Percy Karlstrom, winner of the chamionship racewalk in Santee

Photos and story by Mike Allen

Junction launches fundraiser to help employees

By Miriam Raftery

Photos courtesy of Lakeside Fire and Heartland Fire & Rescue

January 14, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – A pair of two-alarm fires in the past 24 hours have heavily damaged two local restaurant, Panda Machi Sushi Bar & Chinese Cuisine on Alpine Boulevard in Alpine and the Junction Bar & Grill on Jamacha Road in El Cajon. No one was injured, but it’s unclear how long the restaurants will remain closed.

East County News Service

January 12, 2026 (Lakeside) – A Lakeside man, 55, died at the scene of an accident at 5:50 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10. The man, who was not identified, was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on El Monte Road at Omas Dirt Road in Lakeside when he veered off the roadway and struck a metal utility pole.

He was ejected off the motorcycle, striking a wooden fence post.

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/).

By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit:  Shutterstock

January 9, 2026 (San Diego) - County public health officials continue to encourage childhood and adolescent vaccinations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

By Alexander J. Schorr

January 8, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) — After repeated threats by Trump administration officials to invade Greenland by military force if necessary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers the President hopes to purchase Greenland, not attack it. 

Rubio’s statement came after  Denmark’s Defense Ministry’s confirmation that its military is under a standing order to “shoot first and ask questions later” if any foreign force, including the United States, attempts to invade Greenland, which is owned by Denmark.

But other officials include Vice President  J.D. Vance continue to keep a military option on the table.

East County News Service

Jan. 9, 2026 (San Diego County) — The San Diego Superior Court has announced an emergency extension for the 2026-27 Civil Grand Jury application deadline, moving the cutoff to Jan. 30, 2026.

The move is an effort to bolster a dwindling pool of applicants for what is often called the county’s most powerful "watchdog" over local government.

"We’ve had low numbers of applications in recent years," wrote Emily Cox of the Superior Court’s Public Affairs Office in an email.

The court is now making a final push to recruit 19 dedicated residents to serve a one-year term starting July 1, 2026. Click here for more information.

While many residents associate the term "Grand Jury" with high-profile criminal indictments, the Civil Grand Jury serves a different, more local purpose. It acts as an independent investigative body that audits the efficiency and honesty of city and county governments, school districts and special agencies.

East County News Service

Jan. 9, 2026 (San Diego County) --  San Diego public advocate Shane Harris has introduced a new ordinance to fully repeal paid parking in Balboa Park and restore free public parking.

To support this effort, Harris has launched this online petition to demonstrate broad public support for making Balboa Park parking free again.

Harris has also called a press conference for Monday, Jan. 12 at Balboa Park that will include supporters from around San Diego County, including El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones and Jim Kiddrick, president and CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

Starting this past Monday, Jan. 5, the park’s century-long tradition of free access for vehicles came to an end.

Harris argues that the system is not just a financial burden but "a logistical disaster that punishes the very people the park was built to serve."

The parking charges in Balboa Park were not approved by city voters in a general election. Instead, they were enacted through a series of votes by the San Diego City Council.

Source:  Grossmont Union High School District

January 9, 2026 (El Cajon) - The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) is inviting East County students, families, educators, school staff, and community members to participate in shaping its Portrait of a Graduate (POG) – a long-term, community-created vision that defines the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and mindsets every student needs to thrive in the future–by participating in the POG community survey which is open until January 13 at 11:59 p.m. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 8, 2026 (Santee) – It’s been 25 years since 15-year-old Andrew “Andy” Williams shot and killed two students and injured 13 other people at Santana High School in Santee. He was sentence to 50 years to life in prison. But due to a new state law allowing juvenile offenders with life sentences to petition for resentencing, a Superior Court judge has granted a request from Williams’ attorney for a resentencing hearing that is expected to lead to his release, potentially with two years’ probation, over the objections of District Attorney Summer Stephan, who plans to appeal the ruling.

By Renee Owens, wildlife biologist

Photo by Renee Owens:  capybaras and sunset in Venezuela’s llanos

January 7, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) -- Having lived and worked in Venezuela, I can no longer remain silent amidst all the clueless rhetoric. Venezuela is more than a cliché of dictators and oil. It is a wondrous place and a cautionary tale we ignore at our peril.