A version of this story by Ken Stone was published at Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association. Edited to add statement from Amy Reichart.

Photo:  Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, shown at earlier event, says he will check into an extended inpatient treatment center for post-traumatic stress, trauma and alcohol abuse. Screenshot via Nathan Fletcher YouTube

March 26, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher says he is quitting his campaign for state Senate to focus on his fight with PTSD tracing to his Marine combat days and childhood.

By Shiloh Ireland

Photo: Kate Richardson, Miss Bulls Only Rodeo Queen and Talia Klotzkin, Junior Miss Bulls Only Rodeo Queen

March 26, 2023 (Lakeside) – The journey to be crowned a queen in Lakeside’s Bulls Only Rodeo begins with horsemanship trials and interviews with equestrian judges to the evening of the pageant held at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds. Ten young women vied for the title, include five contestants for Junior Miss Bulls and five competing for Miss Bulls Only Rodeo Queen.

ECM photographed the selection of Miss Bulls Only Rodeo Queen and Junior Miss Bulls Only Rodeo Queen and later interviewed these two 2023 Queens. The Bulls Only Rodeo event is sponsored by the Optimist Club of  Lakeside.

By Jessyka Heredia 

View video: Regular CityCouncil Meeting 3/21/2023

March 25,2023 (Lemon Grove) On Tuesday, Lemon Grove Finance Manager Joseph Ware presented the Mid-Year Budget Review, which projects a substantial surplus.

 “Sales tax is exceeding our expectations,” he informed the City Council, adding that as of January, the projected increae is $500,000. "Sales tax is “by far our biggest revenue,” he said, noting that 35% of the city’s revenue comes from sales tax .

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

March 24, 2023 (Louisville) -  Darrion Trammell and San Diego State used a dominant defensive performance to knock top overall seed Alabama out of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, bottling up All-America freshman Brandon Miller in a 71-64 victory in the Sweet 16.

View video of full interview; Hear audio

March 24, 2023 (San Diego) – Earlier this month, East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery interviewed San Diego County’s new Sheriff, Kelly Martinez, for our radio show on KNSJ.  She’s been in law enforcement since 1985, working her way up the ranks from Deputy Sheriff to Undersheriff before winning election as Sheriff last November. She’s also the first woman to serve as San Diego’s top law enforcement officer. In our interview, she spoke about efforts to improve jails and reduce jail deaths, combat human trafficking and fentanyl overdoses, hold deputies accountable for wrongdoing, address homelessness issues, and expand staffing - including some jobs currently open, and more.

East County News Service

March 23, 2023 (El Cajon) – An 82-year-old man was struck by a Nissan Altima while crossing Greenfield Drive west of Oro Street in unincorporated El Cajon on March 21 at 7:20 p.m.

March 22, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. 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:

U.S.

• Everything you should know about potential Trump indictment (Politico)
• Feds spend $2.4 million on cloud seeding for Colorado River (AP)
• Fed raises rates by a quarter point (CNN)
• Special education clash: Supreme Court sides unanimously for student with disability (USA Today)
• Takeaways from America’s second-largest bank failure (CNN)
• Biden Wants to Expand a Federal Agency’s Power to Go After Failed Bank Execs (GovExec)
• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warns inflation fight will be long and bumpy  (NPR)
• Trump attorney ordered to testify before grand jury investigating former president (CNN)
• Is DeSantis darkening Florida's sunny open-records laws?  (AP)
• Some Wells Fargo Customers Report Missing Deposits — Here's What We Know (NBC San Diego)

WORLD

• War crimes court seeks Putin arrest over deportation of Ukraine's children (Reuters)  
• Mexico kidnapping: A twisted moral code explains cartel's apology (BBC)
• Russia turns to high-tech hypersonic missiles in latest attack on Ukraine (CBS)
• Deadly Matamoros kidnapping has sparked fear among Black migrants, aid workers say (Dallas News)
• Civil society curbs in Russia, China a concern -UN rights chief  (Reuters)

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

East County News Service

PHOTO: Shane Harris, President of the People's Association of Justice Advocates, speaks out as National City Police Chief Jose Tellez, anti-human trafficking advocate Marisa Ugarte, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, National City Mayor Ron Morrison and Abdur Rahim Hameed, President of the National Black Contractors Association, look on.

March 22, 2023 (San Diego) – Civic leaders are urging Governor Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature to repeal Senate Bill 357, a recent law which decriminalized loitering with the intent to sell sex.  Elected officials, police chiefs and civil rights leaders say that far from protecting victims of sex trafficking, the law has created opportunities for perpetrators to exploit vulnerable minors.

At a press conference in late February in San Diego, officials including California Attorney General Bonta, San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit, National City, CA Police Chief Jose Tellez and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan discussed how this law has made it even more difficult to address human trafficking.