May 7, 2011 (El Cajon) --The El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club will present its 2nd annual Gun Smoke Casino Night on May 13th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan El Cajon Community Center. "Gamblin n Carousin" in an old west saloon features all the excitement of professional casino-style gaming which includes roulette, craps, blackjack and poker.

May 8, 2011 (Sacramento)--Assembly Higher Education Chair Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) has authored legislation that calls on campuses of the California Community Colleges (CCC), California State University (CSU), and the University of California (UC) to enforce local and system-wide smoking and tobacco laws and ordinances already in place. AB 795 would give these institutions the authority to enforce current policies and fine perpetrators.

The measure was overwhelmingly approved this week by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee.

May 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for San Diego’s mountain and desert regions. The warning is in effect through midnight tonight. Sustained winds of 40 mph or more are forecast with gusts up to 60 mph possible.

May 7, 2011 (Lakeside) – A fatality accident on the new section of Highway 52 has claimed the life of Gary Leroy York, 68. York was driving his three-wheel motorcycle westbound on State Route 52 when he was rear-ended by a sedan and ejected just west of Fanita Drive in Santee on Friday at 8:40 a.m.

May 7, 2011 (San Diego) – A man in his 20s grabbed an 18-year-old woman and tried to pull her into a black , older model Honda Accord yesterday. The attempted kidnapping, which occurred in a Clairemont Mesa parking lot in the 3500 block of Ashford Street, was reported to San Diego Police around 12:15 p.m. 

A second man seen with the attacker moments before may be an accomplice.

May 7, 2011 (El Cajon) -- San Diego Sheriff's deputies received a 911 call from a victim of a carjacking around 5:30 last night. The driver had stopped at a stop sign while traveling north on Vista Grande Road in El Cajon, where a man with no shirt, covered in tattoos, asked for a ride to get gas. The victim refused and tried to accelerate away, Sergeant William Hout reports.

The suspect jumped in the vehicle through the open convertible top and placed the victim in a headlock, ordering the driver to stop and surrender his vehicle.

UPDATE MAY 11:  This missing person has been found in National City and is now at Paradise Hospital being treated for confusion.

May 10, 2011 (San Carlos)11:50 p.m. – San Diego Police seek public help to find a missing 85-year-old man with early-stage Alzheimer’s. John Morreal was last seen at 7 p.m. driving toward a grocery store at Jackson Drive and Navajo Road. He was driving a 2010 black Ford Ranger pickup, with California license #8Y06548. He was wearing a blue flannel shirt and tan pants.

By Walter Davis

May 8, 2011 (San Diego)--The rise in nationalism surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden is curious to me. It demonstrates just how easy it is to put out a story and have Americans believe it. In all of the discussions showing the history of September 11, none of the news casters have said anything about Tower Seven falling without being hit. They point to bin Laden and people accept that as truth. They accept his death as truth even with no body and a story that changes moment by moment.

Garden tours May 6-8, festival May 7-8

Win 2 free tickets!  See below for how to enter drawing today to win!

May 6, 2011 (Alpine) – Viejas Outlet Center will host Alpine’s biggest festival, the 14^th annual Sage & Songbirds Festival & Garden Tour on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8.  The theme for this year's festival, which includes live butterfly releases, is "Just Wing It."

A tour of residential gardens with butterfly and songbird-friendly habitats will also be held from May 6-8, with proceeds benefiting CHIRP, a non-profit organization dedicated to preservation and enjoyment of birds, butterflies and other creatures through hands-on and interactive programs and gardens.

May 6, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Looking for an unusual and sure-to-please place to take your Mom for Mother's Day?  East County Magazine has compiled our list of top Mother's Day events in East County.  If you know of one we missed, please post in the comments section below!

May 5, 2011 (La Mesa) – Heidi Durfey, 24, has died after her sports utility vehicle (SUV) with her three young children inside rolled backward 60 feet and ran over her.  The tragedy occurerd on the driveway of her home in the 8700 block of Glenira Avene in La Mesa around 9:20 a.m. 

She became caught under the SUV as it rolled and was dragged beneath the vehicle. “It came to rest in the street with the front end of the vehicle on top of the victim’s head and chest,” said Sonny Saghera with Heartland Fire & Rescue. 

May 5, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) testified yesterday before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands on H.R. 290, the War Memorial Protection Act. Hunter introduced the legislation—which allows for the inclusion of religious symbols on war memorials—in response to a recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit declaring the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial unconstitutional.

By Miriam Raftery

May 5, 2011 (San Diego) – A hearing on a request filed by three East County organizations seeking an injunction to stop construction on Sunrise Powerlink until opponents’ case can be heard in court has been cancelled. The hearing was set to take place tomorrow, May 6 in San Diego federal court.

According to David Hogan, consultant for the plaintiffs seeking an injunction, “Things are moving very quickly and little information is available but it appears that Federal District Court Judge Anthony Battaglia has abruptly recused himself from several federal lawsuits filed by Powerlink opponents. The cases have been transferred to Judge Roger Benitez.”

May  5, 2011 (Alpine) --  Lions Tigers & Bears (LTB), San Diego's only big cat sanctuary, is once again hosting the "Wild in the Country" event on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.to help raise awareness and funds for the plight against exotic and wild animals held in captivity.

The event will take place at the LTB facility at 24402 Martin Way, Alpine, CA 91901. Wild in the Country is LTB's signature event to raise funds that go to support the many big cats and other wild animals that have been adopted by LTB. The money raised through this annual event goes to pay for such services as veterinary needs, food, facility maintenance and future construction needs such as the bear enclosure.

By Abigail Migala