TRUMP NOMINEE CROWLEY DROPS OUT AFTER PLAGIARISM REVEALED
By Miriam Raftery January 16, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – After revelations of plagiarism, Monica Crowley has announced that she is stepping down from her appointment as Donald Trump’s nominee for director of communication at the National Security Council. An investigation by CNN’s KFile found over 50 instances of plagiarism in Crowley’s book, “What the Bleep Just Happened,” prompting publisher Harper Collins to pull the book off store sales pending updates with attribution. CNN also discovered that Crowley’s dissertation at Columbia University over 16 years ago included thousands of words plagiarized from other sources. Her columns for the Washington Times and a piece in the Wall Street Journal have also been exposed as having sections that appeared to have been reprinted without attribution from other sources. Crowley is a prominent conservative author, commentator formerly with Fox News. Crowley issued a statement Monday indicating she will remain in New York to “pursue other opportunities and will not be taking a position in the incoming administration” though she added that she will continue to enthusiastically support Trump and his agenda for “American renewal.”
CHIEF’S CORNER: MORE RAIN COMING! SAFETY TIPS
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna January 16, 2017 (San Diego) — More needed rain is forecasted, but some storms may cause serious and dangerous problems. Here are a few tips for preparing for storms, and weathering them safely. Always keep a battery-powered radio in your home so that you can tune to radio stations if you lose electricity. Check or change the batteries frequentlly Keep a flashlight in an easily accessible spot on every floor of your home. Check the batteries monthly, and replace them as needed As a safety precaution before leaving the house on vacation, unplug all electrical appliances except for those lights connected to automatic timers Secure/remove outdoor patio furniture and yard accessories to keep them from blowing off in a violent wind Don’t go out unless you have to; however, if flooding threatens, seek high ground, and follow the instructions of your local firefighters – law enforcement personnel Keep an eye on large trees — even healthy ones — that could damage your house if felled in a storm. Cut them back, if necessary. Don’t forget the car… Have your brakes, tires and windshield wipers checked by your mechanic. Keep it slow in the rain and give plenty of distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you! Contact your local Fire Dept. and visit: http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_be_prepared.php for additional storm preparedness tips. Now you can regard gathering clouds with a little less trepidation. Be Safe! *Note: The information in this article was compiled from various sources. These suggestions are not a complete list of every preventative or loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace additional safety manuals or the advice of another qualified professional(s). We make no guarantee of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.
LANE CLOSURES TUESDAY NIGHT ON STATE ROUTE 67 AND HIGHLAND VALLEY ROAD
Source: Caltrans January 16, 2017 (San Diego) – Caltrans crews will close lanes on State Route 67 (SR-67) and Highland Valley Road at the SR-67 Dye Road/Highland Valley Road intersection in Ramona on Tuesday from 7 p.m.-5 a.m. The lane closures are need for temporary striping and K-rail placement. Both Highland Valley Road and SR-67 will remain open with one-way traffic control in effect. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time in anticipation of slower moving traffic. The work is part of the SR-67 Dye Road/Highland Valley Road Interchange Project, which will widen SR-67 from two to four lanes through the intersection. Construction began earlier in the year and is expected to be completed in summer, with another year for landscaping. More information about the SR-67 Dye Road/Highland Valley Road Interchange Project may be found at http://www.dot.ca.gov/d11/projects/67_DyeRoad.pdf. Motorists are reminded to watch for highway workers and moving construction equipment in the project area. The work schedule is subject to change depending on weather conditions. Follow @SDCaltrans on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SDCaltrans and visit Caltrans District 11 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaltransDistrict11.
SENATOR FEINSTEIN: RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE “ALTERED THE OUTCOME” OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
By Miriam Raftery Photo: Senator Dianne Feinstein on Meet the Press, courtesy NBC News/William Plowman January 16, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program yesterday, said that after reviewing classified intelligence briefings as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, she believes Russia definitely interviewed in the U.S. presidential election—and that Russian meddling “altered the outcome” of the race. If true, this could call into question the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s presidency. Trump won the electoral college by one of the narrowest margins in history, losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. Multiple U.S. intelligence agencies agree that Russia hacked Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign to leak damaging information, also putting out fake news via Russian-backed propaganda sites to mislead the American public. In the interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd, Feinstein promised a robust investigation, adding, “I’m certainly not going to leave this in limbo. Because this is the future of America. It’s the future of democracy. And if we can’t carry out an election without disinformation being pumped into it by another country, we’ve got a huge destruction of our system going on.” She voiced confidence that the committee will get to the bottom of Russia’s interference in the election, and suggested bipartisan whistleblowing if any cover-up is attempted. “I have worked with Chairman Burr for a long time. And I believe that this can happen.” But the California Senator pledged, “If it doesn’t, we will sing out loud and clear. Feinstein spoke on the latest intelligence findings on Russian cyberattacks, and discussed whether or not FBI Director Comey should be fired for his role in withholding negative information on Trump while releasing details on Hillary Clinton’s e-mails shortly before the election. View video of full interview: http://nbcnews.to/2jnDuCt Read full transcript below, courtesy of NBC News “Meet the Press with Chuck Todd.” CHUCK TODD: Welcome back. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence announced on Friday that it will conduct a bipartisan investigation into, among other things, Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California knows as much about anyone– as anyone about the intel community. She’s the former chair and vice-chair of the committee. Still on it. And she joins me now. Senator Feinstein, welcome back to the program. SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: Thank you, Chuck. CHUCK TODD: Before I get to the investigation, I got to ask you about what John Lewis said and about Donald Trump’s response and just get your response. SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: Well, I understand why John Lewis feels the way he does. This is a very fearful and divided nation right now. And the Trumps have not done anything to bring it together. I really regret the president-elect’s response to what John Lewis said. It’s without understanding of his history, of what he went through, of the fact that this is Martin Luther King weekend. And there is so much fear in this country. I come from the biggest state. I get tens of thousands of phone calls and e-mails of people that are fearful of what’s going to happen. It’s the job of this new president to reassure people that he is not just the president of his base but he is the president of everyone. And that means a coming together. Now– CHUCK TODD: Reince Priebus said it was, that he thought President Obama should play a role in healing more. What did you make of that statement? SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: Well, President Obama has played a role for eight years in doing just that. We’re talking about the next period of four years. And the man that’s going to head that four-year period really needs to step up and recognize that he represents the whole country and he represents people of all different races and creeds who are looking for opportunity, hope, and for the values that this country carries high. CHUCK TODD: Let me go to the investigation. You’ve seen the unclassified versions of this intel report. Do you have any doubt in your mind that Russia tried to interfere in the election? And then second, do you believe it altered the outcome? SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: The answer is yes on both cases. CHUCK TODD: You truly– you believe– SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: I tru– CHUCK TODD: –it altered the outcome. SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: –that’s what I believe. I’ve had all of the major classified briefings. I have been astonished at what has been a two-year effort at Russia to spearfish, to hack, to provide disinformation, propaganda, wherever it really could. And I think this has been a very sophisticated effort. I think in our classified sessions, we will be able to get down to the depth and breadth of it. I hope so. I spoke yesterday twice with Senator Warner, who is our new vice chairman. And he reviewed with me the terms of this agreement. This investigation has to be full and robust. If it isn’t, both of us will go toward an outside panel. But we cannot ignore what has happened. To ignore it is really to commit it– CHUCK TODD: What can– SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: –commit ourselves– CHUCK TODD: What is the s– SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: –to a very bad future. CHUCK TODD: What is the scope? I’ll be honest, I read it, and it comes across as– it’s an investigation into the investigation. SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: Well– CHUCK TODD: –it’s an investigation into the intel community’s assessment. Are you– Is the intel community going to do its own investigation? And maybe, you know– SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: Well, let me– CHUCK TODD: Okay. SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN: –it’s a review of the intelligence that informed the declassified report about Russia’s interference in the election. Now last night I read the declassified report. The declassified report is pretty certain
SANTEE COUNCIL SEEKS APPLICANTS TO FILL VACANCY: COUNCIL DIVIDED OVER OPTIONS
By Mike Allen January 15, 2017 (Santee) — The Santee City Council is seeking a fifth member to fill out the two years remaining on Mayor John Minto’s term after he was elected in November, vacating his Council seat. At the Council’s January 11th meeting, the four members decided to appoint Minto’s successor rather than hold a special election that was deemed too costly. Motions were made to appoint that night for two possible candidates, Dustin Trotter and Brian Jones. Both failed because of 2-2 split votes. In the motion that passed 3-1 with Councilman Rob McNelis opposed, the Council agreed to appoint a new member following a public interview process that will take place at the Council’s next meeting Jan. 25th. Applications for the position are available online at the city website, www.ci.santee.ca.us, or in person at City Hall. The deadline is 5 pm Jan. 23rd. The only requirements for serving are that applicants must be at least 18 years old, registered voters and residents of Santee. At the meeting, five people said they are interested in taking the job. They are Dawn Gibbs, a local business owner; former state Assemblyman Brian Jones; Van Collinsworth, the president of an environmental nonprofit; and Arnold Winston, a retired banker; and Trotter, who took second place after campaigning for the seat last year. McNelis said at a candidates’ forum prior to the election that the three council candidates agreed they would accept the second place finisher as the person to take the vacant seat that would be available when Minto or McNelis was elected mayor. Yet Stephen Houlahan, who won the Council seat by a wide margin, said the decision was too important to make that night, and that other candidates in addition to Trotter deserve to be vetted. The Council could have scheduled a special election to fill the seat, but the cost estimate between $220,000 and $420,000 was deemed too high. After a motion from McNelis to appoint Trotter failed by the 2-2 split, Minto made a motion to appoint Jones, who was termed out of the Assembly in November after serving three two-year terms. McNelis said he respected Jones, and knows he is eminently qualified to do the job, but is also aware of his desire to become the area’s state senator in 2018, which could sway many of his decisions. Jones, who also previously served on the Santee Council for two terms, said he is indeed aiming to run for the state Senate seat now held by Sen. Joel Anderson. Houlahan, who took first place in November with 9,882 votes, said he would have preferred to hold a special election but the costs were too high. He said he’d rather open the process up to everyone even if it means taking a longer time to sift through a larger field of candidates. “In a perfect world we would hold a special election. This is such a highly important decision, and that’s why I made the motion,” he said. Houlahan had offered to support McNelis’ motion to appoint Trotter if he agreed not to run for re-election in 2018, but McNelis said he wouldn’t agree with the provision.