August 28, 2019 (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.

• Dorian intensifies to a hurricane over U.S. Virgin Islands and is a growing threat to Southeast U.S (Washington Post)
• Costs to mail ballots may skyrocket for civilians, military living overseas (Fulcrum) 
• ICE removes hotline for detained immigrants (NBC 7)
• A Jewish movement against ICE takes off by deploying its most famous mantra (Religion News)
• SpaceX's Mars rocket prototype rattles nearby residents in Texas flight test (Reuters) 

WORLD

•  Why the Amazon rain forest could be at risk of collapsing (CBS News)
• G7: Trump skips talks on climate crisis and Amazon fires (Reuters)
• Parliament suspension: Queen approves prime minister’s plan (BBC)
• 23 killed in attack on bar in southern Mexico (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Hong Kong protesters form 28-mile human chain demanding democracy (NBC)

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

August 28, 2019 (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

• Schools Tied to A3 Charter School Scandal Will All Close (Voice of San Diego)
• County collects ideas for boosting agri-tourism (Ramona Sentinel)
• Ramona Man Mutters 'I Didn't Do It' as Judge Sentences Him for Killing Pregnant Woman on Mother's Day 2017 (NBC 7)
• Congolese Asylum-Seeker Reunited With Family After Almost Two Years Apart (KPBS)

STATE

• Jews praise Calif. education board's decision to rewrite curriculum (Jerusalem Post)
• Developments in disaster-prone areas means big bucks for builders, but can leave communities at risk (News 21)
• California Supreme Court backs greater access to police misconduct cases (Los Angeles Times) 
• Black Market Hash-Oil Labs Growing, Exploding In California: DEA (Patch.com)

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

County asks public’s help to report and eradicate invasive mosquitos that can transmit dangerous diseases including Yellow Fever and Zika

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2019 (San Diego) – Lakeside resident Dennis Richardson was appalled to discover that “thousands” of Yellow Fever mosquitos were breeding in water dishes under potted plants at his home.  His grandfather was a sanitation engineer who worked to eradicate Yellow Fever so that Americans could build the Panama canal and later battled a Yellow Fever epidemic in Peru. Richardson says, “This work was deadly for most who did the work, as most got yellow fever.”

East County News Service

August 29, 2019 (La Mesa) – Thrive Real Estate, an independent real estate brokerage in the East County, has announced it is now affiliated with Compass, Inc., one of the fastest growing real estate brokerages in the U.S.

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2019 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service in San Diego has released a new video with the fall and winter outlook.  The prediction is for warmer than average fall and winter weather, with near average to below average precipitation, though atmospheric rivers are still possible, says meteorologist Alex Tardy.

How much more damage will be done before the fix is in?

By Joshua Mansour, M.D.

Photo via Creative Commons

August 27, 2019 (San Diego) - Despite the recent vaping death, the FDA is still allowing e-cigarette makers until 2022 to submit their plans for preventing underage access to their products.  But is that too late?  While e-cigarettes and vaping were initially intended to help adults quit smoking traditional cigarettes, they have managed to entice younger individuals to pick up this dangerous habit.  The colorful packaging, different flavors, and seemingly harmless. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – Increasingly erratic and irrational statements by President Donald Trump in recent weeks have raised questions in mainstream media outlets and even among former Trump allies over whether he is showing signs of dementia (which his father had) or mental illness, such as that believed to have plagued "Mad King George" III.).

CNN business writer Brian Stelter wrote on Monday, “I spent the week talking with major media figures at networks and newspapers. And that was the consensus: President Trump's behavior is getting worse in type and in frequency. It seems he's acting more erratic more often.”  He accused media of “tiptoeing” around the President’s “complete rejection of reality.”

 Here are some examples:

East County News Service

August 27, 2019 (San Diego) – The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association (PSRM), an East County-based historical and educational nonprofit, is partnering with the Spreckels Organ Society for the final concert of its summer-long 2019 San Diego International Organ Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Admission to the concert is free.

Seven Chambers of Commerce coming together to host the event

Source:  San Diego District Attorney

August 26, 2019 (El Cajon) - Members of the public are welcome to attend the first-ever Economic Crimes Forum in East County hosted by seven chambers of commerce to learn how scams and cyber-crimes impact businesses and the community. At the event, experts from the District Attorney’s Office will teach attendees how to protect themselves and their businesses from becoming victims of fraud and other economic-related crimes.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

August 26, 2019 (La Mesa)   Parents in La Mesa are charged with murdering their infant son, as well as assault and child abuse. Joel Dwayne Rodriguez-Brownell and Jalena Robin Rodriguez were arrested August 18th after their 8-month-old son, also named Joel, suffered life-threatening injuries. Murder charges were added after the child died a day later.

East County News Service

August 26, 2019 (Ramona) — It’s time for stompers and swabbers to create their two-person teams to challenge brother, sister, classmates, boss, colleague or best friend to win the  title of “Ramona Grape Stomp Champion” at the third annual Ramona Grape Stomp on Saturday, September 14 at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center (ROCC) from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event offers fun for the entire family—children’s activities, wine tasting, competitive and fun stomping, music, line dancing, food, and shopping. 

By Liz Alper

Photo: Manny Machado's 27th homer lifted the Padres over the Sox. Via @Padres on Twitter

August 25, 2019 (San Diego) - The Padres have sustained two days of colossal punishment from the Red Sox.  Might as well take one more. Brian Johnson started today’s finale for Boston against Joey Lucchesi.