By Paul Levikow

August 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon City Council was reassured Tuesday about police responses to mental health calls for service after recent news coverage and concerns expressed by County officials. Some changes have been made in the wake of a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that was handed down last year stemming from a fatal encounter with police in Las Vegas with a man experiencing a mental health crisis. The item on the agenda Tuesday was for informational purposes only. No action was required by the City Council.

East County News Service

Image: surveillance photos of the suspect

August 3, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Sheriff’s department seeks public help to identify and find a man wanted for sexual battery of a female jogger, 24, in the 1600 block of Hilton Head Road in the Rancho San Diego community of unincorporated El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) - Four incorporated cities are located in close proximity to each other in the heart of San Diego’s East County: El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee.

Each has its own distinct character, charm, community events and attractions—from a dining district in La Mesa’s historic downtown village to lakes and river parks in Santee, history alive in Lemon Grove, and outdoor festivities in El Cajon’s multicultural downtown district.

Read more about these cities (including unincorporated areas on their outskirts) below.

By Alexander J. Schorr 

“We need public school leadership that we can trust.” —Madeline McCurry-Schmidt, a La Mesa parent and graduate of a GUHSD school

A new promise to keep

July 25, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- All public boards in California are expected to follow the state’s open government laws. But explosive revelations based on public records published by the San Diego Union Tribunesuggested secret meetings and backroom deals involving several Grossmont Union High School district trustees. In response, on July 17, the GUHSD Governing Board took the unusual step of pushing a resolution to follow the Brown Act and district bylaws, which trustees approved unanimously.

By Paul Levikow

Image, left: rendering of future Fire State 18

July 17, 2025 (Crest) – San Miguel Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Tobin Riley appeared before the Crest Community Association Thursday to provide an update on construction of Fire Station 18 on the corner of Suncrest Boulevard and North Lane. The update was provided after Facebook posts by concerned residents wondered why the lot has been sitting empty for so long.

“Perception is reality, people drive by, they see the dirt lot not moving and they have the right to ask questions,” Riley said. “The station is being built in phases.”

East County News Service

July 3, 2025 (El Cajon) – The driver of a red Tesla has been charged with multiple felonies including murder. He is accused of “intentionally” rear-ending a motorcycle, killing its driver who was from Chula Vista. 

The Tesla then struck a 2012 black Ram 1500 driven by an El Cajon man, 24. Six occupants in the Ram suffered minor to moderate injuries and were transported to hospitals.

 The deadly incident occurred June 30 around 8:03 p.m. on southbound I-805, north of Telegraph Canyon Road.

East County News Service

June 28,2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested three men and a juvenile for attempting to kill a teen boy, 17, insider Spencer’s at Parkway Plaza on June 24.

“One suspect pointed a handgun at the victim’s head and appeared to pull the trigger,” says Lieutenant Will Guerin. Fortunately, the weapon jammed and did not fire.

All four suspects fled the scene.  El Cajon Police detectives reviewed surveillance footage, which confirmed the assault and attempted murder. According to Lt. Guerin, the video clearly identified the suspects as Abraham Rodriguez, 19, Isidro Vazquez, 24, and Jermaine Taylor, 23, along with a 16-year-old male juvenile who was the shooter.

By Kristin Kjaero

June 21, 2025 (San Diego) - - On June 26, San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) will vote on a staff recommendation to end its sponsorship and funding for the Water Conservation Garden.

The Garden says accessibility to the public is at risk if SDCWA withdraws, and started an online petition campaign to request that an option to stay, be added to the Committee's agenda. The petition has received 1,319 signatures in its first 24 hours. One can also send an email addressed to committee members via their clerk at  kwalker@sdcwa.org.

The proposal to end SDCWA’s support of the Garden will go first to the Administration and Finance Committee at 9 a.m. which will consider two options: to withdraw, or to withdraw and donate $150,000 over the next two years. The result of the Committee's vote will then move to a list of consent items at the full SDCWA Board meeting at 2p.m.

East County News Service

June 19,2025 (Santee) – A woman who died at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee on June 13 has been identified as Linda Bagby, 53, of El Cajon.  This is the sixth in-custody death this year at detention facilities in San Diego County.

Deputies were serving dinner when they found Bagby unresponsive in her cell, according to Lieutenant Juan Marquez.

 Upon observing the situation, the deputies immediately activated 9-1-1, requested assistance from the facility's medical staff and began CPR. Paramedics and the Santee Fire Department assumed lifesaving measures upon their arrival,” he says.   Despite their efforts, Bagby was pronounced deceased at the detention facility at about 4:35 p.m. 

East County News Service

June 12, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- “They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings,” states the website No Kings, which is organizing protests nationwide on Saturday, June 14. The demonstrations are expected to draw millions of participants nationwide and locally, thousands.

San Diego County has 11 “peaceful” protests planned. View map. and click each location for details; times of rallies vary The local protests are slated to be held in  Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, El Cajon, Escondido, Mira Mesa, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, San Marcos, and two in downtown San Diego including Civic Center Plaza and Waterfront Park.

East County News Service