By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2021 (Ramona) – San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force members have arrested a suspect for the murder if Mario Cardoso, 46, who was shot and killed November 5, 2020 in the driveway of his home in the 600 block of Pine Street in Ramona.

September 30, 2021 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• FDA panel backs Pfizer booster shots for elderly and others at high risk (Los Angeles Times)
• COVID-19 at school? 2 in 3 parents support mask mandates as many worry kids will get very sick (USA Today)
• Young adult cannabis consumers nearly twice as likely to suffer from a heart attack, research shows (CNN)
• Babies, The Delta Variant And COVID: What Parents Need To Know (NPR)
• Why some COVID-19 infections may be free of symptoms but not free of harm (National Geographic)
• FBI warns about penalties for making, using fake COVID-19 vaccination cards (CBS ECMH)
• US Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, dies of treatable illness waiting for ICU bed in 5 states –(CNN)
• South Africa identifies new COVID-19 variant (Beckers Hospital Review)
• Each COVID-19 surge poses a risk for healthcare workers: PTSD (Reuters)
• Philip Morris Is Buying An Asthma Inhaler Company. Health Groups Are Suspicious  (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• 'Dead Sea Scrolls' at the Museum of the Bible are all forgeries (National Geographic)
• Exclusive-Google locks Afghan government accounts as Taliban seek emails -source (Reuters)
• Ready to say goodbye to passwords? Users will no longer need one for Microsoft accounts (USA Today)

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

East County News Service

September 30, 2021 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa First United Methodist Church hosted a candidate forum for those running to fill a vacancy left on the La Mesa City Council when Dr. Akilah Weber won election to the state Assembly.  The election is November 2, with ballot drop-off locations available starting Oct. 25. View the forum at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2852523438206427/permalink/4288325947959495/.

Four of the six candidates participated in the forum; Michelle Louden and Jim Stieringer did not participate.

The candidates running are:

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Photo courtesy of California News Service

September 30, 2021 (Sacramento) -- Here’s good news for low-income families who depend on SNAP, the federal food-assistance program: their monthly allotment will go up by about 21%, starting in October.

Story and photos by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Photo left: adjusting the water bath canning pot

September 29, 2021 (San Diego's East County) - Home canning is a great way to preserve the treasured taste of summer fruits and vegetables to savor during a winter meal.  It’s also a helpful way for vegans to stock up on special homemade sauces.

Vegans may choose (or learn) to can their special sauces or organic, homegrown vegetables. It saves money and offers a chance to revisit those fruit and vegetable summer-time treasured tastes for months.

By Miriam Raftery

September 29, 2021 (La Mesa) – Hate crimes in California rose 30% in 2020 over 2019, when 1,015 hate crimes were reported, according to Leonard Trinh, lead hate crime prosecutor with the San Diego District Attorney. Hate crimes have been on the rise for several years, following a sharp spike after the election of Donald Trump as president.

Aztecs will once again host Mountain West Championship next May

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 28, 2021 (San Diego) - San Diego State baseball head coach Mark Martinez has unveiled the team’s 2022 schedule, featuring a 55-game docket with 32 home dates at Tony Gwynn Stadium. In addition to the seventh annual Tony Gwynn Legacy, the Aztecs will play host to the Mountain West Championship from May 26-29.

East County News Service

September 28, 2021 (El Cajon) - Grossmont College’s Stagehouse Theatre, which has not permitted in-person performances for more than 18 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopens to live audiences when it launches its 2021-22 season September 30 with a staging of Into the Woods.

East County News Service

Update September 30, 2021 - This order has been lifted.

Source:  San Diego County Emergency Updates

September 25, 2021 (Julian) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality has issued a Boil Water Order for the Butterfield Ranch water system located at 14925 Great Southern Overland, Julian, CA 92036, effective immediately. All affected customers are advised to not drink the water without boiling it first.

East County News Service

September 24, 2021 (Julian) – A suspect has been arrested for severely beating and tying up a man and woman in Julian on September 19 in a domestic violence case, says Lieutenant Thomas Siever with the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit.

By CalMatters staff, CalMatters

Photo:  Andre m., CC SA 3.0

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

September 24, 2021 (Sacramento) - The second year of the coronavirus pandemic in California was shaped by two political undercurrents at the state Capitol: a budget awash with cash, thanks to a booming stock market and federal aid, and a looming recall election asking voters to throw Gov. Gavin Newsom out of office.  

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2021 (Rancho Bernardo) – After two failed attempts to place sexually violent predator Douglas Badger in Campo or the Mt. Helix area, the state of California is now seeking conditional release of Badger at 17936 Frondoso Dr. in San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo community.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2021 (Julian) – Michael Jon Hart, long-time publisher of the Julian News and past president of the San Diego County Umpires Association, died September 14 after battling brain and lung cancer. His wife, Michelle Harvey, confirmed Hart’s passing on her Facebook page.

“Mike and I have so many friends,” Harvey posted. “I am glad that we spent our lives working to help others.”

The newspaper has been for sale for months; Hart’s death leaves the future of Julian’s newspaper in limbo.  A newspaper listing in July asked $300,000 for the publication, which was described as “highly profitable” despite pandemic lockdowns.

Hart and Harvey acquired the independent weekly newspaper on July 4, 2004; the paper has been the voice of Julian, CA since 1984. It’s been a labor of love for Hart, who covered major news stories ranging from the 2007 Witch Creek Fire that ravaged the region to controversies involved the county’s acquisition of Julian’s formerly all-volunteer fire department. Hart sometimes took heat for his coverage but took pride in covering all sides of community issues, according to Harvey.