January 28, 2011 (San Diego) – Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed state budget will impact people throughout California. Assemblyman Marty Block (D-78th Assembly District) wants to know your views on this important issue. He will host a town hall meeting on Thursday, February 3 from 6-8 p.m. at Patrick Henry High School at 6702 Wandermere Drive, San Diego (off Navajo Road in San Carlos).

By Brian Lafferty

January 28, 2011 (San Diego) – When I think of Barney’s Version, one director that keeps coming to mind for some reason is Mike Nichols. Maybe it’s because Nichols is someone who I consider to be an actor’s director. His movies contain great stories but the performances are what I remember the most. Barney’s Version is the same way. The story is well-written but it’s Paul Giamatti’s great acting that is the most memorable.

January 26, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Our readers have been hitting the trails, venturing into parks and basking in the sunshine in their own backyards to bring you the latest intriguing images from East County.

Garden camouflage:  Robert Gehr snapped this image of a praying mantis artfully blending with leaves in his backyard.

Scroll down for more amazing images.

January 28, 2011 (Poway) – An 80-year-old man who got lost while hiking has been found, Sheriff Lt. Jim Duffy has informed East County Magazine. “He had a cell phone and called for help,” said Duffy.

January 28, 2011 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon City Council has extended the deadline for accepting applications for two appointments to the Gillespie Field Development Council. The filing period begins on January 26 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2011.

January 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about the most important issues globally and nationally.

Top world and U.S. headlines recently include:

January 27, 2011 (San Diego)--San Diego Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoint on Friday, January 28 at an undisclosed location within city limits between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. If officers suspect that a driver has been drinking or is impaired by drugs, they will conduct a field sobriety test.

January 27, 2011 (San Diego)— Earlier this month in San Bernardino County, three members of a family were electrocuted when they came in contact with a downed power line owned by Southern California Edison. According to news reports, the husband was the first one to approach the downed line, which had fallen into the family’s backyard. His wife and son also were killed when they tried to rescue him from the energized line.

“This tragedy serves as a reminder that you should never touch a downed power line and always should assume that any power line is ‘live’ and electricity is flowing through it,” said David L. Geier, vice president of electric operations for SDG&E.

January 27, 2011 (San Diego) – A high wind warning has been issued for San Diego County’s mountain areas through 2 p.m. today. Northeast winds from 20-30 mph with gusts from 50-60 mph are expected in and below mountain passes. A wind advisory has been issued for the rest of the county.

January 26, 2011 (Casa De Oro)--San Miguel Fire Department responded to a motor home fire yesterday just after 2 p.m. in the 9800 block of Estrella Drive.  Firefighters found the older model vehicle fully engulfed in flames that sent up a thick cloud of black smoke that could be seen for miles away. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion during the fire; early indications suggest a propane tank blew up.

San Diego, CA –January 20, 2011—Young Audiences of San Diego and The Salvation Army Kroc Center will host a free Family Arts and Literacy Night this Thursday, January 27th at 6:30 pm. Hundreds of families will gather in the Kroc Center Multipurpose Room-Education Building for an evening of fun for the “Build your own Global Village” event and each child will take home a brand new book.

January 26, 2011 (La Presa) - Witnesses say the driver of a high performance sports car was traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour when he lost control, rolled several times and hit hitting a utility pole in the 900 block of Gillespie Drive, San Miguel Fire District's Leonard Villareal reports. The impact snapped the utility pole, dropping the power lines and knocked the vehicle back on its driver’s side door. The vehicle hit with such force the passenger was pinned inside.

January 26, 2011 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present “Inside the Actor’s Process: Improvisation,” a performance of student actors using improvisational skills, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 4 and 5, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5.

Through presentations of scenes and monologues, the show will demonstrate how student actors can develop such improvisational skills as timing, team work and listening.

by Christopher Mohr

January 26, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) - Only a few miles separate Granite Hills and Valhalla high schools from each other. The players and coaches from both teams know each other well. Both schools have girls basketball teams with winning records fighting for top position in Grossmont Hills league play.

It was not surprising that Friday night's rivalry game (1/21) between these two teams at Valhalla High School was a tightly contested, spirited matchup in the first half. In the second half however, the visting Eagles' defense intensified and limited the Norsemen to just 11 points in a 42-32 Granite Hills win.