September 5, 2023 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Grossmont Union school board reaffirms decision to change mental health provider  (KPBS)
• Supervisors pass policy supporting voter OK for water district departures  (KPBS)
• San Diego’s Eye-Popping Electricity Rates Get National Notoriety (Voice of San Diego)
• America’s Most Wanted fugitive Donald Santini used bankruptcy to finance life on the run  (10 News)
• Rolling in money and talent, San Diego State University is emerging as a major player in science
• Citizen brings to light questionable spending in Ramona cemetery district (KPBS)
• Nathan Fletcher & Lorena Gonzalez sitting on a combined $2.3 million in campaign funds (KUSI)
• Former SDSU football player connected to gang-rape case pleads guilty on child-porn charge (NBC)
• San Diego City Council approves use of 'smart streetlights,' automated license plate readers (10  News)
• Thousands of gallons of sewage spills after South Bay plant pumps fail  (10 News)
• Tijuana's illegal sewer hookups linked to cross-border pollution  (KPBS)
• Venezuelans make way in San Diego, join 1.9 million migrants nationally in legal 'twilight zone'  (KPBS)
• UCSD ranked 3rd, San Diego State at #16 on Forbes' Top 25 Public Colleges list  (10 News)

STATE

• U.S. sues Southern Calif. Edison over 2020 California wildfire (Reuters)
• A new gray wolf pack is found 200 miles south of California's nearest-known pack  (KPBS)
• As California maternity wards close, preterm birth rate rises  (KPBS)
• California aims to introduce more anglers to native warm-water tolerant sunfish as planet heats up (KPBS)
• Closure of 3 Southern California power plants likely to be postponed, state energy officials decide  (KPBS)

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

August 25, 2023 (San Diego) -- The Cal Coast Cares Foundation has awarded more than $160,000 in scholarships to support college-bound high school seniors, foster students and current college students in San Diego or Riverside Counties.

View the list of students who received scholarships.

August 23, 2023 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Alpine school district becomes 1st in county to provide affordable housing for teachers (10 News)
• What is in San Diego's Housing Action 2.0 Package? (NBC7)
• Much of San Diego will soon be surveilled by a network of police cameras. Here’s what you should know (San DIego Union-Tribune)
• Supreme Court to hear Poway school board case over blocking criticism on social media (Reuters)
• Our Border Sewage Crisis Has a Solution. SANDAG Holds it. (Voice of San Diego)
• FAA Probing Near Collision of Southwest Airliner and Executive Jet in San Diego (Times of San Diego)
• Family of 14-year-old found at Camp Pendleton demand answers (Times of San Diego)
• County Human Relations Commissioner Resigns After His Antisemitic Rant (Times of San Diego)
• Zoe Bernard of La Mesa acts with the stars in ‘Asteroid City’ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 29:Eleven Maternity Home in El Cajon helps unsheltered pregnant women(CBS 8)
• Protesters gather outside New Children's Museum over drag queen story time  (10 News)
• County Water Authority sues over Rainbow, Fallbrook agencies' departures  (KPBS)
• Orphaned pets from Maui fire on their way to Helen Woodward Animal Center (KUSI)

STATE

• Los Angeles crime lab finds 4% of seized fentanyl samples contain flesh-eating sedative (Los Angeles Times)
• California voters made public records a right, will they give it more teeth?  (San Jose Mercury News)
• Record numbers of people have died in California jails. Now lawmakers could crack down (Cal  Matters)
• Alaska Airlines flight makes hard landing during California storms  (NPR)
• Sea level changes could drastically affect Calif. beaches by the end of the century  (NPR)
• .Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, falls at home and goes to hospital, but scans are clear, her office says (AP)

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

August 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) –Michael Adam Cohen, award-winning entertainment reporter and photographer, shot these surreal images of a lightning storm over Cowles Mountain,  as Tropical Storm Hilary drenched our region.

The first image, viewed from  Mt. Helix,  makes Cowles Mountain appear to be an island floating in a foggy sea. In reality, those are clouds obscuring Interstate 8.

The second images shows  multilpe lightning bolts creating a dramatic light show in the skies above Cowles Mountain, which is located in  Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego.

County Supervisors declare emergency as Hilary heads to San Diego

By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2023 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego tonight issued an emergency declaration to deploy all available resources, following a state emergency declaration earlier today. Now a category one hurricane, Hilary is still on track to hit San Diego as a tropical storm Sunday in the late afternoon and early evening.

A flood watch and tropical storm warning are now in effect for all of San Diego County. A tropical storm, also known as a tropical cyclone, has sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour; a hurricane has sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. 

The danger has prompted cancellation of everything from airline flights to a Padre game on Sunday, as well as closures of parks and beaches across the region.

Airlines have cancelled 73 flights Sunday that were scheduled at San Diego International airport, according to the tracking site  FlightAware.

By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)— “We’re gearing up for widespread prolonged power outages,” Alex Welling with SDG&E told ECM today. The utility company is beefing up its preparations amid a countywide tropical storm warning. But he adds,  “We really want our customers prepared.”

He confirmed that SDG&E is not planning any proactive power shutoffs outages over fire concerns,since moisture levels arehigh.  But with Hurricane Hilary  slated to bring powerful tropical storm winds and rains across San Diego County, particularly Sunday and Monday, crews won’t be able to respond promptly to every downed power line or pole.

“We can’t even put a bucket up in the air when the winds are 35 miles per hour or more, because the entire bucket truck will tip over,” he explained.

With the safety of its customers, employees and local communities as its top priority, San Diego Gas & Electric has undertaken extensive preparations to respond to Hurricane Hilary, which will begin to impact our area tonight, with the heaviest rains and high winds Sunday afternoon through Monday.

Update August 18, 2023 -- The #Coyote Fire has burned 466 acres and is 43% contained. A firefighter injury is reported and two structures were destroyed.

Update 3:45 p.m. -- The fire is 100 acres and threatening homes near Round Potrero Rd. and  Horizon View. Round Potrero Road is closed between Yerba Santa Road to  Potrero Valley. The evacuation order area has broadened;view map: . temporary evacuation center has been set up in the parking lot of the Mountain Empire High School at 3305 Buckman Springs Rd. in Pine Valley. You can take your animals, including livestock, to the @SanDiegoCounty Animal Shelter at 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita

August 17, 2023 (Potrero) -- Cal Fire is at the scene of a vegetation fire on Coyote Holler Road near Ranch Road in Potrero.

The fire has burned at least five acres and has a dangerous rate of spread, per Cal Fire.

The Sheriff's vehicles now have a hi-low alarm sound.  If you hear it, evacuate immediately.

East County News Service

July 28, 2023 (San Diego) – Cal-Fire, which has been battling a fire near the U.S. Mexico border, notified the Sheriff at 1:30 a.m. about a shooting near the international border. One male victim was pronounced dead and the other was transported to a hospital.

Both victims appeared to have gunshot wounds. Neither have been positively identified at this point, says Lieutenant Joseph Jarjura.

The location was east of the Otay port of entry, near the border wall. according to the Sheriff's department.

July 23, 2023  (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Study Says Public Takeover of SDG&E Could Save San Diegans Money (Voice of San Diego)
• Westfield Mission Valley sold for $290 million, developer plans to add housing (CBS 8)
• Fentanyl seizures in San Diego area on the rise, law enforcement says (KPBS)
• San Diego State to remain in Mountain West, receive $6.6M initially withheld after decision to leave (NBC San Diego)
• San Diego to get $25M for conservation in legal settlement over Trump border wall funding (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Newspapers Are Marching Toward a Cliff; The U-T Thought its Owner Would Build a Bridge  (San DIego Union-Tribune)
• CBP agent took bribes to let vehicles with drugs cross U.S.-Mexico border  (NBC San Diego)
• Nonprofit turning shipping containers into homes for homeless San Diegans (KPBS)
• After San Diego arrest, rapper Boosie Badazz challenges law that prohibits felons from possessing guns  (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• California’s homeowners insurance crisis is growing and spreading to car insurance (KPBS)
• More than 220K people kicked off Medi-Cal in its first checkup since COVID (CalMatters)
• New bill would change requirements for domestic abuse reporting by hospitals (KPBS)
• Feinstein says late husband’s trust not paying her medical bills, asks court for more control (Los Angeles Times)

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

By Miriam Raftery

File photo by Miriam Raftery:  A crash of rhinos at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, spring 2023

July 18, 2023 (San Diego) – “Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), a viral disease that affects hooved mammals, has been confirmed in southern white rhinos living at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park,” Darla  Davis, Senior Public Relations Representative for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, confirmed today in an  email to ECM.

The International Rhino Foundation estimates there are fewer than 16,000 white rhinos left in the world, due to poaching losses. All but two of these survivors are southern white rhinos; the population has decreased by almost 12% in the past four years.

East County News Service

July 12, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service predicts a long-duration heat wave will impact San Diego’s inland areas through next week, potentially breaking records. Triple digit temperatures will bring extreme heat risk in desert areas, with the highest temperatures Saturday through Monday, along with elevated fire weather conditions each afternoon and evening.

High temperatures are expected to reach 115-121 degrees in low desert areas such as Anza-Borrego and 105-112 degrees  in high desert areas. Mountains should reach 95-105,with San Diego’s valleys reaching 92-103 degrees. Temperatures are expected to stay warm even overnight, with lows temperatures of 80-90 degrees in low desert areas and lows in the 70s in the mountains and high desert communities.

Red tide toxins can also poison seafood and harm people, pets, fish and seabirds

By Miriam Raftery

Map, left:  Forecast for Saturday, July 1

June 29, 2023 (San Diego) – A red tide containing a toxic algae bloom that has sickened and killed hundreds of sea lions and dolphins off the California coast is forecast to reach San Diego’s beaches as early as tomorrow. By Saturday, July 1^st, the red tide will be impacting all San Diego beaches, with levels of the potent neurotoxin domoic acid at double the 500 nanograms per liter considered harmful.

That’s according to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, which issued a press advisory today with this forecasting tool.

Story and photo Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra Janway,  at a 2009 rally with then-Supervisor Dianne Jacob in Santee, where Johnson and his wife were honored for their charitable foundation’s generous donations to local schools.

June 27, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The parents of NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson’s wife, Chandra Janway, Johnson, were found dead today at a home in Muskogee, Oklahoma, along with Johnson’s 11-year old nephew.  Raised in El Cajon, Johnson has long been hailed as a hometown hero not only for his NASCAR wins, but also for the generosity of the foundation that he and his wife ran, donating millions of dollars to help children in need and benefit local schools.

Police investigators report that they believe Terry Janway shot and killed her husband, Jack Janway, and their grandson, Dalton, then killed herself.  

NASCAR issued this statement.  “We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family.  The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie, and the entire Johnson and Janway families.”

June 22, 2023  (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• Cal Fire seeks $675K in lawsuit against family over 2020 Skyline Fire (10  News)
• The US Plant Treating Tijuana’s Sewage Is Busted (Voice of San Diego)
• Qualcomm to lay off hundreds of workers at its San Diego headquarters  (KPBS)
• San Diego Sheriff agrees to reforms to improve jail conditions for disabled people in custody (San Diego Union-Tribune).
• One dead, one injured in shooting at Liberty Station Juneteenth event (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Feds Grant $26 Million to Find Storage Sites for Nuclear Waste from San Onofre, Other Plants (Times of San Diego)  
• As Salton Sea Shrinks, Potential for Earthquakes Reduced, New Study Finds  (Times of San Diego)

STATE 

• Report paints new picture of homelessness in California (ABC News)
• Hackers steal social security numbers, birth dates and more on 769,000 CalPERS retirees (Cal Matters)
• California is getting a new Assembly Speaker. Is he an unlikely leader or a calculating one? (Sacramento Bee)
• She lost her home. She doesn’t want to lose her city council seat (Cal Matters)
• Ex-firefighter suspected of igniting devastating fire near Yosemite, could face life term (Los Angeles Times)

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

Story, photo and slideshow by Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

May 29, 2023 (San Diego) -- Overlooking rows of white headstones Sunday at Miramar National Cemetery, a veteran recounted the March death of a former Navy SEAL and issued a call to action to prevent military suicides.

Joshua Prado, 2022 San Diego County Veteran of the Year, spoke of Silver Star recipient Douglas “Mike” Day in a Memorial Day observance.

“Every American can play a part in preventing another death like his and honoring his memory by helping those who have served this country,” he said of the Navy SEAL.

Prado’s ask of about 250 people at the holiday ceremony was: Check in on the veterans in your life. If you have a veteran or a person in your social circle or family, look for the warning signs that may precede a suicide.