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CAL FIRE joins partners in signing charter to reduce wildfire ignitions in Southern Calif.

Printer-friendly versionSource: CAL FIRE   Sept. 3, 2025 (Riverside) —  Earlier today, CAL FIRE Southern Region Chief Mike van Loben Sels signed the Southern California Ignition Reduction Program (SCIRP) charter at the Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center in Riverside.   The charter marks the launch of a public-private partnership created to reduce human-caused wildfire ignitions, particularly along roadways where

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Mosquitos in Imperial County test positive for St. Louis Encephalitis virus

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 3, 2025 (Imperial County, CA) – Multiple pools of  mosquitos in both Brawley and Holtville have tested positive for Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE), the Imperial County Public Health Department announced on August 29. In rare cases, SLE can cause swelling of the brain or spinal cord, leading to long-term disability or death, though most

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Cajon Cruise returns next week in El Cajon, hosted by Downtown Café

Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow September 3, 2025 (El Cajon) – East County car enthusiasts have cause for celebration, after the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday approved a two-month extension of the Cajon Cruise on Main Street and Prescott Promenade, this time hosted by Downtown Café. The revived car show will rev up on Wednesday nights Sept. 10 through

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California, Oregon, Washington to launch West Coast Health Alliance

Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow September 3, 2025 – (East County) The governors of California, Oregon and Washington today announced they will launch a West Coast Health Alliance aimed at recommendations about immunizations, in response to recent cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson

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ECM World Watch: National and global news

Printer-friendly version September 3, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: U.S.  Epstein accusers put pressure on Congress to release the files (NBC) DHS to States: Follow

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East County Roundup: Local and statewide news

Printer-friendly versionSeptember 3, 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  Supervisors vote to allow San Diego County to tap into financial reserves (Times of San Diego) How San Diego’s Congressional districts could change under redistricting

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Proposed Lakeside Sand Mine Owner Sues City of San Diego for Damages From Water Release at El Capitan Dam

Printer-friendly version  91-year-old dam is too dangerous for city to keep reservoir filled, leading to massive water waste and now, damage claims downstream   Updated Sept. 5, 2025 with additional seismic risk details.   By Karen Pearlman   Sept. 1, 2025 (Lakeside) – A lawsuit against the city of San Diego is highlighting safety and management concerns at the El

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California Attorney General sounds alarm over state’s “health care emergency”

Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow September 2, 2025 (East County) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta and health care activists from the nonprofit Protect Our Care California held a virtual news conference Tuesday regarding the “ongoing Trump-GOP health care emergency,” which they say puts 28 hospitals and 15 nursing homes at risk of closure statewide.  Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley in

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Director of CDC has been fired by HHS Secretary Kennedy: 9 former CDC directors criticize action

Printer-friendly version  This action prompted other top CDC officials to resign in protest, while Kennedy hires a replacement who has no medical background.  By G. A. McNeeley  September 3, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — The Trump Administration is facing bipartisan pushback over the firing of Susan Monarez, the Director of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which prompted dozens

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Health and Science Highlights

Printer-friendly versionSeptember 3, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures (New York Times) New CDC chief picked without medical credentials as vaccine panel faces shake-up (AP/Scripps News) Sen. Cassidy calls for vaccine advisory meeting to

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“HISTORIC” AGREEMENT SIGNED: ALLOWS NIGHT-FLYING HELICOPTERS TO FIGHT WILDFIRES ON STATE LANDS IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarmon shakes hands with CAL-FIRE Chief Howard Windsor as Mayor Jerry Sanders looks on October 1, 2008 (El Cajon) — “This is a historic occasion,”  said Fire Chief Howard Windsor with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).  Speaking at the San Diego Sheriff’s facility at Gillespie Field

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La Mesa City Council Candidate Forum Video

Printer-friendly versionCandidates for the La Mesa City Council answered questions from the public in a September forum hosted by the East County League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. View the complete video, provided courtesy of Citizens Oversight Projects: www.copswiki.org/twiki/bin/view/Common/M646 Printer-friendly version

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October Capitol Report – How They Voted

Printer-friendly versionHow did your elected officials vote on the most important bills in Congress and the California Legislature? Find out here! Congress weighed in on bills to fund the border fence, bring accountability to the commodities market, allocate money for the Defense budget including a pay raise for military personnel, protect consumers from credit card companies, allow offshore drilling and

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HEALTHCARE FOR ALL BILL PASSES- GOVERNOR THREATENS VETO

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 8, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – A landmark bill to provide guaranteed universal healthcare coverage for every man, woman and child in California (including medical, dental, mental health and eye care coverage) has been approved by the State Legislature.   Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has until September 30th to sign the measure, SB 840 by Senator Sheila Kuehl,

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EAST COUNTY LEADERS ORGANIZE FUTURE SAN DIEGO: GREEN ECONOMY

Printer-friendly versionOct. 18 event at UCSD to feature Lt. Governor John Garamendi, green jobs fair and more By Miriam Raftery Event organizers Chuck Brands (left) of El Cajon and Mark Hanson of Lakeside (right) with keynote speaker, Lt. Governor John Garamendi (center) October 1, 2008 (San Diego) – Looking for a “green” job?  Own a business seeking to save energy

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White Rabbit Candy Sold in California Recalled Due To Melamine Contamination

Printer-friendly versionSeptember 29, 2008 (BURLINGAME, CA) – The California Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are urging consumers not to eat White Rabbit Candies sold in California.  Queensway Foods Co. of Burlingame, California is recalling White Rabbit Candy after tests revealed that some of the products are contaminated with melamine–the same deadly toxin in infant formula

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OBAMA OPENS NEW OFFICE IN EAST SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photos by Leon Thompson October 1, 2008 (San Diego) – The Obama-Biden campaign hosted a presidential debate-watching party to kick-off the opening of a new campaign office at 1744 Euclid Street in East San Diego.  “We’ve had a larger than expected turnout,” Vince Hall, spokesperson for Obama for President in San Diego County told East County

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NEW BLACKWATER PROTESTS MARK ANNIVERSARY OF NISOUR SQUARE SHOOTINGS

Printer-friendly versionCongressman Bob Filner and Assembly candidate Ray Lutz of East County speak out against Blackwater at Otay Mesa Rally Story and photos by Gayle Early Sign from a military families organization opposed to Blackwater. October 1, 2008 (Otay Mesa) – In September 2007,  17 people were shot to death in the Nisour Square traffic circle in Baghdad, Iraq, by

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LOCAL RESIDENTS JOIN NATIONAL PROTEST OF WALL STREET BAIL-OUT BILL

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 26, 2008 (El Cajon) – East County residents angered by the Bush administration’s proposed $700 billion bail-out bill for Wall Street financial firms took to the streets yesterday as part of a national protest action organized by True Majority.  Thousands protested across the nation (photo: New York protest, taken by Jeremy Scahill.) “Many people in

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FDA ALERT: DEADLY TOXIN FOUND IN COFFEE & TEA; CANDY & INFANT FORMULA MAY ALSO BE TAINTED

Printer-friendly version September 25, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer alert today warning that numerous products have been found to be contaminated with melamine – the same deadly toxin that killed thousands of cats and dogs in contaminated pet food last year.  The FDA found that seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk

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