Source:  Cal Coast Cares Foundation

January 30, 2026 (San Diego) - The Cal Coast Cares Foundation has begun accepting applications for its next round of college scholarships for local students. The application period runs through March 20^th.

The nonprofit foundation will award scholarships of up to $2,000 to deserving college students, graduating high school seniors, and foster students who are in or have been in the foster care system in San Diego or Riverside counties, and have a proven commitment to academic excellence and leadership in the community. Recipients of first-year foster student scholarships will also be eligible for second-year scholarships by continuing to meet the requirements.

East County News Service

January 30, 2026 (Lemon Grove) -- Aaron Brozek, 49, has been arrested for felony domestic violence, as well as weapons and narcotics charges.  

By Miriam Raftery

Screenshot from bystander’s video:  Border Patrol agent takes aim at Alex Pretti, a VA nurse who was shot nine times at point-blank range, after agents took the holstered gun he was lawfully carrying.

January 28, 2026 (San Diego) – The fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by ICE and Border Patrol agents have sparked outrage nationwide, after numerous bystander videos sharply contradict Trump officials’ claims about the shootings.

East County News Service

January 28, 2026 (Spring Valley) – Dimone Cater, 33, has been arrested for allegedly making criminal threats, following an hours-long SWAT standoff in Spring Valley last night.

Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s station responded shortly after 5:30 p.m. on January 26 to the neighbor dispute in the 9800 block of Austin Drive.

East County News Service

January 28, 2026 (Lemon Grove) – Damari Waller, 35, has been arrested for allegedly trying to steal a backpack from a Lemon Grove student yesterday morning shortly before 8 a.m.

Detectives say a man matching the suspect’s description approached an 11-year-old Lemon Grove Academy student walking to school on Golden Avenue. He reportedly demanded the student's backpack and chased the student to the school, but left the scene before deputies could arrive. No one was hurt.

By Brooke Binkowski, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Hundreds marched on Sunday in an interfaith show of support for people on the ground in Minneapolis and elsewhere.  Photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego

January 26, 2026 (San Diego) - San Diegans joined marches all over the county on Sunday, offering a show of support to people on the ground in Minneapolis as the federal government continues its chaotic deployment on the ground in Minnesota and elsewhere.

East County News Service

January 26, 2026 (La Mesa) - San Pasqual Winery in La Mesa invites you to enjoy an evening of wines paired with artisan gourmet chocolates by Swete Petite Confections on February 12 and 14 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. 

The winemaker and chocolatier will be on hand to guide you through the five pairings sure to satisfy your sweet tooth as well as cravings for award-winning locally crafted wines. 

For more information and tickets ($60), or to RSVP, visit https://www.sanpasqualwinery.com/.

January 25, 2026 (San Diego) -- 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.

• CNN video analysis sheds new light on killing of Alex Pretti (CNN)
• Sweeping US defense bill passes, with Ukraine, Venezuela provisions defying Trump (Reuters)
• Should Congress bar big investors from buying single-family homes? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trump bans travel from 5 more countries, imposes new limits on others  (AP)
• Trump administration seeks to ramp up denaturalization of some US citizens, New York Times reports (Reuters)
• CNN poll finds majority of Americans say Trump is focused on the wrong priorities (CNN)
• How Social Security has gotten worse under Trump (Washington Post)
• Project 2025 Architects Release New Policy Plan for 2026 (NOTUS)
• Trump administration's posts echo rhetoric linked to extremist groups (PBS)
• NPR investigation shows how the government tried to erase information about January 6 (NPR)
• Senate Republicans block Venezuela war powers resolution  (NPR)
• Trump threatens to use the Insurrection Act to end protests in Minneapolis(AP)
• DOJ Argues Protesters Don’t Have Constitutional Right to Observe Immigration Agents(NOTUS)
• The Hidden Consequence of Soaring Food Costs Is Emerging at Self-Checkout (Food & Wine)
• New redesigned coins marking nation's 250th birthday begin circulating (NPR)
• Trump says he's dropping push for National Guard in Chicago, LA and Portland, Oregon, for now  (AP)
• FCC scrubs own reference as 'independent' agency from website after Dem's testy exchange with chairman (Fox)
• Oglala Sioux Tribe says three tribal members arrested in Minneapolis are in ICE detention (AP)
•  Court says Trump admin illegally blocked billions in clean energy grants to Democratic states (AP)
• Medical Examiner: Cuban Immigrant’s Death in Texas ICE Jail Was from “Asphyxia Due to Neck and Chest Compression” (Democracy Now)

WORLD

• Trump reversal on Greenland followed push by aides against military option, sources say (Reuters)
• State Department suspending immigrant visas for 75 countries, citing public assistance concerns (AP)
• Iran report says 16,500 dead in ‘genocide under digital darkness’ (London Times)
• US will exit 66 international organizations as it further retreats from global cooperation (AP)
• Trump's appointment of envoy to Greenland sparks new tension with Denmark (AP)
• Death toll in crackdown on protests in Iran spikes to at least 538, activists say (AP)
• Hundreds of schoolchildren taken captive in Nigeria mass kidnapping have been released (10 News)
• Finland's battle against fake news starts in preschool classrooms (AP)
• Protests erupt in Iran over currency's plunge to record low (AP)

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

By Henri Migala

Photo by Miriam Raftery: California state seal at capitol in Sacramento

January 10, 2026 (Sacramento) -- Nearly 800–900 bills were signed into law in 2025 in California spanning workers’ rights, consumer protections, public health, education, housing, tech/AI policy, immigration policy, environmental safety, and more. Below are major statutes that took effect on January 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

For details, full legislative texts, and the complete set of laws, refer to official California legislative information (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/) or the Office of Administrative Law (https://oal.ca.gov/).

East County News Service

January 24, 2026 (Spring Valley) — The Spring Valley Historical Society will host noted historian and archaeologist Richard Carrico on Saturday, February 7, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., for a special presentation and book signing celebrating his newest work, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City.

By Miriam Raftery

January 23, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for some midwinter cheer? Upcoming events include  ABBA and Bee Gees tribute concerts  in El Cajon, Hawk Watch in Ramona, Of Mice and Men onstage in La Mesa, farm tours at Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures in Santa Ysabel, open mic night at Spacebar Café in La Mesa, a Chocolate Festival in Escondido, Cupids and Canines at Grossmont Center, a Laurel and Hardy Valentine-themed comedy night in El Cajon, Valentine teas in Julian, the Borrego Spring Golf Classic, and more.

Scroll down for details on all the most fun festivals and events coming up across San Diego County's inland region.

By Alexander J Schorr

Updated January 25 with an additional candidate.

January 20, 2026— As of January 2026, the race to succeed the term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom features a crowded field of candidates ahead of the June primary. California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary system, where the top two finishers regardless of party advance to the general election.

Who are the candidates? In alphabetical order, those who have launched campaigns so far include:

East County News Service

Jan. 23, 2026 (La Mesa) -- In a time when the world sometimes feels harsh, Lamplighters Community Theatre is taking us back to the Great Depression to tell us of an enduring truth: “I got you, and we got each other.”

Running through Feb. 1, Lamplighters' production of John Steinbeck’s classic tome “Of Mice and Men” is under the direction of Teri Brown, breathing fresh life into the harrowing journey of George and Lennie -- two displaced migrant workers chasing a “stake” and a dream of a place to call their own.

Though the novella was penned over 85 years ago, the themes feel strikingly contemporary.

Producers Cydney King and Nancy Roger bring to the stage a story that explores the harsh realities of economic migration, the sting of prejudice and the isolation of those living on the margins of society.

January 23, 2026 (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

• Family of woman who died at Santee jail files wrongful death lawsuit (Times of San Diego)
• A 'river' surges through homes in unincorporated El Cajon, woman rescued from floods (10 News)
• San Diego congressional leaders react to court battle victory over ICE facility access (10 News)
•  ICE misses deadline to release report on in-custody death in Imperial County (KPBS)
•  San Diego County Supervisors vote to keep Lawson-Remer as chair (City News Service)
• Local TV ownership consolidates with potential changes to broadcast regulations expected (KPBS)
•  Pressure builds on San Diego city officials to scrap parking fees in Balboa Park (KBBS)
• Strict wildfire safety rules will soon apply to much of urban San Diego (KPBS)
•  San Diego jail wrongly held 82-year-old with dementia in solitary confinement, where he died, new lawsuit says (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Parking, water, budget woes loom as San Diego City Council reconvenes in 2026 (KPBS)
• Former Poway city council member pleads not guilty to bribery, perjury charges (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Blood Bank to merge with national blood services nonprofit Vitalant (City News Service)

STATE

• Federal Judges Uphold California’s New Congressional Maps (New York Times)
• California utilities will keep almost all profits as regulators ease up. They’re still upset (CalMatters)
•  11 new laws that will impact California schools in 2026 (EdSource)
• Video shows moment California protestor is hit in the face with a projectile by federal police officer (AP)

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