July 2, 2011 (El Cajon) – Pilots of the Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter followed a trail of smoke and directed El Cajon Police officers to a teen, 17, who is suspected of firing a flare gun at the helicopter. The flare, believed to have been shot from the vicinity of Main Street and Sunshine Avenue, exploded about 30 feet from the helicopter.

“Fortuntely the flare did not impact the helicopter, but could have caused a fire on the aircraft or entered the cockpit and incapacitated the pilot,” said Lt. J.D. Arvan.

July 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. yesterday announced a voluntary recall of about 300,000 Hamilton Beach classic chrome 2-slice toasters.  The heating element in these toasters can remain energized indefinitely when an item is placed in the toaster which may ignite the contents, posing a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items.
 

Fire parcel fee, redevelopment cuts, tuition hikes, freeze on teacher lay-offs, and "crippling" cuts in border crimes enforcement among the budget impacts on our region

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 30, 2011 (Sacramento) –Governor Jerry Brown and Democrats in the state Legislature have approved a majority-vote budget without a single Republican vote. The move ends a months-long impasse in which Republicans held out for an all-cuts budget, while Democrats sought revenue increases to prevent slashing programs ranging from healthcare to law enforcement. The budget includes $7.9 billion in cuts which aim to reduce the state’s $26 billion deficit to $5 billion.

By Jeremy Los and Miriam Raftery

“Californians can no longer afford to build roads and infrastructure with golden shovels. We need to send the money where the rubber meets the road. Literally.” –  Senator Joel Anderson

“Eliminating Caltrans would result in an ineffective and scattered patchwork of local projects, hamper the movement of goods and people, and ultimately hurt our economic competitiveness… During the 2007 wildfires, we partnered with first responders and helped with emergency road repairs and evacuations.” --Matt Rocco, Caltrans

June 27, 2011- State Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) is revved up over his new bill to cut state spending by eliminating the California Transportation Department (Caltrans).  SB 851 would shift responsibilities for highway building and maintenance onto local cities and counties, also allowing local governments to outsource to private companies.  

Can local communities afford those cost?  How will motorists and taxpayers be impacted?

Supporters say the bill would save money and cut waste.  Opponents question whether public safety could be jeopardized, particularly in San Diego--where a Grand Jury investigation found roadway conditions "appalling" and where local agencies have relied on Caltrans for quick highway repairs during major wildfires and other disasters.

June 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – An injured man who called 911 after falling down an embankment last night has been found following an intensive search and will be transported to a hospital, Melissa Aquino, public affairs officer with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, advises.

Update 2:55 p.m.:  The fire is now 5-10 acres, burning at Otay Truck Trail.

June 29, 2011 (Otay Mesa) – A brush fire that originated in Mexico has burned three to five acres in Otay Mesa along Alta Road, Cal Fire reports. Currently one air tanker, one helicopter, one air attack plane, three engines and two handcrews are at the scene.

Conservation and Demand-Response Programs Still Key 

June 28, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced it has secured adequate electricity supplies and required reserves to meet customers’ expected energy needs this summer, barring extreme weather conditions. 


The California Independent Systems Operator (Cal-ISO), the agency responsible for managing the statewide power grid, has issued its 2011 Summer Assessment confirming adequate supplies to meet the projected electricity demand across the state – even if hotter-than-average temperatures occur. 

June 27, 2011 (Borrego Springs) – A motorcyclist traveling eastbound on State Route 78 this morning in Borrego Springs crossed the center lane after entering a curve. He struck the driver’s side of a BMW traveling westward, then skidded across the roadway.

County Animal Services Offers Independence Day Safety Tips

Family pets can become frightened and frantic because of the noise and commotion of Independence Day celebrations, County Animal Services officials warned today.
 

June 23, 2011 (Otay Water District) Otay Water District’s (the District) Board of Directors has declared an end to the District’s Water Shortage Response Plan Level 1.  The District has been in a voluntary Level 1 water shortage since June 12, 2008.  The Plan listed ten ways customers could voluntarily cut their water use by up to ten percent.

June 23, 2011 (San Diego) --  A prescription drug abuse taskforce, homeless prevention for students, water conserving landscaping and a traffic school of sorts for pet owners are among the County of San Diego’s innovative programs that won national recognition and the second highest number of awards in the country by the National Association of Counties (NACo).

June 21, 2011 (Lakeside) Updated 2:25 p.m. – A man has suffered second and third degree burns over 70% of his body in an apparent suicide attempt, according to Sgt. Everard Dayrit with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

Emergency personnel were called to a report of an explosion at a modular home in the 12000 block of Lakeside Court at 7:20 this morning, where firefighters found the man suffering burns to his face and upper body after the blaze was doused.

June 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The driver of an SUV that plunged over an embankment off I-8 westbound just west of Highway 94 is trapped, CHP’s website reports. According to Incident Page Network, the SUV plummeted 100 feet and a second vehicle is involved; a medical helicopter has been ordered to the scene.

June 20, 2011 (San Diego) – A 47-year-old motorcyclist with a female passenger, 30, struck a parked vehicle while driving northbound on 54th street yesterday afternoon in east San Diego. He landed under the vehicle and sustained major head trauma, according to Officer J. Jacobsen with the San Diego Police.

June 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Nesting birds have accomplished what thus far, citizens opposed to the Sunrise Powerlink have not been able to manage: slowing down construction of the project. According to a newsletter sent by the Community Alliance for Sunrise Powerlink, some birds have sought to nest in construction equipment and in other works area, “significantly hampering construction.”