Update: As of 6:52 p.m. 6/23 the #border58fire on Otay Mountain is still at 137 acres and 80% contained.

By Jonathan Goetz

June 22, 2024 (San Diego) -- Cal-fire is making full use of air resources today in remote hard to reach areas first in Pala, in North County, and then in South Bay approximately five miles southeast of Otay Lakes, the latter of which is still only partially contained. 

The #Border58Fire approximately near Otay Truck Trail that burned 137 acres as of 5:55 p.m., but most of that burned within the first two and a half hours of the fire and rotor wing aircraft making significant progress before the blaze was able to get out of control. The fire is 5% contained as of 7:19 p.m. per Cal-Fire on X.

By Mike Allen

June 20,2024  (Santee) -- A nasty fight involving 25-30 teenagers at the first of Santee’s Summer Concerts at Town Center Community Park last Thursday resulted in changes in how the city manages the popular event.

Bree Osborne, a spokeswoman for the city of Santee, said the fight began soon after the June 13 concert ended at 8:15 p.m. when a “group of teens and minors caused some issues.”

She said the fight, which was centered around the restrooms at the west side of Town Center Community Park, required the response of an unknown number of Sheriff’s Department personnel, and that arrests were made.

Update 3 p.m.: This fire is contained. Firefighters are on scene mopping up.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

June 19, 2024 (Spring Valley)-- A brush fire has burned 1 to 1.5 acres nearJamacha Blvd. and Campo Rd. in Spring Valley.  This fire is burning under power lines, so air resources are unable to suppress the fire with a drop. The fire is burning in medium fuels at a slow rate of speed, per Watch Command.

CHP has shut down Jamacha Blvd. in both directions

June 19, 2024 (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

• Lawsuit says homeless people’s belongings are being illegally trashed in East County (San Diego)
• Latest county report shows uptick in COVID cases (KPBS)
• Assembly Candidate Carl DeMaio Keeps Failing at Ballot Initiatives – On Purpose?  (Voice of San Diego)
• La Mesa woman's grocery run ends in road rage attack (10 News)
• Catholic Charities hires armed guards following video posted by alt-right social media influencer (10 News)
• Graduation at stake for some UCSD student protesters (KPBS)
• Times of San Diego Joins Arizona State University Nonprofit to Develop New Model for Local Journalism (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• Invasive species — a threat to wine grapes — shipped to California, officials say (Star-Telegram)
• Newsom to more than double National Guard at ports of entry to combat drugs  (KPBS)
• Why so many California Indians lack the federal recognition given to other Native Americans (Los Angeles Times)
• State Farm: Some Californians can keep home insurance, but something major won't be covered (Fox 11)
• The dirty secret of California’s legal weed (Los Angeles Times)
• Fatal black bear attack on woman in 2023 first in California, officials say (CNN)

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

By Susan Taylor

June 19, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- Congratulations to Whitney Wegman-Wood and Sandy Nissou, two East County women who are nominated for their work on films recognized by Film Consortium San Diego for the upcoming San Diego Film Festival this Saturday.

East County News Service

June 18, 2024 (Juylian) -- On Saturday, July 27, the 8^th Annual Sip of Julian will serve up tastes of wine, craft beer, craft cocktails and hard sider, along with small bites at each venue. The self-guided event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is for those age 21 and up.

Attendees will receive a commemorative glass and wine tote. 

Plan also makes it easier for DACA recipients and immigrant college graduates to obtain work visas

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Immigrant rights march, via Wikimedia

June 18,2024 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden today announced executive actions to protect a half million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation, if they have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years. An estimated 50,000 children under 21 with a U.S. citizen parent will also be protected from deportation. 

Until now, undocumented spouses and children of citizens had to leave the U.S. to apply for permanent residency, a process that often separated families for years. A similar parole in place program is already used to protect undocumented families of military members.

The new, broader parole-in-place program will allow parents and children to stay in the U.S. for three years while they apply for permanent residency.  All applicants will be vetted by the Department of Homeland Security to assure the applicant does not pose a threat to public safety or national security.

Reuters reports that the majority of those set to benefit from the order are Mexicans, many of them in California.

In addition, Biden announced a program to make it easier for Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented college graduates to obtain work visas/green cards if they have been offered a job related to their degree.