Update April 10: This bill passed the House and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

April 8, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- Pro-democracy groups are speaking out against a bill being considered next week in the U.S. House of Representatives to require proof of citizenship to register to vote.The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would require people to present a birth certificate, passport or certificate of citizenship in person to the county registrar.

Sydney Bryant, policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, noted a driver's license or a REAL ID alone would not count and called the bill unnecessary, since the government already has the records."

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2025 (Oakland, CA)—California Attorney General Rob Bonta has scored a keyvictory in federal court. Trump-appointed judge,  Mary McElroy, issued a temporary restraining order to stop the Trump administration from clawing back over $11 billion in public health funding from state and local health departments. California stands to lose over $972 million, according to Bonta.

The action came in a lawsuit led by Bonta, joined by 23 states and the District of Columbia. The suit was filed against the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and its director, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“The likelihood of success on the merits is extremely strong,” Judge McElroy stated after a hearing. She stated that the record is “voluminous” with “allegations of irreparable harm” if funding stops.

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

Stress images cc by SA

April 7, 2025 (San Diego) -- April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on one of modern life’s most pervasive issues. Stress is a natural response to life's challenges, but when it becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can have profound implications for our health, both mentally and physically. One of the often-overlooked consequences of long-term stress is its connection to alcohol and substance misuse, a dangerous cycle that many people struggle to break. The relationship between stress and substance misuse can impact our well-being.

East County News Service

Photo: Blue Morpho butterfly, by Amanda Martinez, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

April 6, 2025 (Escondido) – The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is offered a “butterfly safari” at its Butterfly Jungle open now through April 20.

Become immersed in the vibrant world of pollinators as you explore the Safari Park's Butterfly Jungle. Once a year, this aviary transforms into a world of color. As butterflies fly around you, snap amazing photos and experience wonder while discovering the important role butterflies play in nature.

East County News Service

April 5, 2025 (Ramona) -- A Ramona man is facing numerous charges after illicit drugs were found in his car and home.

Shortly before noon yesterday, deputies from the Ramona Sheriff's Substation stopped a gray Acura TSX for reckless driving on State Route 67.

East County News Service

April 4, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A Spring Valley man, 77, has died of injuries sustained in a collision on State Route 94 in Lemon Grove near Massachusetts Ave. shortly after 5 a.m.  He was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected onto the highway after the 1999 Ford Expedition SUV he was driving westbound veered across traffic lanes and struck a Ford 150 pickup truck, according to Officer Jasmine Lopez with the California Highway Patrol.

East County News Service

April 4, 2025 (La Mesa) – Cailin Acosta spotted these playful opossums on the fence in her La Mesa yard.

“I was super excited, but my 12 year old twins were not impressed, ha,” she writes. “I did reach out and touch its fur. It was crispy, like a Bristol scrub, so interesting!”

By Alexander J. Schorr

April 4, 2025 (San Diego) – “We don’t have a democracy if we don’t participate,” said Dolores Huerta, 95, a historic leader of the farmworkers’ movement along with the late Cesar Chavez. Huerta, who has since founded her own foundation for social advocacy, made the remarks in a speech at Gomez Trial Lawyers in downtown San Diego on March 24, where the law firm gave a $10,000 donation to the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

Heuerta spoke of her long history of activism and how she sees new opportunities for new leadership in the civil rights movement.

April 4, 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

• Updated state maps show San Diego County's areas at 'very high' risk for fires (10 News)
• CalTrans to invest $24 million in San Diego area infrastructure  (10 News)
• SpaceX rocket return creates sonic boom before splashdown near Oceanside (NBC)
• Bald Eagle and baby chick sightings on the rise across San Diego (CBS 8)
• Riverside reports first confirmed measles case since 2018 (Times of San Diego)
• Federal safety board lists Coronado Bridge as potentially at risk of 'catastrophic collapse' if hit by a vessel (CBS)

STATE

• California's water reservoirs on track as winter storms may boost snowpack (KPBS )
•  Do you have a California Real ID yet? What you need to apply ahead of deadline (Sacramento Bee)
• California needs $3.4 billion loan to cover Medi-Cal expenses (CBS)
• Dead fish stink up the Newsom-Trump truce on water (Politico)

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

East County News Service

April 4, 2025 (Lakeside) – A series of events in late April honor Lakeside’s Wild West heritage—include the Lakeside Rodeo, Lakeside Western Days Parade, and a Western Days Breakfast.

April 4, 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.

• Noem said she plans to eliminate FEMA (The Hill)
• Trump's first 50 days mark one of the worst starts for the S&P 500 under any presidency (Yahoo News)    
• Trade war escalation over Trump’s tariffs sends stocks tumbling  (CNN)
• ‘Amateur hour’: Washington aghast at Trump administration’s war plan group chat (Politico)
• 5 revelations from the Trump administration’s war plan texts  (Politico)
• Concerns about espionage rise as Trump and Musk fire thousands of federal workers (AP)
• Florida debates lifting some child labor laws to fill jobs vacated by undocumented immigrants (CNN)
• Immigration officers are becoming 'extreme' in how they vet travelers entering the U.S. (NPR)
• Trump administration halts funding for two cybersecurity efforts, including one for elections   (AP)
• Concerns about espionage rise as Trump and Musk fire thousands of federal workers (AP)
• ‘Something stinks’: Elon Musk, congressional Republicans target Democrats’ main fundraising machine (CNN)
• 2 months into Trump's second administration, the news industry faces challenges from all directions (AP)
• NASA weighs doing away with headquarters (Politico)
• Is planting trees 'DEI'? Trump administration cuts nationwide tree-planting effort (NPR)
• Flight data show Steve Witkoff was in Russia during group chat on Signal (CBS)
•  Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal (The Atlantic)
• Trump won't rule out seeking a third term: ‘There are methods' for doing so” (NBC)
• Trump officials face records lawsuit over Signal chat (The Hill)
• U.S. consumer sentiment falls for third straight month amid tariff, inflation worries(UPI)
• Trump admin accidentally sent Maryland father to Salvadorian mega-prison and says it can’t get him back (UK Independent)
• Judge blocks Trump from enforcing 'chilling' order against law firm (NPR)
• Judges threatened with impeachment, bombs for ruling against Trump agenda (NPR)

WORLD

• Iran urged to strike Diego Garcia U.S. military base ‘immediately’ (UK Telegraph)
• Who are the Houthis and why is the US targeting them? (BBC)
• The US lifts bounties on senior Taliban officials, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, says Kabul (AP)
• Mexicans searching for missing relatives uncover possible mass killing site (NPR)
• Some European countries and Canada issue advisories for travelers to the U.S.  (NPR)
• Turkey's opposition urges peaceful protests over Istanbul mayor's arrest despite bans (AP)

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

April 4, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Tuberculosis cases in the US rose to their highest levels in more than a dozen years (AP)
• The CDC Buried a Measles Forecast That Stressed the Need for Vaccinations(ProPublica)
• Vaccine critic’s apparent selection to head HHS autism study shocks experts (Stat)
• Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water (ABC)
•  CDC advisory committees not mandated by law at risk of being terminated (Politico)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Exclusive: Secretive Chinese network tries to lure fired federal workers, research shows (Reuters)
• Trump shifts cyberattack readiness to state and local governments in wake of info-sharing cuts (CSO)
• Encrypted messaging apps promise privacy. Government transparency is often the price (AP)
•  Humming along in an old church, the Internet Archive is more relevant than ever (NPR)

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

By Alexander J. Schorr

Photos: Left: GEA President James Messina, Kristen LoPrell.and Noah Green.

Right: Leadership associates Rich Thome and William Banning

April 2, 2025 (El Cajon) -- On March 31 at 4:00 p.m., the GUHSD Governing Board convened a special meeting to discuss the hiring process of a new superintendent to replace the retiring Mike Fowler. The meeting was held at the Grossmont High School Event Theatre where Board President Dr. Gary Woods called to order the agenda for discussion, and Senior Executive Assistant Jodi Hostetler introduced rules for speaking. Attendees were required to obtain a ticket for participation in the audience chamber.

Latino and labor groups submit records request on communications between city, ICE and federal officials

By Miriam Raftery

View video of the press conference

April 2, 2025 (El Cajon) – A coalition of advocacy groups and El Cajon residents held a press conference today outside El Cajon City Hall to denounce the March 27 immigration raid on a painting company in the unincorporated part of El Cajon.

El Cajon City Manager Graham Mitchell, in response to a request for comment from ECM, stated via email, “El Cajon staff (police, management, elected officials, etc.), had no involvement in the Federal law enforcement action that took place outside the city limits last week. I learned about the event when I saw a media alert. Further, the City's involvement would have been a violation of Prop 47 and we are committed to abiding the law.”

But speakers called for “accountability” from the Mayor and three councilmembers who recently voted on a resolution to allow the city’s police to cooperate with federal immigration officials regarding undocumented immigrants in the city accused or convicted of crimes.

Latinos en Acción and the National Day Labor Organizing Network also submitted a public records request to the city seeking all communications of city elected officials and employees with U.S. Customs and Immigration (ICE), the Dept. of Homeland Security, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, the San Diego County Sheriff, State Senator Brian Jones, and the anti-immigrant group America First Legal between Nov. 2024 and the present regarding enforcement of immigration law, the immigration enforcement resolution, and the immigration raid.

Source:  City of El Cajon

April 1, 2025 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon is excited to announce the launch of a new online dashboard, providing residents with real-time updates on the progress of the City Council’s 2025 Action Plan. This innovative tool offers transparency and insight into the City’s priorities and ongoing initiatives. Residents can explore the dashboard at https://www.elcajon.gov/your-government/elected-officials/2025-city-council-action-plan