December 4, 2021 (Carson, Calif.) - Jordon Brookshire passed for 117 yards for San Diego State, which had its four-game winning streak snapped in the school's most lopsided loss since a 35-point defeat at Ohio State in September 2013. Texas transfer Byron Vaughns won the game's defensive MVP award while leading Utah State's dominant defensive effort in holding the Aztecs to 178 yards and no touchdowns in the first three quarters.
December 4, 2021 (Ann Arbor, Mich.) - Hunter Dickinson had 23 points and 14 rebounds, freshman Caleb Houstan scored a season-high 17 points and No. 24 Michigan beat San Diego State 72-58.
December 4, 2021 (El Cajon) – Within a couple of blocks in downtown El Cajon, you’ll find an array of new boutiques, a salon, galleries, gift stores, a pastry shop and a coffee shop – all brand new.
For your holiday shopping needs, consider supporting our local economy and these new small businesses, many offering unique goods from around the world reflecting the owners’ multicultural backgrounds.
This is part 2 in our series on new local retailers in East County.
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Communnity College District
December 4, 2021 (El Cajon) - Like a shot of Miracle-Gro to a houseplant, Cuyamaca College’s expanded Ornamental Horticulture complex is expected to invigorate the campus flagship program.
December 3, 2021 (San Diego) – The Sheriff’s department has been unable to locate any family members for Earl Benjamin Smith, 63, an inmate at the Vista Detention Facility who died in a hospital on November 23 after falling ill on November 6 while in custody.
Smith was arrested by San Diego Police on April 2 for assault with a deadly weapon.
If you are a relative or family member of Smith, please contact the Medical Examiner's Office at (858) 694-2895.
December 3, 2021 (La Mesa) - Winter sports are upon us and tonight, ECM Sports traveled to Grossmont High School, where the Cougars of Steele Canyon met the Foothillers on the pitch for a good old-fashioned game of soccer. The Hillers have had a rocky start to the season, starting 0-2. The Cougars are just getting started with their season, playing their first game tonight.
"These types of extraction operations pose an inherent risk to public safety.” --Shelly S. Howe, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Agency
Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency
December 3, 2021 (El Cajon) -- Yesterday the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotic Task Force and El Cajon Police Department executed a state search warrant at a warehouse at 1478 Fayette Street in El Cajon. Investigators uncovered an active and sophisticated hexane hash oil extraction laboratory operation.
December 3, 2021 (San Diego) – On December 10, the San Diego Regional Association of Governments (SANDAG) board will consider the proposed Regional Transportation Plan. But a per-mile tax proposed to fund the plan’s ambitious goals has run into strong opposition from residents and political leaders in East County, as ECM previously reported. Although SANDAG’s board voted in favor of the tax in late October, today SANDAG’s top leaders--San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear and National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis--announced that they will ask SANDAG staff to provide funding alternatives for the county’s Regional Transportation Plan that do not rely on a county-imposed road usage charge.
December 3, 2021 (Santee) -- Lantern Crest Senior Living is hosting its annual drive-through Holiday Light Extravaganza featuring thousands of twinkling lights throughout its 34-acre East San Diego property! Cocoa and snacks will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the Lantern Crest Foundation. The event takes place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Thursday, Dec. 2 to Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 (12 nights to choose from!).
November 24, 2021 (San Diego) -- I have been to the Sistine Chapel in Rome several times. The first time was when the frescos were still dark and covered with centuries of candle wax, soot and grime, and then again after the restoration brought out the original vibrant colors. But I have never seen Michelangelo’s frescos with as much clarity and intimate detail as when standing beside the life-sized reproductions at the Sistine Chapel Exhibit in Mission Valley on exhibit now through January 16.
When Pope Julius, in 1508, tasked Michelangelo with painting the Sistine Chapel, the sculptor was very resistant, because he did not consider himself a painter. But it was precisely this masterpiece, or maybe more precisely, the many masterpieces, of the Sistine Chapel that the artist is best remembered. Covering over 5,000 square feet and depicting 343 religious figures, the Sistine Chapel artwork took Michelangelo four years to complete and is one of the greatest artistic achievements of all humankind.
December 2, 2021 --- The 2021 Hotel del Coronado’s Christmas lights have debuted a new look --- shimmering, color-changing lights that resemble a castle. Their historic Norfolk Island Pines, located on their front Founders Lawn, draped with lights, created that illusion.
“It looked like an Emerald City,” said visitor Jeff Nelson. “I was shocked to find out the lights were suspended on pine trees that have been there forever.”
According to staff this is the first year with this particular display noting they used a new contractor for the project.
The lights, named “At First Light” lightshow spectacular, feature lights that are draped over the historic pine trees that also include a coordinated music show and snow flurries.
In addition to the "castle" the hotel is also decorated with thousands of lights on multiple roofs, buildings, fences and more.
Two key features of new facility will bear the Sycuan name.
By SDSU News Team
December 2, 2021 (San Diego) – The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and Sycuan Casino Resort will be San Diego State University’s inaugural Founding Partner for the new Aztec Stadium at SDSU Mission Valley, the university has announced.
By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office
Image credit: Shutterstock
December 2, 2021 (San Diego) -- While the state’s first COVID-19 case caused by the Omicron variant has been detected in Northern California in a traveler from South Africa, San Diego County health officials are urging people to continue following existing guidance.
December 2, 2021 (El Cajon) – Stellar musicians will rock the night onstage at The Magnolia in downtown El Cajon this week, including Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac fame on Friday, December 3 at 8 p.m. Then on Monday, December 6 at 8 p.m., renown artists Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn and Sara Watkins will perform together in concert.
Collection can save 723 lives saved and provide 3,913 meals
December 2, 2021 (La Mesa) – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, blood supply is critically low and new donations are continuously needed to help local patients. To help fill that need, San Diego County Credit Union teamed up with the San Diego Blood Bank and San Diego Food bank to hold the SDCCU Holiday Bowl Blood and Food at Grossmont Center in La Mesa on Thursday, November 18. The event collected a total of 4,215 pounds of food which is equivalent to 3,913 meals, and over 241 pints of blood, which will impact 723 lives throughout San Diego County.
“SDCCU is proud to support the SDCCU Holiday Bowl Blood and Food Drive benefitting the San Diego Blood Bank and San Diego Food Bank,” said Teresa Campbell, SDCCU president and CEO. “We are delighted by the amount of donations collected from our giving community members as we know it will help many people in need this holiday season.”
December 1, 2021 (El Cajon) – A man who reportedly threatened another person with a gun during a domestic violence dispute in City Heights early this morning fled the scene when San Diego Police officers arrived shortly after 7 a.m.
The suspect, who was driving a white SUV, led officers on a high speed pursuit first to Kearny Mesa. California Highway Patrol joined the chase but halted when speeds reached up to 100 miles per hour near a school, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
December 1, 2021 (San Francisco) - California will increase COVID-19 testing of some airport travelers after a passenger flying to San Francisco International Airport from South Africa was identified as the first known case of the omicron variant in the United States.
Photo, left: Mayor Bill Wells lights menorah in El Cajon
December 1, 2021 (El Cajon) — Even the most thought-out plans can be derailed by a last-minute change, especially when a leader falls ill. This wasn’t true for the Chabad of East County on Sunday, though, as they pulled off their first night of Hanukkah event at the El Cajon Civic Center without a hitch, despite the absence of Rabbi Rafi Andrusier and his wife Chaya, who tested positive for COVID-19 the day before.
They are both vaccinated, have mild cases, and will be back to normal soon — but instead of floundering in the unexpected changeup, a team of ten Chabad volunteers filled the void right away to execute the plans with the Rabbi’s virtual support. The event drew a large crowd two years ago but was skipped last year due to the pandemic — so it was all the more important for everyone to hold the tradition this year.
November 30, 2021 (San Diego) – The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld California’s ban on large-capacity gun ammunition magazines, overturning a lower court ruling. Gun rights advocates had taken aim at a 2016 law and a similar ballot initiative passed overwhelmingly by the state’s voters in an effort to reduce mass casualties from assault-style weapons.
November 30, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) - The House of Representatives today passed legislation co-led by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) to reauthorize Johanna’s Law, which supports federal campaigns to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers among patients and health care providers. In committee and on the floor of the House, the legislation was approved with unanimous bipartisan support.
November 30, 2021 (Ramona) – John Romeo, 57, a convicted felon seen leaving the vicinity of a shooting in Ramona, has been arrested on charges of illegally possessing a handgun and drug possession. He has not been charged in the shooting because the woman injured has refused to tell deputies how she sustained the wound, says Sergeant Jared Anderson.
On November 29 shortly after 4:30 p.m., deputies at the Ramona Sheriff’s station responded to a call reporting a woman had been shot at her home in the 2100 block of Walnut Street. They found her in the front yard with an apparent gunshot wound on her leg.
Photo: A San Diego Unified student is vaccinated in school. Courtesy of the district
November 29, 2021 (San Diego) - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a last-minute injunction Sunday temporarily preventing the San Diego Unified School District‘s COVID-19 vaccine mandate from going into effect in December.
November 28, 2021 (Spring Valley) – Two homes in Spring Valley were destroyed yesterday by a fire started from a propane barbecue grill.
The blaze on San Bernadino Avenue near Date Street in La Presa started around 12:30 p.m. The grill was reportedly left unattended and flames caught wood siding on fire, San Miguel Fire & Rescue division chief Andy Lawler told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Residents, unable to locate a fire extinguisher, called 911.
November 28, 2021 (San Diego) -- I remember as a young firefighter responding on a structure fire in the south end of town. Upon arrival we had a single-story, single-family dwelling with heavy smoke from the bravo side. My Captain told me to pull a pre-connect and make entry. RIT teams, two in, two out were not policy.
November 28, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Angel Gaspar Gallegos, 12, a student at Parkway Middle School in La Mesa, was killed on Thanksgiving night by a bullet while playing with cousins in his aunt’s backyard in the Skyline neighborhood.
November 28, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- This is the time of year when many people will be picking out this year’s Christmas tree. Remember these safety tips when you choose your tree and throughout the holiday season.
SELECTING YOUR TREE - Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
PLACING YOUR TREE - Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk.
November 28, 2021 (Lemon Grove) – Help bring joy to families in need by donating a new, unwrapped toy (or several) to the Lemon Grove Toy Drive from Nov. 23 through Dec. 16. The toy drive is sponsored by Kids Fashion Week Network So-Cal along with Lemon Grove Lions Club and Improving Lemon Grove.
November 28, 2021 (La Mesa) - Once upon a time, before scrolling through your social media feed, before television, in a simpler time, there was radio--with only a couple of options to choose from. But the family came together and listened. Lamplighter's theatre presents "The 1940s Radio Hour," a musical by Walton Jones touching on the nostalgia of the era. The play is a soothing and peaceful interlude among the chaos of the holiday season’s hustle and bustle.
Source: goaztecs.com
Source: goaztecs.com
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Communnity College District
By Miriam Raftery
Story and photos by Liz Alper
"These types of extraction operations pose an inherent risk to public safety.” --
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
Two key features of new facility will bear the Sycuan name.
By 
By Miriam Raftery
Collection can save 723 lives saved and provide 3,913 meals 
Sophia Ramos paced the Aztecs with 19 points
By Miriam Raftery
By Kristen Hwang, CalMatters
By Miriam Raftery
Source: Congressman Darryl Issa
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
East County News Service
Heartland Fire & Rescue
East County News Service
By Kathy Carpenter
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