January 2025 Articles

January 2025 Articles

EL CAJON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR SENDING DRUG-LACED MAIL TO LAS COLINAS DETENTION FACILITY IN SANTEE

East County News Service

January 31, 2025 – Annette Smith, 58, of El Cajon has been arrested on suspicion of mailing a narcotic-laced greeting card into a San Diego County Jail.

In December 2024, deputies assigned to the Sheriff's Mail Processing Center intercepted a greeting card intended for Alicia Abungan, 52, who is in custody at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee. While inspecting the card, deputies noticed it had the appearance of being soaked in narcotics.

The Sheriff's Detention Investigations Unit began a criminal investigation, which identified Smith as responsible for mailing the greeting card containing narcotics.


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DEPUTY CHARGED OVER EXCESSIVE FORCE THAT SERIOUSLY INJURED MAN AWAITING TRIAL AND COVERING UP HIS ACTIONS

By Miriam Raftery

January 31, 2025 (San Diego) -- A two-count indictment was unsealed in federal court today charging San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores with violating the civil rights of a man in pretrial custody at the San Diego Central Courthouse. Flores is accused of using excessive force that caused a spinal cord injury, then writing a false report to cover up his illegal actions.

He is charged with depriving the individual – identified in the indictment as 57-year-old J.P. – of his right to due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and of falsifying a record in a federal investigation. If convicted on both counts, he could face up to 30 years in prison and be fined up to $500,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.


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BLACK HISTORY EMPOWERMENT CELEBRATION FEBRUARY 22 IN LEMON GROVE

East County News Service

January 31, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A Black History Empowerment Celebration will be held on February 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lemon Grove Academy Middle School, 7866 Lincoln St. in Lemon Grove.  Festivities will include spoken word, drumming African dancers, music artists, soul food vendors, food trucks and more.

The event is sponsored by Thrive Lemon Grove, F.A.C.E. Lemon Grove School District, and House Gone  Wild International.


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EL CAJON ADDS BAGS AND RECEPTACLES FOR DOG WALKERS TO HELP KEEP CITY CLEAN

By Miriam Raftery

 

Photos by Robert Gehr

 

January 31, 2025 (El Cajon) – After voting to repeal a long-unenforced ban on dog walking downtown, the city of El Cajon has installed “doggie pots” and poop disposal bags to help dog owners cleanup after their pets.


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CITY LAUNCHES LA MESA FACADE AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOURTH YEAR

Program assists local businesses with grants for property improvements

Source:  City of La Mesa

January 31, 2025 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa is launching the La Mesa Façade and Property Improvement Grant program for a fourth consecutive year. This program aims to bolster local businesses by providing grant funds for up to $25,000 for exterior façade improvements such as new awnings, signage, painting, lighting, and landscaping.


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LEMON GROVE TO INTERVIEW 11 APPLICANTS FOR CITY COUNCIL VACANCY AT FEB. 4 MEETING

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Eleven people have applied to fill a vacancy on the Lemon Grove City Council created when former Councilmember Alysson Snow won the mayoral election.  The City Council will interview the applicants during the Feb.4 Council meeting at 6 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Community Center. View the full agenda including candidate applications: https://events.lemongrove.ca.gov/council.

The Council previously approved filling the vacancy via appointment, to avoid a costly election. The appointee chosen will serve the remainder of the term, which expires in December 2026.

Applications included detailed questions about candidates’ backgrounds and goals, though some did not identify policy objectives.

The applicants, in order of their interview times, are as follows, along with highlights from their applications:


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

January 30, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

STATE

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.


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IN PACKED HEARING, EL CAJON COUNCIL VOTES 3-2 AGAINST CONTENTIOUS IMMIGRATION RESOLUTION

By Miriam Raftery

View video of full Council hearing (Immigration agenda item begins at 37 minutes.)

January 29, 2025 – Emotions ran high during yesterday’s El Cajon City Council meeting, where a packed chamber heard testimony from 88 members of the public over a proposed over immigration enforcement resolution, followed by a heated Council debate that divided the all-Republican members during a hearing that ran over five hours.

The measure introduced by Mayor Wells, a revision from a version heard two weeks ago, aims to authorize El Cajon police to comply with federal immigration enforcement officials within the limits of state law and the Constitution for the purpose of removing violent criminals.

But the action comes on the same day that the White House Press Secretary indicated that the Trump administration views all undocumented immigrants as “criminals” even though crossing the border itself is a misdemeanor on the first offense, not a felony or violent crime.

Sweeps by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have begun nationwide, picking up many immigrants with no criminal record—including an El Cajon man with no criminal record who was awaiting his asylum hearing when arrested  this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at his home in front of his five-year-old daughter, Councilman Michelle Metschel revealed in an impassioned speech.


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COVERED CALIFORNIA REACHES RECORD-BREAKING 1.9M ENROLLEES BEFORE OPEN ENROLLMENT'S JANUARY 31 DEADLINE

Source:  Covered California

Photo:  nearly 300,000 Californians have signed up during open enrollment through Jan. 26

Janaury 29, 2025 (Sacramento) - Covered California has surpassed 1.9 million enrollees, bolstering its record-high enrollment before open enrollment’s Jan. 31 deadline for California’s remaining uninsured.


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WHITE HOUSE MAKES CLEAR: ANY IMMIGRANT WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS IS “CRIMINAL” TO BE DEPORTED

Source: America’s Voice

January 29, 2025 (Washington, DC) — Yesterday delivered several reminders that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda is sweeping in its scope, harm and indiscriminate nature, viewing all immigrants here without legal status as “criminal” and comfortable in the reality that U.S. citizens and tribal members are among those being targeted and detained in their early enforcement efforts. These fresh reminders, detailed below, follow our assessment yesterday that highlighted the indiscriminate nature of the early Trump administration’s deportation agenda.  


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CITY OF LEMON GROVE ANNOUNCES RECRUITMENT FOR MEASURE T OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBERS

East County News Service

January 29, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The City of Lemon Grove is now accepting applications for residents and business owners interested in serving on the Measure T Oversight Committee. Applications will be accepted beginning January 27, 2025, through February 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.


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FIND PUPPY LOVE AT FIDO FEST FEB. 22

East County News Service

January 29, 2025 (Santee) – Bring your dog for fun times at Fido Fest, or adopt a furry companion from rescue groups.  The city of Santee event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive East in Santee.

Contests will be held for the biggest and smallest dogs, best costume, and best trick. There will also be “arfs” and crafts, demonstrations, off-leash areas, vendors and giveaways.


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FREE FEBRUARY ADMISSION FOR SENIORS AT SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK

Source:  San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

January 29, 2025 (San Diego) - The San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcomes guests aged 65 and older to enjoy free admission throughout February during Seniors Free Month. To participate, guests 65 and older simply need to present a valid photo ID upon arrival. Visitors can immerse themselves in the Safari Park’s vast 1,800-acre landscape, home to over 3,000 animals representing more than 300 species, alongside a botanical collection featuring over 1.3 million plants. This unique experience provides educational opportunities and unforgettable moments for all ages.


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EL CAJON COUNCIL WILL VOTE TODAY ON CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION RESOLUTION

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Opponents of resolution rallied Monday in El Cajon; CBS 8 video screenshot

Read the revised resolution on pages 57-59 from City Council agenda attachments

January 28, 2025 (El Cajon) – A crowd of about 75people opposed to mass deportations held a rally outside El Cajon’s City Hall yesterday to speak out against Mayor Bill Wells’ proposed resolution for the city to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The City Council will hold a hearing today at 3 p.m. on the controversial measure.

Changes have been made since the last meeting, adding praise for the city’s “vibrant and diverse immigrant communities” but also declaring the city’s intent to “comply with federal immigration law to the legal extent permissible under SB 54 and other applicable laws to remove violent criminals from our community.” SB 54 is a state law which prohibits cities from turning anyone over to federal immigration authorities unless they have been convicted in court of committed certain serious felony crimes, such as murder or rape. 

But President Donald Trump has declared a border emergency and  ordered immigration officials to conduct broad sweeps in immigrant communities. In recent days, people including citizens have been stopped,  asked for documents to prove citizenship, and many have been detained. Trump has stated his goal is to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.—going far beyond the small percentage convicted of felonies.


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'IT'S FINALLY OVER, I'M GOING HOME': BIDEN GRANTS COMMUTATION--BUT NO PARDON--FOR PELTIER

"The victory of freeing Leonard Peltier is a symbol of our collective strength—and our resistance will never stop," vowed one Indigenous organizer.

By Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams

January 28, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - Just minutes before leaving office, Joe Biden on Monday commuted the life prison sentence of Leonard Peltier, the elderly American Indian Movement activist who supporters say was framed for the murder of two federal agents during a 1975 reservation shootout.


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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

January 28, 2025 -- As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

WORLD

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BORDER 2 FIRE

East County News Service

January 28, 2025 (Jamul) -- Robert Hobbs sent in these images of the Border 2 Fire, which burned over 6,500 acres after starting on Otay Mountain in San Diego County on Jan. 23.  These photos were taken Jan. 23 and 24 from Jamul.

 


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MTS INCREASES TROLLEY SERVICE WITH MORE LATE NIGHT AND WEEKEND FREQUENCY

Green, Orange and Blue Lines now offer added flexibility and reliability for transit riders

Source:  MTS

January 27, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is increasing Trolley service for the Green, Blue and Orange lines, offering additional late night and weekend service to provide riders with more options to take transit.


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TRUMP ORDERS MORE CENTRAL VALLEY WATER DELIVERIES--CLAIMING IT WOULD HELP LA FIRES

By Alastair Bland, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo via Calif. Dept. of Water Resources:  A drone provides a view of a section of the California Aqueduct within the California State Water Project, located near John R. Teerink Pumping Plant.

January 27, 2025 (Central Valley, Calif.) - President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Sunday that told federal agencies to “immediately take action” to deliver more Central Valley water and eliminate rules that stand in the way, including endangered species protections.


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SVP TO BE CONDITIONALLY RELEASED TO HOME IN JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS

By Brooke Binkowski, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Herman Smith, San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept.

January 27, 2025 (Jacumba Hot Springs) - A man classified as a sexually violent predator — or SVP — will be conditionally released to a home in Jacumba Hot Springs, likely displacing another SVP who was placed in that same home two months ago.


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LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL SHIFTS WINDOW ON TINY HOMES FEEDBACK

By Jessica Brodkin Webb

 

January 27, 2025 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow called the Jan. 21 City Council meeting “very light,” yet there was time enough for staunch resident pushback against a historically controversial tiny homes project which was not on the agenda. 


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SNOW FALLING IN EAST COUNTY MOUNTAINS

Photo by Craig S. Maxwell today:  Snow in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park

January 27, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory idue to snow falling across San Diego’s mountain areas, with more snow possible tomorrow.

Areas impacted in the winter weather advisory range from high desert communities such as Campo and Jacumba north through Pine Valley, Descanso, Cuyamaca, Julian, Warner Springs and Mount Palomar.


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TROOPS ARRIVE AT BORDER AFTER TRUMP DECLARES BORDER EMERGENCY, AUTHORIZES MIGRANT SEIZURES IN SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND HOSPITALS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: screenshot of aerial video by ECM news partner 10 News shows military troops with razor wire at a staging site in the South Bay, as troops prepare to deploy to fortify U.S. - Mexico Border and aid in Trump crackdown on border crossings.

January 26, 2025 (San Diego) – A tough crackdown on immigrants has begun, after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the Southern Border. On Thursday, 1,500 active-duty military troops have been deployed to patrol the borders in San Diego and San Antonio, Texas, with the first soldiers arriving Thursday. 10 News shot footage showing troops, including hundreds from Camp Pendleton, arriving at staging area in Imperial Beach along with concertina razor wire, tents, and military trucks.

Yet according to Associated Press, data doesn’t back up Trump’s contention of an “invasion” of immigrants.  In fact,  AP reports, “arrests for illegal border crossings plummeted more than 80% to about 47,000 in December from an all-time high of 250,000 the same period a year earlier. Arrests fell by about half when Mexican authorities increased enforcement within their own borders a year ago and by about half again when former President Joe Biden introduced severe asylum restrictions in June.”

Immigration sweeps have also begun across the nation, striking fear into immigrant communities as Border Patrol agents in some areas reportedly demanded documentation of everyone stopped, including citizens. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, told Fox News that ICE arrested over 308 “serious criminals” in the first 24 hours after Trump took office.

One day later, Newsweek reports, Trump’s Acting Secretary of Homeland Security  Benjamine Huffman lifted a long-standing ban, now allowing ICE to target immigrants in sensitive locations including schools, churches and hospitals.

In addition to fortifying the border to block crossings by migrants, including many seeking asylum and fleeing violence or persecution, Trump's administration has disabled the app which formerly allowed asylum-seekers to apply online without crossing the border, effectively blocking all asylum efforts, NPR reports. 


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TRUMP BLOCKS FLIGHTS TO U.S. FOR APPROVED REFUGEES, INCLUDING U.S. MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS AND AFGHANS WHO HELPED OUR TROOPS

 

Impact has left refugee aid groups locally and nationally in shock

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via Pentagon:  Troops evacuating Afghans after fall of Kabul

January 26, 2025 (San Diego) – Following an executive order issued by Donald Trump to suspend refugee resettlement,  the Trump administration has cancelled all flights for over 10,000 refugees already approved to resettle in the United States. According to Associated Press. This includes over 1,660 Afghans who helped America’s military as well as relatives of active-duty U.S. military personnel, Reuters reports.

The impacts hit hard in San Diego County, which in recent years has resettled more refugees from around the world than any other county in the U.S. including refugees from Africa, Asia, war-torn Middle-Eastern countries such as Iraq and Syria, Ukraine and other European nations, Haitian refugees fleeing natural disasters, and many more.

“This executive order is a step backwards for America,” the International Rescue Committee states on its website, urging the Trump administration to reverse the order. 

The Trump administration has taken down entirely the State Department's page on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.


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CAL FIRE HOLDS BORDER 2 FIRE TO 6,625 ACRES AS RAIN AIDS EFFORTS, BUT MUDSLIDES ARE POSSIBLE RISK

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of Cal Fire

Update January 30,2025 10 a.m.-- All evacuation orders have been lifted The fire is 100% contained.

Update January 29, 2025 9 a.m.-- The Border 2 Fire is now  90% contained, as rain helped firefighters' efforts. Cal Fire says there is no risk to the public or structure threats.

Update January 27, 2025  12 p.m.--   The overnight shelter at Cuyamaca College has closed.  All evacuation warnings remai lifted.  Some evacuation orders remain in effect in areas west of highway 94.  For map, see: https://x.com/SDSheriff/status/1883974136143438278/photo/1.  

Update 7:45 p.m. -- The fire is now 40% contained, per Cal Fire.

Update 5 p.m.-- All evacuation warnings have been lifted.  Some evacuation orders remain in areas west of 94. Use caution when reentering, as firefighters are still at work.  

Update 1 p.m.-- State Route 94 is reopened; evacuation notices for Dulzura, Honey Springs, and areas east of 94 have been lifted; these areas will be repopulated. Otay Lakes Rd. remains closed.  To see maps of the affected areas, visit: emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html and protect.genasys.com/fullscreenMap?.

January 26, 2025  8:30 a.m.— Firefighters held the #Border2Fire to 6,625 acres overnight and 10% contained. State Route 94 remains closed between Honey Springs Road and State Route 188.Tecate Rd.  Evacuations remain in effect; view current evacuation areas: Genasys Evacuation Map.  1,117 personnel are fighting this fire.

Experts are looking at the soil in the fire’s perimeter to evaluate if there are any mudslide concerns and will work to mitigate those if they arise.

Cal Fire held a virtual community forum last night which can be viewed here. Cal Fire reports good progress on the fire, especially on the west side near Chula Vista  Due to improved conditions, the Sheriff reports that jail visits will resume at the 3 Otay facilities.

On the east side and near Doghouse Junction, crews are constructing a containment line to prevent the fire from moving east towards Dulzura, Marron Valley, and Mexico.

.On the south side of the fire, there is some open line on the fire, but resources are working in arduous terrain to combat it. On the southwest side, ground crews and dozers continue to build line to prevent the fire’s spread.


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WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN OFFERS FREE HAVEN FOR BORDER FIRE EVACUEES AND PETS

East County News Service

January 25, 2025 (Rancho San Diego, CA) -- In light of the ongoing evacuations at the Border Fire, the Water Conservation Garden on the campus of Cuyamaca College is opening its grounds with free admission to evacuees and their pets. Free Wifi is available.

“We hope The Garden can provide a peaceful escape, a place to recharge, and a reminder of the resilience of nature and community,” says Lauren Magnuson, Director of Garden Operations. She adds, ”Stay safe, and we look forward to welcoming you.”


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BORDER PATROL REPORTS RESCUE OF HIKER SHOT IN JACUMBA WILDERNESS BY SUSPECTED CARTEL MEMBERS

East County News Service

Photos courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol

January 25, 2025 (Jacumba Hot Springs, CA) – Two hikers in the Jacumba Wilderness were robbed and attacked, with one man shot by “suspected Mexican cartel terrorists,” according to a press release issued by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

According to the CPB, agents from the El Centro sector were dispatched following a 911 call reporting that a man had been shot and needed assistance. The agents found  a group of hikers about 1,000 feet north of the international border in the Jacumba Wilderness, which is near the San Diego County and Imperial County line. The hikers reportedly stated that two of the hikers, an American and a Canadian, were ordered by armed men to approach.

When the hikers refused, “the assailants fired a volley of shots toward the hikers, striking one victim in the leg. The assailants advanced on the downed hiker and his Canadian companion, robbing them of their cell phones and backpacks,” the release states.


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SDG&E RESTORES POWER TO ALL CUSTOMERS AFTER HISTORIC WEATHER EXTREMES

Source: SDG&E

January 25, 2025 (SDG&E) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced this evening that power has been fully restored to all customers affected by recent Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Over 19,000 customers were impacted in dozens of local communities. These shutoffs were implemented as a wildfire prevention measure in response to unprecedented weather conditions that led to prolonged high-fire risk.


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EVACUATION AREAS EXPAND IN BORDER FIRE; EVACUATION CENTER AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE

Update January 25, 2025- The fire had modest growth overnight and is now 6,500 acres, per Cal Fire.

Update 8:15 p.m.-- Per CalTrans, State Route 94 is closed in both directions between Honey Springs Rd. in Jamul and State Route 188 (access road to Tecate) due to the fire.

Update 5:55 p.m.-- The fire is now 6,272.7 acres per Cal-Fire. The mandatory evacuation area has been extended to some areas east of State Route 94.

January 24, 2025 (Jamul/Dulzura) -- Evacuation orders and warnings for the #Border2Fire now extend to immediately south of Jamul Casino, including areas east and west of State Route 94, and significant portions of Chula Vista.  Photo left is as of 1 p.m.; click this link for latest evacuation areas and hit the plus sign to enlarge to view details: https://app.watchduty.org/camera/2231   Also see another map here:  https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/23/border-2-fire.

The fire, which started on Otay Mountain yesterday,  is now 5,389 acres and 10% contained per Cal Fire.  An Evacuation Center has now been set up at: Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019.


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