SANTEE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS BRIAN JONES TO FILL VACANCY
By Mike Allen Photo: Eight finalists in Santee council appointment await questions from council. January 26, 2017 (Santee) — Brian Jones, a former state Assemblyman and ex-Santee Councilman, is returning to his old job again. He was appointed by the City Council after a five-hour interview process that began last night and stretched into the early morning hours Santee’s City Council voted 3-1 to appoint Jones to a seat left vacant when John Minto was elected mayor in November. The position has about two years remaining, and Jones said he plans to run for the state Senate seat now held by Sen. Joel Anderson who will be termed out in 2018. Jones recently stepped down from his Assembly seat due to term limits. New Councilman Stephen Houlahan was the lone vote against Jones, who served on the Council from 2002- 2010. He nominated Jennifer Telitz, a radio sales executive, but that motion died for a lack of a second vote. Another nominee, Dustin Trotter, a construction firm owner who came in second place behind Houlahan in November, also failed to get a second, preventing a vote on him. Photo: Dustin Trotter states his case to Santee City Council Councilman Ronn Hall then nominated Jones, who was seconded by Minto, and then obtained the council majority vote. The other finalist in the lengthy process was Dawn Gibbs, a small business owner. “Brian has the experience I think I need to have here,” Minto said before the final vote. He added that Jones has “the ability to get the work done without a lot of training.” Minto and the rest of the sitting council members said they were most impressed by the breath of talent and the number of quality candidates who threw their hats in the ring. “There are a lot of smart people here,” Minto said. While asking questions to one of the applicants, Councilman Rob McNelis wondered out loud why any of them would want to join the group, whose collective intelligence he mocked. “Why do you want this? You can literally lose IQ points by sitting up here with us.” The interview process was conducted over about five hours, with each of the 34 applicants getting three minutes to make their case in the public forum. The original field was 41, but at least seven people dropped out. In the latter rounds of questioning, the remaining candidates were asked about their stands on such hot button issues as new development, traffic, marijuana sales, neighborhood preservation, and how they might interact with state and federal governments. More than a few of the applicants pointed out things that could be improved. John Olsen said citizen participation in government could get much better if council meetings were live streamed online. James Sly said the city could do a better job of attracting larger corporations to Santee. Those companies would fund infrastructure improvements such as a new library and roads. Van Collinsworth, founder of the local nonprofit Preserve Wild Santee, said the city should look at changing energy providers to a community aggregation model instead of staying with San Diego Gas & Electric. The move would not only result in cheaper energy, it would allow the city to return any profits to city control and fund other services, he said. Rocky Qualin said the city should install Wi-Fi access so that everyone could be connected to the Internet. Thomas Moller said the city should install a dedicated truck lane on Highway 52 and restrict its use to relieve congestion, and make driving that road safer. Trotter made the point that of all the applicants he was the only one to run in the last election, and has spent countless hours observing the council and becoming familiar with all the issues affecting the city. Jones’ former aide, Mason Herron, also ran for the Council seat but lost to Houlahan after revelations of large developer donations to Herron’s campaign. Yet, a majority of the Council seemed intent on appointing someone other than Trotter, and ultimately selected the ultimate insider in Jones, who is a commercial real estate agent. In making his case, Jones underscored his extensive record as an elected official on both the City Council and in the Assembly. “What this comes down to is experience, track record and connections,” he said. “I can hit the ground running, and make the decisions on what’s best for the citizens of Santee.” Jones will be sworn in at the next council meeting on Feb. 8.
IT’S OFFICIAL! DROUGHT IS OVER IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, SAN DIEGO WATER AUTHORITY DECLARES
East County News Service Source: San Diego County Water Authority Jan. 26, 2017 (San Diego) — Today the County Water Authority board declared an end to the drought in San Diego County. The Water Authority will ask Governor Jerry Brown to rescind drought emergency regulations for areas of California no longer in drought conditions. Record-setting winter precipitation in the Northern Sierra, coupled with heavy local rainfall and a significant snowpack in the upper Colorado River basin, prompted the CWA board’s decision. The Water Authority’s supply forecast has continued to significantly improve with recent wet winter conditions, including a series of record-setting storms across California in January that benefited both statewide and local conditions. As of Jan. 23, San Diego’s official rainfall measurement station at Lindbergh Field had recorded 172 percent of average rainfall since the start of the water year on Oct. 1. More importantly, the water content of snow in the Sierra Nevada, a prime water source for much of the state, was 193 percent of average as of Jan. 23. Meanwhile, snowpack levels were at 161 percent of average in the upper basin of the Colorado River. The state’s current emergency drought regulation is set to expire on Feb. 28, and the State Board is expected to decide whether to extend that regulation on Feb. 8. The Water Authority provided the State Board with written comments on the potential extension of the regulation ahead of the State Board’s Jan. 18 workshop on urban water conservation regulation. “My first board meeting and we declared the drought over!” exclaimed Kathleen Coates-Hedberg, who voted for the resolution along with fellow Helix Water District board member Joel Scalzitti, both new CWA representatives. “One of the main things about this resolution was sending a message to the Governor,” Hedberg told ECM. “We want to let them know that it’s apparent with the water, rain and snow up in the north and all the infrastructure we’ve put in San Diego Coounty we’re not in a drought emergency.” Helix Water District’s Board will discuss changes in drought stastus at next Wednesday’s board meeting, February 1st. Currently Helix is still at level 1 drought, which is voluntary conservation, but may declare that over. However sine permanent conservation measures under the Governor’s orders are expected to stay, such as not washing down driveways, irrigating before 10 am and after 10 pm., repairing leaks, hand watering with a shut-off nozzle and more. Find details at ww.HWD.com under Helix drought response levels. “Telling the public to continue extraordinary, emergency conservation measures when the drought emergency no longer exists undermines the credibility of state and local water agencies and erodes the effectiveness of communications during actual water supply emergencies,” said Mark Muir, chair of the Water Authority’s Board. “The state should focus its 2017 efforts on communities that actually need help meeting water quality standards and water demands. We will continue to promote water-use efficiency in the San Diego County no matter the weather.” Water Authority General Manager Maureen Stapleton said continuing unnecessary statewide drought emergency regulations hampers the region’s ability to sustain a healthy and vibrant economy by undermining efforts to retain, attract and expand businesses and investment. “We have had throughout this past drought – and continue to have – all the water necessary to meet the needs of local businesses and residents because our ratepayers made the significant investments needed to prepare for drought,” Stapleton said. “It is imperative that we in San Diego send a clear message to businesses already here, those considering expanding their operations here, and those considering moving here: the San Diego region is open for business. We have the water supply necessary to grow your business, to fuel our $222 billion regional economy and to support a high quality of life for our residents.” Neither the Water Authority nor the vast majority of urban water suppliers statewide are experiencing supply shortages due to drought. The San Diego region has invested approximately $3.5 billion over the past three decades to increase regional water supply reliability, including seawater desalination, additional water storage capacity and upgraded conveyance systems. Local retail water agencies within the region also have made – and are in the process of making – major investments in local drought-resilient supplies such as water recycling, potable reuse, and desalination projects that further increase regional self-reliance. The San Diego region met its aggregate mandatory savings target after the state imposed emergency regulations in 2015 to achieve the governor’s goal of an overall 25 percent cut in urban water use. In May 2016, the state updated its emergency regulation to a water supply “stress test” methodology that took actual levels of local supply reliability into account. Under that system, the Water Authority and its member agencies demonstrated that the region has sufficient supplies to avoid shortages even if it experiences three more dry years. The San Diego region has continued to embrace water-use efficiency since mandatory savings targets ended in May 2016. Regional water use from June-December 2016 was 17 percent below 2013 levels. Even before the state emergency water-use mandates, per capita water use in the San Diego region had decreased nearly 40 percent between 1990 and 2015. “As we look back over the past several years, it’s amazing to see all that we accomplished together,” Muir said. “We beat the state’s conservation targets, stored 100,000 acre-feet of water in San Vicente Reservoir for future dry years, and continued to embed water-use efficiency as a way of life. Together, we exit this drought even stronger than when we entered it, having enhanced the firm foundation of water supply reliability that supports the economy and quality of life we share.” For decades, the Water Authority and its member agencies have promoted long-term water-use efficiency through education and outreach efforts such as home water-use checkups and rebate programs, and the agency launched its Live WaterSmart campaign in July 2016 to provide the public with resources for living a water-efficient lifestyle no matter the
TRUMP EDUCATION SECRETARY NOMINEE DE VOS SEEKS PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, TELLS SENATORS SHE WON’T ENFORCE FEDERAL LAWS PROTECTING DISABLED, FEMALE, OR MINORITY STUDENTS
By Miriam Raftery January 26, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – One of President Trump’s most controversial nominees is Betsy DeVos, proposed to head up the Department of Education. The billionaire GOP donor has led a “school choice” PAC and led efforts to divert public funds to charter schools and vouchers in Detroit with largely failed results, where critics say more segregation and generally poor test scores resulted. If confirmed, she would be an Education Secretary largely committed to dismantling public education despite no track record of success in helping students, particularly students of color. In her confirmation hearing, DeVos voiced opposition for enforcement of federal laws protecting disabled and minority students. “I think that’s a matter best left to the states,” she testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. She continued to insist on this stance, even after evidence was presented that some states have had dismal results, particularly in states with a history of racial discrimination. She also raised eyebrows by defending allowing guns in school, mentioning “grizzly bears” as a reason—an unlikely threat in schools anywhere outside of Alaska and Wyoming. Questioning also revealed she would refuse to enforce federal laws to protect college students from sexual assault, and other important federal protections, leaving their fate up to the whims of state decision makers. Teachers’ organizations have urged opposition to DeVos – and voters are responding. Many Senators’ offices report more calls in opposition to DeVos than any other cabinet nominee with the possible exception of Jeff Sessions, the proposed Attorney General with a history of opposing civil and voting rights, Politico reports. Her vouchers program allows parents to take federal funds and send their kids to charter schools, including religious institutions. How bad are the schools in Detroit, which DeVos holds up as an example of her charter schools and vouchers program? The lowlights are described in detail in “A sobering look at what Betsy DeVos did to education in Michigan—and what she might do as secretary of education” reprinted in the Washington Post and originally authored by Detroit Free Press editor Stephen Henderson. Henderson describes communities left with just one charter school at or near the bottom of the state academically in test scores, no better than public schools but sucking money out of the system that could have been used to improve public schools. The better performing charters tend to be far away from students in greatest need; lack of transportation and low income prevents many children from escaping poorly performing schools and has led to de facto segregation, Henderson reports. “We’re a laughingstock in national education circles and a pariah among reputable charter school operators, “ he writes. DeVos also lacks any objective qualifications to head up the nation’s schools. She is not a teacher or educator. Her children attended private schools. She has no education credentials. Heiress to the Amway fortune and brother of Eric Prince, founder of Blackwater, DeVos has however donated massive sums to the Republican Party – perhaps as much as $200 million, she conceded under questioning by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. She has also active on behalf of Evangelical Christian causes, the Washington Post has reported. Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, has brushed off concerns over her lack of education qualifications. “It’s not like you’re at the PTA,” Hoogstra said. “I think that Betsy DeVos will bring her best intelligence and judgment and she will speak truth to power.” For more information on DeVos and her track record in Detroit, see the numerous stories
CAMPO MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR DOUBLE FATALITY CRASH IN BUCKMAN SPRINGS
East County News Service January 26, 2017 (San Diego) – Campo resident Ryan Gary Renz, 24, has been arrested for murder and suspicion of driving under the influence after the Jetta vehicle he was driving flipped over last night at 6:55 p.m., killing two passengers. According to California Highway Patrol Officer J.T. Neibert, the man was traveling south at a high rate of speed on Buckman Springs Road at Lake Morena when “due to his level of intoxication, he failed to negotiate the left curve and veered off the roadway.” The vehicle struck a large oak tree on the west side of the road, causing the car to overturn. The right rear passenger, a 23-year-old man from Campo, was ejected from the vehicle and died. A passenger in the right front seat, 26, also from Campo, was trapped in the vehicle and also died at the scene. Renz was treated for minor injuries and booked into San Diego County Jail.
THREE MEN ARRESTED FOR THROWING ROCKS, DAMAGING VEHICLES IN SANTEE
East County News Service January 26, 2017 (Santee) – Last night at 11:09 p.m., a caller reported hearing smashing sounds of windows breaking and car alarms going off outside her residence in the 9300 block of Carlton Oaks Drive in Santee. She went outside and saw a white older model Ford Explorer; its occupants were throwing rocks or using some weapon to hit vehicles parked on the street. The Explorer continued eastbound and eventually was seen by a Sheriff’s deputy who conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Palm Glen Drive/Cottonwood Avenue. The vehicle was occupied by three adult men. There were weapons found in the vehicle and all three occupants were arrested for charges of felony vehicle vandalism and conspiracy. One of the men was also charged with possession of a metal knuckles. Deputies confirmed four vehicles were damaged. “It is believed the same vehicle was involved in a series of vandalized vehicles about two weeks ago on Buena Vista Avenue in Santee,” says Sergeant Kristin Brayman. Detectives from the Santee Station are conducting the follow up investigation. Call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 with information and you will remain anonymous. You may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to a felony arrest.
BILL SCHWEITZER SELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF RAMONA VALLEY VINEYARD ASSOCIATION (RVVA); APPLAUDS OUTGOING PRESIDENT MICOLE MOORE
Source: Ramona Valley Vineyard Association Photo: Outgoing RVVA president Micole Moore (left) and incoming RVVA president Bill Schweitzer (right) pose with the speaker, Master Sommelier Frederick Dame (center), at the 2016 Lum Eisenman Wine Competition awards dinner on June 22, 2016. Jnuary 26, 2017 (Ramona) – The Board of Directors of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) selected Bill Schweitzer as their new president for the next three-year term. Schweitzer, whose Paccielo Vineyard supplies grapes to several Ramona wineries, was a founder and past-president of the RVVA and led the effort to create the Ramona Valley American Viticulture Area (AVA), awarded to the area in 2006. He is also co-founder and VP of Operations of the Ramona Olive Oil Corp. and founder and president of Sky Valley Networks, supplying wireless internet service to the Ramona area. Schweitzer succeeds outgoing president Micole Moore, co-owner of Ramona Ranch Vineyard and Winery, who served from 2014 to 2017. Moore will remain on the board as past president and chair the Grape Symposium Committee. Schweitzer said, “We all thank outgoing president Micole Moore for his accomplishments. Under his leadership, RVVA membership has grown to more than 100. We strengthened our education programs, a key objective of the RVVA, with monthly meetings featuring expert speakers along with an annual one-day Grape Symposium chaired by member Denise Clark, Winemaker, Altipiano Vineyards. Michael spearheaded and worked closely with the Ramona Community Planning Group and other leaders of local wine organizations to help improve San Diego County’s tiered winery ordinance. “In addition, we enhanced Ramona wine region’s visibility through participation at various regional functions and four RVVA events during 2016 that drew visitors for tasting at local wineries. By reinstating the Lum Eisenman Wine Competition, we not only provided our wineries with quality feedback but we also alerted the greater community of the quality of RVVA member wines. We ended the year with a new Winery Guide containing detailed information on each RVVA member winery to encourage growth and exploration by visitors. “I look forward to building on Micole’s successes. It is now time for the experienced first generation of local vineyard owners and winemakers to pay-forward the legacy of Lum Eisenmann. There are many things we have all learned that can facilitate Ramona’s growth to a respected and well-known winemaking region.”
DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS JAN. 27-FEB. 26
East County News Service January 26, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) — This week’s Destination East County includes party with the stars, cabaret nights, What the Butler Saw, and a Courtly Noise concert. Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Cupid’s Carouse, a production of To Kill a Mockingbird, a Celtic guitar concert, Cuyamaca College’s powwow, Cupids and Canines, plus Dancing and Dining with your Valentine. So scroll down for all of these events and many more! WHAT THE BUTLER SAW: JAN. 20-FEB. 19 IN LA MESA Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa’s production of “What the Butler Saw,” a classic British farce, continues now through Feb. 19th. When a psychiatrist tries to seduce an aspiring secretary, his botched efforts lead to comic bedlam involving his insatiable wife, a randy bellhop, a befuddled police officer and Sir Winston Churchill. For tickets and details you can visit www.LamplightersLaMesa.com. CABARET NIGHTS JAN. 27-28 IN SPRING VALLEY Young Actors Theater will host cabaret nights on Friday and Saturday, January 27th and 28th at the Y-A-T theater in Spring Valley. The cabaret nights showcase talented Y-A-T members performing musical, dance and acting performances to benefit the theatrical group. For tickets you can visit www.YATSanDiego.org. PARTY IN THE STARS JAN. 28 IN LA MESA The La Mesa Arts Foundation invites you to “Party in the Stars” at the La Mesa Community Center on January 28th. The event benefits the La Mesa Arts Academy. The event will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Party in the Stars will include live music, food and a silent auction. For tickets visit www.LaMesaArts.org. ICE SKATING AT VIEJAS NOW THROUGH JAN. 29 This weekend is your last chance to enjoy outdoor ice skating at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine, which closes Sunday evening, until the next holiday season. For details, you can visit www.Viejas.com. COURTLY NOYSE CONCERT JAN. 29 AT MISSION TRAILS Mission Trails Regional Park will host a (free) concert featuring Courtly Noyse on January 29th at 3 p.m. performing Renaissance music. The group began singing madrigals atop Mount Palomar and has since added instrumentalists. Just like our forebears in the sixteenth century, you can while away an afternoon with music, storytelling and humor. You can find details at MTRP.org. NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS… CUYAMACA COLLEGE POW WOW FEB. 4 The Native American Student Alliance at Cuyamaca College will host its 3rd Annual Powwow on Saturday, February 4th from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in front of the Communication Arts complex. The powwow aims to promote Native American heritage with activities, including Bird Singing, a native singing style of the Kumeyaay people honoring culture and traditions of local tribes. The event also includes arts and craft vendors, foods, drums, native dances and more. For details, visit www.Cuyamaca.edu. CUPID’S CAROUSE FEB. 11 IN LA MESA The nonprofit Hearts for San Diego invites you to show some love by attending Cupid’s Carouse, an annual tasting party on Saturday, February 11th at 7 pm. at the La Mesa Community Center. Wines, beers and spirits will be paired with Valentine favorite foods and tasty sweets. There will also be a silent auction and raffle. Hearts for San Diego has helped raise funds for other nonprofit organizations helping veterans, special needs children, animals and the environment. For tickets, visit www.HeartsforSD.org. HAWAIIAN AND CELTIC GUITARIST IN LA MESA FEB. 11 Acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter Jim Earp will perform Hawaiian and Celtic guitar music, as well as folk-rock songs at the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room and Gallery in La Mesa on Saturday, February 11th from 7 to 10 p.m. Wine and cheese are available for the performance in the winery’s cozy back room. For details, you can go to SanPasqualWinery.com. CUPIDS AND CANINES ADOPTIONS FEB. 12 AT GROSSMONT CENTER If you’re looking for some puppy love, over 100 dogs and puppies from local recue groups will be at Grossmont Center looking for a loving home during the Cupids and Canines Pet Adoption event on February 12th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’re invited to meet, play with and learn about each dog—and if you find your perfect match, you can take your new furry friend home this Valentine’s Day weekend! Dozens of pet adoption groups will be onsite for this special event. For more information, visit www.GrossmontCenter.com. DANCE AND DINE, DEAR VALENTINE: ROUNDUP GRILL IN SANTA YSABEL FEB. 14 The Roundup Grill in Santa Ysabel (26439 Highway 76) invites you to dance and dine with your valentine on February 14th. Your feast by Chef John Little will be paired with wines from Ramona Ranch Winery, from bubbly to beef short ribs braised with Cabernet and chocolate, to a surprise desert. Live fiddle music by Celia will combine jazz and blues, zydeco and Celtic music for dancing the night away with your sweetheart. For tickets and details, visit www.RamonaRanch.com and click on “what’s the buzz.” TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: FEB. 17-26 IN SANTEE Pickwick Players will present “To Kill a Mockingbird” February 17th through 26th at Off Broadway Live (9490 Cuyamaca St.) In Santee. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird is the timeless and timely story of attorney Atticus Finch and his children Scout and Jem in the summer of 1935 in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus strives to raise his children to be willing to see the world from other peoples’ perspectives. But when Atticus agrees to defend a young black man unfairly accused of accosting a white woman, he finds his children and himself in grave danger. This coming-of-age story of prejudice and violence, tolerance and community is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1960. The novel was adapted to a screenplay which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. For tickets and details, visit www.PickwickPlayers.net. That’s all for this week! If you have an event you’d like added to our calendar, or if you would like to sponsor the Destination East
GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY
East County News Service Photo: City of Poway tweeted this image of a boulder that shut down Poway Road January 24, 2017 (Sacramento) — Governor Jerry Brown today issued an emergency declaration for San Diego County and 56 other California counties hard-hit by the recent winter storms. Brown asked the state’s Office of Emergency Assistance to provide help to local governments in communities damaged by floods, mudslides, erosion, and damage to roads and highways. The Governor also instructed Caltrans to ask for immediate assistance from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, though it’s unclear whether the Trump administration would grant the request for federal help.
SAN DIEGO TO NO LONGER HOST POINSETTIA BOWL
East County News Service Photo via patch.com January 25, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego will now only be home to one college football bowl game–the Holiday Bowl–instead of two. Organizers announced they will be dropping the Poinsettia Bowl after 10 years. “College football and the bowl game structure has gone through major changes through the years and our board feels the time is right to focus our efforts on one post-season game,” said Mark Neville, executive director of the San Diego Bowl Game Association. With this loss, the Mountain West now only has one bowl game that one of the conference’s teams can be eligible for: the Las Vegas Bowl, which San Diego State played in this year. The Holiday Bowl’s organizers are thinking about moving the game to Petco Park, but will continue to play the game at Qualcomm for at least the next two years, since Petco is unable to accomodate a football game with its current configuration. “The Holiday Bowl brings tourism, economic activity and pride to San Diego year after year — focusing resources on just one event will ensure that the Holiday Bowl remains a top-tier attraction,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “I am excited to have started discussions this week with the Bowl Game Association and the Padres about the possibility of bringing the Holiday Bowl to Petco Park,” Faulconer said. “We remain fully committed to supporting this fantastic game.”
HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
East County News Service January 25, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH U.S. judge finds that Aetna misled public about its reasons for quitting Obamcare (LA Times) 1 in 4 U.S. men have cancer-linked genital infection (CBS) Why Is Extensively Drug-Resistant TB On the Rise? (NPR) Study: US abortions now at lowest rate since Roe v. Wade (CS Monitor) Food as Medicine: It’s Not Just a Fringe Idea Anymore (NPR) Sedentary lifestyle in older women ‘ages body cells’ (BBC) Antibody-making B cell’s metabolic switch found (San Diego Union-Tribune) Brazil sees sharp rise in yellow fever cases (BBC) New Medical Worry: Deadly Fungal Infection That Resists Treatment (NPR) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY US libraries hit by ransomware attack (BBC) Qualcomm faces FTC lawsuit over patent licensing (San Diego Union-Tribune) Ambulances to jam car radios in Sweden (BBC) MIT develops 3-D printing ‘undo’ option (CS Monitor) Massive networks of fake accounts found on Twitter (BBC) Surprise! Endangered shark hatches fatherless babies (+video) (CS Monitor) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. HEALTH U.S. judge finds that Aetna misled public about its reasons for quitting Obamcare (Los Angeles Times) Aetna claimed this summer that it was pulling out of all but four of the 15 states where it was providing Obamacare individual insurance because of a business decision — it was simply losing too much money on the Obamacare exchanges. Now a federal judge has ruled that that was a rank falsehood. In fact, says Judge John D. Bates, Aetna made its decision at least partially in response to a federal antitrust lawsuit blocking its proposed $37-billion merger with Humana. Aetna threatened federal officials with the pullout before the lawsuit was filed, and followed through on its threat once it was filed 1 in 4 U.S. men have cancer-linked genital infection (CBS) The first national estimate suggests that nearly half of U.S. men have genital infections caused by a sexually transmitted virus and that 1 in 4 has strains linked with several cancers….high-risk HPV can cause cancer in the mouth and upper throat, cervical cancer in women and other cancers. Less harmful strains can cause genital warts. Why Is Extensively Drug-Resistant TB On the Rise? (NPR) Airborne transmission is the driving force behind a spike in extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in South Africa, according to a report just published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Study: US abortions now at lowest rate since Roe v. Wade (CS Monitor) A survey released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute found that the annual number of abortions in the United States has dropped to the lowest rate since 1974. Food as Medicine: It’s Not Just a Fringe Idea Anymore (NPR) Several times a month, you can find a doctor in the aisles of Ralph’s market in Huntington Beach, Calif., wearing a white coat and helping people learn about food. Sedentary lifestyle in older women ‘ages body cells’ (BBC) Older woman who do not exercise daily have cells biologically older than their actual age, research suggests. Antibody-making B cell’s metabolic switch found(San Diego Union-Tribune) A key regulator of important infection-fighting cells has been discovered, a team of San Diego scientists reported Monday. The knowledge could be of use in understanding diseases such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, says the team from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Brazil sees sharp rise in yellow fever cases (BBC) They said there had been 63 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne illness so far this year, up from seven in the whole of 2016… wo million doses of yellow fever vaccine are sent to Minas Gerais state after a rise in cases. New Medical Worry: Deadly Fungal Infection That Resists Treatment (NPR) Candida auris first was identified in Japan in 2009 and now has been found in five continents. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY US libraries hit by ransomware attack (BBC) Libraries across the city of St Louis are gradually regaining control of their computer systems, following a malware attack several days ago. Criminals broke into the systems of 17 libraries, disabled them and demanded a ransom. It meant people were unable to borrow books or use the computers. Qualcomm faces FTC lawsuit over patent licensing (San Diego Union-Tribune) A U.S. regulator has sued Qualcomm over the way it licenses cellular patents to smartphone makers — joining South Korea and potentially other governments in seeking to upend the San Diego’s company’s patent royalty practices. Ambulances to jam car radios in Sweden (BBC) Ambulances in Stockholm are to test a system that stops radio in cars to tell drivers that an emergency vehicle is approaching. MIT develops 3-D printing ‘undo’ option (CS Monitor) A new technique brings the ability to edit, among other things, to 3-D printing. Massive networks of fake accounts found on Twitter (BBC) Massive collections of fake accounts are lying dormant on Twitter, suggests research. // The largest network ties together more than 350,000 accounts and further work suggests others may be even bigger. / UK researchers accidentally uncovered the lurking networks while probing Twitter to see how people use it. / Some of the accounts have been used to fake follower numbers, send spam and boost interest in trending topics. Surprise! Endangered shark hatches fatherless babies (+video) (CS Monitor) In a switch that could help save her species, Leonie, a zebra shark at Australia’s Reef HQ Aquarium, has become the first shark observed shifting from sexual to asexual reproduction, hatching three eggs containing offspring that carry only her DNA.