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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…
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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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San Diego Automotive Museum to hold “Garage Night” fundraiser
Printer-friendly versionEvening event at new IGNITE Academy campus (see photo, left, showing students from the academy) will support automotive career training for local youth East County News Service Jan. 7, 2026 (Santee) — The San Diego Automotive Museum will host its first Garage Night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at the recently opened IGNITE Academy campus, 8630 Argent St.
Helix High cheer team reaches summit — and looking for support
Printer-friendly versionLa Mesa squad wins first CIF championship, now sets sights on national competition in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Helix High Cheer Team East County News Service Jan. 7, 2026 (La Mesa) — After three consecutive years of finishing as runners-up, the Helix Charter High School competitive cheer team finally reached the top of the podium, capturing first place in
Calif. Attorney General Bonta wins permanent injunction against Trump administration over unlawful NIH funding cuts for universities and research institutions
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 6, 2026 (San Diego) – A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has unanimously affirmed a lower court decision which permanently barred the Trump administration from decimating funds that supported cutting-edge research and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country — including at the University of
Passages: Dr. Harry Paul Cuero Jr., former Campo tribal chair
Printer-friendly versionPhoto via SDSU 2011 news release January 6, 2026 (Campo) – Dr. Harry Paul Cuero Jr., former chair of the Campo Band of the Kumeyaay nation, spiritual leader and educator dedicated to preserving Kumeyaay sovereignty culture and leading efforts to share indigenous Bird Songs with future generations, died on December 6 at age 65. Cuero, known as Junior, dedicated
Local leaders lost in 2025
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Updated January 6 to add two leaders whose December deaths we learned of after this was originally published. January 1, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — Our region lost leaders in many fields during 2025 – two tribal chairmen, La Mesa’s long-serving Mayor, a Chaldean bishop, a Padres pitching star, a Lemon Grove Councilman, a Congressman
Dog training tips from the San Diego Humane Society
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego Humane Society shares how to start the new year on the right paw. Photo courtesy SDHS East County News Service Jan. 5, 2026 (San Diego County) — Behavior challenges left unaddressed can become the reason dog owners surrender their pet to a shelter like the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. With January being National
Unidentified man struck, killed by vehicle in La Mesa on January 1
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 5, 2026 (La Mesa) – An unidentified male pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 8 east in La Mesa, west of Jackson Drive. California Highway Patrol Officers responding to a call found him lying in the roadway at 1:20 a.m. on New Year’s morning. He died of his injuries
Single mom dies three weeks after being hit by car in El Cajon
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 5, 2026 (El Cajon) — Susana Gascon, 39, was crossing Mollison Street in El Cajon on December 6 when she was struck by a sedan. Paramedics transported her to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where she died on December 28. “This tragic incident resulted in a severe brain injury and multiple bone fractures,” her sister, Alicia
Venezuelan president captured in U.S. military attack on Caracas: Trump says U.S. will run the nation and take over oil production, but critics contend action violates U.S. and international law
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard USS Iwo Jima after his capture, via U.S. Dept. of War January 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Without notifying Congress and in apparent violation of international law, President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes and a ground raid on Venezuela’s capital city that resulted in capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura and his wife, Cilia Flores,
The Water Conservation Garden gears up for a blooming 2026
Printer-friendly version Photo of a buttefly at the Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavilion at The Water Conservation Garden and story by Karen Pearlman Jan. 3, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — The Water Conservation Garden, the 6-acre botanical showcase of sustainable landscaping and water-wise gardening adjacent to Cuyamaca College, has rooted out its slate of events for Winter and Spring 2026. The schedule includes educational opportunities,
SUPERVISORS APPROVE FUNDS FOR SLEEPING CABINS IN LEMON GROVE, SHIFT MONEY FROM STALLED RV PARKING PROJECT IN LAKESIDE
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 25, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – San Diego County Supervisors this week approved a measure introduced by Supervisors Joel Anderson and Monica Montgomery-Steppe to fund first-year operations and services for the Troy Street sleeping cabins project, which supervisors previously authorized to house homeless individuals on state Caltrans land in Lemon Grove. The board action
HANNAH SHIRLEY CROWNED WORLD’S OLDEST LIVING PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS IN MANAGED CARE
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center celebrates world record Story and photo courtesy of the San Diego Humane Society May 25, 2025 (Ramona)– San Diego Humane Society’s beloved pygmy hippopotamus, Hannah Shirley, is officially the oldest living pygmy hippo ever in managed care in the world. On May 25, 2025, Hannah surpassed the previous record of
HOMELESS COUNT FINDS BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN MOST AREAS; EL CAJON DISPUTES FINDINGS
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo by Robert Gehr: A homeless person’s tent on grassy area along Main Street in downtown El Cajon May 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The 2025 Point-in-Time count of homeless people conducted in January found large drops in homelessness countywide in nearly every community, with a 72% drop in families living on
PILOT IN DEADLY MURPHY CANYON CRASH WAS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND MUSIC AGENT BASED IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery May 24, 2025 (San Diego) — More details have emerged on the tragic crash of a Cessna plane into a military housing neighborhood near San Diego’s Murphy Canyon on May 22nd while its pilot attempted to land amid heavy fog at Montgomery Field. All six people on board the plane died in the fiery crash.
ADVOCATES WARN PROPOSED MEDI-CAL CUTS COULD HARM RURAL MATERNITY CARE
Printer-friendly version Half of all births in rural California are covered by Medicaid; rural hospital closures would impact even moms with private insurance By Suzanne Potter, California News Service May 23, 2025 (Sacramento) — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is hashing out last-minute details of a huge funding bill which could come to a floor vote this week. Advocates warned
SUPERVISOR ANDERSON: HOW TO HELP PLANE CRASH VICTIMS
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News May 22, 2025 (San Diego) –Supervisor Joel Anderson today offered a statement on the deadly plane crash that occurred in a Tierrasanta neighborhood near Murphy Canyon, along with advice on organizations helping collect donations and items to assist residents displaced by the crash. “My office is closely
POPE APPOINTS MICHAEL PHAM AS SAN DIEGO BISHOP
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service May 22, 2025 (San Diego) – Auxiliary Bishop Michael Pham, 58, has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV to serve as Bishop of the San Diego Catholic diocese, the Vatican announced today. Born in Vietnam, Bishop Pham was ordained in 1999 and previously served in parishes across the San Diego region before becoming
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
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
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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