Source:  County of San Diego

October 23, 2025 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. to learn about and share your input on the County’s implementation of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the development of the Green Building Incentive Program Update.

As the shutdown continues, the hunger relief non-profit is preparing for a massive surge in need with the delay of November CalFresh benefits

El Cajon Police seek help to find white or silver SUV with front-end damage

East County News Service

October 23, 2025 (El Cajon) – Around 8 p.m. last night, a 12-year-old boy was struck by an SUV in the 300 block of Ballantyne Street, suffering major head trauma.  The vehicle, described by witnesses as a white or silver SUV with front-end damage, fled the scene.

By Miriam Raftery

Image: Inmate firefighter; cc via Bing

October 14, 2025 (Sacramento) – They risk their lives to battle wildfires. Yet California’s inmate firefighters are currently paid just $1 to $10 for an entire day’s work, plus $1 an hour during active duty.  A bill signed by Governor Gavin Newsom will raise the rate to $7.25 an hour (the federal minimum wage) during active duty.

By Paul Levikow

Image, left: Rendering of Troy Street Sleeping Cabins Project

October 22, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve negotiations with Caltrans to purchase land for the Troy Street Sleeping Cabins Project in Lemon Grove, after hearing comments overwhelmingly in opposition from residents and two City Councilmembers.

The project plan calls for building tiny homes on an undeveloped lot at 2800 Sweetwater Road and Troy Street, which the County expects to pay about $2 million to buy from the state. It’s part of the County’s Compassionate Emergency Solutions and Pathways to Housing efforts for people experiencing homelessness.

There were 26 requests to speak in person in the board chambers or on the phone. There were 78 e-comments in opposition submitted, while 5 e-comments were in support of the plan. Opponents warned of the potential for an increase in crime in the area, or said the project was too expensive and too close to an early childhood education center, or that the Board should focus on permanent solutions instead of temporary ones.

By Miriam Raftery, with additional reporting by Karen Pearlman

Photo: LMPD Officer Lauren Craven, courtesy of La Mesa Police

Updated Oct. 21, 4 p.m. with comments from Chief Ray Sweeney,  City Manager Greg Humora, and Governor Gavin Newsom

October 21, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven, 25, was struck and killed last night after stopping to assist motorists involved in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 8 east at Fairmount Avenue at 10:24 p.m. last night.  One of the motorists also died, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Craven was on duty returning from Central Jail when she stopped at the scene of the crash, where one vehicle had lost struck another, then lost control and rolled over, according to the California Highway Patrol.  A third vehicle then struck the disabled vehicle, 10 News reports.

The CHP told 10 News that after LMPD Officer Craven got out of her vehicle to assist the motorists, she was struck by an oncoming vehicle, after which a fifth vehicle struck those involved in the original crash.

East County News Service

October 21, 2025 (Anza Borrego)—You’re invited to walk by the light of a full moon in Anza Borrego Desert State Park’s South Palm Canyon Wash on November 5 from 6:30 to  8:30 p.m.. The hike will be led by Mike McElhatton, education director at the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA).

“Experience the unique and serene beauty of moonlight on the canyon walls as we take a 1.5-mile walk through South Palm Wash,” the invitation states. 

Source: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment 

October 21, 2025 (Sacramento) - Today, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a new fish consumption advisory for Hodges Reservoir, located approximately four miles south of Escondido, in San Diego County. The advisory provides safe-eating advice for black bass species, Channel Catfish, Common Carp and Threadfin Shad.  

By Miriam Raftery

October 20, 2025 (La Mesa) -- If you plan to park in La Mesa, you’ll be paying more for meters starting in January.

The City Council has approved doubling parking meter rates from 75 cents an hour to $1.50 an hour for all 433 meters in the downtown village.  It’s the first price rise in 20 years.

In addition, parking permits will be consolidated into one tier at $80 per quarter or $288 per year. Businesses may purchase no more than five permits for their employees.

Accident comes after Governor Gavin Newsom raised safety concerns and closed freeway

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Shrapnel that struck CHP vehicle

October 20, 2025 (Camp Pendleton, CA) – An artillery round exploded prematurely over I-5 on Saturday, causing metal shrapnel to strike a California Highway Patrol vehicle. The incident occurred while  Vice President J.D. Vance was at Camp Pendleton for the 250^th anniversary of the Marine Corps.

President Donald Trump refused to cancel the live-fire demonstration over the freeway, even after Governor Gavin Newsom, the CHP and local leaders voiced safety concerns. Newsom ordered busy I-5 closed for four hours during the event, drawing criticism from conservatives, but the accidental explosion over the highway proved such concerns valid. Had other vehicles been on the freeway, additional chunks of shrapnel could have caused damage or injury to motorists.

By Miriam Raftery

Image left:  Refugee issues covered by ECM over the years includes persecution of Iraqi Christians, Kurdish immigrations fleeing ISIS, a migrant crisis at the Mexican border, asylum seekers fleeing violence in Africa, efforts to help African women refugees, Afghan refugees starting new lives in East County--many after helping the U.S. military, Ukrainians in Santee after Russia's invasion of their homeland, and cultural celebrations of Asian immigrants in our region.

October 19, 2025 (San Diego, CA) – San Diego has admitted more refugees from around the world than any other county in the U.S. in the years just prior to the current Trump administration, welcoming people from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. Our region has been enriched by these newcomers in many ways, such as the array of international restaurants and cultural attractions in the San Diego region.

But  President Donald Trump, after already slashing aid to refugees, now proposes to sharply restrict admissions and prioritize admitting predominantly white, English-speaking Europeans who claim persecution due to opposing mass migration or support of “populist” political parties such as far-right neo-Nazi groups in  Europe.

October 18, 2025  (San Diego’s East County) – November brings numerous noteworthy events to East County, including the Ramona Art and Wine Festival, an Antique and Craft Fair at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs, the Wheel of Fortune live game show at Viejas in Alpine, the award-winning play Copenhagen at Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa, stargazing at Mission Trails, the Boots and Bells Fashion Show at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon amd a  Chili Cookoff at Circle TLC Ranch in Lakeside.

There's also the La Mesa historic homes tour, Santee’s holiday tree lighting, a concert at the Magnolia in El Cajon by original Beach Boys member Al Jardine, a Spring Valley 5K run, the Mt. Helix Park turkey trot, Bates Nut Farm’s Holiday Craft Fair in Valley Center, Julian’s Country Christmas, and Holiday Lights on Main in El Cajon.

Scroll down for all the fun and festive details.

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

October 19, 2025 (San Diego) - History buffs will love Richard Carrico’s new book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City. The book briefly covers San Diego area history before the first pioneers arrived. The author’s preview to European colonization is short but extensive. Richard Carrico’s greatest focus is upon the presidio in San Diego, which was a Spanish military post as well as the first Catholic mission and settlement in California.