East County News Service

September 2, 2018 (El Cajon) – As sexual abuse scandals rock the Catholic Church, Patriarch Cardinal Luis Rafael Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Babylon yesterday sent a letter to bishops published today by Kaldaya.ME, a Chaldean news site. In his letter, Patriarch Sako addresses “sexual harssment/ (solicitation)” and “concubinage” as well as financial scandals in the Chaldean Catholic Church. 

East County News Service

September 2, 2018 (San Diego) -- You’re invited to join members of the San Diego Astronomy Association and Mission Trails Regional Park volunteers for viewings of the night sky through telescopes from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, September 7 and Saturday, September 22 in the Kumeyaay Lake Campground day use parking lot.

East County News Service

September 2, 2018 (San Diego) – The U.S. State Department last week issued an updated travel advisorywarning against all travel to several Mexican states and caution to many others where “violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via ACLU: Sammy Reyes-Mejia, 3, didn’t recognize his mother after being reunited following three and a half months of separation and being held in a federal detention center.

September 2, 2018 (San Diego) – Despite a court order to reunify all children separated from immigrant parents at the border, 497 children remain in federal custody, including 322 children whose parents were deported, the Hill reported on August 30th.   There are 22 tots under age 5 in detention, and those deported included parents of six children under age 4.

Photos:  East County Chamber President Eric Lutz and three fresh faces running for local offices:  Laura Koval for Santee City Council, Teresa Rosiak-Profitt for both Lemon Grove Council and Grossmont-Cuyamaca school board, and Jeff Griffith for State Senate.

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2018 (El Cajon)—Some 20 candidates and public officials flocked to “Politics in Paradise” hosted by several local chambers of commerce Thursday night at the Water Conservation Garden.

This year, the format did not include a panel discussion or questions, but rather guests had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with candidates. Each candidate also had 30 seconds to introduce themselves, with moderator Barry Jantz indicating any who ran over would get the “hook.”  Most gave just the basics – name, what they’re running for and how to find them – though a few managed to get some zingers in.