January 21, 2013 (San Diego) – In an effort to combat underage drinking, Sheriff’s deputies and agents from Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted a sting operation on January 12 using minors as decoys to test retailers and servers.  Out of 15 locations checked in Ramona, Poway, San Marcos, Vista, Oceanside and Encinitas, five provided alcohol to the decoys, resulting in six employees receiving citations.

The program was enabled by a $100,000 grant from the ABC. Similar operations will continue through June, the Sheriff’s office advises. 

January 21, 2013 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Police Department, in an effort to reduce injuries and deaths on the Martin Luther King holiday, aggressively enforced state speed laws during the third “Traffic Safety Enforcement Program“ operation. uce deaths and injuries on local roadways.

La Mesa Police Officers wrote 29 speeding tickets including one to a driver traveling at 81 miles per hour on a city street with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. 

January 19, 2013 (Santee) – The California Public Utilities Commission is expected to soon hold a hearing on its proposed decision finding that Quail Brush and Pio Pico gas-fired power plants are not needed. 

A letter from Preserve Wild Santee states that the CPUC decision has twice been delayed due to “industry lobbying behind closed doors.” Preserve Wild Santee, an environmental group that has lobbied against the power plants, now asks citizens to write to Governor Jerry Brown and ask him to speak out for the public interest and prevent SDG&E/Congentrix from obtaining a decision that would allow “another ratepayer rip-off.”

January 19, 2013 (Mt. Helix) --Family members returned home to their residence in the 4500 block of Calavo Drive at 12::55 p.m. Thursday to find smoke filing their home. One resident ran to the back bedroom and pulled one of the family’s two dogs to safety. A second dog was carried out from the backyard. Thick smoke was pouring out of the house when San Miguel Fire arrived with the first of approximately 18 firefighters who helped battle the blaze. 

January 18, 2013 (El Cajon ) – Raymond Lee Goodlow, 53, of El Cajon is hospitalized after being shot multiple times by an El Cajon Police officer at 9:29 a.m..   According to police, Goodlaw was illegally riding his bicycle on the sidewalk and refused to pull over when an officer attempted to stop him in the 1300 block of East Main.

Police and witnesses say the officer ordered the man to halt and get down on the ground, but that instead, Goodlaw reached into the waistband of his pants.  Fearing that he had a gun, the officer fired several times, witnesses report.

Goodlow did not have a gun. He did, however, have two knives  that were discovered by paramedics while treating his injuries, Lt. Tim Henton said.

January 18, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County is sponsoring a free Defensible Space Workshop on January 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Community Center, Moreno Room, 9841 Vine St., Lakeside.  Learn how to make your home fire safe and prepare for the 2013 fire season.

Image credit: http://www.peopleinsight.co.uk/

January 18, 2013 (El Cajon) – San Diego East County Chamber is offering a free workshop, “A Model of Employee Engagement” on January 29, from 9-11 a.m. at the Chamber’s Board Room, 201 S. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon.  Learn how to take employee performance from good to great in this informative workshop. The workshop focuses on aligning overall organizational strategy, communication techniques to enhance engagement and the best ways to develop employee’s skills to help your business thrive.

January 22, 2013 (San Diego) -- The computer has become an integral part of genealogical research.  The San Diego Jewish Geneological Scoiety’s pursuit to understand family history has led to utilization of the latest technology from internet databases to DNA testing, to cutting edge software and social networking.  But, how safe and secure are computers and the information each of us shares and retrieve?  In this presentation Daniel Libby will cover the main concerns of computer security and safety.

January 20, 2013 (La Mesa) – Brew HaHa presents Ha Ha Heights at Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant, 7303 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa on Jan. 23 from 7:30 – 9 p.m.  The featured stand up comedy act is Four Fabulous Femmes with International Comedian Diane Jean, Maria Herman and more.

By Brian Lafferty

January 18, 2013 (San Diego) -- It seems like it's been forever but Arnold Schwarzenegger, to borrow a familiar line, is back.  The Last Stand is his first starring role since Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines ten years ago.  It’s apparent the transition from governor back to actor isn’t easy for him.  His timing isn't as sharp as it was in True Lies and at 65 he’s not as physically overpowering as he was twenty years ago.  I liken it to someone relearning how to drive a car after having not driven for many years.

Of course I knew going in all of that was to be expected.  Sure enough, these are minor quibbles.

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2013 (San Diego)—San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a parolee by a San Diego Police Officer.  A stand-off ended in arrest of a second suspect. 

During the ordeal, Alvarado Hospital was placed on lockdown briefly and residents of an apartment unit were evacuated while police conducted a search.  A warning was also sent out to SDSU students and faculty, though the campus was not locked down.

January 17, 2013 (Sacramento)—Sweeping updates to California’s career technical education (CTE) standards—designed to reflect the changing face of technology and set higher academic goals—received approval from the State Board of Education Wednesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced.

The new standards are one of the cornerstone achievements of Torlakson’s Career Readiness Initiative. Building on the previous CTE standards, the revised standards were created with input from more than 300 representatives from business and industry, labor, and postsecondary and secondary education, ranging from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to mental health experts and environmental innovators.

By Janis Mork

January 17, 2013 (San Diego) --Recently, the Karen [pronounced ‘care-en’] organization held its fourth annual Karen New Year at Crawford High. Karen New Year is a culture celebration for refugees from Burma.

More than 1,200 refugees from Burma now call San Diego home, resettled here after living in refugee camps in Thailand. Many were forced to leave their homeland after the Burmese government began burning villages as part of a religious persecution. The Karen includes both Buddhists and Christians, who received a warm reception from civic leaders at the celebration. 

“We have an opportunity in San Diego to create a truly great international city; a city that respects and empowers its people; a city that protects and enhances their quality of life, and a city that promotes good-paying jobs and a healthy economy for all residents.” – Mayor Bob Filner

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2013 (San Diego)—In his State of the City address this week, newly elected Mayor Bob Filner  discussed financial challenges as well as his vision for the future. He likened the city to a “patient who has overcome a serious illness,” citing a past cover-up of financial problems.

“The budget surplus predicted by my predecessor last year could actually be a deficit as much as $40 million,” Filner said, noting that state funding issues and court cases remain to be resolved.   “But if we learned anything from the mistakes of the past, it’s that it is better to be truthful about these problems than to cover them up,” he said.  Despite challenges ahead, the Mayor laid out ambitious plans for revitalizing the region's economy, making San Diego the nation's solar capital, expanding redevelopment to neighborhoods city-wide, and improving communication systems for regional emergencies such as wildfires.

By Alfred Waddell

January 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--The second amendment needs to be re-defined for the modern times.

It is my notion that the right to bear arms is very similar to the right to smoke; they both have a cancerous effect that contributes to the decay in modern society. We as a society can continue to ignore and look the other way with temporary fixes that give the appearance of seriousness; however, the reality is: there are too many guns in the US; and our too-many-guns are being turned on us.