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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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ARRIBA! CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA AT SAVANNA GRILL
Printer-friendly versionApril 29, 2009 (El Cajon)—No need to venture south of the border to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! The Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Cinco de Mayo grand opening party at Savanna Grill complete with music, mariachis, mariachis and Mexican-style food–and the public is welcome to join the fiesta. Savanna Grill is located at 3773 Willow
CUYAMACA COLLEGE EAST COUNTY CAREER FAIR SET FOR MAY 5
Printer-friendly versionCommunity interest likely to be high as more people look for jobs April 30, 2009 (El Cajon)– With unemployment figures topping a record 9 percent in San Diego County, Cuyamaca College’s 15th annual Career Fair set for Tuesday, May 5 is expected to draw strong interest among job and career-seekers. Nearly 60 companies and organizations will be represented at
NEW FLU’S ORIGIN TRACED TO SAN DIEGO BOY; 15 LOCAL CASES NOW CONFIRMED, 3 AREA SCHOOLS CLOSE
Printer-friendly versionMay 3, 2009 (San Diego)—Health authorities have traced origins of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak to a 10-year old son of a military family in San Diego, UPI reports today. The Centers for Disease Control conducted tests on samples from the boy, revealing the never-before-seen strain of flu virus on April 15, though his brother had symptoms two weeks
GROSSMONT COLLEGE HONORS EL CAJON POLICE CHIEF IN WALK OF FAME
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 2, 2009 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco was inducted into the Grossmont College “Walk of Fame” yesterday at a ceremony in which he was honored by Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (photo) and other local leaders. Sprecco, a 1976 graduate of Grossmont, praised his fellow police officers, then revealed that he drew inspiration from
FREE PROM DRESSES! OPERATION FAIRY GODMOTHER TODAY, MAY 2
Printer-friendly versionMay 2, 2009 (San Diego)—It sounds too good to be true—but it’s real! Operation Fairy Godmother, a program offered by the Soroptomists International of Valle de Oro, will be giving away free prom dresses to all girls who present a valid high school I.D. card today. Now you can be like Cinderella. (Sorry, Prince Charming is not included.) The
SOAR LIKE A CONDOR AT SAN DIEGO ZOO’S WILD ANIMAL PARK—AND HELP SAVE THE ENDANGERED BIRDS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 1, 2009 (San Pasqual)—Ever wonder what it’s like to soar above wildlife for a birds-eye view? Now you can find out firsthand. Flightline, the new zip-line adventure at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, is now open. Flightline takes guests on a ride for 2/3 of a mile starting at 400 feet above Asian and
WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPLEMENT HYDROXYCUT RECALLED DUE TO LIVER DAMAGE; FDA WARNS CONSUMERS TO HALT USE
Printer-friendly versionMay 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries and at least one death. The manufacturer has agreed
BEWARE OF PHONY SWINE FLU PRODUCTS, FDA & FTC WARN CONSUMERS
Printer-friendly versionMay 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The agencies are also advising operators of offending web sites that they must take prompt
SAN DIEGO AREA POISED TO BE A LEADER IN BUILDING GREEN ECONOMY, SAYS NATIONAL EXPERT: AREA APT TO GET $100 MILLION IN FUNDS FOR GOING GREEN
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 1, 2009 (San Diego)—“We are in a moment of historic change,” Phoebe Ellis-Lamkins, chief executive officer of Green for All, said in a program yesterday in San Diego titled “Green Jobs: Fighting Poverty and Pollution.” Sponsored by the Center for Policy Initiatives, the event drew a full house of community leaders, environmentalists and labor union
April Capitol Report:How They Voted
Printer-friendly versionApril 2009 (Washington and Sacramento) — Do you know how your Congressional and State Legislative representatives voted? Find out here! For more information on these and other bills, visit www.vote-smart.org or www.govtrack.us FEDERAL BILLS & VOTES (CONGRESS) HR 1: ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE Status: Passed House 241-843; enacted into law Description: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Tsunami advisory for West Coast including San Diego after massive 8.8 earthquake
Printer-friendly version Tsumani could reach Hawaii and Alaska this evening, San Diego shortly after midnight, with risk of more tidal waves due to powerful aftershocks. East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts Note: An earlier tsunami watch has been upgraded to a tsunami advisory. July 29, 2025 (San Diego) – The National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami advisory for
Health and Science Highlights
Printer-friendly versionJuly 29, 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 might ban fluoride supplements. Dentists are upset. (Time Magazine) Simple home test for endometriosis developed (Newsweek) 5 million above-ground pools recalled after deaths reported in 6 states (Fox 5) Treatments From Llama
New Trump admin policy bars many students from adult school classes
Printer-friendly versionBy Adam Echelman, CalMatters Photo: students work on an assignment during an English as a second language class at the San Diego Continuing Education Mid-City campus in San Diego on Oct. 6, 2023. File photo courtesy Adriana Heldiz/CalMatters July 28, 2025 (San Diego) – As President Donald Trump ramps up immigration enforcement, targeting immigrants at workplaces and street corners across
Behind the masks: who are the people rounding up immigrants in California?
Printer-friendly versionBy Michael Lozano, CalMatters Photo: a line of federal immigration agents and protesters stand-off near the Glass House Farms facility outside Camarillo on July 10, 2025. Protesters gathered after federal agents conducted an immigration raid earlier in the day. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. July 27, 2025
Supervisor Desmond runs for Congress; multiple candidates take aim at his seat
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo: 5th Supervisorial district candidates Kyle Krahel, John Franklin and Rebeca Jones. July 27, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego’s 5th Supervisorial district will soon have a new representative. Supervisor Jim Desmond, a conservative Republican, has announced plans to run for the 49th Congressional district . The 49th District, currently represented by Congressman Mike
Trump administration’s impact on California’s enviornment and the agencies that work to protect it
Printer-friendly version Federal budget cuts have closed an EPA office and pose significant threat to California’s clean air, water, and clean energy sources By G. A. McNeeley July 25, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — On Thursday, July 10, California’s top leaders in wildfire response, water resources, natural lands and clean energy assembled to discuss budget cuts, staff reductions and more significant
GUHSD board adopts resolution to follow Brown Act and bylaws — President Woods denies violations
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr “We need public school leadership that we can trust.” —Madeline McCurry-Schmidt, a La Mesa parent and graduate of a GUHSD school A new promise to keep July 25, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — All public boards in California are expected to follow the state’s open government laws. But explosive revelations based on public records published by
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
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
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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