East County News Service

Photo: “In Trouble” depicts a twisting bronc as it tries to throw its rider. It is the artist’s best known etching.

September 5, 2025 (El Cajon) -- The Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in El Cajon opens an exhibition of the Etchings of Olaf Wieghorst on Friday, September 12 and runs through October 10. Twenty-six original etchings created by Olaf Wieghorst between 1937 and 1940 along with an original copper etching plate will be displayed.  

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 5, 2025 (San Diego) - The County’s Office of Evaluation, Performance and Analytics has released a new plan listing 18 questions that will guide the County’s evaluation of important programs and services, ranging from homelessness to climate, public safety, and physical and mental health.

East County News Service

September 4, 2025 (Ramona) -- An hours-long standoff that led to the evacuation of a Ramona elementary school yesterday has ended with the discovery of a deceased man inside a home. 

On September 3, just before 9:30 a.m., deputies from the Ramona Sheriff's Substation responded to a call for a welfare check of a despondent man at a home in the 1400 block of Royal Vista Drive.  When deputies arrived on scene, they contacted the man through an open window. He did not respond; instead, the man retreated behind a closed door Deputies heard what sounded like the racking of a weapon, so they quickly retreated to a safe location and called for backup. 

East County News Service

September 4, 2025 (Julian) -- The East County Performing Arts Association invites you to experience the heart, humor, and resilience of Southern women in Steel Magnolias. The play will be performed in the Julian Town Hall the weekends of Oct. 17-19 and Oct. 24-26.  Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Set in a small-town beauty salon, this beloved theater production blends laughter and tears as six unforgettable women navigate life’s joys and sorrows together. With sharp wit and deep emotion, Steel Magnolias is a touching tribute to friendship, strength, and love. Join us for an evening of unforgettable storytelling and heartfelt performances. 

By Paul Levikow

September 3, 2025 – (East County) The governors of California, Oregon and Washington today announced they will launch a West Coast Health Alliance aimed at recommendations about immunizations, in response to recent cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson issued a joint statement saying the alliance is “in response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the politicization of science.” The governors say they are beginning the process to provide evidence-based unified recommendations to their residents regarding who should receive immunizations and to help ensure the public has access and credible information for confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy. 

September 3, 2025 (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 

• Supervisors vote to allow San Diego County to tap into financial reserves (Times of San Diego)
• How San Diego’s Congressional districts could change under redistricting (KPBS)
• Toxic sewer gases pollute South Bay at levels 70 times state regulations, study finds (NBC San Diego)

• El Cajon police and state AG’s Office at odds over sharing of surveillance data (KPBS)
• San Diego County looks to expand legal defense program for immigrant children after Trump administration cuts (CBS 8)

• Cajon Valley school bus drivers train for crisis situations (10 News)
• DHS Secretary Noem says entire southern border wall will be painted black to stop people from climbing it (CBS News)
• Warning signs installed in parts of Tijuana River Valley (County News)
• La Mesa family still concerned about road safety months after car crashed into home and RV (ABC 10)
• Local Republican groups react to Gov. Newsom's push to congressional redistricting (10 News)
• 'Officer in the Sky': Oceanside tests drones as first responders (KPBS)

STATE 

• Newsom deploys CHP crime suppression teams to San Diego, L.A., Inland Empire (CNS)
• Judge rules Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles violated federal law (CBS)
• This candidate for California governor has a potential conflict of interest in her own home (KPBS)
• 'They're not going to live normally': A devastating disease has surged in Calif. (SF Gate)
• Fatal kidney disease in sea lions along CA coast could impact pets, marine biologists warn (ABC 7)
• FTC accuses LA Fitness of trapping customers in memberships in new lawsuit (CBS)

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

This action prompted other top CDC officials to resign in protest, while Kennedy hires a replacement who has no medical background. 

By G. A. McNeeley 

September 3, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- The Trump Administration is facing bipartisan pushback over the firing of Susan Monarez, the Director of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which prompted dozens of staff members to walk out in protest on Thursday, August 28, according to The Guardian. 

Hundreds of employees and supporters lined the sidewalks outside of the agency’s Atlanta headquarters for a “clap out” rally to honor the senior leaders who resigned in protest of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine attacks on the agency and public health at large, according to MSNBC. 

Some retail outlets start unlocking high-end products

East County News Service

September 1, 2025 (San Diego) -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has released promising data on prosecutions and court-mandated treatment under news laws created by the passage of Proposition 36.

East County News Service

August 31, 2025 (San Diego)—A 35-year-old man arrested Aug. 29 was found unresponsive in his cell yesterday afternoon at San Diego Central Jail and later died at a hospital.  He was the seventh person to die in custody this year in a San Diego County detention facility.

According to the Sheriff’s department, several incarcerated persons in the jail notified deputies at 3:08 p.m. that the victim was in medical distress. Deputies found the man unresponsive in his cell and called 9-1-1. They requested additional help from the facility’s medical staff and began life-saving measures.

Paramedics and the San Diego Fire Department assumed lifesaving measures upon their arrival and the man was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at about 4:31 p.m.

The man had been in Sheriff's custody since August 29 and was facing charges for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property.

Like the other six in-custody deaths this year, the deceased was awaiting trial and had not been convicted when he died.

Story and photo by Karen Pearlman

The group is also trying to cover the cost of hay that was compromised during a storm in late August.

By Paul Levikow

Photo, left:  Sheriff Kelly Martinez cuts ribbon on renovated Lemon Grove substation

August 28, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez and Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow presided over a ribbon cutting and grand reopening of the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation Thursday, 19 months after it was devastated by torrential rain.

On Jan. 22, 2024, the San Diego area recorded 2.73 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. Martinez’s team assessed the damage around the county in Sheriff’s jurisdiction to ensure that deputies could continue to provide the services that were needed and respond to flood victims, conduct evacuations and other emergency responses.

“By far, the worst damage was here in Lemon Grove. And I’m so grateful for the tenacity and resilience of my team,” Martinez said. “There was a lot going on to get this station back reopened. This really epitomizes who the Sheriff’s Office is. We serve our community and we do it very well.”

Suspensions are temporary and in some cases, indefinite

By G. A. McNeeley 

August 29, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan have joined a growing list ofcountries that are suspending certain parcel shipments to the United States, following the implementation of new rules under President Donald Trump’s Administration that will end tariff exemptions, according to CNN. Dozens of countries suspended postal services to the United States, to take time to adjust to the new rules and account for increased expenses. 

The “de minimis” exemption, that previously allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to enter the U.S. duty free, was eliminated on Friday, August 29. 

Starting today, packages will be subject to fees relating to the tariff rates applying to their country of origin, making postage more expensive. Postal services will either have to cover the increased cost or pass it on to customers, according to The Guardian.