SCIENCE AND HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS
April 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)– Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future SCIENCE You Love The Cloud, But It May Not Be As Secure As You Think (NPR) How a lab accident could revolutionize energy storage (CS Monitor) Tech Giants Pony Up Cash To Help Prevent Another Heartbleed (NPR) HEALTH Scientists reverse memory loss in mice with Alzheimer’s (France 24) A Measles Outbreak In The Philippines Travels To The U.S. (NPR) Mom’s Diet Right Before Pregnancy Can Alter Baby’s Genes (NPR) Saudi Mers death toll passes 100 Obamacare deals blow to one-doctor medicine (U-T) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. SCIENCE You Love The Cloud, But It May Not Be As Secure As You Think (NPR) People are storing more and more stuff online: photos, music, personal documents — even books. The business of cloud storage is growing 30 percent a year, Forrester Research says. But if you’re storing your digital belongings in the cloud, you should know you’re giving up some rights. How a lab accident could revolutionize energy storage (CS Monitor) A happy accident four years ago has led nanotechnology researchers to develop a cheap, simple way of making ultracapacitors, which store large amounts of energy in compact spaces. Tech Giants Pony Up Cash To Help Prevent Another Heartbleed (NPR) Google, Intel, Facebook and many other tech giants are pooling their money together — for the first time — to fix a glaring hole in cybersecurity. They’re launching a multimillion-dollar fund — the code that anyone can use for free, and that often gets overused and underprotected. HEALTH Scientists reverse memory loss in mice with Alzheimer’s (France 24) Spanish scientists have for the first time used gene therapy to reverse memory loss in mice with Alzheimer’s, an advance that could lead to new drugs to treat the disease, they said Wednesday. A Measles Outbreak In The Philippines Travels To The U.S. (NPR) — Measles cases in the United States have spiked in the past four months, driven mostly by people traveling from the Philippines, which is in the midst of an explosive outbreak of the highly contagious virus. Mom’s Diet Right Before Pregnancy Can Alter Baby’s Genes (NPR) Nutritional deficiencies right at the time of conception can alter a baby’s genes permanently, scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine report Tuesday. / The study, published in Nature Communications, is the first to show that an environmental factor during the first few days of development can change DNA long term…. Saudi Mers death toll passes 100 The health ministry said another eight deaths occurred on Sunday, taking the toll to 102. Obamacare deals blow to one-doctor medicine (U-T) Despite the predictions of fortune tellers in politics and think tanks, we won’t know for years whether the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, will ultimately leave people sicker or healthier, richer or poorer. \ Yet already the law is speeding the demise of an American small-business institution; the one-doctor medical practice.
FROM THE CHIEF’S CORNER: BRUSH FIRES AND FUTURE CONCERNS
Chief’s Corner: Brush fires and future concerns By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna What is making these current weather conditions so dangerous is the obvious “high fire danger” currently, however, these warm, dry gusty winds are stripping already drought prone vegetation complete of any fuel moisture content. With no rain forecasted and heading into summer months, fuels are/will be bone dry of any fuel moisture early into the season. Gusty winds have/are blowing leaves/needles/twigs onto roof tops and rain gutters causing additional ignition points for embers during and fire. Effective immediately, homeowners are urged to begin creating defensible space in accordance with their respective fire departments brush compliance requirements. With drought conditions and fuel moisture content in vegetation at their critically lowest levels, we can expect a very active fire season effective immediately. This will likely result in the possibility of multiple brush fires burning simultaneously which may impact resource availability. Again, homeowners living in and near the wildland urban interface areas need to do their part in helping firefighters by beginning brush clearance/defensible space immediately. Contact your local fire department for brush requirements and additional information! Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
BEACHGOERS BEWARE: RAZOR BLADES FOUND AT MISSION BAY – AGAIN
By Miriam Raftery May 1, 2014 (San Diego) – Yesterday, two children playing barefoot at Bonita Cove Park on Mission Bay stepped on razor blades and injured their feet. Police officers used metal detectors to find 19 razor blades buried sharp-side-up near playground equipment in the park on Mariners Way near West mission Bay Drive, UT San Diego reports. This was not the first time that razor blades have been found nearby. Last August, eight blades were found near a playground at the same park after a woman cut her foot while walking in grass. In September, 20 more razor blades were discovered in a park across the street. There was a fourth incident, 10 news reports. Police are checking for DNA on the blades and will also examine surveillance cameras in the vicinity, 10 News reports. The two boys hurt yesterday were treated by paramedics.
NEXT HEARING ON UNIFICATION OF ALPINE DISTRICT MAY 7 IN EL CAJON
April 30, 2014 (El Cajon) – A petition has been filed with the County Board of Education that would allow Alpine families to shift from the Grossmont Union High School District into an expanded, or unified, Alpine Union School District that would serve grades K-12. A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at the East County Regional Education Center – Board Room, 924 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92021. Guidelines for conduct of the public hearing are available at: www.sdcoe.net/Board/Pages/Agendas-and-Minutes.aspx or by contacting Kathy Bowers, Executive Assistant to the County Board of Education, at kbowers@sdcoe.net or (858) 292-3515.
COUNTY BAR ISSUES RATINGS FOR JUDICIAL CANDIDATES, RANKS 3 AS “LACKING QUALIFICATIONS”
By Miriam Raftery April 30, 2014 (San Diego) – The San Diego County Bar Association’s Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee (JEEC) has issued ratings for candidates in five contested judicial races. The ratings rank three candidates – Ken Gosselin, Michele Hagan, and Douglas Crawford, as “lacking qualifications.” Two of those have been embroiled in controversy. Gosselin was required by a court to change statements on his ballot regarding his experience and education that a judge found to be misleading. Crawford is appealing suspension of his law license due to passing along a threat made by a client to initiate an IRS audit of an opposing party in a lawsuit. The third candidate who received the “lacking qualifications” rating, Michele Hagan, appears to have an extensive resume. The Bar does consider other factors such as judicial temperament and fairness, but did not respond to our inquiry as to its specific reasons for her ranking. (See details on standards used in the JEEC’s ratings in our story, below the rankings for the candidates.) The JEEC gives rankings of well qualified, qualified, and lacking qualifications. Two races, seats 25 and 44, have no candidates ranked “well qualified.” Seat 9 Douglas Crawford Attorney/ Recycler L Q Ronald S. Prager Judge of the Superior Court W Q Seat 19 Paul Ware Justice Department Attorney Q Michael J. Popkins Judge of the Superior Court W Q Seat 20 Carla Keehn Federal Prosecutor Q Lisa Schall Judge of the Superior Court WQ Seat 25 Michele Hagan Attorney/ Fraud Examiner L Q Ken Gosselin Attorney/ Court Volunteer L Q Brad A. Weinreb Deputy Attorney General Q Seat 44 Joseph Adelizzi Attorney Q Jacqueline M. Stern Judge of the Superior Court Q The JEEC is comprised of 21 attorneys and retired judges who represent a cross section of the legal community by gender and ethnicity and political affiliation, including lawyers from the public and private sectors, civil and criminal law practitioners, corporate counsel, sole practitioners, and members of small, medium and large firms. Information is collected from the legal community and is used to rate the candidates on the following criteria: Judicial temperament Intellect and ability Knowledge of the law Writing and Research Skills Trial experience Professional reputation Industry and work habits Decisiveness Fairness and objectivity Courtesy and patience Judgment and common sense Compassion and understanding Integrity and honesty Administrative ability Physical and mental health Courage Writing and research skills Any other factor that might affect the candidate’s ability to serve as a judge OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING SAN DIEGO COUNTY CANDIDATE RATINGS IN JUDGE ELECTIONS During the evaluation process, the Committee may also consider any violation of the Judicial Election Campaign Code of Ethics, which governs all judge elections within San Diego County. The rating scale is defined as follows: Well Qualified: Possessing professional ability, experience, competence, integrity and temperament indicating exceptional ability to perform the judicial function with a high degree of skill and effectiveness. Qualified: Possessing professional ability, experience, competence, integrity and temperament indicating satisfactory ability to perform the judicial function. Lacking Qualifications: Lacking one or more of the essential abilities or skills to satisfactorily perform the judicial function. Please click here to view the 2014 Judicial Election Evaluation Committee Rules.
HIGH WINDS CAUSED HAVOC ACROSS EAST COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery Photo: Car on tree in San Diego, courtesy ECM news partner 10 News April 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – High winds caused damage across East County today, with hurricane-force gusts up to 101 miles per hour recorded on Sill Hill near Cuyamaca. In Buckman Springs, motorists trapped in a car beneath a fallen tree limb had to be rescued. Interstate 8 east of Alpine was closed temporarily due to high winds. A fallen eucalyptus tree blocked Otay Lakes Road late this morning. Most tragically, a wind-whipped fire that scorched an acre near Plaza Bonita mall killed a person, whose burned body was found near a transient camp. Power outages occurred across East County. In Descanso, some residents were without power for 13 hours, from 6:30 a.m. until approximately 9:30 p.m., ECM correspondent Sharon Penny reports. An SDG&E spokesman told ECM that the outages were weather related, but none were proactive (intentional). The spokesman added that SDG&E has no intention of proactively shutting off power due to fire danger unless conditions worsen. “Major wind damage out here,” Campo resident Claudia Millerbragg told ECM.”I have two small uprooted trees and a totally torn up garden and yard. Neighbors have lost shingles off of their roofs. Fences are blown down. Damage all over the place. I was going out my front door and could not get it open because a small tree limb was blown into it.” At Lindbergh Field, planes had difficulty landing due to the high winds, though on Mission Bay, wind surfers savored the wild rides, 10 News reports. A high wind warning remains in effect tonight. The Interagency Fire Weather Center predicts winds will decrease Thursday and return to normal on Friday. Temperatures will be hot, close to 100 in the valleys and lower foothills Thursday, with cooler but more humid weather forecast for the weekend. So just how windy was it today? Here are the top wind gusts recorded in our county, per the National Weather Service: TOP 20 WIND GUSTS WEDNESDAY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 2 PM SILL HILL 101 MPH 1010 AM 04/30 FREMONT CANYON 94 MPH 1051 AM 04/30 BUCKMAN SPRINGS 87 MPH 0910 AM 04/30 PLEASANTS PEAK 85 MPH 1100 AM 04/30 CRESTWOOD 76 MPH 0800 AM 04/30 WEST SANTA YSABEL 75 MPH 0900 AM 04/30 CAMPO 75 MPH 0902 AM 04/30 HIGHLAND SPRINGS 75 MPH 0916 AM 04/30 ALPINE (4 E) 72 MPH 0710 AM 04/30 BOULDER CREEK 72 MPH 1020 AM 04/30 ONTARIO AIRPORT 70 MPH 1051 AM 04/30 DESCANSO (4 N) 70 MPH 0935 AM 04/30 LUCKY FIVE RANCH 69 MPH 1000 AM 04/30 SUNRISE HIGHWAY 69 MPH 0830 AM 04/30 ALPINE 69 MPH 0652 AM 04/30 NORTH BOULDER CREEK 69 MPH 1000 AM 04/30 LA POSTA 69 MPH 0850 AM 04/30 VIEJAS GRADE 69 MPH 0700 AM 04/30 NORTH DESCANSO 67 MPH 1000 AM 04/30 INAJA PARK (SANTA YSABEL) 66 MPH 0910 AM 04/30
ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS
April 30, 2014 (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. Supreme Court appears wary of carte blanche for cellphone searches (CS Monitor) Death toll rises as twisters rip across Mississippi, Alabama (CNN) Obamacare enrollment extended again (The Hill) What’s next for Obamacare ? The Hill) Clippers owner Donald Sterling banned for life by NBA (CBS) Clippers sponsors jump ship (CNN) ADL director responds to Kerry’s reported ‘apartheid’ remark (Jerusalem Post) U.S. investigating theft of doctors’ tax refunds (Reuters) How A Public Corruption Scandal Became A Fight Over Free Speech (NPR) Texas family plagued with ailments gets $3 million in first of its kind fracking judgment (CNN) WORLD Hungarians march against anti-Semitism after far-right poll gains (Reuters) Megacities contend with sinking land (BBC) Tu-95 bombers: Brits scramble jets after Russian bombers approach (CS Monitor) Russia Threatens Invasion Unless Ukraine Stops Stopping Separatists (Reason) Pacific Island Nation Sues U.S., Others For Violating Nuclear Treaty (NPR) Poppies replace tourists in Egypt’s Sinai desert (Christian Science Monitor) On Second Day Of Mass Trial, Egyptian Judge Sentences 683 To Death (NPR) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. U.S. Supreme Court appears wary of carte blanche for cellphone searches (CS Monitor) The Supreme Court justices confronted a government request for the warrantless search of cellphones of individuals being arrested, even for minor crimes like jaywalking or failing to weara seatbelt. Death toll rises as twisters rip across Mississippi, Alabama (CNN) People in northern Mississippi and Alabama huddled in hallways and basements as a string of tornadoes ripped through their states Monday, a day after another line of storms killed 16 people to their west. Obamacare enrollment extended again (The Hill) Sick patients who obtained health coverage through ObamaCare’s federal high-risk pool will have until June 30 to select a plan at HealthCare.gov, the Obama administration said Thursday. The special enrollment period applies to patients in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), a temporary, federal program designed to provide coverage to people insurers had turned away. What’s next for Obamacare ? The Hill) As ObamaCare enters its fifth year, big questions remain about how the law is working. Clippers owner Donald Sterling banned for life by NBA (CBS) Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life by the NBA in response to racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation.Commissioner Adam Silver said he would call on the owners to vote to force Sterling to sell the team, which would require approval of three-quarters of the current owners. Sterling has also been fined $2.5 million, and Silver made no effort to hide his outrage over the comments, calling them “deeply disturbing and harmful.” Clippers sponsors jump ship (CNN) At least 12 sponsors said Monday they were dropping or suspending sponsorships with the team following allegations of racist comments by team owner Donald Sterling. ADL director responds to Kerry’s reported ‘apartheid’ remark (Jerusalem Post) Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham H. Foxman responded Monday to reports that US Secretary of State John Kerry used the offensive term “apartheid” to warn what might become of Israel should an agreement not be reached with the Palestinians. U.S. investigating theft of doctors’ tax refunds (Reuters) The U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service are investigating widespread reports that identity thieves are stealing the tax refunds of physicians, a U.S. senator said on Friday, as doctors fear a database containing their personal information has been breached. How A Public Corruption Scandal Became A Fight Over Free Speech (NPR) The current conservative Supreme Court majority has a well-earned reputation for protecting the First Amendment right to free speech, whether in the form of campaign spending or protests at military funerals. But in one area — the First Amendment rights of public employees — the conservative majority has been far less protective of the right to speak out. Now the court is revisiting the issue, and the result could have far-reaching consequences for public corruption investigations. Texas family plagued with ailments gets $3 million in first of its kind fracking judgment (CNN) When the Parr family started having serious health problems late in 2008, they had no idea it was associated with what they call “a multitude” of drilling operations that popped up near their 40-acre ranch in Decatur, 60 miles northwest of Dallas. WORLD Hungarians march against anti-Semitism after far-right poll gains (Reuters) Tens of thousands of Hungarians joined a protest march on Sunday against anti-Semitism, three weeks after the far-right Jobbik party won nearly a quarter of votes cast in a national election Megacities contend with sinking land (BBC) Subsiding land is a bigger immediate problem for the world’s coastal cities than sea level rise, say scientists. / In some parts of the globe, the ground is going down 10 times faster than the water is rising, with the causes very often being driven by human activity…. / “Land subsidence and sea level rise are both happening, and they are both contributing to the same problem – larger and longer floods, and bigger inundation depth of floods,” Dr Erkens told BBC News. Tu-95 bombers: Brits scramble jets after Russian bombers approach (CS Monitor) Dutch, British, and Danish jets scrambled Wednesday afternoon after a pair of Russian bombers approached their airspace over the North Sea. Russia Threatens Invasion Unless Ukraine Stops Stopping Separatists (Reason) Russia, which has for weeks stationed as many as 40,000 troops along the border, seems to want to eat its cake and have it too in this crisis. It denies any connection to or responsibility for the action of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine while claiming to be their rightful guardian when the Ukrainian government retaliates against them. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday accused the U.S. of meddling in Ukraine and warned that Russia could invade its neighbor “in the case of direct infringement of the interests of Russia and Russian citizens.” Pacific
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
April 30, 2014 (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 Will SD divorce from the River Park? (UT San Diego) 5 things to know about concealed guns in San Diego (Voice of San Diego) Still more funny business at San Miguel fire agency (UT San Diego) La Mesa City Council (La Mesa Today) Members rescind opera board’s action (UT San Diego) Hundreds of millions for football, zilch for opera (SD Reader) STATE California drought putting birds, fish and tree species at risk, scientists say (Sac Bee) Bird flu on California farm prompts HK, others to bar poultry imports (Reuters) California’s drought: Brown issues second executive order (Santee Patch) Bill puts police union members on prison panels (UT San Diego) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. LOCAL Will SD divorce from the River Park? (UT San Diego) San Diego might want out of its role in helping govern San Diegiuto River Park. 5 things to know about concealed guns in San Diego (Voice of San Diego) A panel of federal judges has sent San Diego County packing. Hundreds of residents have applied to be able to carry handguns in their jackets, pockets and purses in the wake of February’s ruling that nixes strict local policies on concealed weapons permits. But while Sheriff Bill Gore says he won’t appeal the ruling, the battle over concealed weapons in the county isn’t over. Still more funny business at San Miguel fire agency (UT San Diego) In a letter to the district, state Controller John Chiang wrote that his office had determined San Miguel understated revenue by $557,878 in 2010-11 and by $2.36 million in 2011-12. Chiang also said the district overstated expenses by $827,298 in 2010-11 and by $987,833 in 2011-12. For reasons not yet clear, officials also apparently spent about $560,000 more than the district took in during the final months before CalFire took over in September 2012. La Mesa City Council (La Mesa Today) Centennial Installation Gets A Big Gift Members rescind opera board’s action (UT San Diego) In an unprecedented meeting Monday of the San Diego Opera Association — donors who have given the company $100 or more — the group voted to rescind the opera board’s March 19 vote to close the 49-year-old company. Hundreds of millions for football, zilch for opera (SD Reader) Local politicians will happily spend hundreds of millions on professional football but let San Diego Opera go to its funeral pyre. STATE California drought putting birds, fish and tree species at risk, scientists say (Sac Bee) California’s drought is imperiling tricolored blackbirds, large trees and native fish, with some of the affected species already on the state’s endangered list and others likely headed there because of rapidly declining numbers, scientists say. Bird flu on California farm prompts HK, others to bar poultry imports (Reuters) An avian-borne virus outbreak on a California quail farm has fueled fears that the disease known as bird flu could spread, prompting investigators to continue their probe and five key export markets to bar imports of poultry from the state. California’s drought: Brown issues second executive order (Santee Patch) The governor suspends some environmental laws but stops short of enacting new restrictions on water use. Bill puts police union members on prison panels (UT San Diego) Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said communities are not getting the full story when it comes to problems created by the state’s controversial realignment program that has crowded local jails and increased the demands for services as more inmates are released on probation. The San Diego Democrat said one way to get answers — and to better address the underlying problems — is to have those on the front lines who are members of law enforcement unions guaranteed appointments to local “Community Corrections Partnership” committees…. The bill passed the Assembly Thursday 63-4 without debate
DEPUTIES SAVE LIFE OF MAN SEEKING TO JUMP OFF BRIDGE IN EL CAJON
April 30, 2014 (El Cajon) – Deputies from the Santee Sheriff station saved the life of a man who sought to jump off the Greenfield Drive Bridge over State Route 67. Deputies responded to a call shortly after 5:30 p.m., where they found the man standing near the edge of the overpass. Deputies requested that the highway be shut down and engaged the man in conversation. They learned he was upset and wanted to kill himself by jumping off the bridge. The officers succeeded in persuading the man to come down safely and he was transported to a hospital for evaluation.
FREE INTERNET SETBACK? NET NEUTRALITY DEFENDERS PLAN PUSHBACK
PHOTO: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, seen here (top left) at a meeting in January in Oakland, has signaled his support for rules that may threaten net neutrality by allowing broadband service to some companies at higher speed for higher prices. A pushback by opponents is forming quickly. Photo credit: Mark Scheerer. By Lori Abbott, California Public News Service April 29, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – There will be speed lanes on the Internet if the Federal Communications Commission goes forward as Chairman Tom Wheeler signaled this week, allowing broadband Internet service providers such as Comcast or Time Warner Cable to charge content providers, including ESPN or Netflix, higher prices for faster download speeds.Internet watchdogs say this would be a huge setback for smaller enterprises and consumers. Amalia Deloney, policy director for Center for Media Justice in Oakland, says everyone has a stake in protecting the Internet from becoming separate and unequal. She points to the outcry in response. “It just shows from rural, to native, to urban, to immigrant that people care about this issue,” she adds. Between now and May 15, when the Commission will formally act, numerous public interest groups are planning pushback efforts that include petitions, pressure on members of Congress and public protests. Deloney says her group’s supporters participated in a Tweet chat Wednesday that included two FCC commissioners. The topic was women and technology, but net neutrality dominated the online conversation. “Question after question, just constantly, was about what the commissioners were going to do to protect women, to ensure they had fair and equal access on the Internet, to ensure that their start-up companies were able to thrive,” she relates. Josh Levy, campaign director of the media advocacy group Free Press, argues that if the FCC allows some corporations to create the equivalent of fast lanes for some customers, it violates the equalizing principle of net neutrality, which also means net discrimination. Levy calls the FCC’s signal a huge threat to a free Internet. “The only way to stop it is to organize and to channel everybody’s anger and energy towards an effort to get the FCC to scrap those rules,” he maintains. – See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-04-25/social-justice/free-internet-setback-net-neutrality-defenders-plan-pushback/a39003-1#sthash.bw0FYOzK.dpuf