January 26, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:  

• State of the Union: Obama calls for tax fairness (BBC)
• Starbucks pro-gun policy prompts gun victims’ advocate group to announce nationwide boycott on Valentine’s Day
• Army says suicides down, but violent crimes up (MSNBC)
• Senate Dems make Mitt Romney the poster boy for tax reform (The Hill)
• Wisconsin recall petition of Gov. Walker gets 1 million signatures (Washington Post)

• South Carolina primary: Newt Gingrich defeats Mitt Romney (ABC)
• Obama launches swing state tour (CNN)
• Santorum hails delayed Iowa win as huge upset (CNN)
• Bain Capital owns Clear Channel:
• Romney parks millions in Cayman Islands offshore tax haven (ABC News)
• Ex-wife claims Gingrich sought open marriage, Gingrich says allegation false (Fox News)
• Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich (CNN)

• Navy Seal raid frees Somali hostages (BBC)
• Israel rattled as hackers hit bourse, banks, El Al (Reuters)
• The secret document that transformed China (NPR)
• Recent attacks by radical Islamist sect in Nigeria (San Diego U-T)
• Afghan asylum bids hit 10-year high (San Diego U-T)

• Blind can see again: First patients seen to improve with stem cell tissues (Reuters)

Take our poll: Should the GUHSD have notified all residents by mail before changing school district boundaries? 

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – At a Grossmont Union High School District board of trustees meeting on October 13, trustee Priscilla Schreiber asked Superintendent Ralf Swenson how workshops on proposed district boundary changes would be publicized. Swenson replied, “We are sending out mailers, putting things on websites, and we are working with our feeder districts to get the word out through their schools…”

But no mailers were ever sent to district residents. Nor did feeder schools (middle and elementary) notify parents of future high school students. Yet the district approved boundary changes November 10 that will affect thousands of students. Now a clamor has arisen among parents who had no idea such changes were in the works—and want the action reversed.

January 25, 2012 (San Diego)—Terence Jarvis and David White have been charged with a series of crimes that occurred during a 12-hour period on December 27 and 28, including the robbery and attempted murder of 18-year-old Grant Richman in the College West neighborhood.

 
January 24, 2012 (Lakeside) -- What could be more beautiful than a mid-winter’s sunrise over an East County mountainside? 

Photographer Billy Ortiz shot these stunning images while hiking in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley, along El Capitan, over the Lunar New Year, marking an idyllic start to this Year of the Dragon.

Council also approves program to promote composting by local gardeners

January 24, 2012 (La Mesa)—Gearing up for the city’s year-long centennial celebration, 2012 promises to be “a very busy, festive and memorable year,” said La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid during tonight’s State of the City address.

February 3 protest planned at Congressman’s El Cajon office

January 25, 2012 (Ramona)—Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. On February 3rd, members of the liberal Ramona Forum will join forces with conservative members of the TEA party to demand the resignation of Congressman Duncan Hunter. The protest will be held at Rep. Hunter’s office, 1870 Cordell Street in El Cajon, from 1 to 4 p.m.

 
Group also announces release of new album, “A Different Kind of Truth” 

Republicans draw fire for criticizing speech—before it was written or delivered

January 22, 2012 (Sacramento ) – Governor Jerry Brown laid out his vision for restoring California’s reputation as a leader in innovation, job creation and renewable energy in his State of the State speech last week.

January 22, 2012 (La Mesa)—Do you have the “write stuff to be a novelist or nonfiction writer?” Want to learn about the literary world or meet local authors? From romance writing to knights and chivalry, from political figures to an e-book publishing expert, you’ll find it all at the first annual La Mesa Readers and Writers Festival.

By Jo Marie Diamond, President and CEO
East County Economic Development Council (www.eastcountyedc.org)

January 24, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Where’s East County in the scenarios presented by the Greater San Diego Vision? Make your voice heard soon.

You may have seen the ads, heard the radio spots and received emails urging you to engage in the public choosing process for the Greater San Diego Vision initiative. You may have even visited the Public Choosing site and taken a tour of the scenarios for Land Use, Economic Development, Education, and Culture and Amenities.

What you haven’t seen or heard is any reference to the role of East County in these scenarios.

January 24, 2012 (Jamul) – The citizens of Jamul,  a small rural town in eastern San Diego Country, have launched of a community website at www.Jamul.com. The new site includes community news, emergency alerts, history, resources, events and more.

January 25, 2012 (San Carlos)—A teen driver with four passengers in a Dodge Charger struck a Dodge SUV carry a family with three young children last night on Badin Drive near Jackson Drive. The crash, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., injured eight people.

Update January 29, 2012:  The San Diego Medical Examiner's office has identified the victim as Derek anthony Millsap, who lived with his family in Escondido.

January 24, 2012 (Escondido) – A 22-year-old Escondido driver was killed tonight after racing another vehicle, causing a shutdown of multiple lanes on I-15 south late this afternoon.

Modernized Career Technical Education building provides state-of-the-art workspaces to students

January 26, 2012 (El Cajon)--Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) and El Cajon Valley High School officials dedicated a newly renovated metal works facility and special education suites with an honorary chain-cutting ceremony yesterday.

January 24, 2012 (San Diego) – A Sig Alert has been issued for Highway 94 west near Federal Blvd. due to a rollover accident. At least one victim is reportedly trapped, according to the CHP website. Two lanes are blocked and traffic is impacted in both directions.