East County News Service

September 5, 2017 (Poway) – The Sheriff seeks public help to locate three suspects in a white van who reportedly tried to kidnap two boys, ages 9 and 12.

According to the boys, the van pulled up next to them as they were walking along Martincoit Road on Thursday, August 21^st.  A front passenger wearing a black ski mask tried to grab the 12-year-old through an open window and ordered him to “Get in the car.”

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Type “Sports” on the donation line!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 5, 2017 (La Mesa) - Amidst all the high school football, Helix High field hockey is ready to start a new season.  Tonight, they faced the Centurions of University City High in La Jolla in their first matchup of the season.

Changes to cost California retirement savers $1.2 billion

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service, California

September 5, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- Just days before Labor Day, the Trump administration announced two policies that consumer advocates say hurt the average worker and favor Wall Street and big business.

On Wednesday, the Labor Department announced it is delaying by 18 months’ enforcement of key parts of the Obama-era Fiduciary Rule, which requires financial advisers to put clients' interests above their own when recommending investments.

By Miriam Raftery

September 5, 2017 (El Cajon) – Following a County declaration of a Hepatitis A emergency last Friday, with 70% of those cases among homeless people and/or illicit drug users, East County Magazine asked for information on El Cajon, which has a substantial homeless population.  Today, Councilman Gary Kendrick confirmed, “The County has identified that some of these cases have been within the city of El Cajon.”

East County News Service

September 5, 2017 ( La Mesa) – The volunteer citizens group monitoring the spending of millions of dollars in public funds for new and improved patient care facilities at Sharp Grossmont Hospital has a new member. James Sly, vice president and chief operations officer of the San Diego East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC), has joined the Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (ICBOC). The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), the public agency managing the bond-financed construction at the hospital, recently approved the appointment of Sly to the ICBOC.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Department of Homeland Security

September 4, 2017 (San Diego) – Homeland Security in Thursday announced four companies chosen to build prototypes of a border wall in the Otay Mesa area in San Diego. President Donald Trump has threatened a government shut down if Congress won’t fund subsequent construction of a wall along most of the international U.S.-Mexico border in an upcoming spending bill. 

East County News Service

September 4, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont College Music Department will present "Salsa Under the Stars," a fundraiser for student scholarships and a CD release celebration for music instructor and internationally known salsa bandleader, composer and recording artist Manny Cepeda.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 4, 2017 (San Diego) - Summertime fun will carry into the fall this year. Summer Movies in the Park continues with two dozen free outdoor movies in September and October. So pop the popcorn, grab your picnic blanket and get ready for family-friendly films under the stars.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Hear our interview with Josh Butner at the audio link and scroll down for highlights.

September 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Josh Butner says he’s running for Congress against Representative Duncan Hunter in the 50th Congressional District to “put people first, not personal profit or special interest politics.” 

A former Navy Seal Lieutenant Commander and current trustee on the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District board, he wants to champion a strong public education, restore integrity, and provide strong leadership on issues ranging from foreign policy to helping military families to combating climate change.

East County Magazine’s Show recently sat down with Butner for an in-depth interview originally aired July 21 on KNSJ radio. Hear the full 42-minute interview by clicking the orange audio link, and scroll down for highlights. He is one of five Democrats in the race; two Republican challengers to Hunter have also announced intentions to run. With Hunter under a federal criminal probem, this race is drawing national attention.

East County News Service

September 4, 2017 ( La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) board of directors recently awarded several sponsorships to community organizations that protect and promote the health of local residents.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo left:  Los Angeles Air Ops via L.A. Fire Department; Jason Moore on Twitter

September 3, 2017 (San Diego) – The Border Fire near Dulzura is 100% contained. But across California, many far more major brush fires are blazing. Several local firefighting agencies have dispatched crews to aid in conflagrations across the state.

The ECOreport does an update on one of California’s most controversial wind farms – Ocotillo, five years later

By Roy L. Hales

Source:  The ECOreport

Photo, left: Turbine T126 after the collapse – Parke Ewing photo

September 3, 2017 (Ocotillo) - The Ocotillo wind farm went online almost five years ago. Were they not documented in such meticulous detail, some of the  reports coming from the tiny desert community this project surrounds would be difficult to believe.  I once received a constant stream of YouTube videos and reports from this project. It was one of the sites that shaped my perception of the energy sector.  To some extent, I’ve moved on from this story since then, but I always knew I would be revisiting Ocotillo.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Jamul Indian Village site before the casino

September 3, 2017 (Jamul) - U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller, Eastern District of California,  dismissed on August 29^th an amended complaint in Rosales v. Dutschke which sought $4 million in damages for what plaintiffs contend was the illegal and unconstitutional desecration of Native American remains to make way for the Hollywood-Jamul San Diego Casino.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2017 (Ramona) — A blue 1997 GEO metro vehicle registered in Ramona was found down an embankment off westbound Poway Road, where it came to rest against two trees.  After a passerby reported the vehicle, deputies searched for victims and found a dead woman who had been ejected, near an open driver’s side door.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type “Sports” on the donation line!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Story by Liz Alper

Photo:  Rashaad Penny rushed for 197 yards.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

September 2, 2017 (San Diego) - College football is back and the San Diego State Aztecs are the only football team left in San Diego.  This season, they're stepping up to the plate and are ready to #Win22.  Tonight in week 1, they faced UC Davis.