By Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss, EarthTalk 

Photo:   if you are looking for a lower price tag and a decent amount of range in a new EV, Chevrolet’s Bolt is among the better bets. Credit: Stephen Rees, FlickrCC.

July 3, 2021 (San Diego) - Dear EarthTalk: I am looking to finally ditch the old minivan and upgrade to an EV. What are the best choices out there nowadays in terms of up-front cost and fuel efficiency? -J. Wilson, Summertown, TN

East County News Service

July 3, 2021 (Flinn Springs) --Renee Owens snapped this idyllic photo beneath a flowering jacaranda tree with bougainvillea in the background.

"Ellie is part Belgian Malinois, pure flower child," says Owens, who photographed the dog in Flinn Springs.

By Briana Gomez

July 3, 2021 (La Mesa) -- Studio Cutz, a new barbershop in La Mesa located at 7520 El Cajon Blvd.,  had its ribbon cutting ceremony today.

The shop is offering $20 haircuts all week until July 4 with a valid I.D.

La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis and Reverend Shane Harris of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates participated in the grand opening and praised owner Aydarus Sakawe.

“He’s mindful of the youth. He wants to encourage everyone to not only come and get a haircut, but he’s a member of the community and wants to serve the community, and so we’re so happy to have Studio Cutz coming to La Mesa,” Mayor Arapostathis said.

East County News Service

July 2, 2021 (San Diego) -- The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs today jointly announced an interagency initiative to bring home the untold numbers of veterans who, over the past 25 years, were unjustly deported and banished from the United States despite being promised citizenship opportunities in exchange for military service as noncitizens. The Biden administration further pledged to ensure that soldiers serving our nation can obtain their promised naturalization. 

Since 2015, the ACLU of Southern California and the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties have partnered with the Deported Veterans Support House in Tijuana to urge the return to the U.S. of deported veterans, an end to the deportation of veterans, and improved access to military naturalization.  

East County News Service

July 2, 2021 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s office has received an unprecedented number of requests for marriage licenses and civil marriage services. To meet the pent-up demand for marriage services caused by COVID-19 interruptions, the office opened more appointments across the County and will be offering no appointment required “Walk-Up Wednesday” marriage services.

Source:  California Department of Fish and Wildife

CDFW photo:  heavy equipment is deployed to create fire breaks on CDFW wildlife areas in Merced County.

July 1, 2021 (San Diego) - The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has undertaken the largest wildfire protection and resiliency effort in its history, working to safeguard nearly all of its wildlife areas, ecological reserves and the surrounding communities from wildfire ahead of peak wildfire season this summer and fall.

Fire officials warn illegal fireworks are not only dangerous, but against the law

Story and photo via CAL FIRE

July 1, 2021 (Sacramento)  – With support from regional fire and law enforcement officials, CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE-OSFM) announced Thursday the results of major efforts to curb the illegal importation of dangerous fireworks into California.

Throughout May and June, CAL FIRE-OSFM law enforcement personnel conducted targeted interdiction operations along the California border seizing nearly 80,000 pounds of illegal fireworks.

By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2021 (San Diego) – Today, the California  Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced stiff sanctions against Coronado High School in response to tortillas thrown against a predominantly Latino team from Orange Glen High, after Coronado’s basketball team won the regional championship. The incident drew accusations of racism and demands for accountability, as ECM previously reported.

In addition to vacating the championship title, CIF also placed Coronado High School on probation for the next three school years, banned its boys’ basketball team from hosting postseason games for three years, and laid out requirements that must be fulfilled before any other Coronado High athletic teams can host postseason games.

Source: San Diego Sheriff

June 30, 2021 (Lemon Grove) -- The Sheriff’s Lemon Grove Substation will be conducting a DUI / Driver's License checkpoint on Saturday, July 3 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.at an unspecified location in Lemon Grove.  

“In an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol-involved crashes, DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving,” says Traffic Sergeant Aaron Montan. “All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver's License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver's license.”

East County News Service

Photo: County Administration Building, courtesy of San Diego County News Service

June 29, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to adopt a $7.23 billion revised budget for fiscal year 2021-22. The adopted budget responds to voices in the community and follows a Framework for the Future that will fundamentally change County operations, with significant funding to address justice system reform, racial justice, health and environmental equity, homelessness, and economic opportunity.

“This is a budget that meets the needs of all our residents,” County Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer said,  adding that the budget is “stretching, but maintaining a prudent and responsible fiscal position.” 

The budget reflects new priorities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that caused hardships for many San Diegans and also reflects the board’s shift to a 3-2 Democratic majority after decades of Republican control, though all five Supervisors backed the revised budget.

Courtesy of San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association. 

By Donald H. Harrison 

(Photo, left, Chabad Menorah minus lower branch following vandalism. Photo from Chabad SDSU Facebook.) 

June 29, 2021 (SAN DIEGO)  For the second time this year, the Chabad House at San Diego State University has been subjected to hostility — this time in the form of a broken branch of its large outdoor menorah and the ripping of one of its banners.  Last month, youngsters burglarized the combination synagogue and residence hall while students upstairs were asleep.

It was the second time that the large menorah was broken.  In March 2017, it was partially destroyed when students used it one night to do pull-ups.

June 29, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Republicans back on board after Biden's infrastructure clean-up (Politico)
• Biden administration sues Georgia over its GOP-enacted voter restrictions (Politico)
• U.S. lays out plan to confront white supremacist violence (Reuters)
• The American West is drying out. Things will get ugly (CNN)
• Those missing in Florida condo collapse were a diverse group (Los AngelesTimes)
• Pelosi Announces Select Committee to Probe Jan. 6 Attack on US Capitol (NBC San Diego)
• Pacific Northwest bakes under once-in-a-millennium heat dome(CBS)
• White House reiterates opposition to raising gas tax amid infrastructure debate (The Hill)
• Developer officially cancels Keystone XL pipeline project blocked by Biden (Reuters)
• Heavier passengers on planes mean new safety limits for airlines (Fox)

World

• In Canada, Another ‘Horrific’ Discovery of Indigenous Children’s Remains(New York Times)
• Far apart at first summit, Biden and Putin agree to steps on cybersecurity, arms control (Reuters)
• How 165 Words Could Make Mass Environmental Destruction An International Crime(NPR)
• Embarrassing defeat as UK PM Johnson’s party loses out at election (Reuters)
• Hard-Line Judiciary Head Wins Iran's Presidency Amid A Low Turnout (NPR)
• North Korean hacking group allegedly behind breach of South Korean nuclear institute (ZD net)

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

"Our work is not yet done," said one ACLU attorney, who noted that the organization is "continuing to fight against anti-trans laws targeting trans youth in states around the country."

By Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams, published under a Creative Commons license

Photo: Plaintiff and trans-rights activist Gavin Grimm at 2019 trans rights rally in San Francisco, creative commons image by Pax Ahimsa Gethen

June 28, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- In what civil rights advocates hailed as "an incredible victory," the United States Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the case of Gavin Grimm, a former Virginia high school student who in 2015 sued his county board of education over its policy of denying transgender pupils use of restrooms corresponding with their gender identity.