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Christmas with the wild animals at Lions Tigers & Bears

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   Nov. 18, 2025 (Alpine) — Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego County’s lone accredited animal sanctuary is getting ready for the winter holidays.   The nonprofit organization is holding Christmas with the Animals Fundraiser in December at its 142-acre site in Alpine.   The event will include gift-giving, holiday lights and music, and will support

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Caltrans reduces parking in front of Descanso Junction and nearby businesses despite community concerns

Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow Photo:  new parking configuration in front of Descanso Junction eliminated two-thirds of spaces and left no disabled parking access.  Photos courtesy of Descanso Junction and Rett Lawrence, Mountain Views and News November 6, 2025 (Descanso) – The California Department of Transportation removed several parking spaces in front of Descanso Junction Restaurant and nearby businesses in late

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney dies: Republican leader changed history through a conservative lens but later criticized Trump, endorsing Harris

Printer-friendly versionRichard Bruce Cheney: January 30,1941— November 3, 2025 By Alexander J. Schorr Tuesday November 4, 2025— Former Vice President Dick Cheney died on November 3, 2025, at the age of 84. According to a statement from his family, the cause of death was the result of complications with pneumonia as well as cardiac and vascular disease. Cheney served two

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New affordable housing for veterans headed to Mission Gorge Road

Printer-friendly version By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office Video by José Eli Villanueva November 6, 2025 (San Diego) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for The Grant at Mission Trails, a 48-unit affordable housing development dedicated to current and former military members and families. Located in the Grantville neighborhood on Mission Gorge Road, the seven-story project will

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CAL FIRE announces statewide transition to new national emergency reporting system

Printer-friendly versionSource:  CAL FIRE November 5, 2025 (Sacramento) –  Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced today that fire departments across the state are beginning the transition to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), a secure, cloud-based platform built to modernize how emergency incidents are reported and analyzed. Departments across the country are onboarding to NERIS as part

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Larry Cohen named new County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Printer-friendly version    East County News Service   Nov. 5, 2025 (San Diego County) — San Diego County has a new Treasurer-Tax Collector to fill the void of Dan McAllister, who retired earlier this year.   The County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Larry Cohen to fill the position of Treasurer-Tax Collector for McAllister who retired Aug. 2.  

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Voters overwhelmingly approve Prop 50 redistricting and recall of Poway Councilmember

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery November 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Voters in California, including San Diego, have decisively approved Proposition 50, which will allow temporary redistricting of the state’s Congressional districts for the next five years. Poway voters also opted overwhelmingly to oust scandal-plagued District 2 Councilmember Tony Blain by an 81% to 19% margin. Blain is facing felony

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Community input sought for Lakeside’s transportation future

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   Nov. 4, 2025 (Lakeside) – The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) is inviting all Lakeside residents and community stakeholders to a public meeting to discuss local transportation needs and potential solutions.   The meeting, set for 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Lakeside Community Center, is part

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SEN. JONES’ BILL TO END ELDERLY PAROLE FOR VIOLENT SEX OFFENDERS PASSES KEY SENATE COMMITTEE

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo snip of Jones with San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan (right) courtesy California State Republicans YouTube channel April 16, 2025 (Sacramento, CA) — In February, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 286, to close what he called a “dangerous loophole” in California’s Elderly Parole program that allows violent sex offenders

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CA SENATOR SCHIFF INTRODUCES FIREWALL ACT

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo: Getty Fire, courtesy of LA Fire April 14, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) has introduced his first bill.  The Firewall Act aims to help homeowners hit by climate-fueled disasters such as recent Southern California fires. It would provide a tax credit for upgrades to make houses more resilient. “By getting

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WINDY AND WET WEATHER FORECAST; SNOW POSSIBLE IN MOUNTAINS

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 14, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – As a cooling trend continues, the National Weather Service predicts strong winds, rain, and snow for our mountain areas later this week. There is a chance of rain countywide and mountain snow on Thursday, increasing on Friday, with possible rain in the mountains as late as Saturday morning.

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MAN SHOT AFTER ALTERCATION IN EL CAJON

Printer-friendly version East County News Service April 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon  Police homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting.  Officers responded to call reporting the shooting in the 1100 block of East Madison Ave. at 9:47 p.m. last night. “Officers arrived on the scene within minutes and located an adult male in a parking lot suffering from

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TRUMP PAUSES MOST TARIFFS FOR 90 DAYS AFTER BACKLASH, BUT STIFF TARIFFS ON CHINESE GOODS REMAIN

Printer-friendly versionEast County business leaders speak out on impacts of tariffs By G. A. McNeeley  April 14, 2025 (San Diego) – On Wednesday, April 9, President Donald Trump temporarily dropped tariff rates on imports from most of the United States’ trade partners to 10% (for 90 days), to allow trade negotiations with those countries.    Trump announced the pause hours

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EARTHQUAKE NEAR RAMONA SHUTS DOWN HIGHWAY 76

Printer-friendly versionLast updated April 14, 2025 8 p.m including reports from readers, local authorities, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. April 14, 2025 (Ramona) — A 5.2 earthquake struck at 10:08 a.m  about 2  miles south of Julian. The jolt was felt across the county, knocking pictures off walls and bottles off shelves at homes in La Mesa. California

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SAN DIEGO SLAMS SHUTOUT, IMPROVES TO 13-3 IN RED-HOT START

Printer-friendly versionPadres lead NL west division in team’s best season start By Karen Pearlman Photo courtesy of San Diego Padres: Winning pitcher Michael King gets Gatorade ice bath after complete-game shutout of Colorado Rockies Sunday at Petco Park April 13, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego Padres are all alone in first place in the National League West, above

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RESIDENTS CHARGED UP OVER PROSPECT OF BATTERY STORAGE SITE IN LA MESA NEIGHBORHOOD

Printer-friendly versionStory and Photos By Karen Pearlman   April 11, 2025  (La Mesa) —  “No matter how it’s sugarcoated, battery storage facilities are dystopian looking, loud, detrimental to real estate values and potentially deadly,” La Mesa City Councilmember Laura Lothian says.   For several years, Lothian (pictured above, with Heartland Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Bent Koch) has been a

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SANTEE SELF FUNDS $23.5M COMMUNITY CENTER; DELAYS VOTE ON PAY HIKE

Printer-friendly version  By Mike Allen Image: Rendering of planned community center   April 10, 2025 (Santee) — The Santee City Council did a bit of creative financing to fund a planned community center at its April 9 meeting.   The project, behind the Cameron YMCA that has been planned for some 20 years, could go out to bid by this

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