East County News Service

September 26, 2018 (San Diego) – The U.S. Department of Agricultural and Cargill Meat Solutions have recalled over 132,000 pounds of ground beef products sold at major retailers nationwide. In California, stores that sold the tainted meat include Target, Vons, Safeway/Albertson’s, Central Meat & Provision Co. in San Diego, and Pak N Save.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit: cdc.gov

September 25, 2018 (Alpine) - A person who played bingo at Viejas Bingo located in the Viejas Outlets and rode the Sun Charter San Diego North Line to the facility has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and may have exposed others, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Ek, McKenna and Vacio billboard; Kiel image via Facebook

September 23, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The November election could have high stakes in the San Miguel Fire Protection District.  A slate of three incumbents who voted to return the district to local control and axe a contract with Cal-Fire are running for reelection: Theresa McKenna, Jim Ek and Mike Vacio. All are backed by the district’s firefighters. Also in the race is William A. Kiel, son of board member William Kiel, who voted against ending the contract with Cal Fire.

By Miriam Raftery

September 23, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – U.S. Senate has passed an appropriations bill that removed the controversial Aderholt amendment inserted by Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee. The Aderholt amendment would have allowed federally funded child welfare service providers to withhold services for moral or religious reasons, with a stated goal of allowing agencies to ban adoptions of children by same-sex couples. But human rights groups say the measure would also open the door to discriminate based on an adoptive parent’s religion, race, marital status and more.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – A new video ad from Ammar Campa-Najjar consists entirely of Fox News reporters and commentators blasting his opponent, Congressman Duncan Hunter, over Hunter’s indictment on federal corruption charges and Hunter’s efforts to blame his wife for his legal troubles.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Despite litigation over the Grossmont High School District’s failure to build an Alpine High School, the Alpine community failed to mount a challenger to trustee Jim Kelly, who represents Alpine after redistricting.  Trustee Robert Shield is also running unopposed.

But trustee Gary Woods, who represents the El Cajon area in district 3 and directs a religious educational institute,  faces a challenge from Peggy “Liz” Weaver, a public school teacher of fourth and fifth graders at Rancho Elementary School.

Source:  Caltrans

September 22, 2018 (San Diego) - On Saturday, Caltrans construction crews will close eastbound State Route 94 (SR-94) connector to southbound State Route 125 (SR-125) from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. for pavement repair.

East County News Service

Paul Kruze contributed to this report

September 20, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) – Damage to a gas pipeline in Rancho San Diego on September 17th was caused by a third-party contractor, Orion Construction, according to a statement issued by Helix Water District.

East County News Service

September 20, 2018 (Sacramento) -- Governor Jerry Brown on Tuesday afternoon signed into law S.B. 1138, legislation to require that state-licensed healthcare facilities and state prisons provide plant-based food options to patients and currently incarcerated individuals. Friends of the Earth sponsored the legislation.

East County News Service

Council grapples with rental bicycle problems, commends volunteer Kathy Pillman for founding group that has cleaned up 6 tons of trash

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

September 14, 2018 (El Cajon) – Citizens who attended Tuesday’s El Cajon City Council meeting once again saw a circus-like performance in which the public spoke out over the clownish antics of Councilmember Ben Kalasho.

Fact check: Kendrick mailer on Kalasho “fraud and sex scandals” is true.

Kalasho removes social media post accusing him of stalking opponent's home -- after being served with federal lawsuit for removing critical posts and violating First Amendment.

By Miriam Raftery

September 15, 2018 (El Cajon) – Redistricting has pitted Councilmembers Gary Kendrick and Ben Kalasho against each other in what’s shaping up to be one of the most contentious election battles in East County’s history.   

A mailer from Kendrick’s campaign warns voters, “Judge ruled against Ben Kalasho in fraud and sex scandals.”  No, that’s not fake news.  The flyer contains actual headlines and excerpts from East County Magazine and the San Diego Union-Tribune documenting the numerous legal findings, allegations and scandals involving Kalasho.

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our interview with Councilman Bill Baber on marijuana measures, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link

September 13, 2018 (La Mesa) --The La Mesa City Council has approved by a 5-0 vote a ballot measure, Proposition V, which would allow the city to put a business excise tax on cannabis businesses in  La Mesa.  The tax, if approved, would be paid by the businesses, not consumers. The city’s finance departments estimate that the measure could raise $1.5 to $2 million per year.

“As a separate matter, we’re working on an adult use ordinance that would bring the opportunity for adult use businesses to come alongside medicinal,”  reveals Councilman Bill Baber in an interview with ECM on KNSJ Radio.  He envisions allowing dispensaries already complying with medical marijuana sales requirements to be the first to carry recreational cannabis.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: More than 50 Borrego residents made the long trip from the desert to show opposition to the project.

September 13, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – By a 3-2 vote, San Diego Supervisors rejected a request to upzone 169 acres in Borrego Springs. The proposed Borrego Country Club Estate project sought to build 169 homes on land currently zoned for just 16 residences.

The site known to locals as “Rudyville” is located in south Borrego Springs on land that includes ancient Ocotillo groves and endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, among other species of concern.

The state has ordered Borrego to reduce its water consumption by 75 percent due to the community using more groundwater than is being replenished by rainfall, a fact that proved the key factor in blocking the project.

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2018 (La Mesa) — Vandals have damaged the La Mesa Depot and locomotive. Built in 1894, the depot is California’ oldest building in its original form, La Mesa Today reports.  A meeting is planned on September 25^th at the depot at the corner of Spring Street and La Mesa Boulevard to learn about efforts to raise funds to restore the depot, the last remaining station from the San Diego and Cuyamaca Railway.