By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Jade White and John Berray of Instructional Technology at GUHSD 1/22/18 (photo credit GUHSD)

January 28, 2018 (El Cajon) - The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) has completed its first semester of integrated math successfully, according to Jade White and John Berray, who gave details on the roll-out at January’s governing board meeting.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Hear our full in-depth interview, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM radio, by clicking the audio link.

January 28, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Shamus Sayed, a Republican running in the 50^th Congressional District for the seat currently held by Rep. Duncan Hunter, calls himself a fiscally conservative, socially moderate Republican.  He says he’s running, “because I want to make a change” and because he wants to bring “integrity and accountability” to the offices.

Rep. Hunter is under criminal investigation by the Justice Department for alleged use of campaign funds for lavish personal expenses.  A federal grand jury has recently been convened, raising the potential for an indictment, though Hunter has stated recently that he has no intentional of stepping down.

East County News Service

January 27, 2018 (La Mesa) – A 44-year-old man was struck and killed last night by a Ford Taurus while walking southbound across westbound lanes of traffic in the 8500 block of Fletcher Parkway.

La Mesa Police received a call reporting the accident around 9 p.m. The victim was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries. His identity is being withheld pending family notifications.

Writ of Mandate claims El Cajon Pot Shop and Cultivation Ordinance is Punitive

By Paul Kruze

January 28, 2018 (El Cajon) -- When California voters approved Proposition 64 legalizing the recreational use and cultivation of marijuana, voters also approved a less publicized part of the proposition which allows individual cities and counties to regulate where it can be bought and cultivated.

Warner Springs and Murrieta farm raises pastured chickens, rebuilds healthy soils and grasslands, and coexists with wildlife

Story and photos @Pasturebird and Primal Pastures.

January 27, 2018 (Warner Springs) -- Most people don’t set up a wholesale pastured poultry operation in an area known for its mountain lion activity as much as for its orchards.  Yet for farmer Paul Grieve of Pasturebird, flourishing habitat is an integral part of farming. “The important thing to us is that we build an ecosystem.  Our role is to steward the land and grow a great environment for Mother Nature.”

“Your guide to financial planning & socially responsible investing”

By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®, President, Blue Summit Wealth Management

January 26, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Despite the promise of tax “reform” or “simplification,” the bill actually adds hundreds of pages to our tax laws.  And the initial idea of reducing the number of tax brackets was apparently tossed aside in the final version; the new bill maintains seven different tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%.  Most people will see their bracket go down by one to four percentage points, with the higher reductions going to people with higher income.  And the tax brackets, going forward, will be indexed to inflation, meaning that the “real” income brackets will remain approximately the same from year to year.

By Mike Allen

January 26, 2018 (Santee) -- Despite having one of the most homogeneous populations in the county and lacking any concentration of minority groups, Santee elected officials say the city’s hands are tied, and Santee is forced to comply with a state law urging cities to adopt district elections.

By Jillian Hymer

January 26, 2018 (El Cajon) – At a StoryTent pitched outside the El Cajon Library last week, children listened to stories read aloud and enthusiastically chose books to read. It’s all part of Traveling Stories, a local nonprofit that focuses on “inspiring children to learn to read so they can read to learn.”  You can bring your children ages 2-12 to weekly readings at three locations in San Diego County, including the El Cajon Library each Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 pm.

A StoryTent is set up where staff members, volunteers and parents all pitch in to “empower kids to outsmart poverty…by helping kids fall in love with reading by the 4th grade,” said Hezhi Naseem, the Field Director.

By David Lesher, editor and CEO at Cal Matters, an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government

January 25, 2018 (Sacramento) -- Dear Californians,

If you care about this state, it’s time to sound the alarm about the crisis in media and what it means for the health of democracy in the world’s sixth largest economy.

Media is declining nationally, but unique pressures have made California into America’s laboratory for a dangerous experiment about what happens to the public interest when policy is made without the public’s awareness or accountability.

Unique treatment could translate to companion Animals, humans

By Amy Quinton, UC Davis

January 25, 2018 (Davis) - Two adult female black bears that were burned during the Thomas Fire in Southern California have recuperated and are now back in the wild thanks to the help of University of California, Davis, veterinarians and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Now hiring for new Director of Sales position

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (El Cajon) --  Sycuan Casino announced today that the organization is now hiring for a new Director of Sales position. This position is the first of over 700 new jobs for the hotel and resort expansion project. The new positions will be in the hotel, food and beverage and casino divisions. Sycuan will begin hiring for departmental leadership positions during the first half of the year and will host a series of job fairs mid to late 2018.

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (Washington D.C.) --  Following an intense earthquake that occurred in the Gulf of Alaska yesterday, which prompted tsunami watches, advisories and warnings across many state coastlines, FEMA continues to highlight safety tips for those who live in or visit coastal communities.  While today’s immediate threat has passed, the situation serves as a reminder to all that there are steps that can be taken now, to prepare for future events.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 15

East County News Service

January. 24, 2018 (San Diego) —  San Diego State University’s Sage Project is looking to partner with a local community for the 2018-19 academic year. As part of the collaboration, students assist with projects that directly address the partner community’s goals and in turn, better the quality of life for area residents.

During the 2016-17 academic year, the Sage Project partnered with the City of Lemon Grove. Students from 32 courses across 12 different disciplines designed and installed an art mural on the city’s community center, assisted in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping of thousands of data points and designed gateway signage, among other projects.

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2018 (San Diego) – An urgent call for blood donors and platelet donors has been issued by the American Red Cross nationwide, including here in San Diego County. 

The Red Cross has a shortage due to donors cancelling appointments because of flu and in some areas, winter storms. Across the U.S., over 150 blood drives also had to be cancelled in January due to severe winter weather.

January 24, 2018 (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 news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Republicans fund Children’s health insurance program, but leave their local health centers in the lurch (Los Angeles Times)
• Wild horses face slaughter after U.S. government proposes new regulations (ABC)
• 7.9 quake in Gulf of Alaska spurs tsunami alerts, evacuations  (Anchorage Daily News)
• Trump team bypassed DHS analysts to produce bogus terror report (Daily Beast)
• White supremacists killed 18 people in 2017, double the number in 2016, study finds (Newsweek)
• Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar gets 40 to 175 years for sex abuse (NBC)
• A year ago, they marched. Now a record number of women are running for office (Time)
• Hawaii governor didn't correct false missile alert sooner because he didn't know his Twitter password (Jewish world Review)
• Trump’s 24-year-old drug policy appointee was let go at law firm after he ‘just didn’t show’ (Washington Post)
• Sessions is questioned as Russia inquiry focuses on obstruction (New York Times)
• 2 dead, 17 wounded in Kentucky high school shooting (USA Today)
• Ex-C.I.A. Officer Suspected of Compromising Chinese Informants Is Arrested (New York Times)

WORLD

• Turkish forces push into Syria, battle Kurdish militia (Reuters)
• Turkey kills at least 260 Kurdish, Islamic State fighters in Syria offensive: military  (Reuters)
• Chilean protests, threats 'unprecedented' for papal visit (CS Monitor)
• At least 19 dead after overnight battle at Kabul hotel in Afghanistan (JPost)
• Philippine volcano erupts, causing 56,000 to flee (BBC)
• Nikki Haley says Russia is complicit in Syria atrocities (CNN)

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