February 24, 2012 (La Mesa)—A special meeting of the La Mesa Youth Advsory Commission will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 25 at Nan Couts Cottage, 5045 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.  The agenda will consider a Teen Summit  with La Mesa teens to discuss issues of concern, plus desires for community programs and services for teens.

February 24,2012 (La Mesa) -- Youngsters from throughout Southern California and Arizona will compete for trophies and points during two days of Soap Box Derby Rally Races on Saturday, March 4 and Sunday March 5 in La Mesa. The Drew Ford/Kiwanis Club of La Mesa Derby Races provide valuable experience for the 7-17-year old race car drivers as two-by-two they roll down the sloping race course on Junior High Drive next to La Mesa Middle School, achieving speeds up to 24 mph. 

February 24, 2012 (San Diego)—San Diego County residents will finally have a chance to tell the California Public Utilities Commission what they think about San Diego Gas & Electric’s proposal to charge ratepayers $463.9 million for the utility’s uninsured losses due to the 2007 wildfires caused by its poorly maintained power lines.

Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon will hold a public participation hearing on April 5 from 4-9 p.m. at the Al Bar Shriner Auditorium , 4330 Kearny Mesa Road in San Diego.

The announcement follows a February 21, 2012 “Turko Files” KUSI TV investigative report which revealed over a dozen private meetings in which SDG&E executives wined and dined CPUC Commissioner Simon,  who is acting as a judge on this matter:  http://www.kusi.com/story/16988213/almost-anything-goes.

February 24, 2012 (San Diego) -- What if San Diego produced its own electricity with solar on rooftops and parking garage covers?  Imagine if San Diego became its own utility provider—instead of SDG&E.  

That’s exactly what Congressman and mayoral candidate Bob Filner proposed in a brainstorming session with top regional experts at part I of “Forging a Sustainable Future.”  (Part II takes place March 3-4 at San Diego State University. Filner will be among those speaking.)

The implications of his proposals are staggering.

February 24, 2012 (San Diego) -- This petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Keep-IHSS-out-of-Managed-Care/ is calling for an IHSS "carve-out", to keep the present IHSS program (which enables me to hire my own caregivers/assistants) as an option apart from total inclusion within  a new managed care mandate.

By Brian Lafferty

February 24, 2012 (San Diego) – Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro. Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist. Javier Mariscal and Fernando Trueba’s Chico & Rita. These are three vastly different animated films from three different countries, but they share a trait rarely seen in animated films: they live and breathe humanism and portray close, heartfelt relationships.

• Community meeting discussing Quail Brush Power Plant Feb. 28 (Santee Patch)
• Grossmont expands school enrollment choices for some (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Gas & Electric wants you to pay for its negligence (San Diego Reader)
• Nature reclaims local cold war relic (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Hunter introduces bill to name Ramona Post Office after Mac McWilliams (Ramona Patch)
• Helix claims Hills League title with tiebreaking victory over Grossmont (La Mesa Patch)
• Veterans recover from war wounds on the farm (MSNBC)
• SDPD Oversight Board Faces Favoritism Accusations
   

• Prop 8 backers seek review of gay marriage case (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry Brown:  California to reopen trade offices in China (Sacramento Bee)

February 23, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – Six bullet casings have been recovered following reports of gunshots heard around 6:13 p.m. in the 800 block of Grand Avenue in Lemon Grove tonight.

According to witnesses, the apartment complex next to Shorty’s Tire Shop was hit by gunfire. Two vehicles reportedly fled the scene, a two-door black BMW and a dark blue Ford Bronco, Lieutenant J.T. Faulkner with the Lemon Grove Sheriff station reports.

 By Serena Scaglione

February 23, 2012 (El Cajon)--More than 150 parents, students and members of East County communities attended last week’s special board meeting at West Hills High School to stand for or against the Board’s decision last November to change the district’s boundaries.

Despite numerous pleas to the Board to rescind the boundary changes, the Board voted four to one to keep the new boundaries in place, with trustee Priscilla Schreiber casting the only "no" vote.

Grossmont, Borrego and Ramona districts may fail to meet financial obligations

February 23, 2012 (Sacramento)—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson warned today that the latest review of school district budgets shows that one-third of public school students in California attend a district in financial jeopardy. That includes seven districts in San Diego County—three of them in East County. 

 Aztecs beat Cincinnati, but lose to UC Davis

By Nancy Clement

February 23, 2012 (San Diego) –Stargazer and trail guide George Varga will lead a stargazing party at Mission Trails Regional Park on February 25 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Participants at the event, four days after the New Moon, can expect to view deep sky objects such as the Orion Nebula, the Crab Nebula in Taurus and much more. The Crab Nebula (photo, left) is the result of a supernova that occurred in 1054 AD and was recorded by Chinese observers.

By Miriam Raftery

February 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Facing a $1.3 million budget deficit, San Miguel Fire District has announced it will accept request for proposals (RFPs) to potentially outsource services including firefighting and fire prevention—core operations for the beleaguered district.

The news ires some district residents, who contend that taxpayers are getting burned.

By Bonnie Burns Price; research assistance by Olive Ball

“Are Republicans engaged in a war on women, with women’s rights, needs, and hopes just the collateral damage of their war?” -- Bonnie Burns Price

February 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The 2012 Republican presidential contest is one of the most intriguing events on the national political stage.  Many debates have allowed the nation to consider candidate positions on subjects as diverse as the Great Recession, the war in Afghanistan, a nuclear Iran, sustainability of Social Security and Medicare, tax fairness, contraception and abortion.

February 23, 2012 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Police warn that scam artists posing as an SDG&E utility worker and as city inspector have lured residents out of their homes while an accomplice burglarized at least two residences.

By Nadin Abbott

February 23, 2012 (San Diego)--Four candidates running for the redrawn 52nd Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Brian Bilbray met Tuesday for a lively debate during a luncheon sponsored by the Conservative Order of Good Government Club in Rancho Bernardo. Participants included incumbent Brian Bilbray, Republican challenger John K. Stahl (a veteran and businessman), and two Democrats: former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña and former City Council president Scott Peters.

Issues discussed ranged from job creation to immigration to working across the aisle with the other party, as well as energy policy. While candidates clashed on views, an ECM fact-check on claims by all candidates reveals mostly—but not entirely—truthful statements.

$3,000 reward offered for information leading to arrest of shooter

February 23, 2012 (Alpine) – A dog found shot and abandoned in Alpine is improving after surgery, ECM news partner 10 News reports. Named “Chance” by veterinary staff, the golden retriever mix is no longer on oxygen or an IV; Chance is eating and drinking on his own and may soon be available for adoption.

Proposed “Blunt Amendment” would let employers deny coverage for  blood transfusions, birth control, AIDS or cancer treatments, and more

 Rep. Issa (R-San Diego) draws heat for restricting testimony to men only at hearing on women’s health

By Miriam Raftery

February 21, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – Disguised as an amendment to limit options for women’s health, the “Blunt Amendment” (S. 1467) introduced byU.S. Senator Roy Blunt and supported by  conservatives in Congress goes much farther.

It would allow employers to design their own healthcare plans under the Affordable Care Act and   to exclude any “specific items or services” that are “contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan.” 

General news

• Supreme Court takes up affirmative action case (ABC  News)
• Post Office closings isolate small towns and poor (MSNBC)
• Obama to float corporate tax overhaul (Reuters)

• 25 percent of Super PAC money comes from 5 rich donors (USA Today)
• Super PAC donors revealed: Who are the  power players in the GOP primary? (Washington Post)
• Is Santorum too extreme for the middle? (Los Angeles Times)
• Mitt Romney says spending cuts hurt economic growth (Huffington Post)
• A Republican platform for American women: barefoot and pregnant? (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

• U.N. nuclear inspectors barred from Iran site (Reuters)
• Obama administration opens door to aid for Syrian rebels (Fox News)

• FDA to ease critical cancer drug shortage (CBS News)