EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

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April 6, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

STATE

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

LOCAL

San Diego Emergency Rooms Feeling Strain From Overuse (KPBS)

Health officials say more than half of the visits to San Diego emergency departments have been for non-emergencies.

Grant funds first step in huge trail system (San Diego Union-Tribune)

… Once complete, the project — which would include a bridge or a tunnel across or below state Route 67 — would link Iron Mountain and the Lake Poway trails (Mt. Woodson and Potato Chip Rock) to Dos Picos County Park in Ramona.

It’s April — La Mesa's Oktoberfest bill still unpaid (SD Reader)

The bill for $47,900 in city services for La Mesa's Oktoberfest 2015 has gone to collection, and it may be the last time the city will work to collect from the group that runs the annual event.

La Mesa Vice Mayor comes out against Trump (San Diego Union-Tribune)

..."I do not believe Donald Trump is fit to be president,” said [La Mesa Vice Mayor Bill] Baber, a member of the San Diego city ethics commission who was also longtime chief lawyer for the county Republican Party. “He does not have the experience or character to handle the office."…La Mesa Councilwoman Ruth Sterling is supporting Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the primary, but said she will support Trump if he is the nominee.

Faulty signatures force two out of Chula Vista council race (Star News)

…For the first time in Chula Vista’s political history, the city clerk disqualified two candidates from running for office after the city clerk could not verify “20 good signatures”...Part of the reason for the pair’s ineligibility is this is the first election in Chula Vista based on four council districts. Instead of gathering signatures from any Chula Vista voter — as the process was when the city had citywide elections — candidates must have voters living in the district in which they are running for sign their nomination papers.

Developer Tries to Make Escondido Bigger to Accommodate 550 Luxury Homes  (Voice of San Diego)

Developers are trying to build hundreds of homes on a vast 1,098 acres just north of the San Diego Safari Zoo Park – something that a previous developer tried before on the same property and failed. … The property is currently part of the unincorporated county, where county law only allows 27 homes. So the developer is trying to persuade the Escondido City Council to annex the land. That would allow 550 homes and provide sewer, water and fire infrastructure that the county would not.

Canceled VA appts pushed vet to try suicide (San Diego Union Tribune)

VA investigation confirms San Diego VA falsified wait times for patients.

STATE

Saudi Land Purchases Fuel Debate Over US Water Rights (KPBS)

Saudi Arabia's largest dairy company will soon be unable to farm alfalfa in its own parched country to feed its 170,000 cows. So it's turning to an unlikely place to grow the water-chugging crop — the drought-stricken American Southwest.http://feedpress.me/13288/2946199.gif

California Wants To Delay Toxic Chemical Labeling On Canned Foods (KPBS)

Environmental health advocates are upset California wants to put off requiring toxic chemical warning labels on certain canned and bottled foods. The concern is linked to linings inside those containers. http://feedpress.me/13288/2943433.gif

Court revives California challenge to police dog 'bite & hold' policy (Reuters)

A woman who was sleeping off a night of drinking on her office couch when attacked by a police dog has won reinstatement of her lawsuit challenging the San Diego police department's policy of unleashing its canines to "bite and hold" suspects during a search.

How California Awards Presidential Primary Delegates (Capitol Public Radio)

And another twist: Republican delegates are winner-take-all in each district; Democrats award delegates proportionally based on how well each candidate does. Both parties also award extra delegates based on the statewide vote.

‘It’s a nightmare inside’: bill would place new restrictions on private immigration centers (Los Angeles Times)

Daniel Usman fled his native Pakistan to escape death threats from men upset that he had converted from Islam to Catholicism. Upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, the 35-year-old with a college degree in electronics asked for asylum.

Ted Cruz to speak at California Republican convention (Sacramento Bee)

Campaigning to deny front-runner Donald Trump the delegates needed to win the nomination, Cruz has amassed a large team of GOP volunteers and supporters in this suddenly relevant state, many of whom he addressed Thursday in Orange County.

 


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