By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

May 14, 2024 (Sacramento) -- Dozens of union members rallied last week in Sacramento, calling on lawmakers to pass a set of bills called the California Worker Climate Bill of Rights. The bills are intended to integrate worker's rights into the clean-energy transition.

The Climate Resilient Schools Act would create the first master plan to make sure our schools have clean, cool air, adequate shade and energy-efficient buildings and buses.

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Photos: Zachary Mass and Jessica Bahena, student commencement speakers

May 14, 2024 (El Cajon) -- Cheers and whoops of joy will mark the commencement ceremonies for Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in late May, as students celebrate their determination and perseverance on their path to earning a college diploma. 

The Cuyamaca College commencement is scheduled for May 29 at 5:30 p.m. in front of the college’s Communication Arts Building on campus, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego. The Grossmont College commencement will be held May 30 at 9:30 a.m. at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University. The ceremonies will also be livestreamed at Cuyamaca College Commencement and Grossmont College Commencement.

A total of 2,157 students from both colleges are set to receive 5,337 degrees and certificates, with many students receiving multiple awards.

“I’m proud of all of our graduates for putting in the hard work to reach this milestone,” said Lynn Ceresino Neault, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. “They received an excellent education at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, and their lives will be forever transformed by their experiences.”

May 14, 2024 --Our radio shows from January through March, 2024 are now online. 

Highlights included coverage of the January flood and flood relief efforts, the March primaries, interviews with veterans and visitors at the “Wall that Heals”  memorial in El Cajon, author interviews, interviews with La Mesa activists concerned over the city banning remote public comments, coverage of the Water Conservation Garden’s financial challenges, AT&T’s effort to end land line telephone service, updates on national stories including the presidential race and the Israel-Hamas war, as well as local issues ranging from homelessness to crime to people making a positive difference in communities.

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. Note: Station is currently off the airways due to storm damage to transmitter, but you can listen live online at https://news.knsj.org/wp-content/themes/cryptocurrency-exchange/popout-player.php or via the TuneIn app on your cell phone.

Note: Some shows were reruns; original run dates are listed below. Shows also include station IDs and public service announcements.

For links to listen plus an index with topics and interviews in each show, click here or click the "read more" link and scroll down. Audio links are below the index. (Audio files may take a few moments to load.)

“AT&T failed to demonstrate the availability of replacement providers...Additionally, public commenters at CPUC public forums highlighted the unreliability of voice alternatives such as mobile wireless or VOIP.” –CPUC

May 10, 2024 (Sacramento) – After hearing from consumers across the state and reviewing evidence in the record, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today issued a proposal rejecting AT&T’s request to withdraw as a carrier of last resort (COLR), which would have ended land line service across San Diego County and other areas. The CPUC also indicated that it intends to initiate a new Rulemaking process to address COLR telecommunications service obligations.

The proposal will be on the CPUC’s June 20 Voting Meeting agenda.

AT&T's plan to pull the plug on land line phone service has drawn strong opposition from rural residents in East County and elsewhere in California, as ECM reported in February, as well as from consumer advocates who warn that ending land lines would leave many in rural or remote locations with no reliable phone service at all, since Internet VOIP phone service is not widely available in many places and some areas also lack cell phone connectivity. Even for those with cell service, land lines have proven life-saving options when cell towers have burned down during wildfires in places such as rural Potrero.

East County News Service

May 9, 2024 (San Diego) – Governor Gavin Newsom has declared May 5-11 as “Wildfire Preparedness Week.”  Noting the increasingly challenging wildfire seasons due to climate change, Newsom says his administration has made historic investments to increase forest management and decrease catastrophic wildfire risks, such as buying state-of-the-art firefighting equipment and technology.

Now he’s asking all Californians to take steps to protect their properties by creating defensible space around homes, hardening homes, developing wildfire action plans and teaming up to join Fire Safe Councils and Firewise Communities, which work to regularly assess wildfire risk and prioritize actions to address those risks.

“All of us have an essential role in protecting ourselves, loved ones, and communities from wildfire,” the Governor says. “During Wildfire Preparedness Week, I encourage all Californians to visit ReadyForWildfire.org to learn about steps we can take to prepare for wildfire season and help prevent loss of life and property. Together, we can create a more fire resilient California.”  Find tips at https://readyforwildfire.org/.

To stay ready for a wildfire or natural disaster at any time, the California Fire Foundation has just relaunched its Firefighters on Your Side community preparedness program at FirefightersOnYourSide.org to help Californians prepare their homes with defensible space, make a 5-minute evacuation plan, pre-pack essentials, and print a master checklist. . 

May 9, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• House passes antisemitism bill as Johnson highlights campus protests (CNN)
• The FAA investigates after Boeing says workers in South Carolina falsified 787 inspection records (AP)
• Blinken says US cannot support Rafah assault without humanitarian plan (Reuters)
• Columbia University suspends pro-Palestinian encampments after encampment talks stall (Reuters)
• Columbia sued over safety of Jewish students amid protests (Bloomberg)
• Trump VP contender Kristi Noem writes of killing dog – and goat – in new book (Guardian)
• Judge warns Trump of jail time after finding him in contempt for gag order violation   (The Hill)
• Trump held in contempt for violating gag order in "hush money" trial. Here's why.  (CBS News)
• ProPublica Wins Pulitzer Prize for Supreme Court Coverage  (Pro Publica)

WORLD

• Israel strikes eastern Rafah as US warns a major assault could halt arms (Reuters)
• Ceasefire uncertain; Israel vows to continue Rafah operation (Reuters)
• Iraq criminalises same-sex relationships in new law  (BBC)
• Fentanyl scanners that were sitting idle for lack of federal funds can now be installed at the border to catch smugglers (NBC)
• Germany denounces spate of attacks on politicians recalling 'darkest era' of its history  (Reuters)
• Weary troops stuck on front line as Ukraine struggles to find manpower (BBC)

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

May 9, 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

• Supervisor Nora Vargas will take medical speaking rest for vocal nodules  (KPBS)
• Supreme Court to hear case claiming CBD product from Vista company got trucker fired (NBC San Diego)
• Assistant Superintendent Named Finalist to Take Helm at Grossmont Union HS District (Times of San Diego)
• MTS hopes new 'Copper Line' can improve trolley system's reliability  (KPBS)
• Fantasy or a New Reality? How This Group Plans to ‘Fire SDG&E’(Voice of San Diego)
• Mayor Gloria Wants to Empty Public Power Piggy Bank (Voice of San Diego)
• A Court Says Agencies Can Delay Records Responses Indefinitely and We Must Fight It (KPBS)
• How Mexico’s historic election will impact the San Diego border region  (KPBS)
• Majority of San Diego County’s largest school districts cutting jobs amid budget shortfalls (inewssource)
• Authorities Reveal How Missing Surfers from U.S. and Australia Found at Bottom of Well in Mexico Died (People)

STATE

• Law that ended single-family zoning is struck down for five Southern California cities (Los Angeles Times)
• Restaurant Service Fees Will Soon Be Illegal In CA (Patch)
• California finally reverses its population-loss streak (Politico)
• At least 16 people died in California after medics sedated them during encounters with police (KPBS)
• RFK, Jr. qualifies for California ballot (The Hill)
• Biden expands 2 national monuments in California significant to tribal nations (KPBS)
• California reports the first increase in groundwater supplies in 4 years  (KPBS)

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