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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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POLICE SEEK MAN WHO APPROACHED GIRL AT LA MESA BIG LOTS STORE
Printer-friendly versionMarch 22, 2009 (La Mesa)–La Mesa Police ask the public’s help in identifying a man who solicited a phone number from a young teen outside the Big Lots store on Lake Murray Boulevard last night. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward. Printer-friendly version
SPRING BREAK! WHERE TO HAVE FUN IF YOU’RE STAYING IN TOWN
Printer-friendly versionMarch 26, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — With the economy in the tank, many college students are staying in San Diego over spring break. So after you get sunburned at the beach, what’s there to do for the rest of the week? Check out our guide to the coolest spots to have fun in San Diego’s eastern region.
THE RENO REPORT: SDSU BASKETBALL RE-ENTERS THE ARENA
Printer-friendly versionViejas invests in a gem By Jamie Reno Exclusive for East County Magazine March 23, 2009 (San Diego)–As a wide-eyed young journalism student making my way across the San Diego State University campus for the first time in the Fall of 1984, I was energized by the thought that I was about to attend a top-notch J school and
ATTORNEY TRACY EMBLEM ENTERS 50TH CONGRESSIONAL RACE: DEMOCRAT PLEDGES TO REBUILD THE ECONOMY; JOBS, HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE ARE TOP PRIORITIES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery March 23, 2009 (San Diego)–Honored as outstanding advocate by Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Tracy Emblem now wants to fight for the rights of people in the 50th Congressional District who need help with healthcare, housing, and jobs. "Brian Bilbray has not been an effective leader. He hasn’t brought back any jobs to our community," Emblem
BILBRAY COAUTHORS BILL TO EXEMPT SOLAR FARMS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW; FEINSTEIN SEEKS TO BLOCK DESERT SOLAR FARM DUE TO SEVERE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery March 23, 2009 (San Diego)–Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-San Diego) has coauthored H.R. 964, a measure that would exempt any solar energy project on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands from Environmental Impact Report requirements. Sempra Energy, Bilbray’s third largest campaign contributor, seeks to import power from desert solar farms on BLM lands. On Friday, California’s
VIEJAS HOSTS INTER-TRIBAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Printer-friendly version 1st place Barona team March 17, 2009 (San Diego) — The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians hosted the Inter-Tribal Sports (ITS) Basketball Championships on the Viejas Reservation on Sunday, March 15. The sports league, consisting of teams from 16 different tribes or tribal organizations in the Southern California area, provides athletic opportunities along with native cultural and spiritual
POWERLINK BATTLE MOVES TO FEDERAL FRONT AMID GROWING CONTROVERSIES OVER SDG&E
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery March 19, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–The next phase in the battle over Sunrise Powerlink, which was approved in December by the California Public Utilities Commission, now moves to the federal level. In the past week, several key developments have occurred under the Obama administration that could impact whether or not Sempra’s Powerlink Project will win
SDSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM ADVANCES TO NCAA POST-SEASON FOR 1ST TIME IN 12 YEARS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 19, 2009 (San Diego)–San Diego State University’s women’s basketball team, the Aztecs, will play in the NCAA Basketball Championships for the first time since 1997 and the seventh time in the team’s history. The team will face off against DePaul University’s Blue Demons at 5 p.m. at Cox Arena on Saturday. "To be able to play at
ANDERSON BILL TO BLUR GOOGLE EARTH IMAGES SPARKS NATIONAL CONTROVERSY
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery March 18, 2009 (San Diego)–Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) has introduced AB 255, a bill that seeks to prevent terrorist acts by blurring online images of schools, government buildings, churches and medical facilities through Google Earth and other online aerial mapping technologies. The measure has drawn the attention of CNN News and sparked a debate among high-tech
FILNER BLOCKS OBAMA PLAN TO CHARGE INSURERS FOR TREATMENT OF WOUNDED VETS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery March 18, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–East County Magazine contacted Congressman Bob Filner’s office after receiving an e-mail from the American Legion which stated that President Obama intended to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for treatment of military veterans who suffered service-related injuries or disabilities. Filner (D-San Diego), is Chairman of
SPORT CLIPS RAISES $2,500 FOR ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION
Printer-friendly versionJune 23, 2009 (Santee) – Terry Klinker, owner of the Sport Clips store in Santee, donned the company’s “Sporty” mascot suit and joined with other members of the haircut store’s team to participate in the 2009 Arthritis Walk last Saturday. The retail chain raised more than $2,500 through the walk as well as through a “Cut-a-Thon” held at its
“HOW GREEN IS MY SAN DIEGO” PROGRAM SET JUNE 30
Printer-friendly versionJune 22, 2009 (San Diego) –The League of Women Voters will host a luncheon program titled “How Green is My San Diego” with Tom Blair and Stephen Grealy from the City Environmental Systems and Waste Reduction Departments and Carolyn Chase from the Sierra Club in San Diego on June 30th. Speakers will address what San Diego is doing to
LA MESA TO CONSIDER HELPING NON-CITY GROUPS FUND FIREWORKS & OTHER CAUSES TO BENEFIT AREA RESIDENTS
Printer-friendly versionJune 21, 2009 (La Mesa) –On Tuesday, June 23, at 3 p.m. La Mesa’s City Council will hold a joint special meeting with the La Mesa Community Redevelopment Agency and La Mesa Public Financing Authority. Staff will present a recommendation urging Council to approve the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 budgets. Council will also consider a possible rule change regarding travel
OH NO , TAINTED COOKIE DOUGH! FDA WARNS CONSUMERS NOT TO EAT NESTLE TOLLHOUSE DOUGH CONTAMINATED BY E-COLI
Printer-friendly versionNestle Voluntarily Recalls all Varieties of Prepackaged, Refrigerated Toll House Cookie Dough June 19, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that
FILNER SECURES FUNDING FOR CRITICAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Printer-friendly versionJune 20, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Congressman Bob Filner announces that he has secured significant funding for critical community projects within California’s 51st District through the bi-partisan Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill as follows: • $1.2 million for the Regional Communications System Upgrade through the County of San Diego, which will also benefit Imperial County • $200,000 for
LOCAL WRITER SLEUTHS OUT PROOF THAT FINGERPRINT EVIDENCE CAN BE WRONG, SKEWED BY EXAMINERS’ BIAS
Printer-friendly versionEast County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery interviewed journalist/author Sue Russell, an East County resident whose latest article exposes evidence that fingerprint analysis is not infallible as we’ve always thought and may be wrong in as many as 1,000 cases a year in the U.S., according to one estimate. Russell’s article, BIAS AND THE BIG FINGERPRINT DUST-UP, documents how unintentional
SHERIFF CONDUCTS ANTI-GANG SWEEP IN FALLBROOK
Printer-friendly versionThe North County Regional Gang Task Force, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Fallbrook Substation, conducted an anti-gang enforcement operation in Fallbrook on Saturday night, June 13th. The operation focused on all gang members residing in the jurisdiction of the Fallbrook command. Deputies conducted directed patrol, gang compliance checks, and probation and parole searches on gang members. The operation lasted
LA MILPA ORGANICA FARM OPEN HOUSE & POTLUCK MOVIE NIGHT: SAT. JUNE 20
Printer-friendly versionJune 19, 2009 (Escondido) – La Milpa Organica Farm invites the public to join in a potluck that also features freshly-made wood-fired pizzas and a family-friendly film showing outdoors beneath oak trees after dark. The event will be held at 9928 Protea Gardens Road, Escondido from 3 to 10 p.m. Guests are asked to “bring something tasty to share”;
HELIX WATER DISTRICT TO IMPOSE LEVEL 2 WATER RESTRICTIONS JULY 1: OUTDOOR WATERING RESTRICTED TO 3 DAYS A WEEK–EXCEPT FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH WATER-EFFICIENT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
Printer-friendly versionBy Kate Breece HWD Public Affairs Editor’s Note: Due to a family emergency I was unable to cover this important hearing. Thanks to Kate Breece at Helix Water District for providing this summary of the Board’s decision. La Mesa, CA – Thursday, June 18, 2009 – Due to water the allocation cutback of 8% from the San Diego County
BUDGET AXE FALLS ON POWAY DAYS PARADE—UNLESS CITIZENS CAN SAVE IT
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery June 18, 2009 (Poway)—Poway Councilmembers voted Tuesday to stave off cuts in public safety services and avoid lay-offs, but opted to cancel the Poway Days Parade and reduce park hours to make ends meet amid state budget cuts. The parade has been a 44-year tradition in the community. Council adopted a $33.2 million general fund budget
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