By Miriam Raftery

Photos: New magnolia tree and crowd outside; vocalist Stephanie Noriega and Mayor Bill Wells performing piano and vocal accompaniment of "Hallelujah" at grand opening of The Magnolia performing arts center

September 11, 2019 (El Cajon) – Community members from across the region flocked to the grand opening of The Magnolia performing arts center in downtown El Cajon yesterday.  More than $8 million has been spent remodeling the former East County Performing Arts Center, which had been closed for a decade but has now blossomed anew.

As the setting sun sent a starburst shining through a newly planted magnolia tree out front, visitors inside saw renovations including a new VIP viewing area, multiple bars serving up food and beverages including cocktails, backstage dressing rooms,  a shimmering new gold curtain and more.

East County News Service

September 11, 2019 (Alpine) -- SDG&E is encouraging Alpine and surrounding area community members to attend the Wildfire Safety Fair taking place this Saturday, September 14th at the Alpine Community Center (1830 Alpine Blvd.) from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

By Ken Stone

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Former Rep. Darrell Issa was chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from January 2011 to January 2015. Photo courtesy Issa’s office

September 11, 2019 (San Diego) - Former Rep. Darrell Issa says he’ll run for Congress in Rep. Duncan Hunter’s East County district if the Senate continues to drag its feet on his nomination to a trade post.

By Kendra Sitton

September 10, 2019 (El Cajon) -- A Muslim group is pushing for the House to formally investigate and censure San Diego Representative Duncan Hunter for alleged war crimes. On Monday, Sept. 9, they delivered a petition with 8,000 signatures to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. 

By Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

For video of the student-athletes' portion of the press conference, click read more and scroll down.

September 10, 2019 (San Diego) - Now 2-0 and heading into battle against New Mexico State this Saturday, head coach Rocky Long, senior quarterback Ryan Agnew and senior cornerback Kyree Woods sat down with the media today.

By Miriam Raftery

September 8, 2019 (Potrero) – A former chicken ranch that sparked a firestorm of controversy when Blackwater sought to acquire it to build a paramilitary training camp has been sold to Green Hygienics Holdings Inc., an industrial hemp cultivation company. The 824-acre Potrero Ranch land and buildings will be utilized to grow industrial hemp for cannabidiol (CBD) cultivation.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – Grossmont Health District’s Kids Care Fest will bring “healthy fun for the kid in all of us” to the Lemon Grove Rec Center (3131 School Lane) on Saturday, October 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event also includes free dental and vision screenings,  fun and active games, flu shots, blood pressure checks, and information on a variety of health services and conditions. 

By Dr. Joshua Mansour

September 9, 2019 (San Diego) - The FDA is allowing e-cigarette makers until 2022 to submit their plans for preventing underage access to their products.  But will that be too late?

The underage vaping problem has escalated in recent years, and some consequences are starting to arise. While these devices were and still are marketed as “being safer”, they can lead to nicotine addiction, harmful side effects of frequent nicotine use, irritation to the lining of the lungs and now as shown by countless recent cases, hospitalization.

By Miriam Raftery

Roger Coppock contributed to this story

September 8, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Extreme heat is poised to rise steeply in frequency and severity over the coming decades, bringing unprecedented health risks for people and communities across the country. That’s the disturbing finding of the Union of Concerned Scientists in a just-issued report titled Killer Heat in the United States: Climate Choices and the Future of Dangerously Hot Days.

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 7, 2019 (Pasadena) - Ryan Agnew passed for a career-high 293 yards and a touchdown, Matt Araiza  kicked three field goals and San Diego State defeated UCLA 23-14 on Saturday, marking the Aztecs' first win over the Bruins.

By Liz Alper

Photos by P.J. Panebianco

September 7, 2019 (San Diego) - Week three of ECM Friday Night Lights takes us to Patrick Henry High’s brand new field.  So far, it’s been the site of a big 30-point loss to Morse last week. But the Patriots are faring well at 1-1. Last night, they finally got to host their annual matchup against Monte Vista.  These two met last year, where now-UCLA Bruin Jahmon McClendon ran circles around the Patriots, resulting in a 42-9 Monte Vista win. The Monarchs are coming in at 1-1 as well, winning 28-14 last week against Rancho Buena Vista.

Graduate of El Capitan High in Lakeside became global advocate for sustainable design

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2019 (San Diego) - Jim Bell, ecological designer and internationally recognized expert on sustainable development who twice ran for mayor of San Diego, passed away in hospice at his home on July 31 at age 77 from complications of a stroke.

East County News Service

September 6, 2019 (Chino, Calif.) -- American Beef Packers, Inc., a Chino, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 24,428 pounds of raw beef products that are deemed unfit for human consumption, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Aug. 31.