October 21, 2015 (Borrego Springs) – Bob Kutscher sent in these dramatic images of a spectacular lightning storm over the Anza-Borrego desert last week.  You can view more of his work at his Weather Center page at http://www.boblandusa.com/weather.htm and view live weather cams for the Borrego Springs area at http://www.boblandusa.com/Borrego_SW_Cam.htm

Newly Released Government Documents Reveal Critical Flaws in ICE Inspections Process, Show that the Obama Administration’s Reforms Fail to Fix Widespread Abuses

October 21, 2015 (San Diego)-- A new report, “Lives in Peril:  How Ineffective Inspections Make ICE Complicit in Immigration Detention Abuse” released today by the National Immigration Justice Center (NIJC) and Detention Watch Network (DWN), exposes how the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspections process for immigration detention centers obscures and perpetuates widespread abuses of detained immigrants.

East County News Service

October 20, 2015 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis will be the special guest speaker at a no-host social mixer to speak on La Mesa’s Oktoberfest.  He will also be available to chat with guests afterword on topics of interest.

The event, hosted by La Mesa Conservations, will be held Thursday, October 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Johnny B’s Burgers, Brew & Spirits, 8393 La Mesa Blvd. in La Mesa.

October 21, 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.

• Hopes dim to avert Medicare premium spike (The Hill)
• U.S. will require recreational drone users to register aircraft (Washington Post)
• Under fire from Donald Trump, Jeb Bush focuses on 9/11 even though hijackers got Florida licenses (International Business Times)
• Paul Ryan’s reluctance could spark speakership scramble (The Hill)
• Apple bans hundreds of i-phone aps that secretly gathered data (CNN)
• Stripping down to the ugly truth about Playboy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Robert Reich: Why Hillary Clinton is wrong for refusing to reinstate Glass-Seagall (In These Times)

WORLD

• Canada’s liberals sweep to power (BBC)
• Rash of Palestinian stabbing attempts continues over weekend
• Terrorist kills soldier, wounds several others in attack at Beersheba bus station (JPost)
• Palestinian Authority demands end to Israel's 'terrorism, incitement and summary executions' (JPost)
• Michael Gerson: The children among the ruins (Washington Post)

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

October 21, 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

• City fines ambulance firm $230,000 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Morning report: A trolley to nowhere (Voice of San Diego)
• San Diego County Officials: 17 Residents Have Contracted West Nile In 2015 (KPBS)
• San Diego Scientists Turn Ocean Pink To Study Pollution (KPBS)
• SeaWorld To Challenge Coastal Commission's Ban On Orca Breeding (KPBS)

STATE

• Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom to lead California gun control ballot initiative (Sacramento Bee)
• California in danger of giving away its energy future (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• New California Law Allows For Fish Markets (KPBS)
• San Diego Environmental Groups Rake in Millions from Imperial Valley Solar Developers (Voice of San Diego)
• State ready to award San Onofre advocacy funds (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

East County News Service

October 20, 2015 (San Diego)--California State University professors and other faculty members are voting on whether or not to call a strike at 23 CSU campuses statewide, including San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos.

October 20, 2015 (Santee)-- Santee Fire Department and County HAZMAT are responding to reports of a bleach-like smell around Rio Seco Elementary School in the 9500 block of Cuyamaca Street, the Sheriff's office indicates.

By Miriam Raftery

What are you most afraid of?  If you really want to terrify others this Halloween season, forget ghost and zombie costumes. The thing that strikes the most fear into the hearts of more Americans than anything may just surprise you.

Over half of Americans surveyed say that they’re more afraid of corruption of government officials than terrorist attacks, violent crime, snakes, natural disasters, or any other scary things. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 20, 2015 (San Diego)--A federal investigation is under way into allegations claiming that a supervisor at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE , in downtown San Diego has been recruiting workers for swinger sex parties at his home that he shares with his wife, who is also an ICE agent.

The anonymous complaint was filed with Homeland Security’s Inspector General, however the department referred the complaints to Ice for an internal investigation and has questioned several people in the local ICE office, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The Union-Tribune has reviewed the complaint and reports that it contends workers were approached during work and via text messages. The sex parties reportedly included sexual romps which allegedly occurred in a bedroom while children were at home.

Story and photos by Janis Russell

Photo, left: Don Parent, SDG&E, presents update on gas pipeline upgrades planned on Fletcher Parkway, Amaya and Jackson Drive

October 18, 2015 (La Mesa)—At Tuesday’s La Mesa City Council meeting, Council members heard from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) about pipeline upgrades planned in La Mesa, received an update on downtown streetscape improvements nearing completion, and presented a commendation to a La Mesa resident who won the Fox TV Masterchef competition.

By Miriam Raftery

October 19, 2015 (La Mesa) – Award-winning country music star Brent Payne charmed the audience with a sizzling hot performance at the first La Mesa Fall Fest Saturday night in the parking lot at Grossmont Center, hosted by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce.  It wasn’t hard to see why this self-proclaimed “country cowboy and southern gentleman” has rocketed to the top of the charts internationally and won fans in performances from Vegas to NASCAR to the National Rodeo Finals.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Public domain image by Totodu, via Wikipedia

October 18, 2015 (San Diego)—As if mudslides and flash floods aren’t enough to worry about from warming ocean currents that give rise to El Niño weather conditions, now there’s a new concern for beach-goers.   A venemous yellow-bellied sea snake has been found on a beach in Oxnard north of Los Angeles, and later returned to the water. A second sighting was also reported, though it's uncertain whether this was the same snake or a second one.

Normally found in warm tropical waters such as those off Australia and Central America, the yellow-bellied sea snake is among the most poisonous snakes in the world.  This is the farthest north that one has ever been found. The last sighting was 30 years ago during El Niño conditions– in San Diego County back in 1985.  They have also been spotted in San Clemente in 1983 and Los Angeles Bay in 1961.

Like the killer shark in the movie “Jaws,”  the vision of swimming sea snakes may make you wonder if it’s best to stay out of the water.  The group Heal the Bay advises that there is “no need to panic” over the snake found on the sand in Oxnard. Here's why.

By Janis Russell

October 17, 2015 (La Mesa)-On Thursday November 5, the Caregiver Coalition of San Diego and the City of La Mesa are hosting a free educational event on caring for veterans. This event is geared towards the caregivers or family members caring for a veteran. There will be educational seminars, resource fairs, and lunch is provided by AARP.

Caregivers or family members can learn about services that are beneficial to veterans as well as community resources available to caregivers. The event is from 9:30am to 2:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Memorial Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.

East County News Service

October 18, 2015 (La Mesa) – The San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room at 8364 La Mesa Blvd. in La Mesa announces a series of music nights in November featuring talented artists performing Spanish and classical guitar, blues, folk, bluegrass, country, classic rock, jazz with a Latin twist and more.  Admission is free; wine, cheese, crackers and dessert are available for purchase in this intimate back-room setting.  Scroll down for details on each concert, and for more information, visit www.sanpasqualwinery.com