January 2025

Source: America’s Voice

January 29, 2025 (Washington, DC) — Yesterday delivered several reminders that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda is sweeping in its scope, harm and indiscriminate nature, viewing all immigrants here without legal status as “criminal” and comfortable in the reality that U.S. citizens and tribal members are among those being targeted and detained in their early enforcement efforts. These fresh reminders, detailed below, follow our assessment yesterday that highlighted the indiscriminate nature of the early Trump administration’s deportation agenda.  

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt [Inaccurately] Calls All Immigrants Here without Status Criminals: As Axios recapped, “In her first White House briefing, Leavitt falsely labeled all 3,500 immigrants arrested for suspicion of being in the country illegally ‘criminals.’ Being in the country illegally is a civil violation, not a criminal one, and the individuals who were arrested have not been convicted of a crime … Asked by a reporter how many of the 3,500 immigrants arrested since Trump took office have criminal records, Leavitt said, ‘all of them because they illegally broke our nation’s laws.’” Keep in mind that this characterization would apply to Dreamers, TPS holders, those who arrived legally, heads of mixed immigration status households, and long-settled and deeply rooted undocumented immigrants who currently have no path to become legal residents of the nation they’ve long called home.
• U.S. Citizen Family in Milwaukee Detained by ICE After Speaking Spanish: In Milwaukee, the local Telemundo affiliate details the story of a Puerto Rican family – inherently U.S. citizens – detained by ICE after being heard speaking Spanish. As Adrian Carrasquillo of The Bulwark recapped, “Another PUERTO RICAN family detained, a man tells Telemundo his sister, her mother in law, & a child were taken by ICE in Milwaukee & driven to facility where his sister explained they’re US CITIZENS. ICE response to this flagrant violation? ‘Sorry’.”
• More Than a Dozen Indigenous Peoples Racially Profiled and Asked to Produce Proof of Citizenship: At least 15 Diné/Navajo and other Indigenous tribal citizens in the Southwest have been questioned, detained, or asked to provide proof of citizenship, forcing panicked tribal leaders to reach out to DHS and the governors of Arizona and New Mexico, CNN reports. “My office has received multiple reports from Navajo citizens that they have had negative, and sometimes traumatizing, experiences with federal agents targeting undocumented immigrants in the Southwest,” the Office of Navajo President Buu Nygren said in a statement, and urged members to carry documentation including Certificates of Indian blood.

According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:  

“Tom Homan has promised ‘no one is off the table,’ which apparently means U.S. citizens, those who arrived legally, parents of U.S. citizen kids, and anyone speaking Spanish, judging by the terrifying story out of Milwaukee. Now, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is confirming Homan’s promises and falsely alleging that civil immigration violators are ‘criminal’ actions. The cruelty, chaos, and costs of this indiscriminate enforcement agenda – for the nation, not just immigrants – is a feature and not a bug of the Trump team’s approach and will wreak havoc on families, communities, industries, and core American values if unchecked.”

As AV noted yesterday, already on display is fear in schools and churches and among K-12 educators and religious leaders. Employers, including those in restaurants, food services, and other sectors of our economy that rely on immigrant labor, are worried about their workforce. And those already targeted for enforcement include families who arrived here legally, as well as U.S. citizens being profiled and detained due to their ethnicity. In addition to the Milwaukee example, the troubling details of last week’s Newark, NJ ICE raid – which led to the detention of a U.S. military veteran and U.S. citizen – was a snapshot of the types of indiscriminate enforcement we fear the Trump administration is seeking to turbocharge. 

East County News Service

January 29, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The City of Lemon Grove is now accepting applications for residents and business owners interested in serving on the Measure T Oversight Committee. Applications will be accepted beginning January 27, 2025, through February 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

The Measure T Oversight Committee is being established following the approval of Measure T – the Lemon Grove Sales Tax Measure – by voters in the November 5, 2024 State General Election. This measure, which is formally known as Ordinance No. 466, added Chapter 3.18 to the Lemon Grove Municipal Code, and mandates the formation of an oversight committee to monitor the implementation of Measure T funds.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• 18 years or older by the time of appointment
• Applicants may be residents or business owners within the City of Lemon Grove

The Measure T Oversight Committee will consist of five members. Interested candidates must submit their application by February 20, 2025. On February 25, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., applicants will have the opportunity to present their qualifications to the City Council during a Special City Council Meeting. A random drawing will determine the order of presentations, followed by potential questions from the Council. The final selection of the five committee members will take place during the Regular City Council Meeting on March 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

Key Dates:

• Application Period: Monday, January 27 – Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
• Special City Council Meeting (Applicant Presentations): Monday, February 25, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
• Regular City Council Meeting (Appointments): Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

Applications are available at the City Clerk’s Office, located at 3232 Main Street, Lemon Grove, CA 91945, or on the City’s website at https://www.lemongrove.ca.gov/our-government/office-of-the-city-clerk/

For additional information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (619) 825-3841 or visit the City’s website.

East County News Service

January 29, 2025 (Santee) – Bring your dog for fun times at Fido Fest, or adopt a furry companion from rescue groups.  The city of Santee event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive East in Santee.

Contests will be held for the biggest and smallest dogs, best costume, and best trick. There will also be “arfs” and crafts, demonstrations, off-leash areas, vendors and giveaways.

Dogs attending must be social and friendly with other dogs and people, and comfortable in large groups.

Dogs who display aggressive behavior, as determined by  City of Santee volunteers or staff, will be asked to leave.

Dogs must be up to date on vaccinations. This means puppies must be over 4 months old and have completed their full set of puppy vaccinations, including rabies.

All dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.

Dogs must also be ready to have a good time, exhibited by lots of tail wagging!

For a list of adoption groups and event details, visit https://www.cityofsanteeca.gov/calendar/events/fido-fest/45710.

Source:  San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

January 29, 2025 (San Diego) - The San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcomes guests aged 65 and older to enjoy free admission throughout February during Seniors Free Month. To participate, guests 65 and older simply need to present a valid photo ID upon arrival. Visitors can immerse themselves in the Safari Park’s vast 1,800-acre landscape, home to over 3,000 animals representing more than 300 species, alongside a botanical collection featuring over 1.3 million plants. This unique experience provides educational opportunities and unforgettable moments for all ages.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Opponents of resolution rallied Monday in El Cajon; CBS 8 video screenshot

Read the revised resolution on pages 57-59 from City Council agenda attachments

January 28, 2025 (El Cajon) – A crowd of about 75people opposed to mass deportations held a rally outside El Cajon’s City Hall yesterday to speak out against Mayor Bill Wells’ proposed resolution for the city to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The City Council will hold a hearing today at 3 p.m. on the controversial measure.

Changes have been made since the last meeting, adding praise for the city’s “vibrant and diverse immigrant communities” but also declaring the city’s intent to “comply with federal immigration law to the legal extent permissible under SB 54 and other applicable laws to remove violent criminals from our community.” SB 54 is a state law which prohibits cities from turning anyone over to federal immigration authorities unless they have been convicted in court of committed certain serious felony crimes, such as murder or rape. 

But President Donald Trump has declared a border emergency and  ordered immigration officials to conduct broad sweeps in immigrant communities. In recent days, people including citizens have been stopped,  asked for documents to prove citizenship, and many have been detained. Trump has stated his goal is to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.—going far beyond the small percentage convicted of felonies.

His administration has set forth quotas to arrest 1,000 to 15,000 immigrants daily, 75 for each Border Patrol district every day. Agents have been going into shopping areas, fields, and are now authorized to enter schools, churches, and hospitals to arrest immigrants.  Trump has also voiced his intent to denaturalize some citizens and to revoke legal status for some immigrants with special protected status, such as Haitians.

Might the Trump administration in the future ask local cities and police to assist in handing over citizens whose legal status has been arbitrarily revoked? What if Trump revokes legal status for Iraqi and Afghan immigrants granted special protected status for helping our military? Already, Trump has blocked flights for Afghans and others granted refugee status, including some who helped our military and could face death if returned to their homeland, as well as family members of active duty U.S. military.

Mayor Bill Wells notes that the Trump administration has threatened to arrest city officials who don’t cooperate on immigration arrests, while state law mostly prohibits this, putting cities “between a rock and a hard place.” The city sent a letter to California Attorney General Rob Bonta seeking clarification on the city’s legal obligations regarding immigration, and whether the state would indemnify the city if it did not comply with federal orders. Bonta has sent a reply, which included a long list of links and information, but did more to muddy the waters than clarify the points raised.

He added in a CBS interview,“If someone commits a crime, and we catch them...we should be able to tell ICE what is going on.”  That goes against the principle in the U.S. that a person is presumed innocent until a judge or jury finds them guilty of a crime.  Detention or deportation without a trial raises the specter of  what has happened under third-world dictatorships in some countries, where thousands of people have disappeared after being merely accused of crimes, including political dissidents.

“The people, divided, will never be united,” the crowd chanted at yesterday’s rally.

Some voiced fear or anger over the proposed resolution. A woman named Violet, whose last name was not provided, tearfully said a friend was just picked up by immigration authorities.  She shared a cell phone photo showing Border Patrol officers in El Cajon.

Others voiced fear of being stopped and asked for papers to prove citizenship, an action that arguably violates the 4^th Amendment ban on warrantless searches. One rally participant suggested that if this goes through, the Mayor and Councilmembers will lose in the next election.

Some Councilmembers have voiced concerns over the resolution.

Councilmember Michelle Metschel noted that a resolution is not needed to affirm public safety or seek clarification on the laws from state or federal authorities. She noted that many who spoke against the resolution had voiced legitimate fears, the said, ”I originally signed on to support this,” she said of the resolution, “but as an adult and a representative of my community, I’m entitled to chance my mind as I get more information and as people talk to me,” Metschel added, drawing applause. “These are the heart and soul of what we’re representing,” she said of the speakers present. “I am elected to support them.”

At the last Council meeting on January 14, as ECM reported,  Vice Mayor Gary Kendrick revealed, “My mother was living in Czechoslovakia in 1939 when Hitler came in. They said `Jews have to wear yellow stars, but that’s all that we’re doing.’ Then the Gestapo came for her boss, they dragged him out of the office to wash cars, then they dragged him out again and nobody ever saw him again...I’m very concerned about civil rights, because things tend to creep along and get worse..”

Kendrick also praised immigrants for their contributions to the community and agreed with earlier speakers who said if police are cooperating in turning undocumented immigrants over for deportation, many El Cajon residents would be afraid to come forward to report crimes if they are victims or witnesses. ““I don’t want people living here in fear,” he concluded.

Supporters and opponents of the resolution are expected to turn out in force at today's City Council meeting, which will be held at 3 p.m. at El Cajon City  County Chambers, 200 Civic Center Way in downtown El Cajon.

"The victory of freeing Leonard Peltier is a symbol of our collective strength—and our resistance will never stop," vowed one Indigenous organizer.

By Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams

January 28, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - Just minutes before leaving office, Joe Biden on Monday commuted the life prison sentence of Leonard Peltier, the elderly American Indian Movement activist who supporters say was framed for the murder of two federal agents during a 1975 reservation shootout.

This article first appeared in Common Dreams and is featured in East County Magazine under a Creative Commons license.

January 28, 2025 -- As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• U.S. puts virtually all foreign aid on 90-day hold, issues 'stop-work' order (NPR)
• DOJ halts legal programs for detained immigrants, cuts off advocates’ access to facilities (Los Angeles Times)
• Trump uses mass firing to remove independent inspectors general at a series of agencies  (AP)
• Vice President Vance casts tie-breaking Senate vote to narrowly confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary  (CNN)
• Trump launches crypto meme coin, ballooning net worth ahead of inauguration (Politico)
• Top 5 takeaways from Jack Smith's final report on Trump's Jan. 6 case  (Axios)
• Jen Rubin exits Washington Post, joins Norm Eisen to launch new outlet countering ‘authoritarian threat’ (CNN)
• Supreme Court declines to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits (AP)
• Judge bars Rhodes, other Oath Keepers from entering DC without court permission (The Hill)
• Trump was sentenced to ‘unconditional discharge.’ Here’s what that means. (Politico)
• Biden says Equal Rights Amendment is ratified, kicking off expected legal battle as he pushes through final executive actions (CNN)
• Biden Aides Warned Putin as Russia’s Shadow War Threatened Air Disaster (New York Times)
• Biden pardons Fauci and Milley in an effort to guard against potential 'revenge' by Trump (AP)

WORLD

• Palestinians return to Gaza City as mediators look ahead to next stage (Reuters)
• Mexico refuses to accept a U.S. deportation flight (NBC News)
• What to Know About the U.S.-Colombia Clash Over Deportations and Tariffs (Time)
• Danish PM says Europe must ‘stand together’ as Trump threatens Greenland (Guardian)
• Sweden seizes vessel suspected of 'sabotage' after undersea data cable rupture in Baltic Sea (AP)
• 'It starts now': South Korea's President Yoon defiant as police closed in (Reuters)
• Zelensky offers exchange of North Korean soldiers (BBC)
• Gunman shoots dead 2 judges in Iran's capital tied to 1988 mass executions (AP)
• Nigeria is admitted as a partner country of the BRICS bloc (AP)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

U.S.

U.S. puts virtually all foreign aid on 90-day hold, issues 'stop-work' order (NPR)

 NPR - Virtually all aid programs around the world that depend on U.S. funding will need to halt their operations because of a State Department memo issued on Friday to "stop work."  The internal memo, obtained by NPR, expands on President Trump's executive order, issued on Monday, to freeze foreign assistance for 90 days.

DOJ halts legal programs for detained immigrants, cuts off advocates’ access to facilities (Los Angeles Times)

 Lawyers providing detainees with basic legal information in federal immigration detention centers were shut out of facilities last week after the U.S. Department of Justice halted several federally funded programs. One program provided lawyers to children in deportation proceedings and another dispensed basic legal information.

Trump uses mass firing to remove independent inspectors general at a series of agencies  (AP)

The Trump administration has fired about 17 independent inspectors general at government agencies, a sweeping action to remove oversight of his new administration that some members of Congress are suggesting violated federal oversight laws....Congress was not given the legally required 30-day notices about the removals — something that even a top Republican is decrying.

Vice President Vance casts tie-breaking Senate vote to narrowly confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary  (CNN)

The Senate narrowly voted to confirm embattled Pete Hegseth as secretary of the Department of Defense, in a major win for President Donald Trump and his new administration... Hegseth’s confirmation process has been mired in allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities, all of which he has denied. The Friday vote marked a significant victory for the Trump administration, which has gone to the mat backing Hegseth as its nominee, despite his lack of experience and allegations against him.  

Trump launches crypto meme coin, ballooning net worth ahead of inauguration (Politico)

Politico - A president-elect launching a new business product is a highly unusual move, and it is a major concern for ethics watchdogs.  President-elect Donald Trump late Friday launched a cryptocurrency token that exploded in value overnight, potentially increasing his net worth by tens of billions of dollars on paper just days before he is set to be sworn in as president.

Top 5 takeaways from Jack Smith's final report on Trump's Jan. 6 case  (Axios)

resident-elect Trump engaged in an "unprecedented criminal effort" to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Special Counsel Jack Smith alleged in the final report of his investigation into Trump's election subversion case. The report's release early Tuesday came despite Trump's legal efforts to block it. .. Smith remained convinced he could have convicted Trump for his alleged efforts to subvert to the 2020 election if the case had gone to trial.  A Justice Department policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president doesn't change the "gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution," Smith wrote.

Biden Aides Warned Putin as Russia’s Shadow War Threatened Air Disaster (New York Times)

After innocent-looking cargo shipments began catching fire at airports and warehouses in Germany, Britain and Poland over the summer, there was little doubt in Washington and Europe that Russia was behind the sabotage. But in August, White House officials became increasingly alarmed by secretly obtained intelligence suggesting Moscow had a far larger plan in mind: bringing the war in Ukraine to American shores... While the main concern was cargo planes, sometimes passenger planes take smaller packages in spare space in their cargo holds.

Biden pardons Fauci and Milley in an effort to guard against potential 'revenge' by Trump (AP)

Joe Biden, in one of his final acts as president, pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, in an extraordinary use of executive power to guard against potential “revenge” by the new Trump administration.

Jen Rubin exits Washington Post, joins Norm Eisen to launch new outlet countering ‘authoritarian threat’ (CNN)

Veteran opinion columnist Jennifer Rubin is becoming the latest in a long list of Washington Post figures to leave the troubled institution.  Rubin is partnering with former White House ethics czar Norm Eisen and launching something new: a startup publication called The Contrarian.

Supreme Court declines to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits (AP)

The Supreme Court said Monday it won’t hear an appeal from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change.  The order allows the city of Honolulu’s lawsuit against oil and gas companies to proceed...The industry has faced a series of cases alleging it deceived the public about how fossil fuels contribute to climate change. Governments in states including California, Colorado and New Jersey are seeking billions of dollars in damages from things like wildfires, rising sea levels and severe storms. 

Judge bars Rhodes, other Oath Keepers from entering DC without court permission (The Hill)

A federal judge on Friday barred Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and seven other members of the right-wing extremist group from entering Washington, D.C., without the court’s permission, days after President Trump commuted their sentences as part of sweeping clemency for those charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.  U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who oversaw the Oath Keepers conspiracy trials, also blocked the Oath Keepers from entering the U.S. Capitol or surrounding grounds without permission.

Trump was sentenced to ‘unconditional discharge.’ Here’s what that means. (Politico)

The president-elect’s sentence allows the guilty verdict to stand — but it is highly unusual for this type of crime.

Biden says Equal Rights Amendment is ratified, kicking off expected legal battle as he pushes through final executive actions (CNN)

President Joe Biden announced a major opinion Friday that the Equal Rights Amendment is ratified, enshrining its protections into the Constitution, a last-minute move that some believe could pave the way to bolstering reproductive rights. It will, however, certainly draw swift legal challenges – and its next steps remain extremely unclear as Biden prepares to leave office. Invoking President Dwight Eisenhower’s warnings about the rise of a military-industrial complex when he left office in 1961, Biden added, “I’m equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers to our country as well.”

WORLD

Palestinians return to Gaza City as mediators look ahead to next stage (Reuters)

Displaced Palestinians returning to their homes in Gaza City this week found a city in ruins after 15 months of fighting, with many seeking shelter amongst the rubble and searching for relatives lost in the chaotic return march.

Mexico refuses to accept a U.S. deportation flight (NBC News)

The Mexican government has criticized President Donald Trump's unilateral immigration actions, and the landing would have required Mexico's assistance.

What to Know About the U.S.-Colombia Clash Over Deportations and Tariffs (Time)

The White House claimed victory in a showdown with Colombia over accepting flights of deported migrants from the U.S. on Sunday, hours after President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on imports and other sanctions on the longtime U.S. partner.

Danish PM says Europe must ‘stand together’ as Trump threatens Greenland (Guardian)

The Danish prime minister said Europe must “stand together” in the face of changing relations with the US during a tour of Berlin, Paris and Brussels to shore up support amid Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland.  After weeks in the spotlight over the US president’s plan to take over the autonomous Danish territory, and days after a reportedly “horrendous” call with Trump, Mette Frederiksen went on the whistle-stop tour in an attempted show of unity. After meeting the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who said that “borders must not be moved by force”, Frederiksen said: “I want to ensure that all of Europe stands together.

Sweden seizes vessel suspected of 'sabotage' after undersea data cable rupture in Baltic Sea (AP) — Swedish prosecutors announced Sunday night that they have opened a preliminary investigation into suspected aggravated “sabotage” and ordered the detention of a vessel in the Baltic Sea suspected of damaging an underwater fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and the Swedish island of Gotland earlier that day…. identified as the Malta-flagged Vezhen… According to data from Vesselfinder, the vessel departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga several days earlier and was navigating between Gotland and Latvia at the time the damage was suspected of having occurred…. here have been previous incidents reported of ruptures of data cables running on the Baltic sea bed, allegedly linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

'It starts now': South Korea's President Yoon defiant as police closed in (Reuters)

As 3,000 riot police swarmed his hillside villa on Wednesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol huddled with party loyalists, telling them that people were increasingly realising the country's legal system had been hijacked by leftist forces. "People are now seeing how serious the situation is," the impeached president told the gathering, according to one lawmaker present, Yoon Sang-hyun.

Zelensky offers exchange of North Korean soldiers (BBC)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is willing to hand over two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. "For those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return, there may be other options available," Zelensky said on X. Those who want "to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean will be given that opportunity", he added. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said one of the two soldiers told officials he thought he was going to Russia for "training", rather than to fight.

Gunman shoots dead 2 judges in Iran's capital tied to 1988 mass executions (AP)

A man fatally shot two prominent hard-line judges in Iran’s capital Saturday, officials said, both of whom allegedly took part in the mass execution of dissidents in 1988. 

Nigeria is admitted as a partner country of the BRICS bloc (AP)

Nigeria has been admitted as a “partner country” of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, according to Brazil, the group’s chair.  BRICS was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009, with South Africa added in 2010, as a counterweight to the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations.

January 28, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Trump funding freeze could disrupt education, housing, disaster aid (Reuters)
• Nonprofits Sue Trump Administration Over Federal Grants Freeze (Democracy Docket)
• How are H5N9 and H5N1 different? What to know after California bird flu outbreak (CBS News)
• FDA recommends pet food companies revisit safety plans amid bird flu outbreak (NBC)  
• CDC staff ordered to cut off communication with WHO  (CBS News)
• Travel, grant and funding cuts ‘stifling’ US health agencies in new Trump era (Guardian)
• Norovirus cases are surging. A doctor explains what to look for (CNN)
• Wall Street Journal labels RFK Jr. ‘dangerous to public health’ ahead of hearings (The Hill)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Meta and Amazon axe diversity initiatives joining US corporate rollback   (BBC)

U.S. probes hacking campaign that targeted climate activists  (NPR)

The internet is forever. Or is it?  (NPR)

Trump says Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok  (BBC)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

HEALTH

Trump funding freeze could disrupt education, housing, disaster aid (Reuters)

President Donald Trump's White House ordered a pause in all federal grants and loans starting on Tuesday, a sweeping decision that could disrupt education, health care and poverty programs, housing assistance, disaster relief and a host of other initiatives that depend on trillions of federal dollars. The freeze followed Trump's suspension of foreign aid last week, a move that began cutting off the supply of lifesaving medicines on Tuesday to countries around the world that depend on U.S. development assistance.

Nonprofits Sue Trump Administration Over Federal Grants Freeze (Democracy Docket)

A coalition of nonprofits, public health organizations and small businesses filed a lawsuit to block the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo instructing a pause on all agency grants and loans.

 How are H5N9 and H5N1 different? What to know after California bird flu outbreak (CBS News)

California duck farm made headlines this week after the World Organization of Animal Health published a report by U.S. authorities that a strain of bird flu that scientists call H5N9 had been found among sick birds in the flock.

FDA recommends pet food companies revisit safety plans amid bird flu outbreak (NBC)

Cats appear to be especially vulnerable to the H5N1 virus. Since the current outbreak of H5N1 began in 2022, dozens of domestic and feral cats have been infected. Some farm cats got sick from drinking raw milk. Others died after eating raw pet food contaminated with the bird flu virus.

CDC staff ordered to cut off communication with WHO  (CBS News)

The directive to the CDC to halt communications with the World Health Organization was imposed to comply with President Trump's executive order last week... Former health officials tell CBS News they worry the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO could endanger efforts to respond to diseases, both undermining the U.N. agency and also making it harder for American officials to prepare. The first way U.S. officials would sometimes hear about worrying outbreaks was through the WHO, especially in countries wary of working with American authorities.

Travel, grant and funding cuts ‘stifling’ US health agencies in new Trump era (Guardian)

Halts to external communications, publishing reports and reviewing and approving research a ‘dramatic shift’

Norovirus cases are surging. A doctor explains what to look for (CNN)

A common stomach bug is surging, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the week of December 5, there were 91 outbreaks of norovirus reported...

Wall Street Journal labels RFK Jr. ‘dangerous to public health’ ahead of hearings (The Hill)

... “Most troubling is his long record of anti-vaccine advocacy,” the Journal wrote, noting the former presidential candidate has “tried to soften his vaccine skepticism since being nominated, and he now says he won’t take away anyone’s vaccines.” The Rupert Murdoch-owned outlet mentioned that Kennedy’s financial disclosures show he has “received millions of dollars from referring clients to Wisner Baum and Morgan & Morgan, law firms that have sued vaccine and drug makers. The risk is high that Mr. Kennedy will use his power and pulpit at HHS to enrich his trial-lawyer friends at the expense of public health and medical innovation,” the editorial board wrote.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Meta and Amazon axe diversity initiatives joining US corporate rollback   (BBC)

Meta and Amazon are axing their diversity programmes, joining firms across corporate America that are rolling back hiring and training initiatives criticised by conservatives, citing legal and political risks. The move comes just days after Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it was ending a fact-checking programme criticised by President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans.

U.S. probes hacking campaign that targeted climate activists  (NPR)

A yearslong U.S. Justice Department investigation of a global hacking campaign that targeted prominent American climate activists took a turn in a London court this week amid an allegation that the hacking was ordered by a lobbying firm working for ExxonMobil.

The internet is forever. Or is it?  (NPR)

NPR - There's a concept known as digital decay, which refers to online media just kind of disappearing for a variety of reasons. Pew recently did a study showing that about 40% of websites since about 2013 have just vanished. They are inaccessible. There's a maze of dead links that go nowhere.

Trump says Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok  (BBC)

US President Donald Trump has said Microsoft is in discussions to acquire TikTok and that he would like to see a "bidding war" over the sale of the social media app. Both Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden have been trying for years to force TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations on national security grounds. It comes as Trump signed an executive order last week to delay a Biden Administration ban on TikTok that briefly took the app offline for its 170m users in the United States.

Our guide to unique lodging and adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Bobbi Zane and Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

San Diego’s backcountry is home to mountains with hiking trails, miles and miles of pine and oak forests, wine regions, deserts, historic highways and rural areas --- known as the playground for San Diegans who want a close-to-home getaway. 

This beautiful country is mostly untouched by urban development. You can walk through forests, ride bikes on country lanes, horseback ride, pick apples in the fall, sample local wine, hike and dine in the great outdoors most of the year.

 East County Magazine's  Backcountry Hidden Pleasures series profiles weekend getaway destinations that you can find close to home in San Diego County's inland region, including lodging plus unique activities and attrations in each region.  We have visited them all.

It’s an hour’s drive or less from downtown to the mountains, where you can discover the hidden pleasures by checking into one of many bed and breakfast inns and lodges in Julian, Mount Laguna or Ramona. Elsewhere in our inland region, savor luxury at Native American casino resorts, visit historic lodges, stay at a winery, hot springs retreat, or lavender farm, visit our historic cities and an emerging restaurant row, or find spa pampering services, golf and tennis at hotels in Borrego Springs.

Your lodging options in our inland region also include campgrounds, tipis, "glamping" , cottages, vintage '50s trailers, and cabins afloat on a lake.

  Start your adventure by clicking here and scroll down to read our entries below!OUR REGIONS

Mountains and Gold Rush Region

San Diego's Mountain and Gold Rush Region (Gold Rush Region, Julian)

Mount Laguna: A place for all seasons (Laguna Mountain Lodge and Blue Jay Lodge, Mount Laguna)

Orchard Hill Country Inn:  Elegant and exclusive (Orchard Hill Country Inn, Julian)

Historic Haven: Julian Gold Rush Hotel (Julian Gold Rush Hotel, Julian)

What’s Up At Wikkup?  (Wikiup Bed and Breakfast, Julian)

A Jewel in the wilderness: Heise County Park (Heise Cuonty Park, Julian--cabins and campgrounds)

Stars lined up for perfect mountaintop camping (Burnt Rancheria campground, Mount Laguna)

Ramona Wine Region

Ramona wine region also has parks, preserves and historic sites to explore (Ramona)

Starry Night Inn: A winery vacation In Ramona (Starry Night Inn, Ramona)

A salute to reds, white and brews  (Ramona)

Marinade on Main: farm to table fresh cuisine (Ramona)

Rivers and Lakes Region

San Diego's river and lakes region: outdoor adventures and more (Lakeside, Santee and Barona)

Comfortable cabins at Santee Lakes--including floating lodging (cabins and camping at Santee Lakes, Santee)

Barona Resort: Vacation in the heart of Lakeside (Barona Resort, Barona Native American reservation, Lakeside)

Lake Jennings Tipi camping provides fun getaway (Tipi camping at Lake Jennings, Lakeside)

Desert Region

The beauty of Borrego (activities and attractions in Borrego Springs)

Day tripping in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park  (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park activities and attractions)

La Casa del Zorro: First and finest in the desert (La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa, Borrego Springs)

Borrego Valley Inn and Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort: Weekend getaways for stargazing couples and families (Borrego Springs)

The Patio Group to manage famed La Casa Del Zorro Resort & Spa in Borrego Springs (La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa, Borrego Springs)

Alpine-Mountain Empire Region (Southeast San Diego County)

Alpine Mountain Empire:  San Diego's Southeast region (Alpine)

Ayres Lodge Alpine: Gateway to San Diego's beautiful Backcountry (Ayres Lodge, Alpine)

Viejas celebrates grand opening of The Willows Hotel and Spa (The Willows, Viejas Native American reservation,Alpine)

Sycuan tops off high-rise resort Hotel (Sycuan Casino & Resort, Sycuan Reservation, Dehesa)

Cabins, camping and fishing are lures at Lake Morena County Park, gateway to Pacific Crest Trail (Lake Morena County Park and Campo attractions)

Healing waters at Jacumba Hot Springs Resort (Jacumba Hot Springs Resort, Jacumba Hot Springs)

High desert mountain yoga retreat (Desert View Tower, Jacumba Hot Springs)

Historic HIghway 94

Historic Highway 94:  traveling through time (Highway 94)

Enjoy a country stay at the Dulzura Winery guest house on historic Clark Ranch (Dulzura Winery Guest House, Dulzura and attractions on Highway 94)

Vineyard Hacienda: A secluded retreat along historic Highway 94 (Spring Valley)

Centennial Cities Region

Marriott Hotel, cornerstone of El Cajon's downtown redevelopment, celebrates grand opening (Marriott Hotel, El Cajon)

La Mesa: East County's emerging restaurant row (Holiday Inn, La Mesa)

Knox House Museum offers glimpse into El Cajon's historic past (Knox House Museum, El Cajon)

Lemon Grove mural wins award from Governor (Lemon Grove)

Northeast San Diego County

Valley Center's tribal casino resorts:  Getaway retreats in San Diego's northeast county (Harrah's Rincon and Valley View casino resorts, Valley Center)

Soothe away your cares at Keys Creek Lavender Farm (Yurts and cottages at Key's Creek Lavender Farm, Valley Center)

Bailey's Palomar Resort: A historic haven on Palomar Mountain (Bailey's Palomar Resort, Palomar Mountain)

East County Magazine gratefully acknowledges the County of San Diego for providing a Community Enhancement Grant to support our “Backcountry Hidden Pleasures” weekend getaways coverage.