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

NEW LAW ALLOWS FIREFIGHTERS & OTHER EMERGENCY WORKERS TO VOTE WHERE THEY SERVE

Printer-friendly version  November 4, 2009 (Sacramento) — Beginning next year, firefighters, medics, and others responding to state emergencies will be able to vote wherever they are serving, thanks to the Governor’s signature on Assembly Bill 1440 (Swanson), which Secretary of State Debra Dowen sponsored in the Legislature.   The new law allows emergency workers who are responding to a government-declared

Read More ...

GAME OF THE WEEK: STEELE CANYON AND MT. MIGUEL TIE 21-21 IN NAIL-BITER

Printer-friendly versionMt. Miguel Wins Overtime Period, Gains Tiebreaker Advantage for League and Playoffs   by Christopher Mohr   (RANCHO SAN DIEGO) October 30 – Tonight’s football game at Steele Canyon High School between the host Cougars and the visiting Matadors from Mt. Miguel High School turned out to be a very exciting matchup between two Grossmont South league rivals. Both teams played

Read More ...

LOCAL HEROES, BUSINESSES HONORED AT SANTEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS

Printer-friendly version  By Miriam Raftery   November 3, 2009 – “All of you had a piece of making this happen,” Santee Chamber of Commerce executive director Warren Savage said to more than 200 guests in attendance at an awards presentation held October 16th at Barona Resort.   In addition to naming businesses of the year, the Chamber also honored citizens

Read More ...

ALLAN OPTS NOT TO RUN

Printer-friendly version  November 2, 2009 (La Mesa) Councilman David Allan called today to inform East County Magazine that after further reflection and conversations with friends and colleagues over the weekend, he has decided not to pursue plans to run for Supervisor. Allan had filed a notice of intent for candidacy last week, as ECM reported. “My decision to file was due to

Read More ...

CENTER ON POLICY INITIATVES TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO “BUILDING OUR FUTURE WITH A GREEN AND FAIR ECONOMY”

Printer-friendly version Story and photos by Leon Thompson October 31st, 2009 (Mission Valley) — The 2009 Center on Policy Initiatives Gala, held at the Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay on October 21st, honored the MAAC Project, which provides self-sufficiency for low and moderate-income people. Long-time activist Deborah Szekely , and San Diego’s Construction Workers were also honored. View

Read More ...

HUNTER TO HOLD VETERANS RESOURCE FAIR NOV. 12

Printer-friendly version  November 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) will sponsor a Veterans Resource Fair for San Diego-area veterans on November 12, 2009, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2275. The event is set for 2 PM to 4 PM at VFW Post 2275, located at 136 Chambers

Read More ...

BILLIONAIRES FOR WEALTHCARE INVADE TEA PARTY EXPRESS

Printer-friendly version  November 1, 2009 (San Diego) – Conservatives rallying for the Tea Party Express, which kicked off its national tour in San Diego, received an unexpected visit from Billionaires for Wealthcare, a group formed to draw attention to high insurance company profits in the healthcare reform debate. A video of the bizarre confrontation has been posted at YouTube. Barbara

Read More ...

OBAMA SIGNS MEASURE TO EXPAND PROSECUTIONS OF HATE CRIMES

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   November 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – Last week, President Barack Obama signed a defense budget bill which contains language to broaden the definition of hate crimes to include attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, or disability—adding to protections already in place for attacks based on race, religion or national origin. The Matthew Shepard and

Read More ...

SDG&E, COX TO PAY $17 MILLION TO STATE OVER FIRE CLAIMS; DEAL DOES NOT AFFECT LAWSUITS BY FIRE VICTIMS

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery November 1, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has agreed to pay $14.3 million to the state to settle claims that its poor maintenance caused the 2007 Witch Creek, Rice, and Guejito fires, plus an extra $400,000 in reimbursement to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). SDG&E did not admit causing the

Read More ...

ROBERTS SAYS HE’S THE CANDIDATE WITH DISTRICT’S PULSE

Printer-friendly version  By E.A. Barrera October 24, 2009 (San Diego) — Solana Beach City Councilman Dave Roberts says he once supported Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray, but has decided to challenge him in 2010 because Bilbray is too conservative. "Bilbray voted against medical insurance for the working poor. He voted against health insurance coverage for children. He voted against the Lily

Read More ...

Hot San Diego Padres poised for post-season run

Printer-friendly versionPhoto courtesy San Diego Padres Instagram East County News Service Sept. 25, 2025 (San Diego) — The San Diego Padres are playoff-bound, clinching a postseason berth earlier this week with a strong performance that bookends a regular season defined by a scorching start and solid finish. The Padres hold a record of 87-72 heading into a final weekend series

Read More ...

Jones’ mobile home insurance bill passes Legislature: measure would protect owners in case of disaster

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 25, 2025 (Sacramento) — Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced passage of his SB 525, which if signed by the Governor would help manufactured and mobile home owners afford to acquire full replacement cost insurance policies. “Mobile home owners should not be treated like second rate citizens when it comes to

Read More ...

USDA secures new long-term fire-retardant contract, saving taxpayers millions

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Sept. 24, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has signed a new five-year contract for American-made fire retardant with Perimeter Solutions, supporting the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior’s aerial wildland fire suppression programs. The agreement secures significant savings, putting the American taxpayer first, while strengthening our manufacturing base by

Read More ...

School threat in Spring Valley

Printer-friendly versionSource:  San Diego County Sheriff September 23, 2025 (Spring Valley) – Two juveniles have been arrested on suspicion of bringing a replica firearm (BB gun) to an East County magnet school.  On Tuesday, September 23, just after 11:30 a.m., deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station responded to STEAM Academy, located in the 1000 block of Leland Street

Read More ...

California releasess its own vaccine recommendations as RFK shifts federal policy

Printer-friendly versionBy Ana B. Ibarra and Kristen Hwang, CalMatters  This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters Photo:  Amaya Palestino, 6, receives a COVID-19 vaccine at one of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center mobile health clinics in Los Angeles on March 16, 2022. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters September 23, 2025 (Sacramento) – In

Read More ...

Woman who sued Nathan Fletcher now seeks restraining order against his wife, Lorena Gonzalez

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photos: left, Grecia Figueroa, right, Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher September 17, 2025 (San Diego)  — Grecia Figueroa, the woman who filed an unsuccessful harassment  lawsuit against former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, has now filed a request seeking a restraining order against Fletcher’s wife, labor leader Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher. “It is vile and oppressive to use your position of power to

Read More ...

School trustee Bazzo to run for 40th District state Senate seat in 2026

Printer-friendly versionBy Chris Jennewein and Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association   Photo:  SDUSD Trustee Sabrina Bazzo. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)   September 22, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego Unified School District Trustee Sabrina Bazzo has announced that she will run for state Senate in the

Read More ...

Trump ramps up bullying and censorship efforts against media

Printer-friendly versionBy G. A. McNeeley    September 20, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has been waging an aggressive campaign against the media, unlike any in modern U.S. history, according to PBS News. Those efforts have included lawsuits against major media outlets, threats to yank broadcast licenses of networks that cover him unfavorably, calling

Read More ...

Newsom signs laws to resist Trump’s immigration crackdown; including ban on masks for ICE agents

Printer-friendly versionBy Cayla Mihalovich and Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. September 20, 2025 (Sacramento) – Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed a set of bills meant to check the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown in California, including a first-in-the nation measure to prohibit officers from wearing masks and others that limit

Read More ...

Need money for college? Here are scholarship opportunities.

Printer-friendly version East County News Service. September 19, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Each year, Supervisor Joel Anderson sends out a scholarship and grant list  which is updated annually. “I am aware of the financial barriers that many students and parents face when applying for colleges and other training programs,” says Anderson. “Having three children who went through this

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