By Robin Norris Kendall

December 13, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The Coffee House Revolution has come to East County. Move over Starbucks—we can now choose to drink global, but sip local. Take, for example, Public Square Coffee House in the Village of La Mesa.

East County News Service

December 12, 2016 (Spring Valley) – A high speed pursuit that began in Spring Valley this morning ended in National City, where the suspect, Frank Rios, 36, jumped over a freeway overpass trying to evade officers and suffered injuries.

Source: Santee Fire Department

December 12, 2016 (Santee) — Santee Fire Department officials will express their appreciation to the Firehouse Subs Safety Foundation for providing the city with grant funds for new life-saving equipment at static display of the equipment scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

December 12, 2016 (San Diego) -- Buying your dog a festive doggie sweater or coat for the holidays? Throw two into the shopping basket or donate an old one to County Animal Services’ “Paw It Forward” campaign for pets of homeless people.

Source: Community College Equity Assessment Lab

December 12, 2016 (San Diego) -- A new study finds that approximately one-third of community college students experience the threat of homelessness and housing instability and twelve percent face the threat of hunger.  More than 70% of these students are in remedial math courses.

East County News Service

December 12, 2016 (Kensington) -- On Sunday, December 18, 2016 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. the Iris Auxiliary to the San Diego Center for Children presents a holiday home tour benefitting the San Diego Center for Children, San Diego’s oldest accredited children’s non-profit organization

By Liz Alper

Photos courtesy Joel Price and Jamaal LaFrance

December 12, 2016 (Charlotte) - On Sunday, the Chargers traveled to Charlotte to take on Cam Newton and the Panthers.

East County News Service

December 12, 2016 (Alpine) – Alpine resident Cristen Carver, branch manager of the HomeBridge Financial Services office in Mission Valley, has been honored with the 2016 Affiliate of the Year award by the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a 2,500-member trade group for San Diego-area realtors. The award recognizes a PSAR member for their loyalty and devotion to the association, including community involvement, association support and participation on PSAR committees.

East County News Service

December 12, 2016 (Spring Valley) — A 24-year-old man died Monday night when the Corvette he was driving at a high speed struck an Oldsmobile on Highway 94 in Spring Valley, then plunged over the side of the freeway. 

The Corvette fell 70 feet onto Spring Street below, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Pearlstein.

East County News Service

December 11, 2016 (Santee) – The City of Santee held a grand opening Saturday for Deputy Ken Collier Neighborhood Park, located at 9170 Via de Cristina, just east of Fanita Drive and north of Prospect Avenue.  The new park is named in memory of Deputy Collier, who was killed in the line of duty in 2010 while trying to stop a drunk driver who was traveling the wrong-way on Highway 52.

Story and photos by Liz Alper

December 11, 2016 (San Diego) - After a lackluster performance against Michigan on Friday afternoon, the lady Aztecs took Steve Fisher Court again looking to rebound against the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara.

Hear our interview with Dilkhwaz Ahmed by clicking the audio link.

East County News  Service

December 10,2016 (El Cajon)—In an interview on KNSJ Radio, Dilkhwaz Ahmed with License to Freedom offered an urgent plea for help. Hundreds of Syrian families have just arrived in East County – with 50 to 60 more flooding in each day. 

The refugees fled a humanitarian crisis in their war-torn homeland, relocated here by the U.S. government at the request of the United Nations. Other countries are also offering shelter to refugees. But many who came here have large families, so their modest aid funds are scarcely enough to cover rent and food.  They need help to overcome trauma and learn how to build new lives in America. But there are not nearly enough people or resources to fill the desperate need.

East County News Service

December 9, 2016 (Ocotillo) - Border Patrol agents rescued a 39-year-old illegal immigrant, whose identity is being withheld, in the mountains west of Ocotillo on Friday around 12:40 p.m., NBC 7 reports.

California Highway Patrol agents were able to find the man, a native of El Salvador, after a report filed that he was lost about half a mile north of the Mexican border.

Story and photos by Liz Alper

December 9, 2016 (San Diego) - The lady Aztecs looked to get back on track when they returned to Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena for a Friday matinee against Michigan.

East County News Service

December 9, 2016 (El Cajon) – iHeart Media San Diego’s KOGO-AM News Radio 600 is planning a live broadcast from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Target store parking lot, 250 Broadway, El Cajon, in support of the 40th annual East County Toy and Food Drive. KOGO's Cliff Albert, LaDona Harvey, Ted Garcia and Cal Walker will help collect donations benefiting the Salvation Army El Cajon Corps and East County families.