East County News Service

October 2, 2017 (Ramona) -- Caltrans has announced lane closures on State Route 67 at Dye Road and Highland Valley Road on Monday and again this Wednesday and Thursday night from 7 p.m.to 5 a.m. each night.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2017 (Campo) – Backcountry residents in San Diego’s East County are baffled as to why, after they signed up for Dish TV satellite service, Dish has inexplicably dropped carrying CW San Diego programming. 

“I think it probably that local fans don’t even know that they will be unable to watch the new fall line-up, including the new season of Supernatural," a popular program aired on CW, says Billie Jo Jannen, chair of the Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group.

Jannen, a Dish subscriber, says Dish “still charges us the same for local channels” even after dropping CW San Diego.   She points out the rural residents rely on satellite and don’t have a wide range of other options.  “We have no access to cable and most don’t have the bandwidth to use a firestick or the like.”

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2017 (Puerto Rico) – Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, a military hospital ship has not yet arrived while the death toll continues to mount.  Only 10,000 National Guard members have been deployed, compared to 31,000 swiftly sent after Hurricanes Irma and Harvey struck Florida and Texas. There are also far fewer FEMA personnel, CNN reports. 

By Miriam Raftery

Rally and march photos by Robert Gehr

Cover photo:  Alfred Olango's father, Richard Olango Abuka

September 29, 2017 (El Cajon) – A one-year anniversary event commemorating the death of Alfred Olango, an African-American man shot and killed by an El Cajon Policeman, was held Thursday on Civic Center Way in downtown El Cajon, followed by a march to city hall and the police station.

By Miriam Raftery

September 28, 2017 (San Diego) – Six of East County Magazine’s reporters are on the winners’ list in the San Diego Press Club’s  Excellence in Journalism awards.  Congratulations to our reporters Jonathan Goetz,  Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson, Paul Kruze, Mimi Pollack,  Rachel Williams, and editor Miriam Raftery.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2017 (San Diego) – Today the California Supreme Court denied a request by the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) to reverse a Court of Appeals decision in June that allows the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) to include its State Water Project costs in rates it charges to transport CWA’s independent Colorado River supplies through MWD’s pipeline and aqueduct.

See below for statements in full from the CWA and MWD.

Source:  San Diego County Grand Jury

September 27, 2017 (San Diego) - Jeff Bryson, a retired San Diego State University psychology professor, was named chairperson of the 2017-2018 San Diego County Grand Jury, which began service on July 10, 2017.

The jury members, six women and 13 men, were drawn by lot from 90 volunteer applicants.  They serve for one year under a state constitution mandate that counties establish the full-time "watchdog" panels to look into the workings of city and county governmental agencies.

Update:  The CPUC has announced it will hold this agenda item slated for the Thursday morning hearing, meaning no vote will be taken on this agenda item.  Public comment will still be accepted before all five commissioners at the start of the mornng hearing .

Public comment will also be taken during an all parties meeting later in the day, but not all commisioners will be present at the later meeting. See more details at the end of this story.

By Miriam Raftery

September 26, 2017 (San Diego) –The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Chula Vista City Council Chambers  (276 Fourth Ave., Chula Vista) on the CPUC’s proposed decision to deny SDG&E’s application to charge ratepayers $379 million for recovery of its uninsured losses related to the 2007 Witch, Rice and Guejito wildfires.  A similar request for $594 million was previously denied in 2012.

SDG&E sought to recover those losses through a Wildfire Expense  Memorandum Account (WEMA).  The proposed decision against SDG&E has drawn praise from some, including Supervisor Dianne Jacob, but concerns from others including a fire survivor and intervener in the case.  Some ratepayer advocates also warn that the CPUC could  change its mind on the proposed denial of SDG&E’s WEMA application or postpone action following ex-parte lobbying efforts by the utility company.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Steve Herman, Voice of America (VOA) news, 2013

September 25, 2017 (New York) -- This morning, North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong accused President Donald Trump of declaring war. The top diplomat told media that North Korea reserves the right to shoot down American bomber planes, even if they are outside of North Korean air space, Associated Press reports.

By Miriam Raftery

September 24, 2017 (San Diego) – Hot, windy weather is forecast this week, creating elevated fire concerns, the National Weather Service in San Diego advises.

Hottest weather will occur in inland valleys with temperatures up to 100 degrees.  There will also be gusty offshore winds of up to 35 miles per hour starting Sunday night and continue through at least Wednesday. 

East County News Service

September 24, 2017 (San Diego)--Critics are calling today's planned rally in Oceanside that "celebrates the removal of nuclear waste at San Onofre" a sham that does not reflect reality, the opinions of nuclear waste experts or the community. These experts say the celebration tricks the media and the public into believing that the nuclear waste problems at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) have been solved.

Local critics say that Citizens Oversight, the group hosting the "celebration" is misleading the public with magical thinking and an irrational belief in "purple unicorns."

Two proposed solar projects have been revived under new owners

By Paul Kruze

Photo: Map shows site of Boulevard Solar, one of the two former Soitec projects back in the planning pipeline.

September 22, 2017 (Boulevard) -- Boulevard, CA is a small rural community located about 50 miles east of downtown San Diego on Interstate 8,  nary half-an-hour to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  While residents – a mix of retired people and younger people who work in San Diego but want to experience rural living – are able to experience the best of both worlds, the stark realities of modern life do punctuate the overall quiet and serene quality of this hamlet.

This was apparent at the Sept. 7th meeting of the Boulevard Planning Group, where the dominant topic was the main threat to the area’s rural atmosphere – the development of alternative energy projects, including the revival of two former Soitec Solar projects now moving forward under new ownership.

Update September 29, 2017 :  Jorgina Soto, San DIego County Library, advises that a soft ribbon cutting is now scheduled for October 16th, with a ribbon cutting slated for early December at a date to be arranged.

By Paul Kruze

Photo:  The San Diego County Library’s new and shiny library kiosk sits in the dark with a heavy cover until further notice.

September 22, 2017 (Boulevard) -- It is back to the drawing board for San Diego County Library officials, who had intended to debut a 24/7 automated library kiosk in front of the old Boulevard fire station at 39923 Ribbonwood in September. But due to unforeseen circumstances, a heavy cover will remain on the kiosk and residents are going to have to wait at least until mid-December before it will be operational.

Update September 22, 2017:  Tooma has pleaded not guilty, claiming he only owns a smoke shop next door, not Spring Valley Greens, Patch.com reports.

By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The owner of Spring Valley Greens, an illegal marijuana dispensary also known as the Wax Room, has been arrested.  Steve Tooma, 35, has been charged with opening a drug house, criminal conspiracy, and possession of marijuana for sale at the dispensary located at 9925 Campo Road in the Casa de Oro neighborhood of Spring Valley.