October 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) --ECM 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.

• Obamacare open enrollment begins: What you need to know Oct. 1 (CBS)
• U.S. government shuts down as Congress can’t agree on spending deal (CNN)
• GOP puts new price on debt hike (The Hill)
• Why the healthcare law scares the GOP (New York Times)
• Soaring number of elderly women living in extreme poverty (RawStory)
• "For Their Own Protection": Children in Long-Term Solitary Confinement (Reason)
• Fighting fires with aging tankers from another era (Los Angeles Times)
• Immigrant activists will attempt to cross back into U.S. (Raw Story)
• US sending bankrupt Detroit $300 million. Think 'stimulus,' not 'bailout.' (+video) (CS Monitor)
• U.S. deputy nuclear commander suspended during investigation (Reuters)
• JPMorgan In Talks To Avoid Criminal Charges (NPR)

WORLD

• Defected Syrian general: Assad will never cede chemical arsenal
• How Likely is a Nairobi-Style Attack in the US? (Reason)
•  Unleashing Boy Scouts To Counter Drug Cartels (KPBS)
• Two Marine Generals Forced To Retire After Taliban Attack On Base(AP)
• Kenya says 'at war' with al Shabaab, faces security questions (Reuters)
•  New leak at Japan nuke plant due to tank overflow (U-T San Diego)
• Jellyfish invade, shutdown Swedish nuclear reactor (CS Monitor)
•  Pakistan rocked by another major earthquake (CS Monitor)
• Hundreds rally in Spain protesting the monarchy (U-T San Diego)
• Greek Neo-Nazi Party Arrests Follow High-Profile Murder
• Multiple Car Bombs Wreak Havoc In Baghdad, Killing Dozens (NPR)
• China's power capacity will double by 2030, report says (CS Monitor)
• Fugitive Snowden short-listed for European rights prize (Reuters)
• Tropical storm Wutip hammers Vietnam, Thailand (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Mexico rescues 73 suspected kidnap victims near U.S. border (Reuters)

Click “read more” and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

By Jamie Reno

October 2, 2013 (Washington, D.C.) – Just hours before the likely shutdown of the government, legislation that many anxious American veterans have been hoping for has arrived - and Congress had better pass it. Tonight, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) introduced legislation to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continues to make disability compensation and pension payments to veterans in the event of an extended government shutdown.

“We must not let our veterans be counted among the House Republicans’ hostages,” Sanders said this evening.

October 1, 2013  (San Diego’s East County)–Due to the lapse in federal government funding, the U.S. Forest Service, as with other federal agencies, is closed with the exception of certain essential services.  The Cleveland National Forest offices as well as some recreational areas will be closed until further notice.  The entire U.S. Forest Service website and other federal websites are offline due to the spending bill impasse in Congress.  Shutdown of U.S. Forest Service activities does not impact firefighting on forest lands, however.

The following will be closed, including popular sites in East County:

Measure targets  school districts engaged in  risky borrowing, including  Poway Unified and Santee School District

By Cary Hyatt and Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2013 (Sacramento) – Assembly Bill 182 has been passed by the Legislature and is now on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.  Several local legislators coauthored the bill including Democrats Ben Hueso and Marty Block as well as Republicans Rocky Chavez and Mark Wyland. 

The measure would create restrictions in California on capital appreciation bonds (CABs) used by school and college districts.  CABs defer payments far into the future and can cost 10 to 20 times more than the original amount borrowed. 

September 30, 2013 (San Diego) – With the government on the brink of shutting down for who knows how long, America's veterans are trying to make sense of the conflicting and confusing information spewing from inside the Beltway. And the national media isn't helping much.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been sending out painfully mixed messages. Last week, the department announced that under its contingency plan, 95 percent of VA employees would be either fully funded or required to perform excepted functions during a government shutdown.