Update 5:55 p.m.:  The Gate Fire is 800 acres and is now 10% contained.  Road closures remain in effect on Highway 94 from Honey Springs Rd. to State Route 188, and on Otay Lakes Road.

Update 4:50 p.m.:   Fire is now 500 acres and still only 5% contained. A Chula Vista policeman directing traffic was struck by a vehicle and has been taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Update 3:20 p.m. :  The Gate Fire is now 425 acres and 5% contained, per Cal Fire. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo left, by Dan Cassidy

May 20, 2017 (Jamul/Otay) – The Gate Fire has scorched 300 to 400 acres,  according to Cal-Fire.  Thus far no structures have been damaged.  The fire is burning  near Highway 94 and Otay Lakes Road, toward the Rancho Jamul Reserve with winds at 10-15 miles per hour.  The fire is zero percent contained and still spreading rapidly. 

East County News Service

Photo: View from atop Lyons Peak,  via UCSD HP Wren webcam

Upate 1:20 p.m. :  Brush fire is now 300 acres. Pio Pico campground has been shut down. There is  a hard closure of  highway 94 from the Dulzura Cafe to State Route 188, per CHP site. Take alternate routes and avoid this area.

May 20, 2017 (Jamul/Otay) --  A brush fire that started on Otay Lakes Mountain south of Jamul has burned 100 acres, per Cal Fire, and is spreading at a dangerous rate of speed in the vicinity of State Route 94 and Otay Lakes Road.

California Highway Patrol has ordered Otay Lakes Road shut down due to the fast-moving fire.

East County News Service

May 19, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – What’s it like to be a firefighter?  Find out on June 17th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heartland Fire Training Facility, 1301 North Marshall Avenue in El Cajon. “Fire Ops 101,“ a fire ground-operations orientation for civilians including elected  officials and media representatives, will include actually suiting up in firefighter protective clothing, donning self-contained breathing apparatus and actually going inside a real fire to experience firsthand the environment in which firefighters work.

East County News Service

May 19, 2017 (Santee) -- The Heartland Coin Club presents the Heartland Summer Coin Show on Saturday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Santee.  Learn how to start your own coin collection, or add new coins to your existing collection.  You’ll find  plenty of U.S. and foreign coins, antique coins, and currency—plus dealers will be present to buy, sell and appraise coins.

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

Photo via D3Damon, iStockphoto

May 18, 2017 (Sacramento) - Opponents of a bill intended to smooth the way for the rollout of next-generation cell technology are cautiously optimistic - after a key committee put the measure on hold on Monday.

May 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• The painful truth about teeth (Washington Post)
• Heroin Epidemic Is Driving a Spike in Hepatitis C Cases, CDC Says (NPR)
• Plant chemicals hope for 'alternative contraceptives' (BBC)
• How to Do a Really Good Job Washing Your Hands (NPR)
• Doctors Who Are Moms Say They Face Discrimination at Work (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Global ‘Wana’ Ransomware Outbreak Earned Perpetrators $26,000 So Far (Krebs)
• Iguana chase wins Bafta for Planet Earth II (BBC)
• Tesla begins taking orders for its solar roof (CNN)
• Could these mini reactors replicate the power of the Sun? (BBC)
• It might be time to say goodbye to the MP3 - so let's look back at its life (BBC)

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

East County News Service

May 18, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce encourages you to taste foods and beverages from dozens of local restaurants at the ninth annual “Taste of La Mesa” being held on Monday, June12th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.

Officials intervene in pending case to ensure effective defense of Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Source: Calif. Attorney General’s Office

May 18, 2017 (Sacramento) -- California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today took legal action to challenge the Trump Administration and protect health care access for millions of Americans.

Below is text from their press release:

East County News Service

May 18, 2017 (El Cajon) - The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College will host its second Customer Appreciation Day on Sunday, May 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The winners of the 2017 Landscape Contest will be recognized.

East County News Service

May 18, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) will present its 2017 Journalist of the Year award to Morgan Cook, an investigative reporter at The San Diego Union-Tribune, for her investigative reporting that revealed campaign finance scandals involving Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine).

“San Diego has seen its share of big stories this past year, but our board believes no local journalist did better work than Cook in her relentless accountability reporting on Congressman Duncan Hunter’s use of campaign funds for personal expenses. She broke the story last year and continues to follow it after the Department of Justice made clear in March that it is investigating Hunter, whose district covers Alpine, Escondido and Temecula,” a press release from SPJ states.

East County News Service

May 19, 2017 (Spring Valley) – Calling all walkers! You’re invited to get on track and take turns walking for 24 hours, since cancer never sleeps. It’s all part of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life team event to fight cancer this Saturday and Sunday, May 21, starting at 9 a.m. each day at Monte Vista High School’s football field, 3230 Sweetwater Springs Blvd. in Spring Valley.

By Jordan Damond

May 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Congressman Duncan Hunter has introduced the Cigarette Smoking Reduction and Electronic Vapor Alternatives Act, which eases regulations on vaping and electronic cigarettes.

East County News Service

May 18, 2017 (San Diego) - Sycuan Casino is pleased to announce this year’s Summer of Sycuan concert series. Kicking off the summer series is world-famous drummer Sheila E. performing at Sycuan on Friday, June 9. Multi-platinum music group Bell Biv DeVoe will follow with three shows on consecutive nights, June 26, 27 and 28.

May 18, 2017 (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

• Santee ok’s start of special district for Castlerock residents (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Should UCSD and other hospitals pay millions of dollars to sports teams? ( San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Local Experts Explain Recent Uptick in Shark Sightings (NBC)
• Ramona High School listed for sale in funny senior prank (Fox 5)
• Gaming gone bust, tribe turns to marijuana farming (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• A day in the life of Rep. Duncan Hunter (Fox News)
• Drugs, graffiti found at La Mesa little league field (10 News)
• San Diego using loophole to hand out large raises during pay freeze (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Bill would expand property tax portability for older CA homeowners (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Gov. Brown defends gas tax, local legislator (OC Register)
• DMV issues hundreds of disabled placard citations (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Army Training In California Desert To Take On Cyber Threats (KPBS)
• California courts look to modernize with chatbots, video tech (SF Chronicle)

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

By Miriam Raftery

An East County Magazine Special report

May 17, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – In a bombshell announcement, the U.S. Justice Department has  issued an order to appoint a special prosecutor  to investigate Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign.  Far more broadly, the order allows investigation of any matters that arise from the investigation and all other matters within a special prosecutor’s jurisdiction under federal law – including authorization to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation.   

Acting Attorney General  Rod. J. Rosenstein issued the order to appoint Robert Mueller, a former federal prosecutor who served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama.