By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Dr. Sugata Das, courtesy of Yuma Regional Medical Center

March 23, 2022 (San Diego) – An autopsy of Dr. Sugata Das, the pilot killed October 11 when his Cessna plane crashed into a Santee neighborhood, found no evidence of drugs, alcohol, or medications. The Medical Examiner’s office also indicates Dr. Das had no history of medical conditions and found no evidence of suicide.

Festival Chair share insights in interview with East County Magazine 

By Matthew Manosh

Photo: Borrego Springs Film Festival 2022 Poster

March 23, 2022 (Borrego Springs)  -- A desert town away from the city, with films by independent artists from around the globe. It sounds like the perfect setting for a film festival. That’s the backdrop for the Borrego Springs Film Festival, which normally takes place in January, but was pushed back due to the COVID pandemic to this week, starting Thursday, March 24 and continuing through Monday, March 28.

East County Magazine got a chance to sit down and talk with the chairman of the film festival, Fred Jee who discussed the early days of the festival and what’s yet to come.

By Jakob McWhinney, Voice of San Diego 

Photo:  Gerald (Gerry) Kostiha eats a grapefruit while sitting on a chair outside his tent Tuesday, March 8, 2022, near El Cajon, CA. He has been living at the Magnolia encampment with his dog Lumpy for four months. / Photo by Peggy Peattie for Voice of San Diego

March 22, 2022 (San Diego) - For the past four months, Gerry Kostiha has lived with his dog Lumpy off North Magnolia Avenue on a plot of county land only a few feet from the border of El Cajon. The 62-year-old worked as a plumber until a fall down a flight of stairs left him immobile and required a series of major surgeries.  

East County News Service

March 21, 2022 (San Diego) – Following the Biden administration’s designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees last week, the San Diego-based Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) and other immigrant groups are calling for similar protections to be provided for Black immigrants, including refugees from Cameroon.

East County News Service

March 21, 2022 (San Diego) - On March 15, 2022, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a Board Letter introduced by Supervisors Jim Desmond (District 5) and Joel Anderson (District 2). The purpose of this Board Letter was to direct the Chief Administrative Officer to urge the Governor and State Legislature to suspend the State gas tax for one year.

208 inmates have died in county custody since 2006

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D.

March 19, 2022 (San Diego) – A bipartisan group of San Diego state legislators have introduced AB 2345, the Saving Lives in Custody Act. The bill follows a scathing state auditor’s report which found conditions in San Diego County Jails to be so dangerous that the auditor urged legislative intervention.

By Kylie Dees

March 18, 2022 (San Diego) -- "The war between Russia and Ukraine is absolutely barbaric...and unthinkable on its scale. We are all deeply devasted," Russian language instructor Dana Shembel at San Diego State University said in an interview with East County Magazine.

By Monica Lopez, Fair Housing Consultant at CSA San Diego Fair Housing

March 18, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- Kim and James are searching for their first home and find an amazing listing for a two-bedroom home in a prime location that is right within their budget. The couple then excitedly calls the listing agent to schedule a tour to view the residence.

By Liz Alper

Photo: new Padre Jorge Alfaro hit a three-run homer today. Via @padres on Twitter

March 18, 2022 (Peoria, Ariz.) - Baseball.  Is.  Back.  The regular season may have been pushed back due to the lockout, but a deal has been reached and baseball is back and that means the Padres are back.  Today, they had their first spring training game as they took on the Mariners in Peoria.  Marco Gonzales started for the Mariners against MacKenzie Gore.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

March 16, 2022 (San Diego) - County supervisors received an update Wednesday on their draft Regional Decarbonization Framework and its newest addition, a draft study of opportunities and challenges facing the local workforce resulting from climate action.

Suspected killer, a neighbor, later died in a fire

East County News Service

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department 

Photos:  Diane Lynn Dahn was brutally murdered in 1988.  After 33 years, investigators believe the killer was her neighbor, Warren Robertson, who later died in a fire.

March 16, 2022 (Santee) -- On May 2, 1988, Diane Lynn Dahn did not arrive at work for her shift at the San Diego Transit Corporation. A coworker went to Diane's apartment in the 8700 block of Graves Avenue in Santee and discovered her body inside her bedroom at around 1:30 p.m. Her 2-year-old son was found wandering in the apartment complex.

East County News Service

March 16, 2022 (Sacramento) -- This St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminds drivers to avoid taking chances and have a sober ride home if their plans include alcohol. Unfortunately, the party often ends with risky drunk drivers taking to the streets and endangering countless lives, and/or being arrested for drunk driving.

By Jamie Kendrick

March 15, 2022 (Lakeside) – Lakeside resident John Bertis “Bert” Kendrick passed away Thursday, February 17, 2022 while in the hospital at the age of 79. He formerly lived in Pine Valley, where he worked at his father’s store and helped open Pine Valley Park.  Later he served in the military and became known locally as a carpenter, equestrian, athlete and talented musician.