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Teachers’ union endorses challengers for controversy-mired Grossmont Union High School District board
By Alexander J. Schorr May 23, 2026 — Grossmont Education Association (GEA), the teachers’ union in the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) has endorsed a slate of three challengers running against controversial incumbents for the district’ s board of trustees. The endorsed slate includes Jeneé Littrell for area
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
News Issues
Teachers’ union endorses challengers for controversy-mired Grossmont Union High School District board
By Alexander J. Schorr May 23, 2026 — Grossmont Education Association (GEA), the teachers’ union in the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) has endorsed a slate of three challengers running against controversial incumbents for the district’ s board of trustees. The endorsed slate includes Jeneé Littrell for area
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.
Politics
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
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
Wildfires and Emergencies
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
Evacuations ordered due to Tusil Fire in Campo
Update 3:45 p.m.: The #TusilFire is now 500 acres and has burned within 1/4 mile of I-8, which is closed in both directions. Motorists can expect significant delays. A temporary evacuation center has been set up at Golden Acorn Casino. May 19, 2026 — Homes are immediately threatened and evacuations
Events & Arts
Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch coming on June 6
East County News Service May 24, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — J Lau Farrow-Halston of Escondido Drag is hosting the Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch next month. The 2 1/2-hour show will include performances by Amore Envy, Gabby Link Aux and Drag Latina’s Rosalinda and will be held starting at noon
Destination East County: Joyful June events
By Miriam Raftery May 21, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – June is jumping with joyful events including Santee Summer Knights—a Medieval festival, star parties on Mount Laguna, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, open farm tours at Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, a ballet
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
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
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
Features
Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch coming on June 6
East County News Service May 24, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — J Lau Farrow-Halston of Escondido Drag is hosting the Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch next month. The 2 1/2-hour show will include performances by Amore Envy, Gabby Link Aux and Drag Latina’s Rosalinda and will be held starting at noon
Destination East County: Joyful June events
By Miriam Raftery May 21, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – June is jumping with joyful events including Santee Summer Knights—a Medieval festival, star parties on Mount Laguna, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, open farm tours at Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, a ballet
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Eight candidates For California’s 48th Congressional District attend April 9 forum
Screenshot from forum on YouTube By G. A. McNeeley May 3, 2026 (San Diego County) — On Thursday, April 9, the League of Women Voters of North County San Diego facilitated a forum (click here to watch it on YouTube) hosted by the Ocean Hills Country Club Democracy Defenders that brought together eight of the candidates who are running for
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
EDITORIAL – ARNOLD “SWEENEY TODD” Schwarzenegger:
Governor Vetoes Health Reforms, Terminates Consumer Protection Bills By Senator Sheila Kuehl On September 30, the Governor finished wielding his veto pen and, in one sweeping move, eliminated virtually every health reform measure that would have regulated the health insurance company monopoly. Health reform was not alone, bill after bill that would have benefited consumers, drivers, people who breathe, people
EDITORIAL – PICKIN’ ON PICKENS’ PLAN
By Ken Sobel It’s impossible to turn on the TV or radio lately without being barraged by T. Boone Pickens presenting his ambitious plan to save the world from global warming and wean us off foreign oil. But the decision we need to make in the days and weeks to come is between creating the energy we need locally—or leaving
“HISTORIC” AGREEMENT SIGNED: ALLOWS NIGHT-FLYING HELICOPTERS TO FIGHT WILDFIRES ON STATE LANDS IN EAST COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarmon shakes hands with CAL-FIRE Chief Howard Windsor as Mayor Jerry Sanders looks on October 1, 2008 (El Cajon) — “This is a historic occasion,” said Fire Chief Howard Windsor with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Speaking at the San Diego Sheriff’s facility at Gillespie Field in
La Mesa City Council Candidate Forum Video
Candidates for the La Mesa City Council answered questions from the public in a September forum hosted by the East County League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. View the complete video, provided courtesy of Citizens Oversight Projects: www.copswiki.org/twiki/bin/view/Common/M646 Printer-friendly version
October Capitol Report – How They Voted
How did your elected officials vote on the most important bills in Congress and the California Legislature? Find out here! Congress weighed in on bills to fund the border fence, bring accountability to the commodities market, allocate money for the Defense budget including a pay raise for military personnel, protect consumers from credit card companies, allow offshore drilling and expand
HEALTHCARE FOR ALL BILL PASSES- GOVERNOR THREATENS VETO
By Miriam Raftery September 8, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – A landmark bill to provide guaranteed universal healthcare coverage for every man, woman and child in California (including medical, dental, mental health and eye care coverage) has been approved by the State Legislature. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has until September 30th to sign the measure, SB 840 by Senator Sheila Kuehl, into
EAST COUNTY LEADERS ORGANIZE FUTURE SAN DIEGO: GREEN ECONOMY
Oct. 18 event at UCSD to feature Lt. Governor John Garamendi, green jobs fair and more By Miriam Raftery Event organizers Chuck Brands (left) of El Cajon and Mark Hanson of Lakeside (right) with keynote speaker, Lt. Governor John Garamendi (center) October 1, 2008 (San Diego) – Looking for a “green” job? Own a business seeking to save energy and
White Rabbit Candy Sold in California Recalled Due To Melamine Contamination
September 29, 2008 (BURLINGAME, CA) – The California Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are urging consumers not to eat White Rabbit Candies sold in California. Queensway Foods Co. of Burlingame, California is recalling White Rabbit Candy after tests revealed that some of the products are contaminated with melamine–the same deadly toxin in infant formula that
OBAMA OPENS NEW OFFICE IN EAST SAN DIEGO
By Miriam Raftery Photos by Leon Thompson October 1, 2008 (San Diego) – The Obama-Biden campaign hosted a presidential debate-watching party to kick-off the opening of a new campaign office at 1744 Euclid Street in East San Diego. “We’ve had a larger than expected turnout,” Vince Hall, spokesperson for Obama for President in San Diego County told East County Magazine.
NEW BLACKWATER PROTESTS MARK ANNIVERSARY OF NISOUR SQUARE SHOOTINGS
Congressman Bob Filner and Assembly candidate Ray Lutz of East County speak out against Blackwater at Otay Mesa Rally Story and photos by Gayle Early Sign from a military families organization opposed to Blackwater. October 1, 2008 (Otay Mesa) – In September 2007, 17 people were shot to death in the Nisour Square traffic circle in Baghdad, Iraq, by Blackwater
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