Source: El Cajon Police

April 12, 2017 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police has issued a bulletin warning that the department is investigating a report of an attempted abduction in the Walmart parking lot at Parkway Plaza.  A 3-year-old girl and her mother were walking to their vehicle yesterday between 12 noon and 1 p.m. when the attempted abduction occurred, said Lt. Royal Bates.

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2017 (San Onofre) – Just days before an April 14 court hearing filed by Citizens Oversight seeking to force removal of nuclear waste from storage along the ocean near the closed San Onofre power plant, Southern California Edison has agreed to enter into negotiations to move the nuclear storage elsewhere.

East County News Service

April 12, 2017 (El Cajon) – A 22-year-old driver died last night after his vehicle rolled down an embankment and struck a steel pole supporting a billboard.  The fatal crash occurred shortly before 10 p.m. along westbound I-8 west of Los Coches Road in unincorporated El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2017 (San Diego) – Videos showing a passenger violently beaten, blooded and dragged off a United Airlines flight after he refused to give up his seat when the airline overbooked the flight has sparked outrage, a boycott, and calls for reforms. View video

April 11, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect 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:

U.S.

Syrian bombing

• U.S. air strike took out 20% of Syria’s air force, Mattis claims (CNN)
• Syria’s war rages unabated days after U.S. strike (Huffington Post)
• Russia warns of serious consequences from U.S. striking Syria (Reuters)
• Tillerson: Russia must choose between Assad and U.S. (USA Today)

Politics

• Carl Vinson strike group ordered to Korea amid rising tensions (Times of San Diego)
• Trump’s proposal to eliminate payroll taxes that fund Social Security may be his worse idea yet (Los Angeles Times column by Michael Hiltzik)
• Cutting off fly-over states, Trump to axe AMTRAK for 220 cities (Common Dreams)
• U.S. lawmakers ask for disclosure of number of Americans under surveillance (Reuters)

Other U.S. news

• U.S. household debt approaches $12.6 trillion, close to 2008 record (Marketplace)
• A passenger was violently removed from an overbooked flight. Now some are urging boycott of United  (Boston Globe)
• Startups fight for geographic diversity (Marketplace)
• Judge orders removal of gas pipeline on Indian land in Oklahoma (IndianZ)
• These Hispanic contractors offered to build Trump's border wall. Then the death threats began (Jewish World Review)
• Terrorist drone threat military policy issued (Washington Times)
• DEA Seized $4 Billion from People Since 2007. Most Were Never Charged with a Crime (Reason)

WORLD

• Anti-LGBT violence in Chechnya (Human Rights Watch)
• Russian computer hacker arrested in Spain: Embassy (Reuters)
• U.S. Arrests Mexican State Prosecutor, Says He's Also a Drug Smuggler (NPR)
• The View from Khan Shaykhun: a Syrian Describes the Attack's Aftermath (NPR)
• 'Build that wall?' Canadians join call for more border control (Jewish World Review)
• UN Agency to release new document equating Israeli ‘occupation’ to U.S. slavery (JPost)
• Paraguay rioters set fire to Congress after Senate re-election vote (Reuters)
• Venezuelan Political Crisis Grows After High Court Dissolves Congress (NPR)
• The View from the Site of the Chemical Attack (NPR)
• Exclusive: Mexico opens up its heroin fight to U.S., U.N. observers  (Reuters)

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

Press Secretary Sean Spicer also draws fire for Holocaust denial comment;

White House also fumbles annual Easter Egg roll

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: White House Seder, with Trump seat vacant

April 11, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – The annual White House Seder dinner marking the start of Passover was held on Monday with Jewish staffers and friends. But President Donald Trump did not attend, even though he was reportedly at home in the White House at the time.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego

This video, produced in 2011, gives an overview of the Spirit Medical Trust Fund and how it helps animals in need. https://youtu.be/d2g8-qhMLKU

April 11, 2017 (San Diego) -- An anonymous donor has given County Animal Services’ Spirit Fund more than $101,000, an amount that will help dozens more sick and injured animals get the specialized medical care they need to lead healthy lives in new adoptive homes.

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2017 (San Carlos) – As a Navy chef,  Geoff Cole traveled the world preparing feasts for admirals and other VIPs.  Now he’s opened a  salute-worthy restaurant in San Diego's San Carlos neighborood. At Admiral's Experience, he serves up  what he calls “world class cuisine” from around the globe—as well as a catering service.   

“I cooked for all the admirals, senators and dignitaries on their private jet,”  Chef Cole told East County Magazine.  Of Jamaican descent, he’s  lived in exotic locales such as Hawaii and collected favorite dishes in his travels to Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and other places.

East County News Service

April 11, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Grossmont Union High School District is seeking applications to fill a vacancy for a “community member at large” on the 11-member Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC).

East County News Service

Photo via San Diego County Sheriff's Department

April 11, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – For the second time in just over a week, an emergency crew had to rescue an injured hiker off the trail to Three Sisters Falls in the Cleveland National Forest near Julian.

By Joseph Glidden

How the City Games the System to Keep Its Residents Uninformed, Unengaged, and Uninspired.

April 11, 2017 (La Mesa)--The Strategic Planning Workshop is arguably the city council’s most important public meeting of the year. Police, Fire and city employees are always well represented, but few residents are in attendance. The city does little to promote civic engagement. If anything, it actively discourages community involvement in the following ways:

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Snakes' eyes – they’re watching!

April 10, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- We know all about those snakes at work that slither around trying to work their way into promotions, office social circles and politics, or even belly up to the boss. They’ll do anything (even bite you in the back) as long as it benefits them.  But the snake I’m talking about is actually more fearful of you, however just as dangerous and you need to exercise caution around them: rattlesnakes!

East County News Service

April 9, 2017 (San Diego) -- San Diego nonprofit attorney and business owner Matt Strabone has announced his candidacy for Assessor / Recorder / County Clerk centered around ethics and improved records access.

“Ours is a campaign of new ideas and new energy. We will ensure that the Assessor/Recorder/Clerk’s office serves all people of our county equally and treats everyone fairly," he said. "From impartial and fair property tax assessment to ensuring that you can quickly and easily access your own public records and documents, our primary commitment will always be to provide excellent customer service to everyone,” Strabone states.

By Judy Moore

April 8, 2017 (El Cajon) --  Friends of East County Arts, Inc., supporting the arts in East County since 1984, will present “Blooming Fashions” show at the El Cajon Elks Club #1812 on  Saturday, May 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Panel of experts and neighborhood organizing to follow showing of “Indoctrinated, the Grooming of Child Prostitutes” by Lemon Grove filmmaker Jim Ellis

By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society

April 8, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Right here, right now, in our town...tough though it is to think of Lemon Grove as a haven for human sex traffickers, it is. This heinous crime is alive in our town. Predators are after our girls and boys. This, in a town where every neighborhood is anchored by a public school and volunteerism has been a tradition since 1890.