By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  bird coated in petroleum from an oil spill; there have been hundreds of pipeline leaks and spills across the U.S in recent years

January 24, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Environmentalists and Native American activists are voicing dismay and pledging to fight back against executive orders signed by President Donald Trump to advance construction of the controversial Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipelines.

East County News Service

January 24, 2017 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon will hold public hearings tonight, January 24, and again on February 14th to approve criteria for creating City Council District boundaries and a schedule for establishing district elections. 

East County News Service

January 24, 2017 (Santee) -- The Start Smart Program is an opportunity for new drivers and their parents/guardians to clearly understand their responsibilities when a teen starts to drive. “If you are a teen or know a teen who can benefit from this class please click on the following link for more information http://sdsheriff.net/co_startsmart.html,” says Martha Miramontes, Crime Prevention Specialist with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept.

By Miriam Raftery

January 25, 2017 (San Diego) – The San Diego County Democratic Party has elected Jessica Hayes to serve as the new party Chair, replacing Francine Busby, who held the leadership post from 2013-2016.

Busby told ECM, "I recruited Jessica, endorsed her early and fully support this change."

East County News Service

January 23, 2017 (Sacramento) - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today directed the California Department of Education to work with all schools and school districts forced to close as a result of flooding and other winter storm related issues so that they may qualify for relief from the loss of Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding.

Source: City of La Mesa

January 23, 2017 (La Mesa) -  In an on-going commitment to communicate with residents, the La Mesa City Council will host two Town Hall Meetings. These open-forum sessions provide an opportunity for citizens to share their concerns, ideas, and opinions on issues in their neighborhood and throughout the City.  

By Greg Dunne

January 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - The most loyal aviating visitor to my yard is the Goldfinch. These little guys are a blast to watch, feeding on their thistle all day long in my front yard. I get as many as 12 to 20 birds or more on my two-sack feeder most of the day – everyday. However, this might drive you to the poor house in bird seed as they are voracious eaters.

East County News Service

January 23, 2017 (San Diego) -- Nile Sisters, a local organization dedicated to helping refugees in San Diego County, has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the California Endowment for its certified nursing assistant vocational training program.

Agreement includes pilot project to repopulate burrowing owls across San Diego County; comes in response to lawsuit filed over destruction of burrowing owls near airport

January 23, 2017 (San Diego) -- An agreement announced today between conservation and environmental justice groups and private developers will protect imperiled burrowing owls, increase renewable solar energy and conserve wildlife habitat to offset impacts from the redevelopment of San Diego’s Brown Field Municipal Airport. The airport — located near the Mexico border in Otay Mesa — will be redeveloped with new commercial and aviation facilities and include on-site solar energy to reduce energy consumption.

The agreement follows a lawsuit filed against the City of San Diego in 2013 by environmental groups to protect burrowing owls at the airport and protect their habitat.  Coalition for a Safe Environment's executive director Jesse Marquez stated at the time, "On one of our visits we discovered that the owl burrows had been poisoned to eliminate the owls in order to avoid having to relocate them. We must do everything possible to protect these owls from becoming extinct in San Diego."

East County News Service

January 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - Monday’s severe storm provided a day off to many students in East County.

Heavy rains, high winds, and mountain snow led to school closures in several districts, including Julian Union High School District, Julian Union School District, Mountain Empire Unified School District, and Warner Springs Unified School District. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Still shot from video taken on Branch’s cell phone

January 22, 2017 (San Diego) – The trial of Robert Branch, an African-American motorist choked unconscious by a white Sheriff’s deputy in Del Cerro in May 2015, begins Monday.  Branch was charged initially with resisting arrest, but after he filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Sheriff’s department alleging inappropriate use of force, additional felony charges of reckless driving and use of deadly force against an officer were filed against Branch.  Branch captured a portion of the altercation on a disturbing video. 

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Network

January 22, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego businesses reported a moderately optimistic outlook at the close of 2016, with two-thirds expecting the new Donald Trump administration to have a positive impact.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Don Lumb

January 22, 2017 (Alpine) – A towering eucalyptus tree has toppled onto a patio roof at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building in Alpine.  The VRW center is located at 944 Tavern Road.  Don Lumb sent these photos; no other details are  immediately available.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo credit: SDG&E

January 22, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Another round of heavy rain soaking our region will continue into Monday. This strong storm system is forecast to potentially bring more flash flooding, river flooding, and debris flows.  A winter storm warning is in effect for mountain areas with snow likely to dip down to 3,500 feet by Monday night.

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Cleveland National Forest Foundation (CNF) and Save Our Forest and Ranchlands (SOFAR) filed a lawsuit against San Diego County last week in San Diego Superior Court.  The suit argues that Supervisors adopted an amendment to the Forest Conservation Initiative (FCI) based on a faulty environmental analysis and failed to identity ways to minimize impacts of the new plan.