November 8, 2014 (San Diego) – David Rovics has been heralded by Pete Seeger and Amy Goodman.  The folk singer/songwriter performs songs on social justice topics.  On November 13, he will perform a live, outdoor benefit concert for KNSJ Radio 89.1 FM, the network for social justice.

Photo, above: Dana Quittner, holding flowers, accepts Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo, right: Assemblyman Jones honors ECEDC; with Jo Marie Diamond and John Minto

By Miriam Raftery

November 8, 2014 (El Cajon)—An airplane hangar glitzed out in a Back-to-the-Future theme set the backdrop for the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) 30^th anniversary celebration.  The event drew leaders from across the region including Assemblyman Brian Jones, who presented a legislative proclamation honoring the ECEDC.

The ECEDC, a nonprofit business growth organization, presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dana Quittner, a founding ECEDC board member. Presenting the award to Quittner was Jo Marie Diamond, ECEDC president/CEO, along with John Minto, ECEDC board chair and Santee City Council member, and Deanna Weeks, the first ECEDC CEO, now retired.

November 7, 2014 (El Cajon)--The Sheriff's Homicide Detail wants your help solving two murders that happened in El Cajon more than a decade ago.

Photo: High-voltage Sunrise Powerlink tower by Lake Jennings

November 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has applied for a master permit to construct power line replacement projects in Cleveland National Forest. Now the Cleveland National Forest Foundation  has submitted formal comments objecting to the plan.

According to the Foundation, SDG&E’s project fails to assure that the state’s renewable energy mandate of 33% renewable by 2020 will be met; the project aims to increase energy project four-fold without proposing any reductions in dirty energy sources.

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2014 (El Cajon) – A man convicted of raping two women he met on ChristianMingle.com, a dating site for Christians, has been sentenced to 37 years to life in prison by Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein in El Cajon.

November 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

SCIENCE

• Palo Alto Networks discovers new malware targeted at Apple devices (Reuters)
• U.S. sues AT&T over alleged 'data throttling' on phone plans (Reuters)
• Unmanned supply rocket for space station explodes on liftoff in U.S.(Reuters)
• Keyless cars 'targeted by thieves' (BBC)
• Why California's Drought-Stressed Fruit May Be Better For You (NPR)

HEALTH

• San Diego Researchers Find Down Syndrome, Alzheimer's Link (KPBS)
• CoEnzyme Q-10 helps veterans fight Gulf War Syndrome: 80 percent of treated veterans improved physical function (VetLawyers.com – by Jamie Reno)
• Two genes linked with violent crime (BBC)

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

Photo: This house rocks! Boulder in center of Jamul home absorbs heat by day and gives off warmth by night.

East County News Service

November 6, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—The San Diego Green Building Council will hold its Green Homes Tour this Sunday, November 9^th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour features innovative, sustainably designed homes throughout San Diego County.  There is a $5 fee for non-members. Several East County homes are on the tour.

CONTRACTORS REMINDED TO “CALL 8-1-1 BEFORE YOU DIG”

Nov. 6, 2014 (San Diego) – In response to an increase in damage to unmarked natural gas pipelines, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is reminding contractors about the importance of calling 8-1-1 before you dig. In the third-quarter of 2014, SDG&E crews repaired third-party damage to 50 natural gas lines, compared to 36 in the second quarter and 15 in the first quarter. Calling 8-1-1 or Underground Service Alert will help avoid possible injury or damage to hidden gas lines or service interruption (video link).

Photos by Nadin and Tom Abbott

November 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County) -- If you missed our "Party with the Press" benefit event, it was a great event!  We filled the Next Door Wine & Craft Beer Bar with our supporters.  A good time was had by all -- and it was all for a great cause: supporting our community journalism and wildfire alerts.

We savored a wonderful feast, thanks to Tiramisu Trattoria restaurantand our own East County Eater, who judged the winning culinary entries provided by our readers.  Next Door Wine & Craft Beer Bar served up tastes of some wonderful wines and beers.  We gave away a pile of prizes, played our East County Trivia Quiz, sipped and savored our way through a delightful evening.  We also thank SDG&E for its sponsorship of this event and for providing safety and energy saving tips for our guests.

East County News Service

November 6, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A hearing is set for February 9, 2015 to approve a final settlement in the American Civil Liberties (ACLU) lawsuit to halt forced deportations by the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The ACLU won a class action lawsuit filed in 2013 after demonstrating that officials threatened, lied and intimidated undocumented immigrants, forcing them to sign “voluntary” deportation papers even if they had strong claims to remain in the U.S.

November 6, 2014 (San Diego) -- This week is Homecoming Week at San Diego State University. The celebration will culminate in the homecoming game on Saturday, November 8, with the Aztecs facing off against the Unversity of Idaho Vandals at Qualcomm Stadium. The event also features the KGB sky show.

November 6, 2014 (Spring Valley) A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing) in Spring Valley joins dozens of organizations across the U.S. to highlight changes to federal drug sentencing guidelines. On Saturday, November 1st, courts may begin considering petitions from incarcerated individuals for sentencing reductions.

November 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect 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:

U.S.

• Freshman class is young by U.S. Senate standards but has governing experience (Washington Post)
• President vows to work with – and without – Congress (NY Times)
• President to seek Congressional backing for military fight against ISIS (NY Times)
• Midterm elections results: Why Republicans crushed Democrats (CS Monitor)
• Ending Washington gridlock now largely in Mitch McConnell’s hands now (LA Times)
• Election brings new GOP power to state capitols (SF Gate).
• Oil drops 50% from all-time high (USA Today)
• Surgeries suspended for military family pets as cost-saving measure (KPBS)

WORLD

• Fugitive Mexican mayor and wife arrested in missing students case (Washington Post)
• Terror in Jerusalem: One dead [and 14 injured] as Palestinian driver rams van into crowded light rail station (JPost)  
• Ukraine crisis: Poroshenko orders troops to key cities (CNN)

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

By Roger Coppock

November 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--Now that the Republicans have won the Senate, we can expect different outcomes from different fragments of the party.

The tea and fruitcake wings of the GOP will want to stage some meaningless dramatic gestures, like another government shutdown or even a presidential impeachment.  Other, smarter, GOP splinter groups will try to stop this, citing the near disastrous ratings dip the party got for the last government shutdown. 

By  Leon Thompson

November 5, 2014 (La  Mesa)  - The hopes for an ordinance that would allow for medicinal cannabis dispensaries in La Mesa went up-in-smoke as Proposition “J” failed in last night’s election.   A similar measure in Encinitas suffered the same fate.