East County News Service

January 14, 2016 (Alpine) – Last week’s storm damage has necessitated closure of three Alpine schools today, with two remaining closed through tomorrow.

Joan MacQueen Middle School will be shut today and tomorrow due to propane leaks.  Shadow Hills and Mountain View  Learning Academy will be closed today for repairs on gas valves following leaks.

January 14, 2016 (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 top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Lost Boys find joys, challenges in adulthood (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lakeside Business Owners Bet the Farm on CEQA Challenge (Voice of San Diego)
• Those Giant Tides Are Worse Than Ever and May Be Hint of What’s to Come (VOSD)
• Torrents of water rush through San Carlos homes, residents blame city (KNSD)
• More pot dispensaries on county land coming (U-T)
• Local mom says man filmed her daughter at La Mesa park, used Facetime as cover story  (10 News)
• Brother of alleged ISIS fighter denies lies (U-T)
• Lilac Hills vote delayed indefinitely (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Openness act targets backroom deals (U-T)
• Chipotle Faces A Criminal Investigation Into Its Handling Of A Norovirus Outbreak(NPR)
• California ERs in critical condition (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Citizens’ United advisory measure can go on ballot, high court rules (LA Times)
• Aleutian Quake Zone Could Shoot Big Tsunamis To Hawaii, California (NPR)
• CPUC ousts administrative law judge (San Diego Reader)
• Public disclosure of officials’ private devices needed (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

By Mike Allen

Photo: Barbara Kimbler, Shady Lane manager

January 14, 2016 (San Diego) -- A statewide utility upgrade program aimed at giving mobile home owners improved service and replacing old and defective gas pipelines and electric power lines benefits both park owners and tenants, but the considerable cost for the project, yet unknown, will be borne by the ratepayers of the eight investor-owned utilities participating in the program.

East County News Service

January 14, 2016 (San Diego) -- A special forum will be held in San Diego on February. 11 to educate seniors and caregivers on how to avoid financial scammers and other crooks.

By Miriam Raftery

January 14, 2016 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Council has proclaimed 2016 as the Year of Inclusion.  The proclamation notes that immigrants comprise 23 percent of the population in our region, with over 100 languages spoken by San Diego residents from around the world.

The proclamation recognizes organizations in San Diego dedicated to helping s build a “culture of civic participation among new generations” that empower leadership and activism. The city's welcoming gesture toward immigrants comes at a time when anti-immigrant has been on the rise nationally and among some prominent political figures, most notably Republican presidential frontrunner candidate Donald Trump.

By Mimi Pollack

January 12, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- The motto for California Labrador Retrievers and More is “Dogs + Families = Love”. Thanks to all their hard work and dedicated volunteers, this local group, also known as Labs and More, has found homes for 3,900 dogs in five years. Just last week, Labs and More volunteers found homes for 60 dogs, an impressive record to start 2016.

By Miriam Raftery

January 12, 2016 (Sacramento) – If you take a selfie in the ballot box in California, you’ve broken the law. That hasn’t stopped celebrities and ordinary voters from posting ballot selfies on social media. In fact, nobody’s ever been arrested in our state for posting their ballot or a photo of themselves casting a vote, the Los Angeles Times reports.

By Leon Thompson

January 12, 2016 (Lemon Grove) - There will be zero medical cannabis dispensaries in Lemon Grove if Ordinance #437 passes on the “second reading” of the bill at the next City council meeting on January 19^th.

East County News Service

January 12, 2016 (Santee) — Crime Stoppers and Sheriff deputies in Santee seek public help to solve a crime spree involving burglaries of nine homes in Santee neighborhoods from December 14 to December 31, 2015. The suspect(s) targeted single story detached homes and forced their way in through a rear window or rear patio door. The stolen items were mainly prescription medications. Cash, electronics and tools have also been taken.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2016 (Lakeside) – Assemblyman Brian Jones visited the Lakeside Skatepark on Friday to commemorate his measure, Assembly Bill 1146, which became law on January 1^st.  The new law allows non-motorized scooters, bicycles, in-line skates, roller skates and non-motorized wheelchairs in skate parks.

East County News Service

January 11, 2016 (San Diego) – A ballot proposal has been filed with the San Diego City Clerk on behalf of 20 civic organizations that endorse a Charter Amendment for an independendent Community Review Board on Police Practices. On January 13^th at 9 a.m. the City Council's Rules Committee will consider whether or not to refer the measureto the full City Council for placement on the 2016 ballot.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2016  (San Diego) -- County Animal Services was the first animal sheltering organization in the nation to partner with Finding Rover and the arrangement is again showing its worth.