April 20, 2012 (San Diego) –Prominent women leaders in San Diego will be speaking out to support Bob Filner’s mayoral candidacy this Saturday.

“Bob Filner is the only candidate for mayor who has spent his career fighting for women's rights,” a press release from the Filner campaign states. In Congress, Filner co-sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He is endorsed by the National Organization for Women (NOW) San Diego chapter and has earned an “A+” from Planned Parenthood for his voting record to support women’s rights.

By Miriam Raftery

La Mesa leader in anti-smart meter movement says plan offers relief, but does not go far enough

April 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Ratepayers now have the right to have a smart meter removed from their homes—provided they pay a $75 removal fee and $10 a month  fee to read their meter (for low income users, the rate is $10/removal and $5/month). 

Consumers who do not yet have smart meters and are on a “delay” list will have to make clear anew that they wish to opt out, or smart meters may be installed.

April 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Two measures authored by Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) were defeated in the Senate Public Safety Committee in Sacramento this week.  Senate Bill 1514 would have eliminated the automatic appeal of each death penalty case, while Senate Constitutional Amendment 20 would have required that any appeals of death penalty cases go to the State Court of Appeal rather than the State Supreme Court.

By Dennis Moore

April 19, 2012 (Baja)--Baja, or Baja California, is the northernmost part of Mexico--just across the border from San Diego. Like a hidden jewel waiting to be discovered, the region has many tantalizing facets. Baja includes the cities and towns of Tecate, Ensenada, Tijuana, Rosarito Beach and Puerto Nuevo, which is world renowned for its lobster fest.  

April 19, 2012 (Santee) -- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department motorcycle unit is continuing law enforcement's efforts to curb distracted driving. During the month of April, which has been designated "National Distracted Driving Month," extra patrols are out in force in the County of San Diego. Yesterday the motor unit concentrated their efforts in the City of Santee. Between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., motorcycle deputies wrote a total of 85 citations; 25 of which were for using a cell phone while driving and 38 were for speeding.

April 19, 2012 (Ramona)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for Sutherland Reservoir Recreation Area Water System located at 22850 Sutherland Dam Road, Ramona, effective immediately.

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E. coli.

East County Magazine catches up with the former Grossmont High School baseball star

By Ryan Schuler

April 18, 2012 (San Diego) -- The exact distance from Grossmont High School in El Cajon, Calif. to the University of San Diego is 14.7 miles. The former is where USD senior first baseman Bryan Haar made a name for himself as one of best high school baseball players in San Diego County; the latter is where Haar is making a name for himself by helping lead the 19th-ranked college baseball team in the nation to what many hope is a berth in the College World Series.

By Mike Lewis

April 17, 2012 (Sacramento)--The figures behind the state’s educational crisis are alarming. According to the California Teachers Association, California ranks 46 nationally in per-pupil funding, with over $20 billion cut from public schools and colleges statewide in the last four years. More than 40,000 teachers have been laid off during that same time, yet partisan gridlock has stalled any solution in Sacramento.

May 17, 2012 (Ocotillo) –Robert Lundahl spotted these signs posted by residents and environmentalists, who are mobilizing to inform the public about negative impacts of the proposed Ocotillo Express wind energy facility.

April 16, 2012 (San Diego) – On April 9, U.S. Congressman and candidate for Mayor, Bob Filner, was joined by San Diego Unified School Board Vice President Richard Barrera and San Diego High School Business Academy Principal Consuelo Manriquez to push for free or reduced trolley and bus fare for San Diego middle school and high school students.

April 16, 2012 (La Mesa) -- On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Space Bar Internet Café at 7454 University in La Mesa presents open mike night at 7:30 p.m.  The featured performer on April 26 will be Liz Huerta, a writer, who composes verse of truth and beauty interspersing moments of existential angst with human realizations.  Liz has lived in Barcelona, Mexico City and San Diego.

April 16, 2012 (Lakeside) – The 48th Annual Lakeside Rodeo will take place at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds. The annual event has been a tradition since the first rodeo was held back in 1920.  It encompasses a series of events April 20-22 that celebrate the community’s Wild West heritage.

Each day’s rodeo performances include seven events: saddle bronco riding, tie down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and barrel racing. Other events, including Saturday’s Western Days Parade sponsored by the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, are also slated.

Santee Teen receives Miss Teen San Diego Cities Honor 

April 16, 2012 (San Diego) -- On Sunday, April 15, 2012 Kayla Ross of Rancho Bernardo was crowned Miss San Diego Cities 2012 while Savannah Keener of Santee was crowned Miss Teen San Diego Cities 2012. Young women from across San Diego County had entered the pageants in hopes of becoming the new city ambassadors.  The contestants were scored on personal interview, speech, poise and personality, physical fitness and beauty, evening gown and an on stage impromptu question. 

• CSU faculty members set to vote on strike (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry Brown turns to robocalls and mailers to qualify his ballot initiative (Sacramento Bee)

• San Diego County: Rents are Rising (KPBS)
• Palomar campgrounds reopen after successful fundraising drive (KPBS)
• Rattlesnakes cruise for females, find people (North County Times)
• Caregiver sentenced in elder abuse of Pearl Harbor victim (San Diego Union-Tribune)