APRIL POOLS DAY: APRIL 11 IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly version March 19, 2015 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa will host April Pools Day to promote water safety. The event will be held – no, not on April Fool’s Day, but on April 11th from 12-3 p.m. at the La Mesa Municipal Pool, 5100 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, CA 9142. Activities include swimming lessons, water safety and CPR presentations, synchronized swimming and water polo demonstrations and a mock rescue by city lifeguards and the fire department. April Pools day is a free event for the whole family. Be sure to bring your swimsuits and call 619-667- 1494 for more information. Printer-friendly version
DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS MARCH 21 – APRIL 12
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery March 17, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)–This week’s Destination East County includes a star party and a free community festival in Lakeside, theater, and musical events. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including some major music festivals, historical renactments, egg hunt extravaganzas and a family fiddle camp. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine. STAR PARTY AND FAMILY CAMPOUT AT OAKOASIS IN LAKESIDE MARCH 21 Want an up-close view of stars and planets? You can take a look through some high powered telescopes and learn the science and legends of the night time sky at the Oakoasis county preserve in Lakeside (12620 Wildcat Canyon Road) on March 21st from 7 to 9 p.m. There will also be a campfire, s’mores, and music. You can also opt to stay overnight for a family campout that includes a ranger-led hike to see bats after dark. For details, visit County of San Diego Parks And Recreation on Facebook or call 858-565-3600 to reserve a campsite site. IT’S HOW WE LIVE FESTIVAL MARCH 21 IN LAKESIDE The County of San Diego invites you to It’s How We Live, a free community festival for the entire family, will be held Saturday, March 21st at Lakeside’s Lindo Lake Park (9841 Vine St. in Lakeside) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This event includes games, activities, a rock climbing wall, live entertainment, information booths, healthy food samples, health and dental screenings, prizes and giveaways to help you find a path to a healthier you. The festival will follow the community’s annual Run for the Arts marathon, which benefits the Lakeside Union School District. For details on the run, visit Lakeside Run for the Arts on Facebook. DAFFODIL SHOW IN JULIAN MARCH 20-21 Spring is in the air, and Julian’s Town Hall will be the setting for a Daffodil Show on March 21st and 22nd. You can bring your daffodils for judging on Friday, March 20th from 12-4 p.m., with questions answered by National Daffodil Society experts. LAMPLIGHTERS THEATRE PRESENTS GOODBYE CHARLIE NOW THROUGH MARCH 29 Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents Goodbye Charlie each Friday and Saturday evening in March. The comedy focuses on a man who is shot by his lover’s jealous husband and is reincarnated as a woman—and soon finds a way to take advantage of the situation. For tickets and details, visit www.lamplighterslamesa.com MARIE OSMOND AT SYCUAN MARCH 25-26 Remember Danny and Marie? One half of that duo, Marie Osmond, will be performing in concert on March 25th and 26th at Sycuan’s Live & Up Close Theater. She recorded her first hit, Paper Roses at age 12 and got a Grammy nomination and has been in the limelight ever since. She’s done Broadway, Vegas, Dancing with the Stars and most recently in 2011, went on tour with her new album, A Little Bit of Country…and a Whole Lot More. For tickets and details, you can visit www.Sycuan.com. Now for a preview of coming attractions…. VALLECITO DAY MARCH 28 CELEBRATES FRONTIER DAYS AND CATTLE DRIVES Take a trip back in time to life on the 1860s frontier during Vallecito Day on Saturday, March 28th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Vallecito County Park. This year’s event focuses on cattle drives and cattle ranching along the Southern Overland Trail, with cattle ranching demonstrations as well as the arrival of trial riders on horseback. You can also visit with pioneer men and women in period attire, visit a mountain man camp and hear historic talks, as well as experiencing frontier equipment, crafts and firearms. Visitors are encouraged to dress in frontier attire. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch, since there is no food at the site. Vallecito County Park is located in the Anza Borrego Desert on County Route S-2( at Mile Marker 34-35. For more information, visit http://www.sdparks.org RAMONA MUSIC FEST MARCH 28 The Ramona Music Fest will be held March 28th in Ramona, featuring emerging talent and popular San Diego musicians playing everything from rock to reggae and from country to Americana. This all-day outdoor event benefits the Ramona Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. The festival will be held at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, also known as the Rodeo/Fair Grounds at the northeast end of downtown Ramona. For details, visit www.RamonaMusicFest.org. SAXOPHONE AND FLUTE CONCERT MARCH 28 AT MISSION TRAILS Adrienne Nims will perform a free saxophone and flute concert on Saturday, March 28 at 3 p.m. in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center theater. Seating is limited to 93 people and are available on a first come, first served basis. For directions to the park, visit www.MTRP.org. EASTER BUNNY TRAIN MARCH 28-29 AND APRIL 4 The Easter Bunny Train will be rolling out of the Campo Depot at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum on March 28 and 29 and on April 4th. This annual family event includes a ride aboard the vintage train and an Easter egg hunt. For details visit www.PSRM.org . EGGSTRAVAGANZA AT SANTEE LAKES APRIL 4 Santee Lakes invites the public to its annual Eggstravaganza on April 4th. This community event features continuous egg hunts for children ages 8 and under, live entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides, craft booths and carnival rides brought to you by the City of Santee and the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. For full details, hop on over to www.SanteeLakes.com. HARP FEST HARMONICA EXTRAVAGANZA APRIL 4 IN LA MESA 12 top bands will take stage at the 16th annual Spring Harp Fest, a harmonica extravaganza at La Mesa’s Harry Griffen Park on Saturday, April 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. This will be an all-day harmonica music. This annual outdoor family-friendly musical tribute is a fundraiser to support children’s music education in San Diego. Last year the organization donated $3000.00 of the proceeds to the Blues Lovers United of San Diego’s Blues in the Schools program to help pass the love of the harmonica on
ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 19, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)– East County Magazine’s 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. Republican budget offers deep cuts to end deficits in 2024 (Reuters) San Diego State Study Shows Americans Are Becoming More Tolerant (KPBS) Pew: Nearly One-Third Of Americans Hiding Information Online (NPR) Swastikas painted in Jewish fraternity in Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University (Reuters) FBI’s Plan to Expand Hacking Power Advances Despite Privacy Fears (National Journal) Administration sets record for withholding government files (AP) U.S. begins destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles at Colorado depot (Reuters) WORLD Where do strained U.S-Israeli relations go after Netanyahu victory? (Washington Post) In latest testy move, Putin launches military drills in Arctic (CS Monitor) UN says 24 dead and 3,300 displaced in Vanuatu cyclone (UT San Diego) U.N. expert to probe conditions of North Korean workers abroad (Reuters) Saudi prince criticizes Iran deal (JPost) Pakistan police use tear gas to break up church attack protests (Reuters) Bahrain seizes bomb-making equipment aboard bus from Iraq: agency (Reuters) ISIS fighters dress as women in desperate attempt to flee battlefield (JPost) Dozens killed in ethno-religious clash in central Nigeria (AP) UN and Russia worry that Islamic State is in Afghanistan (AP) U.S. Air Force Veteran Charged With Trying To Aid ISIS (KPBS) Major people trafficking ring smashed in Greece: Europol (Reuters) Kremlin rules out handing back Crimea to Ukraine (Reuters) Iranians optimistic about producing nuclear agreement (Reuters) What does firing of well-known journalist mean for Mexico? (CS Monitor) Gunmen storm Tunisian museum, kill 17 foreign tourists (Reuters) After nun rape, India cardinal says protect humans, not just cows (Reuters) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. U.S. Republican budget offers deep cuts to end deficits in 2024 (Reuters) U.S. House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a budget that seeks to eliminate deficits by 2024 through deep cuts to social safety net programs, domestic spending and another attempt at repealing “Obamacare” health reforms. San Diego State Study Shows Americans Are Becoming More Tolerant (KPBS) On topics such as race, religion and same-sex marriage, Americans are more likely these days to believe that people with different views or lifestyles can and should have the same rights as others, according to a study. Pew: Nearly One-Third Of Americans Hiding Information Online (NPR) While Americans are deeply divided over whether government surveillance is serving the public interest, one-third of those surveyed are taking steps to hide their personal information online. Swastikas painted in Jewish fraternity in Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University (Reuters) Three swastikas were spray-painted in the house of a Jewish fraternity in Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and the school is investigating the incident as a hate crime, a university official said on Tuesday. FBI’s Plan to Expand Hacking Power Advances Despite Privacy Fears (National Journal) A judicial advisory panel Monday quietly approved a rule change that will broaden the FBI’s hacking authority despite fears raised by Google that the amended language represents a “monumental” constitutional concern. Administration sets record for withholding government files (AP) The Obama administration set a record again for censoring government files or outright denying access to them last year under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, according to a new analysis of federal data by The Associated Press. U.S. begins destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles at Colorado depot (Reuters) The destruction of 2,600 tons of World War Two-era mustard agent weapons banned by international treaty began on Wednesday at a U.S. Army depot in southern Colorado, officials said. WORLD Where do strained U.S-Israeli relations go after Netanyahu victory? (Washington Post) President Obama told the U.N. General Assembly 18 months ago that he would seek “real breakthroughs on these two issues — Iran’s nuclear program and Israeli-Palestinian peace.”But Benjamin Netanyahu’s triumph in Tuesday’s parliamentary elections keeps in place an Israeli prime minister who has declared his intention to resist Obama on both of these fronts, guaranteeing two more years of difficult diplomacy between leaders who barely conceal their personal distaste for each other. In latest testy move, Putin launches military drills in Arctic (CS Monitor) Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered nearly 40,000 troops to go on full alert Monday in snap military exercises in the Arctic, part of his effort to expand Russia’s presence in the region. UN says 24 dead and 3,300 displaced in Vanuatu cyclone (UT San Diego) The United Nations says 24 people are confirmed dead and 3,300 have been displaced by Cyclone Pam in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu. U.N. expert to probe conditions of North Korean workers abroad (Reuters) The U.N. human rights investigator for North Korea said on Monday that he would probe allegations of an estimated 20,000 North Koreans working in slave-like conditions abroad, mainly in China, Russia and the Middle East. Saudi prince criticizes Iran deal (JPost) Any terms that world powers grant Iran under a nuclear deal will be sought by Saudi Arabia and other countries, risking wider proliferation of atomic technology, a senior Saudi prince warned on Monday in a BBC interview. Pakistan police use tear gas to break up church attack protests (Reuters) Pakistani police broke up Christian protesters in the eastern city of Lahore with tear gas and baton charges on Monday, a day after suicide bombers killed at least 16 people outside two churches, police said. Bahrain seizes bomb-making equipment aboard bus from Iraq: agency (Reuters) Bahraini security forces have seized bomb-making equipment being smuggled from Iraq aboard a passenger bus for use in attacks in the Gulf Arab kingdom, the public prosecutor said. ISIS fighters dress as women in desperate attempt to flee battlefield (JPost) On Monday, the Iraqi army arrested 20 male Islamic State members dressed as women in the northern city of Baquba, according to spokesman Ghalib al-Jubouri…. Underneath the robes and veils, the men put on makeup, wore dresses and
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 19, 2015 (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 Green-Friendly Rules Adopted For San Diego County Homes (City News Service) Drought Deepens But No New Water Restrictions For San Diego County (KPBS) We’re Having the Wrong Conversation About Civic San Diego (Voice of SD) El Cajon business stripped of ability to sell alcohol (U-T) SDPD chief: Cameras defusing confrontations with public (Times of San Diego) Ticking Time Bonds: San Diego Homeowners Face Big School District Tax Bills (KPBS) San Diego Has Spent $15 Million on Community Plans. It’s Only Finished One. (Voice of San Diego) Helix Water District in upgrade mode (U-T) San Diego Storage Company Accused Of Selling Service Members’ Belongings While Deployed (KPBS) STATE California Officials Set Modest Plans For Vanishing Salton Sea (KPBS) Gov. Jerry Brown, lawmakers propose $1 billion drought relief bill (Sacramento Bee) Two Californians sentenced in plot to kill U.S. troops: newspaper (Reuters) UC won’t get Peevey party money (U-T) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. LOCAL Green-Friendly Rules Adopted For San Diego County Homes (City News Service) The Board of Supervisors voted to amend the county’s building code to require developers of single-family home projects in unincorporated areas to prepare their new houses for solar panels and electric vehicles. Drought Deepens But No New Water Restrictions For San Diego County (KPBS) California’s new water regulations that put limits on outdoor watering days will have little effect on San Diego County because similar conservation measures are already in place here. We’re Having the Wrong Conversation About Civic San Diego (Voice of SD) Recent opinion pieces published on Voice of San Diego about Civic San Diego and Assembly Bill 504 have mostly focused on development efficiency versus public process. While the debate is important and interesting, it does not answer the most basic question about Civic San Diego: Is it legal? El Cajon business stripped of ability to sell alcohol (U-T) Sky Fuel on East Main Street , first of 3 businesses to face Planning Commission hearing. SDPD chief: Cameras defusing confrontations with public (Times of San Diego) The presence of cameras on the uniforms of San Diego police officers appears to be defusing many tense situations with the public, Chief Shelley Zimmerman reported Wednesday… in the last six months of 2014, complaints against officers dropped 40.5 percent in three divisions where the cameras were deployed, compared to the first six months of that year….The chief added that in a three-month period at the end of last year and early this year, the need for officers to use force against an individual…dropped 46.5 percent… Ticking Time Bonds: San Diego Homeowners Face Big School District Tax Bills (KPBS) The tax bills, homeowners pay for school bonds, can come to hundreds of dollars a year. And people in some of the poorest districts pay some of the biggest bills San Diego Has Spent $15 Million on Community Plans. It’s Only Finished One. (Voice of San Diego) Updating community plans helps the city avoid big fights between developers and communities. And yet, this fix for delay and dysfunction within communities has itself been marked by delay and dysfunction. Helix Water District in upgrade mode (U-T) The Helix Water District is investing $6 million over the next three years in computer hardware and software programs that aim to make the agency more efficient. San Diego Storage Company Accused Of Selling Service Members’ Belongings While Deployed (KPBS) Daniel E. Homan and his company Horoy Inc. is accused of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. STATE California Officials Set Modest Plans For Vanishing Salton Sea (KPBS) California officials say the state set an unrealistic bar to save the Salton Sea and have outlined a series of small projects aimed at staving off the demise of the state’s largest lake. Gov. Jerry Brown, lawmakers propose $1 billion drought relief bill (Sacramento Bee) With California entering its fourth year of drought, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders will propose more than $1 billion in emergency legislation Thursday for flood protection and water supply projects and to alleviate impacts of the drought. The legislation, similar to a measure passed last year, includes money for upgrading farm equipment with low-polluting equipment and for emergency food for farmworkers out of work due to the drought, a source said. The bill’s funding will rely on a combination of sources, including the General Fund, revenue from California’s cap-and-trade program, flood bond revenue and money from the water bond voters passed last year. The legislation comes after California regulators on Tuesday ordered water agencies in California to limit the number of days each week customers can water their lawns, an unprecedented measure. Two Californians sentenced in plot to kill U.S. troops: newspaper (Reuters) Two California men accused of training to carry out attacks on U.S. military bases and personnel in Afghanistan were sentenced to federal prison on Monday. UC won’t get Peevey party money (U-T) Soiree for embattled former PUC president was supposed to benefit Goldman school. Printer-friendly version
BLUE SHIELD STRIPPED OF NONPROFIT STATUS IN CALIFORNIA
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery March 18, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Blue Shield of California, the state’s third largest health insurance company, has lost its nonprofit status. The California Franchise Tax Board revoked Blue Shield’s nonprofit status in August but the decision was only made public this week in a Los Angeles Times article. Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court says, “State tax collectors have finally revoked the nonprofit health insurance company’s tax exemption following years of our criticism about lavish perks, excessive pay, padded bank accounts and huge premium increases.” Consumer Watchdog, California Nurses Association and other organizations had recently staged a protest over Blue Shield spending policyholders’ money to buy a luxury skybox at a San Francisco 49ers football game. Blue Shield was also paying its chief executive a whopping $4.6 million a year in salary and had a healthy $4.2 billion in reserves. Nonprofit corporations are required to work for the public benefit in order to be tax-exempt. But Blue Shield contributed only a small amount to its charitable arm, Blue Shield of California Foundation. Michael Johnson, the company’s former director of public policy, resigned last week after voicing criticizing of Blue Shield for not doing enough for the public. He says, “We’re talking about a $10 billion public asset and the only real return the public is getting is $35 million a year in charitable contributions each year? That’s just a lousy deal.” Johnson contends that Blue Shield is “unwilling or incapable of serving the public good.” He wants to see the nonprofit sold to become a for-profit company with proceeds of the sale donated to benefit the public. But what does all of that mean for Blue Shield ratepayers? Some fear rates could rise even further as Blue Shield seeks to recoup money it will now have to pay in state taxes. (Full disclosure: this author holds a Blue Shield policy, at rates that might charitably be described as exorbitant and dramatically higher than rates paid several years ago, for one healthy middle aged adult.) Blue Shield, however, has challenged the Franchise Tax Board’s decision and claims it meets state requirements for tax exempt status. A written statement from the company states, “Blue Shield of California is a mission driven not-for-profit health plan with a demonstrated commitment to the community.” The company states that it limits its net income to 2 percent of revenue and has devoted $325 million over the past decade to its foundation’s efforts to “improve the health safety net and combat domestic violence.” The company has already lost its federal tax exempt status, along with Blue Cross, and is now paying federal taxes, the result of a tax reform law in 1986 following complaints from competitors. KPBS reports that Blue Cross and Blue Shield have since paid billions of dollars in federal income taxes. The primary beneficiary of the decision will be the state, which stands to reap tens of millions of dollars if the Franchise Tax Board’s decision stands, including back taxes to 2013. Printer-friendly version
CITY SUES MONSANTO
Printer-friendly version By Ed Barrena March 18, 2015 (San Diego) – The City of San Diego has filed a lawsuit against Monsanto and other chemical companies in U.S. District Court. The suit seeks damages for harm caused by polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBS in the waters of San Diego Bay, the Reader reports. In 2012, a study by the San Diego Regional Water Control Board found the City of San Diego was responsible for pollution in the Bay. The Lawsuit was filed in part to recoup some costs from a 2014 fine of nearly a million dollars, and a $6.45 million price tag for cleaning the site that the city was forced to pay. The suit filed on March 16th claims that Monsanto illegally polluted the bay with PCBs, which were “not only a substantial factor in causing the City and Port District to incur damages, but a primary driving force behind the need to clean up and abate Bay sediments.” The suit also says that Monsanto knowingly continued producing PCBs after they were banned in the 1970s. PCBs have been linked to cancer, neurotoxic and mutagenic health effects. According to a report from the St. Louis Business Journal, the mega-corporation is denying any liability stating, ”Monsanto is not responsible for the costs alleged in this matter.” The company further contends that “if improper disposal or other improper uses allowed for necessary cleanup costs, then these other third parties would bear responsibility for those costs.” Monsanto has a history of producing other controversial chemicals including the pesticide DDT, which was also banned, as well as PCBs, Agent Orange, the herbicide used in Viet Nam, and Bovine Growth Hormone. In addition, some environmentalists blame Monsanto’s genetically modified “Roundup Ready” crops for mass die-offs of bees and Monarch butterflies. Printer-friendly version
JUDGE RULES FOR SD UNIFIED IN SUIT AGAINST ALPINE DISTRICT OVER ENDEAVOR ACADEMY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery March 19, 2015 (Alpine) – Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Gunther has ruled in favor of the San Diego Unified School District in a lawsuit filed against the Alpine Union School District over the Endeavor Academy (also known as the Albert Einstein Academy for Letters, Arts and Sciences, Inc.). View the judge’s order here. “He ruled on San Diego Unified’s behalf and ordered the Endeavor charter to cease and desist,” AUSD Superintendent Bruce Cochrane told East County Magazine in a phone interview today. “We are to revoke the charter, but we don’t have the authority to do that under the California education code. So now Endeavor is appealing it, and everything is on hold.” The Alpine district has been the authorizing district for the charter, which operates in the Clairemont Mesa area, which is within San Diego Unified District’s boundaries. The state’s education code allows independent study charters to operate outside of the boundaries of the authorizing district. Several local district’s have operated charters in other districts, earning 1% of revenues for providing oversight. That’s provided much-needed revenues for districts such as Alpine, where enrollment has declined and state funds were slashed during a down economy in recent years. San Diego Unified itself has operated a charter, the Learning Choice Academy, in other districts including La Mesa, Chula Vista and Temecula locations. “I know of at least three small school districts in East County that did the same thing,” says Cochrane, who was not the superintendent at the time the charter agreement as initiatied. In Endeavor’s case, the judge ruled that the school wasn’t really an independent charter school. Cochrane disagrees. “We believe that it is, and that it started out as an independent study charter. Some things were in dispute regarding MOUs (memorandums of understanding) and we’ve changed some things. We did material revisions a year ago.” There is a dispute over whether appropriate notification was provided also. “My belief is that the charter did notify San Diego Unified,” Cochrane adds. Endeavor is a science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) program that includes “ a lot of project based learning,” Cochrane states. Cochrane says he wants to see a resolution worked out with San Diego Unified and Endeavor that will be “best for students and employees.” This is not the only legal battle that the Alpine District has been fighting. The District won a fight for a temporary injunction against the Grossmont Union High School District. In that case, a judge ordered Grossmont to set aside funds for an Alpine High School, which would be transferred to the Alpine district if a unification proposal to expand and include high school students is approved by the state Board of Education. The County Board of Education has recommended approval to the state for unification. The unification proposal was initiated by Alpine parents who twice approved bond measures, Prop U and H, with funding to include an Alpine high school, but the Grossmont district instead spent money on other projects including some not in the bond and has failed to set a timetable for building the high school anytime soon. Cochrane says unification will move along at the state’s timetable, but that the AUSD is making preparations in hopes of ultimately being able to build a high school for Alpine. “We have sub-groups meeting on facilities and curriculum,” the Superintendent says, adding, It’s exciting to see where high schools are going today with career pathways, collaboration with community colleges and universities, and internships for students.” Printer-friendly version
SCIENCE AND HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 19, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY A fully transparent solar cell that could make every window and screen a power source (OffGridQuest) All new EU cars will need emergency call technology from 2018 (Reuters) HEALTH Smart bandages detect bandages before they are visible to doctors (UC Berkeley) Clues To Autism, Schizophrenia Emerge From Cerebellum Research (NPR) Premera Blue Cross breached, medical information exposed (Reuters) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY A fully transparent solar cell that could make every window and screen a power source (OffGridQuest) Researchers at Michigan State University have created a fully transparent solar concentrator, which could turn any window or sheet of glass (like your smartphone’s screen) into a photovoltaic solar cell. All new EU cars will need emergency call technology from 2018 (Reuters) All new cars sold in the European Union from March 2018 will have to be equipped with technology to contact emergency services in the case of an accident. HEALTH Smart bandages detect bandages before they are visible to doctors (UC Berkeley) Engineers at UC Berkeley are developing a new type of bandage that does far more than stanch the bleeding from a paper cut or scraped knee. Thanks to advances in flexible electronics, the researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at UC San Francisco, have created a new “smart bandage” that uses electrical currents to detect early tissue damage from pressure ulcers, or bedsores, before they can be seen by human eyes – and while recovery is still possible. Clues To Autism, Schizophrenia Emerge From Cerebellum Research (NPR) … what scientists are learning about the cerebellum could help people with many other brain disorders, says Schmahmann. It’s intriguing that symptoms like weak abstract thinking and difficulty with social cues can be seen in both people with cerebellum damage and people with autism, he says. And, he says, the evidence is growing that the cerebellum is somehow involved in autism. Premera Blue Cross breached, medical information exposed (Reuters) Health insurer Premera Blue Cross said on Tuesday it was a victim of a cyberattack that may have exposed medical data and financial information of 11 million customers, in the latest serious breach disclosed by a healthcare company. Printer-friendly version
JUSTICE DEPT. ISSUES REPORT, RECOMMENDS REFORMS ON SAN DIEGO POLICE MISCONDUCT
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery March 18, 2015 (San Diego)–The U S. Justice Department has completed an investigation into officer misconduct at the San Diego Police Department. The report found serious problems with supervision and failure to hold employees accountable for their actions over a five-year period. SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman says, “We requested and welcomed this assessment from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing,” also known as COP. Ronald Davis, director of the Justice Departments COP office, says, “Our goal with this report began with identifying deficiencies in policies, practices, or organizational culture that allowed misconduct to occur and to go undetected for years in San Diego. We see this report as a blueprint for reforms, and for building on the reform efforts already undertaken by former Chief William Lansdowne and Chief Shelley Zimmerman.” The probe focused on 17 police misconduct cases and made 40 recommendations, citing a “failure of leadership on small issues” that led to big issues, according to Davis. 10 News reports that U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy has indicated some of the reforms have already been implemented, and Chief Zimmerman has stated that all reforms recommended by the Justice Dept. will be implemented. The Justice Department investigation was requested by the current and prior police chiefs, Zimmerman and Landsdowne, as well as by Mayor Kevin Faulconer and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith following numerous arrests of police officers. Some of the high profile cases included Anthony Arevalos, who was convicted of demanding sexual favors from women he pulled over for suspected drunken driving in the Gaslamp Quarter, Christopher Hays, who pled guilty to groping and illegally detaining women, as well as other officers arrested for drunken driving, burglary, domestic violence and indecent exposure. Chuck Wexler with the Police Executive Research Forum told 10News, “I think there are national implications from this study; that’s the importance of a national standards unit, internal affairs and officers standing up when they see behavior that’s bad.” Printer-friendly version
STATE IMPOSES WATER RESTRICTIONS
Printer-friendly version East County News Service March 19, 2015 (Sacramento) — It’s official – the state’s Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday voted to impose water limits statewide to conserve water during the ongoing drought, the Sacramento Bee reports. So how does that affect you? Your local water agency will set specific days of the week when you can-and can’t—water your yard. If it rains, you’ll have to turn off your irrigation for the next two days. Forget about washing off your driveway, or having sprinklers spraying onto pavement, or running a decorative fountain unless it pumps recycled water. When you visit a restaurant, you won’t be served water unless you ask. If you travel within California, hotels must offer you an option of not getting freshly laundered towels and linens every day. The drought is so severe that farmers in the Central Valley have let their fields go fallow, because there is no water left. The drought is also fueling wildfires – burning four times more acres this winter than usual—and that means more water used to fight those fires. If you’re caught breaking the new water-saving rules, you could be fined up to $500 per violation per day, though it’s up to each local water agency to enforce the rules. Printer-friendly version