Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

May 6, 2017 (El Cajon) - Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.

So is picking up college credits from more than 500 classes being offered this June 12-Aug. 3 at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges. Open registration for summer session starts Monday, May 8, and continues until June 11.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

May 6, 2017 (San Diego) - A third person has died as a result of the hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County, and as of May 1 the total case count has risen to 80, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

East County News Service

Photo via Mike Mozart on Flickr

May 6, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - A New Jersey company is recalling Aunt Jemima frozen pancakes, waffles and French toast due to a listeria contamination.

Pinnacle Foods issued the recall Friday night.  It affects products distributed in the United States and Mexico, but does not include dry mixes and syrups.

Source: Assemblyman Randy Voepel

May 6, 2017 (Sacramento) - Assemblyman Randy Voepel requested a legislative subpoena for all financial records and correspondence related to the secret $175 million fund maintained by the Office of the President of the University of California on Tuesday. Additionally, Voepel requested an independent forensic audit to determine if UC administrators engaged in criminal activity.                                             

East County News Service

May 5, 2017 (Sacramento) - The California Senate this week passed Senate Bill 230, legislation by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) that will help prosecutors convict predators who traffic in sex slavery. The bill passed by a vote of 36-0.

Hunter and Issa cast deciding votes

By Liz Alper

May 5, 2017 (Washington D.C.) - On Monday, ECM reported that a bill that could repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was heading to a rushed vote in the House on Thursday.  That bill, the American Healthcare Act, passed yesterday narrowly.

The bill passed by a four-vote margin with San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa both voting in favor. Had they voted against, the vote would have been tied and the measure would not have passed.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

May 5, 2017 (El Cajon) - One man is dead and two others injured from a deadly head-on collision in El Cajon.

The accident happened before 4:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Avocado Ave. near Skywood Drive involving a Mazda and a pickup truck.

By Jaime Mirman

May 4, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego Concert Band presented its 28^th Annual Spring Celebration Concert, Around the World in 90 Minutes, on April 25^th at the Joan B. Kroc Performing Arts Theatre.

East County News Service

May 4, 2017 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police and local firefighters invite you to a police and fire basketball showdown at the Helix High School gym on Sunday, May7 at 2 p.m.  Police and Fire department vehicles will also be available for tours.

By Miriam Raftery

May 4, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order today that would order the IRS to take a hands-off approach to churches that endorse political candidates. It also orders federal agencies to exempt some religious groups from a requirement to provide birth control to employees.  

But a third provision has been scrapped, which would have allowed businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation and other moral grounds.

By Miriam Raftery

View video:  https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4667910/rep-hunter-ti-hearing

May 3, 2017 (San Diego) – During a Congressional hearing yesterday, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) grilled airline executives over monopolistic practices and lack of competition in hub markets. Hunter noted that he flies regularly from San Diego to Washington D.C. but that United is the only airline offering direct flights.

By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2017 (Jacumba Hot Springs) — The Jacumba Arts Council invites you to hear “finger-pickin’ good” blues bands at the Jacumba Blues Festival this Saturday, May 6 starting at 1 p.m.  There will also be barbecue food, vendors and a raffle to benefit local arts.

By Chris Jennewein

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Emergency vehicles outside the La Jolla Crossroads apartments on Sunday. Photo by Chris Jennewein

May 3, 2017 (San Diego) -- City Councilmember Barbara Bry and the chair of the San Diego Democratic Party questioned Wednesday whether the University City shooter was racially targeting his victims on Sunday.

Part II of our special investigative report on the East County Mayors Prayer Breakfast speaker.

View Part I here.

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 4, 2017 (El Cajon) – On Monday, an East County Magazine special report  revealed objections raised by some local residents to the controversial “Christian nation” advocate David Barton chosen to speak at the annual East County Mayors prayer luncheon this Thursday, May 4th at the Crystal Palace in El Cajon.  

Now the controversy has intensified, with a First Amendment watchdog group sending a letter to mayors of  El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee objecting to their participation and asking them to disassociate themselves from the event. The letter was signed by Andrew Seidel , staff attorney with the Freedom from Religion Foundation. At least two of those mayors have since cancelled their plans to attend the prayer luncheon.

 In addition,  local residents are asking why alternate versions of the flyer were circulated to religious and secular groups – the latter omitting all mention of Barton and presenting the event as "progressive" oriented.

May 3, 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.

• Congress reaches deal to keep government open through September (Washington Post)
• Babies and children listed in Homeland Security’s database of alleged criminals (Los Angeles Times)
• ICE data shows half of immigrants arrested in raids had traffic convictions or no arrests (Washington Post)
• Here are the national monuments at risk under Donald Trump (Buzzfeed)
• Access to Obama White House Brought Companies Better Stock Performance, Study Shows (Reason)
• Tornadoes, storms kill nine in U.S. south (Reuters)
• Trump administration kills Michelle Obama’s girls’ education program (CNN)
• U.S. Chief Justice alarmed at Trump administration immigration stance (Reuters)
• Afghans who helped U.S. forces get more visas under funding bill (Reuters)
• All 100 senators sign letter asking for equal treatment of Israel at the U.N. (Jewish World Review)
• The FBI translator who went rogue and married an ISIS terrorist (CNN)
• Passenger who was dragged off jetliner settles with United (KUSI)
• Sold for parts   (Pro Publica)

WORLD

• A week from presidential runoff, Macron summons shame of France’s wartime history (Toronto Star)
• North Korea launches missile after U.S. demands world pressure Pyongyang (CNN)
• Dozens of Yazidis enslaved by ISIS in Iraq are now free (BBC)
• U.S. led fight on ISIS has killed 352 civilians: Pentagon (Reuters)
• Slavery in the Amazon: Thousands forced to work on Brazil’s cattle ranches (CNN)
• In Mexico, ‘It’s Easy to Kill a Journalist’ (NY Times)
• Russian police detain gay rights activists at May Day march (Reuters)
• Jehovah's Witnesses as 'extremists': Court sharpens edges of Russia's religious space (CS Monitor)
• Palestinian Authority pulls the plug on Israeli electricity to Gaza (CS Monitor)
• Turkey blocks access to Wikipedia (Reuters)
• Does Saudi Arabia deserve a place on UN Women's Rights Commission? (SD Union-Tribune)
• Hezbollah Plays Up Efforts to Oppose Israel (NPR)

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