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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
Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division
News Issues
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
Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division
Politics
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
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
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
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
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
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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
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
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
Features
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
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
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COUNTY SAFE PARKING IN EL CAJON IS CLOSED FOR UPGRADES; PEOPLE LIVING IN VEHICLES ARE REDIRECTED TO SPRING VALLEY SITE
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery February 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The County-run safe parking site on Magnolia in unincorporated El Cajon, one of two East County sites set up to help homeless people living in their vehicles, is temporarily closed for renovations. The improvements will include picnic and meeting areas, a dog run, improved bath and shower areas,
LAWSUIT FILED OVER DOGE ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service February 20, 2025 (New York) – The Electronic Frontier Foundation and a coalition of privacy defenders filed a lawsuit in New York on February 11 asking a federal court to block Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the private information of millions of Americans that is stored by the Office of Personnel
LA MESA CHAMBER INVITES YOU TO MEET LOCAL BUSINESSES AT MARCH 5 SPRING FLING BUSINESS EXPO
Printer-friendly versionSource: City of La Mesa February 20, 2025 (La Mesa) – On Wednesday, March 5th, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at the 10th Annual Spring Fling Business Expo. This special evening will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego El Cajon, 141 N. Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon between 5:30 p.m.
COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON NEW CASA DE ORO LIBRARY
Printer-friendly version By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office Video by James Kecskes February 20, 2025 (Spring Valley) – County officials and community members broke ground Wednesday on a project that will bring a new library branch to Casa de Oro to meet the growing needs of the community. The new library will be located at 9610 Campo
“NOT MY PRESIDENT” PROTESTS HELD NATIONWIDE ON PRESIDENT’S DAY
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo via 50501: thousands rallied against Trump in Washington D.C. outside Capitol February 19, 2025 (San Diego) – Protesters held “Not My President” rallies at state capitols in all 50 states and other locations to oppose unprecedented attacks on our democratic system’s checks and balances by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. “We witness, with
FATHER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED MURDER OF BABY IN SPRING VALLEY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery February 19, 2025 (Spring Valley) – David Ruiz, 22, was arrested by Sheriff’s deputies today for the murder of his newborn son. Responding to a 1:20 p.m. report of battery at a home on Sacramento Avenue in Spring Valley, San Miguel Firefighters arrived at 1:26 p.m., followed closely by Sheriff’s deputies from the Rancho San
LEMON GROVE TO HOLD MEETING ON TINY HOMES MARCH 5; EX-COUNCILMEMBER ARRESTED FOR DISRUPTING HEARING
Printer-friendly versionView video of this incident, via Lemon Grove Media on Facebook By Miriam Raftery February 19, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – During last night’s Lemon Grove City Council meeting, former Councilmember Liana LeBaron urged members to agendize a discussion on 70 tiny homes for the homeless slated to be built on Troy Street. County Supervisors approved building the project in
AROMAS OF INDIA BAR AND GRILL GRAND OPENING IN LA MESA DRAWS OVER 1,000 RESERVATIONS, SETS CHAMBER RECORD
Printer-friendly versionBy Mary England, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce Photos courtesy of Carrie Smedley Photography February 19, 2025 (La Mesa) — The owner of Aromas of India Bar and Grill, Dinesh Shah, made history in La Mesa at the February 5 grand opening of his newly renovated restaurant, located at 5270 Baltimore Drive. Dinesh and his staff offered complimentary dinners
A GUIDE TO EVENTS HAPPENING DURING GROSSMONT COLLEGE’S SPRING 2025 SEMESTER
Printer-friendly version By G. A. McNeeley February 19, 2025 (El Cajon) – There’s a lot happening on Grossmont Campus, including a variety of free and paid events open to the general public as well as students, staff and faculty. These include concerts, movies, theatrical productions, blood drives, and more. Below are details. To see more details for these events
SHERIFF SEEKS HELP TO SOLVE STABBING DEATH OF CAL FIRE CAPTAIN IN RAMONA
Printer-friendly versionUpdate 4:30 p.m.: The victim has been identified as Cal Fire Captain Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, 10 News reports. On Facebook, Cal Fire confirms, “It is with great sadness that CAL FIRE reports the off-duty death of Fire Captain Rebecca “Becky” Marodi. Captain Marodi served over 30 years with CAL FIRE, primarily in Riverside County, but also serving time in
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
ECM World Watch: national and global news
Printer-friendly version December 16, 2025 (San Diego) — 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. Trump’s DOJ has sued 18 states to try to access voter data (NPR) Trump Sued
GUHSD priorities: trustees give themselves a massive raise, nearly quadrupling salaries
Printer-friendly version By Alexander J. Schorr December 15, 2025 (El Cajon) — The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) governing board voted unanimously to raise their own monthly salary of $534.04 to a proposed $2,000.00 each starting in January 2026. While California law does allow for school boards to increase their trustees’ compensation annually by up to 5% based
Santee approves contract to build $26.8 million community center and gives ok for new condos
Printer-friendly version By Mike Allen Image: rendering of new community center December 15, 2025 (Santee) — Santee’s City Council has unanimously approved a contract to build its long-planned Community Center next to the Cameron YMCA for a total cost of $26.8 million, or $3.3 million more than the city staff’s estimate given in April. At the Dec. 10 meeting,
Rabbi killed in Australian Hanukkah shooting was nephew of rabbi injured in Poway synagogue attack
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery File photo: Rabbi Ysroel Godstein of Poway December 15, 2025 (Poway) – Rabbi Eli Schlanger, the nephew of Chabad Poway’s founding Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, was among 16 people murdered in a mass shooting yesterday during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Goldstein was injured during the April 2019 shooting at Chabad Poway, when he
The stress of apartment searching in San Diego: monthly rents and cost of living exceed national average, while scammers target renters
Printer-friendly version By Heidi Hope December 15, 2025 (San Diego) — Hunting for an affordable apartment in San Diego County is a recipe for aggravating stress. Rents and living expenses in the city of San Diego are among the highest in the nation. East County communities are also too expensive for a single person working a low-wage part-time job to
East County Jews to light Menorah today, stand against deadly shooting at Hanukkah celebration in Australia
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery December 15, 2025 (San Diego) – “Let the world see that when darkness tries to intimidate us, we answer with light,” Rabbi Rafi Andrusier from Chabad of East County said today following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia. Rabbi Andrusier urged local community members to join in a local Menorah lighting at
Deputies respond to report of possible armed man at Sharp Rees-Stealy in Santee
Printer-friendly version Man detained due to mental health crisis; no weapon found Photo by Patrick Ward December 14, 2025 (Santee) – Sheriff’s deputies evacuated the Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group building on Cuyamaca Street in Santee yesterday afternoon, after receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a possible armed person. Deputies did not find a weapon. But during the search, deputies
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