By Ian McKinney, Cronkite News Service

Photo: Pechanga Tribal Chair Mark Macarro speaks in Washington on Monday. Photo by Ian McKinney/Cronkite News

February 14, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) -- Tribal nations are seeing themselves represented more than ever before in the government, but they still need to make their voices heard more loudly at the ballot box, the president of the National Congress of American Indians said Monday.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 13, 2024 (San Diego) -  San Diego State overcame a 14-point halftime deficit with a dominant second half to beat Colorado State, 71-55, on Tuesday night. It matches the Aztecs' largest deficit overcome in a victory this season.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left to right: Jodi Cleesattle (seat 41), Koryn Sheppard (seat 43), Brian Erickson (seat 41) and Valerie Summer (seat 43).

February 12, 2024 (San Diego) – Two contested judicial seats are on the ballot in the March 5 primary election, with two contenders for each seat.  Seat 41 pits senior assistant attorney general Jodi Cleesattle against deputy district attorney Brian Erickson.  For Seat 43,   family law specialist and law professor Koryn Sheppard is running against prosecutor Valerie Summers.

Judicial candidates aren’t allowed to answer questions about their views on issues, per judicial ethics. However, their experience,  achievements and endorsements can provide voters with guidance.  Below are details on each contender.

East County News Service

February 12, 2024 (Santee) – The San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) has announced that a limited number of appointments are now available for couples to obtain a marriage license and get married in a wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day, Wed., Feb. 14, at one of five ARCC offices in San Diego County, including the Santee branch office at 10144 Mission Gorge Ave.

By Miriam Raftery 

February 12, 2024 (El Cajon) – A driver and two passengers sustained major injuries when a 2011 Buick Enclave SUV crashed into a home at 9060 Winter Gardens Blvd. in El Cajon shortly after 3 a.m.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Photo: Examples of some recalled products.

Español (Spanish)

February 12, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an alert warning consumers about a deadly Listeria outbreak tied to queso fresco and cotija cheese products. The outbreak has resulted in 26 illnesses in 11 states, including 8 cases in California, 23 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths.

The cheeses, which have been recalled, include numerous product names and brands. The products include solid and grated cheeses,mealkits,salad dressing, dips, yogurts, saladkits, enchiladas, taco kits, and many more. View a full list of the recalled cheese products:  alert.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2024 (San Diego) – More than 1,200 San Diegans remain displaced from homes damaged in the Jan. 22 flood, including Beba Zarate, a teacher, and her two sons. The Zarate family helped get neighbors to safety amid rising floodwaters when emergency agencies were overwhelmed. But they had no flood insurance at the time, and lost nearly everything. They have put up a GoFundMe page, but so far only a few hundred dollars has been raised.

“We are hardly getting any help from the county or from the city,” say Zarate, whose home on Osborn Street in San Diego’s Shelltown neighborhood had water four feet deep rush in when a nearby creek flooded. “The only help was cleaning stuff, cleaning the street.  They removed all the trash and furniture.”

Nonprofits provided basic essentials such as clothes, shoes and cleaning supplies. But so far, neither FEMA nor state or local governments have stepped up with the major financial resources needed to help the family rebuild their home and lives.

Their one-story home needs major repairs and nearly all of the family’s belongings need to be replaced, including Zarate’s computer and teaching materials, kitchen appliances, furnishings and more. They also lost items of sentimental value, including family photos damaged by floodwaters that reached four feet deep.

By Mike Allen

Photo, top left to lower right:  Carl DeMaio, Andrew Hayes, Kevin Juza, Jack Fernandes, Joy Frew, Christie Dougherty

February 10, 2024 (Santee) -- Politics makes strange bedfellows. This is certainly proving true in the 75th Assembly race, which has attracted a field of six candidates, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.  Incumbent Marie Waldron is termed out this year, making this an open seat.

In the last few weeks, television viewers have seen ads for the most recognizable and funded candidate, Republican Carl DeMaio, at his most combative, railing about the mess at the southwest border. It closes with pictures of him alongside one of Democrat Kevin Juza, who has the endorsement of the state’s Democratic party and big labor backing.

“I have no connection to (the ad) at all,” Juza said. “He’s chosen me to run against in the primary….As my grandmother always said, ‘Watch out what you wish for.’”

February 9, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon's Teen Coalition is now accepting nominations for the “Youth of the Year” award. This accolade is aimed at recognizing exceptional middle and high school students who have shown an extraordinary commitment to serving their community within the City of El Cajon. 

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) —Comedy shows, Fido Fest, film showings, wolf tours, a plein air desert art show, Valentine teas, and an attempt to break a world record for most dogs viewing an outdoor moving are among the festivities coming up across San Diego’s East County.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News: Elisa Serna’s supporters want to know why so many deaths have occurred in San Diego jails.

February 9, 2024 (San Diego) – A jury has acquitted Danalee Pascua, a nurse accused of involuntary manslaughter in the November 2019 death of Elisa Serna, a pregnant inmate at the Las Colinas Detention Center in Santee.  Charges against a second defendant, Dr. Friederike Von Lintig, resulted in a hung jury, with 9 jurors voting for acquittal and 3 against. A hearing next  Wednesday will determine whether prosecutors will seek to retry his case.

East County News Service 

Photo by Teresa Jenkins, Broken Yolk Cafe

February 9, 2024 (San Diego) -- Broken Yolk Cafe offers two seasonal specials to celebrate Valentine's Day. The raspberry swirl pancake is made with the restaurant's sweet buttercreambatter with a twist of raspberries, a drizzle of cream cheese frosting andpowdered sugar all topped with fresh raspberries.

By Miriam Raftery

Image: CC via Bing

February 8, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – AT&T has filed an application asking the California Public Utilities Commission to end AT&T’s obligation to serve as a carrier of last resort (COLR) and cease maintaining land line telephone service. A map indicates this would include the entire San Diego region. If the CPUC approves the request,  land line service could end as early as six months later.

There are no in-person hearings in San Diego County, but you can voice your opinion in a virtual hearing March 19 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. or post online comments here.  

"If approved by the CPUC, over 580,000 affected AT&T customers would be left with fewer options in terms of choice, quality, and affordability," warns the Rural County Representatives of California. "Alternative services, such as VoIP and wireless, have no obligation to serve a customer or to provide equivalent services to AT&T landline customers, including no obligation to provide reliable access to 911 or Lifeline program discounts."

The proposal has drawn strong opposition from rural residents in East County and elsewhere in California, as well as consumer advocates who warn that ending land lines would leave many in rural or remote locations with no reliable phone service at all, since Internet VOIP phone service is not widely available in many places and some areas also lack cell phone connectivity. Even for those with cell service, land lines have proven life-saving options when cell towers have burned down during wildfires in places such as rural Potrero.

Updated Feb. 24 with information on fundraising effort to help toddler critically injured in crash

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2024 (El Cajon) – A woman who died January 28 in a fiery El Cajon crash has been identified as Katalina “Katy” Frausto Aguilar, 43, of El Cajon. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her widow and their children.

A separate GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to pay medical bills of Akeel, a 17-monthh-old toddler who suffered serious head and neck injuries in the crash. Akeel was asleep in his father's SUV parked at a stoplight when Aguilar lost control of her vehicle while driving the wrong direction on I-8. View article with latest updates on Akeel's condition.