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.

By Miriam Raftery

November 19, 2014 (El Cajon)—Hector Miranda, 34, is under arrest after a police pursuit across El Cajon in which the suspect’s car side-swiped two other vehicles. Undercover El Cajon Police investigators and Fugitive Task Force members were searching for Miranda, the prime suspect in a stabbing who was also wanted on a felony violation of parole warrant.

Crimestoppers described Miranda as “a violent felon with a history of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, burglary, and numerous narcotics offenses.”

November 19, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes events ushering in the holiday season, from a tree lighting and snow sledding in Santee to the annual Mother Goose Parade …plus we’ll have previews of some coming attractions in the next week or so, including musicals, Lemon Grove’s holiday bonfire and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Holiday Party. 

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more, from East County Magazine.

East County News Service

November 18, 2014 (San Diego)—Students staged sit-ins at all 10 University of California campuses statewide Tuesday to protest a new tuition hike that regents are expected to vote on this on Wednesday, November 19th.  If the 5% increase a year over the next five years is approved, tuitions will have tripled since 2005.

Already, the average student is graduating with $26,000 in debts—and many have not found jobs in today’s challenging economy.

The tuition hike is supported by UC President Janet Napolitano, who cites cuts in state funding to support the UC system as the primary reason why she believes tuitions need to rise.

But Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newson, who sits on the Board of Regents for the UC system, has denounced the proposed rate hike and has launched a petition to oppose it. You can sign the petition here: http://www.gavinnewsom.com/petition/stop-tuition-increases/

November 18, 2014 (Alpine) - The 19^th annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights & Snow Festival with real snow will be held on Friday, December 5^th from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—Last week, President Barack Obama announced that he is sending an additional 1,500 U.S. troops to Iraq to train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the region, doubling the current number of troops deployed there. The President will also ask Congress for an addition $5.6 billion to help fight the terrorist group ISIL (also known as ISIS), or the Islamic State.

By Miriam Raftery

Satellite: Photo: Strip mining of Athabasca oil sands, courtesy NASA

November 18, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – By a single vote, the Senate blocked passage of a measure to authorize building the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.  The measure previously passed the House of Representatives 252-161.

But with Republicans taking control of the Senate in January, Senate Majority Leader-elect Mitch McConnell vowed to bring the matter up again soon after the new Congress convenes. Even if passed, however, the measure could face a veto by President Barack Obama.

California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer opposed the XL Pipeline, calling it the “Extra Lethal Pipeline.” She cited health risks from chemicals that can cause lung damage as well as serious environmental concerns.  "The facts are the facts are the facts," she said. "If you're not a scientist then be humble and listen to the peer-reviewed scientists.”

Photo, courtesy U.S. State Department: British Foreign Secretary Hammond Condemns Attack on Jerusalem synagogue before meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in London

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2014 (Jerusalem) – Two Palestinians armed with guns and butcher knives opened an attack inside the Kehilat Bnei Torah Synagogue  synagogue in Jerusalem early this morning, killing four rabbis and a police officer.  Three of the rabbis were American-Israeli citizens.

The Jewish Federation of San Diego issued a press release stating, “We are shocked and appalled by the horrific attack on innocent worshipers that took place in Jerusalem earlier today. As a community, we send our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. …The recent wave of terror attacks and acts of violence in Israel is outrageous and completely unacceptable, but today’s attack on innocent people praying in a synagogue is incomprehensible. We call on the entire global community to join us in condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms, immediately and unconditionally.”

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

Readers

November 18 (Tuesday, 9:00 am) — Adventures by the Book is pleased to present a Journalists Telling the Tough Stories Edventure featuring San Diego author Caitlin Rother at at SDSU (5500 Campanile, San Diego) and continuing on at ABC Channel 10 (4600 Air Way, San Diego). The event is ticketed and is open to all SDSU Osher members.

Story and photos by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

November 17, 2014 (Santee)--The Santee Kiwanis hosted a "Road Side Pride" event in conjunction with the West Hills High School Key Club.  The high school kids were out at 9:00 a.m. on Woodside Avenue on the Santee/Lakeside borderline cleaning up trash on Saturday, November 15th.

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – UT San Diego has published a list of nine danger zones for explosives still lurking beneath the ground at former military sites.  It may surprise you to learn that seven of those are in East County and all nine are in inland areas.

East County News Service

November 18, 2014 (San Diego)--First Lady Michelle Obama gave a video welcoming message at a White House-sponsored conference designed to help high school counselors motivate more students to get college degrees.  A similar event was recently held at Harvard University.

The First Lady told those present, “I know that if we truly want to help our young people reach their college dreams, we need to support our school counselors. Our young people have so much potential, and they need someone in their lives who (believe) in them, and who can show them the steps they need to take to get to college.”

"The first casualty of war is innocence."

- Tagline, Platoon (Oliver Stone, 1986)

By Brian Lafferty

November 18, 2014 (San Diego) – In the 28 years since Platoon's release, its tagline quoted above has become more and more relevant in light of the world events that followed it. This includes, but is not limited to, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. With the way things are going, it looks at this point like those are just for starters.

East County News Service

November 16, 2014 (Lemon Grove) – The Sheriff’s Homicide detail is investigating the death of an unidentified man found lying near the railroad tracks at 7:23 a.m. at the intersection of Lemon Grove Avenue and Palm Street.