Thanks To Our Sponsors
Be a sponsor!
Breaking News
Explore What Matters
News Center
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…
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
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
What East County Topic Matters Most to You?
Get East County Wildfire, Emergency Alerts
Latest Stories
Sponsorship Placement
Integrating Nutrition into Mental Health Care
Printer-friendly versionBook by Ruth Leyse Wallace, PhD Reviewed by Pennell Paugh August 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Long-time resident of San Diego, Dr. Ruth Leyse Wallace, recently released her fourth book, Integrating Nutrition into Mental Health Care. While the book is written for clinical settings, it is written in plain English and offers sensible nutritional facts. I found it helpful
Judge dismisses sexual harassment suit against Nathan Fletcher
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery August 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Today, Superior Court Judge Matthew Braner dismissed a lawsuit filed by Grecia Figueroa against former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. Judge Braner said Figueroa engaged in “rampant and willful spoilation of evidence” including deleting photos and text messages damaging to her case. Figueroa, a former Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) employee, had accused
Evacuations due to Roadrunner Fire in Boulevard
Printer-friendly version Update 3:20 p.m.– Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted; forward spread has been stopped. Update 1:30 p.m.– The fire has been mapped at 88 acres and is now 5% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. East County WIldfire and Emergency Alerts August 8, 2025 — There is immediate structure threat from the #RoadrunnerFire, a
California Supreme Court hands victory to rooftop solar panel owners
Printer-friendly versionBy Malena Carollo, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: rooftop solar panels on a home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, on Feb. 18, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters August 7, 2025 (Oakland) – The California Supreme Court today sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for the
Overnight safe parking site opens in San Diego’s Grantville neighborhood
Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow August 7, 2025 (Grantville) – The San Diego County Office of Homeless Solutions opened a new Overnight Safe Parking site in the Grantville neighborhood of San Diego today, with capacity to serve 20 vehicles. The location, in the 4500 block of Glacier Ave., is on county-owned land that will eventually become 300 affordable senior housing
Feather Alert issued for missing teen girl from Pala
Printer-friendly versionUpdate: This Feather Alert has been deactivated because Sunnie Eagleton has been found. East County News Service Image: Sunnie Eagleton, 17 August 7, 2025 (Pala) – A Feather Alert has been issued for a missing teenager from the Pala Indian Reservation. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office wants the public’s help in locating her. On August 2 around 2 p.m.,
Extreme heat warning issued for deserts, heat advisory for other East County areas
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery August 6, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Dangerously high temperatures are forecast across much of East County through Friday, peaking on Thursday. Other East County communities could reach the high 90s. Elevated fire conditions are also present due to relative humidity down to 10-15% in inland valleys and mountains, though conditions are not expected
Dulzura woman dies after being ejected from vehicle in Jamul
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service August 6, 2025 (Jamul) – A 25-year-old woman from Descanso who was not wearing a seatbelt overturned down an embankment off State Route 94 east of Otay Lakes Road at 6:15 this morning. She was ejected from the vehicle, a 2010 Hyundai Elantra, and became trapped underneath it. She was pronounced dead at the scene
Trump says there is “real starvation” in Gaza, while also sending mixed signals about his opinions on Israel
Printer-friendly versionPresident says kids in Gaza need to be fed, while making contradictory statements about his stances on Israel By G. A. McNeeley Photo via United Nations Relief and Works Agency: a 4-year old Palestinian girl who died of starvation in 2024 (CC by SA 4.0) August 5, 2025 (Gaza) — President Donald Trump acknowledged on July
Man wanted for sexually assaulting jogger in Rancho San Diego
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Image: surveillance photos of the suspect August 3, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Sheriff’s department seeks public help to identify and find a man wanted for sexual battery of a female jogger, 24, in the 1600 block of Hilton Head Road in the Rancho San Diego community of unincorporated El Cajon. The woman went for
Cause of death released on 35-year-old man who died in county jail Aug. 30
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 1, 2026 (San Diego) – The County Medical’s office has determined that Steven Curren, 35, died of natural causes at a hospital on August 30, less than an hour and a half after he was found unresponsive in his cell at San Diego County’s Central Jail. An autopsy found the cause of death was
Give to support our award-winning reporting in 2026!
Printer-friendly versionIt’s been a challenging year, with more important news stories to cover than ever before. We need your support to bring you in-depth coverage on important topics in 2026! Please give now with a tax deductible donation or become a monthly donor to assure that we can cover the most important news stories in the new year. All gifts are appreciated,
Sycuan Tribe unveils new Sycuan Health Center to serve East County residents, including tribal members and broader community
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photos courtesy of Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation December 31, 2025 (El Cajon) — The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation held a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 19 at its new, expanded and relocated healthcare facility. The state-of-the-art healthcare center is located at 4921 Dehesa Road in El Cajon, continuing Sycuan’s commitment to high-quality, culturally
Give to support our award-winning reporting in 2026!
Printer-friendly versionIt’s been a challenging year, with more important news stories to cover than ever before. We need your support to bring you in-depth coverage on important topics in 2026! Please give now with a tax deductible donation or become a monthly donor to assure that we can cover the most important news stories in the new year. All gifts are appreciated,
Fundraiser to help Marine’s family devastated by crash that killed daughter, 8, near Julian: accused DUI driver charged with murder and faces deportation
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service December 31, 2025 (Julian) – An online fundraiser at GoFundMe has been set up to help Oscar Cruz Acencio, a U.S. Marine, and his family. On November 30, the family was traveling on San Felipe Road near Julian when a Tacoma truck crossed the center line and hit their vehicle head-on, killing their 8-year-old daughter, Arya. Acencio,
Forty dogs rescued from unsanitary conditions in La Mesa
Printer-friendly versionPhoto of some of the 40 dogs rescued from La Mesa courtesy San Diego Humane Society East County News Service Dec. 31, 2025 (La Mesa) — San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement rescued 40 dogs and puppies from an apartment in La Mesa on Tuesday, Dec. 30, following a welfare check by community police officers. The rescue comes at
Lakeside school district moves to stop bullying, defiance and more
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman Dec. 30, 2025 (Lakeside) – Looking to reclaim local classrooms from a rising tide of student misconduct, the Lakeside Union School District Board of Trustees earlier this month passed a sweeping resolution aimed at curbing bullying, “death notes” and chronic defiance. Lakeside Union School Board member Andrew Hayes championed the policy, adopted Dec. 11, and said
Mail might not be postmarked until days after you send it, under new rules that could cause tax penalties, result in ballots not counted
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery December 30, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Don’t wait until the last minute to mail in a ballot, tax return or other important documents. A change in U.S. Postal Service regulations that took effect December 24 means that mail is no longer considered postmarked on the date that you drop it in a mailbox or at a post office
CRASH ON PINE VALLEY BRIDGE DELAYS MOTORISTS
Printer-friendly versionEast County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts Image via CHP on X Dec. 30, 2025 (Pine Valley) — A motorhome accident on the Pine Valley bridge has shut down one lane of I-8 east and knocked down 80 feet of guardrail, per the California Highway Patrol. Westbound lanes remain open. Motorists traveling east are advised to take an alternative route
Cities can’t punish outreach workers for helping homeless Californians under new law
Printer-friendly versionBy Marisa Kendall, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: Physician assistant Brett Feldman checks Carla Bolen’s blood pressure at her encampment on the Figueroa Street Viaduct above Highway 110 in Elysian Valley Park in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local December 30, 2025 (Sacramento) – Senate Bill 634 would have made a
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