By Miriam Raftery

Updated March 6th with latest results.

March 6, 2024 (San Diego's East County)-- Conservative firebrand Carl DeMaio, the leader of Reform California, now has 43.8% of as of today for the 75^th Assembly race.  Kevin Juza, a business consultant who is the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate, is in second place with 19.02% of the vote, followed by Republican Andrew Hayes, a Lakeside school board member and long-time aid to legislators Brian Jones and Joel Anderson with16.28%.

Juza got a boost from deceptive campaign tactics by DeMaio, whose campaign funded full-color mailers and a website urging voters to support Juza, whom DeMaio would prefer to run off against in the November general election.

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2024 (Spring Valley) -- Deputies are looking for a man suspected of kidnapping and stealing a vehicle in Spring Valley yesterday.  

Shortly before 6 p.m., the victim called to report his car was stolen from the 500 block of Sweetwater Road with his 2-year-old daughter inside.

By Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings



March 1, 2024 (Lemon Grove) - Petty Officer 2nd Class Ramiro Perez, a native of Lemon Grove, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35.

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch Full Video here

March 2, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Dr. Akilah Weber is no stranger to serving in government. Locally she has served as a La Mesa councilmember as well as in her current role as the 79^th State Assembly member. We spoke with Weber via Zoom to find out what her goals are as a State Senator if elected, covering issues including education, healthcare, reproductive rights, disaster response, and projects to help local communities.

East County News Service

March 4, 2024 (La Mesa)—California Highway Patrol is seeking a black Ford Fusion sedan driven by a black man suspected of shooting and injuring a motorist on I-8 in La Mesa yesterday afternoon.

The injured motorist, an El Cajon man, was driving a red Chrysler PT Cruiser westbound on Interstate 8, just east of Grossmont Blvd. California Highway Patrol responded to reports of the shooting around 3:35 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

March 4, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – With spring fast approaching, many festive and creative events are sprouting up across East County. These include Daffodil Days in Julian, Tomatomania at the Water Conservation Garden, an Earth Day Fair in La Mesa, a plein air art show in  Borrego Springs, a junior fair and barbecue in Lakeside, Nature Day on Mt. Helix, Cajon Classic cruises, plus plays, concerts, and a stargazing party.

ECM breaks down their focuses, qualifications, and endorsements

By Jessyka Heredia  and Miriam Raftery

March 2, 2024 (East County) – There are three candidates vying for the 51^st Congressional seat that serves several areas in the city of San Diego as well as La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, Spring Valley and Rancho San Diego in East County. View map.

The seat is held by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat. The challengers are El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican, and small business owner Stan Caplan, an independent.

East County News SErvice

March 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has two local disaster recovery centers that are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Residents who had damage from the floods that occurred January 21-23 can visit the centers or register online for federal disaster relief to help pay for repairs, temporary housing and property losses,  as well as business loans, now through April 19.

The federal aid comes after President Joe Biden issued a federal disaster declaration for our regionl.

The centers are located at the Spring Valley County Library (836 Kempton St, Spring Valley) and at the Mountain View Community Center (651  South Boundary St., San Diego).

East County News Service

March 1, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies attempting to serve civil process documents Monday morning found a woman unconscious, unresponsive and suffering signs of trauma.

The victim, Pamela Williams, 55, was found at 7:45 a.m.in a residence in the 3900 block of Conrad Drive in Spring Valley, says Lieutenant Joseph Jarjura with the Sheriff’s homicide unit.

Update  March 1, 2024:  Officers and a mobile forensic lab remains on scene. Police have not revealed details, however a city official told  ECM that the shooting suspect was a digruntled patient. He has been charged with first degree murder.

Update 10  p.m.: The suspect is in custody,  per El Cajon Police post on X.

February 29, 2024 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police seeks public help to locate Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, who is considered armed and dangerous. He is the suspect in an active shooter event tonight at the Smile Plus dental office in the 400 block of Magnolia Avenue.

He is described as light-skinned, wearing all black clothing. He fled the scene in a white U-haul pickup truck with Arizona license plate  AM 14894, last seen heading north on N. Mollison. If you see him or have any information, please call El Cajonj Police at 619 579-3311 or call 911.

Photo by Robert Gehr

February 29, 2024 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon shows its patriotic spirit on President’s Day.

By Miriam Raftery

February 28, 2024 (Alpine) -- A community workshop on trail improvements at Loveland Reservoir will be held on Thursday, March 14 at the Alpine Women’s Club (2156 Alpine Blvd) in Alpine from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

State Senator Brian Jones convened the workshop along with the Sweetwater Water Authority to hear from residents concerned about trail erosion and limited public access due to erosion caused by severe winter storms in January of last year.  

East County News Service

Photo: CC by SA via Bing

February 28, 2024 (San Diego) -- The Internal Revenue Service has announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in areas with disaster declarations designated by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This includes San Diego County residents and businesses impacted by the severe storms and flooding that began January 21st.