Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber warns of ongoing threats to voting rights at East County Democratic Club meeting

Story and photo by Paul Levikow

April 22, 2026 (Alpine) -- California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber recently delivered an assessment of the challenges facing the state’s electoral system, while urging vigilance and civic participation ahead of the 2026 elections.

About 30 attendees gathered at The Alpine Club for the East County Democratic Club’s April meeting to hear from the state’s chief elections official. Weber’s message carried urgency shaped by both personal history and her experience overseeing elections in the nation’s most populous state.

Weber, a former teacher, university professor and San Diego School Board of Education member, recounted her initial reluctance to accept the role of Secretary of State when asked by Governor Gavin Newsom.

She was serving her fifth term as a member of the California State Assembly representing San Diego when the call came.

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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 nonprofit community music center is opening a second site, in El Cajon.

Villa Musica East will open soon at 2382 Fletcher Parkway in Fletcher Hills. The new satellite campus marks a historic expansion for an institution that has become a cornerstone of San Diego’s cultural landscape.

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East County-based physician Charles Hamori honored by American College of Physicians

Photo courtesy Kaiser Permanente Southern California Instagram

By Karen Pearlman

April 21, 2026 (La Mesa) -- When he was a teenager growing up in Muncie, Indiana, Charles Hamori performed his first successful medical diagnosis -- on himself.

Hamori was 14 when he correctly identified his own appendicitis, and it was at that moment (or soon thereafter) a doctor was born.

"With my first diagnosis of appendicitis, my mom ignored it and my sister cried wolf," Hamori said, laughing. "But what I remember most about that is that many times, most times, your patients are going to tell you what they have, what's wrong, if you take the time to listen. That (appendicitis incident) influenced how I listen to my patients today."

With nearly 30 years at Kaiser Permanente as a physician and surgeon under his medical belt, Dr. Charles J. Hamori, a Mount Helix resident, has reached one of the true pinnacles of American medical leadership.

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Highland Fire in Ramona -- forward progress stopped

East County News Service

April 21, 2026 (Ramona) -- A vegetation fire that is active in Ramona and has been threatening structures, has had its forward progress stopped as of 2:05 p.m., according to CAL FIRE.

Watch Duty App had reported that although the forward rate of the fire has been stopped, the fire was at five acres with all air resources released.

Just after 1:30 p.m. today, CAL FIRE initially reported that firefighters were at a scene of a vegetation fire at the 14950 block of Highland Valley Road in Ramona. The fire was initially reported at four acres with an an immediate structure threat.

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Senior resource fair coming to Grossmont Healthcare District on April 23

East County News Service

April 20, 2026 (La Mesa) -- Health advocates from across San Diego County will provide critical resources through the upcoming “Spring into Healthy Living 2026: Senior Conference & Resource Fair” on Thursday, April 23 at Grossmont Healthcare District headquarters.

Hosted by the San Diego East County Action Network (SanDi ECAN), the free event is set for 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at GHD's site at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa.

The summit aims to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and East County’s older adults and those who live with disabilities.

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San Diego Padres nearing record $3.9B sale

Photo courtesy San Diego Padres Facebook page

East County News Service

April 20, 2026 (San Diego) — The current owners of the San Diego Padres, the Seidler family, are reportedly in the final stages of an agreement to sell the team to a group led by private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife, musician and investor Kwanza Jones, for a reported $3.9 billion.

If finalized and approved by Major League Baseball as expected, the transaction will represent the highest sale price in MLB history, shattering the previous record of $2.4 billion set in 2020 by Steve Cohen when he bought the New York Mets.

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New Crisis Stabilization Unit opening in El Cajon

East County News Service

April 18, 2026 (El Cajon) -- The County of San Diego will open its newest Crisis Stabilization Unit -- the first located in East County -- on Monday in El Cajon.

The 14,000-square-foot behavioral health treatment facility is located at the corner of South Magnolia and West Douglas avenues.

The unit will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that people in a psychiatric or substance use crisis can access immediate mental health support, stabilization and treatment.

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How the fruit fly quarantine has impacted food donations -- and how you can help

By Philicia Tonangoye

Image: tangerines, via Bing (cc)

April 18, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – The Mexican fruit fly quarantine has reduced donations of fresh produce to local food pantries, since organizations such as Produce Good mainly rely on backyard harvests to help community members in need. Home growers are not allowed to move their backyard products in the 82-square-mile quarantine area, meaning that these organizations may have to import products from other parts of San Diego or take donations directly from people outside the quarantine area who are willing to give.

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Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order

By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos, CalMatters

Photo: a line of federal immigration agents and protesters stand-off near the Glass House Farms facility outside Camarillo on July 10, 2025. Protesters gathered after federal immigration agents conducted an immigration raid earlier in the day. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

April 18, 2026 (Sacramento) - A federal judge ruled that Border Patrol agents continued making illegal stops and arrests after she ordered them to quit.

In a tersely worded decision unsealed Thursday morning, the judge wrote that agents had “again detained people without reasonable suspicion,” relying on broad assumptions about day laborers instead of specific evidence of immigration violations.

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La Mesa City Council votes 5-0 approving e-bike safety pilot program

By Karen Pearlman

April 16, 2026 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa is the latest city in San Diego County seeking to codify strict regulations on electric bicycles, specifically looking to protect riders under 12.

On Tuesday, the La Mesa City Council unanimously voted to establish a new e-bike safety pilot program as part of Assembly Bill 2234, which passed in 2024 and looks to put the brakes on reckless riding.

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'Bill Walton Way' coming to a street near you (in La Mesa)

The Boys & Girls Club of East County La Mesa Clubhouse honored local basketball star Bill Walton by naming the gym after Walton in 2018. Walton died of colon cancer at age 71 in 2024.

Story and photos by Karen Pearlman

April 14, 2026 (La Mesa) --- Bill Walton, who preferred being known as “Billy from La Mesa,” will be memorialized with an honorary street in his hometown. The La Mesa City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved naming a stretch of Lowell Street at Normal Avenue near Bill Walton's alma mater Helix High “Bill Walton Way.”

The City Council did not share an ETA of when the street would be designated as an honor to Walton, who died from cancer in 2024, but City Councilmember Patricia Dillard, who placed the item on the city council's April 14 agenda, said “a formal ceremony will be held at a later date with details to be announced soon.”

The plan to honor Walton stretches back to a press conference last November headed by public advocate Shane Harris with Lori Walton, the widow of Bill Walton, in attendance. Harris spoke here about honoring Bill Walton in both La Mesa and the city of San Diego.

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Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use

Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes

Community event makes way for the East County Advanced Water Purification Program

Story and photos by Paul Levikow

April 13, 2026 (Santee) -- After more than a half-century of water reuse in East County, the Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility has been decommissioned, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in regional water sustainability.

Padre Dam Municipal Water District officials marked the milestone April 8 by ceremonially pulling the railing at the facility’s aeration basin adjacent to Santee Lakes, closing the book on a plant that was ahead of its time that helped shape modern recycled water practices.

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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 team dedicated to ensuring that when individuals leave custody, they stay out.

While vocational skills get people hired, the Sheriff’s Department is also focused on the internal work required to prevent a return to custody.

During the event, guests can explore tables that highlight the department's Career Technical Education programs and meet our community partners who support successful reintegration.

There will be an overview presentation that shares a clear picture of the services, programs, and supports our team provides, along with how these efforts contribute to a successful return to our communities.

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Supporters flee Swalwell’s governor campaign amid allegations of sexual assault

Update April 13, 2026 - Rep. Swalwell has suspended his gubernatorial campaign. He denies the allegations, but admits to errors in judgement that he says should be between him and his wife.

By Jeanne Kuang and Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

Photo: U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell speaks to a crowd during a town hall he hosted at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center in downtown Fresno on Dec. 15, 2025. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

April 10, 2026 (Fresno) - Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of the leading candidates for California governor, came under increasing pressure Friday to drop out of the race following a report by the San Francisco Chronicle that he sexually assaulted a former female staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations.

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San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors

San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in Ramona. (Photo courtesy Joel Anderson Facebook page)

East County News Service

April 10, 2026 (San Diego County) — While parking prices across the region seem to be climbing faster than a fit hiker scaling Iron Mountain, local seniors can count on San Diego County to give them a break on vehicle parking fees.

San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson sent a notice this past week on his social media account reminding those 62 and older that they are able to get free day-use parking at local parks.

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CHP urges drivers to follow hands-free cell phone law; officers report more violations as distracted driving causes hundreds of crashes annually

News

East County News Service

April 10, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Distracted driving causes hundreds of crashes across California each year, and violations of the state’s hands-free cellphone law remain an ongoing concern.

As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the California Highway Patrol is urging drivers to put down their phones and stay attentive to help make roads safer for everyone.

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Learn how to use the county's 'Tell Us Now!' app on April 13

East County News Service

April 10, 2026 (Rancho San Diego) — We've all been there: you’re driving through somewhere in San Diego County and run over a jagged pothole, spot a flooded culvert or keep seeing the same abandoned vehicle on a street corner.... but the thought of trying to find the right County department to call and report what you see is overwhelming.

The County of San Diego has been working to change that narrative with its "Tell Us Now!" app for mobile phones.

The app has been helping people connect to County services since it first launched in 2017, but to help more residents navigate the digital tool, the office of Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe is hosting a community meeting focused on using the app on Monday, Apreil 13 at the Casa de Oro Library.

The event, from 10 a.m. to noon at the library at 9805 Campo Road in Spring Valley, aims to turn residents into neighborhood advocates, showing exactly how a single photo can spark a government response.

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Attacked by AI-cyberbots: Please help us fund critical security upgrades

By Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Our East County Magazine website is being attacked by AI-cyberbots that have repeatedly crashed it. Our new website designed in Wordpress is ready to launch with great new features for readers – but we can’t launch without critical security upgrade programs that cost thousands of dollars. Please help! Donate at https;//www.eastcountymedia.org./donate.

We are also seeking major sponsors who may want to sponsor any special section on the new site, as well as angel donors/philanthropists who would love to earn the loyalty of our many readers.

Our audience is huge—more than 10 million hits and 650,000 unique visitors each month! Our success in growing our readership is unfortunately also attacking cyberbots seeking to cause harm. It's critical to protect our 18 years of news articles on our existing site as well as protect the new site design immediately.

Call 619 698 7617 or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org for more information.

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Three arrested in child abuse investigation, drugs also uncovered

Spring Valley

East County News Service

April 9, 2026 (Spring Valley) -- Three Spring Valley residents are in custody following an investigation into child abuse that uncovered a stash of narcotics inside a local residence.

Detectives from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Office on Tuesday assisted Child Welfare Services in executing a search warrant at a home on the 9000 block of Eucalyptus Street. Entering the residence after 2 p.m., authorities detained three individuals: Karina Rice, 31; Diann Whitt, 67; and Jarron Wood, 30.

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Temporary cease fire reached in Iran after Trump threatened “a whole civilization will die;” conflict takes toll on U.S. economy

By Alex J. Schorr

April 9, 2026 — As of yesterday, the United States and Iran have agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, with the agreement aiming to pause hostilities that began on February 28. Pakistan-mediated talks are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Friday April 10, to seek a permanent settlement. The fragile cease-fire comes after Trump posted a threat on social media Tuesday stating that a “whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, a big point of contention has also emerged concerning Lebanon. While Pakistan and Iran maintain that the truce includes "Lebanon and elsewhere,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump have stated that the ceasefire does not cover Lebanon, where Israel has significantly intensified its attacks against Hezbollah.

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AB 1959 moves along, inspired by 2001 school shooting at Santana

Story and photo by Karen Pearlman

April 9, 2026 (Santee) — Twenty-five years after teenage student armed with a gun opened fire at Santana High School, survivors and prosecutors are closer to closing a legal loophole they say allows the state’s most violent juvenile offenders to exploit the justice system for early release.

On Tuesday in Sacramento, the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 8-0 to advance Assembly Bill 1959, a bipartisan measure authored by Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego). The bill aims to restore judicial discretion in cases involving mass casualties and “heinous” crimes committed by minors.

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East County Roundup: local and statewide news

April 9, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media. This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

STATE

Record heat, melting snow: What does it mean for California’s reservoirs? (CalMatters)
Trump endorsing Hilton may change governor race (Cal Matters)
Agents of Chaos: Border Patrol's Year of Unchecked Force (Evident Media)
Imperial County supervisors clear path for massive data center complex amid fierce opposition (KPBS)
The 9 Rat-Repelling Flowers California Gardeners Are Planting Now (Positive Bloom)
Sparse snowpack in California fuels concern over fast-approaching fire season (KPBS)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click "read more" and scroll down.

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New leadership at County Dept. of Animal Services

County of San Diego Department of Animal Services

East County News Service

April 8, 2026 (San Diego County) — San Diego County is stabilizing the leadership of the Department of Animal Services, appointing a new Director and a new Deputy Director to steer the agency through a period of transition after an investigative series last year by journalists at KPBS uncovered serious issues within the department.

The county announced today that Dr. Brieana Sarvis has been named the Director of Animal Services and Kendra King is Animal Services' new Deputy Director.

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Historic landmark to anchor new travel center in Jamul

Artist's rendering of coming Barretts Travel Center in Jamul (Photo courtesy Kirvin Doak Communications)

East County News Service

April 7, 2026 (Jamul) — The weathered red timber and distinctive double porches of the 1891 Barrett Ranch House has long stood as a fading ghost of San Diego County’s ranching heritage.

Long suffering from neglect and vandalism inside and out, Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation has just announced a plan that will not only save the historic structure but transform it into the centerpiece of a modern gateway to the backcountry of East County.

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Two dead from Shelter Valley collision

East County News Service

April 6, 2026 (San Diego County) – A head-on collision Saturday, April 4 on State Route 78 south of S-2 in Shelter Valley near Julian resulted in two deaths and two others injured.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection/San Diego County Fire responded along with multiple other agencies to the crash, which required extensive extrication.

Two persons from the collision were airlifted to local trauma centers and two others were pronounced dead at the scene.

Highway 78 was closed in both directions for approximately five hours during the incident.

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Cal State University San Marcos and nearby homes evacuated due to brush fire

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

April 5, 2026 (San Marcos) – The #MoreeFire in San Marcos has led to evacuations, including the California State University San Marcos Campus.

Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued. As this is a rapidly changing situation, check the Genasys Map for the current evacuation zones:

CSU San Marcos sent this emergency alert: “Main Campus Evacuation - DO NOT exit campus via Campus View and La Moree. Follow all police instructions. Do not come to campus."

A Temporary Evacuation Point is open at Mission Hills High School located at 1 Mission Hills Court, San Marcos, CA 92069, per San Diego Sheriff on X.

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Iranian government threatens to set American troops on fire, while casualties and threats mount

By G. A. McNeeley

Photo: fighter jets aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Feb. 27; via Dept. of War

April 4, 2026 (Iran) -- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, said Tehran is “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire,” in a published message broadcast on Iranian state media on Sunday, March 29, according to The Independent.

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Power struggle ends -- no Seguro BESS in North County

East County News Service

April 4, 2026 (Escondido) -- The developer of the Seguro Battery Energy Storage System has formally withdrawn its application to build one of the world’s largest lithium-ion storage facilities in the hills of North San Diego County.

The decision, confirmed earlier this week, marks the end of a three-year battle between developer AES Corporation and the unincorporated communities of Eden Valley, Harmony Grove and Elfin Forest.

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Four new rescues now at San Diego Humane Society's East County hub

One of the dogs rescued by the San Diego Humane Society on Friday (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society)

East County News Service

April 4, 2026 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego Humane Society’s East County campus and its main campus are operating under critical "over capacity" conditions this weekend following the arrival of a specialized transport of dogs from the Imperial Valley.

On Friday, April 4, 2026, four of 20 dogs transported from the Humane Society of Imperial County were admitted to the El Cajon SDHS Campus on North Marshall Avenue. The remaining 16 were taken to the San Diego Campus on Gaines Street near the University of San Diego.

San Diego Humane Society officials say that the move was intended to save lives -- despite the severe local space shortage, and that it continues to seek potential adopters for all its companion animals.

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County urges residents to throw out cheese linked to E.coli outbreak

East County News Service

April 4, 2026 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County health officials are urging consumers to purge their refrigerators of specific raw cheddar cheese products after a multi-state E. coli outbreak that has hospitalized at least three people and left one person with a life-threatening kidney condition.

The warning, issued late Thursday, targets RAW FARM brand raw milk cheddar cheese.

The Fresno-based company initiated a voluntary recall on April 2, 2026, after the outbreak was linked to nine illnesses across California, Florida and Texas.

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