East County News Service

December 20, 2016 (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

• Report: San Diego County Population Tops 3.3 Million (KPBS)
• El Cajon officials play three wise men for homeless kids (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Snakebite cure could live in Mission Trails Regional Park (10 News)
• Rally in El Cajon held to protest police silence on Olango shooting (Union-Tribune)
• Rep. Duncan Hunter repays campaign with loan brokered by long-ago murderer (Union-Tribune)
• SANDAG Admits to Overestimating What It’d Collect from Tax Hike (Voice of San Diego)
• State bar exam tough for local law school grads (Reader)
• Another hack shuts ex-reporter’s political website (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• What does the new federal water bill mean for California? For one, a big win for farmers (Sac Bee)
• Cut back on natural gas use at home, SoCalGas says in advisory (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Bill could raise age of restrictions on new California drivers (San Jose Mercury News)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy Joel Price and Jamaal LaFrance

December 19, 2016 (San Diego) - The rival Oakland Raiders came to Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday and like every time the Chargers and Raiders square off, it was a good one.

Despite the Chargers being eliminated from playoff contention with the Dolphins’ win on Saturday night, they still went out and competed.  

By Miriam Raftery

December 19, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Seven-year-old Bana Alabed’s tweets during the fall of Aleppo, Syria, have drawn global attention to the plight of people trapped in the city in recent weeks, drawing comparisons to the diary of Anne Frank.  An anguished plea during recent bombings, followed by days of silence, led to concerns that Bana may have perished—but now word has come that she is a survivor.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Department

December 17, 2016 (San Diego) - Three generous community members (Secret Santas) enlisted the help of Sheriff's Deputies today to surprise dozens of families with cash and gift cards.  People's reactions were one of pure joy.   

By Miriam Raftery

December 17, 2016 (San Diego) – During yesterday’s stormy weather, 546 collisions were reported from midnight to 8 p.m. on freeways and streets in unincorporated areas of San Diego County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Source: City of El Cajon

December 17, 2016 (El Cajon) -- For the 10^th consecutive year, the El Cajon Police Department Holiday Storefront returns to Parkway Plaza in El Cajon during the month of December. This unique police storefront has been a popular place to visit during a hectic day of shopping.  There’s nothing to buy, but much to see and learn about holiday and year-round safety from El Cajon Police, Heartland Fire, and Recreation Departments.

By Miriam Raftery

December 16, 2016 (Descanso) — This morning, the body of a 23-year-old woman was found near a Lexus vehicle that had plummeted off I-8 east of State Route 79 in Descanso.  The woman had been ejected from the vehicle and died of her injuries at the scene.

December 16, 2016 (La Mesa) -- Join us for East County Magazine's annual "Feasting and Merrymaking"  holiday party this Sunday, December 18 from 3-7 p.m. at our editor's home on Mt. Helix!  Our elves have been busy preparing a fabulous feast,  plus we'll have live music provided by singer/guitarist Paul Nichols and pianist Andrea Ladmer,  wines from San Pasqual Winery and a wealth of prizes,  holiday games and surprises!

Our party is open to our subscribers, donors and friends by invitation. Subscriptions are free!  Subscribe here to our newsletter and/or wildfire alerts or donate here. 

RSVP is required.  Call 619-698-7617 or e-mail editor@eastcountymagazine.org to reserve space and get the address to join the fun at our fabulous event--and support award-winning community journalism!

East County News Service

December 16, 2016 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Officers and paramedics responded to the intersection of East Main and Ballard last night at 5:40 p.m. on a call reporting that a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, paramedics were unable to revive the pedestrian, a man in his 40s, who was later pronounced deceased at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification of the family.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

December 15, 2016 (San Diego) - With heavy rains expected, the County Department of Public Works is once again offering free sand and bags to residents in the unincorporated areas to help protect homes, neighborhoods and streets from flooding and erosion.

East County News Service

December 16, 2016 (La Mesa and Santee)--The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announces that applications are now available for the 2017 Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Scholarship Pageants. Next year’s pageant will be held on Saturday, March 4th, 2017 at the beautiful new theater at Helix Charter High School.

 Each year the two cities seek young women between the ages of 12-26 to participate in a program that has become a tradition in the cities since the late 1960s and is an outstanding mentoring program for young women.

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca College District

December 15, 2016 (El Cajon) -- More than 400 middle and high school students from throughout San Diego and Riverside counties will converge at Grossmont College Dec. 15 and 16 to compete in a series of simulated congressional hearings testing how well they know the Constitution. Eleven middle and high schools are taking part in the innovative educational program titled We the People… The Citizen and the Constitution, which is now in its 29th year.

By Miriam Raftery

December 15, 2016 (Washington D.C.) — Environmental leaders are bracing for an assault on environmental protections if several key appointees of President-Elect Donald Trump are confirmed by Congress.  The appointees include an ExxonMobil CEO, Governors and legislators who have all denied climate change and lobbied for fossil fuel interests.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Eagle killed at a Danish wind farm; courtesy Save the Eagles

December 15, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Wind energy companies will be immune from prosecution for up to 30 years, even if their wind turbines kill or injure up to 4,200 bald or golden eagles, under a new rule finalized this week by the Obama administration.

East County News Service

December 15, 2016 (Spring Valley) – Jesus Perez, 26, was arrested yesterday afternoon by Sheriff’s detectives for attempted murder. The arrest stems from a shooting which occurred in the early morning hours of October 30th in the 800 block of Broadview Street in Spring Valley.