Penn Gaming parts ways with tribe; SEC filing cites concerns over unpaid loans

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2018 (Jamul) – In a press release issued tonight, the Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation, a wholly owned entity of Jamul Indian Village, announced termination of Penn Gaming and a transition to a new management team at the Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego, which will be rebranded as Jamul Casino.

The JIVDC press release describes the transition as a “natural next step toward economic self-sufficiency for JIV.”  Penn Gaming’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 018 does affirm that the decision for Penn’s local entity, San Diego Gaming  Ventures LLC, to cease management of the casino effective May 28, 2018 is a “mutually agreed” upon decision. 

But the filing also indicates serious financial difficulties, including outstanding loans that Penn suggests it may be unable to collect.  The filing states:

By Miriam Raftery

Updated 1:30 p.m. with information provided by the Sheriff's department.

February 28, 2018 (Santee) – A student at West Hills High School has been arrested overnight for “making terrorists threats after he posted a photo of a Lego rifle on social media with a threatening message,” Grossmont Union High School District public information officer Catherine Martin stated on Twitter.

By Miriam Raftery

February 28, 2018 (San Diego) — While Congress remains paralyzed over gun control legislation, with the Republican leadership refusing to even allow a vote on measures to ban or restrict sales of military-style assault rifles used in many recent mass shootings, at least one major retailer has taken action on its own.

By Miriam Raftery

February 27, 2018 (San Diego) -- Anti-Semitic incidents in san Diego increased 41 percent last year, with 45 separate incidents reported, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents.

By Miriam Raftery

February 27, 2018 (Boulevard) – The Boulevard Planning Group meets Thursday, March 1^st at 7 p.m. in the Boulevard Fire Training Room, 33919 Ribbonwood Road, Boulevard.  The board is expected to take action on proposed release of a sexually violent predator on McCain Valley Road.

The board will also receive updates and hold discussions on issues including Supervisors’ climate action plan, Tule Wind noise complaints, Protect Our Communities’ appeal challenging federal approval of Tule Wind phase II, and revival of two solar projects formerly proposed by Soitec. Rugged Solar has been taken over by Clean Focus and Tierra Del sol Solar has been taken over by Invenergy and renamed Boulevard Solar.

East County News Service

February 27, 2018 (Ramona) --  Indivisible Ramona invites the public to attend an evening of presentations on the “Changing Faces of Agricultures”, including farm labor, and its impact on the economy of San Diego County tonight, Tuesday, February 27, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Ramona Library Community Room, 1275 Main St., Ramona, CA 92065. 

Attendees will hear from two expert speakers and Congressional candidates about San Diego County agriculture productions of more than $1.7 billion and agricultural exports from and through the county at more than $18 billion and how immigration, housing, NAFTA and other key issues could have an impact. Both Republican and Democratic candidates running for Congress in District 50 have been invited to participate and offer comments.

By Miriam Raftery

February 25, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – A cold front is forecast to bring snow down as low as 2,500 feet in East County on Monday and Tuesday, potentially dropping up to six inches on Mount Laguna as well as two to four inches in Julian.  

Smaller amounts of snow could fall on Ramona and communities east of Alpine along Interstate 8, such as Pine Valley, Japatul and Descanso, so check weather reports and carry chains if driving in the mountains during these winter weather conditions. Mountain areas along State Route 94 in the Potrero/Tecate divide area could also be impacted.

East County News Service

February 22, 2018 (Valley Center) – Like the mythical hydra monster that grows new heads and refuses to die, a revived Environmental Impact Report (EIR) of the proposed and highly controversial Lilac Hills mixed use project in Valley Center has been submitted to the County and is now available for public review starting today. You can view it here:  https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/ceqa/LHR_Recirculation_2.html

Source: San Diego Sheriff

February 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Due to this week's winter storm, there is the possibility of snowfall in San Diego County Mountain areas including Julian, Pine Valley and Descanso.

For those planning to head out to the mountains, the Sheriff's Department wants to remind you to be prepared. Be sure to check road conditions before heading out. Have a full tank of gas, water and food supplies in case you are stranded in traffic since this region is known for “snow jams.”

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 20, 2018 (San Diego) – Earthquake warning systems have been proven effective in Japan, Taiwan and Mexico, where residents received warnings ranging from a few seconds to a minute before major earthquakes struck. 

Even a short warning can be enough to save lives at hospitals, airports, power plants, schools and other locations.

East County News Service

February 20, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Frigid weather across our region caused closure of schools in the Julian and Warner Springs areas on Tuesday.  A frost warning has been extended through Wednesday morning.

The cold front brought record low temperatures, according to the National Weather Service, including a chilly 23 degrees Tuesday at Ramona in East County’s mountains and 35 degrees in coastal Oceanside.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 20, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a challenge by gun rights advocates to California’s law requiring a 10-day cooling off period before buying a new gun. 

The CalGuns Foundation’s lawsuit contended that the waiting period violated the 2^nd Amendment and was unreasonable, since it applied even to people who already owned other guns. A lower court agreed. However, an appeals court rejected those claims and the Supreme Court allowed the appellate decision upholding California’s law to stand.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Barry Aninag, B.A.investigations, via Linked In

February 16, 2018 (La Mesa) – La Mesa's City Manager Yvonne Garrett and City Attorney Glenn Sabine signed an agreement today with Barry Aninag, B.A. Investigations, LLC, in connection with the January 19, 2018 use of force incident by a La Mesa Police school resource officer on a handcuffed female student at Helix Charter High School.

Aninag's LinkedIn profile states that Aninag is the owner of B.A. Investigations and is a “retired police executive after having served thirty years in law enforcement.”

By Miriam Raftery

February 16, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – It’s official:  Russia actively worked to sabotage American democracy and put Donald Trump in the White House.

Today, Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller released copies of indictments filed against 13 Russians and three Russian entities on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and other charges ranging from bank fraud to identity theft in their quest to violate laws that prohibit foreigners from spending money to influence U.S. elections.  Read the full indictment here.

The indictment language is damning, documenting how the Russian organization Internet Research Agency plotted “information warfare against the U.S.” paid for in Russian rubles at a budget of $1.25 million a month. 

Russians posing as Americans used social media to post positive information on Trump and negative information,  much of it false, disparaging other candidates opposing Trump including Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton.  They also organized pro-Trump and anti-Clinton marches and rallies in the U.S.

They were aided by at least 100 U.S. citizens and and communicated with members of the Trump campaign, the indictment makes clear, and funneled illegal contributions into electing Trump.  At least some of those contacts were "unwitting."

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police are seeking witnesses to identify the driver who hit and fatally injured a woman pedestrian found still alive at 4:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of South Sunshine Avenue.  She died while being transported to a hospital, Patch.com reports.

The woman may have been homeless, according to Lt. Royal Bates.