NO. 12 SDSU WATER POLO SPLITS TWO GAMES AT ROADRUNNER INVITATIONAL
Aztecs defeat Cal State East Bay, but fall to No. 11 Princeton Source: goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com March 18, 2017 (Bakersfield) – No. 12 San Diego State completed a four-game-in-three-day stretch on Saturday by splitting two games at the Roadrunner Invitational in Bakersfield. The Aztecs defeated Cal State East Bay, 15-4, before falling to No. 11 Princeton, 5-4. The two decisions put SDSU’s record for the season at 11-9. The Aztecs enjoyed a 3-2 lead after one quarter and made their move in the second after outscoring the Pioneers, 4-0, to take a 7-2 lead at halftime. The second half was more of the same for SDSU, limiting Cal State East Bay to just one goal in both the third and fourth quarters. On the flip side, the Aztecs’ offense produced three goals in the third and five in the final eight minutes to cruise to victory. Caroline Israels led all players with four goals, while Ioli Benekou added three of her own. Delaney Parks was the other Aztec with multiple goals, scoring twice. All told, nine Aztecs recorded at least one goal. Kate McDonnell and Maura Cantoni split time in net and each had two saves. In the early afternoon, San Diego State returned to the pool to face an unbeaten Tigers team and the matchup between the No. 11 and No. 12 teams nationally did not disappoint. The Aztecs held a 4-1 lead at halftime, but found themselves in a fight late after Princeton scored three times in the third period to level the score at 4-4. Neither team could find the go-ahead goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Tigers changed the script as the game was approaching the final three minutes when Hayley Wan tickled the twine with 3:09 left to move Princeton out in front. The teams battled furiously down the stretch and San Diego State found itself with the ball on the game’s final possession. Benekou’s shot with five seconds left, however, was stopped by Ashleigh Johnson, which led to the Tigers’ 12th win in as many tries. Maddy Parenteau, Hannah Carrillo, Israels and Benekou all scored once to round out the scoring for SDSU. Cantoni, meanwhile, made 10 saves in the cage. San Diego State returns to action on Friday, March 24, when it faces Golden Coast foe California Baptist in Riverside. First sprint is slated for 4 p.m. PT. No. 12 San Diego State 15, Cal State East Bay 4 Hillman Aquatic Center; Bakersfield, Calif. SDSU 3-4-3-5–15 CSEB 2-0-1-1–4 SDSU goals: Caroline Israels 4, Ioli Benekou 3, Delaney Parks 2, Katrina King 1, Lizzy Bilz 1, Alyssa Diacono 1, Mikayla Vessey 1, Hannah Carillo 1, Maddy Parenteau 1, CSEB goals: Nicole Williams 2, Auriel Bell 2 SDSU saves: Maura Cantoni 2, Kate McDonnell 2 CSEB saves: Nikki Vaughn 4, Makenna Nation 2 No. 11 Princeton 5, No. 12 San Diego State 4 Hillman Aquatic Center; Bakersfield, Calif. PU 0-1-3-1–5 SDSU 1-3-0-0–4 PU goals: Hayley Wan 2, Amy Castellano 2, Sydney Cheong 1 SDSU goals: Maddy Parenteau 1, Caroline Israels 1, Ioli Benekou 1, Hannah Carrillo 1 PU saves: Ashleigh Johnson 9 SDSU saves: Maura Cantoni 10
TRUMP STARTS PROCESS TO WEAKEN VEHICLE FUEL EMISSION STANDARDS: ACTION COULD MAKE YOU PAY MORE TO FILL YOUR TANK AND INCREASE AIR POLLUTION
By Miriam Raftery Photo: Los Angeles smog in 1972, before the current standards; photo by Gene Daniels, public domain via Wikimedia. March 18, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — California has threatened legal action after President Donald Trump ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to abandon strict fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and rules that limit emission of greenhouse gasses. If weaker national standards are adopted and the Trump administration fights California’s long-standing waiver that allows our state to have the nation’s toughest clean air standards, it could set up an epic court battle over states’ rights. Consumers could also be forced back to buying gas-guzzling cars, spending more to fill your tank. Due to past serious air pollution problems in California, our state has long received waivers that have allowed California to adopt stricter vehicle emission standards than the national standard. State officials have gone to court before to protect their right to enact tough standards to protect clean air and public health, winning a challenge against the Bush administration. Trump says “common sense changes” are needed, yielding to pressure from the automobile industry. So, the EPA will be reopening the rule-making process for mileage standards, determining by mid-2018 whether to scrap the current standards. A climate change denier, Trump campaigned on increasing production of fossil fuels such as oil – and now seeks to boost consumption of fossil fuels, too. Theresa Langer, transportation program director with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient economy, says the Trump administration announced plan to backtrack on vehicle standards for model years 2022-2025 “puts at risk tens of billions of dollars of fuel savings for consumers and big reductions in tailpipe emissions.” The EPA found in January that the Obama-era standards remain feasible and are cost effective, despite lower gas prices. That review also documented health benefits that the standards, set to mandate that passenger cars average 54 miles a gallon by 2025, would achieve. Langer says automakers who lobbied for weaker fuel efficiency are doing their industry a disservice, since any delay in setting standards introduces uncertainty in a global marketplace where consumers want fuel efficient and low emission vehicles. California is already moving to fight Trump’s effort. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra has filed a legal motion Tuesday to defend California’s rules. “Any weakening or delay of the national standards will result in increased harms to our natural resources, our economy, and our people,” the court filing says.
WOMEN EDUCATORS TO HONOR THEIR OWN
By Teresa Fistere March 18, 2017 (San Diego) – On Saturday, April 1st, members of Delta Kappa Gamma International (DKG), a professional society for women educators, will meet for brunch at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley for a “Spring Circles of Celebration” to honor local women who have given outstanding service to their profession, their community, or their chapter. The East County Chapter of DKG has had a major role in in the society’s 20 year old “Hands Across the Border”, a fall event which raises funds and collects school supplies to help DKG members and their students in Tijuana and Ensenada. East County’s own Lakeside Middle School show choir, “Adrenaline”, will provide the entertainment for the April 1st event. Barbara Eisele, a retired East County teacher, says, says that DKG omotes the professional and personal growth of women educators. Founded in 1929, DKG chapters are in all fifty states as well as 16 other countries. Both working and retired teachers are welcome to join DKG! In keeping with its mission, DKG stands for excellence in education with local members supporting classroom teachers in many ways throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. Beside its service, DKG offers opportunities for social activities and friendship. More information can be found at www.dkgcalifornia.org or by contacting Barbara Eisele at barbeisele@cox.net.
CONSUMERS UNION GIVES PROPOSED HEALTHCARE PLAN AN “F”
By Miriam Raftery March 18, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — Consumers have long relied on information from Consumers Union regarding testing and rating of products from appliances to cars. Now, Consumers Union has issued a report card for the new healthcare bill proposed by Congressional Republicans, which scored an “F” in every category rated. Robert Gardner, Consumers Union, Policy and Action from Consumer Reports, states, “It’s important for people to know the facts, because this bill would have devastating consequences. Our analysis tracks with what other independent reviewers found this week: tens of millions would be kicked off of their insurance and costs for consumers would skyrocket. This isn’t the healthcare that Americans deserve.” Consumers Union ranked the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the proposed replacement for the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. It scored an F in all five categories, specifically, ensuring broad enrollment in coverage, providing meaningful access to healthcare, having a national standard that sets basic consumer protections, addressing underlying reasons for high costs of healthcare, as well as coverage and healthcare marketplaces that are easy to navigate. “There are already signs that this flawed proposal is on its last legs — widespread criticism on both sides of the aisle and intense opposition from constituents at town hall meetings. Let’s deliver the final blow and demand Congress to scrap this failing proposal,” Gardner advises consumers.
WETTEST WINTER IN 100 YEARS
East County News Service Photos courtesy National Weather Service March 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has a new report and video out on the extreme winter weather. It’s official – October 2016 to February 2017 was the wettest winter in California since 1900, with a whopping 27.81 inches of precipitation. The San Diego River crested at the third highest level ever recorded. Big Bear got over 60 inches of snow. Roads washed out and the Oroville Dam, the highest dam in the U.S., threatened to overflow, forcing use of a spillway that crumbled under the torrent. Sinkholes opened up; one swallowed up a fire engine at the Cajon Pass along I-15!
DEMOCRATS TAKE AIM AT HUNTER: FIVE OPPONENTS TO SPEAK APRIL 20 IN EL CAJON
LOCATION HAS CHANGED: The new location for this event is 1150 East Broadway in El Cajon (the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors building). An earlier announcement listed a location in Santee. There are now 7 candidates running; for full details including the new candidates see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/7-candidates-running-against-duncan-hunter-town-hall-thursday-el-cajon By Miriam Raftery March 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The 50th Congressional district seat held by Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter has long been considered a safe seat, with a solid conservative majority. But Hunter’s unwavering support for Trump administration policies have mobilized activists, sparked protests, inspired at least five Democratic candidates to say they’ll run against Hunter in 2018– and prompted the San Diego Democratic Party to announce it will invest money to target Hunter’s seat for the first time ever. “These Trump Republicans are in trouble,” Jessica Hayes, new chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party announced in an e-mail to Democratic party members. In addition to gearing up to try and defeat Rep. Darrell Issa, who won by a very narrow margin last time, Hayes announced, “We’re going for Hunter, too.” Hayes sees Hunter as vulnerable for two key reasons. First, he chairs the Congressional Trump Caucus, but some Trump /Hunter positions are unpopular with many of his constituents, such as slashing healthcare for the elderly poor and voting to eliminate clean air and water protections. Second, Hunter remains “under investigation for corruption,” Hayes notes, referencing an ethics investigation into Hunter’s use of over $60,000 in campaign funds for personal expenditures such as a family vacation to Italy. (Hunter paid back the money after media coverage and filing of campaign finance law violation and ethics complaints.) Corruption issues have prompted weekly protests staged by the citizens’ group Indivisible outside Hunter’s El Cajon and Temecula offices, with some constituents carrying “Dirty Duncan” signs and another to dress in a rabbit costume, a reference to Hunter paying for a first-class seat to fly his son’s pet rabbit, using campaign donors’ funds. The next protest in East County is planned on March 21: See: https://www.indivisiblensdc.org/ and https://actionnetwork.org/events/dirty-duncan-protest-in-el-cajon-2 On Thursday, April 20, five candidates running against Hunter will speak at the East County Democratic Club meeting at 1150 East Broadway in El Cajon. Dinner and social hour starts at 6 p.m. with speakers at 7 p.m. followed by questions form the ECDC club leaders and audience members. The candidates are Gloria Chadwick, a nurse and elected director on the Grossmont Health Care District Board, Patrick Malloy, a realtor who previously ran against Hunter, Josh Butner, a member of the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District board, Chris Dalton (no information provided yet) and Pierre Beauregard whose colorful resume includes experience as a Vietnam veteran, peace activist, cowboy, biologis and physician associate. Those are just the Democrats. The Libertarians are likely to run a candidate and it’s possible one or more Republican primary challengers could emerge. There’s even a documentary film maker making a movie about the race, though it won’t hit theaters until after the 2018 election. You may want to grab popcorn, since the campaign road show is gearing up to be one of the most active—and entertaining–in recent memory.
FLYING HIGH: ELLEN OCHOA NAMED TO U.S. ASTRONAUT HALL OF FAME
By Miriam Raftery Photo: NASA March 18, 2017 (La Mesa) — I remember Ellen Ochoa from our student days at Parkway Junior High School. She was brilliant, having already skipped two grades and still maintaining an “A” average. So, I’m not surprised at her stellar career, which included becoming the first Hispanic woman astronaut in space and now, induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Congratulations to a true local hero! Ochoa is a graduate of Grossmont High School, earned a bachelor’s in physics degree from San Diego State University, as well as masters and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. She participated in four space shuttle missions, including the first docking mission with the International Space Station. Today, she is director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. “I’m honored to be recognized among generations of astronauts who were at the forefront of exploring our universe for the benefit of humankind,” Ochoa said, SDSU reports. “I hope to continue to inspire our nation’s youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math so they, too, may reach for the stars.” She has previously been recognized with NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award for senior executives in the federal government. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and chairs the Nomination Evaluation Committee for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Locally, she’s been inducted into the Grossmont High School Hall of Honor in 2010 and was named an SDSU Distinguished Alumna of the Year in 1995.
TRUMP’S PROPOSED BUDGET COULD THREATEN HUNTING AND FISHING’S FUTURE
Deep cuts at the agencies responsible for conservation and sportsmen’s access would be felt in every corner of the country East County News Service March 18, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — Hunters and anglers would find less healthy habitat and more public access closures under President Trump’s proposed budget, officially released this morning. In fact, the ripple effect of major budget cuts at the agencies that oversee conservation in America would likely be felt most in the rural communities that thrive off outdoor recreation spending related to public lands and other hunting and fishing access. “With the magnitude of these cutbacks—12 percent at the Department of the Interior alone—the conservation legacy left to us by Theodore Roosevelt and others would be undone very quickly, and the effects would be felt on public and private lands and waters in every corner of the nation,” says Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Several key programs with direct benefits to local communities, such as the Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes program and the USDA’s Farm Bill service centers, would be significantly slashed. Restoration programs for the Chesapeake Bay watershed and invasive species removal efforts in the Great Lakes would be eliminated entirely.” The 12-percent cut at DOI would trim $1.5 billion in funding to the agencies largely responsible for public lands. Onshore and offshore energy development under DOI’s jurisdiction would get an increase. The U.S. Department of Agriculture budget would be cut by 21 percent or $4.7 billion, and the Environmental Protection Agency budget would be cut by 31 percent or $2.6 billion. The Land and Water Conservation Fund—the single most important federal program for enhancing habitat and sportsmen’s access with funding from offshore oil and gas receipts—would be cut to pay for basic operations and maintenance, which should be a core budgeting responsibility, a press release from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership states. It adds, “Undermanned agencies could be faced with the choice to close down access points, stop habitat management, or place heavy financial burdens on the states, which sets a dangerous precedent for the transfer of management authority on America’s public lands. The budget proposal actually indicates that state and local governments will have increased responsibility for the execution of federal programs. Expecting cash-strapped states to pay for natural resources, a critical part of the federal-state partnership, is troublesome and may lead to less management, less enforcement, and stressed fish and wildlife populations.” To compound matters, two key programs providing tax payments to local counties with public lands—Payments in Lieu of Taxes and the National Wildlife Refuge Fund—would get less or no funding at all, perhaps breeding even more unrest in Western states with a large proportion of federal public lands. President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal does allow agencies to have a great deal of discretion in how to implement cuts. The proposal does not include revenue projections or policy statements, and there is no language addressing mandatory spending. Agencies fear that detailed guidance will reveal even deeper cutbacks on the things that sportsmen care about. “A much larger hit could still be coming, and with that there would be National Wildlife Refuge closures nationwide,” says Desiree Sorenson-Groves, vice president of government affairs at the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “There simply wouldn’t be enough staff or funding to keep hunting and fishing access open or to run education and volunteer programs. Even if states were able to help a little, they don’t have enough funding to take over every program currently paid for by the federal government.” Read TRCP’s fact sheet on specific conservation programs called out in Trump’s FY2018 budget request.
ST. PAWTRICK’S DAY PHOTO BOOTH AT HARRY GRIFFEN PARK
By Miriam Raftery March 18, 2017 (La Mesa)—If you’d like an Irish-themed photo with your dogs, stop by the first-ever holiday photo booth today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. just outside the dog run, on the grass, at Harry Griffen Park (9950 Milden St.) in La Mesa . You’ll find props, clothes and signs to put you and your pups in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit – free of charge, thanks to the nonprofit Canine Corners board. Join the fun and your dog could be featured in next year’s calendar to benefit Canine Corners.
ATKINS BILLS TO PROTECT SAN DIEGO RIVER, FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVANCE IN LEGISLATURE
View a video on the San Diego River Conservancy’s report to the Legislature March 18, 2017 (Sacramento) — This week, two bills authored by Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) cleared key policy committees and moved on to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. One wil help enhance portions of the San Diego River in East County. The other provides funding to build affordable housing. On Tuesday, SB 214 passed through the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on an 8-1 vote. The bill strengthens the capacity of the San Diego River Conservancy to protect and enhance historic, cultural, and natural resources within the watershed along the 52-mile San Diego River. SB 214 adds representation from the city of Santee and the Kumeyaay Diegeno Land Conservancy to the conservancy’s Board of Directors, and provides the conservancy with greater ability to engage in climate-change projects and environmental-justice programs and enter into joint power agreements. On Wednesday, SB 2, the Building Homes and Jobs Act, made it through the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on a 5-2 vote. The bill creates a permanent source of funding for affordable housing, through a small document recording fee on certain real-estate transactions, excluding residential and commercial property sales. The Appropriations Committee is the last stop for legislation on the path to the Senate floor. Bills that pass the full Senate then move on to the state Assembly. Website of Senator Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins