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

SPECIAL ELECTION ANALYSIS: WHAT MESSAGE WERE VOTERS REALLY SENDING TO SACRAMENTO POLITICIANS? AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NOW TO SOLVE CALIFORNIA’S BUDGET CRISIS?

Printer-friendly version CONSERVATIVES CALL FOR DEEPER CUTS, PROGRESSIVES LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO ALLOW MAJORITY TO MAKE BUDGET DECISIONS IN SACRAMENTO By Miriam Raftery Voters resoundingly defeated Propositions 1A-E at the polls, passing only 1F, a measure to freeze legislators’ pay when the state is running a deficit. But what message was the public really trying to send to elected representatives? Does

Read More ...

EAST COUNTY COMMUNITY LEADERS REACT TO CA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDING PROP 8; NEW LAWSUIT FILED IN FEDERAL COURT BY LAWYERS IN BUSH V. GORE SEEKS TO REINSTATE GAY MARRIAGE

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 27, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – The California Supreme Court ruled this week to uphold Proposition 8 banning gay marriage, though the court also held that gay marriages that occurred before Prop 8’s passage will remain valid. (View the high court opinion here: www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/). In East County and across the state, leaders on both

Read More ...

ANDERSON PROPOSES TAX BREAKS FOR VETERANS

Printer-friendly versionMay 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–“I spent 26 years serving my country in the US Navy, and I would do it again,” said Arthur Armagost, an Alpine resident and veteran. “But it pains me to see men and women I served with leaving California when they retire. They spent their entire careers stationed in California but can’t afford

Read More ...

A BLOCK OF NEW BILLS FROM MARTY BLOCK

Printer-friendly versionMay 28, 2009 (Lemon Grove)–Freshman Assemblymember Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) has been busy. During his first few weeks in Sacramento, Block introduced 23 bills that he believes will “make a difference for our communities.” Block added, “ In these difficult times for our state budget, I made sure to only author legislation that will have no impact to the

Read More ...

ACLU THREATENS LAWSUIT AFTER RAMONA SCHOOL BANS SIXTH GRADER’S PRESENTATION ON HARVEY MILK

Printer-friendly versionMay 27, 2009 (Ramona) – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sent a demand letter to the Ramona Unified School District alleging that a school policy on sex education was used to illegally censored a sixth grader’s classroom presentation about Harvey Milk earlier this month. The ACLU contends that the District violated Natalie Jones’ free speech rights when

Read More ...

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES! VALEDICTORIANS NAMED, GRADUATION TIMES LISTED FOR GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Printer-friendly versionMay 28, 2009 (El Cajon) – On Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5, 2009, approximately 5,224 senior students from nine comprehensive high schools, two charter high schools and three alternative high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District will be donning caps and gowns for commencement exercises. Below is the schedule of graduation dates, times, and locations,

Read More ...

HAYES CONFIRMED AS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AFTER GOP SENATORS LIFT BLOCK ON NOMINATION; POWERLINK BATTLE NOW ELEVATED TO NATIONAL LEVEL WITH EX-SEMPRA LOBBYIST OVERSEEING KEY DECISIONS

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 27, 2009 (Washington D.C.) –David J. Hayes, a former lobbyist for Sempra Energy/SDG&E, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. His nomination proceeded after an earlier block by Republican Senators from Alaska over oil and gas leases was lifted. Both California Senators, Barbara Boxer and

Read More ...

SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHT: WARGODS V AT VIEJAS

Printer-friendly versionMay 27, 2009 (Alpine)–MMA Veteran Vernon “Tiger” White will face one of Temecula Team Quest’s stand out Lew Polley at Wargods “Five” at the Viejas Casino in Alpine, California on Saturday, May 30th. Doors open at 5:30 for the event, which starts at 6:30 p.m.   The main card will begin with a four man elimination tournament that will

Read More ...

LABOR VICTORY: SD SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO KEEP 10,000 CONTRACTING JOBS LOCAL UNDER PROP S, REQUIRE CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE HEALTH BENEFITS TO WORKERS

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery ”We cannot survive as a city if 75% of our children are coming out of families living in poverty…This is saying that our city is not going to live in poverty.”—Shelia Jackson, President, San Diego School Board May 27, 2009 (San Diego) – “Today, the School Board affirmed the vision of the future—that when tax dollars

Read More ...

EQUALITY TORCH RELAY SET IN EAST COUNTY JUNE 6

Printer-friendly versionMay 27, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—“This is a time where we need equality,” says Eve Parker, lead organizer of the East County Equality Torch Relay slated for June 6th in Santee, El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove. The relay is part of a county-wide event for supporters of equal rights for gay and lesbian people. “I am

Read More ...

PASSAGES: ART MADRID, FORMER LA MESA MAYOR WHO SERVED THE CITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS

Printer-friendly version By Karen Pearlman June 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – Leaving behind a legacy of service, prolific leadership and unwavering commitment to civic matters, longtime La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid has passed away at age 90. His leadership shaped the city, earning admiration and respect from residents, businesses and civic leaders around the region and across the country. He

Read More ...

SANTEE REPLACES LOW-INCOME APARTMENTS WITH CONDO PROJECT

Printer-friendly version   An infill condo project for 52 units is coming to Santee    Photo and story by Mike Allen   June 9, 2025 (Santee) — The Santee City Council unanimously approved another infill condominium project recently, this one for 52 units on the site that once housed the PureFlo Water dispensary, and had previously been approved for low-income apartments.

Read More ...

‘EVERYBODY STOOD UP’: WHY A UNION LEADER’S ARREST GALVANIZED CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS ON IMMIGRATION

Printer-friendly versionThis story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. By Jeanne Kuang June 9, 2025 (San Diego County) — The union leader federal agents detained at an immigration protest in Los Angeles last week is well known to California’s Democratic leadership from his years of activism in and out of the Capitol.   That’s one reason so many leading

Read More ...

CALIFORNIA COMPANY’S EGGS RECALLED DUE TO SALMONELLA OUTBREAK

Printer-friendly version East County News Service   June 9, 2025 (San Diego County) — California-based August Egg Company in Hilmar is recalling 1.7 million eggs tied to a multi-state outbreak of salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration.   The FDA said brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs were distributed by

Read More ...

LATINOS EN ACCION HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY

Printer-friendly versionFrom left to right: Mairene Branham, Violeta Lombrera and Eva Pacheco. (Photo by Mimi Pollack) By Mimi Pollack  June 8, 2025 (El Cajon) — Latinos en Acción, a group in El Cajon, is led by three mothers who want to make a difference in their diverse community.   These three very different women came together with the same goals in

Read More ...

CONCERNS LEAD JEWISH COMMUNITY TO PULL SUPPORT OF SD PRIDE

Printer-friendly versionControversial Headline Performer, Safety Concerns Cited as Reasons for Withdrawal By Karen Pearlman June 7, 2025 (San Diego) – Many local Jewish organizations from across San Diego County that have traditionally been part of the annual San Diego Pride event will not be joining in this year. Jewish community leaders say that because the Pride Festival chose musical artist

Read More ...

TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES COMING TO CAMPO ROAD IN CASA DE ORO

Printer-friendly versionArtistic rendering of coming changes to Campo Road (Courtesy County of San Diego) By Karen Pearlman June 7, 2025 (Casa de Oro) – The County of San Diego is moving into the next phase of the ambitious Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan, aimed at transforming the Campo Road corridor into a safer, more walkable and vibrant community hub.

Read More ...

COMMUNITY PANCAKE BREAKFAST TO LAUNCH YOUTH FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Sevice   June 7, 2025 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Juneteenth Foundation is inviting families and community members to a Pancake Breakfast Celebration later this month.   The celebration, in partnership with Mission Federal Credit Union, is set for 9 a.m. until noon, Thursday, June 19, at MacArthur Park in La Mesa.   There is

Read More ...

PANCAKE BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER IN LA MESA

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   June 6, 2025 (La Mesa) — Heartland Firefighters of La Mesa will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser and emergency preparedness training on Sunday, June 8, at La Mesa Fire Station 11.   The event, which will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 8034 Allison Ave., is open to all ages. Tickets are

Read More ...

SD SUPERIOR COURT WARNS ABOUT SCAMS

Printer-friendly versionLatest scam concerns traffic court fees, previous scams have concerned jury duty or warrants   East County News Service   June 6, 2025 (San Diego County) – The San Diego Superior Court is warning the public about new scams that are making the rounds around the county.   The court has received complaints about individuals trying to scam members

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