By Miriam Raftery

June 2, 2013 (San Diego) – Walmart workers from across the U.S. including some in San Diego County are on strike, seeking more hours to support their families.  They are joining a “Ride for Respect” traveling to a Walmart shareholders meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas on June 7 to deliver their message.

Our Walmart, a workers’ group, is asking the public to sign a petition in support. The petition states that “many workers at Walmart must rely on food stamps and even go hungry because of lack of hours and low wages.” Workers also allege that Walmart has retaliated by firing workers or cutting hours of those who spoke up for their rights. The petition asks Walmart to commit to raise wages and increase access to full-time hours so that workers will earn at least $25,000 a year.

Senator Boxer seeks “citizen cosponsors” for landmark legislation to protect sexual assault victims

June 1, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – The House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday is expected to hear the Military Justice Improvement Act, a bill sponsored by 17 members of Congress including Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California), who is asking the public to support  the measure by becoming citizen cosponsors here.

The number of sexual assaults in the U.S. military rose by 35% from 2010 to 2012, according to a Defense Department report which found 26,000 members of the military had been victims of sexual assault – 70 assaults a day. Yet only 10% were even reported, and far fewer were prosecuted. 

Demands for reform have been fueled by two assaults in May in which military sex prevention officers were themselves charged with sexual abuse and other cases in which general overturned guilty verdicts in sexual assault cases.

By Nadin Abbott

May 31, 2013 (Spring Valley)—What should be done with the former Evergreen Nursery property in Spring Valley? That was the key question before the Spring Valley Planning Group Wednesday night.

David S. Thomson, Chief Executive Officer for Mastercraft Homes Group, the owner of the property, came to offer his proposal, along with his team.

During earlier meetings there was a palpable hope that the site would be developed into a commercial site, or a mixed use residential and commercial site that would include a community meeting place for Spring Valley residents.

But Mastercraft's plan didn’t include that.  Thomson stated that “due to the economy and oversupply (of commercial property) nobody recommended that,” then noted that it is still a “bad retail environment.”

May 30, 2013 (Santee) – The Knights of Columbus of Guardian Angels Church, located at 9310 Dalehurst Rd., Santee, CA  92071, is having a large rummage sale on June 1 and 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 7:00 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday.

Some proceeds go to the Church pantry, which helps people in need, as well as other charity projects supported by Knights of Columbus.

Some graduates celebrate triumph over adversity; Iraq war veteran to graduate with daughter

May 30, 2013 (El Cajon) – A campaign to improve student success is paying off at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, where more than 1,700 graduates will receive a record number of degrees and certificates at commencements in early June.

New programs and services helping students achieve academic goals, along with voters’ approval last fall of a tax plan tempering years of debilitating budget cuts, are credited for the strong numbers.

With many graduates earning multiple credentials, Grossmont College will award more than 2,100 degrees and certificates at its commencement ceremony June 5. The following day, Cuyamaca College will confer 830 of the hard-earned associate degrees and certificates at its commencement.

May 31, 2013 (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 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.

• Bearing down: how safe is that bridge you’re driving over? (CNN)
• Find deficient bridges near you (Transportation for America)
• Principal recounts storm hitting Okla. school (U-T San Diego)
• Four-star general in eye of U.S. cyber storm (Reuters)
• CBO: Tax breaks cost $12 trillion over decade, benefit most wealthy  (Reuters)

WORLD

• Rockets hit south Beirut after Hezbollah vows Syria victory (Reuters)
• French anti-terror unit investigating stabbing of soldier (Reuters)
• Stretched by riots, Swedish police call reinforcements (Reuters)
• 'Assad has enough sarin to wipe out Damascus, Aleppo, Homs'  (Jerusalem Post)
•  Egypt: 3 women killed in suspected 'honor' crime (U-T San Diego)

Click "read more" for excerpts and links to full stories.

Originally posted Monday, May 27, 2013

By Jamie Reno

May 30, 2013 (San Diego) -- Taking a quick look around, it's easy to cynically conclude that Memorial Day has become nothing more than a paean to big sales at the mall, beach BBQ's, and getting a day off from school and work. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those things - but let's please not forget to whom this day really belongs. And for the record, this holiday isn't just for our brave warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice. It's also for those who served our country and are still with us.

As I reported late last year in The Daily Beast, as many as 30 percent of post-9/11 veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. PTSD is often debilitating. These veterans need our help. Now.

By Nadin Abbott

May 30, 2013 (San Diego)-- Back in November the Daily Aztec reported San Diego State University  to be the seventh most dangerous college campus in the U.S. The Daily Aztec quoted the Business Insider, which stated, “SDSU experiences approximately 27 violent incidents per year.” In 2011 these included were five rapes, three robberies and five aggravated assaults.

ECM asked campus police some questions; Captain Lamine Secka responded in detail.

Our first question, actually coming from my years as a student, was what is the campus doing to improve lighting?

May 30, 2013 (El Cajon)—Wing walking, mock air battles and pyrotechnics are among the attractions at this year’s Wings Over Gillespie Air Show. The event will take place June 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gillespie Field, 1960 Joe Crosson Drive in El Cajon.

Tickets start at $8 for the event, which also features a free Kid’s Zone, amusement rides and a beer garden. This year's Wings Over Gillespie features a collection of San Diego aircraft and World War II aircraft. 

May 30, 2013 (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 top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• San Onofre breakdown: Boxer wants Justice Department investigation (U-T San Diego)
• Ramona parents try to bridge gap in labor stand-off (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego man believes Navy tests may have caused mother’s pacemaker to stop (10 News)
• Firearms instructor enters plea in molestation case (U-T San Diego)
• 10News - 'SONGS Trek' - a Star Trek spoof video made inside San Onofre (10News)
• Cunningham's prison time almost over(UT San Diego)
• City of La Mesa okays $50 million housing project (La Mesa Today)
• Mayoral Trip Shut Down by Budget Concerns (Scoop San Diego)
• U-T San Diego closes Californian supplement (Sacramento Bee)
• Water prices threaten to further shrink region's ag land (U-T San Diego)
• Contractor: 'They drank all my liquor' (U-T San Dego)

STATE

• California faces a new quandary: too much money (NY Times)
• Justice for Sale, Part 3: The War on Consumer Class Actions (Voice of San Diego)
• Calif. plastic ocean debris bill dies in committee (U-T San Diego)
• Audits detail side jobs for state managers (U-T San Diego)
• Federal appeals court upholds California's Medi-Cal rate cut (Sacramento Bee)
• Calif. bill would expand who can perform abortions (Sacramento Bee)
• Bill seeks to ensure privacy as drone use rises (Sacramento Bee)
• Taxes rise to pay off state's jobless debt (U-T San Diego)
• California's high-speed rail meets opposition over eminent domain (Marketplace.org)

Nationally Honored Local Hero to Speak at Community Service Event

May 28, 2013 (Alpine)--The Alpine Fire Protection District will present a community event on May 30 from 6-8;30 p.m. at the Alpine Elementary School auditorium, 1850 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine.  The event will feature Ennis Jackson, an award-winning speaker who has won the National Star of Life for his efforts to alert and educate the community which includes high schools, colleges and business on the subject of destructive decisions and life saving CPR techniques. These destructive decisions include underage drinking, the use of mind-altering drugs and texting while occupied, and most importantly, the value of family. Jackson is a paramedic stationed out of Alpine Fire Station 17.

Update:  Santee reader Jerrie Dean informs us that her mother saw Larry Negrette return to his mobilehome park today.  The Sheriff's office confirms with the following details:

On Monday, May 27, 2013 at around 10:15 p.m., Mr. Larry Negrette was located in the 10200 block of Ashwood Street in Lakeside. Mr. Negrette had contacted a resident on Ashwood Street and asked for food. The resident provided Mr. Negrette with food and water. As the resident and Mr. Negrette spoke, Mr. Negrette appeared disoriented and could not remember his address or phone number. The resident became concerned for Mr. Negrette and decided to notify the Sheriff's Department. Deputies from the Santee Station responded and contacted Mr. Negrette. He was reunited with his family.

May 27, 2013 (Santee) – Larry Negrette, 70, has been missing form his home in the 9400 block of Mission Gorge Road, Santee, since 5 p.m. Saturday May 25.  He suffers from dementia and high blood pressure.

His family is extremely concerned for his welfare. His vehicle is inoperable and accounted for.  Negrette is Hispanic with grey hair, receding hair line, brown eyes, and a mustache.  He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 210 pounds. He was last seeing wearing blue jeans, T-shirt, and white sneakers. 

May 27, 2013 (Ocotillo) -- When Jim Pelley arose at sunrise and looked out over the desert from his home in Ocotillo, he noticed something missing. So he grabbed his camera to record the unusual sight.

A Siemens wind turbine at Pattern Energy's Ocotillo Express Wind Energy facility had hurled off  a multi-ton blade onto a trail on public Bureau of Land Management recreational land.  Fortunately, since the accident occurred at night, nobody was harmed.

May 27, 2013 (San Diego) – “Our school community was deeply saddened as we learned of the magnitude of the widespread devastation caused in the community of Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding areas. The absolute destruction has profoundly affected the lives of thousands of the residents in that area,” Chaim Heller, head of the San Diego Jewish Academy wrote in a letter to parents of students.  “Jewish tradition teaches us "Al Taamod al dam re'echa" (Do not stand idly by while our neighbors are in pain). San Diego Jewish Academy has a longstanding tradition of reaching out to help any and all who are in need. We believe that our Jewish values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and (acts of loving kindness) are essential components of our instructional program at San Diego Jewish Academy.”

May 27, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) has named East County resident Lawrence O’Leary president of its board of directors.  The San Diego Chapter of the CLCA aims to serve, protect and promote professionalism; and advance public awareness of the landscape industry.

O’Leary is director of sales and marketing at Hydro-Scape Products Inc., a leading provider of landscape and irrigation supplies. Hydro-Scape has 18 different locations serving Southern California, Hawaii and international locations.