By Brian Lafferty

November 22, 2013 (San Diego) – A few months ago I watched for the first time the infamous episode of the 1950s quiz show Twenty-One in which contestant Charles Van Doren “defeated” Herb Stempel.  A few years later it was revealed that many of the prime time network quiz shows were rigged at the behest of the sponsors.  What millions of viewers thought was actual suspenseful game playing was really a series of scripted performances for the sake of “good television” and high ratings.  (If you watch that episode of Twenty-One, it’s so obvious Van Doren is acting, and doing a bad job of it.)

Update November 23, 2013--At 1 a.m., U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Ysidro port of entry notified El Cajon Police that they found Anne Louise Terhune.  An El Cajon Police officer met with her and at her request, gave her a ride home.  She told the officer she entered Mexico by mistake after being stuck in southbound freeway traffic. 

November 21, 2013 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Police detectives seek public help to find a missing El Cajon woman, Anne Louise Terhune, 60. According to family members, Terhune left her home November 19 around 5:45 p.m. and said she was going to the library at 576 Garfield Ave. in El Cajon.  She was last seen driving a 2004 gold colored Mercury Marquis, four-door Sedan, California license 5KLY673. 

When Terhune did not return after several hours the family became concerned and contacted the police to report her missing. Officers were able to confirm her 2004 gold Mercury crossed the US Boarder into Mexico later that night.  According to family members it would be out of character for Terhune to enter into Mexico, said Lt. Frank La Haye.

By Miriam Raftery

November 21, 2013 (Washington D.C.) The U.S.  Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a memo aimed at halting the automatic deportation of “spouses, children and parents of active-duty military members, reservists who may be called up as part of the 'Ready Force.'"  Family members of U.S. troops can now apply for parole, allowing them to stay in the U.S. while Congress continues delaying action on comprehensive immigration reform.

November 21, 2013 (San Diego) The California Highway Patrol has issued a citation to a county driver for wearing Google Glass while operating a vehicle. This is in violation of Vehicle Code 27602.

This section of the vehicle code states that it is illegal to: "drive a motor vehicle if a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications, is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at a point forward of the back of the driver's seat, or is operating and the monitor, screen, or display is visible to the driver while driving the motor vehicle."

November 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – East County’s own Jimmie Johnson zoomed into sports history tonight, wining is sixth Sprint Cup championship to become one of the top NASCAR racing competitors ever.  He trails only Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt, racing legends who each scored seven wins.

Sporting News writer Jeff Owens now names Johnson among the greatest athletes of all time, in any sport.  Today’s win ties Johnson with LeBron James of NBA fame as the two most dominant pro athletes in pro sports today, each with six l titles in eight years, surpassing basketball’s Kobe Bryant and basebal’s Derek Jeter.

“Johnson rivals golf’s Tiger Woods and tennis star Roger Federer as the most accomplished individual athletes in pro sports,” Owens added.

By Miriam Raftery

November 21, 2013 (San Diego) -- The County Department of Environmental Health has issued a warning for swimmers and surfers to avoid coastal waters for at least 72 hours after the rainstorms currently moving across the region.

Levels of bacteria in ocean waters and Mission Bay can rise to dangerous levels after a rainstorm due to urban runoff, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers and lagoon outlets.

View speech on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhupT9o-nxk

Read full text of speech:http://library.sdsu.edu/sites/default/files/JFK-Transcript_0.pdf

By Miriam Raftery

November 21, 2013 (San Diego) – Tomorrow marks the 50^th anniversary of that fateful day in Dallas, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.   Like so many Americans, I remember the moment when I heard the news.  I was in second grade and the teacher started crying as she broke the news.  It hit me hard, since just a few months earlier, Mom had pulled me out of class and taken me to watch the young President’s motorcade downEl Cajon Boulevard in the College area. 

He had just delivered a commencement speech on June 6, 1963 at San Diego State University’s Aztec Bowl, after being the first to receive an honorary doctoral degree through a California state university.  Kennedy told SDSU graduates, "As a nation, we have no deeper concern, no older commitment and no higher interest than a strong, sound and free system of education for all...In fulfilling this obligation to ourselves and our children, we provide for the future of our nation—and for the future of freedom." He reflected on the educated founders of our nation, the importance of an educated populace for the future, and the disparities in educational opportunities across the nation.

November 21, 2013 (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

• U.S. Border Patrol has ‘alarming’ alcohol problem, says inside memo and outside source (10 News)
• Another high speed crash at end of Route 125 reignites concerns (Santee Patch)
• 4 months after Chariot fire, historic al Bahr Shrine Camp still in ruins (10 News)
• To protect Mount Helix homes and drivers, slope repairs begin near Fuerte Drive (La Mesa Patch)
• What’s going to happen to San Onofre’s nuclear waste? (KPBS)
• New grant awarded for San Diego River trail through Santee (Santee Patch)
• Balboa Park introducing annual pass (UT San Diego)
• San Diego's economic recovery lags state, nation  (SD Reader, Don Bauder)
• El Cajon’s Bostonia Recreation Center gets rebuilt in a day after community input (EC Californian)
• Community Rallies For Hungry Students During Holidays (La Mesa Today)

STATE

• California’s fiscal analyst projects large surpluses (Sacramento Bee)
• California takes down 10 fake Obamacare websites (Reuters)
• CalPERS loses round in SB bankruptcy fight (Sacramento Bee)

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

Instructors blow whistle on safety concerns at U.S. flight schools

By Miriam Raftery

November 19, 2013 (El Cajon ) – An investigative report by an  NBC TV station in the Bay area adds fuel to concerns raised by East County residents over the safety of foreign pilot training at Gillespie Field.  The NBC investigation, titled “Foreign Airline Pilots, U.S. Flight Schools: Do they get enought raining time in cockpit?” has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to announce tighter regulations of  training of foreign pilots at American flight schools.

In the U.S., pilots train for years in either the military of general aviation, or both, to gain at least 1,500 hours of flight time before being allowed into the cockpit of a commercial jetliner.  But the FAA gave out 4,820 license to foreign pilots last year alone – pilots who came here from Asia or other places to train, many with zero flight experience.

November 21, 2013 (San Diego) -- Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that American kids are going through puberty earlier today than in previous generations, and are there any environmental causes for this?   

-- Paul Chase, Troy, NY

Research indicates that indeed Americans girls and boys are going through puberty earlier than ever, though the reasons are unclear. Many believe our widespread exposure to synthetic chemicals is at least partly to blame, but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why our bodies react in certain ways to various environmental stimuli.

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2013 (Spring Valley) – Growing marijuana indoors can prove hazardous to your health and wealth. No, we’re not talking about smoking pot—we’re talking about pot going up in smoke.  

 Firefighters found that a fire at a Spring Valley home on Campo Road this morning was caused by a marijuana grower’s illicit hookup to a nearby power pole.  The blaze caused $40,000 in structural damage and burned up 40 to 50 mature marijuana plants ready  for harvest.  An average plant grown indoors yields 3.5 ounces of pot, with a street value of $200 to $1,000 an ounce.  In addition, SDG&E could opt to hold the growers responsible for the cost of the stolen electricity. 

November 20, 2013 (Santee) -- On Thanksgiving Day, November 28, at 8:00 am, Pathways Community Church will be hosting the 2nd Annual Waddle and Trot 5K and Fun Run.  This fun family event is intended for runners and walkers of every fitness level and all proceeds will go to Santee Santas and the Santee Food Bank.

“We were so overwhelmed by the response we received last year from the community and local businesses,” says Phil Herrington, Pastor at Pathways Community Church.  “Last year was our inaugural event and we had over 650 participants and 20 vendors which allowed us to raise $12,000 for Santee Santas and Santee Food Bank.  We look forward to making this event an annual Thanksgiving tradition and continuing our support of these two worthy charities.”

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

November 19, 2013 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Network reports that Stefanie Larson, an Alpine resident and mother of three, is hospitalized with injuries sustained when her sports utility vehicle (SUV) rear-ended a semi-truck yesterday on Interstate 8. 

The truck had emergency flashers on and was moving at 25 miles per hour when Larson struck it traveling at approximately 75 miles per hour, wedging her vehicle beneath the semi, ECM news partner 10 News reported. She was extricated from the crash and airlifted to Sharp Memorial Hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

November 19, 2013 (San Diego) – As San Diegans head to the polls today to vote in a special election to fill the mayoral vacancy, Registrar of Voters Michael Vu says an expected turnout of 40 to 45 percent is anticipated, or roughly equivalent to the last citywide mayoral election in July 2005, which had a 44.33% turnout rate.

If one candidate wins over 50 percent of the vote today, that candidate will be the new mayor.  If no candidate achieves a majority, then there will be a run-off election among the top two vote-getters.  To view our nonpartisan guide for voters in the San Diego mayoral election, click here. For more interesting facts about today's election, click "read more" and scroll down.

November 18, 2013 (San Diego) -- For approximately four nights, beginning Nov. 18, construction activity in southbound main lanes of Interstate 15 (I-15) between Mira Mesa Boulevard and Carroll Canyon Road will require nighttime closures of the southbound I-15 main lanes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. These closures will allow crews to continue construction of the Mira Mesa direct access ramp for mass transit.

During the closures, the southbound Express Lanes will be open and free of charge to all motorists. Signs will be posted on the freeway in advance of the closures to direct drivers to the Express Lanes and to other detours (see map below).