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.

January 24, 2018 (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

• San Diego okays landmark environmental deal that could spur development (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sempra hasn’t paid corporate taxes since 2008 (San Diego Reader)
• New Sheriff’s powers raise concerns among community advocates, activists (SD Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa Police Officer Shown Body Slamming Teenage Girl in Facebook Video Is Reassigned (KPBS)
• Four San Diego County Hospitals Make C-Section Honor Roll (KPBS)
• Prebys buildings near SDSU sell for $20.9 million (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Union-Tribune to fold its operation into the Los Angeles Times? (SD Reader)
• John Coleman dies at 83; climate change skeptic starred at KUSI, founded weather channel (Times of SD)
• Pack of pit bulls euthanized after killing 7 chihuahuas in Skyline (Times of SD)

STATE

• How California lawmakers are preparing for more natural disasters (Los Angeles Times)
• Gas tax repeal headed for ballot as money about to flow for road repairs (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County reopens, nearly two weeks after a massive mudslide (Los Angeles Times)

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

Initiative would require public vote on significant changes to General Plan, to protect backcountry from “sprawl-style development” and traffic gridlock

East County News Service

Update: Hear our interview with former Supervisor Pam Slater Price and Mark Jackson from Save Our San Diego Countryside by clicking the audio link.  Learn more at https://saveoursdcountryside.org/.

January 24, 201 (San Diego) -- Today the San Diego County Registrar of Voters approved the title and summary for the “Safeguard Our San Diego Countryside” Initiative, clearing the way for proponents to gather signatures to place the initiative on the November 2018 ballot. If passed, the measure would require voter approval of amendments to the San Diego County General Plan that significantly increase density on parcels in the unincorporated county now designated for farming, open space, and wildlife uses.

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- Pepe Aguilar will perform live in concert at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State’s Aztec Bowl on January 28^th at 6:30 p.m.

The American born singer and songwriter raised in Mexico started singing on stage at three years old and he’s never left.  The son of Mexican music and film stars Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, he attained stardom in his own right with an album of romantic ballads in 1998. Since then, he’s embraced traditional Mexican rancheria and mariachi music as well as pop  music – a style that has won him multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and sold over 12 million albums.

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – County Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal to accept bids from outside animal welfare organizations seeking to compete against the County’s Animal Services Department to provide services in the County’s unincorporated areas, including rural, desert and mountain regions in East County as well as neighborhoods such as Spring Valley, Alpine, and Lakeside. In East County, the city of Santee will also be impacted.

By Paul Kruze

Watch ECM news partner 10News Video of students speaking at Helix

Update January 24, 2018:  La Mesa Police have identified the officer, Scott Wulfing, and indicated he is assigned to administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation.

January 23, 2018 (La Mesa) -- A group of some 200 students at Helix Charter High School on Monday morning walked out of their classes and gathered in front of the school chanting “Justice for Bri” to protest the aggressive arrest of an allegedly unruly 17-year-old female student on Friday afternoon.

The officer forced the handcuffed African-American girl, who has not been identified, to the ground. The San Diego Union-Tribune today reports that the La Mesa Police Department's school resources officer for Helix has been reassigned and will not be working in any schools until an investigation is concluded.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

January 23, 2018 (Spring Valley) - ECM traveled to Granite Hills on Tuesday night for a clash between the lady Eagles and the lady Wolf Pack on the court.  Granite Hills has started their season a little lackluster, going 7-10 overall and 1-1 in league.  The Wolf Pack sport the same 7-10 record, but are undefeated so far in league, going 2-0.

By Miriam Raftery

After four weeks with no new cases associated with the local hepatitis A outbreak reported, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday ending the local public health emergency which began September 1^st.

El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick advised East County Magazine today that sunset language in its temporary ban on feeding the homeless in public places means the measure has officially expired, effective immediately.  So it’s now legal once again for organizations to feed the homeless in El Cajon’s parks or other public property.

By Miriam Raftery

January 23, 2018 (Sacramento) — The federal tax reform measure recently enacted reduces the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.  California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones observes, “That means that nationally insurers will now be able to retain even more of policyholder premiums as profit. However, in California the prior approval process that applies to property and casualty insurance rates limits insurer profits.”

By Miriam Raftery

January 23, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – Both houses of Congress have approved a short-term spending bill to reopen the federal government, but only until February 8^th. 

The compromise measure includes six years of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program which had expired at year’s end.  But Democrats failed to win Dream Act protection from deportation for young immigrants or Dreamers, settling on a mere promise from Republican  Majority Mitch McConnell to address the issue in a separate immigration bill with no guarantee of passage.

Source: Grossmont Community College District

Photo:  An architectural rendering of Grossmont College’s new Performing and Visual Arts Center currently under construction

January 23, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Continuing a winning streak that would be envy of any sports franchise, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s excellent fiscal practices have once again received top marks from independent auditors for the 14th straight year.

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique lodging adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Photos credited to ©Dennis Mammana/dennismammana.com

January 22, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – Night sky photographer Dennis Mammana made this announcement Friday on Facebook: “Proud to announce that our thousand-square-mile Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has just received its official designation as an International Dark Sky Park. That means that the Dark Sky Community of Borrego Springs is now completely surrounded by an official Dark Sky Park!”