March 18, 2014 (San Diego)-- Reps. Susan Davis and Scott Peters, along with members of San Diego’s medical research community have joined together to call on Congress to increase federal funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds critical medical research.

Memorial service set for March 29

March 18, 2014 (Santee) - “It is with great sorrow that we inform you of the death of one of our founding members, Elaine Murphy,” Rita Lee, Secretary of the Santee Historical Society wrote in an e-mail to members. “Ms. Murphy's great passion was the Santee Historical Society, and she was a leading force in reviving the Santee Historical Society after the death of Harriet Wade.  Ms. Murphy was President of the Santee Historical Society several times and was always there to give some helpful tips or a helping hand to any of our members.  Ms Murphy was not only part of the life’s blood of the Society, she was a dear friend. She will be sorely missed.”

Limited-Time Charter Explorer Opportunity Locks in Low Price for Three Years

March 17, 2014 (San Diego)-- City of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Council President Todd Gloria today announced the official launch of the complete Balboa Park Explorer family of passes, granting general admission to all 17 Balboa Park museums for one low price.

Update March 20:  Missing Persons of America has advised ECM that Joseph Swett has been found and is safe.

March 17, 2014 (Santee) – San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the family of 20 year-old Joseph Swett and the San Diego Sheriff's Department requests public help in finding the missing man, who has been diagnosed with autism.  He was last seen wearing a bright orange shirt, red shorts and black shoes.  He is white, has short brown hair, brown eyes, and was unshaven.  He stands five feet 10 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.

Swett came to Santee with his mother and brother from Los Angeles to attend a Christian college for two weeks. Shortly after 3:00 p.m. today, his mother and brother left the motel room in the 10700 block of Woodside Avenue in Santee to get lunch.  Swett remained in the motel room to take a nap. When his mother and brother returned,  Swett was gone.

By Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2014 (Rancho San Diego) – “To think that a little pub in Rancho Santa Fe could win this—it’s fabulous!” exclaims Craig MacDonald, owner of Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill in Rancho San Diego, hoisting a pint to celebrate his establishing being  named best international Irish pub in the world.

We caught up with MacDonald during a 15^th anniversary party at Hooleys, where  he proudly showed his award--then told us how he learned of this fine honor.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

March 17, 2014 (San Diego)--During a hazardous materials incident, firefighters and first responders isolate the area and deny entry to keep it contained.  The same goes if you have the flu.  Both are toxic and pose an unreasonable risk to our Health, Safety and Environment!  Isolate yourself and stay away from others because it spreads through contamination.

March 17, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - General Motors has announced recalls of numerous vehicles due to serious safety issues including brake, ignition, and most recently, airbag problems.

Flawed Water Supply Plan for Electric Substations Results in Request to Revoke Planned Projects

By Sharon Penny; photo by Wayne Brammer

March 16, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--During one of the worst droughts in San Diego County history, a backcountry group has filed a complaint against San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) regarding its flawed water supply plan for construction of its ECO Substation (photo, left), Boulevard Substation, and 14 miles of new 138KV line.

Backcountry Against Dumps (BAD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending groundwater-dependent communities from environmentally unsafe facilities and projects, is seeking an order against SDG&E, contending that the company violated a mitigation measure (MM HYD-3) that would directly impact eastern San Diego’s already strained water supplies.  The complaint was filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CUPC) and asks the CPUC to rescind SDG&E’s water supply plan and permit to construction the ECO substation project, among other actions.

County News Service

March 15, 2014 (San Diego)--Since Jan. 1, DAS has received 78 calls from the community. Last year, only 24 calls came in during that time frame.

“Our very mild winter and several heat spells are drawing the rattlesnakes out of their dens a little earlier this year,” said DAS Director Dawn Danielson.

By Miriam Raftery; photos by Tom Lemon

March 16, 2014 (Cibbets Flat) – Tom Lemon sent in these these idyllic photos with a subject line, “East County has a stream!” These images were taken at Cibbets Flat in the Kitchen Creek area.

By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2014 (El Cajon) – Abel Angel Martinez has turned himself into the Sheriff after reportedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home, shooting her and her boyfriend.  The couple awoke  in bed to find Martinez in the residence. Both were shot with a handgun. The crime at 1525 Wilson Road in the unincorporated area of El Cajon was reported at 6:25 a.m.

Eufracio Alberto Enriquez, 35, was pronounced dead after efforts by family members, deputies and paramedics to perform CPR failed to revive him.  Leila Farmer, 40, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and was transported to a hospital.

By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2014 (California)--A new report reveals that the risk of earthquakes in California is being dramatically increased by oil companies injecting billions of gallons of wastewater from fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, into disposal wells near active faults near major cities.  “Millions of Californians live in areas at risk for induced earthquakes,” the report concludes.

The report, titled “On Shaky Ground,” was prepared by Earthworks, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Clean Water Action.   It found that 54% of our state’s 1,553 injection wells are within 10 miles of a recently active fault, 23% are within five miles and 6% are within just one mile. 

Numerous earthquakes across the country have been linked to fracking by scientists, including temblors as high as 5.7 on the Richter scale, the report details. Fracking quakes are common in areas such as Oklahoma and Texas, producing quakes higher than ever seen in some places.

By Roy L Hales

Deadline for public comments on changes March 24

March 15, 2014 (Mojave Desert)--The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved “the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of an up to 750-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation facility and related infrastructure called the McCoy Solar Energy Project.This project follows on the heels of the California Energy Commission’s approval of a similar project by NextEra Blythe Solar Energy.

Update March 18, 2014:  All four children have been found safe at the U.S.-Mexico border by Border Patrol agents. The parents remain at large and a warrant has been issued for their arrest. Details below in our earlier story.

March 15, 2014 (Los Angeles) – The California Highway Patrol has issued a statewide Amber Alert for four children abducted in Los Angeles today.  The suspects may be driving a dark-colored Chrysler PT cruiser with paper plates and a missing hubcab. Police believe they may be headed for San Diego or Mexico.

The suspects are Enrique Felix, 28, and Rose Chiarez, 28.  They are suspected of abducting their four children:  Enrique, 7, Justin, 5, and twins Veronica and Janeth.

March 15, 2014 (El Cajon )—A benefit concert will be held today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in El Cajon to help the family of Bella Noble cover the costs of  Life Flight, hospitalization and funeral services. Bella, 5, died after a tragic vehicle accident on October 17, 2013. 

The public is invited to join Eve Selis, Caliber, Lightning Train, and The PettyBreakers to sing, dance, celebrate and honor the life of Bella Noble.

“Bella and her brother, William, attended many musical events with their mom Sheri, and their dad, Bill, who has provided sound engineering services for many of the county's top musicians. Many of the musicians have recounted about how much Bella loves to sing and dance at their events, so a concert is a very fitting way to pay respects to her! In fact, the last time I saw Bella, she was dancing with her dad at my wedding - I'll never forget that image. It would mean the world to Bella to see everyone at the concert dancing - as she'll be dancing alongside us all in spirit,” says Mike Reilly.