By Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  members of the California Faculty Association. Image from CFA Facebook page

January 14, 2024 (San Diego) - The faculty union of the California State University is planning a week of strikes across the 23 campuses Jan. 22 – 26 after the system said that it would provide 5% raises to members, far below what the union is seeking.

By Mike Allen

December 13, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)--The Padre Dam Municipal Water District says it has filed a lawsuit against one of its biggest customers, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, over allegedly taking water through unmetered lines without paying for it.

“We have one of the highest paid superintendents in the state of California, so why are test scores continuing to tank? “ – Alex Welling

By Miriam Raftery

November 25, 2023 (El Cajon) – In an exclusive interview, Alex Welling, candidate running for the Trustee area 5 seat on the Cajon Valley Union School District board of trustees, speaks out. He’s concerned about respecting parents’ rights, increasing transparency, improving low standardized test scores, and holding staff accountable. He has also called for an audit of district finances.

He’s a conservative challenging board  chairman Jim Miller; both are Republicans. Welling has a master’s in legal studies as well as bachelor’s degrees in political science and government.  He’s the communications manager of wildfire resiliency for SDG&E and previously served a public communications officer for SANDAG and as field director for the American Action Network devoted to free market principals. He’s also served on the city of Chula Vista’s board of ethics.

View video  of East County Magazine’s interview,  hear audio aired on KNSJ Radio, or scroll down for highlights.

A new law requires K-12 schools to add media literacy to curriculum for English language arts, science, math and history-social studies. Among the lessons will be recognizing fake news.

By Carolyn Jones, Cal Matters

Photo:  St. HOPE Public School 7 Elementary in Sacramento used some of its stimulus funds to buy laptops for students. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

 November 15,2023 (Sacramento, CA) -- Pushing back against the surge of misinformation online, California will now require all K-12 students to learn media literacy skills — such as recognizing fake news and thinking critically about what they encounter on the internet. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom last month signed Assembly Bill 873, which requires the state to add media literacy to curriculum frameworks for English language arts, science, math and history-social studies, rolling out gradually beginning next year. Instead of a stand-alone class, the topic will be woven into existing classes and lessons throughout the school year.

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full video here

October 15, 2023 (El Cajon)-- A group of community members came to address the Cajon Valley School District at their monthly board meeting Tuesday due to policy changes on the agenda that would shift Superintendent  David Miyashiro’s evaluation to private session without the public in attendance, leaving the public unable to comment on or express criticism.

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2023  (San Diego)—After the Hamas terror attacks in Israel in which more than 1,200 Israelis have died including children slaughtered,  Israel has retaliated with air strikes in Gaza,  urging residents to leave as Israeli forces shut off power, water and fuel until dozens of Israeli hostages are freed.  The crisis has sparked fear in local residents for family and friends in both Israel and Palestine.

This week,  students at local universities staged rallies and protests for people in both Israel and Palestine.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Screenshot of Indigenous People’s Day video posted by San Diego Miramar College on Facebook.

October 10, 2023 (San Diego) -- Indigenous People’s cultural awareness day was celebrated in different ways in San Diego County in 2023. Here are some of the events and activities that took place:

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians hosted an all-day event that included tellings of the tribe’s cultural stories and exhibitions of the tribe’s art and craftsmanship. There were also traditional foods available throughout the park. There was an opening blessing ceremony at 10 a.m., a closing prayer at 4 p.m., and live music performed by members of the San Pasqual band.

At San Diego Miramar College, there was an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration with free frybread tacos and a musical performance by the Soaring Eagles of Southern California.

By Cecilie Shamanow

October 4, 2023 (El Cajon) – The TV/Film studio at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon has been decommissioned, raising concerns from a taxpayer watchdog. The Career Technical Studio was built and supplied with state-of-the-art equipment using bond money provided by the taxpayers of East County as well as grant money. The TV/Film class was designed to allow students to gain hands-on experience in filming, editing and broadcasting.

Hear audio aired on KNSJ Radio

View video of interview with Jay Steiger (Note: Max Coston, whose name appears on screen, is Steiger's campaign manager)

September 27, 2023 (San Diego's East County)-- Jay Steiger is running for the Grossmont Union High School Board in Trustee Area 2,  Steiger is a middle school teacher who graduated from Monte Vista High School in the Grossmont District and he’s a parent of two children who graduated from Grossmont High School. In an exclusive interview, he shares his goals to assure a 21st century education for students and assure that all students, staff and teachers are treated with respect and inclusivity.

Steiger says he’s running because extremists have targeted school boards in the 2024 election, and he wants to prioritize students’ wellbeing and education over extremist policies he believes could harm our community.

By Ken Stone,Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  On Sept. 12, Christian High School forfeited a girls volleyball game. Rumors included the presence of a lesbian player for Helix.

September 26, 2023 (La Mesa) - After Christian High School of El Cajon abruptly forfeited a girls varsity volleyball match with Helix Charter High School, the La Mesa school’s athletic director sought in vain to learn why.

By Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 14, 2023 (San Diego) --The Tuberculosis Program in the Public Health Services (PHS) department, of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, in collaboration with San Diego State University (SDSU) and Aztec Shops are working closely to notify employees potentially exposed to tuberculosis (TB) on the SDSU campus, primarily at the Charles B. Bell Jr., Pavilion. Exposures to the general public, SDSU students and faculty, and to other employees are considered to be limited.

The dates of potential exposure are from Feb. 16, 2023 to June 22, 2023. Those known to have been potentially exposed have been directly notified and have been provided direction from health officials. People sick with TB may be sick for many months before they are diagnosed, and as such, exposure periods can be long.

TB is an airborne disease that is transmitted from person-to-person through inhalation of the bacteria from the air. The chance of infection is higher for people with prolonged indoor exposure to a person who is sick with TB.

Chronic absenteeism has always been at its worst in lower grades. Now that rates have exploded, it’s an even greater cause for concern.

by Jakob McWhinney, Voice of San Diego

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 26, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- San Diego County Probation officers partnered with STAR/PAL, a nonprofit youth organization at its Back-to-School event passing out 450 backpacks and supplies to help students start the school year off right.

By Miriam Raftery

August 23, 2023  (Washington D.C.) – On Tuesday, the Biden launched an application for a new student loan repayment plan called the SAVE Plan, or  Saving on a Valuable Education Plan. Borrowers can sign up and learn details at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan .

This is a revised plan after an earlier effort to forgive student loans was blocked by the Supreme Court, though Republicans have also filed a challenge to the new plan.

The new SAVE plan calculates repayment based on the borrower’s income family size. According to the White House fact sheet, it will cut many borrowers’ monthly payments to zero,  save others around  $1,000 a year,  and prevent balances from growing because of unpaid interest. 

Specifically, the SAVE plan will: