By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

This is no shot in the dark

August 16, 2025 (San Diego) -- Viruses and bacteria that cause illness and death still exist and can be passed on to those who are not properly vaccinated reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. The Center for Disease Control recognizes August as National Immunization month.

By Jeremiah Kimelman and Alexei Koseff, CalMatters

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

August 16, 2025 (San Diego) - Gov. Gavin Newsom will ask California voters this November to approve new congressional lines that favor Democrats, part of a national redistricting battle launched by President Donald Trump. The map released Friday by the Legislature adds five more Democratic-leaning seats.  Many Californians could see their representative change. Read more about the districts that are the most impacted.

By Karen Pearlman

Aug. 14, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – After several months of rebuffs from the city of Lemon Grove, proponents of a recall effort to remove Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow from office have finally received the city’s OK to move forward on their petition.

Snow, meanwhile, has filed a lawsuit in San Diego County Superior Court against the organizers of a recall effort, including main petitioner Kenneth King. The city of Lemon Grove’s election official Joel Pablo, the Lemon Grove City Clerk, is also named.

Snow, elected last November, is alleging that the group is fraudulent in its attempt to remove her from office. The lawsuit seeks to immediately halt the circulation of the petition that Snow claims fraudulently appends voters’ signatures to a previous Notice of Intention to Recall Petition, which Snow calls a “False NOI.”

By Paul Levikow

August 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall on Main Street was determined to be in violation of its Conditional Use Permit Tuesday by the El Cajon City Council and ordered to close by Oct. 1, unless it is granted a new CUP at next week’s Planning Commission meeting.

The Planning Commission revoked The Palms’ CUP at its June meeting. The business owners appealed the ruling, which was denied by the City Council on a 4-1 vote. Rather than require the business to close immediately, the Council voted to allow it to stay open until Oct. 1. Mayor Bill Wells voted no.

August 14, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH 

• RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development (AP)
• Rabbits with horns in Colorado are being called “Frankenstein bunnies.” Here’s why.
• What to know about chikungunya virus amid new outbreak in China (Good Morning America)

SCIENCE & TECH

• Scientists slam Trump administration climate report as a ‘farce’ full of misinformation  (MSN)
• The iPhone Update That Could Wreck Political Fundraising (Free Press)
• In reversal, Defense Department will continue providing crucial satellite weather data( NPR)
• Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose (NPR)
• A New List Reveals Top Websites Meta Is Scraping of Copyrighted Content to Train Its AI (DropSite)
• Amazon Agrees to a $1 Billion Discount as Tech Titans Rush to Cut Deals With Trump (NOTUS)

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

By Paul Levikow

August 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – Dozens of East County residents filled El Cajon City Council chambers Tuesday, demanding the City repeal a resolution allowing police to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The effort was organized by Latinos en Accion and Activist San Diego to urge speakers to address the Council during public comments. Twenty-six presenters addressed the council for 90 minutes in a near-capacity crowd. Some held protest signs and wearing T-shirts displaying their opposition to the resolution and support of an effort to recall District 4 Councilmember Phil Ortiz.

Ortiz voted for the measure in February when it narrowly passed 3-2, as ECM reported.

You’re invited to our East County Dining Club special event at Zest Wine Bistro in Lemon Grove on Thursday, August 21 at 6:30  p.m.

20% of dinner proceeds and100% of raffle proceeds will benefit East County Magazine’s reporting and wildfire alerts.

Savor gourmet charcuterie served family-style (gourmet cheeses and deli meats, olives, crostini and fresh fruits) paired with three wines (red, white, and rosé).

This exclusive event is expected to sell out quickly, since seating is limited, so we4 recommend RSVPing as soon as possible to reserve seats!  The deadline to RSVP is August 18, if seats are still available. 

RSVP to: info@eastcountymedia.org with your name and number of guests (with guest names if possible).

Applications accepted now through through Sept. 4; forum for applicants Aug. 13

By Karen Pearlman

Aug. 12, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove is actively seeking applicants to fill the vacant City Council seat of Sitivi “Steve” Faiai, who passed away on July 8.

Faiai, who was elected in 2024, had just begun his political career when he died at age 50 after suffering a heart attack.

At its Aug. 5, 2025 meeting, the Lemon Grove City Council directed staff to open the application process for the appointment of a City Councilmember to fill out the remainder of Faiai’s term. The Council opted against callling for a special election, which could have cost the city more than $250,000.

National Guard to also be deployed in nation’s capital city

By Miriam Raftery

August 11, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to put Washington D.C.’s police force under federal control, claiming a need to reduce crime, CNN reports. However, according to a Newsweek report, violent crime in Washington D.C. was the lowest in 24 years last year, while other crimes also fell.

SHARP Grossmont Hospital employees stand atop the helicopter pad atop its Emergency Room on Aug. 11 as part of a celebration of the hospital's 70 years of service to the community. Photo courtesy SHARP Grossmont Hospital

By Karen Pearlman

Aug. 11, 2025 (La Mesa) -- Grossmont Hospital just hit 70 years, but the venerable facility is looking sharper than ever.

As part of a celebration of its 70^th anniversary, nearly 150 SHARP Grossmont Hospital staffers gathered Monday morning on the helicopter pad atop its Emergency Room to spell out a giant number “70.”

By Mike Allen

Photo: Members of Santee Fire Dept, SD Regional Fire Foundation and the SD River Conservancy with new brush rig funded through the city along with grants from the two nonprofits.

August 11, 2025 (Santee)-- The city of Santee has another key tool in its goal of protecting the city from wildfires, a new brush fire engine.

City officials and the public will get together Aug. 20 for a “push-in” ceremony at Station No. 5 to celebrate the new engine, which was paid mostly from nonprofit grants.

According to the city, the $627,000 fire engine made by HME Inc. was acquired thanks to a $407,000 grant from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, and the San Diego River Conservancy. The remainder came from the city’s general fund.

Book by Thomas Wing

Review by Pennell Paugh

August 10, 2025 (San Diego) -- San Diego author Thomas Wing, releases Against All Enemies. This gripping thriller ominously shows us a violent but possible reaction to America’s tariff war — China launches a full-scale surprise attack on the U.S. Capitol, Pentagon, military bases, and communication satellites.

East County News Service

August 9, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa announces the official launch of its redesigned website, which is now live at www.cityoflamesa.gov.

While the site may look different, it retains all the same tools, features, and functionality residents and businesses have come to rely on, according to a press release from the city.

East County News Service

August 8, 2025 (San Diego) -- County public health officials have confirmed the first case of measles in the region this year in a teenage resident who had recently traveled overseas.  Anyone who visited Rady Children’s Hospital’s emergency room or the Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Urgent Care on August 6 or 7,