May 16, 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/REGIONAL

• SDSU ranked 7^th most dangerous college (Daily Aztec)
• No Vegas, baby: Council denies Mayor Madrid’s trip to annual conference (La Mesa Patch)
• Grossmont High arts program honored (U-T San Diego)
• Nuclear board rules San Onofre restart requires public input (Reuters)
• La Mesa Meadows project plows ahead despite outcry over bird deaths  (La Mesa  Patch)
• La Mesa Prostitution Investigation (La Mesa Today)

STATE

• Quest for clean water enters unknown, expensive territory  (U-T San Diego )
• Israel divestment vote at UC Berkeley the latest sign of hostile campus environment
• Calif. fails to screen substance abuse counselors (Sacramento Bee)

May 8, 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/REGIONAL

• Dry conditions highlight the value of water as summer nears  (San Diego County Water Authority)
• Bags, tape, broomstick used to fix  leak at San Onofre  (10 News)
• Pauma Casino workers aim to unionize (Kumeyaay.com)
• New inquiry at San Onofre focuses on nuclear commission (U-T San Diego)
• Annual crime statistics for the region released
• Utility-rate increase: Sempra seeks more(U-T San Diego)
• $42M of Modernizing Upgrades Coming to La Mesa, Spring Valley High Schools (La Mesa Patch)
• Alessio Calls PBID Process ‘Absurd’; Council Mandates Specific Data (La Mesa Patch)
• Steele Canyon students big winners at jewelry competition (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Calif agency says PG&E should pay $2.25B for blast (Sacramento Bee)
• Senate Public Safety Committee Approves Bill Regulating Drones in California (Scoop San Diego)
• California water supply to be drawn from storage to meet demand  (KPBS)
• California high court affirms local right to ban medical pot shops (Reuters)
• On California Prisons, It's The Governor Vs. The Courts
• JPMorgan Chase accused of rigging energy markets (CS Monitor)

For excerpts and links to full stories, scroll down.

May 2, 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/REGIONAL

• Two Former Helix Stars Selected in 2013 NFL Draft (La Mesa Patch)
• County Registrar Suggests Alternatives To Costly Special Elections (KPBS)
• East County residents complain about state fire fees; Assemblyman Jones calls fees illegal  (10 News)
• EDCO asks for rate increase (La Mesa Today)
• San Diego faces a major decision on wastewater treatment and water recycling (Groksurf)
• Water Authority launches water calculator for homeowners     (San Diego County Water Authority)
• San Diego Gas & Electric rates are nation's highest  (San Diego Reader)
• Electricity, gas rate increase considered (U-T San Diego)
• La Mesa Boy Accused of Posing As Girl on Facebook, Obtaining Nude Pics (La Mesa Patch)

STATE

• Bills aim to protect privacy as drone age dawns  (Sac Bee)
• UC admission offers up again for nonresidents (Sacramento Bee)
• First confirmed Japanese tsunami debris in Calif. (Sacramento Bee)
• Capitol Alert: Jerry Brown promises opponents 'battle of their lives' on education overhaul  (Sacramento Bee)
• Calif. bill would let non-citizens serve on juries (U-T San Diego)
• Valley fever spurs call to close 2 Calif. prisons (Sacramento Bee)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

April 24, 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/REGIONAL

• Ramona resident Steve Tally shares his experience at Boston 2013 Marathon (Ramona Sentinel)
• BP exiting [Sierra Juarez] wind deal with San Diego (U-T San Diego)
• Third pair of bald eagles found in County (Fox5)
• La Mesa’s Homeless Count Rises to 68, Says Latest Census from January (La Mesa Patch)
• Santee’s Homeless Count Falls to 18 (Santee Patch)
• Woman Who Abducted Her Infant Niece Pleads Guilty
• La Mesa Police Department honors its own (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• EPA: Calif failed to spend $455M on water projects (KPBS)
• State, cities in next round of redevelopment fight (Sacramento Bee)
• Calif. high-speed rail agency changed bid criteria ) (Sacramento Bee)
• Editorial: PUC culture change should start at the top (Sacramento Bee)
• UC admission offers up again for nonresidents (Sacramento Bee)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

April 17, 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:

REGIONAL

• LMPD Was Tony Gwynn of the County in 2012 for Solving Violent Crimes (La Mesa Patch)
• Five districts have grad rate issues (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego farmers bracing for a tough year  (KPBS) 
• Where is Councilman Ryan? Council asked to extend absence through May (Santee Patch)
• Mount Miguel Has Highest Dropout Rate Locally, New Data Reveals (La Mesa Patch)
• Evacuations During Nuclear Emergency May Cause Gridlock, Report Reveals (KPBS)
• Regulators see 'no hazard' at San Onofre (U-T San Diego)
• Financial regulator responds to San Onofre concerns (U-T San Diego)
• Woman accused of kidnapping baby from Spring Valley pleads not guilty (La Mesa Patch)

STATE

• Fed court rules electricity rebates due in Calif. (AP)
• Calif. court: Motorist can't use hand-held map (Sacramento Bee)
• Judge rules Obama administration overlooked fracking risks in California mineral leases (Reuters)
• Contempt threat against Brown a rare move (Sacramento Bee)

Click "read more" and scroll down to read excerpts and links to full stories.

April 10, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup brings you top news headlines of interest to East County and our region, published by other media. This week's top Roundup headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Flu Deaths in San Diego area hits all-time high (Lemon Grove Patch)
• Gunfight between security guard and motorist in Santee (Santee Patch)
• U-T San Diego political ad rates under scrutiny (10 News)
• Healtchare industry charging an arm and a leg (San Diego Free Press)
• 3 retired judges to decide who gets $1 million Dorner reward (Los Angeles Times)
• Anti-drone protests hit CEO's home (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Southern California Air regulators adopt fracking rules (Los Angeles Times)
• Assembly panel approves teacher misconduct bill (Los Angeles Times)
• Abel Maldonado moves closer to 2014 run against Jerry Brown for Governor (Sacramento Bee)
• California prisons still too crowded, judge rules (Reuters)

Scroll down to view excerpts and links to full stories. 

April 3, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup brings you top news headlines of interest to East County and our region, published by other media. This week's top Roundup headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• SD’s Decatur on watch against North Korea (UT San Diego)
• Talking Short Term Troubles, Long Term Hopes (La Mesa Today)
• President Obama taps San Diego neuroscientists for brain-mapping initiative (KPBS)
• Governor Brown announces pardons of 65 people, San Diegans among those on list (10 News)
• New apartment offers free solar power (UT San Diego)

• San Diego is Dronetown, USA (Daily Beast)

• Man accused in Julian shooting pleads not guilty (Ramona Patch)

• Santa Ysabel Man Gets 109 Years in Prison (Ramona Patch)

• In SD Unified's rush to sell land, taxpayers could lose millions (Voice of San Diego)
• Border officer took bribes to allow in immigrants (UT San Diego)
• San Diego Mayor Bob Filner signs tourism agreement (Meetings and Conventions)
• Campaign money became focus of tourism battle (UT San Diego)
• Desalination comes of age with Poseidon plant  (U-T San Diego)

• A Tale of two City Council Meetings (San Diego Free Press)

STATE

• Will twin tunnels water project float?  (U-T San Diego)
• State auditor: California’s net worth at negative $127.2 billion (Sacramento Bee)
• Medical parole bill advances (UT San Diego)
• Bill regulating ammunition clears committee (Sacramento Bee)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

March 28, 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/REGIONAL

• History takes a beating with sale of Warner Springs Ranch (U-T San Diego)
• SD seeks controversial `drone zone’ (U-T San Diego)
• A Decade After War's Start, Iraqi Refugees Are Transforming (El Cajon)  A California Town (KPBS)
• Utilities seek $769M from customers for faulty nuclear equipment (U-T San Diego)
• RUSD school board supports possible temporary County loan (Ramona Patch)
• Boss at ailing Calif. nuke plant made $2M in 2012 (Sacramento Bee)
• Put neighborhood solar power to good use (U-T San Diego)
• Northrop Grumman lands $433.5 million contract (KPBS)
• San Diego County Schools Get Meningitis Warning (KPBS)
• Coach’s youngest daughters released from hospital (UT San Diego)
• Craigslist job scam lures people to Mexico (UT San Diego)
• Water officials got raises amid rate hikes  ( U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Judge's Ruling On Officials' Private Emails, Texts Could Be Far-Reaching (KPBS)
• Controversial rural fire fee bills will be delayed (Sacramento Bee)
• Water price, availability in question  ( U-T San Diego)
• Former city officials in Bell, California convicted in corruption trial (Reuters)

Scroll down for excerpts and full stories.

March 20, 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/REGIONAL

• Business owners in Alpine sue SDG&E over impacts from Sunrise Powerlink  (San Diego Reader)
• For exiled Chaldeans, Iraq War is far from over (UT San Diego)
• Park Station hits a Nebo snag (La Mesa Today)
• Bond uncertainty concerns Grossmont committee  (UT San Diego)
• State finds big gaps in utility funds (UT San Diego)
• Calif. nuke plant could breakdown at full power (Sacramento Bee)
• Climbing club cleans up Santee boulders plastered with graffiti (Santee Patch)
• Quake test exposes big fire threat (UT San Diego)
• Update: State Calls Bridge ‘Structurally Safe,’ Says Report Is Flawed (KPBS)
• Bus contract is half Sprinter’s monthly cost (UT San Diego)
• I watched U-T TV so you won’t have to (Voice of San Diego)

By Miriam Raftery

February 14, 2013 (San Diego) – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s some news homeowners will love.  In California, foreclosure filings plunged 39.5% from December to January – the first time since early 2007 that California did not have the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. Nationally, foreclosures have fallen too, though far less steeply: 11% from December to January, and 28.5% from a year ago.

What’s fueling the sudden change?  According to Mortgage Daily News, the state and national shifts are due to California’s new Homeowners Bill of Rights, passed by the Legislature at the request of California Attorney General Kamala Harris (in photo, left, with Governor Jerry Brown).

December 29, 2012 (San Diego)—A federal lawsuit has been filed by Celeste Deborah Cooney, who alleges that radiation from a bank of smart meters left her unable to reside in her home. Defendants in the suit include the SDG&E,  the State of California, Attorney General Kamala Harris, California Public Utilities chairman Mi chael Peevey, and Itron Inc., manufacturer of smart meters used in San Diego.

Cooney, a former bank vice president in Massachusetts, moved to San Diego to pursue a new career as a musician.  She performed at prominent locations including the Queen Mary and the Ritz Carlton.  But in April 2011, she developed a ringing in her ears, a “shock to her heart”, numbness, chest pain, heart palpitations and sleep problems that she attributes to a bank of smart meters at an apartment complex near her home in La Jolla.

How Kamala Harris played hardball and won $18 billion to help California homeowners 

Story by Miriam Raftery, photos by Ron Logan

February 13, 2012 (San Diego) – Last September, the U.S. Department of Justice and attorney generals from other states were ready to sign a multi-state settlement of misconduct by banks that resulted in foreclosures.  The deal on the table? An estimated $4 billion or less for California, the state hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. Moreover, no wrongdoers would be prosecuted.

So California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris stood up—and walked out. 

Her actions led to a dramatically different settlement reached last week that is expected to ultimately reach $40 billion—including an estimated $18 billion for California and $1.5 billion for San Diego homeowners.

Republicans draw fire for criticizing speech—before it was written or delivered

January 22, 2012 (Sacramento ) – Governor Jerry Brown laid out his vision for restoring California’s reputation as a leader in innovation, job creation and renewable energy in his State of the State speech last week.

“Wherever I look, I see difficult choices,” he said of the budget decisions to come. “But I also see a bright future up ahead and a California economy that’s on the mend.”

East County Performing Arts Center is among major projects at risk from the decision

December 29, 2011 (Sacramento) – Sounding a death knell for hopes to restore redevelopment funds eliminated by the Legislature to fund education, the California supreme Court today ruled that the state has the right to eliminate local redevelopment agencies. The decision has sparked criticism from local business owners and politicians on both the left and right.

By Miriam Raftery

December 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Starting January 1, new California laws take effect. Some give new protections to the public. Buying a used car? You now have a right to know its history. The government can’t snoop into your online reading habits. Your employer can't peek at your credit report, in most cases. New laws also benefit pregnant employees, organ donors, renters, domestic partners, and bullied gay students. 

Other laws impose restrictions. Want to buy popular cough syrups? You’ll need a prescription. If you order items online, you’ll be charged state sales tax. Shark fin soup and beer spiked with caffeine are banned. Employers have new requirements for notifying employees about pay and more. Kids must ride in a booster seat until age 8. Openly carrying a handgun is illegal, even if it isn’t loaded. 

These are just a few of the new laws in 2012. Scroll down for details on these and more. 

December 8, 2011 (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:

STATE

•  Jerry Brown has plans to hike sales, income tax (Sacramento Bee)
• California fiscal conservatives file spending cap proposal (Sacramento Bee)

LOCAL

• Sunrise Powerlink water use put in perspective (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  County improves healthcare for the very poor, but stops there (Voice of San Diego)
•  Backcountry warrior keeps up the fight (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  Hunter casts protest vote against immigration reform (CityBeat)
•  Water district directors meet, talk in secret (Voice of San Diego)
•  Release of rare golden eagle a success at Safari Park (North County Times)
•  Our Greater San Diego Vision launches interactive website (KPBS)
•  La Mesa is in “great financial position” new auditors tell City Hall (La Mesa Patch)
•  Reports reveal trends in drug use and gang involvement (SANDAG)
•  Mistrial of Stanley Lloyd Jr. case; new trial may be held (Santee Patch)
•  Barona murder “a puzzle”; casino and tribal security could have provided more pieces, prosecutor says (Ramona Patch)
•   So what can schools cut? (Voice of San Diego)
•    SDG&E defends solar rate hike to County Supervisors (San Diego Reader)
•    Escondido: Tighten the rules (The Reader editorial by Don Bauder)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

 October 28,  2011 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights articles on top regional and state issues of interest to East County and inland San Diego County, published in other media. This week’s top Roundup headlines include:

LOCAL

·         Grossmont District board, others, debate district map (San Diego Union-Tribune)

·         Route 78 between Escondido and Ramona to close [for repairs] (San Diego Union-Tribune)

·         Innovative idea comes to San Diego: converted parking meters will raise money for homeless (CityBeat)

·         Power industry: Still no answer as to why big blackout occurred (KPBS)      

·         Goldsmith’s airpark investment led to a potential conflict of interest (CityBeat)

STATE

·         California board approves cap and trade on climate emissions (Sacramento Bee)

·         Labor balks at Jerry Brown’s pension plan (Sacramento Bee)

·         Gavin Newsom wants ‘pattern interrupt’ on higher education, jobs (Sacramento Bee)

·         California prison layoff notices begin downsizing process (Sacramento Bee)

·         Plastic water bottle makers sued by  California over green claims (Los Angeles Times)

·         State Senate approves bill for National Guard oversight (Sacramento Bee)

October 20,  2011 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights articles on top regional and state issues of interest to East County and inland San Diego County, published in other media. This week’s top Roundup headlines include:

LOCAL

•  Habitat says fire donations misdirected (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  U.S. attorney orders shut down of all medical marijuana collectives in county (Ramona Patch)
• Chaldean business owners meet with Obama
• City Will Scrutinize Permit Applicants More Closely (La Mesa Today)
•  City permit changes will get clarifying actions (La Mesa Today)
•  Otay pins hopes on Mexico plant (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Otay hired firm after limited background check  (San Diego Union-Tribune

STATE

• Wave of state actions could hike water rates (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Does open-carry gun ban make California safer? (Christian Science Monitor)
• California Medical Association calls for legalization of marijuana (Los Angeles Times)
•  California reportedly subpoenas B of A over toxic securities (Sacramento Bee)

Click "read more" to see links, and  stories

October 13,  2011 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights articles on top regional and state issues of interest to East County and inland San Diego County, published in other media. This week’s top Roundup headlines include:

STATE

·         Showdown on medical marijuana as feds crack down (Christian Science Monitor)

·         Brown signs California Dream Act (Los Angeles Times)

LOCAL

·         Grossmont Hospital panel seeks new members (San Diego Union-Tribune)

·         Rincon to spend more gaming revenues locally (KPBS)

·         San Diego considers an openly gay GOP mayor (CNBC)

·         Carlton Oaks Golf Club Future in Doubt (San Diego Union-Tribune)

·         600 club members praised for showing on state tests: 33 Lemon Grove students notch perfect math scores  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
 

Click "read more" to see links, and  stories

September 30, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories in our region and state, published in other media outlets.  These week's top Roundup headlines include:

LOCAL

• City to offer exhaustive report on Sept. 9 blackout (10 News)
• The green jobs transition (San Diego Union-Tribune editorial)
• SDG&E chopper strikes went unreported (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Schools, hospitals struggle to serve large Iraqi refugee population (KPBS)
• Santee Freeway smooths traffic but not for all  (San Diego Union Tribune)
• New director of Parks and Rec takes the reins at Santee Lakes (Santee Patch)

STATE

• California sued for cuts to developmentally disabled (KFMB-TV)
• Amazon truce wins Jerry Brown signature (Sacramento Bee)
• California undecided on No Child Left Behind waiver (Sacramento Bee)

September 23, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup features top news stories of interest to our region, published in other media.  Top Roundup stories this week include:

•  
•          Grid operators didn’t share info during blackout (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•          Outage had roots in Mexico, too (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•          Downtown redevelopment: A special report (La Mesa Today)
•          Only 5 schools making `adequate progress” in La Mesa Spring Valley District (La Mesa Patch)
•          13 students barred from local middle schools for lack of booster shots (La Mesa Patch)
•          City sues 12 marijuana dispensaries(San Diego Union Tribune)
•          Sycuan Indians shrink reservation expansion plan (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
•          Questions over missing items at Lions’ sensory garden (Santee Lakes)
•          Jerry Schad dies at 61; hiking writer once lived in La Mesa (La Mesa Patch)
•          California borrowing benefits from market, improved budget stability (Sacramento Bee)

September 15, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top news stories of interest to our region, published in other media. This week's top Roundup stories include:

LOCAL

• SDUSD may close 10 San Diego schools (10 News)
• East County college district adopts lean budget (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sewer problems highlight region’s utility weak spots (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Grossmont High School District hopes for ‘soft landing’ in case of midyear cuts (La Mesa Patch)
• Fiery ball seen streaking across SoCal sky (10 News)
• Underlying cause of the Southwestern blackout, Sept. 8, 2011: Failure of the smart grid (La Mesa Patch)
• Congresswoman Davis: Campaign robbed of $250,000  (10 News)
• Helix grad Shoshana Hebshi makes world news (passenger detained in Detroit) (La Mesa Patch)
• Sempra announces new company president

STATE

• Jerry Brown calls for ‘war on unemployment’ (Sacramento Bee)
• Chamber of Commerce wins big on its “job killer” list (Sacramento Bee)
• Mercury chairman dumps $8 million into insurance initiative drive (Sacramento Bee)

September 1, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights articles on top regional and state issues of interest to East County and inland San Diego County, published in other media. This week’s top Roundup headlines include:

• Brush fires serve as a warning to get ready (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Amazon offers jobs to avert ballot showdown over sales tax (Sacramento Bee)
• Brown to propose new corporate tax package (Sacramento Bee)
• Health insurance regulation bill stalls for the year (Sacramento Bee)
• Consumer groups want health insurance rates on 2012 ballot (Sacramento Bee)
• Tribal tensions come to light following the Eagle Fire (North County Times)
• Helix band fears noise complaints could shut program (La Mesa Patch)
• Public uproar halts water rate increase (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Recent rash of residential burglaries in La Mesa (La Mesa Patch)
• Chaldeans face crime ring bust backlash (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• For Fletcher, adoption reform is personal (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• What SD’s new political lines would look like (Voice of San Diego)

East County Roundup includes top stories of interest to East County and our reigon, published in other media.

Latest Roundup headlines include:

• San Diego Fire cuts back fire copters range of response (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• County Board of Supervisors approves rooster ordinance in effort to curb cockfighting (Santee Patch)
• Men accused of igniting Eagle Fire plead not guilty (10 News)
• How will debt impact local region? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Otay Water District’s benefit decision questioned (10 News)
• Who watches the UCAN watchdog? (The Reader)
• Feds demand return of $6M grant because of Gov. Brown veto (Sacramento Bee)
• Unusual coalition raises $600K to back moderates (Sacramento Bee)
• Tribes don’t have to collect child support (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Wanted: Farmers for this farmer’s market (Voice of San Diego)
• Grossmont College student, living out of car, has drive to obtain MBA (La Mesa Patch)
• San Diego attorney Theresa Erickson pleads guilty to baby-selling (The Examiner)
• Democrats urged to back rapid response team to counter GOP (La Mesa Patch)
• Fletcher accepts money into closed account (Voice of San Diego)

March 25, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights top news stories of interest to San Diego’s East County region, published in other media.

Recent Roundup headlines include:

• Brown signs off on billions worth of state cuts
• Will action on a new Alpine high school be halted?
• El Cajon council moves ahead with downtown business district
• CSU faces worse fiscal situation in history
• New details in arrests of immigrants posing as Marines
• Man pleads not guilty in Spring Valley fatal stabbing
• Governor may seek November initiative on tax plan
• Legislature approves main budget without new revenues