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Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release
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
News Issues
Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release
Attacked by AI-cyberbots: Please help us fund critical security upgrades
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 10, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Our East County Magazine website is being attacked
Politics
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
Latest No Kings rallies draw 70,000 in San Diego County, 8 million nationwide
70,000 San Diego County residents join 8 million nationwide in No Kings demonstrations, the largest ever U.S. protest By Miriam Raftery March 31, 2026 (San…
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
Cheers to the Valley Wine Festival April 18 in Ramona
East County News Service April 5, 2026 (Ramona) – The Ramona Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to savor the 2026 Cheers to the…
Destination East County: Festive events in mid-April and May 2026
By Miriam Raftery April 5, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – As April continues, drifting into the merry month of May, there are many unique…
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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
Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release
San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in
Features
San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in
Don’t miss Santa Ysabel and Wynola on your way to visit Julian
Printer-friendly versionTiny mountain towns often overlooked by travelers in East County’s back country By Paul Levikow Photos by Miriam Raftery
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HEALTHCARE FOR ALL BILL PASSES- GOVERNOR THREATENS VETO
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 8, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – A landmark bill to provide guaranteed universal healthcare coverage for every man, woman and child in California (including medical, dental, mental health and eye care coverage) has been approved by the State Legislature. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has until September 30th to sign the measure, SB 840 by Senator Sheila Kuehl,
EAST COUNTY LEADERS ORGANIZE FUTURE SAN DIEGO: GREEN ECONOMY
Printer-friendly versionOct. 18 event at UCSD to feature Lt. Governor John Garamendi, green jobs fair and more By Miriam Raftery Event organizers Chuck Brands (left) of El Cajon and Mark Hanson of Lakeside (right) with keynote speaker, Lt. Governor John Garamendi (center) October 1, 2008 (San Diego) – Looking for a “green” job? Own a business seeking to save energy
White Rabbit Candy Sold in California Recalled Due To Melamine Contamination
Printer-friendly versionSeptember 29, 2008 (BURLINGAME, CA) – The California Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are urging consumers not to eat White Rabbit Candies sold in California. Queensway Foods Co. of Burlingame, California is recalling White Rabbit Candy after tests revealed that some of the products are contaminated with melamine–the same deadly toxin in infant formula
OBAMA OPENS NEW OFFICE IN EAST SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photos by Leon Thompson October 1, 2008 (San Diego) – The Obama-Biden campaign hosted a presidential debate-watching party to kick-off the opening of a new campaign office at 1744 Euclid Street in East San Diego. “We’ve had a larger than expected turnout,” Vince Hall, spokesperson for Obama for President in San Diego County told East County
NEW BLACKWATER PROTESTS MARK ANNIVERSARY OF NISOUR SQUARE SHOOTINGS
Printer-friendly versionCongressman Bob Filner and Assembly candidate Ray Lutz of East County speak out against Blackwater at Otay Mesa Rally Story and photos by Gayle Early Sign from a military families organization opposed to Blackwater. October 1, 2008 (Otay Mesa) – In September 2007, 17 people were shot to death in the Nisour Square traffic circle in Baghdad, Iraq, by
LOCAL RESIDENTS JOIN NATIONAL PROTEST OF WALL STREET BAIL-OUT BILL
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 26, 2008 (El Cajon) – East County residents angered by the Bush administration’s proposed $700 billion bail-out bill for Wall Street financial firms took to the streets yesterday as part of a national protest action organized by True Majority. Thousands protested across the nation (photo: New York protest, taken by Jeremy Scahill.) “Many people in
FDA ALERT: DEADLY TOXIN FOUND IN COFFEE & TEA; CANDY & INFANT FORMULA MAY ALSO BE TAINTED
Printer-friendly version September 25, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer alert today warning that numerous products have been found to be contaminated with melamine – the same deadly toxin that killed thousands of cats and dogs in contaminated pet food last year. The FDA found that seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk
PENDLETON FIRE CHARS 400 ACRES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Capt. Nick Schuler, CAL-FIRE September 25, 2008 5:00 p.m. CAMP PENDLETON – More than 400 acres have burned at Camp Pendleton in a brush fire that remains active this evening. East County Magazine was the first local media to post news online of the fire, which began around 12:30 p.m. today The blaze began near Roblar
DRIVER SENTENCED FOR THREATENING PEACE ACTIVISTS IN RAMONA
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 23, 2008 (RAMONA) – Keith Alan Davis, a Ramona man who drove his pickup truck toward a group of anti-war protesters n June, has been sentenced to probation, ordered to take anger-management classes and must perform 20 days of community service. “This is America. You can’t just go running people over, but let’s not just
7 BANDS HOLD CONCERT TO HELP FIRE VICTIMS OCT 4
Printer-friendly versionROC For Fire Relief Concert and Fire Expo Helps Neighbors, Celebrates Heroes Saturday, October 4th, 2008 12:00pm to 10:00pm Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Lakeside www.rocsd.net Listen to music from the bands. October 1, 2008 (Lakeside) – “Relief is still needed in a serious way,” said Randy Seol of the band Strawberry Alarm Clock, a longtime San Diego resident who
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
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION WINS BBB TORCH AWARD FOR MARKETPLACE ETHICS
Printer-friendly version January 1, 2010 (San Diego) — San Diego County Credit Union®, with three local East County branch offices in El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee, has been recognized for ethical business conduct with a 2009 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics from the San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB). SDCCU received its Torch Award in the over-500-employee category.
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY BUILDING AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE OPENS JAN. 20
Printer-friendly version January 1, 2010 (El Cajon) – Cuyamaca College will host a grand opening of its newest facility, the Business and Technology Building, on January 20th at 11 a.m.Guests are invited to view the "initial public offering" of this new facility on the "Cuyamaca Exchange." “The Business and Technology Building is the last of our four new, spectacular,
2010 FORECAST: WHAT RETAILERS & BUSINESSES SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS
Printer-friendly versionBy Frank V.V. Boss, Jr. January 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –As the holiday season ends, retailers and business are hoping that 2010 will bring better prospects and spending by consumers in San Diego and East County. So as the rest of the nation still feels the affects of a rough winter and slow-moving economy, consumers are predicted
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