By Assemblymember Marie Waldron

Photo: Paradise Mayor Ron Lassonde discussing fire recovery efforts since the 2018 Camp Fire

January 25, 2024 (Valley Center) -- I recently joined several legislators to tour the site of the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire disaster in 100 years, which stuck much of Butte County in 2018. The fire resulted in 85 deaths, covered almost 240 square miles, and almost totally destroyed the towns of Paradise, Concow and other communities. Sadly, this tragic death toll was surpassed in 2023 by fires that engulfed Maui, with almost 100 dead and many still missing.

Our region is no stranger to wildfires. Most of us remember the Cedar, Witch, Cocos, Guejito, Rice and Lilac fires which devastated much of San Diego County. In the aftermath of those fires, we’ve learned a great deal. For example, San Diego Gas & Electric maintains one the country’s most advanced utility weather networks. Over 190 weather stations monitor high fire risk areas and generate microclimate forecasts and fire modeling that anticipate the path of potential fires. This data is shared with fire agencies throughout the county in advance of adverse weather events such as Santa Ana winds, and is also used by system operators to shut down circuits to avoid fires generated by downed power lines. More information is available here.

The Aztecs scored 50 points in the second half

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

January 24, 2024 (Logan, Utah) - Behind a 50-point second half and a breakout night from freshman Mia Davis, the Aztec women’s basketball team (13-8, 4-4) won at Utah State (3-16, 0-8) 76-62 Wednesday evening. SDSU had 24 assists (on 27 made field goals), their most since Feb. 4, 2023.

By Sir Milo Loftin, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 24, 2024 (San Diego) -- County residents and businesses who experienced flooding damage during Monday’s storm can report the damage through an online survey.

Completing the voluntary form will assist the County of San Diego with collecting damage information related to the storm.

The survey will only be used to gather information to determine if the County should request state and/or federal assistance.

Completing the form does not guarantee that you will be eligible to receive any disaster relief assistance. Filling out the survey is not a substitution for filing a claim with your insurance.

The County proclaimed a local emergency Monday since federal and state assistance may be needed due to flooding damage from the storm.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 24, 2024 (San Diego) -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan is warning businesses and scammers not to take advantage of consumers by price gouging or other fraud schemes during a state of an emergency – doing so can result in prosecution and jail.

As a result of the damage and devastation caused by the severe storm on Jan.22, the County of San Diego has proclaimed a local emergency on behalf of the Board of Supervisors in anticipation that resources and assistance from the state and federal government may be needed. The City of San Diego also proclaimed an emergency, and Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency in the county. During a declared state of emergency, it is illegal for a business to increase its prices for essential goods or services by more than 10 percent, unless they can show their own costs have been increased.

By Jessyka Heredia

January 24, 2023 (La Mesa) – Mastiff kitchen in La Mesa is serving up homemade sausages that will really knock your socks off, but their menu has so much more to offer, so you might want to share family style. From crispy pan pizza’s and burgers to Brussel sprouts, you won’t be disappointed.

January 23, 2024 (El Cajon) —The El Cajon Police Department  wants the public to know that it is taking retail theft seriously, using “every extent of the law to arrest offenders who commit retail theft and, whenever, put them in jail,” according to a press release issued Jan. 22. But police have also voiced frustration over repeat offenders often back on the streets within hours or days after being arrested.

By Chris Walker, CC BY-NC-ND- 4.0

Photo by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0

This article originally appeared in Truthout

January 23, 2024 (New Hampshire) -- Nikki Haley, a Republican candidate facing uphill odds against Donald Trump to become the GOP’s 2024 presidential nominee, stated on Sunday that she was fully supportive of a nationwide abortion ban.

Haley, a former United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration who previously served as governor of South Carolina, has tried to portray herself in town halls, debates and other appearances as a “moderate” choice for Republicans. However, although she opposes her former boss’s false claims of election fraud in the 2020 election, her record is decidedly much further to the right than she admits.

During an appearance on Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Haley admitted her views on abortion differ from most Americans.

Haley at first tried to sidestep the issue, claiming that the question was trying to put “fear and judgment” into the American people.

January 23, 2024 (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 a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

General news

• Dow closes above 38,000 for 1st time, setting record high (ABC News)
• Americans are feeling optimistic about the economy again, with some exceptions(NBC)
• The FAA is tightening oversight of Boeing and will audit production of the 737 Max 9 (NPR)
• Rising bird flu outbreaks threaten national poultry, egg supply again (10 News)
• Harvard sued by Jewish students over antisemitism on campus (Reuters)

Politics

• Trump notches a commanding win in the Iowa caucuses as DeSantis edges Haley for second place (Associated Press)
• Nikki Haley questions Trump's mental fitness after he appears to confuse her for Nancy Pelosi  (AP)
• Trump's lawyer argues that a president can order SEAL Team Six to assassinate his political rival if Congress is cool with it  (Business Insider)
• Ron DeSantis drops out of 2024 Republican presidential race ahead of the New Hampshire primary (CBS)
• Biden campaign puts reproductive rights front and center as it plans to tie Trump to abortion bans (CNN)
• Biden announces fresh wave of early student debt cancellation for some borrowers (NBC)
• Trump received millions of dollars from foreign governments while president, House Democrats allege (USA Today)
• Biden travels to Allentown to highlight towns ‘making a comeback’ (The Hilli)
• Here’s The Tape of Roger Stone Discussing Assassination of Democrats — Which He Denied Ever Doing (Mediaite)
• Judge orders Trump to pay nearly $400,000 for New York Times' legal fees (CBS)

WORLD

• Pakistani retaliatory strikes in Iran kill at least 9, raising tensions along border(AP)
• Who Are Yemen's Houthi Rebels? (Time)
• Two Dozen Russian Helicopters Downed in One Day with 'Secret Weapon'—Kyiv (Newsweek)
• Israel rejects genocide charges, tells World Court it must defend itself (Reuters)
• Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon down by 50% to five-year low in 2023 (Reuters)
• Gunmen in Ecuador storm TV studio in wave of violence (Reuters)
• .Denmark’s King Frederik X takes throne after Margrethe abdicates  (Guardian)  
• Taiwanese pack election rallies, China vows to 'smash independence plots' (Reuters)

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

East County News Service

January 23, 2024 (San Diego's East County)--If you or someone you know is experiencing unsafe living conditionsin EastCounty due to flooding, the Red Cross has opened a shelter.  The shelter is in the Bostonia Recreation Room,1049 Bostonia St.,El Cajon. Additional shelters have been opened at Lincoln High School and the Coronado Community Center.

"The County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services is actively monitoring the storm and its impacts," says Supervisor Joel Anderson, who notes that the winter storm ha affected many parts of the County, with multiple communities and highways experiencing flooding, "especially communities I represent in the unincorporated area of the County."

"The County of San Diego will be assisting with damages caused by the winter storm. More details on that will be shared in the coming days," Supervisor Anderson adds. "For now, if there's any way my office can be of assistance to you during this time, please do not hesitate to reach out to us using the contact form on my website."

The safety of students and school staff is of the upmost importance to San Diego County School Districts. The following schools have early dismissals or closures planned for this week. Please contact your school's administration for more details:

By: Jessyka Heredia

January 22, 2024 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove Happenings in collaboration with Elevated Coffee, and the Musicians Club of San Diego are hosting ‘Groovin’ in the Grove’, a band open mic event at Elevated Coffee Sunday January 28, 2024, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

January 22, 2024 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

•  High cost of housing contributing to inflation in San Diego  (KPBS)
• Most people petitioning mental health CARE Court in San Diego County are qualifying for help (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon approves $500,000 business grant program to improve storefronts (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Insurance rates unexpectedly spike for many across San Diego County (CBS 8)
• This refugee has championed a San Diego urban farm for years. Now, a nonprofit is threatening to evict her. (inewssource)
• Police: Driving instructor arrested after allegedly molesting, filming students(10 News)
• Home destroyed in fire once belonged to preservationist of Alpine's history ( NBC San Diego)
• Mexican Military Takes Over Broken Tijuana Sewage Plant Rehab (Voice of San Diego)
• Ex-GOP student leader's links to Jan. 6 Capitol riot and a neo-Nazi web site (USA Today)
• San Diego Could Be First to Float Solar on Drinking Water (Voice of San Diego)
• Gastrointestinal Illness Strikes 30 People at Safe Sleeping Site Near Balboa Park (Times of San Diego)
• Family of Ashli Babbitt, Shot in Jan. 6 Capitol Attack, Files $30M Wrongful Death Lawsuit (Times of San Diego)
• Allegations: San Diego County retaliated after a second sexual harassment complaint against Nathan Fletcher (CBS 8)
• A court knocked down Berkeley’s natural gas ban. That has San Diego area plans up in the air.  (MSN)

STATE

• 5 major candidates want to be California’s new US senator. Where they stand on the economy, crime and the border(KPBS)
• Schiff would abolish filibuster, end the Electoral College in his pro-democracy plan (Politico)
• Republican Steve Garvey has a chance to play spoiler in California’s Senate race (Cal Matters)
• Schiff takes narrow lead in Senate race; tight contest for second, new poll shows (L.A. Times)
• Supreme Court will hear case about homeless encampments, with huge implications for California (KPBS)
• 'Daylighting' law aims to increase visibility at intersections. Will San Diego enforce it?  (KPBS)
• New California law: putting pen to paper for required learning of cursive writing  (KPBS)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Updated January 23, 2024 to include city and county of San Diego declaring an emergency

January 22, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy rains during today’s storm caused widespread flooding, road closures, power outages, and inundation of vehicles and structures including an East County school. Flooding also prompted numerous rescues including motorists trapped in vehicles in Spring Valley and Lemon Grove, as well as homeless people stranded by rising waters along the San Diego River in Santee.

Richard Attaway took dramatic  photos  (left) of Mission Gorge Road in Santee just east of  Carlton Hills Boulevard, where he said “there are homeless clinging on trees for their lives in the river bed.” One video showed a woman stranded on an island surrounded by swift-flowing currents. Numerous emergency crews were on hand and at least one person was rescued from the floodwaters.

"Ron DeSantis should be forced to carry his Presidential campaign to term."

By Olivia Rosane, staff writer for Common Dreams, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Deed

Photo: Facebook

January 22, 2024 (New Hampshire) -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday that he was suspending his presidential campaign ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary and endorsing former President Donald Trump.

DeSantis broke the news in a video posted on social media nearly a week after he finished 30 percentage points behind Trump in the Iowa caucuses.

"Ron DeSantis, a man who built his entire campaign on attacking and demonizing already marginalized communities, has finally suspended his failing Presidential campaign," Florida Representative Anna V. Eskamani, a Democrat, posted on social media in response to the news. "As Floridians we will be stuck with him until 2026, so continue to hold him accountable and demand better for Florida."

by Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez • Cronkite News

A record 2.47 million migrants were encountered at the United States’ southern border in fiscal year 2023, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (File photo by Alexia Faith/Cronkite News)

January 22, 2024 -- Asylum seekers who don’t speak English are once again required to bring their own interpreters to interviews for U.S. immigration services, and some worry it will be a hindrance for those fleeing persecution in their home countries.

The September rule change reverted to a pre-pandemic requirement that put the onus on non-English-speaking migrants to find and pay for an interpreter.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2024 (Alpine, CA) – Tamara Newton, a Granite Hills High School alumni and daughter of Alpine resident Carlette Anderson, is hospitalized after suffering a brain hemorrhage from a suspected tumor. She is paralyzed on her left side, cannot walk, and requires full-time care.

“The family has been very generous, but now we need some extra help with her expenses and recovery,” Anderson, founder of CPR PROS,  told  East County Magazine. A GoFundMe account has been setup to help pay for surgery and other medical needs.

The family posted on the site, “There is no doubt that it will be SO much easier for her if you join us in showering her with blessings and support in this time of need. She cannot work at this time, has limited savings and many new expenses. AND all this happened within days of moving from New Jersey to California with her youngest son.”