Thanks To Our Sponsors
Be a sponsor!
Breaking News
Explore What Matters
News Center
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division
News Issues
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division
Politics
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Supporters flee Swalwell’s governor campaign amid allegations of sexual assault
Printer-friendly versionBy Jeanne Kuang and Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: U.S. Rep. Eric
Wildfires and Emergencies
Cal State University San Marcos and nearby homes evacuated due to brush fire
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts April 5, 2026 (San Marcos) – The #MoreeFire in San Marcos has led to evacuations, including the California State…
Help shape fire priorities in San Diego County
East County News Service April 4, 2026 (San Diego County) — With “fire season” now a year-round threat, public input is growing in importance as…
Events & Arts
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
Visit East County
DESTINATIONS: Borrego and beyond — a beautiful backcountry day
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman, with photos by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery Feb. 22, 2026 (San Diego County) — With
We need your help! We have more news tips for East County issues than our budget can cover
Printer-friendly versionLast year tapped our resources at East County Magazine more than any on record, with so many major news
People
Donate to help pets in need at Alpine Pet Food and Supply Drive April 4
East County News Service March 14, 2026 (Alpine) – Dog and cat food, treats, grooming supplies, new pet toys, feeding
Descanso resident named American Honey Queen
By Miriam Raftery February 18, 2026 (Descanso) — You could call it sweet success. The American Beekeeping Federation has chosen
Communities
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
Features
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
What East County Topic Matters Most to You?
Get East County Wildfire, Emergency Alerts
Latest Stories
Sponsorship Placement
FREEBIE ALERT! FREE MEDICAL INFO AND CLASSES AT COMMUNITY HEALTH LIBRARY IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly version Are you facing a health issue and want reliable, up-to-date medical information? There is a free resource available for you, The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library is available to residents in the Grossmont Healthcare District. This is a state-of-the-art, hybrid library that offers information both through online computer databases and through books, medical journals, newsletters,
LA MESA MAN FOUND DEAD IN CAR WITH BABY
Printer-friendly version January 4, 2010 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident James Robinson was found dead in his vehicle late this morning at a 76 gas station in downtown San Diego, slumped over his sleeping infant daughter. San Diego Police and medics were summoned, however Robinson’s death was confirmed due to obvious livor mortis, the coroner’s office reports. An autopsy
CAR-BUS COLLISION INJURES 3 IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Just before 9:00 a.m. this morning, Heartland Deputy Fire Chief Rick Sitta was first on scene of a collision between a Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus and a small car at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Van Houten Avenue in El Cajon. As Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El
DINER KILLED WHEN CAR STRIKES RESTAURANT IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version January 3, 2010 (El Cajon) — At about 8:45 this morning, a vehicle driven by a 74-year-old El Cajon resident struck a Carl’s Jr. Restaurant located at 520 N. Second St. The vehicle went through the building, striking and killing a patron who was seated in a restaurant booth. The victim was a 66-year-old male who was pronounced
YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP PHOTOS & STORIES FROM 2009 (1ST QUARTER)
Printer-friendly version January 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)–What were the stories that captivated our interest and attention in the past year? Stories that were newsworthy, tugged at our heartstrings, impacted our lives, or fired up indignation in San Diego’s eastern regions? Which images most indelibly reflect the changing times in East County–or captured key moments in time? We’ve
YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP STORIES & PHOTOS FROM 2009 (SECOND QUARTER)
Printer-friendly version Part two of our four-part Year in Review APRIL SDG&E shut-off plan sparks outrage Photo credit: La Mesa Fire San Diego Gas & Electric proposed to lessen fire danger (and its own liability) by shutting off power to backcountry communities on hot, windy days. The plan sparked praise from some but outrage from many
YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP STORIES & PHOTOS FROM 2009 (THIRD QUARTER)
Printer-friendly version Part three in our four-part Year in Review JULY Term Limits for Supervisors Photo credit: Leon Thompson County workers launched a drive in July to put an initiative on the June 2010 ballot requiring term limits for County Supervisors, some of whom have been in office for more than two decades, including East County’s Supervisor
YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP STORIES & PHOTOS FROM 2009 (FOURTH QUARTER)
Printer-friendly version Part four in our four-part Year in Review (fourth quarter 2009) OCTOBER Poverty Rising in East County Photo credit: Gayle Early New census data released in October revealed that poverty in San Diego County has shot up 50% in the past year. In El Cajon, 40% of the population is economically challenged—and many faced foreclosures
LEMON GROVE WOMAN KILLED IN NEW YEAR’S ACCIDENT; DRIVER FACES CHARGES
Printer-friendly version January 1, 2010 (Lemon Grove) – Elaina Lynn Luquis Ortiz, 21, of Lemon Grove was killed shortly after 3 a.m. this morning after her car broke down with a flat tire on northbound I-805 south of Home Avenue. She and two others were seated in a black Mazda sedan parked in front of her Mitsubishi Spider, when a
LA MESA TO HOLD COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON CITY’S FUTURE
Printer-friendly version January 1, 2009 (La Mesa) – A special meeting of the La Mesa City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 7, 2010, in the auditorium of La Mesa Dale Elementary School, 4370 Parks Avenue, La Mesa, California. The purpose of the special meeting is for community and Council members to discuss La Mesa and
Advancing Healthy Communities: Building resilience in the backcountry
Printer-friendly versionCommunity Unites to Reimagine Campo’s School Field By David Shorey, Institute for Public Strategies Photo: Campo Elementary field (photo courtesy of Estrada Land Planning) December 17, 2025 (Campo) — In the Mountain Empire, where long bus rides, rugged terrain, and rising temperatures shape daily life, a new effort is underway to protect community health and strengthen resilience against extreme heat. A partnership
Man, 21, fatally struck while walking on freeway in El Cajon
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 20, 2026 (El Cajon) – A 21-year-old man from Kaibeto, Arizona walked onto Interstate 8 west from Mollison Avenue, amid low-lighting conditions on January 17 at 1:20 a.m. He was struck by a 2021 Toyota Venza driven by an El Cajon man,49. The pedestrian succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on
County lighting Administration Center in support of Sydney attack victims; Menorah lighting set for Dec. 22
Printer-friendly version Photo courtesy San Diego County East County News Services Dec. 17, 2025 (San Diego County) — Behind the support of San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson from District 2, the County of San Diego will illuminate its County Administration Center in blue and white tonight, Dec. 17. The illumination in blue and white across from San Diego
Democrat Frances Motiwalla to Challenge Rep. Juan Vargas in CA-52 primary
By Paul Levikow March 7 , 2026 (San Diego) – Saying “we have to win or we will die trying,” Democratic community organizer Frances Yasmeen…
Democrat Frances Motiwalla to Challenge Rep. Juan Vargas in CA-52 primary
By Paul Levikow March 7 , 2026 (San Diego) – Saying “we have to win or we will die trying,” Democratic community organizer Frances Yasmeen…
East County Roundup: local and statewide news
March 6, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published…
ECM World Watch: national and global news
March 6, 2026 (San Diego) — As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news…
Chaldean Bishop arrested while trying to leave the U.S.
By Miriam Raftery Photo by Miriam Raftery: Bishop Shaleta in May 2024 at opening of incubator business center for refugees and immigrants in El Cajon…
Chaldean Bishop arrested while trying to leave the U.S.
By Miriam Raftery Photo by Miriam Raftery: Bishop Shaleta in May 2024 at opening of incubator business center for refugees and immigrants in El Cajon…
Spring Into El Cajon on April 18 celebrates Arbor Day and arrival of spring
East County New Service Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay March 6, 2026 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon invites community members and…
Get Wildfire Alerts & Wildfire Emergency News
Partner To ECM
Our Engaged Audience
5 to 10 million hits
per month!
5 to 10 million hits
per month!
A quarter million visits
each month
Most widely read news site dedicated to
San Diego’s East County
Winner of over 150
journalism awards
“Sponsoring East County Magazine is a great way to reach our loyal and engaged readers, who value organizations and businesses that support nonprofit, independent news in the public interest and wildfire/emergency alerts that keep people safe and informed. Sponsors can choose to underwrite our community news site, support a favorite section or a new special section, underwrite an event, or sponsor our wildfire and emergency alerts.”
— Miriam Raftery, Founder of East County Magazine
Community Links
Thanks To Our Major Sponsors
📬 Subscribe to ECM – 100% Free, Trusted by East County Since 2008
- Emergency alerts
- Breaking news
- No spam ever