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By Stephen C. Ross, Esq.

August 3, 2013 (San Diego) – A “premarital” (also called “prenuptial” or “antenuptial”) agreement is a contract entered into between prospective spouses in contemplation of marriage, or between domestic partners in contemplation of registering their partnership with the State. The agreement establishes property rights and financial responsibilities upon consummation of the marriage or registration of the partnership. A premarital agreement is typically intended to create conditions that will preserve a forthcoming marriage or registered domestic partnership.

An ECM special report finds Bob Filner had good cause to know  the seriousness of sexual harassment claims—long before he was the target of complaints

By Nadin and Tom Abbott

August 2, 2013 (San Diego)— Amid mounting sexual harassment accusations against Mayor Bob Filner, including a civil lawsuit, on Wednesday Filner’s lawyer tried to place all the blame on the City of San Diego. In a letter to the City, attorney Harvey C. Berger wrote, “The City has a legal obligation to provide sexual harassment training to all management level employees within six months of hire.”

He also claimed in the letter that the “trainer for the City unilaterally cancelled and never rescheduled such training for the Mayor.”  http://media.10news.com/image/Harvey_Berger_letter.pdf

But later, Voice of San Diego revealed, “Former city Chief Operating Officer Jay Goldstone said Filner’s office canceled several training sessions, which would have covered payroll, benefits and other employee and management roles and responsibilities, because the mayor’s office said it didn’t have time for them.” http://voiceofsandiego.org/2013/07/31/sources-mayors-office-canceled-harassment-related-training-sessions/

So we decided to look a little deeper, and what we found was highly problematic.

Originally posted July 27, 2013 on San Diego Loves Green

By Roy L. Hales

I recently asked one of San Diego’s better known engineers, Bill Powers, a number of questions about the Sunrise Powerlink and rooftop solar energy. These are his answers.

By Nadin Abbott

August 1, 2013 (San Diego) – Dreamers, children of immigrants led by Carolina Valdivia of the San Diego Dream Team, held a press conference just outside San Diego Sheriff’s Department central booking on July 29.

The Dreamers contend that Border Patrol used force to break-up a peaceful demonstration at Friendship Park on the U.S.-Mexico border.  They provided media with a video showing Border Patrol, U.S. Customs enforcement, trolley security personnel, and private contractors holding back a noisy crowd of demonstrators on July 28.

August 1, 2013 (East County) – The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is having its Free Night Out Against Crime events on August 6.  It’s a day when communities across the country take a stand to let criminals know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.  Meet deputies who patrol your community and mingle with neighbors while enjoying food, drinks, giveaways and activities for kids.  All locations will have a crime prevention specialist on site and display with tips on how to stay safe.

August 1, 2013 (Dulzura) – Dulzura-Barrett Fire Dept. and the Dulzura Community Center host a Deep Pit BBQ on August 4 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at Camp’s Grove, 17087 Hwy 94, Dulzura.  A dinner of beef, pork, coleslaw, beans, corn-on-the-cob, roll and 8oz drink will be served from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.  The entertainment will include music from DJ, Bill the Breeze, dancing, Chicken Game, horseshoes, raffles, an auction and activities for the kids.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2013 (Alpine)--Sitarra, a Bengal tiger raised from a cub at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, has died of a ruptured disk.  The big cat rescue center is a no breeding facility, however Sitarra was one of two cubs born to Natasha, a pregnant tiger rescued over a decade ago.

Bobbi Brink, founder of the facility, called the tragedy “very sad news” and has said that the tiger was like a child to her.

Brink was near the tiger’s enclosure when Sitarra collapsed while running, unable to move her back legs. An MRI showed a ruptured disc and the animal underwent immediate surgery at an emergency animal hospital.  But Brink disclosed, “. It was discovered that her spinal cord had been severed by pieces of the ruptured disc and there was no choice but to let her go.”

August 1, 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.

• 80 percent of adults in U.S. face near poverty, unemployment survey finds (CBS)
• 5 million could be kicked off food stamps under Republican cuts (Think Progress)
• More than 1,700 U.S. cities will be partially underwater by 2010 (Guardian)
• House passes bills to rein in IRS (The Hill)
• Congress approves student loan plan (Washington Post)
• Bradley Manning faces 136 years in prison (ABC News)
• FAA certifies first 2 drones for domestic flight (U-T San Diego)
• Halliburton admits destroying Gulf oil spill evidence  (USA Today)
• Legal Battles Increase Over Pipeline Projects (NPR)
• Perseid meteor shower: Coming soon to a sky near you (CS Monitor)
• Diverse Coalition Fights FCC Plan To Sell Wireless Airwaves (NPR)

INTERNATIONAL

• Gay athletes could be prosecuted at 2014 Olympics, Russian Lawmaker says (ABC)
• Death toll from Pakistan marketplace bombs now 57 (U-T San Diego)
• Egypt protesters defy cabinet threat  (BBC)
• Pope Francis on gays: “Who am I to judge?” (CNN)

Click “read more” and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

August 1, 2013 (Lakeside) – Summertime, and the living is easy. Fish are jumpin’, as the song goes.  Now you can try your hand at some summertime fishing after dark at Lake Jennings. The park is open for night fishing every Friday and Saturday night now through Labor Day at the end of August.

The largest fish caught at the lake is a whopping 68-pound catfish back in October2004.  The record Largemouth Bass weighed in at 17 pounds, 2 ounches, caught at Siesta Point in 2005.

With temperatures soaring to triple digits this summer, night fishing offers a cool option for anglers of all ages.  The lake also has picnicking, hiking, boating and camping.

July 31, 2013 (Grantville) – A Grantville resident was struck by a car while crossing the street at the corner of Mission Gorge Road and Twain Avenue on Monday, July 8. Witness testimony is contradictory and eye-witnesses are being sought to help clarify the incident.

The pedestrian, a 42-year old woman and girlfriend of ECM reporter/photographer Ron Logan, was struck shortly before noon.

July 30, 2013 (El Cajon) – A fugitive who rammed a police car in El Cajon is under arrest, along with his companion.  The arrests followed a pursuit that resulted in a police officer opening fire and a K-9 dog biting the fleeing suspect.

At 2 p.m. on July 30, El Cajon Police offers spotted the wanted fugitive, Ali Alkafaji in the 1300 block of North Johnson. Officers in marked patrol units attempted to stop the vehicle, assisted by a California Highway Patrol officer. According to police, the suspect intentionally rammed a police sergeant’s vehicle and then accelerated toward the CHP officer, who was out of his car on foot.

According to Lieutenant Frank La Haye, “The suspect continued in the CHP officer’s direction, attempting to run him over. The CHP officer, fearing for his life, fired several rounds at the suspect’s vehicle.”

By Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner

July 30, 2013 (San Diego) – In case you missed it, last week I recommended that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Cross of California should be excluded from California's Small Business Health Benefits Exchange.

On July 1, Anthem will increase rates on small employers 7.2%, the third unreasonable rate increase imposed on small employers this year alone.  The 12-month cumulative increase for these Anthem customers is 17.6%; had Anthem reduced its rate increase to a reasonable level as I requested, policyholders would have seen $37 million in savings.

July 30, 2013 (Rancho San Diego) – For those with a knack for sales interested in joining the emerging green workforce, Cuyamaca College is offering a free course on selling solar energy systems.

The 36-hour course is provided through the San Diego/Imperial County Environmental Training Center based at Cuyamaca College and will give students a working knowledge of one of the fastest-growing segments of the green-collar industry.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 30, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – We are in the monsoon season, where pop-up thunderstorms can quickly and unexpectedly bring flash floods no matter where you live, warns Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. Though part of natures beauty, these storms can be very dangerous.

July 29, 2013 (San Diego) -- Dear EarthTalk: Hurricane Sandy brought more sea water onto shorelines than I’d ever witnessed before and many communities near where I live are now being required to raise their homes up. What is the prognosis for sea level rise in the years immediately ahead?

-- Scott P., Fairfield, CT



Since sea level measurements were first recorded, in 1870, global averages have risen almost eight inches. The annual rate of rise has been 0.13 inches over the past 20 years, which is close to twice the average from the previous 80 years. Future estimates for sea levels vary according to region but most Earth scientists agree that sea levels are expected to rise at a greater pace than during the last 50 years.