Source: National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP)

Photo: Donald Trump, by Gage Skidmore

July 4, 2017 (San Diego) -- The National Association of Rail Passengers denounced the budget outline released by the Trump Administration, which slashes investment in transportation infrastructure. These cuts to Amtrak, transit, and commuter rail programs, and even air service to rural towns, would not only cost construction and manufacturing jobs, but place a disproportionate amount of pain on rural and working class communities.

East County News Service

July 3, 2017 (Spring Valley) — James Comeau resigned June 27^th, from the Spring Valley Community Planning Group, creating a vacancy in seat 14, creating an immediate vacancy.  To apply¸ refer to the SD County Roster of Boards, Commissions and Committees on their web site at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/cob/.  The County Board of Supervisors will make an appointment to fill the vacancy after review, at a future meeting.

July 3, 2017 (Ramona) -- State Route 78 is closed in both directions at Moma in the Ramona Trails area due to a semi-truck that overturned,  Cal Fire reports. 

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the vehicle was hauling chicken feed. The truck leaked hydraulic fuel and a clean-up is ongoing for the next couple of hours.

The driver was injured and transported to a hospital, CBS 8 reports.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos courtesy of Lakeside Fire

July 2, 2017 (Lakeside) – A mother and sons are homeless after a fire that began with a vehicle striking a commercial building next door spread into their residence yesterday.  A GoFundMe page has been started to assist the victims, For: LaVonne Kraus, Tory Rodriguez, Richard Rodriguez, Jesse Rodriguez.  The Solis Hair Salon has also been heavily damaged.

July 2, 2017 (San Diego's East County)-- Our May  2017 radio shows are now online. For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics an interviews,  click here, or click "read more" and scroll down. (Sound files may take a few moments to load).

Our newsmaker interviews included  author Mollie Moon, author of Five Wishes, Ammar Campo-Najir, Congressional candidate running against Duncan Hunter, paleontologist Tom Demere from the Natural History Museum on a discovery suggesting early man occupied our area thousands of years earlier than previously believed,  Mark Hanson and Terri Steele from Heartland Youthbuild  on opportunities for young people locally thanks to a federal grant.

Plus we  have highlights of last year’s Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest with clips from winner Shira Ellison and national champion Matt  Hartz.  We also had coverage and analysis of hot national issues including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey’s testimony,  and hot local issues ranging from a gas pipeline proposed in Santee to toxic vapors in El Cajon to a revival of La Mesa’s summer car shows.

 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.  Read more and listen to our May shows:

By Miriam Raftery

July 2, 2017 (San Diego) – East County Magazine recently conducted an exclusive interview on KNSJ radio with John Ford about his experience leaving the Navy,  becoming homeless in San Diego, and ultimately becoming a successful business entrepreneur all in one year. 

You can hear the full interview by clicking the audio link, or scroll down for highlights of the interview plus pool safety tips to protect your children.

East County News Service

July 2, 2017 (San Diego) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Vista), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the bipartisan resolution he co-led condemning the recent murder, torture and detention of gay men by the Chechen government.

By Miriam Raftery

July 1, 2017 (Spring Valley ) – Two vehicles were struck in a drive-by shooting this evening near the intersection of Jamacha Road and Gillespie Drive in the La Presa area of Spring Valley, sending the driver of a white Ford Focis to the hospital, NBC 7 reports.

  Witnesses reported hearing 10 to 11 shots around 5:17 p.m.  A witness told Fox 5 that he saw the white car hit a corner and rushed to help.  “I unlocked the door and he was riddled with bullets on his right side. The right side of his passenger door was riddled with bullets,”  the witness told Fox 5, adding that he used the driver’s phone to speak with a 911 dispatcher and applied pressure to the driver’s wounds until emergency personnel arrived.

East County News Service

July 1, 2017 (Escondido) – CAL FIRE law enforcement officers on Thursday arrested Jose Duran Aguirre, 31, a transient in Escondido, on arson charges.  He is accused of recklessly setting fire to a forest land and for discharging an emergency signaling device in a manner other than the permitted use.

Services set for July 2nd and 3rd

July 1, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Manuel Miguel Moreno, a Lemon Grove resident who was raised in Santee, passed away June 26^th at Grossmont Hospital of injuries from a car crash eight months ago in Ramona. He was surrounded by his family.

By Miriam Raftery

July 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Newly appointed Grossmont Union High School District Citizens Bond Oversight Committee member Lou Russo has forwarded a copy of the most recent meeting minutes from March 29 to ECM.  There were several items of note including audit results, status of bond projects and other construction at district schools, an update on the lawsuit filed against the GUHSD over the proposed Alpine High School on which the district has spent over $3.2 million to date, and a projected $11.1 million budget deficit for the district.

Below are the full minutes:

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Fourth of July 2014 at Waterfront Park

July 1, 2017 (San Diego) - As the calendar hits July, certain things are inevitable.

East County News Service

July 1, 2017 (San Diego) — Local nonprofits United Through Reading (UTR) and the Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) hosted a first-ever joint golf tournament on June 23^rd to support military and their families through the challenges of deployment. The tournament raised over $64,000 while celebrating the courage and strength of local San Diego military and their families, also highlighting key roles these organizations play in their lives.

Four killed, 11,000 injured last year by fireworks nationwide

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office:

Image credit: San Diego County Sheriff's Department

June 30, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department wants everyone to have a safe Independence Day free of serious injuries or jail time. That means never driving if you’ve been drinking alcohol or taking drugs (including medications that impair your driving), never setting off illegal fireworks and not allowing juveniles to drink alcohol at your house party.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Vigil following 2015 San Bernardino shooting

June 30, 2017 (Sacramento) – U.S. District judge Roger Benitez with California’s Southern District Court has granted a preliminary injunction sought by the National Rifle Association, temporarily blocking part of Proposition 63 that required Californians to dispose of large-capacity ammunition magazines by Saturday or face fines and potentially, jail time.