May 19, 2021 (Santee) -- Students at Santee’s West Hills High School, class of 2021, will be holding their senior prom on a football field. The event is titled: “Under the Stars” and is literally under a canopy of starlight this year.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many high schools’ senior prom plans. West Hills High School is also switching up their prom to be held this Saturday, May 22, as well. The dance floor will be at the 50-yard line with the stadium decorated with a light tunnel and more. It is undetermined if the football field lights will be dimmed for slow dances.
The event will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Additionally, the night will be capped off with fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
May 19, 2021 (Casa De Oro) – The California Highway Patrol is asking for public help to identify a vehicle that struck a 74-year-old man this morning who was crossing Bancroft Drive in the Casa de Oro community in Spring Valley around 5:53 a.m.
The vehicle was driving from Bancroft Drive onto State Route 94 westbound when it struck the pedestrian, who was within the intersection. He sustained major injuries and was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego for treatment of his injuries.
May 19, 2021 (Campo) – A San Diego man has died after being shot following a pursuit by U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Silvestre Vargas Estrada, 26, was driving a vehicle with two men as passengers during the pursuit on May 14 shortly before 10 p.m. According to Lt. Thomas Seiver with the Sheriff’s homicide unit, “The pursuit ended in a gas station parking lot at the intersection of State Route 94 and Buckman Springs Road in Campo. A confrontation ensued, resulting in three agents discharging their firearms.”
May 19, 2021 (San Diego) – With over two-thirds of Californians now at least partially vaccinated and half fully vaccinated, many people are looking forward to resuming normal activities. But if you haven’t had the COVID-19 vaccine, you may be surprised to learn that you won’t be allowed to go many places.
These include all cruise ships, many colleges and universities, and some sports arenas and stadiums. Nursing homes and other senior care facilities may require vaccinations before admitting new patients or indoor visitors. Some employers are also requiring vaccines. Even some event planners are requiring guests to be vaccinated to attend functions such as weddings.
Not getting the vaccine is a personal choice, but a growing number of places are opting to protect their customers, workers or patients by banning the unvaccinated. Others are allowing unvaccinated people only if they can pass a COVID test. But who really wants to have your nose swabbed every time you go to a Padres game? Similarly, some places are allowing unvaccinated travelers – but only if you both pass a COVID test and quarantine in your hotel room for a number of days after arriving, which can spoil vacation plans unless you have an extended trip.
So where can’t you go, as of now, if you’re not vaccinated?
May 18, 2021 (San Diego) – California and San Diego officials have announced that they will wait until June 15 to lift mask mandates for most public places. The four-week wait allows young people age 12 and up to get vaccinated, since the CDC just approved COVID-19 vaccines for younger teens starting last week.
Starting June 15, assuming cases remain low, as expected, Californians who are fully vaccinated will be able to go without masks in most indoor settings, according to Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary. Vaccinated people can already go without masks in most outdoor settings.
“We urge all Californians to get vaccinated to ensure that infection and hospitalization rates remain low across the state and that we can all return to the activities we love,” Dr. Ghaly advises.
“San Diego County is aligned with the California Department of Public Health and will wait until June 15 to adopt CDC mask guidance,” Nathan Fletcher, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, announced yesterday on twitter. “This short time frame allows us to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine and time for business and entities across our county to prepare for the change.”
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association.
May 18, 2021 (Jerusalem) - Lots of missiles coming from Gaza to Israel.
Lots of damage in Gaza.
And something close to civil war within Israel, with Arab mobs attacking Jews and their property in what had been peaceful settings with two communities; plus Jewish mobs doing the same to Arabs and their property.
May 18, 2021 (San Diego) – The International House at the University of California, San Diego will present a global forum webinar titled “Campus Free Speech in the Shadow of Foreign Governments: China/Hong Kong and Israel/Palestine. The forum will be held on Wednesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m.
May 17, 2021 (San Diego) - Whenever there’s a news report that a sexually violent predator is proposed to be placed in a community, the neighbors are always outraged – even though a Superior Court judge has heard the evidence and determined the person is safe to be conditionally released. Then why are the neighbors so upset?
Photo: part of a proposed bump in education funding would cover free pre-K education for all 4-year-olds in California. (Briana Jackson/iStockphoto)
May 17, 2021 (Sacramento) -- Education advocates are cheering Gov. Gavin Newsom's May budget revise, which pours almost $122 billion into public schools, the highest level of funding in California's history.
Data raises troubling rural/urban equity disparity in vaccine distribution
By Miriam Raftery
May 17, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – COVID-19 Vaccination rates in East County communities are significantly below the county average – but most rural, mountain and desert communities haven’t even been documented.
May 16, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Should you get your dog vaccinated to protect against rattlesnake bites?
The County of San Diego’s Department of Animal Services cautions that rattlesnake season is year-round, but sightings may spike during hot spells or in the summer months. The San Diego Humane Society also notes that rattlesnake bites can happen all year-round, but the worst months are from April through September. County Animal Services says rattlesnakes can show up at any time from the coast to the deserts.
Sheriff's Deputies arrest suspect, recover cultural artifacts stolen from casino.
East County News Service
May 16, 2021 (Valley Center) -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing priceless cultural artifacts from a historical exhibit at Harrah's Resort Southern California in Valley Center.
May 15, 2021 (Lakeside) – Forward spread has been halted on the #Shauntau Fire, which started near Shanteau Drive and Flinn Springs Road in Lakeside this afternoon.
Aztecs fall in Kathy Van Wyk’s final game as head coach
Source: goaztecs.com
Video courtesy goaztecs.com
May 15, 2021 (San Diego) - San Diego State dropped a 4-1 decision to Fresno State in the series finale Saturday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs fell to 28-16 on the season, including a 13-11 final record in Mountain West play, while the league-champion Bulldogs improved to 36-10 and 20-4.
May 15, 2021 (Descanso) – You’re invited to “get your boots on” and enjoy Descanso Days on June 5 at the historic Descanso town hall. A parade rolls out from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by a fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
May 15, 2021 (Boulevard) – Following an inquiry by East County Magazine in response to concerns raised by a member of the Boulevard Planning Group, the County has sent an inspector out to the Live Oak Springs RV Park and ordered the owner to halt work and remove illegal upgrades.
Photo, left: Supervisor Joel Anderson organized a press conference opposing the measure
May 15, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – An association representing landlords has filed a lawsuit against San Diego County and County Supervisors, one week after the Supervisors voted 3-2 to enact a temporary ban on most evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
East County Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond opposed the measure, with Anderson joining several East County city officials in a press conference speaking out on behalf of rental owners. Supervisors Nathan Fletcher, Nora Vargas and Terra Lawson-Remer voted in favor of the ordinance, which drew nearly five hours of impassioned testimony on both sides.
May 14, 2021 (Pala) - Pala Casino RV Resort has been awarded a flawless 10/10*/10 Good Sam rating for the sixth consecutive year. Pala Casino RV Resort was one of only 153 Good Sam Parks throughout the United States to earn a perfect score in the 2021 rankings. Pala Casino RV Resort was awarded top marks in every category, including facilities, restrooms, showers, and overall visual appearance. Pala has received this coveted recognition every year since opening.
By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office
Photo: Registered nurse Carol Shapiro gets ready to give Kayden Faulkner, 14, her COVID-19 vaccination.
May 14, 2021 (San Diego) - Starting Saturday, youths ages 12-17 who want to get a COVID-19 vaccination in San Diego County without a parent present will have to provide a signed form to show their parent or legal guardian has given permission.
May 14, 2021 (Spring Valley) -- Crews will close all lanes of westbound State Route 94 (SR-94) from Avocado Boulevard/Calavo Drive to Kenwood Drive Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., according to Caltrans. The westbound SR-94 nightime closures include the on-ramp from Avocado Boulevard/Calavo Drive, the off- and on-ramps at Sweetwater Springs Road/Campo Drive, and the Kenwood Drive off-ramp.
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
May 14, 2021 (El Cajon) - An educator with more than two decades of experience in higher education has been selected as the next president of Grossmont College.
May 14, 2021 (San Diego) – Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a May budget revision, following news of the state’s windfall $75 billion surplus despite the pandemic. The May revision includes an unprecedented investment in critical infrastructure through California.
May 14, 2021 (La Mesa) – A federal jury in San Diego has convicted Zachary Alexander Karas, 28, of possessing incendiary devices including Molotov cocktail explosives during the riot in La Mesa following a May 30 racial justice protest. His sentencing is scheduled for August 13; the San Diego resident could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
May 14, 2021 (San Diego) – True crime author and Pulitzer-nominated investigative journalist Caitlin Rother discussed her new book, Death on Ocean Boulevard: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case, in an interview airing today on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ, 89.1 FM. The show airs at 5 p.m.; Rother's interviews airs in the second half of the program.
The book explores one of San Diego’s most infamous and intriguing cases, the death of Rebecca Zahau, who was found hanged in the Coronado mansion of her millionaire boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai. The Sheriff ruled the death a suicide, but a civil jury found Jonah’s brother, Adam Shacknai, responsible.
In her book, Rother raises serious questions about the Sheriff’s investigation, though her findings raise as many questions as they answer.
Photo: llustration of the long-planned Santee Community Center, via HMC Architects
May 14, 2021 (Santee) -- The ongoing pandemic has forced everyone, including local elected officials, to reevaluate their previous plans.
That’s what happened May 12 when the Santee City Council pressed the pause button on two long-planned decisions, building a community center and joining a Community Choice Aggregation program.
May 14, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- We have been living and breathing by our technology during the pandemic. Zoom meetings are essential and watching reruns of “The Office” has admittedly helped many a soul get through some tough months. Using our tech devices has been a lifeline, but has also brought about increased anxiety, Facebook fights and Twitter wars.
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
May 13, 2021 (El Cajon) - With the turning of shovels at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning, construction has officially begun at Grossmont College on the second phase of a science, math and career technology complex, which will also house a new Veterans Resource Center.
May 13, 2021 (Rancho San Diego) -- Jogging down a stretch of sidewalk, edged with vibrant sprouts of grass as a breath of air gently passes by. Soaking in the summer sun floating just above the horizon before settling a match of volleyball. Or perhaps you’re eyeing an empty row of seats in a packed theater, popcorn in one hand with a slushy resting in the other, as you signal to your friends. Admittedly, we have all imagined ourselves in any one of these scenarios. Being in quarantine for over a year, who could blame us?
By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., 
East County News Service 
By Kathleen Hedberg, PE, MPH
By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service (CA)
Data raises troubling rural/urban equity disparity in vaccine distribution 
Sheriff's Deputies arrest suspect, recover cultural artifacts stolen from casino.
By Don Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By 
Source: Caltrans
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Mike Allen
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Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
By Branson Bajoua
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