June 19, 2024 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Lawsuit says homeless people’s belongings are being illegally trashed in East County (San Diego)
• Latest county report shows uptick in COVID cases (KPBS)
• Assembly Candidate Carl DeMaio Keeps Failing at Ballot Initiatives – On Purpose?  (Voice of San Diego)
• La Mesa woman's grocery run ends in road rage attack (10 News)
• Catholic Charities hires armed guards following video posted by alt-right social media influencer (10 News)
• Graduation at stake for some UCSD student protesters (KPBS)
• Times of San Diego Joins Arizona State University Nonprofit to Develop New Model for Local Journalism (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• Invasive species — a threat to wine grapes — shipped to California, officials say (Star-Telegram)
• Newsom to more than double National Guard at ports of entry to combat drugs  (KPBS)
• Why so many California Indians lack the federal recognition given to other Native Americans (Los Angeles Times)
• State Farm: Some Californians can keep home insurance, but something major won't be covered (Fox 11)
• The dirty secret of California’s legal weed (Los Angeles Times)
• Fatal black bear attack on woman in 2023 first in California, officials say (CNN)

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

By Susan Taylor

June 19, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- Congratulations to Whitney Wegman-Wood and Sandy Nissou, two East County women who are nominated for their work on films recognized by Film Consortium San Diego for the upcoming San Diego Film Festival this Saturday.

East County News Service

June 18, 2024 (Juylian) -- On Saturday, July 27, the 8^th Annual Sip of Julian will serve up tastes of wine, craft beer, craft cocktails and hard sider, along with small bites at each venue. The self-guided event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is for those age 21 and up.

Attendees will receive a commemorative glass and wine tote. 

Plan also makes it easier for DACA recipients and immigrant college graduates to obtain work visas

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Immigrant rights march, via Wikimedia

June 18,2024 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden today announced executive actions to protect a half million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation, if they have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years. An estimated 50,000 children under 21 with a U.S. citizen parent will also be protected from deportation. 

Until now, undocumented spouses and children of citizens had to leave the U.S. to apply for permanent residency, a process that often separated families for years. A similar parole in place program is already used to protect undocumented families of military members.

The new, broader parole-in-place program will allow parents and children to stay in the U.S. for three years while they apply for permanent residency.  All applicants will be vetted by the Department of Homeland Security to assure the applicant does not pose a threat to public safety or national security.

Reuters reports that the majority of those set to benefit from the order are Mexicans, many of them in California.

In addition, Biden announced a program to make it easier for Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented college graduates to obtain work visas/green cards if they have been offered a job related to their degree.

By Jessyka Heredia

June 17, 2024 (El Cajon) Middle Eastern cuisine has many regions that share similarities with readily available ingredients to the region and yet still have distinct differences in preparation. Tarbosh in El Cajon has brought their owner’s family recipes, which are delightfully light with generous portions that are sure to satisfy the whole family.

East County Wildfire & Emergengy Alerts

June 16, 2024 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- A brush fire in the In-Ko-Pah area has burned 30 acres at the boundary of Jacumba and Ocotillo, near the San Diego and Imperial County lines this afternoon. The #Inkopah5Fire is 20 percent contained and forward spread has been halted, per Cal Fire. On westbound I-8 just east of In-Ko-Pah, one lane is closed due to the fire.

Ben Schultz, owner of the Desert View Tower roadside landmark and Boulder Park on In-Ko-Pah, both on the National Registry of Historic Places, says he was told to evacuate after the fire started close to his home and businesses on In-Ko-Pah Road, but stayed trying to roundup his dogs and cats.

“High winds still making the fire out here seem rather scary,” he posted. Schultz said an RV brought to In-Ko-Pah Towing caught fire, igniting dry brush between I-8 and In-Ko-Pah Road.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo by MIriam Raftery:  Bishop Robert McElroy, now a cardinal, at 2018 bicentennial of the Santa Ysabel Mission.

June 16, 2024 (San Diego) --In a letter to parishioners and clergy on Thursday, Cardinal Robert McElroy, Bishop of San Diego, announced that the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, June 17. 

In his letter, the Cardinal states, “The Diocese faces two compelling moral claims in approaching the settlement process: the need for just compensation for victims of sexual abuse and the need to continue the Church’s mission of education, pastoral service and outreach to the poor and marginalized. Bankruptcy offers the best pathway to achieve both.”

But an attorney representing survivors of clergy sex abuse is blasting the action as a deceptive legal ploy to protect church assets and secrets.

East County News Service

June 16, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Two men and a woman were shot last night outside a residence near the intersection of Dain Court and Jadam Way in Lemon Grove.

Deputies from the Lemon Grove Substation and the Rancho San Diego Station responded to reports of shots fired around 9:40 p.m., but the three victims had already gone to a local hospital.

“There is currently no suspect description. No arrests have been made,”says Lieutenant Joe Barry. The victims are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the hospital and are in stable condition, he adds.

By Miriam Raftery

June 1, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- East County has some joyful June events coming up—including La Mesa's Flag Day Parade, a Star Party in Julian, a Renaissance Experience in Santee, a Taste of Julian, Descanso Day Parade and Fair, Bathhouse Bazaar concerts in Jacumba Hot Springs, live music at the Magnolia in El Cajon, a twilight walk at Mission Trails, a comedy night in La Mesa,a Chili Cookoff with Lemon Grove Lions Club, the Santee Pride Walk, Julian Town Square Music Festival, Santee summer concerts, La Mesa's classic car show, Lemon Grove's concert series opener,and El Cajon’s outdoor concerts and classic car shows, and more.