March 30, 2026 (El Cajon ) -- The El Cajon City Council last week unanimously upheld a decision by the city's Planning Commission to deny the Afghan Community Culture Center a permit extension for its temporary prayer tent on East Main Street between Walter Way and East Madison Avenue.
The ruling ended an ongoing dispute between the city’s safety regulations and the center, which provides services to a community of more than 3,000 people who look to the ACCC as a spiritual, educational and social home, according to ACCC Board President Bakhtar Aminzay.
"We have to follow the state law, which has to do with public safety issues," said El Cajon City Councilmember Gary Kendrick.
The ACCC since last November has owned a building at 1342 E. Main St., but structural damage on the inside by previous tenants have made the building uninhabitable as well as not being up to code, Kendrick said.
Update 7:42 p.m. -- The fire has crossed the river and is now burning directly behind commercial buildings including Michael's. "There appears to be no direct access for engines to get to it," ECM reporter Patrick Ward says. The Sheriff has evacuated some stores and is advising the public to avoid the area.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Photos by Patrick Ward.
March 29, 2026 (Santee) – Fire crews are battling the Town Center Fire burning in vegetation in the 100 block of River Rock Court, across the river from Walmart and the Town Center shopping plaza. The fire is within 50 to 100 yards of commercial structures and has burned 3 aces as of 7:40 p.m., per Watch Duty.
Per Watch Duty App, the incident commander has requested a type 1 strike team of 5 engines, a strike 3 team of 5 engines, and a water dropping helicopter.
Ground crews are now engaged in structure protection on the south side of the river due to a threat to commercial structures there.
March 29, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa City council met on March 24 to try and tackle the “parking crisis” fueled by new housing development in the Downtown Village.
La Mesa is currently facing massive tension over the need for affordable housing and a growing parking crisis in its Downtown Village district. Recent developments have prioritized transit-oriented housing with reduced parking requirements, sparking concerns from local business owners and residents about the long-term impact on the area’s accessibility and economic health.
March 28, 2026 (Santee) -- Deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station conducted an enforcement operation on Thursday aimed at addressing the growing number of electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric motorcycles (e-motorcycles) being operated in violation of state and local laws within the City of Santee.
March 28, 2026 (El Cajon) – Heartland Fire’s station 7 in Fletcher Hills, built in 1960, will soon undergo major renovations. El Cajon’s City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve budget revisions for the reconstruction.
Officials seeking potential contacts, photo courtesy County of San Diego
East County News Service
March 28, 2026 (Escondido) -- San Diego County public health officials are seeking anyone who may have come into direct physical contact with two wild bats found in separate Escondido locations last weekend.
Both animals have since tested positive for rabies, marking the fourth and fifth confirmed cases of rabid bats in the county this year.
The first infected bat was discovered at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, in a grassy area near the White Oak Villas condo complex. The animal was retrieved by the San Diego Humane Society for testing.
Helix Water District Board Member Joel Scalzitti tells the crowd at the Helix Operations Center on Vernon Way on Friday that the district's new electrification project will be a model for the rest of the county.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 27, 2026 (El Cajon) – While providing safe drinking water to their 278,000 ratepayers is their main goal, the Helix Water District has put some energy into other public utility needs.
On Friday, the District showed how infrastructure and mandates have led it to expand its portfolio, showing off its $11 million electrification project in El Cajon.
The project on Vernon Way is designed to power Helix's fleet for the next 50 to 60 years -- and acts as a pioneer for the region with a replicable success story for municipalities navigating the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
March 28, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- East County’s abuzz with a Beatles invasion. De Anza Springs Resort, a high desert retreat, welcomes the public to the Magical Mystery Campout and Beatles Fair, a two-day festival on April 4 and 5. The weekend will feature multiple Beatles cover bands, hiking, swimming in indoor and outdoor mineral pools and a spa, stargazing, and Beatles memorabilia.
March 27, 2026 (San Diego County) -- On the eve of what many are calling the largest civil mobilization in American history, in "No Kings" protests, the official stance from regional law enforcement has been clear and public-facing.
March 27, 2026 (Santee) – A staffer spotted a camouflage backpack near the front entrance of the Santee Sheriff station today at 12:24 p.m. Surveillance video showed a man on bicycle dropping off the suspicious pack. Deputies secured the area and sought help from the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson detectives.
Patrol deputies conducted a search of the surrounding area for the individual, while the Sheriff’s helicopter issued public address announcements with a description of the subject.
Bomb/Arson detectives assessed the backpack and identified items that appeared to be military-style equipment. As a precaution, nearby streets and sidewalks adjacent to the station were temporarily closed to ensure public safety. Upon further examination, multiple rounds of high-powered ammunition were recovered from inside the backpack.
Detectives ultimately rendered the backpack safe and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
March 27, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) -- U.S. Border Patrol horse patrol units across the Southwest recently received 15 horses from the U.S. Army, an interagency transfer that will save the agency an estimated $105,000.
March 27, 2026 (Lakeside) – Voters are invited to the “Candidates to Constituents Town Hall” series. The series is hosted by Alpine resident Anne Tillmond and features local, county & state candidates that voters can connect with over three town halls. The first C2C town hall is on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 in Lakeside from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
March 27, 2026 (Otay Mesa) - San Diego County Sheriff’s officials failed to investigate at least seven reported sexual assaults at the privately run Otay Mesa immigration detention center in 2025, and records show the agency has ceded control of the cases to civilian administrators employed by the nation’s largest for-profit prison contractor.
Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst and one of Hazard Construction's old trucks -- which still works.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 26, 2026 (Lakeside) – If you’ve driven a car in San Diego County, you've literally been on top of things with the Hazard Construction Company.
From the winding, scenic roads of Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar to the massive, multi-lane interchanges of Interstate 8, the Lakeside-headquartered firm has spent a century literally laying the foundation for San Diego and Southern California's growth and expansion.
This June, Hazard officially hits the 100-year mark -- a rare centennial milestone that cements Hazard as one of the oldest and most influential civil engineering contractors in the state.
Hazard Construction Company started small in 1926 when it concentrated on road construction and excavation, but has evolved into a full-service general engineering contracting firm with a focus on private sector work.
Skip Interstate 8 and 'ride the rails' with the Padres-wrapped Trolley
East County News Service
March 25, 2026 (San Diego) -- With the San Diego Padres set to kick off the 2026 season at Petco Park tomorrow afternoon (March 26, first pitch set for 1:10 p.m.), baseball fans in Santee, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, San Carlos and beyond are being urged to dodge the inevitable Interstate 8 gridlock.
With sellout crowds expected all weekend, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is ramping up Green and Orange Line service to ensure East County fans spend more time in their seats and less time hunting for pricey parking spots.
YouTube video screenshot of League of Women Voters' District 2 candidate forum on March 5
East County News Service
March 25, 2026 (San Diego) -- As the June 2 Primary approaches, the League of Women Voters of San Diego has ramped up its efforts to educate local residents on candidates and issues when they head to the ballot box.
The League of Women Voters of San Diego scheduled five candidate forums designed to provide voters with direct access to the individuals seeking to represent them in City Hall.
For information on the candidates, Measure A (Empty Homes Tax) and the election itself, visit the city's official 2026 election website here.
March 25, 2026 (Santee) – A juvenile riding an electric motorcycle on Mission Gorge Road yesterday afternoon was struck by a passing motorist and fell off the e-motorcycle.
The motorist fled the scene before Sheriff’s deputies arrived.
In a preliminary investigation, statements from witnesses indicate that a group of kids on e-motorcycles were ‘in the roadway causing a hazard -- riding in lanes, holding up traffic,” when the juvenile was struck, said Sgt. Lorenzo Ortiz.
File photo: El Capitan County Preserve hiking trail
Story updated March 26
By Miriam Raftery
March 24, 2026 (Lakeside) – The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office has identified a hiker who died on El Cajon Mountain in the El Capitan County Preserve on March 22 as Johnathan L. Gorbea, 40, of Lakeside.
Gorbea was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who also worked for the Department of Defense, according to a GoFundMe page set up by one of his cousins, which by 11:30 a.m. March 26 had raised $16,715 of $20,000 sought.
Gorbea’s family reported him missing on Sunday morning, after he failed to return from a hike he had left for on Saturday morning.
March 24, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Working to dismantle barriers to employment and housing for formerly incarcerated residents, San Diego County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe of District 4 has announced a new initiative offering a "fresh start" through a mobile expungement service.
Montgomery Steppe said she wants to help individuals navigate the complex process of cleaning up adult criminal records.
For many, a past conviction remains a permanent roadblock to stability, even years after completing their sentences.
March 24, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Performance art and music will collide and combine in concert in the high desert this spring as the Karnival of the Arts (KOTA) West returns to the DeAnza Springs Resort.
The festival, which has spent half a decade establishing a "West Coast home" in southeastern San Diego County, centers on a unique "triple-decked" stage production and will go from 4 p.m., April 30 through 4 p.m., May 3.
The design allows for simultaneous live painting, flow arts and musical performances, and this year features headliners Thundersmack (Leo P of Too Many Zooz and Michael Wilbur of Moon Hooch) and electronic multi-instrumentalist Vincent Antone.
"Our event highlights art like no other," says KOTA co-founder and producer Miguel Munoz. "Starting with triple decked stages for simultaneous live painting and dance/flow performances right along side regional favorite bands and international headliners."
March 24, 2026 (San Pasqual) -- The lion pride at the Safari Park just got a little louder as Bo, Zuri, Amira, and Malika are together on habitat for the first time. For the past several years, the Safari Park has had only lionesses on display, but now the pride has a new lion king with the addition of Bo, a young male lion.
March 24, 2026 (El Cajon) -- The First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon’s theater outreach program, The Circle Players, will navigate Richardson Hall into the high seas next month for an interactive mystery dinner theater production, “The Conundrum on the Crackerjack Cruise.”
Written by Nancy Bond, the play invites audience members to board the fictional cruise ship Grand Jubilation as it sets sail for the Bahamas.
The evening blends traditional performance with a "Game Night" experience. Guests are encouraged to participate as fellow passengers, competing in teams and cheering for victory as the sun and fun shift into a web of mystery and intrigue.
March 24, 2026— On Saturday, March 28, 2026, a massive nationwide mobilization called “No Kings 3” is scheduled across the United States. It is organized by the NO Kings Coalition, which includes groups like Indivisible, the ACLU, and the AFL-CIO. This event is expected to be one of the largest protests in American history.
As of March 2026, the public views Trump’s second term as generally negative and deeply polarized. The nation is strugglingunderrising costs for living and affordability, disdain over the recent IranWar started by President Trump, as well as a general dissatisfaction of life in the United States,
March 23, 2026 (San Diego County) --While tuberculosis (TB) is often dismissed as a disease of the past, San Diego County health officials warned Monday, March 23, that the region is currently a hotspot for the infection, with local rates now outpacing state and national averages.
In an event held at Waterfront Park on Monday morning, County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre and top health officials, including County Public Health Officer Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan and Dr. Jeffrey Percak, Medical Director for County TB Prevention and Care, highlighted a concerning trend: after years of decline, the number of people diagnosed with TB in San Diego has been rising steadily since 2020.
March 23, 2026 (Spring Valley) -- The Mt. Miguel High School Foundation is inviting the community to its upcoming "Spring Craft Fair" on Saturday, April 11.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mount Miguel High School at 8585 Blossom Lane in Spring Valley.
Whether you are looking for a special treat for yourself or a thoughtful gift for a loved one, the fair offers a chance to shop small while directly benefiting local education, says JoAnne Burke from the Mt. Miguel High School Foundation.
"It will be great place to get unique, one-of-a-kind items," Burke said. "Get a head start on Mother’s Day shopping while browsing a wonderful variety of handcrafted treasures from talented local vendors. You’re sure to find thoughtful gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, and so much more -- and maybe even a little something just for you, too! Grab a friend and come shop local."
For those interested in participating as a crafter or for more general information, call Burke at (619) 469-7350 or email MtMiguelAlumni@gmail.com .
March 22, 2026 (San Diego) -- Nonprofit Walden Family Services, which has supported more than 100,000 foster children and families since its founding in 1976, will host two public fundraisers as part of celebrating its 50 years in service.
The golden anniversary comes as the organization pivots toward an expansion of its housing and prevention programs for "Transitional Age Youth" --- young adults ages 18 to 26 who are aging out of the foster care system.
The celebration begins this week with the Walden Fairways Scramble Golf Tournament on Thursday, March 26. Held at the Singing Hills Golf Course at Sycuan, the charity tournament is designed to raise immediate funds for Walden’s housing initiatives.
March 22, 2026 (San Diego) -- San Diego author Travis Lee has released a collection of short stories currently displayed in the City of San Diego Author Showcase.
Sarah Foles (A Short Story Collection) contains a variety of stories including one about an ex-military man who loses a leg in an accident. After his discharge, the military pays for his education. In college he is more mature than the other students. Though he is in his late 20s he is attracted to a 17-year-old female student in “Sarah Foles.”
A grandson plans to save his grandmother who is being kept in an Alzheimer's home against her will in “Harry's Goodbye.”
A divorced man teaches his pre-schooler to steal packages from peoples’ front yards in “Jake & Junior.”
All Lee’s stories provide rich social commentary. Every story caused me to stop and think to fully understand and appreciate its underlying message. It’s an ideal gift to share and discuss with friends.
March 21, 2026 (La Mesa) -- A double-digit decline in property crime and a record-breaking year for road repairs in La Mesa were some of the highlights shared by La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis earlier this month.
In his "State of the City" address shared by the city on March 11 and available on YouTube here, Arapostathis said that La Mesa reported an 11% reduction in property crime alongside substantial drops in commercial burglaries and auto thefts in 2025.
Arapostathis also lauded the city’s development pipeline, noting the issuance of about 1,500 permits as well as the launch of five pre-approved "fast-track" ADU designs to tackle housing affordability.
The city shared more department highlights of 2025 on its website here.
March 21, 2026 (Santee) -- Santee School District was awarded a $215,000 grant through the Strong Workforce Program to launch a new Career Technical Education (CTE) program that will give 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to explore a variety of career pathways.
Vendors, food trucks and parade participants wanted
By Paul Levikow
March 21, 2026 (Crest) – The Crest Community Association is planning the 80th Annual Crest 4th of July Parade and is looking for parade participants and vendors for the festival. The event will also honor the 250th birthday of the United States.
East County News Service
Councilmember Laura Lothian 
East County News Service
East County News Service
Officials seeking potential contacts, photo courtesy County of San Diego
Helix Water District Board Member Joel Scalzitti tells the crowd at the Helix Operations Center on Vernon Way on Friday that the district's new electrification project will be a model for the rest of the county.
By Rebecca Person
East County Magazine
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Wendy Fry and Nigel Duara, CalMatters
Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst and one of Hazard Construction's old trucks -- which still works.
Skip Interstate 8 and 'ride the rails' with the Padres-wrapped Trolley
YouTube video screenshot of League of Women Voters' District 2 candidate forum on March 5
East County News Service
File photo: El Capitan County Preserve hiking trail
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Alexander J. Schorr
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh
Story and photos by Karen Pearlman
Vendors, food trucks and parade participants wanted
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