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Passages: Mark Ostrander, firefighter, backcountry leader, 69
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman April 15, 2026 (Boulevard) — Mark Ostrander, a dedicated public servant, retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief
Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order
Printer-friendly version By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: a line of
News Issues
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division
Politics
La Mesa City Council votes 5-0 approving e-bike safety pilot program
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman April 16, 2026 (La Mesa) — La Mesa is the latest city in San Diego County
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
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
Jamul Casino Resort gets two film awards
Printer-friendly version Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY Awards East County News
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
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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
Communities
Passages: Mark Ostrander, firefighter, backcountry leader, 69
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman April 15, 2026 (Boulevard) — Mark Ostrander, a dedicated public servant, retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief
New Crisis Stabilization Unit opening in El Cajon
Printer-friendly versionApril 18, 2026 (El Cajon) — The County of San Diego will open its newest Crisis Stabilization Unit —
Features
Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order
Printer-friendly version By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: a line of
How the fruit fly quarantine has impacted food donations — and how you can help
Printer-friendly version By Philicia Tonangoye Image: Tangerines, via Bing (cc) April 18, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – The Mexican
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VICTIM IDENTIFIED IN EL CAJON MOBILE HOME FIRE
Printer-friendly version September 28, 2009 (El Cajon) – Karen Hunter was found dead following a fire in her mobile home that began shortly before 7 p.m. last night, the County Coroner’s office has confirmed. Heartland Dispatch received numerous calls about the fire at El Capitan Mobile Home Park, 1425 E. Madison Avenue. El Cajon firefighters were cooking their dinner
CONGRESSMAN FILNER URGES IMPROVEMENT IN LABOR POLICY FOR WOMEN FEDERAL CONTRACTORS
Printer-friendly version As the economic downturn intensified over the last year, previous gains in women’s wages disappeared. From 2007 to 2008, real wages for full-time women workers fell by 2 percent – twice the rate of male workers’ wages. “We must have a more aggressive strategy to close the wage gap to ensure that both men and women are
JERRY BROWN ADDRESSES DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO; ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR REFORMS, HINTS AT THROWING HAT IN RING FOR GOVERNOR’S RACE
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – “Our state is in trouble,” former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown said at the San Diego Grassroots Democratic Convention here yesterday. Massive deficits coupled with tax revenues drying up are crippling education and public safety, Brown suggested during his speech and in an interview with East
TRIO OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ADDRESS STATE GOP CONVENTION
Printer-friendly version Whitman takes heat for failure to vote for nearly 3 decades By Miriam Raftery September 27, 2009 (Indian Wells) – Three Republican candidates vying for the California governorship offered contrasting views on how to revive the state’s ailing economy—and lobbed some pointed barbs at each other at this weekend’s state Republican convention. In recent months,
HEALTH CARE REFORM: CAN WE PASS THE FINAL HURDLE? OCT. 20 IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – Want to learn more about healthcare reform options? San Diego’s League of Women Voters presents a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Gerald Kominski, Ph.D., professor at UCLA School of Public Health and Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Dr. Jeoffrey Gordon from California Physicians Alliance will also speak, summarizing the
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT HEALTHCARE MAY HURT YOU
Printer-friendly version Ex-Senator Kuehl Leads New Effort to Win Healthcare for All Californians By Miriam Raftery September 27, 2009 (San Diego) –Speaking to the San Diego League of Women Voters last week, former state Senator Sheila Kuehl shared some startling facts: California law used to require insurance companies to be nonprofits. Since that law changed, premiums have skyrocketed much faster than
BILL TO EXTEND UMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PASSES HOUSE
Printer-friendly version 4 San Diego Congressional representatives vote “aye”; Hunter votes “no” September 24, 2009 (Washington D.C.)—San Diego Democrats Bob Filner and Susan Davis joined with Republicans Brian Bilbray and Darrell Issa in voting to stimulate the local economy and provide stability to American families by extending unemployment insurance benefits to those hit hardest by the recession. Rep. Duncan
ANDERSON BILL ON GOVERNOR’S DESK WOULD MAKE WORK PERMITS EASIER FOR HOME-SCHOOLED AND CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS TO OBTAIN
Printer-friendly versionSeptember 25, 2009 (Sacramento)–Assembly Bill 66, authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) has passed the Legislature unanimously and is now on the Governor’s desk. “ The bill changes the way schools issue student work permits, giving control over the process to local educators who can best to protect students’ grades,” said Assemblyman Anderson. The current system requires all
LA MESA TEEN VICTIM OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
Printer-friendly version September 25, 2009 (La Mesa) – At 3:15 PM yesterday a 16 year-old La Mesa boy was walking home from school near Amaya Drive and Water Street, when he was confronted by at least four teenage suspects. The suspects first demanded the victim’s cell phone. When the victim refused, one of the suspects hit the victim with his
HELIX PIPELINE UPGRADE SENDS WATER FLOWING FOR 3 DAYS IN EL CAJON NEIGHBORHOOD
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery September 24, 2009 (El Cajon) –Why was water left to flow for three days from a pipeline on Pepper Drive? After a reader e-mailed East County Magazine to say that Helix Water had failed to repair an apparently ruptured pipeline a day and a half after it was first reported, we contacted Helix Water District
Jones sexually violent predator housing law heads to Governor for approval
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo: sign posted by East County residents when two sexually violent predators were proposed for release in their neighborhood September 27, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced the passage of his Senate Bill 380, which directs the Department of State Hospitals to examine placing sexually violent predators in state-run
Lemon Grove teen reports suspicious person following them
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Sept. 26, 2025 (Lemon Grove) — A teenager in Lemon Grove reportedly was being followed by a suspicious person in a car earlier this week and the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation is now investigating the matter. Just after 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, a 13-year-old student was walking to Lemon Grove Middle
Senate passes bipartisan Padilla, Mullin bill strengthening cybersecurity for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Printer-friendly versionSource: Alex Padilla September 26, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan legislation to strengthen the cybersecurity protocols for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in response to previous outages that resulted in a day-long outage for those in crisis. The 9-8-8
FBI offering reward for information about assault and robbery in Jacumba
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Sept. 26, 2025 (Jacumba) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information on the individual or individuals who shot at and robbed four hikers, injuring one, earlier this year in Jacumba. The FBI’s San Diego Field Office, Imperial County Resident Agency, in coordination with federal law
Prebys Foundation, others ‘Unite for San Diego’ to help protect families
Printer-friendly version East County News Service Sept. 26, 2025 (San Diego County) – Three of San Diego County’s largest foundations — Prebys Foundation, Price Philanthropies and San Diego Foundation — along with members of the Robert Price family, have formed a group to help local families during a time of challenging cuts in services. The group — United for
The San Diego Field Office ports of entry seized nearly 10,000 pounds of dangerous drugs worth $24M during month of August
Printer-friendly versionSource: U.S. Customs and Border Protection September 26, 2025 (San Diego) – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection San Diego Field Office has released its monthly recap for August 2025, highlighting CBP’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the nation’s borders. A reported 155 seizures, including nearly 10,000 pounds of narcotics valued at $24 million and more than $340,000 in unreported currency,
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
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
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
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
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