April 4, 2025 (La Mesa) – Cailin Acosta spotted these playful opossums on the fence in her La Mesa yard.
“I was super excited, but my 12 year old twins were not impressed, ha,” she writes. “I did reach out and touch its fur. It was crispy, like a Bristol scrub, so interesting!”
Photo: Slugging star Fernando Tatis Jr., courtesy of San Diego Padres
April 4, 2025 (San Diego) --- With seven consecutive wins to start the 2025 season, the San Diego Padres got off to their franchise-best start since they launched in 1969 as an expansion Major League Baseball club.
Although the team lost to the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Friday, April 4, in the opener of a three-game series in Chicago, the Padres were riding high as one of the two hottest and only undefeated teams in MLB – both in the National League West Division.
The Padres were perfect through the first week of the season after sweeping the Atlanta Braves over four games followed by a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians at Petco Park. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers were ahead, with an 8-0 record going into a three-game series in Philadelphia against the Phillies.
April 4, 2025 (San Diego) – “We don’t have a democracy if we don’t participate,” said Dolores Huerta, 95, a historic leader of the farmworkers’ movement along with the late Cesar Chavez. Huerta, who has since founded her own foundation for social advocacy, made the remarks in a speech at Gomez Trial Lawyers in downtown San Diego on March 24, where the law firm gave a $10,000 donation to the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Heuerta spoke of her long history of activism and how she sees new opportunities for new leadership in the civil rights movement.
April 4, 2025 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego is advising people not to eat locally harvested mussels, clams, scallops or oysters that were not purchased from a state-certified commercial shellfish harvester or dealer.
April 4, 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:
Photo: Dan Denham, CEO, San Diego County Water Authority
April 4, 2025 (Santee) -- There’s no doubt that customers of Padre Dam Water District, already paying among the highest rates in the nation, will pay even more for the coming year. It’s just a matter of how much.
April 4, 2025 (Lakeside) – A series of events in late April honor Lakeside’s Wild West heritage—include the Lakeside Rodeo, Lakeside Western Days Parade, and a Western Days Breakfast.
Two Democratic candidates vying for the District 1 seat want the county to delay its budget approval until after the seat is filled.
By Lisa Halverstadt and Jim Hinch, Voice of San Diego
April 4, 2025 (San Diego) - Two Democratic candidates for supervisor are urging the county to delay its annual budget vote until after a now-vacant District 1 seat is filled. That push appears unlikely to garner needed support from a sitting board majority but a 2-2 political split on the county board may mean the candidates get their wish by default.
April 4, 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:
April 3, 2025 (La Mesa)— A new chapter in health education access will begin in East County on April 7 as the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) unveils its new Mobile Outreach Library (MOL) during a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony at District headquarters at 9001 Wakarusa Street in La Mesa at 9:00 a.m. The launch coincides with the beginning of National Library Week and celebrates the District’s continued commitment to bridging healthcare and information gaps for all its residents.
April 2, 2025 (San Diego) -- Immigrants' rights groups are speaking out against the Trump administration's decision to start requiring people who did not enter with a visa to register with the federal government - a first step toward deportation. Immigrants would have to carry proof of their registration at all times, or risk criminal prosecution.
Photos: Left: GEA President James Messina, Kristen LoPrell.and Noah Green.
Right: Leadership associates Rich Thome and William Banning
April 2, 2025 (El Cajon) -- On March 31 at 4:00 p.m., the GUHSD Governing Board convened a special meeting to discuss the hiring process of a new superintendent to replace the retiring Mike Fowler. The meeting was held at the Grossmont High School Event Theatre where Board President Dr. Gary Woods called to order the agenda for discussion, and Senior Executive Assistant Jodi Hostetler introduced rules for speaking. Attendees were required to obtain a ticket for participation in the audience chamber.
Multiple weekly protests are also planned against Trump, Musk and Issa, including in East County
East County News Service
April 2, 2025 (San Diego) – A coalition of over 100 organizations are joining together for “Hands Off!” rallies nationwide to stand up against the “destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies.”
April 2, 2025 (El Cajon) – A coalition of advocacy groups and El Cajon residents held a press conference today outside El Cajon City Hall to denounce the March 27 immigration raid on a painting company in the unincorporated part of El Cajon.
El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell, in response to a request for comment from ECM, stated via email, “El Cajon staff (police, management, elected officials, etc.), had no involvement in the Federal law enforcement action that took place outside the city limits last week. I learned about the event when I saw a media alert. Further, the City's involvement would have been a violation of Prop 47 and we are committed to abiding the law.”
But speakers called for “accountability” from the Mayor and three councilmembers who recently voted on a resolution to allow the city’s police to cooperate with federal immigration officials regarding undocumented immigrants in the city accused or convicted of crimes.
Latinos en Acción and the National Day Labor Organizing Network also submitted a public records request to the city seeking all communications of city elected officials and employees with U.S. Customs and Immigration (ICE), the Dept. of Homeland Security, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, the San Diego County Sheriff, State Senator Brian Jones, and the anti-immigrant group America First Legal between Nov. 2024 and the present regarding enforcement of immigration law, the immigration enforcement resolution, and the immigration raid.
April 2, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego denizen and resident Richard L. Carrico pieces fragments of evidence together for cold cases, while shedding light on a dark chapter in San Diego's history.
April 1, 2025 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon is excited to announce the launch of a new online dashboard, providing residents with real-time updates on the progress of the City Council’s 2025 Action Plan. This innovative tool offers transparency and insight into the City’s priorities and ongoing initiatives. Residents can explore the dashboard at https://www.elcajon.gov/your-government/elected-officials/2025-city-council-action-plan
SWAT officers fatally shot 59-year-old man holding pest control worker at gunpoint
By G. A. McNeeley
April 1, 2025 (Miramar Ranch) — On March 25, at about 12:09 p.m., San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officers responded to a report of a man pointing a handgun at construction workers and then at a pest control officer in the 11600 block of Angelique Street in San Diego’s Miramar Ranch neighborhood.
Photo: Padre Dam Municipal Water District board members Kim Hales (who represents Alpine) and Suzanne Till share information with ratepayers on Sunday afternoon, March 30, at The Alpine Club.
April 1, 2025 (Alpine) – Just a few days before San Diego County Water Authority will give presentation to the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Wednesday about wholesale water rates in 2026 and 2027, Alpine residents gathered to share some concerns about rate increases, as well as fire safety and water purification.
April 1, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — Some student loan borrowers are seeing their payment plans get suspended, which means their payments are rising. This has to do with changes at the Education Department implemented by President Donald Trump’s Administration.
Approximately 43 million Americans have some kind of student loan debt, according to Newsweek.
The Education Department reported that Americans collectively have $1.5 trillion in student debt nationwide.
Trump has made efforts to dismantle the Education Department, and said that student loan programs could be moved to different agencies if the department is eliminated. Nearly half of all Education Department workers are being laid off, as the agency undergoes major restructuring.
Mayor Snow presented proclamation to Roberto Alvarez, son of plaintiff in landmark legal case
By Karen Pearlman
Photo: mural artist Mario Chacon, by Christina Alvarez
April 1, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Mario Chacon stood near the mural he painted three years ago with two assistants in Lemon Grove, and paused to give some thought on what the artwork represents.
The mural on the side of the building at 7963 Broadway depicts the story of one of the first historic successful public school desegregation cases in the United States.
April 1, 2025 (San Diego) -- Stu Stall, a life-long resident of Coronado, has released a second memoir -- Dark Side: True Stories from a Teenage Pot Smuggler.
April 1,2025 (Rancho San Diego) – Today, the County of San Diego made a surprising announcement it has acquired the former Cottonwood Golf Course site in Rancho San Diego from the developer who planned a sand mining operation on the site.
Residential customers will receive the first two installments of bill credits this month; electric and gas-bill credits total more than $200 per household for 2025.
Source: SDG&E
March 31, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego Gas & Electric® residential customers will get a break on their energy bill, thanks to the California Climate Credit administered by the California Public Utilities Commission as a result of the state’s effort to fight climate change. In April, residential electric customers and qualifying small businesses will see a $81.38 credit on their statement. Residential customers with natural gas will also receive a $54.21 credit on the same statement.
March 30, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Historical Society’s “History Alive” lecture series continues this Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. with local author Sandra Bonura speaking about her new book, Empire Building: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego.
March 30, 2025 (La Mesa) – Bright Star, a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the 1920s and ’40, takes stage at Lamplighters Theatre. The play opens April 18 and runs through May 19.
March 30, 2025 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting that a toddler was not breathing last night at 8:53 p.m. in the11600 block of Camino Del Tierra, Lakeside.
March 29, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Councilmember Laura Lothian will host a town hall community discussion on a battery storage facility proposed on El Paso St. The town hall will take place Wednesday, April 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Brew Coffee Spot, 6101 Lake Murray Blvd.
Heartland Fire Chief Brent Koch, Heartland Acting Fire Marshall Rebecca Winscott, and La Msa Director of Community Development Lynette Santos will also participate in the discussion.
Battery storage facilities are key to expanding renewable energy production such as wind and solar energy, enabling power to be utilized even when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow.
But lithium ion battery storage facilites have also sparked fires, most notably a fire at a large battery storage site in Otay Mesa, where some nearby businesses had to evacuate for two weeks.
March 29, 2025 (Santee) - Mary Hennessy, the 90-something owner of Mary's Donuts, grabs a sweet treat during her business's 40th anniversary bash Saturday morning, March 29.
Hennessy, who plied the donut trade at a Winchell's Donuts, bought the former Zona's Donut Shop with her husband, and opened the original Mary’s Donuts and Coffee in 1984 on Mission Gorge Road in Santee. After a lease dispute with her landlord, Hennessy moved the popular donut spot just a few blocks away to a nearby strip mall along Carlton Hills Boulevard. Hennessy still oversees operations.
March 28, 2025 (San Carlos) – San Carlos resident and ECM reporter Karen Pearlman snapped this photo of a pair of raccoons chased up a tree by her dog,Charlie.
East County News Service
By Alexander J. Schorr
By 
April 4, 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 Mike Allen
East County News Service
Two Democratic candidates vying for the District 1 seat want the county to delay its budget approval until after the seat is filled. 
April 4, 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:
Source: Grossmont Healthcare District
April 4, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.
By Suzanne Potter, California News Service
By Alexander J. Schorr
Multiple weekly protests are also planned against Trump, Musk and Issa, including in East County
Latino and labor groups submit records request on communications between city, ICE and federal officials 
By Richard Carrico
Source: City of El Cajon
SWAT officers fatally shot 59-year-old man holding pest control worker at gunpoint 
Story and photos by Karen Pearlman
By G. A. McNeeley 
Memoir by Stu Stall
Residential customers will receive the first two installments of bill credits this month; electric and gas-bill credits total more than $200 per household for 2025. 
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
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