Hear our radio interview, originally aired on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ:

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Story by Miriam Raftery, photo by Leon Thompson

August 28, 2015 (El Cajon) – Miguel Angel Soria and Peter Alkatib at Diego Valley Charter School in El Cajon are working wonders, helping 80% of their students—all at risk and drop-out youth—graduate with a high school diploma and go on to college or a career pathway. They are also co-producers of the Chaldean Voices documentary film debuting soon on KPBS and in El Cajon to celebrate Chaldean-American month.

About 30%  to 40% of the student body are Iraqi Chaldeans and most of the rest belong to other minority populations.  The school offers flexible scheduling to accommodate students who must work or raise children, also providing tutoring and other help to assure their students achieve their dreams.

August 27, 2015 (Pine Valley)--U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man at the Interstate 8 checkpoint last night who had two undocumented immigrants locked inside his car trunk.

N. Scott Robinson to play instruments from Southeast Asia and beyond at free concert

August 27, 2015 (San Diego)--Local percussionist N. Scott Robinson will perform a variety of musical selections on several different instruments from around the world on Sunday, August 30th at 3 p.m. at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center. Joining Robinson as a special guest will be K.S. Resmi providing vocals and other Indian music.

Robinson will play songs using various instruments, including the lap-style frame drum, riqq, mediterr-asian tambourine, ghaval, handpan, hammer dulcimer, mbira dza vadzimu, berimbau and hindewhu.

Decision could impact Tule Wind in San Diego’s East County

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when it extended eagle take permits from 5 years to 30 years  for wind energy developers.  The rule had allowed the incidental killing of bald and golden eagles for up to three decades with no accountability, even though killing federally protected and endangered eagles is a felony subject to criminal prosecution under other circumstances.

August 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Corners Fire burning near Lake Morena is holding at five acres with no structure threat, Kendal Bortissier with Cal Fire told East County Magazine at 3:40 p.m. today.  Air and ground resources are fighting the fire.

Bortissier confirmed that a second fire is burning in Cleveland National Forest near Cameron station. USFS has not yet responded to our call requesting details.

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2015 (Sacramento)—Senate Bill 350 aspires to set new standards for renewable energy in California that the authors day will grow the state’s economy and improve public health by cutting petroleum use, increasing energy efficiency in existing buildings. But opponents contend that raising taxes on gas and vehicle users’ fees would create economic hardship for some Californians.

By Miriam Raftery

August 26, 2015 (Lakeside) - - Residents, environmentalists and medical experts presented strong evidence for why a proposed sand mining project in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley should not be approved.  Opponents of Enviornmine’s proposed 167-acre project spoke out at tonight’s scoping meeting conducted by the county.’s Planning department.  Public comment remains open until September 14^th, after which an Environmental Impact Report will be drafted.

Dr. Christy Walker, an emergency room physician, testified about the confirmed presence of Valley Fever (coccidioides immitis) in El Monte Valley; evidenced in the treatment of both people and pets who contracted the potentially lethal illness in the Valley. She indicated that Valley fever does not just affect the lungs but can affect multiple organs. Her concern is that mining that lift layers of sand to dig the 100' deep, 182 acre wide mining pit would release fungal coccidioides spores d into the air, greatly increasing exposure and infection.

August 26, 2015 (La Mesa)--Hart Optical Co., 8685 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, is noting August as “Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month” with back-to-school tips about children’s vision. “Approximately one in four school age children have some type of vision problem which can affect their success in school,” said Michael Emerson, a Registered Ophthalmic Dispenser who has owned and operated Hart Optical Co. since 1987.

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

August 26, 2015 (San Diego) -- “How is it possible to acquire genuine reviews for a book when most reviewers want FREE books to review? If a reviewer has a Free book have they been compromised or influenced to provide a good review? I have been approached by fellow authors requesting reviews on the understanding of you scratch my back and I will scratch yours! I have of course turned down all such requests! Over the past few weeks Amazon has started to address this issue by removing reviews that they consider to be inappropriate or not genuine or verifiable. I would be most interested in your understanding of the current and future book review process.” - Mike Wilkins

Let's first address the idea that a free book automatically means a positive review. That is not the case. Any author who has run a successful giveaway knows that you're more likely to get negative reviews than positive ones from people who download free books.

Editor’s note: This essay paints a picture of what El Monte Valley could look like in the future; Sunrise Power Link has been built; solar and sand-mining projects are planned or proposed.

By Rob Foster 

August 26, 2015 (Lakeside)--Early mornings, I like to walk outside with coffee in hand and sit down facing the morning sun. Gazing northeast the scar left from the Sunrise project are clearly seen. Sun lit power towers draped with wires and ten acres of stripped land below scenic El Capitan Mtn. SDG&E promised the ten acre site would be returned to its original undisturbed state. SDG&E destroys the ecosystem leaving an ugly scare in a matter of months. Thank you for the reminder of a broken promise.

 As I look east,  a glare catches my eyes.

August 26, 2015 (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

• New Rules Go Into Effect At Busy U.S.-Mexico Border Crossing (NPR)
• Update coming for La Mesa civic center area (U-T)
• Pizzaria about to wrap it up (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Regional park could boost southeastern SD (U-T)
• Police wrangle rogue reptile in East County (Fox 5)
• 14-2 Blowout! Sweetwater Valley Wins Little League World Series Game (Patch)
• San Diego City Council politics and the Ethics Commission (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Lawsuit Filed Against SeaWorld (KPBS)
• Roundtable Digs Into Coastal, Backcountry Development Controversies (KPBS)
• Iran deal puts Christians at risk in Middle East (San Diego Union-Tribune, opinion by Mark Arabo)
• Heroin Use Among San Diego County Arrestees Rise (KPBS)
• Outside Groups Seen As Crucial For Anderson In San Diego County Supervisor Race (KPBS)
• Developer and County May Seize Private Property for Lilac Hills Project (Voice of SD)
• Downing drone at beach leads to jail (U-T)

STATE

• New California Law Upholds Public Right to Record (Reason)
• Inmates use empathy to tame wild horses (Sac Bee)
•  California water prices set to rise next year: Fitch Reuters)
• California drought impact pegged at $2.7 billion (SacBee)

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

August 26, 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

General U.S. news

• Americans Recount Subduing Gunman Aboard French Train (NPR)
• Judge orders prompt release of immigrant children from detention (LA Times)
• Weary US firefighters call on Australia, New Zealand for relief (CS Monitor)
• A Shariah-approved nuclear attack {Washington Times)
• Why Obama's approval numbers are sliding (CS Monitor)
• Uber's driver screening practices fuel political debate on rider safety (LA Times)
• Ashley Madison data includes San Diego government, military email addresses (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• What the secret agreement between Iran and the UN says (AP)

Presidential race

• Donald Trump and the mob (CNN)
• Straight outta Brooklyn, by way of Vermont: The Bernie Sanders Story (Tablet)
• The deceptions of Hillary Clinton (JWR)
• Former Attorney General Questions Clinton's Email Comments (NPR)
• Between eye surgeries in Haiti, Rand Paul talks 2016 challenges (Portland Press Herald)

WORLD

Middle East and Africa

• White House: Islamic State second-in-command killed in U.S. air strike (Reuters)
• U.S.-led coalition stages 26 air strikes on Islamic State (Reuters)
• Report: Turkey erects concrete wall along border with Syria (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Iran unveils new missile with 500 km range, says seeks peace through strength (JPost)
• Islamic State militants blow up temple in ancient city of Palmyra (Reuters)
• Too soon for 'illogical' U.S. to return to Tehran: Iran  (Reuters)
• Israel to P5+1: Iran, Islamic Jihad behind rocket attack against our northern towns (JPost)
• Tens of thousands displaced by Boko Haram in two weeks in Chad (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

Europe and Asia

• Police In Macedonia Fire Stun Grenades At Refugees Who Storm Border (NPR)
• Masses of dead fish wash up on shores 6km from Tianjin blast site (Shanghaiist)
• Typhoon leaves 15 dead, 12 miners missing in Philippines (CS Monitor)
•  How Asia's melting Tian Shan glaciers could fuel conflict (CS Monitor)
• In Spain, Entire Villages Are Up For Sale — And They're Going Cheap (NPR)
• Another factory explosion rocks China. Another case of corruption exposed? (CSMonitor)
• What Greece's new elections mean for the bailout (AP)

Mexico

• Mexico sees first conviction of soldier in disappearance (AP)
• The Underage Girls Of Mexico's Sex Trade: Hope Amid The Horror (NPR)

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

East County News Service

Photo: El Cajon Police

August 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police officers have collared an unusual “suspect” spotting rambling through backyards along Helix View Drive. Though a caller reporting a “possible alligator,” the roving reptile turned out to be a large iguana native to the tropics but commonly kept as pets.

August 25, 2015 (La Mesa)—On Thursday, August 27th at 8 a.m., officers from the La Mesa Police Department and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee. All community members are invited to attend. The event  is at Starbucks, 5020 Baltimore Drive La Mesa. Please contact Sergeant Brian Stoney with any questions at (619) 667-7555 bstoney@ci.la-mesa.ca.us

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2015 (Alpine) –Two men in a white minivan tried to lure a 10-year-old girl into the vehicle on Monday, August 24^th at noon, Sergeant L. Whalen with the Alpine Sheriff’s station reports.  The girl was playing in an apartment complex in the 2000 block of Arnold Way in Alpine when one of the suspects approached and  offered her a ride, saying had candy in the van. The girl ran away and hid in some bushes.

The  white van has had tinted side windows, a pink breast cancer sticker on the back door and two lumber boards on top. One suspect are described as a white man with a freckled face, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with drawstring pulled tight around his face and black sweatpants. Ther is no description of the second suspect.