March 8, 2012 (La Mesa)--The City of La Mesa seeks  two veterans to serve on the newly reorganized Aging and Veterans Commission.

Applicants must live within La Mesa city limits and be either an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces, an active duty armed forces member serving in a civilian capacity, or a member of a veterans service organization based in La Mesa which is federally chartered and/or recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs for claim representation.

March 7, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Community leaders expressed shock and sadness today over the resignation of El Cajon Councilmember Jillian Hanson-Cox.

March 6, 2012 (Sacramento) -- In January, California Fish and Game Commission president Dan Richards shot a mountain lion on a guided hunt in Idaho, after dogs drove the big cat up a tree. A guide took a picture of Richards smiling as he held up the slain animal. Richards sent it to a hunting newspaper, which posted the photo.

March 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Despite recent cold weather, rattlesnakes are active—and a bite proved deadly this week on a local trail, the Blossom Valley network reports.

By Miriam Raftery

March 7, 2012 (San Diego)—The U.S. military is tackling a major battle: striving to rely on renewable energy to meet half of all energy that it uses by 2020. 

“That’s a tall order,” Captain Marko Medved, Operations Officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.  Marko spoke last weekend at Forging a Sustainable Future, a two-day symposium sponsored by UnitedGREEN.  Captain Medved’s job? Makinge the military bases of the Southwest energy efficient.   That’s over one million acres—and he reports, “We’ve made significant gains.”

March 6, 2012 (El Cajon)—Smoke from an attic fire filled Kelley’s Pub on East Bradley Avenue this evening, but no one was injured thanks to the swift response from San Miguel Fire. Firefighters evacuated about 20 patrons safely, then attacked the fire by removing ceiling tiles, eliminating the need to cut large holes in the roof to vent the fire.

March 6, 2012 (San Diego)--Women from all over San Diego County will rally in front of the US Federal Courthouse, 940 Front Street in San Diego on Thursday, March 8 from 12-1 p.m. to support women's rights to contraception on International Women's Day.

"As bad as SDG&E is with a watchdog, imagine it without a watchdog.” – Donna Tisdale

“…No evidence confirming such allegations was provided by those lodging allegations, nor discovered by any of the professionals retained by UCAN’s board.” – press release posted on UCAN website

"We're trying to save UCAN and they're dissolving it." -- Mike Aguirre, attorney

March 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – To many ratepayers in East County, the Utility Consumers Action Network (UCAN) has been a valued ally in their battles against San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). For example, UCAN filed a lawsuit that tried to halt Sunrise Powerlink and submitted a study that helped persuade the California Public Utilities Commission to reject a rate hike proposal.   

So UCAN’s announcement that it is dissolving amid an FBI investigation into its finances  and a Grand Jury summons has been met with shock, dismay and skepticism here in East County.

We still have tickets left! Students $10; $35 tickets for ECM subscribers

March 1, 2012 (San Diego) – If you care about the future of our region, come join a grassroots movement and discussion to shape the energy, water, transportation and food policies of tomorrow.  Should we be investing in rooftop solar or wind farms?  Algae-based fuels or offshore drilling? Greenbelts and community gardens? These are questions that can dramatically affect the future for our children in San Diego and East County.

The Conference will be held in ENS 280; park in lot 2.  Find a map and details at www.unitedgreen.org .  The event kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday with a continental breakfast.   Famed environmental leader and nationally-known “Ring of Fire” radio host Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will deliver the keynote speech at 3:30 on Saturday. Other participants include members of Congress and Congressional candidates,  scientists, environmental planners, authors and educators. 

Update 9:30 p.m. Lanes are reopened.  ECM news partner 10 News reports the woman was struck while walking on the center median. She was taken to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. 

February 29, 2012 (Bonita) – All lanes of State Route 54 westbound are closed after multiple vehicles struck a pedestrian, according to the CHP website at 7:53 p.m. Incident Page Network reports the collision is now a fatality.

By Miriam Raftery

Next president will appoint Supreme Court justice who will be swing vote;  at stake are women’s access to birth control and abortion, attorney tells local law students  

By Nadin Abbott