Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Breaking News

Explore What Matters

Stay informed on the issues that shape East County. From local news and emergency alerts, to community celebrations

News Center

News Issues

Politics

Wildfires and Emergencies

Events & Arts

Visit East County

People

Communities

Features

Get East County Wildfire, Emergency Alerts

Critical wildfire and emergency notifications delivered instantly.Join Neighbors who stay informed and prepared with our award winning Journalist

Latest Stories

Sponsorship Placement

VALLE DE ORO PLANNERS VOTE TO OPPOSE COTTONWOOD SAND MINE

Printer-friendly version  County’s Planning Group to hear controversial proposal on April 18 Story and photos by Karen Pearlman Photo,left: Valle de Oro Community Planning Group members during packed hearing on Cottonwood Sand Mine March 20, 2025 (Rancho San Diego)  – More than 100 residents who would be most affected by the proposed Cottonwood Sand Mine gathered in force Tuesday, March

Read More ...

Our guide to local farms and farm-fresh products sold directly to consumers

Printer-friendly versionFind farm-fresh meats, eggs, fruits and veggies, flowers, herbs, honey, nuts, soaps, wool and fiber goods, pumpkin patches,  nursery plants, trees, wineries and more   By Miriam Raftery   Photos by Miriam Raftery and creative commons images via Bing   East County Magazine has compiled our region’s most comprehensive guide to local farms, ranches, nurseries and wineries offering direct-to-consumer

Read More ...

COULD OUR REGION RUN OUT OF WATER IN A MAJOR WILDFIRE, AS HAPPENED WHEN L.A. FIRE HYDRANTS RAN DRY? HELIX WATER SHARES INFORMATION WITH LA MESA’S CITY COUNCIL

Printer-friendly version“It could happen, at any water system in the United States. The systems were not designed for what we what we witnessed in L.A.,” says Helix Water District general manager Brian Olney, though Helix has taken steps to reduce risk By Karen Pearlman    March 20, 2025 (La Mesa) — The city of La Mesa is being proactive on

Read More ...

SHERIFF INVESTIGATING “SUSPICIOUS” BURIAL IN VALLEY CENTER

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service March 21, 2025 (Valley Center) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call yesterday reporting that a family member who recently passed away was buried on the family property in the 29000 block of Paso Robles Road, Valley Center.  Deputies found a grave that appeared recent. “Due to there being no record of the decedent’s death,

Read More ...

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

Printer-friendly versionMarch 21, 2025 — 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. Constitutional showdown Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Trump and GOP rhetoric about impeaching judges  (CNN) Judge demands to know why Trump

Read More ...

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

Printer-friendly versionMarch 21, 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 Issa Sues State, Saying Counting Mail-in Ballots After Election Day Violates Law (Times of San Diego) Supervisor pushing for notice to residents as federal funding

Read More ...

TEACHERS SAY ‘SEE YOU IN COURT’ AS TRUMP TRIES TO ABOLISH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Printer-friendly version“We won’t be silent as anti-public education politicians try to steal opportunities from our students, our families, and our communities to pay for tax cuts for billionaires,” said the head of the nation’s largest labor union. By Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams March 20, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday afternoon directing Education

Read More ...

CITY OF EL CAJON LAUNCHES ELECTRIC MICRO-TRANSIT PROGRAM, VIA SAN DIEGO, TO EXPAND TRANSPORTATION ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   March 20, 2025 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon announces the launch of “Via San Diego El Cajon,” a new app-based, on-demand transit program designed to expand transportation access for residents and visitors. Service went live on March 17, and all rides are free for the first month.   Via San Diego

Read More ...

HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Printer-friendly versionMarch 19, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH Kennedy gives food company CEOs an ultimatum (Politico) USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks (Politico) Bird flu-infected San Bernardino County dairy cows may have concerning new mutation (Los

Read More ...

EGG PRICES STILL RISING RAPIDLY AMID AVIAN FLU OUTBREAKS; JUSTICE DEPT. LAUNCHES PRICE GOUGING INVESTIGATION

Printer-friendly version By G. A. McNeeley  Photo courtesy of Brian McNeeley March 19, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — The Agriculture Department predicts egg prices could rise by more than 40%, on top of already steep price rises in 2024. While egg producers blame bird flu outbreaks, the Justice Department this month announced an investigation into whether egg producers might be sharing

Read More ...

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”

Read More ...

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

Read More ...

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

Read More ...

The Vault, La Mesa’s new resale boutique, helps you dress well on a budget and go green

Printer-friendly versionBy Heidi Hope  November 13, 2025 (La Mesa) – If you’re looking for men’s and women’s vintage and contemporary fashions, you’ll find a treasure trove of resale clothing and accessories at The Vault.  Run by Michelle La Bruno, The Vault is located at the corner of Lemon Avenue and Nebo Drive in La Mesa’s downtown village, tucked behind the

Read More ...

Governor Newsom attends COP30 Climate Summit that President Trump skips, after UN warns of highest C02 spikes in history

Printer-friendly versionCalifornia has reduced greenhouse gas emissions 20% since 2000, while state’s GDP rose 81%   By G. A. McNeeley   November 13, 2025 (Brazil) — Heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere jumped by the highest amount on record last year, soaring to levels never seen in human civilization. That’s “turbocharging” the earth’s climate and causing more extreme weather,

Read More ...

Shutdown ends as Trump signs spending bill, without extending healthcare subsidies

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo via White House:  President Trump at signing ceremony November 13, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — President Donald Trump has signed a bill to reopen the federal government and end the longest-ever government shutdown that lasted 43 days, sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid, and snarled air travel.   The deal has drawn criticism for failing to

Read More ...

In fiery debut after 50-day delay, Rep. Adelita Grijalva slams House speaker’s ‘abuse of power’

Printer-friendly versionBy Grace Berry and Nick Karmia, Cronkite News Photo:  Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Tucson, delivers her first floor speech moments after Speaker Mike Johnson swore her in on Nov. 12, 2025 — 50 days after her landslide win in a special election to fill the vacancy left by the death of her father, Raúl Grijalva. (from U.S. House of Representatives video)

Read More ...

County crews are ready for storm, County offers tips to stay safe

Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office November 12, 2025 (San Diego) – With the County’s first winter storm predicted to stretch through the weekend and into early next week, County of San Diego road crews are ready to respond if needed and the County is offering tips to help people stay safe. The County and CAL

Read More ...

County urges parents and stores to throw away formula linked to a national infant botulism outbreak

Printer-friendly versionBy Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office November 12, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego County is urging residents and retailers to throw out ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. This includes all lots, can sizes and single-serve “anywhere” sticks.   As of November 10, the formula is linked to 15 nationwide cases of infant botulism. While California

Read More ...

Get Wildfire Alerts & Wildfire Emergency News

Stay ahead of emergencies with real-time notifications delivered directly to your inbox when seconds count.

Partner To ECM

Connect with East County’s most informed and engaged community. Our readers trust ECM for critical news and actively support local businesses.

Our Engaged Audience

Unique Visitors

5 to 10 million hits

per month!

Number of Visitors
0

5 to 10 million hits

per month!

A quarter million visits

each month

Most widely read news site dedicated to

San Diego’s East County

Winner of over 150

journalism awards

“Sponsoring East County Magazine is a great way to reach our loyal and engaged readers, who value organizations and businesses that support nonprofit, independent news in the public interest and wildfire/emergency alerts that keep people safe and informed. Sponsors can choose to underwrite our community news site, support a favorite section or a new special section, underwrite an event, or sponsor our wildfire and emergency alerts.”

Miriam Raftery, Founder of East County Magazine

Thanks To Our Major Sponsors

📬 Subscribe to ECM – 100% Free, Trusted by East County Since 2008

Reviews and Feedback