November 13, 2014 (Deerhorn Valley) – A vehicle with flashing blue and white lights and religious stickers has reportedly been impersonating an emergency vehicle on East County roadways.

East County News Service

November 12, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is weighing options that could make it more expensive to opt out of having a smart meter or even allow your right to remove a smart meter to be taken away in the future, under an interim proposed plan, warns the Center for Electrosmog Prevention. The group is an official intervenor in the current CPUC proceding on smart mater opt outs and recently   filed a formal response to a proposal that CEP founder Susan Brinchman of La Mesa calls “noxious.”

By Miriam Raftery

November 11, 2014 (Julian) – The Golden Chariot mine along the Banner Grade near Julian was once a motherlode that produced nearly a million dollars worth of gold.  Commercial mining there ceased in 1931 during the Great Depression, though small-scale operations continued up until 2002, when a fire blazed through the Chariot Canyon.

By Monique Coppola, California News Service

November 9, 2014 (Sacramento) - Pharmaceuticals - they're what's for dinner. Now three groups in the U.S. are suing the federal government over the drugs.

By Miriam Raftery

November 9,2014 (San Diego) – An 11-year-old suffered burns to the chest and torso after a fireworks launcher tipped over and sent a firework into field levels seats at Qualcomm Stadium Saturday night.

The accident occurred during the annual KGB Sky Show extravaganza following the San Diego State University homecoming game, in which SDSU defeated the Idaho State Vandals 35-21.

A CBS news report indicates up to five people may have been hit, though it’s unclear whether any were seriously injured.  UT San Diego reports the 1y-ear-old had burns on the torso and legs.

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2014 (San Diego)—A sophomore at San Diego State University has died after falling five stories off an apartment building near campus.  She has been identified as Melissa Kennon, a sophomore studying psychology.

East County News Service

November 6, 2014 (San Diego) – Veteran Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi has been released from a Mexican prison, the State Department has announced.  Tahmooressi was arrested and imprisoned for driving across the international border with three guns in his vehicle, which is illegal under Mexican law. He reportedly suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome and was not able to obtain treatment while imprisoned for over 200 days.

East County News Service

November 4, 2014 (Flinn Springs) – If you bought a Fantasy 5 California Lottery ticket at the 7-Eleven store at 14110 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs (just east of El Cajon), you could be instantly rich.

A ticket worth nearly $408,000 matches this week’s winning numbers of 3, 12, 14, 32 and 34—but the winner has not yet come forward to claim his or her prize.

County News Service

November 3, 2014 (San Diego)--The County Board of Supervisors has taken another step forward in plans to promote beekeeping and agriculture while protecting the public by directing their staff at last week’s meeting to begin the final steps in creating a proposed “tiered” beekeeping ordinance.

East County News Service

November 1, 2014 (Ramona)—A man who ran south across State Route 67 south of Mussey Grade Road was struck by a motorist and killed at 2:27 p.m. today.   “At this time, the pedestrian has not been identified,” said Kevin Pearlstein with the California Highway Patrol.

The unidentified man was struck by a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 24-year-old Ramona man.  According to the CHP, the driver was traveling eastbound at 50 miles per hour when he came around a curve and saw the pedestrian running across the roadway in front of him.

PHOTO: Workers can help report abuse of farm animals with a new national tip line. Photo credit: Kathy Milani/Humane Society of the United States.

By Monique Coppola, Public News Service-CA

October 31, 2014 (Ramona)-- Whistleblowers in California could earn up to a $5,000 reward if their tip leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the abuse of farm animals. The Humane Society of the United States has just launched a national tip line where callers can report animal abuse at farms, slaughterhouses or livestock auctions.

October 27, 2014 (Mt. Helix) -- Mount Helix Resident Sue Daniels is asking the public's help to find and return a bronze sculpture stolen from her yard sometime during the past two weeks.

October 25, 2014 (Spring Valley) – Two news item coming up will impact Spring Valley residents.

Lamar Street will be closed to through traffic for a month due to a slope repair project, the County of San Diego has announced.  Residences will remain accessible during construction and questions may be sent to Brian Rochelle, resident engineer, at brian.rochelle@tylin.com.

October 24, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Superior Court has announced plans to close its appeals and small claims operations in East County, as well as North and South County. The decision would mean major inconvenience and travel costs for residents who live far away from Kearny Mesa, where operations would be centralized. The public can comment on this proposed plan up until December 21^st.  Below are details: