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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
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
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…
Events & Arts
Cheers to the Valley Wine Festival April 18 in Ramona
East County News Service April 5, 2026 (Ramona) – The Ramona Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to savor the 2026 Cheers to the…
Destination East County: Festive events in mid-April and May 2026
By Miriam Raftery April 5, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – As April continues, drifting into the merry month of May, there are many unique…
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
People
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
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
San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in
Features
San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in
Don’t miss Santa Ysabel and Wynola on your way to visit Julian
Printer-friendly versionTiny mountain towns often overlooked by travelers in East County’s back country By Paul Levikow Photos by Miriam Raftery
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Recall effort dropped against Lemon Grove Mayor Snow
Printer-friendly version By Karen Pearlman Dec. 10, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A recall effort against Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow, who was elected by voters in 2024, has failed. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, a group called the Lemon Grove Neighborhood Association shared a text message with East County Magazine that said, “Today marks the conclusion of the signature-gathering phase for
Lakeside firefighter/paramedic Jeff Reyes honored for heroism: saved fire captain who fell through floor in a burning building
Printer-friendly versionPhoto: Chief Don Butz, left, and Batallion Chief Eric Stamm commend firefighter/paramedic Jeff Reyes View video by Shiloh Ireland By Shiloh Ireland Miriam Raftery contributed to this report December 10, 2025 (Lakeside) – Lakeside firefighter/paramedic Jeff Reyes acted “without hesitation, drawing on instinct, training and sheer courage” to save the life of Captain Steven Russo, who fell through
Domestic violence suspect charged with attempted murder of victim and police officers in El Cajon
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service December 9, 2025 (El Cajon) – An El Cajon man, 38, is under arrest for allegedly trying to stab and kill a female victim in a domestic violence altercation, as well as attempted murder of a police officer after he rammed a police vehicle. El Cajon Police officers responded to a domestic violence call
La Mesa Police plans added holiday enforcement, urges drivers to celebrate responsibly
Printer-friendly versionNational “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign begins Source: City of La Mesa December 9, 2025 (La Mesa) – The holiday season can be dangerous for people on the roads. In December 2023 alone, 1,038 people were killed in the U.S. in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The La Mesa Police Department wants
Loveland Reservoir water transfer at 21% but coming to an end, SWA says
Printer-friendly versionPhoto of Loveland Reservoir by Ostan Patton By Karen Pearlman Dec. 9, 2025 (Alpine) – Sweetwater Authority’s plan to leave Loveland Reservoir with at least 25 percent of its water capacity during the most recent transfer of water into the Sweetwater Reservoir has not gone as originally planned, as shared with East County Magazine on Dec. 5. Sweetwater Authority (SWA), the
FDA creates hurdles for Americans to get COVID-19 vaccine, puts infants at risk with changes to Hepatitis-B vaccine recommendations
Printer-friendly versionA dozen former FDA commissioners and other experts weigh in, also debunking false claims about vaccines By G. A. McNeeley December 8, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — In an internal memo obtained by CNN, Dr. Vinay Prasad, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) chief medical & scientific officer said on November 28 that the FDA will change its vaccine approval
Palantir is rewriting security and privacy, creating massive database shared by federal agencies including ICE and the military
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr Image: CC via Bing “Our Product is used to kill people.” — Palantir CEO Alex Karp, emphasizing the company’s role in enabling lethal military operations. December 8, 2025 (San Diego) — Palantir Technologies is building the U.S. Army’s next-generation ground station, TITAN, using artificial intelligence (AI) to process massive amounts of sensory data to improve targeting
As politics in San Diego has shifted blue over the last decades, local broadcast industry has turned MAGA red
Printer-friendly versionTrump Supporters Will Soon Control Most TV News Stations in San Diego By J.W. August December 7, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s voter makeup has gone from red to blue over the decades, and there’s no better example in recent years than the evolving Democratic majority on the San Diego City Council and county Board of Supervisors.
East County AWP construction boosts cost, but officials say recycled water supply is worth the price
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen Photo: Education Center at AWP plant December 5, 2025 (Santee) — Three years into construction, the massive East County Advanced Water Purification Program is approaching the finish line late next year when the region’s sewage now being treated at Point Loma will be pumped to a new Santee plant and converted to drinkable, purified water.
Loveland Reservoir draining underway brings pushback from East County residents
Printer-friendly version Loveland Reservoir showing what is left of the public fishing zone. Photo by Ostan Patton By Karen Pearlman Dec. 5, 2025 (Alpine) – It’s been three years since Loveland Reservoir was drained by Sweetwater Authority to “deadpool” level for the first time ever, leaving the area susceptible to environmental challenges, killing fish and increasing fire hazards. Now another extreme draining is underway by Sweetwater
Does the San Diego region have adequate aerial firefighting capability for the coming fire season?
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery August 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — As we approach peak fire season, Cal Fire/County Fire has a press conference set for Tuesday to discuss the many preparations the agencies have made. But questions have been raised over air power readiness, due to temporary closure of the Ramona airport due to expansion and SDG&E losing
Photo of the week: Santee Fire Department’s new brush rig
Printer-friendly versionPhoto and story by Patrick Ward August 24, 2025 (Santee) – The Santee Fire Department this week held a push-in ceremony with its new home-type 3 brush engine, a symbol of the department’s commitment to safety and efficiency. The brush rig is designed to handle any emergency with precision and speed. The cost of the apparatus was
Amid remap push, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar files to run against Rep. Issa
Printer-friendly versionBy Chris Jennewein and Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo: Ammar Campa-Najjar (left) and Darrell Issa. (Times of San Diego file photos) August 24, 2025 (San Diego) – With his prospects enhanced by potential redistricting, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar on Friday filed papers for a rematch against Rep. Darrell Issa in the 48th
Maggie T. Watkins is newest GHD board member
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman Aug. 22, 2025 (La Mesa) – Maggie T. Watkins is a familiar name in the San Diego County healthcare world, and now she is the Grossmont Healthcare District’s newest board member. The GHD Board voted 4-0 on Thursday, Aug. 21 to appoint Watkins to fill the seat of Gloria Chadwick, a registered nurse who
Reichert’s Restore San Diego newsletter spreads misleading claims about AB 495
Printer-friendly version By Jesse Kendrick Image: Restore San Diego founder Amy Reichert August 23, 2025 (El Cajon) – “State-sponsored kidnapping loophole” is the epithet lobbed at Assembly Bill 495 by local “Restore San Diego” newsletter. The bill, officially entitled AB 495: Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, outlines a series of revisions to existing laws surrounding parental
Supervisors to weigh reducing County reserve funds in wake of federal cuts to Food and Health programs for those in need
Printer-friendly version Update: Supervisors approved dipping into reserve funds by a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Anderson and Desmond opposed. By Miriam Raftery August 22, 2025 (San Diego) – On Tuesday, Aug. 26, San Diego Supervisors will consider a proposal to revise the county’s reserve policy to allow use of some reserve funds to cover critical services being cut by the
Calif. Congressional district maps favoring Democrats approved by state legislators, signed by Governor, heads to special election in November
Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow August 21. 2025 (Sacramento) — The California Senate and Assembly voted in favor of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state congressional redistricting plan Thursday, in an effort to counter balance the Texas legislature’s efforts to turn five Democratic leaning districts to favor Republicans. The vote went mostly along party lines. Among East County legislators, State Senator Brian
How much more valuable is land in East County cities? $14 billion in El Cajon, $10 billion in La Mesa, $9 billion in Santee,$3 billion in Lemon Grove
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo from left to right: Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) and Andrew Potter, Executive Officer, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. August 21, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Land in East County has never been worth so much. According to Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC),
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
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