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BOB FILNER, FORMER SAN DIEGO MAYOR AND CONGRESSMAN, DIES AT 82

Printer-friendly version By Karen Pearlman      Photo,left: Bob Filner on Election Night 2012, when he won election as San Diego Mayor (April 28, 2025) San Diego — Bob Filner, who served as San Diego’s 35th mayor and as Congressman representing San Diego and border regions in East County, died April 20. He was 82.  A fierce advocate for civil rights, his

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SAN DIEGO-BASED JACK IN THE BOX TO CLOSE 150-200 RESTAURANTS

Printer-friendly version East County News Service April 27, 2025 (San Diego) – Jack in the Box has announced plans to close 150-200 underperforming restaurants this year and next, to improve the company’s cash flow. The locally-owned fast food chain opened the nation’s first drive-through hamburger outlet in 1951 at 6270 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego (photo, left). Soon after,

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ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. CLAIMS HE’LL FIND THE “CAUSE” OF AUTISM BY USING PRIVATE MEDICAL DATA

Printer-friendly version  Kennedy also moved to cut funding for various autism programs, and tasked discredited researcher with finding “link” between autism and vaccines  By G. A. McNeeley  Photo, left: cc via Bing April 27, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, has pledged to find the “cause” of autism, while he and other members

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LEMON GROVE MAYORAL RECALL FAILS TO GET ENOUGH VALIDATED SIGNATURES, BUT ORGANIZER SAYS HE’LL TRY AGAIN

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery April 26, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – On April 15, a notice of intent to recall Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow (photo,left) was served by resident Ken King.  But the next day, the City Clerk’s office notified King that the notice was rejected because it did not have enough valid signatures, printed names and addresses. In

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REP. ISSA HOLDS PUBLICITY APPEARANCE AT MCDONALD’S, AFTER PROTESTERS LEAVE

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery April 26, 2025 (San Diego)– Congressman Darrell Issa announced plans to hand out “Freedom Fries” at a McDonald’s in San Marcos on Thursday, April 24th. But after word got out that protesters planned to picket the event, 12 noon arrived—and Issa didn’t, until after protesters left. Issa’s office mailed a photo to media outlets including

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TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REJECTS ‘HOUSING FIRST’ APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS

Printer-friendly version By Angela Hart for KFF Health News. Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Collaboration File photo, left, by Miriam Raftery:  A homeless man living in a makeshift tent in Lemon Grove in 2024 April 26, 2025 (Washington D.C.)– President Donald Trump is vowing a new approach to

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MISSING WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN VEHICLE

Printer-friendly version Update:  Michelle Moden’s body was found  Sunday, April 27,with her vehicle on Sequan Truck Trail,  says Officer Jared Grieshaber with California Highway Patrol.  Foul play is not suspected, he indicated, but anyone with information is asked to contact  CHP’s Border Division Major Crimes Unit at 858-944-6300. East County News Service April 25, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The

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BORDER PATROL AGENTS IN JAMUL FIND 51 POUNDS OF METH IN TIRE

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo:  Methamphetamine stash hidden in tire   April 25, 2025 (Jamul) — U.S. Border Patrol agents from the San Diego Sector stopped a narcotics smuggling attempt in its tracks, intercepting a large quantity of methamphetamine concealed in a vehicle’s spare tire.   According to the Border Patrol, on April 18 around 10:30 p.m., a K-9

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Stay safe! Sign up to receive free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Printer-friendly version Click here to receive our free alerts via email. You can also follow our alerts on X. Scroll down to read our latest articles on wildfires and other emergencies in San Diego’s inland region. We appreciate the generous sponsorships of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation and San Diego River Conservancy  to support our emergency alerts, helping us keep

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SANTEE HIRES INTERIM CITY MANAGER

Printer-friendly version By Mike Allen April 25, 2025 (Santee) — Santee’s City Council hired Gary Halbert, a former city manager for Chula Vista, as its interim city manager on the same day, April 23, that the prior city manager, Marlene Best, officially ended her nine-year tenure in a mutually agreed separation. Neither the City Council nor Best provided any comment

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EL CAJON CELEBRATES BIKE TO WORK WEEK

Printer-friendly versionThe term "wheels of government" takes on new meaning in El Cajon this week, as employees are encouraged to join in “Bike to Work Week” May 11 through 15. The nationwide endeavor aims to educate the public about benefits of bicycling and to increase awareness, safety and respect for bicyclists, as well as highlighting cycling as an important means

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PASSAGES: SUZANNE DI MASCIO, R.N., MANAGER OF RYAN WHITE PROGRAM AND DIRECTOR OF AMERICHOICE, LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

Printer-friendly versionWIFE OF EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE’S BUSINESS MANAGER WILL BE MISSED May 11, 2009 (Santee)—Suzanne (“Suzy”) Marie Di Mascio, a leading voice in San Diego’s healthcare community and wife of East County Magazine’s business manager Leon Thompson, passed away on May 7, 2009 at San Diego Hospice following a long battle against cancer. Her efforts helped improve access to healthcare

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FILNER AMENDMENT PROTECTS RENTERS, REQUIRES NOTICE IF LANDLORD FACES FORECLOSURE RISK

Printer-friendly versionMay 12, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Congressman Filner has joined his colleagues in passing the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, H.R. 1728. This legislation aims to prevent the types of predatory and irresponsible mortgage loan practices that played a major role in the current financial and economic meltdown. Congressman Filner worked to include a provision in the final

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MAY 12 SCREENING OF “RUNNING DRY” TO BENEFIT ARCHI’S ACRES ORGANIC FARM AND VETERANS’ TRAINING

Printer-friendly versionMay 8, 2009 San Diego, CA – Lestat’s West, the showroom next to the eclectic San Diego coffee house in Normal Heights, will screen “Running Dry”, a powerful documentary on the growing global water crisis on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 pm. “Running Dry” is a comprehensive public information/education project, established to raise awareness about the worsening global humanitarian

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HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR SHARON NEUMANN RECEIVES ENDOWMENT AWARD

Printer-friendly versionMay 10, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Sharon Neumann, a Grossmont Middle College High School counselor, has been honored as the 2009 Frank Jonasson Endowment Award recipient. The Jonasson Endowment at San Diego State University (SDSU) annually recognizes a high school counselor in San Diego or Imperial Counties who has “gone above and beyond the call of duty” for students

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ECCAC HOSTS PARTY MAY 30 TO FUND LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST POWERLINK: MAY 30 IN LAKESIDE

Printer-friendly versionThe East County Community Action Coalition (ECCAC) is sponsoring a fundraiser on Saturday, May 30, 2009 from 11-4 pm at Hazy Meadow Ranch in Lakeside, CA. This is an all-county event that will feature live music, raffle, opportunity drawing, carnvial games, pony rides, and more. The organization seeks public help to fund legal action to "sunset" Sunrise Powerlink. The

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PROBLEMS? WHAT WATER PROBLEMS?

Printer-friendly versionWater, water everywhere: How San Diego Can Become Water Self-Sufficient—And Even Be a Water Exporter A Commentary By Jim Bell May 10, 2009 (San Diego)–Many experts are projecting doom and gloom, scenarios of decreasing water supplies and increasing cost, yet the San Diego/Tijuana Region can easily become renewable water self-sufficient and even become a net water exporter. Yes, that’s

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OLÉ! DUAL GRAND OPENING ON CINCO DE MAYO DRAWS A CROWD

Printer-friendly versionMay 9, 2009 (Rancho San Diego)—Two new businesses, Savanna Grill and Realty Executives, teamed up to co-host a grand opening Cinco De Mayo celebration that proved both festive and successful. “We had over 500 people attend,” said Valerie Harrison, president of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the event. Guests feasted on tri-tip and sipped dollar

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