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Photo: a voter casts their ballot at a voting site at the California Museum in downtown Sacramento on June 7, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
June 8, 2022 (San Diego) - The polls are closed, but remember: In California elections, this is just the beginning.
The June top-two primary is when California voters choose their two favorites for governor, for top prosecutor, for fiscal watchdog and for a phalanx of lesser known and less competitive positions. Ditto for each of the 80 Assembly districts, 20 state Senate races and 52 congressional districts where 160, 40 and 104 candidates, respectively, will emerge after all the ballots are counted. But there may not be as many ballots to count as in previous primaries, if projections on abysmal voter turnout prove right.
In some races, this is the election that counts. There will be overwhelmingly blue or decisively red districts where only one member of the dominant party will secure one of the two coveted spots, all but ensuring their victory in November. But in others, the contests will create Democrat versus Democrat battles or, to a far lesser extent, Republican versus Republican fights. And for most races, the results of the June 7 primary will set the terms for the contests to come. Which races will be most competitive? Which political factions and ideological movements will win out? And which issues will be most hotly discussed and debated?
For the impatient among you, we have bad news: California election officials take their time counting every last ballot. The outcome of particularly close races might not be certain for days, if not longer. We’ll keep updating, so don’t be a stranger.
Update June 8, 2022 - With 21.5% of votes tallied, Fletcher's lead has grown. The Supervisor now has 61.95%. Reichert has 29..025 and will advance to the runoff in November. Hooker trails with 9.02%.
By Miriam Raftery
June 7, 2022 (San Diego) – Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, whose redrawn district 4 now extends east into El Cajon, has a strong lead with 63.56%. Amy Reichert, with 27.35%, is posed to advance to the runoff in November, while Sidiqa Hooker has 9.09%.
Update June 8, 2022: With 21.5% of the vote counted, Jones' lead has widened. The Senator now has 53.9%; Rocha has 46.1%. The pair will face off again in November.
By Miriam Raftery
June 7, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – East County closest election contest is shaping up in the newly redrawn 40th State Senate District. The incumbent, Republican Senator Brian Jones, has 51.36% of the vote in early election returns. Close on his heels is former Navy veteran and Marine Corps prosecutor Joseph Rocha with 48.64%.
Update June 8, 2022 - The Secretary of State's office has posted preliminary results for the 48th Congressional including both San Diego and Riverside counties. With provisional and some mail-in ballots remaining to be tallied, Rep. Issa has 59.3%, Houlahan, with 29%, will advance to the November runoff. Rascon has 10% and Lucinda KWH Jahn has 1.6%.
By Miriam Raftery
June 7, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Stephen Houlahan, a nurse with a masters in business administration and former Santee Councilman, is heading for a runoff election against Congressman Darrell Issa in November.
Update June 8, 2022: With 21.5% of the vote counted, Undersheriff Martinez now has 38.09%, followed by Hemmerling with 20.42% and Myers with 17.85%. The top two will run off in November.
By Miriam Raftery
June 7, 2022 (San Diego) – Early results after polls closed tonight show Undersheriff Kelly Martinez with a strong lead in the race to become San Diego County’s next Sheriff. Martinez has 39.5% in a field of seven contenders. The top two will run off in November. Currently retired prosecutor, police officer and ex- Marine John Hemmerling has 19.9%, trailed closely by retired Sheriff Commander Dave Myers at 17.8%..
Martinez, a Democrat, has the endorsement of former Sheriff Bill Gore and the San Diego Gun Owners Association. Myers is endorsed by the Democratic Party, while Hemmerling is the Republican Party’s endorsed candidate.
June 7, 2022 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 on May 24 to support a package of three California State Legislature bills that seek to address the high and rapidly escalating rate of hate crimes throughout the region, state and country.
June 6, 2022 (San Diego) - Emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere at any time. When you need to be quiet and making a phone call could place you in danger, Text to 9-1-1 is available in San Diego County.
June 5, 2022 (Alpine) -- One of East San Diego County’s great treasures, Lions, Tigers and Bears celebrated its 20th anniversary on May 21 with a “Diamonds and Denim” themed Wild in the Country gala. The even featured a silent and live auction with items such as wildlife paintings and an African photo safari as well as a VIP cocktail party reception, opportunities to feed exotic animals, buffet luncheon, and entertainment by a Neil Diamond tribute artist.
Situated on 93 acres outside of Alpine, California, on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest, Lions Tigers & Bears is an animal sanctuary for rescued big cats, bears and other exotic animals in beautiful San Diego County.
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies
June 4 2022 (San Diego) -- San Diego County’s DUI death rate is the highest in two decades. In 2021, 37 people died while driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both. In 2020 the number was 33 and in 2019 the number was 18. Last year was the worst year for DUI fatalities since 2011. All of those deaths could have been prevented. Every single one of them. That’s why the Institute for Public Strategies and County officials got together recently to announce Vision Zero, an effort to eliminate DUI fatalities altogether.
June 4, 2022 (San Diego) – The House of Ukraine invites the public to join in a #SaveUkrainianChildren peaceful rally tonight at 5 p.m. followed by a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. as part of a worldwide effort to help Ukrainian children amid the Russian invasion.
Update June 6, 2022: The U.S. Navy has identified the deceased as Electronics Technician 2nd Class John Deltoro, 29.All five sailors involved in the crash are assigned to West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare units.
June 3, 2022 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Four women in the U.S. Navy were injured and a Navy man died in a solo vehicle crash in Jacumba Hot Springs this morning.
Motorists advised to allow additional travel time for lane closures and detours
Source: Caltrans
June 3, 2022 (El Cajon) - Construction crews will reduce lanes on Interstate 8 (I-8) at State Route 67 (SR-67)/Magnolia Avenue Monday through Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for ongoing electrical work, according to Caltrans. At least one lane will remain open for traffic. The work is part of the I-8/SR-67 Bridge Repair Project.
June 3, 2022 (El Cajon) - The Rancho Helix de Oro Fire Safe Council is sponsoring a free family-friendly education fair on June 12 to help residents prevent and prepare for devastating wildfires. The fair will be held from 1:30-4 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, 2122 Cuyamaca College Dr West, El Cajon. Presentations will be given beginning at 2 p.m. by San Miguel Fire and Rescue, Cal Fire and the American Red Cross, with the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters. Displays will also be offered with home fire safety and safety information materials. San Miguel fire trucks and a brush clearing truck will also be on display.
June 2, 2022 (La Mesa) – Wedding attire can leave many betrothed couples with sticker shock. So Goodwill’s La Mesa retail store is hosting a special event offering wedding wear – including gowns by brand-name designers, some with original tags still attached. Items available include bridal gowns, dresses for bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride and flower girls. You’ll also find jewelry, shoes, gloves, bowties, tiaras and wedding décor items.
June 2, 2022 (El Cajon) – An El Cajon Police dog was stabbed in the head yesterday by a knife-wielding suspect who also charged at an officer, says Lt. Nick Sprecco with the El Cajon Police Department.
June 2, 2022 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego on Wednesday kicked off its 2022 Cool Zones program to help San Diegans beat the heat this summer. Cool Zones are free, air-conditioned locations, available throughout the region, where people can go to escape extreme temperatures.
June 1, 2022 (La Mesa) - Helix Water District honored local student artists for their winning Water Is Life posters at an awards ceremony during Helix Water District’s board meeting on May 24, 2022.
Photo, left to right: Allen Carlisle, Outgoing General Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Jeremy Bauer, Acting Deputy Director, Tribal, Intergovernmental and Policy Division, U.S. EPA Region 9, Deven Upadhyay, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, David Gibson, Executive Officer at San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, Joel A. Scalzitti, Board Member, Helix Water District, Bill Pommering, Board President, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Steve Goble, Joint Powers Authority Chair, East County Advanced Water Purification Program, San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, Sandra Kerl, General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority, Jack Simes, Planning Officer, Bureau of Reclamation, Kyle Swanson, Incoming General Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Melissa McChesney, Communications Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Photo courtesy East County Advanced Water Purification Program
June 1, 2022 (Santee) -- East County took a huge step toward greater water reliability and affordability today when regional officials broke ground on the $950 million Advanced Water Purification (AWP) project in Santee.
June 1, 2022 (El Cajon) - As the state and region move closer to critical burning conditions, CAL FIRE San Diego is suspending all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of San Diego and Imperial Counties. This suspension takes effect June 1st, 2022 and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves.
June 1, 2022 (La Mesa) – One of La Mesa’s hidden gems is located in La Mesa’s downtown village and is known for its affordable and trendy ladies resale clothing. Act II is a family owned and operated business owned by Dolores Buller (photo, left)) and her daughter, Deanne Ross (right).
May 31, 2022 (El Cajon) - Throughout the month of June, approximately 4,847 students earning a high school diploma from nine comprehensive high schools, two charter high schools, and three alternative high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District will be donning caps and gowns for commencement exercises. Listed below are the total graduate numbers and the names of the Valedictorians and Salutatorians at each school.
May 31, 2022 (Santee) -- The Santee Summer Concerts are back. After 38 years, concerts in Santee have become a tradition that draw crowds to a local park for free live music.
UPDATE AS OF 5/31: road work has been DELAYED. It has been moved to June 1 due to construction material delays.
Through vehicles detoured at Washington Street and B Street May 8-11
East County News Service
May 5, 2022 (Julian) – Caltrans crews will limit vehicle access to a one-block section of State Route 78 (Main Street)between Washington Street and B Street in Julian starting Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8) at 8 p.m. through Wednesday, May 11 at 5 p.m. for drainage repairs.
May 30, 2022 (San Diego) – After the massacre of 19 children and two teachers in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, four of San Diego’s Congressional representatives, all Democrats, called for legislative action to prevent gun violence. But a fourth, Republican Darrell Issa, offered only thoughts and prayers for the victims.
May 30, 2022 (San Diego) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers, retailers and restaurants not to eat, sell or serve any FreshKampo or HEB brand organic strawberries purchased between March 5 and April 25.
If you ate these berries in the past two weeks and have not been vaccinated against Hepatitis A, you should immediately consult your doctor to get vaccinated, which can prevent infection within 14 days of exposure.
May 29, 2022 (San Diego) -- A Ukrainian refugee who separated from her beloved Pomeranian at the U.S.-Mexico border in order for the dog to complete a required 28-day rabies quarantine, has been reunited with her dog at the San Diego Humane Society on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
Photo: WEE1 Tactical claims their JR-15 .22 caliber long rifle is 20% smaller than a traditional AR-15. Screenshot via YouTube
May 28, 2022 (San Diego) - The man at the gun show lifted a 2.2 pound rifle and pulled back the stock with an audible “chock,” presenting it to the YouTube segment’s host.
May 28, 2022 (San Diego) – Mystery at the Blue Sea Cottage: A True Story of Murder in San Diego’s Jazz Age by James Stewart is a wonderful book for history buffs. The author investigates a real case during the 1920s. A jazz dancer’s body turns up on a San Diego beach.
Twenty-year-old Fritzie Mann was four months pregnant. Did she commit suicide, accidentally drown, or was she murdered?
"I'm just tired of the NRA subordinating children's rights for gun rights," said one gun lobby opponent just three days after the school massacre in Uvalde.
May 28, 2022 (Uvalde, Texas) - In the wake of Tuesday's massacre of 21 students and staff at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, thousands of people protested angrily in Houston Friday to protest outside the National Rifle Association's annual convention to condemn the gun lobby's deep complicity in the nation's mass shooting epidemic.
By CalMatters staff, CalMatters
By Henri Migala
Source: San Diego Sheriff's Department
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies
East County News Service
East County News Service
Motorists advised to allow additional travel time for lane closures and detours
Source: Rancho Helix de Oro Fire Safe Council
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
Source: Helix Water District
By Mike Allen
Source: Cal Fire
By Kylie Dees
Source: Grossmont Union High School District
Source: Santee Summer Concerts
UPDATE AS OF 5/31: road work has been DELAYED. It has been moved to June 1 due to construction material delays.
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
Photo credit: San Diego Humane Society
By Nigel Duara, CalMatters
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh
"I'm just tired of the NRA subordinating children's rights for gun rights," said one gun lobby opponent just three days after the school massacre in Uvalde.
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