By Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2014 (Sacramento)--While other states are taking steps to protect consumers from genetically modified foods or give consumers information to make informed choices, California’s Legislature this week voted down a bill that would have required labeling of foods sold in California that are made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.  Exceptions were granted for alcoholic beverages and foods sold at farmer’s markets.

In March, we covered plenty of hot topics, from the new healthcare exchange programs in California to La Mesa’s term limits initiative.  We toured a zebra ranch and animal rescue facility in Ramona, heard complaints about AT&T’s home wireless sytems, and had a rollicking interview with the Bayous Brothers band.  View a complete list of interviews and topics covered during March by clicking here.

You can hear our show on KNSJ 89.1 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m., with reruns aired the next mornings at 9 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 8 a.m. on Saturday.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Forest Service warns that this year could bring a catastrophic fire season in the Southwest with estimated that firefighting costs of $1.8 billion this year for the Interior Department overall – that’s nearly triple the amount of money available to fight fires.

June 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

July 12, 2014 (La Mesa) – Polonia United invites the public to attend a charity event to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital. The benefit begins at 6 p.m. with a reception followed by a live music concert by artist Ivan Quiceno from 7-9 p.m. as well as a silent auction.  The event costs $25 per person and will be held at 4518 Mayapan Drive in La Mesa, CA 91941.

By Nadin Abbott

Reprinted and updated with permission; original published at http://nadinabbottblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/wage-increase-scaled-back-by-council-president-todd-gloria/

June 19, 2014 (San Diego)-- There are moments of great political theater in our government bodies, and Monday saw one of them. Rabbi Laurie Coskey of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice brought pie to Council. It was an all-American Apple pie. It was a pie to be split by the City Council, but she admonished them to leave a slice for workers, who are not getting enough of the pie.

June 20, 2014 (Descanso)—The public is invited to join the fun at the 45^th Annual Descanso Days Parade and Fair on July 12, 2014. It promises to be another great backcountry event at the Descanso Town Hall!

By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2014 (San Diego)--Hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency upgrades made over the past decade helped to minimize losses in last month's devastating wildfires and enable a successful response by the County of San Diego.  That’s the conclusion of the After Action Report  prepared by County staff and presented to Supervisors this week.

The report cites dramatic improvements made since the 2003 wildfires struck our region, and what additional upgrades could be made as the region braces for what appears to be a severe fire season.  It stops short, however, of addressing the biggest gap in coverage for rural residents.

Twisted Manzanita Ales in Santee is celebrating its 4^th Anniversary on Saturday, June 28 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Santee Town Center Community Park East.

This year the brewery’s Anniversary Party will be all-inclusive, with an admission price that covers everything, including access to their Craft Spirits Lounge featuring Twisted Manzanita spirits. Guests will receive 6 samples of various craft spirits. The Anniversary Party will have a culinary spread provided by local San Diego restaurants.

June 19, 2014 (Julian)--The 16^th Annual Julian Blues Bash happens this Saturday, June 21 at Menghini Winery in Julian with a great lineup of blues bands.

Advance ticket sales are over, but they will have tickets at the gate for this all-day event featuring an array of talented entertainers.

On Saturday July 5^th, KNSJ invites you to our community radio station’s first anniversary from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the beautiful Mission Trails Regional Park visitors center.

Come mix and mingle with our radio hosts and celebrity guests in a spectacular natural setting, enjoy live music, Native American flute players, delicious food and drinks, stargazing, museum, no host bar, two stages with comedy acts and musical entertainment.

By Janis Russell; Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

June 18, 2014 (La Mesa)- An overflow crowd filled Council Chambers and spilled outside at last night’s La Mesa Planning Commission meeting on the controversial Park Station project, a multi-use development proposed at Baltimore and Nebo Drive.  Kitzman, the developer, has scaled down original plans from 18 stories to 11, still well over double the height limit for the area. The new plan also eliminates a park and makes other changes.

Testimony ran on for over to four hours, with 23 speakers opposed and 26 in favor (most from outside La Mesa).  The evening ended with a shocker, when Lenny Guccione, business manager for the American Legion – the project’s co-applicant-- criticized the project as “too big” for the neighborhood, then abruptly announced withdrawal of the American Legion’s support and walked out. 

The announcement stunned planners and project  backers.  A recess was swiftly called, after which Sherman Harmer with Urban Housing Partners admitted the American Legion’s withdrawal came as a “total shock” to the applicant.

The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to close the public hearing and end public input on the project. Following  internal discussion and staff input, a new meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, July 16 at 7 p.m.

By David Dickens

Photo, left by Randy Jordan: Mayor Bill Wells presents proclamation to Jimmie Johnson

June 17, 2014 (El Cajon)-- On this beautiful day in downtown El Cajon,  friends, family, fans, and promoters gathered to pay honor to NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.

June 18, 2014 (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

• Iraq Humanitarian Crisis Is Personal In San Diego(KPBS)
• DMV bribes put unsafe drivers on streets (U-T San Diego)
• El Cajon school site cleanup ratchets up (UT San Diego)
• The salary you must earn to buy a home in 27 metros (HSH)
• Average Wait For VA San Diego New Patient Care Is 44 Days (KPBS)
• The 500 Percent Fee Hike on Developers That Passed With Barely a Peep (Voice of San Diego)
• New water treatment methods begin at Padre Dam (UT San Diego)
• Sweetwater joins suit against contractors (UT San Diego)
• Toni Atkins talks budget, fracking and taxes at press club (Sacramento Bee)
• La Mesa City Council (La Mesa Today)
• La Mesa robbery spree participant sentenced to over 23 years (Scoop San Diego)
• Lobbying fine for labor group (UT San Diego)
•  Nuclear settlement gets mixed reception (UT San Diego)
• Unlicensed contractors caught in sting (UT San Diego)
• USC might acquire Scripps Research Institute (UT San Diego)
• Seized asset fund has more problems (U-T)

STATE

• NORAD scrambled fighters after Russian bombers seen off California coast (Reuters)
• 'Community choice': Transparency key in choosing utility option (UT San Diego)
• 'Community choice': Alternative to private utilities badly needed (UT San Diego)
• Unions push legislatures for labor history courses (Sacramento Bee)
• California or Corrupt Public Utilities Commission? (San Diego Reader)
• California lawmakers reject bill requiring labeling on GMO foods (Reuters)
• Film tax credit bill unanimously passes California Assembly (Reuters)
• The Most Blistering Findings from the Big Teacher Tenure Ruling (Voice of SD)

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

By Miriam Raftery

“If they keep taking out city after city, the whole world’s safety is threatened. I hope the world acts soon." -- Mark Arabo, Iraqi-American community leader

Update: Our interview with Mark Arabo, which aired on KNSJ 89.1 on June 13, 2014 can now be heard here:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

June 17, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The violence engulfing Iraq as terrorists capture  citiy after city is a “living nightmare that won’t go away” for Chaldean Christians across America, Mark Arabo, a first-generation Iraq-American and president/CEO of the Neighborhood Market Association, told East County Magazine.  “No question about it, this is a slow genocide."

Now, Chaldeans across American are asking the public to help by signing a petition urging President Barack Obama  and Congress to join with other world leaders and provide safe passage out of Iraq for Christians trapped with no safe place to go, now that Syria is in civil war and the terrorists in Iraq aim to impose Sharia law.  You can click this link to sign the petition to Save Iraqi Christians.