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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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HIGH TECH SYSTEM TO SUPERCHARGE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION IN COUNTY

Printer-friendly version  September 18, 2009 (San Diego)– During an emergency every second counts, each tick of the clock can reduce survivability; each tick of the clock can allow a small fire to grow into an inferno, each tick can allow a criminal to do more harm. Under the technical restraints of current dispatch systems, getting critical information to First Responders

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HATE CRIMES SUMMIT OCT. 1 IN EL CAJON SEEKS TO STEM VIOLENCE IN OUR AREA

Printer-friendly versionMost Local Hate Crimes Are Committed by Youths Under 21   United for a Hate Free San Diego, a coalition of faith and community leaders, presents the 2nd annual Hate Crimes Summit on Thursday Oct. 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Ave, in El Cajon. A series of violent, hate-motivated incidents in East County and elsewhere

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SDSU GETS RECOVERY ACT FUNDING FOR CARBON CAPTURE RESEARCH

Printer-friendly version  September 19, 2009 (San Diego)–Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego)  announced that a $299,993 Recovery Act grant has been awarded to San Diego State University (SDSU) Research Foundation through the U.S. Department of Energy. Funds will be used for a web-based carbon dioxide (CO2) subsurface modeling project and will create training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to develop skills for

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GROSSMONT HOSPITAL COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION ON TOP 3 STORIES OF EMERGENCY & CRITICAL CARE

Printer-friendly version  September 18, 2009 (La Mesa)– Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) and Sharp Grossmont Hospital, East County’s largest hospital, have jointly announced that construction is now completed on the top three floors of the Emergency and Critical Care Center – the first infrastructure improvement project that was financed by voter-approved bonds at the publicly owned hospital.   A ribbon cutting

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SCHOOL BOARD LEARNS A LESSON, FACES WRATH OF PUBLIC: HUNDREDS CONFRONT LMSV BOARD OVER CENSORSHIP OF LIVE OBAMA SPEECH

Printer-friendly version  3 BOARD MEMBERS APOLOGIZE, BUT TAPED SPEECH STILL NOT SHOWN TO MANY STUDENTS   “If you were students in my class, you would not pass.”—Maureen Paolini, teacher and graduate of the LMSV district “My father marched with Dr. King…I do not appreciate that you told my child that the President, because he had a black face, was not

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SHERIFF REVISES ACCOUNT OF KARDIAN MURDER: MANHUNT NABS SUSPECT RICHARD DEAN NEFF; EYEWITNESS TELLS HER STORY

Printer-friendly version UPDATE: NEFF ARRESTED:  The suspect was apprehended this afternoon(Sept. 17)  by the San Diego Fugitive Task Force, the Sheriff’s Department reports. He was arrested at 425 W. Beech Street in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego and will be booked into Central Jail. San Diego News Network reports that Neff surrendered peacefully.Below is our story including interviews with an eyewitness

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CONGRESSMAN FILNER HOSTS SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE SEPT. 18

Printer-friendly version  September 17, 2009 (San Diego) — Tomorrow, Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) will be joined by key federal, state, and local officials, as well as government agency and business leaders, for a roundtable discussion on overcoming obstacles to access Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.   Roundtable event will provide a brief overview on finding solutions to benefit local small businesses.

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TEA PARTIES & MAD HATTERS TAKE TO STREETS IN EAST COUINTY

Printer-friendly version Political protesters and counter-protesters raise voices at Sept. 12 rallies September 17, 2009 (El Cajon and Ramona)—Last Saturday,  conservative  supporters turned out at T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already) rallies nationwide, including East County. About 150 to 200 attended a T.E.A. party rally  in El Cajon, where Republican Senate candidate Chuck DeVore addressed the crowd and a debate among Sheriff’s candidates

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2 MOTORCYCLISTS KILLED IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version September 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – A pair of motorcycle accidents this week have claimed two lives in East County. The County Coroner’s office has released the names of the victims, who died from crashes in Ramona and Descanso.   Mark Anthony Taylor, 46, of Ramona died after his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle that

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SALAS SENDS SEVEN BILLS TO THE GOVERNOR

Printer-friendly version Bills address education, water, crime-fighting, and veterans needs Sesptember 15, 2009 (San Diego)–Assemblymember Mary Salas (D-San Diego) last week sent seven bills to the Governor’s desk as the Legislature completed its work of the first year of the 2009-10 biennial legislative session. Assemblymember Salas and fellow lawmakers worked all night Friday and into the early morning Saturday to tackle

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