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SENATOR PADILLA, COLLEAGUES PUSH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO EXEMPT SEASONAL FIREFIGHTERS FROM FEDERAL HIRING FREEZE

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service February 27, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined 14 other Democratic Senators in urging senior Trump Administration officials to reverse the hiring and onboarding freeze of federal seasonal firefighters that they say threatens the safety of communities in California and across the nation. The Trump Administration’s January 20 hiring freeze of federal civilian employees inexplicably did not exempt federal

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ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER FOR COUNTY TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR’S AUCTION OF 637 PROPERTIES

Printer-friendly versionBidders must register at sdttc.com by March 6th to participate in auction featuring 640 properties February 26, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister reminded those interested in participating in the County’s 2025 online property tax auction that bidder registration must be completed by March 6. This year’s auction features more than 600 properties for

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BODY FOUND IN CAR LEADS TO PURSUIT, ARREST OF VICTIM’S SON

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery February 26, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police responded to a call yesterday from a man who found his mother’s body in the trunk of her car, a black Hyundai Sonata. The caller said he had gone to check on his mother after she didn’t return home from visiting her other son, Richard Leyva, 24, who

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BIRD FLU SUSPECTED IN DEATH OF EAST COUNTY CAT THAT ATE RAW PET FOOD

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Image: generic cat photo, cc  via Bing   February 26, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County Public Health officials are investigating a suspected case of bird flu (H5N1) in a house cat from East County.  Preliminary test results show the cat, which got sick and died in mid-January 2025, was positive for bird flu.  The indoor cat ate a raw pet food that is suspected to

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CONSERVATION GROUPS SUE FEDS TO PROTECT COAST FROM OFFSHORE DRILLING

Printer-friendly versionBy Suzanne Potter, Public News Service   February 25, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Trump administration to reinstate protections against new offshore drilling. President Donald Trump revoked a Biden-era order to withdraw from future drilling 625 million acres of ocean off the Pacific, Eastern Gulf, Atlantic and Alaska coasts.   Devorah Ancel, Environmental Law

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MASS FIRINGS NEGATIVELY IMPACT NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, OTHER PUBLIC LANDS

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo via Alt National Park Service:  upside down flag hung by employees at Yosemite National Park signals dire distress February 25, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – In what’s been dubbed a Valentine’s Day massacre, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has fired 1,000 National Park Service employees from the nation’s 63 national parks, plus another 2,000

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TRUMP BUDGET PASSES SENATE, HEADS TO HOUSE

Printer-friendly versionRepublicans also seek to increase national debt to fund tax breaks for wealthy   By Alexander J Schorr Image: Cc by NC-ND via Bing   February 24, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Republican senators pushed a $340 billion budget framework to passage early Friday that would give massive new tax cuts to wealthy people and corporations, while slashing Medicaid and

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LAKESIDE WOMAN KILLED IN DULZURA COLLISION

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service February 24, 2025 (Dulzura) – A Lakeside woman, 60, was killed in a collision that occurred yesterday on State Route 94 west of Marron Valley Road in Dulzura. The victim was riding a 2019 Can Am 3-wheel motorcycle westbound on the highway when a 2024 Subaru Crosstek entered the westbound lane from a dirty driveway

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HOMICIDE AT PARK IN LEMON GROVE

Printer-friendly version Updates: The victim has been identified as 51-year-old Anthony Trujillo.  On Feb. 27, Andrew Gomez Cardona, 26, was arrested at a home on S. Magnolia in El Cajon. He has been booked on charges related to the murder of Trujillo, who died of a bullet wound in the neck.  Cardona told deputies that he resided in Lemon Grove.

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SUSTAINABLE JULIAN: IS IT POSSIBLE? MARCH 21 WORKSHOP WILL UNVEIL AMBITION COMMUNITY PLANS

Printer-friendly version Kathleen Beck and Jeanette Hartman (Brian Kramer) March 8, 2009 (Julian) — Julian residents and environmentalists are embarking on an ambitious plan to make this historic mountain town energy-self-sufficient using renewable resources. Starting with a wind demonstration project at the library, the plan calls for 200 homes in Julian to become self-sustaining through wind and solar energy. "The

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COLLEGE DISTRICT BIDS FAREWELL TO CHANCELOR

Printer-friendly versionDr. Omero Suarez’ 11-year legacy transformed district March 2, 2009 (EL CAJON)–After more than a decade at the helm of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Dr. Omero Suarez turned off the lights in his office a final time Friday, ready to embark on a new chapter in his life. He will be replaced by Dr. Cindy Miles, who begins

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COLLEGE DISTRICT BIDS FAREWELL TO CHANCELOR

Printer-friendly versionDr. Omero Suarez: 11-year legacy transformed district March 2, 2009 (EL CAJON)–After more than a decade at the helm of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Dr. Omero Suarez turned off the lights in his office a final time Friday, ready to embark on a new chapter in his life. He will be replaced by Dr. Cindy Miles, who begins

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VIEJAS ENTERPRISES RECEIVES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

Printer-friendly versionMarch 3, 2009 (San Diego)–At an inaugural celebration, Viejas Enterprises was awarded the East County Regional Business of the Year by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. The first "Bet on the Chamber" celebration, held at Viejas’ DreamCatcher Lounge, recognized over 20 outstanding East County businesses.The Chamber annually recognizes businesses throughout East County that have made a

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CONGRESS ENACTS NEW FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT

Printer-friendly versionMarch 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–A tax credit of up to $8,000 is now available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Unlike the tax credit enacted in 2008, the new credit does not have to be repaid. Learn how you can take advantage of this $8,000

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RESIDENTS STAGE PROTEST IN LAKESIDE OVER POWERLINK; SUPERIVSOR JACOB LEADS FIGHT TO HALT SEMPRA/SDG&E PROJECT

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery "This line is really about bringing fossil fuels up from the plant owned by SDG&E in Mexico," said Dianne Jacob, chair of the County Board of Supervisors. "We do not need this line to meet San Diego County’s energy needs now or in the future…Follow the money to see who supports Sunrise Powerlink." February 28, 2009

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BANK ROBBER CAUGHT ON TAPE: UP TO $1,000 REWARD OFFERED FOR FALLBROOK, ESCONDIDO SUSPECT

Printer-friendly versionMarch 3, 2009 (San Diego)–San Diego County Crime Stoppers is joining forces with San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Fallbrook detectives to help identify and apprehend the suspect responsible for robbing the Washington Mutual Bank in Fallbrook.   This same suspect may also be responsible for another bank robbery that occurred on January 30, 2009 at about 5:46 p.m. at

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BURNED UP: LAKESIDE PLANNERS, FIRE OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS VENT ANGER OVER STATE’S APPROVAL OF POWERLINK WITH NO NOTICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Before and After images of El Monte Valley February 18, 2009 (Lakeside) — Lakeside planners, fire officials and residents expressed shock and outrage that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved construction of Sunrise Powerlink through the El Monte Valley, a designated scenic area, without ever notifying officials or the public in Lakeside. Sempra Energy/SDG&E added

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WILDFIRE AT SAN DIEGO/TEMECULA COUNTY LINE NOW 50% CONTAINED

Printer-friendly versionUPDATE MARCH 3, 7 a.m.: Fire officials have reduced the acreage estimate to 77. The fire is now 80% contained with full containment expected by 6 p.m. this evening. March 2, 2009 (Temecula)–A fire urning in the Deluz area of Temecula north of Fallbrook in Riverside County, just one mile from the San Diego County line, has engulfed 100

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