Following a competitive nationwide search that drew more than 300 applicants, Sanford was selected to succeed James Sly, who departed late last year to lead the Grossmont Healthcare District. Sanford officially will start on March 23.
"Honored to join San Diego East County EDC and looking forward to this next chapter, supporting East County businesses and shaping the ecosystem for what’s to come," Sanford wrote on his LinkedIn page on Thursday.
Sanford arrives with nearly 20 years of experience in the San Diego County economic landscape. His resume includes a recent tenure as the Economic Development Director for the City of Carlsbad, overseeing business attraction, retention strategies and an annual budget of more than $1 million.
February 26, 2026 (El Cajon) -- Last week, the Cajon Valley Union School District Board of Trustees voted to increase its monthly compensation from $630 to $2,000 — the maximum amount permitted under state law for a district of its size. That figure does not include their taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits.
By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office
February 26, 2026 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Registrar of Voters office has mailed more than two million postcards to the County’s registered voters, outlining voting options for the June 2 Gubernatorial Primary Election.
Padilla and Schiff secure $26 million in federal funding for San Luis Rey Flood Control Project to support Oceanside’s flood mitigation efforts and to protect residents, businesses, and infrastructure
East County News Service
February 26, 2026 (San Diego) -- U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that he secured over $32 million in federal funding for seven projects across San Diego through Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills, including the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College district in East County.
Feb. 26, 2026 (Poway) -- Valentine's Day is in the rear-view mirror but the Poway Symphony Orchestra is going to keep love alive, sweeping audiences into the heart of the Romantic era in March.
The orchestra's "Mendelssohn Classics" will be performed in a concert that starts at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 22, at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.
Poway Symphony Orchestra, a 65-member ensemble, will perform under the baton of Conductor and Music Director John LoPiccolo.
Ensemble leadership said that the afternoon will showcase two of Felix Mendelssohn’s most enduring masterworks, headlined by internationally acclaimed guest violinist YuEun Gemma Kim.
Feb. 26, 2026 (San Diego County) -- The American Red Cross is turning a routine blood donation into a lifesaving health diagnostic in March.
Amid a severe national blood shortage which saw supply levels plummet by 35% in early 2026 due to winter blizzards and a heavy flu season the organization is offering a dual incentive: a $15 Amazon Gift Card and a free A1C test for all successful donations between March 1 and March 31.
The move comes as new data reveals a startling trend: 1 in 5 blood donors -- individuals who are generally considered healthy enough to give -- are walking around with elevated A1C levels.
February 26, 2026 (San Diego) - The City of San Diego has abruptly discontinued its Media Identification Card (Press Pass) Program and the blue parking placards that for decades helped local journalists cover breaking news safely and in real time. The change, effective February 13, is being framed by San Diego Police Department as an administrative modernization effort. But to many working reporters, photographers, and editors, the practical effect is simple: less access, more friction, and a new discretionary landscape in which on-scene decision-making can tilt against the press, especially when coverage is critical.
Feb. 26, 2026 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department is sounding the alarm to the community about rising thefts of recent models of Jeeps.
The police department shares that residents in La Mesa as well as surrounding East County neighborhoods need to be informed of a sophisticated spike in vehicle thefts targeting high-end, newer-model Jeeps.
They say that thieves are pivoting from traditional "smash-and-grab" tactics to high-tech electronic hacking that allows them to drive away in a stolen vehicle in under three minutes.
The primary targets are 2020 and newer Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Rubicons.
Unlike older theft methods that involved hotwiring or physical damage, tech-savvy criminals are using portable electronic devices often marketed as locksmith tools to bypass security. By accessing the vehicle's On-Board Diagnostic port, thieves can communicate directly with the car's computer.
Once connected, the device "tricks" the vehicle into thinking a new key is being programmed. Within moments, the thief has a fully functional electronic key fob, allowing them to start the push-to-start engine and drive away without ever having the original key.
February 25, 2026 (Dulzura) – An unidentified male driver of a 2009 Nissan Cube has died in a hospital of injuries sustained February 23 around 2:55 p.m. He was driving eastbound on State Route 94, west of Little Tecate Road in Dulzura, when he veered into ongoing traffic and struck a 2003 Dodge Ram driven by a man, 57, from Tecate, Mexico.
February 25, 2026 (Crest) – The Crest Dehesa Granite Hills Harbison Canyon Planning Group is seeking public input on the safety of La Cresta Road, following a recent fatal head-on collision in Crest.
Josefina Sanchez, 72, was killed by an alleged drunk driver in the crash Feb. 11, 2026 while visiting her son in Crest. She was in town to mourn the death of her husband who passed away 12 days earlier in Mexico.
Photo: screenshot of Meta’s Ray Ban AI Glasses analysis by Surfshark
February 25, 2026 (San Diego) — AI in the United States has the potential for great power and change in the nation. It is very much a new “wild west,” and because there are no significant guardrails, there is great danger from it facing human beings when privacy and identity is confronted. The new AI glasses, for example, are a potential danger to school safety and academic honesty.
At least 3,800 children have been booked into ICE detention between January 2025 and early 2026. Families have expressed anxiety over “haunting and taunting” by federal agents who patrol or park near schools near school zones during drop-off and pick up times for their children.
As of February 9, 2026, ICE has arrested roughly 393,000 individuals since January 21, 2025. Locally, being the San Diego and Imperial counties, immigration arrests surged by 1,500% between late 2025 and early 2026.
February 25, 2026 (San Diego) -- Alain Lescart, a resident of San Diego, entered his latest fairy story in the San Diego Public Library Author Showcase: The Bloodstones of Power: The Norwesis Chronicles, Book 3.
Gnome Jebeddo digs underground, but his way out collapses. When he wakes, he is in a cave inhabited by an enormous dragon.
Photo by Miriam Raftery: Bishop Shaleta in May 2024 at opening of incubator business center for refugees and immigrants in El Cajon
February 25, 2026 (El Cajon) – Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta, the top official at St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego Chaldean church in El Cajon, is under investigation by the Sheriff’s fraud unit for alleged “financial mishandling” of funds. NBC 7, an ECM news partner, reports that the Sheriff’s office confirmed an investigation has been launched after an article in The Pillar, a Catholic media outlet, raised allegations of possible embezzlement as well as personal improprieties including visits to a brothel in Tijuana.
February 24, 2026 (Washington D.C.) -- Three Senate Democrats released legislation on Monday, February 23 that would mandate refunds of tariffs paid under President Donald Trump's higher duties that The Supreme Court struck down on Friday, February 20, according to CNBC.
The legislation, led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), and Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) follows the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision that ruled against a majority of Trump's tariffs.
"Trump's illegal tax scheme has already done lasting damage to American families, small businesses and manufacturers who have been hammered by wave after wave of new Trump tariffs," Wyden said in a statement, according to CNBC.
February 24, 2026 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove Lions Club and Lemon Grove Forward Club, organizations devoted to volunteering and supporting the local community, will be hosting a Chili Cookoff on March 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at VFW Post 2082, 2885 Lemon Grove Ave, Lemon Grove, 91945. Admission to the event is $30 and proceeds will go toward the Lions Club’s local service projects.
Scrrenshot, left, of Escondido City Council meeting from Feb. 18 courtesy city of Escondido website video
By Karen Pearlman
Feb. 24, 2026 (Escondido) -- The city of Escondido is bracing for a charged City Council meeting tomorrow (Feb. 25), as elected officials prepare to publicly look at a quietly renewed agreement allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to train at a city-owned firing range — a contract some say they never knew existed.
The open session part of the meeting starts at 5 p.m. at first item on the City Council agenda is a presentation by Escondido Chief of Police Ken Plunkett, which will center around the Escondido Police Department firing range and corresponding contracts.
Before the City Council meeting at Escondido City Council Chambers, 201 North Broadway in Escondido, a rally and press conference led by Escondido Indivisible is scheduled for outside City Hall asking the city to cancel the contract with ICE.
February 23, 2026 (San Pasqual Valley) – Who knew that giraffes sleep only 5 to 30 minutes a day, while standing up? Or that some flamingos are white, not pink, to stay cool during extreme heat? Those are just some of the fun facts my husband and I learned while visiting the San Diego Safari Park on Saturday, taking advantage of free admission for seniors age 60 and up (with ID proof of age) throughout February.
February 23, 2026 (Spring Valley) – Shortly before noon today, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office was made aware of a school threat at Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley. The campus' School Resource Deputy was contacted by the school's administration, referencing a threatening phone call they received. The high school was immediately placed on "secure campus" status.
Feb. 23, 2026 (Ramona) — A bobcat kitten was returned to her native habitat yesterday (Feb. 22) after undergoing four months of intensive medical treatment at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center.
The release marked the end of a recovery process that began under critical conditions. On Oct. 14, 2025, a gardener discovered the kitten in a San Clemente landscape. At the time, the young bobcat was suffering from severe emaciation, anemia and mange.
“I love Lemon Grove, and I always like to think the glass is half full, not half empty.” - David Eckler, newly appointed Lemon Grove planning commissioner.
Photo by Armando Rasing II: The Lemon Grove City Council introducing the new planning commission candidates one-by-one on Tuesday night
By Armando Rasing II
February 23, 2026 (Lemon Grove) - David Eckler and Jennifer Morrisey were chosen by the Lemon Grove City Council on Tuesday to fill the two vacancies in the city’s Planning Commission.
Eckler and Morrisey were unanimously both voted into the commission. Eckler was voted into the longer first term role, with his term beginning on Tuesday and ending June 30, 2027. Morrisey was voted into the shorter first term role, with her term also beginning on Tuesday and ending on June 30, 2026.
February 23, 2026 (Spring Valley) – Andres Sandoval, 47, has been arrested for reportedly sexually assaulting two women Saturday morning near the 3100 block of Bancroft Drive in Spring Valley.
“A passerby observed Sandoval sexually battering the two women and intervened to stop him,” says Sergeant Timothy Clark with the Sheriff’s Rancho San Diego station.
The mayor and city officials outline planned actions to benefit the community
February 23, 2026 (El Cajon) — El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells addressed public safety, homelessness, the economy and more during his State of the City address February 3 at the Ronald Reagan Community Center. The mayor recapped progress made in 2025, addressed challenges and outlined goals for 2026.
Feb. 22, 2026 (San Diego) — If Saturday night’s match at Snapdragon Stadium was any indication of the 2026 season, San Diego FC has no intention of experiencing a sophomore slump.
Behind efficient play and tactical dominance, and five different players scoring, SDFC opened its second Major League Soccer campaign with a 5-0 victory over CF Montréal.
Before a boisterous crowd of 25,412, SDFC picked up exactly it they left off after its historic 2025 inaugural season.
Saturday's tilt was a showcase of SDFC’s depth and collective strength. The scoring began in the 14th minute when defender Christopher McVey connected with a corner kick from forward Anders Dreyer, burying a header.
By Karen Pearlman, with photos by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery
Feb. 22, 2026 (San Diego County) -- With an early wildflower bloom in Borrego, now is a perfect time for a day trip through San Diego County’s beautiful backcountry, including mountain and desert destinations.
Making the pilgrimage to the destination that is the Anza-Borrego Desert area can also include stops along the way there, and back, especially if you take a different way to your starting point.
When you arrive, the park has two visitor centers where you can get wildflower maps and information on current wildflower blooms, trails and more. The the main visitor center is at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s headquarters at 200 Palm Canyon Drive but there’s also one inside a shop on Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs at 587 Palm Canyon Drive.
February 21, 2026 (Descanso) – A man killed in a solo motorcycle crash in Descanso on February 8 has been identified as Fernando Omar Herrera, 39, of San Diego.
The motorcycle he was driving veered off the roadway on Viejas Blvd. at Merigan Fire Rd. and struck a wire fence around 11:05 p.m. Responding paramedics provided potentially lifesaving measures to no avail; he was pronounced dead at 11:38 p.m. from head and neck injuries.
Photo: The cellar room of Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles on July 30, 2025. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
February 20, 2026 (Sacramento) - In a major blow against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that he does not have the authority to impose the wide-ranging tariffs that have caused economic uncertainty in the state, nation and beyond.
Feb. 20, 2026 (San Diego County) — There's one week left to tell San Diego County officials what you want to see, including ways they can better pull back the proverbial curtain on local government.
With a comprehensive survey launched earlier this year, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors -- Paloma Aguirre (District 1), Joel Anderson (D2), Terra Lawson-Remer (D3), Monica Montgomery Steppe (D4) and Jim Desmond (D5) -- are looking at a public outreach initiative aimed at reimagining how the public interacts with the group tasked with governing the county's $8 billion-plus budget.
The survey can be accessed here, with a Feb. 27 deadline for input.
Feb. 20, 2026 (San Diego County) — As the April income tax filing deadline looms, State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-SD) will serve up a unique blend of financial relief and local flavor next month.
Weber Pierson's office on Saturday, March 14, is hosting "Tacos & Taxes" at the Jackie Robinson YMCA. The event offers qualifying San Diego County residents a chance to secure professional tax assistance -- along with some free tacos.
February 19, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) –A winter storm advisory remains in effect for San Diego’s mountain areas, with additional snow and rain forecast through early Friday morning.
From Monday through Wednesday evening, the storm system dropped three inches of snow on Mt. Laguna, with snow even along Interstate 8 from Alpine east to the county line.
Other areas had heavy rains including 5.92 inches at Lake Cuyamaca and 4.82 inches in Julian.
East County News Service
By Alex Welling
By 
Padilla and Schiff secure $26 million in federal funding for San Luis Rey Flood Control Project to support Oceanside’s flood mitigation efforts and to protect residents, businesses, and infrastructure
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Paul Levikow
By Alexander J. Schorr
By Alexander J. Schorr
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh
East County News Service
By G. A. McNeeley 
Source: Lemon Grove Lions
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
“I love Lemon Grove, and I always like to think the glass is half full, not half empty.” - David Eckler, newly appointed Lemon Grove planning commissioner.
East County News Service
By Kevin A. Green 
Photo courtesy San Diego FC Instagram
By Karen Pearlman, with photos by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Levi Sumagaysay, CalMatters
East County News Service 
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
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