ATMOSPHERIC RIVER TO DRENCH REGION OVER EASTER WEEKEND

GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL BOARD SLASHES STAFFING, OVER OBJECTIONS OF VOCAL CROWD

CONSUMER ALERT FOR SAFELY FILING YOUR TAXES

VIEW OUR INTERVIEW: LA MESA ACTIVISTS OBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL BANNING REMOTE PARTICIPATION

WINTER STORM WARNING

EASTER BRUNCH AND EGG HUNT MARCH 30 IN EL CAJON

BIA SAN DIEGO PARTNERS WITH WORKFORCECONNECT TO UTILIZE JOBS PLATFORM, WHILE ADDRESSING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WORKFORCE SHORTAGE

RECENT FIRE DEATHS HEIGHTEN CALLS FOR FIRE PROTECTION BALLOT MEASURE IN SANTEE

MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK COMMUNITY NIGHT SLATED FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 4

COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND TANYA TUCKER LIVE AT THE MAGNOLIA MAY 19

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS SHOW FLIPS IN TWO KEY RACES HOLDING

184 GUNS TURNED IN AT SHERIFF’S LEMON GROVE GUN SAFETY EVENT

SCHIFF AND GARVEY HEAD TO RUN-OFF IN PIVOTAL SENATE RACE, BUT GARVEY EDGES AHEAD FOR SHORT-TERM SPOT

Update March 6:  As of this morning, Steve Garvey has pulled ahead of Adam Schiff in the partial term Senate election.  Garvey is leading with 1,317,911 votes to 1,173,917 for Adam Schiff.  The two will run-off in November, with the winner seated as soon as votes are certified to serve the remaining few weeks in the late Senator Dianne Feinstein's term this November and December. 

Schiff  still has a narrow lead in the long-term race for the six-year term starting in January; currently Schiff leads in the long-term race narrowly with 1,247,753 over Garvey with 1,218,050 votes.  They will run-off in November as well for the long-term race to fill the next six-year term beginning in January.  

By Henri Migala

March 5, 2024 (San Diego) --With the balance of power in the U.S. Senate nearly equally split between Republicans and Democrats, the California race to replace the late Dianne Feinstein may decide the balance of power in the Senate and the Nation.

Currently, there are 49 Republicans, 48 Democrats and 3 Independents in the Senate. The Independents have chosen to Caucus with the Democrats, giving them a slight edge. Additionally, on January 20, 2021, Democratic vice president Kamala Harris took office. Her tie-breaking vote established a Democratic majority in the Senate.

With the death of long-serving Senator Dianne Feinstein, a seat that has been held by Democrats for decades is now up for grabs. Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to fill the seat until an election could be held.

Today's ballot includes both a partial term election to complete the last two months of Feinstein's unfinished term, as well as a full-term election for the next six-year term beginning January 3, 2025.

NIKKI HALEY SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN, BUT DOES NOT ENDORSE TRUMP

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Gage Skidmore: Nikki Haley in 2024

March 6, 2024 (San Diego) – Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced today that she is suspending her presidential campaign,  after losing 13 of the 14 primary races (winning only Vermont) on Super Tuesday.

Her withdrawal means former President Donald Trump is the Republican party’s presumptive nominee, with no other challengers remaining. But Haley pointedly did not endorse Trump, whom she has sharpy criticized.

In a speech this morning, Haley voiced “no regrets” adding, “I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in.”

MAYOR BILL WELLS TO SQUARE OFF AGAINST CONGRESSWOMAN SARA JACOBS IN 51ST DISTRICT

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat, has finished first in the primary election in the 51st Congressional district, with 56.28% of the vote.  She will run-off against El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican, in the November general election. Wells captured 40.09% of the votes tallied thus far.

Wells has served as the city's mayor since 2013, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy left by resignation of Mayor Mark Lewis. He was later elected and twice won reelection. Should his Congressional bid be unsuccessful he would remain as mayor, since his term ends in 2024.*

VASQUEZ AND PARENT SPEAK OUT AS EARLY RESULTS SHOW THEM LIKELY HEADED TO RUN-OFF FOR ASSEMBLY RACE

By Jessyka Heredia and Miriam Raftery 

March 6, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) -- La Mesa Councilman Colin Parent and Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez are maintaining their first and and second place positions in the primary race for the 79th Assembly district seat. If their leads hold, the two East County elected official will run-off in the November general election, leaving their current council and mayoral positions to be filled in the November election, since both have terms of office ending after this year.

As of 11:30 p.m. on Election night, Parent has 41.01%, Vasquez 31.53% and Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins, County Office of Education’s community engagement specialist and adjunct professor at SDSU trails close behind with 27.43%. 

As last night’s Lemon Grove City Council meeting adjourned, ECM’s  reporter approached the dais to let Vasquez know she was number two in the early voting numbers so far and asked if she would like to give a statement.

EARLY RESULTS POINT TO REPUBLICAN KRISTIE BRUCE-LANE AND DEMOCRAT DARSHANA PATEL IN 76TH ASSEMBLY PRIMARY SHOWDOWN

By Michael Howard

 

March 5, 2024 (San Diego) – As the California State Assembly primary election results begin to unfold, it appears that the race for the 76th Assembly District seat is shaping up to be a face-off between Republican candidate Kristie Bruce-Lane (photo, left) and Democrat Darshana Patel (photo, right). The departure of incumbent Brian Maienschein has opened the door to a competitive contest with the two candidates vying for the vacant seat. 

 

With 19.9% of precinct’s reporting, Kristie Bruce-Lane received 26,271 votes, and Darshana Patel 17,918. Trailing behind the two top contenders was Democrat Joseph Rocha with 9,877 votes. 

STEPHEN HOULAHAN LEADING LONG LIST OF CHALLENGERS FOR SHOWDOWN AGAINST DARRELL ISSA

By Michael Howard

 

March 5, 2024 (San Diego's East County) - In the race for the 48th Congressional District, early results from the primary election suggest that Democratic candidate Stephen Houlahan is on track to secure a spot in the general election, where he will face off against Republican incumbent Darrell Issa for the second consecutive election. 

With 19.9% of all precincts reporting, Issa held the lead among all candidates with 41,284 votes followed by Houlahan with 11,811. The remaining candidates trailed the two top contenders. Democratic candidates Whitney Shanahan received 7,833 votes, Mike Simon 6,411, Matthew G. Rascon 1,718, and no-party preference candidate Lucinda Kwh Jahn garnered 738 votes.

BIDEN AND TRUMP DENIED SWEEPS THIS SUPER TUESDAY, BUT MOVE CLOSER TO CLINCHING NOMINATIONS

Jason Palmer wins American Samoa, Nikki Haley wins Vermont

Update: Nikki Haley will suspend her campaign, reports Associated Press

By Jonathan Goetz

March 5, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- On Super Tuesday, President Joe Biden won all 16 states holding Democratic contests for President, while former President Donald Trump won at least 12 of the 14 states holding Republican primaries or caucuses today. Neither secured enough delegates yet to secure their party’s nominations, though both appear on track to do so. This is Biden's first loss to primary challengers in the 2024 election cycle and Trump's second, following Haley's victory in Washington, D.C.

Jason Palmer, a venture capitalist and former staffer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, defeated Incumbent President Joe Biden by 51 votes to 40, in American Samoa's caucus. As a result, Palmer secured all six Democratic delegates from American Samoa. Palmer told NBC news after his surprising win, “You can never expect to beat an incumbent president, but I love the people of American Samoa, and they’ve been so wonderful to me this past month.”

Trump was denied a sweep by Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor (ret.) of South Carolina, who won the Republican primary in the State of Vermont, picking up at least 9 of 17 Republican delegates.

INCUMBENTS HAVE STRONG LEADS IN SAN DIEGO CONGRESSIONAL RACES

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2024 (San Diego) – All five San Diego Congressional members have strong leads in the primary election, unsurprisingly given the power of incumbency and name recognition.

The key question is who will run off against them in November--and the early results have strong indicators of those outcomes.

BENJAMIN HAROUNI VIGIL IN EL CAJON CALLS FOR PEACE AND DEEPER INVESTIGATION

By Nadin Brzezinski
 
Photos: Tom and Nadin Abbott
 
March 5, 2024 (El Cajon) -- On Thursday February 29, Dr. Benjamin Harouni (photo within a photo, left), a Jewish American dentist of Mizrahi extraction, the family is originally from Iran, was murdered in El Cajon. The alleged shooter was 29-year-old Mohammed Abdulkareem. The reality is that this shooting, in the environment of antisemitism we live in, triggered fear in the local community.
 
Jake Harouni (photo, left) is Dr. Benjamin Harouni's younger brother. Understandably, he was emotional when he read a prepared statement, a eulogy to his brother. He asked anyone who faced loss, “Where do I even begin? My brother, Doctor Benjamin Harouni, was beyond life. Those who knew him knew he was one of the most empathetic, selfless, dear souls they have ever known.”

DEMAIO AND JUZA AHEAD IN CROWDED 75TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FIELD

By Miriam Raftery

Updated March 6th with latest results.

March 6, 2024 (San Diego's East County)-- Conservative firebrand Carl DeMaio, the leader of Reform California, now has 43.8% of as of today for the 75th Assembly race.  Kevin Juza, a business consultant who is the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate, is in second place with 19.02% of the vote, followed by Republican Andrew Hayes, a Lakeside school board member and long-time aid to legislators Brian Jones and Joel Anderson with16.28%.

Juza got a boost from deceptive campaign tactics by DeMaio, whose campaign funded full-color mailers and a website urging voters to support Juza, whom DeMaio would prefer to run off against in the November general election.

PARENT, VASQUEZ LEAD IN 79TH ASSEMBLY RACE

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2024  (San Diego's East County)--Incumbency counts. That's the takeaway from tonight's early results in the 79th Assembly district race, where two prominent East County elected officials hold the lead over an educator endorsed by the Democratic Party.  All three candidates are Democrats.

La Mesa Councilman Colin Parent has a hefty lead, with 41.04% of the votes tallied so far.  Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez has 31.53%, while educator LaShae Sharp-Collins has 27.43% of the vote. The top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff in the November general election.

STOLEN VEHICLE WITH TODDLER INSIDE RECOVERED IN SPRING VALLEY; SUSPECT SOUGHT

By Miriam Raftery

 

March 5, 2024 (Spring Valley) -- Deputies are looking for a man suspected of kidnapping and stealing a vehicle in Spring Valley yesterday.  

 

Shortly before 6 p.m., the victim called to report his car was stolen from the 500 block of Sweetwater Road with his 2-year-old daughter inside.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEARS COMPLETION; NEW MULTIFAMILY COMPLEX IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S LEMON GROVE

 

Pre-leasing Underway at Kelvin

 

March 5, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Construction on Kelvin, a 66-unit contemporary mixed-use community at 7950 Broadway in Lemon Grove, is nearing completion, bringing much needed housing to Lemon Grove, a rapidly growing San Diego County neighborhood.

LEMON GROVE NATIVE SUPPORTS U.S. NAVY HELICOPTER MARITIME STRIKE SQUADRON

By Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings



March 1, 2024 (Lemon Grove) - Petty Officer 2nd Class Ramiro Perez, a native of Lemon Grove, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35.

LA MESA BANS PUBLIC REMOTE COMMENTS AFTER ANTI-SEMITIC RANTS; OTHER CITY COUNCILS AROUND NATION POINT TO AI GENERATED ASSAULT


By Michael Howard

 

Screenshot from City Council video: La Mesa City Attorney Gleen Sabine advises Council on free speech rights

 

March 3, 2024 (La Mesa, CA) - The La Mesa City Council in its February 27 meeting voted 4-1 to ban remote public comments moving forward, with Councilman Jack Shu casting the dissenting vote.


The agenda item cites a memo by City Clerk Megan Wiegelman that suggested “in the aftermath of COVID, remote public comment is no longer necessary.” But the move to disallow call-in and Zoom public comments during City Council meetings seems to be in response to theFebruary 13 Council meeting, in which several remote participants listed Jewish government officials and unleashed a barrage of anti-Semetic speech. 

ECM TALKS WITH STATE SENATE CANDIDATE DR. AKILAH WEBER ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT LOCAL RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch Full Video here

March 2, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Dr. Akilah Weber is no stranger to serving in government. Locally she has served as a La Mesa councilmember as well as in her current role as the 79th State Assembly member. We spoke with Weber via Zoom to find out what her goals are as a State Senator if elected, covering issues including education, healthcare, reproductive rights, disaster response, and projects to help local communities.

GUN BUYBACK EVENT ON MARCH 9

East County News Service
 
Photo: Bing Copilot
 
March 4, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is partnering with the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, La Mesa Police Department, San Diego County Probation Department and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) to get unwanted guns off our streets. 

FREEWAY SHOOTING IN LA MESA: SUSPECT IN BLACK FORD FUSION SOUGHT

East County News Service

March 4, 2024 (La Mesa)—California Highway Patrol is seeking a black Ford Fusion sedan driven by a black man suspected of shooting and injuring a motorist on I-8 in La Mesa yesterday afternoon.

The injured motorist, an El Cajon man, was driving a red Chrysler PT Cruiser westbound on Interstate 8, just east of Grossmont Blvd. California Highway Patrol responded to reports of the shooting around 3:35 p.m.

KIDZ DANZ KOMPANY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

By Jonathan Goetz

 

March 4, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Kidz Danz Kompany is San Diego’s premier children’s dance company, offering professional dance training in ballet and modern dance in their La Mesa studio, as well as performing 2+ concerts a year. This April, Kidz Danz Kompany is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a medley performance that follows the group through the ages in some timeless classics. 

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: SPRING FESTIVITIES

By Miriam Raftery

March 4, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – With spring fast approaching, many festive and creative events are sprouting up across East County. These include Daffodil Days in Julian, Tomatomania at the Water Conservation Garden, an Earth Day Fair in La Mesa, a plein air art show in  Borrego Springs, a junior fair and barbecue in Lakeside, Nature Day on Mt. Helix, Cajon Classic cruises, plus plays, concerts, and a stargazing party.

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO PUBLISHES 2024 PARENT’S GUIDE TO SAN DIEGO SCHOOLS

The definitive tool for making school decisions for children in grades K-12 throughout San Diego County
 
By Julianne Markow
 
March 4, 2024 (San Diego) – Voice of San Diego is proud to announce the publication of the 2024 edition of A Parent’s Guide to San Diego Schools. This is the sixth year of the publication, which provides parents and guardians with the tools to make informed decisions about education options for their children.

THREE CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING FOR THE 51ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

 

ECM breaks down their focuses, qualifications, and endorsements

By Jessyka Heredia  and Miriam Raftery

March 2, 2024 (East County) – There are three candidates vying for the 51st Congressional seat that serves several areas in the city of San Diego as well as La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, Spring Valley and Rancho San Diego in East County. View map.

The seat is held by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat. The challengers are El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican, and small business owner Stan Caplan, an independent.

COUNTY EXPANDS TREE PLANTING PROGRAM IN UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES

By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office
 
Since 2016, the County has planted over 35,000 trees
 
March 3, 2024 (San Diego) -- County Supervisors voted this week to expand its robust tree planting program in underserved communities in the unincorporated area.

FLOOD VICTIMS CAN NOW APPLY FOR FEDERAL HELP AT FEMA DISASTER RECOVERY SITES IN SPRING VALLEY AND SAN DIEGO

East County News SErvice

March 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has two local disaster recovery centers that are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Residents who had damage from the floods that occurred January 21-23 can visit the centers or register online for federal disaster relief to help pay for repairs, temporary housing and property losses,  as well as business loans, now through April 19.

The federal aid comes after President Joe Biden issued a federal disaster declaration for our regionl.

The centers are located at the Spring Valley County Library (836 Kempton St, Spring Valley) and at the Mountain View Community Center (651  South Boundary St., San Diego).

MURDER VICTIM DESCRIBED BY RABBIS AS "SWEET" AND "EXTREMELY SPIRITUAL"

By Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

March 2, 2024 (El Cajon) -- Dr. Benjamin Harouni (photo, left), a recent dental school graduate who was murdered Thursday at the dental offices of his father, Dr. Jack Harouni, in El Cajon, was described by members of the Jewish community who knew him as “sweet,” “extremely spiritual,” and “wise beyond his years.”
 
Many friends of the family are expected at the funeral service, which tentatively has been scheduled for 10 a.m., Sunday, March 3, at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Cayon Road, San Diego.

GROWING TOGETHER: SDG&E SPONSORS TREE PLANTING EVENT AT JULIAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

East County News Service
 
March 1, 2024 (San Diego) – Eager to roll up their sleeves and dig for a greener future, students from the Julian Union School District (JUSD) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) partnered for a tree-planting event on Feb. 29. The occasion brought together local volunteers from the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, Wild Ones San Diego, Julian Pathways, students, teachers and SDG&E employees with a common purpose: to support local biodiversity and help reduce the risk of wildfires in the community they cherish.

SAN DIEGO FLOOD RESPONSE FUND RAISES AND GRANTS MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO ASSIST FLOOD SURVIVORS

 

More than 1,100 individuals, businesses & organizations contributed to the fund

Hundreds of flood survivors assisted by nonprofit grantees

With FEMA assistance now available, fund will sunset

March 1, 2024 (San Diego)  – San Diego Foundation (SDF) Wednesday announced that $1,353,000 has been raised for the San Diego Flood Response Fund, including a second earned match of more than $215,000 from the San Diego Foundation Board of Governors. In total, San Diego Foundation is the largest contributor to the response fund with more than $300,000.

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IN SPRING VALLEY

East County News Service

March 1, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies attempting to serve civil process documents Monday morning found a woman unconscious, unresponsive and suffering signs of trauma.

The victim, Pamela Williams, 55, was found at 7:45 a.m.in a residence in the 3900 block of Conrad Drive in Spring Valley, says Lieutenant Joseph Jarjura with the Sheriff’s homicide unit.

VICTIM KILLED BY SHOOTER AT EL CAJON DENTAL CLINIC WAS JEWISH; FBI JOINS INVESTIGATION

 

Update 7 p.m.: The Medical Examiner has confirmed the death of Benjamin Ariel Harouni, 28, of gunshot wounds.

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2024 (El Cajon) – Multiple Jewish media outlets report that the man killed at the Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodonics clinic in  El Cajon late yesterday  was Dr. Benjamin Harouni, an Orthodox Jew at the clinic run by Harouni and his father. Authorities have not yet confirmed the victim’s identity, however the Jewish publication Yeshiva World News first published his name along with a photo confirming that Misakim members from  Los Angeles spent the scene at the scene watching over the body to assure that Jewish law was respected.  Jewish News Syndicate has also named Harouni as the fatality victim.

The shooting suspect, Mohammed Abdulkareem,29, was arrested after an intensive manhunt. He has been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder, for two other workers who were injured.  El Cajon Police have indicated the suspect was a disgruntled former patient, but an investigation into his motives continues, with speculations raised online over whether these may have been anti-Semitic hate crimes.

Fabienne Perlov,  Regional Director of the The Anti-Defamation League in San Diego, has issued a statement indicating that its  Center on Extremism "has not identified any extremist or hate-related motivation behind the shootings at this point." 

The carnage might have been worse, if not for a swift response by El Cajon Police. After receiving reports of gunshots in the clinic at 4:14 p.m., officers arrived two minutes later and found the three gunshot victims, an ECPD press release indicates.  According to Yeshiva, Harouni “was found inside the office as the shooting was still ongoing and was taken outside by officers, where they attempted to perform lifesaving measures,” however he died at the scene.

ACTIVE SHOOTING SUSPECT IN EL CAJON ARRESTED: 1 DEAD, 2 INJURED

 

Update  March 1, 2024:  Officers and a mobile forensic lab remains on scene. Police have not revealed details, however a city official told  ECM that the shooting suspect was a digruntled patient. He has been charged with first degree murder.

Update 10  p.m.: The suspect is in custody,  per El Cajon Police post on X.

February 29, 2024 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police seeks public help to locate Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, who is considered armed and dangerous. He is the suspect in an active shooter event tonight at the Smile Plus dental office in the 400 block of Magnolia Avenue.

He is described as light-skinned, wearing all black clothing. He fled the scene in a white U-haul pickup truck with Arizona license plate  AM 14894, last seen heading north on N. Mollison. If you see him or have any information, please call El Cajonj Police at 619 579-3311 or call 911.

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