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

City of La Mesa launches redesigned website with new .gov domain

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service August 9, 2025 (La Mesa) — The City of La Mesa announces the official launch of its redesigned website, which is now live at www.cityoflamesa.gov. While the site may look different, it retains all the same tools, features, and functionality residents and businesses have come to rely on, according to a press release from the

Read More ...

La Mesans celebrate canceled plans for battery storage facility

Printer-friendly versionBy Drew Sitton, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego online news association Photo:  Plans for a proposed battery storage facility at 8135 El Paso St. have been set aside. Photo by Amy Reichert. August 9, 2025 (La Mesa) – In her meetings with La Mesa’s city manager, Councilmember Laura Lothian asked about the proposed 18-megawatt battery storage facility

Read More ...

Measles exposure at Rady Children’s Hospital and Scripps Clinic

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service August 8, 2025 (San Diego) — County public health officials have confirmed the first case of measles in the region this year in a teenage resident who had recently traveled overseas.  Anyone who visited Rady Children’s Hospital’s emergency room or the Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Urgent Care on August 6 or 7, County epidemiologists are

Read More ...

Integrating Nutrition into Mental Health Care

Printer-friendly versionBook by Ruth Leyse Wallace, PhD Reviewed by Pennell Paugh August 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Long-time resident of San Diego, Dr. Ruth Leyse Wallace, recently released her fourth book, Integrating Nutrition into Mental Health Care. While the book is written for clinical settings, it is written in plain English and offers sensible nutritional facts. I found it helpful

Read More ...

Judge dismisses sexual harassment suit against Nathan Fletcher

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery August 8, 2025 (San Diego) – Today, Superior Court Judge Matthew Braner dismissed a lawsuit filed by Grecia Figueroa against former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. Judge Braner said Figueroa engaged in “rampant and willful spoilation of evidence” including deleting photos and text messages damaging to her case. Figueroa, a former Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) employee, had accused

Read More ...

Evacuations due to Roadrunner Fire in Boulevard

Printer-friendly version Update 3:20 p.m.– Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted; forward spread has been stopped. Update 1:30 p.m.– The fire has been mapped at 88 acres and is now 5% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.   East County WIldfire and Emergency Alerts August 8, 2025 — There is immediate structure threat from the #RoadrunnerFire, a

Read More ...

California Supreme Court hands victory to rooftop solar panel owners

Printer-friendly versionBy Malena Carollo, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo:  rooftop solar panels on a home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, on Feb. 18, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters August 7, 2025 (Oakland) – The California Supreme Court today sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for the

Read More ...

Overnight safe parking site opens in San Diego’s Grantville neighborhood

Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow August 7, 2025 (Grantville) – The San Diego County Office of Homeless Solutions opened a new Overnight Safe Parking site in the Grantville neighborhood of San Diego today, with capacity to serve 20 vehicles. The location, in the 4500 block of Glacier Ave., is on county-owned land that will eventually become 300 affordable senior housing

Read More ...

Feather Alert issued for missing teen girl from Pala

Printer-friendly versionUpdate: This Feather Alert has been deactivated because Sunnie Eagleton has been found. East County News Service Image: Sunnie Eagleton, 17 August 7, 2025 (Pala) – A Feather Alert has been issued for a missing teenager from the Pala Indian Reservation.  The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office wants the public’s help in locating her. On August 2 around 2 p.m.,

Read More ...

Extreme heat warning issued for deserts, heat advisory for other East County areas

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery   August 6, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Dangerously high temperatures are forecast across much of East County through Friday, peaking on Thursday. Other East County communities could reach the high 90s.  Elevated fire conditions are also present due to relative humidity down to 10-15% in inland valleys and mountains, though conditions are not expected

Read More ...

California fires back at Texas gerrymandering with a midterm redistricting plan of its own

Printer-friendly version Both states convene legislators expected to vote August 18 on drawing new Congressional district lines By Alexander J. Schorr       Miriam Raftery contributed to this report Photos, left:  Texas Governor Greg Abbott and California Governor Gavin Newsom push dueling redistricting plans August 17, 2025 — It’s a race against the clock between California and Texas, with governors of both

Read More ...

From the Fire Chief’s Corner: August is national immunization month

Printer-friendly versionBy Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna   This is no shot in the dark   August 16, 2025 (San Diego) — Viruses and bacteria that cause illness and death still exist and can be passed on to those who are not properly vaccinated reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. The Center for Disease Control recognizes August as national immunization month. Infants and

Read More ...

Find out if your vote could be affected by Newsom’s redistricting plans

Printer-friendly versionBy Jeremiah Kimelman and Alexei Koseff, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. August 16, 2025 (San Diego) – Gov. Gavin Newsom will ask California voters this November to approve new congressional lines that favor Democrats, part of a national redistricting battle launched by President Donald Trump. The map released Friday by the Legislature adds

Read More ...

Lemon Grove Mayor sues organizer of recall effort

Printer-friendly version Updated Aug. 21 with a statement from King. By Karen Pearlman August 14, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – After several months of rebuffs from the city of Lemon Grove, proponents of a recall effort to remove Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow from office have finally received the city’s OK to move forward on their petition. Snow, meanwhile, has filed

Read More ...

ECM World Watch: national and global news

Printer-friendly versionAugust 15, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: U.S. Multiple Men Have Impersonated ICE Agents To Kidnap And Assault Women  (Huffington Post) Supreme Court formally

Read More ...

Migrant children sites in El Cajon and Lemon Grove shut down: Trump admin. drops lawsuit that accused operator of sexual abuse

Printer-friendly version  Actions raise concerns over children’s wellbeing; their locations are undisclosed   By Karen Pearlman Miriam Raftery contributed to this story; photos by East County Magazine staff   Updated Aug. 15 with responses from federal officials   Aug. 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – Nonprofit Southwest Key Programs Inc. (photo, left) is no longer operating its site in El Cajon

Read More ...

East County Roundup: local and statewide news

Printer-friendly versionAugust 15, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s round-up stories include: LOCAL Justice Department releases new list of so-called ‘sanctuary jurisdictions’, includes San Diego County (Times of San Diego/AP) San Diego veterans volunteer to stand with Afghan

Read More ...

The Palms, downtown El Cajon restaurant and banquet hall, loses permit

Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow August 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall on Main Street was determined to be in violation of its Conditional Use Permit Tuesday by the El Cajon City Council and ordered to close by Oct. 1, unless it is granted a new CUP at next week’s Planning Commission meeting. The Planning

Read More ...

EL CAJON POLICE OFFICERS ARE STILL RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS DESPITE NEWS AND CONCERNS TO THE CONTRARY

Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow August 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon City Council was reassured Tuesday about police responses to mental health calls for service after recent news coverage and concerns expressed by County officials. Some changes have been made in the wake of a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that was handed down

Read More ...

Health and Science Highlights

Printer-friendly versionAugust 14, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH  RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development (AP) Rabbits with horns in Colorado are being called “Frankenstein bunnies.” Here’s why. What to know about chikungunya virus amid new outbreak in

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