Hunter action also led Army to halt ouster of Sgt. Martland, Green Beret who ejected child rapist off U.S. base in Afghanistan

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Sgt. 1^st Class Charles Martland, U.S. Army photo

May 21, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) –Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-San Diego) has introduced legislation to outlaw child rape and other human rights violations on U.S. military bases worldwide.  House Resolution 4717, the Mandating America’s Responsibility to Limit Abuse, Negligence and Depravity Act is also known as the Martland Act, named after Green Beret Army Sergeant 1^st Class Charles Martland. 

East County News Service

May 21, 2016 (San Diego) -- On Thursday, seven Republican representatives in Congress, including San Diego Congressman Darrell Issa, switched their votes at the last minute, effectively killing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have prevented government contractors from citing religious liberty as grounds for firing or harassing lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGTB) employees.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Members of the San Diego Beekeeping Society at Lemon Grove City Council Meeting 5/17/16 (left to right) Carlos Richardson, Mark Kukuchek, Rebecca Wolniewicz, Daryl Hern, Neyl Montesano

May 21, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove is one step closer towards simplifying its beekeeping regulations. Half a dozen members of the San Diego Beekeeping Society gave testimony to the Lemon Grove Council on Tuesday in an attempt to address common fears about bee hives.

 “When I find an aggressive hive, I insert a new docile queen to make the hive less aggressive. Good beekeeping keeps our communities safe,” Carlos Richardson told Council members and the public.

May 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our February 2016 radio shows are now online!  You can listen online now (sound files may take a minute to load). For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics and interviews in February, click here or scroll down.

Our newsmaker interviews included representatives from the ACLU,  Twainfest, Mountain Hempire, San Diego Comic Fest, and Valley View Urban Farms.  Hot show topics included police shootings of the mentally ill,  Borrego springs’ water shortage, Alpine EMFs, the San Aliso gas leak, Grossmont redistricting, the presidential primary and more.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

East County News Service

May 20, 2016 (El Cajon) – Photographer Randy Jordan snapped these action shots of cyclists in the AMGEN Tour of California.

From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine

May 20, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Dear EarthTalk: Why does Donald Trump think we should renegotiate the Paris climate agreement? And will he be able to pull it off if he does get elected President? - Betsy Edgewater, Dayton, OH

County News Service

May 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - If you want to vote in the June 7 Presidential Primary Election, you must register by Monday, May 23.  You will need to register if you are not currently registered, moved recently or changed your name.  

 

If you want to vote for president, make sure you can. If you’re registered as No Party Preference – or nonpartisan – presidential candidates won’t be listed on your ballot. You may request an American Independent, Democratic or Libertarian party ballot at your designated polling place to vote for the presidential candidates in those parties. If you want to vote for a presidential candidate in the Green, Peace and Freedom or Republican parties, you must re-register with that party by May 23.      

East County News Service

May 20, 2016 (Santee) – The Santee Firefighters Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday, June 25 at Padre Dam’s Santee Lakes (Lake 3 and 4, Area G) from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.   Derby participants will receive a free day permit, worms, raffle ticket, hot dog lunch and free door prizes while they last.

East County News Service

May 20, 2016 (Alpine) -- Lisa Timanus from Alpine had a chance to “Come on Down” and win a sensational selection of prize.  She will be appearing on The Price Is Right primetime special Big Brother edition airing on Tuesday, May 24^th at 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  The outcome is a secret—you’ll have to watch to find out how she fares.

East County News Service

Both Democratic presidential candidates’ campaigns will be holding rallies in San Diego this weekend, gearing up for the June 7^th primary election.  Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will hold rallies in the South Bay and North C ounty, while former President Bill Clinton will hold a rally in Chula Vista and a fundraiser in Rancho Santa Fe for his wife, Hillary Clinton.

Originally published at Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Network.

May 20, 2016 (San Diego) - Katie Memmel of El Cajon didn’t know her member of Congress a year ago. Now she’s running to unseat him.

233-189 vote in favor of V.A. appropriations amendment indicates large increase in support from previous year

East County News Service

May 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- The U.S. House voted this morning in favor of a measure that would allow Veterans Administration doctors to recommend medical marijuana for their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal, currently 24 states including California. The measure, an amendment to the Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations bill proposed by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), passed by a 44-vote margin, including 57 Republicans voting in favor. The final vote was 233-189. A similar amendment proposed in the House last year failed narrowly, 213-210.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

May 19, 2016 (San Diego) - The Padres looked to avoid the sweep in tonight’s game three against the Giants.  James Shields started for the Padres against Jeff Samardzija for San Francisco.

Proceeds to benefit local individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities

East County News Service

May 19, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), a nonprofit based in El Cajon committed to providing support to local individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, will host its “Cabaret Rouge” Gala on Saturday, June 11, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at The US Grant Hotel in Downtown San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mike Farrell was interviewed by ECM editor Miriam Raftery on his opposition to the death penalty and prison reform issues during his 2009 visit with the Eastlake-Bonita Democratic Club

May 19, 2016 (San Diego) -- Signature gathers are working to put two competing measures on the ballot. One, backed by former M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell, would eliminate the death penalty in California.  The second measure would speed up the process for inmates on death row.