the La Mesa Police Department’s community room.

This forum will be sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the  American Association of University Women.

Candidates are incumbents Ruth Sterling and Kristine Alessio,  as well as challenger Colin Parent.

Click audio links to hear our 4-part series of interview with GHD candidates

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Art Madrid,  Virginia Hall,  Bob Ayres,  Jimmy Parker, Michael Emerson, Priscilla Schreiber

October 15, 2016 (La Mesa) –In a series of interviews, we caught up with each of the six candidates running for the Grossmont Healthcare District Board, which oversees Grossmont Hospital.   The field is diverse, and each candidate brings their unique perspectives and priorities for the public’s health. 

Topics ranged from easing congestion in the hospital’s busy emergency room to oversight of new construction project,  from protecting patient privacy to preparing for the impacts of ballot measures such as an initiative that could legalize marijuana. 

For more sports stories, visit ECM's Sports section

Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 14, 2016 (La Mesa) - It’s time for conference play.  For this week’s Friday Night Lights, ECM went to Grossmont High School to see the undefeated Foothillers host the Norsemen of Valhalla High. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2016 (Jamul) - A GoFundMe site setup yesterday to help a Jamul woman whose three dogs were bitten by a rattlesnake has raised over $7,000.  She is a single mother who can’t afford the costly care needed to save her dogs’ lives.

By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – After the release of a videotape last week on which Republican nominee Donald Trump boasted in crude terms about grabbing women’s genitals and forcing kisses on them in the workplace,  Trump dismissed those claims “as locker room talk” in a presidential debate. When pressed by  CNN’s  Anderson Cooper on whether he did those things,  he claimed he didn’t.  Six women have since come forward to state  he did sexually assault them, including a journalist  and others. In addition, a hearing on alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl by Trump heads to court in December. Dozens of past coworkers of  Trump have also corroborated sexually demeaning remarks in the workplace that amount to sexual harassment.

Many top Republicans have yanked support of Trump as a result.  GOP Chair Rance Priebus ordered the Republican National  Party to cut off all cash to the Trump campaign.  House Speaker Paul Ryan has said he is done defending Trump.  Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State under Republican George W. Bush,  stated,”Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw.”  Former GOP nominees John McCain and Mitt Romney have said they will not support Trump’s candidacy.  Conservative commentator Glen Beck called opposing  Trump the “moral choice” even if Hillary Clinton is elected.

But Congressman Duncan Hunter, a Republican whose district includes  parts of San Diego and East County continues to support  Trump. “We’ve got to keep on fighting to the end,” he said, according to the Washington Post’s article titled “What it’s like to be on the shrinking island of Donald Trump backers.”

October 13, 2016 (El Cajon )-- Mega Network has created a video montage with highlights from the recent El Cajon candidate forum at Grossmont College.  Seven candidates fielded questions from moderators and the audience on a wide range of issues, from the recent police shooting to reopeningthe East County Performing Arts Center to ideas for strengthening the community

Candidates participating were Stephanie Harper, Ben Kalasho,  Humbert Cabrera,  Steve Goble, George Glover,Joseph Fountain and Vickie Knight Butcher, all challengers. (Photos below) Incumbents Bob McClellan and Star Bales did not attend,nor did challenge Paul Circo.