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La Mesa Becomes First Local City Certified as Age-Friendly Employer, Helping Job Seekers Age 50 and Up

Printer-friendly version East County News Service July 13, 2025 (La Mesa) — The City of La Mesa has been designated as a Certified Age-Friendly Employer (CAFE) by the Age-Friendly Institute, becoming the first municipal government in San Diego County to receive the CAFE seal. This recognition highlights the City’s commitment to inclusive hiring practices and support for a multigenerational workforce.

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You’re Invited! July 17 Feast at Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa with East County Magazine’s Dining Club

Printer-friendly version You’re invited to East County Magazine’ s DIning Club feast at Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa on Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m.  All proceeds benefit our local news reporting and our wildfire and emergency alerts! Everyone is welcome to attend. Himalayan Cuisine features delicious cuisine from Nepal, Tibet and India.  Plus we’ll have a fabulous raffle with many great

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La Mesa Grandmother Detained By Ice While Serving as Legal Observer for Immigrants at Courthouse

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 11, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident Barbara Stone, a 71-year old U.S. citizen and courthouse observer at immigration proceedings,  is free tonight after being detained by Immigrants and Customs agents (ICE) for eight hours without access to an attorney, according to her daughter and witnesses. Jessica Kort, posted a plea for help

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Ramona Man Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   July 11, 2025 (Ramona) – A 35-year-old Ramona man died at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on State Route 67 in Ramona on Wednesday, July 9.   The victim was driving a Lexus southbound on state Route 67 near Brantner Lane when for unknown reasons, his vehicle crossed the center line and crashed

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County Extending Mosquito Spraying in La Mesa Early Mon. and Tues.

Printer-friendly version  East County News Services   July 11, 2025 (San Diego County) — San Diego County officials plan to expand and extend ultra-low volume, truck-mounted, pesticide-mist treatments between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday and Tuesday mornings in parts of La Mesa to reduce mosquito populations and protect the public from the potential spread of West Nile virus.   County

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Suspects Arrested for Wells Park Murder in El Cajon

Printer-friendly versionVictim’s family held a press conference shortly after the killing to ask the public for help to find the killers (Photo via ECM news partner 10 News)   East County News Service   July 11, 2025 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department has announced the arrest of two men on suspicion of murdering Deandre Bryant at Wells

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Springs Fire Sparks Evacuations in Jamul

Printer-friendly version East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts Update July 11, 2025 8:30 a.m.– The Springs Fire has been held to 50 acres and is now 20% contained, per Cal Fire. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. Cause of the Springs Fire was a vehicle with a malfunctioning catalytic converter, per Cal Fire. July 10, 2025 (Jamul) — Three

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TODDLER DIES FROM FALL OUT LA MESA WINDOW

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – A 14-month old baby boy has died after falling from the second-story window of his family’s housing unit on Valley View Circle in La Mesa on July 5.  The Medical Examiner’s office has identified the victim as Kent Adam LaFave. After a 911 call was made, La Mesa Police

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Lemon Grove Councilman and Helix Football Coach Steve Faiai Dies

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery   July 10, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Community members are grieving the loss of Sitivi “Steve” Faiai.   The Lemon Grove City Councilmember and Helix High football coach died Tuesday morning of an apparent heart attack, according to the city.   Faiai, 50, was an active member of Journey Church and also worked at Sprouts grocery

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Health and Science Highlights

Printer-friendly versionOctober 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH  What the shutdown means for Medicare, Medicaid and other health programs (NBC) American Health Insurance Providers issues statement on vaccines (AHIP) How Trump Boosted Bizarre ‘Medbed’ Conspiracy Theory With Deleted Post (Forbes) Scientists create

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Pack the Pantry virtual food drive launches to help local college students facing food insecurity

Printer-friendly versionSource:  Cal Coast Credit Union October 2, 2025 (San Diego) – Imagine being a college student, striving for a better future, yet unsure where your next meal will come from. Research shows this is the heartbreaking reality for nearly half of our local college students who face food insecurity every day. Without reliable access to food, many are forced

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Harmony Grove Village South development approved by Board of Supervisors despite controversy

Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow Photo, left:  Brenda Wright October 2, 2025 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved a housing development in the North County community of Harmony Grove, despite objections by several residents who expressed concerns about the lack of a second evacuation route during wildfires.   The Harmony Grove Village South development

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Why has the federal government been shut down and what is affected?

Printer-friendly version  Democrats take stand to protect healthcare coverage as Republicans adjourn with negotiating By G. A. McNeeley  October 1, 2025 — The Democratic and Republican proposals that would’ve funded the government beyond Tuesday, September 30, failed within The Senate during the eleventh hour, which effectively shut the government down at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1.  The federal government

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Labor Council hosts protest today over ICE raids, shutdown impacts and “escalating attacks on the working class”

Printer-friendly version East County News Service October 2, 2025 (San Diego) – With the Trump administration shutting down the federal government and thus critical services for the working class, the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO will host its weekly “ICE Out of San Diego” rally—this time, bringing together workers, immigrants, and allies to condemn the Trump administration’s

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Dream weaver: Beryl Warnes at Julian Weaving Works keeps traditions alive

Printer-friendly versionBy Heidi Hope October 1, 2025 (Julian) – For anyone interested in exploring the historic aspect of weaving on a loom, or buying hand-woven products, you won’t want to miss Julian Weaving Works in Santa Ysabel. Julian Weaving Works is a weaving academy and store created and run by Beryl Warnes. She has been in this weaving business for

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Bonta files lawsuit to restore FEMA disaster funds cut by Trump

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 1, 2025 (Sacramento) — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as part of a multistate coalition, yesterday sought emergency relief from the U.S. District Court for the District Court of Rhode Island to stop the unlawful reallocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Homeland Security Grant Program funding away from

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Democrat Toni Atkins drops out of crowded race to replace Gavin Newsom

Printer-friendly versionBy Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign upfor their newsletters October 1, 2025 (Sacramento) – Democrat Toni Atkins is dropping out of the crowded 2026 race to succeed Gavin Newsom as California governor, she announced Monday.  Atkins, the former Senate president, wrote in an email to supporters that she was leaving the race with

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Border Patrol finds 52 pounds of meth in spare tire in Boulevard

Printer-friendly versionSource: Border Patrol October 1, 2025 (Boulevard) – Border Patrol agents thwarted a drug smuggling attempt Sunday afternoon, seizing over 52 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the spare tire of a side-by-side utility terrain vehicle in San Diego’s East County. At 12:40 p.m., agents observed an individual climbing over the border wall near Boulevard, California, and subsequently entering a

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