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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…
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
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CONGRESSMAN FILNER JOINS LOCAL OFFICIALS TO OPPOSE RELEASE OF CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER TO OTAY MESA
Printer-friendly version ( Manuel Paul, San Ysidro School District Superintendent; Clarissa Falcon, District Director for State Senator Denise Ducheny; Rachel Solorzano, Congressman Bob Filner, Representative from Assembly Member Mary Salas’ Office; Yolanda Hernandez, San Ysidro School Board Member; Hector Espinoza, San Ysidro High School Principal; Jesus Gandara, Sweetwater School District Superintendent; Ralph Dimarucut from Assembly Member Mary Salas’ Office; Anastasia
HOT TOPIC: VIEJAS HOSTS WILDFIRE FIGHTING DRILLS FOR 60 FIRE PROTECTION AGENCIES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 23, 2009 (Viejas Indian Reservation)—Preparing for fire season, fire engine crews from more than 60 fire protection agencies donned full safety gear and participated in structure protection drills, wildland hose lays, pumping evolutions and other exercises. Aerial resources, including helicopters, practiced coordinated fire attacks with ground crews under simulated fire conditions. The eighth annual event
HELIX WATER DISTRICT PROPOSES HEFTY WATER RATE INCREASE
Printer-friendly versionNew rates start metering May 1, Public Hearing May 27 By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero and Rachel Ford Hutman The Proposal (Rachel Ford Hutman) April 21, 2009 (La Mesa) – If you are one of the 260,000 residents in the Helix Water District, you may soon be paying a minimum increase of 20% more for your water—and for some heavy
BUNGLED BURGLARY: THREE ARRESTED IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionApril 23, 2009 (La Mesa)– La Mesa Police received a 911 call at 1:32 p.m. on April 22 from a witness who told dispatchers that a man and two women were breaking into a home in the 7900 block of Pasadena Ave. Officers arrived and detained two female suspects in the driveway of the victim’s residence. The witness told
STUDENTS GO ALL OUT FOR FREE COYOTE MUSIC FESTIVAL , HOPE FOR A HOWLING SUCCESS
Printer-friendly versionApril 23, 2009 (El Cajon, CA) – The bands are ready to play. The stage is set up and the equipment is in place. Thousands of flyers and postcards have been distributed, and hundreds of posters have been put up San Diego City and in East County. For the students in Cuyamaca College’s Music Industry Studies program, the efforts
SAN DIEGO’S CARBON FOOTPRINT IS BIGGER THAN LA’S: LOCAL POLICIES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE ARE LAGGING, CPI REPORT FINDS
Printer-friendly versionApril 22, 2009 (San Diego)–The carbon footprint of the average San Diegan–including residential energy use and transportation–is larger than that of the average resident of Los Angeles, a review of available data shows. San Diego also lags behind LA in policies and programs to reduce energy use, according to Climate Change Performance and Policy: San Diego versus Los Angeles,
FILNER INTRODUCES BILL FOR FEDS TO PAY COSTS OF EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AT BORDER ENTRIES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 18, 2009 (San Diego)—Congressman Bob Filner (R-San Diego) has introduced the “Save Our Border Communities Act, H.R. 670. The bill would require the federal government to reimburse costs for local police, firefighters and other first responders to provide services associated with U.S. ports of entry on the international border. “The federal government has not reimbursed
GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOST 23RD ANNUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION OPENING RECEPTION AND AWARDS CEREMONY
Printer-friendly versionApril 22, 2009 (El Cajon)– In celebration of student achievement, the Grossmont Union High School District is hosting its 23rd annual Creative Visions student art exhibition at Westfield Shopingtown-Parkway Plaza. The event officially kicks off with an awards ceremony on Friday, May 1, 2009, at 5:30 pm. Students will receive cash awards for artwork judged in the following categories:
SAN DIEGO ACLU SUIT CHARGES FBI & JUSTICE DEPT. WITH DODGING DOMESTIC SPYING FOIA: SEEKS IMMEDIATE PROCESSING OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS
Printer-friendly versionApril 21, 2009 (San Diego)–The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department are illegally dragging their feet in responding to a Freedom of Information Act request seeking records from the Camp Pendleton domestic spying case sent in July 2008, according to a complaint filed late yesterday by the San Diego ACLU and the law firm Fish & Richardson
BOULEVARD FIRE NOW EXTINGUISHED; FIRE VICTIM DECLINED AIR TRANSPORT; HELICOPTER DISPATCHED TO CRASH AT IN-KO-PAH
Printer-friendly versionUPDATE 7:20 p.m. A fire that began in Boulevard earlier this evening has been extinguished, Cal-Fire confirms. Fire crews will remain on the scene for several hours dousing hot spots. The blaze caused $400,000 in damage. A fire victim refused air transport and has been transported to the burn unit at UCSD via ground transport. The helicopter was dispatched
HELIX PIPELINE UPGRADE SENDS WATER FLOWING FOR 3 DAYS IN EL CAJON NEIGHBORHOOD
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery September 24, 2009 (El Cajon) –Why was water left to flow for three days from a pipeline on Pepper Drive? After a reader e-mailed East County Magazine to say that Helix Water had failed to repair an apparently ruptured pipeline a day and a half after it was first reported, we contacted Helix Water District
FIRE DEVASTATES SANTEE HOME
Printer-friendly version Story by Peter Diehl, Incident Page Network Photos by Scott Bolle, www.code3photos.com September 24, 2009 (Santee)–An early morning fire in Santee on Thursday required a response of engines and trucks from Santee, El Cajon, and Lakeside. The first engine arrived on the fire scene at 10530 Flora Veda, minutes after a call came into the Heartland communications center.
FIX THE MEDIA! MEDIA POLICY REFORM PANEL IN SD SEPT. 26
Printer-friendly version Media Reform Panel at San Diego Grassroots Democratic Convention Saturday September 24, 2009 San Diego)– The topics of, “Why do cities like San Diego have five or six talk radio stations with conservative viewpoints, but no progressive talk radio?” and “What can we do about it?” will be discussed by a panel of experts at the San Diego Grassroots
SOLAR ENERGY CONFERENCE SEPT. 29
Printer-friendly version September 24, 2009 – As part of Solar Energy Week, the California Center for Sustainability is sponsoring an all-day Solar Energy Conference featuring keynote speakers and high-level experts who will be exploring the latest policy, trends, technologies and other issues. Learn the latest in solar trends, and network with solar industry insiders. The conference promises something for everyone
WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT? FIND OUT OCT. 3
Printer-friendly version September 24, 2009 (El Cajon) – Grossmont Union High School District will host a free public forum Oct. 3 on the future of the district. The public is invited to learn more about projects planned for each campus and school project timelines, as well as celebrate the future of Grossmont schools. Imagery of design guidelines for specialty classrooms
PAROLED ARSONIST IN EAST COUNTY SPARKS CRY FOR REFORM
Printer-friendly version September 24, 2009 (Boulevard) –On Monday, CAL FIRE Battalion Chief and acting Boulevard Fire Chief John Francois informed Boulevard Fire Board members that a paroled arsonist had been living in the community. The arsonist is now back in custody for violating his parole terms. “Several suspicious fires are still under investigation,” Donna Tisdale, Chair of the Boulevard Planning Group informed East
CALIFORNIA’S FIREFIGHTING CAPACITY IS STRESSED AND FIREFIGHTERS STRETCHED THIN BY BUDGET CUTS, FIRE CHIEFS WARN LEGISLATIVE PANEL IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version State Fire Experts Urge Adoption of Emergency Response Initiative (ERI) By Miriam Raftery September 23, 2009 (San Diego) – With major wildfires burning in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and red flag warnings locally due to high fire danger, State Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) chaired a joint legislative committee hearing on emergency management in San Diego
SDSU CUTS ENROLLMENT, CHANGES ADMISSION & TRANSFER STUDENT POLICIES: ANNOUNCEMENT DRAWS CRITICISM
Printer-friendly version September 23, 2009 – In response to “devastating budget cuts”, San Diego State University President Stephen L. Weber announced that SDSU will cut enrollment by 10.8%, or 4,588 undergraduate students. In addition, the school will make changes to its admissions policy for incoming fall 2010 freshmen and transfer students. The announcement has sparked concerns and criticisms from community
TECATE FIRE HALTED AT 2 ACRES
Printer-friendly version September 23, 2009 (Tecate) – A fire that began at 9:56 a.m. in a mobile home off Humphries in Tecate has been stopped at two acres, CAL FIRE reports. An outbuilding on the property also burned. Twelve engines, two fire crews, two air tankers, a helicopter, a bulldozer, a water tender and about 100 firefighters swiftly extinquished
EDITORIAL: SDSU ATTEMPTING TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY THAT HARMS LOCAL STUDENTS
Printer-friendly version Public letter to Charles B. Reed, Chancellor and Board of Trustees, California State University "We concur that SDSU is once again pursuing a strategy of “discouraging” local students from enrolling at the campus. This discouragement had been one of the well kept secrets on the campus. …By closing the door to many of these youngsters the University and
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