EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

February 6, 2014 (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/REGIONAL

• Patch lets go of many reporters/editors  (San Diego Reader)
• Alpine, teachers reach tentative pact (UT San Diego)
• How Does California's 'Zero Water Allocation' Affect San Diego? (KPBS)
• E-cigarettes get a La Mesa pass—for now (La Mesa Today)
• Kelp to be tested for radiation (UT San Diego)
• Cities Sign Up For 'NextGen' Regional Communication System (KPBS)
• Serving those in need (Scoop San Diego)

STATE

• California officials forecast “zero” water deliveries (Sacramento Bee)
• Judge orders Cal Fire to pay $30 million for “reprehensible conduct” in Moonlight Fire Case (SacBee)
• Severe Drought Has U.S. West Fearing Worst (New York Times)
• California’s normally vibrant vineyards turn brown from lack of rain (CBS)
• Report: December Freeze Cost California One-Quarter Of Citrus Crop (KPBS)
• Diablo Canyon Unit 2 nuke generator shut down (SacBee)

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

LOCAL/REGIONAL

Patch lets go of many reporters/editors  (San Diego Reader)

On Wednesday, January 29, the new majority-owner of hyper-local news site Patch.com laid off all but one of its San Diego County reporter-editors, remaining editor Michelle Mowad confirmed. The layoffs include journalist Khari Johnson, whose knowledgeable coverage of Imperial Beach and La Mesa appeared to have triggered the U-T San Diego to follow his stories at least a few times. Johnson was also honored last year as one of their “best of the best” Patch employees.Santee editor Stephen Bartholow, Oceanside editor Gina Tenorio, and Encinitas editor Deanne Goodman also appear to have been laid off.

Alpine, teachers reach tentative pact (UT San Diego)

The Alpine Teachers Association and the Alpine Unified School District reached a tentative labor agreement late Friday that appears to have staved off the threat of a strike

How Does California's 'Zero Water Allocation' Affect San Diego? (KPBS)

Amid California's severe drought, water officials announced Friday the State Water Project might not make any deliveries this year, but this won't have an immediate impact on San Diego County, according to San Diego County Water Authority.

E-cigarettes get a La Mesa pass—for now (La Mesa Today)

There is a reason they call election time "the silly season.'' It is only through that prism that what occurred during a three-hour City Council meeting Tuesday evening can make sense to close observers of what is usually a pretty sober elected panel.

Kelp to be tested for radiation (UT San Diego)

Matt Edwards will soon dip a hand into the cool blue waters off Point Loma and grab strands of golden-brown kelp that might have a worrisome tale to tell. The San Diego State University biologist is one of about 50 scientists who will collect kelp along the West Coast so that it can be analyzed for traces of the radioactive material that leaked into the Pacific three years ago after an earthquake-generated tsunami damaged a nuclear power plant in Japan.

Cities Sign Up For 'NextGen' Regional Communication System (KPBS)

San Diego County is gathering support for the purchase of a new regional communication system.... Changing technology means San Diego County’s current Regional Communication System, (RCS) relied on by public safety agencies, will soon be obsolete.   The estimated $105-million price tag of the NextGen RCS will be shared between about 40 agencies, including fire, police, public transit agencies and cities.

Serving those in need (Scoop San Diego)

With little fanfare, La Mesa churches have united to feed hungry students, plan shelters for the homeless and even deliver underwear for needy children.…The effort evolved after La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid in February of 2011 invited dozens of clergy to the La Mesa Community Center to discuss how their churches could help deal with community problems. He urged the group to pick “low-hanging fruit” that would yield easier success.

STATE

California officials forecast “zero” water deliveries (Sacramento Bee)

State officials announced Friday that 29 water agencies serving 25 million people across California can expect “zero” water deliveries from the State Water Project this summer because of the worsening drought. Although that delivery projection could change, it is the first time a “zero allocation” forecast has been made in the 54-year history of the State Water Project, which is operated by the California Department of Water Resources and typically delivers Sierra snowmelt to cities and farms throughout the state.

Judge orders Cal Fire to pay $30 million for “reprehensible conduct” in Moonlight Fire Case (SacBee)

In a blistering ruling against Cal Fire, a judge in Plumas County has found the agency guilty of “egregious and reprehensible conduct” in its response to the 2007 Moonlight fire and ordered it to pay more than $30 million in penalties, legal fees and costs to Sierra Pacific Industries and others accused in a Cal Fire lawsuit of causing the fire.

Severe Drought Has U.S. West Fearing Worst (New York Times)

The punishing drought that has swept California is now threatening the state’s drinking water supply.

With no sign of rain, 17 rural communities providing water to 40,000 people are in danger of running out within 60 to 120 days. State officials said that the number was likely to rise in the months ahead after the State Water Project, the main municipal water distribution system, announced on Friday that it did not have enough water to supplement the dwindling supplies of local agencies that provide water to an additional 25 million people. It is first time the project has turned off its spigot in its 54-year history.

California’s normally vibrant vineyards turn brown from lack of rain (CBS)

High in the hills above California's Napa Valley, Cain Vineyards usually looks lush in February. This winter it is exactly the opposite.

Report: December Freeze Cost California One-Quarter Of Citrus Crop (KPBS)

A week of freezing temperatures in early December wiped out about a quarter of California's $2 billion citrus industry.

Diablo Canyon Unit 2 nuke generator shut down (SacBee)

A Central California nuclear power plant has shut down one of its two generators after an electrical arc occurred during a storm.