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Rabies on the rise: 14 rabid bats found in San Diego County this year: latest cases include Santee, Zoo, and Safari Park
East County News Service June 7, 2026 (San Diego) – County health officials are warning residents to avoid touching wild bats, due to an increase in rabies cases locally. You don’t have to be bitten to contract rabies, which is deadly virtually 100% of the time without prompt treatment
World Cup fever heating up in San Diego
East County News Service June 6, 2026 (San Diego) — The global stage is set for San Diego this weekend. The local Major League Soccer team, San Diego FC, in partnership with Snapdragon Stadium, Sports San Diego and Lions Sports & Media, will host the “Countdown to ’26” international soccer
News Issues
World Cup fever heating up in San Diego
East County News Service June 6, 2026 (San Diego) — The global stage is set for San Diego this weekend. The local Major League Soccer team, San Diego FC, in partnership with Snapdragon Stadium, Sports San Diego and Lions Sports & Media, will host the “Countdown to ’26” international soccer
Lakeside man, 2 others arrested for plot to support ISIS and kill American service members
East County News Service June 5, 2026 (San Diego ) – This morning, the FBI arrested three U.S. citizens who allegedly plotted violent attacks on U .S. servicemembers in a conspired with the Islamic State of Iraq and al–Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terror group. According to the U.S.
Politics
Tight race in 5th Supervisorial district race to fill Desmond’s seat
By G. A. McNeeley Miriam Raftery contributed to this report June 6, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – The County Board of Supervisors will soon have a new face representing the 5th district, since Jim Desmond is termed out and running for the 48th Congressional District. San Marcos Mayor Rebecca
Campa-Najjar concedes Congressional primary race; Desmond and von Wilpert advance to November run-off
By Miriam Raftery June 3, 2026 (San Diego) – In the race to fill the redrawn 48th Congressional district seat being vacated by the retirement of Republican Darrell Issa, a a redrawn district that Democrats hope to flip from red to blue, the November run-off will be between Supervisor Jim
Wildfires and Emergencies
County Fire celebrates 17 new EMS graduates
By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office June 5, 2026 (San Diego) – Seventeen young adults earned their graduation certificate from County Fire’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Corps program, completing more than 400 hours of training designed to launch them into careers in the medical field. Printer-friendly version
New eco-friendly fire station opens in Jacumba
Photos courtesy County of San Diego East County News Service June 3, 2026 (Jacumba) — San Diego County officials and fire chiefs recently gathered in the county’s high desert area to break ground on a new, state-of-the-art county fire station. Fire Station 43, spearheaded by San Diego County Fire and
Events & Arts
La Mesa plans patriotic activities to celebration nation’s 250th birthday
East County News Service June 6, 2026 (La Mesa) – To celebrate the 250th Birthday of America, the community is invited to a weekend of fun and festive family events in La Mesa June 12-13. Events will kick off on Friday, June 12, with the summer’s first Movie in the
Ethan Talks to Animals: Be Brave, Scared Shirley
Book by Nico Waters Review by Pennell Paugh June 5, 2026 (San Diego) – San Diego author Nico Waters has added another book to her Ethan Talks to Animals series. This one is titled, Be Brave, Scared Shirley. In second grade, Ethan wished on his birthday to be able to
Best of East County
Stonewall Peak in Cuyamaca renamed Cush-pii, its traditional Kumeyaay name
East County News Service June 7, 2026 (Cuyamaca) – A mountain in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park formerly called Stonewall Peak has officially had a name change. It is now called Cush-pii, which means “Sharp Peak” in the Kumeyaay language. The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names opted to rename
Photos of the Week: Two winning shots from Lake Jennings Photo Contest
East County News Service May 17, 2026 (East County) — The Helix Water District has announced the winners of the Lake Jennings 2026 Photo Contest: Sunrise to Sunset! and East County Magazine is featuring two for our “Photos of the Week.” At left and top, first-place youth category winner Hannah
People
Lemon Grove Forward Club earns 13 prestigious awards and community honors
East County News Service May 7, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The Lemon Grove Forward Club received 11 prestigious awards this past April from the GFWC Southern District, recognizing the club as a leading intermediate-sized organization for its outstanding servicepeop and impact. The Lemon Grove Forward Club achieved 16,829 volunteer service
Eight local women Honored at Soroptimist’s annual “Live Your Dream” Awards Celebration
Soroptimist International of Valley de Oro recognizes women overcoming extraordinary obstacles to build better lives through education By Henri Migala Photo: Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award winners. Seated (left to right): Dr. Peggy Fischer, DVM, Valley de Oro Club Chair; Tenisha Back row (left to right): Sue Bucheman (member); Nancy
Communities
Rabies on the rise: 14 rabid bats found in San Diego County this year: latest cases include Santee, Zoo, and Safari Park
East County News Service June 7, 2026 (San Diego) – County health officials are warning residents to avoid touching wild bats, due to an increase in rabies cases locally. You don’t have to be bitten to contract rabies, which is deadly virtually 100% of the time without prompt treatment
Stonewall Peak in Cuyamaca renamed Cush-pii, its traditional Kumeyaay name
East County News Service June 7, 2026 (Cuyamaca) – A mountain in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park formerly called Stonewall Peak has officially had a name change. It is now called Cush-pii, which means “Sharp Peak” in the Kumeyaay language. The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names opted to rename
Features
Stonewall Peak in Cuyamaca renamed Cush-pii, its traditional Kumeyaay name
East County News Service June 7, 2026 (Cuyamaca) – A mountain in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park formerly called Stonewall Peak has officially had a name change. It is now called Cush-pii, which means “Sharp Peak” in the Kumeyaay language. The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names opted to rename
La Mesa plans patriotic activities to celebration nation’s 250th birthday
East County News Service June 6, 2026 (La Mesa) – To celebrate the 250th Birthday of America, the community is invited to a weekend of fun and festive family events in La Mesa June 12-13. Events will kick off on Friday, June 12, with the summer’s first Movie in the
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Reader’s Editorial: Why Tom Steyer should be the next governor of the mega-state of California
By Bonnie Burns Price, Ph.D. Ma7 19, 2026 (La Mesa) — There is no state in the USA that houses nearly 40,000,000 people and hosts such a huge economy, the fourth largest in the world. To properly govern California at this time, a capable candidate with extraordinary vision, concern, and skills must be in place. To me, that person is
Reader’s Editorial: Xavier Becerra has the experience and courage needed to lead California as Governor
By Maria Lopez May 18, 2026 (El Cajon) — By far the most qualified candidate for California Governor is Xavier Becerra, who has served as California’s Attorney General, as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services during the Biden administration, as a member of Congress and the California Legislature. He has a long record of fighting against Trump administration
Multi-agency rescue, care at Villa Chardonnay ongoing
Photo of horses rescued from Villa Chardonnay Horses With Wings, Inc., and now at Suwanna Ranch in Northern California courtesy Humane Farming Association By Karen Pearlman May 18, 2026 (San Diego County) — The multi-agency animal rescue operation at Villa Chardonnay Horses With Wings, Inc. animal sanctuary in Julian continued over the weekend with specialized teams converging to provide emergency
Active shooter at Islamic Center in San Diego: multiple casualties reported
Update 3:15 p.m. — San Diego Police confirm that five people are dead, including three victims, all adult men, as well as two teenage suspects who appear to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The San Diego Police Department said all three of the victims were adult men. The two suspects were identified only as two teenagers. Police said the
Mt. Helix Park adds new butterfly garden, picnic tables
Story and main photo by Karen Pearlman May 17, 2026 (Mount Helix) — A barren stretch of dirt outside the front office of Mt. Helix Park Foundation near the top of Mount Helix has become a colorful and welcoming spot for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, towhees and other visitors to the area. Thanks to financial backing from the family of Suzanne
Photos of the Week: Two winning shots from Lake Jennings Photo Contest
East County News Service May 17, 2026 (East County) — The Helix Water District has announced the winners of the Lake Jennings 2026 Photo Contest: Sunrise to Sunset! and East County Magazine is featuring two for our “Photos of the Week.” At left and top, first-place youth category winner Hannah Hedrick’s “A Dusky Walk,” and below right, second place youth
How to fix a ‘giant county bureaucracy’: San Diego County debates competing charter reform plans
By Deborah Brennan, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: photos of the current San Diego Board of Supervisors are displayed inside the San Diego County Administration Center on March 24, 2026. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters May 17, 2026 (San Diego) – San Diego County Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer pitched a plan to reform the county
Mount Laguna Observatory summer visitors program starts May 23
East County News Service May 17, 2026 (Mount Laguna) — Star parties are back at Mount Laguna with the return of the Summer Visitors Program at the Mount Laguna Observatory. The public programs will be held on Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m., May 23 through August 15, with a special bonus mid-week viewing scheduled for Wednesday, August 12.
Ram Media Foundation’s Borrego Sun Launches Community Media Apprenticeship Program for Borrego Springs Youth
Source: Ram Media Foundation May 16, 2026 (Borrego Springs) — Ram Media Foundation has launched a new community media apprenticeship initiative designed to provide local youth and emerging creators with hands-on experience in journalism, digital media, photography, video production, social media, marketing, and community communication. Printer-friendly version
Frontier Airlines’ ‘GoWild’ Pass: the deal that sounds too good to be true — because it is
A San Diego traveler’s firsthand account of an all-you-can-fly promotion that delivered nothing at all By Henri Migala May 16, 2026 (San Diego) – Imagine paying a flat annual fee and then flying anywhere an airline flies — as many times as you want — for nothing more than government taxes and fees. That’s the promise behind Frontier Airlines’ GoWild
San Diego River Days 2026: Conservation, culture and community exploration
Photo courtesy San Diego River Park Foundation By Karen Pearlman May 3, 2026 (San Diego County) — The 23rd annual San Diego River Days is officially underway, offering more than three dozen events designed to connect San Diego County residents with the 52-mile waterway that serves as the region’s ecological backbone. Organized by the nonprofit San Diego River Park Foundation
About 10 to 20 fires burning along SR 76 and I15
East County News Service May 2, 2026 (North San Diego County) — The North County Fire Protection District is reporting a total of 10 to 20 spot fires along state Route 76 and up Interstate 15. Most fires were reported 50-feet by 50-feet, according to Watch Duty App. Eastbound SR-76 from Mission Road to Hwy 395 is closed as firefighters
East County in focus for San Diego County Board of Supervisors
East County News Service May 1, 2026 (San Diego County) — In a show of bipartisan collaboration aimed at addressing the needs of one of San Diego County’s most underserved regions, District 2 Supervisor Joel Anderson hosted Board Chair Pro Tem Paloma Aguirre from District 1 (South County) this past week for an extensive tour of East County, including the
Massive rescue underway: hundreds of animals seized from Julian sanctuary
Photo from Villa Chardonnay, Horses With Wings, Inc. Facebook page By Karen Pearlman May 1, 2026 (Julian) — In what appears to be one of the largest ever animal welfare interventions locally, the San Diego Humane Society, the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services and several more partner agencies launched a massive rescue operation of animals with welfare
San Diego State University does not track amount of unhoused students on campus
“SDSU relies on students self-reporting their housing status, and not everyone adopts the same definition of homelessness.” – Evie Baez, the director of the SDSU Basic Needs Center By Armando Rasing II Hepner Hall on SDSU’s campus in San Diego, Calif. on March 24, 2026. (Photo/Armando Rasing II) While there are thousands of unhoused students in the California State University
Supervisors unanimously advance Anderson government accountability reforms
East County News Service Photo via countynewscenter.com May 1, 2026 (San Diego) — In a decisive step toward restoring public trust and bringing sunshine to local government, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved three transparency-focused measures authored by Supervisor Joel Anderson. The package of reforms is designed to ensure the public can see, understand, and participate
Scripps Research offers lecture on new drugs to tackle diseases May 20
East County News Service Join the community in person on the Scripps Research campus https://frontrow.scripps.edu/lectures/michael-erb or attend virtually via Zoom webinar. May 1, 2026 (San Diego) — Some of the most devastating diseases are driven by proteins that cannot be targeted with conventional drugs. Scientists are now discovering ways to control disease by recruiting the cell’s own machinery to tackle
Spring Craft Fair May 9 to benefit Mount Miguel High School Foundation
East County News Service May 1, 2026 (Spring Valley) – Find hand-made treasures at the Spring Craft Fair on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair, held at Mount Miguel High School’s multicultural event center at 8585 Blossom Lane in Spring Valley, benefits the Mount Miguel High School Foundation. Admission is free. For more information, contact MtMiguelAlumni@gmail.com
Eight candidates for governor debate at Pomona College
By G. A. McNeeley May 1, 2026 (Pomona College, Claremont) — Eight candidates appeared at Pomona College on Tuesday, April 28, during the most recent debate for the 2026 California governor’s race. The debate provided a chance for voters to consider the perspectives of these candidates on various important topics. It should be noted that the moderator did not give
Year-round fire season means East County residents should always be prepared
Left: Residents meet with fire inspector at Helix De Oro Fire Safe Council-sponsored fire preparedness assessment tour. Story and photos by Paul Levikow May 1, 2026 (Mt. Helix) — The reality of year-round fire season in San Diego’s East County was addressed during a recent wildfire preparedness assessment tour at a Mt. Helix home, where residents gathered to learn practical
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