East County News Service

Photos, left: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, by Ron  Logan and Gage Skidmore

September 10, 2024 (San Diego) – The first presidential candidate debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will take place tonight, Tuesday Sept.10, at 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This marks the first time the two candidates will meet in person, and the first opportunity for voters to view a debate featuring Harris as the Democratic nominee, after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.

The much-anticipated debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia will  air live on ABC TV and stream on ABC News Live, Disney and Hulu.  Some other networks including NBC and CNN also plan to air the debate,  with many beginning pre-debate commentary ahead of time.

The race pits Harris, a seasoned prosecutor and former California Attorney General with strong courtroom speaking skills, against Trump, a prominent businessman convicted on 36 counts of fraud. Hot campaign topics include the economy, women’s reproductive health, immigration, inflation, climate change, foreign policy including the Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars, the future of our democracy, Project 2025, personal freedoms, and more.

Update September 11, 2024 -- Parole has been denied for Williams. At yesterday's hearing, Board of Parole Hearings Commissioner Kevin Chappell stated that Williams still poses a threat to public safety, telling Williams "“By your testimony today, it is really unclear if you understand why you committed this horrendous act of violence.”  Testimony was overwhelmingly against Williams' release, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2024 (Santee, CA) – It’s been 23 years since 15-year-old Charles Andrew “Andy” Williams took his father’s revolver to school and repeatedly opened fire, killing two students and injured 13 other people at Santana High School in Santee.

Tomorrow, as the result of a new law regarding youthful offenders, he will have his first parole hearing—drawing a strong response from community members, many stilll traumatized by loss and grief.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Yesterday’s sweltering temperatures broke numerous all-time temperatures across our region, as the heat wave continues today with triple-digit  temperatures. New high temperature records for September 8 were set in several local communities, including some that have been keeping track of weather records for over a century:

LOCATION             NEW RECORD         OLD RECORD        PERIOD OF RECORD

ESCONDIDO             109                        104 in 1944              1893

RAMONA                   110                        103 in 2018              1974

ALPINE                      105                        104 in 1984              1951

EL CAJON                 108                        104 in 1984              1899

The highest minimum temperatures on record were also raised. San Diego tied  a record set back in 1875, with the low temperature a balmy 75 degrees. The follow communities also raised the record for highest minimum temperatures:

East County News Service

Update Sesptember 9, 2024:  The victim has been identified as Diego Omar Valera-Trujillo.  A suspect, Joshua Gonzalez, 27, has been arrested near his home on Lincoln Ave. in Lemon Grove. He will be charged with murder.

September 8, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – A 21-year-old  man has died in the hospital after being shot multiple times last night in Lemon Grove.

Sheriff’s deputies were on Lemon Grove Avenue when they heard several gunshots at 11:34 p.m. While checking the business area, they were told that  a group of people were arguing in the 3100 block of  School Lane. Deputies searched the area and found the victim.  They provided medical aid until Heartland Fire Department arrived and transported the victim to a hospital, where he died of his injuries.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 5:15 p.m.-- Forward spread has been halted at 65 acres and evacuation orders have been lifted. 

September 7, 2024 (Campo) -- Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for a brush fire burning at Church Road south of the Golden Acorn Casino near Old Hwy 80. The #ChurchFire has potential for 1,000 acres; it has burned 65 acres so far, per Cal Fire.

View an updated evacuation map here:  Genasys Protect  A temporary evacuation center is at the Golden Acorn Casino,1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo.

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2024 (La Mesa) – Caleb Carvalho, 14, was riding his bicycle to school yesterday morning when he was struck and seriously injured by a garbage truck at the intersection of University Avenue and La Mesa Blvd. 

A Go Fund Me site has been set up to help the teen, a freshman and football player at Helix Charter High School, with his medical bills as he faces long road to recovery.

His father, David Carvalho, told NBC 7 that Caleb’s pelvis was broken on both front and back. Currently hospitalized, Caleb will need rehabilitation and costly medical treatments. 

Caleb was in the bicycle lane but the trash truck driver didn’t see him, running over Caleb as the truck pulled into a driveway.

September 5, 2024 (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.

• Homeowners are rushing to refinance their mortgages after rates finally dropped (CNN)
• Judge in Texas orders pause on Biden program that offers legal status to spouses of US citizens (AP)
• Cooling July Inflation Sets Stage for Fed’s September Rate Cut (Wall Street Journal)
• Grocery price gouging to feature prominently in Harris economic plan (Politico)
• Special counsel reindicts Trump with narrower set of accusations after Supreme Court immunity decision (CBS News)
• RFK endorses Trump as he suspencts campaign (Politico)
• Potential 2024 ‘Chaos’: Election Deniers Refusing to Certify Results (Rolling Stone)
• Trump allies test a new strategy for blocking election results (Washington Post)
• FBI concludes Iran was behind Trump campaign hack (The Hill)
• Trump seeks to delay his hush money sentencing until after the election (Politico)
• Biden, Harris hail Medicare drug price cuts that will save billions  (Reuters)
• US FAA requires inspections of Boeing 787 planes following mid-air dive (FAA)

WORLD

• Large-scale polio vaccinations begin in war-ravaged Gaza after first case in 25 years  
•  US charges Hamas leaders over Oct. 7 attack on Israel (Reuters)
• Ukraine racks up gains with Russia incursion, faces challenge holding territory (Reuters)
• What we know about the six hostages killed in Gaza (CNN)
• West Bank Palestinians Fear a Gaza-Like War  (Time)
• France investigating synagogue explosion as suspected terrorism (BBC)
• Japan urges 4 million to evacuate as lumbering Typhoon Shanshan threatens south with up to a meter of rain (CNN)

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

East County News Service

September 5, 2024 (San Diego) – The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for nearly all of San Diego County, due to dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures of up to 116 degrees in the desert and 102 degrees in inland cities and 104 in East County’s mountain communities.

Nights will stay warm, with temperatures mostly in the 70s even after dark.

View the indictment here. 

Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice

September 4, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – Attorney General Merrick Garland today announced criminal indictments against two Russian nationals in a scheme to spread disinformation across social media under covert identities posing as U.S.-based media outlets. Their aim was to illegally influence the 2024 election, sow division among Americans, and spread propaganda favorable to Russia regarding its invasion of Ukraine. 

The defendants, Kostiantyn “Kostya” Kalashnikov and Elena “Lena”Afanasyeva, are both employees of Russia’s state-controlled media outlet in Moscow,  RT, formerly known as Russia Today.

September 3, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) -- 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

• COVID positivity rate hits 21% as students return to school (KPBS)
• Cajon Valley Union School District defies new California gender identity law with 'Parental Bill of Rights' (10 News)
• San Diego County offers home protection from wildfires  (KPBS)
• Gunman In 2001 Santana High School Shooting Up For Parole (Patch.com)
• Mayor seeks to curtail independence of San Diego's boards and commissions (KPBS)
• Grossmont and Cuyamaca Continue Strong Enrollment Increases into Fall 2024 (Times of San Diego)
• San Diego’s Fire Risk Soars as Brush Inspections Lag  (Voice of San DIego)
• Sewage Fix, Sort of  (Voice of San Diego
• Ramona High School football adjusting to new CIF regulations and heat policy (10 News)
• Leak forces waste disposal shipment to return to San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (KPBS)
• Texts sent by Nathan Fletcher’s accuser in sexual assault case undermine her claims, new court filing alleges (KPBS)

STATE

• As California dam removal hits final stage, river flows freely for first time in a century (SF Gate)
• Newsom vows to take funding from cities, counties for not clearing encampments (NBC San DIego)
• New plastic bag ban comes before California Legislature (KPBS)
• UCLA Must Protect Jewish Students’ Access to Campus, Federal Judge Rules  (Times of San Diego)

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

View full video

August 31, 2022 (Chicago)—In her acceptance speech for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination delivered last week in Chicago, Vice President and former prosecutor Kamala Harris presented her case to the American people. She spoke of domestic and foreign policy priorities, sharply contrasting her goals with those of her opponent.

“My entire career, I have only had one  client. The People,” said Harris, former California Attorney General and a former district attorney.  “With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past. A chance to chart a New Way Forward.”

Pledging to be a President for all Americans, she added, “You can always trust me to put country above party and self. To hold sacred America’s fundamental principals—from the rule of law to free and fair elections, to the peaceful transfer of power,” alluding to her opponent, former President Donald Trump, convicted of felony fraud and facing numerous pending charges related to his efforts to overthrow the 2020 election results.

Harris said that if elected, she would strive to unite Americans around “our highest aspirations” and be a President “who leads and listens, who is realistic, practical, and has common sense. And always fights for the American people.”

September 2, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future

HEALTH

• New COVID-19 booster shots have been approved. When should you get one? (Science News)
• Dozens of pregnant women, some bleeding or in labor, are turned away from ERs despite federal law  (AP)
• US FDA approves Emergent's smallpox vaccine for people at high risk of mpox (Reuters via MSN)
• Finding a therapist who takes your insurance can be nearly impossible. Here's why (NPR)
• WHO declares mpox outbreaks in Africa a global health emergency as new form of the virus spreads (10 News)
• U.S. clinical trials in China questioned by U.S. lawmakers (Reuters)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Zapping sand to create rock could help curb coastal erosion (Science News)
• Scientists create game-changing device that can turn air pollution into salt within minutes: 'A reaction that the planet has been running for billions of years' (The  Cooldown)
• SpaceX will return stranded astronauts next year.  (BBC)

For excerpts, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

September 1, 2024 (Julian) – Doff your shoes and toast to a fall tradition at the 27^th annual Julian Grape Stomp Festa.  This juicy event will be held on Saturday, September 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at  Menghini Winery,1150Julian Orchards Drive in Julian.

In addition to stomping grapes in the Italian old world tradition, you can savor winetasting from several local wineries, enjoy beer and hard cider tastings, live music, food vendors, shop for merchandise, play corn hole, let the kids play games and jump in a bounce house, and take home a souvenir wine glass. Inspired by the famous “I Love Lucy” grape-stomping episode, there wll also be a Lucy look alike contest with a $100 prize.