Fans using Compass Cloud ticketing app can bypass Trolley line after the game!

December 27, 2017 (San Diego) - The Metropolitan Transit System will boost Trolley service to accommodate the large crowds expected for both the Holiday Bowl and Holiday Bowl Parade on Thursday, December 28.  The Michigan State Spartans and the Washington State Cougars each bring nationally ranked teams and loyal fan bases to help make this bowl game a live and festive atmosphere.

By Miriam Raftery

December 26, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded on Obama-administration guideline that advised local courts against imposing excessive fines and fees on poor people. 

Source: California Department of Motor Vehicles

December 26, 2017 (Sacramento) -- With the new year just around the corner, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) wants to inform the public of several new laws or changes to existing law that, unless otherwise noted, take effect January 1, 2018.

By Miriam Raftery

Pope's homily for Christmas Mass during the night: full text

December 25, 2017 (The Vatican) -- In his homily at Christmas Mass in St Peter’s Basilica during the night, Pope Francis drew parallels between Biblical refugees Joseph and Mary and the millions of refugees around the world today who are “driven from their lands” under desperate circumstances, often forced to leave family members behind.

“In many cases,  the Pope observed, “this departure is filled with hope, hope for the future; yet for many others this departure can only have one name: survival. Surviving the Herods of today, who, to impose their power and increase their wealth, see no problem in shedding innocent blood.”

He urged compassion and a welcoming attitude toward refugees, in stark contrast to the harsh policies imposed by the Trump administration, which has sought to restrict admission of refugees and increase deportations, tearing many families apart.

East County News Service

Photo:  Easel used by famed Western artist Olaf Wieghorst

December 24, 2017 (El Cajon) - The Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon will offer a very special art exhibit and sale featuring local artists now through Thursday, January 4, 2018. Works will be displayed by these talented artists: Gloria Chadwick, Grace Schlesier, Fred Gregory, Val Carson, Ron Dotson, and Peggy Bradshaw Palm. 

The museum is at 131 Rea Avenue in Downtown El Cajon.  For more information, please call (619) 590-3431 or visit www.wieghorstmuseum.org. 

By Ken Stone, originally published in Times of San Diego, a San Diego Online News Association member

December 24, 2017 (San Diego) - Ashley Iverson slowly inhaled. Then she let out a long breath in front of 1,800 mourners with their hearts in their throats.

“Just breathe is what I told one of my best friends when she lost her soulmate at the age of 22,” Iverson said at Saturday’s private memorial service for her firefighter husband Cory at The Rock Church in Liberty Station.

By Miriam Raftery

December 23, 2017 (Alpine) – Bobbi Brink and her rescue team from Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine have spent much of December traveling to several southern states, rescuing five black bears and a white tiger cub. The white tiger cub will soon have a permanent new home at LTB in Alpine.

Our October 2017 radio shows are now online. For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics an interviews click here or click "read more" and scroll down. (Sound files may take a few moments to load).

Our newsmaker interviews included a two-part chad with Chida Warren-Darby on domestic violence and African-American issues and Emma Higgins, Grid Alternatives, on creating job training and solar opportunities for low income people locally.  We also covered top local and national issues, from wildfires across California to the Las Vegas mass shooting s and defunding of Children’s healthcare, as well as top local stories such as the hepatitis A outbreak, homelessness and invasive Aedes Egypti mosquitoes.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Read more and listen to our October shows:

By Miriam Raftery

December 23, 2017 (San Diego) – If you were startled by brilliant, fast-moving lights in the sky last night over southern California, you’re not alone.  San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman reports that SDPD received many calls reporting the phenomenon, and tweeted the photo, left. 

No, it wasn’t a UFO with space aliens, or a U.S. military aircraft. In fact, it was a successful launch of a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Santa Barbara.

East County News Service

December 23, 2017 (El Cajon) – “The internet has enabled endless positive opportunities for time saving applications, navigation and access to news and information that could never be possible without it.  But it also provides access for predators to monitor and interact with unsuspecting juvenile and adult victims,” says Lieutenant Rob Rainsweiler with the El Cajon Police Department. “In this case, an El Cajon Police Detective was able to locate these two suspects who were using the internet to arrange to have sex with what they believed was a 13 year old girl.  They arranged to meet her at a hotel in El Cajon where they were contacted and arrested. “

The suspects arrested are Amer Jamil Mansour, 60, and Salman Dawood Salman, 63. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Sunrise seen from the ancient Kumeyaay observatory on Cowles Mountain. The larger mountain to the left of the sun is Lyons Peak.

 

December 22, 2017 (Deerhorn Valley) – Deerhorn Valley Antler editor Kim Hamilton sent in these beautiful shots taken by Don Endicott on a winter solstice several years ago.  In her email today, she writes: December 21—Today is Winter Solstice.  Did you know Deerhorn Valley is the site of ancient Kumeyaay "Solstice Rocks?

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 22, 2017 (Santa Barbara) - The San Diego State women’s basketball team wrapped up its non-conference slate on a sour note Friday, falling at UC Santa Barbara by a 77-64 count inside the Thunderdome.

By Andrea Sears, Public News Service

Photo:  The new chair of the EPA Science Advisory Board denies the scientific evidence that smog causes asthma. (12019/Pixabay)

December 22, 2017 (Washington, D.C.) - Doctors, scientists and professional organizations are suing EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for replacing publicly-funded scientists with others who advocate for polluting industries.

By Miriam Raftery

December 22, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump has signed into law a final version of a sweeping ta reform bill.   The measure provides huge, permanent tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals, also providing temporary tax relief for many other individuals that will take effect in 2019 and expire eight years later.  Many of those cuts will be offset, however, by loss of popular tax deductions and a provision that is expected to raise rates for Affordable Care Act healthcare policies.

Among San Diego’s representatives, only Republican Duncan Hunter voted in favor.  Republican Darrell Issa joined with Democrats Susan Davis, Scott Peters, and Juan Vargas to vote against, as did California’s two Senators, Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein.

Here's a summary of what’s in the final bill, including key last-minute changes:

East County News Service

December 21, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The Sheriff's SWAT/Special Enforcement Detail (SED) assisted the Rancho San Diego Crime Suppression Team (CST) and Area Detectives with serving a search warrant at the Club 64 marijuana dispensary located at 8650½ Bancroft Drive in Spring Valley, this morning at 8:30 a.m.

“The search warrant was the direct result of numerous complaints from concerned citizens regarding the illegal marijuana dispensary,” says Sergeant Matt Cook. “As a result of the search warrant, deputies located a large amount of marijuana, marijuana edibles, cash, marijuana paraphernalia as well as items used in the sales of marijuana.”