East County News Service

Photo: Courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

March 3, 2015 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies trying to serve an eviction notice at an apartment in the Riverview Villa Apartments on Woodside Avenue in Lakeside this morning made a gruesome discovery.

East County News Service

Photo: Laguna Mountain Lodge

March 3, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--A storm that swept into our region over the weekend dropped over 8 inches of snow on Mt. Laguna and more than a foot on Palomar Mountain.

March 3, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes an artists’ reception, a calypso star in concert, and live music at a winery. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including St. Patrick’s Day weekend and Easter egg hunts, Vallecito Day historical reenactments and Tomatomania! Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.

Photo: Hillary Rodham Clinton at 2007 California Democratic Convention

By Miriam Raftery

March 2, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – A controversy has arisen involving Hillary Rodham Clinton over revelations that while serving as Secretary of State, she did not have an official government e-mail address and used only a personal e-mail address for all of her official government business.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

March 2, 2015 (San Diego)--It’s nice to finally write about rain! We have a few more storms in the forecast and we certainly need it. We all like singing in the rain but driving in it? It’s rather stressful even when it’s not raining says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.  Most people just don’t pay attention or exercise common sense much anymore. We have far too many distractions at our disposal. There are around 707,000 automobile crashes each year due to rain, resulting in approximately 3,300 deaths and 330,200 injuries.

Lori Abbott, California News Service

March 2, 2015 (Oakland, California)-- One in four California children is living in poverty, but according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, those numbers would be much higher without federal safety net programs and tax subsidies.

March 2, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- The Boys & Girls Clubs of East County invites you to the 49^th Annual Children's Ball, Saturday, March 21 at 6:00pm at the Omni San Diego Hotel.  Guests will enjoy the ambiance of our cocktail lounge complete with a combo, designer drinks, silent auction, grand drawing prizes and the ever famous seafood buffet.  In addition admission includes; dinner, a live auction, dancing and an opportunity to meet some very special Club Members.  This year, guests are invited to have a ball for the kids…with a fun and lively spring sports theme.

East County News Service

March 1, 2015 (Santee)—Eddie Martin, a 41-year-old man wanted for a domestic violence incident, is under arrest after fleeing, then crashing head-first into a responding deputy’s patrol car in Santee last night.

By Greg Dunne

Photos by Greg Dunne and Norman Banks                                         

February 28, 2015 (Lake Murray)--The Turkey Vulture is one of the largest birds in San Diego’s East County. With their bald red head and a wingspan of up to six feet, these birds stand out in many ways. You can usually see them soaring at low levels looking for food, using the thermals for gliding effortlessly.  You can also see their slivery-colored wings contrasting with the dark colors of the bird’s feathers.

March 3, 2015 (Poway)--The Poway Chamber of Commerce presents a new networking event, Morning Buzz, held on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30am at the Hamburger Factory, 14122 Midland Road, Poway. Morning Buzz breakfast meetings will take place on the second Wednesday of every month. There is a $10.00 registration fee that includes breakfast. Breakfast selections must be made when guests register.

AB 1266 Would Force Utilities to Receive Public Approval for Bonuses After Ratepayers Hit With Billions in New Costs

March 1, 2015 (Sacramento)--California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) introduced Assembly Bill 1266 on Friday to require public utilities to justify executive bonus compensation at a public hearing of the California Public Utilities Commission following any federal safety violation that results in a cost of $5 million or more to ratepayers.

Trials by ISIS underway as some captives reportedly freed; local Chaldean leaders speak out on crisis

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Open Doors

March 1,2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Fears mount for hundreds of Assyrian Christians taken captive by ISIS last week, amid reports that the self-proclaimed Islamic State militants are putting hostages on trial, though some reports indicate that a handful have been freed. 

The hostages include at least 262 men, women and children taken from villages in northeastern Syria, CNN reports.  Open Doors USA, an organization serving persecuted Christians worldwide, reports the captives include 72 families.

New report finds over 500 important stories went unreported in last five years because of a squeeze on investigative reporters, and that freelance investigative journalists are an endangered species. 

Source: Project Word. The report can be downloaded here.

February 28, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--The report, which was conducted by Project Word, under the auspices of Investigative Reporters and Editors, shares the results of a 2014 survey that collected feedback from over 200 freelance investigative journalists. Based in 36 states and 26 countries the respondents represented all ages, media beats, and experience levels.

CPUC Chair Peevey complained his own bills went up after smart meter installed;  

Edison pushed higher fees to force smart meters on the poor

Consumer watchdog groups have analyzed 120,000 e-mails and attachments released by the California Public Utilities Commission. The emails suggest smart meter fees were deliberately set high to discourage opting out analog meters, even when those leading the CPUC admitted in e-mails that smart meters emitting pulsed microwave radiation were harming Californians.

By Josh Hart, Stop Smart Meters

February 28, 2015 (San Francisco) -- New e-mails brought to light between Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reveal the extent of corruption and backroom dealing that have characterized the state’s smart meter program.

February 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) A new state law banning plastic grocery bags won’t be taking effect this summer after all. That’s because opponents led by the plastic industry have obtained enough signatures to qualify a measure to overturn the bag ban for the November ballot, the Secretary of State has announced.