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

Trump aims to open California coast to oil drilling; Senator Padilla and Governor Newsom denounce plan

Printer-friendly versionDraft proposal seeks six California lease sales despite clear legal limits and decades of bipartisan coastal protections By Miriam Raftery Photo:  dead seabirds killed by the Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska in 1989.  Source. November 20, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – The Trump administration today released its draft 2027 to 2032 Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing plan, the most

Read More ...

Santee music store owner sentenced to 7 years in prison for domestic abuse

Printer-friendly version East County News Service November 20, 2025 (Santee) – Superior Court Judge Johnetta Anderson has sentenced Joseph “Joey” Carlos Veizaga to a term of seven years in state prison after he was found guilty of domestic violence causing great bodily injury to his wife.  Veizaga is the owner of Mr. Joey’s Music Store in Santee and fo9under of Los Reyes

Read More ...

USDA Secretary Says SNAP Recipients Will Have To Reapply For Benefits

Printer-friendly version  Additionally, President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” provisions could kick millions out of the program    By G. A. McNeeley  November 20 2025 (Washington D.C.) — After disruptions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits due to the federal shutdown, recipients have been anticipating getting benefits restored now that the shutdown has ended. But U.S. Department of Agriculture

Read More ...

Tight budget? Check out clothing options at Goodwill

Printer-friendly version“Thrifting is a treasure hunt. You never know what you’ll find.” – Darlene Cossio,  Goodwill Director of Marketing and Communications in La Mesa By Heidi Hope  November 20, 2025 (La Mesa) – In today’s tight economy, with many people struggling financially, one of the best ways to stretch your dollars is by shopping at thrift stores. At Goodwill, you

Read More ...

Sara’s Selections: Mother-daughter duo strives for sustainability and women’s empowerment through fashion

Printer-friendly versionBy Heidi Hope  November 20, 2025 (La Mesa) — The front window at Sara’s Selections in La Mesa proclaims ,”There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” The clothing boutique is filled with floral motifs, feminine touches and empowering quotes for women. The store sells chic Bohemian- styled fashions with a modern touch on classic pieces.

Read More ...

Reckless driver crashes into vehicles during pursuit from Santee to San Diego

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service November 19, 2025 (Santee) — A reckless driving suspect struck multiple vehicles while leading Sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit from Santee to San Diego on November 18th. According to Lieutenant Elizabeth Montoya, shortly after 4:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Communications Center received several calls about a man recklessly driving a Chevy Silverado in Santee. Deputies from the

Read More ...

Passages: Randy Jones, Padres legend and Cy Young winner, dies at 75

Printer-friendly version Story and photo, left, by Karen Pearlman   Nov. 19, 2025 (Poway) — Beloved San Diego Padres southpaw Randy Jones has passed away.   The Padres’ first Cy Young Award winner in 1976, Randall “Randy” Leo Jones, a devoted community figure and the face of East County-based nonprofit Home of Guiding Hands, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Read More ...

Why hospital policies matter in states that ban abortion

Printer-friendly versionBy Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser and Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica Photo:  Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, a retired maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Dallas.  Photo by Lexi Parra for ProPublica This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. November 18, 2025 (Dallas/Houston) – Nearly

Read More ...

ACT II provides budget-friendly and stylish women’s fashions

Printer-friendly version By Heidi Hope  November 18, 2025 (La Mesa)– For 43 years, Act II has been a thriving and successful boutique offering women’s resale fashion in La Mesa’s downtown village. It is a trendy store started from a family business in 1982 by Dolores Buller and her daughter Deanne Ross, who still owns the store. Act II focuses on

Read More ...

Trump does damage control after newly released Epstein emails say Trump spent hours with sex trafficking victim at Epstein’s home

Printer-friendly versionNPR/PBS poll finds just 20% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of Epstein matter Update November 18, 2025: The House of Representatives voted to release the Epstein files by a 427 to 1 margin.  It now goes to the Senate. The measure passed overwhelming after Pres. Trump withdrew his opposition once enough members had pledged support to assure passage.

Read More ...

FIRE EXPOS DRAW HEATED INTEREST AMONG AREA RESIDENTS

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photos by Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery October 15, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Fire safety expos were among the hottest attractions in East County recently, drawing thousands of visitors—all as part of National Fire Prevention Month.  In our region, which was devastasted by two of our state’s worst wildfires in 2003 and 2007,

Read More ...

WILD RIDE: KIDNAPPED SHELL STATION OWNER ESCAPES ROBBER

Printer-friendly version POLICE CHASE NABS SUSPECT; PAROLEE MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER AREA CRIMES   October 15, 2009 (La Mesa) Crime didn’t pay for a lone gunman who robbed a Shell gas station clerk at gunpoint around 12:15 today. The suspect took money from the register and fled. The station manager arrived just before police and went looking for the

Read More ...

ASSEMBLYMAN BLOCK CONVENES OCT. 20 HEARING ON SDSU ADMISSION POLICY CHANGES

Printer-friendly versionOctober 15, 2009 (San Diego) – Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) will hold a hearing October 20 on SDSU President Stephen Weber’s recent announcement to suspend guaranteed enrollment for local students. “As chair of the Select Committee on K-16 Articulation, Access and Affordability, I have called a hearing to examine this issue in detail and to accept testimony on

Read More ...

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATES NEW RESTARANT IN RANCHO SAN DIEGO: SPINNERS FRESH MEDITERRANEAN SALADS & GRILL

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 15, 2009 – Business and community leaders congregated at Spinners last week for a celebration of the fast-food Mediterranean restaurant’s grand opening in Rancho San Diego. Guests sampled gyros, falafels, tabouleh and baklava, among other flavorful offerings. “We grew up on these flavors,” said owner David Barka, a Chaldean Christian whose family origins are

Read More ...

GAME OF THE WEEK: PATRIOTS WIN UGLY BATTLE OVER BRAVES

Printer-friendly version  Story and photos by Christopher Mohr   (EL CAJON) October 9 – Minutes after Christian’s 36-22 win at El Cajon Valley Friday night, the Patriots’ coaching staff brought up the topic of winning ugly in the team’s post-game meeting on the field. The gist of the discussion was that it did not matter that the team won by

Read More ...

POLITICAL PORK? COMMON CAUSE CALLS FOR FPPC TO INVESTIGATE LOBBYIST SEX SCANDALS; NOTES SEMPRA CONTRIBUTIONS TO BASS & BROWN

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 15, 2009 (Sacramento) – A lobbyist scandal in Sacramento has given new meaning to the term “pork” in politics. Ever since former Assemblyman Mike Duvall squealed on tape about bedding two lobbyists, critics have called for an investigation. Now the non-partisan citizens watchdog group Common Cause has called on the Fair Political Practices Commission to open an

Read More ...

WARNER SPRINGS RESIDENTS: BOIL WATER ORDER ISSUED

Printer-friendly version October 14, 2009 (Warner Springs) – A boil water order has been issued by the County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health for customers of the Los Tules Mutual Water Company drinking water system inWarner Springs, CA, effective immediately. The water system has tested positive for contamination by Total Coliform bacteria.   The bacteria can come from

Read More ...

AUTHORITIES SEEK ABUSER WHO SHOT DUCK 5 TIMES WITH CROSSBOW

Printer-friendly versionOctober 14, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)– Animal Control Officers rescued a Muscovy duck that had been shot five times with a crossbow this morning at Chollas Lake in East San Diego, near Highway 94.   The duck, with the arrows still in its body, was transported to the County’s Animal Shelter on Gaines Street. One of the arrows penetrated the

Read More ...

SAN DIEGO MEAT COMPANY RECALLS GROUND BEEF AFTER USDA FINDS E-COLI CONTAMINATION

Printer-friendly version MEAT SOLD TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS & CATERERS, USDA WARNS—BUT COMPANY REFUSES TO RELEASE NAMES October 14, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Meat Company is recalling approximately 925 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E-coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced yesterday. According to the USDA, the meat

Read More ...

GROWING GREEN CAREERS: CUYAMACA COLLEGE HOSTS FORUM OCT. 16

Printer-friendly version All-day forum joins industry with education in ‘greening’ the classroom   EL CAJON – With all the buzz surrounding the burgeoning green industry and the promise it holds for a flagging jobs market, Cuyamaca College is hosting a forum this week aimed at helping local high school and community college educators ride the wave of the green economy.

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