East County News Service

June 3, 2016  (Sacramento) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed reviewing petitions to list nine species in California and Nevada under the Endangered Species Act and a petition to delist one species.  The Service determined the petitions to list the California spotted owl, Inyo Mountains salamander, Kern Plateau salamander, lesser slender salamander, limestone salamander, Panamint alligator lizard, Shasta salamander, southern rubber boa, and tricolored blackbird contained substantial information and warrant more in-depth review of these species’ conservation status.  The petition to delist the Stephens’ kangaroo rat, an endangered species, did not provide substantial information to indicate delisting is warranted.

Update June 3, 2016:  Trump has fired back, stating, "“My temperament is so much tougher, and so much better, than her temperament. And, by the way, we need a tough temperament,” The Hill reports. He further blasted Clinton over the federal investigation into her emails, claiming "Hillary Clinton has to go to jail."

By Donald H. Harrison; photo by Chris Stone

Originally published in Times of San Diego, a San Diego Online News Association member

June 2, 2016 (San Diego)--Democratic presidential hopeful and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took aim in San Diego at Donald Trump’s views on foreign policy, saying they are “dangerously incoherent” and “not even really ideas, just a series of bizarre rants, personal feuds and outright lies.”

“He is not just unprepared, he is temperamentally unfit to hold an office that requires knowledge, stability and immense responsibility,” she said in a major foreign policy speech.

Peppering her speech with one-liners casting doubt upon Trump’s readiness for office, Clinton spoke in the Prado Auditorium of Balboa Park’s House of Hospitality before 300 invited attendees and nearly as many members of the media, whose working areas described a giant “L” on two sides of the room.  Her speech was interrupted by some 40 instances of applause, cheers, and occasional “boos”– the latter deriding Trump’s positions.

East County News Service

June 3, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- The California Department of Parks and Recreation proposes prohibiting public access off designated trails.  The public has until June 6 to comment. California State Parks System Map  In San Diego County, that would include Rancho Cuyamaca and Anza Borrego Desert state parks.

The Anza Borrego Desert Foundation raises serious concerns about negative impacts to the public in their message below, which includes links to send your comments:

East County News Service

June 1, 2016 (San Diego) – Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner in the presidential campaign, is slated to make a”major national security address” this Thursday, June 2^nd in San Diego’s Balboa Park.  Clinton is set to appear at 11:30 a.m. at The Prado, her campaign announced today.

“Clinton will rebuke the fear, bigotry, and misplaced defeatism that Trump has been selling to the American people. She will make the affirmative case for the exceptional role America has played and must continue to play in order to keep our country safe and our economy growing,” he campaign said in a statement.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Left:  Trump in San Diego by Shor Masori, courtesy of San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association. Right: Police in riot gear, courtesy of Nadin Abbott,Reporting San Diego.  Cover:  Protesters, by Nadin Abbott.

May 28, 2016 (San Diego) –Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke to a crowd of several thousand people at the San Diego Convention Center yesterday, while a crowd estimated  by police at at least 1,000 people  protested outside. The protesters included representatives from labor, the Democratic Party, Mexican Americans, Muslims, women’s rights advocates and an array of progressive groups who urged that voters oppose Trump's divisive politics.

Trump sounded his familiar themes denouncing illegal immigration and calling for a wall, slammed trade deficits with Mexico, China and other nations, said he would eliminate Common Core in education, inexplicably claimed California has no drought, called media “bloodsuckers” and bashed Judge Gonzalo Curiel, an Obama appointee set to hear a civil fraud trail in San Diego after the election over the now defunct Trump University.  

 “I love you San Diego—get out and vote,” he concluded. (View video of Trump speech on CSPAN.)  

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2016 (San Diego) -- Today is an appropriate time to talk about our military members, their families and veterans – and what our local members of Congress are doing to help them and to impact our men and women in uniform.

East County News Service

May 27, 2016 (Dulzura) – A collision on State Route 94 near Lucky Six Truck Trail in Dulzura has left a man dead and three people injured, including an 8-year-old child.

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Julian) – The Medical Examiner’s office has identified Andrew Grettenberger, 55, of San Diego as the motorcyclist killed on May 23^rd in a solo-vehicle crash near Julian.

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2016 (San Diego) – Previously, we reported on the uproar that occurred when the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus took the field to perform before a Padres game last week.  Their microphones were turned off inexplicably and a woman’s voice singing the Star Spangled banner blared over the loudspeakers instead. 

Update, May 23, 2016: The Padres  issued a new statement indicating their investigation found no evidence of malicious intent, however based on the unintentional mistake and failure of those with oversight to immediately intervene, "we have terminated our relationship with the third-party contractor who was responsible for the error, and taken disciplinary action against our employee who was responsible for the game production...We once again sincerely apologize to members of the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, their families and those who came out to support their Pride Night performance. The  Padres organization is proud of our longstanding commitment to inclusion – within both our sport and our community. We deeply regret that a mistake on our part has called this into question, but accept full responsibility.”

By Miriam Raftery

May 22, 2016 (San Diego)—When 100 volunteer members of the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus  took to the field Saturday night to sing the national anthem at the San Diego Padres vs. Dodgers game,  their microphones were inexplicably off . A recording of a woman singing the Star Spangled Banner was played over the loudspeakers instead of the men's voices.   

No announcement or explanation was offered.  Afterwards, the stunned performers were ushered off the field and heckled by baseball fans shouting homophobic taunts including “You sing like a girl,” according to a post on the group’s Facebook page by Bob Lehman, director of the Chorus.

Monday, May 31  is deadline for nonpartisan voters to request a party ballot to vote for a presidential candidate--but lawsuit seeks to extend that to June 7

By Miriam Raftery

May 21, 2016 (Sacramento) – Only 15% of California’s nonpartisan voters with mail-in ballots have requested a presidential primary ballot.  That means the vast majority won’t be able to vote for president in the June 7^th election--and many are unaware of that restriction.

Now civil rights lawyers have filed suit against California and some counties, claiming the laws are confusing, inconsistent, and amount to disenfranchisement.  If they win, the biggest beneficiary could be Bernie Sanders, the Democratic contender who draws heavy support from independent voters, who account for nearly a quarter of the electorate in California.

Hunter action also led Army to halt ouster of Sgt. Martland, Green Beret who ejected child rapist off U.S. base in Afghanistan

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Sgt. 1^st Class Charles Martland, U.S. Army photo

May 21, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) –Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-San Diego) has introduced legislation to outlaw child rape and other human rights violations on U.S. military bases worldwide.  House Resolution 4717, the Mandating America’s Responsibility to Limit Abuse, Negligence and Depravity Act is also known as the Martland Act, named after Green Beret Army Sergeant 1^st Class Charles Martland. 

East County News Service

May 18, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Strong wind are blowing into our region as a storm system approaches.  Driving may be difficult in the mountains and deserts, particularly for high profile vehicles.  Gusts of up to 45 to 60 miles an hour are possible along desert slopes, passes and canyons Thursday and Friday.

Attackers use compromising information to force victims to engage in sexual activity online

East County News Service

May 17, 2016 (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging the Department of Justice to begin specifically tracking criminal offenses involving acts of sexual extortion, or "sextortion."

East County News Service

May 14, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - Subaru is recalling over 48,500 new Legacy and Outback vehicles due to a steering column defect so dangerous, the company doesn’t want you to drive at all—not even to a mechanic.  Subaru dealers will have cars towed, inspected and repaired at no cost, according to a customer service message on Subaru’s website.