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County approves purchase of firefighting helicopter with nighttime capabilities

Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow October 21, 2025 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the purchase of a firefighting helicopter with nighttime capabilities, which will be upgraded to accommodate a full crew for fire and rescue missions. The Sikorsky S70 Firehawk, to be purchased from SDG&E, will add to a fleet of 12 firefighting helicopters

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Full Moon Walk in Anza Borrego’s South Palm Wash Nov. 5

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 21, 2025 (Anza Borrego)—You’re invited to walk by the light of a full moon in Anza Borrego Desert State Park’s South Palm Canyon Wash on November 5 from 6:30 to  8:30 p.m.. The hike will be led by Mike McElhatton, education director at the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA). “Experience the unique

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East County Roundup: Local and statewide news

Printer-friendly versionOctober 21, 2025, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s round-up stories include: LOCAL Local Congressional members denied access to federal courthouse basement amid detention concerns (10 News) One dog dead, another ill following methamphetamine exposure at Ocean

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Fish advisory for Hodges Reservoir offers safe eating advice for 4 species

Printer-friendly versionSource: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment  October 21, 2025 (Sacramento) – Today, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a new fish consumption advisory for Hodges Reservoir, located approximately four miles south of Escondido, in San Diego County. The advisory provides safe-eating advice for black bass species, Channel Catfish, Common Carp and Threadfin Shad.

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La Mesa raises parking meter fees

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 20, 2025 (La Mesa) — If you plan to park in La Mesa, you’ll be paying more for meters starting in January. The City Council has approved doubling parking meter rates from 75 cents an hour to $1.50 an hour for all 433 meters in the downtown village.  It’s the first price rise in

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Health and Science Highlights

Printer-friendly versionOctober 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH California company recalls nearly 245,000 pounds of pasta tied to listeria outbreak (AP) Officials confirm first US cases of more severe mpox strain with no travel history The CDC says people must consult a

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Artillery round from Camp Pendleton celebration explodes over I-5, hits CHP vehicle

Printer-friendly versionAccident comes after Governor Gavin Newsom raised safety concerns and closed freeway By Miriam Raftery Photo:  Shrapnel that struck CHP vehicle October 20, 2025 (Camp Pendleton, CA) – An artillery round exploded prematurely over I-5 on Saturday, causing metal shrapnel to strike a California Highway Patrol vehicle. The incident occurred while  Vice President J.D. Vance was at Camp Pendleton

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Advancing Healthy Communities: 2025 substance use and overdose report card released

Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County sees progress in overdose prevention, but challenges remain By Seraphina Eberhardt Photo:  District Attorney Summer Stephan, standing with other county officials, speaks at a press conference recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day.  Photo courtesy of Marla Kincade, Substance Abuse and Overdose Taskforce October 19, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego County is seeing progress in the efforts to

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Trump aims to slash refugee admissions and add racist criteria

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Image left:  Refugee issues covered by ECM over the years includes persecution of Iraqi Christians, Kurdish immigrations fleeing ISIS, a migrant crisis at the Mexican border, asylum seekers fleeing violence in Africa, efforts to help African women refugees, Afghan refugees starting new lives in East County–many after helping the U.S. military, Ukrainians in Santee after

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CAL-FIRE CANCELS NO BURN ORDER

Printer-friendly version  October 14, 2009 – It’s safe to light a campfire again, state fire officials have determined.  Today, CAL FIRE lifted its no-burn proclamation due to an improvement in fire conditions, including increased relative humidity and higher fuel moisture, as well as increased availability of fire protection resources.   The suspension of burning permits and other uses of open

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EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS FEATURED IN NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE OCTOBER 16-17

Printer-friendly version  October 14, 2009 (San Diego)—Experts on near-death experiences will be in town for the annual conference of the International Association for Near Death Studies from October 15 – 17. There will be a pre-conference Healing/Arts day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 15th, followed by the full conference for the next two days. In addition, several

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GALA TO BENEFIT GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOUNDATION OCT. 24 AT BARONA

Printer-friendly versionThe Grossmont College Foundation, a fund-raising organization that supports Grossmont College students and educational programs, will host its 2009 Dinner Gala and Auction fund-raiser on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino. The public is invited to attend.   The Foundation’s Gala, the eighth annual, will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and silent

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GROSSMONT ANNOUNCES OPENING ON CITIZENS BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Printer-friendly version  October 13, 2009 (La Mesa)–The Grossmont Union High School District is seeking applications to fill an opening on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC). The CBOC is responsible for implementation of Proposition H, the $274 million general obligation bond measure passed in 2004 to bring facility improvements and renovations to the district’s schools. In addition, the CBOC also oversees

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MWD TAKES PENSION HIKES OFF THE TABLE: WATER PENSION PROPOSAL FIRED UP CONTROVERSY

Printer-friendly version  By Francine Phillips Photos courtesy of Helix Water Distict October 13, 2009 (San Diego) – The Metropolitan Water District (MWD), which supplies water for most San Diegans, decided yesterday to re-visit labor negotiations rather than pass a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlined a pension arrangement that was retroactive and underfunded by 75 million. MWD’s action was the

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ASSEMBLYMEMBER SALAS HOSTS VETERANS HEALTH & RESOURCE FAIR OCT. 17

Printer-friendly versionOctober 14, 2009 (Otay) – Assemblymember Mary Salas, Chair of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, will host a Veterans Health and Resource Fair at Southwestern College 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910.  Over thirty representatives from health organizations and Veterans service organizations will be in attendance offering information, body mass index, blood pressure checks, and glucose screenings.

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FREE DOCUMENT SHREDDING SATURDAY

Printer-friendly version October 13, 2009 (El Cajon)- To help prevent identity theft, San Diego County Credit Union has announced that free shredding services will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at its El Cajon branch, located at 312 West Main St.   The public is invited to bring a maximum of two boxes containing

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SHERIFF’S DEPT. OFFERS LANDLORD TRAINING SEMINAR

Printer-friendly version October 13, 2009 (San Diego)–Bill Gore, Sheriff, San Diego County, announces the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department sponsorship of a free one day Landlord Training Seminar for Mobile Home Park managers and staff. It will be held on Thursday October 22nd, at 9621 Ridgehaven Court in San Diego beginning at 8:00 a.m. Light refreshments will be served. The Landlord Training

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BETWEEN WILDFIRES: ASK QUESTIONS!

Printer-friendly version  Part 1 of an 8-part Series   By Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., M.B.A., wildfire ecologist/educator and retired Forest Supervisor, Cleveland National Forest October 13, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–By any accounts, we will always be “between wildfires” in southern California. That raises three wildfire questions that face San Diego. What will it take to keep houses from igniting?

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