East County Roundup: local and statewide news

November 17, 2025 (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

• More nurses, fewer drugs, no suicides: Sheriff touts jail reforms, upgrades before civilian review board (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Community reacts to proposed façade changes at Goodwill in La Mesa Village (KUSI)
•  Where to access food assistance in San Diego County (KPBS)
• Who’s stealing bronze plaques from San Diego County libraries? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•  On-campus food pantries available to college students across San Diego County ( CBS)
• La Mesa increases parking rates starting Jan. 1 (Times of San Diego )
• Lakeside father calls young children 'heroes' after they help save his life during road rage attack (KGTV)
• Looking for a pole saw? The National City library has you covered (KPBS)
•  East County family devastated as hit-and-run driver who killed Austin Spirz set for early release (10 News)
• San Diego City Council approves reduced water rate hikes over next two years (KPBS)

STATE

• California revokes 17,000 commercial driver's licenses for immigrants (AP)
• California gives Planned Parenthood $140 million boost to keep clinics open (Cal Matters)
• New California law prohibits declawing cats (KBBS)
• California sues Trump over food stamps (KPBS)
• Data centers are putting new strain on California’s grid. A new report estimates the impacts (Cal Matters)

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

LOCAL

More nurses, fewer drugs, no suicides: Sheriff touts jail reforms, upgrades before civilian review board (San Diego Union-Tribune)

'We're not taking a victory lap by any means, but we're very proud of our record,' Sheriff Kelly Martinez told the panel, weeks before she's set to ask county supervisors to fund a new jail... CLERB has increasingly become a hub for criticism of the Sheriff’s Office. Each month, family members of people who have died in San Diego jails and their advocates attend the meetings, calling for greater transparency and stronger oversight.

Community reacts to proposed façade changes at Goodwill in La Mesa Village (KUSI)

 The Goodwill building and its iconic clock tower greet those walking or driving through the heart of the village…When the city of La Mesa shared renderings illustrating the upcoming upgrades to the building, the reaction was swift…The city’s social media post garnered hundreds of comments that overwhelmingly called for preserving the current style.  Goodwill is receiving $25,000 through the city’s “facade and property improvement grant program” now in its fourth year.

Where to access food assistance in San Diego County (KPBS)

 If you’re in need of food assistance, consult the resources below. You can also dial 2-1-1 to be connected with resources or access help online here

Who’s stealing bronze plaques from San Diego County libraries? (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Rancho San Diego, Alpine and 4S Ranch have all been hit by the thefts

 On-campus food pantries available to college students across San Diego County ( CBS)

Grossmont College has seen three times the number of students visit its food pantry since last week

La Mesa increases parking rates starting Jan. 1 (Times of San Diego )

But residents and businesses are more concerned about parking availability amid new apartment construction. 

Lakeside father calls young children 'heroes' after they help save his life during road rage attack (KGTV)

 A Lakeside father is calling his two young children his heroes after they helped save his life during an apparent road rage attack that left him with multiple stab wounds.

Looking for a pole saw? The National City library has you covered (KPBS)

 The library’s new tool lending program is the first of its kind in San Diego County and features everything from jackhammers to sewing machines.

East County family devastated as hit-and-run driver who killed Austin Spirz set for early release (10 News)

An East County family is reeling after learning the hit-and-run driver who killed their loved one will be released from prison after serving less than a third of his sentence... Spirz, 26, was killed on Thanksgiving night 2023 while riding his dirt bike on Campo Road. 

San Diego City Council approves reduced water rate hikes over next two years (KPBS)

 Water rates for San Diegans will rise 14.7% next year and 14.5% the following year after the San Diego City Council today passed an amended water and wastewater rate hike.

STATE

California revokes 17,000 commercial driver's licenses for immigrants (AP)

 California plans to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses given to immigrants after discovering the expiration dates went past when the drivers were legally allowed to be in the U.S., state officials said Wednesday. 

California gives Planned Parenthood $140 million boost to keep clinics open (Cal Matters)

After months of financial strain, Planned Parenthood will get a $140 million lifeline to offset losses it sustained after Congress in July cut funding for the health system, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.

New California law prohibits declawing cats (KBBS)

On Oct. 9, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that bans cats from being declawed statewide. Veterinarians can no longer declaw cats even if an owner wants the procedure to be done..... Dr. Tyler Baum of Broadway Veterinary Hospital on Broadway in Sacramento, California is against the surgery and explains the problem with this procedure for the cat...“It causes them to be in consistent pain and acute pain.”

California sues Trump over food stamps (KPBS)

California is one of 23 states suing President Donald Trump’s administration trying to force it to use emergency money to cover food benefits for millions of poor families during the federal government shutdown….

Data centers are putting new strain on California’s grid. A new report estimates the impacts (Cal Matters)

California is a major hub for data centers — the facilities that store and transmit much of the internet. But just how much these power-hungry operations affect the state’s energy use, climate and public health remains an open question for researchers.