HAZARDOUS WEATHER WATCH: THUNDERSTORMS, FLASH FLOODS, HEAT & FIRE DANGER
July 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning for San Diego’s inland areas that includes multiple perils. An excessive heat warning continues, with temperatures up to 118 degrees forecast for desert areas. In addition, thunderstorms are possibly Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, producing lightning, gusty winds, hail and light to moderate rainfall. A flash flood watch has also been issued, as well as a fire weather watch. Temperatures in excess of 100 degrees are forecast for deserts, mountains and valleys in San Diego County, hitting 110 in high desert areas and 118 in low deserts. During hot weather, the public is reminded to avoid strenuous outdoor activity and drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic and non-caffeine) to stay hydrated. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and a hat for sun protection. If you must go outdoors, use sunscreen. If possible, stay in shade or in air conditioned places. Never leave children or pets in enclosed vehicles, even momentarily, as heat can be fatal. This weather can also be deadly for unprepared hikers or campers. Remember that lightning can strike many miles from a storm. Listen for thunder and abide by the adage: “When it roars, stay indoors.”
HIKER, 19, DIES OF HEAT STROKE AT CEDAR CREEK FALLS
Excessive heat warning in effect; Sheriff issues safety tips for hikers July 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for San Diego County’s desert areas, cautioning that conditions “could be deadly” for unprepared campers or hikers. That message comes too late for Lynn Thu Tran, 19, of Escondido. She was found unconscious with signs of heat stroke on the Julian side of Cedar Creek Falls at 5:30 p.m. on July 9. She was airlifted to Palomar Hospital but did not survive. According to the Medical Examiner, she died of hypethermia, conditions related to a heat stroke. The Sheriff’s Department is reminding the public to take precautions during outdoor activities. Sheriff’s ASTREA has been called to rescue hikers repeatedly near Cedar Creek Falls, in addition to responding to the fatality. On July 10 at 2:30 p.m., ASTREA responded to a call of two distressed hikers with a dog. The couple only needed water and was able to walk back on their own, but their dog needed rescue. While transporting the dog, ASTREA was flagged by another group of hikers. The rescue crew found a 79‐year‐old man sitting against a rock complaining of weakness and dizziness. He was hoisted to an ambulance at a nearby CALFIRE station. The man and the dog will recover. Since January of 2012, ASTREA has performed four rescues at Cedar Creek Falls. 20 rescues were made at Cedar Creek Falls from January to July of 2011. No matter your level of health, anyone needs to be careful of the dangers of walking in the heat. Take it easy when temperatures are this hot. Move your exercise indoors or schedule any outdoor activity for early morning or evening to avoid the real heat of the day. It’s also important to remember your pets and ensure they are not over exposed to heat and have plenty of water. Here are other safety tips from the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit: Buddy up – Walk or exercise with a partner. It’s fun and it’s safer. If something happens along the way, you’ll have someone at your side to help. Phone home – Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Your cell phone could provide a necessary connection to emergency assistance. Drink up – stay hydrated before, during and after exercise Dress for the heat – wear lightweight, light‐colored and breathable clothing. Bring a hat and sunglasses. Wear sunscreen. Take regular breaks – find some shade or a cool place to stop. Head inside – if the heat seems overwhelming, don’t sweat it.
ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS
July 12, 2012 — (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 reflecting 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. Senate Dems plan tax offensive (The Hill) U.S. beefs up Gulf naval force amid tensions with Iran (Reuters) NOAA: Last 12 months hottest ever (The Hill) U.S. delivers ‘powerful commitment’ to Afghanistan (UT San Diego) Has ‘organics’ been oversized? (New York Times) The tax man cometh to police you on healthcare (UT San Diego) WORLD Iran says it has plan to close Strait of Hormuz (UT San Diego) What does London’s LIBOR mean to the US? (NPR) Polonium found on Arafat’s clothes was planted (Jerusalem Post) New projects help 3D printing materialize (NPR) Read more for excerpts and links to full stories. U.S. Senate Dems plan tax offensive (The Hill) JUly 10, 2012 — July will be a month of political messaging battles on the Senate floor as Democrats have decided the best defense, during a sluggish economy, is to challenge Republicans on taxes. The strategy carries some risks for Democrats because taxes are historically a strong issue for the GOP. But during a campaign season when Republicans are bashing Democrats for Medicare cuts, Democrats are looking to turn the tables on taxes. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/236875-senate-dems-plan-july-tax-offensive U.S. beefs up Gulf naval force amid tensions with Iran (Reuters) July 7, 2012 — A U.S. navy ship that had been slated for decommissioning has been sent instead to the Gulf to help mine-clearing operations, the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain said, the latest move in a gradual U.S. build-up as tensions with Iran smoulder. A fleet spokesman in Manama said the USS Ponce, described as a "afloat forward staging base" (AFSB), had arrived on Thursday after undergoing refitting for its new mission. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/07/us-gulf-us-iran-idUSBRE86609G20120707?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 NOAA: Last 12 months hottest ever (The Hill) JUly 9, 2012 — The 12-month stretch between July of 2011 and June of 2012 was the warmest year in the contiguous United States since recordkeeping began in 1895, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The temperatures narrowly outpaced the old record, which was for the 12-months from June 2011 to May of 2012. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/236781-fed-agency-says-last-12-months-were-hottest-on-record-in-us U.S. delivers ‘powerful commitment’ to Afghanistan (UT San Diego) July 7, 2012 — The U.S. designation Saturday of Afghanistan as its newest "major non-NATO ally" amounts to a political statement of support for the country’s long-term stability and solidifies close defense cooperation after American combat troops withdraw in 2014. "We see this as a powerful commitment to Afghanistan’s future," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said at a news conference during a brief stop in the Afghan capital. "We are not even imagining abandoning Afghanistan," she said in the grand courtyard of the presidential palace after talks with President Hamid Karzai. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/07/us-delivers-powerful-commitment-to-afghanistan/ Has ‘organics’ been oversized? (New York Times) July 7, 2012 — Michael J. Potter is one of the last little big men left in organic food. More than 40 years ago, Mr. Potter bought into a hippie cafe and “whole earth” grocery here that has since morphed into a major organic foods producer and wholesaler, Eden Foods. But one morning last May, he hopped on his motorcycle and took off across the Plains to challenge what organic food — or as he might have it, so-called organic food — has become since his tie-dye days in the Haight district of San Francisco. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/business/organic-food-purists-worry-about-big-companies-influence.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=business The tax man cometh to police you on healthcare (UT San Diego) July 7, 2012 — The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold most of President Barack Obama’s health care law will come home to roost for most taxpayers in about 2 1/2 years, when they’ll have to start providing proof on their tax returns that they have health insurance. That scenario puts the Internal Revenue Service at the center of the debate, renewing questions about whether the agency is capable of policing the health care decisions of millions of people in the United States while also collecting the taxes needed to run the federal government. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/07/the-tax-man-cometh-to-police-you-on-health-care/ WORLD Iran says it has plan to close Strait of Hormuz (UT San Diego) July 7, 2012 — Iran will block the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the passageway through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows, if its interests are seriously threatened, a senior Iranian military commander said Saturday. "We do have a plan to close the Strait of Hormuz," state media quoted Gen. Hasan Firouzabadi as saying Saturday. "A Shiite nation (Iran) acts reasonably and would not approve interruption of a waterway … unless our interests are seriously threatened," Press TV quoted him as saying. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/07/iran-says-it-has-plan-to-close-strait-of-hormuz/ What does London’s LIBOR mean to the US? (NPR) July 7, 2012 — Many of us were introduced to the term LIBOR for the first time this week, when it was revealed that some banks might have been manipulating the dull but vital interest rates to gain an edge in the market. LIBOR – the London Interbank Offered Rate – is a series of interest rates determined by a handful of representatives from the biggest banks in London. The rates are what the banks would charge other banks to borrow on different loan categories, which determines the global flow of billions of dollars and perhaps even the interest rate on your savings account or home mortgage. http://www.npr.org/2012/07/07/156428433/what-does-londons-libor-mean-to-the-u-s?ft=1&f=2&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NprProgramsATC+%28NPR+Programs%3A+All+Things+Considered%29 Polonium found on Arafat’s clothes was planted (Jerusalem Post) July 5, 2012 — The high levels of the radioactive poison polonium reportedly found on the belongings of the late Palestinian leader YasserArafat indicate that the toxin was planted on them long after his death, a senior counterterrorism analyst told TheJerusalem Post Thursday. Dr. Ely Karmon, of the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya’s Institute for Counterterrorism, is a specialist in chemical, biological, radiological
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS
July 12, 2012 — (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 Catching up with San Diego’s legislators (San Diego CityBeat) Report: Padres to be sold to group including local golf star (10 News) Survey: Islam is San Diego County’s fastest growing religion (UT San Diego) Could economics doom ailing California nuclear plant? (Sacramento Bee) Santee among cities getting park grants (UT San Diego) Padre dam board settles on five-year plan (UT San Diego) ‘Appalled’ at Costs, Residents Slam Helix Water District Rate Hike Plan STATE California growers join greens to query frack safety (Reuters) Legislature approves high speed rail spending (SF Gate) Historic bridges of Yosemite Valley under siege (Sacramento Bee) Study: What makes Californians smile? (News Service .org) College tuition is political fodder, from the state Legislature to the presidential campaign trail (Sacramento Bee) Rising costs push California cities to fiscal brink Read more for excerpts and links to full stories. LOCAL Catching up with San Diego’s legislators (San Diego CityBeat) July 3, 2012 — In 2010, San Diego County voters selected 12 fine citizens to represent our region in Sacramento. You might well wonder how hard our legislators fought for us, or whether they spent their time fundraising and partying. For your Fourth of July reading pleasure, we present these far-from-comprehensive capsules of our legislative delegation’s activities. (Remember, they still have half a year left to make a difference.) http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-10710-catching-up-with-san-diego-county%E2%80%99s-legislators.html Report: Padres to be sold to group including local golf star (10 News) July 7, 2012 —The San Diego Padres will be sold to a group including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, his two sons, two nephews and golf star Phil Mickelson, Fox Sports reported Friday night, based on a source described as having knowledge of the negotiations. The deal is valued at $800 million, including $200 million for a portion of the team’s equity stake in Fox Sports San Diego, according to Fox Sports. Contractual terms are expected to be completed within the next two weeks, Fox Sports reported. http://www.10news.com/news/31254469/detail.html Survey: Islam is San Diego County’s fastest growing religion (UT San Diego) July 7, 2012 — Islam was the fastest growing religious group in San Diego County between 2000 and 2010, according to the recently released 2010 U.S. Religion Census. During the decade, the county’s Muslim population grew by 179 percent from 7,878 adherents to 21,994, according to estimates from the survey of the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Islam is now the seventh-largest religion in the county, the survey found. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/07/islam-san-diego-county-fastest-growing-religion/ Could economics doom ailing California nuclear plant? (Sacramento Bee) July 4, 2012 — The future of the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant could balance on an inescapable question: Is it worth the money to fix it? Engineers face a daunting task finding a solution for problems that knocked the seaside plant offline last winter. And even if they come up with a plan that fully addresses safety and operational issues, will it all make sense on a balance sheet? http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/04/4609607/could-economics-doom-ailing-calif.html#mi_rss=AP%20State%20News Santee among cities getting park grants (UT San Diego) July 6, 2012 — The state announced late last month that it awarded the city of Santee a $117,450 grant that can be used to acquire land and develop a neighborhood park. Santee was one of five cities in San Diego County to earn the grant under the Housing Related Parks Program, which is administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Chula Vista ($488,400) Escondido ($251,275), Poway ($200,850) and San Diego ($1,008,200) were also among a total of 33 cities statewide that received $11.3 million in grants under the program. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/06/santee-among-cities-getting-park-grants/ Padre dam board settles on five-year plan (UT San Diego) July 9, 2012 — The Padre Dam Municipal Water District board has approved a new five-year business plan and budget goals for 2013-17 that outline the need for maintenance and replacement of aging infrastructure. Highlights of the budget plan include the district’s development of a technology plan, exploring the expansion of water recycling facilities, looking into the reuse of indirect potable water via the Santee Aquifer and restructuring the organization. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/09/padre-dam-settles-five-year-plan/ ‘Appalled’ at Costs, Residents Slam Helix Water District Rate Hike Plan July 11, 2012 — Dick Malsbary of La Mesa is a 65-year-old retired vice president of marketing at DataGraphix with a degree in finance. He says that when he reviewed the Helix Water District’s financial statements, “I was appalled.” So Tuesday night—along with some of two dozen other customers of the district including La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and parts of Santee—he came to complain about proposed water rate increases that would average 4.75 percent—or $2.75 a month—for the average residential customer. http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/appalled-at-costs-residents-slam-helix-water-district-rate-hike-plan STATE California growers join greens to query frack safety (Reuters) June 29, 2012 — Hydraulic fracturing has brought together greens and growers in California through a shared concern about the impact of the practice on water in a state where it is often in short supply. The strawberry industry lined up alongside environmentalists to voice their fears over fracking at a public hearing in Salinas at the Steinbeck Institute, named for a renowned author whose writing immortalized the region’s agricultural history. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/29/us-fracking-california-idUSBRE85S0WJ20120629 Legislature approves high speed rail spending (SF Gate) July 6, 2012 — A divided state Senate approved billions of dollars in funding to start construction on California’s ambitious high-speed rail line Friday, handing the controversial project $7.9 billion in state and federal money for the first 130 miles of track and a series of local transit upgrades. The funding measure, which was easily approved in the Assembly Thursday, will now head to Gov. Jerry Brown, who pushed lawmakers to approve it. In all, the Legislature this week authorized the issuance of $4.6 billion in state bond funds – about half of
BRUSH FIRE IN DULZURA
Update: This fire has been stopped at two acres. July 12, 2012 (Dulzura)—Cal Fire and San Diego County Fire authority are on the scene of a two-acre grass fire south of Highway 94 near the Border Patrol checkpoint in Dulzura (TB Map 1313 E2). The fire is spreading moderately upslope in a south easterly direction. Currently 9 engines, 3 fire crews, 2 bulldozers, 3 water tenders, 2 airtankers, 2 helicopters and 1 chief officer (approximately 100 firefighters) are at the scene, Cal Fire reports. The dispatch time was 12:29 and the cause is under investigation. Sign up for free Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts via email at the top right side of our homepage and also receive a free weekly copy of East County Magazine. You can also follow ViejasAlerts on Twitter for brief text messages on your mobile device. We recommend both, since you don’t know what form of communications will be working in a major regional emergency.
GOVERNOR SIGNS HOMEOWNERS BILL OF RIGHTS INTO LAW
July 11, 2012 — Marking a major milestone for Californians and all Americans, the Homeowners Bill of Rights, a package of bills sponsored by Attorney General Kamala D. Harris that gives homeowners important new protections and places restrictions on how aggressively banks can foreclose, was signed into law today by Governor Brown. As Attorney General, Kamala Harris has made homeowner protection a cornerstone of her first year-and-a-half in office, and today’s announcement further solidifies her commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the home-owning process. The new laws, which will go into effect on January 1, 2013, are the first in the nation to be enacted into law since the nationwide mortgage settlement reached earlier this year. Through those negotiations, AG Harris secured up to $18 billion for California homeowners from the nation’s five largest banking institutions. "These new laws will help responsible California homeowners keep their homes and avoid unnecessary foreclosures," said Attorney General Harris. "We have done something that is the right thing to do." To learn more about how the Homeowners Bill of Rights impacts Californians, click here.
CONFERENCE CELEBRATES WORLD INNOVATION OCT. 11-21
July 12, 2012 (Tijuana) — The world’s leading innovators will gather this October at an international conference on San Diego’s doorstep. Nobel laureates Rajendra K. Pachauri, the United Nations’ point man on climate change, and Ada Yonath, winner of the Chemistry Prize, will join global thought leaders, technology entrepreneurs and pioneering philanthropists at the event, called Tijuana Innovadora 2012. The conference will also showcase local leaders who are putting the Tijuana-San Diego region on the world innovation map. Each day’s theme will be explored in keynote addresses, panel discussions and workshops, all available in English and Spanish. These include aerospace, education, electronics, energy, philanthropy, science and technology, strategic design, urban planning, among others. There will be an expo featuring the latest high-tech products being produced in Tijuana and a zone for innovative small businesses. Concerts, art exhibits and other cultural events — including an “Iron Chef” culinary competition and international fashion show — round out this celebration of innovation. The conference is Oct. 11 to 21 at the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT). There will be easy shuttle transportation from the border to the center, just minutes away. Complete information is available at http://tijuana2012.com.
A NEW PATH (PARENTS FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT & HEALING) RECEIVES A MISSION SUPPORT GRANT FROM ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
July 12, 2012 (San Diego) -– A New PATH, a non-profit organization that works to reduce the stigma associated with addictive illness, has received a grant from the Alliance Healthcare Foundation for $63,158 for core support of their mission and projects. Through education and advocacy, PATH promotes therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies. “One in four families is dealing first hand with addictive illness. Due to stigma, addicted individuals have been banished to the criminal justice system, rather than being handled as a public health issue. People of color or poverty have little access to addiction treatment services,” said Gretchen Burns Bergman, executive director and co-founder. PATH employs a social marketing campaign to eliminate health disparities and improve the health of underserved individuals and families by changing discriminatory policies and working to expand access to services. Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) works to advance health and wellness for the most vulnerable – the poor, working poor, children and homeless in San Diego & Imperial Counties. “PATH is proud of our partnership with AHF, and grateful for the support of our mission and projects,” said Gretchen Burns Bergman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of A New PATH. Please visit: www.alliancehealthcarefoundation.org. The Moms United to End the War on Drugs Campaign in a national project of A New PATH, in collaboration with organizations and individuals from across the nation, to end the violence, mass incarceration and overdose deaths that are a result of current punitive policies and to change criminal justice approaches to drug addiction to health-oriented solutions. Please visit our websites atwww.anewpathsite.org and www.momsunited.net.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE TO REPEAL AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, ROLL BACK CONSUMER PROTECTIONS
By Miriam Raftery July 12, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – San Diego’s Republican representatives Duncan Hunter, Brian Bilbray and Darrell issue joined the Republican majority in the House of Representatives in voting to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act—taking health benefits away from their constituents as well as eliminating the mandate for coverage. California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton sent an email blasting the vote. “If ever anyone was looking for a reason to vote Congressional Republicans out of office in November, this has got to be it.” The Republican legislators voted to: · Allow insurance companies to drop coverage for people with pre-existing conditions like asthma, pregnancy, heart disease, or cancer; · Take away health care coverage for young people under age 26 who are now covered under their parents’ insurance policy; · Take away $250 rebate checks for those seniors dealing with increased out-of-pocket prescription Medicare costs; · Allow insurance companies to go back to dropping coverage when patients get sick, a practice that was outlawed by the Affordable Health Care Act · Take away life saving preventive medical services and tests like mammograms. Passed by Congress in 2010, the Affordable Health Care Act was recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court as constitutional. A key objection raised by critics has been the Act’s mandate requiring people to buy healthcare insurance. While the bill provided assistance to low-income individuals, some argued that the income limit for such aid was too low, while others objected to any such mandate. Concerns have also been raised over impacts on businesses; some companies stand to benefit from enactment of the healthcare reforms, while others could pay more. But even many critics have contended that the Affordable Health Care act should be improved, not repealed, in order to keep in place key protections against insurance company abuses of the past. Speaking to the NAACP today, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney drew boos when he pledged to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act signed into law by President Barack Obama, calling it "non-essential." Romney has called the mandate to buy healthcare a “tax”, even though when he signed into law a similar mandate as Governor of Massachusetts, he insisted it was not a tax. San Diego’s Democratic representatives Susan Davis and Bob Filner voted against the repeal, which passed by a 244 to 185 margin. The bill is expected to be blocked by the Senate, which remains under Democratic control. To learn more about the Affordable Healthcare Act’s provisions and how they will affect you, your family and your business as its provisions are phased in over the next couple of years, click here.
MEDICS CALLED FOR HANGING ATTEMPT AT LAS COLINAS
July 12, 2012 (Santee) – Medics were summoned to the Las Colinas women’s detention center in Santee this afternoon for a 30-year-old hanging victim, Incident Page Network reported at 1:55 p.m. A Sheriff’s media spokesperson confirmed the incident and referred ECM to Las Colinas for details. However personnel at Las Colinas declined to provide details, citing medical privacy, and would not confirm whether the victim survived or died.