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BREAKING NEWS: HOUSE PASSES LANDMARK HEALTHCARE BILL; LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES DIVIDED

Printer-friendly version  November 8, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable Healthcare for All Act last night by a 220-215 margin.  Local Democratic representatives Bob Filner and Susan Davis voted for the landmark measure, while local Republicans Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa and Brian Bilbray voted no.    In the House, only a single Republican (Joseph Cao of New Orleans)

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OFF TO THE RACES….SOAPBOX RACING FINALS TODAY IN LA MESA

Printer-friendly version    November 8, 2009 (La Mesa) –“If Bryce Taylor can do it, I can do it.”   That’s been the attitude among many area youngsters as they prepared to compete in two days of Soap Box Derby Rally Races, with the final rounds today. The event is sponsored by Drew Ford and the Kiwanis Club of La Mesa. The race

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BETWEEN WILDFIRES: GET RID OF EMBER CATCHERS

Printer-friendly version  By Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., M.B.A., wildfire ecologist and educator, and retired Forest Supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest   November 7, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Embers are mostly to blame in structural losses from wildfires! Recent wildfire damage assessments have shown that most structures ignite from embers landing in or on combustible materials of a house (entering the attic

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2 RESCUED FROM OVERTURNED VEHICLE IN LAKESIDE

Printer-friendly version Story by Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District Photos by Firefighter-Paramedic Steve Russo, Lakeside Fire Protection District Winter Gardens: On November 7th, at 10:54 AM, units from the Lakeside Fire District were dispatched to a “Rescue Vehicle Accident” in the 8600 block of Winter Gardens Blvd. On arrival crews discovered a vehicle still on it’s roof with

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TRADE IN YOUR HOLIDAY LIGHTS FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT LEDS–FREE!

Printer-friendly version WSDG&E® is exchanging up to three old holiday light strands for an equal number of complimentary color light-emitting diode (LED) holiday light strands to customers throughout San Diego County. SDG&E® and its community partners are hosting eight light exchanges throughout the County, ringing in energy savings and increased safety for the holiday season.     No Cost LED

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CHARGERS AND MTS PARTNER FOR “STUFF THE BUS” FOOD DRIVE

Printer-friendly version Need for food in East County cities rises sharply   November 7, 2009 (San Diego) — The San Diego Chargers and Metropolitan Transit Service are partnering to run a series of food drives starting Nov. 10 and ending with a game day food drive at the Chargers vs. Philadelphia game at Qualcomm Stadium Nov. 15. Starting Tuesday, Nov. 10 MTS

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EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP: NOVEMBER 7, 2009

Printer-friendly version                                                          East County Roundup Includes the Most Important Stories About East County, or relevant to our readers, published by other media. Top stories from the past month include:       • Motorist to stand trial in young mother’s death • Obama ushers in a new era for Indian Country • Local GOP party calls

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TRIO OF FIRES IN LAKESIDE CAUSE ONE DEATH; SHERIFF’S INVESTIGATING “SUSPICIOUS” BLAZE

Printer-friendly version November 6, 2009 (Lakeside) – Three fires last night in Lakeside are under investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, East County Magazine has learned.     A traffic accident in the 9500 block of Blossom Valley Road last night sparked a fire which spread into trees. Alpine Fire District and Cal Fire responded to the blaze and determined that

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AMA AND AARP ENDORSE HEALTHCARE REFORM PROPOSAL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS, LOCAL LEADERS WEIGH IN

Printer-friendly version  HUNTER AFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO PUBLIC OPTION; OTHERS OBJECT TO DROPPING AMENDMENT TO LET STATES PASS STRONGER HEALTHCARE REFORMS By Miriam Raftery   November 5, 2009 – The Democratic-sponsored healthcare measure currently before Congress got a booster shot today with the endorsement of two major groups, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).   The American Medical

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THREE ARRESTED IN HEALTHCARE PROTEST AT SAN DIEGO BLUE CROSS

Printer-friendly version November 5, 2009 (San Diego) – Mary Bell, 25, cannot get health insurance anymore since overcoming a kidney infection two years ago. On Monday, Bell and two others (photo, left) were arrested following a three-day vigil at Blue Cross in San Diego. Blue Cross executives declined to meet with the protesters, who sought to ask the insurance giant

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Tensions with Greenland rise: the United States is escalating conflict globally

Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr January 8, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) — After repeated threats by Trump administration officials to invade Greenland by military force if necessary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers the President hopes to purchase Greenland, not attack it. Rubio’s statement came after  Denmark’s Defense Ministry’s confirmation that its military is under a standing order to “shoot

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services changes recommended vaccine schedule for children

Printer-friendly version HHS justifies its decision, but health experts  including American Academy of Pediatrics criticizes action By G.A. McNeeley January 8, 2026 (Washington D.C.) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  on January 5 announced that it is slashing the number of diseases for which vaccines are recommended for children from 17 to 11. The action drew swift condemnation from

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San Diego Automotive Museum to hold “Garage Night” fundraiser

Printer-friendly versionEvening event at new IGNITE Academy campus (see photo, left, showing students from the academy) will support automotive career training for local youth East County News Service Jan. 7, 2026 (Santee) — The San Diego Automotive Museum will host its first Garage Night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at the recently opened IGNITE Academy campus, 8630 Argent St.

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Helix High cheer team reaches summit — and looking for support

Printer-friendly versionLa Mesa squad wins first CIF championship, now sets sights on national competition in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Helix High Cheer Team East County News Service Jan. 7, 2026 (La Mesa)  — After three consecutive years of finishing as runners-up, the Helix Charter High School competitive cheer team finally reached the top of the podium, capturing first place in

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Calif. Attorney General Bonta wins permanent injunction against Trump administration over unlawful NIH funding cuts for universities and research institutions

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 6, 2026 (San Diego) – A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has unanimously affirmed a lower court decision which permanently barred the Trump administration from decimating funds that supported cutting-edge research and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country — including at the University of

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Passages: Dr. Harry Paul Cuero Jr., former Campo tribal chair

Printer-friendly versionPhoto via SDSU  2011 news release January 6, 2026 (Campo) – Dr. Harry Paul Cuero Jr., former chair of the Campo Band of the Kumeyaay nation, spiritual leader and educator dedicated to preserving Kumeyaay sovereignty culture and leading efforts to share indigenous Bird Songs with future generations, died on December 6 at age 65. Cuero, known as Junior, dedicated

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Local leaders lost in 2025

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Updated January 6 to add two leaders whose December deaths we learned of after this was originally published.  January 1, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — Our region lost leaders in many fields during 2025 – two tribal chairmen, La Mesa’s long-serving Mayor, a Chaldean bishop, a Padres pitching star, a Lemon Grove Councilman,  a Congressman

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Dog training tips from the San Diego Humane Society

Printer-friendly versionSan Diego Humane Society shares how to start the new year on the right paw. Photo courtesy SDHS East County News Service Jan. 5, 2026 (San Diego County) — Behavior challenges left unaddressed can become the reason dog owners surrender their pet to a shelter like the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. With January being National

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Unidentified man struck, killed by vehicle in La Mesa on January 1

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 5, 2026 (La Mesa) – An unidentified male pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 8 east in La Mesa, west of Jackson Drive.  California Highway Patrol Officers responding to a call found him lying in the roadway at 1:20 a.m. on New Year’s morning. He died of his injuries

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