East County News Service

December 9, 2016 (Ocotillo) - Border Patrol agents rescued a 39-year-old illegal immigrant, whose identity is being withheld, in the mountains west of Ocotillo on Friday around 12:40 p.m., NBC 7 reports.

California Highway Patrol agents were able to find the man, a native of El Salvador, after a report filed that he was lost about half a mile north of the Mexican border.

Story and photos by Liz Alper

December 9, 2016 (San Diego) - The lady Aztecs looked to get back on track when they returned to Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena for a Friday matinee against Michigan.

East County News Service

December 9, 2016 (El Cajon) – iHeart Media San Diego’s KOGO-AM News Radio 600 is planning a live broadcast from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Target store parking lot, 250 Broadway, El Cajon, in support of the 40th annual East County Toy and Food Drive. KOGO's Cliff Albert, LaDona Harvey, Ted Garcia and Cal Walker will help collect donations benefiting the Salvation Army El Cajon Corps and East County families.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Elizabeth Hull, Helix Water District

December 7, 2016 (La Mesa) — Control of the Helix Water District board has shifted from a majority that voted to sharply increase water rates to a new majority that has pledged to resist new price hikes and if possible, roll back part of a five-year rate hike approved by outgoing board members. 

By Brian Trautman

December 8, 2016 (Cannonball, North Dakota) -- Over the past eight months, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota have been joined by more than 200 allied tribes and tens of thousands of non-Native activists for a nonviolent resistance campaign against Energy Transfer Partners’ (ETP) $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The pipeline, which has been projected to transport at least 470,000 barrels of oil per day over 1,100 miles from the Bakken oil field to an existing hub in Illinois for delivery to refineries on the Gulf Coast, was rerouted in 2014 from north of Bismarck to the south, taking it through unceded treaty lands of the Sioux. Pipeline construction over this altered route desecrated sacred ancestral sites, and, until last Sunday, was slated to cross the Missouri River at the Lake Oahe reservoir, which would have threatened the safety of the drinking water of the Standing Rock Sioux and millions of people downstream.

By Miriam Raftery

December 8, 2016 (San Diego) — Today, San Diego Registrar of Voters Michael Vu certified results in all races countywide. 

East County saw flips in several key races from election night to the final tally.  Here are the outcomes in some of East County’s closest races:

East County News Service

December 8, 2016 (Santa Barbara) -- Two conservation organizations have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court to protect fragile habitat and rare species in the path of a massive, remote fuel break recently approved in the Los Padres National Forest. The suit is also an effort to encourage the Los Padres National Forest to focus on reducing fire risk where it matters most, directly in and around communities.

By Miriam Raftery

December 7, 2016 (San Diego) – On December 3^rd, the Bernie Sanders Brigade hosted simultaneous solidarity vigils in  San Diego,  Los Angeles and San Francisco in support of the Standing Rock Sioux.  Locally, several dozen people participated in the vigil, including a contingent from  East County. The plight of tribal members seeking to block the Dakota Access oil pipeline has drawn worldwide attention.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 7, 2016 (Phoenix) - Tonight, the San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball team traveled to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon, a small school with a big basketball team.

Aztec senior picks up third career All-America honor

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 7, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey was named a 2016 Sporting News Second-Team All-American, the publication announced Wednesday. The Aztec senior was one of just four running backs to appear on both the first and second-team lists, which included 26 players apiece.

By Miriam Raftery

December 7, 2016 (La Mesa) – On the eve before tomorrow’s certification deadline of the Helix Water Board Division 1 race won by Louis Tejeda, a formal complaint has been lodged challenging his residency in the district.

East County News Service

December 7, 2016 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Conservations invites you to a holiday mixer on Wednesday, December 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at  Centifonti’s Bar & Restaurant, 8365 La Mesa Blvd . in La  Mesa. The evening will be an opportunity to meet neighbors, talk about the new changes at City Hall, and discuss the progress in La Mesa as we approach 2017.

Source:  PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 

December 7, 2016 (Norwich, England) -- Some existing methods for controlling Zika-carrying mosquitos are not effective and may even be counter-productive, according to research by scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Update:   The deceased child has been identified as Leah Brown-Meza. The autopsy result has been sealed as an investigation continues.

East County News Service

December 7, 2016 (Alpine) — Sheriff’s homicide and child abuse detectives are investigating the death of an Alpine toddler under suspicious circumstances.

Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics responded to a 911 call reporting an 18-month-old girl was found not breathing, shortly before noon yesterday.  The child was in a motorhome parked at 302 Hunter Lane in Alpine.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photos:  Ben Kalasho,  Steve Goble and Bob McClellan

December 6, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Challengers Steve Goble and Ben Kalasho have won seats on the El Cajon City Council, and will be joining Bob McClellan, who won reelection. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on December 13^th at Council Chambers.