By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

December 8, 2023 (San Diego) - This last week, we covered outdoor Christmas safety, let’s look at a few indoor safety facts and tips. Did you know that half of those that purchase live Christmas trees fail to keep them properly watered reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. There’s also other factors that can cause Christmas tree fires.

By Michael Howard

December 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council voted on Nov.28 to join 15 San Diego County cities and agencies in installing 20 automated license plate readers (ALPR) in high traffic areas throughout the city at a cost of $124,500 for a two-year period. 

The vote passed 4-1, with Vice Mayor Laura Lothian casting the only dissenting vote.

Source:  Superior Court of California

December 7, 2023 (San Diego) - The San Diego Superior Court has received complaints about individuals trying to scam members of the public by pretending to be court officers or officials.

By: Jessyka Heredia

December 7, 2023 (San Diego County)—Tomorrow the newly formed Association of Planning Groups-San Diego County will find out if SANDAG will allow the group, comprised of all 18 Planning Groups in the unincorporated areas, to have an advisory role on the SANDAG board. Currently there is no representation for the unincorporated communities.

By Jessyka Heredia

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

Article updated to clartify the views of applicant Pick Axe Holdings and not the opinion of ECM. 

December 6, 2023 (LEMON GROVE)— Lemon Grove is home to 12 massage facilities and is making new policies to cut the number of massage establishments down to eight, require background checks for all owners and managers and display of their therapist certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). The ordinance will also regulate what hours they can operate and set other rules.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

December  6, 2023 (Sacramento) -- Advocates for affordable health care are speaking out to remind people what is at stake if the Affordable Care Act is repealed in the wake of recent statements by former President Donald Trump.

By Miriam Raftery

December 5, 2023 (La Mesa) --  A representative from District Attorney Summer Stephan's office and the La Mesa Police Dept. invite community members to a hate crimes forum with Q&A session on Dec.14 at 5:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Police Dept., 8085  University Ave., La Mesa.

The forum comes on the heels of anti-Semitic flyers repeatedly disseminated in La Mesa and the nearby San Diego communities of Del Cerro,  San Carlos and Allied Gardens in recent months, among other neighborhoods targeted. Some flyers blamed Jews for 9-11 attacks, among other false claims.

By Jacob Pamus

December 1, 2023 (La Mesa)-- Amanda Fagan is an accomplished 19-year-old musician who has written many songs during the past six years.  She lives in La Mesa with her parents and younger sister.  During a two-week stretch at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she wrote a 23-song musical in just two weeks. A New York musical producer was so impressed that he contracted with Amanda to produce the musical.  Amanda Fagan’s band will be performing at La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village on December 2 and  at Balboa Park’s December Nights on December 1.

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2023 (Ramona) – Andrea Ortiz,44, a single mom with three daughters, was on her way to work Nov. 28  around 7:30 a.m. when a pickup truck crossed the center line on State Route 78 in Ramona. It head-on into Ortiz’s vehicle, which rolled down an embankment. She died at the scene.

3,708 fans were in attendance for SDSU"s annual field trip game

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 1, 2023 (San Diego) - he Aztec women’s basketball team (4-4) fell to No. 3/3 Stanford 85-54 inside Viejas Arena Friday afternoon playing in front of 3,708 fans for their annual field trip game.

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2023 (La Mesa) – An online petition started by Keep  La  Mesa Beautiful in opposition to the city’s plan to allow electronic billboards has attracted 338 signatures sent it launched on November 21.  Now, the new owner of Grossmont Center has sent a letter to the city’s mayor and city council opposing two proposed e-billboards along I-8 as detrimental to the regional shopping mall.

August 15, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- Our radio shows from May through July 2023 are now online. 

Highlights included our two-part forum with Supervisor candidates, our interview with Lilian Serrano from Southern Border Communities Coalition on migrant camps in Jacumba, interviews with several advocates for the homeless, and coverage of top local issues such as the VSV livestock disease outbreak, major wildfires, the controversies over Cottonwood Sand Mine and Loveland Reservoir, and more.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Note: Some shows were reruns; original run dates are listed below. Shows also include station IDs and public service announcements.

For links to listen plus an index with topics and interviews in each show, click here or click the "read more" link and scroll down. Audio links are below the index. (Audio files may take a few moments to load.)