April 30, 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:

• State Department To Issue Travel Warnings Amid 'Unprecedented' COVID-19 Risks (NPR)
• US West Prepares For Possible 1st Water Shortage Declaration (AP/KPBS)
• Biden’s plan to invest $400 billion to make long-term care cheaper is really popular (Vox)
• Biden plans to cut emissions at least in half by 2030 (Washington Post)
• ‘Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act' Would Ban Clearview and Warrantless Location Data Purchases (Vice)
• Capitol Riot Suspect Turned In By Match He Allegedly Bragged To On Bumble (NPR)

• Coronavirus has crushed India’s health system. Patients are on their own. (Washington Post)
• Cuba's Raul Castro steps down, ending the era of his famous clan at the country's helm (CNN)
• Britain’s goodbye to Philip: A pared-down funeral, minute of silence and a solitary queen in a chapel (Washington Post)
• With a sense of betrayal and relief, Afghans eye a future without U.S. troops (Washington Post)

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

By Helen Ofield, Treasurer/Historian, Lemon Grove Historical Society

April 30, 2021 (Lemon Grove) -- The family of Major William “Bill” Trask, Lemon Grove, and the Lemon Grove Historical Society are proud to announce his 100th birthday on May 12, 2021.  This war hero flew 17 missions in WW II Europe and survived a crash in Liège, Belgium, while struggling to land without a nose wheel when his B-24 caught fire. He was promoted to major and spent 20 years in the Army Air Corps.

Source:  Office of the California Attorney General

Photo via Greenwaterbottle1 on Wikipedia

April 30, 2021 (Sacramento) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning Californians about sham health insurance plans offered by some healthcare sharing ministries (HSMs). These HSMs use misinformation to mislead consumers into enrolling under the guise of offering an affordable alternative to health insurance from the Covered California marketplace. However, unlike Covered California plans, healthcare sharing ministries are not obligated to cover preexisting conditions or guarantee coverage for medical costs or services. As a result, consumers have filed complaints with the Attorney General’s Office alleging that their healthcare sharing ministry plans have refused to cover treatments and pay their medical bills.

By Miriam Raftery

April 30, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – In honor of Earth Day, Supervisor Joel Anderson posted a video on YouTube urging his colleagues to support environmental equity for all residents. 

In the video, Anderson noted that his District 2 in East County has often suffered a disproportionate share of negative environmental impacts, from wildfires to air pollution.

East County News Service

April 30, 2021 (Pala) -- Pala Casino Spa Resort today announced that the Bee Gees Gold will join the annual Summer Concert Series lineup. Bee Gees Gold will perform in the outdoor Starlight Theater on Saturday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. General admission tickets are on sale now for $10.  

East County News Service

April 30, 2021 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is rolling out a phased approach to resuming in-person visits beginning Saturday, May 1.  

By Miriam Raftery

View full speech: click here 

April 29, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – One hundred days into his presidency, Joe Biden addressed Congress and the nation last night in a speech that laid out the most ambitious goals since Franklin Delano Roosevelt after the Great Depression. 

Congressman seeks funds for highways 52 in Santee, 78 at I-5, and 11 at Otay crossing

East County News Service

April 28, 2021 (Washington D.C.). — Yesterday, Congressman Darrell Issa announced CA-50’s Member Designated Projects submissions to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) for deliberation in the 2021 surface transportation reauthorization legislation.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association  

Photo:  a home for sale in Del Mar in July. Photo by Chris Jennewein

April 28, 2021 (San Diego) - San Diego lead the nation in home price increases as the pandemic peaked in mid winter, with a whopping 2.9% jump between January and February, according to the widely-followed Case-Shiller Index released Tuesday.

Source:  City of El Cajon

April 28, 2021 (El Cajon) - The American Public Works Association has named the City of El Cajon’s North Marshall Dog Park as its Project of the Year. The dog park, located adjacent to the El Cajon animal shelter, creates a new space for gatherings and activities.

Local child care provider Shaunte Brown will be Jacobs’ virtual guest

April 28, 2021 (San Diego) -- Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53) will hold a virtual watch party for President Biden’s address to the Joint Session of Congress tonight at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

At tonight’s event, Congresswoman Jacobs will speak and invite constituents to share their thoughts on what they hope President Biden will discuss in his remarks.

By Miriam Raftery

April 27, 2021 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police have identified Cornelius Donte Brown, 22, as the victim shot and killed April 24 after answering a knock at the door of his apartment at 4306 Echo Court. Originally from South Carolina, Brown was on active duty with the U.S. Navy, stationed at Naval Base Coronado.

Witnesses inside the apartment told police that two black men in ski masks and black hooded sweatshirts were outside; one fired three shots at the victim, striking him twice, according to Lt. Gregory Runge with La Mesa Police.

The shooting occurred at 12:26 a.m. Police officers responding to several 9-1-1 calls reporting gunshots found Brown unresponsive, with gunshot wounds to his chest and neck.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Photo courtesy of Sandra Small, photographer

April 27, 2021 (La Mesa) -- On Tuesday April 20, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce joined members of the community and vendors at the grand opening of EMBR Dispensary. This new 35,000 square-foot dispensary at 8300 Center Drive in La Mesa is the largest dispensary in San Diego county.

East County News Service

Photo: Creative Commons image via Bing

April 27, 2021 (Spring Valley) – San Diego resident Karmen Dionne Anderson, 40, known as Karmen Hicks, has died of a gunshot wound she received Saturday night while seated in a parked car in Spring Valley.

On Saturday, April 24 around 11:30 p.m., Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of the shooting in the 3600 block of Bancroft Drive in Spring Valley. When deputies arrived, they learned a woman had been shot while seated in a parked vehicle, but she was no longer at the scene.

East County News Service

April 27, 2021 (El Cajon) --  CSA San Diego County, an El Cajon-based nonprofit, invites you to participate in its Fair Housing Symposium on April 28 and 29. The online Symposium aims to raise the alarm about “COVID-19 Conundrums”.

Speakers will discuss the impact the pandemic has had on community access to social justice, economic wellbeing, health and housing as well as potential avenues to address such disparities. 

Speakers for the two day sessions include Fair Housing Advocates Amy Nelson, the Executive Director Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, Christopher Brancart, Attorney of Brancart and Brancart, Joshua V. Barr, Director of the Civil and Human Rights Commission. Others include public housing and health advocates Dr. Rakesh Patel, the Chief Executive Officer of Neighborhood Healthcare, and Laura Nunn, Chief of Policy and Education for the San Diego Housing Federation.