East County Magazine
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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Education Resources
Santana shooter granted resentencing hearing, may soon be freed
January 8, 2026 (Santee) – It’s been 25 years since 15-year-old Andrew “Andy” Williams shot and killed two students and injured 13 other people at Santana High School in Santee. He was sentence to 50 years to life in prison. But due to a new state law allowing juvenile offenders with life sentences to petition for resentencing, a Superior Court
Helix High cheer team reaches summit — and looking for support
La Mesa squad wins first CIF championship, now sets sights on national competition in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy Helix High Cheer Team East County News Service Jan. 7, 2026 (La Mesa) — After three consecutive years of finishing as runners-up, the Helix Charter High School competitive cheer team finally reached the top of the podium, capturing first place in the
Calif. Attorney General Bonta wins permanent injunction against Trump administration over unlawful NIH funding cuts for universities and research institutions
East County News Service January 6, 2026 (San Diego) – A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has unanimously affirmed a lower court decision which permanently barred the Trump administration from decimating funds that supported cutting-edge research and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country — including at the University of California
Lakeside school district moves to stop bullying, defiance and more
By Karen Pearlman Dec. 30, 2025 (Lakeside) – Looking to reclaim local classrooms from a rising tide of student misconduct, the Lakeside Union School District Board of Trustees earlier this month passed a sweeping resolution aimed at curbing bullying, “death notes” and chronic defiance. Lakeside Union School Board member Andrew Hayes championed the policy, adopted Dec. 11, and said that
Teacher at Christian high school in El Cajon arrested for alleged sexual assault of underage family member
East County News Service December 16, 2025 (Spring Valley) – Kevin G. Conover, 49, a Spring Valley resident and teacher at Christian Unified High School in El Cajon was arrested outside the school yesterday for alleged sexual abuse of a child under age 14 in his family. The alleged abuse was reported by a family member back on Oct.
GUHSD priorities: trustees give themselves a massive raise, nearly quadrupling salaries
By Alexander J. Schorr December 15, 2025 (El Cajon) — The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) governing board voted unanimously to raise their own monthly salary of $534.04 to a proposed $2,000.00 each starting in January 2026. While California law does allow for school boards to increase their trustees’ compensation annually by up to 5% based on the
Mount Miguel High School to become “Mount Miguel Early College High School,” expanding college opportunities
Board approval marks a major milestone for Spring Valley school, enhancing college readiness programs and building on past successes Source: Grossmont Union High School District November 26, 2025 (Spring Valley) – Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Governing Board President Dr. Gary C. Woods announced the Board’s official approval to rename Mount Miguel High School as Mount Miguel Early College High
Grossmont District’s high schools experience first semester without teacher librarians
“They meant to hurt us, but they’re hurting our kids.” –Jason Balisteri, Mount Miguel history teacher and former teacher-librarian By Armando Rasing II Photos, left: protest signs at GUHSD board meeting when the majority voted to fire all teacher-librarians. November 25, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The 2025-26 school year marks the first school year that the Grossmont Union
Recall Eckert effort falls short: Where GUHSD moves from here
By Alexander J. Schorr November 24, 2025 (El Cajon) — The recall effort against trustee Scott Eckert on the Grossmont Union High School District Governing Board failed to meet the required amount of 9,600 signatures on Monday November 17, 2025. The grassroots effort needed signatures from 15% of registered voters in La Mesa to spur a recall action: volunteers who
GUHSD board rejects Fite’s resolution to protect students from ICE agents
By Alexander J. Schorr Screenshot: Student Board Trustee Sage Larson and Board Trustee Chris Fite November 14, 2025 (El Cajon) — The conservative board majority of the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) last night rejected a resolution proposed by Trustee Chris Fite that would have offered protection to vulnerable students and their families facing the looming presence of Immigration
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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.