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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…
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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
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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
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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
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Have your say on County’s legislative priorities
Printer-friendly versionBy Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: California State Capitol Building. Image credit: Shutterstock August 20, 2025 (San Diego) – The community is invited to a virtual meeting on August 27 to learn about the County’s state and federal legislative priorities and give feedback on what they think is important for the 2026 Legislative Program. Community
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Seeking Candidates to Fill Governing Board Trustee Area 1 Vacancy
Printer-friendly versionSource: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District August 20, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (District), which includes Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, is inviting community members to apply to serve in the position of Board Member of the Board of Trustees in Trustee Area 1, which comprises the cities and communities of Santee, Winter Gardens, and Lakeside. Once an
Heat Warnings Today Through Saturday, Monsoonal Rains May Soak Region Starting Friday
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery August 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for desert areas including Borrego Springs, where temperatures could soar to 116 degrees today through Saturday. In addition, a heat advisory is in effect for San Diego County’s inland valleys, where temperatures could hit 103
The Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall Granted New Permit to Stay Open in Downtown El Cajon
Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow August 19, 2025 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Planning commission voted unanimously Tuesday to grant a new Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to The Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall on Main Street downtown, avoiding imminent closure on Oct. 1. The business will still be required to operate mainly as a restaurant under the new CUP, with
DNA provides new info on 1998 homicide victim found in El Cajon: police seek help to identify her
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service August 19, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Department needs your help; DNA may hold the key to uncovering the identity of a woman lost to time—and justice. On August 13, 1998, the body of an unidentified woman was found in the brush near the 1300 block of Avocado Ave in El Cajon, CA.
Deadly Carfentanil, 100 times stronger than Fentanyl, found in fake M-30 Oxycodone pills locally
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery August 19, 2025 (San Diego) – Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than fentanyl, has been found in the San Diego in fake M-30 oxycodone (pain killer) pills. District Attorney Summer Stephan warns, “Even tiny amounts can be deadly.” Just one pill can kill. Fentanyl test strips may not detect carfentanil, which was
La Mesa seeking finance director
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Services August 18, 2025 (La Mesa) – The city of La Mesa is seeking a finance director to take the place of interim Director of Finance John Herrera. The city has an advertisement running in California City News. The full-time position with a salary range of $178,672 – $217,193 is being advertised by Koff Associates and
Sheriff’s Dept. holding guns for gift cards event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Services Aug. 18, 2025 (La Mesa) — As part of a broad effort to get unwanted firearms off the street, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is holding a “Guns for Gift Cards” event in La Mesa. The sheriff’s department is partnering with the city of La Mesa for the event, set for 9 a.m. until
Robert F. Kennedy cuts $500 million in MRNA vaccine devleopment funds
Printer-friendly versionHealth experts slam action as irresponsible, putting Americans’ health at risk By G. A. McNeeley Photo: mRNA vacines help prevent diseases such as COVID-19; cc via Bing August 17, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, recently announced that the government would cancel at least $500 million of federally
California fires back at Texas gerrymandering with a midterm redistricting plan of its own
Printer-friendly version Both states convene legislators expected to vote August 18 on drawing new Congressional district lines By Alexander J. Schorr Miriam Raftery contributed to this report Photos, left: Texas Governor Greg Abbott and California Governor Gavin Newsom push dueling redistricting plans August 17, 2025 — It’s a race against the clock between California and Texas, with governors of both
Pumpkin Smash event turns Halloween waste into environmental wins
Printer-friendly versionLocal students join I Love A Clean San Diego to divert organic waste from landfills Story and photo via I Love a Clean San Diego November 4, 2025 (Spring Valley) — On Monday, November 3, students at Sweetwater Springs Elementary School participated in a unique post-Halloween event aimed at reducing organic waste and promoting environmental education. Hosted by I
Grossmont and Cuyamaca College military and veteran students find connection and support
Printer-friendly versionThe colleges offer award-winning programs that celebrate and honor veterans Photo: Grossmont College student veterans Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District November 4, 2025 (El Cajon) – Navy veteran Isaiah Nailon had one clear goal in mind when he enrolled at Cuyamaca College in the spring of 2018: taking the first step toward earning a bachelor’s degree. “That was it,” he
Advancing Healthy Communities: From conflict to connection: Trauma-informed dialogue in a time of unrest
Printer-friendly versionBy Venture Griswold, Institute for Public Strategies Photo: “Kitchen Table Conversation” by Peter Alfred Hess is licensed under CC BY 2.0. November 4, 2025 (San Diego) — If the world feels heavy to you lately, you are not alone. We are in a time of great political unrest, with attacks on marginalized groups, climate disasters, and misinformation spreading quickly. It is natural for
Grossmont Healthcare District announces James Sly as CEO
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman Nov. 4, 2025 (East County) – The Grossmont Healthcare District has a new Chief Executive Officer. Santee resident James Sly was unanimously approved by the five-member GHD board to be the Grossmont Healthcare District CEO and lead the organization on Tuesday afternoon. Sly, who has been the CEO of the East County Economic Development Council since
Thousands of San Diegans receive emergency food assistance at Snapdragon Stadium amid federal shutdown
Printer-friendly versionThe Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank partners with the State of California, City of San Diego, and San Diego State University to provide relief for CalFresh recipients impacted by the federal benefit pause. East County News Service November 3, 2025 (San Diego) — In a powerful show of community partnership and coordination, the Jacobs & Cushman San
San Diego-based International Relief Teams responds to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo via Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on X November 3, 2025 (San Diego) — International Relief Teams (IRT) in San Diego is actively responding to the widespread devastation in Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa. Entire communities have been left without safe shelter, access to clean water, food, or basic medicines. A press release from
San Diego FC to face Portland in MLS playoff game Sunday
Printer-friendly versionPhoto courtesy San Diego FC Instagram East County News Service Nov. 3, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego FC and the Portland Timbers will be playing for the opportunity to advance in the Major League Soccer playoffs this Sunday after Portland beat SDFC 3-2 in a penalty shooutout Saturday night in Portland. San Diego FC beat
Navy police officer charged with murder in death of LMPD officer pleads not guilty; bail set at $1M
Printer-friendly versionVideo capture of Antonio Alcantar, right, courtesy ECM news partner KGTV 10 News East County News Service and news partner KGTV 10 News Nov. 3, 2025 (San Diego) — A United States Navy sailor accused of drunk driving and hitting and killing La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven on the freeway less than two weeks ago pleaded
Reader’s Editorial: CalRTA delivers — from pension power to Social Security fairness, retired teachers get it done
Printer-friendly versionSource: California Retired Teachers Association November 2, 2025 (San Diego) – During this year’s Retired Teachers Week, we proudly look back to January when the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) achieved our biggest legislative victory when the Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law. CalRTA helped spearhead this successful national campaign and was the only West Coast organization
Vegetables sprout in new $1.67 billion County Crop Report
Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office November 1, 2025 (San Diego) – Agriculture values rose by just over 1% to $1.67 billion, and vegetable and vine crops thrived in San Diego County’s Annual Crop Report released today. The new Crop Report, which covers the 2024 growing season, showed the county’s list of Top 10 crops changed
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