ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

December 29, 2014 (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.

WORLD

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


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'THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR'-CHARGERS END SEASON WITH A DUD

 

Photo: San Diego Chargers running back Brendan Oliver runs for a touchdown in the teams loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Courtesy of San Diego Chargers Facebook.

By Ryan Posner

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association (SDONA)

December 28, 2014 (San Diego)--Needing a win to earn a playoff spot, the San Diego Chargers lost to the Kansas City Chief, 19-7, Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, in Kansas City, Missouri, effectively ending their season.


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CHARGERS AND COUNTY TEAM UP TO FIND FOREVER FAMILIES

 

Source: County News Service

December 28, 2014 (San Diego)--San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency has teamed up with the San Diego Chargers for their annual “Join the Team” Chargers calendar to raise awareness for children waiting to be adopted.  The collaboration has proven to be a winning team, year after year.


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AFGHAN WAR ENDS

 

Photo Credit: Department of Defense

December 28, 2014 (San Diego)--It’s official: the longest war in U.S. history is now over.

On Sunday, the U.S. and NATO held a ceremony at their headquarters in Kabul to mark the end of combat in Afghanistan.


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SNOW LEVEL DOWN TO 2,000 FEET, WIND CHILL BELOW ZERO IN MOUNTAINS

 

East County News Service

December 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A cold Alaskan storm is set to strike our region Tuesday night, continuing through New Year’s Eve on Wednesday night, the National Weather Service predicts.  The storm is forecast to bring two to four inches of snow on mountain peaks, with snow also accumulating as low as 2,000 feet –including communities such as Alpine, Descanso, Julian and Jacumba.


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MEXICO TRAVEL WARNING BROADENED TO INCLUDE BORDER REGIONS

 

East County News Service

December 28, 2014 (San Diego)--The U.S. State Department has broadened its warning for U.S. citizens regarding risks of traveling to parts of Mexico due to criminal activity that has resulted in deaths of 85 American citizens this year, including some who were innocent bystanders. Kidnappings are also on the rise; 130 American citizens were kidnapped during the first 11 months of this year.


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SANDAG MAKES $15 MILLION IN GRANTS AVAILABLE TO FUND SMART GROWTH AND BIKE/PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS

 

Applications Due March 20

December 26, 2014 (San Diego)--To incentivize projects that promote smart growth, as well as increase walking, biking, and transit usage, SANDAG is calling on local jurisdictions to submit applications for $15 million in competitive grants available under its TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) and TransNet Active Transportation Grant Program (ATGP).


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GOV. BROWN NAMES MICHAEL PICKER, EX-AIDE, TO CHAIR CPUC

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Michael Picker during a visit to the University of San Diego

December 25, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Following the resignation of disgraced California Public Utilities President Michael Peevey, Governor Jerry Brown has appointed his former renewable energy advisor, Michael Picker, to head up the CPUC as president of the board. Picker also served in the same capacity for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration.


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PASSAGES 2014: GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Left to right: Tony Gwynn, Michele Tarbet, Aubrey Dunne, Duane Stainston, Penny Halgren, Joe Drew

December 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--East County lost community leaders, a sports star, a former elected official, business owners and beloved volunteers in 2014.  Some were well-known, such as Padres Hall of Famer and Aztecs coach Tony Gwynn, ex-school board member Penny Halgren, Drew Ford patriarch Joe Drew and Grossmont Hospital CEO Michele Tarbet. Others were active in nonprofits, politics, schools and other community endeavors, such as Council candidate and Save ECPAC volunteer Duane Swainstom or beloved teacher Aubrey Dunne.  Some weren’t well known, but their deaths made headlines and pulled at our heartstrings, including as missing persons, a military pilot and young people lost in the prime of their lives due to tragic circumstances.


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DEFENSE BILL ALLOWS DESECRATION OF APACHE LAND

 

By Leon Thompson

December 27, 2014 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Senate passed a measure authorizing the nation’s defense programs and along with it, managed to give lands sacred to Native Americans to a foreign company that owns a uranium mine with Iran.


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ALPINE HAS ITS DAY IN COURT-- AND A CHANGE OF HEART FROM GUHSD BOARD MEMBER STIERINGER

 

East County News Service

December 25, 2014 (Alpine)—There are two major new developments in the battle over a high school for Alpine.  At the December 11 meeting of the Grossmont Union High School District, trustee Jim Stieringer stunned fellow board members by announcing his support for unification—the effort by Alpine parents to break from the GUHSD and unify Alpine Union School District (AUDS) to include K-12 grades, so that it can build the high school that the GUHSD has failed to build.


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CELEBRATION OF LIFE PLANNED JAN. 10 AT HACIENDA DE LAS ROSAS FOR WINEMAKER WILLIAM HOLZHAUER

 

December 26, 2014 (Ramona) – A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 10 at 11 a.m. at Hacienda de las Rosas Winery in Ramona to commemorate winemaker William Holzhauer.  Holzhauer passed away earlier this month following a long battle with cancer.  The celebration of his life will be held on his birthday.


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WHO'S BEEN NAUGHTY AND WHO'S BEEN NICE?

 

December 27, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Who’s been naughty and who’s been nice among this year’s headline makers? Our editorial staff has been making our list and checking it twice.

Here are our nominees for the naughtiest—and nicest—newsmakers of the year in 2014 who had an impact on our region. (Note: We don't include people charged with or convicted of felonies, as major crimes will be included in our "top news stories of 2014” that will be posted in a few days.)


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HOLIDAY NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

 

By Miriam Raftery

December 26, 2014 (San Diego)--At a Christmas Eve mass in Rome, Pope Francis made a plea for the many children who are suffering around the world. “Truly there are so many tears this Christmas," he said, asking for divine intervention to save children who are victims of violence, made objects of trade and trafficking, or forced to become child soldiers.


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AUTHOR OF "OLD MAGIC" TO SPEAK JAN. 2 AT ANZA BORREGO VISITOR CENTER

 

December 26, 2014 (Anza Borrego) – Nicholas Clapp, author of Old Magic: Lives of the Desert Shamans will give a lecture and illustrated presentation on his book at the Anza Borrego Desert State Park visitor center on Friday, January 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.


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BOMB SCARE EVACUATES TOYS R US

 

December 26, 2014 (La Mesa)—A bomb threat scrawled on a bathroom stall today at Toys R Us in La Mesa claimed a bomb would detonate at 2:20 p.m.

Police responded shortly after 1 p.m. along with a bomb-sniffing dog from Harbor Police. The store was shut down and the area nearby was cleared out as well, but no bomb was found during the search.


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E-READER WORKSHOPS AT COUNTY LIBRARIES

 

December 26, 2014 (San Diego)--If you were lucky enough to have a tablet or e-book reader waiting for you in a gift box this season, the San Diego County Library is ready to help you use your new gift.

From a large catalog of titles available for download to tutorials on how to use your e-reader to hands-on workshops to help you get started, there’s something for everyone.


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FROST ADVISORY

 

December 26, 2014 (San Diego)—The National Weather Service is forecasting frost for the next two nights, through early Sunday morning. Saturday is expected to be the coldest nights.

There will be areas of frost and freezing temperatures in San Diego County’s valleys and deserts. In addition, frost is also forecast for the north coast, particularly Oceanside.


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CATCHY BILLBOARDS ARE EFFECTIVE PR TOOL FOR SD HUMANE SOCIETY

 

By Mimi Pollack

December 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - Have you seen them? I saw my first one last week in La Mesa. They really do catch your eye. They are the billboards the San Diego Humane Society has put up all around town, and they are also an effective public relations tool.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: POINSETTIAS IN EL CAJON

 

December 25, 2014 (El Cajon )—Robert Gehr sent in this colorful photo of poinsettias growing in a planter on Main St. in downtown El Cajon.


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JAMES EARP, FINGER-STYLE GUITARIST, IN CONCERT JAN. 4 AT MISSION TRAILS



 

December 5, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Jim Earp, local fingerstyle guitarist with a national reputation, returns to Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center Auditorium on Sunday, January 4 Sunday from 3 - 4 p.m.for a free concert.


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CHARGERS BOOST PLAY-OFF PROSPECTS IN WIN OVER SAN FRANCISCO

 

By Leon Thompson

December 24, 2014 (San Diego)--The San Diego Chargers’ scored a come-from-behind dramatic win over the vaunted San Francisco 49ers in the stadium Levi Straus built in Santa Clara on Saturday night.  Charger quarterback Phillip Rivers was able to mount a legendary comeback for the Charger history books, and garnered much respect from fans and peers.


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CARL'S JUNIOR INTRODUCES FAST FOOD INDUSTRY'S FIRST NATURAL BURGER

 

December 26, 2014 (Carpinteria)--Carl’s Jr.® announced the All-Natural Burger, featuring an all-natural, grass-fed, free-range beef patty that has no added hormones, antibiotics or steroids. With the introduction of the All-Natural Burger, Carl’s Jr. is the first major fast-food chain to offer an all-natural beef patty on the menu. The All-Natural Burger is now available in participating Carl’s Jr. locations and features the charbroiled, all-natural beef patty topped with a slice of natural cheddar cheese, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onion, lettuce, bread-and-butter pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise on fresh-baked buns.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SIGNS OF THE SEASON

 

December 25, 2014 (El Cajon )- Robert Gehr snapped these photos of  store windows in El Cajon, where many local shops are showing their holiday spirit.


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2015 HOUSING MARKET FORECAST LOOKS BRIGHT, LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERTS SAY

 

Photo caption:

From left to right: Clint Daniels, Carey Guthrie (PSAR president-elect), Bob Olivieri (PSAR 2014 president), Alan Nevin.

Realtors hear 2015 housing forecasts at El Cajon meeting

December 25, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a trade group for San Diego-area realtors, recently hosted a program on forecasts for the 2015 local housing market. Speakers at the program, held at the PSAR East County Service Center in El Cajon, included real estate economist Alan Nevin, director of economic and market research at Xpera Group, and Clint Daniels, manager of regional models, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).


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ISIS CAPTURES COALITION PILOT FROM JORDAN; U.S. DENIES ISIS DOWNED PLANE

 

East County News Service

December 25, 2014 (San Diego)—Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists claim to have shot down a coalition aircraft and captured a Jordanian pilot.  Photos sent on an ISIS Twitter feed show ISIS fighters forcing a dazed and partially stripped down man resembling the pilot through shallow water, possibly toward the shore.


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JANUARY HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS AT SHARP GROSSMONT

 

December 25, 2014 (La Mesa)--The Senior Resource Center at Sharp Grossmont Hospital offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources. For more information, call 619-740-4214. For other programs, call 1-800-827-4277 or visit our web site at www.sharp.com.


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THE JILLIAN HILLCREST MYSTERIES AND MURDER IN WINE COUNTRY

 

Hilltop Sunset: A Brynn Bancroft Mystery, by Joyce T. Strand (McCloughan and Schmeltz Publishing, LLC, Henderson, Nevada, 2014, 299 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

December 24, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - Hilltop Sunset: A Brynn Bancroft Mystery, by Joyce T. Strand, reads like a John Grisham or Robert Ludlum book. It has all the elements of intrigue, romance and suspense that we have gotten accustomed to from these noted authors and icons of literary fiction. As they are master storytellers, we find similar traits in Strand’s well-written book.


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NAVY SINKS AZTECS IN TIGHT POINSETTIA MATCH

 

East County News Service

December 24, 2014 (San Diego) - The Navy’s Midshipmen team torpedoed the San Diego State Aztec’s hopes of winning the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on Tuesday Night.


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WIND WARNING: 75 MPH GUSTS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

 

East County News Service

December 24, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--It’s going to be a sunny, warm and windy Christmas day, the national weather service predicts.

A wind watch has been issued for strong westerly winds developing  Christmas Eve and forecast to continue through Christmas Day – when gusts up to 75 miles per hour are possible!


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