By Michael Howard

February 7, 2024 (San Diego, CA) - The 2024 California March Primaries ballot are in the mailboxes of many voters, including the residents of the 48th Congressional District, where the Republican incumbent Darrell Issa is vying for his second term.

Issa has been in San Diego politics since 1998 when he ran for the U.S. Senate and lost to Matt Fong during the primaries. In 2000, he won the District 49 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and has also served in the same capacity for districts 48 and 50 in the ensuing years.

As the incumbent for District 48, Issa votes primarily along conservative lines, achieving a minimum of 82% or higher with most conservative political organizations such as the American Conservative Union, Christian Action Network, and Heritage Action for America. Conversely, his votes received zero to only 13% ratings with liberal organizations such as Americans for Democratic Action, Freedom Democrats, and Radical Middle. 

Issa faces five candidates across the political spectrum this election, including four Democrats and a no-party-preference candidate. Three of the five are candidates he beat in the 2022 election for his current seat, the other two are first-time contenders. The top two in the March 5 primary will advance to a November runoff race.

Stephen Houlahan (D) was the closest contender in 2022, whom Issa beat in the general election by a 20% margin. Matthew Rascon (D) lost to Issa during the primaries with 9.1% of the votes along with the no-party-preference candidate Lucinda KWH Jahn with only 1.6% of the votes. Two new contenders this year are Mike Simon (D) and Whitney Shanahan (D).

Photo:  The four candidates who participated in our questionnaire; top left to lower right, Democrats Stephen Houlahan,Mike Simonand Whiney Shanahan, and decline-to-state party candidates Lucinda KWH Jahn.

East County Magazine reached out to all candidates asking them to answer questions about the economy, immigration, healthcare, democracy, the Israel-Hammas and Russia-Ukraine wars, social security, and more. Four of the six candidates submitted their answers, which we have included in this article. Phone calls and emails to Congressman Issa and Matthew Rascon were not successful in obtaining answers to these questions. 

Here are the questions and answers from the candidates:

East County News Service

February 7, 2024 (El Cajon) – Yesterday afternoon, a man entered Big 5 Sporting Goods on Fletcher Parkway, selected merchandise, and then exited the store without paying. A store employee attempted to stop the man from stealing. 

According to El Cajon Police, the man swung a plastic bag containing a small metal propane bottle at the employee and struck her in the forehead, causing pain and minor injury. The employee was able to use her cell phone to photograph the man as he fled the area toward the trolley.  

Winter storm warning in effect for mountains through Thursday, Feb. 8 at  12 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Laguna Mountain Lodge webcam

February 7, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)—Several inches or more of snow blanketed San Diego County’s mountains overnight.  Snow fell in Julian, Pine Valley, and many other mountain communities, with more precipitation forecast today.

Due to weather and road conditions, several school districts are closed and have a snow day today, according to the San Diego County Office of Education:  Julian Union Elementary , Julian Union High, Mountain Empire,  Spencer Valley,  Warner Unified.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

February 7, 2024 (Colorado Springs, Colo.) -- Reese Waters scored 15 points, making five of San Diego State's season-high 11 3-pointers, and the 24th-ranked Aztecs cruised to a 77-64 win over Air Force on Tuesday night.

By Branda Gorgies

February 6, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Live music can be enjoyed in many places besides the infamous large stadiums in San Diego city. East County has various places to listen to live music and support local artists and businesses. From casinos to wineries to cafes, this article will provide a large variety of venues in East County for live music.

By Jonathan Goetz

By Jonathan Goetz

February 5, 2024 (La Mesa) – Need a laugh with a cause for Valentine’s Day? La Mesa’s Journey Community Church hosts their 9th annual night of clean comedy Wednesday, February 14 at 7 p.m. to benefit their Local Impact efforts. Doors open at 6:30. The show will be hosted by Josh Lawson featuring comedians Collin Moulton and Kellen Erskine. Tickets are $24 per person.

Childcare is provided as a fundraiser for their Summer Camps by their High School group, and is $15 per child, including dinner, with sibling discounts. Please RSVP for childcare with ticket purchase.

By Miriam Raftery

February 5, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) -- Looking for some creative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your special someone? East County has some great getaways and romantic rendezvous retreats, winetasting events, adventures to remember and culinary experiences to savor.

February 5, 2024 (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 Superintendent tours flood damaged schools in Spring Valley  (CBS 8)
• Lemon Grove City Council member again arrested for violating temporary restraining order (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego MTS to Increase Officers, Improve Security on Public Transit  (Times of San Diego)
• Convicted Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to Federal Prison  (Times of San Diego)
• New Instagram DMs and an MTS Letter Shed Light on the Nathan Fletcher Scandal (Voice of San Diego)
• Will disastrous flooding force San Diego to finally fix its storm drains? (KPBS)
• ‘Where's the help?' San Diego residents blame a debris-filled Chollas Creek for flooded homes (NBC San Diego)
• Thousands of acres once envisioned for Otay Ranch housing will instead be preserved (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego exempts police databases, security cameras from surveillance transparency law — with more changes likely  (KPBS)
• Former Border Patrol agent admits taking bribes to help drugs, people cross border while on duty – (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego spearfisherman hailed as hero for saving neighbors from floodwaters (NBC San Diego)

STATE

• The Los Angeles Times plunges into ‘chaos’ as brutal layoffs loom and senior editors call it quits (CNN)
• Life-threatening’ storm to inundate Southern California beginning Sunday, last for days (Los Angeles Times)
• Parents’ lawsuit forces California to spend $2 billion on learning loss. Here’s what will change (Cal Matters)
• FEMA Can’t Pay Undocumented Disaster Victims. California Is Stepping In (Wall St. Journal)

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

February 5, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• What we know about the US strikes in Iraq and Syria (CNN)
• Three US troops killed, up to 34 injured in Jordan drone strike linked to Iran (Reuters)
• Biden gets the South Carolina victory he wanted (Politico)
• Supreme Court allows federal agents to cut razor wire Texas installed on US-Mexico border (NBC)
• Biden backs Senate border deal, vows to 'shut down the border' when overwhelmed (Reuters)
• Half of recent US inflation due to high corporate profits, report finds (Guardian)
• Pelosi claims some protesters calling for Gaza cease-fire are linked to Russia  (NPR)
• Nikki Haley targeted in 'swatting' incident at her home (Reuters)
• Ryan Samsel, Jan. 6 defendant who instigated breach, convicted of multiple felonies  (MSN)
• Hawaii officials identify the last of the 100 known victims of the wildfire that destroyed Lahaina  (CBS 8)
• Ex-FBI officials warn Congress the US is being invaded, calling it a 'new and imminent' danger (Law Enforcement Today)
• Religious 'Nones' are now the largest single group in the U.S. (NPR)
• Trump must pay $83 million for defaming E. Jean Carroll, jury says (CBS)

WORLD

• How Taiwan beat back disinformation and preserved the integrity of its election  (AP)
• Israeli intelligence accuses 190 Gaza U.N. staff of Hamas, Islamic Jihad roles (Reuters)
• Document spells out allegations against 12 UN employees Israel says participated in Hamas attack  (AP)
• Ukraine to start building 4 new nuclear reactors this year (Reuters)
• Taiwan begins extended one-year conscription in response to China threat
• U.S. Secretly Alerted Iran Ahead of Islamic State Terrorist Attack (WSJ)

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

By Miriam Raftery

February 5, 2024 (San Diego)—A powerful storm fueled by a “Pineapple Express”  atmospheric river is pummeling much of California and is slated to reach San Diego County later today. The Governor has declared an emergency in eight counties including San Diego to support storm response and recovery efforts.  A flood watch for San Diego County issued by the National Weather Service will be in effect starting at 4 p.m. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has issued evacuation warnings for Encanto, Southcrest Mountain View--east San Diego communities along the flood plain.

A new city-run local assistance center for flood victims at the Mountain View Community Center is closed today due to the severe weather and will reopen when weather permits. For updates in the city of San Diego, visit http://sandiego.gov/storm .  For storm recovery in the County, visit https://www.alertsandiego.org/en-us/recovery.html.  

Neither the County nor any East County cities have yet issued evacuation warnings, though residents in low-lying areas especially those that previously flooded should stay vigilant as the heaviest rains and winds hit our region late today, tonight and tomorrow.

East County News Service

February 4, 2024 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the international Laurel & Hardy fan organization, will host their February meeting, entitled "Good Help is Hard to Find," on February 17 at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.

East County News Service

February 4, 2024 (Julian) – The California Wolf Center in Julian invites you to book a guided tour of their facility to see their resident wolves and learn about wolf conservation. Various tours are offered each weekend this month at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are required.

The Wolf Conservation and Behavioral Enrichment Tours are both 1 hour in length and offer an unforgettable experience where you will have the opportunity to see critically endangered wild wolves and learn all about them from an expert at the center’s Conservation Facility on KQ Ranch Rd. in Julian. 

East County News Service

February 4, 2024 (Santee) -- The City of Santee’s eighth annual Fido Fest will take place Saturday, February 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East, located at 550 Park Center Drive, Santee 92071. Join the City of Santee for tail-wagging fun at one of San Diego County’s most popular dog events.

This family and dog-friendly event is an opportunity for attendees to view adoptable dogs from about 20 local rescues, shop from various vendors, watch amazing demonstrations, and enjoy giveaways. If walking or shopping through the excitement works up your appetite, 5 food vendors will be serving delectable eats for all to enjoy. There will be a variety of arts and crafts to paw-take in, including: yappy hour, treat finder, doggy tattoos, an off-leash area, fly ball demonstration, an agility course, and a sniff station.

Show off your four-legged friend in costume, size, and trick contests for a chance to win a giveaway item! In addition to the showcase of contest entries, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and Santee Fire Department will demonstrate their canines’ capabilities.

Source: County News Service

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

February 3, 2023 (San Diego) --  The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 30, 2024, took new actions to help people in communities flooded by the Jan. 22, 2024, torrential rains, including putting into place temporary additional tenant protection measures. The approved ordinance prohibits people who were affected by the floods from being evicted without just cause. The ordinance also restricts certain rent increases on eligible properties from January 22, 2024, to March 30, 2024.

The flood affected areas specified in the ordinance include residential units located in the following ZIP codes: 92102, 92104, 92105, 92111, 92113, 92114, 92115, (San Diego); 91977 (Spring Valley); 91950 (National City);91945 (Lemon Grove); and 92118 (Coronado).