By Miriam Raftery

June 4, 2021 (El Cajon) – A 60-year-old man has died after being struck by a gray Nissan Altima last night shortly after 10 p.m. in the 1900 block of East Main Street.  

By Briana Gomez

June 3, 2021 (San Diego) - May 15 was certainly a busy day for San Diego’s minority activist groups. 

The Racial Justice Coalition held a rally in front of the Hall of Justice in Downtown San Diego as part of its campaign to demand that District Attorney Summer Stephan resign immediately. The coalition faults Stephan for not prosecuting many cases of law enforcement officers shooting unarmed people. 

By Patrick Cameron

Image: Creative Commons image by SA via Bing

Senate filibusters have been part of the U.S. Senate rules since 1806, used as a procedure for a minority party to block legislation

June 3, 2021 (San Diego) -- There’s so much being written about the filibuster these days, but in all the articles I read I feel like this important point gets lost: The filibuster isn’t mentioned in our Constitution. Not even one time.

By Mike Allen

June 2, 2021 (Santee) -- On the same day that a San Jose rail yard employee fatally shot nine of his co-workers before killing himself, the Santee City Council unanimously voted to send a letter to Congressman Darrell Issa opposing a bill in Congress that would place more controls on gun ownership, including more stringent background checks.

East County News Service

June 2, 2021 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for San Diego County Deserts, effective until Friday at 9 p.m. Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures of 105 to 110 degrees expected.

Several County facilities will be open as Cool Zones in Alpine, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Potrero, Santa Ysabel, Spring Valley, and Valley Center. For location information, hours of operation, and tips to beat the heat, visit: www.coolzones.org.

UPDATE: @Lambo_Gambo reported the "forward rate of spread has been stopped and fire is contained at 3 acres," around 5:30 p.m. 

By Jonathan Goetz

June 1, 2021 (Ranchita) - Wildfire watch cameras detected a possible wildfire roughly an hour ago, around 4:30 p.m., reported @huntefire and Cal-Fire was immediately dispatched. It turned out to be a small vegetation fire and was named the "Montezuma Fire."

@CALFIRESANDIEGO reported being on the scene at Montezuma Valley Road in Warner Springs, while @SDCountyFires reported it started in the 27900 block of Old Mine Road in Ranchita.

No structures are threatened, reported @SDCountyFires, adding, "SDSO reporting no winds in the area and that the fire is spreading south."

By Miriam Raftery

May 31, 2021 (San Diego) –Yesterday around 4 p.m., deputies at the San Diego Central Jail found an inmate unresponsive in his cell.  Deputies and medical staff immediately performed lifesaving measures, according to the Sheriff’s department, until relieved by fire department personnel but were unable to save the inmate, Daniel Marroquin. He was pronounced dead at the jail.

According to an editorial by the San Diego Union-Tribune’s editorial board on April 21, at least 150 deaths have occurred in county jails since Sheriff Bill Gore became Sheriff in 2009.  A 2019 investigation by the newspaper found this to be a higher rate of inmate deaths than in any other major county in California. The causes of death included suicides, drug overdoses, illness and acts of violence.

By Miriam Raftery

May 31, 2021 (Arlington, Va.) – President Joe Biden laid a Memorial Day wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, where he said we “remember those who gave their all in the service of America, in the service of freedom, in the service of justice.”

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

Photo by Miriam Raftery

May 31, 2021 (Sacramento) - As the spring gardening season gets into full swing, groups fighting to save bees and other pollinators are asking nurseries and consumers to avoid plants grown with harmful pesticides.

The El Cajon Police Department reminds drivers to be on the lookout for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, and to share the road.

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2021 (El Cajon) –  A 23-year-old man has died after being struck by a white Chevrolet truck at 8:00 Friday morning in El Cajon. El Cajon Police officers and paramedics from Heartland Fire Department treated the victim at the crash site in the 200 block of North Johnson Avenue but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Henri Migala and Miriam Raftery

May 29, 2021 (Jamul) – Thanks to all of you who turned out to celebrate our first East County Dining Club event since before the pandemic lockdowns.  The event sold out, the setting was magical amid the elegance at Chandelier Lounge Cuisine, the wines from Deerhorn Valley Vineyard were divine, and the music was sublime!

In addition to pianist Andy Salmonsen, NRG Music & Productions surprised us by also bringing talented singer Kymm Civetta, her adorable daughter, Lyric, and saxophonist extraordinaire Chris Klich, who all entertained the crowd.  View video from NRG of music at our event.

The music even inspired some impromptu dancing in the aisles as everyone delighted in feeling free at last at our event, where everyone was fully vaccinated or showed proof of a recent COVID test.

Georgina, owner of Chandelier Lounge Cuisine, and her crew cooked up a feast including steak, mahi-mahi, chicken, creamy pasta, vegies and desserts that were both delicious and beautiful.

All proceeds benefit East County Media to support the East County Magazine, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts, and East County Dining Club’s future events.

May 29, 2021 (San Diego) -- 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

• San Diego launches $10M assessment of aging city dams, including three rated ‘poor’ (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Ruling could give new life to San Diego backcountry developments (10 News)
• El Cajon Council is microcosm of vaccination debate (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• As Fewer Unaccompanied Children Cross Border, San Diego Convention Center Workers Reunite Hundreds Of Families (KPBS)
• Sempra shareholders vote down Paris climate proposal  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Officials Say Rental Relief Programs on Track to Leave Millions Unspent (Voice of San Diego)
• Column: Issa remains vague about Cheney’s removal (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Cruise ship crews getting COVID-19 vaccines in San Diego Wednesday (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Newsom proposes $12 billion to help California homeless population  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Gov. Newsom Proposes More $600 COVID Relief Checks Amid Big California Budget Surplus (Times of San Diego)
• Newsom recall rival Kevin Faulconer proposes eliminating state income tax for some Californians (Los Angeles Times)
• Gavin Newsom wants to test guaranteed income programs, give grants to laid-off workers (Sacramento Bee)
• Humane Society Investigating Cox's Use Of Bear On Campaign Trail (Patch.com)
• Ocean Dumpsites Are Leaking Toxins off the California Coast—And It’s Worse Than Originally Thought (Sunset)
• Vandenberg Air Force Base to be renamed Space Force Base (10 News)
• California confirms state will reopen June 15 - no more social distancing, capacity limits  (Los Angeles Times)

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

By Miriam Raftery

May 28, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- Padre Dam Municipal Water District is currently working on its upcoming Strategic Plan and 5-Year Business Plan. The agency seeks community input during a virtual community workshop on Thursday, June 3^rd.

Three San Diego Entrepreneurs Win Business Grants

Photo: The first place winner of the fourth Union Bank Start-Up Pitch Competition and audience choice awardee, in partnership with CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center, First Gen Scholars Founder and Executive Director Jonathan Burgos (center) and children.

Courtesy of CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center

May 28, 2021 (San Diego) — Yesterday, CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center and Union Bank announced the winners of the fourth Union Bank Start-Up Pitch Competition. In partnership with the City of San Diego, the virtual pitch competition serves as the program culmination for the fourth group of startups who received four months of free business development and mentorship. CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center is the region’s only business accelerator focused on serving low-to-moderate income and diverse founders.