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Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order
Printer-friendly version By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: a line of
New Crisis Stabilization Unit opening in El Cajon
Printer-friendly versionApril 18, 2026 (El Cajon) — The County of San Diego will open its newest Crisis Stabilization Unit —
News Issues
‘Bill Walton Way’ coming to a street near you in La Mesa
Printer-friendly version The Boys & Girls Club of East County La Mesa Clubhouse honored local basketball star Bill Walton by naming
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Politics
La Mesa City Council votes 5-0 approving e-bike safety pilot program
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman April 16, 2026 (La Mesa) — La Mesa is the latest city in San Diego County seeking
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
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
Jamul Casino Resort gets two film awards
Printer-friendly versionWater Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY Awards East County News Service
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding a
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
New Crisis Stabilization Unit opening in El Cajon
Printer-friendly versionApril 18, 2026 (El Cajon) — The County of San Diego will open its newest Crisis Stabilization Unit —
La Mesa City Council votes 5-0 approving e-bike safety pilot program
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman April 16, 2026 (La Mesa) — La Mesa is the latest city in San Diego County seeking
Features
Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order
Printer-friendly version By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: a line of
How the fruit fly quarantine has impacted food donations — and how you can help
Printer-friendly version By Philicia Tonangoye Image: Tangerines, via Bing (cc) April 18, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – The Mexican
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SUPERVISOR ANDERSON LAUNCHES PETITION TO BLOCK SVP QUARLES’ RELEASE
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – In December, a judge ordered a transient release to a temporary location in San Diego County for Alvin Quarles, a sexually violent predator (SVP). Now Supervisor Joel Anderson has written a letter to Superior Court Judge Marian Gaston urging her to block the release. Anderson has also launched
APPLICANTS NEEDED FOR CITIZENS LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOARD
Printer-friendly versionBy Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office January 10, 2025 (San Diego) – The County’s Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board is taking applications to fill an opening on its board. CLERB was established in 1990 to investigate citizen complaints against San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies and probation officers. The vacancy is for the at-large seat which is
LA MESA SETS HISTORIC FIRST WITH DIVERSE CITY COUNCIL THAT INCLUDES FOUR WOMEN, LATINA, ASIAN, BLACK, AND LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATIVES
Printer-friendly version Photo, left to right: Councilmembers Lauren Cazares and Patricia Dillard, Mayor Mark Arapostathis, Councilmembers Laura Lothian and Genevieve Suzuki Source: City of La Mesa January 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa welcomed two new councilmembers during its City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The occasion marked a historic milestone in La Mesa as
HUNDREDS OF HOMES LOST AS FIRES CONTINUE TO BURN OUT OF CONTROL IN LOS ANGELES
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo by Henri Migala: Palisades Fire in Los Angeles January 9, 2025 (Los Angeles) – Over 179,000 people are under evacuation orders as massive fires continue to burn across Los Angeles County, with no containment as yet on the worst conflagrations. Fire officials’ estimates of homes lost range from several hundred to over 1,000, and
SDG& BEGINS AND EXTENDS POWER SHUTOFFS AS EXTREME FIRE DANGER CONTINUES
Printer-friendly versionResources available for impacted customers at community resource centers January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – This week marks the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in 174 years. As a result of these dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) continues to implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in an
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
Printer-friendly versionJanuary 8, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s round-up stories include: LOCAL Man sentenced 35 years to life for sex offenses with teen at El Cajon motel (10 News) Scripps Health Now Out-of-Network for Anthem Blue Cross
POPE APPOINTS SAN DIEGO’S CARDINAL MCELROY AS ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON D.C.
Printer-friendly versionMcElroy speaks out against mass deportations as “incompatible with Catholic doctrine” in first appearance as Archbishop By Miriam Raftery Photo of Cardinal McElroy by Chris Stone, Times of San Diego January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Pope Francis on Monday named San Diego’s Cardinal Robert McElroy has the new Archbishop of Washington D.C., where is expected to provide a
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: PALISIDES FIRE IN LOS ANGELES
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 8, 2025 (Los Angeles) – No, that’s not a tornado or mother ship descending. Henri Migala snapped this apocalyptic image of the Palisades Fire which is devastating Los Angeles. This photo was taken from the Westin Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. As of today, the fire has burned 15,832 acres, has destroyed many
SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR MURDER IN LEMON GROVE LAST SEPTEMBER
Printer-friendly version Update January 10, 2025 — A third suspect has been arrested and charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of Darron Willie Singleton, Jr. On Thursday January 9, 2025, 45-year-old Valena Marie Gonzales of San Diego was apprehended by the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force near Valley Road and Rio Drive in San Diego. She has
GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT BOARD REJECTS PLEAS TO MOVE MEETINGS TO EVENINGS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery January 8, 2025 (La Mesa) – Dozens of public speakers at yesterday’s Grossmont Healthcare District meeting urged the board to move its 9 a.m. meetings to evenings in order to accommodate people with full-time jobs. The proposal was made by newly elected director Nadia Farjood, a working mother who says her new full-time job at the
PHOTOGRAPHERS FOCUS ON BORDER WALL’S IMPACT ON WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery © Krista Schlyer © Roy Toft March 1, 2009 (San Diego) — A team of 10 international nature photographers has just completed a three-week trip from San Diego to Texas, photographing and documenting impacts that the U.S.-Mexican border wall and immigration are having on wildlife, ecology, and landscape across the Southwest. To expedite construction of a
CONGRESSMAN FILNER REINTRODUCES THE VISITORS INTERESTED IN STRENGTHENING AMERICA ACT
Printer-friendly versionMarch 1, 2009 (Washington, DC — Congressman Bob Filner has re-introduced H.R. 937, the Visitors Interested in Strengthening America (VISA) Act. The bill gives Port Directors the discretion to issue humanitarian visa waivers to Mexican children making brief, pre-scheduled visits to the United States for medical, educational or recreational purposes. This legislation does not affect the number of legal
ECM SPECIAL REPORT: INVESTIGATOR-TURNED-WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS FAULTY POWER LINE INSTALLATIONS CAUSED 2003 CEDAR AND PARADISE FIRES AS WELL AS WILDFIRES IN 2007; SDG&E DISPUTES CLAIM
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Clark testified at CPUC hearing that he believes a design flaw in SDG&E lines is responsible for several major fires, including the Witch, Paradise and Cedar fires. February 24, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — For $50,000, the cost of a single fire engine, SDG&E could fix an allegedly dangerous problem on power lines in San
TWO ELECTRICAL EXPERTS CONFIRM CLARK’S CONTENTION THAT SDG&E INSTALLATIONS ARE DANGEROUS, CAN IGNITE FIRES; SDG&E INSISTS ITS LINES ARE SAFE
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Clark contends that the installation shown here, with two down guy wires connected by a single bolt, is dangerous. SDG&E denies that contention. February 24, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — Ed Clark, an electrical protection engineer-turned-whistleblower, contends that inappropriate power line installations by SDG&E/Sempra Energy have caused multiple wildfires in San Diego County – and
THE ROLLING REVIEWER: A PRICK OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Printer-friendly versionBy Janelle Eckardt March 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — Hello friends! Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? The answer to all your problems is in this little needle. Really! Acupuncture just might be your ticket to feeling better and living better. I’ve discovered a respectable acupuncture facility right here in the East County that
NEED A JOB? FREE JOB SEARCH MEETING MARCH 12 AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE
Printer-friendly versionMarch 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — The Grossmont College Career Center will host "Systematic Job Search," a free informational meeting on identifying unadvertised jobs and making career connections, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, at the Career Center, Room 627, on the college campus. The public is invited to attend. For more information or to
TWO ARRESTED AFTER HOT PROWL RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionFebruary 28, 2009 (La Mesa) — Shortly after noon today, the La Mesa Police Department received a call from a resident reporting that his house was being burglarized while he was inside the home in the 9200 block of Brier Road., La Mesa. The resident hid and locked himself inside a room, talking with police after dialing 911. While
CHALLENGES FACING U.S. IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: SDSU PROFESSOR DIPAK GUPTA TO SPEAK IN LA MESA MARCH 4
Printer-friendly versionMarch 1, 2009 (La Mesa) — Dr. Dipak Gupta, distinguished professor in Political Science at SDSU will share his knowledge about challenges facing the U.S. in Afghanistan and Pakistan during a talk at the La Mesa Community Center on Wednesday, March 4th. Questions to be addressed include: Can we achieve a military victory in Afghanistan, or will we wind
GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WRAPS UP CLASSROOM MODERNIZATION PROJECTS, BREAKS GROUND ON EIGHT NEW SCIENCE BUILDINGS
Printer-friendly versionMilestones Mark Completion of Phase 2B, Start of Phase 3A for $274 million Prop H School Bond Program Valhalla High School Principal Mary Beth Kstan takes the ceremonial shovel turn, joined by Valhalla science teachers, a student and District staff in a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 12 for the school’s new two-story science building, which will house 12 science
THRIVING IN HARD TIMES SERIES: El Cajon Mom Finds Her Calling, Builds Recession-Proof Business Selling Phone Services From Home
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Just a few months after starting a home-based business in fall 2008, Karie Schmidt of El Cajon has a team of entrepreneurs working for her. She is earning a comfortable income, has flexible hours to spend with her family, and enjoys perks such as free phone service and free travel–including a trip to a pre-Kentucky Derby
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