By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies East County
February 17, 2025 (San Diego) -- The start of a new year often brings the promise of new beginnings. For many, that includes resolutions focused on personal health and well-being, from hitting the gym to adopting healthier eating habits. In recent years, however, more and more of us have embraced a different kind of New Year’s resolution: abstaining from alcohol for the month of January. This annual challenge, known as Dry January, has gained popularity, particularly among the “Sober Curious” movement, which seeks to explore the impact of alcohol on mental and physical health. In San Diego County, it’s more than just a passing trend. It's a growing cultural shift.
Photo: Merle Wakefield and Alvin Quarles have been conditionally released into Campo and Borrego Springs.
February 16, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The Sheriff’s department has sent warning notices to residents in Borrego Springs and Campo, announcing that two sexually violent predators have been conditionally released into these communities. The court has ordered Liberty Healthcare, which runs the state’s conditional release program, to continue seeking permanent placement for the two men.
February 15, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- The Casa de Oro Alliance invites members of the community who have been affected by flooding to a community dialogue to help bring the community together and build resilience.
Photo, left: Resolution opponents hold up sign denouncing hate and likening ICE roundups to “Gestapo” tactics
February 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council on Tuesday passed a controversial resolution allowing the city’s police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and hand over any undocumented who has been convicted of a violent crime, as well as immigrants merely accused of a crime. The measure was introduced by Mayor Bill Wells, with backing of Councilmember Phil Ortiz and amendments by Councilman Steve Goble.
The meeting was contentious, sparked by numerous emotional outbursts, threats to recall Councilmember Ortiz for supporting the resolution, and playing of phone threats made against Councilmembers who voted against the measure previously.
Just two weeks ago, the Council rejected a similar proposal by a 3-2 vote, but reversed that action on Wednesday after Councilmember Goble switched sides.
February 14, 2025 -- 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:
Image: measurements in Hawaii from 1960 to present show exponential rise in CO2 levels fueling climate change.
February 13, 2025 (La Mesa) -- NOAA staffers report that Musk's minions have arrived with orders to wreck everything. This apparently includes climate data gathering. Should they succeed in shutting data collection down, attempts to fix the climate will become as effective as driving a car blindfolded.
February 13, 2025 (El Cajon) -- In one of Donald Trump’s first acts in office, he stripped away protections for schools, hospitals, and places of worship from immigration enforcement. These were once safe spaces where people could learn, receive health care, and pray without fear. Now they have been turned into targets for ICE raids.
This is unconscionable. As the world’s largest historical climate polluter, the United States has a responsibility to immigrants. Our pollution is causing the climate chaos — droughts, floods, hurricanes, rising waters — that is forcing people in Latin America, Asia, Africa and elsewhere to leave their homes. Others are fleeing violence, poverty, and hunger — all of which are caused or made worse by the climate crisis.
People have the right to be able to leave their homes and migrate with dignity to find safe haven. But right now, immigrant families are facing the unimaginable: the fear that seeking education or health care could mean deportation, or that a peaceful moment of prayer might be shattered by ICE agents barging in.
February 13, 2025 (San Diego) --If you’re a homeowner in California, you’ve probably already felt the impact of our state’s collapsing fire insurance market. Premiums are skyrocketing, insurers are pulling out, and thousands of homeowners are being dropped from their policies. If we don’t take immediate action, millions of Californians could be left without coverage—and the entire housing market will suffer. I’ve been sounding the alarm on this crisis for years. This isn’t happening because of climate change, as some politicians want you to believe. This is a direct result of bad policies, overregulation, and a complete failure to manage wildfire risk responsibly.
Photo: Tara McGrath. Courtesy Southern District of California
February 13, 2025 (San Diego) - After 16 months as the chief federal law enforcement official in San Diego, Tara McGrath has been given her walking papers by the White House.
February 13, 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:
By a school counselor, who asked to remain anonymous
Photo:CC by SA via Bing
February 13, 2025 (El Cajon, CA) -- The Grossmont Union High School District is set to eliminate 22 school counseling positions next year. This is not just a number—these are people who are on the frontlines, working day in and day out to support our students through mental health crises, academic struggles, and life challenges. Does the public understand what this means? Does anyone care that the care for our kids is about to drastically decrease?
School counselors do far more than manage schedules and guide college applications. We are the ones who step in when students are on the brink of despair, offering a safe space when they feel they have nowhere else to turn.
Today, I saved a life. I had a student walk into my office feeling like there was no hope left, contemplating ending their life. But I was there. I listened, I acted, and I made sure they got the help they needed before it was too late.
February 13, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.
Community Power and SDF will host a webinar for prospective applicants on Feb. 13 at 12 p.m. to provide an overview of the grant guidelines and application questions. Please register here.
February 12, 2025 (San Diego) — San Diego Community Power, San Diego Foundation (SDF) and Calpine Community Energy announced today that they anticipate awarding $600,000 in grants to local nonprofits to fund projects or programs that contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future for the San Diego region.
By Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
Photo: Roz Allina, second from left, at a Sisterhood luncheon at Sheldon’s Service Station in La Mesa hours before her death. (Photo: Sue Cherlin)
February 12, 2025 (La Mesa) - Hours after attending a birthday gathering for Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s Sisterhood members who were celebrating their February birthdays, Rosalyn Allina and her husband James — Roz, 77, and Jim, 79 — were killed in a chain-reaction freeway accident.
February 12, 2025 (Borrego Springs) - The San Diego History Center and Desert Media Holdings Inc, owner of the Borrego Sun newspaper, have reached an agreement forthe transfer of the Borrego Sun archive ensuring the preservation of the San Diego County community’s history for future generations.
February 12, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- An atmospheric river is moving into our region, bringing rain today with heavier rain late Thursday and Friday. A flood watch has been issued starting Thursday afternoon through Friday.
The Pacific storm could bring up to 7 inches on Mt. Palomar, up to 5 inchesin Julian, 2-3 inches in valleys, and up to an inch in some desert areas, with snow at higher elevations, up to two inches above 6,000 feet. Strong wind gusts in mountains up to 70 miles per hour and up to 50 mph in deserts are forecast.
California Highway Patrol is warning of winter storm conditions this morning on I-8 east of Willow Road in Alpine.
February 11, 2025 (La Mesa) – Two La Mesa residents, ages 79 and 77, have died as the result of a four-car accident that occurred last night around 7:18 p.m. on Interstate 8 east, just east of 70th Street in La Mesa. They were the driver and passenger in a 2004 Toyota.
This story was originally published by ProPublica.
By Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica
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February 11, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - The Trump administration has terminated more than $900 million in Education Department contracts, taking away a key source of data on the quality and performance of the nation’s schools.
February 11, 2025 (San Diego) - With rainy weather in the forecast, including the chance of flooding in some low-lying areas, emergency officials offer seven safety tips.
Photo via Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego on Facebook
February 11, 2025 (San Diego, CA) – Multiple faith leaders and a crowd of around 1,500 people overflowed the St. Joseph Cathedral and then held a procession to the federal building downtown and prayers in support of undocumented immigrants, chanting “our neighbors, our coworkers, our brothers and sisters,” the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego posted on Facebook.
Cardinal Robert McElroy, whom the Pope has appointed Archbishop of Washington D.C., spoke at the event, as did Episcopalian Bishop Susan Brown Snook and other faith leaders.
“Just as Jesus, Mary and Joseph had to flee oppression to another land when they were on this Earth," Cardinal McElroy said, “So too we must stand with those who are immigrants here in our midst now and make sure that their safety is secure, and that humanity is respected.”
February 11, 2025 (San Diego) -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is working to provide information for immigrants and their families in the wake of mass deportations and stringent immigration policies imposed by President Donald Trump. The information is available in English and Spanish, as well as translation options for other languages.
Catholic Charities has launched a webpage to provide “reliable information, such as the rights of immigrants, how to find a relative if he or she has been detained, and what legal documents may be needed, like power of attorney. Resources and training also will be available to parishes,” the diocese posted.
Click on these links to view resources including rights for immigrants:
Photo: Palisades Fire, courtesy of Lakeside Fire Dept. which helped battle the catastrophic wildfire in Los Angeles County in January
February 11, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- As Southern California recovers from devastating wildfires, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, has introduced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts.
The package includes the Wildfire Emergency Act, to support forest restoration, wildfire mitigation, and energy resilience; the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, to authorize the removal of trees or other vegetation within existing electrical utility corridors; and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act, to further incentivize homeowners to proactively protect their homes from disasters.
Photo, right: Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County
February 11, 2025 (San Diego) – Congressman Darrell Issa, a San Diego Republican, has introduced the “Green Tape Elimination Act” that seeks to prevent wildfires by exempting all fuel reduction activities on federal lands from these environmental regulations for 10 years.
Photo,Left to Right: Dr. Gary Woods (President, Area 3 Trustee), Robert Shield (Vice President, Area 4 Trustee), Scott Eckert (Clerk, Area 2 Trustee), Jim Kelly (Member, Area 5 Trustee), and Chris Fite (Member, Area 1 Trustee).
February 9, 2025 (El Cajon) – Teachers, parents, and community members leveled sharp criticism of the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) board of trustees during a special budget workshop meeting on February 6. Numerous speakers objected to the board’s creation of a costly new chief of staff position and waiving of board policies to do so, after the board majority earlier voted to lay off numerous employees, including many teachers.
“Eliminating USAID means no more food for millions of Sudanese refugees who’ve fled a civil war, no more medical care for displaced Palestinians, no more HIV treatment on the African continent, and more." -- Congresswoman Sara Jacobs
By Miriam Raftery
Photo via X: Congresswoman Sara Jacobs speaks at a rally to save US Aid.
February 11, 2025 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) today introduced legislation declaring it illegal for the Trump administration to dismantle the USAID agency without an act of Congress, and to prohibit any funding of such efforts. Jacobs calls the action a "coup" and warns other agencies could be illegally dismantled next.
Elon Musk and his Dept. of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have shut down the USAID agency’s headquarters and website, put thousands of staffers on leave, and issued a stop work order on most foreign aid.
As a result of those actions, Jacobs says in a press release, “HIV/AIDS clinics have closed across Africa, hospitals in war-torn Syria have locked their doors, millions of Sudanese refugees will be at risk of catching diseases like cholera, malaria, and measles that are spreading, and so much more.”
February 11, 2025 (San Diego) -- County public health officials are reminding everyone, particularly families with children and teenagers, that it is not too late to get the flu vaccine.
The San Diego State swim and dive program was recognized by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as a Scholar All-America Team, the organization announced Monday.
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
February 11, 2025 (San Diego) - The San Diego State swim and dive program was recognized by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as a Scholar All-America Team, the organization announced Monday from its office in Richmond, Virginia.
February 11, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) – A head-on collision in Rancho San Diego has left two people dead and three others injured. The deadly crash occurred on February 7 around 8:25 p.m.
By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies East County
By Miriam Raftery
By 
East County News Service
By Alex Schorr and Miriam Raftery
February 14, 2025 -- 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:
By Roger Coppock
By Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, District 75
By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
February 13, 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:
February 13, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.
Community Power and SDF will host a webinar for prospective applicants on Feb. 13 at 12 p.m. to provide an overview of the grant guidelines and application questions. Please register 
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
Developing story
Funds sought to digitalize archived articles
East County News Service
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East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
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The San Diego State swim and dive program was recognized by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as a Scholar All-America Team, the organization announced Monday.
East County News Service
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