By Alexander J. Schorr

Photo, left, via Grossmont Education Association: angry crowd turns back on Acting Superintendent Sandra Huezo and the GUHSD board

March 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont Union High School district staff and its students have been protesting the board majority’s controversial firings of teaching, librarian, and counseling positions in recent days, including student walk-outs, picketing at schools by parents and teachers, and a petition signed by more than 3,500 people opposed to the cuts. Opponents held a rally outside Wednesday night’s contentious board meeting, where 500 people filled the hall and every speaker criticized the board’s action.  But their pleas fell on deaf ears, and the board chairman refused to allow a motion by trustee Chris Fite that would have reversed the vote authorizing the lay-offs.

By Leorah Gavidor

March 13, 2025 (Campo) -- When Urban Timber partners Jessica Van Arsdale and Dan Herbst learned they had just a few months to move their well-established tree salvage business, the couple had to scramble to find a place to move hundreds of tons of logs that they had saved from the landfill. The company that saves trees from urban displacement was itself facing displacement. After a few weeks of major stress and uncertainty, Urban Timber found its rural salvation in East County.

By Mike Allen

March 12, 2025 (Santee) -- Kristen Dare, who led the Santee Chamber of Commerce as CEO for the past six years, resigned from the position to take a new job at Waste Management Corp.

In an email sent to chamber members March 3, Chamber Chair Susie Parks said she is grateful for Dare’s decade of experience at the business association. She joined at the nonprofit on St. Patrick’s Day in 2014.

“Under her guidance, we have seen much growth and success even during challenging times.  While we will certainly miss Kristen's leadership, we fully understand and support her decision,” Parks said.

By Miriam Raftery

March 12, 2025 (El Cajon) – By a unanimous vote, El Cajon’s City Council yesterday voted to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale of vaping or e-cigarette devices disguised as other products. 

By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies East County

March 17, 2025 (San Diego) -- The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory in January highlighting the cancer risks associated with even small amounts of alcohol consumption, noting that alcohol links to at least seven types of cancer. However, alcohol does not only increase the risk of cancer. Alcohol consumption has also been a topic of debate concerning its effects on heart health. Even minimal alcohol intake can elevate the risk of heart disease. For residents of East County, understanding these risks and taking proactive measures can help maintain heart health.

By Miriam Raftery

County News Service contributed to this report

March 12,2025 (San Diego) -- An autopsy has determined that actor Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The disease linked to exposure to rodents is rare, often fatal, and has been detected in nine rodents so far this year in San Diego County.

By Karen Pearlman 

Photo, left:  Aaron  J. Byzak, Interim CEO, Grossmont Healthcare District

Updated March 11, 2025 with comments from Christian Wallis.

March 10, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District’s communications strategy consultant Aaron J. Byzak is adding a title, acting for a short time as the public agency’s interim CEO. 

At a GHD Board of Directors special meeting on Monday, March 10, the board voted 5-0 to appoint Byzak in the role effective immediately. 

Byzak, 47, will advise and help the board find the successor to its most recent CEO, Christian Wallis, whose contract was not renewed by the GHD board last week during a closed session on March 4.

East County News Service

March 10, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Shane Capezio, 22, has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping a ride-share driver in East County.  The Lyft driver texted 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher that she was being held against her will by a passenger she picked up in Spring Valley, who told the driver that he had a gun, says Sergeant Kenneth Seel with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.

Capezio reportedly told the driver to take him to a dispensary located in the 3500 block of Harris Street in Lemon Grove. Deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation and Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station arrived at the dispensary's parking lot, where they "found a struggle taking place inside the car between Capezio and the driver," says Sgt. Seel.

East County News Service

March 10, 2025 (San Diego) – The Greater San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR), San Diego County’s largest trade association for San Diego-area real estate professionals, recently honored California Senator Pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins with the “Golden State Private Property Champion Award” for her dedication and significant contributions to protect California’s private property rights for homeowners and renters.

By Miriam Raftery

March 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) –A student walkout is slated for 12 p.m. Monday at all Grossmont Union HIgh School District schools during the lunch hour, though the district has sent a memo warning students that leaving school is considered truancy. In addition, picketing by parents and teachers is planned before school starting around 7:45 a.m.

The students and parentwill be protesting the district board majority’s vote last week to fire 49  teachers, including all campus librarians, as ECM reported . A petition opposing the firings now has over 3,400 signatures.

“According to the department of education, a ‘large’ district such as the GUHSD has to have a teacher librarian” says Laura Preble, a retired 30-year Monte Vista High School librarian. “Library techs are not qualified to do what teacher librarians do; teacher librarians have to get a special credential to do what they do. The board, except for Chris Fite, seems more concerned with future students than current students," she told ECM. "High school libraries are not silent. They are the heart of the school where collaboration, study, research, reading, and clubs often meet. In cutting so many student-service positions, the board is really saying they do not care about our students, whose needs are great.” 

The Board has moved its Tuesday, March 11 meeting to Grossmont High School in the old gym at 6 p.m. with a rally before at 5 p.m. Speaker cards will be available starting at 3:30 p.m. The district has sent a memo stating that only 500 people will be allowed into the gym, with no saved seating allowed, nor standing, extra chairs, or sitting on the floor.  A link will be provided for overflow audience members to watch the meeting.  “The board will retreat again if the audience is rowdy,” the district has warned.

Source: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Photo, left by Claire Sweeney: new Safari Adventure check-in area, courtesy of San Diego Zoo Safari Park

March 6, 2025 (San Pasqual) — The San Diego Zoo Safari Park announces the opening of Safari Excursions, a  check-in spot and gathering place for your safari. Designed with comfort and inspiration in mind, Safari Excursions serves as the hub for all safari departures. Guests can check in, meet their guides, and take in the stunning surroundings before their excursion begins.

March 6, 2025 -- As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

Military cuts

• Trump fires chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and two other military officers (AP)
• Hegseth orders major Pentagon spending cuts (Politico)

Economy and tariffs

• Trump enacts sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, opening door to painful trade war (CNN)
• America First? Not when it comes to stock markets worldwide this year  (Associated Press)
• Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts: Promises vs. Reality

Presidential power

• Legal experts warn of 'constitutional crisis' as JD Vance and Elon Musk question judges' authority over Trump (NBC)
• Trump signs order to claim power over independent agencies (Politico)
• Republican lawmakers urge Trump to respect federal court rulings (The Hill)
• Trump appears to channel Napoleon in vision for executive authority: ‘He who saves his Country does not violate any Law’ (CNN)

Ukraine aid

• Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after Oval Office argument with Zelensky, White House official says(CNN)
• Reagan-era Republicans aghast as Trump turns Russia policy on its head (Guardian)
• How a U.S. President Pivoted Toward Russia(Wall Street Journal)

DOGE

• DOGE released data about federal contract savings. It doesn't add up (NPR)
• Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile, sources say (CNN)
• Musk gives all federal workers 48 hours to explain what they did last week or face consequences  (AP)
• As Musk works to slash federal spending, his own firms have received billions in government contracts (ABC)
• Judge Who Made Life Hell for Trump Will Oversee Case on Elon Musk (New Republic)
• Elon Musk calls for the US to 'delete entire agencies' from the federal government (AP)
• Elon Musk’s Enemy, USAID, Was Investigating Starlink’s Contracts in Ukraine (Gizmodo)

Press restrictions

• The White House says it 'will determine' which news outlets cover Trump, rotating traditional ones (AP)
• AP sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech (AP)

Court Actions

• Supreme Court rejects Trump administration's bid to avoid paying USAID contractors(NBC)
• Supreme Court rules that government watchdog fired by Trump may temporarily remain on the job (CNN)
• Federal Judge Blocks DOGE Access to Sensitive Data At Education Department and OPM(Democracy Docket)

Other National News

• Trump official calls Social Security ‘wrong’ as administration lays groundwork for massive cuts  (Newsbreak)
• Dismantling of federal efforts to monitor election interference creates opening for foreign meddling (AP)
• Trump Bid to Take Over Postal Service Could Threaten Mail Voting (Democracy Docket)
• Members of Congress denied access to Department of Education (MSN)
• Feds Fire 20 Immigration Judges Despite Case Backlog Amid Trump Wave of Government Cuts
• Invasive frisks, suicide attempts: Three migrants describe Guantánamo detention (Washington Post)
• 3 migrants beat the Trump administration in court. They got deported the next day (ABC)
• Rubio says El Salvador will house deportees from U.S., including Americans  (NPR)
• Farmers hit by a federal funding freeze scramble to respond ahead of spring thaw(NBC)
• Trump picks Neil Jacobs to head NOAA, a scientist with 'Sharpiegate' ties (NPR)
• Elon Musk's DOGE seeks access to taxpayer data at IRS: AP sources (AP)
• IRS will lay off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season  (AP)
• Trump begins firings of FAA air traffic control staff just weeks after fatal DC plane crash (AP)
• Speaker Johnson tells GOP lawmakers to skip town halls after an onslaught of protests (AP)
• Major troubles for Donald Trump in new polling (NJ.com)
• GOP bill to ban trans athletes from women’s sports blocked in Senate (The Hill)
• Four top New York City officials resign as turmoil ripples over Mayor Adams' corruption case (AP)

WORLD

Ukraine-Russia

• US joins Russia to vote against UN resolution condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine (CNN)
• Russia launches largest drone attack on Ukraine on eve of third year of war (CBS)
• Trump’s rush for a deal with Putin leaves Ukraine and Europe scrambling  (CNN)
• US refuses to blame Russia for Ukraine war, splitting with European allies in UN votes (AP)

Europe

• Leaked memo reveals alarming German warnings over Trump  (Politico)
• Scholz rebukes Vance, defends Europe's stance on hate speech and far right (Reuters)

Mexico

• Mexico's President Sheinbaum threatens to take legal action over the Gulf name change  (NPR)
• The US now considers these cartels and gangs terrorist groups. Here’s what to know about them (CNN)
• Mexico sends drug lord Caro Quintero and 28 others to the U.S.  (NPR)
• Trump’s Funding Freeze Creates Narco Dream at Mexico Border (New Republic)

Israel-Gaza

• Forensics chief confirms ID of body of Shiri Bibas, no evidence she died in explosion (Times of Israel)
• Trump issues 'last warning' to Hamas over Israeli hostage release (BBC)

Vatican

• Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs as tests show ‘complex picture,’ Vatican says (CNN)

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

By Miriam Raftery

March 5, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – A major storm system will bring strong winds and rain across our region, with heavy snow forecast starting tonight in East County mountains.  Mount Laguna could receive up to a foot of snow, with up to eight inches on Palomar Mountain and three inches in Julian by Friday morning. Heavy snow will make it difficult to travel above 4,000 feet in elevation.

In urban areas, flooding is possible.  El Cajon, La Mesa, and other areas are expected to receive up to an inch and a half of rain, the National Weather Service predicts.

Along the coast, a small craft advisory is in effect through Friday morning due to expected high surf and high seas.

San Diego State had four players in double figures and held New Mexico, which is scoring 83 points a game, to 65 in a 73-65 win.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

March 5, 2025 (San Diego) - The San Diego State men’s basketball team had four players in double figures, including a career-high matching 10 points from forward Miles Heide, and defeated New Mexico, the team at the top of the Mountain West standings, 73-65 at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena on Tuesday night.

Local Assemblyman working to minimize surveillance pricing, while new FTC chairman blocks public comments

By G. A. McNeeley 

March 5, 2025 (San Diego) -- Most people might not know that companies with an online presence are using personal information about customer’s buying habits to charge them a higher price for products, if they think you’re likely to pay it. This is a practice known as “surveillance pricing.” 

This practice has spread in recent years, according to consumer and privacy watchdogs, and it’s become increasingly difficult to escape, no matter how often we clear our cookies or tighten our privacy settings. 

But with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman blocking consumer comments and not taking action at a national level, state legislators are stepping up to the plate.