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.

August 25, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our radio shows from  May and June 2019 are now online.  For links to listen plus an index with full list of topics and interviews in each show, click here or click the "read more" link and scroll down for audio links below the index. (Audio files may take a few moments to load.)  Our recent interviews include Sierra Club leader Peter Anderson on risks posed by developments in fire-prone rural areas, La Mesa Councilmembers Kristine Alessio and Colin Parent on regional transportation issues, and actor Victor Contreras on BonitaFest and San Diego’s 250^th birthday celebration.

We also covered hot issues including affordable housing, the Poway synagogue shooting, a local mountain lion attack, the future of La Mesa’s farmer’s market, a vacancy on the El Cajon Council, and the corruption charges facing Congressman Duncan Hunter as well as top events.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Story by Liz Alper

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 24, 2019 (San Diego) - School is back in session and the Aztecs once again hit the soccer pitch at the SDSU Sports Deck for an exhibition game against crosstown rival UCSD.

East County News Service

August 24, 2019 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police Department’s traffic unit will conduct a DUI checkpoint tonight in the 4900 block of Spring Street from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.  LMPD will also have extra officer on the road now through Sept. 2 over Labor Day weekend looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Department is partnering with law enforcement agencies nationwide in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign over Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day Weekend remains one of the deadliest times of year for alcohol-involved crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 376 deadly crashes nationwide during the 2017 Labor Day holiday period (Sept. 1 to Sept. 5). Among those crashes, more than one-third (36%) involved a drunk driver. Last year, two people were killed, and 31 others injured in California on Labor Day alone.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Photo : Creative Commons via S.A.

August 23, 2019 (Sacramento) -- A new court ruling says states cannot penalize a delegate to the Electoral College for voting against the popular vote from that state. 

By Kathy Carpenter

August 23, 2019 (Spring Valley) – Watching Xanadu is like stepping into a time warp. The musical is based on the Universal film starring Olivia Newton-John. Yes, I saw the movie way back when and loved it--the music, the romance, the innocent kind of fun. It's what we did back in 1980. But I haven't seen the movie since.