Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Breaking News

Explore What Matters

Stay informed on the issues that shape East County. From local news and emergency alerts, to community celebrations

News Center

News Issues

Politics

Wildfires and Emergencies

Events & Arts

Visit East County

People

Communities

Features

Get East County Wildfire, Emergency Alerts

Critical wildfire and emergency notifications delivered instantly.Join Neighbors who stay informed and prepared with our award winning Journalist

Latest Stories

Sponsorship Placement

SHERIFF REMOVES SONIC WEAPON STATEMENT FROM HIS WEBSITE, RAISING QUESTIONS OVER STATUS OF DEVICE

Printer-friendly version  Is the LRAD disabled, or not? By Miriam Raftery January 28, 2010 (San Diego) San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore drew sharp criticism from the public and his three political opponents following an article we published last fall, revealing that his office purchased a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) and rolled it out at Congressional healthcare forums and other

Read More ...

HOMELESS IN EAST COUNTY: ONE WOMAN’S STORY

Printer-friendly version This is the first in a series of interviews profiling people who are homeless in East County. If you know of a homeless person willing to be interviewed, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org   By Miriam Raftery January 28, 2010 (El Cajon) – “I’m trying to get off the street,” says Dawn Marie (last name withheld), who has been homeless

Read More ...

NO BRAINER: GROSSMONT HOSPITAL FINED FOR OPERATING ON WRONG SIDE OF PATIENT’S SKULL

Printer-friendly version January 28, 2010 (La Mesa) – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has fined three local hospitals (Grossmont Hospital, UC San Diego Medical Center, and Sharp Memorial Hospital in Kearny Mesa) $50,000 each for mistakes that could cause serious injury or death to patients. In East County, Grossmont Hospital was penalized for performing brain surgery on the

Read More ...

RAMONA MOTHER KILLED IN HIGHWAY 67 COLLISION

Printer-friendly version January 27, 2010 (Ramona) – Bridgette T. Hale, 36, was killed in a head-on collision on State Route 67 near Johnson Lake Road in Lakeside on Tuesday. Hale was driving southbound in her Chevy Astro Van when she was struck head-on by an Oldsmobile that had crossed a double-yellow line, according to the California Highway Patrol. Emergency responders

Read More ...

THE GAS COMPANY OFFERS HELP WITH POST-HOLIDAY UTILITY BILLS

Printer-friendly version Customers Urged to Enroll in Assistance, Energy-efficiency Programs   January 27, 2010 (San Diego) – As post-holiday bills arrive in mailboxes this month, some families will be faced with tough financial decisions, struggling to make payments in a difficult economy. Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) urges customers to take advantage of the utility’s assistance programs — programs

Read More ...

FINANCIAL AID REQUESTS UP 31%, GROSSMONT COLLEGE REPORTS

Printer-friendly version    A new report from Grossmont College says the number of Grossmont students applying to receive financial aid is increasing, along with the amount of dollars disbursed in tuition assistance.   Michael Copenhaver, Grossmont College director of financial aid, said the number of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 31 percent higher for

Read More ...

ARE YOU COVERED? GET INFORMED BEFORE THE NEXT STORM

Printer-friendly version  By Tod Aubin   Editors note:  Recent storms proved eye-openers for many local  residents.  Are you covered if a tree falls on your roof?  What if your house floods?  Will insurance pick up the tab if you drive through deep water and get stuck or worse, washed away?  Find out what you need to know about storm insurance in this informative piece

Read More ...

“COFFEE HOUSE FOR HAITI” AT SALVATION ARMY KROC CENTER FRI. JAN. 29

Printer-friendly version   January 21, 2009 – Over 700 Salvation Army relief workers are in Haiti, bringing food and medical attention to earthquake survivors. Amid the devastation, there are some tiny miracles –including three babies born at the Salvation Army clinic since the quake struck (photo, left).   Locally, The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Verge Theater Company invites you to

Read More ...

SAVE A HEART: ONLINE CPR CLASSES

Printer-friendly version    January 26, 2010 (San Diego)–Would you know how to respond if your child stopped breathing or someone you love had a heart attack?   As parents we all want the very best for our children. But when it comes to knowing what to do if our child stops breathing, we panic and call 911. Every year, we hear

Read More ...

Teamsters strike at SDSU impacts traffic on I-8

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery   February 17, 2026 (San Diego) – Teamsters Local 2010 is holding a four-day unfair labor practice strike at 22 California State University campuses starting today, including San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos.  Campuses remain open, however an alert sent by SDSU cautions that traffic along I-8 near campus is backed up; students

Read More ...

City Of San Diego abruptly ends longstanding media ID and parking placard program, raising new questions about access, accountability, and press rights

Printer-friendly version Source:  Sandiegoville February 26, 2026 (San Diego) – The City of San Diego has abruptly discontinued its Media Identification Card (Press Pass) Program and the blue parking placards that for decades helped local journalists cover breaking news safely and in real time. The change, effective February 13, is being framed by San Diego Police Department as an administrative modernization

Read More ...

The true State of the Union

Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr Screenshot: President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol during his State of the Union Speech “It is indeed a turnround for the ages,” President Donald Trump, 2026 February 27, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) — President Donald Trump gave his 2026 State of the Union address on Wednesday, touting the first year of his

Read More ...

U.S. and Israel attack Iran, reportedly kill Ayatollah Khamenei

Printer-friendly versionIran retaliates with strikes targeting U.S. military bases, Israel and civilian targets By Miriam Raftery Photo via U.S. Navy:  USS Abraham Lincon aircraft based in San Diego has been dispatched to the region February 28, 2026 (Tehran) – The U.S. and Israel today launched massive air strikes in Iran. President Donald Trump has said the operation aims to overturn

Read More ...

Get Wildfire Alerts & Wildfire Emergency News

Stay ahead of emergencies with real-time notifications delivered directly to your inbox when seconds count.

Partner To ECM

Connect with East County’s most informed and engaged community. Our readers trust ECM for critical news and actively support local businesses.

Our Engaged Audience

Unique Visitors

5 to 10 million hits

per month!

Number of Visitors
0

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

Thanks To Our Major Sponsors

📬 Subscribe to ECM – 100% Free, Trusted by East County Since 2008

Reviews and Feedback