By Henri Migala

June 7, 2022 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council voted 4-1 on May 24 to support a package of three California State Legislature bills that seek to address the high and rapidly escalating rate of hate crimes throughout the region, state and country.

By Henri Migala

June 5, 2022 (Alpine) -- One of East San Diego County’s great treasures, Lions, Tigers and Bears celebrated its 20^th anniversary on May 21 with a “Diamonds and Denim” themed Wild in the Country gala. The even featured a silent and live auction with items such as wildlife paintings and an African photo safari as well as a VIP cocktail party reception, opportunities to feed exotic animals, buffet luncheon, and entertainment by a Neil Diamond tribute artist.

Situated on 93 acres outside of Alpine, California, on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest, Lions Tigers & Bears is an animal sanctuary for rescued big cats, bears and other exotic animals in beautiful San Diego County.

East County News Service

June 4, 2022 (San Diego) – The House of Ukraine invites the public to join in a #SaveUkrainianChildren peaceful rally tonight at 5 p.m. followed by a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. as part of a worldwide effort to help Ukrainian children amid the Russian invasion.

Motorists advised to allow additional travel time for lane closures and detours

Source:  Caltrans

June 3, 2022 (El Cajon) - Construction crews will reduce lanes on Interstate 8 (I-8) at State Route 67 (SR-67)/Magnolia Avenue Monday through Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for ongoing electrical work, according to Caltrans. At least one lane will remain open for traffic. The work is part of the I-8/SR-67 Bridge Repair Project.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC by NC-ND via Bing

June 2, 2022 (La Mesa) – Wedding attire can leave many betrothed couples with sticker shock. So Goodwill’s La Mesa retail store is hosting a special event offering wedding wear – including gowns by brand-name designers, some with original tags still attached. Items available include bridal gowns, dresses for bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride and flower girls.  You’ll also find jewelry, shoes, gloves, bowties, tiaras and wedding décor items.

By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by James Kecskes

June 2, 2022 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego on Wednesday kicked off its 2022 Cool Zones program to help San Diegans beat the heat this summer. Cool Zones are free, air-conditioned locations, available throughout the region, where people can go to escape extreme temperatures.

By Mike Allen

Photo, left to right:  Allen Carlisle, Outgoing General Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Jeremy Bauer, Acting Deputy Director, Tribal, Intergovernmental and Policy Division, U.S. EPA Region 9, Deven Upadhyay, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, David Gibson, Executive Officer at San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, Joel A. Scalzitti, Board Member, Helix Water District, Bill Pommering, Board President, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Steve Goble, Joint Powers Authority Chair, East County Advanced Water Purification Program, San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, Sandra Kerl, General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority, Jack Simes, Planning Officer, Bureau of Reclamation, Kyle Swanson, Incoming General Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Melissa McChesney, Communications Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District.  Photo courtesy East County Advanced Water Purification Program

June 1, 2022 (Santee) -- East County took a huge step toward greater water reliability and affordability today when regional officials broke ground on the $950 million Advanced Water Purification (AWP) project in Santee.

By Kylie Dees

June 1, 2022 (La Mesa) – One of La Mesa’s hidden gems is located in La Mesa’s downtown village and is known for its affordable and trendy ladies resale clothing. Act II is a family owned and operated business owned by Dolores Buller (photo, left)) and her daughter, Deanne Ross (right).

Source: Santee Summer Concerts

May 31, 2022 (Santee) -- The Santee Summer Concerts are back. After 38 years, concerts in Santee have become a tradition that draw crowds to a local park for free live music.

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2022 (San Diego) – After the massacre of 19 children and two teachers in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, four of San Diego’s Congressional representatives, all Democrats, called for legislative action to prevent gun violence. But a fourth, Republican Darrell Issa, offered only thoughts and prayers for the victims.

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy will be able to enter a conclave to elect the next pope after Francis dies or retires. Photo by Chris Stone

May 29, 2022 (San Diego) - Bishop Robert McElroy of the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese was elevated to cardinal Sunday — thus becoming eligible to be elected pope someday.

By Nigel Duara, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  WEE1 Tactical claims their JR-15 .22 caliber long rifle is 20% smaller than a traditional AR-15. Screenshot via YouTube

May 28, 2022 (San Diego) - The man at the gun show lifted a 2.2 pound rifle and pulled back the stock with an audible “chock,” presenting it to the YouTube segment’s host.  

"I'm just tired of the NRA subordinating children's rights for gun rights," said one gun lobby opponent just three days after the school massacre in Uvalde.

By Brett Wilkins, staff writer, Common Dreams

Reprinted under a Creative Commons license from Common Dreams

May 28, 2022 (Uvalde, Texas) - In the wake of Tuesday's massacre of 21 students and staff at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, thousands of people protested angrily in Houston Friday to protest outside the National Rifle Association's annual convention to condemn the gun lobby's deep complicity in the nation's mass shooting epidemic.

Source: TIPS

Photo, left to right:  Linda Loehr, Marilyn Carpenter, Dan Roberts, Malcolm Mitchell.  Not pictured: Jennifer Tabanico

Photo Credit: Brant Bender Photography | www.brantbenderphotography.com 

May 28, 2022 (San Diego) -- During Volunteer Appreciation month, Trauma Intervention Programs of San Diego (TIP) honored 5 volunteers who have each served with the organization for 10 - 25 years. TIP is a local non-profit that partners with emergency response agencies throughout San Diego to provide immediate, on scene,  crisis intervention to community members experiencing a tragedy. The commitment of these volunteers, as with all TIP volunteers, has been most crucial to the success of the organization and the healing of individuals in crisis. TIP volunteers continue to respond to a high demand need of crisis intervention requests throughout San Diego County.