Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

East County Magazine

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Villa Musica expanding to East County for 20th anniversary

East County News Service April 22, 2026 (El Cajon) — For two decades, the halls of Villa Musica’s Sorrento Valley headquarters have been alive with a specific kind of beautiful chaos — the steady thumps on the drum, soaring scales of soprano singers and the first notes of student violinists. Now with Villa Musica is celebrating its 20th anniversary, the

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Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event

East County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division is holding a public event aimed at bridging the gap between life behind bars and life as a productive neighbor. From 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 at the Lemon Grove Library, the community is being invited to meet the

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Teamsters strike at SDSU impacts traffic on I-8

By Miriam Raftery   February 17, 2026 (San Diego) – Teamsters Local 2010 is holding a four-day unfair labor practice strike at 22 California State University campuses starting today, including San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos.  Campuses remain open, however an alert sent by SDSU cautions that traffic along I-8 near campus is backed up; students and

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Reader’s Editorial: Cajon Valley’s compensation vote raises questions about priorities

By Alex Welling February 26, 2026 (El Cajon) — Last week, the Cajon Valley Union School District Board of Trustees voted to increase its monthly compensation from $630 to $2,000 — the maximum amount permitted under state law for a district of its size. That figure does not include their taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits.   Several months ago, district educators received

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ICE agents outside local school campuses raise concerns

By Alexander J. Schorr February 25, 2026 (San Diego) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity has increased in surrounding school areas, which includes the occupying of parking lots,  monitoring of bus routes, and arrests occurring blocks away from schools. At least 3,800 children have been booked into ICE detention between January 2025 and early 2026. Families have expressed anxiety over “haunting and taunting” by federal agents

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

DA AND EAST COUNTY CHAMBER HOST PUBLIC SAFETY ZOOM WORKSHOP OCT. 10 AT NOON

By Jonathan Goetz   September 27, 2024 (San Diego) — Join San Diego County’s District Attorney Summer Stephan at noon Pacific time Thursday, October 10 for an hour in a virtual Public Safety Workshop. Please register with the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce here.   This online forum will focus on Prop 36 education. More details on

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DA AND EAST COUNTY CHAMBER HOST PUBLIC SAFETY ZOOM WORKSHOP OCT. 10 AT NOON

By Jonathan Goetz   September 27, 2024 (San Diego) — Join San Diego County’s District Attorney Summer Stephan at noon Pacific time Thursday, October 10 for an hour in a virtual Public Safety Workshop. Please register with the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce here.   This online forum will focus on Prop 36 education. More details on

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DA AND EAST COUNTY CHAMBER HOST PUBLIC SAFETY ZOOM WORKSHOP OCT. 10 AT NOON

By Jonathan Goetz   September 27, 2024 (San Diego) — Join San Diego County’s District Attorney Summer Stephan at noon Pacific time Thursday, October 10 for an hour in a virtual Public Safety Workshop. Please register with the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce here.   This online forum will focus on Prop 36 education. More details on

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SDSU GUS AND EMMA THOMPSON BLACK RESOURCE CENTER RIBBON-CUTTING

By Jonathan Goetz   Photo courtesy: LinkedIn   September 21, 2024 (San Diego) — San Diego State University’s Black Resource Center was named in memory of entrepreneurs Gus & Emma Thompson Monday, after a $5 million gift from brothers Ron and Lloyd Dong, Jr. and their spouses, Janice and Girina.    A tribute to Emma and Gus Thompson, brothers Ron

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SDSU GUS AND EMMA THOMPSON BLACK RESOURCE CENTER RIBBON-CUTTING

By Jonathan Goetz   Photo courtesy: LinkedIn   September 21, 2024 (San Diego) — San Diego State University’s Black Resource Center was named in memory of entrepreneurs Gus & Emma Thompson Monday, after a $5 million gift from brothers Ron and Lloyd Dong, Jr. and their spouses, Janice and Girina.    A tribute to Emma and Gus Thompson, brothers Ron

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RAMONA SCHOOL THREAT UNFOUNDED, SHERIFF SAYS

East County News Service September 13, 2024 (Ramona) –Yesterday morning before 9 a.m., the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation was notified by Olive Pierce Middle School about a threat of a possible school shooting. After an investigation, authorities have concluded the threat was unfounded. Deputies arrived at the school within minutes. For the safety of students and staff, school administrators made the

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RAMONA SCHOOL THREAT UNFOUNDED, SHERIFF SAYS

East County News Service September 13, 2024 (Ramona) –Yesterday morning before 9 a.m., the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation was notified by Olive Pierce Middle School about a threat of a possible school shooting. After an investigation, authorities have concluded the threat was unfounded. Deputies arrived at the school within minutes. For the safety of students and staff, school administrators made the

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RAMONA SCHOOL THREAT UNFOUNDED, SHERIFF SAYS

East County News Service September 13, 2024 (Ramona) –Yesterday morning before 9 a.m., the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation was notified by Olive Pierce Middle School about a threat of a possible school shooting. After an investigation, authorities have concluded the threat was unfounded. Deputies arrived at the school within minutes. For the safety of students and staff, school administrators made the

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RAMONA SCHOOL THREAT UNFOUNDED, SHERIFF SAYS

East County News Service September 13, 2024 (Ramona) –Yesterday morning before 9 a.m., the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation was notified by Olive Pierce Middle School about a threat of a possible school shooting. After an investigation, authorities have concluded the threat was unfounded. Deputies arrived at the school within minutes. For the safety of students and staff, school administrators made the

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SANTANA SHOOTER HAS FIRST PAROLE HEARING TUESDAY

Update September 11, 2024 — Parole has been denied for Williams. At yesterday’s hearing, Board of Parole Hearings Commissioner Kevin Chappell stated that Williams still poses a threat to public safety, telling Williams ““By your testimony today, it is really unclear if you understand why you committed this horrendous act of violence.”  Testimony was overwhelmingly against Williams’ release, the San

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.