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Restoration or destruction? Proposed plan for Laguna Mountains raising concern
Photo of part of the Laguna Mountains area that could be part of a plan by the government to prevent wildfires by bulldozing the area and cutting down chaparral. Photo by David Hogan, The Chaparral Lands Conservancy By Karen Pearlman May 29, 2026 (Mt. Laguna) — A sweeping federal plan
Lemon Grove City Council pushes back tenant ordinance discussion
“Residents took time out of their evening to come speak, and I believe their voices deserved to be heard through action, not continued postponement!” – Jennifer Mendoza, Lemon Grove City Councilmember, screenshot of May 19 meeting courtesy Lemon Grove City Councilmember Jessyka Heredia’s Facebook video By Armando Rasing II May
News Issues
Medical Examiner rules hanging death in jail a suicide
East County News Service May 29, 2026 (San Diego) – On May 27, the San Diego County Sheriff revealed that the Medical Examiner’s office has ruled Grant Parker’s death a suicide. He was arrested February 15 on charges of murder and assault for fatally stabbing a man in downtown San
Harbison Canyon man sentenced to 216 years in prison for brutal murder of Samuel Holthaus and other violent crimes
East County News Service Photo: Victim Samuel Holthaus, courtesy of the District Attorney’s office May 26, 2026 (San Diego) – Kenneth McNally Jr., 42, has been sentenced to 216 years in prison for murdering Samuel Holthaus, 59, and committing a series of other violent crimes in Harbison Canyon in 2023.
Politics
Lemon Grove City Council pushes back tenant ordinance discussion
“Residents took time out of their evening to come speak, and I believe their voices deserved to be heard through action, not continued postponement!” – Jennifer Mendoza, Lemon Grove City Councilmember, screenshot of May 19 meeting courtesy Lemon Grove City Councilmember Jessyka Heredia’s Facebook video By Armando Rasing II May
Lemon Grove bird sale ban heading to November ballot after 3-2 vote
By Karen Pearlman May 25, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove voters will have the final say this November on a measure that would end commercial bird sales in the city, replacing them with a rescue-only model that requires pet stores to source birds exclusively from animal shelters, humane
Wildfires and Emergencies
New Firehawk helicopter now stationed at Ramona Air Base
By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office May 29, 2026 (Ramona) – San Diego County’s wildfire response just got a major boost. A new CAL FIRE Firehawk helicopter is now permanently based at the Ramona Air Base and officially went into service on Monday. “When wildfire strikes, minutes
Spring Valley arson suspect arrested
East County News Service May 26, 2026 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies used a drone to tract down a suspect reportedly seen setting a fire that caused evacuation of homes in Spring Valley last night. Printer-friendly version
Events & Arts
Ilan-Lael Foundation offers June tours of historic Hubbbell house in Santa Ysabel
East County News Service May 29, 2026 (San Diego) – You’re invited to see James and Anne Hubbell’s acclaimed home and art studios near Julian, California. Docent-led tours are offered each Thursday through Saturday in June, starting at 10 a.m.An immersive art and nature experience, each 90-minute tour covers
Descanso Day Parade and Fair June 6 continues a 137-year-old historic tradition
East County News Servicerur May 29, 2026 (Descanso) — Descanso’s first community fair was held in 1899 under a tent near the creek. The tradition has grown through the years to include a parade and community fair, which this year will be held on June 6. The festivities take place
Best of East County
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
Don’t miss Santa Ysabel and Wynola on your way to visit Julian
Tiny mountain towns often overlooked by travelers in East County’s back country By Paul Levikow Photos by Miriam Raftery and Paul Levikow April 10, 2026 (Santa Ysabel/Wynola) – Visitors travelling to Julian north from Ramona can oftentimes overlook two equally charming communities along the way. Some might even think Santa
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
Restoration or destruction? Proposed plan for Laguna Mountains raising concern
Photo of part of the Laguna Mountains area that could be part of a plan by the government to prevent wildfires by bulldozing the area and cutting down chaparral. Photo by David Hogan, The Chaparral Lands Conservancy By Karen Pearlman May 29, 2026 (Mt. Laguna) — A sweeping federal plan
Lemon Grove City Council pushes back tenant ordinance discussion
“Residents took time out of their evening to come speak, and I believe their voices deserved to be heard through action, not continued postponement!” – Jennifer Mendoza, Lemon Grove City Councilmember, screenshot of May 19 meeting courtesy Lemon Grove City Councilmember Jessyka Heredia’s Facebook video By Armando Rasing II May
Features
Ilan-Lael Foundation offers June tours of historic Hubbbell house in Santa Ysabel
East County News Service May 29, 2026 (San Diego) – You’re invited to see James and Anne Hubbell’s acclaimed home and art studios near Julian, California. Docent-led tours are offered each Thursday through Saturday in June, starting at 10 a.m.An immersive art and nature experience, each 90-minute tour covers
Descanso Day Parade and Fair June 6 continues a 137-year-old historic tradition
East County News Servicerur May 29, 2026 (Descanso) — Descanso’s first community fair was held in 1899 under a tent near the creek. The tradition has grown through the years to include a parade and community fair, which this year will be held on June 6. The festivities take place
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The Magnolia presents: a tribute to Gloria Estefan
East County News Service April 27, 2026 (El Cajon) – Celebrate the iconic sound of Gloria Estefan at The Magnolia one night only, Saturday, May 23. This high‑energy tribute performance brings her greatest hits to life. Located in the heart of downtown El Cajon, The Magnolia is one of San Diego County’s premier entertainment destinations. The venue features a beautifully
Cal Fire suspends burn permits
Source: Cal Fire Following another wet winter that produced significant vegetation growth across the region, rising temperatures, low humidity, and seasonal winds are rapidly curing grasses and light fuels. These conditions are increasing wildfire risk across San Diego County, prompting Cal Fire to suspend all residential outdoor burn permits within the State Responsibility Area. This suspension takes effect at 8:00am
New high voltage Golden Pacific Powerlink proposed in East County: SDG&E hosts virtual meetings May 12 and 14
Hear our interview with SDG&E’s project manager on the proposed route By Miriam Raftery April 27, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – The state wants SDG&E to build Golden Pacific Powerlink, a new 500 kilovolt high-voltage line. The project would run from Imperial County through San Diego’s East County and North County, including Anza Borrego Desert State Park, then head
Health and Science Highlights
April 26, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) –Top health/science stories include the CDC blocking a report on COVID vaccines, the federal government reclassifying marijuana, flu vaccines no longer mandated for U.S. troops, and gas-powered AI centers emitting more greenhouse gases than many nations. HEALTH CDC blocks publication of report showing COVID vaccine efficacy (Center for Infections Disease Research and Policy)
Lemon Grove man charged with murder
East County News Service April 25, 2026 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove resident Eric Nunez, 33, has been arrested on April 23 and charged with murder. The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, died of injuries after being shot in the 2100 block of Eldora Street in Lemon Grove on April 23 shortly after 4 a.m. Printer-friendly
Two dead after collision in Julian
East County News Service April 25, 2026 (Julian) – Two people who died in an April 4 collision in Julian have been identified as Jesus Canales Lopez, 66, and Maria Del Carmen Contreras Albino, 48. Two pickup trucks collided on westbound State Route 78, just west of Mastros Trailer Park in Julian around 2:49 p.m. Both vehicles overturned multiple
Karnival of the Arts coming to DeAnza Springs April 30 through May 3
East County News Service March 24, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) — Performance art and music will collide and combine in concert in the high desert…
Millions in “Inflation Relief” need to be collected by April 30
East County News Service April 23, 2026 (San Diego County) — The office of Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson of District 39 in the state of California has sent out a reminder to San Diego County residents about their Middle Class Tax Refund, and an April 30 deadline for the spending of that money. Possibly for thousands of San Diegans, their
Hungary’s ousted leader, a Putin ally, accused of funding Conservative Political Action Committee in U.S.
By Alexander J Schorr April 23, 2026— After a victory in April by Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar which ended authoritarian Viktor Orbán’s16-year rule, the outgoing government has been accused of illegally using state funds to finance the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, in the United States. CPAC is one of the most influential forces on the Republican
Celebration of Olaf Wieghorst in downtown El Cajon on May 2
East County News Service April 23, 2026 (El Cajon) — The Olaf Wieghorst Museum is hosting a birthday remembrance next month, celebrating the life of its namesake artist widely regarded as the “Dean of Western Art.” The museum is hosting “Olaf Wieghorst Day,” from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 2, and will offer a deep dive into the history of the
Our interview with Marni Von Wilpert, candidate for 48th Congressional District
May 22, 2026 (San Diego’s East County — Earlier this month, ECM interviewed Marni Von Wilpert, a Democrat and one of the leading contenders running in the 48th Congressional district for an open seat as a result of Republican Darrell Issa retiring. She’s a San Diego City Councilmember, a former civil prosecutor with the City Attorney’s office, and a
Family sues Liberty Military Housing after toddler’s fatal fall from an open window in La Mesa
By Dorian Hargrove, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo: Liberty Military Housing’s La Mesa complex. (Photo by Drew Sitton/Times of San Diego) May 22, 2026 (La Mesa) – The family of a 13-month-old boy who died in July 2025 after falling from a second-story living room window at the La Mesa Navy
East County Roundup: Local and statewide news
May 21, 2026 (San Diego) – This week’s roundup of top stories in other media includes repeal of Balboa Park parking fees, a hateful manifesto left by teens behind the deadly Islamic Center shootings, ICE’s removal of over 16,000 San Diegans, a border wall project desecrating Kumeyaay cultural resources, weedkiller Roundup sprayed in California forests, potential disaster at Lake Hodges,
Historic Borrego Sun expands to 24/7 free digital community platform
East County News Service May 21, 2026 (Borrego Springs) — The historic Borrego Sun is expanding into a continuously updated digital community media platform delivering free online access to local news, weather updates, events, tourism information, community features, social media content, and things to do throughout Borrego Springs and surrounding desert communities. The expanded digital platform combines the longstanding journalism legacy of
East County residents challenge SANDAG vision for state Route 94 corridor plan
By Karen Pearlman May 20, 2026 (Jamul) — The future of state Route 94 is being mapped to better manage traffic, decrease greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and keep the region moving more safely, but a recent presentation by the San Diego Association of Governments to the Jamul Dulzura Community Planning Group highlighted some disconnect between state-level planning mandates and
San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector race features four candidates seeking to watchdog public money
San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Race Features Four Candidates By Paul Levikow May 20, 2026 (San Diego County) — The race for San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector in the June 2 primary election is drawing increased attention as candidates debate how best to oversee billions in public funds, modernize tax systems, and safeguard taxpayer dollars during uncertain economic times. Printer-friendly
California State Senate unanimously passes Senator Weber Pierson’s early math screening bill
Source: Senator Akilah Weber-Pierson AI image via Pixabay May 20, 2026 (San Diego) — The California State Senate has unanimously passed SB 1067, legislation authored by Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. to strengthen early identification of math learning challenges for students in kindergarten through second grade. Printer-friendly version
Cannabis affects childhood brain development, is ‘real risk’ for teens, UCSD finds in long-term study
By Thomas Murphy, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo: “Time Machine” cannabis pre-rolls have a high THC content, 23.51%. The packaging warns pregnant women that the drug can affect their babies. Photo by Thomas Murphy/Times of San Diego May 20, 2026 (San Diego) – Experts have warned against childhood cannabis use since
Firefighters hold Tusil Fire to 1,000 acres overnight despite difficult conditions; some evacuations remain in place
Story and Photos by Josh Stotler; Miriam Raftery contributed to this report May 20, 2026 (Campo) – Wind-driven flames crossed Interstate 8, forcing temporary shutdown of the freeway in both directions late yesterday as crews battled the #Tusil Fire in rugged terrain. As of this morning, the number lane on both eastbound and westbound I-8 are reopened, but other
Educator Dr. Mark Jeffers honored as 2026-27 San Diego County Teacher of the Year
East County News Service May 19, 2026 (Spring Valley) — Longtime Mount Miguel High School English teacher Dr. Mark Jeffers was named a 2026-27 San Diego County Teacher of the Year. Dr. Jeffers is one of five educators selected for this honor from a large pool of teachers across the county. Dr. Jeffers was given his award during a surprise
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