By Miriam Raftery

February 13, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) --  A strong atmospheric river storm system with "pineapple connections" (Hawaii origin) will arrive tonight and bring periods of heavy rain late and thunderstorms tonight through Thursday. Mountains could receive 4 to 10 inches of rain, with 2 to 4 inches in valleys and coastal areas and up to an inch in the desert.

The National Weather Service advises that widespread heavy rainfall is expected across the entire area with potential for significant flooding of low lying, poor drainage, and urbanized areas with debris flows possible near recent burn scars. High winds will also be a concern in the mountains and deserts.

A new archive of hundreds of letters between a group of volunteers and asylum seekers along the U.S.-Mexico border has been developed and is being digitized at the SDSU Library.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes

February 13, 2019 (San Diego) - What began as a casual gathering of friends has become a first-of-its-kind living archive of handwritten letters shared by hundreds of asylum seekers detained along the U.S.-Mexico border. Those letters, in the collective correspondence, provide a detailed description of each person’s path to pursuing asylum, and the conditions inside detention centers. 

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

February 12, 2019 (San Diego) - The County Board of Supervisors today voted to allow the Health and Human Services Agency to apply for and receive about $125 million to help people with serious mental illness and who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

“Our office has been receiving calls from constituents indicating that they are receiving calls with messages indicating their Social Security number has been suspended,”  Michael Harrison, District Chief of Staff/Communications Director for Hunter states in an email sent today. “Please let your groups know that this is a scam and a fraud to obtain private information and can lead to identity theft.  Do not participate in these calls.  Your Social Security number is never suspended and the Social Security Administration does not contact people by phone, only by mail.  The same is true for the IRS. 

Update February 13, 2019: Judge Whitney has issued a final ruling keeping the City of Lemon Grove as a defendant in this case.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – A witness has disputed a key claim made by Lemon Grove Councilman David Arambula in a civil suit filed by marijuana dispensary applicant Christopher Williams against Arambula and Lemon Grove.  Williams alleges that he Arambula cut his face with a beer bottle, bit, choked and punched him after a meeting at Arambula’s home regarding the dispensary application.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ABC news screenshot

February 7, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – Despite more than 90 complaints of BMW luxury vehicles bursting into flames while parked with engines turned off, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not actively investigating the causes.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ABC news screenshot

February 6, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – Despite more than 90 complaints of BMW luxury vehicles bursting into flames while parked with engines turned off, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not actively investigating the causes.

ABC News first reported the problem back in May of 2017 and called for a federal investigation. Since then, more than 30 new BMW fires have occurred—and still the federal government has failed to take action to protect consumers, Jason Levine, executive director at the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, told ABC this month.

The BMW company has recalled over a million vehicles since that 2017 report ran. But ABC found fires have occurred recently among models not on the recall list.

By Miriam Raftery

February 6, 2019 (Santee) -- During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump spoke on issues ranging from the economy to immigration, also honoring the upcoming 75^th anniversary of D-Day.  Joseph Reilly of Santee, a D-Day paratrooper, was among three World War II veterans whom Trump praised as “incredible heroes.”

Trump took credit for an improving economy and urged “unity” to avoid a future shutdown. He called for an end to “foolish wars” and what he called “partisan investigations” of his administration amid the special prosecutor’s investigation. 

Despite calls for unity, his speech repeatedly argued for funding for a border wall. He cited San Diego, calling for a ““smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier — not just a simple concrete wall.” The president has threatened to invoke a national emergency to build the border wall in order to keep out migrant caravans of immigrants seeking asylum.

East County News Service

February 4, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect now through 4 a.m. Wednesday for heavy snow in the mountains of San Diego’s East County. 

The snow level could dip down to 2500 to 3500 feet, with six to 12 inches of snow above 4500 to 5000 feet.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Storm systems driven by atmospheric river, courtesy National Weather Service

February 3, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Three days of storms across San Diego have brought much-needed precipitation.  As of 9 a.m. Sunday morning, with more rain on the way, the National Weather Service reports  many portions of East County received two inches of rain or more.

East County News Service

February 2, 2019 (Poway) -- The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego elected the Rev. Canon Susan Brown Snook as its fifth diocesan bishop today at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Poway. She was elected on the first ballot during an election that involved 212 voting delegates.  She is the first woman to be elected bishop since the diocese was formed in 1973. Others on the ballot were the Rev. Roy Hoffman, DMin and the Rev. Michael Tinnon, DMin, both priests serving in this diocese.

East County News Service

February 1, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- A powerful storm is forecast to bring heavy rains and powerful winds countywide tonight through Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service. 

The storm could bring up to 4 inches of snow in mountain areas and a half inch in deserts, with 1.25 inches forecast in inland valleys and the coast. Strong winds with gusts up to 70 or 80 miles per hour in mountain and deset passes are also forecast, so secure loose items such as patio umbrellas. 

Flash flooding, urban flooding and debris flows are possible in some areas.

Another storm is expected to reach our region Sunday morning, with lighter rainfall Sunday and Monday.

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2019 (La Mesa)--Join us at our East County Dining Club’s next delicious event: a seafood soiree in the cozy party room at Red Lobster (8703 Murray Dr., La Mesa) across from Grossmont Center on Thursday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP and prepay  to reserve space for this popular event.

You don't have to be a member to attend, though members receive special benefits. Proceeds benefit East County Media to support East County Magazine and East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts.

Your options include not only delicious wood-grilled lobster, shrimp and salmon, but also sizzling steak, Cajun chicken pasta, and options for luscious desserts.

We will also have plentiful prizes for our drawing including Red Lobster and other restaurant gift certificates, winery gift certificate, a wine rack, jewelry, novels, cookbooks, spa gift certificates, coffee, hand-woven scarf, and more.

East County News Service 

January 28, 2019 5:10 p.m. (Cuyamaca) -- A controlled burn in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park has jumped out of control, NBC 7 reports. Cal Fire has not confirmed this but the Cal Fire Twitter feed states that Cal Fire is assisting State Parks with this burn.

The burn began in the 13000 block of Highway 79 and is currently burning near I-8 east at Japatul Valley.