By Paul Levikow

October 21, 2025 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the purchase of a firefighting helicopter with nighttime capabilities, which will be upgraded to accommodate a full crew for fire and rescue missions.

October 21, 2025, 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

• Local Congressional members denied access to federal courthouse basement amid detention concerns (10 News)
• One dog dead, another ill following methamphetamine exposure at Ocean Beach (CBS 8)
• Lemon Grove to shut down large homeless encampment as part of new effort  (KPBS)
• Drone attack hits government office in Tijuana, Attorney General says (NBC San Diego)
• ICE appears to shift San Diego courthouse detention strategy (NBC 7)
• Lawsuit filed in San Diego challenges newly signed California Glock ban (ABC 10 News)
• 2 students arrested, accused of bringing BB gun to Spring Valley middle school (ABC 10 News)
• Poway to clear thousands of trees from wildfire evacuation routes (KPBS)
• Planning group accuses city of lack of transparency with development funds (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• SNAP benefits warning issued in California (Newsweek)
• Los Angeles County declares state of emergency over immigration raids (ABC News)
• Gavin Newsom signs law overhauling local zoning to build more housing (KPBS)
• California makes Diwali and official state holiday (AP)
• Newsom just vetoed a bill to regulate license plate readers — even as fresh evidence of misuse emerges (KPBS)
• Videos could tank Katie Porter’s bid to become California’s next governor (Cal Matters)
• Newsom halts PFAS cookware ban amid concerns over cost, consumer choice (ABC 10)
• Another immigrant dies in ICE custody in California, this time in the Imperial Valley (KPBS)

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

By Miriam Raftery, with additional reporting by Karen Pearlman

Photo: LMPD Officer Lauren Craven, courtesy of La Mesa Police

Updated Oct. 21, 4 p.m. with comments from Chief Ray Sweeney,  City Manager Greg Humora, and Governor Gavin Newsom

October 21, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven, 25, was struck and killed last night after stopping to assist motorists involved in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 8 east at Fairmount Avenue at 10:24 p.m. last night.  One of the motorists also died, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Craven was on duty returning from Central Jail when she stopped at the scene of the crash, where one vehicle had lost struck another, then lost control and rolled over, according to the California Highway Patrol.  A third vehicle then struck the disabled vehicle, 10 News reports.

The CHP told 10 News that after LMPD Officer Craven got out of her vehicle to assist the motorists, she was struck by an oncoming vehicle, after which a fifth vehicle struck those involved in the original crash.

By Miriam Raftery

October 20, 2025 (La Mesa) -- If you plan to park in La Mesa, you’ll be paying more for meters starting in January.

The City Council has approved doubling parking meter rates from 75 cents an hour to $1.50 an hour for all 433 meters in the downtown village.  It’s the first price rise in 20 years.

In addition, parking permits will be consolidated into one tier at $80 per quarter or $288 per year. Businesses may purchase no more than five permits for their employees.

Accident comes after Governor Gavin Newsom raised safety concerns and closed freeway

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Shrapnel that struck CHP vehicle

October 20, 2025 (Camp Pendleton, CA) – An artillery round exploded prematurely over I-5 on Saturday, causing metal shrapnel to strike a California Highway Patrol vehicle. The incident occurred while  Vice President J.D. Vance was at Camp Pendleton for the 250^th anniversary of the Marine Corps.

President Donald Trump refused to cancel the live-fire demonstration over the freeway, even after Governor Gavin Newsom, the CHP and local leaders voiced safety concerns. Newsom ordered busy I-5 closed for four hours during the event, drawing criticism from conservatives, but the accidental explosion over the highway proved such concerns valid. Had other vehicles been on the freeway, additional chunks of shrapnel could have caused damage or injury to motorists.

By Miriam Raftery

Image left:  Refugee issues covered by ECM over the years includes persecution of Iraqi Christians, Kurdish immigrations fleeing ISIS, a migrant crisis at the Mexican border, asylum seekers fleeing violence in Africa, efforts to help African women refugees, Afghan refugees starting new lives in East County--many after helping the U.S. military, Ukrainians in Santee after Russia's invasion of their homeland, and cultural celebrations of Asian immigrants in our region.

October 19, 2025 (San Diego, CA) – San Diego has admitted more refugees from around the world than any other county in the U.S. in the years just prior to the current Trump administration, welcoming people from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. Our region has been enriched by these newcomers in many ways, such as the array of international restaurants and cultural attractions in the San Diego region.

But  President Donald Trump, after already slashing aid to refugees, now proposes to sharply restrict admissions and prioritize admitting predominantly white, English-speaking Europeans who claim persecution due to opposing mass migration or support of “populist” political parties such as far-right neo-Nazi groups in  Europe.

October 18, 2025  (San Diego’s East County) – November brings numerous noteworthy events to East County, including the Ramona Art and Wine Festival, an Antique and Craft Fair at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs, the Wheel of Fortune live game show at Viejas in Alpine, the award-winning play Copenhagen at Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa, stargazing at Mission Trails, the Boots and Bells Fashion Show at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon amd a  Chili Cookoff at Circle TLC Ranch in Lakeside.

There's also the La Mesa historic homes tour, Santee’s holiday tree lighting, a concert at the Magnolia in El Cajon by original Beach Boys member Al Jardine, a Spring Valley 5K run, the Mt. Helix Park turkey trot, Bates Nut Farm’s Holiday Craft Fair in Valley Center, Julian’s Country Christmas, and Holiday Lights on Main in El Cajon.

Scroll down for all the fun and festive details.

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

October 19, 2025 (San Diego) - History buffs will love Richard Carrico’s new book, El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City. The book briefly covers San Diego area history before the first pioneers arrived. The author’s preview to European colonization is short but extensive. Richard Carrico’s greatest focus is upon the presidio in San Diego, which was a Spanish military post as well as the first Catholic mission and settlement in California.

East County News Service

October 16, 2025 (San Diego) – Organizers are predicting that this Saturday’s “No Kings” demonstration against the “authoritarianism of the Trump regime” may be the largest yet, including over 2,500 sites in all 50 states as well as territories and other nations. 

By Alexander J. Schorr

Screenshot: Board President Gary Woods with Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte, defending their non-violence resolution in classrooms.  “Trust is earned.” Jay Steiger, 2025

October 16, 2025 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont Union High School District Board passed an amended policy limiting protests outside board meetings, adopted a resolution providing religious exemptions in classrooms, and adopted a policy on nonviolence in political discourse on school campuses.

By Heidi Hope

If you are visiting the Julian area or a Julian local in need of affordable clothing, you cannot miss Kimmi Branson’s store where you can access vintage clothing for reasonable pricing that never goes out of style. 

Branson started this business getting inspired by her husband. She recalls, “My husband asked me: “What would you like to do besides waiting tables?” Because I had been doing it for so long and working so hard. I raised five kids on my own.” This question led to her vision for her business venture, which is to provide accessible, affordable and high quality clothing. 

“I wanted to have something in Julian where the locals could come,” she says. “I wish to provide gently used clothing, beautiful jewelry, some purses and some horseshoe artworks that my husband makes for a reasonable price, so they don't have to drive down the mountain. I could help the community and myself.” 

By Heidi Hope

October 8, 2025 (Santee) – Natalie Camou de Zavaleta is a Santee resident and award-winning filmmaker whose short comedy, #1 Bad Dad, will be showing at the San Diego Film Festival, which runs October 18 and 19.  ECM interviewed her for our radio show on KNSJ, 89.1 FM on her film, which explores the theme of a father and son separted by detention, then reunited. 

Click hear to listen to the full audio, or scroll down for highlights.

Legislation requires in-depth study on state-run transitional housing options