Eligible low-income residents aged 55, older may receive funds for housing

Source: City of La Mesa and Jewish Family Services

March 21, 2025 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa and Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) are launching the City’s first-ever Older Adult Rental Assistance Program, assisting seniors aged 55 and older who are at risk of homelessness. The program, operated by JFS, will provide 40 participants with a $500 monthly housing subsidy paid directly to their landlords for 12 months and individualized case management. Applications are being accepted beginning the last week of March. Priority will be given to applications filed by April 4.

According to the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, nearly half of unhoused Californians are 50 and older, and more than 41% are experiencing homelessness for the first time in their lives.

"With many seniors on fixed incomes challenged by increasing expenses, this program serves as a vital lifeline,” said La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis. “The program will help rent-burdened older adults in La Mesa maintain housing stability and financial security, allowing them to age in place with dignity.”

Source: California Attorney General's Office

March 21, 2025 (Oakland) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing and information company. The California-based company has publicly reported that it is in financial distress and stated in securities filings that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue, which is a growing concern. Due to the trove of sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed, Attorney General Bonta reminds Californians of their right to direct the deletion of their genetic data under the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) and California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). Californians who want to invoke these rights can do so by going to 23andMe's website. 

“It could happen, at any water system in the United States. The systems were not designed for what we what we witnessed in L.A.,” says Helix Water District general manager Brian Olney, though Helix has taken steps to reduce risk

March 21, 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.

Constitutional showdown

• Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Trump and GOP rhetoric about impeaching judges  (CNN)
• Judge demands to know why Trump administration ignored order about redirecting deportation flights (CBS)
• Judge orders urgent release of DOGE records, citing ‘unprecedented’ power and ‘unusual secrecy’ (Politico)
• Judge rails against DOGE for ‘terrorizing’ U.S. Institute of Peace after using ‘guns and threats’ to shut it down (Independent)

Economy

• US stock market loses $4 trillion in value as Trump plows ahead on tariffs (Reuters)
• Trump threatens mega 200 percent tariff on EU wines and spirits (Politico)

Social Security

• Trump Admin Threatens to Stop Social Security If DOGE Can’t Have Personal Data (YahooNews)
• Social Security Administration to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients (AP)

Public safety

• NTSB says DCA midair collision part of 'serious safety issue'   (NPR)
• Critics warn cuts at agencies overseeing US dams could put public safety at risk  (ABC)

Immigration and deportations

• ICE Returns All Migrants From Guantánamo to Stateside Facilities(New York Times)
• U.S. citizen child recovering from brain cancer removed to Mexico with undocumented parents (NBC)

• Lawyers for R.I. doctor allege she was deported despite federal court order (PublicsRadio)
• Protesters arrested after storming Trump Tower to demand release of Mahmoud Khalil (CNN)
• German man with green card ‘violently interrogated’ by US border officials (Guardian)
• Canadian actor detained at US border in ‘inhumane conditions’ for nearly two weeks (Guardian)

Education

• US Education Department to cut half its staff as Trump eyes elimination (Reuters)
• Can protesting in the US be ‘illegal’? Trump’s vague warning raises constitutional questions (CNN)

US foreign relations and human rights

• US added to human rights watchlist over Trump moves (Fox 5)
• French Official Demands the U.S. Return the Statue of Liberty (MTN)
• Secretary of State says 83% of US AID programs are being cancelled (CBS)
• Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to keep $2 billion in foreign aid frozen (CBS News)

Diversity, equity and inclusion

• ‘Chilling’: NYT reveals list of words banned by Trump’s 'anti-woke' initiatives (MSN)
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration from banning transgender people from military service (AP)

 Resistance

• Drawing huge crowds, Bernie Sanders steps into leadership of the anti-Trump resistance (AP)

Project 2025

• Trump’s Policies Are Making Project 2025’s Vision a Reality (Wall St. Journal)

Pardons

• Fact-checking Trump’s claim that Biden pardons are ‘void’ because he used an autopen (Politifact, via PBS)
• Judge says Trump Jan. 6 pardon doesn’t apply to man who conspired to kill investigators (Politico)

WORLD

Mexico

• Mexico City bans violent bullfighting, sparking fury and celebration (NPR)

Ukraine-Russia war

• More than 30 nations will participate in Paris planning talks on a security force for Ukraine (AP)
• US ‘deletes evidence’ of Russia’s kidnap of thousands of Ukrainian children (UK Independent)
• Russia and Ukraine conduct large prisoner exchange after Putin-Trump call (Reuters)
• Putin showed ‘true face’ by bombing Ukraine after ceasefire call, says Finland’s president (PoliticoEU)

Israel-Gaza War

• Israel launches first ground offensive since Gaza ceasefire collapse, partially recapturing key area (CNN)
• Netanyahu faces fury as renewed war deepens Israeli divisions (CNN)

Europe

• Trump's handling of Ukraine and tariffs has NATO rethinking the U.S.-made F-35 fighter (NPR)
• German lawmakers approve huge defense and infrastructure spending (NPR)

Travel ban

• Trump's new travel ban could prohibit entry to the US from this 'red list' of countries (USA Today Network )

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

March 21, 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

• Issa Sues State, Saying Counting Mail-in Ballots After Election Day Violates Law (Times of San Diego)
• Supervisor pushing for notice to residents as federal funding in question (City News Service)
• Marni von Wilpert Announces Candidacy For State Senate in District 40 (Times of San Diego)
• Quiz: Where do the candidates for county supervisor in District 1 stand on the issues that matter to you? (KPBS)
• El Cajon-based raw cat food recalled after 2 pets sickened: Here's which products are affected (CBS)
• Fire destroys family-owned McDonald's restaurant in Spring Valley (KGTV)
• Imperial Beach mayor's EPA superfund request for Tijuana sewage denied (KGTV)

STATE

• California joins 19 Democratic states in suit to stop massive Education Department layoffs (Los Angeles Times)
• California’s Medi-Cal shortfall hits $6.2 billion with ‘unprecedented’ cost increases (KPBS)
• SoCal Edison investigating ‘zombie’ power line as possible start of Eaton Fire (KTLA)
• California has 30 new proposals to rein in AI. Trump could complicate them (Cal Matters)
• Gavin Newsom shocks LGBTQ allies with criticism of transgender athletes (Cal Matters)

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

March 19, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Kennedy gives food company CEOs an ultimatum (Politico)
• USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks (Politico)
• Bird flu-infected San Bernardino County dairy cows may have concerning new mutation (Los Angeles Times)
• As Texas measles outbreak grows, U.S. cases quickly surpass total for all of 2024 (NBC)
• Doctors didn't warn women of 'risky sex' drug urges (BBC)
• DOGE wants access to very personal information of Americans  (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• NASA’s Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore finally return home after more than nine months in space  (CNN)
• DOGE cuts could end decades of ground-breaking climate research in Hawaii (USA Today)
• This machine turns carbon dioxide into fuel (BBC)

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

By G. A. McNeeley 

Photo courtesy of Brian McNeeley

March 19, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — The Agriculture Department predicts egg prices could rise by more than 40%, on top of already steep price rises in 2024. While egg producers blame bird flu outbreaks, the Justice Department this month announced an investigation into whether egg producers might be sharing information and engaging in price gouging, ABC News reports. 

President Donald Trump’s campaign platform including a pledge to bring down inflation including egg prices, but so far, prices continue to skyrocket.  Now, the administration is offering its first details on its plan to fight avian flu and ease costs. 

East County News Service

March 20, 2025 (El Cajon) -- The Circle Players will be performing the dinner theatre production of “Everyone’s A Critic” on April 5^th at 6:30 p.m. and on April 6^th at 1:30 p.m.  Performances will be held in Richardson Hall, 551 Farragut Circle, El Cajon.  All seats for this mystery dinner theatre show are $30 and includes a 3-course French-themed meal.  

East County News Service

March 18, 2025 (Lakeside) -- The Maine Avenue Revitalization Association (M.A.R.A.) invites you to the Taste of Lakeside, its upcoming fundraise on April 8 from 5-8 p.m. This event brings together ten local restaurants, including Cali-Stack, Ranch House, Octavio's, East Bound, Yogurt Barn, The Parks, Caffeine Queens, and the VFW, offering attendees the opportunity to sample their culinary delights.

East County News Service

March 18, 2025 (Julian) - Fort Cross Adventures in Julian hosts its spring lilac festival from April 19 through May 11 on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Preregistration is advised to assure space.

By Karen Pearlman

Photos courtesy of Legalize Ferrets

Photo:  Pat Wright with a ferret friend

March 18, 2025 (La Mesa) -- Eight years after persuading the city of La Mesa to become a sanctuary city for ferrets, Pat Wright is on a mission next to legalize ferret ownership statewide.

Wright and his nonprofit group, Legalize Ferrets, have attained a key milestone in the quest to remove domestic ferrets from the state’s list of restricted species.

East County News Service

March 18, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) – The controversial Cottonwood San Mine proposal is slated to be heard by the County Planning Commission in April, more than six years after it was first proposed.  Thousands of residents have signed petitions  and packed public meetings to oppose the project based on significant environmental, health and safety concerns, and community impacts such as traffic and potentially decreased property values.

Tonight, the Valle de Oro Community Planning Group will meet at 7 p.m. to finalize a recommendation to the County. This important  meeting will be held in the Rancho San Diego Library,11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon 92019.

The project would allow at least 10 years of open pit mining on the site of the Cottonwood Golf Course along the Sweetwater River, just upstream from a federal wildlife preserve. The develop, New West Investment, contends the project is needed to supply sand for local building and infrastructure projects, avoiding the cost of importing sand.

By Branda Gorgies, with updates by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery

Updated March 13, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – East County has various places to listen to live music, hear comedy, watch plays and enjoy other live entertainment, all while supporting local artists and businesses. Venues range from cozy coffee shops, wineries, breweries and bars to casinos, restaurants, colleges, community theaters, performing arts centers, and city street festivals.

By Jakob McWhinney, Voice of San Diego

File photos via ECM:  GUHSD trustees Robert Shields and Jim Kelly, who were caught on hot mikes. These images did not appear in the original Voice of San Diego article.

March 15, 2025 (El Cajon) -- For weeks now, Grossmont Union’s board meetings have been dominated by crowds of community members furious at the district’s plan to close its budget deficit by laying off more than 60 employees. Those layoffs, which the board approved by a four to one vote two weeks ago, include assistant principals, teachers and nearly every single one of the district’s librarians. 

The scene was the same at Tuesday’s board meeting, when hundreds of protesters packed into Grossmont High School’s gym to advocate the board rescind the layoffs. 

Gary Woods, who voted in favor of the layoffs, said the decision made them “heartsick.” But another trustee was more frank about what he thought about the librarians on the chopping block during a hot mic moment just prior to the meeting’s official start according to a screen recording of the meeting shared with Voice of San Diego.