March 2026 Articles

March 2026 Articles

Sheriff warns of spike in vehicle thefts of Jeeps by reprogramming key fobs after pursuit and crash in East County

East County News Service

March 4, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – A suspect accused of stealing a Jeep Wrangler in Santee and crashing into parked cars near Parkway Plaza in El Cajon following a pursuit has been arrested and is hospitalized with serious injuries.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

GUHSD Film Festival coming Friday, March 6

East County News Service

March 4, 2026 (El Cajon) — El Cajon Valley High will roll out the proverbial red carpet on Friday, March 6 for the Grossmont Union High School District's 2026 GUHSD Film Festival.

The annual event will take place this year from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the El Cajon Valley High School Event Center, a premier stage for the district’s most talented young filmmakers.

The film showcase features original creative works from students enrolled in the Career Technical Education Arts, Media & Entertainment pathway at GUHSD.

More than just a screening, the film festival is a celebration of technical mastery and artistic storytelling of students, and by students in the district -- GUHSD students who have spent months scripting, filming and editing projects that range from narrative short films to complex animation.

 

 

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Deadly citrus disease triggers new quarantine in Ramona

East County News Service
 
March 3, 2026 (Ramona) -- The California Department of Food and Agriculture on Monday declared a new citrus quarantine in Ramona after two citrus trees in a residential area tested positive for Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening.
 
The detections were made during routine inspections, according to officials with the County of San Diego.
 
HLB is one of the most destructive citrus diseases in the world. The bacterial disease causes bitter, misshapen fruit unsuitable for sale or eating and eventually kills infected trees. Symptoms can include mottled yellow leaves that often appear in asymmetrical patterns.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Horses of Tir Na Nog welcomes record intake to start Year of the Horse

Photo by Don Telford
 
East County News Service
 
March 3, 2026 (Descanso) — Horses of Tir Na Nog, San Diego County’s longest-operating equine sanctuary, marked a historic milestone Feb. 27, by welcoming six new residents into the nonprofit's care.
 
The arrivals represent the largest single-day intake of domestic horses in the organization’s history, an effort made necessary by the recent closure of a local rescue facility, says Amy Pat Rigney, adminstrator and co-founder of Horses of Tir Na Nog.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Motorcyclist saved after collision in Santee, thanks to lifesaving efforts of bystander and deputies

East County News Service

March 3, 2026 (Santee) – A motorcyclist suffered serious injury in a collision with a pickup truck yesterday around 1:50 p.m. at North Magnolia Avenue and the onramp to State Routes 67 and 52.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Casualties mount across Middle East; Trump says military conflict could last months, won’t rule out ground troops

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in press conference today

March 2, 2026 (San Diego) – The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in Operation “Epic Fury” which began Saturday are believed to have killed 49 senior Iranian officials, including the Ayatollah Khomeini, according to the White House. The USS Abraham Lincoln and stealth bombers based at Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego were among the U.S. forces involved in the strikes.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Sexually transmitted infections continue to fall in San Diego County

By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office

March 2, 2026 (San Diego) - For the second consecutive year, San Diego County has reported a decline in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a trend mirrored across California, according to newly released 2024 data from the California Department of Public Health.  


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

East County Chamber honors leaders, organizations at 114th annual soiree

Sycuan Casino Resort hosted the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce's 114th annual East County Honors Awards Gala over the weekend.

Photos and story by Karen Pearlman

March 2, 2026 (El Cajon) -- More than 400 business and nonprofit leaders, community advocates and public officials gathered at Sycuan Casino Resort last Saturday for the 114th Annual East County Honors Awards Gala.
 
Hosted by the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce, the event continues to be more than a formal dinner, it also acts as a fundraiser for the nonprofit that represent the diverse business community of the East County region, including El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Rancho San Diego, Alpine, Spring Valley and Jamul.
 
The organization also maintains strong partnerships with other chambers in Santee, La Mesa, Lakeside, Julian, Borrego Springs, Ramona and Poway.
 

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Pages