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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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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.
Twelve-year-old killed, two other children critically injured crossing street in San Carlos
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News Update 1 p.m., Oct. 21: A GoFundMe has been set up and a vigil will be held Tuesday night at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Update 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20: San Diego Unified School District has identified the boy who died as sixth grader Andrew Olsen. Sixth graders Anne
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
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
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
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
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
No Kings rallies draw millions nationally, over 85,000 locally to protest authoritarianism
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo, right: Washington D.C. No Kings rally, courtesy of organizers October 19, 2025 (San Diego) – No Kings rallies yesterday drew an estimated 7 million protesters nationwide, including estimates ranging from 25,000 to 50,000+ in downtown San Diego’s Waterfront Park and over 35,000 more in rallies held in cities and towns across San Diego County. San
No Kings rallies across San Diego County and nation Oct. 18
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 16, 2025 (San Diego) – Organizers are predicting that this Saturday’s “No Kings” demonstration against the “authoritarianism of the Trump regime” may be the largest yet, including over 2,500 sites in all 50 states as well as territories and other nations. Locally, a large rally is planned at Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego
GUHSD Board passes biased nonviolent discourse resolution and scaled-down limits on protestors
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr Screenshot: Board President Gary Woods with Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte, defending their non-violence resolution in classrooms. “Trust is earned.” Jay Steiger, 2025 October 16, 2025 (El Cajon) — The Grossmont Union High School District Board passed an amended policy limiting protests outside board meetings, adopted a resolution providing religious exemptions in classrooms, and adopted a
SD FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES DISPATCHED TO BATTLE L.A. BLAZES
Printer-friendly version SD REGION STILL HAS “SURGE CAPACITY” RESOURCES TO COMBAT FIRE LOCALLY: CHIEF GHIO August 30, 2009 (San Diego) – Firefighting resources from San Diego County’s region have been dispatched to battle the wildfires that have forced thousands to evacuate in the Los Angeles area. But August Ghio (photo, left), head of the San Diego County Fire Chiefs
5-ACRE FIRE DOUSED IN RAMONA
Printer-friendly versionAugust 30, 2009 (Ramona) – A five-acre brush fire off Steffy Road near Wilson Road in the Ramona area has been contained shortly after it began, CAL-FIRE reports. CAL-FIRE dispatched 12 engines, 2 fire crews, 1 bulldozer, 2 airtankers, 2 helicopter, 2 water tenders, and 2 chief officers for a total of approximately 100 fire fighters. The U.S. Forest Service
“BILLIONAIRES FOR WEALTHCARE” GROUP MOCKS OPPONENTS OF HEALTHCARE REFORM AT TOWNHALL FORUM HOSTED BY CONGRESSWOMAN DAVIS IN SPRING VALLEY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery August 30, 2009 (Spring Valley) – A rowdy crowd of approximately 1,500 turned out to cheer on and heckle Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) during a town hall meeting in Spring Valley Saturday afternoon. Protests from conservative “teabaggers” and signs with racist overtones were countered by a newly-formed group calling itself “Billionaires for Wealthcare.” (photos)
PROMISE OF PEACE CONFERENCE SEPT. 26 TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF PEACE PATROL
Printer-friendly versionOPENING SPEAKER TO HONOR MEMORY OF SLAIN SANTANA STUDENT By Marisa Kezirian August 2009 – On September 26, The Promise of Peace Conference, celebrating 20 years of Peace Patrol, will be held in Chula Vista. The opening speaker, Dr. Carol L. Macagba (photo, left), will honor the memory of her nephew, Bryan Macagba Zuckor, who lost his
RUN WOMEN RUN TO HOST CANDIDATE RECRUITFEST IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly version August 30, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — Whether you’ve played an active role in improving the state of our political and social environment or wanted to but didn’t know how to get involved, joining Run Women Run provides opportunities for you to make a difference. On September 13, 2009, a Candidate Recruitfest will be held at
CAR PLUNGES INTO RIVER IN SANTEE; 4 KILLED, BRUSH FIRE ENSUED
Printer-friendly version August 28, 2009 (Santee)–After striking another vehicle near I-125 and SR-52 in Santee at 3:47 p.m. this afternoon, a car plunged into the San Diego River in Santee. The car burst into flames, igniting a brush fire. A call to 911 reported a stuck accelerator pedal. Heartland Fire responded to the accident. Four victims were pronounced dead on
POWER OUTAGES IMPACT 2,403 IN EAST COUNTY & SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version August 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Power outages have been reported in multiple locations through San Diego County. A map of affected areas can be viewed here: http://www.sdge.com/outages/outageMap.shtml One outage is impacting the following communities: Casa De Oro/ Rancho San Diego,Jamacha/ W Jamul/ Indian Springs, Jamul/ N Jamul/ Lyons Valley, La Presa/ Spring Valley/ Rancho San
BRUSH FIRES IN JAMUL & VALLEY CENTER
Printer-friendly version August 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – A brush fire in Jamul has caused a power outage in the vicinity. The fire, caused by a traffic accident, has been contained at ¾ an acre, CAL-FIRE spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik reports. SDG&E is on the scene working to repair downed power lines and restore power to area residents.
CAL-FIRE SUSPENDS BURNING PERMITS & OPEN FIRES
Printer-friendly version OFFICIALCITE FIRE DANGER, DEPLOYMENT OF LOCAL FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES TO BATTLE BLAZES ELSEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA August 27, 2009 (San Diego County) – No roasting marshmallows in your backyard BBQ pit–for now. Mike Bratton, division chief of CAL-FIRE’s San Diego union, yesterday issued orders to suspend burning permits and other uses of open fire in all areas within San Diego and Imperial Counties for which Cal-Fire is responsible. Incorporated cities are
CA VETERANS TO GET FULL GI BENEFIT
Printer-friendly version Agreement between State of California and VA Will Result in Dramatic Increase in Benefits for Yellow Ribbon Program August 27, 2009 (Washington, D.C.) – A recent agreement between the State of California and the Veterans Administration will result in a dramatic increase in benefits for the Yellow Ribbon program, which helps veterans afford tuition and fee costs at
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