November 22, 2014 (Dulzura) – If you’re waiting on a UPS package, you might be out of luck.  A UPS delivery van filled with parcels caught fire and was destroyed Wednesday in Dulzura.

East County News Service

November 24, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego State University campus police warn that a female student has reported that she was sexually assaulted at a party in the 5500 block of Hardy Avenue. The alleged attack occurred between 10:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.

November 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for San Diego County’s inland valleys and mountain areas through Tuesday due to warm temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds up to 80 miles per hour forecast.  Monitor the news for possible red flag warnings.

By Miriam Raftery

November 23, 2014 (San Diego) – Families who no longer need to live in fear of separation or deportation have much to be thankful for following President Barack Obama’s immigration reforms announced last week. Locally, immigration activists are sharing their reactions, including Border Angels founder Enrique Morones, who was with President Obama during his historic executive action speech at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas.

“It was wonderful to join old friends that have fought and continue to be with us in the struggle for humane immigration policies, and as we discussed, we still have a long ways to go,” Morones wrote in a letter thanking supporters.  “As I told President Obama, `Gracias, this executive action is why many of us voted for you,” Morones added. “We have much more work to do, more to be included, Si Se Puede!’”

East County News Service

November 23, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego State University has issued a safety alert for students after a report of an attempted kidnapping shortly after midnight.

An SDSU student was walking home at 55^th Street and Aztec Walk at 12:35 a.m. when she dropped her phone.  Before she could retrieve it, a man in a gold or silver Toyota Camry with a sunroof picked up the phone and went back to the vehicle, which had several passengers. Minutes later, that vehicle returned and the man offered the phone back to the victim. As she approached the vehicle, one of the occupants tried to pull her into the car.

East County News Service

November 23, 2014 (La Mesa) – Each year, La Mesa’s downtown village transforms into a Victorian-style winter wonderland. This year, La Mesa’s downtown village merchants are hoping for a big attendance to help offset business lost during the downtown village streetscape project. 

Chirstmas in the Village will be held on Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13 from 5 to 10 p.m.  A holiday parade will be held each night at 5 p.m., with a pre-parade at 4:30 featuring a Salute to America honoring 50^th anniversary Vietnam War veterans. The festival also features strolling minstrels, carolers and street entertainers, live music on multiple sages, and bonfires filling the boulevard.  Plus kids can free visits with Santa at the Goodwill Plaza (8250 La Mesa Blvd.) after the parade up until 10 p.m. and also enjoy carnival rides,, ponies and puppet shoes.

November 22, 2014 (San Diego) – So — how long are you planning to thaw that turkey? (24 hours for every five pounds of weight.)

And what's the best way to cook the stuffing? (Separately, of course.)

Thanksgiving is the biggest home-cooking event of the year. You want everything to be perfect—and safe. The last thing anyone wants is uninvited bacteria, party-crashers like salmonella, listeria and E. coli that could make your guests sick.

Never fear--here are five steps from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health to make this your best and safest Thanksgiving meal ever: Plan Ahead, Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.

By Kathleen Jorgensen

November 22, 2014 (Borrego Springs) -- Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs will hold its Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 6 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.  You will tour five lovely homes in the Borrego Valley, each uniquely adorned for the holidays. From "ultra-modern" to "old school", each home will reflect the distinct decorating style of the homeowner.

East County News Service

November 21, 2014 (Jacumba Hot Springs)--Jacumba Hot Springs closes out its centennial year on Saturday, December 6^th with a Feliz Navidad celebration. The event takes place at the Highland Center, 44681 Old Highway 80 from 2-5 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

By Miriam Raftery

November 22, 2014 (Alpine) --The Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 29^th, is a special day at the Lions Tigers and Bears ranch in Alpine. It is the day the animals celebrate with their version of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. 

You’re invited to join in a special feeding visit at 10:30 a.m. to watch big cats and bears enjoy their feast. Turkey and fish donations are greatly appreciated. Click here to donate a turkey for the cats or fish for the bears in advance.

By Miriam Raftery

November 22,2014 (Ramona) – Fine art, music, wine and gourmet food -- all served up in a castle. What more could one ask to savor for in an event?

The second annual Ramona Art and Wine Festival, held on November 1st, was even bigger and better than the first. Held at the elegant Amy Strong Castle in Ramona to benefit the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural program, this year's event featured 18 local artists, a dozen local wineries and 10 local chefs.

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our interview on KNSJ radio with Art Neill, New Media Rights Executive Director and FCC Consumer Advisory Committee member: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...  (Sound file may take a minute to load.)

View video of President Barack Obama’s announcement on net neutrality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKcjQPVwfDk

November 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) –President Barack Obama issued a statement on video on November 10 urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reclassify the internet under Title II.

“In plain language, the President came out in support of real net neutrality, the principle that says Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should treat all internet traffic equally,” says Art Neill, executive director of New Media Rights in San Diego and a member of the FCC’s consumer advisory committee, co-chair of the broadband working group.

By Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

President Barack Obama last night announced immigration reforms, just as       Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush before him took unilateral actions to  expand  protections for immigrants after Congress failed to act. 

President Obama 's plan will offer temporary relief from deportation to the parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for more than five years, work and pay taxes. He will also extend a program that already allows undocumented migrants brought here as children to stay in the country.  The reforms are temporary, however, and could be undone by a future President and Congress.

Besides offering protections for a limited number of immigrants already in the U.S., the President also announced plans to strengthen enforcement at the border and prioritize enforcement resources to focus on deporting criminals who have convicted felonies, not families or working parents of U.S. citizens.

By Miriam Raftery

November 21, 2014 (San Francisco)—Ignoring protests from students, opposition from the Governor and legislative leaders, University of California’s Board of Regents voted Thursday to approve Tuition hikes.  The increase will be 5 percent a year over the next five years – 25 percent total—at all UC campuses .  For the 2015-2016 school year, tuition will be $12,804 and by 2019, students will be forced to pay $15,000 a year in tuition.

Some Regents indicated that if that state increases funding, they would vote to reduce tuitions. 

Assembly  Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)  has pledged to introduce a measure to boost funding for the UC system.  She had urged the Regents to reject any tuition or fee hikes. Atkins, an ex-officio Regent with voting rights, called the fee hikes “unacceptable” adding, “California students and their families have faced too many fee increases already.”

November 20, 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.

• Obama Said to Plan Moves to Shield 5 Million Immigrants (NY Times)
• As Ferguson braces for grand jury ruling, activists cite ` fear campaign’ (Los Angeles Times)
• Cannabis hedge funds join the green rush (LA Times)
• US border security: Let the drones do it? (CS Monitor)
• Bill Cosby's Silence On Rape Allegations Makes Huge Media Noise (NPR)
• Obama's immigration plan offers some relief, risk for tech sector (Reuters)

WORLD

• What is Vladimir Putin up to sending Russian bombers close to the US? (CS Monitor)
• For Russian Kids, A Disablity Often Means Life In An Orphanage (NPR)
• Wage war, have the world give you billions (Jewish World Review)
• Study: Terror attacks soar in 2013, kill 18,000 (UT San Diego)

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