March 19, 2026 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont College Library was selected as one of only 50 libraries across the United States to host the traveling exhibition “Americans and the Holocaust.”
Americans and the Holocaust is a collaborative effort between the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association. Locals will be able to visit the exhibition from April 14 through May 21, 2026 at Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon.
This is the exhibition's second national tour, and follows a successful run at 50 libraries between 2021-23. Because of its popularity, the USHMM and ALA expanded the initiative to an additional 50 sites for a 2024-26 cycle, reaching communities from Hawaii and Alaska to Texas and New Hampshire.
March 19, 2026 (San Diego) – Dolores Huerto, cofounder of the United Farm Workers Union, has issued a statement on her Facebook page on revelations that she and other women were sexually abused by co-leader Cesar Chavez.
In her statement, she talks about being pressured and later forced to have sex with Chavez, why she stayed silent and is now speaking out, the two children by Chavez that she's maintained relationships with, and her renewed commitment to support workers' rights and women's rights.
“I am nearly 96 years old, and for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for.
March 18, 2026 (San Diego) -- Local public health officials have issued an urgent exposure alert following a confirmed case of measles on Wednesday, March 11, at the Sharp Memorial Hospital Emergency Department at 7901 Frost St. in San Diego.
A traveler from out of state -- who was unvaccinated and infectious at the time of their visit -- has tested positive for the virus.
While the individual was evaluated for a fever at the Frost Street facility, they did not display the characteristic rash or other respiratory symptoms that typically signal a measles infection, potentially leaving dozens of patients and staff exposed.
Photo: Cesar Chavez in 1972, public domain image by Cornelius M. Keyes via National Archives and Records Administration
March 18, 2026 (San Diego) – Latino leaders across the state and nation are expressing shock after a bombshell investigation by the New York Times revealed evidence of sexual abuse against women and girls by César Chávez , famed cofounder of the United Farmworkers Union and a prominent national leader of the Latino rights movement who died in 1993.
March 18, 2026 (La Mesa) -- As the national conversation surrounding immigration enforcement continues to intensify, local community leaders are working to provide clarity.
On Monday, March 23, the group La Mesa Conversations will host a public panel titled “Community Responses to Immigration Enforcement: Standing with Our Neighbors.”
The event, which is free and open to the public, will provide an opportunity for people to share information about the complex federal issue and examine its impact on families, schools, businesses and houses of worship.
The discussion is featuring a diverse cross-section of local leadership, reflecting how immigration enforcement touches various facets of civic life.
The panel includes:
Mariah Jameson, community representative for San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe; Christian DeMent: pastor at La Mesa First United Methodist Church; Erin Tsurumoto Grassi: Associate Director of Alliance San Diego; Krystle Johnson, a special education teacher and community activist; and Brianna Coston, trustee for the La Mesa–Spring Valley School Board.
March 18, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Helicopters will soon become a familiar sound over San Diego County wetlands as San Diego County Vector Control begins its first routine aerial larvicide drop of the year on March 24.
Vector Control is focusing on up to 50 local waterways where mosquitos commonly breed. The treatments happen monthly through October at sites across the county. The larvicide used is a solid, granular product that is safe for people, pets and wildlife but is also effective at controlling mosquito larvae before they can grow into biting mosquitoes.
March 16, 2026 (San Diego) - Adams Avenue Unplugged will take place on Saturday, April 25th, 12 noon to 12 midnight, along Adams Avenue, from University Heights through Normal Heights to Kensington. This exceptional music walkabout is free and open to the public with the exception of the headliner artist. Alejandro Escovedo ($40 ticket). Unplugged 2026 will feature 90 performances at 26 different venues including restaurants, bars, coffee houses, and the main stage located at the historic Normal Heights United Church. Adams Avenue businesses hope to treat musical aficionados and foodies to the rich neighborhood culture.
March 18, 2026 (San Diego) - With the US feeling to many like it’s spiraling out of control—recklessly piloted by a White House in chaos—NO KINGS on March 28, couldn’t be coming at a better time. It’s a line in the sand.
We are living through a systematic betrayal of the American people. The Trump administration promised everyday costs would drop; instead, our economy is being siphoned away while families choose between heat or eat. We were promised peace; instead, we are embroiled in a war no one voted for. We were told immigration enforcement would target the “worst of the worst”; instead, ICE and Border Patrol are seizing working immigrants from their homes. Even five-year-olds aren’t immune. And then, the unthinkable: US citizens murdered by state actors.
This isn’t a drill. This is an “All Hands on Deck” emergency.
March 18, 2026 (San Diego East County) – Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at 12:20 a.m. in the 16000 block of Loose Creek Road in Jamul. Upon arrival, deputies did not locate any victims at the residence.
“Shortly afterward, the Alpine Fire Protection District notified the Sheriff’s Office that a shooting victim had arrived at their station. Emergency personnel initiated lifesaving measures;” says Lt. Juan Marequez with the Sheriff’s department. Despite those efforts, the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the fire station.
March 18, 2026 (San Diego) - Irish Secrets and Lies by Southern California author Debbie Wastling is part of The Sutherland Scandals¾a historical series about a family that rises from poverty. In Irish Secrets and Lies, the main character, Martha Lowery, is the daughter of a nonworking alcoholic father and mother whose health is broken from having too many children too often.
Photo of Lake Murray on March 17 by Karen Pearlman
East County News Service
March 17, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Baby, it's hot outside!
An unusually powerful high-pressure system has settled over Southern California, ushering in a period of dangerously hot conditions that threaten to shatter both daily and monthly temperature records across San Diego County.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for the desert regions beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, and extending through 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21.
The NWS warns that residents in the low deserts should prepare for blistering highs between 104 and 112 degrees Fahrenheit, with the most intense heat expected on Thursday and Friday. Overnight relief will be minimal, as temperatures are only projected to dip into the mid-70s.
March 17, 2026 (San Diego County) -- As the marine layer thins and temperatures climb across the region, San Diego’s original residents are beginning to stir.
From the coastal sage scrub of Torrey Pines to the rocky canyons of Mission Trails Regional Park, the Southern Pacific rattlesnake is officially back on the move, the County of San Diego warns.
Rattlesnake season in Southern California typically spans from March through October, but experts warn that the peak "shaking" occurs between April and June.
Image: Havana, Cuba by Anselmo Guvaldo via Pixabay
March 17, 2026 (Washington D.C.) -- Cuba’s power grid has collapsed, leaving the island nation without power CNN reports, as the result of a U.S. blockade that has shut off oil to the Caribbean nation.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said regarding the prospects of taking over or liberating Cuba, “I think I can do anything I want.”
The fervent, if intermittent, hostilities between the United States and Cuba spanning six decades have been marked by pressure campaigns, antagonism, and the occasional bursts of violence, according to USA Today.
March 17, 2026 (Santee) -- Get ready for fire-breathing fun at Santee's Bunny Trail, including dragon dancers performing from White Dragon Martial Arts School.
This year, the event takes place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive in Santee.
This year’s event features a bunny trail experience instead of a traditional egg hunt.
Families stroll booth-to-booth collecting eggs at their own pace, then exchange collected eggs for a festive goodie bag. Visit booths in any order and stop by as many as you’d like. Be sure to bring baskets!
March 17, 2026 — Americans widely disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the Epstein files, with a majority believing that Trump was involved with or committed crimes alongside the dead sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein. Nearly three quarters say that the government is covering up additional information connected to Epstein, alleging deeply systemic corruption within the federal government, and a similar number want more prosecutions.
President Donald Trump is mentioned 38,000 times in the Epstein files, including multiple graphic allegations of rape and sexual abuse involving underage girls. The Justice Department has drawn criticism for selective redactions and omissions in the Epstein files released to date.
Now, new evidence suggests a possible cover-up involving the death of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in prison, following revelations that a prison guard deposited thousands of dollars into his bank account shortly before Epstein was found hanged in his cell.
March 16, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Federal and state policy changes set to roll out over the next year will potentially alter the landscape of public assistance for more than 1 million San Diego County residents.
Starting April 1, new eligibility requirements and work mandates will begin to take effect for recipients of CalFresh and Medi-Cal, marking one of the most significant shifts in social safety net administration in recent years.
The changes are largely driven by the federal One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1), signed into law last July, which introduced stricter oversight and work requirements for nationwide benefit programs. While local officials emphasize that the majority of recipients will still qualify for coverage, the scale of the impact is vast: the County currently supports nearly 400,000 residents through CalFresh and more than 800,000 through Medi-Cal.
March 16, 2026 (San Diego) — According to Businessman and Attorney Andrew Yang, “The jobpocalypse is here.”
He expressed fears that Artificial Intelligence predicts a staggering 99 percent unemployment in the next five years.
As of early 2026, AI’s impact on aggregate unemployment remains subtle, with roughly 90 percent of executives reporting little significant change in headcount due to AI since late 2022. However, significant disruption is emerging in specific and high exposure entry-level white collar roles, potentially causing a 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent rise in unemployment.
While overall employment remains stable, young workers in AI-exposed fields have seen higher unemployment rates. While many experts see only moderate disruption, some projections suggest that AI could displace 6 to 7 percent of the workforce, with potential for 10 to 20 percent unemployment in specific sectors if AI adoption accelerates quickly.
March 16, 2026 (San Diego County) -- San Diego author Cynthia R. Gould has released her second chidren’s book, and second illustrated by Lana Lee.
The picture book "I'm Adopted!" provides a charming and hopeful story.
A cat struggles to live on the street. She is picked up and put in a shelter. The orange haired cat yearns to be adopted.
Coincidentally, I happen to be looking for a cat from rescue agencies. Gould has given me information, hope and determination to adopt my own homeless animal.
I recommend this book for children of all ages, including parents.
A fundraising effort to expand services for Native youth across San Diego County, the event begins at 8 a.m., Sunday, March 29, at the old NTC-headquartered park at 2455 Cushing Road. Organizers say the event will help fund a new safe space and enhanced programming for the Boys & Girls Club of Kumeyaay Nation Wellness.
March 16, 2026 (East County) -- An evening of music, storytelling and community will be the draw in La Mesa later this month.
The Ira Aldridge Repertory Players will be presenting “Sanctified in Swing” starting at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at Spacebar Café & Wine Bistro, 7454 University Ave., in La Mesa. Doors open at 6 p.m., organizers say.
The event will include poems written by Calvin Manson as well as jazz, blues and R&B vocal music by Leslie Green and Roosevelt Carter -- all Lemon Grove residents.
Green will light up the stage with a powerful voice flowing through jazz, blues, and R&B, rich with soul, warmth, and the power to lift every heart. She will be joined by Carter, known for his velvet smooth, rich and warm voice.
March 15, 2026 (San Diego) – East County Supervisor Joel Anderson is running for county Treasurer-Tax Collector. Anderson, who holds a degree in finance from Cal Poly Pomona, has extensive governing experience, having previously served in the California Senate and Assembly and on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board.
March 15, 2026 (Lakeside) – Lake Jennings invites you to enter your best photos taken at Lake Jennings between April 1 and April 30, 2026. “Lights, camera… lake life!
Show us your best lake adventures, wildlife sightings, epic catches, and golden sunsets,” the Lake Jennings officials' post on Facebook reads.
March 12, 2026 (San Diego) -- San Diegan Nico Waters has written a series of children’s books. In Ethan Talks to Animals, second grader Ethan can talk to animals. Together with his dog, Chewie, Ethan helps their next-door neighbor’s cat to eat his new diet.
March 14, 2026 (Alpine) – Dog and cat food, treats, grooming supplies, new pet toys, feeding bowls, beds, blankets, crates/carriers, leashes, collars, litter boxes and litter are among the items sought to help pets in need. You can drop off items on April 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Viejas Pit Stop, 5454 Willows Road in Alpine.
March 14, 2026 (San Diego) – A man who died of an apparent suicide by hanging in the San Diego Central Jail on March 8 has been identified as Grant Parker, 34. Parker was arrested February 15 on charges of murder and assault in the stabbing death of a man in downtown San Diego.
March 14, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – An extreme heat watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for San Diego County over the next week. Temperatures will start to climb Sunday, with high temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above normal starting Tuesday. By mid-week, temperatures above 100 degrees are forecast, with potential to break record high temperatures.
There is a high risk for heat-related illnesses for people, pets and livestock. Stay well hydrated and avoid outdoor activities during the heat wave. Those without access to air conditioning can visit a county library, community center, or indoor mall.
CBT Self-Therapy Poetry: A Right Brain Approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and DBT Self-Therapy Poetry: A Right-Brain Approach to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Books by Dharlene Marie Fahl
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh
March 14, 2026 (San Diego) - Long-time San Diego-area author Dharlene Marie Fahl, using mostly free verse poetry, has written three books to introduce readers to Self-Therapy Poetry. This review includes two of her books in the series.
March 12, 2026 (El Cajon) -- The German Theater Group San Diego has announced its 2026 production, a German-language cabaret titled "Es fährt kein Zug nach irgendwo" (There is no train to anywhere), scheduled for a two-show run this April.
The performances will take place at the German American Societies of San Diego headquarters 1017 S. Mollison Ave. in El Cajon at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26. Organizers noted that tickets for the annual event typically sell out in advance.
The production follows the tradition of German Kabarett -- a distinct theatrical form that blends social satire, sketches, music and poetry. Unlike American-style stand-up, German cabaret often utilizes a full ensemble to offer humorous and critical reflections on contemporary life and politics.
The San Diego ensemble, operating under the artistic direction of founder Astrid Ronke, has grown from 13 members at its 2016 inception to today's more than 30 actors, vocalists and volunteers.
March 12, 2026 (Temescal Valley) -- The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District marked a significant infrastructure milestone earlier this month with a March 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $33 million expansion of the Horsethief Canyon Water Reclamation Facility.
The project, which increases the facility’s treatment capacity from 0.5 to 0.8 million gallons per day, has been designed to support the region's accelerating residential development. The expanded capacity is expected to provide essential wastewater services for nearly 1,200 homes in a growing Riverside County community.
The expansion stands out as a landmark for public-private collaboration.
By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
March 12, 2026 (San Diego) -- The Registrar of Voters is now hiring poll workers for the June 2 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Poll workers play an essential role in elections and can receive a daily stipend while serving their community.
East County News Service
Photo courtesy County of San Diego
East County News Service
East County News Service
Source: Adams Avenue Business
By Rob Okun
By Miriam Raftery
Book by Debbie Wastling
Photo of Lake Murray on March 17 by Karen Pearlman
Photo courtesy County of San Diego
By Miriam Raftery
By Alex J. Schorr
East County News Service
Screenshot from WION on AI
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
Book by Nico Waters
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
CBT Self-Therapy Poetry: A Right Brain Approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and DBT Self-Therapy Poetry: A Right-Brain Approach to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
East County News Service
East County News Service
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