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Proposal would open 95% of federal wildlife refuges to hunting and fishing
Photo of local San Diego County coyote by Debbie Ekhaml taken at the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in Jamul By Karen Pearlman May 30, 2026 (San Diego County) – There may be sweeping changes coming to public lands across the United States that could deeply impact precious wildlife preserves
Sheriff warns of scam mailers soliciting donations for law enforcement
East County News Service Image: Screenshot from Sheriff’s post on social media May 30, 2026 (San Diego) – A nonprofit with poor ratings for charitable organizations has sent mailers out locally soliciting donations for gear to help law enforcement agencies. The San Diego Sheriff’s Department has posted warnings on social
News Issues
Proposal would open 95% of federal wildlife refuges to hunting and fishing
Photo of local San Diego County coyote by Debbie Ekhaml taken at the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in Jamul By Karen Pearlman May 30, 2026 (San Diego County) – There may be sweeping changes coming to public lands across the United States that could deeply impact precious wildlife preserves
Sheriff warns of scam mailers soliciting donations for law enforcement
East County News Service Image: Screenshot from Sheriff’s post on social media May 30, 2026 (San Diego) – A nonprofit with poor ratings for charitable organizations has sent mailers out locally soliciting donations for gear to help law enforcement agencies. The San Diego Sheriff’s Department has posted warnings on social
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
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges to award more than 6,230 degrees and certificates in 2026
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District May 30, 2026 (El Cajon) – Next week, Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges will be awarding more than 6,230 degrees and certificates to nearly 2,500 graduates, with over 900 graduates expected to participate in the Commencement Ceremonies. Cuyamaca College is awarding 358 additional degrees compared to
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
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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NEW FIRES BREAK OUT IN RANCHO BERNARDO AND OCEANSIDE, I-5 CLOSED
October 14 (12:30 p.m.) – Santa Ana winds are fueling new fires in several portions of San Diego County, forcing closure of several major highways and evacuations in the Rancho Bernardo, Oceanside, Fallbrook and Campo areas last night and today. Police have ordered evacuation of homes on the west side of a fire on a hillside at Camino del Norte
FIRE NEAR CAMPO 50% CONTAINED, HWYS 94 AND 8 CLOSED, 400 EVACUATED
October 13 (Campo) 9:30 a.m. — Three hundred homes have been ordered to evacuate due to a 100-acre wildfire that began at Highway 94 near Shockey Truck Trail. The blaze has burned 100 areas on both sides of 94 and is 50% contained. No structures have been lost. Evacuation centers have been established at at the Potrero Library and Mountain
4,000 FLEE FIRES IN PENDLETON, OCEANSIDE, FALLBROOK
Fire in North County. Photo by Corina Squires October 14 (Camp Pendleton) 12:10 p.m. – The third blaze in there weeks to strike Camp Pendleton has charred over 1,500 acres, forcing evacution of over 4,000 people from Oceanside as well as base housing. Some schools in Oceanside may be closed tomorrow, ECM has learned. The Juliet fire forced evacuation of
VOTER’S WATCHDOG: WILL YOUR VOTE COUNT?
This information is important for everyone, but especially for newly registered voters. Please forward, post or printout this information. Avoid confusion on Election Day and make sure everyone gets to the correct polling place to avoid use of Provisional Ballots. MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED Confirm you are registered in San Diego County at the San Diego County
SDG&E THREAT TO CUT POWER DURING FIRE DANGER SPARKS HEATED OUTCRY AMONG EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS
Large crowd likely at CPUC meeting Tuesday in San Diego By Miriam Raftery October 13, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) – Backcountry residents are reacting with shock, praise and outrage to a notice sent by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to 45,000 customers warning that power lines may be shut off when fire danger is high. With red flag
HIGH FIRE DANGER, SANTA ANA WINDS STARTING TONIGHT
CAL Fire gears up with extra airpower, asks homeowners to take defensive steps; SDG&E may cut power in high-risk areas Story and photos by Miriam Raftery October 12, 2008 (El Cajon) – CAL Fire has issued a warning that the danger of wildfire is high due to forecasts of Santa Ana winds starting tonight combined with already hot, dry conditions
Great Debates: Congressional Candidates Square Off
Duncan Hunter Mike Lumpkin 52nd Congressional district candidates face off in a series of five debates. Here’s your chance to learn first-hand where candidates stand–or even ask a question yourself! Former U.S. Navy Seal Commander Mike Lumpkin, a Democrat, battles ex-USMC Captain Duncan D. Hunter, Republican, and Libertarian Mike Benoit to replace retiring Congressman Duncan Hunter in debates Oct. 7,
WATER, PACE OF DEVELOPMENT TOP CONCERNS IN CAMPO/LAKE MORENA PLANNING GROUP RACE
By Miriam Raftery Lake Morena October 6, 2008 (Campo) – Concerns over the impacts of new and proposed major developments on water supplies and community character have divided community members in this rural region. Tensions ran high at a forum for Campo/Lake Morena Planning Group candidates held on September 29th, where community members posed tough questions for candidates on two
CITY, COUNTY SEE SHIFTS TOWARD DEMOCRATIC COLUMN – OCT. 20 DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION
Countywide, new voter registrations have been running ten to one Democratic over Republican for the past several months, even in traditionally “red” conservative areas including Santee and El Cajon. According to an October 1, 2008 report issued by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, Democrats now outnumber Republicans by 249,338 to 189,012 in the City of San Diego, while
A FIERY ARGUMENT
Fire Chief, City and County leaders debate pros and cons of fire tax By Miriam Raftery 2007 San Diego wildfires destroyed over 3,400 structures and killed 15 people (photo: La Mesa Fire Dept.) October 1, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – “We have to stop turning to others to solve our problems,” said Ron Roberts, Chair of San Diego’s Board of Supervisors.
La Mesa City Council approves e-bike safety law for children under 12
By Paul Levikow May 23, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 on May 12 to adopt a new electric bicycle safety ordinance prohibiting children under age 12 from operating Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes within city limits. Councilmember Laura Lothian cast the lone dissenting vote. The ordinance was adopted under California’s San Diego Electric
County reports two local cases in statewide Kebab Shop E. Coli outbreak
By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: E. coli bacteria. Image source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 23, 2026 (San Diego) – County health officials are urging anyone who has eaten at The Kebab Shop restaurant chain between March 27 and April 30, 2026, and later became ill with a stomach illness to get medical care right away amid a
County unveils $9.1B budget plan; public input sessions coming
Photo courtesy County of San Diego May 22, 2026 (San Diego County) — The County of San Diego is holding a virtual meeting and an in-person open house next week so the public will be able to learn about and weigh in on the County’s $9.15 billion recommended budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The County released its new recommended budget on
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
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