By Chris Jennewein

Photo: U.S. Supreme Court, by D.B. King via Wikimedia Commons

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

February 26, 2018 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s estimated 45,000 Dreamers got a reprieve from possible deportation Monday when the Supreme Court refused to hear a Trump administration challenge.

The court declined to overrule a lower court’s action that temporarily blocked ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on March 5.

The program, which allows immigrants brought to America illegally as children to live and work in the country, was terminated by President Trump last year, leaving it up to Congress to pass permanent protections.

East County News Service

February 25, 2018 (San Diego) – The San Diego Press Club will present a program on Snopes.com, a fact-checking and reference website, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 at its downtown San Diego offices at the Spreckels Building, 121 Broadway, Suite 640. Cost to attend is free for members and $10 per person for non members. The event is open to the public.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

January 8, 2018 (La Mesa) -  In 2018, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is celebrating their 10th anniversary and this year’s “Salute to Local Heroes” is a special evening that begins this year-long celebration. La Mesa is known as the “Jewel of the Hills” and this evening will be the first “jewel” of this celebratory year that is themed, “One Jewel of a Night.” This evening will honor local heroes, install the Board of Directors and includes a silent auction, raffles and a delicious dinner. This special evening will be held on Thursday, March 8, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Town & Country Resort Hotel (Town & Country Ballroom), 500 Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley. 

By Miriam Raftery

February 24, 2018 (La Mesa) – In keeping with tradition, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s first breakfast speaker of the year was Supervisor Dianne Jacob, now serving her seventh and due to term limits, last term represented her district that encompasses virtually all of East County.

By Miriam Raftery

February 24, 2018 (El Cajon) – What better way to brighten up those mid-winter doldrums than with some cheery new cocktails, a sweet and spicy appetizer, Alaska King Crab combo dinner and decadent new dessert now available at Black Angus restaurants?

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 23, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – In the wake of a deadly school shooting in Florida, threats have been reported at several San Diego County campuses including East County locations, though thus far none have been deemed credible by law enforcement.

By Miriam Raftery

February 23, 2018 (San Diego) – Few family trees are without some bad apples.  But should the actions of an ancestor you never met haunt you if you decide to seek public office?

Ammar Campa-Najjar was born in America to a Catholic mother of Mexican descent and a Palestinian Muslim father. Now a Democratic candidate for Congress running for Rep. Duncan D. Hunter’s seat, his platform includes calling for a lasting peace in the Middle East that respects both Israelis and Palestinians.  

This week, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz ran a story headlined, Grandson of Munich Massacre Terrorist is Running For Congress – Sounding a Peaceful Tone on Israel. The story claims that Campa-Najjar’s grandfather was in the terrorist organization Black September that was responsible for killing Israeli Olympic competitors in Munich, and was later killed by Israeli security forces.

The newspaper also acknowledges that Campa-Najjar has rejected violence and won endorsements from San Diego rabbis,“winning praise from members of the local Jewish community for his moderate positions on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.”

Source:  City of La Mesa

Photo via Tree City USA

February 22, 2018 (La Mesa) - The Arbor Day Foundation, in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management, has named La Mesa a 2017 Tree City USA for the 38th consecutive year.

La Mesa achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique lodging adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Mike Allen, East County Magazine

February 22, 2018 (Santee) -- Ever since wood cabins were built at the end of Santee Lakes some seven years ago, I’ve been curious about what they were like.

I’ve stayed in a few cabins in my life, some quite rustic and spartan, and others with all the stuff you’d ever need if you’re “camping,” including one that had a spa tub.

The cabins at Santee Lakes are definitely at the higher end, in fact, downright luxurious with just about everything a family would need to enjoy one of America’s best campgrounds situated smack dab in the middle of Santee.

February 22, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Alzheimer’s disease is completely reversed by removing just one enzyme in new study (Newsweek)
• Glasses give the color blind the red and blue they’ve never seen (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• More U.S. babies dying of suffocation, often in bed (Reuters)
• WHO warns of soaring rates of measles in Europe (BBC)
• Ovarian cancer: persistent tummy bloating can be sign, charity warns (BBC)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Get ready for the era of hypersonic flight – at five times the speed of sound (Los Angeles Times)
• Meet the scientists running to transform Congress in 2018 (Science)
• Fishermen are harvesting more than half of world’s oceans (Science)
• SpaceX gets U.S. regulator to back satellite internet plan (Reuters)

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

East County News Service

February 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Last month, Congresswoman Susan Davis volunteered to participate in the annual “We All County” homeless survey in East County.  In this photo, she is shown listening to Jesse, a homeless man who told his story to his representative.

February 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Trump signals shift on guns (The Hill)
• Students protest gun violence outside the White House (The Hill)
• “Additional criminal conduct” unearthed against Manafort, special counsel alleges (CBS)
• Prosecutors level new claim of bank fraud against Manafort(Politico)
• Russia investigation leads to charges against lawyer linked to Trump's former campaign aides (Los Angeles Times)
• Fed officials see stronger growth and reason to raise rates (CBS)
• Pence could be next president and he was hand-picked by Manafort (Newsweek)
• ‘We would literally not survive’; how Trump’s plan for the social safety net would affect America’s poorest (Washington Post)
• Billy Graham, 99, dies; pastor filled stadiums and counseled presidents (NY Times)
• The second amendment was ratified to preserve slavery (RawStory)
• Donald Trump, a Playboy model, and a system for concealing infidelity(New Yorker)
• House Republicans just voted to eliminate the only federal agency that makes sure voting machines can’t be hacked (The Nation)

WORLD

• Before Russia’s ‘troll farm’ turned to U.S., it had a more domestic purpose (Christian Science Monitor)
• IDF cyber warriors thwart major ISIS aviation terror attack (JPost)
• Jokhang Temple: fire engulfs ancient heart of Tibetan Buddhism (Guardian)
• Nigeria’s Boko Haram crisis: More than 100 school girls missing after attack (BBC)

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

By Miriam Raftery

February 22, 2018 (Ramona) – You’re invited to meet artists, art teachers, furniture artisans and celebrate the life of the late, great artist Helen Petre  on Friday, March 2 from 6-8 p.m. at the 2Create Gallery, 438 Main Street in Ramona.  The event is the first of a series of “First Friday” art events that the gallery plans to host, each featuring art, music and refreshments.

Helen Petre was a colorful and acclaimed artist who lived in Julian and continued creating works of art well into her nineties. Known for her stylish hats and fashionable clothing that she designed herself, during her long and productive life she became a prolific artist excelling in collage, monoprinting, mixed media and bookarts. 

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Photo: Sunrise Powerlink high voltage lines in Lakeside, by Billy Ortiz

February 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) president Michael Picker has suggested that utilities be allowed to charge residents in high-fire risk areas higher rates for electricity.  The reason would be to cover costs of upgrades to prevent power lines from causing wildfires, including changes to meet tougher new fire safety rules approved by the CPUC in December, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Picker’s proposal, made during a meeting on fire safety for utilities on January 31^st, has sparked outraged responses among East County residents, planners, and County Supervisor Dianne Jacob.