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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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JOHN DEAN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL DURING WATERGATE, TO SPEAK IN LA MESA AUGUST 5
Printer-friendly version July 10, 2009 (La Mesa) – John Dean, the former White House lawyer under President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal, will speak August 5th at the La Mesa Community Center. The event, co-sponsored by the Eastlake–Bonita Democratic Club and La Mesa–Foothills Democratic Club, is free and open to all people. Dean’s publisher will be issuing an
BUG BOMBS CAUSE FIRE THAT DESTROYS TRAILER HOME IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version July 9, 2009 (El Cajon)–At 5:15 p.m. this evening El Cajon Fire crews responded to reports of a trailer home fire at the Chieftain Trailer Park, located at 187 Ballard, space number 48-B in El Cajon. Upon arrival firefighters found the trailer home engulfed. About 15 firefighters had the fire extinguished in about ten minutes, preventing damage to
HUNTER TO HOLD VIDEO TOWN HALL TUESDAY; HEALTHCARE REFORM TOPS AGENDA
Printer-friendly version July 12, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) whose district includes most of East County, will hold a video town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. To participate, click the “video townhall meeting” link on his website Tuesday evening (http://www.hunter.house.gov/). This event was previously scheduled for the end of
POWERLINK MAY HINGE ON CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST SUPERVISOR: Attorney for 3 Community and Environmental Groups Sends Legal Notice to Metz; Metz Speaks With East County Magazine
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 9, 2009 (San Diego, Calif.)- An attorney for three community and environmental groups sent a letter today urging Cleveland National Forest Supervisor William Metz to reject construction of the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line project across the forest. The letter describes in detail numerous legal conflicts between Powerlink and the Forest’s overarching management plan. The
GUHSD TRUSTEES TO HELIX: CHANGE BOARD POLICIES TO PREVENT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, OR LOSE CHARTER
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 8, 2009 (El Cajon)—By a 5-0 vote, Grossmont Union High School District trustees approved a notice of intent to revoke the charter for Helix High School. Superintendent Bob Collins (photo, left) and the trustees made clear that Helix must change the makeup of its governing board and improve procedures to protect students from
MARKETING MATTERS: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH
Printer-friendly version Planning for Effective Marketing By Rama Beerfas July 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—It takes many different components coming together to make a marketing campaign successful: a defined target market, an understanding of that target market, a “SMART” goal, a cohesive campaign, and, most importantly, planning. One of the biggest mistakes I see when my clients
HEALTHCARE REFORM MOVEMENT GAINS TRACTION LOCALLY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery June 28, 2009 (San Diego)— Last week, President Barack Obama presented his “prescription for America” (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7922187&page=1). The President aims to create a public option for a government healthcare program similar to Medicare that would compete against private insurance companies. As debate in Washington D.C. heats up, local advocates are speaking out, holding
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
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
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
County warns residents about deadly wild mushrooms
Printer-friendly versionBy Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo courtesy California Department of Public Health December 30, 2025 (San Diego) – County public health officials are urging residents to avoid foraging for, or eating, wild mushrooms as some could contain a dangerous toxin called amatoxin that causes severe liver damage and can even lead to death. Winter rainfall creates
House Republicans pass healthcare bill without extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire December 31: costs set to double or triple for many Californians
Printer-friendly versionBy G.A. McNeeley and Miriam Raftery Image: CC via bing December 28, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – With both houses of Congress adjourned until January, 22 million Americans can expect to see large increases in Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare premiums, since subsidies will expire on December 31. While Democrats fought to extend the subsidies, House Republicans passed their own
PFAS “forever chemicals” found in Warner Springs groundwater: Navy to host open house January 12 and provide testing of wells at nearby properties
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Updated Dec. 31 with comments from the Warner Spring Community Sponsor Group chair and a local winery representative, plus a statement from the Vista Irrigation District. December 27, 2025 (Warner Springs) — The U.S. Navy has announced that PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” have been detected in groundwater in Warner Springs. The contamination is believed to be linked to a
Federal cuts and reversals upend California health care in 2025
Printer-friendly versionPhoto: CC by NC-ND via Bing This story was originally published by Cal Matters. Sign up for their newsletters. By Ana B. Ibarra for CalMatters Dec. 27, 2025 (San Diego County) — After a decade of expanding health coverage and safety net programs, the Golden State took a sharp detour in 2025. As federal funding reductions and policy changes rippled through the
Ring in the new year safely with free transit rides New Year’s Eve after 6 p.m. throughout San Diego
Printer-friendly versionSource: MTS December 26, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North County Transit – San Diego Railroad (NCTD) announced plans to offer free transit rides and extended late-night service on New Year’s Eve, giving the region a safe, convenient and affordable way to celebrate and get home. “We want everyone to enjoy New Year’s Eve and celebrate responsibly,”
Escaped felon in Lemon Grove
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Dec. 24, 2025 (Lemon Grove) — The Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation is looking to the public for help in locating a wanted felon who escaped from custody. Just after 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, Sheriff’s Deputies observed Hiram Sanchez, 36, in the 7100 block of Broadway in Lemon Grove. He was wanted on an
SDG&E urges caution around downed power lines
Printer-friendly versionSource: SDG&E December 24, 2025 (San Diego) – With the current rainstorm approaching our region, SDG&E is urging the public to exercise caution around downed power lines. During rainstorms, power lines may become damaged or fall, potentially posing a threat to those nearby. It is crucial for customers to stay safe, be vigilant and take necessary precautions to avoid potential
City Manager Lydia Romero to leave Lemon Grove
Printer-friendly versionCity Manager Lydia Romero (right) and City Council member Yadira Altamirano in 2019 Photo and story by Karen Pearlman Dec. 23, 2025 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove City Manager Lydia Romero, hired in 2015, is leaving the city at the end of this year. After 10 years of leading Lemon Grove, Romero has announced her departure effective Dec. 31,
Light does not need permission to shine: San Diego leaders unite against hate at Hanukkah ‘Rally for Light’
Printer-friendly versionPhotos and story by Karen Pearlman Dec. 22, 2025 (San Diego) — Across the street from the calm San Diego Bay but amid a rising tide of global concern, some of San Diego County’s top elected officials, law enforcement and multi-faith leaders gathered Monday at the County Administration Center to send a singular message: Hate has no sanctuary in
Atmospheric River bringing heavy rains, gusty winds through Christmas:flooding is possible in low-lying areas
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service December 22, 2025 (San Diego) – Be prepared for potentially heavy rains this week and take precautions if traveling due to rain-slicked highways and possible flooding in low-lying areas across southern California. Heaviest rainfall is expected Christmas Eve, with scattered showers on Christmas Day. San Diego’s mountains could get 3 to 6 inches of rain,
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