By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Santa Barbara oil spill, 1969, dumped up to 100,000 barrels of crude oil off California's coast, killing 3,500 sea birds as well as marine mammals such as dolphins and seals. (Dick Smith Collection, University of Santa Barbara)

January 5, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke yesterday issued a sweeping proposal to open up 98% of all outer continental shelf areas for offshore oil drilling -- including off San Diego’s coastline.  By contrast, drilling is currently allowed in only 6% of those areas.

The proposal, which also includes plans to drill in the Arctic, elsewhere along the west coast, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast, has drawn strong opposition from environmental groups and from California’s Attorney General.  View map of proposed drilling sites. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in however in public comments and public meetings to be held around the country.  A schedule of those meetings will be posted here.  Online comments at regulations.gov will be accepted starting January 8^th.

 Residents Eligible for Mental Health Treatment, Medical Expenses, Funeral and Burial and More

 The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) is encouraging residents impacted by the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on Sunday, October 1 in Las Vegas to contact them at 1-800-777- 9229 for assistance, guidance and aid.  

The massacre killed 58 people and injured over 500 victims.  San Diego attorney Jennifer Irvine was among those killed; several other San Diego County residents were injured, NBC 7 reports.

Help is available for survivors of those who were killed, anyone who was injured and those in attendance at the concert, as well as their immediate family members.

East County News Service

July 19, 2017 (San Diego)—Gayle McLaughlin, former mayor of Richmond, California, says she’s running a corporate-free progressive campaign for Lieutenant Governor of California.  She will hold a town hall meeting to discuss her campaign on Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m. at the IBEW 569 hall, 4545 Viewridge Avenue, Suite 100 in San Diego.

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (San Diego)—California residents are asked to save power from 2 to 9 p.m. by turning off unnecessary lights and appliances and setting air conditioning to turn on at 78 degrees or higher. The Flex Alert, issued by the Califiornia Independent Systems Operator that manages the power grid, aims to prevent blackouts during high power demand periods.

May 18, 2017 (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

• Santee ok’s start of special district for Castlerock residents (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Should UCSD and other hospitals pay millions of dollars to sports teams? ( San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Local Experts Explain Recent Uptick in Shark Sightings (NBC)
• Ramona High School listed for sale in funny senior prank (Fox 5)
• Gaming gone bust, tribe turns to marijuana farming (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• A day in the life of Rep. Duncan Hunter (Fox News)
• Drugs, graffiti found at La Mesa little league field (10 News)
• San Diego using loophole to hand out large raises during pay freeze (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Bill would expand property tax portability for older CA homeowners (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Gov. Brown defends gas tax, local legislator (OC Register)
• DMV issues hundreds of disabled placard citations (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Army Training In California Desert To Take On Cyber Threats (KPBS)
• California courts look to modernize with chatbots, video tech (SF Chronicle)

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

 April 18, 2017 (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

• Trump’s border wall prototypes to be built at Otay Mesa (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Hunter campaign pays new lawyers amid federal investigation (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Students discuss changing Aztec mascot (Daily Aztec)
• Anza-Borrego community mourns well-known ranger (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Racist flyers posted around San Diego State campus (10 News)
• For El Cajon's Chaldeans, an Easter blessing: freedom to worship without fear (Union-Tribune)
• SD Unified’s Jaw-Dropping Grad Rate Is Now Official. Here’s How it Got Here (Voice of SD)
• Low-Income San Diegans Are Getting Pushed to Riverside (Voice of San Diego)
• The Latest FieldTurf Issue Is Nothing 1,000 Gallons of Glue Won’t Fix (Voice of San Diego)
• Report: 43,000 Young People Not Working Or Going To School In San Diego County (KPBS)
• With springtime comes more baby animals (Ramona Sentinel)
• City Approves Permit For Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (KPBS)
• Murderer gets 50 years for gunning down bus driver at El Cajon Taco Shop (Patch.com)

STATE

• The Prop. B Ruling Could Reverberate Throughout California (Voice of San Diego)
• Proposed law would let Johns, pimps be sued in civil court (NBC 7)
• Water Releases To Resume At Damaged California Dam Spillway (KPBS)
• SDG&E's Affiliate Approved To Lobby On Community Choice Amid Ongoing Investigation (KPBS)

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

April 6, 2017 (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

• El Cajon moves along on redistricti plans for election (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• ShotSpotter tells police only 1 in 4 shootings are reported (SD Union-Tribune)
• New and improved (and taxpayer funded) field turfs are still failing (Voice of San Diego)
• Rep. Hunter says he was not involved in criminal action (SD Union-Tribune)
• San Diego County makes Justice Dept. list for limited cooperation with immigration officials (SD Union-Tribune)
• Rescue cushion highlighted by man jumping over I-5 (KNSD)

STATE

• Are your housing costs sky high? A new fight is coming over California rent control (Fresno Bee)
• Could California use existing money for road repairs?  (Capitol Public Radio)
• Too young for juvie?  Calif. bill bars prosecution for kids under 12 (Sacramento Bee)
• Mojave Desert water project gets Trump administration approval  (KPCC)

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

November 29, 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

• El Cajon takes urgent stand on marijuana (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Caught on camera: mountain lion in Lakeside neighborhood (10 News)
• Across the County, taxpayer-funded turf fields are falling apart while still under warranty (Voice of San Diego)
• Judge allows San Onofre waste lawsuit to advance (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trump should renounce Muslim registry: America is better than that (San Diego Union-Tribune editorial)
• Hundreds of new downtown rentals approved(San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• ‘Calexit’ movement launches (Los Angeles Times)
• Can your landlord just say no to marijuana now that Prop 64 passed? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Government sued over offshore fracking in Santa Barbara Channel(Pacific Coast Business Times)
• UC, CSU Consider Raising Tuition For The First Time In 6 Years (KPBS)
• Numbers of international students in U.S. is at all-time high and California is top destination (Los Angeles Times)
• CalSTRS calculates total fees in likely first for public pension (Reuters)

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

November 2, 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

• Businessman donates $100,000 to El Cajon Valley High (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Father of man fatally shot by police establishes foundation for police reform (Los Angeles Times)
• Grossmont schools chief organizing campaign work for students, staff (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• In failing the homeless,  San Diego stands apart (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Toxic Plume Leads To Testing Of El Cajon Mobile Homes(KPBS)
• Raided by never charged, cannabis distributor seeks return of seized assets (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Resident says his tree-trimming case shows CPUC favors utilities (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• $47B Deal Could Help Qualcomm Move From Phones To Cars(KPBS)
• Educators getting trained to 'run, hide or fight'(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Refinancing La Mesa to save $9 million(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Ramona Unified School District Board:  Choose 2 (Ramon Sentinel)

STATE

• ‘Pot Prop’ 64: Clearing the haze on a complex measure (Orange County Register)
• Sexually transmitted diseases reach record high (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• SeaWorld Marine Rescues Remain Higher Than Usual (KPBS)
• DMV uncovers fake ID ring on Craigslist(San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

September 27, 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

• Push for new gas line sparks fears and theories (Voice of San Diego)
• Big crowd fills San Vicente reservoir on reopening day (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon eyes ban on nudity (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Bald eagle found near death recovering in Ramona (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Cory Briggs conduct ‘unethical and possibly criminal,’ appellate court says (KPBS)
• Miller to airport group: Wake up, take Walton statue (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sempra takes on bigger role in Mexico's energy landscape(San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• California man convicted as would-be Islamic State recruit gets 30 years (Reuters)
•  Political watchdog won't investigate Brown over 'Dirty Hands’ report (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Jose State University investigates after swastikas found on campus(CS Monitor)
• State auditor calls for CPUC reforms (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• CA police begin comprehensive state tracking for use-of-force injuries(CS Monitor)

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

East County News Service

September 13, 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

• San Diego backcountry wildfire risk lessening, insurance group concludes (Los Angeles Times)
• Cancer Surgery Volumes at San Diego Hospitals May Warn of Complications (KPBS)
• 10,000th Syrian refugee will settle in El Cajon  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Affordability Report Ranks San Diego County Near the Bottom (KPBS)
• Mexican billionaire found guilty of buying political influence in San Diego (10 News)
• Judge sides with Monsanto in lawsuit  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Report probes Saudi links of San Diego's 9/11 hijackers (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Faux city for Alzheimer’s patients takes shape (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Yosemite National Park unveils 400-acre expansion (BBC)
• Sanchez calls on feds to takeover CPUC probe (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Southern Calif. Gas Co. agrees to $4 million settlement over massive gas leak (CBS)
• This Mojave Desert solar plant kills 6,000 birds a year (Los Angeles Times)

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

August 24, 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

• East County judge gets blackballed by DA (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California racing board pressured to investigate horse deaths at Del Mar (Times of SD)
• 4 San Diego correctional officers reportedly injured in inmate attack at Donovan Prison (Patch)
• Mother of baby found dead at border likely trafficking victim (NBC 7)
• Ramona crash—DUI arrest (Borrego Sun)
• Bernie’s revolution steams into El Cajon, alongside `Trump train’ recruit (Times of SD)

STATE

• Disgusted with sky-high drug prices, Calif. voters take on big pharmacy (Truthout)
• Bluecut Fire update:  crews increase containment to 40%, no federal aid for victims (LA Times)
• 96 homes, 213 other buildings destroyed as California’s fire season takes another grim turn (LA Times)

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

August 9, 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

• San Diego’s housing crisis squeezing the middle class (KPBS)
• Focus: San Diego connections to the Rio games(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Police, sheriff finalize body camera policy (Voice of San Diego)
• Face off over development in rural San Diego County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Neighbors save veteran from Santee mobile home fire (NBC)
• Back to school: It is time for the distracted driver talk (Reporting San Diego)

STATE

• Pilot Fire scorches 7,500 aces in San Bernadino Mountains; feds say it could become ‘major disaster’  (Orange County Register)
•  One way to save California’s coast: Save a bill that bans private meetings with developers (Los
• Two babies born in California with Zika-related severe birth defects (Sacramento Bee)

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

East County News Service

July 27, 2016 (San Diego) -- The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) is declaring a Flex Alert, a request for consumers to conserve electricity today, especially during peak demand time from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Electricity supplies statewide are expected to be tight because of high summer temperatures driving up demand, power plant outages, and transmission line import capacity reductions. Power imports may be limited today because of high temperatures in neighboring states.

Consumers are urged to conserve electricity today, especially during the late afternoon when air conditioners push power consumption to the highest point of the day.

July 6, 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

• San Diego County Water Authority Votes To Raise Rates (KPBS)
• San Diego County home prices rise 6.3% (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Police identify suspect in string of deadly attacks against homeless (Times of San Diego)
• Photos: migrants from around the world come to Tijauana, to wait (Voice of San Diego)
• Planners okay expansion for two wineries (Ramona Sentinel)
• In Campo, 25 ft.from Mexican border, California’s Old West roots remain (Wash.Post)
• San Diego First To Hit Solar Power Cap In California (KPBS)
• Rates go up slightly for SDG&E, SoCalGas (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Plan for regional power grid raises hopes, doubts(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Photos: migrants from around the world come to Tijauana, to wait (Voice of San Diego)
• The Line Between Education and Advocacy on SANDAG’s Tax Proposal(Voice of SD)
• Report: Cybersecurity jobs jump in San Diego(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lawmakers move to revive abusive eminent domain  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Dense One Paseo project approved (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Initiative to legalize recreational use of pot in California qualifies for November ballot (Los Angeles Times)
• Study  up, California! You’ve got 17 statewide measures to vote on (KQET)
• Utility:  Keep deal that split costs from closed nuke plant(SF Gate)
• California may have a water ‘rainy day fund’(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• With Doomsday in Mind, California Officials Are Ceding Water to Arizona, Nevada (Voice of San Diego)
• Proposed Measure To Cap Hospital Execs' Pay Pulled From November Ballot (KPBS)
• CPUC has room to improve, state auditors say (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 7 charged with attacking KKK members during bloody California rally (Chicago Tribune)

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