July 20,2023 (San Diego) -- San Diego resident Erik C Martin has written Storm Crows, a story about crows and their relationships.
A young crow leads his friends fleeing their flock’s oppressive leadership. They want freedom and they seek a new home near the ocean. They escape their flock’s vicious Black Wing guards and reach the coast, but their trials have only begun.
July 20, 2023 (El Cajon) -- A dog who went missing from his home in Las Vegas on July 3 was reunited with his family at noon today at San Diego Humane Society’s El Cajon Campus.
July 20, 2023 (Toronto) - Maybe the Padres should replace the old Expos because they’re having more success in Canada than in America. Today, they tried to sweep the Blue Jays with Blake Snell on the hill against Chris Bassitt for Toronto.
July 20, 2023 (Alpine) – Alpine resident and realtor Steven Sladek was recently honored with the Realtor of the Year award from the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), one of San Diego County’s largest real estate trade organizations for San Diego-area realtors.
Black woman-owned business won 3 months free rent and $20,000 business investment in mall’s Taste for the Space Competition
Source: Parkway Plaza
July 20, 2023 (El Cajon)-- Parkway Plaza held its first-ever Taste for the Space competition in June, offering one local food business the opportunity to win three months of free rent at Parkway Plaza’s food court, plus a $20,000 business investment. Chef Char’s Seafood N Soul is the lucky recipient of the prize package and will be moving into the shopping center’s food court latet this month.
Over 600 people came out to taste food from 12 selected local businesses to vote on whose cuisine was the best. The winner was chosen by a combination of votes from the community and a panel of tastemaker judges that included El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, Chef Phillip Esteban (Open Gym, White Rice and Weapon Ramen), Christina Ng (local culinary personality and Foundation Cultivator for Berry Good Food Food), and Sabrina Medora (freelance writer and novelist). The judges helped decide the winner based on taste as well as overall fit for the center.
Winner Charlene Plummer launched Chef Char Seafood N Soul (formerly known as ChefChar2020) amidst the Covid-19 pandemic when her then 16 year-old was unable to find employment. Creating the business not only helped provide her child with work, but also an opportunity to play a large role in the company which she could help cultivate and design.
Mother says victim had hole in her stomach and underwent surgery before dying
By Miriam Raftery
July 20, 2023 (Santee) – An autopsy has determined that 25-year-old Vianna Marissa “Vee” Granillo died of septic shock after being transferred to a hospital from the Las Colinas detention facility in Santee.
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a person’s blood pressure drops dangerously low due to an infection. Treatments at a hospital may include oxygen therapy, IV fluids,medication, antibiotics, or surgery, according to the National Institute of Health.
Granillo had been arrested by Sheriff’s deputies on July 8 for violation of a court order and was transferred from the Vista detention facility to Las Colinas that evening. Shortly before 2 a.m.on July 12, deputies conducting a safety check found her unresponsive in her cell, according to Lieutenant Chris Steffen.
July 27, 2023 (Lakeside) -- You're invited to come support first responders and help keep your community safe. Lakeside Fire Dept. will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday,, August 26 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fire Station 2, locaetd at 12216:Lakeside Avenue in Lakeside.
This event will include fire engines, face painting, a dunk tank, CPR lessons and more.
Photo: Snapdragon Stadium has its first event on September 3, 2022. Photo by Chris Stone
July 19, 2023 (San Diego) - Snapdragon Stadium has been chosen to host the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Championship on November 11, the league announced Wednesday morning.
Photo: Boxes hold electoral college electors' votes, awaiting certification by Vice President Mike Pence in Congress on January 6, 2021. Photo courtesy of Senator Jeff Merkley.
July 19, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – Former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he received notice that he is a target of a federal grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Grand Jury has been looking into the violent attack on the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That attack included plans by insurrectionists to halt the counting of votes and now appears tied to a conspiracy to certify fake electors from multiple states and substitute them for the real electors’ votes.
The U.S. Department of Justice and some states have launched probes into the fake elector scheme,with the first arrests announced in Michigan, where felony charges have been filed. Here’s the latest, according to Newsweek:
File photo by Miriam Raftery: A crash of rhinos at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, spring 2023
July 18, 2023 (San Diego) – “Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), a viral disease that affects hooved mammals, has been confirmed in southern white rhinos living at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park,” Darla Davis, Senior Public Relations Representative for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, confirmed today in an email to ECM.
The International Rhino Foundation estimates there are fewer than 16,000 white rhinos left in the world, due to poaching losses. All but two of these survivors are southern white rhinos; the population has decreased by almost 12% in the past four years.
July 19, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s defending Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year Jack Browning, a West Hills High School alum, has been named the 2023 preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. Browning is one of four preseason all-conference selections for the Aztecs, who were also picked to finish fourth in the first one-division preseason poll since 2012.
July 18, 2023 (La Mesa) - A delightful culinary treat where Martha Stewart meets Jerry Springer takes stage as Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents The Kitchen Witches. The recipe for this play? Take a spoonful of fun, whisk in plenty of witty dialog, sprinkle in some food chatter, and you will be spellbound for 90 minutes. Written by Caroline Smith, “The Kitchen Witches” combines humor, friendship, the love of food and witches for a spell that will leave you hungry for more.
Photo: Red-eared slider turtle, by Greg Hume, CC-by-SA via Wikipedia
July 18,2023 (Malibu, CA ) – American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), founded in 1990 as the first national turtle and tortoise rescue, is sending a plea to parents – buy Ninja toys not turtles.
July 17,2023 (Borrego Springs) -- The community of Borrego Springs is now served by San Diego County Fire through its partnership with CAL FIRE. County Fire increased staff to expand services to the area.
Update July 20, 2023: The victim has been identified as Kai Torres Bronson, 24, of Otay Mesa, according to the County Medical Examiner.
By Miriam Raftery
Photo via Cal Fire
July 17, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – A Good Samaritan who helped rescue hikers suffering heat-related illnesses on Saturday has died, Cal Fire reports.
July 18, 2023 (Ramona) – Three days of family fun are coming up at the Ramona Country Fair. Presented by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, the fair features amusement rides, carnival games, live music, a cornhole competition, an off-road show, food & beverage vendors, craft & commercial vendors, western shows and more.
July 18, 2023 (Lakeside) – A Yucca Valley man, 65, died of injuries sustained Sunday in a crash around 6:30 p.m. in Lakeside.
The man was riding a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on State Route 67 at Slaughterhouse Canyon Road when his vehicle drifted off the highway and struck a concrete slab. He was ejected onto the roadway and died at the scene.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor at this time, says Officer Matthew Baranowski with the CHP. The name of the deceased will be released through the Medical Examiner’s office.
July 17, 2023 (Sacramento) -- The California Medical Association (CMA) has achieved a significant victory for healthcare providers, consumers and public interest advocates in the case of California Medical Association v. Aetna Health of California Inc. The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of CMA, confirming the organization's legal standing to sue Aetna Health for alleged violations of the Unfair Competition Law (UCL).
The lawsuit centers on an Aetna Health policy that targeted the use of out-of-network benefits by its PPO plan members. CMA alleges that the insurance company discouraged its members from going out of network even though their PPO plans included such benefits, and that Aetna Health harassed or terminated its contracted physicians for referring PPO members to out-of-network facilities.
Such a policy, according to CMA, directly interfered with the doctor-patient relationship and physicians’ independent medical judgment, in violation of numerous state laws. CMA sued Aetna Health to stop what it calls “harmful and illegal policy.”
July 17, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors heard an update in late June on a three-stage plan to implement new paramedic-based community health initiatives that aim to improve emergency medical services in rural areas.
Fitness competition, live band, dancing, sports stars, kids activities, auto show and opportunities to meet police and firefighters are all slated
East County News Service
July 17, 2023 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon is gearing up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its National Night Out event, a milestone for a community event that has been fostering positive interactions between law enforcement and the local community. This year’s event, set to be the largest ever hosted, will take place on Tuesday, August 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the parking lot at Parkway Plaza Mall in El Cajon.
July 15, 2023 (San Diego) – Whenever a major political event occurs, misinformation becomes rampant. With the upcoming presidential nominee election, false information can be spread to influence public opinion from various people, organizations, and even foreign governments.
To be a well-informed voter, it’s necessary to protect against this misinformation. While reputable news organizations including East County Magazine strive to report factual and unbiased information, not all publications will–let alone social media memes that may go viral without links to verify sources.
This article brings to light some tactics that might appear in future elections or issue discussions to ensure that people vote with only the truth in mind.
July 14, 2023 (Hollywood, CA) – The Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike in Hollywood since May 2nd, meaning that all writing for film and television has halted. Now on July 13th, after the Screen Actors Guild- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has failed to negotiate with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), they have decided to join the strike with the WGA. This means that along with all writing, all acting in Hollywood has halted as well.
July 14, 2023 (San Diego) -- Sheriff Kelly Martinez and members of the Sheriff’s Detention Services Bureau held a press conference on July 5 to provide an update on efforts to improve the county’s detention facilities. She provided a thorough update on construction projects, technological advancements, healthcare services, accessibility, reentry services and keeping drugs out of our jails.
July 17, 2023 (Rancho San Diego) – Zohair Azez Potros Sinawi, 84, of El Cajon has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s office as the man who died in a collision that occurred on July 7 in Rancho San Diego.
July 16, 2023 (San Diego) -- Wildfires are increasing everyday and will increase as we start to peak in our year-round wildfire season. Even if your home is not in the path of a fire, you can still be affected by smoke particles released into the air from wildfires.
Photo: Sen. Toni Atkins speaks during a press conference to promote her Senate Bill 447. With her are Assemblymember Chris Ward (left), Sen. Steve Padilla and Fernando Lopez, executive director of San Diego Pride. Photo by Chris Jennewein
July 15, 2023 (San Diego) - State Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins welcomed San Diego Pride on Friday with with an emotional pitch for legislation that would enable California to lead the nation in expanding acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community
July 14, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – Two weeks after the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court blocked President Joe Biden’s executive order granting sweeping forgiveness of student loan debts, Biden and the Department of Education today announced a new, more tailored plan to forgive $39 billion in student debt.
July 15, 2023 (San Diego) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) was joined by House colleagues Richard Hudson (NC-09), Michael Waltz (FL-06), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) this week to introduce H.R. 4334 – “The HERO Act.”If enacted, it would grant service members who are victims of medical malpractice in a Dept. of Defense medical treatment facility the right to take their claim to District Court.
IPS sponsors communication training for community members starting Aug. 5
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies
July 14, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg once said, “You can disagree without being disagreeable.” For many, conversations around drugs and alcohol, homelessness, community redevelopment, law enforcement, and how tax dollars are spent, all elicit strong passions. Passions that sometimes take hold and overcome our ability to engage with each other in a cordial, respectful, and civil manner.
A dog who went missing from his home in Las Vegas on July 3 was reunited with his family at noon today at San Diego Humane Society’s El Cajon Campus.
Story by Liz Alper
Alpine resident and realtor Steven Sladek was recently honored with the Realtor of the Year award from the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), one of San Diego County’s largest real estate trade organizations for San Diego-area realtors.
Source: Parkway Plaza
By Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
Source: goaztecs.com
Review by Kathy Carpenter
American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), founded in 1990 as the first national turtle and tortoise rescue, is sending a plea to parents – buy Ninja toys not turtles.
The community of Borrego Springs is now served by San Diego County Fire through its partnership with CAL FIRE. County Fire increased staff to expand services to the area.
Spacebar Café and Wine Bistro in La Mesa hosts a comedy night on the fourth Friday each month from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
A Good Samaritan who helped rescue hikers suffering heat-related illnesses on Saturday has died, Cal Fire reports.
East County News Service
East County News Service
Fitness competition, live band, dancing, sports stars, kids activities, auto show 
Whenever a major political event occurs, misinformation becomes rampant. With the upcoming presidential nominee election, false information can be spread to influence public opinion from various people, organizations, and even foreign governments.
Sheriff Kelly Martinez and members of the Sheriff’s Detention Services Bureau held a press conference on July 5 to provide an update on efforts to improve the county’s detention facilities. She provided a thorough update on construction projects, technological advancements, healthcare services, accessibility, reentry services and keeping drugs out of our jails.
East County News Service
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
East County News Service
IPS sponsors communication training for community members starting Aug. 5 
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