May 11, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• County Presents $7 Billion Budget, with Funding for New Homeless Effort, Continued COVID Relief (Times of San Diego)
• East County group sues to stop wind project on Campo Indian Reservation (CBS 8)
• Empty nesters adopt seven Lakeside siblings orphaned in fatal crash (10 News)
• End of Project 100% in county marks new era in assisting needy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove establishes new protocols for Council meetings (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Nesting migratory birds posing challenges for Lindo Lakes fixes (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Will you qualify for the proposed $600 stimulus checks and rental assistance in California? (San Jose Mercury News)
• CA REAL ID Deadline Changed, Again (Patch.com)
• ‘We got unlucky.’ Why melting Sierra snow won’t save California from extreme drought (Sacramento Bee)
• Entire West Coast now has access to early earthquake warning system (10 News)
• ‘I feel freer.’ How California program helps seniors ‘age at home’ during pandemic (Sacramento Bee)

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

May 11, 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.

• As US Economy Surges Back, Economists Forecast 2021 Boom (WTTW)
• White House announces deal for free vaccination rides from Uber, Lyft  (The Hill)
• Biden defunds border wall, returns millions to military (News and Guts/Dan Rather)
• Top U.S. fuel pipeline operator shuts network after cyber attack (Reuters)
• Supply chain interruptions: here’s everything you can’t get now (CNN)
• GOP divided over expected Liz Cheney ouster (The Hill)
• GOP governors slash jobless aid to try to force Americans back to work (Washington Post)

WORLD

• At least 68 killed in Afghan school blast, families bury victims (Reuters)
• Israel launches airstrike after rockets fired from Gaza in day of escalation (CNN)
• How a Jerusalem neighborhood reignited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Washington Post)
• India turns to ex-army medics as COVID surge sparks calls for lockdown (Reuters)
• The Taliban is targeting areas around key provincial capitals, looking for weak spots as foreign troops withdraw (Washington Post)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Image, left: Dept. of Water Resources  map shows precipitation is far below average statewide

May 11, 2021 (Sacramento) – Following months of below normal rainfall in one of the driest years on record, Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday expanded his  April 21 drought emergency proclamation to include a total of 41 counties. San Diego is not included in the proclamation, which covers primarily Northern and Central California, areas representing about 30 percent of the state’s population. However all state residents are asked to help conserve water, a criitical resource.

Extraordinarily warm temperatures in April and early May separate this critically dry year from all others on California record. Climate change-induced early warm temperatures and extremely dry soils have further depleted runoff water from the Sierra-Cascade snowpack, resulting in historic and unanticipated reductions in water flowing to major reservoirs. The drastic reduction in water supplies means these reservoirs are extremely low for water users including farmers, also threatening fish and wildlife in the counties the drought proclamation covers.

Newsom announced $5.1 billion in funding for a menu of measures to address the drought and related water challenges. His proposal takes timely advantage of a massive $75.7 billion budget surplus, a surplus due largely to wealthy Californians who profited during the pandemic.

By Emily Miller, Alpine

Photo: cc via Bing

May 10, 2021 (Alpine) -- May is Mental Health Month. By urging my public officials to prioritize suicide prevention, mental health, and crisis care, I am hoping to influence collective change to support #MentalHealth4All.

Right now, individuals in crisis are able to call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and those that care for them. Soon, it will be much easier to remember how to reach the Lifeline as the number will be changing to "988" nationwide by July 2022.

East County News Service

May 10, 2021 (Washington d.C.) -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents ages 12 through 15, Previously, the Pfizer vaccine was approved only for people age 16 and up.

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D., says the action is “a significant step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” adding, “Today’s action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic. Parents and guardians can rest assured that the agency undertook a rigorous and thorough review of all available data, as we have with all of our COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations.”

Sources: Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts and Addiction Policy Forum

May 10, 2021 (New York and Bethesda) -- Health officials have released an update that individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) are at a heightened risk for serious complications from COVID-19 and underscored the importance for individuals with SUD and their caregivers to get vaccinated.   

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Creative Commons image of refugee children via Bing

May 9, 2021 (San Diego) – President Joe Biden announced Monday that the U.S. will raise the cap on refugee admissions to 62,500 for this fiscal year – up from a historic low of 15,000 under the Trump administration “which did not reflect America’s values as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees,” President Biden said. 

Aztecs complete third weekend sweep of the season

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

May 9, 2021 (San Diego) - San Diego State completed a weekend sweep of San José State on Sunday with an 8-3 victory in the series finale on Sunday at Tony Gwynn Stadium to highlight Senior Day festivities.

Since the Trump administration deregulated the health insurance industry, there’s been an explosion of short-term plans that leave patients with surprise bills and providers with huge revenue.

By Jenny Deam, ProPublica

This story was originally published by ProPublica.

Image via Pixabay

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – As COVID-19 restrictions ease, some East County cities and organizations have announced plans to restart community events after a year of shutdowns.

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a measure to increase public notification regarding locations of registered sex offenders and proposed placements of sexually violent predators in communities. Supervisor Joel Anderson introduced the measure, which was amended at the request of Supervisor Jim Desmond to also include Native American communities.

Anderson says that existing notifications “do not provide adequate notice to communities where sex offenders will be located.” In a written statement to the board, Anderson indicated that after sending questions to the District Attorney and Sheriff regarding the placement process and notification procedures, “there are inconsistencies and omissions in the answers we received.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via San Miguel Fire on Instagram

May 9, 2021 (Spring Valley) - Crews from San Miguel and Heartland Fire Rescue rescued a tree trimmer Friday.  “Units arrived on scene to find the worker pinned to the tree approximately 75 feet up. His rigging, harness, and legs were compressed by the weight of the heavy skirt of dead fronds which had given way,” San Miguel posted on Instagram.

East County News Service

May 7, 2021 (San Diego's East County) - The Southern Fire burned some 5200 acres May 1st through 3rd, forcing evacuations and destroying three structures, including Eduardo (Eddie) and Priscilla Valenzuela’s ranch home near Butterfield Ranch.