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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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Trump sends supplies to European allies, while Putin intends to keep fighting Ukraine

Printer-friendly versionPresident Donald Trump, who has praised Vladimir Putin in the past, has recently started publicly criticizing him.    By G. A. McNeeley    July 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — President Donald Trump has recently criticized Vladimir Putin, according to CNN. He has also announced that he will increase weapons supplies for European allies, so that those countries can send

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Crest Fire Station 18 construction is on time and on budget, according to San Miguel Fire & Rescue officials

Printer-friendly version By Paul Levikow Image, left: rendering of future Fire State 18 July 17, 2025 (Crest) – San Miguel Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Tobin Riley appeared before the Crest Community Association Thursday to provide an update on construction of Fire Station 18 on the corner of Suncrest Boulevard and North Lane. The update was provided after Facebook posts

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Multi-vehicle crash kills five, led to brush fire that closed State Route 67 both directions

Printer-friendly version East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts Update: The Medical Examiner’s office has identified four of the victims: Emmanuel Rivera Abarca, 32, driver of one of two pickup trucks that collided,  Marcial Rivera Solorio, 59, a passenger,  and Roberto Martinez Oros, 68, of  Ramona, driver of a sedan that collided with the pickup trucks. July 18, 2025 (Poway) —

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SANDAG MEETING FRIDAY ON DRAFT 2025 PLAN

Printer-friendly versionPhotos and story By Karen Pearlman July 17, 2025 (San Diego County) – There won’t be any light rail coming to Alpine to zip people out to downtown San Diego, but the planners at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) have unfurled some grand ideas in its Draft 2025 Regional Plan to improve transportation in both rural and

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County wins national recognition for innovative programs

Printer-friendly version   By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office   July 16, 2025 (San Diego County) — The County of San Diego has been honored with 51 Achievement Awards for programs it provides to the public by the National Association of Counties, which recognizes standout county government programs.   The County received awards in 15 categories for

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LA MESA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES RENOVATIONS FOR GROSSMONT CENTER

Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow July 15, 2025 (La Mesa) — The Grossmont Center shopping mall is in for some major renovations, after the La Mesa City Council unanimously approved the first phase of the new design at its July 8 meeting. Phase 1 focuses on storefronts between the two anchor stores, Target and Walmart with a new, modern design theme

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ECM World Watch: national and global news

Printer-friendly versionJuly 16, 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.  Detentions ‘We are not safe in America today:’ These American citizens say they were detained by ICE (CNN) ‘They’re Not

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San Diego Named Candidate Host City for Invictus Games 2029

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) — San Diego has been named one of six global finalists for host city of the Invictus Games 2029.   San Diego is only the second American city ever to host the international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.   The official announcement by

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State Parks Photo Contest Running Through Sept. 30

Printer-friendly versionAnza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman   East County News Service   July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) — California State Parks Foundation is inviting park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks.   The California State Parks Foundation

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