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FBI and law enforcement partners arrest members of Mexican mafia prison gang

Printer-friendly version East County News Service July 25, 2025 (San Diego) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in San Diego and its law enforcement partners yesterday arrested five people believed to be associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang, the latest in string of related arrests and indictments. The latest five suspects have been indicted for allegedly running an

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Public participation meeting on long-term gas system planning

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service July 24, 2025 (San Diego County) — The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a public forum August 7 on long-term gas system planning. As California moves toward a shift away from fossil fuels, gas utilities including San Diego Gas & Electric were to submit maps of their gas distribution systems including foreseeable gas pipeline

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Congresswoman Sara Jacobs hosts town hall July 27 in Escondido, since Issa won’t hold live session with his constituents

Printer-friendly versionFive candidates running against Rep. Issa are also expected to be there East County News Service July 23, 2025 (Escondido) – Since Republican Representative Darrell Issa has repeatedly refused to hold a townhall in his 49th Congressional district, Indivisible North County has organized “The Town Hall We Deserve” with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat representing the 51st Congressional district,

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Upgrades to Ramona air attack base planned for new Cal Fire tanker

Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow Creative Commons image of  C-130H air tanker July 24, 2025 (Ramona) – Enhanced wildfire response capabilities are coming to Southern California, after CAL FIRE announced a significant construction project at the Ramona Air Attack Base that will prepare for a new tanker to be based there. Construction is tentatively set to begin Aug. 1 and take

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Passages: Keith and Priscilla Webb, owners of Julian Hard Cider

Printer-friendly version East County News Service July 24, 2025 (Julian) – Keith and Priscilla Webb, best known locally as owners of Julian Hard Cider, the nation’s first craft cider company in Julian, passed away two days apart earlier this month. They also owned Apple Lane Orchard, a popular wedding and vacation rental destination in the mountain community in San Diego’s

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Supervisors to weigh in on Cottonwood sand mine in September

Printer-friendly version  By Karen Pearlman   July 23, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — The final public hearing on the fate of the Cottonwood Golf Course and whether it will be turned into a sand mine is going to be held later this summer.   The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will hear from residents as well as the developers

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Pedestrian death in Ramona

Printer-friendly version East County News Service July 23, 2025 (Ramona) – A 40-year-old Ramona man is dead after being struck by a vehicle shortly before midnight on July 18. The victim was standing in the roadway on northbound State Route 67 north of Archie Moore Road in Ramona, an area with low lighting, when a Dodge Challenger driven by an

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Three-vehicle crash on Dehesa Road kills El Cajon woman

Printer-friendly version Update July 27, 2025:  The victim has been identified as Marie Anderson, 60, of El Cajon. East County News Service July 23, 2025 (San Diego) – An El Cajon woman, 60, is dead and three others injured as a result of a three-vehicle crash that occurred July 19 on Dehesa Road, east of Sloan Canyon Road in unincorporated

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Fanita Ranch challenged again in new lawsuit

Printer-friendly version By Mike Allen July 23, 2025 (Santee) — As expected, a coalition of environmental groups including Preserve Wild Santee have filed a new legal challenge against Santee’s biggest residential project, Fanita Ranch, which the City Council most recently approved in June. It was the third time in five years that the Santee City Council gave its approval to

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Santee takes high road, approves four cannabis shops

Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen Image,left:  Rendering of Buzz’s planned cannabis store interior July 23, 2025 (Santee) — Santee has concluded what Mayor John Minto called “an exhaustive process” to award four business permits for the sale of cannabis and related products to four groups, all of which have experience in retailing the highly regulated lines of liquor and gasoline. The

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Bradley Avenue homicide

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 16, 2025 (El Cajon) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Lakeside substation responded to a call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon at 1:35 a.m.  They found a man suffering from traumatic injuries inside an apartment at 425  East Bradley Ave. in unincorporated El Cajon. “Deputies immediately began CPR until paramedics arrived and assumed

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Missing woman last seen July 5 in San Diego; vehicle and trailer found in Potrero

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo: Ganna Kovrizhynkh, aka Angel Volnaya September 16, 2025 (Potrero) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office wants the public’s help in finding a missing person.  Ganna Kovrizhynkh, 38, was reported missing to the Sheriff’s Office by a friend on July 12.  Family members say they last heard from Kovrizhynkh on July 5 while she drove through

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Mount Miguel 60th reunion coming on Oct. 4 at Town & Country

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   Sept. 16, 2025 (Spring Valley) — Mount Miguel High School Class of 1965 is getting ready for its 60th class reunion.   Leaders from the Matadors 1965 class have put out the word that they are looking for classmates from thier year to join them in the event set for 6 to 10 p.m.,

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Suspect arrested for hit-and-run crashes in Santee and El Cajon

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 15, 2025 (Santee) – A driver suspected of being intoxicated was arrested September 9 for a hit-and-run collision that caused injuries in Santee as well as for reportedly striking multiple vehicles in El Cajon and Santee. Deputies responded to a hit-and-run crash near Prospect and North Magnolia in Santee around 6:02 p.m. and learned

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Protecting Our Mental Health: September is Suicide Prevention Month

Printer-friendly version East County News Service   Sept. 15, 2025 (San Diego County) — September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month.    While mental health is a year-round concern and there are specific mental health awareness events that happen in other months (such as May being Mental Health Awareness Month), September is specifically dedicated to raising awareness about suicide

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Issa casts deciding vote to block release of Epstein files

Printer-friendly version  By Alexander J. Schorr Image: Birthday message from Trump to Epstein, released by Epstein’s estate. September 16, 2025 — By a one-vote margin, House Republicans blocked release of files related to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his client list. Among San Diego County representatives Darrell Issa spoke in support of Trump and voted to block release of the

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Resources available for residents affected by the Coches Fire

Printer-friendly versionBy Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office September 14, 2025 (Lakeside) – An online guide is available to help people who lost their home or sustained damages in the Coches Fire. Resources include information for homeowners seeking property tax relief, permits for repairs or rebuilding, along with self-sufficiency resources. Details about these services are listed on

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Supreme Court “legalized racial profiling” in Los Angeles ruling, immigration and civil liberties experts warn

Printer-friendly version By G. A. McNeeley  September 14, 2025 (Los Angeles) — The Supreme Court has lifted restrictions that had barred the Trump administration from carrying out immigration-related raids in the Los Angeles area based on broad criteria, such as speaking Spanish or gathering at locations where day laborers often congregate, according to POLITICO.  The justices, divided 6-3 along ideological

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Clean swimming: San Vicente Reservoir gets new floating restroom

Printer-friendly versionThe floating restroom at San Vicente Reservoir. (Photo courtesy of the city of San Diego)   By JW August, Times of San Diego   Sept. 13, 2025 (Lakeside) — Good news for anyone who uses San Vicente Reservoir to fish, swim or boat — the 1,600-acre reservoir has a new floating bathroom.   The previous floating john is past

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Protestors confront El Cajon City Council over ICE resolution, Ortiz recall

Printer-friendly versionLeslie Thompson (photo, left) of El Cajon speaks out about Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Sept. 9 El Cajon City Council meeting By Paul Levikow Sept. 11, 2025 – (El Cajon) Protestors showed up at the El Cajon City Council meeting again this past week to continue voicing opposition to the city’s resolution regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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