East County News Service

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January 16, 2024 (El Cajon) – Authorities are asking for public help to locate Mavis Williams, 43.  She is suspected of setting a fire that burned 14 garages in the 400 block of East Bradley Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon last night.  A warrant has been issued and a $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to her arrest.

Story and photo by Michael Howard

Photo: Tobacco retailers like this smoke shop will be subject to licensing later this year. 

January 15, 2024 (La Mesa, CA) - The La Mesa City Council adopted a new ordinance earlier this month that mandates tobacco retailers shall have a license to sell tobacco products.

The ordinance passed unanimously during the January 9,2024 City Council meeting upon Councilmember Jack Shu’s motion to adopt. Shu showed his support of the ordinance by wearing two lapel pins.

“One is ‘I love clean air’ and the other is a lung that was given to me for cleaner lungs by not smoking,” Shu said.

By Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  members of the California Faculty Association. Image from CFA Facebook page

January 14, 2024 (San Diego) - The faculty union of the California State University is planning a week of strikes across the 23 campuses Jan. 22 – 26 after the system said that it would provide 5% raises to members, far below what the union is seeking.

“Being America’s most expensive city is anti-Dr. King.”—Shane Harris

January 14, 2024  (San Diego) -- Civil rights leader Shane Harris and the People's Association of Justice Advocates  will serve hundreds of unsheltered individuals and low-income families with a free breakfast on Martin Luther King Day, January 15, from 9 a.m.to 11 a.m. at the Living Water Church, 1550 Market Street, San Diego.  Harris will give an MLK Day address announcing new policy efforts to combat poverty, calling new efforts to raise sales taxes in what has already been deemed America's most expensive city 'anti-MLK' as well as calling out San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria for failing to demonstrate dr. King's policies as San Diego further prices out the working class under his leadership 

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

January 13, 2024 (Albuquerque) -  Jaelen House scored 26 points as New Mexico beat No. 19 San Diego State 88-70 Saturday, ending the Aztecs' seven-game winning streak.

Author Gus Lee interviews with Anat Tour, host of East County Magazine Show’s “Bookshelf” feature on KNSJ

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January 8, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) -- In an engaging conversation with esteemed American author and ethicist Gus Lee, Anat Tour, host of East County Magazine Radio Show’s “Bookshelf” on KNSJ Radio,  explores the depths of Lee's captivating novel, China Boy.  A best-selling author with many notable books, Lee's illustrious career includes serving his time at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his role as West Point's Chair of Character Development, and acting Deputy Attorney General.

By Mike Allen

January 12, 2024 (Santee)-- Both Karl Strauss and Trader Joe’s have  announced plans to open retail outlets in Santee, although the latter company isn’t saying much other than its intention to come.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2024 (La Mesa) – La Mesa police seeks public help to solve the murder of 22-year-old Corneilius Donte Brown.  His family is offering a $9,000 reward, in addition to a $1,000 Crimestoppers award, for information leading to the identification and arrest of suspects in his murder, which occurred on April 24, 2021 around 12:26 a.m.

East County News Service

January 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- Join a Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Trail Guide on a special Martin Luther King Day nature walk Monday, January 15, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and learn about the plants, animals, geology, history, and ecology of the park on one of these scenic trails:

By Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday a pilot program to create housemate matches between lower-income older adults and locals with a spare bedroom.  

The two-year pilot program was created to address growing homelessness among older adults. The 2023 Point-in-Time Count revealed the number of older adults aged 55 and older experiencing homelessness increased by 29% from the previous year. 

The program will match a minimum of 50 older adults – people 55 years or older – with appropriate households who sign up and offer to rent out a spare bedroom. Participants also will be offered services to help them stay housed.

By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2024 (El Cajon) – Wal Mart has announced that it will not renew its lease for the Walmart store in the Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon. The company plans to close the store on February 9.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

January 10, 2024 (San Diego) -- Making a New Year’s resolution is one thing. Remaining resolute and seeing them through is quite another. It’s important to make them realistic and obtainable.

Every January we start a new recruit fire academy. The first order of business is to review all academy policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Understanding policies, and training on them repeatedly, provides recruits with a sound foundation in safe and consistent operations before learning basic firefighting skills.

In addition to learning policies, our recruits develop “Integrity Agreements.” Integrity Agreements are like policies but are more personal in nature. The recruits develop them as a team, but they own them as individuals.

Like policies, these agreements hold recruits accountable for actions on and off the training ground. We tell them, “If you don’t live up to the agreements, you have no one to blame but yourself. You own them; they are custom-made by and for you!”

By Jonathan Goetz

January 9, 2024 (Santee) -- Santee Chamber of Commerce and the East County Chamber of Commerce invite you to a joint mixer hosted by Sportsplex USA Santee 9951 Riverwalk Dr, Santee, CA 92071. Make new and strengthen current connections with other local business representatives. 

January 9, 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.

• Congress faces crisis at home and abroad as 2024 deepens partisan division (CNN)
• How Trump's promise to pardon Jan. 6 rioters raises the threat of extremism (NPR)
• Most people think the U.S. crime rate is rising. They're wrong.  (MSN)
• House GOP majority to shrink to 2 with Ohio lawmaker’s early resignation (The Hill)
• Haley declines to say slavery was cause of Civil War (Politico)
• Trump shares poll showing voters associate potential second term with "revenge"  (Reuters)
• Ohio governor vetos ban on transgender care, sports participation (Reuters)
• Maine state official who removed Trump from ballot was targeted in swatting call at her home  (AP)

WORLD 

• Gaza war spreads to Beirut with killing of Hamas deputy leader (Reuters)
• Hundreds of passengers escape after jet collides with small plane on its way to Japan quake zone (Sky News)
• Russia pounds Ukraine's two biggest cities in new wave of attacks (Reuters)
• Chinese military purge exposes weakness, could widen (Reuters)
• Houthi militants attack container ship, Maersk halts Red Sea sailing (Reuters)
• At least five dead after huge earthquake rocks Japan on New Year's Day (Reuters)
• More than 20 countries now part of US-led Red Sea coalition, Pentagon says (Reuters)
• More Ukrainian children from Russia-held regions arrive in Belarus  (NPR)
• Worldwide, 2024 elections are a target for bad actors trying to disrupt democracy  (NPR)
• Second North Korean nuclear reactor appears to be using fuel, IAEA says (Reuters)
• India probes suspected human trafficking after 276 nationals return home (Reuters)
• Iran threatens Mediterranean closure over Gaza, without saying how (Reuters)
• In threatening shift, North Korea moves to redefine relations with South (Reuters)
• Egypt plans expansion of new capital as first residents trickle in (Reuters)

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

By  Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Suzanne Potter

January 9,2024 (Sacramento) -- Starting January 1st, California became the first state to cover health care for all income-eligible people regardless of their age or immigration status.