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SIX FATALITIES IN TIERRASANTA PLANE CRASH

Printer-friendly version Update 5 p.m.– The music agency Sound Talent Group in El Cajon announced that three of its employees, including co-founder Dave Shapiro, who is also a pilot, were aboard the plane and died in the crash. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), six people were on the plane and all perished. Update 8 a.m.– SDPD reports all

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FOURTH SUSPECT ARRESTED IN 2024 LEMON GROVE HOMICIDE

Printer-friendly version   East County News Service May 21, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The San Diego Sheriff’s department today announced the arrest of Pierre Martel Terry, who is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. He is the fourth suspect arrested in relation to the September 18, 2024 murder of Darron Willie Singleton Jr. in Lemon Grove.  Deputies responding to reports of

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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

Printer-friendly versionMay 21, 2025 — 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. US Supreme Court maintains block on Trump deportations under wartime law (Reuters) GOP-led House committees meet to tackle Medicaid cuts,

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FBI SAN DIEGO SEEKS “BLUE GLOVE BANDIT” IN EL CAJON BANK ROBBERY

Printer-friendly version Source:  FBI San Diego May 21, 2025 (El Cajon) —The FBI San Diego’s Violent Crime Task Force is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the man behind a bank robbery in El Cajon, dubbed “The Blue Glove Bandit”. The robbery occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Bank

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COTTONWOOD SAND MIND ON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA JUNE 13

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery May 20, 2025 (San Diego) – Years after the Cottonwood Sand Mine was first proposed along the Sweetwater River on the site of the Cottonwood Golf course in Rancho San Diego, the San Diego County Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed sand mine. The latest draft environmental impact report can be viewed

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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Printer-friendly versionMay 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future. HEALTH FDA sets new requirements for COVID vaccines in healthy adults and children (ABC) Common Energy Drink Ingredient Linked to Blood Cancer (People) Trump EPA Guts Rules Against Toxic Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water

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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

Printer-friendly versionMay 21, 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 La Mesa-Spring Valley, Lemon Grove school mental health grants cut early by Trump administration (KPBS) Repair project may temporarily increase Tijuana River sewage flow, pollution

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WHO WILL BE THERE WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU? OUR INTERVIEW WITH IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY NORA MILNER

Printer-friendly version  By Alexander J Schorr May 19, 2025 (San Diego) — East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery interviewed Nora Milner, an immigration attorney based in San Diego. This interview originally aired April 4 on KNJS radio, with a Youtube video available. Milner, who works at the Milner & Markee (LLP) law firm, specializes in immigration law. In the interview,

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WHY HAVE EL CAJON’S WATERSCAPE AND DUCK POND GONE DRY?

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photos, left by Robert Gehr:   May 18, 2025 (El Cajon) – For 48 years, El Cajon has had water features and ducks near its civic center in the heart of downtown. But now the water features have been drained, leaving only bare, jagged rocks where once a waterfall and streambed flowed. “The pond is now

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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