"Republicans are making clear they will defend their corrupt allies on the Supreme Court no matter what," said one campaigner. The bill is not likely to become law, due to opposition in the GOP-controlled  House.

By Jake Johnson, Common Dreams

Photo: Justice Clarence Thomas,via Library of Congress 2012. Thoms has drawn criticiism for accepting lavish trips and other gifts from a billionaire, actions which would be illegal for judges at any other level of the court system.

July 20, 2023 (Washington D.C.) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced legislation that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of ethics and adhere to stronger disclosure rules following a series of revelations about the luxury trips and other gifts justices have received from right-wing billionaires.

Led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act advanced out of committee without any Republican support.

East County News Service

July 22, 2023 (El Cajon) – A stolen vehicle suspect barricaded himself in an El Cajon motel Thursday evening and threatened to set the building on fire, prompting evacuation of nearby rooms, says Lieutenant Darrin Forster with El Cajon Police Department. 

The incident began at 6:38 p.m., when  El Cajon Police received information that the GPS system on a vehicle reported stolen showed it was parked at the Best Inn & Suites at 1274 Oakdale Avenue. Officers found the vehicle in the parking lot unoccupied. The driver of the stolen car was observed on surveillance video entering a motel room, which paid for by the San Diego County Homeless Voucher Program administered through EQUUS.

By Miriam Raftery

Reported incident may be a hoax, but workers in the field are urged not to accept water or food from strangers

July 21, 2023 – A flyer with SDG&E’s logo circulating on Facebook claims two workers for a local flagging company during extreme heat were given water bottles by a stranger. “Apparently, the water bottles were laced with Fentanyl. Sadly, one of the flaggers died and the other is in critical condition after ingesting the water,” the flyer headlined “Non-SDG&E Contractor Incident Alert” states.

However, SDG&E spokesman Alex Welling told ECM, “We have been working on this since yesterday and we cannot verify the information.  We sent out an alert to contractors; this is true. But after further information we have been unable to verify the source.”

Photo/video credit: San Diego Humane Society

View video of reunion

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.

East County News Service

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.

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.

By Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

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.

By Miriam Raftery

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:

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

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.

East County News Service

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.

East County News Service

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.

East County News Service

Source: County News Service

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.

By Branda Gorgies

Images:  Creative Commons via Bing

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.