By Miriam Raftery

Photo, right: Snow in In-Ko-Pah, by Greg Curran

February 23, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – A late winter storm brought much-needed rain across much of the county, also bringing heavy snowfall to Mt.Laguna and lesser amounts of snowfall to elevations as low as Campo, Descanso, Lake Morena and In-ko-pah. In addition, a freeze warning has been issued for valley areas tonight and a frost warning for coastal communities.

The snowstorm has caused traffic snarls on I-8, where at least 10 semi-trucks got stuck this morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The road was cleared with snow ploughs by around 9 a.m. However, Sunrise Highway is closed due to snow between State Route 79 and mile marker 27.5 due to snow.

Chains are required to access the following roadways:

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  a flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

February 23, 2022 (San Diego's East County) - A  64-year-old man from eastern San Diego County is the third influenza death reported in the region this season, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

February 22, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Due to an impending snowstorm, schools in the following school districts will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 23, the County Office of Education has announced:

• Julian Union Elementary School District
• Julian Union High School District
• Mountain Empire Unified School District
• Spencer Valley School District

Schools in the Julian Union Elementary and Julian Union High school districts will have a late start on Thursday, Feb. 24.

East County News Service

February 22, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- When trauma hits it does not discriminate. It can come in a blink of an eye and can turn your life around like a tornado in a matter of seconds.   Most do not know the steps to move forward from a crisis event, but there are people with hearts two sizes too big who volunteer to be by the side of victims.

In collaboration with the emergency response system, Trauma Intervention Programs of San Diego (TIP) provides immediate crisis intervention following a tragedy. TIP volunteers add another dimension to the emergency system compassionate support. Specially trained volunteers provide care and support to citizens who have been traumatized or are in a state of crisis providing service 365 days a year.

By Elijah McKee 

Photo: New restrooms may look similar to these, according to Mayor Racquel Vasquez

February 21, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — “I’m really excited to be able to replace these aging, crumbling bathrooms,” reveled Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza. According to her, the restrooms at the Berry Street and Washington Street parks are going on 60 years old. 

By Rachel Becker, CalMatters

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

Photo:  Lake Mendocino in Northern California in late October. Courtesy Department of Natural Resources

February 20, 2022 (San Diego) - The first two months of 2022 are shaping up to be the driest January and February in California history, prompting state officials to warn of dire water conditions ahead. 

By Miriam Raftery

February 20, 2022 (El Cajon) – Valhalla High School in El Cajon, where students are known as Norsemen, sent the Valhalla Vocal Music Choir on a trip to Scandinavia and London. But when their British Airways flight out of San Diego was delayed, the choral members delighted passengers by singing an impromptu concert.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 19, 2022 (Scottsdale) - San Diego State notched its first victory of the 2022 campaign Saturday after edging Houston, 4-3, in the MLB4 Tournament at Salt River Fields.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC by SA via Bing

February 19, 2022 (Washington D.C.0 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use recalled powdered infant formulas sold under the brand names Similac, Alimentum and EleCare in the U.S. and other countries.

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

Photo:  Poway Mayor Steve Vaus spoke to the media after Chabad of Poway fatal shooting in April 2019. Photo by Chris Stone

February 18, 2022 (Poway) - Poway Mayor Steve Vaus won’t face a recall election over alleged violations of political laws and supposed nondisclosures about his annual Christmas charity concert.

Reprinted with permission from J.W. August, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association 

Photo:  former SDSU and NFL football star Neal Petties today.

February 18, 2022 (San Diego) - A potluck gathering Saturday afternoon at Mountain View Park will commemorate Black History Month, but it’s also a celebration of the 11-acre park’s historic importance to the Black community in San Diego. 

By Alexei Koseff, CalMatters

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

Photo:  Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses the next phase of the state’s COVID-19 response at a press conference in Fontana on Feb. 17, 2022. The press conference took place in one of many warehouses where PPE supplies are stored. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters

February 18, 2022 (Sacramento) - For weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom teased that California would soon enter a new phase of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, one in which the state shifted its perspective to how to deal with an endemic disease that will likely be a regular part of our lives.

February 18, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. 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.

• Supreme Court will weigh Biden’s bid to scrap ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy (Los Angeles Times)
• Donald Trump Has to Face Jan. 6 Claims Holding Him Civilly Liable: Judge (Newsweek)
• The Fed is setting out to kill inflation. Brace for collateral damage. (Politico)
• White House warns of the extensive sanctions Russia could face if it invades Ukraine (CNN)
• Keep track of your Venmo, PayPal and other payment app transactions in case the IRS comes asking (Washington Post)
• White House records taken by Trump contained classified information, National Archives confirms (NBC)
• McConnell denounces RNC’s censure of 2 House Republicans; McCarthy dodges the question (Los Angeles Times)
• MLB cancels first week of spring training games; daily negotiations to begin Monday (USA Today)
• Pence rebuked Trump -- and received an outpouring of GOP support in response (CNN)

WORLD

• Shelling intensifies in eastern Ukraine amid concern Russia's creating a pretext for an invasion (CBS)
• All the Beijing snow is human-made -- a resource-intensive, 'dangerous' trend as planet warms (CNN)
• Canadian police arrest 2 leaders of protesting truckers (NPR)
• Biden tells U.S. citizens to leave Ukraine, saying military wouldn't rescue them  (NPR)
• 2022 Olympics: Russia's Kamila Valieva struggles in free skate, fails to medal amid doping scandal (The Athletic)
• Exclusive: U.S. could prosecute Russians in Valieva doping case - USADA chief (Reuters)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Image: CC via Bing

February 18, 2022 (San Diego) – After revelations that San Francisco police used DNA collected from rape kits to charge a rape victim with a property crime, San Francisco’s District Attorney Chesa Boudin dismissed the charges and called the police actions a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.

So East County Magazine asked the San Diego Sheriff department whether it has submitted rape victims’ DNA collected at hospitals to a database that could be used to link rape victims to other crimes.

Within hours of our request, Lieutenant Amber Baggs, the Sheriff’s Media Relations Director, sent this response:  “No we do NOT do this.  I read the article as well and checked with our Crime Lab Director. We do not match victim's DNA to other crimes. Thank you for asking so this can be clarified.”