July 21, 2011 (Anza Borrego) – A major brush fire has started near Highway 79 and S2 in an extremely remote area near a campground, Incident Page Network reported at 11:28 p.m. tonight. The blaze has swelled from 30 acres to 80 acres in just 20 minutes. It is burning in the Anza Borrego State Park.

Note corrected location:  An earlier release from IPN incorrectly listed the fire on Highway78 

Watch for details and updates.

July 21, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – San Diego Sheriff’s officers launched a foot chase against a suspected parolee, possibly armed with a gun, near Jamacha Road and Calle Albara in the Cottonwood area of Rancho San Diego shortly before 7 p.m. this evening.
 

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult, age 30, six feet tall, 200 pounds, with dark hair. When last seen he was wearing a yellow shirt, white hat, and sunglasses.

Concerns raised in San Diego, where 1,462 new homeless veterans were on the streets last year

By Richard Darvas
 

July 21, 2011 (San Diego)--In the second in a series of regional stops which include Sacramento and Los Angeles, the California Assembly’s Select Committee on Homelessness convened in San Diego on July 20.

According to a January 2011 report by the national Alliance to End Homelessness, the state’s total estimated homeless population has climbed to 133,129. The mission of these statewide forums, collectively known as “The Road Home,” is to engage the public and policymakers in developing strategies to address the diverse needs of California’s homeless--including a growing homeless population in San Diego and East County.

By Brian Lafferty

July 21, 2011 (San Diego) – Cedar Rapids is the type of comedy I would expect from Fox Searchlight Pictures, the subsidiary of 20th Century Fox that specializes in independent film. If it was 20th Century Fox distributing the movie (which stars Ed Helms of The Office and The Hangover as well as John C. Reilly) we’d have a raunchy, broadly-humored comedy.

By news staff at www.GovTech.com

July 20, 2011 (Washington D.C.)--The full-body scanners used to screen passengers at airport security checkpoints will be getting new software that will discontinue “passenger-specific” images, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Wednesday, July 20.

By S. Robert Perry

July 21, 2011 (Otay) -- This is a letter sent to Director Robak relating to his vote against the "blank check" benefit adopted by the Otay Water District's Board.  It points out some of the objections to this open-ended forever benefit adopted by the Otay Water District's Board.  Hopefully there will be enough public reaction to cause the four who approved this multi-million dollar gift of public funds to look at what they've done and reverse the decision. 

July 21, 2011 (San Diego) -- Renowned local storytellers Mary Holma and Cynthia Griffin will be spinning Native American Folklore Tales In The Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Theater with their program "Whispers In The Wind"on July 24 from 3-4 p.m.

July 21, 2011 (El Cajon)--Grossmont College Athletics Dept. and Grossmont College men’s basketball coach Doug Weber invite boys and girls entering third through ninth grades to Grossmont College’s annual youth summer basketball camp, from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, Aug. 8 to 11.

July 20, 2011 (La Mesa)--Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Senior Resource Center offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Center also provides health information and community resources.

July 20, 2011 (El Cajon)-- Mother Earth Alternative Health Cooperative, Inc., is attracting a steady stream of customers three weeks after opening its doors in an unincorporated area of El Cajon near Gillespie Field.

Some might say it’s high time. California voters approved medical marijuana with a ballot initiative back in 1996, but San Diego Supervisors filed suit to block implementation.

"Seeing is believing!" Lynne McTurk, Funbelievable

By Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2011 (Lakeside) – Now there’s a place where you can let kids climb the walls—plus run, jump, and bounce to their heart’s delight. It's a great place to beat the summer heat and let the kids run wild. 

The Grossmont College Adult Reentry Program will host “Recreate Yourself,” a free orientation meeting for adults interested in returning to school to learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade workplace skills for a job promotion, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

July 23, 2011 (San Diego) -- The East County Youth Symphony will present a concert of Wolfgang Mozart symphonies No. 40 and 41 at San Diego State University (SDSU) on Saturday, July 23 at 7 p.m.

The program will be held at the Smith Recital Hall (SDSU campus) 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego.  Funds raised at this performance will be used to purchase music instruments for the Orchestra.

July 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Helix Water District will hold an informational public meeting on the proposed water rate increase on July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.