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Evacuations Lifted in Steele Fire; Drone Hampered Firefighters

Printer-friendly versionUpdate:  All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. Story, videos and photos by Josh Stotler View videos: https://youtu.be/usGRn-FQPg0   and https://youtu.be/2vITCTQMPl4 July 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Firefighters have held the #SteeleFire to 28 acres. As of this evening, the fire is 25% contained, with no structures lost, according to Cal Fire, despite interference by a drone temporarily

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Over 4,700 Under Evacuation Orders from Steele Fire

Printer-friendly version East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts July 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The Steele Fire has prompted evacuations of over 4,700 residents in Jamul and Rancho San Diego due to structure threast.  The fire began on Star Acres Drive in Rancho San Diego View map of areas under evacuation orders or warnings. Evacuees can go to

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Homicide investigation leads to arrest of 2 suspects

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service July 7, 2025 (El Cajon) — The El Cajon Police Department is looking for tips related to an April shooting in the city that led to the death of a man.   El Cajon PD Lt. Will Guerin reporterd that at about 9:47 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, El Cajon police officers responded to multiple

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County to Spray for Mosquitoes in Rolando Areas of La Mesa and San Diego to Reduce Risk of West Nile Virus

Printer-friendly version  Source: County of San Diego July 7, 2025 (La Mesa) — To protect the public and keep mosquitoes from potentially spreading West Nile virus, which was recently detected in Rolando, the County is scheduled to conduct ultra-low volume, truck-mounted, pesticide-mist treatments this week. The spraying aims to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes on about 4,000 parcels in

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Ramona Robbery Victim Spots Suspect at Bank, Leading to Arrest

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 6, 2025 (Ramona) – Ramon Jimenez Jr. is in custody on suspicion of robbery and threatening the victim with a metal pole. According to Lieutenant Alex Navarro with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department, a resident of Terre Oak Apartments in Ramona was taking out trash when the suspect approached him, brandishing a metal

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Alligator Alcatraz: A Florida ‘Concentration Camp’

Printer-friendly version By Alexander J Schorr July 4, 2025 (Everglades, FL)  — Nearby President Trump’s Miami resort in the swamplands of the Florida Everglades sits a makeshift detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the latest in his administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Andrea Pitzer, author of One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps, writes in an editorial published on MSNBC, “I

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Owner Identified in Dog-Dragging Case; Animal Cruelty Charges to Be Filed

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service July 5, 2025 (Spring Valley) — San Diego County Animal Services has identified the person responsible for the horrific July 2 incident in Spring Valley in which a dog was dragged behind a vehicle.  After seeing video coverage of the incident on television, the dog’s owner contacted County Animal Services and admitted that it was his truck

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TRUMP SIGNS BUDGET BILL ON JULY 4 THAT INFLATES DEFICIT, CUTS SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME AMERICANS AND MAKES TAX CUTS FOR WEALTHY PERMANENT

Printer-friendly version By G. A. McNeeley  July 6, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump on July 4 signed the highly contentious budget bill into law. The measure passed the Senate by a one-vote margin and on July 3, the House of Representatives approved the measure.  All San Diego representatives voted no, with the exception of Rep. Darrell Issa, who voted

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Pizzabilities in Alpine Serves Up Build-Your-Own Pizza and Inclusive Opportunities for Employees

Printer-friendly version Pam Baker and her granddaughter Grace Baker at Pizzabilities in Alpine   Story and photos by Karen Pearlman   July 2, 2025 (Alpine) – Any way you slice it, Pizzabilities, Alpine’s newest addition to the culinary scene, is about to serve the community in some of the most delicious and unexpected ways.   While Pizzabilities serves delicious pies,

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REP. CONYERS TO SPEAK ON HEALTHCARE REFORM IN SAN DIEGO SATURDAY, JULY 11

Printer-friendly version  Town hall forum: Congressman John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), will discuss health care reform 1 to 4 p.m. July 11 at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Conyers is a leading voice on Capitol Hill for healthcare reform and author of a single-payer healthcare bil that a Congressional committee has thus far refused to

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NEW PALLATIVE MEDICINE HOTLINE IN SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly version  The Institute for Palliative Medicine in San Diego will operate California’s first statewide consultative service for palliative care resources July 8, 2009 (San Diego) – Communities in California lacking palliative medicine resources will now receive top quality palliative care consultative and educational support through a new hotline housed and operated by The Institute for Palliative Medicine. The pilot

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HEALTH REFORM: THE DEVIL IS STILL IN THE DETAILS; AN AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION FORUM JULY 17 IN SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly version July 8, 2009 (San Diego) — Health Reform will impact all of us. Proposals are emerging from Congress, the White House, organizations and groups across the country. By July, several strong proposals will be taking shape and major issues clearly on the table. Successful health reform should address not only how coverage and access to care will be

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GUHSD BOARD TO VOTE ON REVOCATION OF HELIX HIGH CHARTER AT MEETING THURS. JULY 9

Printer-friendly version July 8, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont Union High School District’s Board of Trustees will vote Thursday on a notification to revoke Helix High School’s charter. The Helix High School Foundation and Alumni Association is planning a rally and urging supporters of Helix to attend the meeting at the East County Regional Educational Center, 924 East

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MOTORCYCLE IGNITES FIRE IN OTAY MESA

Printer-friendly version  July 8, 2009 (Otay)—A motorcycle accident has sparked a vegetation fire on Otay Lakes Road that is currently eight acres, CAL-FIRE informed East County Magazine at 5:43 p.m.   “Firefighters do not anticipate the fire getting any larger,” CAL-FIRE Captain Nick Schuler said, adding that no additional resources will be required to extinguish the blaze. The motorcyclist was

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SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE WITHOUT ARCHITECTS: JULY 13 PROGRAM SHINES LIGHT ON ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME DESIGN TECHNIQUES FROM IRAN

Printer-friendly version  July 8, 2009 (San Diego)–Architect Simi Razavian will demonstrate how people of Tabbas, Iran used micro-climate and local materials to create energy-efficient homes. She will illustrate how they used sun, wind, and water, along with thermal mass to create not only zero energy consumption buildings but also private and comfortable homes.    Razavian has a Master of Science

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ASSEMBLYMEMBER BLOCK TO HOST 2 PUBLIC EVENTS THIS WEEK: OPEN HOUSE & FREE CLINIC FOR DISTRESSED HOMEOWNERS

Printer-friendly version July 5, 2009 (Lemon Grove)– Assemblymember Marty Block (D-78) will host an open house at his DistOffice in Lemon Grove on Friday, plus a free clinic in Bonita on Saturday for homeowners facing foreclosure.   "We had a very successful open house in December," commented the Assemblymember, "and would like to repeat that while introducing residents to our

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TACKLE THIS: NFL PLAYER & FORMER ALL-AMERICAN QUARTERBACK HOLDS FOOTBALL PASSING CAMP AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE

Printer-friendly version  July 6, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Athletics Dept. and assistant Grossmont football coach Akili Smith, a former Grossmont College All-American quarterback and National Football League player, will host a football passing camp and tournament for high school football athletes starting at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11, at the college’s football field.  

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GROSSMONT COLLEGE ANNOUNCES NEW SCHOLARSHIPS & MATCHING FUNDS UP TO $25 MILLION TO HELP EAST COUNTY STUDENTS AFFORD AN EDUCATION

Printer-friendly versionJuly 5, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Foundation has announced that $83,500 has been raised so far –mostly from five local entities — for six perpetual, $1,000-a-year scholarships for Grossmont College students as part of a partnership with the San Francisco-based Bernard Osher Foundation.   Additional scholarship monies raised over the next two years by the Grossmont College Foundation

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“MAGNIFICENT MILKY WAY” WITH ASTRONOMER DENNIS MAMMANA AT BORREGO SPRINGS AUG. 15

Printer-friendly version  July 5, 2009 (Borrego Springs)–Few celestial sights are as stunning as an August desert sky. On Saturday, August 15, famed astronomer and night sky photographer Dennis Mammana offers an evening of galactic viewing along the Milky Way.     Mammana invites guests to "witness some of the most magnificent scenery anywhere" from “the nearest of stars and glowing

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