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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
Jamul Casino Resort gets two film awards
Printer-friendly version Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY Awards East County News
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
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
Jamul Casino Resort gets two film awards
Printer-friendly version Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY Awards East County News
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
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Health and science highlights
Printer-friendly versionanuary 22, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH Pediatricians group sues federal government over cuts to child health funding (10 News) Health insurance CEOs to appear before House committees as premiums soar (NBC) County Public Health Lab Starts Testing Local Wastewater for Diseases (County News Center) SCIENCE
To comply with new state laws, GUHSD board passes protections for immigrant students by 3-2 margin
Printer-friendly version By Alexander J. Schorr File photo, left: Trustee Jim Kelly called the measure “anarchy” and voted against it, along with Trustee Gary Woods January 21, 2026 (El Cajon) — The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Board of Trustees on January 19 voted 3-2 to pass a resolution to establish new guidelines for responding to federal enforcement on campuses. This
City of San Diego secures $4 million in federal funds for stormwater infrastructure project along Chollas Creek
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo by Genevieve Jones-Wright: flooding in Encanto in January 2024 January 21, 2026 (San Diego) — New federal funding will support four critical stormwater infrastructure projects in the City of San Diego, including drainage improvements along Beta Street in Southcrest, which has been impacted by flooding during recent winter storms. The allocation of $4.36
What to know about flu and cold season
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr Photo via CDC.gov January 21, 2026 (San Diego) — The current 2025–2026 flu season in the United States has seen high activity, primarily driven by a dominant influenza A(H3N2) strain known as subclade K. According to the latest CDC preliminary estimates as of January 12, at least 7,400 deaths have occurred due to flu so far this season.
California Governor’s race draws crowded field of contenders
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J Schorr Updated January 25 with an additional candidate. January 20, 2026— As of January 2026, the race to succeed the term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom features a crowded field of candidates ahead of the June primary. California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary system, where the top two finishers regardless of party advance to the general election. Who are the
Cans of tuna recalled due to botulism sent to major retailers including California
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 20, 2026 (San Diego) – Cans of Genova yellowfin tuna that were recalled due to potentially fatal botulism were inadvertently shipped to stores by a distributor, including Safeway, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions in California. An earlier recall included some sold under the Trader Joe’s label in California. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
New Woodspring Suites now Santee’s largest hotel
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen January 19, 2026 (Santee) — Santee’s newest hotel came in handy for a few local families who needed a temporary home because their regular abode sustained serious damage. “One guest stayed for two weeks because their house flooded, and another stayed three weeks because their house caught fire,” said Jesse Duenas, general manager of the Woodspring
Spring Valley Community Planning Group elects new officers amidst controversy over filling board vacancies
Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow January 19, 2026 (Spring Valley) – The Spring Valley Community Planning Group board elected executive officers for the 2026 term Tuesday, but not before some members expressed concerns about how they would fill vacancies. A few cited perceived interferences on behalf of District 1 County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre’s office. Lora Lowes, board member and former
Local rabbi disinvited from speaking at King breakfast over Israel connection
Printer-friendly versionBy Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo: Rabbi Hanan Leberman in Israel in 2018. Image from American Jewish Committee video January 19, 2026 (San Diego) – The rabbi of a local synagogue was disinvited from delivering a closing message at the All People’s Breakfast in Balboa Park Monday in honor of Dr.
Tony Winney to be interim City Manager in Lemon Grove
Printer-friendly version Photo of Tony Winney from Winney’s LinkedIn page By Karen Pearlman Jan. 17, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The Lemon Grove City Council will formally appoint former Coronado Assistant City Manager Tony Winney as interim City Manager, with a start date of Jan. 26. The City Council is expected to hire Winney at an annualized base salary of $215,000
EVACUATION AREAS EXPAND IN BORDER FIRE; EVACUATION CENTER AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE
Printer-friendly version Update January 25, 2025- The fire had modest growth overnight and is now 6,500 acres, per Cal Fire. Update 8:15 p.m.– Per CalTrans, State Route 94 is closed in both directions between Honey Springs Rd. in Jamul and State Route 188 (access road to Tecate) due to the fire. Update 5:55 p.m.– The fire is now 6,272.7 acres per
SCHOOLS CLOSE DUE TO FIRES AND POWER OUTAGES
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — The San Diego County Office of Education has announced numerous school closures today due to the Border 2 Fire as well as power outages. Power outages have resulted in closure of all Mountain Empire Unified School District and Warner Unified School district campuses today, as well as
EVACUATIONS ORDERED AS BORDER 2 FIRE BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES
Printer-friendly version Update 12 p.m.: Cal Fire has mapped the fire at 5,389 acres. It remains 10% contained. View laetst evacuation areas, whcih have expanded, here: https://app.watchduty.org/i/41110 By Miriam Raftery January 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The #Border2Fire has exploded overnight to 4,250 acres with 10% containment, Cal Fire reports this morning. Per San Diego County Sheriff, #Border2Fire. An
BORDER 2 FIRE VISIBLE ACROSS COUNTY, STILL WITH NO CONTAINMENT
Printer-friendly version Update 8:46 p.m.– The fire is now 600 acres, per Watch Duty App. No structures are currently threatened. By Miriam Raftery Photo, left, by Jeff Caton, taken from the intersection of Fletcher Parkway and Cuyamaca St. in El Cajon this evening. Photo, right: Border 2 Fire viewed from HP Wren Otay Mountain West camera January 23, 2025 (San
TWO ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS INTO JAIL THROUGH MAIL
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Image: Creative Commons via Bing January 23, 2025 (San Diego) – A woman, along with an incarcerated person, have been arrested on suspicion of mailing drug-laced letters to a San Diego County jail, says Sergeant Aaron Brooks with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Detention Investigations Unit. Deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Mail Processing Center intercepted
BORDER 2 FIRE ON OTAY MOUNTAIN SPREADING AT “DANGEROUS” RATE
Printer-friendly version Update 5:05 p.m.– The #Border2Fire is now 248 acres and still 0% contained. Winds have shifted toward campgrounds with campers at Pio Pico told to evacuate and Thousand Trails campers receiving a warning to be prepared, per social media posts from campers at these sites. update 4 p.m.– The fire is now 148 acres per Watch Duty app
JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS TRUMP ORDER TO END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, CALLS ORDER “BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL”
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery January 23, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – A federal judge appointed by conservative Ronald Reagan called President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship “blatantly unconstitutional.” U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order to block the order from taking effect, Associated Press (AP) reports. The case was filed by Washington state and others.
AS PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARES A BORDER EMERGENCY ON DAY ONE, CALIFORNIA’S TARGETED IMMIGRANTS LIE LOW
Printer-friendly versionBy Wendy Fry, CalMatters CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters Photo: Saul Muñoz, 53, waits for any job opportunities in front of a Home Depot in San Diego on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters January 23, 2025 (San Diego) – Undocumented immigrants and their California families
FINDING THE ‘NOW’ OF TEACHING: SDSU ONLINE EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACH NO. 3 IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Printer-friendly versionU.S. News & World Report highlights SDSU’s growing reputation for excellence in online education master’s programs. By Michael Klitzing, SDSU News January 23, 2025 (San Diego) – Anaiz Moreno (left) always knew she wanted to go for a master’s degree, but she never imagined it would be happening so soon. After all, the high school English teacher only recently
A SURPRISING IMMIGRATION RAID IN KERN COUNTY FORESHADOWS WHAT AWAITS FARMWORKERS AND BUSINESSES
Printer-friendly versionBy Sergio Olmos, CalMatters CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters Photo: Farmworkers work on a field outside of Bakersfield in Kern County on July 25 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local January 22, 2025 (Kern County, Calif.) – Acres of orange fields sat unpicked in Kern
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