By Alexander J. Schorr

“My opinions about vaccines are irrelevant. I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.” — Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Human Health Secretary. 

September 6, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- The future for vaccines and access to them in the U.S .is shaky at best after a clash between the Health and Human Services secretary and members of Congress in a bipartisan grilling. Following a mass firing at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), access to vaccines guarding against the newest COVID-19 strain is a point of concern, especially with the leadership consisting of mainly loyal anti-vaxxers.

Recent federal policy changes have led to a confusion among healthcare providers and could cause issues with vaccine availability and insurance coverage for children and adults under age 65. A key question from the hearing was whether anyone could still get a COVID shot now if they wanted to. The short answer is ”no.”

The future availability of COVID-19 vaccines for children, including newborns, is uncertain due to recent policy changes at the federal level contrasting with health and state authorities’ medical advice, as well as the consensus among doctors’ professional organizations. Vaccine availability may depend on factors such as your location, healthcare provider, and potential insurance or program coverage.

Update: Forward progress has been halted. The fire has been mapped at 75 acres and evacuation orders have been lifted, Watch Duty App reports.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo, right by Henri Migala

September 5, 2025 (Spring Valley ) -- Level 3 "go now" evacuations have been ordered in zone SDC-2153 in Spring Valley due to the fast-moving #LodgeFire, which started near Jamacha Blvd. and Double Tree Road a short time ago.  View the Genasys evacuation map.

The brush fire has charred 30 aces and has potential to burn 200-300 acres, per Cal Fire. Aircraft includng fixed-wing plane and helicopters are battling the blaze along with ground crews; Cal Fire asked people to avoid the area. Two large air tankers have been requested.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Fire officials with an SDG&E Blackhawk helicopter

September 5, 2025 (El Cajon) – Firefighting helicopters from multiple agencies were on display during a press conference held Aug. 26 at SDG&E's hangar at Gillespie Field in El Cajon. 

Officials touted aerial assets and cooperative efforts as we enter the highest danger season, though wildfires now occur year-round.

Fire officials urged the public to help prevent fires, keep drones away from fire scenes, and be prepared in case evacuation becomes necessary.

East County News Service

Photo: “In Trouble” depicts a twisting bronc as it tries to throw its rider. It is the artist’s best known etching.

September 5, 2025 (El Cajon) -- The Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in El Cajon opens an exhibition of the Etchings of Olaf Wieghorst on Friday, September 12 and runs through October 10. Twenty-six original etchings created by Olaf Wieghorst between 1937 and 1940 along with an original copper etching plate will be displayed.  

Novel by Donald McInnis 

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

September 4, 2025 (San Diego) --Blood in the Water, though fictional, exposes a flaw in the United States’ tripartite federal government structure as established in the Constitution. 

By Seraphina Eberhardt

Photo: "Cannabis Understands - 2017" by Jurassic Blueberries is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

September 4, 2025 (San Diego) -- New data shows a concerning trend: today’s high-potency cannabis products are linked to sharp increases in youth mental health crises, hospital visits, and addiction. On July 16, community members gathered for an important briefing hosted by the San Diego Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis (IASIC).

By Paul Levikow

September 3, 2025 – (East County) The governors of California, Oregon and Washington today announced they will launch a West Coast Health Alliance aimed at recommendations about immunizations, in response to recent cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson issued a joint statement saying the alliance is “in response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the politicization of science.” The governors say they are beginning the process to provide evidence-based unified recommendations to their residents regarding who should receive immunizations and to help ensure the public has access and credible information for confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy. 

September 3, 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 

• Supervisors vote to allow San Diego County to tap into financial reserves (Times of San Diego)
• How San Diego’s Congressional districts could change under redistricting (KPBS)
• Toxic sewer gases pollute South Bay at levels 70 times state regulations, study finds (NBC San Diego)

• El Cajon police and state AG’s Office at odds over sharing of surveillance data (KPBS)
• San Diego County looks to expand legal defense program for immigrant children after Trump administration cuts (CBS 8)

• Cajon Valley school bus drivers train for crisis situations (10 News)
• DHS Secretary Noem says entire southern border wall will be painted black to stop people from climbing it (CBS News)
• Warning signs installed in parts of Tijuana River Valley (County News)
• La Mesa family still concerned about road safety months after car crashed into home and RV (ABC 10)
• Local Republican groups react to Gov. Newsom's push to congressional redistricting (10 News)
• 'Officer in the Sky': Oceanside tests drones as first responders (KPBS)

STATE 

• Newsom deploys CHP crime suppression teams to San Diego, L.A., Inland Empire (CNS)
• Judge rules Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles violated federal law (CBS)
• This candidate for California governor has a potential conflict of interest in her own home (KPBS)
• 'They're not going to live normally': A devastating disease has surged in Calif. (SF Gate)
• Fatal kidney disease in sea lions along CA coast could impact pets, marine biologists warn (ABC 7)
• FTC accuses LA Fitness of trapping customers in memberships in new lawsuit (CBS)

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

By Paul Levikow

September 2, 2025 (East County) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta and health care activists from the nonprofit Protect Our Care California held a virtual news conference Tuesday regarding the “ongoing Trump-GOP health care emergency,'' which they say puts 28 hospitals and 15 nursing homes at risk of closure statewide. 

Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley in Imperial County is the closest facility to East County that was identified by Protect Our Care California as at risk of closing due to healthcare funding cuts in Trump's "Big Beautiful" budget bill, according to Bonta.

“Since Jan. 20, Trump has flooded the zone with a deluge of unlawful, unconscionable and un-American acts. He’s broken the law, he has violated the constitution, he’s reached far beyond the bounds of the presidency,” Bonta said. “Sadly, Republicans in Congress have been all too willing to stand by and let him. Republicans in Congress are sitting cozy in Trump’s back pocket and together they’re demolishing so much of what makes our country great, including the hard-fought progress we’ve made to provide affordable, accessible healthcare for all.”

September 3, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures (New York Times)
• New CDC chief picked without medical credentials as vaccine panel faces shake-up (AP/Scripps News)
• Sen. Cassidy calls for vaccine advisory meeting to be postponed amid CDC departures  (CBS)
• Trump and RFK Jr. to Ban COVID-19 Vaccine 'Within Months' (Daily Beast)
• San Diego County loses $40M in funds just before new public health lab opens (Fox 5)
• Meat, dairy allergies from tick bites "skyrocketing" on Martha's Vineyard, expert says (CBS News)

SCIENCE-TECH

• Dredging Mobile Bay in Alabama has found unlikely allies 
• These brain implants speak your mind — even when you don't want to (NPR)

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

Some retail outlets start unlocking high-end products

East County News Service

September 1, 2025 (San Diego) -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has released promising data on prosecutions and court-mandated treatment under news laws created by the passage of Proposition 36.

East County News Service

Update Sept. 5, 2025 -- The deceased has been identified as Steven Curren. He was facing charges of vehicle theft and posession of stolen property.

August 31, 2025 (San Diego)—A 35-year-old man arrested Aug. 29 was found unresponsive in his cell yesterday afternoon at San Diego Central Jail and later died at a hospital.  He was the seventh person to die in custody this year in a San Diego County detention facility.

According to the Sheriff’s department, several incarcerated persons in the jail notified deputies at 3:08 p.m. that the victim was in medical distress. Deputies found the man unresponsive in his cell and called 9-1-1. They requested additional help from the facility’s medical staff and began life-saving measures.

Paramedics and the San Diego Fire Department assumed lifesaving measures upon their arrival and the man was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at about 4:31 p.m.

The man had been in Sheriff's custody since August 29 and was facing charges for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property.

Like the other six in-custody deaths this year, the deceased was awaiting trial and had not been convicted when he died.

Story and photo by Karen Pearlman

The group is also trying to cover the cost of hay that was compromised during a storm in late August.