East County News Service

June 14, 2022 (San Diego ) -- Prospective residents age 62 and over interested in affordable housing units at the new Serving Seniors Residence located in City Heights can still register their interest in the housing complex.

Located in City Heights at Fairmount Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard, the complex includes a total of 195 one-bedroom units for seniors and low-income families.

Residents will have access to onsite activities and case management and can receive no-cost senior meals two blocks away at Potiker City Heights Residence, another Serving Seniors' affordable housing community.

Approximately 50% of the available units have been leased. Prospective applicants can still apply for the remaining units.

Individuals can sign up at  www.hyderco.com or by calling the Senior Apartments Hotline at 619-367-6500.

By Mike Allen

June 13, 2022 (Santee) -- After the Santee City Council voted last week to remove the Fanita Ranch project initiative from the November ballot, environmental activist Van Collinsworth called the move not only a slap in the face of local voters, but a clear message that the 3,000-unit development will never go to a vote.

The Council voted unanimously June 8 to take an earlier approved referendum on the project off the ballot because all pf the project’s legal approvals were already rescinded last month. The Council removed those approvals made in 2020 to comply with a judge’s recent ruling, which found the project’s environmental impact report deficient.

That report did not include impacts of a last-minute change by the Council to eliminate a key exit route in case of a wildfire evacuation, a lapse which the court found violated the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.

June 13, 2022 (Barrett Junction ) -- The #Border13Fire east of Marron Valley Road has swelled to 350 acres and is 0% contained, growing swiftly from when it was reported two hours ago at just 30 acres, Cal Fire tweeted. This is a separate fire from the nearby Barrett Fire reported earlier.

 Multiple patients have been rescued from the fire area, Cal Fire reports.

East County News Service

Some GOP members of Congress sought pardons for their roles in failed coup attempt, refused to testify, Cheney says

View video of the complete hearing

By Miriam Raftery

June 10, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- The Senate’s Select Committee investigating the violent January 6, 2020 attack on the U.S. Capitol presented several shocking revelations during its first public hearing televised in prime time on June 9.

Chairman Bennie Thompson called the Jan. 6 attack an attempted “coup” (hear audio) and made clear that former President Donald Trump knew that the election was not stolen. He played video of Trump’s Attorney General, Bill Barr, testifying that Barr had repeatedly told Trump that there was no evidence of election fraud, even advising the President that such claims were “bulls**t.”  (hear audio). Thompson said the committee will prove in subsequent hearings that Trump organized a coup in an attempt to violently overthrow the U.S. government.

Next, ranking Republican Liz Cheney provided more evidence that Trump knew his stolen election claims were false. Even Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, told the selection committee that she believed Attorney General Barr.  (hear audio). Top campaign advisors to the President also counseled him that he had lost the election, and 62 judges including some appointed by Trump found no evidence of fraud.

Cheney asserted that Trump oversaw a seven-part plan to overturn the 2020 election.

A committee source told CNN that those seven steps were:

East County News Service

June 9, 2022 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) received over 60% of the vote in the primary election. She will run off on November 8 against Stan Caplan, a small business owner who received just under 38% of the vote. 

By Miriam Raftery

After months of closed-door investigations, the House of Representatives’ January 6 Committee is holding its first hearings with public testimony about what transpired during the assault on the U.S. Capitol, including evidence expected to show coordination among extremist groups and potentially, the Trump campaign and White House insiders.

All major TV networks (except Fox) will be carrying the hearings live in prime time including ABC, NBC, CBS,NPR, PBS, C-Span and MSNBC; the latter will also have pre-and post-event coverage.

The first public hearing will be aired tonight, June 9 at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, followed by five additional days of early morning hearings over the next two weeks. 

Here is the full schedule, listed with local viewing time for San Diego:

East County News Service

June 8, 2022 (San Diego) – A significant warming trend brings a heat wave to our region starting today through the weekend, along with elevated fire weather conditions due to heat and very low humidity. Winds with gusts up to 50 miles per hour over the mountains and deserts on Sunday will exacerbate wildfire dangers, the National Weather Service predicts.

Temperatures in the deserts could reach 110 to 115 degrees. Those without air conditioning, adequate hydration or who are engaged in strenuous outdoor activities will be at risk due to the high heat. Even nights will be warm, with low temperatures in the 80s.

Update June 8, 2022:  With 21.5% of the vote counted,  Jones' lead has widened. The Senator now has 53.9%; Rocha has 46.1%.  The pair will face off again in November.

By Miriam Raftery

June 7, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – East County closest election contest is shaping up in the newly redrawn 40^th State Senate District. The incumbent, Republican Senator Brian Jones, has 51.36% of the vote in early election returns. Close on his heels is former Navy veteran and Marine Corps prosecutor Joseph Rocha with 48.64%.

Update June 8, 2022:  With 21.5% of the vote counted, Undersheriff Martinez now has 38.09%, followed by Hemmerling with 20.42% and Myers with 17.85%. The top two will run off in November.

By Miriam Raftery

June 7, 2022 (San Diego) – Early results after polls closed tonight show Undersheriff Kelly Martinez with a strong lead in the race to become San Diego County’s next Sheriff. Martinez has 39.5% in a field of seven contenders. The top two will run off in November. Currently retired prosecutor, police officer and ex- Marine John Hemmerling has 19.9%, trailed closely by retired Sheriff Commander Dave Myers at 17.8%..

Martinez, a Democrat, has the endorsement of former Sheriff Bill Gore and the San Diego Gun Owners Association. Myers is endorsed by the Democratic Party, while Hemmerling is the Republican Party’s endorsed candidate.

Source:  San Diego Sheriff's Department

June 6, 2022 (San Diego) - Emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere at any time. When you need to be quiet and making a phone call could place you in danger, Text to 9-1-1 is available in San Diego County.

East County News Service

Update June 6, 2022:  The U.S. Navy  has identified the deceased as Electronics Technician 2nd Class John Deltoro, 29. All five sailors involved in the crash are assigned to West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare units.

June 3, 2022 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Four women in the U.S. Navy were injured and a Navy man died in a solo vehicle crash in Jacumba Hot Springs this morning.

By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by James Kecskes

June 2, 2022 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego on Wednesday kicked off its 2022 Cool Zones program to help San Diegans beat the heat this summer. Cool Zones are free, air-conditioned locations, available throughout the region, where people can go to escape extreme temperatures.

UPDATE AS OF 5/31:  road work has been DELAYED.  It has been moved to June 1 due to construction material delays.

Through vehicles detoured at Washington Street and B Street May 8-11

East County News Service

May 5, 2022 (Julian) – Caltrans crews will limit vehicle access to a one-block section of State Route 78 (Main Street)between Washington Street and B Street in Julian starting Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8) at 8 p.m. through Wednesday, May 11 at 5 p.m. for drainage repairs.

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy will be able to enter a conclave to elect the next pope after Francis dies or retires. Photo by Chris Stone

May 29, 2022 (San Diego) - Bishop Robert McElroy of the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese was elevated to cardinal Sunday — thus becoming eligible to be elected pope someday.