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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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County hosts webinar October 22 on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) proposed ordinance
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 14, 2025 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual meeting to share your thoughts on the draft ordinance for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Ordinance Amendment and the proposed Separate Sale of ADUs Program, which is currently available for public review.
Governor signs bill letting relatives care for children if parents are deported
Printer-friendly versionBy Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters Photo: Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers the 2025-26 state budget. File photo courtesy of the Governor’s office This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. October 13, 2025 (Sacramento) – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed a bill allowing a broad range of relatives to step in as children’s caregivers if their parents are
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages
Printer-friendly versionThis is first phase of Trump’s ceasefire plan, but it’s uncertain if plan to end the war will be accepted By G. A. McNeeley Photo: rubble in Gaza; public domain image via Wikipedia October 12, 2025 (San Diego) – After days of negotiations, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of
Senator Weber Pierson holding Town Hall on Oct. 16
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Oct. 12, 2025 (San Diego County) — California State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson is holding a Community Town Hall this week at Crawford High School in San Diego. Weber Pierson’s event will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at the high school at 4191 Colts Way. You can RSVP here. In
La Mesa aims to have new city hall by 2029, but library expansion remains stalled
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr October 11, 2025 (La Mesa) — Following a September City Council meeting, La Mesa is moving forward with a redevelopment plan for a new civic center which has spanned decades. The current timeline calls for a new city hall to be completed as early as 2029, with expansion plans for the library to follow. View
Governor Newsom signs Senator Weber Pierson’s first-in-the-nation reparative justice bill
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery October 11, 2025 (San Diego) — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 518, authored by Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. (D-San Diego), the first law in the to move beyond study to create a commitment toward advancing reparative justice for descendants of slaves and building lasting systems of equity for Black Californians. The measure was
Health Resources
Printer-friendly versionHEALTH RESOURCES For emergencies, call 911. Scroll down for local and national resources including hospitals, health information and services. Hospitals in East County/San Diego inland Sharp Grossmont Hospital (La Mesa) UC San Diego Health, East Campus (SDSU College area) (Formerly Alvarado Hospital) Kaiser Permanente (Mission Gorge/Grantville) Palomar Medical Center Escondido Palomar Medical Center Poway Mental health and
Dia De Los Muertos Open House at Horses of Tir Na Nog
Printer-friendly version Nonprofit rescue organization Horses of Tir Na Nog cares for more than 100 animals, including Buttermilk the horse. The rescue group is having an Open House at its site in Guatay on Nov. 1. Photo by Karen Pearlman East County News Service Oct. 11, 2025 (Guatay) — Horses of Tir Na Nog, the equine-focused rescue in
Gov. Newsom signs bills to stop the ‘Puppy Mill Pipeline’ in California
Printer-friendly version At a recent companion animal adoption event at Grossmont Center, a dog waits for a chance to find a new home. California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed hree bills in the “Stop The Puppy Mill Pipeline” legislative package. Photo by Karen Pearlman East County News Service Oct. 11, 2025 (Sacramento) — Unscrupulous, exploitative and abusive “puppy mill”
ICE Out of San Diego rally addresses federal government shutdown
Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow October 10, 2025 (San Diego) – The weekly ICE Out of San Diego rally at the San Diego Federal Building downtown yesterday focused on the government shutdown, while also including messages about ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ detention efforts. Dave Lagstein of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 221 was one of the event organizers.
New Santee City Manager Wendy Kaserman has no time to nap
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen December 21, 2025 (Santee) — Santee’s new city manager says she’s still getting up to speed in her new position, but there’s one item that puzzles her: her new office comes with a couch. “I never had an office with a couch or worked somewhere where the city manager had an office with a couch,”
Republicans ask federal court to overturn California’s new Prop. 50 maps
Printer-friendly versionBy Maya C. Miller and Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters Photo: a “No on Prop 50” sign at the Kern County Republican Party booth at the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield on Sept. 26, 2025. Republicans are seeking to overturn the congressional maps voters approved last month. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. December
Trump administration sets goal to denaturalize thousands of U.S. citizens in 2026
Printer-friendly versionImmigration officials have reportedly issued guidance setting a quota of 100 to 200 denaturalization cases a month By Sharon Zhang This article was originally published by Truthout. December 20, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – The Trump administration has reportedly set a goal of yanking citizenship away from over a thousand naturalized Americans in fiscal year 2026, in yet another escalation in
ACA plan hikes loom as Congress unable to agree
Printer-friendly version By Suzanne Potter, California News Service December 18, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — Health care premiums for an estimated 1.7 million Californians are set to skyrocket on January 1, as Congress has been unable to agree on a fix. On Wednesday, four Republicans joined Democrats to force a vote on a proposal to extend COVID-era subsidies, which won’t likely
La Mesa Police share results of DUI checkpoint
Printer-friendly versionSource: La Mesa Police December 17, 2025 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Police Department held a DUI Checkpoint on Friday, December 12, between 6:30 p.m. and midnight, at 4900 Spring Street. Although no motorists were found driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 880 vehicles were screened, and one driver was arrested for having a D.U.I. warrant.
How Southeast San Diego reduced gun violence
Printer-friendly version “We’re here to save lives.” – Cornelius Bowser, pastor at Charity Apostolic Church and the City of San Diego’s commissioner on gang prevention and intervention By Armando Rasing II Photo, left, by Armando Rasing II: Bishop Cornelius Bowser leading a service at Charity Apostolic Church December 17, 2025 (Southeast San Diego) – On a Friday night in early
San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office mourns passing of retired County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister
Printer-friendly versionSource: San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Cohen December 17, 2025 (San Diego) – Retired longtime San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister passed away earlier this morning. Mr. McAllister served as San Diego County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector for twenty-three years, before retiring in August 2025. “This is a sad day at the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office, and for San Diego,” said San Diego
Local leaders voice concerns over Afghans facing threats to safety amid new restrictions in wake of D.C. National Guard shooting
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photos: Tazheem Nizam, CAIR San Diego executive director, and Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac December 17, 2025 (San Diego) – Local community leaders who have worked to help Afghan refugees are speaking out over new restrictions imposed on Afghan immigrants following the shooting of two National Guard member in Washington D.C. on November 26 by Rahmanullah
East County Roundup: local and statewide news
Printer-friendly version December 17, 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 Trump administration signs updated agreement with Mexico over Tijuana sewage (KPBS) Teacher at Christian Unified High School arrested for alleged sexual assault of family
Teacher at Christian high school in El Cajon arrested for alleged sexual assault of underage family member
Printer-friendly version East County News Service December 16, 2025 (Spring Valley) – Kevin G. Conover, 49, a Spring Valley resident and teacher at Christian Unified High School in El Cajon was arrested outside the school yesterday for alleged sexual abuse of a child under age 14 in his family. The alleged abuse was reported by a family member back
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