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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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ARRIBA! CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA AT SAVANNA GRILL
Printer-friendly versionApril 29, 2009 (El Cajon)—No need to venture south of the border to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! The Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Cinco de Mayo grand opening party at Savanna Grill complete with music, mariachis, mariachis and Mexican-style food–and the public is welcome to join the fiesta. Savanna Grill is located at 3773 Willow
CUYAMACA COLLEGE EAST COUNTY CAREER FAIR SET FOR MAY 5
Printer-friendly versionCommunity interest likely to be high as more people look for jobs April 30, 2009 (El Cajon)– With unemployment figures topping a record 9 percent in San Diego County, Cuyamaca College’s 15th annual Career Fair set for Tuesday, May 5 is expected to draw strong interest among job and career-seekers. Nearly 60 companies and organizations will be represented at
NEW FLU’S ORIGIN TRACED TO SAN DIEGO BOY; 15 LOCAL CASES NOW CONFIRMED, 3 AREA SCHOOLS CLOSE
Printer-friendly versionMay 3, 2009 (San Diego)—Health authorities have traced origins of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak to a 10-year old son of a military family in San Diego, UPI reports today. The Centers for Disease Control conducted tests on samples from the boy, revealing the never-before-seen strain of flu virus on April 15, though his brother had symptoms two weeks
GROSSMONT COLLEGE HONORS EL CAJON POLICE CHIEF IN WALK OF FAME
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 2, 2009 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco was inducted into the Grossmont College “Walk of Fame” yesterday at a ceremony in which he was honored by Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (photo) and other local leaders. Sprecco, a 1976 graduate of Grossmont, praised his fellow police officers, then revealed that he drew inspiration from
FREE PROM DRESSES! OPERATION FAIRY GODMOTHER TODAY, MAY 2
Printer-friendly versionMay 2, 2009 (San Diego)—It sounds too good to be true—but it’s real! Operation Fairy Godmother, a program offered by the Soroptomists International of Valle de Oro, will be giving away free prom dresses to all girls who present a valid high school I.D. card today. Now you can be like Cinderella. (Sorry, Prince Charming is not included.) The
SOAR LIKE A CONDOR AT SAN DIEGO ZOO’S WILD ANIMAL PARK—AND HELP SAVE THE ENDANGERED BIRDS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 1, 2009 (San Pasqual)—Ever wonder what it’s like to soar above wildlife for a birds-eye view? Now you can find out firsthand. Flightline, the new zip-line adventure at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, is now open. Flightline takes guests on a ride for 2/3 of a mile starting at 400 feet above Asian and
WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPLEMENT HYDROXYCUT RECALLED DUE TO LIVER DAMAGE; FDA WARNS CONSUMERS TO HALT USE
Printer-friendly versionMay 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries and at least one death. The manufacturer has agreed
BEWARE OF PHONY SWINE FLU PRODUCTS, FDA & FTC WARN CONSUMERS
Printer-friendly versionMay 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The agencies are also advising operators of offending web sites that they must take prompt
SAN DIEGO AREA POISED TO BE A LEADER IN BUILDING GREEN ECONOMY, SAYS NATIONAL EXPERT: AREA APT TO GET $100 MILLION IN FUNDS FOR GOING GREEN
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 1, 2009 (San Diego)—“We are in a moment of historic change,” Phoebe Ellis-Lamkins, chief executive officer of Green for All, said in a program yesterday in San Diego titled “Green Jobs: Fighting Poverty and Pollution.” Sponsored by the Center for Policy Initiatives, the event drew a full house of community leaders, environmentalists and labor union
April Capitol Report:How They Voted
Printer-friendly versionApril 2009 (Washington and Sacramento) — Do you know how your Congressional and State Legislative representatives voted? Find out here! For more information on these and other bills, visit www.vote-smart.org or www.govtrack.us FEDERAL BILLS & VOTES (CONGRESS) HR 1: ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE Status: Passed House 241-843; enacted into law Description: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Less water, more problems – California, six states miss key Colorado River deadline
Printer-friendly versionBy Rachel Becker, CalMatters Photo: Drought-stricken Lake Mead on the Colorado River in August 2022. (File photo by Christopher Clark/U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. November 16, 2025 (San Diego) – After two fraught years of negotiations amid dire projections for the Colorado River’s reservoirs, California and six other states that rely on the
“Bolder Than Most” rapist back in state hospital for alleged parole violation
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo: Alvin Ray Quarles. (File photo courtesy of California Department of Corrections) November 15, 2025 (Borrego Springs) — Alvin Ray Quarles, a sexually violent sex offender who had been temporarily placed in a Borrego Springs home, has been arrested on an alleged parole violation. In Superior Court on Friday, Quarles, 63, pleaded not guilty to
ECM World Watch: national and global news
Printer-friendly versionNovember 15, 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 drops tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruit as pressure builds on consumer prices (KSBW) Epstein Alleged in
Long-awaited victory: Glorietta Canyon saved after two-decade quest
Printer-friendly version Some native plants have already begun to show up in Glorietta Canyon, like this chinchweed that’s growing on the pad where the previous owner of the property had his trailer. Photo courtesy Anza Borrego Foundation East County News Service Nov. 18, 2025 (Borrego Springs) — A nearly two-decade conservation effort has culminated in a major victory for the
Board of Supervisors to discuss land use on Nov. 19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Nov. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is continuing a critical conversation about the future of housing and development in the unincorporated areas of the county, including Spring Valley, Lakeside and Casa de Oro. The Board of Supervisors will discuss land use legislations at its meeting
National aging summit calls on community leaders to present
Printer-friendly versionDec. 5 is deadline for proposals to inform local aging service agencies East County News Service Nov. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) — Regional input is being sought for a national conference happening in San Diego next July. Because the most critical insights and best practices in community-based care typically come from the local level, the
Completion of first inpatient psychiatric health facility funded in part by San Diego County opens
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service November 14, 2025 (Oceanside) — The first inpatient psychiatric health facility funded in part by San Diego County opened Nov. 13 in Oceanside. San Diego County Board of Supervisors leader Jim Desmond says, “When I came into office, I said we needed to stop leaving people on the streets and start getting them into treatment. Today,
They want to be California’s next governor. Here’s what they’d do about health care
Printer-friendly versionBy Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters Photo: from left, former U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Xavier Becerra, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, and former Speaker of the California State Assembly and former California State Controller Betty T. Yee speak during the “Health Matters: A Conversation With Our Next Governor”
GUHSD board rejects Fite’s resolution to protect students from ICE agents
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr Screenshot: Student Board Trustee Sage Larson and Board Trustee Chris Fite November 14, 2025 (El Cajon) — The conservative board majority of the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) last night rejected a resolution proposed by Trustee Chris Fite that would have offered protection to vulnerable students and their families facing the looming presence of
Health and Science Highlights
Printer-friendly versionNovember 14, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH Head of RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel: School mandates ‘not necessary’ (The Hill) Bird flu surges among poultry amid a scaled back federal response (NPR) FDA restricts use of kids’ fluoride supplements citing emerging health
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